The Traffic Division was able to get the three remaining signals (east, south, and west) into "red flash" mode at the intersection of Marlatt Avenue and Tuttle Creek Boulevard/U.S. 24.They were also able to get the street lights operational so there will be a fully lighted intersection at night.

The City is soliciting quotes for a temporary signal and span wire to get the traffic signal back into full operation as soon as possible.Until then, this intersection will remain a 4-way stop with the following configuration: No left turns from southbound U.S. 24 to eastbound Marlatt.• No left turns from eastbound Marlatt to northbound U.S. 24.• Left turns ARE allowed from northbound U.S. 24 to westbound Marlatt and from westbound Marlatt to southbound U.S. 24.The City also will reach out to start the permanent replacement process for the traffic pole and mast arm, but this could take months to complete.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has installed stop signs at the intersection of U.S. 24/Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Marlatt Avenue in Manhattan, following a crash that damaged the existing traffic signal system.

KDOT said that motorists are advised to utilize the intersection as a four-way stop sign-controlled intersection until repairs can be made. The anticipated timeline is approximately 3 weeks, conditions permittin

UPDATE from City of Manhattan:The Traffic Division was able to get the three remaining signals (east, south, and west) into "red flash" mode at the intersection of Marlatt Avenue and Tuttle Creek Boulevard/U.S. 24.They were also able to get the street lights operational so there will be a fully lighted intersection at night.The City is soliciting quotes for a temporary signal and span wire to get the traffic signal back into full operation as soon as possible.Until then, this intersection will remain a 4-way stop with the following configuration: No left turns from southbound U.S. 24 to eastbound Marlatt.• No left turns from eastbound Marlatt to northbound U.S. 24.• Left turns ARE allowed from northbound U.S. 24 to westbound Marlatt and from westbound Marlatt to southbound U.S. 24.The City also will reach out to start the permanent replacement process for the traffic pole and mast arm, but this could take months to complete.----The Kansas Department of Transportation has installed stop signs at the intersection of U.S. 24/Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Marlatt Avenue in Manhattan, following a crash that damaged the existing traffic signal system.KDOT said that motorists are advised to utilize the intersection as a four-way stop sign-controlled intersection until repairs can be made. The anticipated timeline is approximately 3 weeks, conditions permittin<figure>
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Traffic measures at Marlatt Ave. - Tuttle Creek Boulevard / U.S. 24

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating alleged fraud and theft in Riley County.

Just after 8:30a.m. March 7, officers filed a report of fraud, theft, and criminal use of a financial card in the 1100 block of Garden Way, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

An 86-year-old man reported people entrusted with his accounts were using them to make fraudulent purposes. 

Total loss associated with the report is approximately $10,000 and dates back to at least August of 2024.&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating alleged fraud and theft in Riley County.Just after 8:30a.m. March 7, officers filed a report of fraud, theft, and criminal use of a financial card in the 1100 block of Garden Way, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.An 86-year-old man reported people entrusted with his accounts were using them to make fraudulent purposes. Total loss associated with the report is approximately $10,000 and dates back to at least August of 2024.&nbsp;

RCPD: 86-year-old lost $10,000 to alleged fraud

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report March 10

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 1p.m. Sunday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Chevy Trax driven by&nbsp; William J.&nbsp;Bartunek, 19, Lincoln, Nebraska, was southbound on K113 at Top of the World Drive. The SUV drifted right onto the shoulder and struck a southbound bicycle driven by Eugene Thomas Rice, 54, Manhattan.

EMS transported Rice to Via Christi. Bartunek and a passenger in the SUV were not injured. Rice was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 1p.m. Sunday in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Chevy Trax driven by&nbsp; William J.&nbsp;Bartunek, 19, Lincoln, Nebraska, was southbound on K113 at Top of the World Drive. The SUV drifted right onto the shoulder and struck a southbound bicycle driven by Eugene Thomas Rice, 54, Manhattan.EMS transported Rice to Via Christi. Bartunek and a passenger in the SUV were not injured. Rice was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Manhattan bicyclist hospitalized after struck by SUV

The National Weather Service said that critical fire weather conditions are forecast for the area Monday PM.

○ Winds: SW 10-20 mph gusting up to 30 mph. A cold front moves in from northwest Tues. morning, shifting to the NW at 10 to 20 mph sustained.

○ Fuels: Despite the rain last week, grasses remain dormant and cured

● When: Monday afternoon and evening. The lowest RH values are expected between noon and 8pm.

The National Weather Service said that critical fire weather conditions are forecast for the area Monday PM.● Hazards details:&nbsp;Temperatures: Highs 76 to 80°○ Winds: SW 10-20 mph gusting up to 30 mph. A cold front moves in from northwest Tues. morning, shifting to the NW at 10 to 20 mph sustained.○ Humidity: Minimum RH 15% to 20%○ Fuels: Despite the rain last week, grasses remain dormant and cured● Where: Entire area.● When: Monday afternoon and evening. The lowest RH values are expected between noon and 8pm.

Fire weather warning issued for Monday

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report March 9

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The State Conservation Commission will hold its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the USDA Service Center, 3705 Miller Parkway A in Manhattan. A virtual option will also be available.

The SCC consists of five elected commissioners;&nbsp;two appointed members representing the Kansas State University Agriculture Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service; and two appointed members representing the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The KDA Division of Conservation consults with the SCC to protect and enhance Kansas' natural resources through the development, implementation and maintenance of policies, guidelines and programs designed to assist local governments and individuals in conserving the state's renewable resources.

The meeting is a regularly scheduled board meeting and is open to the public. For more information about the meeting, to access the virtual link, or to request a copy of the agenda, please contact the KDA–DOC at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.doc@ks.gov">kda.doc@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-564-6620.

Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The State Conservation Commission will hold its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the USDA Service Center, 3705 Miller Parkway A in Manhattan. A virtual option will also be available.The SCC consists of five elected commissioners;&nbsp;two appointed members representing the Kansas State University Agriculture Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service; and two appointed members representing the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.The KDA Division of Conservation consults with the SCC to protect and enhance Kansas' natural resources through the development, implementation and maintenance of policies, guidelines and programs designed to assist local governments and individuals in conserving the state's renewable resources.The meeting is a regularly scheduled board meeting and is open to the public. For more information about the meeting, to access the virtual link, or to request a copy of the agenda, please contact the KDA–DOC at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.doc@ks.gov">kda.doc@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-564-6620.Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

State conservation commission meeting coming up

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741454193616.png" alt="" />
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Riley County Arrest Report March 8

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in January. This is unchanged from 3.8% in December and an increase from 3.1% in January 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.3% in January, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.

The unemployment rate in Riley County remains steady at 3.2 percent from 3.1 percent in December. The rate in Geary County fell from 5 to 4.7 percent last month. Wabaunsee County saw an increase from 2.7 in December to 4.5 percent in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 3,600 from December. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,600 over the month, while government decreased by 1,000. The largest job gains in the private sector were in trade, transportation, and utilities (+800 jobs) and manufacturing (+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in leisure and hospitality (-3,800 jobs).

Since January 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 7,800. This change is due to an increase of 7,200 private sector jobs and an increase of 600 government jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741360144855.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in January. This is unchanged from 3.8% in December and an increase from 3.1% in January 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.3% in January, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.The unemployment rate in Riley County remains steady at 3.2 percent from 3.1 percent in December. The rate in Geary County fell from 5 to 4.7 percent last month. Wabaunsee County saw an increase from 2.7 in December to 4.5 percent in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 3,600 from December. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,600 over the month, while government decreased by 1,000. The largest job gains in the private sector were in trade, transportation, and utilities (+800 jobs) and manufacturing (+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in leisure and hospitality (-3,800 jobs).Since January 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 7,800. This change is due to an increase of 7,200 private sector jobs and an increase of 600 government jobs.

Jobless rate remains steady in Riley County

DALLAS (AP) — Once again, most Americans will set their clocks forward by one hour this weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daylight-saving-time-spring-forward-sleep-health-5d7b96c3bc1ed243dd6e41b17ec8ee25">losing perhaps a bit of sleep</a>&nbsp;but gaining more glorious sunlight in the evenings as the days warm into summer.

How we came to move the clock forward in the spring, and then push it back in the fall, is a tale that spans over more than a century — one that’s driven by two world wars, mass confusion at times and a human desire to bask in the sun for a long as possible.

There’s been plenty of debate over the practice, but about 70 countries — about 40% of those across the globe — currently use what Americans call daylight saving time.

While springing the clocks forward “kind of jolts our system,” the extra daylight gets people outdoors, exercising and having fun, says Anne Buckle, web editor at timeanddate.com, which features information on time, time zones and astronomy.

“The really, really awesome advantage is the bright evenings, right?” she says. “It is actually having hours of daylight after you come home from work to spend time with your family or activities. And that is wonderful.”

Here are some things to know so you’ll be conversant about the practice of humans changing time:

In the 1890s, George Vernon Hudson, an astronomer and entomologist in New Zealand, proposed a time shift in the spring and fall to increase the daylight. And in the early 1900s, British homebuilder William Willett, troubled that people weren’t up enjoying the morning sunlight, made a similar push. But neither proposal gained enough traction to be implemented.

Germany began using daylight saving time during World War I with the thought that it would save energy. Other countries, including the United States, soon followed suit. During World War II, the U.S. once again instituted what was dubbed “war time” nationwide, this time year-round.

In the United States today, every state except Hawaii and Arizona observes daylight saving time. Around the world, Europe, much of Canada and part of Australia also implement it, while Russia and Asia don’t currently.

After World War II, a patchwork of timekeeping emerged across the United States, with some areas keeping daylight saving time and others ditching it.

“You might have one town has daylight saving time, the neighboring town might have daylight saving time but start it and end it on different dates and the third neighboring town might not have it at all,” says David Prerau, author of the book “Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.”

At one point, if riders on a 35-mile (56-kilometer) bus ride from Steubenville, Ohio, to Moundsville, West Virginia, wanted their watches to be accurate, they’d need to change them seven times as they dipped in and out of daylight saving time, Prerau says.

So in 1966, the U.S. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which say states can either implement daylight saving time or not, but it has to be statewide. The act also mandates the day that daylight saving time starts and ends across the country.

Confusion over the time change isn’t just something from the past. In the nation of Lebanon last spring, chaos ensued when the government announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-savings-time-9aee80838f6dfd53fd3564981f9667a8">last-minute decision</a>&nbsp;to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month — until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Some institutions made the change and others refused as citizens tried to piece together their schedules. Within days, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-saving-time-a85575b650af7fcc419e3fdb1b2090e8">decision was reversed</a>.

“It really turned into a huge mess where nobody knew what time it was,” Buckle says.

What would it be like if we didn’t change the clocks?

Changing the clocks twice a year leads to a lot of grumbling, and pushes to either use standard time all year, or stick to daylight saving time all year often crop up.

During the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. started doing daylight saving time all year long, and Americans didn’t like it. With the sun not rising in the winter in some areas till around 9 a.m. or even later, people were waking up in the dark, going to work in the dark and sending their children to school in the dark, Prerau says.

”It became very unpopular very quickly,” Prerau says.

And, he notes, using standard time all year would mean losing that extra hour of daylight for eight months in the evenings in the United States.

In 1908, the Canadian city of Thunder Bay — then the two cities of Fort William and Port Arthur — changed from the central time zone to the eastern time zone for the summer and fall after a citizen named John Hewitson argued that would afford an extra hour of daylight to enjoy the outdoors, says Michael deJong, curator/archivist at the Thunder Bay Museum.

The next year, though, Port Arthur stayed on eastern time, while Fort William changed back to central time in the fall, which, predictably, “led to all sorts of confusion,” deJong says.

Today, the city of Thunder Bay is on eastern time, and observes daylight saving time, giving the area, “just delightfully warm, long days to enjoy” in the summer, says Paul Pepe, tourism manager for Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.

The city, located on Lake Superior, is far enough north that the sun sets at around 10 p.m. in the summer, Pepe says, and that helps make up for their cold dark winters. Residents, he says, tend to go on vacations in the winter and stay home in the summer: “I think for a lot of folks here, the long days, the warm summer temperatures, it’s a vacation in your backyard.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741384572584.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Once again, most Americans will set their clocks forward by one hour this weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daylight-saving-time-spring-forward-sleep-health-5d7b96c3bc1ed243dd6e41b17ec8ee25">losing perhaps a bit of sleep</a>&nbsp;but gaining more glorious sunlight in the evenings as the days warm into summer.Where did this all come from, though?How we came to move the clock forward in the spring, and then push it back in the fall, is a tale that spans over more than a century — one that’s driven by two world wars, mass confusion at times and a human desire to bask in the sun for a long as possible.There’s been plenty of debate over the practice, but about 70 countries — about 40% of those across the globe — currently use what Americans call daylight saving time.While springing the clocks forward “kind of jolts our system,” the extra daylight gets people outdoors, exercising and having fun, says Anne Buckle, web editor at timeanddate.com, which features information on time, time zones and astronomy.“The really, really awesome advantage is the bright evenings, right?” she says. “It is actually having hours of daylight after you come home from work to spend time with your family or activities. And that is wonderful.”Here are some things to know so you’ll be conversant about the practice of humans changing time:<h2>How did this all get started?</h2>In the 1890s, George Vernon Hudson, an astronomer and entomologist in New Zealand, proposed a time shift in the spring and fall to increase the daylight. And in the early 1900s, British homebuilder William Willett, troubled that people weren’t up enjoying the morning sunlight, made a similar push. But neither proposal gained enough traction to be implemented.Germany began using daylight saving time during World War I with the thought that it would save energy. Other countries, including the United States, soon followed suit. During World War II, the U.S. once again instituted what was dubbed “war time” nationwide, this time year-round.In the United States today, every state except Hawaii and Arizona observes daylight saving time. Around the world, Europe, much of Canada and part of Australia also implement it, while Russia and Asia don’t currently.<h2>Inconsistency and mass confusion</h2>After World War II, a patchwork of timekeeping emerged across the United States, with some areas keeping daylight saving time and others ditching it.“You might have one town has daylight saving time, the neighboring town might have daylight saving time but start it and end it on different dates and the third neighboring town might not have it at all,” says David Prerau, author of the book “Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.”At one point, if riders on a 35-mile (56-kilometer) bus ride from Steubenville, Ohio, to Moundsville, West Virginia, wanted their watches to be accurate, they’d need to change them seven times as they dipped in and out of daylight saving time, Prerau says.So in 1966, the U.S. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which say states can either implement daylight saving time or not, but it has to be statewide. The act also mandates the day that daylight saving time starts and ends across the country.Confusion over the time change isn’t just something from the past. In the nation of Lebanon last spring, chaos ensued when the government announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-savings-time-9aee80838f6dfd53fd3564981f9667a8">last-minute decision</a>&nbsp;to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month — until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Some institutions made the change and others refused as citizens tried to piece together their schedules. Within days, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-saving-time-a85575b650af7fcc419e3fdb1b2090e8">decision was reversed</a>.“It really turned into a huge mess where nobody knew what time it was,” Buckle says.<h2>What would it be like if we didn’t change the clocks?</h2>Changing the clocks twice a year leads to a lot of grumbling, and pushes to either use standard time all year, or stick to daylight saving time all year often crop up.During the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. started doing daylight saving time all year long, and Americans didn’t like it. With the sun not rising in the winter in some areas till around 9 a.m. or even later, people were waking up in the dark, going to work in the dark and sending their children to school in the dark, Prerau says.”It became very unpopular very quickly,” Prerau says.And, he notes, using standard time all year would mean losing that extra hour of daylight for eight months in the evenings in the United States.<h2>A nod to the early adopters</h2>In 1908, the Canadian city of Thunder Bay — then the two cities of Fort William and Port Arthur — changed from the central time zone to the eastern time zone for the summer and fall after a citizen named John Hewitson argued that would afford an extra hour of daylight to enjoy the outdoors, says Michael deJong, curator/archivist at the Thunder Bay Museum.The next year, though, Port Arthur stayed on eastern time, while Fort William changed back to central time in the fall, which, predictably, “led to all sorts of confusion,” deJong says.Today, the city of Thunder Bay is on eastern time, and observes daylight saving time, giving the area, “just delightfully warm, long days to enjoy” in the summer, says Paul Pepe, tourism manager for Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.The city, located on Lake Superior, is far enough north that the sun sets at around 10 p.m. in the summer, Pepe says, and that helps make up for their cold dark winters. Residents, he says, tend to go on vacations in the winter and stay home in the summer: “I think for a lot of folks here, the long days, the warm summer temperatures, it’s a vacation in your backyard.”

Why clocks are set forward in the spring: Confusion and hunger for sunlight

The 1st Infantry Division is hosting the "Year of the Warrior" kickoff event March 14, celebrating resilience, teamwork, and exceptional leadership within its ranks. The Big Red One’s “Year of the Warrior” is the annual campaign of 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to recognize and honor the Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, their relentless pursuit of excellence, and their commitment to warfighting mastery.

According to a release from Fort Riley the day's activities will begin at 6:30 a.m. with a Division Run around Custer Hill, featuring an Apache flyover, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding participants. At 9:00 a.m., the celebration will continue with an exhilarating Warrior Competition at the Fort Riley obstacle course, where squads from each brigade will showcase their skills, determination, and camaraderie.

The morning will culminate in a Warrior Lunch at 11:30 a.m., honoring the competition winners with a ceremonial cake cutting featuring former 1st Infantry Division Soldier, retired Col. Greg Gadson, who served as a battalion commander in Iraq and lost both his legs in an IED attack in 2007.

The day's activities will conclude at 1:30 p.m. with a Division Leader Professional Development conversation on perseverance, led by Col. Gadson. This event aims to highlight and celebrate the efforts of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to ensure the readiness and lethality of our service members, civilian workforce, and families.<a></a>

The 1st Infantry Division is hosting the "Year of the Warrior" kickoff event March 14, celebrating resilience, teamwork, and exceptional leadership within its ranks. The Big Red One’s “Year of the Warrior” is the annual campaign of 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to recognize and honor the Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, their relentless pursuit of excellence, and their commitment to warfighting mastery.According to a release from Fort Riley the day's activities will begin at 6:30 a.m. with a Division Run around Custer Hill, featuring an Apache flyover, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding participants. At 9:00 a.m., the celebration will continue with an exhilarating Warrior Competition at the Fort Riley obstacle course, where squads from each brigade will showcase their skills, determination, and camaraderie.The morning will culminate in a Warrior Lunch at 11:30 a.m., honoring the competition winners with a ceremonial cake cutting featuring former 1st Infantry Division Soldier, retired Col. Greg Gadson, who served as a battalion commander in Iraq and lost both his legs in an IED attack in 2007.The day's activities will conclude at 1:30 p.m. with a Division Leader Professional Development conversation on perseverance, led by Col. Gadson. This event aims to highlight and celebrate the efforts of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to ensure the readiness and lethality of our service members, civilian workforce, and families.<a></a>

Year of the Warrior

Shared electric scooters have returned to the city of Manhattan and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=e087fd5364&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Kansas State University</a>&nbsp;through a new partnership with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=b7bc2f0123&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Veo</a>, a shared mobility provider.

The City of Manhattan said Veo deployed a fleet of 400 Astro scooters throughout the community starting&nbsp;Saturday, March 1. (Please note: To prioritize rider safety, Veo will temporarily pause operations in Manhattan from&nbsp;8 p.m. today ( Friday )&nbsp; to&nbsp;6 a.m. Sunday, March 9.)

Veo is in the community every day, swapping out e-scooter batteries, addressing community concerns, and ensuring vehicles are properly parked to keep streets and sidewalks accessible. A crucial part of this partnership is identifying locations to deploy vehicles and parking hubs to serve the community best. Veo and the City are working closely to strategically locate parking hubs and deployment zones, to better connect residents to employment opportunities and local businesses, including access to fresh, healthy food.

&nbsp; If you have a question, would like to suggest a location for a micromobility parking hub or need assistance, please contact Veo at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="tel:8558362256">(855) 836-2256</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hello@veoride.com?subject=Veo%20e-scooter%20inquiry">hello@veoride.com</a>. For inquiries about a specific vehicle, please provide the vehicle’s location and, if possible, the vehicle number found between the handlebars, just below the QR code.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shared electric scooters have returned to the city of Manhattan and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=e087fd5364&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Kansas State University</a>&nbsp;through a new partnership with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=b7bc2f0123&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Veo</a>, a shared mobility provider.The City of Manhattan said Veo deployed a fleet of 400 Astro scooters throughout the community starting&nbsp;Saturday, March 1. (Please note: To prioritize rider safety, Veo will temporarily pause operations in Manhattan from&nbsp;8 p.m. today ( Friday )&nbsp; to&nbsp;6 a.m. Sunday, March 9.)Veo is in the community every day, swapping out e-scooter batteries, addressing community concerns, and ensuring vehicles are properly parked to keep streets and sidewalks accessible. A crucial part of this partnership is identifying locations to deploy vehicles and parking hubs to serve the community best. Veo and the City are working closely to strategically locate parking hubs and deployment zones, to better connect residents to employment opportunities and local businesses, including access to fresh, healthy food.&nbsp; If you have a question, would like to suggest a location for a micromobility parking hub or need assistance, please contact Veo at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="tel:8558362256">(855) 836-2256</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hello@veoride.com?subject=Veo%20e-scooter%20inquiry">hello@veoride.com</a>. For inquiries about a specific vehicle, please provide the vehicle’s location and, if possible, the vehicle number found between the handlebars, just below the QR code.&nbsp;&nbsp;

New shared e-scooter program launches!

Fake Patty's Day celebrations will be held in Manhattan Saturday,

RCPD has reminded the public: "Residents and visitors who wish to enjoy themselves safely and responsibly are most welcome in the community and RCPD wishes them a fun, safe, and enjoyable time in Manhattan. Those who intend to overindulge in alcohol consumption, abandon personal responsibility, and commit crimes should be aware that all state and local laws will be enforced during Fake Patty's Day."

Fake Patty's Day celebrations will be held in Manhattan Saturday,RCPD has reminded the public: "Residents and visitors who wish to enjoy themselves safely and responsibly are most welcome in the community and RCPD wishes them a fun, safe, and enjoyable time in Manhattan. Those who intend to overindulge in alcohol consumption, abandon personal responsibility, and commit crimes should be aware that all state and local laws will be enforced during Fake Patty's Day."

Fake Patty's Day reminder from RCPD

Visit Manhattan has provided information on a hotel renovation property.

Commonwealth Hotel, a Covington, Kentucky-based hotel management company, has announced the grand opening of its newest property in Manhattan, Doubletree by Hilton, following an extensive renovation.

The hotel formerly operated as Four Points by Sheraton. It is owned by SMP Manhattan which is part of the Scale My Portfolio group which partners with retail investors to buy commercial real estate assets such as hotels apartment communities.

According to Commonwealth Hotels the renovated property will have 197 guest rooms and suites.

"We appreciate the renovation investment to this&nbsp;hotel&nbsp;property, offering our visitors an enhanced guest experience.&nbsp; Having a well-known brand like&nbsp;DoubleTree&nbsp;by Hilton in our community reinforces Manhattan as a premier destination for meeting groups and travelers, " said Marcia Rozell, Director of Visit Manhattan.&nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741362345564.jpeg" alt=" " />
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 </figure>Visit Manhattan has provided information on a hotel renovation property.Commonwealth Hotel, a Covington, Kentucky-based hotel management company, has announced the grand opening of its newest property in Manhattan, Doubletree by Hilton, following an extensive renovation.The hotel formerly operated as Four Points by Sheraton. It is owned by SMP Manhattan which is part of the Scale My Portfolio group which partners with retail investors to buy commercial real estate assets such as hotels apartment communities.According to Commonwealth Hotels the renovated property will have 197 guest rooms and suites."We appreciate the renovation investment to this&nbsp;hotel&nbsp;property, offering our visitors an enhanced guest experience.&nbsp; Having a well-known brand like&nbsp;DoubleTree&nbsp;by Hilton in our community reinforces Manhattan as a premier destination for meeting groups and travelers, " said Marcia Rozell, Director of Visit Manhattan.&nbsp;

Doubletree by Hilton will operate in Manhattan

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report March 7

Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, surprised Mrs. Whitney George's 4th grade class at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. He was a guest reader in celebration of Read Across America Week. 

Dr. Watson was joined by USD 383 Superintendent, Eric Reid, and Dr. Beryl Ann New from the Kansas State Board of Education.&nbsp;

Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, surprised Mrs. Whitney George's 4th grade class at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. He was a guest reader in celebration of Read Across America Week. Dr. Watson was joined by USD 383 Superintendent, Eric Reid, and Dr. Beryl Ann New from the Kansas State Board of Education.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741357819728.jpeg" alt=" " />
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Read Across America Week

GEARY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Parol reported a 2019 Jeep Compass driven by Paul J, Pacholski, 32, Junction City, was westbound on Farnum Creek Road from U.S. 77.&nbsp; The Jeep struck a pole, a delineator post, traveled off the roadway and came to rest in Milford Lake.

EMS transported Pacholski to Stormont Vail. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP

The Geary County Sheriff's Office/Junction City Fire Department joint dive team was able to recover the submerged vehicle and the Farnum Creek Boat Ramp is once again open.

The Geary County Sheriff's Office said there is a vehicle submerged at the Milford Lake Farnum Creek Boat Ramp that is not visible. 

The ramp is closed for use. Please avoid the area from the water as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741291836399.jpeg" alt="(Photo courtesy of Geary County Sheriff's Office Facebook page)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo courtesy of Geary County Sheriff's Office Facebook page)</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Parol reported a 2019 Jeep Compass driven by Paul J, Pacholski, 32, Junction City, was westbound on Farnum Creek Road from U.S. 77.&nbsp; The Jeep struck a pole, a delineator post, traveled off the roadway and came to rest in Milford Lake.EMS transported Pacholski to Stormont Vail. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP----------------UPDATE:The Geary County Sheriff's Office/Junction City Fire Department joint dive team was able to recover the submerged vehicle and the Farnum Creek Boat Ramp is once again open.--The Geary County Sheriff's Office said there is a vehicle submerged at the Milford Lake Farnum Creek Boat Ramp that is not visible. The ramp is closed for use. Please avoid the area from the water as well.

Junction City man hospitalized after Jeep lands in Milford Lake 

USD 383 says March is Music in Our Schools Month.

&nbsp; Manhattan High School&nbsp; has its musical production, Mary Poppins, on March 7-9 and a band concert on March 11.

USD 383 says March is Music in Our Schools Month.&nbsp; Manhattan High School&nbsp; has its musical production, Mary Poppins, on March 7-9 and a band concert on March 11.

Performances scheduled at Manhattan High School

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;&nbsp;This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring the victims of the Jan. 29,&nbsp;2025&nbsp;collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and Black Hawk PAT (Priority Air Transport) 25. The Kansas delegation introduced the resolution with more than 90&nbsp;cosponsors.&nbsp;U.S. Representative Tracey Mann&nbsp;(KS-01),&nbsp;as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, hosted other members on the House Floor to express condolences. The House passed the resolution unanimously by voice vote.&nbsp;Rep. Ron Estes (KS-04)&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;the bill.

“Today, I join the Kansas delegation in honoring the lives lost in the tragic accident on January 29, 2025,” said&nbsp;Rep. Mann. “We will always&nbsp;remember&nbsp;our fellow Kansans and fellow Americans whose lives were tragically lost—farmers, parents, professors, college students with bright futures, taken from us far too soon. As the investigation into the accident continues to unfold, we must learn from our findings to prevent this from ever happening again. Audrey and I continue to express our deepest condolences and prayers to those impacted by the accident and mourn the lives tragically lost.”

“While it’s been just a little more than one month since this tragic incident, there are still no words to adequately express the heartbreak we all feel at your loss, and no words that can properly console you. I pray that, in time, God would give you and all those impacted a peace that would surpass all understanding,” said&nbsp;Rep. Estes. “It is in each home, school, workplace and community where each of the 67 victims was known and loved that they will continue to be remembered, celebrated and honored. As we’ve learned more about the individual passengers aboard the plane, as well as the pilots and flight crew of Flight 5342 and the crew of the Black Hawk, we’ve come to know how much they meant to the people around them – and how much they will be missed.”

“Today, I stand alongside my colleagues from Kansas to honor the lives lost, including those from our own state, in the tragic collision between Flight 5342 and PAT 25,” said&nbsp;Rep. Davids. “My heart is with the families and communities grieving this profound loss. We must continue working to improve aviation safety to ensure no other family faces such unimaginable heartache. The memory of those we lost will continue to guide our commitment to a safer future.”

“Today, our Kansas delegation stands united as we remember the victims of Flight 5342,” said&nbsp;Rep. Schmidt.&nbsp;“Our prayers remain with the family and friends of all affected by this horrible tragedy, and our gratitude remains with all the first responders who worked diligently around the clock on rescue and recovery efforts. My colleagues and I will continue working with federal agencies to determine how this collision occurred and what steps can be taken to prevent future tragedies.”

“My prayers go out to all the victims of the January 29th tragedy in our nation’s capital, and to all their loved ones, including the people of Kansas, who are suffering from their loss,” said&nbsp;Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06). “I also appreciate the heroic actions of the first responders and the many others who were involved in the response and recovery efforts following the accident.&nbsp;I commend Congressman Estes and his colleagues for leading this resolution to honor those that we lost on that day, express our condolences to those who are grieving, and praise the efforts of all those who responded to this tragedy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741291088630.jpeg" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Representative Tracey MannWASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;&nbsp;This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring the victims of the Jan. 29,&nbsp;2025&nbsp;collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and Black Hawk PAT (Priority Air Transport) 25. The Kansas delegation introduced the resolution with more than 90&nbsp;cosponsors.&nbsp;U.S. Representative Tracey Mann&nbsp;(KS-01),&nbsp;as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, hosted other members on the House Floor to express condolences. The House passed the resolution unanimously by voice vote.&nbsp;Rep. Ron Estes (KS-04)&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;the bill.“Today, I join the Kansas delegation in honoring the lives lost in the tragic accident on January 29, 2025,” said&nbsp;Rep. Mann. “We will always&nbsp;remember&nbsp;our fellow Kansans and fellow Americans whose lives were tragically lost—farmers, parents, professors, college students with bright futures, taken from us far too soon. As the investigation into the accident continues to unfold, we must learn from our findings to prevent this from ever happening again. Audrey and I continue to express our deepest condolences and prayers to those impacted by the accident and mourn the lives tragically lost.”“While it’s been just a little more than one month since this tragic incident, there are still no words to adequately express the heartbreak we all feel at your loss, and no words that can properly console you. I pray that, in time, God would give you and all those impacted a peace that would surpass all understanding,” said&nbsp;Rep. Estes. “It is in each home, school, workplace and community where each of the 67 victims was known and loved that they will continue to be remembered, celebrated and honored. As we’ve learned more about the individual passengers aboard the plane, as well as the pilots and flight crew of Flight 5342 and the crew of the Black Hawk, we’ve come to know how much they meant to the people around them – and how much they will be missed.”“Today, I stand alongside my colleagues from Kansas to honor the lives lost, including those from our own state, in the tragic collision between Flight 5342 and PAT 25,” said&nbsp;Rep. Davids. “My heart is with the families and communities grieving this profound loss. We must continue working to improve aviation safety to ensure no other family faces such unimaginable heartache. The memory of those we lost will continue to guide our commitment to a safer future.”“Today, our Kansas delegation stands united as we remember the victims of Flight 5342,” said&nbsp;Rep. Schmidt.&nbsp;“Our prayers remain with the family and friends of all affected by this horrible tragedy, and our gratitude remains with all the first responders who worked diligently around the clock on rescue and recovery efforts. My colleagues and I will continue working with federal agencies to determine how this collision occurred and what steps can be taken to prevent future tragedies.”“My prayers go out to all the victims of the January 29th tragedy in our nation’s capital, and to all their loved ones, including the people of Kansas, who are suffering from their loss,” said&nbsp;Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06). “I also appreciate the heroic actions of the first responders and the many others who were involved in the response and recovery efforts following the accident.&nbsp;I commend Congressman Estes and his colleagues for leading this resolution to honor those that we lost on that day, express our condolences to those who are grieving, and praise the efforts of all those who responded to this tragedy.”

Rep. Mann, other U.S. House members pass resolution honoring victims of air collision

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an armed robbery and have a teen in custody.

Just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police arrested 17-year-old Delron Tyree, Jr. of Topeka, in the 6000 block of SW 10th Street in Topeka, according to a media release from the RCPD.

 Tyree was taken into custody on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated robbery armed with a dangerous weapon and criminal use of weapons.

Following his arrest, Tyree was transported to the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility. Tyree was confined at the time of this report.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an armed robbery and have a teen in custody. Just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police arrested 17-year-old Delron Tyree, Jr. of Topeka, in the 6000 block of SW 10th Street in Topeka, according to a media release from the RCPD. Tyree was taken into custody on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated robbery armed with a dangerous weapon and criminal use of weapons.Following his arrest, Tyree was transported to the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility. Tyree was confined at the time of this report.

RCPD arrests 17-year-old for armed robbery

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741273762385.png" alt="" />
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Riley County Arrest Report March 6

&nbsp; (RILEY COUNTY, KS – March 5, 2025) The public is invited to attend a free Storm Spotter Class from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Monday, March 10. The class will be held at Pottorf Hall, located at 1710 Avery Avenue in Manhattan. No registration is needed.&nbsp;

At the event, a National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist will teach thunderstorm development and structure, thunderstorm safety, and what, when, and how to report information.“Weather plays such a huge role in daily life for Kansans, and the more you know, the better. This event is perfect for people who want to learn about severe weather, or those who might want to volunteer as storm spotters and report weather observations directly to the National Weather Service. The NWS will provide additional training for storm spotters, as needed,” explains Laurie Harrison, Assistant Director for Riley County Emergency Management.&nbsp;

Riley County also has a local storm spotter program administered through Emergency Management. To join the local program, volunteers also need to be amateur radio operators. Any radio operators interested in volunteering for the local program should call Riley County Emergency Management at (785) 537-6333 during regular business hours. Those interested in joining the NWS Storm Spotter&nbsp; program&nbsp; should contact the Topeka office at 785-234-2592.

The National Weather Service office in Topeka works together with county emergency managers to offer storm spotter classes in numerous locations across northeast Kansas to prepare for severe weather season. Spotters provide critical information during severe weather events that aid in warning operations at the National Weather Service.&nbsp;Riley County Emergency Management is the designated disaster agency for the county. RCEM is responsible for coordinating the mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters for all cities and rural areas in Riley County, Kansas. Find more information about RCEM at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=18cd043e6d&amp;e=fd06d17886">www.rileycountyks.gov/em</a>&nbsp;or by calling 785-537-6333 during regular business hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; (RILEY COUNTY, KS – March 5, 2025) The public is invited to attend a free Storm Spotter Class from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Monday, March 10. The class will be held at Pottorf Hall, located at 1710 Avery Avenue in Manhattan. No registration is needed.&nbsp;At the event, a National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist will teach thunderstorm development and structure, thunderstorm safety, and what, when, and how to report information.“Weather plays such a huge role in daily life for Kansans, and the more you know, the better. This event is perfect for people who want to learn about severe weather, or those who might want to volunteer as storm spotters and report weather observations directly to the National Weather Service. The NWS will provide additional training for storm spotters, as needed,” explains Laurie Harrison, Assistant Director for Riley County Emergency Management.&nbsp;Riley County also has a local storm spotter program administered through Emergency Management. To join the local program, volunteers also need to be amateur radio operators. Any radio operators interested in volunteering for the local program should call Riley County Emergency Management at (785) 537-6333 during regular business hours. Those interested in joining the NWS Storm Spotter&nbsp; program&nbsp; should contact the Topeka office at 785-234-2592.The National Weather Service office in Topeka works together with county emergency managers to offer storm spotter classes in numerous locations across northeast Kansas to prepare for severe weather season. Spotters provide critical information during severe weather events that aid in warning operations at the National Weather Service.&nbsp;Riley County Emergency Management is the designated disaster agency for the county. RCEM is responsible for coordinating the mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters for all cities and rural areas in Riley County, Kansas. Find more information about RCEM at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=18cd043e6d&amp;e=fd06d17886">www.rileycountyks.gov/em</a>&nbsp;or by calling 785-537-6333 during regular business hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Storm Spotter Class in Manhattan Next Week

This week, Kansas Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed kicked off KDOT’s annual Transportation Safety Conference in Wichita by emphasizing the key components of decreasing fatalities on Kansas’s streets and highways: safer drivers, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and safer roads. He was immediately followed by the conference’s keynote speaker, Charles Marohn, the founder of Strong Towns, an organization dedicated to helping America’s cities manage their finances and built environments better. Chuck made the case that, practically speaking, Kansas’s cities should just ignore the first three factors and focus on the last. He’s right.

Kansas’s traffic statistics aren’t terrible, but they aren’t good. Like the rest of the country, Kansas mostly saw fatalities from road accidents increase throughout the 2010s and the first part of this decade. There have been some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/10/kansas-traffic-fatalities-trend-downward-after-seven-years-averaging-more-than-420-deaths/">dramatic improvements over the past two years</a>; 2024 saw the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kake.com/home/kansas-sees-record-low-traffic-fatalities-in-2024-but-2025-trends-spark-concern/article_5bbfab2c-dd11-11ef-baf2-13b1610ed7bf.html">lowest number of Kansans killed in car crashes</a>—344—in nearly 80 years. Still<a target="_blank" href="https://tripnet.org/reports/addressing-americas-traffic-safety-crisis-kansas-news-release-07-02-2024/">, Kansas remains above the national average of fatal accidents per population</a>, and so it’s reasonable that KDOT has made reducing traffic deaths—through their “Drive to Zero” initiative—a key priority.

For a variety of reasons, though, most of the actual work that’s been done in support of that initiative has been focused on educating (or shaming) drivers—for speeding, or being distracted, or failing to follow every traffic rule—and on inducing (or requiring) municipalities to lower the speeds on their arterial roads and streets. When asked after his presentation about the Drive to Zero plan, Marohn applauded it—but also argued that 98% of the problem here is road design, with driver responsibility, vehicle quality, and speed calculations taking up the tiny remainder.

Marohn’s argument builds upon the basic idea the human beings, being human, will always make mistakes, always be distracted, etc., and thus one ought to focus on fixing the conditions humans operate in, rather than fixing humans themselves. In the design of highways, this principle took the form of “forgiving design”—these roads needed to be wide, and the drivers speeding on them needed to be channeled in the same direction, all to minimize the deadly costs of mistakes.

But over the decades these lessons were taken from high-speed, cross-country roads and imposed on city streets. Thus we have what Marohn calls “stroads”: neighborhood streets lined with sidewalks and schools and businesses and houses, but designed in ways that assume everyone will drive fast and poorly, requiring them to be huge and thus pedestrian-unfriendly. This, obviously, discourages pedestrian use, which not only has negative economic, civic, and public health consequences, but also implicitly encourages drivers to drive even faster and more poorly.

The characteristics of such design assumptions are dangerous one-way streets, drivers gunning at intersections, near-unusable cross-walks, and more. Marohn wants to see cities focus on changing these design assumptions, rather than chastising drivers for acting in exactly the way the conditions they encounter on the road encourage them to do. Makes sense to me.

And fortunately, it makes sense to many city leaders and planners across Kansas as well (Marohn likely wouldn’t have been KDOT’s guest of honor otherwise). In Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, and elsewhere, Kansas municipalities are slowly but surely making changes. One-way streets are being converted to two-way; unnecessary lanes are being shrunk and made safer; designers are thinking more about traffic calming (putting in meridians, for example) and less about draconian speed reductions. Zero traffic fatalities may be a distant goal, but we’ll get closer to it by fixing the streets that carry traffic, rather than the drivers negotiating it.

This week, Kansas Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed kicked off KDOT’s annual Transportation Safety Conference in Wichita by emphasizing the key components of decreasing fatalities on Kansas’s streets and highways: safer drivers, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and safer roads. He was immediately followed by the conference’s keynote speaker, Charles Marohn, the founder of Strong Towns, an organization dedicated to helping America’s cities manage their finances and built environments better. Chuck made the case that, practically speaking, Kansas’s cities should just ignore the first three factors and focus on the last. He’s right.Kansas’s traffic statistics aren’t terrible, but they aren’t good. Like the rest of the country, Kansas mostly saw fatalities from road accidents increase throughout the 2010s and the first part of this decade. There have been some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/10/kansas-traffic-fatalities-trend-downward-after-seven-years-averaging-more-than-420-deaths/">dramatic improvements over the past two years</a>; 2024 saw the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kake.com/home/kansas-sees-record-low-traffic-fatalities-in-2024-but-2025-trends-spark-concern/article_5bbfab2c-dd11-11ef-baf2-13b1610ed7bf.html">lowest number of Kansans killed in car crashes</a>—344—in nearly 80 years. Still<a target="_blank" href="https://tripnet.org/reports/addressing-americas-traffic-safety-crisis-kansas-news-release-07-02-2024/">, Kansas remains above the national average of fatal accidents per population</a>, and so it’s reasonable that KDOT has made reducing traffic deaths—through their “Drive to Zero” initiative—a key priority.For a variety of reasons, though, most of the actual work that’s been done in support of that initiative has been focused on educating (or shaming) drivers—for speeding, or being distracted, or failing to follow every traffic rule—and on inducing (or requiring) municipalities to lower the speeds on their arterial roads and streets. When asked after his presentation about the Drive to Zero plan, Marohn applauded it—but also argued that 98% of the problem here is road design, with driver responsibility, vehicle quality, and speed calculations taking up the tiny remainder.Marohn’s argument builds upon the basic idea the human beings, being human, will always make mistakes, always be distracted, etc., and thus one ought to focus on fixing the conditions humans operate in, rather than fixing humans themselves. In the design of highways, this principle took the form of “forgiving design”—these roads needed to be wide, and the drivers speeding on them needed to be channeled in the same direction, all to minimize the deadly costs of mistakes.But over the decades these lessons were taken from high-speed, cross-country roads and imposed on city streets. Thus we have what Marohn calls “stroads”: neighborhood streets lined with sidewalks and schools and businesses and houses, but designed in ways that assume everyone will drive fast and poorly, requiring them to be huge and thus pedestrian-unfriendly. This, obviously, discourages pedestrian use, which not only has negative economic, civic, and public health consequences, but also implicitly encourages drivers to drive even faster and more poorly.The characteristics of such design assumptions are dangerous one-way streets, drivers gunning at intersections, near-unusable cross-walks, and more. Marohn wants to see cities focus on changing these design assumptions, rather than chastising drivers for acting in exactly the way the conditions they encounter on the road encourage them to do. Makes sense to me.And fortunately, it makes sense to many city leaders and planners across Kansas as well (Marohn likely wouldn’t have been KDOT’s guest of honor otherwise). In Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, and elsewhere, Kansas municipalities are slowly but surely making changes. One-way streets are being converted to two-way; unnecessary lanes are being shrunk and made safer; designers are thinking more about traffic calming (putting in meridians, for example) and less about draconian speed reductions. Zero traffic fatalities may be a distant goal, but we’ll get closer to it by fixing the streets that carry traffic, rather than the drivers negotiating it.

 Drive to zero begins with the streets we drive on, not the drivers themselves

Riley County Emergency Management release

&nbsp; (Riley County, KS – 03/05/2025) Riley County Fire District #1 responded to a report of a structure fire at 1809 South Manhattan Ave at approximately 4:40 pm on Friday, February 28. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a two-story residence south of the City of Manhattan. Within 10 minutes of the call, volunteer firefighters arrived and made entry to aggressively combat the fire.&nbsp;Tragically, one dog perished in the fire, while another was found alive. All occupants of the home were able to exit safely, and no other injuries were reported. 

Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Riley County Police Department.&nbsp;“It is heartbreaking to see the loss of a pet and the significant damage to the home. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our firefighters. They kept this from becoming a wildfire and spreading to other homes,” said Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We sincerely thank our dedicated volunteer

&nbsp;firefighters for their quick response and tireless efforts in battling this fire.”A total of 32 firefighters responded on 12 apparatus to the incident, and responders remained on scene mopping up hot spots, including a grass fire outside the residence, for several hours.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Riley County Emergency Management release&nbsp; (Riley County, KS – 03/05/2025) Riley County Fire District #1 responded to a report of a structure fire at 1809 South Manhattan Ave at approximately 4:40 pm on Friday, February 28. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a two-story residence south of the City of Manhattan. Within 10 minutes of the call, volunteer firefighters arrived and made entry to aggressively combat the fire.&nbsp;Tragically, one dog perished in the fire, while another was found alive. All occupants of the home were able to exit safely, and no other injuries were reported. Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Riley County Police Department.&nbsp;“It is heartbreaking to see the loss of a pet and the significant damage to the home. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our firefighters. They kept this from becoming a wildfire and spreading to other homes,” said Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We sincerely thank our dedicated volunteer

&nbsp;firefighters for their quick response and tireless efforts in battling this fire.”A total of 32 firefighters responded on 12 apparatus to the incident, and responders remained on scene mopping up hot spots, including a grass fire outside the residence, for several hours.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Home destroyed and pet perished in house fire south of Manhattan

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
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