WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A 7-year-old girl is making bracelets to help her family cover the costs of adopting two children from Bulgarian orphanages. The Wichita Eagle reports that Olivia Heaston has raised more than $2,000 selling the beaded adornments since she came up with the idea in May. The cost of the adoptions is $30,000. Olivia has tried out other fundraising strategies, including a lemonade stand and garage sale. But with the bracelets fetching $5 each, they’ve been the most profitable. One of the children her family is trying to adopt is a 6-year-old boy with a genetic disease that…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Incoming Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick has reversed a decision to merge the chamber’s Elections and Local Government committees. The Stilwell Republican announced earlier this month that the two committees would be combined, with Olathe Republican Scott Schwab as chairman. Merrick says he now believes there will be enough work for both panels in the 2013 session, which begins Jan. 14. Schwab retains his chairmanship of the Elections Committee. Republican Steve Huebert, of Valley Center, will continue to chair the Local Government Committee.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A jury trial in the federal lawsuit alleging abuse at a Kansas military boarding school has been put off to 2014. Former cadets at St. John’s Military School in Salina filed suit in March of this year, alleging higher-ranking students were encouraged to discipline younger ones. The plaintiffs contend the practice led to physical and mental abuse. St. John’s has denied the allegations. The trial was initially set for October 2013, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Gale last week rescheduled it to March 2014. Defense lawyers requested the extra time to prepare after more former cadets joined…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) New members of the Kansas Senate will have a majority on the chamber’s Ways and Means Committee and a key role in drafting budget legislation. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce of Hutchinson says new members expressed strong interest in budget issues. Republican leaders appointed three GOP senators-elect new to the Legislature to the 11-member committee: Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth, Jeff Melcher of Leawood and Michael O’Donnell of Wichita. Four House members who won Senate seats this year will also serve on Ways and Means: Tom Arpke of Salina, Jim Denning of Overland Park, Dan Kerschen of…
Update: The names of those injured in a one vehicle accident Wednesday night have been released. As reported on KMAN Wednesday night, a 2007 Dodge Dakota swerved off of the road near the 6900 block of Anderson Ave. Wednesday night, hitting a light pole, and causing two people to be transported to the hospital. Reporters learned Thursday morning that the passengers have been identified as Hallie Oltsmanns (olts-mans) of Keats, and fifteen month old Keaton Spencer. Oltsmanns had swerved to avoid hitting a deer, but lost control and left the road, hitting the light pole. She was transported to Mercy…
The first candidate for Manhattan/Ogden’s School Board has officially filed. Mitch Beims of Manhattan filed Wednesday with the Riley County Clerk’s office for the USD 383 position. Beims points to his background in education and business as strengths. He says he has been a teacher in western Kansas and Texas and even has administrative experience in education. And he has praise for the Manhattan/Ogden School District. Beims says he feels the USD 383 School District needs to continue on the path it’s on, describing it as one of the very well-respected districts in the state. Beims currently serves as a commodities trader…
One arrest of note was reported this past long weekend, with one woman facing aggravated arson charges. Riley County police received a call from a 20 year old female around noon on the 24th. The female reported she and her sister were involved in a domestic dispute. A number of personal items were lit on fire by the sister, mainly clothing, summing up to a loss of $360. Brandi Banks (18) of Manhattan was taken into custody Monday afternoon at 2:30 at her home in the 1500 block of Oxford Place. Charges include aggravated arson and criminal damage to property. Banks’ bond was…
A massive explosion ripped through a warehouse full of fireworks in Nigeria’s largest city on sparking a fire that threatened surrounding city blocks and sending a plume of thick smoke high into the sky.
A heavy snowstorm that blanketed Texas and Oklahoma is moving northeast on Wednesday. Gulf Coast states are recovering from heavy winds and twisters.
HOUSTON (AP) A Texas Tech official says three Red Raiders won’t be playing against Minnesota in Friday’s Meineke Car Care Bowl because they violated team rules. He says Red Raiders starting defensive back Cornelius Douglas, Chris Payne, a linebacker who played mostly on Texas Tech’s special teams, and backup defensive tackle Leon Mackey won’t play in the bowl game. The 7-5 Red Raiders take on the 6-6 Gophers about three weeks after Tommy Tuberville unexpectedly left to take the head coaching position at Cincinnati. Interim head coach Chris Thomsen, who handled the offensive line under Tuberville, will coach the bowl…