LATEST NEWS

A downed power line has been identified as the cause of a major power outage within the city of Emporia. The exact location of the downed line has not yet been announced, however, Evergy District Services Manager Rolland Trahoon II says crews are in the process of isolating the line with hopes of having power restored to a majority of the nearly 3,000 affected customers by 6 pm. The outage was reported just after 3:20 pm mainly affecting customers in southern and central Emporia including KVOE’s transmitter near the David Traylor Zoo.

EMPORIA (KSNT) – Emporia discussed amending the city’s vacant property ordinance to criminalize abandonment of properties at the regular Emporia City Commission meeting Dec. 6. A recent survey found there are 500 vacant buildings and at least 100 single-family homes are vacant in the city, according to the Emporia Community Housing Board. A study session […]

Lyon County Commissioenrs approved infrastructure proposals and financial transactions Thursday morning. Matt Baysinger and Nathan Collier from Lyon County Road and Bridge discussed two key infrastructure projects with the commissioners, including a replacement at the Rocky Ford Bridge. Commissioners Rollie Martin and Doug Peck approved the Project Agreement with the...

No individuals were taken by ambulance from the scene of an injury accident on North Kansas Highway 99 Tuesday afternoon. The accident was reported just before 3:15 pm in the 2700 block of K99 prompting a response from Emporia/Lyon County EMS along with Miller and Reading fire crews. Full details on the crash, including a narrative, the number of individuals involved and any injuries have not yet been divulged, however, Emporia Fire confirmed they did not transport anyone from the scene.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will review proposed text amendments from Newman Regional Hospital on December 19, 2023. The Commission may approve, disapprove, or defer the amendments for further review. The meeting is open to the public, but there will be no public hearing.

A brush fire that developed east of Emporia before sunrise Thursday was small in nature and put out quickly. Emporia and Hartford-Neosho Rapids were dispatched to the junction of Roads 175 and R-1 shortly after 4:45 am. Emporia firefighters got to the scene around 5 pm and had the fire out within five minutes.

Photo from Unsplash and unrelated to the city. For most people, it is a constant necessity of life to manage gas prices. The national average price for a gallon of regular-grade gas on Thursday is $3.202, a week ago the price is $3.246 , according to AAA.

When the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission has its monthly meeting later this month — and its second of round of conversations about Newman Regional Health’s proposed zoning code text changes — there are tentatively set to be a few adjustments to the meeting process. First, there will...

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three woman on drug allegations after a traffic stop encounter. Just before 5 p.m. Saturday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on I-35 in Osage County in for a traffic violation. During the stop, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. The deputy found illegal narcotics.

Two Colorado residents were hospitalized after their motorcycle collided with a deer near Emporia early Wednesday evening. According to Lyon County Deputy Jeff Rodriguez, deputies came across the accident while patrolling in the 1800 block of Burlingame Road just before 5:20 pm. Deputies determined that 29-year-old Courtney Dardano of Colorado was traveling northbound on Burlingame Road on a 2020 Honda Rebel when a deer entered the roadway from the west.

Three Americus women were arrested in Osage County late Friday afternoon on suspicion of drug activity. Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells says an unspecified traffic violation led to a law enforcement traffic stop at Interstate 35 mile marker 164, near the Waverly exit, just after 4:45 pm Friday. Wells says illegal narcotics were found during the stop.

• Newman Regional Health has requested changes to Emporia’s zoning code to potentially build a $30 million medical facility through Stormont-Vail Health. The request will be reviewed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission in two weeks.

A private graveside service is coming at a later date for longtime Emporia doctor Tom Hicks. Dr. Tim Harris worked alongside Hicks for years. He says Hicks was devoted to his patients — and those patients were devoted to him. Hicks came to Emporia in 1987 after starting a...

The Emporia City Commission will discuss rental registrations and revisions to the city’s current vacant property ordinance during today’s study session. According to the meeting agenda, the move comes after the realization that the current ordinances, in effect since 2014 with a revision in 2015, have proven insufficient in addressing the issues created by vacant properties in the city.

EMPORIA, Kan. (WIBW) - An unusual single-vehicle collision near Emporia may have disrupted funeral plans in Wichita after the vehicle transporting a deceased individual ended up in a ditch. KVOE reports that early Monday morning, Dec. 4, emergency crews were called to mile marker 137.5 on I-35 near Emporia with...

• Phillip Lieurance, an Emporia man accused of killing two women in Colorado, is awaiting sentencing for a separate case of aggravated battery in Kansas. He accepted a plea agreement in November for ramming his SUV into another vehicle.

Chase County High School students had more scholarship dollars available to them versus last year, thanks to efforts to the Chase County College Access scholarship fund. Spokesman Michael Brown says the fund awarded over $13,000 in scholarships this year, up nine percent over last year. The fund offers financial help for students looking to use concurrent college credits. Scholarships through Chase County College Access are available for high school juniors and seniors looking at four-year, two-year and technical college degrees and certificates.

Formal charges are pending after an incident allegedly involving shots fired near Emporia on Saturday. Lyon County deputies arrested Joseph Michael Davis, age 31, on suspicion of aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and domestic violence battery.

Drought conditions are improving for most of the KVOE listening area. Having three to four inches or more of liquid equivalent over a two-week stretch can do that. Thusday’s update from the US Drought Monitor shows moderate drought for most of the KVOE listening area. Abnormally dry conditions, the mildest on the Drought Monitor scale, is now posted for the area’s northeast quarter — including most of Lyon County’s north half, almost all of Osage County and a significant part of central and southeast Wabaunsee County.

TOPEKA — The president of Emporia State University and Kansas Board of Regents members asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit against them, claiming there is no proof ESU professors were fired for political beliefs, unionizing efforts or advocacy work. ESU school administrators, KBOR and other defendants named...