BELLE PLAINE, Kan. — Even record-high unemployment claims do not capture the full extent of job losses in Kansas amid the coronavirus outbreak. Some people do not qualify for unemployment benefits and others are choosing to find temporary work to tide them over until businesses reopen. Many others simply cannot get through to the overwhelmed Kansas Department of Labor. The state’s 43-year-old mainframe computer cannot keep up with claims and telephone lines are jammed with frustrated callers. Last week more than 50,000 new unemployment claims were filed in Kansas.
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas police are investigating the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old woman in Wichita. Wichita television station KSNW-TV reports Aubrey Resendez died after an early Monday morning shooting. Wichita police told the station that an 18-year-old man was driving Resendez and another passenger when they got into a disturbance with people in a silver truck. Police say someone in the truck fired multiple shots at the car and hit Resendez. The driver and the other passenger were not hurt. But Resendez was taken to a hospital and later died. Police say the shooting wasn’t random.
On Monday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with KSU Vet Med Dr. Raelene Wouda. We also spoke with Laura Ebert and Casie Hartwich with the Wamego Strong Committee.
Manhattan Area Technical College has been moved online which has provided a challenge for the hands on classes like welding. Manhattan Area Technical College president Jim Genandt says how they have adapted. “With welding auto tech, things like that they’re doing as much as they can online and by demonstrate video demonstration using zoom, etc. And then when we can get back on campus, we’ll get those kids back into the labs to finish off so we can do the demo, you know, check off the competencies,”Genandt said. Also the nursing program has been going through similar hurdles. “Healthcare has…
Tuttle Creek Lake levels are lower than this time last year; a time when flooding was just around the corner. Operations Project Manager at Tuttle Creek Reservoir Brian McNulty says around this time last year the lake was 35 ft higher than it is now. As of Friday morning, the lake was only 5 ft over than normal level. Currently, the lake is only 3.5% capacity, compared to over 50% last March. “March of last year, it was wet here as well as all the way up the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Montana,” says McNulty. Other surrounding lakes are also doing…
The Wamego Health Center is temporarily changing from a walk-in clinic to a drive-thru clinic in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ascension Via Christi President Bob Copple explains: Copple jokes that transitioning back to a walk-in clinic in the future may be difficult. Copple advises patients with respiratory symptoms to call ahead before visiting the clinic so staff can be prepared. For more info about the Wamego Health Center, visit wamegohealthcenter.org.
A fire at a Junction City apartment complex Friday evening was ruled as intentional after it was found to have been started by a juvenile playing with lighters. The individual stated that this was their first time playing with lighters and they did so because they were curious about fire. The fire took place at 2332 Wildcat Ln. and involved multiple apartments. Fire crews arrived at the scene to find smoke coming from the third floor of the complex. All building occupants made it out of the structure and those whose apartments were involved in the fire are being assisted…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a spike in people impersonating law enforcement officers in Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release Friday that it has identified about 10 reports of suspected law enforcement impersonations in the past several weeks in multiple counties. There have no reports of injuries or thefts. The KBI says that the impersonator often questions whether the driver’s travel is “essential,” or asks for workplace documentation. The Kansas stay-at-home order doesn’t require people to carry or a letter, identification card, or other paper proving they are allowed to leave their home.
Friday marked the first day since March that Riley County has not confirmed a new positive COVID-19 test. Health and safety officials spoke to the public via ZOOM and Facebook Live, confirming Riley County is still only recording 20 positive tests. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says 15 of those cases are active, as 5 have recovered, and 6 pending tests came back negative as the number fell from 18 to 12. “We are in contact with all of our individuals and so far everyone is doing fine, no hospitalizations,” says Gibbs. “And we hope to report even more recoveries…