Author: Brandon Peoples

One of Manhattan’s two Burger King restaurants has closed its doors. A sign posted on the storefront at 1328 Laramie Street reads the location is no longer open for business, inviting customers to visit their sister location on McCall Road. According to QSR Magazine, the restaurant’s franchisee, Utah-based Meridian Restaurants Unlimited, sold a majority of its restaurants this month in a bankruptcy auction. Seventy of the 91 stores under its ownership were sold to Burger King and four franchisees for a little more than $17 million. Kansas King was said to be acquiring 16 units in Kansas and Nebraska for…

A Manhattan man was arrested Wednesday in connection to alleged child sex crimes. The Riley County Police Department says 38-year-old Mitchell Simmons is charged on probable cause offenses of sexual exploitation of a child and breach of privacy. Simmons was issued no bond and remains confined in the Riley County Jail. Due to the nature of the crime, police say no further information will be released.

Some folks in Aggieville got more than they bargained for Wednesday night after a man became belligerent and pulled down his pants in public. Riley County Police say 41-year-old Benjamin Lewis was arrested on charges of nudity in a public place and disorderly conduct just after 11 p.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of Moro. Police say Lewis reportedly acted aggressive and belligerent before dropping his drawers. The incident resulted in a trip to the Riley County Jail, where Lewis remains confined on a $500 bond.

Konza Student Table celebrates its third anniversary Wednesday. The weekly food distribution program for Kansas State University students, came about through a coordinated effort of local entities, including the Food and Farm Council of Manhattan and Riley County, St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center and K-State’s Housing and Dining Services. Food and Farm Council Coordinator Vickie James says it’s open to students regardless of their situation. Since its creation in September 2020, over 90,000 meals have been served. Director of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at K-State Dr. Kelly Whitehair says it’s a feat not possible without volunteers. The program hasn’t…

For the first time in nine years, Kansas State University is up in enrollment. Data released by the Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday showed K-State’s headcount enrollment at all campuses at 19,745, a modest gain of 23 students from the fall 2022 semester. Overall it represents about a tenth of a percentage point gain, a positive sign that perhaps the university is turning a corner on its strategic enrollment plan. Over the past decade, enrollment at K-State peaked in 2014 at 24,766, before declining every year until this fall, dipping below 20,000 for the first time last fall. Undergraduate…

Riley County Police are crediting detailed police work and successful tracking from its K9 Monster for the arrest of a suspect who attempted to rob a food delivery driver for the second time. Landen Bearce, of Manhattan, was arrested on two probable cause offenses of attempted robbery and interference with law enforcement officers. He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond. According to police, the 21-year-old allegedly tackled the victim as he was attempting to make a delivery in the 1000 block of Quivira Circle just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. Officers began canvassing the scene shortly after the report and when…

Manhattan City Commissioners received an update Tuesday on the Midtown Development project in Aggieville and some new requests from Back 9 Development, the firm in charge of the project. Back 9 is requesting a one year extension on the original development agreement to the middle of 2026, when construction is expected to be completed on the estimated $35 to $45 million project. President TJ Vilkanskas also is requesting an amendment to the tax increment financing plan to assist with a new proposed 108 room hotel and parking garage adjacent to the initial project. Commissioners were generally supportive of the TIF…

A Manhattan man in custody at the Riley County Jail was arrested on new charges Monday. RCPD says 43-year-old Michael Westgate was arrested on two warrants for failure to appear. The original charges for the warrants were: possession of opiate, opium, narcotic, or certain stimulant and theft of property or services. Westgate remains jailed on a total $52,000 bond.

A 24-year-old Nebraska man was arrested Monday on a Riley County District Court warrant charging him with child sex crimes. Nicholas Seeman, of Lincoln, is charged with 21 total counts including a single count of rape, 12 count of aggravated indecent liberties, four counts of criminal sodomy, two counts each of indecent solicitation and sexual exploitation of a child. The Riley County Police Department says the crimes were reported in March. An online criminal complaint alleges the crimes happening over several months between January and October of last year, involving a single victim who was under the age of 14.…

The first commercial flight in over four months touched down Monday just before noon at Manhattan Regional Airport. Two Manhattan Fire Department trucks greeted Envoy Air flight 3439 from Dallas, with a water cannon salute as it entered the jet bridge. The airport has been closed to commercial flights since early May as a multimillion dollar expansion of the runway took place. Airport Director Brandon Keazer says it’s good to have the project in the rearview mirror. The first flight from Chicago arrived about an hour later Monday. Keazer says the airport can now turn its focus over to upgrading…