TOPEKA, Kan. — Two northeast Kansas counties have rejected at least part of the new federal and state guidelines for shortening the time people are quarantined after they’re possibly exposed to COVID-19. The new guidance says people with no symptoms can end their quarantines after 10 days instead of 14 or after seven days with a negative COVID-19 test. Public health officials in Wyandotte County announced Thursday that they’re sticking with 14-day quarantines, arguing that shorter quarantines risks greater spread of the virus. Shawnee County’s health officer announced that it will allow people with no symptoms to end their quarantines…
Author: KMAN Staff
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Kansas Department of Labor Acting Labor Secretary Ryan Wright. We also spoke with Riley County K-State Research and Extension Director Gary Fike. In our final segment Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Karen Hibbard joined the program.
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 in the 700 block of Dondee Dr. in Manhattan on December 3, 2020, at approximately 6:26 p.m. Officers listed a 52-year-old female as the victim when it was reported…
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility researchers will be working with some of the most dangerous animal diseases in the world. So this begs the question: how will those in charge prevent the dangerous pathogens and lab materials from getting into the local water supply? “We have what’s called liquid effluent decontamination systems,” Dr. Ken Burton, NBAF Coordinator says. “(It uses) high pressure and high heat to decontaminate the liquid waste coming out of the laboratories. Then that goes through a water pretreatment processing facility that’s on campus.” For those who may be worried about how environmentally friendly NBAF’s liquid-waste cleaning…
St. Thomas More Catholic Church is hosting its 30th annual Cookie Carousel this weekend, in an adjusted format due to COVID-19 concerns. Church officials accepted donations of cookies through Thursday, Volunteers will be safely packaging them for a drive thru distribution Saturday morning, beginning at 9 a.m. The event will continue until cookies run out. Those interested should enter the lot from the east entrance along Kimball Ave. The annual event is a fundraiser, having raised thousands for local organizations over the past three decades. The church says this year cookies will be given out at no charge as a…
On Thursday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with NBAF Coordinator Dr. Ken Burton, Communications Director Katie Pawlosky and Support Services Supervisor Heather Knox. We also spoke with Governor’s Military Council Executive Director Gen. Perry Wiggins.
EMPORIA, Kan. — Kansas officials are offering deer hunters in the state free testing for chronic wasting disease on the carcasses of deer they kill during the 2020-2021 deer hunting seasons. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is offering the testing in conjunction with the University of Missouri as part of a research project to better understand where the disease is present in Kansas and how it is spread. The project will offer the free testing on a maximum of 450 samples over the next three years. Hunters will need to be able to provide the location of…
SHAWNEE, Kan. — Court records show Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler has been charged with felony perjury. The Kansas City Star reports the 47-year-old mayor was released Wednesday on a $2,500 bond. The criminal complaint alleges she made the false statement on March 7. Distler has served as mayor of Shawnee, Kansas, since 2015. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Online court records do not indicate a defense attorney in the case.
WICHITA, Kan. — Police are investigating a shooting that fatally injured a 49-year-old Wichita man. The Wichita Police Department said in a news release that officers responded to a shooting call at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and found Michael Horn with a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries. Police say this was not a random incident and that the investigation is ongoing. Investigators are working to locate the suspect.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas is reporting spikes in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations, as dozens of nursing homes experience outbreaks and the state prepares to see that health care workers receive the first available vaccines. Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday that the state expects to receive the first of two vaccine doses for 23,750 people by the middle of this month if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizes emergency use of a vaccine made by Pfizer. The state health department added 119 deaths since Monday, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to 1,679. Kansas also had a record average of…