Riley County commissioners this afternoon held a special meeting to close the county offices to the public. The offices will be closed for the next 14 calendar days effective tomorrow at 8 a.m. This also includes the health department. The only building excluded from closure is the county transfer station. County employees can still come to work pending their department heads. The commission’s authorization also allows employees to use administrative leave during this time. The commission still plans on having their open meeting tomorrow morning, but have not yet made a decision for future meetings. Also during the meeting, the…
Author: KMAN Staff
Universities and colleges across the United States are shutting down and moving online in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, and Kansas State University is anticipating losing tens of millions of dollars in revenue. K-State President Richard Myers said the universities “hastily” gathered figures estimate a $21 million impact as a result of ceasing in-person operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He spoke during a digital meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday. KSU also announced Wednesday that resident students who left the dorms since Spring Break will receive prorated refunds of their room and meal plan payments…
An old automotive service station across the street from Johnny Kaw at Manhattan City Park is going to get a new look. The Manhattan City Commission Tuesday voted to rezone a 22,500 square foot area adjacent to the park to allow for a planned restaurant, drinking establishment and bakery. Unanimously approved by the City Commission, the old service station at 1026 Poyntz Avenue will transform into Parkside Station by the end of 2020. “It looks like a great development,” says Mayor Pro Tempore Wynn Butler. “It looks like it fits perfect, a good thing to have next to City Park.”…
Manhattan and Wamego’s local hospitals are limiting elective non-emergent services, as part of COVID-19 preparedness efforts. In a statement released Wednesday morning, Bob Copple, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan said “there is no substitute for that independent medical judgement, but it’s critical that we all be good stewards of our healthcare resources.” Surgeons and other physicians who perform procedures at Ascension Via Christi hospitals and other ambulatory sites of care are being asked to postpone elective, non-urgent cases such as bariatric, plastic joint replacement and others for 45 days or more. Patients scheduled for non-emergent procedures should…
Americans are looking to maintain as much normalcy as possible amid nationwide closures in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic and so are local governments. Amid the uncertainty, Manhattan is exploring ways to accommodate comments from members of the public if city commission meetings are moved entirely online. “I don’t think it’s about limiting the public access,” says Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers. “It’s about coordinating their comments to you all and how we can do that without requiring them to show up and requiring staff to be here to actually make it real time.” The meetings would be conducted…
K-State Biosecurity Research Institute Director Stephen Higgs spoke with KMAN about the development of potential COVID-19 vaccines. Higgs says there are vaccines currently in the works, but their development will likely take some time. According to Higgs, there is vaccine research that has already passed the animal-testing stage, but people shouldn’t expect it to be available any time soon. Higgs also spoke to KMAN about the importance of social distancing when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19. He says staying away from other people is particularly important because those with the virus may not show any symptoms. He…
USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid and board member Brandy Santos joined us for a discussion on how the district is responding to Gov. Laura Kelly’s announcement to close schools to in-person learning for the remainder of the school year. The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. to go over some recommendations from the Kansas State Department of Education. Manhattan Christian College President Kevin Ingram joined us to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting his campus as they switch to all online learning.
The Riley County Health Department is offering a service in conjunction with Ascension Via Christi hospital for those who may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. RCHD Director Julie Gibbs says those who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms can call a phone number where health professionals will advise them on what to do based on what they are experiencing. The phone number for the screening service is 785-323-6400. Gibbs is urging people to call this number before contacting their healthcare provider. There are currently zero confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Riley County.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has banned home and business evictions until May 1 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly signed an executive order Tuesday that she says is designed to mitigate the financial fallout for many Kansans during the spread of the virus. The order, which the governor’s office did not announce, requires financial institutions to suspend business and home evictions. Earlier Tuesday, the governor signed another executive order ordering the state’s K-12 schools to close and move all teaching online for the rest of the spring semester. The orders came after the number of positive COVID-19 cases in…
Catholic churches have joined the long list of businesses and organizations to cancel events and halt certain operations in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Catholic Diocese of Salina, which includes the St. Isidore’s, St. Thomas More and Seven Dolors parishes in Manhattan, announced Tuesday that all masses have been canceled with the exception of funeral masses. Kerry Ninemire, a pastor at Seven Dolors, says there are plans to offer mass over the internet. .Ninemire also recommended watching masses online at wordonfire.org. Financial giving to the church will remain available online and through the mail, but Ninemire…