The chairman of a state board leading an agency that represents home and small-business utility consumers has resigned, partially out of frustration over major changes other board members are considering for the agency. Brian Weber, of Garden City, announced his resignation from the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board Wednesday. It comes five days after other board members discussed either dissolving the agency or changing its mission to focus on fighting federal clean-air regulations. The Wichita Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/1NqtRKi ) that during last week, the board also stripped acting consumer counsel Niki Christopher of her roles of representing consumers in the Legislature…
Author: KMAN Staff
Two men have been charged in the fatal shooting of a man last week in east Wichita. The Wichita Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/1UDrJSc ) that 35-year-old Macy Foard and 23-year-old Alexzander Rye are charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 8 death of 42-year-old Dejuan Harris. They are accused of going to a house to rob the two people who live at the address, but instead shooting Harris after he answered a knock at the door. Police say the people that the pair was allegedly after weren’t home. An anonymous 911 caller found Harris’ body about 24 hours later. Rye also…
A former teller has been indicted on charges of embezzling about $700,000 from an eastern Kansas bank. The U.S. attorney’s office announced Wednesday that 47-year-old Denise Christy, of Burlington, faces charges that include embezzlement and money laundering. No attorney is listed for her in online court records. The indictment alleges the crimes were committed while Christy worked for the Burlington branch of Central National Bank. One of Christy’s duties was to sell cash in the bank’s vault to the Federal Reserve Bank. In May 2014 auditors determined that more than $700,000 was missing. An investigation showed Christy falsified bank records…
University presidents in Kansas say they want to know if students have been kicked out of school or criminally convicted for sexual assault before admitting them. The Lawrence Journal-World (http://bit.ly/1O8Luf1 ) reports that university presidents gave their stamp of approval Wednesday to a proposed Kansas Board of Regents policy. The policy would requires all state universities to add nonacademic misconduct transcript notations for students expelled for forcible sex offenses or other serious personal offenses. Sexual assault questions also would be asked during admission and re-admission in an attempt to catch prior offenders coming in from community colleges or out-of-state schools.…
Manhattan Area of Chambers Commerce President Lyle Butler
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A 21-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man who has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he plotted to bomb an Army installation in support of the Islamic State group wants to change his plea. John T. Booker Jr. filed a motion Wednesday in Topeka, asking for a change-of-plea hearing. A judge has scheduled that for Jan. 12. A message left Thursday with a Booker public defender, Kirk Redmond, wasn’t immediately returned. Booker is charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use an explosive device and attempt to provide material support to a…
Riley County Police arrested a Manhattan man for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia Wednesday morning. Kenneth Brown, 52, was taken into custody in the 1500 block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard. Bond was listed as $10,000. ### A Manhattan teenager faces a probation violation charge following his arrest Wednesday. Glenn Bennett, 18,was taken into custody at approximately 11:20 AM while at the Riley County Law Enforcement Center. Bennett was arrested on a Riley County District Court Warrant for Probation Violation, with the original charge listed as Battery. Bond was listed as $5,000.
Two Junction City residents have been arrested on marijuana-related charges, following execution of a search warrant Thursday by the Junction City/Geary County Drug Operations Group, assisted by the Junction City/Geary County SWAT team. The search warrant involved an address at 231 West 4th Street #4 after a two month long investigation into the Sale of Marijuana. Taken into custody were John Terrance Brown, 42, and Mellisa Culler, 34. Charges against each of them include Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell within 1000 feet of a School Zone, Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Brown and…
A week ago, President Obama signed a law that left the No Child Left Behind Act in the dust, and USD 383 board members spared no expense on Wednesday evening when poking fun at the bill that had serious repercussions for educators over the last 14 years. Now, the “Every Student Succeeds Act” will supposedly funnel billions of dollars into education and adopt higher academic standards in every state. Carol Adams, Executive Director of Learning and Education, shared the results of the this springs’ state testing. According to Adams, the ESSA will give states more power when determining state standards as well…
What do the people of Manhattan and Ogden want in a new school superintendent? That was the question at forums held throughout the day Wednesday at the USD 383 Administrative office. Randy Weseman is the Director of Operations and Budgets for the Kansas Association of School Boards and he conducted the forums, including one at noon geared toward parents and community members. Andrea Auckly was one of eight people who showed up for a parents and community forum Wednesday, regarding desired qualities and qualifications in a school superintendent as Manhattan/Ogden USD 383 begins its search for a replacement for retiring…