OVERLAND PARK — A suburban Kansas City shopping mall filled with after-Christmas bargain hunters had to shut as police investigated a report of gunfire in the parking lot. The Kansas City Star reports that shoppers poured out of Oak Park Mall on Wednesday night upon hearing the shots, but some were forced to stay inside as police put stores on lockdown. Police in Overland Park, Kansas, found several shell casings outside but no blood. Police say an unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot was struck by gunfire. Police are seeking a suspect and any possible victims. The gunfire comes two…
Author: KMAN Staff
Diedre Hogan, 29, of Manhattan was arrested while in the 100 block of N 4th St in Manhattan on December 26, 2018, at approximately 3:25 PM. Hogan was arrested on two Manhattan Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear and an offense of unlawful possession of stimulants. Hogan was issued a total bond of $7,250.00 causing her to remain confined at the time of this report.
KANSAS CITY — The families of two Kansas sheriff’s deputies who were overpowered by an inmate and killed have hired legal counsel to help prosecutors. The Kansas City Star reports that husband-and-wife law partners, Tom and Tricia Bath, were retained to assist the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of 30-year-old Antoine Fielder. He is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer last June. In Kansas, the intentional, premeditated killing of a single law enforcement officer is eligible for the death penalty. Attorneys for Fielder have indicated they will oppose the Baths’…
Wednesday’s In Focus guests were 66th District Representative Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) and 67th District Representative Tom Phillips (R-Manhattan) with a 2019 Legislative preview. Both discussed some of the top priorities, bills they plan to introduce and committees they will be serving on.
TOPEKA — Allegations of violence between staff members and sexual relationships between workers and underage inmates at Kansas’ only juvenile corrections facility were uncovered during a state audit prompted by allegations that a former superintendent of the center assaulted an employee. Auditors sought to contact 229 former and current employees of the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka but only 48 responded. Of those, seven people reported being attacked or assaulted by other staff. Auditors also received three reports of sexual relationships between staff and youth at the facility, according to Kansas News Service . Other comments alleged staff removed…
TOPEKA — Departing Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer isn’t ruling out a future run for public office but says he will be looking at opportunities in both business and government service. The Republican governor was not specific about his plans during a recent Associated Press interview, except to say he and wife Ruth will take “a little vacation” after leaving office Jan. 14 to Disney World. He said: “I’ll never to say no to public service where I can make a real difference.” Colyer was elevated from lieutenant governor to governor in January when then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback resigned to take…
TOPEKA — A Republican leader in the Kansas House who was ousted from his position will serve as chairman of new Rural Revitalization Committee. Departing Majority Leader Don Hineman’s new assignment for 2019 and 2020 will have him leading a committee that will examine challenges facing rural areas that include declining populations and limited access to broadband service. He was appointed by House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a fellow Republican from Olathe who grew up in southwest Kansas. Hineman is a farmer and rancher from Dighton. He is a GOP moderate and was re-elected to the House this year but…
WICHITA — Prosecutors will review a crash that killed a 24-year-old Kansas man for possible criminal charges. The Wichita Eagle reports that Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lanon Thompson says the collision that killed Logan Owens remains under investigation. He says the agency intends to present its findings to the Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett’s Office. Owens was a passenger in a vehicle that ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle around 3:30 a.m. Thursday. The crash report says the man driving the vehicle carrying Owens was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The other driver received…
TOPEKA — Kansas is one of the few states without a law prohibiting legislators from becoming lobbyists immediately after they leave office. The Wichita Eagle reports 38 states have some form of a “cooling off” period for lawmakers who wish to become lobbyists after serving in office. Kansas’ lack of a waiting period came to attention recently when Rep. Lynn Jenkins began setting up a lobbying firm while still in Congress. Jenkins’ new lobbying firm plans to work at the state and federal levels. Federal rules require Jenkins to wait a year before lobbying at the federal level, but no…
MANHATTAN — With the holidays just around the corner, T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins says gifting a pet can be a wonderful thing at Christmas time if it’s well thought through. Watkins says that you have to consider all the factors when looking for a pet during the holidays, sometimes it’s better to wait. Watkins says creating a routine is key during the holidays to help you furry friends adapt and keep calm whether they are new to the family or they’ve been around for years. If you’re already a pet owner, Watkins suggests some tips to taking care of…