LAWRENCE — Regents universities in Kansas are reviewing earthquake insurance policies after several quakes were reported in the state this year. The Lawrence Journal-World reports chief financial officers decided to review the policies out of “due diligence.” University of Kansas CFO Leisa Julian says the regents system has $1 billion in property insurance, at a cost of more than $2 million a year. The coverage includes $100 million in earthquake protection. Adding another $100 million would increase the annual premiums by $44,000. The CFOs have taken the matter under advisement for now. Wichita State University President John Bardo strongly supported increasing…
Author: KMAN Staff
A drug-related arrest leaves a Manhattan man in jail on a high dollar bond. Randall Simonds, 33, was taken into custody in the 2500 block of Bellerive Dr. Wednesday at approximately 4:00 PM. Simonds was arrested on a Pottawatomie County District Court warrant for unlawful distribution of controlled substances and use of a communication facility for drug transactions. Simonds’ bond was set at $50,000. ### Several campers and RV’s were damaged in the Sunflower North storage unit facility in the 2600 of Tuttle Creek Boulevard earlier this week. Riley County Police Officers filed a report for burglary, criminal damage to property,…
They don’t give out a trophy for beating all five of Texas’ major college football programs. A Texas Bowl Champions trophy will be sufficient, however. Led by game MVP Jesse Ertz, Kansas State knocked off Texas A&M, 33-28, in Wednesday night’s Advocare V100 Texas Bowl to finish its season 9-4. “This team epitomized what this program is about — daily improvement,” K-State coach Bill Snyder said. In contrast to most of the Wildcats’ recent bowl game appearances, this contest was closely contested throughout. K-State fell behind 7-0 on the Aggies’ opening possession before rallying to take the lead in the…
BURLINGTON — Authorities have arrested an eastern Kansas sheriff’s deputy after an investigation into child sex crimes. The 28-year-old deputy was arrested Tuesday at the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count each of electronic solicitation and sexual exploitation of a child. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that its agents began to investigate last week at the request of the sheriff’s office. The release says the deputy has been terminated. He had worked for the sheriff’s office since March 2014. The KBI says its…
RCPD officers filed a report for burglary, vehicle burglary, and criminal damage to property in the 700 block of S. 16th St. yesterday afternoon. Officers listed Mel’s Basement and Foundation, RM Baril General Contracting, Rick Reed, 54, of Manhattan, and Dennie Bayer, 69, of Manhattan, as victims when an unknown suspect entered the property and damaged car windows and mirrors on multiple vehicles, damaged warehouse windows and doors, and broke locks in attempts to gain entry. The total loss associated with this case is approximately $3,990.00. Officers filed a report for theft in the 13100 block of Kansas Ave. in Riley, Kansas…
SHAWNEE — A suburban Kansas City gun store that changed locations after a fatal gunfight is closing. Jon Bieker was killed in January 2015 while defending his wife, Becky Bieker, from four Missouri men who were attempting to rob their Shawnee, Kansas, store, called She’s a Pistol. Three of the robbers were wounded in the shootout. All four are charged with attempted robbery and first-degree murder. After the gunfight, the store was moved to a new location less than 2 miles away, but legal bills and increased labor expenses have taken a toll. Becky Bieker told WDAF-TV that the closure “feels…
Today’s guests on In Focus were: Riley County Historical Museum Director Cheryl Collins Todd Lovin of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with Tuttle Creek State Park
TOPEKA — Kansas high school students will now receive ACT college-entrance exam score projections with their state test results. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the University of Kansas’ Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation studied the correlation between 10th grade assessments and ACT scores, and the state Board of Education evaluated the results of the analysis this month. Ten school districts participated in the study, including five of the state’s six largest districts. Education commissioner Randy Watson says students who take 10th grade assessments in the future will now receive ACT projection information with their test scores. Education officials say they…
WICHITA — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a western Kansas woman against the state and several agencies after her son was removed from her home in 2015 when he told school officials she used marijuana. Shona Banda, of Garden City, alleged in the lawsuit filed in March that the defendants denied her civil rights by refusing to allow her to use medical marijuana to treat her Crohn’s disease, interfered with her parenting and questioned her son without her permission. U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten dismissed the lawsuit Friday. He agreed with the defendants’ contention that Banda…
A Manhattan man charged with first degree murder and child abuse pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning in the Riley County District Courthouse. Andrew Gibson, 25, appeared for his arraignment cuffed and in an orange jumpsuit. His jury trial is scheduled to begin on May 3, 2017, and is expected to last three days. Gibson is charged with the death of 3-month-old Serenity Reich, who was found unresponsive on May 5 in Gibson’s apartment on the 500 block of Stone Creek Drive in Manhattan after he called 911. On Nov. 4 during Gibson’s preliminary hearing, Riley County Police Department Detective Bryan Johnson testified…