Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — University and business leaders gathered Wednesday for a panel discussion on workforce. The discussion, facilitated by the METL Coalition includes bringing together Chambers of Commerce from Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka and Lawrence. This particular event centered around workforce needs both from the university and business perspective. K-State President Richard Myers was joined by KU Chancellor Dr. Douglas Girod and Emporia State President Allison Garrett on the panel. Myers spoke with KMAN about the importance of starting a conversation to address workforce needs. Myers says retaining students after graduation remains a challenge. He says many don’t have the career opportunities…

10 a.m. Wednesday MANHATTAN — Riley County Police continue to investigate after an aggravated robbery and aggravated assault took place Tuesday night at a Manhattan liquor store. Police say an unknown suspect stole money from Fifths Liquor in the 500 block of Leavenworth Street shortly before 9 p.m. The suspect fled from the scene on foot and has not been located. Officers say three individual citizens and the business were listed as victims in this case. The estimated total loss was approximately $400. Police are asking anyone with information to contact RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Officers have…

MANHATTAN — Riley County authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault that occurred New Year’s Eve and seeking the public’s help to identify a potential suspect. According to the Riley County Police Department, the incident occurred after midnight New Year’s Eve in Aggieville. Video of the suspect was taken after he spoke with Aggieville officers at a bar that night. The video was reportedly taken before the incident which occurred in a nearby parking lot. Video of the suspect can be found on the RCPD Facebook page and is seen below. Anyone with information should contact police or Crime Stoppers…

MANHATTAN — A Topeka woman arrested last week in Manhattan is alleged to have used a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon toward another individual. A complaint filed in Riley County District Court charges 20-year-old Dejaniqua Bush with aggravated assault, criminal threat and theft from the JCPenney store at Manhattan Town Center. Bush is accused in the Jan. 3 assault of Telfer Paul Halsey with a deadly weapon, a motor vehicle.  The aggravated assault charge is a severity level 7 person felony. Bush also faces a charge of criminal threat in the incident, a level 9 person felony. In addition,…

Update 2 p.m. Wednesday MANHATTAN — An 82-year-old Manhattan man has been identified as the victim of a vehicle-pedestrian crash Tuesday. Riley County Police say Lee Hildebrecht was crossing the street at the intersection of N. Juliette Ave and Bluemont at around 8:45 a.m. when he was struck by a passenger car. Hildebrecht was transported to Via Christi Hospital with critical injuries. The driver, 21-year-old John Wendt of Manhattan was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Update 1 p.m Tuesday:  MANHATTAN — A pedestrian was seriously hurt Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle…

Update 1:30 p.m. 1/7/19 The murder of a Junction City woman is being handled as a contract killing, according to a release by Geary County Attorney Krista Blaisdell on Monday. Mashaun Baker, 33, is charged with first degree murder and is suspected of hiring Dion Green to kill 31-year-old Jenna Schafer. Green, 33, is charged with two counts of first degree murder for the suspected killing of Schafer, who was pregnant at the time of her death. The second charge is for Green’s alleged killing of Schafer’s unborn child. The two are scheduled to go before Geary County District Court Judge…

WAMEGO — The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office has determined the death of a teenager whose body was pulled from the Kansas River Christmas Eve to be a homicide. Authorities located the body of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck in the north bank of the river, about a mile west of Wamego Dec. 24. He had been missing since Dec. 21. Sheriff Greg Riat says a forensic autopsy conducted by the medical examiner has determined that Bouck was murdered. Bouck was reported wearing a dark colored jacket, black shirt, gray thermal longjohns and black shoes. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information…

MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department is hoping folks don’t let the winter blues keep them from staying active. A number of new programs were presented during a recent segment of KMAN’s In Focus. Lindsay Sparlin, Arts and Humanities Coordinator noted a couple of those new programs, including one that begins at the end of January. Another program beginning this month is called Gym Buddies. Aquatics and Ice Rink Manager Sidney Baker says the ice rink has been well attended in the first few weeks of winter. She explained that skating lessons are now taking place. Manhattan Parks…

MANHATTAN — While there may currently be no end in sight for the federal government shutdown, things are progressing at the National Bio and Agro Defense facility. During KMAN’s In Focus, Dr. Ken Burton, NBAF Coordinator for USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) noted some good planning by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Homeland Security to lessen the impact of the shutdown on the construction schedule. The shutdown is not impacting the NBAF construction finances according to NBAF Partnership Development Director Marty Vanier. Vanier says most of the construction that occurs this year won’t be visible…

MANHATTAN — Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) announced plans for his future during a news conference Friday morning at the Kansas Department of Agriculture headquarters in Manhattan. The 82-year-old Republican chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and has been known by some of his colleagues of reaching across the aisle to get things done. Roberts credited the bipartisan work to pass a farm bill last month, noting a “thread of comity in the Senate.” When he leaves office in 2020, Roberts will hold the title of Kansas’ longest serving member of Congress. Roberts called the passing of the farm bill one of his…