TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The two lawyers who represented a capital murder defendant during his appeal will defend the Topeka man when his case is retried. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Supreme Court on Friday issued a ruling that overturned Phillip D. Cheatham’s 2005 murder convictions. He was found guilty of capital murder in the 2003 shooting deaths of two women and was sentenced to death in October 2005. The high court cited ineffective assistance of counsel by Cheatham’s defense attorney as the reason for overturning the convictions. The Board of Indigent Defendant Services says it will fund Cheatham’s…
Author: KMAN Staff
SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) Johnson County’s district attorney says the Shawnee City Council violated the spirit of the state open meetings law when the council made “deals” to elect the mayor’s uncle to a council seat. District Attorney Stephen Howe said Wednesday that it’s difficult to determine if the council broke the letter of the law, but it’s clear they broke the spirit of the law. He’s recommending that the council receive training on the state’s open meeting laws. The problem began last May, when several people applied to fill a vacated council seat. But Howe says evidence shows that Mayor…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas Senate committee has endorsed anti-racketeering legislation aimed at increasing sentences for convicted gang leaders. The Judiciary Committee’s action Thursday sends the measure to the full Senate for debate. The Wichita Eagle reports the bill would create the Kansas Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, better known as RICO. The statute would resemble the federal RICO law, which was enacted to combat the Mafia and allows prosecutors to charge gang members for engaging in a string of criminal activity, rather than for individual crimes. A similar bill died in the House two years in a row…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A coalition of community groups in Wichita is holding a homeless count and hosting an event offering services for the city’s homeless families. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Century II expo hall in Wichita. Volunteers will interview homeless individuals to count them and gather information. Services will include haircuts, flu shots and dental screenings; distribution of information about housing and benefits; and a giveaway of socks, hats and gloves. United Way of the Plains is coordinating the count. It’s designed to measure the size and scope of Wichita’s homeless problem…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas House is set to take a final vote on a bill restricting political fundraising by public unions. The House gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday on a 66-54 unrecorded vote. Approval on a second vote, expected Thursday, would send it to the Senate. The bill would bar groups that represent teachers and government workers from automatically deducting money from members’ paychecks to finance political activities. Similar legislation cleared the House in 2012 but died in the Senate. Its chances of success are considered higher this year, with Republicans now holding large majorities in both chambers.
An explosion at the main headquarters of Mexico’s state-owned oil company in the capital Thursday heavily damaged three floors of the building, sending hundreds into the streets and a large plume of smoke over the skyline.
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel began confirmation hearings for his nomination to be Secretary of Defense. He sparred with Sen. John McCain over whether the surge during the Iraq war was worthwhile.
Riley County Police were at the scene of the Countryside Estates for at least a couple of hours late Thursday morning and early afternoon. Details are not being released as to why police were there, although sources indicate information should be available a bit later. The Riley County Police report released early Friday morning indicates some drug-related arrests in that area, but KMAN has not yet been able to confirm the cases are connected.
An unattended death was reported to Riley County Police Tuesday. The death is believed to have happened sometime between 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. Police cannot release the name of the male who died because not all of the family have yet been notified. The man was found at his residence in the central part of Manhattan, east of City Park. This is believed to be a result of medical reasons and no autopsy was requested. KMAN will bring you more details as they become available. —— When a man answered his phone, he thought he was helping…
During Monday’s Riley County Commission meeting, IT/GIS Director Robert Nall made the request to have the county’s aerial photography updated. During this time of year, the trees are bare and the visibility is much clearer. The commission requested that Nall look into collaborating with other surrounding counties. Nall returned to Thursday’s commission meeting and shared the results of his research. Pottawatomie county, Geary county, Fort Riley, and the city of Manhattan were some of the places Nall checked with, many of which never responded or were only interested in portions of the photography project. Although collaboration can be a good…