TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Portions of two major highways in northwestern Kansas have been closed because of hazardous winter weather conditions. A powerful storm moving out of the Rockies on Wednesday created near blizzard conditions in portions of the state. Transportation officials closed sections of Interstate 70 and U.S. 36. The Colby and Oakley school districts canceled Wednesday classes ahead of the storm. In Goodland, the National Weather Service predicted just 1 to 3 inches of snow from Interstate 70 south with slightly higher amounts near the Nebraska border. But forecasters warned that winds gusting to 50 mph from midday through…
Author: KMAN Staff
LENEXA, Kan. (AP) The Environmental Protection Agency says a southwest Missouri business that disposes of explosives waste has agreed to pay $580,135 to settle alleged violations. The EBV Explosives Environmental Company informed the agency last year that emission rates of the hazardous pollutant hydrogen chloride were above permitted levels at its Joplin-area facility. The company does business as General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems – Munitions Services. The EPA said Wednesday that alleged violations at the facility included exceeding emission limits for several types of toxins and operating a type of incinerator called a thermal treatment unit without a valid…
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) Garden City commissioners say they are hopeful that a private developer’s plans for a theater will help revitalize the city’s downtown. Holcomb resident Mark A. Pamplin says he wants to turn the nearly 84-year-old State Theater into a state-of-the-art, 400-seat theater-in-the-round with year-round performances. He told the commission Tuesday the $3 million renovation project would be funded entirely by private investments. Commissioners said that made Pamplin’s proposal preferable to one from The Garden City Recreation Commission, which would use the center for community theater and other local productions. Under that plan, the city would still own…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) The death of a 69-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man is reverberating through the international dog show community. Police found the body of Peter Belmont Jr. Sunday at his home but have not said how he was killed. The Kansas City Star reports Belmont was known on the dog show circuit for his breeding of Afghan hounds under the kennel name Elmo. Patricia Egan, president of the Afghan Hound Club of New South Wales in Australia, told The Star Tuesday that Belmont was “a legend” in the Afghan hound world. She says his loss will be mourned…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Two men who pulled a motorist from a burning pickup truck in Wichita are among 18 people being honored for their heroic acts. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced Wednesday that 43-year-old Thomas Joseph Delgado of Valley Center and 36-year-old Joseph C. Page of Wichita will receive medals for valor. The pulled the motorist from the truck after an accident on Aug. 31, 2011. The 18 people on the list all risked their lives to rescue someone in distress. Four died during their attempts.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A 24-year-old woman faces six years in prison after pleading guilty to charges from a June standoff with Hutchinson police. Kayla Salyer Rodriguez will be sentenced Feb. 1 after pleading guilty Monday to aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault. As part of her plea, Rodriguez admitted she threatened two women with a handgun on June 1 and kidnapped one of the women. The Hutchinson News reports police were in a standoff for more than six hours at a Hutchinson apartment after receiving a report that Rodriguez had forced another woman into the apartment with a…
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) A new wheat variety will be named 1863 to help Kansas State University celebrate its 150th birthday. The hard red winter wheat variety will be introduced next year as the university begins its sesquicentennial celebration. The celebration’s coordinator, Megan Umscheid, calls the new wheat variety a “neat connection” to the school’s heritage. Kansas State was the nation’s first operational land-grant university under the Morrill Act. Kansas Wheat Alliance president Daryl Strouts approached Kansas State about the project. Planters who purchase the wheat variety will get waterproof stickers with the university’s 150th anniversary logo to post on their…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Incoming Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick has filled three staff positions. The Stilwell Republican announced the appointment Tuesday of Rachel Whitten as his communications director. Whitten served most recently as public information officer for the Department for Children and Families. She’ll join Wade Hapgood and Sharon Chandler in the speaker’s office. Hapgood will be legislative director. He previously worked for House Republicans as both political and communications director but most recently has been a business analyst for the secretary of state’s office. Chandler will be Merrick’s executive administrative assistant. She worked for Merrick in a similar capacity…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita State University says aircraft manufacturer Airbus has donated airplane structural parts and kits worth more than $800,000 to the school’s National Institute for Aviation Research. The materials will be used in the institute’s research laboratories and training classes. Researchers will use them to study structural durability and damage tolerance. Instructors will also use the materials in classes on composite fabrication, repair and testing.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Two Topeka police officers who were shot and killed outside a supermarket will lie in state Friday at the Expocentre, where their funerals will be held Saturday. Officials announced the arrangements Tuesday for 50-year-old Cpl. David Gogian and 29-year-old Officer Jeff Atherly. Both were shot Sunday night while investigating possible drug activity in a parking lot. The shooter, 22-year-old David Edward Tiscareno, was later killed following an armed standoff at a Topeka home. The officers’ bodies will lie in state at the Expocentre from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday. Guards will be posted overnight. Gogian’s funeral takes…