WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A 33-year-old former Wichita police officer and University of Kansas football player has pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation involving a 15-month-old girl. KAKE-TV reports Gregory Nicks entered his pleas Monday in exchange for the state dropping two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The former Lawrence teacher was arrested in his Maize home in November 2011 after his wife called 911 to report the abuse. Co-defendant Luz Coronado was found guilty in August of one count of aggravated indecent liberties and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. She and Nicks…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Bills before the state House and Senate would allow charter schools greater freedom and more funding opportunities in Kansas, where the schools have struggled to take hold. Kansas currently has 15 charter schools, which are publicly funded but generally operate independently of school districts. Kansas had 37 charter schools three years ago but many closed for financial reasons. Bills in the House and Senate would allow charter schools to have lottery admissions and bar them from discriminating, although they would be able to turn away special education students. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the bills would exempt charter…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Visitors to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson will soon have a chance to watch how the museum restores space artifacts and replicates space equipment. The Cosmosphere is building a glassed-in, air-conditioned viewing area to allow visitors to watch the museum’s SpaceWorks division. In the past, Spaceworks employees have restored a Titan rocket, a World War II era German rocket and built replicas of space equipment for movies and other museums. But that work was done in private. The Hutchinson News reports the viewing area will cost about $50,000 and is expected to be completed…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Shawnee County prosecutor wants to try a mother and son together for the shooting death of the son’s estranged wife in Topeka. Defense attorneys for Manuel Alcala, 32, of Topeka oppose the effort to try him along with his mother,Manuela Alcala, 58, of El Paso, Texas. The two are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Ashley Alcala, who was shot at her Topeka home in October 2012. Prosecutors argue that the two should be tried together because they face the same charges, which are based on the same acts,…
A new principal has been selected among the six candidates who were interviewed over the past few weeks, after current principal Terry McCarty, who announced intentions to step down recently. Current Eisenhower Middle School Principal Greg Hoyt has been awarded the position and will become principal as of July 1. Hoyt stated in a news release, “I am deeply humbled and honored for this opportunity and look forward to working with the staff, parents and community members that comprise Manhattan High School”.
WELLINGTON, Kan. (AP) A south-central Kansas town on the old Chisholm Trail will celebrate its cowboy heritage with a two-day spring festival. The Wellington Daily News reports the inaugural Chisholm Trail Wild West Days will take place in the Sumner County town April 26 and 27. Shelley Hansel-Williams, executive director of the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce, says Wellington resident Ed Levalley came up with the idea. He’s hoping the event will draw people from throughout Kansas. Events on April 26 will include a celebrity fast-draw contest and a cowboy poetry contest. Several musical performances, 19th century children’s games and…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Supreme Court is taking up an appeal by a former Wichita day care provider convicted in the death of a 13-month-old girl. Jessica Cummings was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 32 months in prison for the March 2008 death of Kailee Hundley. The high court was scheduled to arguments in Cummings’ appeal Monday. Cummings provided day care in her home. Authorities said she partially strapped Kailee into a car seat and left the baby alone in a laundry room for more than two hours. Kailee strangled on a strap after sliding down in…
Discussion continued during Monday’s Riley County Commission meeting regarding County Health Department Director, Susie Kufahl’s resignation. During recent meetings, the commission asked Kufahl and Human Resource Manager, Cindy Volanti, to further research different options of how to move forward. The commission asked Kufahl to discuss, with her staff, the possiblity of hiring one of them as a temporary interim until the permanent position is filled. Kufahl reported, “each and every one of them are willing to work as a team during that time, but not one of them felt they would be okay with taking on the interim position”. Volanti was asked…
With the Big 12 title hanging in the balance, the K-State men’s basketball is back in the top 10 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches’ poll. The Cats jump up four spots in the AP poll this week to #9, while they rise three positions to #10 in the coaches’. K-State is on a five-game winning streak including a 75-55 win against Texas Tech last Monday, and a 64-61 triumph at Baylor when Rodney McGruder hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. In the Big 12, Kansas is #3 in the coaches and #4 in the AP poll,…
For the first time in the 45-year history of the K-State women’s basketball program, a player has scored more than 30 points in back-to-back games. Senior guard Brittany Chambers averaged 33.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last week while shooting 59 percent (26/44) from the floor. Chambers set her career high with 36 points on 14-of-25 shooting, including six-of-ten from three-point range in a 66-57 loss at West Virginia last Tuesday. She also snagged eight rebounds and dished out three assists against the Mountaineers. On Senior Day at Bramlage Coliseum for a follow-up effort, Chambers scored 31 points as…