Author: Brandon Peoples

A Riley County jury on Thursday found a 22-year-old Manhattan woman originally from Texas guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 death of her boyfriend. Gregoria Baez was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Felix Florez, a former Geary County correctional officer. Florez died Sept. 22, 2018 after being shot below his right eye. The Manhattan Mercury reports that jurors were shown a video in court Wednesday where Baez claimed the shooting was accidental, the result of the two joking around, pulling guns on each other. In the video, Baez reportedly said it was common for Florez…

A local developer has officially dropped plans for a multi-million dollar redevelopment of Anderson Village. Chris Elsey says the project, which would have included apartments, a hotel, retail spaces and a parking garage among other amenities is dead due to a lack of support from the City of Manhattan and surrounding neighbors. Elsey’s plans had also included the potential for an indoor waterpark, similar to that of a facility in Garden City. City officials questioned whether that type of development could fit in the location which faced parking and density issues. Local renters union Renters Together MHK claimed a victory…

A contingency of Kansas legislators descended on Pawnee Mental Health’s new Crisis Stabilization Center Wednesday afternoon – the last stop on a three-day bus tour of Kansas public mental health facilities. The purpose of the tour was to bring exposure to resources currently available across the state. State Senator Tom Hawk of Manhattan says he was pleased to see the progress made as Pawnee approaches the opening of its Manhattan center. “I’m very pleased that it now holds nine and I think originally we were thinking six. So I think we’re looking at capacity issues. I think it’s going to…

A Manhattan man who had been sought in connection to multiple property crimes is in custody. Riley County Police say 26-year-old Collin Wood was arrested just after 6 p.m. Wednesday in the 1200 block of Overlook Drive. He faces 15 total charges including six counts of vehicle burglary, five counts of theft, two counts of criminal damage to property and two counts of criminal use of a financial card. Wood remains in Riley County Jail on a total $40,000 bond. 11 a.m. Wednesday original story Riley County Police are seeking the public’s help locating a man connected to a number…

Seven Manhattan High School students have been named semifinalists for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Schools announced Wednesday that Elizabeth Hohn, Elizabeth Kim, Ethan Myer, Alejandro Ortiz, Allen Zhang, Robert Zhang and Stepan Zharkov were named among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationally. Of those, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level and will be notified in February of this designation. Manhattan High Principal Michael Dorst commended the students for their efforts in a news release. He says “their constant dedication to school, hard work, activities and the support from their families, teachers and friends…

The Manhattan Fire Department was called out to a fire alarm Tuesday morning at K-State’s Hale Library. Fire officials were dispatched at 6:30 a.m. to a report of a sprinkler issue in the basement of the library. According to the fire department, a construction worker accidentally hit a sprinkler head. The issue was shut down quickly and no damage was noted. Hale Library recently reopened its first floor after being closed for more than a year due to a fire.

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci is retiring after 43 years of public service. Breci’s last day with JCPD is September 20. He’s spent 20 years with the department including the last three years as the Chief of Police. The department announced Monday that Lt. Kirt Nichols will serve as interim chief until a replacement for Breci is finalized. Nichols is a 29-year veteran of the JCPD. The national recruitment process for the new police chief began September 3 and the first interviews will take place in early October. Chief Breci began his professional career in…

Former Lt. Governor Tracey Mann announced Monday his candidacy for Congress in Kansas’ First District. The announcement comes just days after incumbent Roger Marshall announced plans to run for Senate in 2020. Mann said in a release that America needs leadership that will support the Trump administration, opposing government-run health care, higher taxes, restricting religion freedom and eroding the Second Amendment. Mann says his platform will include being a voice for Kansas agriculture in Washington and supports President Trump’s efforts to build a border wall at the southern border and curb illegal immigration. Mann served as the 50th Lt. Governor…

Riley County Police say no foul play is suspected after a person was found dead Monday morning in the 600 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd. Officers were called out around 7 a.m. to the area near the Manhattan Crossing shopping center to perform a welfare check. Officers found a deceased male. No further details have been released. Police say it is being investigated as an unattended death.

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — A Junction City teenager is behind bars after leading police on a pursuit Saturday morning. Deputies from the Geary County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched shortly after 7 a.m. to an erratic pickup driver traveling eastbound on Interstate 70. The driver reached speeds of up to 90 mph, swerving all over the road. Deputies chased the truck from I-70 into Junction City, through the Walmart parking lot, eventually stopping the vehicle in the 100 block of West 5th Street. The driver then exited the vehicle and took off on foot. The teen ran into his home in…