EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) Lyon County authorities are investigating to determine the source of a substance that leaked into the Cottonwood River over the weekend. Authorities at first believed the substance discovered in the river Sunday afternoon was some type of oil but later determined it was a naturally-occurring substance that was not hazardous or toxic. Lyon County officials say the river water quality was not damaged. Hazardous waste teams from Emporia and Topeka, as well as several county, state and federal agencies, responded to the spill or were involved in testing the material. KVOE reports the exact material involved has…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Topeka police say a 50-year-old deaf man died after he was struck and killed by a train. Topeka police Lt. Mike Cross says the man’s death Sunday evening in north Topeka is being investigated as an accident. The man had stayed at the Topeka Rescue Mission in the past and apparently was headed there when he was hit. Two other men who were with the man crawled under a train that was parked on the tracks. They made it across but the victim didn’t likely because he couldn’t hear the oncoming train. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A federal judge is considering the schedule for a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood challenging parts of a new Kansas abortion law. Chief Judge Kathryn Vratil had said she’d consider during a Monday afternoon telephone conference call with attorneys whether to set a hearing in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. She’s said she will set deadlines for lawyers for the state and Planned Parenthood to file legal briefs. Planned Parenthood performs abortions at its clinic in Overland Park. The new law took effect July 1. The lawsuit challenges a requirement that providers have a link on…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A state board has awarded a total of $274,000 to 126 Kansas crime victims who filed claims with the state attorney general’s office. The funds were distributed during the monthly meeting of the Kansas Crime Victim’s Compensation Board. The program helps victims of violent crime pay for unexpected expenses, such as medical treatment, mental health services, lost wages and funeral costs. Awards are funded from money recovered from convicted offenders, such as court fees, inmate wages, parole fees and restitution. The board meets periodically to review claims and can award up to $25,000 to each victim. July’s…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas State’s Willie the Wildcat and the Kansas City Royals’ Slugger are among the team mascots spending the week training to pump up crowds. Mascot Boot Camp runs Monday through Wednesday at Washburn University in Topeka. Other mascots participating include Washburn’s Ichabod and “Mac” of the Central Hockey League’s Missouri Mavericks. The camp’s leader is David Raymond, who spent more than 16 years as the Phillie Phanatic, the mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s now the owner of Raymond Entertainment Group and the self-styled “emperor of fun and games.” Boot camp participants will learn about costume management…
RUSSELL, Kan. (AP) A southwest Kansas man is killed when his small airplane crashes into a field north of Wilson Lake in Russell County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the pilot, 65-year-old Rufus Woods III of Cimarron, was alone when the single-engine plane went down around 12:20 p.m. Sunday in central Kansas. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to be at the scene Monday. The Highway Patrol and Federal Aviation Administration also are investigating the crash.
ABILENE, Kan. (AP) Bells are ringing again over the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum thanks to the donation of an electronic system by veterans. The American Veterans Memorial Carillon program donated a new system to the Abilene museum and library complex that honors the nation’s 34th president. The previous carillon system was damaged by a spring storm. The electronic bells are located at the Place of Meditation where Dwight D. Eisenhower, his wife and youngest son are buried. The bells toll every 15 minutes during the day and play patriotic music at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m.…
The Pottawatomie County Commission tackled their budget again at Monday’s meeting. After initial reviews and talking with departments, the commission took another look at what could be the finalized version of the budget. Walking through the presentation, Robert Reece, County Administrator, pointed out places where change from last year could be seen. For the building and grounds fund it increased from 372,450 last year to what could be 548,700 this year. Another department that saw an increase was the Register of Deeds and after last weeks meeting where there was clarification made this would help to hire another full time…
For 15 years he served as Sheriff of Geary County–Bill Deppish passed away over the weekend at the Valley View retirement community. Current Sheriff Tony Wolf has fond memories of the late law enforcement official. When Tony Wolf first got hired by the sheriff’s department in 1996, he clearly remembers walking into the office for his interview, and walking past the office of then Sheriff Deppish sitting in his chair. In fact he remembers wanting to occupy that chair. Wolf says that’s one of his most colorful memories of Sheriff Deppish, and one he’s kept in his mind all17 years he’s…
Two members of the public have attended a previous Riley County commission meeting to share their views, but returned during Monday’s meeting, to make additional comments during the public comment portion of time. Members of the public continue to raise concerns regarding the idea of a public building commission. Ralph Wahl made a comment about how the commission needs to get the word out and send notes to local townships about the concept, because nobody knows about it. Commissioner, Robert Boyd addressed this questions by stating the commission is not trying to be sneaky. Boyd added, the commission wants public…