Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Emporia receives $450,000 grant for home rehab work
The city of Emporia is receiving grant funding as part of an affordable housing program through FHLBank Topeka and its local member financial institution, ESB Financial. The city says it has been awar...
Jan 16, 2025 KVOE News photo.
One of two defendants in Emporia aggravated robbery case has case dismissed
One of two defendants in an Emporia aggravated robbery case will return to court in March. The other had his case dismissed. Sheantel Thompson, age 23 of Sedan, saw her preliminary hearing delayed to ...
Jan 16, 2025 Malik Dorsey (left), Sheantel Thompson. Lyon County Jail photos.
Court date ahead in Lyon County drug distribution case
A pretrial hearing is coming next month in a Lyon County drug distribution case. David Lee Pohl had a preliminary hearing Wednesday and will return to court Feb. 13. Pohl is charged with distributing ...
Jan 16, 2025 KVOE News file photo.
Recent snowfall fails to change Drought Monitor map
One might think eight-plus inches of snowfall and half-an-inch or more of ice earlier this month would have had some positive impact on the US Drought Monitor. That is not the case. There was virtuall...
Jan 16, 2025 US Drought Monitor map.
Governor uses State of State as progress report for rest of century
With a bigger Republican supermajority in the Statehouse than she has ever faced, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly pledged a bipartisan approach on several issues as part of her State of the State Addres...
Jan 15, 2025 Kansas Governor Laura Kelly delivers the 2025 State of the State Address with Kansas House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins listening behind her. WIBW-TV screenshot.
Thermal Ceramics confirms upcoming closure
Local management isn't mentioning an official date, but it is confirming the closure of Emporia's Thermal Ceramics plant. The Emporia plant has had the Thermal Ceramics brand since the 1980s, but it i...
Jan 15, 2025 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Emporia High biology teacher Huggard receives Presidential Award
It took several years, but Erica Huggard has received a national honor for her work in the classroom. A biology teacher at Emporia High, Huggard was recently bestowed the Presidential Award for Excell...
Jan 15, 2025 Erica Huggard. USD 253 Emporia photo.
KDOT approves bids for Emporia, Osage County projects
State funding is confirmed for an Emporia hike-and-bike path project. The Kansas Department of Transportation has approved a $575,000 bid from Multicon, Inc, of Park City to lead the work on West 24th...
Jan 15, 2025 Kansas Department of Transportation logo.
USDA announces area grant recipients through REAP program
Several area businesses are benefiting from federal dollars to bolster energy efficiency and create clean energy. USDA Director for Kansas Rural Development Christy Davis announced numerous investment...
Jan 15, 2025 US Department of Agriculture logo.
Evergy honored twice by Edison Electric Institute for emergency response
Evergy's work helping fellow utilities across Kansas, Missouri and other states has earned it a special recognition. Edison Electric Institute has named Evergy as an Emergency Response Award recipient...
Jan 15, 2025 Evergy photo.
