Author: Brandon Peoples

Wamego Police have arrested a man who fled authorities Saturday night following a domestic dispute at a convenience store. Police say 38-year-old Russell Spears was located Sunday and taken into custody. Officers were called to the Short Stop convenience around 11 p.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, police say he fled in a green SUV then after a brief pursuit, fled on foot. Police say no further details are being released at this time as the case remains under further investigation.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m. Monday A story involving a Herington Police Officer who claimed he received a coffee with an expletive on it from a Junction City McDonald’s was fabricated. The story gained national attention over the weekend after Herington Police Chief Brian Hornaday shared the photo to his Facebook page. Surveillance video provided by McDonald’s management to police showed no evidence that any employee wrote the expletive note on the cup. In a news conference Monday, Hornaday noted the officer has since resigned over the matter. Hornaday has called it a “black-eye on the law enforcement community.” Hornaday declined to…

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is warning the public not to consume certain meat products from the Clay Center Locker Plant. The department on Monday will issue the recall for any ready-to-eat product including smoked pork loins, ham hocks and smoked ham produced on Nov. 21. The recall is being issued due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The department urges the public not to consume any product that will be part of the recall. That includes products purchased at retail counters in the plant and the hams that were delivered to the Future Farmer of America Clay…

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it assisted 282 motorists over the Christmas holiday reporting period. Among the statistics, zero fatal crashes were worked this year, compared to two last year. In addition, the partol made six DUI arrests statewide, down from 10 in 2018 and 11 in 2017. It issued speeding citations to 232 drivers, down from 1,000 last year. Speed warnings were also down from 956 last year to 346 this year. The holiday reporting period goes from 6 p.m. Dec. 24 through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 25.

It is now illegal for retailers to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The law, signed Dec. 20 by President Donald Trump is part of a $1.4 trillion spending package that among other things, raises the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. This applies to cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and all other forms of tobacco. News of the change was largely overshadowed by end-of-the-year impeachment and the North American trade deal. Originally it was thought retailers would have until summer 2020 to comply with the law,…

Formal charges have been filed against a man arrested last month on a Riley County warrant for aggravated kidnapping and attempted rape. Court records show 41-year-old Sean Morgan was charged Dec. 20 in Riley County District Court. A criminal complaint states the alleged crimes occurred in February 2015 against a then 27-year-old victim. Morgan also faces alternative charges of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated sexual battery against the same victim with additional charges of rape and two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy against a 25-year-old victim. The latter charges are alleged to have occurred in March 2018. Morgan was…

The Manhattan Regional Airport is advising anyone flying out over the next several days to consider getting a ride to the airport. Photos shared on the airport’s Facebook page Thursday showed a near capacity parking lot due to the large volume of travelers over the Christmas holiday. This isn’t unusual for this time of year says Airport Assistant Director Brandon Keazer. Keazer says the parking woes should clear up over the next several days. The Manhattan City Commission in September approved a $4.5 million project to expand parking by an additional 200 spots, which should alleviate some of the airport…

Wednesday’s high of 65 degrees in Manhattan was the third warmest Christmas on record. The National Weather Service says it was the warmest day since its ASOS site began tracking records in 1996. An older non-ASOS site, with data dating back 100 years further, found Wednesday’s temperature missed the record-mark of 67 degrees set in 1936, by just two degrees. Wednesday’s low temperature of 45 was the warmest low temperature on record for Christmas Day. Elsewhere across Kansas, record highs of 68 degrees were set in both Wichita and Emporia. Topeka reached 67 degrees, the second warmest Christmas on record…

The Kansas Forest Service, located in Manhattan, has announced Jason Hartman as its new state forester for the agency. Hartman, the agency’s assistant fire management officer for the past 15 years, takes over the position Dec. 29. He’ll replace Larry Biles who has been in the role since 2008, and is retiring after four decades in forestry. The Kansas Forest Service serves the public with conservation tree and shrub planting, fire management, community forestry, rural forestry, marketing and utilization and forest health. Hartman will lead a staff of 30 employees in the agency’s headquarters at Kansas State University. His past…

Pottawatomie County Commission Chair Travis Altenhofen will officially resign his office January 10. Altenhofen, who was elected to the commission in 2016, was offered a promotion at his employer following the death of his boss earlier this year. That complicated his ability to dedicate the necessary time to public service. On KMAN’s In Focus Tuesday, the 30-year-old Altenhofen said his time on the commission has been an eye-opening experience he’s been blessed to have. Altenhofen says he’s most proud of his most recent introduction to the commission this week, the beginning works of a draft document that prioritizes long-term spending…