TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers are discussing raising the state’s gas tax and implementing new fees as a way to help fund future highway improvements. The Wichita Eagle reports that a state task force finalized recommendations Thursday for a long-term transportation plan as Kansas prepares to transition out T-WORKS, the 10-year, $8 billion transportation program that began in 2010. The recommendations call for transportation funding through sales taxes, a fee on electric vehicles and raising the gas tax. State lawmakers and the Kansas Department of Transportation will consider the recommendations as they develop a new transportation program in the coming year.…
Author: KMAN Staff
OLATHE — A 45-year-old man who was allegedly racing with another driver before a traffic crash that killed two people is facing murder charges. The Kansas City Star reports Bradley Woodworth, of Olathe, was charged Friday with two counts of reckless second-degree murder. Woodworth was previously charged with leaving the scene of an accident. The Oct. 6 crash in Overland Park killed 18-year-old Matthew Bloskey, of Overland Park, and 20-year-old Samuel Siebuhr, of Kansas City, Kansas. Woodworth is accused of driving a minivan that was jockeying for position with Siebuhr’s car before the two vehicles made contact. Siebuhr’s car spun…
Riley County government officials met with state legislators representing the area on Thursday to discuss the county’s policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session set to start on January 14. 51st House district Representative Ron Highland (R), 64th House district Representative Susie Swanson (R), 66th House district Representative Sydney Carlin (D) and 67th House district Representative Tom Phillips (R) attended the meeting with county commissioners and other county department heads. One of their priorities this session was an amendment to the constitution protecting counties’ rights to home rule. The amendment would allow counties to enact resolutions exempting themselves from state…
Friday’s guests were RCPD Director Brad Schoen and Capt. Erin Freidline.
WICHITA — A Kansas man accused of threatening to “blow up” the White House has notified a federal court that he plans to change his plea. Thirty-two-year-old Brandon Koss of Wichita had pleaded not guilty to making a threat against the president. A court filing Thursday shows a change-of-plea hearing is now scheduled for Dec. 14. A Secret Service agent wrote in an affidavit that Koss called the White House in January and used a profanity when addressing the woman who answered the phone. He then said: “I’m going to blow up the White House.” The affidavit says Koss admitted…
WICHITA — A plan to allow Wichita residents to keep colonies of feral cats in their yards has been delayed. The Wichita Animal Control Advisory Board voted Wednesday evening to delay the proposal until December or January pending some changes. The Wichita Eagle reports supporters of the plan say it will reduce the stray cat population by trapping, neutering and releasing them to colonies in backyards. Opponents say the cats are a threat to wildlife, particularly bird populations. The board made some decisions on the proposal, including limiting people to eight cats per property, including feral and pet cats. Also…
TOPEKA — Gov.-elect Laura Kelly says she will not follow former Gov. Sam Brownback’s method of selecting appellate court judges. Kelly will need to appoint a new Kansas Court of Appeals judge soon after she takes office in January because Judge Patrick McAnany is retiring. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Kelly will have a nonpartisan nominating committee filter the applications and send her a list of three candidates. That is similar to the procedure used before Brownback changed it to allow him to make judicial appointments directly, subject to Senate confirmation. Kelly said in a statement Wednesday that she will use…
QUAPAW, Oklahoma — The Quapaw Tribe has acquired additional property in southeastern Kansas along the Oklahoma border after gaining approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Joplin Globe reports that the tribe has obtained 211 acres of Cherokee County grassland stretching north of its Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, Oklahoma. The land is now part of the federal Quapaw Tribal Trust, giving the tribe governing authority over the land. The tribe faced opposition from Kansas officials over concerns the land would be used for gambling. John Berrey is chairman of the Quapaw Tribal Business Committee. Berrey says the…
Officers filed a report for theft in the 1000 block of Bluemont Ave. in Manhattan on November 29, 2018, at approximately 12:40 PM. Officers listed Debra Myer, 62, of Manhattan as the victim when she reported an unknown suspect took her Ford Focus. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $800.00. Police ask that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00. Officers filed a report for aggravated assault in the 4100…
This weekend in the Manhattan area features a multitude of events in addition to the Festival of Lights Christmas Carnival, Fill the Ambulance and the 35th annual Fort Riley Tour of Homes. Other festivities include the Holiday Luminary Walk at Sunset Zoo. The event will be both Saturday, December 1, and Sunday, December 2, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children and kids 2 and under get in free — but tickets are limited to just 250 people per day. Residents will also be having breakfast with Santa at the Flint Hills Discovery Center…