Top Republican legislators and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly are negotiating over funding for Kansas public schools and proposals aimed at helping some parents send their children to private schools. Conservative Republicans have tried to tie an increase in aid to the state’s 286 local public school districts to “school choice” initiatives but have been unable to pass a bill with that combination. Democrats and education groups would prefer to provide the dollars with no new strings. Kelly’s office and GOP leaders hadn’t reached a deal Thursday. However, the Republican-controlled Legislature cannot wrap up its business for the year without resolving…
Author: KMAN Staff
The board that oversees Kansas’ higher education system has appointed Richard Muma as the new Wichita State University president. The decision Thursday by the Kansas Board of Regents to make Muma the university’s 15th president is effective immediately. Muma had been serving as interim president since September, when former president Jay Golden resigned after less than a year on the job. Muma’s deep ties to the university span 25 years during which he twice served as interim president and has been a professor, department chair, executive vice president and provost.
Ford County authorities say a 23-year-old Garden City man has died from injuries he suffered in a crash during a law enforcement pursuit. Sheriff Bill Carr said Wednesday that Luis Salgado was injured when he was thrown from his vehicle after it rolled on Sunday. Authorities say Salgado was a suspect in a stabbing in Garden City. The chase began in Gray County, when deputies saw his vehicle near Cimarron on Highway 50. The chase went into Ford County and Dodge City, and ended when Salgado’s vehicle hit a power pole and rolled several times.
A 31-year-old Kansas City man has been convicted of participating in a conspiracy to steal more than 1,400 cell phones in several states. Federal prosecutors say the phones were resold. The total loss in the thefts was more than $1 million. Bryan Kirkendoll II was found guilty of eight counts in federal court on Wednesday. Prosecutors say Kirkendoll and Victor Chernetskiy, also of Kansas City, stole electronic devices – primarily cell phones – from stores in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Oklahoma, and then resold them. They committed 48 burglaries from November 2018 to June 2019. Chernetskiy pleaded guilty last year…
St. George police have taken a man wanted on five different warrants from two counties into custody after finding him driving a vehicle stolen from Wichita. Jeffrey Keith Mendez faces a total of 12 charges including felony theft and four counts of failure to appear. He initially gave police a false name and was driving with a fake license plate on the vehicle. Mendez was wanted on three warrants from Sedgwick County and two from Shawnee County when police arrested him Tuesday morning near Saint George Elementary.
The National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan will house several different animal research sectors when it fully opens in the near future. Dr. Jamie Barnabei, manager of the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), is one of many who are moving jobs from Plum Creek to Manhattan. She says her role falls into two categories: the prevention of animal disease outbreaks and the emergency response. She adds that the vaccination bank she manages exists to prepare for and mitigate the introduction of a high consequence animal disease. Dr. Barnabei says the move to Manhattan is…
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 lewd and lascivious acts in Manhattan on May 5, 2021, at approximately 1:23 p.m. Officers listed an unknown male as the suspect when it was reported he performed an…
The Blue Valley Youth Sailing Foundation is holding camps to teach young children the basics of sailing. Program Director, Henry Otto, says Camp Opti (op-tee), is a six day camp that teaches water safety, assembly of a sailboat, boat handling skills, and how to sail a specified course. “We take 7 to 13 year old boys and girls and teach them how to sail a little 8-foot pram called an Opti Pram,” Otto adds. Otto says while the camp is open to everyone there are different fees to join. “Everyone has to be a member of our foundation, that’s a…
Guests from the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility joined us including NBAF Coordinator Dr. Ken Burton, Communications Director Katie Pawlosky and Manager of the National Animal Vaccine & Veterinary Countermeasures Bank Dr. Jamie Barnabei. Gen. Perry Wiggins, executive director of the Governor’s Military Council joined us to discuss Victory in Europe Day and mental health awareness for soldiers and veterans.
The Inaugural Great Kansas Fishing Derby is underway. Ben Jedlicka, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism Game Warden, says an angler’s prized catch may actually be worth a prize this summer. In an attempt to get more people out and fishing the KDWPT, Kansas Wildscape Foundation, the Bass Pro-Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, as well as many other local retailers, have created a statewide fishing derby. At least 500 specifically tagged fish will be located across 37 different Kansas waterbodies. “And those tagged fish will have prizes associated with them, mostly gift cards because we don’t know who is getting the prizes,”…