Riley County commissioners gave consensus to share the cost of a re-alignment study for Marlatt Avenue with the City of Manhattan. City Assistant Director of Public Works Randy DeWitt and City Engineer Brian Johnson say they are preparing a RFQ for the design of a major water line to the water tower on Marlatt. With the pending re-alignment, the city is uncertain where to construct the water line. “What this provides for us is an opportunity to collaborate with the county, not so much for the water line project specifically. When we design this water line it seems appropriate to…
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWRENCE — The developer of a seven-story hotel adjacent to the University of Kansas has pleaded guilty in a scheme to collect fraudulent tax refunds from the city of Lawrence. The U.S. attorney’s office says 54-year-old Thomas Fritzel pleaded guilty Thursday to one county of criminal conspiracy. At issue is a Tax Increment Financing district that the city established to reimburse Fritzel for development costs for the Oread Hotel. The indictment alleges that Fritzel and others defrauded the city by seeking reimbursements for hundreds of transactions that were not generated within the redevelopment district.
WICHITA — The suspension of production of the Boeing 737 Max is taking a growing toll on suppliers in Kansas as aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems is laying off 2,800 employees at its Wichita, Kansas, facility. Wichita bills itself as the “Air Capital of the World” for its concentration of aerospace manufacturers, which includes more than 40 aerospace companies provide parts and services for production of that aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems is the city’s largest employer and earlier this week asked employees if they would take voluntary buyouts. Dozens of smaller aerospace companies, mostly clustered in south-central Kansas, are also beginning…
Officers filed a report for unlawful possession/transmission of a visual depiction of a child in Manhattan on January 9, 2020, at approximately 7:45 AM. Officers listed a 15-year-old male and a 14-year-old female as both the victim and the suspects. Due to the nature of the crime reported, no additional information will be released. Officers filed a report for theft in the 300 block of S Walnut St. in Ogden on January 9, 2020, at approximately 11:55 AM. Officers listed a 66-year-old male as the victim when he reported an unknown suspect took his 10×5 single axel tow-behind trailer. The…
Friday’s program featured a conversation with Kansas State University President Richard Myers.
Record-setting year Manhattan Regional Airport had a banner year in 2019. Although 2018 brought a record number of enplanements to Manhattan Regional Airport, Jessie Romo, the airport’s director, says 2019 brought even more. He says this doesn’t include charter planes, which brings the amount of enplanements in 2019 to over 80,000. Manhattan Regional Airport also saw an 11 percent increase in airplane-seating capacity for passengers. Parking improvements Now that 2020 is here, improvements to the Manhattan Regional Airport parking lot will soon begin. Airport Director Jessie Romo explains some of the work that will be done. Although a specific start…
Capt. Peter Strickland from the Fort Riley Tax Center previewed a Jan. 21 ribbon cutting and opening of the tax center for tax filing season. Fort Riley Transition Services Manager Mitch Foley highlighted the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program. Manhattan Regional Airport Director Jesse Romo joined us to recap a record-breaking 2019 at the airport which saw more than 77,000 enplanements. We also previewed the upcoming parking lot construction project which will begin later in 2020.
Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning Thursday in Topeka announced a bipartisan agreement to expand Medicaid in the state. The proposal, according to Kelly, is comprised of elements of her 2019 plan as well as Republican expansion plans in the House and Senate. Under the deal, those earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for coverage — which past estimates claim would extend health care availability to 150,000 Kansans. Currently, those earning under 38 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible. If passed, expansion goes into effect January 2021. “Many,…
Officers filed a report for aggravated assault in the 1100 block of Bluemont Ave. in Manhattan on January 8, 2020, at approximately 8:45 AM. Officers listed a 35-year-old male as the victim when he reported a known 23-year-old male suspect waved a gun at him.
Manhattan officials are hoping the legislature will explore new ways to generate money for bioscience districts. City administration and representatives met with Manhattan area state legislators Tuesday in Manhattan City Hall to discuss the city’s legislative priorities for the 2020 session. A quorum of current commissioners as well as newly-elected commissioners attended the luncheon with 66th district Representative Sydney Carlin, 67th district Representative Tom Phillips and Manhattan State Senator Tom Hawk. The city proposed the legislature expand tax increment financing laws to allow cities to receive a portion of income tax money from the state from newly created bioscience jobs…