HAYS, Kan. (AP) A legal fight is brewing over the $20.6 million estate of a western Kansas man whose will was changed shortly before his January 2013 death. At issue is a letter typed on 98-year-old Earl O. Field’s stationary that said he had decided to strip the Fort Hays State University Foundation as the primary beneficiary and instead give the largest portion of his estate to his part-time bookkeeper and caretaker. It described her as “like my daughter.” The Hutchinson News reports that the foundation considers it fake. Field owned farmland and mineral rights, as well as a business.…
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The University of Kansas won’t give out employee raises while there’s still a chance for last-minute state budget cuts. Provost Jeff Vitter says the university budgeted midyear, merit-based salary increases for select employees that would comprise about 1 percent of the university’s salary budget. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Vitter wrote in a recent memo to university faculty and staff that extending the raises will depend on a few things, including avoiding any possible state budget cuts. He says the decision will be made later this semester. Vitter says many employees had asked about the raises. There’s…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Lobbyists have spent more than $500,000 entertaining Kansas lawmakers so far this year. Kansas law prohibits lobbyists from making campaign donations during the session and limits their spending to $100 on lawmaker gifts. But Kansas doesn’t limit the amount of food and drink a lobbyist can buy lawmakers. The Wichita Eagle reports lobbyists have spent more than $500,000 since January treating Kansas lawmakers to dinner, drinks and other entertainment. The Kansas Bankers Association spent the most on food and entertainment for lawmakers, at $26,135. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce was second with $20,139. Advocates for transparency say…
Guests on Monday’s In Focus were: Kansas Farm Bureau Board of Directors member Glenn Brunkow of Pottawatomie County Kerry Wefald, Agriculture Marketing Director with Kansas Department of Agriculture located in Manhattan
It was a somber autumn morning at the Riley County Courthouse as a Rossville man was sentenced to jail time after striking and killing a Manhattan bicyclist. On the evening of June 26, 2014, 32-year-old Derik Kesler was driving southbound on K-177 when he struck 49-year-old Mark Jilka from behind. Jilka, an avid bicyclist, was wearing reflective gear while riding on the shoulder of the highway. Reports say Kessler immediately called 911, but Jilka was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Kesler’s witness statement, he was using the GPS service on his phone at the time and did not see…
A Belvue man who requested a jury trial had a change of heart Monday morning. Christopher Arand, who is accused of murdering his uncle, Larry Arand, last November, entered a plea to premeditated first degree murder. The Pottawatomie County District Court also dismissed a cruelty to animals charge. Sentencing is set for Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. and he remains confined in jail. 70-year-old Larry Arand was found in his Belvue Home last November. An affidavit released at the time indicated Arand hit his uncle in the back of the head several times with brass knuckles before suffocating him with a…
K-State sophomore cornerback Cre Moore was arrested at 3:26 A.M. Sunday morning by Riley County police on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of a depressant. Police responded to a single vehicle collision at Poyntz and Evergreen Ave. in Manhattan at 2:55 A.M. Moore’s 2014 Ford F150 had hit a light pole and a privately owned stone stairwell. The front driver’s side sustained major damage, including the front driver’s side wheel becoming detached. Moore didn’t have any injuries. He was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol after an investigation into the accident. During the…
Officers with the Riley County Police Department responded to a single vehicle collision near the intersection of Engineer Road and Harris Road on Oct. 2, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Police found a 2003 Ford Focus driven by a 16-year-old female (with an 18-year-old and 16-year-old passenger) that was involved in a collision when it lost control on gravel. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned landing on its roof leaving the driver to complain of back pain. The passengers were uninjured, however, all three occupants were transported to Via Christi Hospital by Riley County EMS. The driver was issued a…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)– Last year, the Kansas City Royals were the October darlings, winning their first eight postseason games to reach the World Series for the first time since before many of their players were born. They won’t be able to surprise anybody this year. They’ll be the favorites to repeat as American League champions. Salvador Perez added to his career-high home run total, Johnny Cueto pitched five solid innings and the Royals secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason by beating the Minnesota Twins 6-1 on Sunday. The Royals (95-67) posted their best record since the 1980 team went 97-65, besting…
CINCINNATI (AP)– Andy Dalton completes his first 10 passes and makes another big play. The defense allows nothing other than field goals. Through four games, the Bengals are still perfect. And awfully impressive, too. Dalton threw a 55-yard touchdown pass on the run — the type of throw he’s rarely made in the past — and Cincinnati remained unbeaten with a 36-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The Bengals (4-0) matched the third-best start in franchise history, two wins shy of the club record. They’ve got the look of a team finally capable of not only reaching…