Author: Brandon Peoples

The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld a 2019 Riley County District Court sentencing of an Ogden woman convicted of two counts of drug distribution within 1,000 feet of a school. Anita Jo Albano was arrested in August 2017 and later convicted on by a jury. In her appeal, Albano argued the Kansas sentencing guidelines violated the Kansas Constitution because they allow a judge, instead of a jury, to consder prior convictions in sentencing. In the high court’s ruling last week, it argued the Constitution does not guarantee a defedant’s right to have a jury determine the sentencing. Albano is serving…

The filing deadline for Manhattan city and USD 383 school board election candidates came and went Tuesday. All told, 10 local residents have filed for three seats on the school board and nine residents for three seats on the city commission. That means there will be a primary election August 3 for the school board race to narrow the field for the general election November 2. All nine candidates in the city race will be on the November ballot. Manhattan City Commission On the city commission, there are three open seats. Incumbents Wynn Butler, Aaron Estabrook and Usha Reddi are…

Five people were injured Monday in a crash east of Junction City. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a vehicle was exiting I-70 at K-18. A southbound vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign while the other car was attempting a left turn, causing a collision. The driver of the first vehicle, 27-year-old Justin Finch of Junction City was transported to Geary County Hospital with a suspected minor injury. Two passengers including 25-year-old Emallie Gowens-Finch of Junction City and Belinda Terry of Georgia were also hospitalized. Two passengers from the second vehicle, both from out of state were also hospitalized.…

Manhattan residents will have another location to renew driver’s licenses, beginning on Thursday, thanks to a new partnership. The Kansas Department of Revenue and AAA Kansas are bringing a remote driver’s licensing unit to AAA’s Manhattan retail store. A variety of services will be offered including: Renew Kansas driver’s licenses and IDs. Issue new Kansas Driver Licenses and IDs to people moving here from out of state. Issue duplicate licenses/IDs for those who have lost their credential Change of address Update name (marriage, court ordered, adoption, etc.) Issue Real ID for people to be federally compliant. (Real ID is required by…

Rain couldn’t put a damper on the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Memorial Day ceremony Monday. Leading the ceremony was Garrison Commander Col. Will McKannay McKannay also spoke about the Army’s continued response to challenges both foreign and domestic, noting 2020 as a prime example of the Big Red One’s response to the pandemic. Sen. Roger Marshall also was a guest of honor Monday. He highlighted legislation passed by Congress this past winter that will see the names of 660 fallen soldiers from the post since 1995 added to the 1st Infantry Division memorial in Washington, D.C. Marshall wrapped…

Two Manhattan women have become the eighth and ninth candidates to enter the USD 383 school board race. Teresa Parks filed her letter of intent Friday with the Riley County Clerk’s office. Parks is a career transition readiness specialist at Flint Hills Job Corps. She’s also an advocate for social justice and was a speaker during last year’s Juneteenth march through City Park. Betty Mattingly-Ebert, a Manhattan resident and business owner, also filed Friday for candidacy in the USD 383 school board race. Parks and Mattingly-Ebert join a crowded field of candidates vying for three seats on the school board.…

Many people are getting back out on the lakes and rivers this weekend as Memorial Day represents the unofficial start to summer. Riley County Game Warden Ben Jedlicka with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, says it’s a good time to remind residents to execute caution and have a life jacket. “Everybody in a boat which includes kayaks, canoes, paddle boards — each one of those must have a wearable life jacket on board,” he said. The goal he says is to prevent drownings. So far in 2021 Jedlicka says his office has seen zero drownings. “I’d sure like to…

The remains of a Kansas soldier killed during World War II are being brought home to family members in Nemaha County. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran will present the remains of Sgt. Carol Eugene Domer to the surviving family at the Nemaha County Veterans’ Memorial in Seneca on Memorial Day. Sgt. Domer was killed in action off the coast of Papua New Guinea (Papa New Ginn-ee) when his crew had to ditch their B-24 plane while returning from a bombing mission on January 1, 1943. Sen. Moran and family member Ken Domer have been working since 2003 to recover Sgt. Domer’s remains and return…

One person was injured after an SUV struck a bicyclist at the intersection of Tuttle Creek Blvd. and McCall Road Thursday afternoon. Riley County Police say 60-year-old Kenneth Scott, of Manhattan, was traveling east on his bike in the crosswalk when he was struck by an SUV driven by 78-year-old Voleta Karstetter. Scott was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of his injuries.

Travelers hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend will pay the highest gas prices since 2014, according to Triple A. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Kansas is $2.82, which is 22 cents less than the $3.04 national average. In comparison, one year ago, gas prices were $1.68. Gas prices in Manhattan and Junction City continue to hold steady at approximately $2.89 at most retailers. Kansas has the seventh cheapest gas in the nation. More than 37 million Americans are expected to take a trip this weekend, representing a 30 percent increase over last year’s holiday weekend.…