The 2018 budget was narrowly approved by the Manhattan City Commission Tuesday night. Lingering issues with funding for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and aTa Bus Service refused to sell a pair of commissioners on the budget, which was passed by a 3-2 margin. Highlights of the budget include a uptick of .35 mills on the mill levy, a 1% increase in the tourist and transient guest tax, and large changes on the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and aTa bus sheets that forced the two “no” votes. Commissioner Wynn Butler expressed displeasure at what he perceived to be too large…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA — A judge has dismissed charges against a former Bel Aire police officer ensnared in a scheme to buy and sell discounted firearms by falsely claiming they would be used for law enforcement purposes. Court records show prosecutors on Tuesday asked the court to dismiss the indictment against Ricky L. Swanson due to his death. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren granted the request shortly after the government’s filing. Court documents offer no other details, and his attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Last Monday’s change-of-plea hearing was cancelled after Swanson did not appear as scheduled.…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Former Lawrence mayor Jeremy Farmer has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for embezzling money from a food bank. Farmer also was ordered to pay restitution of more than $81,000 for taking the money from the nonprofit Just Food when he was the organization’s executive director. Farmer also will be on two years of supervised release after completing his prison term. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the 33-year-old Farmer apologized during his sentencing hearing Tuesday. Farmer pleaded guilty in September 2016 to interstate transportation of embezzled funds and securities. Farmer was hired as executive director…
Today’s guests on In Focus were Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi and City Manager Ron Fehr.
TOPEKA — The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Ness County District Magistrate Judge James R. Kepple to fill a magistrate judge vacancy in Riley County. The commission conducted public interviews of applicants for the position Monday, August 14, in Manhattan. Eight people had applied for the opening. Kepple’s new position will be effective upon his swearing-in. The 21st Judicial District includes Riley and Clay counties. The vacancy was created by the Aug. 11 retirement of Magistrate Judge Sheila Hochhauser, who had served as a judge since 2007. Kansas law requires that a magistrate judge be a resident of…
Officers filed a report for criminal use of a financial card and forgery in Manhattan on Aug. 14, 2017 at approximately 3:30 AM. Officers listed Bank of America, Walmart Supercenter, Maurice’s, Zales, Home Depot, The Buckle, Starbucks, Sunglass Hut, Diesel, and Under Armour as the victims when it was reported a known suspect used her deceased mother’s credit card to make multiple purchases. The total loss associated with this case is approximately $13,226.00. Joseph Brand, 24, of Riley, Kansas, was arrested in the 100 block of E Bluemont Ave. on Aug. 14, 2017 at approximately 3:30 AM. Brand was arrested…
WICHITA — A federal judge has thrown out one of the charges against a Kansas man accused of plotting to attack Somali immigrants in the meatpacking town of Garden City. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren granted a defense motion to dismiss a firearms charge against Curtis Allen. The decision comes in the wake of a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal panel’s ruling in May in an unrelated case that found that a person convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery under a city ordinance can legally carry a gun. Allen and co-defendants Patrick Stein and Gavin Wright still face charges of…
WICHITA — A Missouri woman has been sentenced after she said she obtained more 8,000 oxycodone tablets without any type of medical exam from a Kansas doctor. The U.S. attorney’s office says 52-year-old Kimi Harper, of Kansas City, Missouri, was ordered Monday to spend 10 years on supervised release after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. Court records say Harper paid to obtain prescriptions from Steven Henson, a Wichita doctor charged in a 31-count indictment. He is accused of over-prescribing pain medication blamed on one patient’s death. According to court records, Harper said Henson didn’t…
Riley County is just a couple formal steps away from having the Riley County Police Department’s firing range agreement with Fort Riley approved. County Counselor Clancy Holeman told county commissioners Monday morning the state’s Attorney General’s office has reviewed the agreement and expects formal approval by the end of the week. Commissioners approved a draft of the agreement to send to the AG in May. “They’ve completed review of the firing range agreement and are satisfied it complies with the statutory requirements,” Holeman said. The range the RCPD uses now and has for at least 20 years is located a…
The winners of the 2017 Kansas Association of Broadcasters annual awards were released Monday and Manhattan Broadcasting Company was well represented against other stations across the state in medium-market radio. KMAN won first place for its website and Sunny 102.5FM was second in that category. KMAN also received first place for its daily morning newscast with Cathy Dawes and Dave Lewis. “I could’t be more proud of the news staff at KMAN as well as the entire family here at Manhattan Broadcasting,” MBC General Manager Corey Reeves said. “To win 10 individual KAB awards, including the top spots in both…