TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas wildlife officials have confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in still another lake. The Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism said Thursday the tiny mollusks were spotted by an angler at Lake Shawnee in Topeka. The discovery brings to 19 the number of Kansas lakes infested by zebra mussels, which quickly grow into huge populations and clog intake pipes for public water systems. The agency says it found zebra mussels at multiple locations in the 416-acre lake owned by Shawnee County. Zebra mussels are usually introduced into lakes after attaching themselves to boats or winding up…
Author: KMAN Staff
SALINA, Kan. (AP) A second suspect has been arrested in the death of a 27-year-old Salina woman. The Salina Journal reports officers arrested Dane C. Deweese, 33, of Abilene, on Wednesday. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kristin Tyler. Tyler, a mother of four, was missing for two weeks before her body was found May 9 in a ravine off Interstate 135 in rural Saline County. Salina police Lt. Scott Siemsen says police also expect more arrests in connection with the case. Joel M. Heil was charged earlier with first-degree murder in Tyler’s death and is expected…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Authorities are blaming an overloaded extension cord for a fire that killed a young boy in southwest Wichita. Fire Captain Stuart Bevis says the 18-month-old boy was sleeping on a living room sofa when the fire started just before midnight Wednesday. A 25-year-old woman was sleeping in a back bedroom with her 2-year-old and 8-month-old daughters. They escaped and were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The boy who died was the woman’s nephew. Investigators say a window air conditioner’s cord had been spliced to plug it into a power strip. A 25-foot extension cord was…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Head Start Association says more than 400 fewer children will be able to take part in Head Start programs in Kansas because of the recent mandatory federal budget cuts. Before the federal budget cuts took effect earlier this year, Kansas Head Start programs had more than 9,000 slots for children from low-income families. The programs are designed to combat poverty by offering preschool education, improving early-childhood nutrition and well-being, and encouraging parental involvement. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the federal cuts took more than 5 percent from Head Start budgets this year. The Kansas Head…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Two Democratic legislators from Wichita plan to introduce legislation next week to address an issue with the Kansas voter registration laws that have more than 15,000 applications in limbo. State Rep. Jim Ward and Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau announced Wednesday that they would file bills to fix the law during a special session of the Legislature set to open Tuesday. The registration applications are in suspense until the applicants provide proof of citizenship to election officials. A new law took effect Jan. 1 requiring all first-time applicants to vote to provide proof of citizenship. The Lawrence Journal-World reports…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A pickup truck pulling a hauler with three vehicles tipped on a highway overpass in Topeka, sending two of the unoccupied vehicles plummeting off the bridge. No injuries were reported in the accident Wednesday on the highway loop that connects southbound U.S. 75 with Interstate 70. Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Harold Tillman told The Topeka Capital Journal troopers are investigating the cause of the accident, which occurred when the driver lost control and hit the bridge railing. The rig slid along the barrier for about 60 feet before coming to rest, with the hauler tipped over onto…
DOUGLASS, Kan. (AP) An arcade in the small town of Douglass is temporarily closed after two thieves stole thousands of dollars of equipment. Security cameras caught images of the two men during the Aug. 20 theft at Kansas Arcadium in Douglass. One suspect is in jail while investigators search for the other. The Arcadium has been closed since the break-in and owner Ben Kersting says he’s not sure if or when he’ll be able to reopen. KAKE-TVE reports Kersting opened the arcade, which features Playstations and Xbox systems, three years ago. He runs it while he isn’t working as a…
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) Garden City police say a 77-year-old man died after he was hit by a car while walking across a city street. The fatality was identified as Tiofilo Gallardo. Police say he was crossing a street Tuesday when he was hit by a pickup truck driven by 52-year-old Gary Orosco of Garden City. Garden City police Capt. Michael Reagle said Gallardo was not walking in the crosswalk when he was struck. The Garden City Telegram reports the investigation is continuing.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Despite objections from landowners and the city of Eudora, Douglas County commissioners have approved a sand pit mining operation. The commission voted Wednesday to allow Penny’s Concrete Inc. to move one of its current dredging operations onto the south bank of the Kansas River on land northwest of Eudora. State and federal authorities still need to approve the operation. Earlier this week, the Eudora City Commission urged the county commission to reject the permit. Eudora officials are concerned the mine and the lake it will create could contaminate the city’s water supply. The Lawrence Journal World reports…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A nonprofit Texas group is asking Wichita officials to adopt a program that would let citizens issue citations when they see drivers illegally using disabled parking spots. KWCH-TV reports Austin, Texas-based Parking Mobility would get a cut of each paid parking ticket if Wichita adopts the program. The program allows people to download an app to their smartphones and take pictures of violating vehicles before submitting them to the organization. Parking Mobility spokesman Mack Marsh says there are some hurdles to overcome with Wichita, but he’s confident discussions will lead to a partnership between his organization and…