HUTCHINSON — The deadline is approaching for applications to grow the state’s new industrial hemp research crop. The Kansas Department of Agriculture will take applications for growers who want to be part of the state’s research program until March 1. The Hutchinson News reports state lawmakers created the research program last April. The federal government also has declassified industrial hemp as a controlled substance as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. State agriculture department spokeswoman Heather Lansdowne says Kansas law still allows only research on the crop. Previous to the federal farm bill, Kansas could only establish a research program…
Author: KMAN Staff
The Kansas City Royals reached a deal with Drew Storen at the end of last week. Storen joins Brad Boxberger and Jake Diekman as bullpen arms added to the Kansas City organization this offseason. Storen joined the Royals at their Spring Training facility in Arizona as a non-roster invitee, but with a wide open bullpen, he has a strong shot at making the Opening Day roster. Storen will be a reclamation project for the Royals as he is coming off Tommy John Surgery, missing the 2018 season and last playing in 2017 with the Cincinnati Reds where he had a…
A Kansas bill co-sponsored by an area legislator that says homosexuality is intrinsically religious and would ban counties from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples faces hurdles to becoming a law as well as criticism from some area political and religious leaders. The Marriage and Constitution Restoration Act (HB 2320), introduced by Sabetha Rep. Randy Garber and co-sponsored by multiple representatives including Wamego Rep. Ron Highland, would define same-sex marriages as “parody marriages,” prohibit the state from legally enforcing any policies that permit or respect such marriages in addition to disallowing counties from issuing licenses for parody marriages. It also…
Change of both perspective and leadership were the night’s themes during the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Banquet. The Chamber held the 94th annual event in the Manhattan Conference Center Friday, Feb. 15. “Change is debilitating when done to us, but exhilarating when done by us,” says Matt Crocker, 2018 Chamber Board of Directors Chair. “Let’s be exhilarating, Manhattan.” Crocker started off the night by recapping the year which included plenty of change — from the retirement announcements of multiple big names around the community such as Chamber President and CEO Lyle Butler to the unveiling of…
TOPEKA — Payless ShoeSource appears headed for a second bankruptcy which could lead to the closure of all of its retail stores including a location in Manhattan. Multiple media outlets are reporting that the struggling shoe store, founded in Topeka, is heading back to bankruptcy court. It would be the second time in as many years. According to Reuters, Payless had been trying unsuccessfully to find a buyer and when it became apparent no deal could be reached, the store opted for liquidation. In 2017, Payless restructured its business with hopes it could survive its financial woes. It exited bankruptcy…
Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler made his first appearance on KMAN’s In Focus Friday.
WICHITA — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the owners of a huge cache of stolen items. The sheriff’s office received information Tuesday from the Sumner County Sheriff’s office that stolen property was being kept in a Wichita storage unit. Detectives found stolen property worth an estimated $170,000. Police say the property apparently was taken in at least eight burglaries in Winfield, Bel Aire, Wichita and other parts of Sedgwick County. The items included power tools, golf carts and cameras. Ten people, most from Wichita, have been arrested. Col. Greg Pollock said Thursday about $70,000 worth of property…
TOPEKA — Kansas has canceled two grants to private agencies for services for troubled families and plans to renegotiate the terms of another four grants for services for foster children. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced actions Thursday that undo key decisions made by the Department for Children and Families under former Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer. His administration’s grants were set to start July 1. Kelly said the grant process wasn’t open enough and the grants were flawed. One agency chosen to provide family preservation services earned low scores in an internal review. Kelly said existing contracts for family preservation services…
TOPEKA — The Kansas House has rejected a measure that would extend out the time it would take to fully fund the state’s obligations to current and future retirees. The Wichita Eagle reports that the House voted down the pension refinancing measure 36-87 on Thursday. Gov. Laura Kelly put forward the plan as part of her state budget proposal. Kelly contends that the current contribution levels aren’t affordable. Pension officials said the refinancing plan would save the state $770 million over the next five years. But over 30 years, Kansas would ultimately have to contribute $7.4 billion more than currently…
WICHITA — A Kansas man accused of threatening to “blow up” the White House has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison. A court filing shows Brandon Koss of Wichita was sentenced Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of willful interference with the protective work of a Secret Service agent. Prosecutors agreed to drop a felony charge of threatening the president after Koss pleaded guilty in December to the lesser offense. Koss admitted in his plea deal that he called the White House in January 2018, used a profanity when addressing the woman who answered the phone, and said: “I’m…