On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Ascension Via Christi President and CEO Bob Copple. We also spoke with T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins. And in our final segment we spoke with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Warden Ben Jedlicka and R3 Coordinator Tanna Fanshier.
Author: KMAN Staff
PARK CITY, Kan. — After years of legal battles, construction has begun on a tribal casino near Wichita. The Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma opened a small casino in a trailer on Wednesday in Park City, on land where it plans to build a larger casino. For now, the tribe can offer only gaming devices like electronic Bingo games. The state has asked a federal court to set aside a decision that allows the Wyandotte Nation to operate a casino in Park City. The state’s lawsuit continues a decades-long dispute over the tribe’s legal authority to build a casino on the…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A federal judge has ruled a Kansas law that prohibits electioneering within a 250-foot buffer zone of a polling location is constitutional and does not infringe on the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter dismissed on Wednesday the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas against Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Johnson County election commissioner. In her ruling, Teeter cited a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Burson v. Freemen, that rejected a challenge to a similar Tennessee statute. Teeter noted the Kansas electioneering has also stood unchallenged for nearly 60…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Top Republican legislators have signed off on Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s request to extend a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic. Their action Wednesday came as the state set another record for COVID-19-related hospitalizations. Eight leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature, six of them Republicans, quickly and unanimously approved Kelly’s plan to extend the state of emergency until Nov. 15. Meanwhile, the state health department reported that had another 1,244 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, an increase of 2%, to bring the pandemic total to 63, 952. The state averaged a record 29.14 new…
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Lawrence City Commission has approved a campsite in a city park for the homeless, but made clear the move was temporary while community leaders seek other ways to address homelessness. The Journal-World reports that the commission voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a 6-month special event permit for a temporary homeless campground at Woody Park. The move comes as the Lawrence Community Shelter recently reduced its capacity from 125 to about 25 people in an effort to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The campsite will provide portable trailers, toilets, showers and social services for 20-25…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Students are urging Washburn University officials to reconsider their decision to cancel spring break in an effort to minimize COVID-19 transmission. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Washburn Student Government Association passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the administration to consider an alternative that would add three “mental health days” to the spring calendar. The student leaders said they were blindsided by last week’s announcement that students would go through 15 uninterrupted weeks of classes, with finals week one week earlier between May 1 and 7.
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board of education continued to hear from concerned parents on the current model of learning. Parents, as well as a student and staff member, voiced their concerns over the quality of education being given in the hybrid model. Manhattan High School Sophomore Wesley Zika says she is a straight A student and has never had difficulty with school, but the hybrid model has changed that. “Hybrid is not working for me. I began having multiple breakdowns every night and decided to talk to my mom about how much I am truly struggling socially, mentally, and emotionally,” says…
Fort Riley Museum Complex Director Dr. Robert Smith highlighted the ongoing renovations at the museum and spoke about upcoming events in November surrounding Veterans Day. Manhattan Public Library Development and Public Relations Coordinator Madison Ogle highlighted the library current operations status. Keri Haller, a 2nd grade teacher at Central Elementary in Wamego and country musician Jake Gill joined us to highlight the Country Music Teacher Classroom Initiative which Haller has been selected for.
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 theft in the 2200 block of McDowell Ave in Manhattan on October 7, 2020, at approximately 12:06 pm. Officers listed a 55-year-old male as the victim when it was…