On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks with State Representative Tom Phillips of Manhattan, followed by representatives from the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation with CEO Vern Henricks, Jody Kaus, Elaine Dhuyvetter, concluding with Melanie Appel with Big Poppi’s. [mp3-jplayer]
Author: KMAN Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Two former CIA employees whose suburban Kansas City home was unsuccessfully searched for marijuana claim they were illegally targeted, possibly because they had purchased indoor growing supplies to raise vegetables. Adelyn and Robert Harte sued Thursday to obtain records and are considering a federal civil rights lawsuit. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office searched the Harte’s Leawood, Kan., home April 20. That’s the day marijuana users have long designated to celebrate the drug. It’s also a popular day for drug raids. Attorney Cheryl Pilate says no drugs were found and she wants to know why the home…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Hutchinson officials say the city faces a public safety problem posed by hundreds of dilapidated houses, some of which are still occupied by elderly residents. Fire Chief Kim Forbes told the Hutchinson Housing Commission that firefighters responding to medical calls have found five to 10 people living in houses without electricity, gas or water service. Forbes says the dilapidated housing is also a firefighting hazard because firefighters entering the decaying homes often can weigh as much as 300 pounds with all their gear. He says that weight puts firefighters at risk of stepping through a rotted porch…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) New unemployment figures show the Kansas jobless rate held steady last month at 5.5 percent, the same as in January but lower than in February 2012. The Kansas Department of Labor released the new statistics for February late Thursday. The agency says Kansas added 2,000 private sector jobs in February, continuing a string of four months of growth. Since October the state has added more than 12,000 private sector jobs. Seven of 10 private sector industries showed growth, led by professional and business services. One positive sign noted by the agency was that building permit data was…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) Salina Area Technical College has a deal for high school juniors and seniors who want to pursue technical careers. The college has allowed high school students to attend without paying tuition for years, but the students had to pay for books, uniforms and tools. The college now says it plans to waive those costs generally around $1,000 beginning this fall. Salina Tech president Greg Goode says the change will cost the school about $30,000 to $40,000 a year. But he expects the effort to help more people find good jobs and help Salina businesses find well-trained employees.…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita police say shots were fired and fights broke out while about 1,300 people were leaving a concert at a Wichita club. KSN reports the large crowd was leaving Club Rodeo early Friday when the fight started, with beer bottles and chairs thrown around. After the crowd refused orders to disperse, authorities released a smoke bomb and the fight broke up. Several people were hurt, with two taken to the hospital with serious injuries. While most of the crowd was in the parking lot, several shots were fired. It wasn’t clear if the shots were fired at…
ABILENE, Kan. (AP) Students from across Kansas will be showing off their knowledge of geography next week. The Kansas Geographic Bee will be held next Friday at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene. The 102 competitors were selected after local contests at more than 200 schools in November. The contestants also had to pass a national qualifying exam. Students in grade 4 through 8 are eligible to participate. Winners will advance to the national competition May 20 – 23 in Washington, D.C. The top three national finalists will win scholarships of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000. This is the 25th Anniversary…
AUGUSTA, Kan. (AP) A south central Kansas town is on edge after someone broke into a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper’s home and stole his Taser and weapon. Augusta police Sgt. Michael Stueven says the break-in occurred sometime last weekend. He released few other details but he says cases are always a top priority when weapons are stolen. KAKE-TV reports Augusta, about 10 miles east of Wichita, averages only two home burglaries a month. Patrols around the trooper’s home have been increased after neighbors expressed concern the weapons might be used in other crimes.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A federal judge will let Kansas correct the birth certificates of two children of an illegal immigrant living in Topeka who stole the identity of a Texas teacher. Benita Cardona-Gonzalez was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison for assuming the identity of Candida Gutierrez, a schoolteacher in Houston. As part of the crime, Cardona-Gonzalez even filled in the other woman’s name as the mother on the birth certificates of her two U.S.-born children. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren granted a request by the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics to change the certificates to…
Traffic was slow going between Wamego and Westmoreland Friday morning as all lanes of K-99 over Brush Creek Bridge were closed. But as of about 1 pm, word was released the bridge was back open. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, a wide load semi was stuck on the bridge, causing the closure. The bridge is currently undergoing a replacement project, which has created the one lane of traffic being directed by traffic signals at either end or the bridge.