Author: Brandon Peoples

State transportation officials are looking at ways to improve safety along the US 24 corridor between Manhattan and Wamego. One of the more dangerous intersections along the corridor is the Flush Road interchange, which had 15 crashes between January 1, 2017 and February 28 of this year. Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization Planning Manager Jared Tremblay shared a recent Kansas Department of Transportation restricted report regarding that intersection, which is not currently available for public viewing, with the Pottawatomie County Commission Monday. He says 14 of those 15 crashes occurred during daylight hours and in good weather. Tremblay says K-DOT…

Riley County Police are investigating three separate criminal incidents occurring early Sunday morning in Manhattan. According to Monday’s incident report, officers noted a report for aggravated battery in the 1100 block of Moro Street. A 29-year-old woman reported an unknown suspect battered her, causing a large gash on her forehead. Elsewhere, a report for aggravated assault and robbery was filed in the 1100 block of Fremont Street, when a 22-year-old man alleged that several unknown male suspects pointed a firearm at the him and took gold jewerly valued at approximately $700. Later that morning an aggravated burglary was reported in…

A Manhattan man was arrested over the weekend in connection to a past sex crime. The Riley County Police Department says 25-year-old Stephen Mattia was booked Friday evening on a warrant alleging single counts of electronic solicitation, indecent solicitation of a child and promoting obscenity. The alleged incident was reported in October 2022 against a victim reported to be 14 at the time of the report. Mattia was booked on a $30,000 bond, but was no longer confined as of Saturday’s arrest report.

A Puerto Rico man was arrested this week for failing to appear in court. According to the Riley County Police Department, 32-year-old Luis Cortijo Abreu was arrested while at the RCPD headquarters Thursday afternoon on a warrant for failure to appear. The original charge was for rape. Cortijo Abreu was no longer confined after posting a $60,000 bond, according to RCPD.

A long time Manhattan-Ogden school board member has retained his seat on the board. Curt Herrman was re-elected to a fifth term by a narrow 33 vote margin over Frank Beer, according to final results after the election canvass in Riley and Pottawatomie counties Thursday. While the margin was close, Herrman says he’s sweated out even closer races in the past, noting in 2007, his first year running for the board, he was ahead by nine votes and ended up winning by 13 votes after the canvassing was completed. He says during the past week and a half, he’s…

Riley County Commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday, finding the Keats Sewer District project is still feasible, despite cost estimates coming in 13 to 18 percent higher than originally anticipated. The commission left the door open to re-evaluate their decision early next year. Following the meeting, Commissioner Kathryn Focke spoke with KMAN about the board’s difficult decision. Focke supported a motion from Greg McKinley to continue with the project until the county finds out if the project qualifies for grant funding. McKinley stated that pulling the plug on the project now, would essentially mean the county would be starting over from scratch…

New charges have been brought against a Manhattan man jailed in Riley County. According to RCPD, a warrant for 38-year-old Laron James includes charges of aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, sexual battery and violation of the offender registration act. The charges stem from an August 2022 incident in Ogden involving a 23-year-old woman. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections website, James was convicted in 2009 on an attempted rape charge in Riley County. He remains jailed on a $13,000 total bond.

One person was injured Wednesday following a crash in northeast Manhattan. According to the Riley County Police Department, officers responded shortly after 2 p.m. to the intersection of Tuttle Creek Blvd and Walters Drive, where a Chevy Tahoe collided with a Honda Accord. A woman in the Accord was transported to Ascension Via Christi for treatment of injuries. The driver of the Tahoe, 24-year-old Darion Smith, was cited for no driver’s license and failing to yield at an intersection.

Authorities have canceled the Statewide Silver Alert for a missing Manhattan man. RCPD says 77-year-old Ray Newman was found safe Thursday morning, prompting the cancellation. Original story 6 a.m. Thursday A statewide Silver Alert has been issued by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for a missing 77-year-old Manhattan man. According to the Riley County Police Department, Ray Newman has dementia and did not return home after he was seen driving around the 6400 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd in Manhattan Wednesday around 4 p.m. His whereabouts are currently unknown. Newman drives a 2011 silver Hyundai Santa Fe with the Kansas…

An investigation is underway after alleged mismanagement of the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran announced Wednesday he initiated the investigation with the U.S. Government Accountability Office after being alerted by current and former Department of Veterans Affairs employees who came forward with solid evidence of mismanagement, creating a danger to the health and safety of veterans across the nation. In a statement, Moran, who serves as a ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said “VA’s history with secret waiting lists of veterans in desperate need for care is deplorable. If the Veterans Crisis Line is…