TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The new guide for legislative interns at the Capitol does not contain proposed restrictions ranging from the amount of perfume and the number of earrings interns can wear. Numerous rules suggested last week for inclusion in the 2014 intern handbook by Rep. Peggy Mast, an Emporia Republican, were edited out. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports also removed from the document was a rule asserting “inappropriate” photographs and language had to be deleted from personal social media sites. Staff members of Democratic lawmakers raised questions about the intern fashion regulations that exceeded limits for legislators. Civil rights attorneys also…
Author: KMAN Staff
KINGMAN, Kan. (AP) A south-central Kansas police chief who was under investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has resigned. Kingman city officials announced Thursday that Marc Holloway (37) resigned Jan. 3. The city had asked the KBI in October to investigate Holloway and he was placed on administrative leave in November. The city officials and KBI have refused to discuss what prompted the investigation. KBI special agent in charge Mark Malick said the KBI has completed the investigation. Kingman city attorney Greg Graffman says no decisions have been made on whether charges will be filed. Capt. David Lux is…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita police say a suspect has been arrested in a fatal hit-and-run involving a bicyclist. Kristina R. Brown (39) died Thursday when she was hit from behind by a truck while riding her bike in southeast Wichita. A man who was riding his bike with her was not injured. Police say a witness followed the truck as it drove away and was able to provide police with information that led to the driver. The truck belonged to a tree trimming service and the business owner helped police locate the driver. A 35-year-old man was booked into jail…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The American Civil Liberties Union wants a federal judge to send a lawsuit over Kansas’ enforcement of its proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters back to state court. In a motion filed Thursday, the ACLU said the lawsuit raises questions only about whether policies pursued by Secretary of State Kris Kobach violate the state constitution, leaving no federal court jurisdiction. The ACLU filed the lawsuit last year in Shawnee County District Court for two voters and the gay-rights group Equality Kansas. They want to block Kobach from imposing different election rules based on whether voters register with state or…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The U.S. post office that has anchored the north end of Topeka’s downtown since the 1930s could become another casualty of declining mail volume. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday it wants to vacate the historic building and put it up for sale. Plans call for relocating retail customer services to a new, smaller leased space in the same ZIP code. Internal operations would move to nearby postal facilities. A community meeting on the proposal is scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the post office auditorium. The Postal Service is attempting to streamline…
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) A 58-year-old Garden City surgeon has died in a rollover traffic accident. The Garden City Telegram reports Dr. Michael J. Baughman died Friday after the one-vehicle accident south of Garden City. Baughman opened Sandhill Orthopaedic and Sportsmedicine in Garden City in 1993. He was also team physician for Garden City Community College and Garden City High School. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when Baughman’s 2008 Ford F150 pickup went off the north side of the road and rolled. The patrol says Baughman was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita woman will be sentenced March 10 in federal court for selling fake luxury goods at her shop. Glenda Sue Morgan, owner of The Fabulous Store, pleaded guilty in October to one count of trafficking in goods bearing counterfeit designer labels such as Prada and Chanel. Her sentencing has been postponed until March 10. Morgan faces maximum penalties of a $2 million fine and 10 years imprisonment. But prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence at the low end of the federal guidelines. Investigators seized 400 replica items with a retail value of $14,000 from Morgan’s shop.…
Bees are vanishing worldwide and this is beginning to threaten the global food supply. On Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 pm, local beekeepers and enthusiasts are invited to Sunset Zoo to explore the creation of an area beekeeping club. Richard Marteney and retired Army Colonel Gary LaGrange, both local beekeepers, will be present to visit with community members. The event will be held inside the Nature Exploration Center and is free and open to the public. More information on bees will also come next month as the zoo holds its February’s Sunset Zoo Presents Lecture on Monday, February 17. LaGrange…
McPHERSON, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a former police chief convicted of 15 counts of sexually molesting three girls. Michael Akins Jr. (42) was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two life terms. He was police chief in the central Kansas town of Inman when he was charged. The Supreme Court reversed the convictions Friday, citing misconduct by the assistant attorney general who tried the case in McPherson County. The high court said the assistant attorney general improperly stated comments and opinions that the jury could have construed as evidence. Defense lawyer Dan…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Attorney General Derek Schmidt says he will ask Kansas legislators to strengthen the state’s penalties for Medicaid fraud. The Republican attorney general outlined his proposal Thursday during a stop in Wichita. Schmidt’s office is the state’s lead agency against fraud in Medicaid, which helps pay for health care for the poor, elderly and disabled. He said his office gained 15 criminal convictions and recovered $33.7 million in the latest fiscal year from people guilty of defrauding the program. Schmidt is proposing higher fines for the crime. He also wants people convicted of Medicaid fraud to serve prison…