ULYSSES, Kan. (AP) An auction to determine the new owners of a western Kansas ranch that contains the historically significant Monument Rocks chalk formations is ending. The owners of the ranch announced in July that the land, along with 12,000 acres of mineral rights, was for sale. Mark Faulkner of Ulysses, whose is overseeing the telephone auction, says Tuesday was the last day to submit bids. He says the high bidder is likely to be determined Thursday or Friday. The Hays Daily News reports that as of Monday, Faulkner had received only one bid for $4 million, or $310 an…
Author: KMAN Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Families of four of the six people who died in an explosion at a grain elevator in northeast Kansas have filed wrongful-death lawsuits against some the elevator’s employees. The families contend employees of Kansas City, Mo.-based Bartlett Grain Co., including current president Bob Knief, disregarded the safety and health of the workers. An explosion in October 2011 in Atchison, Kan., killed four Bartlett employees and two grain inspectors. The lawsuits were filed Monday by families of the Bartlett employees. Investigators determined the explosion was an accident, but federal safety officials accused Bartlett of willfully ignoring workplace…
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) A Kansas company will pay $5,000 in fines for not properly maintaining an apartment swimming pool where a 6-year-old boy drowned. Noah Davis drowned June 29 in a pool at Four Winds apartments in Overland Park. Police say his family could not see him at the bottom of the pool because the water was too murky. On Tuesday, the management company that operates the pool pleaded guilty to 10 violations, including failure to maintain the water clarity. PASSCO Four Winds was fined a total of $5,000. The Kansas City Star reports that Noah, who wanted to…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Department of Transportation says 18 cities will share almost $11 million in funds for future highway improvements. The agency says the money will be available in July 2014, and in some cases, communities will have to provide matching funds. The projects add lanes or make other improvements to highways as they pass through the cities. Manhattan received the most money, $900,000, to help upgrade the Kansas 18 and K-113 interchange. Independence is receiving $800,000 for improvements on U.S. 75, while Liberal is getting the same amount to help upgrade U.S. 54. Winfield also is receiving…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A federal judge has scheduled an October trial for a Topeka resident whose true identity is unknown to the courts. The woman is charged with producing a false document, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren on Tuesday scheduled her trial for Oct. 30. Court records identify her only with an acronym that means “first name unknown, last name unknown.” The Department of Homeland Security has filed a notice saying she may be an illegal immigrant. On Monday, a federal magistrate judge concluded the woman is a flight risk…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A 55-year-old Wichita man has lost a hand after getting it caught in a machine at his workplace. The Wichita Eagle reports the man works at a custom cabinetry company with about 200 employees. A dispatcher told the newspaper the man’s hand was fully separated from his arm in the accident just after 1 p.m. Tuesday. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A three-judge panel is set to hear final arguments in a lawsuit by parents and school districts challenging the way Kansas funds public education. Wednesday’s hearing was expected to last all morning in Shawnee County District Court. Attorneys for a coalition of 54 school districts and parents filed suit in 2010. They contend the state has failed to live up to its promises to increase K-12 funding as ordered by the Kansas Supreme Court in 2006. Lawyers for the state argue the Legislature did its best to mitigate the effects on schools of the recession that began…
MANHATTAN — The nation’s highest-ranking military officer is coming this fall to Kansas State University. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will present the university’s 161st Landon Lecture at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 1 in McCain Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Dempsey is the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. Armed Forces and the principal military adviser to the president, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council. Before becoming chairman, he served as the Army’s 37th Chief of Staff. A New Jersey native and career armor officer, Dempsey…
For the second straight day, K-State has closed the door on tickets for a home football game. Tuesday, it’s the Sunflower Showdown against KU on Saturday, October 6th that’s officially sold out at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Cats’ game with defending Big 12 champ Oklahoma State was announced on Monday at capacity. K-State has limited tickets remaining for just three games, Miami, FL, Texas Tech and Texas.
– The Manhattan High girls golf team again finished 2nd to Washburn Rural, this time at the Topeka West Invitational at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Topeka. The Indians turned in a team score of 341, while the Junior Blues shot 330. MHS senior Blake Fingalsen (Fing-al-son) came in fourth place with an 83, Kelsey McCarthy had a career-best 84 and was 6th, plus Kylie McCarthy added an 84 for 7th. – The Riley County volleyball swept both matches they played at Wabaunsee, defeating Chapman 25-13, 25-21, and Horton 25-21, 25-23. The Falcons are led by former Manhattan High coach…