TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are looking to encourage training for law enforcement agencies to help address the high rates of murdered and missing indigenous people. The House approved a bill unanimously Wednesday that calls for closer collaboration between Native American tribes, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and other agencies. The measure goes next to the Senate. The Kansas City Star reports that supporters hope that educating state agencies more thoroughly will help reduce the level of crime in indigenous communities. The Urban Indian Health Institute says indigenous people are murdered and go missing at higher rates than any…
Author: KMAN Staff
MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas mobile home death that initially was deemed suspicious is now being investigated as a homicide. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation identified the victim Tuesday as 63-year-old Kelly Peterson. His body was found Monday in the mobile home where he lived in McPherson. Police asked the KBI to assist with the investigation. The KBI said in a news release that there is no threat to the public but provided no explanation. The agency is urging anyone with information to come forward.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A mother is suing a suburban Kansas City school after a teacher was caught on surveillance video kicking her then-kindergartner. The Kansas City Star reports that the lawsuit against the Shawnee Mission School District was filed last month and moved to federal court this week, nearly a year after the video of what happened at the Shawnee elementary school was released. The first-year teacher was fired after the incident but doesn’t appear to have been charged. The girl’s mother accuses the school district of negligence in its hiring, training and supervision of the teacher. She…
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for theft in the 800 block of Twin Oaks Drive in Manhattan on February 25, 2020, at approximately 12:30 PM. Officers listed Oliver Construction as the victim when it was…
Wednesday’s program featured our monthly update on Riley County Schools with USD 378 Riley County Superintendent Cliff Williams and USD 384 Blue Valley/Randolph Superintendent Brady Burton. The 75th annual Battle of the Bulge Reunion at the Pearce Keller American Legion Post No. 17 in Manhattan was previewed. Guests included World War II veteran and organizer Jim Sharp, Barry Maples with the American Legion Riders and Dr. Bob Smith with the Fort Riley Museums.
Since the shooting that killed 17 students and employees and injured 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, in February of 2018, Cameron Kasky and his classmates have traveled the country advocating for gun-control legislation and political activism. K-State was the latest destination for Kasky as he participated in a public question-and-answer presentation called “Tools for a Movement” at the K-State Student Union Tuesday. During the presentation, Kasky spoke about his experiences traveling the country as an activist and lessons he learned along the way. Kasky says he likes speaking to college students because of their…
Dong Lin, an engineering professor at K-State, has received the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award. The five-year, $500,000 grant will go towards Lin’s project, which is called “Bio-Inspired Manufacturing of High-Strength, High-Toughness Metal-Graphene Composites.” Lin will be studying manufacturing techniques for materials seeing more and more use in multiple industries, including aerospace and automotive. The grant is through the Faculty Early Career Development Program and is meant to support the work of faculty in the early stages of their career who are on track to become leaders in their field of research and education. It will also support educational…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a former agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was sentenced Tuesday to nine months in prison for impersonating an immigration supervisor in a foiled effort to free a Mexican immigrant from a Kansas jail. The U.S. attorney’s office says 42-year-old Andrew J. Pleviak of Topeka pleaded guilty in December to falsely claiming to be an officer of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Pleviak identified himself as another man who is an actual ICE agent in an effort on Sept. 3 to get an acquaintance out of the Kingman County jail.
ULYSSES, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a man has been arrested in the death of a 3-year-old southwest Kansas boy. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says 26-year-old Uraquio “Rocky” Arredondo was arrested Monday night at his home in Ulysses. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on possible charges of first-degree murder and child abuse. His bond was set at $500,000. The KBI says he is a suspect in the death of Carlos Valenzuela III of Ulysses in February 2019. Emergency personnel went to the boy’s home after receiving a report of an unresponsive child. Authorities say Arrendondo was…
Manhattan sales tax Pottawatomie County Commissioner Pat Weixelman commented on Manhattan City Commission discussions about taking on a city-wide sales tax during a meeting Monday. If the city-sales tax were to become a reality, the Manhattan City Commission may no longer require the Riley County Commission’s approval before pursuing economic development projects on the Pottawatomie County side of the city. Weixelman says if this were to happen, the Pottawatomie County Commission should pursue an agreement where their approval is required for these types of projects. He also says the Manhattan City Commission is using this process to fund projects they…