Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Kansas State Board of Education suspends Watson for inappropriate comments, rejecs resignation letter
Instead of accepting the resignation of Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson, the Kansas State Board of Education is suspending Watson for 30 days after inappropriate comments about Native Ameri...
Feb 25, 2022 Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson (right) has made regular visits to Emporia since assuming his current role in 2014. Following an inappropriate remark recently, Watson submitted his resignation but the Kansas State Board of Education decided to suspend him for 30 days instead. KVOE News file photo.
Emporia Presbyterian church, old preschool area briefly evacuated after potential gas leak
Emporia Fire and Kansas gas were called to downtown Emporia on Friday morning after a report of a potential gas leak. Fire and Kansas Gas investigators went to Emporia Presbyterian Church, 802 Commerc...
Feb 25, 2022 Emporia Fire badge.
HARVEYVILLE TORNADO: Ten years later, town adapts to 'new normal'
Monday marks the 10th anniversary of a tornado that damaged Harveyville, killed one person and hurt 12 others. Harveyville Mayor Dustin Kuntz is among the people who still vividly remembers that eveni...
Feb 25, 2022 Harveyville Mayor Dustin Kuntz fields a phone call with former Kansas governor Sam Brownback touring the town after the 2012 tornado that hurt 12 people and killed one person. KVOE News file photo.
Storm spotter training session schedules announced
With severe weather season approaching, the National Weather Service Topeka office is planning a blend of in-person and online storm spotter training classes, while the Wichita office is setting up a ...
Feb 25, 2022 Amy Pederson photo.
CORONAVIRUS: USD 253 Emporia board sets special meeting to revisit Wednesday's COVID-19 update
Earlier this week, the Emporia Board of Education voted to make masks optional as a COVID-19 mitigation strategy effective March 28. The board will get another COVID update as part of a special meetin...
Feb 25, 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention graphic.
Emporia State professor: Russia's invasion of Ukraine part of Putin's plan to 'recreate Soviet-style empire'
Europe hasn't seen the size of the current Russian invasion of Ukraine since World War II. An estimated 150,000 Russian soldiers are either in Ukraine or are poised to enter, and Russian forces have h...
Feb 25, 2022 Google Maps image.
With training complete, Emporia Police to have Narcan in patrol vehicles soon
Fentanyl cases aren't high in number locally, but the drug is now officially here. And with fentanyl's presence locally coupled with opioid overdoses and deaths increasing both statewide and nationwid...
Feb 25, 2022 KVOE News file photo.
Drought Monitor map virtually unchanged after last week's snowfall
Last week's moderate to heavy snowfall caused no noticeable change to the most recent US Drought Monitor map. Abnormally dry conditions still hold south and west of a line from Council Grove to Readin...
Feb 25, 2022 US Drought Monitor map.
Economic development policy dominates joint meeting for Emporia, Lyon County leaders
Leaders of Emporia city and Lyon County government have been holding increasingly urgent conversations about economic development direction over the past year. That continued during a joint meeting in...
Feb 24, 2022 Emporia and Lyon County commissioners, along with city and county administrative leaders, spent about an hour in a joint session Wednesday. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Man arrested in Osage City on suspicion of drug distribution, other drug-related offenses
Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells says a man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of numerous illegal drug offenses, including intent to distribute. Wells says the arrest of 50-year-old Michael Brumbaugh...
Feb 24, 2022 Michael Brumbaugh. Osage County Jail photo.
