Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Governor signs bill penalizing driver cell phone use in school, construction zones; reappoints Arndt to Animal Health Board
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed a bill designed to penalize the use of cell phones for drivers in work zones or school zones. House Substitute for Senate Bill 366 sets up an initial warning cit...
Apr 04, 2026 Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Office of the Kansas Governor photo.
United Way of Flint Hills Board selects Johnson as executive director
Whitney Johnson is excited for her new role as the United Way of the Flint Hills' executive director. Johnson tells KVOE News her interest in community service has been developing for a while, especia...
Apr 03, 2026 Whitney Johnson. Photo courtesy United Way of the Flint Hills.
Annual Smoke Management burn restrictions underway
The Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan is into its most significant period of the year. Burn restrictions are now underway through April. The plan allows for controlled pasture burns, ceremonial fires ...
Apr 03, 2026 Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management photo.
Lyon County to debut new highway sealing process this year
Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield has several construction projects ahead this year. Scritchfield says the county will debut a new sealing method for the county's paved roads. Lyon County is als...
Apr 03, 2026 KVOE News file photo.
AARP tax prep assistance ending soon
Time is running out to get your taxes filed. And time is running out for area residents wanting a little extra help through the AARP's annual tax assistance program. Longtime organizer and spokesperso...
Apr 03, 2026 AARP logo.
Rocky Ford Bridge work continues ahead of schedule
At least for now, work may end earlier than scheduled for the new Rocky Ford bridge -- at least, according to Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield. The current bridge was added to the Kansas Regist...
Apr 02, 2026 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Jones pleads no contest to theft in Mel's Tire embezzlement case
The woman who allegedly stole money from Mel's Tire has pleaded no contest in her case. Randee Lee Jones officially accepted a plea agreement involving felony theft of up to $100,000. A count of ident...
Apr 02, 2026 Randee Jones. Lyon County Jail photo.
Main Street's April 1 clone prank points up AI conversations, Fab Lab work, benefits of FORGE partnership with ESU
April 1 is a pranker's paradise, and Emporia Main Street -- not known for its pranking abilities -- had one that generated a lot of interest Wednesday, even if at least some of it was tongue-in-cheek....
Apr 02, 2026 Emporia Main Street graphic.
Moderate rainfall noted areawide Wednesday night, early Thursday
No severe weather came from showers and storms that moved across the KVOE listening area Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning. Area counties had a slight to enhanced risk for all hazards, but...
Apr 02, 2026 KVOE News photo.
Two people to Newman Regional Health after US-50 crash west of Emporia early Thursday
Lyon County deputies now say two people were taken to Newman Regional Health after a wreck in western Lyon County early Thursday. Deputy Fernando Zuniga says the crash was officially in the 300 block ...
Apr 02, 2026 One person was hospitalized after a wreck on US Highway west of Emporia on Thursday. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
