Author: Brandon Peoples

A strategic plan is being put in motion by Pottawatomie County Public Works as it attempts to timely and efficiently make repairs to the miles of gravel roads within the county’s jurisdiction. On KMAN’s In Focus Tuesday, Public Works Director Peter Clark said asphalt roads, for the most part, stayed in good shape. But after numerous freeze and thaw cycles this past winter, Clark says many of the roads saw loosened compaction and became soft on the surface. Clark says the strategic plan includes approving more overtime for road crews, working with the six rock quarries in the county and…

Update 9 p.m. Wednesday GEARY COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified three Alabama residents as the victims of a single-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 70 at the junction of Kansas 177. According to the KHP crash log, 58-year-old LeRoy Allen Myers of Arab, Ala., 18-year-old Joey Brannon Tidwell of Albertville, Ala. and 20-year-old Halie Marie Davis of Madison, Ala. died at the scene. The three were westbound on I-70 around 5:30 a.m. when the Chevy Camaro they were traveling in entered the median, struck a guard rail, vaulted over K-177 and then came to rest on an…

MANHATTAN — There’s an elevated risk of moderate to major flooding through May in 25 states including a large swath of north central and northeast Kansas. That’s according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Spring Outlook, released March 21. The outlook says the majority of the country is favored to experience above-average precipitation this spring, increasing the flood risk. Tuttle Creek Army Corps of Engineers Operation Project Manager Brian McNulty says peak flows are making their way through Missouri at this point. He says until downstream flows drop off they won’t be releasing water. According to the latest reading…

FORT RILEY — A ceremony honoring a former First Infantry Division soldier will take place Thursday morning. Former Sgt. Robert “Mike” Debolt is receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest valor decoration awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Debolt was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team and previously received the Silver Star for his actions in 2008 in Afghanistan. This ceremony officially upgrades that previous award. Debolt, an Ohio native entered the U.S Army in 2007 and was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in…

News Radio KMAN has learned that an August trial is scheduled for a Junction City man accused of driving to Arkansas in December to meet up with a 16-year-old girl for sex. According to Arkansas court records, 32-year-old Andrew O’Brien pleaded not guilty in December to a felony charge of engaging a child in sexually explicit conduct and a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. He’s set for a final hearing June 27 and a jury trial to begin Aug. 26 in Baxter County, Arkansas District Court, located in Mountain Home, Arkansas. O’Brien was arrested Dec.…

TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly made good on a promise Monday to veto a bill that aimed to change state sales and income tax policy that would reduce state revenue by more than $100 million. In a statement Monday, Kelly said:  “The people of Kansas elected me to rebuild our state. They elected me to bring fiscally conservative and responsible principles back to our government. We must be patient, thoughtful, and prudent as we evaluate tax policy. And, when we move forward with commonsense tax relief, we must ensure that it benefits the Kansans who need it the most.”…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are investigating after a man reportedly took items and started a fire in his southwest Manhattan apartment. Officers arrested 30-year-old Gerardo Rosaly Martinez Friday in the 700 block of Dondee Drive, on charges of aggravated arson, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, marijuana possession and two charges of use of drug paraphernalia. At least 13 different victims were listed in Monday’s RCPD incident report including the building’s tenants and the State of Kansas. The total loss from the incident was estimated at $1,740.00. Police say the incident took place Friday morning and that Martinez remains…

One person died Sunday while another was hospitalized following a crash in Geary County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened just after 3 p.m. when a pickup northbound on Kansas 177, went left of center and struck an SUV head on. It happened two miles south of Interstate 70. The crash killed the SUV driver, identified as 31-year-old Kayla Marie Jacobson of Alta Vista, who was pronounced dead on scene. The pickup driver, 66-year-old Dwight Sharp of Council Grove was taken by Life Flight to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka with a suspected serious injury. The Kansas Highway Patrol…

MANHATTAN — A Manhattan lawmaker is praising a legislative bill that would expand Medicaid coverage to some of the most vulnerable Kansas citizens. The House advanced legislation Thursday by a 69-54 margin. Speaking with News Radio KMAN on Friday, 67th District Rep. Tom Phillips noted the bill is similar to a 2017 bill that passed both chambers, but was ultimately vetoed by then-Governor Sam Brownback. That includes a key provision involving federal government funding of KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program. Phillips adds that the gut and go process, which was used in this case to advance the Medicaid expansion…

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police are investigating a string of burglaries reported at a north Manhattan storage facility. Officers filed a report for burglary and criminal damage to property at B & T Self Storage, located at 5261 Tuttle Creek Blvd. The incident was reported around 5 p.m. Thursday. Police listed the storage unit and seven other victims from Manhattan, Wamego and Arkansas after it was reported an unknown suspect damaged padlocks and stole miscellaneous clothing, holiday decorations, outdoor recreational items, tools, electronics, and other household items. The estimated total loss is approximately $2,551.00. According to B & T’s website,…