Author: KMAN Staff
Riley County is retaining an hour of operation limit for restaurants, but removes additional restrictions for child care operators in the local iteration of Kansas’ plan to re-open businesses and public facilities. Local health officials updated the public on the COVID-19 response online Friday, saying the county remains at 12 active cases despite an additional positive test coming in since Wednesday. An additional recovery report brings the local recovery total to 47 individuals out of a cumulative 60 residents who tested positive. Two people under investigation remains hospitalized, and one local person has died from the disease. Read here for…
Despite Gov. Laura Kelly not moving onto to phase two of the reopening plan, Riley County offices will open to the public on Monday. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says county offices are allowed to reopen Monday, with limited services. She told Riley County Commissioners Thursday she’s been pleased that positive cases for the most part have remained steady. “With the first phase of reopening, we knew that we would start to see a spike in our numbers as early as yesterday. As long we can stay steady onto Monday, then we hope we have reopened at a good place,”…
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Kansas State Research & Extension 4H Agent John Jobe. We also spoke with Riley County Seniors’ Service Center Director Jami Ramsey. Pottawatomie County HR Director and Public Information Officer Crystal Malchose also joined the program. T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins wrapped up the program with a preview of the animals they have.
K-State President Richard Myers joined KMAN in the 7 AM hour to provide our daily COVID-19 update.
Gov. Laura Kelly has slowed down the reopening of Kansas’ economy. Rather than allowing phase 2 to begin on Monday, Kelly on Thursday signed into executive order phase 1.5, which orders bars and bowling alleys to remain closed through the end of the month. It also extends restrictions in place until near the end of next month. The limit on public gatherings of 10 or fewer people will remain in place starting Monday, rather than increasing to 30 as initially planned. Nail salons, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo parlors and tanning salons are allowed to open, but only by appointment.…
A federal judge has weighed in on a lawsuit involving a former Riley County employee who claimed he was wrongfully terminated. Olsburg resident Steven DeHart worked as an environmental health specialist and claimed he was fired in 2017 after trying to report alleged environmental violations by the county at Riverchase Reservoir and Rocky Ford Water District. He also continually spoke out about commissioner Ron Wells and a private sewer hookup on the Wells family property, claiming he blew the whistle on alleged misconduct because Wells wasn’t paying for the sewer services. The county contends DeHart was fired for insubordination. U.S.…
Manhattan Regional Airport Director Jesse Romo gave an update on parking lot construction during Thursday’s episode of In Focus. He says while there were some concerns about the parking lot project, the recent lack of travelers has made making progress on construction easier. According to Romo, this project should be completed by early November. Romo also gave an update on the installation of a new runway, saying this task isn’t as far along as the parking lot project. Airport officials plan to go to the Manhattan City Commission in June with proposals for grants that would help pay for runway-design costs.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas’ state Medicaid director, Dr. Adam Proffitt, has announced his resignation to take a new job in the private sector. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Proffitt’s resignation in a news release Wednesday night. Proffitt’s resignation is effective June 5. Proffitt joined the department as the director of it healthcare finance division in December 2017. He was named the state’s Medicaid director in last May. The news release says the department will announce an interim director at a later date. Proffitt’s resignation comes as the state grapples with trying to contain the new coronavirus outbreak.
WICHITA, Kan. — Sedgwick County will pay $310,000 to a Wichita woman injured when a county employee crashed into her in December 2017. The Wichita Eagle reports the settlement comes in a lawsuit filed by Matilda Pruitt after she suffered head, neck, back and other injuries in the crash. Pruitt sued Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department employee Jarrod Truman and the county for negligence. Her lawsuit says she was stopped at a Wichita intersection waiting to turn when Truman crashed into the back of her vehicle. The impact pushed Pruitt’s car into oncoming traffic, where she was hit by…