Author: Brandon Peoples

Manhattan firefighters made quick work of a small fire at Edwards Hall just before 6:30 a.m. Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes says the fire was contained to one room, in the northeast corner of the building. Smoke damage was found throughout the wing of the building, which holds offices for Human Capital Services and the University Police Department, as well as the Division of Public Safety. Firefighters brought the fire under control within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause has been ruled accidental due to an issue with the building’s HVAC unit. Loss is estimated at $15,000 to…

A Topeka man arrested over the weekend in Geary County is charged in connection to past sex crimes in Dickinson County. According to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, 20-year-old Christopher Hyde was arrested Sunday afternoon on I-70, about two miles east of Junction City. Hyde is charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties, electronic solicitation and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. Online court records allege the incidents are alleged from July 2019 involving a 14-year-old victim. Hyde was booked into the Geary County Jail but released later in the day on bond. No further details have been…

Two Manhattan brothers were arrested Friday on felony warrants for past sexual crimes reported to the Riley County Police Department in late February. The alleged crimes took place between 2017 and 2021, according to an ongoing police investigation. RCPD says 27-year-old Severino Jimenez Calleja is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy of a child under the age of 14 and four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The charges stem from a police report filed Feb. 21. Also arrested was 31-year-old Antonio Jimenez Calleja, charged with two counts of rape of a child under the age…

Ascension Via Christi says it is once again updating its visitation measures in response to COVID-19. Starting Monday, all patients admitted to the hospital will be allowed one visitor at a time with the same person being the allowed visitor for the patient’s entire inpatient stay. These visitors will not be allowed to exchange out with another visitor during visitation hours, which are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Patients undergoing outpatient testing will still be allowed one visitor per test, beginning Monday. Patients seeking emergency care will be allowed one visitor to accompany them after the triage process is…

House Bill 2196 The Kansas Legislature has cleared one hurdle to overhaul the state labor department. The House voted 87-36 vote Thursday on House Bill 2196, largely on partisan lines. Among the supporters, 67th District Rep. Mike Dodson (R-Manhattan), says the bill will establish an independent board to oversee the Kansas Department of Labor. “You’ve got to have people who know what they’re doing providing oversight and then we have to make sure that they put the money, and we’ve provided that, into the IT. We all know what happened because the IT system was so bad, when they tried…

A bill that would allow for the legal age to conceal carry a firearm in Kansas be lowered from 21 to 18, has won final approval from the Kansas House. A key provision specifies a valid license or permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by another jurisdiction would be recognized in Kansas, even if the license or permit holder is from out of state. While he supported the bill, 67th District Rep. Mike Dodson (R-Manhattan) says it is not without flaws because already by state statute, Kansas allows 18, 19 and 20 year olds to legally carry an unconcealed…

Services are now set for a Manhattan woman killed in late February along I-70 in downtown Topeka. An obituary for 29-year-old Brooke Rees says funeral services will be held Monday, March 8 at 2 p.m. Eastern time at her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Those who knew her that wish to attend virtually can do so virtually through Passion City Church of Atlanta at this link: http://bit.ly/BrookeReesFuneral. Rees died Feb. 24 when a semi carrying large metal pipes lost its load. One of the pipes landed on top of her westbound vehicle near the 3rd Street exit. Seven vehicles were involved…

A new partnership has been announced between an industry-leading equipment manufacturer and Kansas State University. Great Plains Manufacturing announced Thursday it’s signed a master agreement to begin a research and testing partnership with K-State. The two entities will collaborate to conduct research, providing students with experience and hands-on learning opportunities. The company says it has provided agricultural equipment for use in various university research programs, part of a larger effort to expand corporate-student partnerships on campus and develop future potential job opportunities for students. The company’s executive vice president David Disberger said “Kansas State University is well-known for its contributions…

With COVID restrictions slowly being lifted in the area, the USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade says the district will approach some of their annual spring activities with careful precision. Wade, appearing on KMAN’s In Focus Wednesday, told listeners his office has received a lot of requests from community members wanting to use school facilities for events now that the Riley County Health Department has eased some of the restrictions, including the 50 person limit on gatherings locally. “For the most part it’s going to be a no. But we will look at instances like prom, commencement, school performances,…

A Junction City man is jailed in Riley County on multiple charges following a scuffle at Heritage Ridge Apartments Wednesday night, near CiCo Park in Manhattan. According to RCPD, 28-year-old Brandon Lee Gibson injured a 27-year-old woman and then crashed his vehicle into a pickup belonging to a 19-year-old woman. Two 18-year-old men were inside the truck at the time of the crash. Police did not list any injuries to the two men. Damage was estimated at around $5,000. RCPD says Gibson fled the scene and was taken into custody about two hours later. Gibson is charged with three counts…