Riley County has about $33,000 available to help eligible property owners repair or replace failing wastewater systems, but officials are struggling to get residents to apply for the assistance.

Amanda Webb, Riley County planning director, told county commissioners Thursday that the local environmental protection program has helped several property owners this funding cycle, including one who needed a system connection and another who needed a tank replacement.

The purpose of the grant program is to assist low- to moderate-income Riley County residents with repair or replacement of their failed residential private wastewater systems or components.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Riley County commissioners Thursday unanimously approved applying for nearly $970,000 in federal funding to support and expand the county’s recovery court program.

Megan Lewis, director of Riley County Community Corrections, presented the application for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Adult Treatment Court Program grant.

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Rob Voelker defeated incumbent John Ford in the Riley County Commission District 1 race, winning 3,936 votes to Ford’s 2,186, according to unofficial final election results.

Voelker, a Democrat, said the victory followed 18 months of campaigning and an effort to give voters an alternative in the race.

“I just feel pretty darn good,” Voelker said. “This has been an incredible effort, and we’ve had an incredible team. It’s not just me; it’s an entire cast of characters and group of people who were just very dedicated to this cause.”

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Riley County commissioners unanimously approved a revised Heartland grant application Monday that could provide additional funding for a program designed to attract new residents to the county.

Amanda Webb, planning and special projects director, presented the revision to increase the number of available incentives from 15 to 20. She said the county reached its target of 20 participants during the previous grant round and almost all recipients settled in Manhattan. One recipient moved to Ogden.

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Riley County commissioners are preparing to interview five candidates for the county administrator position, with in-person interviews scheduled for Dec. 2-4.

Human resources director Elizabeth Ward told commissioners Monday the proposed in-person interviews and other candidate activities will take place over three days. Commissioners reserved Dec. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m., Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hiring is a closed process.

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A 49-year-old Manhattan man was arrested Thursday on allegations of driving under the influence, aggravated battery and leaving the scene of an accident.

According to the RCPD, Derek Lee Roberts was arrested just before 5 p.m. in the 300 block of Shelle Road.

The arrest stems from a crash reported just before 4 p.m. near McCall Road and East Highway 24, where Roberts allegedly left the scene. A 24-year-old man was listed as the victim.

Roberts was issued no bond and is no longer confined in the Riley County Jail.

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A 20-year-old Fort Riley man was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash early Friday morning on I-70.

According to the RCPD, officers responded to the crash just after midnight near mile marker 318.

Police identified the driver as Danny Moises Martinez, who was driving a 2010 Mercedes-Benz when the vehicle rolled over.

Martinez was transported by Riley County EMS to Via Christi Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

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The victim in a Topeka man’s trial told a Riley County District Court jury the man had raped her on two occasions when she was under the influence and did not give consent.

LaMarques Atez Channel, 42, faces charges of aggravated criminal sodomy and two counts of rape against a 34-year-old woman he knows. The charges stem from incidents in 2019 and 2024.

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Evergy’s growing number of data center customers could help reduce pressure on electricity rates by covering a larger share of the utility’s fixed costs, a company executive told Riley County commissioners Thursday.

Jason Klindt, Evergy’s senior director of external affairs, discussed the growth of data centers, their potential economic benefits and how the utility seeks to protect other customers from the costs of serving the large facilities.

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The victim in a Topeka man’s trial told a Riley County District Court jury the man had raped her on two occasions when she was under the influence and did not give consent.

LaMarques Atez Channel, 42, faces charges of aggravated criminal sodomy and two counts of rape against a 34-year-old woman he knows. The charges stem from incidents in 2019 and 2024.

The post Victim testifies in trial saying Topeka man raped her appeared first on News Radio KMAN.