TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) About a dozen Kansas lakes currently have harmful blue-green algae blooms. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says warnings are in place about algae blooms at Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County West Park Lake, Logan City Lake, Great Bend’s Memorial/Veterans Lake, Johnson County’s South Lake Park and McPherson County State Fishing Lake. The state lifted warnings and advisories for Milford Reservoir, Lake Scott State Park and Marion Reservoir. The warnings mean the lakes contain high levels of the algae and contact with the water is prohibited. Advisories mean direct contact with the water is discouraged.…
Author: KMAN Staff
SCOTT CITY, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Highway Patrol says the pilot of a crop duster was injured when his plane crashed in a field in the southwestern part of the state. The crash happened Friday morning in rural Finney County, about 15 miles south of Scott City. The patrol identified the pilot as 64-year-old John Crist, of Garden City. KAKE-TV reports Crist had taken off from an airstrip and flown about a mile when the single-engine plane lost power and crashed. The station says Crist was taken to a hospital with several broken bones.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A former official with the state’s Juvenile Justice Authority who was fired in March is receiving a state pension, even though he didn’t work for the state for the required 10 years. Dennis Casarona, former deputy commissioner of the authority, was fired in March over allegations of mismanagement and abuse at the authority’s facility in Topeka. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Casarona used an obscure interpretation of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to become eligible for a pension, even though he had not worked for the state for 10 years. An attorney for the Kansas Department of…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita police say they’ve found evidence of a significant identity theft operation. Police Lt. Clark Wiemeyer says a Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy found a half-dozen fake IDs and numerous stolen checkbooks when after he stopped a car Wednesday. The 35-year-old driver was arrested on an outstanding warrant. The deputy contacted Wichita police after discovering fake IDs. Wiemeyer says thieves are stealing checkbooks or other forms of identification, then making fake IDs to use with the stolen checks. Investigators found paper for making fraudulent checks at the homes of the driver and a second person. Wiemeyer says the…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A Lawrence woman charged with manslaughter after her 5-year-old son died when he allegedly swallowed opiates has had her bond reduced. A Douglas County judge on Thursday lowered 25-year-old Rebecca Lynne Wynne’s bond from $25,000 to $15,000. Wynne was ordered to live with her father if she is able to get out of jail. Prosecutors last week charged Wynne with reckless involuntary manslaughter for the death of her son, Joseph Michael Beanblossom. She also faces two counts of aggravated child endangerment involving her two other children, ages 6 and 4. Prosecutors allege Wynne of stashing illegal controlled…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) About 40 Kansas cities have either required citizens to conserve water, or are considering doing so. The conservation effort comes as a drought continues to bake the state, prompting Gov. Sam Brownback to place all of the state’s 105 counties in the emergency drought stage. Ellsworth is one of the cities that has banned outdoor watering, starting this week. Ellsworth water superintendent Adam Larsen says the town of 300 residents has used 15 million more gallons of water this year than at this time last year. Larsen says the city will consider buying water from Post Rock…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials are asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit over special health and safety regulations for abortion providers before the case goes to trial. Attorneys for the state and the two doctors who filed suit were scheduled to be in Shawnee County District Court on Friday for a hearing. The lawsuit was filed last year by father-daughter physicians Herbert Hodes and Traci Nauser. They filed suit after the Kansas Department of Health and Environment imposed the regulations in line with a new state licensing law. The regulations have not been enforced because of the lawsuit. The…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A graveside service at a Topeka cemetery will open three days of events honoring the service of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. The unit of black soldiers was organized in 1862 and saw its first action that year in Missouri. The battle occurred nine months before the first battle in South Carolina involving the 54th Massachusetts unit, subject of the 1989 film “Glory.” Friday’s ceremony will be held at Topeka’s Mount Auburn Cemetery. Civil War re-enactors and members of the Kansas Army National Guard will take part. A living history program will…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) His portrait hangs in the courthouse where he went to cast an advance ballot, but a former Kansas judge says that wasn’t enough to satisfy the state’s new voter photo identification law. The Hutchinson News reports that retired Reno County District Judge Richard Rome was denied a primary election ballot last week because he didn’t have photo identification with him. The 77-year-old former judge says he was stunned especially because the three people at the polling table knew him. Rome says he recently renewed his driver’s license and hadn’t received a new, permanent license with a photo.…
Two Fort Riley Soldiers have died serving their country as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Paktika Province, Afghanistan. U.S. Army Private First Class Jesus J. Lopez, 22, of San Bernardino, California and U.S. Army First Lieutenant Todd W. Lambka, 25, of Fraser, Michigan have died due to injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their military vehicle. Lopez and Lambka were assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley. Senator Jerry Moran made a statement for both men who passed on August 1st, thanking them for their service and sacrifice on…