WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The operators of a Wichita restaurant have told a judge that they plan to change their pleas on federal charges of employing people who are in the country unlawfully. A court notation Thursday in the case against Yong Lin and his wife, Zhuo Mei Weng, sets a hearing Feb. 12 for both of them in Wichita. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it has reached tentative agreements for guilty pleas. The couple was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy and harboring people who are in the U.S. unlawfully. Prosecutors brought the case after federal agents and local…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has scheduled a news conference to discuss pending issues in the Statehouse as the second week of the legislative session draws to a close. Friday’s gathering will be Brownback’s first of the 2014 session, which began Jan. 13. Brownback is looking to increase spending in three targeted areas in the current budget year, putting additional funds in the state pension system, public schools and the state’s share of Medicaid health care programs for the poor, elderly and disabled. The governor has begun what aides anticipate will be frequent visits statewide to build support…
Teachers across the state are continuing to make a move to joining the Kansas Association of American Educators, KANAAE. The most recent announcement comes out of Spearville, near Dodge City. Garry Sigle, KANAAE executive director, talked with KMAN about how the KANAAE is gaining steam since Riley County certified in 2009. “There were a number of us at Riley County that didn’t want to belong to the Kansas National Education Association, which is unionized but still wanted to have a say in the negotiations and say be an officer,” said Sigle. The KANAAE is a non-union professional teachers association. Other districts…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A 43-year-old Kansas man could spend the rest of his life in federal prison after being sentenced under “Jessica’s Law” for molesting a 4-year-old girl. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Alvin Houston III was convicted Dec. 12 of one count of aggravated criminal sodomy. He was sentenced last week to life in prison without parole for 40 years. Houston was arrested after his victim told her grandmother what was happening. The grandmother spoke with an elementary school teacher who contacted the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office on behalf of the family. Coffey County Attorney Douglas Witteman says Houston gave…
On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks with State Senator Tom Hawk of Manhattan, followed by Riley County Police Director Brad Schoen.
Payton Stephens scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Manhattan High boys basketball team knocked off Wichita Heights 55-46 on Thursday afternoon at the Dodge City Tournament of Champions. Alex Stitt added 12 points as the Tribe knocked off the Falcons, who won four state titles from 2009-2012. Manhattan High (6-2) will now face Hays in the semifinals of the Dodge City TOC on Friday night at 7:00pm. Pregame begins at 6:45 on NewsRadio 1350 KMAN.
At least three fatal explosions shook Cairo, Egypt on Friday, killing at least five and wounding scores.
Three people were killed and more than 20 hurt in a massive pileup in Northern Indiana on Thursday. The pileup on the eastbound lanes of I-94 happened near Michigan City, about 60 miles from Chicago.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita hotel that is hosting the state’s Republican convention has decided to allow participants to bring their guns if they want, despite signs saying firearms aren’t allowed. Butler County Republican Party chairwoman Debbie Luper told party members in an email that Hyatt Regency Hotel has agreed to relax its gun ban for the sold-out convention that starts Friday. The Wichita Eagle reports state GOP executive director Clay Barker called the lifting of the ban symbolic because most would not be taking their guns. Barker says the temporary change was an acknowledgement by the hotel that Kansans…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is backing a bill that would exclude the lesser prairie chicken from federal protection. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Kobach told the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday that the bill would likely lead to a legal battle that pits state rights against federal law. The bill would assert state sovereignty over nonmigratory wildlife and declare null and void any federal law in Kansas on the lesser prairie chicken. Under the bill, state officials also would be allowed to charge federal officials with a felony for enforcing a federal law dealing…