A mediator will join negotiations between the Junction City Education Association and USD 475 after the Geary County school district declared an impasse regarding 2026-27 teacher contracts. JCEA officials said Friday in a release to The Mercury that mediation sessions are scheduled for Sept. 28 and Sept. 30. They said USD 475 chose to file a declaration of impasse independently after the parties did not reach an agreement on compensation. “JCEA did not agree to or sign a joint declaration of impasse,” JCEA officials said. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Author: Paul Parker
Nearly two dozen students were moved to safety Tuesday afternoon after their school bus became disabled on Interstate 70 in Wabaunsee County during extreme heat. The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified at about 3:31 p.m. of an occupied school bus that had broken down near mile marker 332 in the westbound lanes of I-70. The bus had 24 students aboard and no air conditioning, with temperatures around 110 degrees. Deputies responded to the scene, while Wabaunsee County Clerk Abby Amick coordinated two transportation vans to help get the students off the bus and out of the heat.…
The Riley County Police Department is investigating two theft by deception cases reported Tuesday in which scammers allegedly tricked Walgreens employees into loading gift cards without receiving payment. The first report was filed at approximately 6:35 p.m. June 16 in the 300 block of Bluemont Avenue. Walgreens was listed as the victim after two unknown female suspects reportedly convinced an employee to load gift cards without payment. The total estimated loss in that case was $1,596.95. A second report was filed at approximately 8:09 p.m. in the 2700 block of Anderson Avenue. In that incident, Walgreens again was listed as…
Kansas State sophomore Selva Prabhu was crowned the men’s triple jump champion on Friday during the final day of men’s competition at the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, as the men’s team finished in eighth place with 30 points. The 30 points is the most scored at the outdoor championship in school history, while eighth is the highest team placing. The last time the Wildcat men placed in the top 10 was 1998, when the K-State men landed in 10th place with 25 points. “Really proud of the efforts,” head coach Travis Geopfert said in a statement.…
A St. George man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on multiple stalking and harassment-related charges, according to the Riley County Police Department. Officers filed a report at approximately 8:14 a.m. May 26 in Manhattan for four counts of stalking, two counts of harassment by telecommunications device and two counts of criminal trespass. A 30-year-old woman was listed as the victim, while a known 37-year-old man was identified as the suspect. Nicholas Llewellen Hawes, 37, of St. George, was arrested at approximately 1:45 p.m. May 27 at the Riley County Law Enforcement Center, on four counts of stalking, two counts of harassment…
A Linn man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a burglary warrant stemming from a 2023 case, according to authorities. Brian Odell LaCamera, 39, of Linn, was taken into custody at approximately 12:12 p.m. May 20th at the Riley County Law Enforcement Center. LaCamera was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for burglary. The arrest stems from an original report filed in November 2023. LaCamera was issued a total bond of $25,000 and remains confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of this report.
Three people were arrested Tuesday following a traffic stop and search warrant connected to an ongoing drug distribution investigation in Riley County, according to the Riley County Police Department. Officers conducted a traffic stop at approximately 12:30 p.m. April 28th, 2026, near Irene Circle and Davis Drive. As part of the investigation, a search warrant was later executed in the 800 block of Colorado Street. Officers filed reports for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia in the human body, possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, possession of marijuana and distribution of opiate, opium, narcotic or…
Police are investigating two separate fraud cases reported Monday in Manhattan, with combined losses totaling nearly $34,000, according to the Riley County Police Department. Officers first filed a report at approximately 2:26 p.m. March 30th. A 22-year-old woman reported that an unknown suspect stole her identity and accumulated debt in her name. The estimated loss associated with that case is $20,000. Later that evening, at approximately 7:07 p.m., officers filed another fraud report. A 34-year-old woman reported that an unknown suspect took out multiple loans in her name. The estimated loss in that case is $13,900. Anyone with information related…
As Riley County officials map out the budget framework for a new county administrator position, questions swirl over how to account for such reorganization in the 2027 budget cycle. Budget and finance officer Brittany Phillips on Monday asked commissioners for direction on who should develop the operational budget as staff prepare early projections for the budget calendar. “If I can at least draft something to a department that’s of a similar size, then that can give us something to kind of work with through the budget process, instead of just throwing … ‘Here’s $200,000 for your three Cs, figure it…
Manhattan police are investigating a series of vehicle thefts and attempted thefts reported over the weekend, many involving similar damage to steering columns, according to the Riley County Police Department. Officers filed seven separate reports between March 20th and March 22nd across the city, with total reported losses exceeding $40,000. On March 22nd, officers filed a report at approximately 10:26 a.m. in the 700 block of Pebblebrook Circle after a 26-year-old man reported his 2018 Kia Soul had been stolen. The vehicle, valued at approximately $10,200, was later recovered. On March 21st, officers filed multiple reports, including an incident at…