Author: Brandon Peoples

Panasonic has emerged as the mystery company behind the $4 billion APEX bill and will develop a second U.S. electric vehicle battery factory in Kansas, planned in the Kansas City area. Nikkei Asia reported the Japanese company today selected Kansas over Oklahoma for its proximity to Texas, the site of its other plant and favorable tax treatment. Panasonic will develop electric vehicle batteries for Tesla and aims to triple or quadruple EV battery production capacity by fiscal 2028 from the current level of about 50 gigawatt hours per year. It’s been rumored the site for the new facility will be…

Three people accused in a drug distribution investigation in St. George appeared in Pottawatomie County District Court Tuesday. Separate status hearings were scheduled over the next month for 44-year-old Dixie Martin, 30-year-old Kaley Hamilton and 23-year-old Wesley Cook, who were among five arrested a week ago. Four children were also placed into state custody as part of the investigation. Martin has been arraigned on four felony charges, including possession with intent to distribute, possession of an opiate, aggravated child endangerment and no drug tax stamp. She’s also charged with misdemeanor possession charges. Martin is set for a 1:30 p.m. status…

Authorities say nearly a dozen cattle died after a semi truck overturned Monday morning in northern Riley County. The accident shut down traffic for about five hours while members of the Riley County Police Department, Riley County Fire District No. 1, Kansas Highway Patrol and other agencies assisted in extrication of the cattle. Deputy Riley County Fire Chief John Martens says there were 60 head of cattle in the trailer when it overturned. Officials had to use the jaws of life to get the cattle out. At least 10 cows were either killed or had to be put down, due…

Pottawatomie County commissioners gave the go ahead Monday for an island annexation to proceed for the future Scorpion Biological Systems project east of Manhattan. The agreement will essentially put the 50 acre tract of land under the City of Manhattan’s jurisdiction for water, sewer and fire protection. Some questions still remain about how traffic will be managed in the area, especially along Excel Road. To date, development officials, including Chamber Director of Economic Development Daryn Soldan, have not met with residents living in the area about a general overview of the project. He says the reason for that is because there…

A Lyon County teenager sustained non-life threatening injuries Sunday after an accidental shooting near the Neosho River, south of Emporia. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says 16-year-old Blaine McComsey of Hartford was carrying his fishing gear and a .22 caliber handgun down an embankment when he was startled by a “dangerous animal.” As he attempted to back away, he fell, causing the firearm to discharge into his lower left leg. McComsey was treated and released from Coffey County Hospital.

The first positive case of monkeypox was identified in Kansas over the weekend. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says a presumptive positive case was identified in Johnson County based on testing at the Kansas Health and Environment Laboratories. The patient is an adult resident of Johnson County who recently traveled out of state. The person, who was not identified is said to be working with KDHE to identify potential close contacts. KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek says the risk of monkeypox spreading in Kansas remains low.

A Salina woman was killed Sunday in a head on crash east of Salina. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 38-year-old Jennifer Wangerin was driving westbound on Magnolia Road just after 4:30 p.m. when an eastbound Jeep went left of center and struck her Dodge Ram pickup head on. Wangerin died at the scene. An 11-year-old boy riding in Wangerin’s vehicle was hospitalized with a suspected minor injury. The other driver, 16-year-old Samuel Owens, of Solomon sustained a serious injury and was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The crash report says none of the three involved in the crash…

10 a.m. Monday update A Manhattan woman has been arrested in connection to starting a fire at a duplex at 903 Thurston Street Sunday. The Riley County Police Department says 37-year-old Mahbooba Babrakzai was booked on four counts of aggravated arson. Bond has been set at $50,000. According to the Manhattan Fire Department, six people were displaced from two units, including an infant child, four adult men and one adult woman. One person refused treatment for smoke inhalation. Two lizards were rescued from the adjacent unit. The fire scorched the 1-story building, causing an estimated $60,000 in damage. Firefighters extinguished…

Anthony Middle School is this year’s site for a joint active violence training exercise conducted by local emergency personnel. That’s USD 383 Board President Curt Herrman. The exercise will take place Tuesday through Thursday. The goal of the exercise is to streamline inter-agency cooperation during a crisis situation. RCPD Administrative Captain Josh Kyle says part of the training involves improving response times to get to the injured. Typically, he says EMS and fire won’t go into a building until police give the all clear. Kyle says a few years ago they encountered a scenario where fire alarms were going off…

Following intervention from the ACLU of Kansas, Atchison County Clerk Michelle Phillips has reversed a previous decision that ended voter registration for the Aug. 2 election early on June 23. That means anyone living in Atchison County, including the City of Atchison can register ahead of the July 12 deadline. The books will officially close at 5 p.m. that day. The reason for the initial closure of voter registration on June 23 had been in anticipation of the City of Atchison’s July 14 special election on a sales tax referendum. The ACLU worked with the Secretary of State’s office to…