Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Smoke in the Spring grand champions ecstatic about first title, slot in $1M BBQ World Cup
The purveyors of Blind Fox BBQ out of Kansas City are understandably quite pleased they won the Smoke in the Spring grand champion top honors this past weekend. In fact, Joe Ricklefs says -- Slap's BB...
Apr 13, 2026 Blind Fox BBQ won the 2026 Smoke in the Spring this past weekend. Smoke in the Spring photo.
Planning Commission to look at FHTC-requested zoning matters; BZA to discuss variance for new coffee drive-thru
The Lyon County Board of Zoning Appeals and Emporia Planning Commission have back-to-back meetings Tuesday. The BZA has one item on its agenda, a request for a variance from the front and side yard bu...
Apr 13, 2026 Flint Hills Technical College logo.
Pretrial set in Emporia drug distribution, chase case
An Emporia woman accused of distributing drugs near a local school while leading a law enforcement pursuit has a pretrial hearing next month in her case. Mariel Martin, age 40, was charged after an al...
Apr 13, 2026 Mariel Martin. Kansas Department of Corrections photo.
One person arrested after alleged chase in Emporia on Sunday
Formal charges are pending after an alleged chase in Emporia on Sunday. Emporia Police officers arrested Leon Caldwell on suspicion of aggravated assault on and interference with law enforcement, as w...
Apr 13, 2026 KVOE News file photo.
Next Peterson Planetarium show focuses on Earth, space weather phemomena
If you like weather, Emporia State University's Peterson Planetarium has a show for you. The Peterson debuts "Weather: Wonders & Mysteries Revealed" with a full-dome presentation Thursday afternoon. T...
Apr 13, 2026 Mark Brown.
Light to moderate rain Sunday sets up warm and windy Monday, potentially stormy Tuesday
Light to moderate rain fell on the KVOE listening area Sunday morning. The KVOE studios had 0.30 inches of rain from an extended period of showers, while the Emporia Municipal Airport had 0.28 inches....
Apr 13, 2026 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Lawmakers complete part of 2026 mission on property tax policy as veto session ends
Kansas lawmakers have finished their work. Lawmakers adjourned the 2026 veto session early Saturday, and they did so with some success in resetting property tax policy -- but not complete success. 17t...
Apr 13, 2026 Kansas Great Seal.
Spring Fling Bike Show features custom trophies
ABATE of Kansas had its annual Spring Fling Bike Show in Emporia on Saturday. Among the featured components of the annual event is the award ceremony, which featured custom-designed trophies. Flint Hi...
Apr 13, 2026 Lilli Stierwalt and John Nichols pose behind custom-made trophies they made for the ABATE of Kansas Spring Fling Bike Show. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Residents get chance to tour ESU's Nursing + Student Wellness Center
It has been three months since Emporia State University began its spring semester and opened its Nursing & Student Wellness Center. Judging from the energy inside the building for a public open house ...
Apr 12, 2026 Area residents toured the Emporia State Nursing + Student Wellness Center, including several simulation rooms, during an open house Saturday. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Dirt work ongoing at site of new Stormont Vail Emporia clinic
Stormont Vail Health hasn't mentioned an official groundbreaking date yet for its new Emporia clinic, but it has been targeting this spring -- and there has been a lot of earthwork already done on sit...
Apr 12, 2026 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
