TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposed budget embraces a proposal to phase in a $364 million increase in funding for public schools over four years. The Democratic governor also proposed Thursday to spend $14 million during the budget year beginning in July to expand the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy. As Kelly outlined her budget proposals to legislators, she warned against pursing changes in tax laws. Income tax relief is a top priority for Republican leaders. The education proposal is the State Board of Education’s plan for complying with a Kansas Supreme Court order last year. Kelly…
Author: KMAN Staff
MANHATTAN — A Junction City man has been bound over for trial in Riley County for the killing of a confidential drug informant whose body was found by deer hunters. A judge has found sufficient evidence for Steven Meredith to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of 48-year-old Carrie Jones. The Manhattan Mercury reports that witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing this week that Meredith believed Jones might reveal information about him and others in a 2013 drug-related case. One witness testified that Meredith told her that he and another man…
ANDOVER — Members of the Andover Public Library board are considering a request to move children’s books that include transgender characters out of the kids section. Andover resident Marci Laffen says the books should be moved to the adult section of the library, or at least in the young adult section. She cited the books “George,” “Lily and Dunkin,” and “I am Jazz,” which all have transgender characters. The Wichita Eagle reports library board member Blake Cooper said Laffen’s written request said the books were part of a sexual revolution agenda and indoctrination of children. About 55 people attended a…
TOPEKA — New Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is telling Kansas legislators that the state faces an emergency in its child welfare system and is “completely unprepared” for the next national economic downturn. Kelly outlined an agenda Wednesday evening for the Republican-dominated Legislature that includes increased spending on public schools and expanding the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy. She is on a collision course with top Republicans because they want to cut state income taxes. Kelly spent nearly six minutes of her 37-minute State of the State address Wednesday night attempting to make a case that expanding Medicaid will help…
WASHINGTON — Former Kansas Rep. Kevin Yoder has joined a Washington lobbying firm in which one of former Vice President Dan Quayle’s sons is a partner. HHQ Ventures announced Wednesday that the former Republican congressman from Kansas is now a partner in the firm. Another partner is Ben Quayle. He is the younger of the former vice president’s two sons and a former GOP congressman from Arizona. Yoder represented the 3rd District of the Kansas City area from 2011 through 2018, losing his bid for a fifth term to Democrat Sharice Davids. Ben Quayle said Yoder’s “deep knowledge of policy”…
OVERLAND PARK — A black student is suing a Kansas school district, alleging that she was told she couldn’t perform with a school dance team during a school event because her skin was “too dark.” Camille Sturdivant alleges in a lawsuit against the Blue Valley School District that she suffered racial discrimination and was ostracized from dance team events after she complained about how she was treated because of her race. The Kansas City Star reports Sturdivant graduated in May 2018 from Blue Valley Northwest High School, where she was one of two black students on the 14-member Dazzlers dance…
Officers responded to an injury accident at the intersection of Kimball and Wreath Ave in Manhattan on January 16, 2019, at approximately 7:05 AM. When officers arrived on scene they found a bicyclist, Dillan Stelly, 14, of Manhattan, had collided with a 2017 Ford E 450, driven by, John Dailey, 74, of St. George. Stelly was transported to Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries. Officers filed a report for indecent solicitation of a child in Manhattan on January 16, 2019, at approximately 3:40 PM. Officers listed a 15-year-old female as the victim and an 18-year-old male as the suspect. Due…
From K-State Athletics Facing its Big 12-high sixth Associated Press top-25 opponent this season, Kansas State never trailed on Wednesday night as the Wildcats picked up their first win against a ranked opponent in the 2018-19 season with an 87-69 victory over (11/11) Texas on Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum. K-State (11-6, 2-3 Big 12) has defeated an AP top-25 opponent in 13 straight seasons. With the win, the Wildcats ended a nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents dating back to the 2017-18 season. This was the highest ranked opponent K-State has defeated since downing 10th-ranked Texas Tech in Lubbock…
From K-State Athletics Senior Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade combined for 45 points, as Kansas State led wire-to-wire in knocking off its second consecutive Top 25 opponent on the road with a 74-61 win over No. 20/19 Oklahoma in front of 7,597 fans at the Lloyd Noble Center on Wednesday night. It marked the first time in nearly seven years that the Wildcats have defeated back-to-back Top 25 opponents on the road since wins at No. 9 Baylor (57-56) and No. 3 Missouri (78-68) on February 18 and 21, 2012. Brown posted his third consecutive 20-point contest – a…
If you’re looking to enroll in Medicare for the first time and aren’t sure what to do, the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging is sponsoring a workshop for you. The Answers for Older Kansans “New to Medicare” workshop will be held in the Flint Hills Center at 401 Houston Street on Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Geared toward Kansans soon turning 65 as well as those helping older relatives with insurance and finances, participants will have the opportunity to meet with experts and get help navigating the “Medicare maze.” “Those who have attended these…