LAWRENCE — A woman has been convicted of helping to kill her cousin’s ex-boyfriend whose body was found inside a burning home near Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 38-year-old Christina Towell, of Leavenworth, pleaded no contest Thursday to felony first-degree murder in the November 2017 death of 34-year-old Joel Wales. Other charges, including burglary and arson, were dropped as part of the plea. Her cousin, Tria Evans, was convicted earlier of murder and other charges. Evans and Wales had a child together and a history of domestic disputes. Prosecutors say text messages show that Towell and Evans plotted the…
Author: KMAN Staff
On Thursday evening on the Kansas State University campus, filmmaker Kevin Willmott addressed the unsettling link between democracy and racism to an overflowing room in the student union. Willmott’s discussion was titled, “BlacKkKlansman: A Response to the Resurgence of Racism in America Today”, and it was part of K-State’s The Art of Democracy symposium co-organized by the Office of the Provost and Center for Engagement and Community Development. Willmott told KMAN about his motivations for serving as a creative cornerstone for films such as BlacKkKlansman and several others that address the uncomfortable topic of racial tensions in modern America. Visiting…
Live from San Jose, John Kurtz is joined by KSO’s Matt Hall and Mason Voth from the KMAN studio to discuss K-State’s impending matchup with the UC Irvine Anteaters in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Hour 1 0:00 – Observations from Sharkland 16:14 – Sluggin Bananas and Eatin Ants 25:33 – Ding Dong 34:05 – Ky Thomas picks Minnesota Hour 2 0:00 – Anteaters may be trendy, until you think about it 10:33 – John and Matt like UCI 20:41 – Brackets Guy 32:57 – YCBS
MANHATTAN — Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Riley, Geary and Pottawatomie County is holding its annual Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser in Manhattan this weekend. Special Events Coordinator Tori Foster says this event is the signature fundraiser, with one third of the money raised going directly into the operating budget. Foster says each participant has a goal of raising $160 and those who reach that goal earn a t-shirt and invitation to their bowling party which is happening Sunday. Foster says the fundraiser has been further helped through Facebook, but people can still collect donations offline. Recruiting is ongoing…
Fort Riley and one other installation received a bronze medal in the 2019 Army Communities of Excellence Award, a program that has existed since 1989. The awards are intended to promote excellence in installation management as well as process improvement and forts are assessed based on strategy and measurable business outcomes. Along with Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy, Fort Riley received the award from the Department of the Army on Monday, March 18. Georgia’s Fort Stewart took the gold medal, Alaska’s Fort Wainwright took silver and New York’s Fort Drum received an honorable mention. 1st Infantry Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. John…
TOPEKA — Kansas businesses are asking state lawmakers for big increases in higher education funding. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that a group of more than 30 business representatives and advocates asked lawmakers to provide the $50 million increase to state universities that the Kansas Board of Regents requested. Regents say the lawmakers allocated $588 million to state universities this year. The vice president for human resources at the tech company Garmin in Olathe said businesses need skilled workers to be competitive. Laurie Minard said employers struggle to find enough qualified workers and they rely on the state’s higher education system…
TONGANOXIE — The American Civil Liberties of Kansas has asked for a state investigation after a black man was detained by local police while moving into his own home. The ACLU said Thursday that Karle Robinson was held at gunpoint and handcuffed as he moved into a home he had purchased in Tonganoxie, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Kansas City. Robinson says police harassed him and that Tonganoxie’s police chief stopped him from filing a racial bias complaint. Police Chief Greg Lawson says he had not seen the ACLU’s allegations and would comment later. ACLU alleges a pervasive…
Thursday’s In Focus featured our monthly chat with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Economic Development Director Trent Armbrust, Region Reimagined Program Director Christy Rodriguez and Membership Director Sharla Meisenheimer joined the conversation.
WICHITA — The family of a Kansas sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty will get $300,000 in a worker’s compensation settlement over his death in September. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Sedgwick County Commission approved settlement payouts to Deputy Robert Kunze’s widow and young daughter on Wednesday. Kunze was fatally shot on Sept. 16 when attempting to handcuff a man on suspicion of vehicle theft about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of downtown Wichita. The sheriff’s department says Kunze killed his attacker , 29-year-old Robert Greeson, and likely saved the lives of two witnesses before…
A multi-vehicle accident in Manhattan led to the hospitalization of three individuals and required first responders to extricate an occupant of one vehicle Wednesday afternoon. The two cars collided near the intersection of Fort Riley Boulevard and Delaware Avenue just before 5 p.m. According to police, 37-year-old Alexis Collier and 41-year-old Morgan Jarmin were occupying an 01 Toyota Camry when they collided with 27-year-old Manuel Flores’ 15 GMC Terrain. The three were transported to Via Christi Hospital.