TOPEKA — A judge has found sufficient evidence for a man to stand trial in the beating death of his girlfriend in Topeka. Thirty-four-year-old Luke Anthony Wabaunsee was bound over for trial Wednesday on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder. He was arrested one day after 42-year-old Michelle Stadler was found dead in October in a north Topeka apartment. WIBW-TV reports that a detective testified at the preliminary hearing that Wabaunsee’s DNA was found on the handle of a bloody glass mug recovered from Stadler’s apartment. Her neighbor, Shawn Cunningham, testified that Wabaunsee wanted her to quit using meth. Another…
Author: KMAN Staff
Officers filed a report for aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in the 1300 block of Garibay Ln. in Manhattan on December 19, 2018, at approximately 7:00 AM. Officers listed Latasha Olson, 34, of Manhattan and Anthony Stevens, 45, of Manhattan as the victims and an unknown male as the suspect. 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 burglary in the 3300 block of W 69th…
An ad-hoc committee formed by the Riley County Law Board found no pattern of racial bias by RCPD in their study of marijuana arrests in the county. They presented their findings at the Law Board’s meeting Monday. The committee was formed in 2017 after residents and members of the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice rose concerns over the fact that in 2014 and 2015, 25 percent of those arrested in Riley County for marijuana following a traffic stop were African American despite only making up about 5.5 percent of the population. The committee was made up of Law Board…
The Manhattan City Commission approved multiple ordinances at their meeting Tuesday. Those ordinances rezoned property on the 1800 block of Todd Road, accepted the donation of a tract of land in the Scenic Meadows subdivision, approved the creation of development and land donation agreements for the developers of the Stonehaven subdivision, and approved multiple contracts for the year 2019 with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Todd Road Commissioners unanimously voted to rezone a few lots in the 1800 block of Todd Road. The ordinance changes multiple lots from the multiple-family residential district to a multiple-family residential district with a…
TOPEKA — A Kansas state senator has switched to the Democratic Party to become the fourth moderate suburban Kansas City lawmaker to leave the Republican Party in a week. State Sen. Dinah Sykes of Lenexa said Wednesday that she could either fight to change the GOP or fight for her constituents. She won her seat in 2016. Rep. Stephanie Clayton of Overland Park also switched parties Wednesday. Clayton was first elected to the House in 2010 and said she could best support public schools by becoming a Democrat. Clayton has been an outspoken GOP moderate who was first elected to…
PRAIRIE VILLAGE — The Prairie Village City Council has approved an ordinance that shields LGBTQ individuals from many types of discrimination within the city. The council’s unanimous approval on Monday night came after more than three months of sometimes contentious public debate on the issue. The Kansas City Star reports that the measure bans discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity when it comes to housing, employment or receiving public services from stores, restaurants or other businesses. The City Prosecutor’s office will investigate discrimination claims, with possible fines up to $1,000 per violation. The ordinance doesn’t apply…
OLATHE — Kansas will pay $1.1 million to a Missouri man who spent nearly 17 years in prison for a robbery that he argued was committed by his doppelganger. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached with 42-year-old Richard Anthony Jones, of Kansas City, Missouri. Schmidt said Jones was the first to settle a payout under a new state law that provides compensation to people who are wrongly imprisoned. Jones also was granted a certificate of innocence. Eyewitness testimony sent Jones to prison for an attack and robbery in the parking lot of a…
TOPEKA — Federal regulators have proposed fining Kansas’ only nuclear power plant $232,000 over what regulators say was retaliation against an employee reporting a possible safety issue. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Tuesday that it found the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp. violated federal regulations. The Wolf Creek plant is 55 miles south of Topeka. The NRC said that during a fall 2016 refueling outage at the plant, a contract employee reported a safety concern. The NRC said the employee was placed on paid administrative leave. Wolf Creek said it has refined its reviews of personnel actions and has taken…
Officers filed a report for criminal damage to property in the 100 block of Pine Dr. in Manhattan on December 18, 2018, at approximately 10:00 AM. Officers listed a 17-year-old female as the victim when it was reported an unknown suspect damaged her Chevy Malibu. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $2,500.00. 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 theft in…
Tuesday’s guests on In Focus were Manhattan City Mayor Mike Dodson and City Manager Ron Fehr.