News

Emporia Middle School sixth graders treated to 113-60 win during second annual ESU basketball kids day game Monday
The Emporia State University Hornets had an extra energetic cheering section Monday, thanks to a now annual cooperative event between ESU and USD 253 Emporia Public Schools. In attendance for the Hornets' afternoon game against Kansas Christian College were right around 300 sixth-grade students from Emporia Middle Scho...
3h ago

Drawings for Kari's Christmas for Kids and Gift of Groceries coming up quickly
Two annual holiday fundraisers are now in full swing and wrapping up soon. As has been the case for years, residents have the opportunity now to donate money to SOS Inc. for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind ring from Kari's Diamonds and Bridal through the Kari's Christmas for Kids fundraiser. The ring this year features...
3h ago

Small fire reported near Sixth and Woodland
A bedroom suffered some damage because of a fire in Emporia on Monday. Emporia Fire was dispatched to 626 Woodland, finding a small fire inside the house and light smoke coming out of the eaves. The fire was put out quickly. No injuries were reported. Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage says there was an unspecified electri...
7h ago

West Emporia travel plaza nearing vertical construction; QuikTrip has work on utilities, tank installation underway
Construction may go above ground soon at a pair of consumer projects in far west Emporia. Brownstone 3 Chief Operating Officer Darrin Dodge says the One9 travel plaza, including a fuel station, has seen footings installed earlier this year. Formal groundbreaking was two months ago near the south roundabout connecting U...
9h ago

Another delay in federal drug distribution case involving two Emporians
There has been another delay as a federal drug distribution case continues against two Emporians, a Texas man and two Mexican nationals arrested this past spring. Late last week, Judge Holly Teeter approved a 30-day delay of a status conference so Mexican national Omar Villa-Carranza's legal team can review English-lan...
10h ago

Overlander Road work leading into 2026 resurfacing, geometric projects along K-99, US-50
The city of Emporia is eyeing summer 2026 as the end of a significant street improvement project near the west city limits. Overlander Road has been under a makeover for about five weeks. City Engineer Jim Ubert says the reason is simple: the street doesn't handle today's traffic as well as it should. The city will als...
11h ago

Drummond: ESU Foundation seeks to build on 2025's momentum next year; Patterson Family grants $150K for Nursing + Student Wellness Center
Energized by several different trends, ESU Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jason Drummond says the stage is set for future growth. Drummond says "success breeds success, and we're riding that wave right now." This is the time of year when the Foundation begins reminding potential donors of ways to donate b...
12h ago

Municipal Band closes 2025 season with well-attended Christmas concert
Traditional carols and contemporary favorites were all part of the Emporia Municipal Band's concert Sunday. The Municipal Band filled the Emporia Granada Theatre with people and sound for its 16th annual Christmas concert, getting some help from the Jubilee Ringers -- who had a brief performance before the official con...
14h ago

Man charged in Emporia with distributing marijuana
Court proceedings have started in Emporia for a drug distribution case. Alexis Alanis faces single counts of distributing up to 450 grams of marijuana, as well as receiving under $5,000 in drug transaction proceeds and using a cell phone to distribute marijuana. He also faces two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia...
Dec 14, 2025

Emporian sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse materials
A federal judge in Arkansas has sentenced an Emporia man to prison for producing child sex abuse materials. The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas says 32-year-old Marcus Abeyta pleaded guilty to one count of producing child sex abuse materials this past February after he was indicted in Arkansas...
Dec 14, 2025

Newman Regional Health, Coffey Health System finalize shared services agreement for general surgery, specialty care
Newman Regional Health and Coffey Health System have reached an agreement on shared services between the hospital systems. Administrators of both hospitals say the new agreement is designed to ensure the long-term viability of local health care in rural settings by expanding access and augmenting clinical quality. The ...
Dec 14, 2025

Warranty repairs set to begin in earnest Monday near 12th and Prairie; Southeast waterline work nears halfway point
Work begins in earnest this week on what are being called "warranty repairs" for part of Emporia's 24th and Prairie waterline replacement project. Prairie has been blocked just north of 12th since Friday -- and City Engineer Jim Ubert says it may not reopen until right before the end of the year. On KVOE's Mo...
Dec 14, 2025

Small waterline breaks in southeast Emporia
A small waterline has apparently failed in a southeast Emporia neighborhood. Public Works staffers were called out to the intersection of South Cottonwood and Norton on Sunday morning. Early indications are a 3-inch line is involved. Air temperatures were in the single digits when Public Works arrived on scene. Water s...
Dec 14, 2025

California resident hurt in Turnpike crash Friday
The Kansas Highway Patrol says a California resident was hurt in a crash in Osage County on Friday. The wreck happened shortly before noon at Kansas Turnpike mile marker 160.4 northbound, 33 miles northeast of Emporia. The Highway Patrol says 19-year-old Con Venero of Brawley, California, was driving an SUV when he los...
Dec 14, 2025

Nobody hurt, little damage reported after small fire in central Emporia on Sunday
Emporia Fire responded to a small fire Sunday morning. Crews headed to 1120 Chestnut shortly after 8:15 am after reports of sparks coming out of the floor of a house. The fire was largely out when crews arrived, but Battalion Chief Ryan Conley says there appears to be minor damage to some flooring near a fireplace. Hav...
Dec 14, 2025













