TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has issued his first pardon in almost seven years in office to a man convicted of felony theft as a college student in 1994. Brownback’s office announced the pardon Tuesday for Mark Schmitt of Parker, Colorado. Schmitt is a Liberal native convicted of felony theft while living as a college student in Ottawa. The governor’s office said the charge arose from a false insurance claim for $1,552. It said Schmitt completed probation, paid restitution and had his record expunged. Brownback said in a statement that Schmitt has proven since to be “a man of…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA — Former Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole has returned home after being hospitalized for three weeks with low blood pressure. Dole spokeswoman Marion Watkins said in an email Tuesday that the 94-year-old former Kansas senator was discharged Thursday from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington, D.C. He was hospitalized Sept. 13. Dole tweeted last week that he’s “happy to be home.” He lives in the D.C. area. The tweet continues, “Cheers to all the well-wishers, care givers and staff at Walter Reed,” and bears a photo of him holding up a…
Kansas State officials say an anti-gay slur was found outside the university’s student union, the latest in several vandalism incidents targeting diversity at the school. The slur was found Monday and was removed that afternoon. The anti-gay vandalism occurred the same week some vandalized a temporary dwelling erected outside a residential complex for the Jewish harvest festival Sukkot. Pat Bosco, dean of students and vice president for student life, said campus police are investigating. The Wichita Eagle reports that In September, white supremacist fliers were found on campus. And in May, a noose was found hanging from a campus tree.
The City of Manhattan says Allen Road and Casement Road will be closed to thru traffic at the Allen Road/ Casement Road intersection beginning this Thursday to facilitate sanitary sewer improvements along Allen Road that extend into the intersection with Casement Road. Access to Knox Lane will only be available from southbound Casement Road and those exiting Knox Lane will only be able to turn right onto Casement Road (northbound). All drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to follow detour signage. This phase of construction is expected to last approximately 3-4 weeks. Please use caution, obey all posted traffic control and…
A Junction City man who took part in a woman’s kidnapping that led to her murder was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a press release from his office. Christopher Pugh, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping. In his plea, he admitted participating in the kidnapping of Amanda Clemons, a 24-year-old woman whose body was found in February 2014 in Geary County. In his plea, Pugh admitted that on Feb. 7, 2014, he was one of the defendants who met the victim, who was a prostitute, at a hotel in Junction City…
Today’s guests on In Focus were Riley County Commissioner Ben Wilson and Appraiser Greg McHenry.
TOPEKA — The historic Sumner Elementary School’s future is uncertain because of a rift between its California owners and Topeka advocates who want to preserve the building. The school building is on the national historic register for its part in the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation case, which ended legal segregation in the nation’s schools. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the building is owned by the Southside Christian Palace Church in Los Angeles since Bishop W. R. Portee bought it in 2009. He died in 2015. A liaison for the church, Phil Gonzales,…
TOPEKA — Election-year politics will hinder efforts by Kansas officials to comply with a state Supreme Court mandate on school funding. The court has ordered lawmakers to enact a new, fairer education funding law that also significantly boosts spending on public schools. Finding a solution that satisfies the court next year will force the Republican-controlled Legislature and soon-to-be GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer to consider a second big tax increase in as many years. An alternative would be big spending cuts in other parts of state government, which many lawmakers find equally distasteful. Colyer is now lieutenant governor and waiting for…
Today’s guests on In focus were Professor of Production Medicine with K-State College of Veterinary Medicine Bob Larson, Dr. Juanita McGowan and Jennifer Edwards on the event Conversations on Race Reconciliation, and C. Clyde Jones, Melanie Horton and College of Business Administration Dean Kevin Gwinner.
Officers filed a report for rape in Manhattan on October 6, 2017. Officers listed a 15 year old female as the victim when she reported a 15 year old male known to her raped her. Due to the nature of the crime reported, no additional information will be released. Officers filed a report for burglary and criminal damage to property in the 15000 block of Madison Rd. on October 6, 2017 at approximately 8:00 PM. Officers listed Robert Cammel, 62, of Riley, Kansas, and Laura Cammel, 56, of Riley, Kansas as the victims when it was reported an unknown suspect…