TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly’s unified strategy for ramping up coronavirus testing in Kansas is enough of a work in progress seven weeks after she announced it that even some of the state’s contractors don’t yet have all the details. Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning contends that Kelly’s administration moved too slowly in rolling out the strategy and isn’t focused enough on making sure the state has a healthy work force so businesses can stay open. Kelly dismisses the criticism, and officials and contractors are confident that testing will be ramped up before the year ends. A CEO…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. — A commission established by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly to examine policing and other racial justice issues after the death of George Floyd plans to recommend for Kansas law enforcement agencies to no longer use unmarked police vehicles during traffic enforcement. However it contains an exemption for when police believe unmarked vehicles are needed to avoid endangering officers or public safety. The recommendation faced opposition from Commissioner Gordon Ramsay, Wichita police chief, who said that some of Wichita’s most frequent complaints are traffic-related. The recommendation was among the last that the commission approved to appear in a report…
In-person visitation at the Riley County Jail has been suspended until further notice as precaution due to COVID-19, jail officials said Thursday. RCPD will continue to provide free video visitation in the police department lobby from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Staff will be routinely disinfecting the lobby area and visitors are required to wear a face covering. RCPD also says video visitation from your home is also continuing at a reduced rate through Imate Canteen: inmatecanteen.com. Jail staff are reportedly working to continue to ensure the safety of inmates by planning for potential COVID-19 cases within the…
On Thursday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce director of economic development Daryn Soldan and director of membership Sharla Meisenheimer.
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a homeless man in connection to a report of criminal threat. The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Riley County Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol reported to the 8200 block of Southport Dr. in Manhattan Thursday morning in response to reports of a possible active shooter. While there was no active shooter, it was found that an individual had fled the scene in a red Ford flat-bed truck after making threats to shoot an employee and damage a building. Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office deputies later began pursuing a truck of similar description after the…
Students in Manhattan-Ogden Schools will stay in the hybrid classroom mode for the immediate future. The school board discussed maintaining Hybrid versus other modes of instruction, and formally held no vote. This follows announcements earlier this week, that students at all Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 schools will go into a full-distance learning format on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 allowing for deep-cleaning of facilities. Marvin Wade, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 superintendent, addressed rumors circulating about returning to a in-person five-days-a-week schedule by Jan. 5, saying that this is the goal but not a promise. “Yes, we are committed to planning that and…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly issued a new mask mandate Wednesday in hopes of lessening the spread of the coronavirus in Kansas after the state again reported another record seven-day increase in new cases. State law still allows Kansas’ 105 counties to opt out of such an order from the Democratic governor, and most did when Kelly issued a similar order in July. But the state’s rolling seven-day average for new coronavirus cases is now more than nine times higher than it was than when her first order took effect. Kelly’s order takes effect Nov. 25, the day…
On Wednesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 assistant superintendent Eric Reid, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education member Darell Edie and Manhattan Christian College president Kevin Ingram.
Aggieville and City Park parking restrictions The Manhattan City Commission Tuesday discussed adding parking restrictions in Aggieville, City Park and nearby neighborhoods. The move is in response to what will be a sizable decrease in available parking stalls during 2021 due to the construction of a parking garage near the N. Manhattan Ave./Laramie St. intersection. Potential restrictions include three-hour parking limits during weekdays, no overnight parking and a new residential parking color zone. Mayor Usha Reddi says she is in favor of the parking plan and its potential to bring more pedestrians to the area. “That’s a densely populated area,…