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The Little Apple Brief

Local, state, and US news for busy people - Feb 6, 2026 edition

Greg Loving

06 Feb 2026 • 3 min read

Downtown Manhattan KS/Facebook

Manhattan

Riley County police confirmed that ICE operations took place in Manhattan on Thursday morning but clarified that local officers were not involved. The department is directing all inquiries regarding these activities to federal authorities. →
A midyear report shows a decline of approximately 200 students in USD 383, which officials warn will negatively impact next year's budget decisions and potential raises. →
Garrison officials announced that the installation's annual payroll has reached $1.27 billion, contributing to a total regional economic impact of over $2 billion. →
Sixty students graduated midyear from Manhattan High, double the historical average, reflecting a growing trend of students entering the workforce or college early. →
The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Eric Reid’s contract by one year, securing his leadership through the 2029 fiscal year. →
McPherson-based startup Citizen Journal was awarded $25,000 in funding through the state's ACCEL-KS program to advance its AI-driven model for delivering hyperlocal news to rural communities. →
Expect a beautiful, mostly clear day with a high of 53°F and light winds, though you'll want a jacket as temperatures dip toward 34°F tonight.

🌾Kansas

Energy Siting: Kansas bill would let state regulators override local governments on approving wind/solar projects, stripping rural communities of veto power over energy facilities.
Immigration Enforcement: Kansas House passed bill 86-36 barring undocumented immigrants from public benefits and requiring agencies to verify legal status, despite Democratic concerns about constitutionality.
University Budget Cuts: Kansas House committee slashed university funding and withheld $12M until schools prove they've removed DEI and critical race theory content from required courses.
Homelessness Crisis: Kansas City approved $1M toward a $10M initiative to house 600 people amid a 170% homelessness surge that's given the city the nation's highest unsheltered rate.
Bird Flu Threat: Sedgwick County Zoo heightened biosecurity after finding a wild bird with suspected avian flu, a highly contagious disease fatal to birds and some mammals.

🇺🇸 US

Senate immigration talks collapse before beginning, with Democrats demanding enforcement restrictions and Republicans refusing, risking DHS shutdown after Feb. 13 deadline.
Latino support for Trump eroding in Pennsylvania swing district as deportation fears hurt businesses; national Hispanic approval drops to 41% amid midterm concerns.
U.S. bans Chinese software from connected vehicles, forcing automakers to conduct urgent supply chain audits to remove cameras, microphones, and GPS tracking technology.
Anthropic's AI tools trigger selloff in corporate software giants like Salesforce and Adobe after releasing Claude platform capable of performing legal, financial, and coding functions.
U.S. and Iran hold first talks since June war in Oman amid Trump threats and naval buildup, while regime faces new wave of protests after mass killings of demonstrators.
Russian intelligence general shot multiple times at Moscow apartment; Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev in critical condition as Putin monitors investigation.
Winter Olympics open in Italy with ceremony Friday as early competitions in curling, hockey, and figure skating already underway in Milan Cortina.

Weather

February 6 1971: During the Apollo 14 moon landing, astronaut Alan Shepard one-handedly whacks two balls with a moon-rock-collection-tool-turned-golf-club.

He shanked the first shot into a nearby crater.

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