Shopping carts of belongings abandoned on the street. Tents pitched on trails and in tunnels. Liquor bottles left on park tables. More people facing homelessness are coming to Manhattan, some local officials say, but when they get here they may face higher housing costs and find that they don’t qualify for services. That can leave already desperate folks with even fewer choices. When people can’t find housing, many turn to public spaces, which creates additional challenges for local businesses. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.
Author: Megan Moser
A USD 383 school board member is suing her former employer, the state department of education, in federal court for forcing her to resign, saying it was a violation of her First Amendment right to free speech. Katie Allen, who is on the Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education, drew criticism earlier this month after commenting “well deserved” in response to a Facebook post with a quote from political influencer Charlie Kirk following his killing. On Sept. 15, the Kansas Department of Education said Allen, who had been a research analyst, was no longer employed there. Allen on Sept. 16 gave up…
An investigator in K-State’s civil rights office is drawing criticism for controversial social media posts in support of Palestine. Derron Borders, an investigative specialist in Civil Rights and Title IX office at K-State, reportedly made pro-Hamas posts on social media that critics say are extremist and anti-Semitic. “F*** your fake outrage at Palestine when you’ve literally been silent about the violence perpetuated by Israel against Palestine every day,” Borders wrote on the day of the invasion by Hamas, which was Oct. 7, 2023. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Kansas State University news.
Falcon Land LLC, a company planning a feedlot northeast of Riley, said in a letter Thursday they have decided not to move forward with the project. Founders Jacob Hagenmaier and Dan Thomson said in the letter their goal was to unite and give back to the community. “Being good neighbors and community members is core to our values,” they wrote. “As such, we’ve made the voluntary decision to not to move forward with our investment in this location but hope to find opportunities with progressive agricultural communities that share our values to build future leaders and opportunities.” To view the…
Neighbors say they are not happy about a proposed cattle feeding operation near the town of Riley. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment last week issued public notice that Falcon Land LLC has filed for a federal water pollution control permit to start a “confined animal feeding operation” (CAFO) on its property at the southeast intersection of 8400 Road and Union Road. The proposal is for a facility with up to 999 head of cattle. By state law, it’s not a feedlot if it’s below 1,000 animals. Operations with more than 1,000 animals at one time require additional measures…
A Fort Riley unit is preparing for deployment to Europe, officials confirmed Wednesday. The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, known as the Devil Brigade, will replace the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, as part of a regular rotation of forces to support the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners, according to a statement from Army officials. “True to the division’s mission, the Devil Brigade maintains a ready force posture and deploys in an expeditionary manner to build and sustain readiness, deter adversary aggression, and reassure regional allies,” said Maj. Guster Cunningham III,…
Champion Teamwear plans to close its Manhattan operation, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. Champion officials declined to comment and didn’t respond to email, but sources say the company, which includes the headquarters of that division as well as a production facility, is set to close later this year and move some operations to a similar facility in Johnson County. The company has not announced plans or given a timeline for the change. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.
A Chinese company owns 160 acres of farmland just a mile and a half from Fort Riley as the crow flies. Is that a problem? President Donald Trump thinks so. The land is three parcels near I-70 in Geary County, according to records obtained by The Mercury. The plots are unassuming — some fields, greenhouses, outbuildings and a small house. But the company that owned the land since 2002, Syngenta Seeds, is part of a corporation with a net worth of $30 billion and was involved in a number of lawsuits, including a class-action claim over genetically modified corn seeds…
By Megan Moser Despite complaints from some residents that they were blindsided about the amount of their special taxes, Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday approved levying special assessments for 14 benefit districts in Manhattan. These are areas in which work was done to improve a district, and now the city government is levying special assessments against the benefiting properties. The sites are Candlewood Shopping Center turn lane street improvements; The Highlands at Grand Mere, Unit Two — sanitary sewer, street, and water; Stagg Hill Golf Course waterline improvements; Elijah Addition — sanitary sewer, street, and water; Henry Addition — sanitary sewer,…
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., on Thursday advocated for Kansas and for his home base of Manhattan during the confirmation hearings for U.S. secretary of agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins. Moran was one of several senators on the Senate Agriculture Committee asking questions of Rollins, who is Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Agriculture. Moran brought up the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, the federal animal disease lab in Manhattan. The USDA oversees that lab. The full story can be read at The Mercury. For more local news, click here.