A man who was allegedly behind the wheel in a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of 12th and Bluemont in April has turned himself into authorities. Nicholas Blaha, who was named as a suspect in May, was arrested at the Riley County Police Department late Monday afternoon. Blaha, 21, was charged with reckless aggravated battery. He also posted his $20,000 bond. On April 14 at approximately 1:55 a.m., officers arrived on the scene and found a pedestrian, later identified as 21-year-old Amber Wilhelm, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle. The vehicle was identified as a white…
Author: KMAN Staff
Hours and availability at Manhattan’s three pools are changing for the rest of the season and limited staff availability is why, according to a news release from Manhattan’s Parks and Rec Department. Starting today, CiCo Pool will be closed for the season except for the Pet Poolooza event on Sunday. City Pool and Northview Pool will remain open regular hours this week. Starting Aug. 14, City Pool will be closed except for noon hour lap swim and aqua aerobics classes over the noon hour. Northview Pool will have an extended season from 6 to 8 p.m. weekdays and 1 to…
TOPEKA — The Topeka Veteran Affairs’ hospital is planning a $4.5 million modernization project this fall. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports internal emails it obtained show the project entails expanding the emergency department, including private patient bays, a central physician and nursing hub, and a dedicated waiting space for families. Chief of staff Alexander Hallock says funds have been allocated for the two-year project. The project comes as the hospital struggles with a staffing shortage. The emergency room was closed from January 2014 to late June 2015 because of the staffing shortage. Last month, the eastern Kansas VA system initiated the…
Brandon Valerius, 38, of Wichita, Kansas, was arrested in the 2900 block of Vinewood Pl. on Aug. 4, 2017 at approximately 12:16 AM. Valerius was arrested for distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribute drug paraphernalia and possession of drug paraphernalia. Valerius’ bond was set at $50,000.00 causing him to remain confined at the time of this report. William Hancock Jr., 58, of Manhattan, was arrested in the 2900 block of Vinewood Pl. on Aug. 4, 2017 at approximately 12:16 AM. Hancock Jr. was arrested for distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribute drug paraphernalia and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hancock…
Today’s guest were Manhattan residents Brandon Irwin and Jessica Kerr. Irwin and Kerr traveled to Washington D.C. in July to join protests against the Senate healthcare bill.
An air conditioner fan motor was the cause of a fire scare at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community over the weekend. According to a press release from the Manhattan Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to the retirement community at 2121 Meadowlark Rod in Manhattan just before 8 a.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, crews found moderate smoke in the hallway on the third floor. Crews immediately upgraded to a 2nd Alarm Fire and began searching for the source of the smoke. There was a report of a possible lighting strike in the area of the building prior to the call. After a thorough…
Updated Friday, 10:11 p.m. A 2-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, child who was issued with an Amber Alert Friday afternoon was found safe Friday night and two suspects are in custody, according to multiple media reports. Earler: The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert for 2-year-old Jace Brunt. He was last seen going south from 1730 S. 35th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. He’s described as having short, fuzzy hair with a pony tail on top. He was wearing pajama pants and a dark t-shirt or tank top and no shoes. According to the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office, at…
TOPEKA — Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood says low pay for uniformed corrections officers is causing high turnover rates at state prisons, especially at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. Norwood disclosed Thursday that the El Dorado prison has the highest annual turnover rate for any of the state’s eight prisons at 46 percent. The figure for the entire system is 33 percent. He said during a Legislative Budget Committee meeting that 21 employees left the El Dorado prison in July. Five retired and nine took new jobs. The others moved out-of-state, had medical issues or were fired. El Dorado has seen…
Today’s guests on In Focus included Riley County Extension 4-H Agent John Jobe, along with Tuttle Creek State Park Manager Todd Lovin. Jobe: Lovin:
A full profile of the man suspected of raping 14 women in Manhattan and Lawrence has been made available to the public through kansascollegerapist.com. The website was created through a joint partnership between the Riley County and Lawrence police departments. On July 27, RCPD Director Brad Schoen and Interim Chief Anthony Brixius of the Lawrence Police Department held a press conference asking the public for help in identifying a suspect in the rapes that spanned from Oct. 2000 through Dec. 2008. Authorities believe a 2015 rape case in Manhattan may be connected. The suspect targeted female students who attended Kansas State University…