By John Hanna, Associated Press TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators on Thursday approved a new, 10-year transportation program that many lawmakers see as a much-needed, $10 billion stimulus to counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. The Republican-controlled Legislature made funding highway, road and bridge improvements a priority as it tackled measures for addressing the new coronavirus and finished a $19.9 billion annual budget to keep state government operating after June. Lawmakers finished what they considered their most pressing work before an early and unusually long spring break. The transportation legislation was approved 112-3 in the House and 37-2 in the Senate. Democratic Gov.…
Author: KMAN Staff
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 responded to the report of an injury crash near the 1800 block of McDowell Creek Road in Manhattan on March 18, 2020, at approximately 8:25 AM. When officers arrived on scene they found…
TOPEKA (AP)- Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson says state standardized tests will be cancelled this year because of concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Watson told reporters Thursday that tests are off unless something changes “dramatically” in Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order temporarily shuttering school buildings. Her order includes exceptions for groups of 10 people or less. Meanwhile, Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and three city council members are self-quarantined after learning that two people at a conference they attended last week tested positive for COVID-19. Latest update for positive COVID-19 cases in the state shows 34 positive tests.
Riley County commissioners made the decision today to continue to hold their weekly meetings. Meetings will take place on Monday and Thursday as usual at their designated times. The meetings will be open to the public but limited capacity. Half of the chairs will be removed to coincide with social distancing standards set up by the CDC. All doors to the building will remained locked with employees stationed at the door during meeting times. They will ask anyone wanting to enter the building what they are there for. Commissioners John Ford wanted to keep the two meeting structure intact since…
Information from KDHE Communications TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issuing new mandates today surrounding COVID-19, including travelers, close contacts of confirmed cases and those being tested. KDHE is now mandating 14-day home quarantine for Kansans who have: Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California, Florida, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15. Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado in the week prior to March 15 or after. Traveled on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15. People who have previously been told by Public Health to…
Thursday’s program featured a discussion on how COVID-19 is affecting the local economy with Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Smith. Downtown Manhattan, Inc. Executive Director Gina Scroggs joined us to share the downtown business perspective and how local merchants are coping with the downturn in customers and revenue. Aggieville Business Association Executive Director Dennis Cook shared how businesses in that district are adjusting due to added social distancing among the coronavirus pandemic.
Employee pay Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 employees will continue to be paid during this current shutdown. During the school board meeting Wednesday, Business Services Director Lew Faust presented how each employee group will be paid. Hourly employees of less than 12 month will be paid normally for the spring break week before the closure. Classified payment for the two weeks of closure will be based on the average hours work per day. This will be based off a two-month sample. This committed pay is based on the waiver from the state level and the current legislation signed by the governor on…
Riley County Health Department Director Julie Gibbs joined us Thursday for a daily update on the coronavirus response locally. The full audio is below. As hospitals across the country deal with the impact of COVID-19, local health officials are advising people to consider alternatives to the emergency room. Riley County Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says it should be used as a last resort. “We’re sending out messages that unless it’s a life-threatening situation we want you to utilize other systems available,” she said. She says one alternative is a screening service recently put in place by the health department to advise those…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As most of the U.S. raced to get ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, conservative Republican lawmakers in Kansas moved Wednesday to limit their Democratic governor’s emergency powers, including the ability to establish quarantine zones if the need arises. Conservatives are angry with Gov. Laura Kelly’s order to close all of the state’s K-12 school buildings for the rest of the spring semester. They view it both as an overreaction that is fueling panic and a sign that she’s willing to have state government move aggressively into people’s businesses and lives. Some of her most conservative critics also suggested…
Manhattan City Hall and city facilities will close to the public in response to COVID-19 effective Thursday, March 19. City officials made the announcement via release Thursday afternoon, noting the closures will be in place until April 6th at the earliest. All city and advisory board meetings will be held online via Zoom and broadcast on Cox cable channel 3, cityofmhk.com/tv or on the city’s Facebook page. “Circumstances are changing rapidly, so it is important that we continue to take precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of our residents and employees,” says City Manager Ron Fehr. “While we…