TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Lawrence artist is upset that a print critical of Gov. Sam Brownback has been taken down at a Topeka cafe. The stencil print by Dave Lowenstein shows Brownback with tears in his eyes, with flames behind him. The governor is saying “Kansans pleeease … stop me.” The owner of the building that houses the Blue Planet Cafe, Greg Ready, says he removed the print out of respect for Brownback’s daughter, who works at a photo business above the cafe. Ready says his decision was not a political statement. He also says the Liz Brownback did not…
Author: KMAN Staff
HAYS, Kan. (AP) A second patient at Hays Medical Center is suing after contracting a strain of hepatitis C linked to a traveling hospital technician. Tom Walters of rural Catharine filed a lawsuit Monday against a Pennsylvania hospital and two medical staffing agencies. The lawsuit contends the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was negligent for not reporting that technician David Kwiatkowski allegedly stole and used narcotics in 2008. Walters contracted hepatitis C while being treated at Hays Medical Center in 2010, when Kwiatkowski was working there. Kwiatkowski has denied allegations that he injected himself and used contaminated syringes on patients…
GIRARD, Kan. (AP) A Missouri man was sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison for killing a Kansas man during a botched robbery attempt. Rickey R. Smith, 23, was sentenced Wednesday to 26 years and 10 months in prison for second-degree murder in the shooting death of Ryan Bailey, 21, in October 2011. Smith was one of four Joplin men charged in Bailey’s death. In a plea deal in January, Smith admitted that he shot Bailey during an attempted robbery at Bailey’s home in Pittsburg. Oscar C. DeLeon Jr. and Randu Rivera, both 19, pleaded guilty in April to second-degree…
DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) A southwestern Kansas shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence has reopened after months of repairs. The Crisis Center of Dodge City was forced to close its shelter when the summer heat wave caused the air conditioning unit to malfunction. The staff took the opportunity to also do repairs and deep cleaning. The safe house reopened Monday. The Dodge City shelter is the only safe house of its kind in the area. Other crisis programs in Great Bend, Liberal and Garden City stepped in to provide services while the Dodge City facility was closed. The…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Topeka activist says he’ll start circulating petitions later this month for an election to recall Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Sonny Scroggins has been holding small protests against Kobach for several weeks. Scroggins contends Kobach should be ousted over several issues. The concerns include Kobach’s work on immigration issues that regularly takes him out of state and his advocacy of a new state law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Fellow activist Frank Smith says Kobach is trying to suppress voter turnout. Kobach argues the photo ID law will prevent election fraud…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The University of Kansas is receiving a $20 million gift to help finance a new building for its School of Business. The Lawrence Journal-World reported Thursday that the gift is from the Capitol Federal Foundation, affiliated with the Topeka-based Capitol Federal Savings Bank. The gift represents about one-third of the estimated $60 million cost of constructing a new building for the business school. School of Business Dean Neeli Bendapudi said the school hopes to build a six-story, 165,000 square foot building near Allen Fieldhouse. Construction could begin by early 2014. The business school is now in Summerfield…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says 18-year-old voters who attend public high schools can show their school identification at the polls to satisfy the state’s new photo ID requirement. But students from private high schools are out of luck. Kobach says his office has received many questions about whether various types of photo IDs are acceptable since the law he championed took effect in January. On Wednesday, Kobach said it would be most fair to treat photo IDs from public and private high schools the same. But he noted the new law specifically requires IDs issued…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) A chemical odor that caused headaches in a north Salina neighborhood has been traced to a 55-gallon drum inside a shed. But the substance inside the drum remained a mystery Wednesday. The Salina Journal reports firefighters went to the area Tuesday evening but were unable to pinpoint the odor. Several residents were evacuated as a precaution, and Kansas Gas Service crews worked through the night but also couldn’t find the source. Residents complained of the odor and headaches again Wednesday. The Fire Department’s hazardous materials team went house-to-house and came across the drum. But authorities were unable…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A 59-year-old Wichita man has pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in the city earlier this year. Federal prosecutors in Wichita say Donald R. Young pleading guilty Tuesday to robbing a Wells Fargo Bank on Feb. 10. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department arrested Young shortly after the robbery. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when he’s sentenced Dec. 17.
Riley County Police were called to the Regency Inn located at 419 Holiday Dr for a report regarding alleged prostitution. Upon arrival, a search warrant was issued for two rooms, and three arrests were made. Arrested were: Cassandra Geotcha, 23, of Wichita. She was charged with prostitution, promoting prostitution, conspiracy, and marijuana possession. Her bond was set at $2,500 and she is still confined. Also taken into custody was Tara Esguerra. 22, of Hutchinson. She was charged with prostitution, conspiracy, and marijuana possession. Bond was set at $1,500 and she is still confined. George Brown. 25. of Wichita was charged with promoting…