LAWRENCE — A task force that examined Greek life at the University of Kansas is recommending a return to Friday morning classes and a stronger effort to connect fraternities and sororities with the community. The university formed the task force in November 2018 to improve safety and efficiency in the Greek community. The task force said the Greek community must eliminate hazing. Its recommendations for achieving that goal includes forming a group to identify and address hazing and address the root causes. Chancellor Douglas Girod said the task force strongly supports fraternities and sororities despite national concerns about hazing and…
Author: KMAN Staff
More than 100 area residents celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Manhattan’s Peace Memorial Auditorium Saturday. The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration has been a mainstay in Manhattan for more than two decades, organized by the Manhattan Martin Luther Jr. Memorial Committee. The event regularly features poetry, singing, speeches, recognition for winners of the annual art and writing contest, and the presentation of the Spirit of Martin Luther King Community Service Award. Mayor Usha Reddi opened the celebration, welcoming visitors and residents alike. She says the work of King and people like him…
January is National Radon Action Month, meaning now is a good time to become informed about radon and radon exposure in your home. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in the soil that is a result of uranium decay. Brian Hanson, the K-State Engineering Extension Radon Program Coordinator, says radon can eventually make its way from the soil into a house, posing a health risk to the occupants of the home. Radon is an inert gas, meaning it cannot be detected by human senses. Luckily, Hanson says homeowners can test their homes for radon with a radon test…
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his sister in Overland Park. Parker Mays, 27, of Lawrence, was charged Thursday in the death of 22-year-old Layne Mays. His is being held on $1 million bond. Police say Layne Mays’ mother found her body Tuesday in her parents’ Overland Park home. Police have not yet said how she died. A Kansas State University spokeswoman said Layne Mays was enrolled there through the fall 2019 semester but was not enrolled for the upcoming spring semester. She studied animal science and rode with…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Jurors have found a man guilty of starting a fire in a suburban Kansas City apartment in an attempt to kill two women who lived there. The Johnson County, Kansas, prosecutor’s office says in a news release that 38-year-old Ronald Buchanan was convicted Wednesday of three counts of attempted first-degree murder, six counts of aggravated arson and one count of animal cruelty for the May 2018 fire at the Overland Park apartment. The Kansas City Star reports that all occupants of the building escaped. One child was treated for smoke inhalation and a dog died in the…
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a man whose body is still missing. The Wichita Eagle reports that the criminal complaint filed Thursday against 53-year-old Jeffery Lee Hill says 50-year-old Jeffery Jones, of Hutchinson, was killed on or around Dec. 9. Hill was booked into jail Monday, about two weeks after authorities received a tip that Jones was dead and his body was buried somewhere outside of town. The tipster told authorities Jones was killed at a home and Lee was involved.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — A 32-year-old Leavenworth man’s murder trial in the Christmas 2017 death of a Kansas City man has been postponed. Ramaun Johnson was scheduled to go to trial Jan. 27 on a felony murder charge but a request for a continuance was granted Wednesday. Johnson is charged in the death of Shavar Walker, of Kansas City, who was shot outside a Leavenworth apartment complex. Prosecutors are not necessarily alleging that Johnson shot Walker, but that he was involved in a drug deal that led to Walker’s death. Johnson’s attorney said Wednesday a possible co-defendant has been identified but…
WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita police say a 2-month old boy who was injured along with his twin sister has died. Wichita police spokesman Charley Davidson says Marrell Williams died Thursday. His twin sister was also hospitalized with a healing broken femur. The children’s father, Marlin Williams, was charged earlier this week with three counts of aggravated battery. KAKE-TV reports authorities say the case will be presented to the district attorney’s office for upgraded charges. The children were found injured at their Wichita home last Friday. In a second, unrelated case, a 9-month-old Wichita girl who was also injured last Friday…
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 aggravated assault in Manhattan on January 16, 2020, at approximately 11:00 AM. Officers listed a 40-year-old male as the victim and a known 36-year-old female as the suspect. Due…
Riley County K-State Extension 4H agent John Jobe joined us to discuss the upcoming Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge happening in March. SAVE Farm board member Greg Platt joined us to talk about the latest happenings 66th District Rep. Sydney Carlin recapped Gov. Laura Kelly’s State of the State address on Wednesday. 67th District Rep. Tom Phillips also reflected on the governor’s State of the State address.