TOPEKA, Kan. — The city of Topeka is looking to cut more than 30 jobs next year to deal with a $5 million budget deficit resulting from efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Topeka City Manager Brent Trout on Tuesday proposed cutting 32 full-time position and reducing at least one position to part time in 2021. The mayor and City Council will consider the proposal before finalizing the budget in August. The Capital-Journal reports that 14 of the cuts would be with the public works department. The proposed cuts come as reduced sales tax revenues have left…
Author: KMAN Staff
USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid and school board member Katrina Lewison joined the show to preview Wednesday’s school board meeting. Aggieville Business Association Executive Director Dennis Cook spoke about the recent spike in cases involving Aggieville businesses and what owners are doing to limit the spread of the virus in their establishments. Lastly, KMAN’s Derek Simmons spoke with Cathy “Dawes” Scroggs and husband Ken Scroggs about Hope Ranch summer activities.
The Pottawatomie County Commission is beginning to question whether its annual contribution of approximately $5000 to the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization, which helps coordinate and promote the area’s transportation system, is worth the return. Dee McKee, a Pottawatomie County commissioner, spoke about some of her concerns on Tuesday’s In Focus, saying being part of the FHMPO makes gaining access to federal funds more complicated. McKee also addressed the cost increases that can come with being an FHMPO member, specifically referencing labor costs for the US-24 Highway/Green Valley Road intersection project. According Peter Clark, Pottawatomie County Public Works director, county…
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for theft and criminal damage to property in the 4500 block of Anderson Avenue in Manhattan on June 22, 2020, at approximately 7:25 AM. Officers listed Blueville Nursery as the…
Freedom still rings this September with Boomtown officially back on. Wamego’s annual parade and fireworks show has been officially rescheduled for Sunday, September 6th after receiving approval from the city commission. In addition to the parade and fireworks show, the annual car show will be featured in Wamego City Park and both the Wamego Aquatics Center and Splash Park will be open. Concessions will be available both at the parade and the sports complex during the fireworks show. The band “Departure” will return as well to perform a free concert at the Wamego Rec Complex before the fireworks show. They…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Embattled Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia has resigned amid escalating problems with the state’s unemployment insurance caseload. Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday she had accepted Garcia’s resignation Sunday night and appointed the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Ryan Wright as acting secretary until a permanent candidate is nominated. On June 10, duplicate payments totaling $7 million were made to more than 4,500 claimants of pandemic unemployment assistance and compensation programs. The Labor Department last week reversed those payments, causing some recipients’ bank accounts to become overdrawn.
SYRACUSE, Kan. — Authorities have issued a second arrest warrant in a western Kansas killing. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced in a news release that it is seeking 43-year-old Ismael Gomez-Carvajal on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and criminal solicitation in the death of 21-year-old Kevin Palma-Rodriguez. He was found fatally shot Friday at the Country Cafe apartments in Syracuse. A first-degree murder arrest warrant also has been issued for 25-year-old Amner Tejada-Vigil, also known as Jeovany Vijil. The KBI says Gomez-Carvajal and Tejada-Vigil may be driving a purple or blue 2007 Chevrolet Equinox bearing Kansas tag…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is recommending that communities wait a little bit longer before moving to the next phase of reopening as cornovirus cases increase. The “Phase Out” stage of Kelly’s Ad Astra reopening plan was set to begin Monday, but Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are now advising communities to stay in Phase 3 for at least two more weeks. The main difference is that Phase 3 limits mass gatherings to no more than 45 people. The “Phase Out” stage merely urges social distancing but doesn’t limit the size of crowds. The…
WICHITA, Kan. — Authorities say three people staying in different rooms of a Wichita motel were shot and wounded early Tuesday. Wichita police Officer Charley Davidson said in a news release that the three heard shots being fired outside the Afton Motel and were struck around 1 a.m. Tuesday when they exited their rooms. The victims two men, ages 26 and 60, and a 25-year-old woman were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made. Davidson said the shooting is under investigation.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Authorities say a passenger in a car that was reported stolen has been killed in a Topeka crash after police called off a pursuit. Police said in a news release that an officer attempted to stop the speeding car around 5:20 .am. Monday, about an hour after receiving a report that the the vehicle had been stolen at gunpoint. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the officer lost sight of the vehicle and ended the pursuit. But a separate officer then observed the stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed before it crashed into a…