The Manhattan City Commission decided to deny the rezoning ordinance of land located at 1845 College Heights road which would have allowed a high density living complex to be built near the university. Residents came out to voice their opinions on both sides of the conflict, but the commission followed the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board’s recommendation to deny the project. The planning board voted unanimously to deny the ordinance due to the project failing to follow the city’s comprehensive plan, and strains on city infrastructures such as traffic and drainage systems. Commissioner Wynn Butler says another factor to consider is the…
Author: KMAN Staff
Rodney McGruder broke out of his shooting slump by scoring 26 points and K-State fought off a pesky effort from Texas Southern 78-69 on Tuesday night at Bramlage Coliseum. McGruder shot 12 of 17 from the field and made two of four free throws. He added three assists and two rebounds. Sophomore forward Thomas Gipson also contributed a double-double with 14 points on five of seven field goals, and he added 12 rebounds. The Tigers were led in scoring by Oklahoma State transfer Ray Penn with 24 points, and six three point shots made. K-State (8-2) trailed the majority of…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita-area boy is in trouble for a statement posted on his Twitter account about school killings, even though police doubt the threat was credible. The 15-year-old lives in west Wichita and goes to school in the nearby town of Maize. The Wichita Eagle reports officials in Maize contacted Wichita police Monday after the boy allegedly tweeted a threat to kill 20 students, his mother and himself. He was interviewed at his home and arrested on a juvenile misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Police Lt. Doug Nolte says the boy told officers he wasn’t serious about the…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The chairman of a Gov. Sam Brownback’s task force on school efficiency says Kansas legislators should consider establishing two-year budgets for school districts. State Board of Education member Ken Willard told a legislative committee Tuesday the idea is one of several recommendations being considered by the task force, which met throughout the fall. A final report is due to Brownback before the Legislature convenes in January. Brownback created the School Efficiency Task Force to study how schools could put more of their state funding directly into classrooms. Willard says multiple-year budgets would let districts use their money…
SYRACUSE, Kan. (AP) Former pop star Frankie Valens has a new gig as a preacher in western Kansas. Valens and his wife, Phyllis, moved to Syracuse about a month ago, where he is pastor of the First Christian Church. The 70-year-old Valens tells The Garden City Telegram he’s never preached from a pulpit. But he says he’s been testifying about his faith for years, so he is prepared for his new challenge. Valens’ father pastored the same church in 1978 and 1979. Valens was known in the 1960s and ’70s for his cover renditions of such hits as “Smoke Gets…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A prosecutor is not contesting a motion for a new trial for a Topeka homicide suspect after the first trial was tainted by juror misconduct. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports a Shawnee County judge said Monday she will issue a written order for a new trial for Anceo Stovall. Stovall is one of nine people charged in the July 2011 death of Natalie Gibson and the wounding of her life partner. His first trial in July ended with Stovall convicted of one count and acquitted on another. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on nine other…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence residents will be asked to approve a $92.5 million bond issue for the city’s public schools. The Lawrence Board of Education voted Monday to put the bond issue to a vote. It is the maximum amount the district could issue without needing permission to exceed a state cap on bonded indebtedness. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the district would not have to raise its property tax mill levy because it is retiring other bonds this year. If approved, nearly $71 million of the bond proceeds would be used for 14 elementary schools. The city’s two high schools…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Shawnee County commission agreed to pay $150,000 to the survivors of an inmate who died while in the county prison. The commission voted Monday night to pay the settlement to the family of 34-year-old John Bradley Rippee, who died in November 2009 at the jail. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the family alleged in its lawsuit that Rippee was given several of his medications without proper clearance before he overdosed on the medicine. The family also alleged the jail did not provide proper medical attention that would have saved Rippee’s life. County counselor Rich Eckert says Rippe…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A University of Kansas fraternity has been suspended indefinitely by its national organization amid reports that members abused and killed a turkey at a party. The suspension Tuesday came as Lawrence police investigate a report of possible animal cruelty during a party at Beta Theta Phi that drew about 150 people last week. A spokesman for the national organization told The Lawrence Journal-World its leaders were “a little shocked” by accounts of the turkey’s treatment. The turkey had been rented for the party. Witnesses said some fraternity members broke the bird’s cage, chased and choked it and…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A federal judge has found that a proposed class-action settlement in a lawsuit by employees of a Kansas meat packer is fair. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren held a fairness hearing Monday on the motion for approval of the settlement with Creekstone Farms of Arkansas City. A court notation indicated final orders would be issued Tuesday. The lawsuit alleged that Creekstone failed to pay employees for all of the time they worked. The proposed $195,000 settlement calls for $110,000 to be divided among the 144 class members, based on the overtime weeks each of them worked during…