Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Police in Wichita are looking for two men who robbed a jewelry store owner outside his home. KFDI-FM reports the robbers may have followed the 61-year-old man home from work before mugging him Tuesday evening. Police Lt. Doug Nolte says one of the robbers threatened the jeweler with a stun gun before he was forced to hand over two bags containing jewelry, a handgun and thousands of dollars in cash. The victim owns TCM Jewelry in Wichita. Police said he was not hurt in the holdup.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Republican candidate for the Kansas House is challenging the secretary of state’s decision to reassign an opponent into his district after federal judges redrew the state’s political boundaries. Scott Hesse is a former state attorney general seeking the GOP nomination in the 52nd House District, which covers part of Topeka. Hesse wants to remove only one fellow candidate from the Aug. 7 primary ballot, but his challenge could create issues for dozens of other legislative hopefuls. Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office has reassigned more than 80 candidates to the correct districts since the judges drew…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A new Kansas law will require jail time for repeat drunken drivers who refuse breath and blood tests. The law takes effect July 1. First-time offenders are exempted from the law. The Kansas City Star reports under current Kansas law, refusing the tests generally leads to a driver’s license being suspended. Supporters of the new law say that doesn’t deter chronic offenders who drive with or without a license. They say the new law takes away incentives to refuse the tests. Drivers will face the same penalties as a DUI conviction, up to a year in jail…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Sedgwick County authorities and two Wichita lawyers are investigating allegations that a county deputy raped a male inmate in his cell in early June. Sheriff Robert Hinshaw confirmed a rape allegation is being investigated. He said the deputy has been reassigned to a job in which he has no contact with inmates. The lawyers, Kurt Kerns and Mark Schoenhofer, say they plan to file a notice with the county. That’s the first step toward a possible lawsuit alleging multiple civil rights violations and negligence. Kerns says the inmate is a younger man who was jailed on a…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita-based group has begun an effort to repeal a Salina ordinance the outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Robert Noland, executive director of the Kansas Family Policy Council, said the group met Monday night to distribute petitions and instructions for collecting signatures. The petition asks city commissioners to repeal a decision in May to protect people from discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The change took effect June 4. The Salina Journal reports if the group gathers enough signatures, city commissioners will have 20…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence officials say the city’s water is safe, despite an odd taste and smell. The city’s utility department says tests found that a byproduct of dead algae is causing the problem. A spokeswoman for the department says the product does not pose any health concerns for people or animals. The Lawrence Journal-World reports tests found elevated levels of geosim, a compound produced when algae die. Tests were taken from untreated water coming out of Clinton Lake. The city hopes the taste and odor issues will be less noticeable soon. But that is difficult to predict because future…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas health officials say the state has had 56 confirmed cases of whooping cough so far this year, four more than in all of 2011. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported the numbers Tuesday. Officials say KDHE and local agencies have investigated eight outbreaks since early 2011, including an ongoing outbreak in Johnson County. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It’s especially serious for infants. KDHE says inoculation is the best protection against whooping cough. The agency says the vaccination is recommended for children…
The first ever Dinner By Design event is set for this Sunday evening at the Hilton Garden Inn. Those who attend will get to create their own three course meal with help from Chef Howard Hanna, who was featured on the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations.” Attendees will also get to sample five different wines. “This a fundraiser for United Way,” Candice McIntosh, Director of Events and Volunteer Engagement of Riley County United Way says. “It supports funding in the area of education and human health for the community.” The event starts at 5pm and runs until 10pm. Tickets are available…