Author: Brandon Peoples

Kansas will receive over $451 million in federal funds to support broadband expansion across the state. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced the state allocations Monday as part of a roughly $42 billion High Speed Internet grant program to connect areas lacking access to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service. Sen. Jerry Moran pledged to continue oversight of federal broadband deployment programs. He spoke on the Senate floor earlier this month. Sen. Roger Marshall also spoke on the Senate floor earlier this month about the need for continued broadband expansion into rural areas. He also co-sponsored…

The Riley County Law Board narrowly approved the 2024 Riley County Police Department budget in a 4-3 vote Monday, which includes a 6.5% increase in overall expenditures, while maintaining a 6.5% cost of living adjustment for employees. The $26.6 million budget includes over $1.8 million in added funds, but subtracts over $220,000 from the remaining 50% of a 2-year salary survey implementation, conducted by The Arnold Group in 2023, intended to bring wages to a more competitive rate with neighboring law enforcement agencies. As a result of Monday’s action, just 37% of the remaining survey will be funded in 2024…

The Riley County Police Department says a six-month homicide investigation by detectives led to the arrest of a 32-year-old Manhattan man Friday, in connection to the January murder of 42-year-old Takeera Griffin. Caleb Perry, already jailed on unrelated charges, now faces charges of first-degree murder, criminal use of a financial card and three counts of interference with law enforcement. Investigators were dispatched Jan. 8 to the 1300 block of Flint Hills Place for a welfare check. Arriving officers found Griffin dead in her apartment and Perry on scene. RCPD says Griffin’s death was initially unclear, but an autopsy later determined…

Riley County Police say three people have been taken into custody on Pottawatomie County District Court warrants in connection to the suspected fentanyl-related death of an 18-year-old man at a Manhattan hotel March 11. Those arrested include 19-year-old Noah Baker, of Junction City; 21-year-old McKaine Farr, of Wamego; and 22-year-old Shawn Samuelson, of Manhattan. Each have been charged with distribution of a controlled substance, causing death. The Junction City Police Department and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrests. Samuelson was already confined on unrelated charges. Baker was arrested Thursday, as KMAN previously reported. Police say a subsequent search…

The Riley County Law Board has scheduled a special meeting Monday afternoon where it’s expected to adopt the 2024 Riley County Police Department budget. The meeting comes after board members on Tuesday tabled a decision, directing RCPD leadership to make cuts within the budget in order to maintain a 6.5% cost of living adjustment for employees and no greater than a 6% overall increase on the realized budget. The most recent budget proposal included a 7.4% increase totaling $26.9 million on the realized budget. RCPD will propose three additional options that trim that down to approximately 7%, 6.5% and 6%.…

A Junction City man was arrested early Thursday morning on a Riley County warrant in connection to a Fentanyl-related overdose death. The Riley County Police Department has charged 19-year-old Noah Baker with a single count of distribution of a controlled substance, causing death. According to an online criminal complaint, filed June 15, Baker is accused of distributing Fentanyl to Thomas Deloach sometime between March 10 and 11, who died from an apparent overdose. Baker remains jailed in Riley County on a $25,000 bond.

The Riley County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who is a person of interest in a recent span of fraudulent purchases. Surveillance images from the Manhattan Best Buy show the suspect who is believed to have used a woman’s credit card to purchase up to $4,600 of merchandise. The card was reported stolen at Marshall’s on May 23. Anyone with information about the identity of the person or the crimes is asked to call RCPD or Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers.

Local legislators targeted by threatening letters last week say there’s no place for that kind of rhetoric in public discourse. As of Wednesday close to 100 letters had been received by Republican legislators and other public officials that included a white powdery substance. Preliminary testing by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has indicated the substance poses no threat. 51st District State Rep. Kenny Titus, of Manhattan, received one of the letters at his home address last Friday, opening it part of the way before realizing what it was and immediately contacting authorities. The letters appear to be politically motivated, tied…

An investigation into around 100 suspicious letters with white powder sent to Kansas legislators and public officials is now being led by the FBI. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced the update Tuesday, saying the investigation has expanded beyond Kansas. KBI Director Tony Mattivi says the focus remains on ensuring the safety of Kansans and holding those responsible accountable. KMAN has confirmed that letters were sent to Manhattan State Representatives Mike Dodson and Kenny Titus, as well as Junction City State Representatives Nate Butler and Jeff Underhill and Clay Center Representative Lewis Bloom. The letters contain a one page letter…

The Riley County Law Board ended its meeting Tuesday without a finalized budget as board members worked through how to fund cost of living adjustments requested by the Riley County Police Department. The initial proposal by RCPD in April was for an 8% COLA, with a realized budget increase of almost 9%. Over the past two months, the board has scaled that back to a 6.5% COLA and 7.4% overall increase, totaling $26.9 million. The city’s delegation on the board favored pushing the COLA down to 4%, with an overall realized budget increase of 6%, but were swayed by RCPD…