Author: KMAN Staff

NICKERSON, Kan. — In the heart of Kansas and tornado country, officials in the town of Nickerson say they’re facing the danger of an unreliable tornado siren system. Newly-elected Nickerson Mayor Peggy Ruebke tells Wichita station KSN that the sirens didn’t sound when the town last had a tornado threat last year. Ruebke says the county volunteer fire department is in charge of sounding the sirens in town and that they have had some problems and malfunctions with the system. Fixing or replacing the aging siren system could cost thousands of dollars. Ruebke says the city plans to address the…

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TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas has recorded four more coronavirus deaths as Gov. Laura Kelly prepares to make an announcement on how to lift the state’s stay-at-home order. The latest deaths reported Tuesday brought the total to 124. State health officials also reported that he number of positive cases increased by 163 to 3,491. Only 29 of the state’s 105 counties haven’t recorded a case. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick.

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Riley County commissioners were presented a restructuring plan for the county’s fire district. Current fire chief and emergency management director Pat Collins will be retiring at the end of the year.  The restructuring plan includes hiring a new fire chief, and two part time positions.  HR Manager Cindy Volanti says the new positions will include a part time codes inspector and a radio engineer. The proposed fire chief change is to have the position and the emergency management position split up.  Since Collins currently holds both positions, he wants the two positions to be separate going forward. “Realistically , we…

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Riley County clerk’s office is taking additional measures this election year due to coronavirus. County Clerk Rich Vargo says they expect fewer polling places due to fewer volunteers this year.  So far, 51 of their 190 volunteers have said they will not be helping this year due to coronavirus concerns.  He doesn’t anticipate that number to get any lower, but is optimistic some may change their mind. Vargo says the changes they are making are to ensure the highest possible turnout rate of voters.  The office will be sending out mail ballot applications for both the primary and general elections. …

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Tuesday’s In Focus had Pottawatomie County Health Departmen PIO Crystal Malchose and Health Department Director Lisa Kenworthy with their COVID-19 updates. We also had some banter with Brandon and Dave for the last segment.

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BELLE PLAINE, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says she has reached a deal that could resolve a legal challenge to her order banning religious gatherings of more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Kelly said in a news release late Saturday that under the agreement, the two churches that challenged her order agreed to extend a judge’s temporary restraining order preventing enforcement of Kelly’s ban. The churches, meanwhile, agreed to continue complying with social-distancing guidelines, including making sure worshippers keep a safe distance from one another. The Democratic governor is finalizing plans to…

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LAWRENCE, Kan. — The coronavirus pandemic does not appear to be delaying the quickly approaching May 10 deadline for Kansas property taxes. Zach Fletcher, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Revenue, says the state believes delaying property tax deadlines is more of a local government decision. He says property taxes collected at the local and county level help fund critical functions like public safety and schools. Fletcher told The Lawrence Journal-World that the governor cannot unilaterally change property tax structures or payments in general, and would not be inclined to cut critical funding sources during a prolonged public health…

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McPHERSON, Kan. — Authorities in central Kansas say a 7-year-old boy shot in a weekend hunting accident is improving. Wichita television station KAKE reports that the shooting happened around 5 p.m. Saturday while the boy was turkey hunting with his parents south of Roxbury in McPherson County. Sheriff’s Capt. Doug Anderson says another hunter shot the boy, believing he was shooting at a turkey, but was actually shooting at a turkey decoy next to the boy. The boy was shot in the head and flown to a Wichita hospital. Authorities say the boy was expected to be released from intensive…

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