Author: Brandon Peoples

Junction City Police are investigating after multiple apartment buildings there were reportedly struck by gunfire Monday night. Police were dispatched around 10:20 p.m. Monday to 100 block of West 16th Street in reference to possible shots fired. No one was injured during this incident. Detectives do not have anyone in custody at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912 or leave an anonymous tip on its TIPS website. A link to that site can be found in this story at newsradiokman.com.

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan man is jailed on a number of charges including rape and aggravated burglary. Riley County Police arrested 34-year-old Benjamin Jones III on a warrant Monday evening in the 500 block of Colorado Street. Jones is facing four total charges including rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual battery. According to the police report, the charges stem from a 2018 incident. No further information has been released. Jones is confined in Riley County jail and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

MANHATTAN — A little more than a week after its 17th annual fundraising Bag Lady Auction, the Manhattan Emergency Shelter officials continue to tabulate exactly how much it will have to work with this year. The event was held March 30 and typically brings in around $30,000. While final totals aren’t known yet, Executive Director Emily Wagner says she believes they were able to match the success of past events. Wagner says they weren’t sure how well the event would be received since it was held a month earlier and on a Saturday rather than on a Friday. Money raised…

MANHATTAN — One person was rescued from the Kansas River Sunday evening. The Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched just before 9 p.m. to the Pillsbury Drive viaduct for a report of a person in a kayak struggling in the river’s current. Upon arrival, crews located a person stranded in the middle of the river. Crews deployed a rescue boat and pulled the subject to shore. Riley County Emergency Medical Services took over and transported the patient to Ascension Via Christi. The fire department says a few minutes later, a 911 caller reported hearing calls for help downstream from the initial…

MANHATTAN — The Flint Hills Discovery Center held a ribbon cutting Friday for the grand opening of its Prairie Garden Terrace and Trail. The visitor favorite attraction includes 15 informational signs highlighting the iconic flora and fauna and important historical, cultural and environmental topics to the Flint Hills eco-region. Discovery Center Curator of Education Stephen Bridenstine says it’s a project that’s been a little more than two years in the making. The panels were created by a team of collaborators including interns from Kansas State University who helped with the design and research. The enhancement project was made possible by…

Both chambers of the Kansas Legislature adjourned Friday for a three week break. One of the key issues that passed through both the House and Senate was a school finance bill to infuse $90 million into K-12 education next year. It’s the latest attempt by lawmakers to satisfy a Supreme Court ruling last year which said funding was inadequate. Speaking to KMAN Friday, 66th District Representative Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) was optimistic since lawmakers have added an adjustment for inflation. Carlin also praised the bill for helping close an achievement gap for special education students. The goal is to make that…

MANHATTAN — The first candidate to file for the Manhattan City Commission is a familiar name to the community. Former USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Vice President Aaron Estabrook officially filed the necessary paperwork Friday, noting he’d bring a bit of diversity to the commission as a young professional and parent. Estabrook says his campaign would focus on fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity and quality services. He’d like to see a push for better wages through economic development. He also says the city provides many quality services that have a price tag, but need to be maintained. No stranger to running for political…

Update 3 p.m. Thursday MANHATTAN — A southeast Kansas man was killed Thursday in a wreck northwest of Manhattan. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened just before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Kansas Highway 113 and U.S. 24 (the intersection of Seth Child and Tuttle Creek Blvd.) A passenger car driven by 40-year-old Andrew Drysdale of Coffeyville was northbound on Seth Child when he failed to stop at the intersection. As a result, Drysdale’s vehicle went through the guardrail, traveled down an embankment and struck a tree before rolling onto its top. Drysdale was pronounced dead at the…

OVERLAND PARK — The ACLU of Kansas has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Kansas State University students detained recently by Statehouse officials after unfurling large banners in the Capitol rotunda last week. The students were protesting Republican legislative leaders that oppose Medicaid expansion by name saying they have “blood on their hands.” Students Jonathan Cole, Nate Faflick and Katie Sullivan were initially issued a one year ban from the Statehouse after they briefly hung the huge banners. A legislative policy requires protesters to obtain permission in advance to bring banners into the Statehouse. The ban was reportedly lifted…

MANHATTAN — A lawsuit filed last week in Riley County District Court alleges Riley County Commissioners terminated an employee for speaking out against one of the commissioners. The lawsuit was filed March 27 by former county employee Steven DeHart of Olsburg, who claims the board fired him in 2017 because he continually spoke out against Chairman Ron Wells. DeHart worked for the county as an environmental health specialist. In the petition, DeHart claims he drew the ire of the commission when he reported Wells had a private sewer hookup at his residence that allowed him to receive free service. It…