LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A man has been convicted in a shooting that killed three people in a popular downtown area of a Kansas college town. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that jurors found 22-year-old Anthony Roberts Jr., of Topeka, guilty on Tuesday of two counts of first-degree felony murder and second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Prosecutors said Roberts opened fire in October 2017 as people were leaving bars, concerts and other events on the main downtown Lawrence street. Roberts’ attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense after a confrontation. The shooting killed 22-year-old Leah Brown, of Shawnee; 20-year-old Colwin Lynn…
Author: KMAN Staff
It appears the Riley County Commission has avoided an election for its proposed 2020 budget, but an increase in the mill levy is still likely. The commission picked back up on their 2020 budget work session during their meeting Monday. Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison brought the updated list of appropriation adjustments made by the commission and department heads. This led to a $250,000 decrease to what was originally presented. The overall personnel adjustment total with the voluntary cuts had a decrease of $161,013. Other recommendations include the $26,269 decrease for the indigent panel request within the General Fund.…
Tuesday’s guests on In Focus were Pottawatomie County Commission Chair Travis Altenhofen and Public Works Director Peter Clark. We discussed flooded roads, a proposed codes resolution for Blue Township Sewer District and other projects being undertaken this summer by Public Works.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas will allow transgender residents to change their birth certificates so that the documents reflect their gender identities under a legal settlement ending a federal lawsuit. LGBTQ-right advocates said Monday that Kansas now will have a policy on birth certificates in line with most other states’ policies. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree signed an order Friday to make the agreement binding on Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials. The department issues birth certificates. Four transgender Kansas residents and the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project sued last year over the health department’s policy of not allowing transgender…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Residents of a Kansas City, Kansas neighborhood have filed a federal lawsuit over flooding during the summer of 2017 that accuses businesses and local officials of negligence. The lawsuit filed earlier this month by five residents in the U.S. District Court for Kansas accuses the companies of leaving debris in a drainage creek west of the Argentine neighborhood. It also names the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, as a defendant. The Kansas City Star reports that the lawsuit claims the debris clogged the creek, resulted in significant flooding and property damage and…
Monday’s guest was Dr. Timothy Shaffer, the assistant director of the KSU Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy. He discussed his recent meetings with state legislators for the National Institute for Civil Discourse’s Next Generation program as well as some of his recent work and media consolidations’ effects on discourse.
HUTCHINSON — Kansas park officials are tallying up the economic hit that many of the state’s 28 parks absorbed because of heavy rains and flooding this spring. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Secretary Brad Loveless says losses from damage and closures caused by the rains could be substantial. The agency relies chiefly on entrance permits, campsite and cabin rental fees, and marina concessions to fund state parks. The Hutchinson News reports that the agency’s park fee fund dropped about $100,000 in April and May, mostly due to a loss of entrance and campsite fees. Income from cabin rentals…
TOPEKA — Rep. Jan Meyers, the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Kansas, has died. Meyers died Friday at the age of 90 at a nursing home where she was living. The cause of death was not announced. A native of Nebraska, Meyers lived in Overland Park, Kansas, while representing the state’s 3rd congressional district from 1985 to 1997. Before that, she served in the Kansas Senate from 1972 to 1984. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday ordered flags flown at half-staff at the Capitol complex to honor Meyers. Kelly said in a statement she respected and…
Friday’s guests included Kansas State Research & Extension Family/Consumer Science Agent Meghan Dougherty talking about freezer meal preparation. Riley County Senior Center’s Margaret T. Abbott discussed volunteer opportunities with the meals on wheels program. In the last segment Dave Lewis discussed perception of the change in venue this year for the Country Stampede.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Unemployment in Kansas remained at 3.5 percent in May, unchanged from the month before and up from 3.3. percent in May 2028. The Kansas Department of Labor says 600 jobs were added to the public and private sectors and the average monthly job growth over the last three months is now at 2,100. Senior Labor Economist Tyler Tenbrink says job growth was solid, despite heavy rains that impacted Kansas in May and slowed down construction projects. “Offsetting losses (in construction employment) were gains in state government and retail trade. Overall job growth is picking up after a…