The Manhattan City Commission unanimously supported the first reading of an ordinance for a long-term downtown development plan. The Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan is a 25-year vision for policy and development in the downtown area, replacing the current plan adopted in 2000. It will serve as a guide for future housing, zoning and commercial activity in the district. Tuesday’s action amends the current Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. Commissioners were all in support of how flexible the plan is. “It’s not prescriptive but it’s kind of more imaginative and kind of emphasizing the importance of taking every individual project in…
Author: Peter Rice
The Flint Hills Discovery Center hosted their biggest event of the year this Saturday that saw hundreds of residents come to the museum and blue earth plaza. Local families took part in free admission to the discovery center, along with vendors, food trucks, live music, and other activities. See a photo gallery from the event below…
Sunset Zoo dedicated three new sculptures this weekend to commemorate longtime board members John and Karen Pence. Three large bronze sculptures, created by wildlife sculptor John Parsons, feature the Malayan tiger, Amur leopard, and sloth bear. Sunset Zoo Marketing and Development Officer Melissa Kirkwood says the couple were vital to growing the zoo… While the sculptures were being finished, both John Pence and Parsons passed away. The Pence family still wanted to see the completion of the unique gift to the zoo. Family members came from California and Indiana to see the newly dedicated sculptures… The sculptures are located along…
Plans for potential facility upgrades at various Manhattan parks drew mixed reactions from city commissioners Tuesday night. City officials offered the commission a first look at the Move MHK! master plan, which includes a possible indoor aquatics center and overhauls of City Park, Northeast Community Park and Northview Park. A facility in City Park with both aquatic and recreation components was estimated to cost around $37 million. Some of the other possible additions include an Olympic-sized competition pool, a warm water therapy pool, diving pool, a walking/jogging track, weight and cardio fitness areas, and more. Commissioners agreed that an indoor…
A protest was held on Kansas State’s campus Wednesday evening as demonstrators vocalized their anger with the U.S. involvement in the Israel-Palestine war. The K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, YDSA, also demanded earlier this week for K-State President Richard Linton to resign from the Binational Agricultural Research and Development foundation because he accepted various grants from Israel. K-State YDSA — which is a part of the Democratic Socialists of a America, the largest socialist organization in the United States — asked the university to disclose its investment portfolio from the year 2014 and onward. The organization said it wants…
Riley County Commissioners held their Monday meeting at the Ogden Community Center, as part of a quarterly effort by the commission to take their meetings to constituents outside of Manhattan. Ogden Mayor Robert Pence, Jr. provided commissioners a first update on the upcoming Riley Avenue corridor construction project at Monday’s meeting, which is estimated to be around $10 million, with around $2.5 million set aside from matching local grant funds. “We’re redoing running utilities underneath, replacing all that and taking it clear down to base. Several different ideas we’re floating around about out there, maybe some islands, separation of lanes,”…
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been working with the Kansas dairy industry to respond to the nationwide concerns of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle. The agency has also been closely following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s testing of the commercial milk supply, which on Friday confirmed the effectiveness of the pasteurization process. News Radio KMAN’s Peter Rice reports… On Friday, the FDA reaffirmed its confidence that the commercial milk supply is safe. The National Commercial Milk Sampling Study conducted over the last few weeks confirmed that pasteurization is effective in activating HPAI in milk. In…
Fort Riley celebrated the grand re-opening of the 1st Infantry Division Museum Friday, almost a year after reopening the nearby Cavalry museum. “The Big Red One” is the oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army, and their museum is once open again after being closed for 6 years due to various improvements. “Today, with the opening of the 1st Infantry Division Museum, we have reached the capstone of the museum redesign and remodel projects, begun nearly 15 years ago,” said Dr. Robert Smith, Director of the Fort Riley Museums complex. Renovations for both museums began in 2018 and…
The culture and traditions of the bayou will be coming to downtown Manhattan this weekend for the 7th annual Bayou Gator Craw Fest at Blue Earth Plaza. Bayou Festival CEO Que Purdy previewed the event… Purdy is also the executive chef at Mamadeaux’s Creole Cafe, and says the Gator/Craw Fest started with people wanting to celebrate authentic Louisiana culture. The event has grown dramatically over the years, but Purdy says it has maintained it’s family-oriented and philanthropic nature. Admission is free for kids under the age of 12 and for older attendees single, weekend, and VIP tickets are available. More…
Beloved local tiger Hakim recently underwent groundbreaking arthritis treatment at Sunset Zoo. The 17-year-old tiger was treated at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine by Dr. Trenton Shrader who is the assistant Professor of Exotic Pet, Wildlife, and Zoological Medicine and works closely with Sunset Zoo head keeper Caitlin Kenney. The 250 pound cat has osteoarthritis in both of his elbows, which caused him a significant amount of pain and mobility issues. Hakim received an injection of “Synovetin OA”, which has been used by veterinarians to treat thousands of dogs with arthritis. This was the first ever use…