Within Reason with Mike Matson

Since Kansas State University's opening in 1863, Manhattan has been a booming college town. With the recent introduction of the "Edge 3.0" project, with a planned luxury condo building, hotel, restaurant, brewery, and a pocket park complex, many local residents have had concerns about the project. Today, Greg Willems, president and CEO of the K-State University Foundation, joins the show to talk a...

The Alliance of Former Chief Justices is a nonpartisan group of more than 50 retired state supreme court chief justices, a newly launched civic group with the intent to speak out about what they see as a lapse in constitutional liberty. Today, Lawton Nuss with The Alliance joins the show to talk about why he decided to join the civic group, and how he continues his advocacy for civil liberty and r...

With the ground breaking set for March 10th, the Yuma Cultural Center is just around the corner. Sheila Ellis-Glasper joins the show today to share how she brought the Yuma Cultural Center to life, and how the Black Entrepreneur of The Flint Hills has provided for the minority communities looking to start a business.

Flowers are a great way to add a little life into your enviornment. Today, local florist Sara Larson, owner and lead designer of Wild & Blooming Floral & Events, joins the show today to talk about why she loves working with flora and what it's been like to present at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Cardiac care providers are vital in diagnosing, treating, and managing heart conditions. Today's guest is Naomi Zwonitzer, an advanced practice practitioner in cardiology with the Stormont Vail Health Manhattan Campus, and she shares how she's bringing specialized care to the flint hills region.

It's the job of local government to provide things like public safety and road repair wherever and whenever it's needed. Here in Manhattan, managing that job goes to Danielle Dulin. City Manager Danielle Dulin joins the show today to talk about how the new commission is handling city taxes, and what it's like managing the bureaucracy of Manhattan.

The K-State Rodeo preserves and showcases western values such as toughness and connection to the land. With the K-State Rodeo right around the corner, we thought it important to bring on Rodeo Team Coach Christi Braudrick, as well as Sage Towes to talk about the rodeo, and what they plan on showing off.

The issue of indoor aquatics has been a long debated issue in Manhattan, and it seems like the issue is finally dying down. So today, Aaron Stewart, director of the Manhattan Parks & Recreation department joins the show to talk about what the future of indoor aquatics is, and the reasons as to why it's coming to a close.

The private sector produces goods and services, creates jobs, and powers overall economic growth. A local company, Shilling Construction, who provides asphalt and manufacturing services here in Manhattan works with the city to provide that infrastructure support that keeps our lives easier. Owner and CFO of Shilling Construction, Steve Altobello joins the show today to talk about what it's like fi...

Any good city needs to know where it's going in order to provide the best opportunities for it's residents. Director of Planning and Development for Manhattan, Stephanie Peterson, works for the city in order to develop a coherent and thriving community. Today, Peterson joins the show to share what guiding principles have brought us to where we are today, as well as where we are heading as a city.

Soldiers who go missing in action are hardest to grapple, with the disorientation and lack of closure for family members. The Kansas State University Missing in Action Recovery and Identification Project works to put names to old reports in an effort to bring that closure to families. D.J. Schaefer with the MIA Recovery and Identification Project joins the show today to share how he started the pr...

With Kansas being one of the largest agricultural producers in the country, so staying on the cutting edge of production and sustainability. Today's guest, Aaron Harries, is the Vice President of Research and Operation with the Kansas Wheat Commission and works to provide Kansas farmers with the best information and supplies needed to provide the best food for the country.

Improving women's healthcare improves the lives of those around them, and strengthens overall community health. Today Obstetrician-Gynecologists with Stormont Vail Health, Anwar Khoury and Jarett Skinner, join the show to talk about the job of an OBGYN and how they help further women's health in the Flint Hills region.

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is a locally operated non-profit with the aim of providing increased food security for Manhattan community members. Executive director of the non-profit, Karla Hagemeister, joins the show to talk about their upcoming drive, "the SOUPer Bowl" which aims to bring awareness to the growing issue of poverty in the community, as well as supplies for those in need.

Kansas is facing a shortage of lawyers, both public and private, that are able to provide representation for defendants. Kansas Supreme Court Judge K-J Wall joins the show to share his knowledge on the issue, and what he thinks we can do to walk back the shortage.

The USD 383 school board, encompassing Manhattan and Ogden, has recently made the change to move school start times earlier. Superintendent of the 383 district, Eric Reid, joins the show today to talk about why they've chosen to make this change amid community pushback, and how they think the change will benefit both staff and students.

Personal health is always at the forefront of peoples minds, and the Kansas Health Foundation is here to help facilitate that effort. The health organization is the largest non-profit in the state, and invest in hospitals and people to encourage the growing effort towards personal care. Kansas Health Foundation president and CEO, Ed O'Malley, joins the show to share where the foundation is focusin...

Everybody loves looking to the stars, but Steve Hawley has gotten closer than most. Hawley, a retired astronomer and NASA astronaut, joins the show today to talk about his experience within NASA and how that influenced his new book, "Eyes to the Stars: A Memoir for the Space Shuttle Generation."

Mental health support is one of the most important community safety nets employed, and Manhattan strives to provide that safety net for it's residents. Light MHK, a recent development of that net, is a non-profit with the aim of providing mental health services to the greater Manhattan area. Beth St. Amand and Dolly Gudder, with the non-profit, join the show to talk about how the organization work...

Emergency care is the first line of defense when it comes to medical intervention. Dr. Todd Crane, with Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus in Junction City, joins the show to share his experience as an ER physician. Dr. Crane talks about what it takes to become a physician, what it's like once you're in the field, and why he keeps doing what he does.

Women's history affects us all, especially here in the heart of the Midwest. Today we are visited by a Manhattan artist, Phyllis Garibay-Coon, as well as Linda Uthoff with the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. These women share their experiences with the non-profit, and how they work memorialize the Suffrage Movement.

Alzheimer's is a disease that continues to affect many families, and unfortunately there is no silver bullet. Today, Margaret Haden and Jamie Gideon with the Heart of America chapter of the Alzheimer's Association join the show to talk about the support that the nation wide organization provides, as well as the good that they provide right here at home.

Manhattan will be hosting a Regional Growth Summit, with the aim of creating a dialogue on economic growth and prosperity. Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, Jason Smith, joins the show today to talk about what is going into this summit, and what outcomes could come from the conversations being had.

There is a group of voices expressing concern over what they view as a dangerous decent into autocratic rule within the Capitol building in Topeka. Retired House Representatives Mike Dodson and Tom Hawk join the show to talk about their experience while serving, and what changes they've seen over the years.

Today, Ruth Maus joins the show to talk about her newly released book, "Lunacy and Acts of God." A coming of age historical fiction book set in 1950's Kansas, Maus talks about how she wrote her book, how it relates to our modern lives, and what brought her to publication today.