Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN- The city commission in Manhattan voted on Tuesday night to add sexual orientation as a protected class to the city’s anti-discrimination hiring policy.

In the final three minutes of a 4-hour meeting, Mayor Karen McCulloh proposed legislation to direct city manager Rohn Fehr to include sexual orientation to the city’s list of protected class.

The commission approved the proposal with a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Wynn Butler abstained.

The Manhattan-Ogden School District, Fort Riley and Kansas State University already have sexual orientation as a protected class in their hiring policies.

 

Tonight a weather system will approach the area from the southwest and bring additional rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall to areas generally south of a line from Emporia to Lawrence tonight and Wednesday. A flash flood watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday for much of east central Kansas (Green shaded area). Much of northeast and north central Kansas will remain dry with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Highs on Wednesday will only reach the lower to mid 70s.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 60. Southeast winds up to 5 mph.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Friday: Warmer. Partly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. South winds 5 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.

Monday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows around 70.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s.

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Local leaders are waiting on the U.S. Army to make their announcement concerning future troop reductions as they go from 490,000 down to 450,000 soldiers nationwide.

The potential impact on Fort Riley is not yet known, although some at the federal and state level have expressed recent confidence any troop cuts would not be substantial at the post. But…..no one knows for sure right now.

Speaking during the Tuesday night Junction City Commission meeting, City Manager Allen Dinkel stated, “We’re expecting this week, and again the dates may change a little bit, but soon an announcement from the Army regarding the staffing at Fort Riley. When it happens I think it’ll trigger a lot of things. ” Dinkel added, “It will trigger some discussion about housing, it’ll trigger a lot of discussions. And again they’re saying may be this week. But again, that could be next week, could be five months from now. But at least that’s the plan right now.”

The Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council John Armbrust recently confirmed the announcement would not come until after the Fourth of July.

The Junction City Commission has scheduled an August 18 public hearing  to address the possible condemnation of the former Denny’s Restaurant building at 1032 South Washington Street.

After Denny’s closed other restaurants occuppied the building, but for many years it was the home to Denny’s. But on Dec. 1, 2013 the building burned, and has been vacant since.

City officials noted during discussion Tuesday night that there was a lot of damage to the building, it was unstable, and structurally very unsafe.

WASHINGTON (AP) – A bill allowing all veterans to receive official identification cards through the Department of Veterans Affairs is on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk.

The House approved the bill unanimously late Tuesday. Supporters say the bill should minimize the threat of identity theft and make it easier for veterans to prove their military service.

Under current law, some veterans who do not receive VA health services must carry paper documents to prove their veteran status. A form used by many veterans contains Social Security numbers and other details that advocates warn could put veterans at risk of identity theft.

Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida called the bill an example of what Congress can accomplish when lawmakers put partisanship aside and address the country’s needs.

OTTAWA COUNTY -The Kansas Highway Patrol has confirmed that the inmate that escaped from the Ottawa County Jail late Tuesday morning is back in custody.

Troopers were informed that the inmate had been captured just after 3p.m.

He was wanted on two warrants out of Salina and escaped from custody just after 11:30 a.m.

He was being held in the lobby of the Ottawa County Jail shortly after being arrested, when he escaped.

After initially giving chase, Ottawa County authorities contacted KHP troopers for assistance.

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OTTAWA COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Ottawa County are searching for a suspect who fled from the county jail.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, who is assisting with the search, the suspect is a white male reportedly wearing a white shirt, orange or red shorts and possibly has a bandage on one hand.

He had been originally booked into the Ottawa County jail for two warrants out of Saline County before fleeing from facility, according to the KHP.

Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.

 

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran has announced that he will visit Junction City as part of his Kansas Listening Tour on Saturday, July 11.

Area residents are encouraged to attend and share feedback with the Senator on critical issues facing Kansas and the nation.

The Senator will be at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday.

The Geary USD 475 Board of Education has approved five-year contracts for bus service with JC Transportation and B & B Busing for 2015-2020.

According to the school district’s Director of Business Operations, Bill Clark, the move from an annual contract to a five year arrangment is projected to save USD 475 $40,000 per year over the life of the contract.

For the next year alone the projected cost of transporting students and staff has been calculated at $2,344,394, down from the $2,595,000 cost this past year. Other reasons for the reduction beyond the new contract include a reduction of five routes at Fort Riley, and no more maintenance costs on activity buses for the district.

In the future USD 475 will contract the activity bus service through B & B Busing.  Two new buses will be provided for that service, and the title on the two current used buses will also be transferred to B & B Busing.

The Geary County Commission has appointed longtime farm producer Gary Schellhorn to a position on the Junction City – Geary County Metropolitan Planning Commission.

Schellhorn was appointed by the governing body to serve a four-year term.

The American Red Cross will sponsor a Junction City Community Blood Drive at the Municipal Building at 700 North Jefferson Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17.

The hours on July 16 will be 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on July 17 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

To schedule an appointment go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS ( 733-2767 ).