OKLAHOMA CITY — The United Church of Christ Kansas-Oklahoma Conference has paid off medical debts totaling more than $5.2 million for more than 3,200 families in the two states. Conference President Bobbie Henderson said Tuesday that the conference’s 7,000 members in 53 churches in Kansas and Oklahoma raised about $40,000 that was given to a non-profit debt company, which purchased the debts at a discount from the debt holders, then forgave them. A UCC spokesperson said the project began in 2019 and has now eliminated about $57 million in medical debt nationwide. The UCC said it does not know who…
Author: KMAN Staff
GREAT BEND, Kan. — Resistance to masks appears to be weakening in Kansas as the coronavirus surges, straining the capacity of the state’s hospitals. Gov. Laura Kelly’s latest effort to require face coverings takes effect Wednesday, although state law still allows the state’s 105 counties to opt out. Most counties did so the first time Kelly tried to require masks in July. But with the average new case numbers more than nine times higher now than they were then, there appears to be less pushback. Barton County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to immediately adopt a county-wide mask mandate. The commission…
WICHITA, Kan. — Election officials in Sedgwick County say those drop-off ballot boxes used in the Nov. 3 election were “wildly popular” and are here to stay. Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman told the Wichita Eagle that the secured boxes where voters could turn in their mail ballots at their convenience were a big success. She’s looking forward to using them for years to come. The drop-off boxes were part of the effort to help voters social distance during the coronavirus pandemic. Voters who dropped off their ballots there didn’t have to interact with anyone in person, negating the COVID-19 threat.
BELLE PLAINE, Kan. — The cancellation of the beloved Christmas Drawing in Norcatur, Kansas, is shining a spotlight on a global coronavirus pandemic that has reached deep into rural America. The notice blamed individuals who have COVID-19 and refuse to quarantine for not making it safe for the town to hold its Christmas celebration. It’s a decades-old tradition in which the whole town gets together for a potluck dinner. It features a plethora of donated meats, crafts and other goodies so every family can go home with prizes. Sheriff Ken Badsky estimated that 5% of county residents who should quarantine…
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 burglary in the 1400 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan on November 24, 2020, at approximately 8:38 a.m. Officers listed a 62-year-old female as the victim when it…
Wednesday’s program featured a conversation with USD 378 Riley County Superintendent Cliff Williams and USD 384 Blue Valley Superintendent John Cox. Downtown Manhattan Inc. Executive Director Gina Scroggs joined us to discuss Small Business Saturday and downtown holiday events coming up. Riley County K-State Research and Extension Nutrition, Health and Food Safety Agent Megan Dougherty also shared some Thanksgiving food safety tips with us.
Gas prices are the cheapest this Thanksgiving holiday week since 2015, according to AAA. The national average is at $2.10, with gas prices in Manhattan trending around $1.91 most places. Five years ago the national average was about a nickel cheaper at $2.05. This year, nearly half of all states are seeing gas prices anywhere from 50 to 75 cents cheaper than a year ago. AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano says typically, cheaper gas prices are an incentive for people to travel during a holiday weekend, but that’s not the case this year. “AAA forecasted a decrease in Thanksgiving travel year-over-year…
Sunset Zoo in Manhattan isn’t just a summertime trip, but also a winter outing as well. Melissa Kirkwood, zoo Marketing and Development Officer, says that the zoo is open throughout the entire year. She says the winter hours are a little shorter this year and tells KMAN one reason why. “Our keepers can do that extra sanitation with the exhibit and the animals while it’s still light out,” she says. “Giving the keepers the best opportunity possible to have good weather, good lighting, and safe environments is really important to us.” The winter hours are from 12 (noon) to 4PM each day.…
While the Pottawatomie County Commission unanimously voted to opt out of the statewide mask mandate on Monday, the decision did not come without opposition from county health officials. Leslie Campbell, Pottawatomie County health director, says she was disappointed by the commission’s decision and hopes efforts from other counties will help prevent spread caused by inter-county travel. “Hopefully having neighboring counties do masks – that everyone will just do it everywhere and be that responsible person and try to not go to social gatherings, stay home, stay home when they’re ill and do what they can to decrease the spread,” Campbell…
Ascension Via Christi has updated its visitation measures once again amid surging coronavirus case numbers locally. The Manhattan hospital announced Monday it will not allow visitors for inpatient medical/surgical and critical care patients or in the emergency department. Exceptions include one visitor per patient (none under the age of 18) for OB/Labor and Delivery patients, pediatric patients and in end-of-life situations. Other visitors will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Door screening will continue for everyone entering the hospital through limited entrances and at off-site clinics and therapy centers. Anyone who affirms they have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing…