Author: Brandon Peoples

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…

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After months of speculation, Kansas First District Congressman Roger Marshall has announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2020. Marshall made the announcement Saturday at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, just days after Treasurer Jake LaTurner dropped his bid in an attempt to take on Steve Watkins in Kansas’ Second District. He’s joined in the crowded GOP field which includes former Secretary of State Kris Kobach, State Senate President Susan Wagle, former Kansas City Chief Dave Lindstrom and media commentator Bryan Pruitt. The Democratic candidates include Manhattan Mayor Pro Tempore Usha Reddi, former Congresswoman Nancy Boyda…

The 190th Landon Lecture was delivered Friday by US Secretary of State and former Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo. Speaking for about 20 minutes to a packed house at K-State’s McCain Auditorium, Pompeo spoke about refocusing American diplomacy on the promotion of unalienable human rights. He described politicians as framing pet causes as fights for “rights” to bypass the normal political process. By doing so he says the lines have become blurred from the distinction between fundamental, universal rights and mere political or personal preferences. Pompeo says just because a treaty or law says something is a right, doesn’t make it…

FORT RILEY, Kan. — Seitz Elementary was the spotlight of a tour Thursday morning which included U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. The Fort Riley school, which opened in 2012 houses roughly 700 students whose parents are active in the Army. It is part of the USD 475 Geary County School District. Sen. Moran worked closely with McCarthy under then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates in 2010 to secure federal appropriations to construct a state-of-the-art facility. The tour included visits with school children, teachers and administrators. After the tour Moran gave his takeaway. It was Secretary McCarthy’s first…

Officials at Kansas State University announced Thursday some last minute adjustments in preparation of Friday’s Landon Lecture. According to the K-State Division of Communications and Marketing, doors at McCain Auditorium will open at 9 a.m. Friday, 30 minutes earlier than originally announced. With a large crowd expected, university officials announced the adjustment to ensure sufficient time for all attendees to enter through the additional security measures. K-State is instituting its clear-bag policy, similar to sporting events for the lecture. For those driving to campus, metered parking will not be available at Fairchild and Anderson Hall and the McCain circle. Secretary…

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court will hear two cases next week involving appeals from Riley and Geary counties. The case from Riley County is a petition for review of Ziad Khalil-Alsalaami (zee’ odd call leel’ awl suh law’ mee) vs. the state of Kansas. Alsalaami was convicted in 2011 of two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in 2012 and was denied by the Supreme Court for a review initially. In 2014, Alsalaami filed a motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal. After a full hearing, the district court…

Riley County Police have identified a 16-year-old girl who drove drunk and damaged a Manhattan duplex over the weekend. Keaira Robinson was arrested Saturday afternoon shortly before 3 p.m. on the charge of driving under the influence, after failing a DUI test. No injuries have been reported. The home damaged was located at 2421 Anderson Ave. The owner of the property is listed as William and Margaret Goe. Robinson was not confined as of the weekend arrest report.