Author: Brandon Peoples

The state has rested in the D’Khari Lyons murder trial. Jurors in Riley County District Court Friday heard testimony from forensic pathologist Ransom Ellis who testified to the injuries sustained by 2-month-old Michael Calvert Jr. He testified the baby died as the result of acute head trauma or blunt force trauma. He noted the cause of death to be a homicide. In earlier testimony Thursday it was said that Lyons and the baby were lying on the bed together when the baby started coughing and that’s when he turned him on his side, but told investigators otherwise he hadn’t done…

Manhattan Fire officials made quick work of a small house fire near 10th and Thurston Street Friday afternoon. Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes says firefighters responded around 12:45 p.m. to a report of smoke. Fire officials were able to locate light smoke coming from the north side of the home at 928 Thurston Street and made entry. They determined that the kitchen area of the structure had been involved in a fire that was nearly extinguished by the time they arrived. Crews ventilated the structure and performed overhaul to ensure the fire could not extend. A search of the home…

Testimony was heard Thursday in the trial of D’Khari Lyons, the Manhattan man accused in the November 2018 murder of his former girlfriend’s infant son. Jurors heard from the child abuse specialist from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City who examined 2-month old Michael Calvert Jr. in the days after he sustained a fatal head injury while in the care of Lyons. The boy’s mother had left Michael at home with Lyons while she took her two other children to school. It was described that at the time of Michael’s arrival to the hospital, the injuries were so substantial that…

FRONTENAC, Kan. (AP) — The city council for a small southeast Kansas community has fired its administrator, attorney and clerk without any discussion, prompting the mayor to threaten to resign and then walk out of the meeting. The Pittsburg Morning Sun reports that the mass firings happened during Monday night’s meeting in Frontenac, a town of about 3,400 located just to the north of Pittsburg. The reasons for the surprise terminations remain unclear. The Morning Sun has filed a records request. After the firings, Mayor Linda Grilz said she would veto the vote or the council also could have her…

A Wamego woman was arrested Wednesday on a Pottawatomie County District Court warrant for theft. According to the Riley County Police Department, 37-year-old Elizabeth Crooks is charged with one count of theft by deception, totaling between $25,000 to $100,000 and one count of using a computer for unlawful acts; false representation with damage. RCPD says the thefts are alleged to have occured between March 2015 and June 2019 in the 300 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd. Advance Auto is listed as the victim. It’s unclear how much the business lost in the alleged theft. Bond was listed at $10,000, but…

Riley County Police say the mother of an infant found abandoned in Manhattan Wednesday evening has been found. Police received a call from Ascencion Via Christi just after 7 p.m. after an infant was brought in after reportedly being found in the 2000 block of North Manhattan Ave. The baby was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka as a precaution and is said to be healthy. The mother is said to be in good health as well. Police have not disclosed her identity. Further investigation has led police to believe the intent was to follow the safe haven law.…

Kansas State University is entering a planning phase with Wichita State for a satellite Bachelor of Science Nursing program on the K-State campus. The two schools have combined resources to address the anticipated increased nursing shortage in Kansas and the nation over the next decade. The Institute of Medicine recommends that 80 percent of Registered Nurses obtain a BSN by 2020. The partnership between the two schools would give students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Health and Human Services at K-State, and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) from…

Human trafficking awareness training took place Tuesday for dozens of health care workers at Manhattan’s Ascension Via Christi hospital. The goal of the training was to educate and inform officials at all department levels what to look for when caring for an individual who may be a victim. Human Trafficking Program Manager Nicole Ensminger says these are unique cases where an individual is being controlled by another person who is using vulnerabilities, such as drug addictions as leverage. “A lot of times we place stigmas on individuals and different mental health disorders. So I think it’s really important for us…

GEARY COUNTY — A 20-year-old Manhattan man who drove drunk and caused a three-vehicle crash on K-18 Sunday night is now in custody. Denilson Acosta-Rodriguez is charged with driving under the influence, two counts of DUI causing bodily harm and two counts of DUI causing great bodily harm or disfigurement. He also faces charges of driving in the wrong direction, failure to stop at a traffic accident and obstructing apprehension of prosecution. He remains in Geary County Jail. Two of the victims of Sunday night’s crash were air lifted to KU Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries including David…

The Riley County Law Board has approved a new policy allowing the use of unmanned aerial systems (or drones) to aid in the assistance of law enforcement investigations. Last year the Riley County Police Department launched a pilot program where drones were implemented in certain situations at the discretion of the captain of a patrol division. Assistant RCPD Director Kurt Moldrup told the Law Board Monday they’ve found drones to be very successful in emergency scenarios such as flooding as well as criminal investigations. Drones can also be helpful to aid if a person runs from the scene, mapping crime…