TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Topeka man ended his murder trial by pleading to a lesser charge in the shooting death of a neighbor. Thirty-one-year-old LaVance W. Thompson pleaded guilty Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter in the death of 36-year-old James Sanders. The plea came on the third day of Thompson’s trial on a first-degree murder charge. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports prosecution and defense attorneys agreed to recommend a sentence of eight years and six months. Sanders died after being shot on Christmas Day 2011 at a Topeka apartment. Thompson was captured Dec. 27 in Independence, Mo. Prosecutors say the shooting came…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Fire officials say one person died after a fire at a south Topeka motel. The name of the victim in Wednesday night’s fire at the Travelers Inn has not been released. Fire department officials say when crews arrived, they found light smoke coming from the victim’s room. The fire had extinguished itself by then. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the man’s death is being listed as a fire fatality. A preliminary investigation found the fire started on or near the bed in the man’s room. Foul play is not suspected. The fire caused an estimated $5,500 loss to…
HOLCOMB, Kan. (AP) Holcomb city officials have decided to allow liquor sales in the Finney County town on Sundays. The city council’s voted on Wednesday to allow Sunday sales, after a request from the owner of the town’s only liquor store. Liquor sales will be allowed from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The Garden City Telegram reports the owner of Premier Liquors, Frank Hembree, has said he loses business on Sundays to liquor stores in nearby Deerfield, where Sunday sales are allowed. Before 2005, Kansas banned all Sunday alcohol sales. The law was changed to allow municipalities and counties…
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) Dogs are under quarantine at the Junction City/Geary County Animal Shelter after tests found parvovirus. The shelter euthanized five puppies after the virus was discovered. Shelter director Lisa Junghans says the virus was found in four puppies that were brought to the shelter from the Westwood area of Junction City on July 27. Parvo is a contagious disease that is potentially life-threatening. The dogs were euthanized because the shelter did not have the resources to treat the disease. Thirty-five dogs are under quarantine while staff clean the shelter and monitor the dogs for any symptoms. WIBW…
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) Sixty-eight military officers from around the world will join U.S. officers next week to study at the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. The 10-month term will open Monday with a parade and flag ceremony. The international officers will include the first students from the Caribbean island state of Antigua and Barbuda. The college trains U.S. and international officers in military tactics, strategy and leadership. Most of the students are Army majors, but the class includes officers from the Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Seventy years after a large chandelier was removed from the Kansas Statehouse rotunda, workers will install a new one. Statehouse Architect Barry Greis says the new fixture is expected to arrive Monday at the Capitol. It was built by a St. Louis company working from historical photographs. Greis says workers expect to assemble the chandelier and hoist it into place Tuesday. It will hang from the inner dome. The installation is a small part of the ongoing, 12-year renovation of the Statehouse. Work on the interior is expected to be finished by October. The old chandelier was…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Republicans are gathering with some of their party’s primary election winners to discuss their strategy for victory in November. Congressman Mike Pompeo scheduled a news conference Thursday with Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and the winners of Tuesday’s primaries within the 4th Congressional District. The event is taking place at Pompeo’s district headquarters in Wichita. Pompeo was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary as he seeks a second term in the U.S. House from the Wichita area district. In November he’ll face Democrat Robert Tillman, a political newcomer and retired Wichita court services officer.
Hear from defensive tackles Vai Lutui and Wesley Hollingshed as our fall preview of K-State football continues.
A motions hearing was held Thursday in Riley County District Court for Cole Drake, 16, of Manhattan, charged in the homicide case of Manhattan High School Student Tyler Dowling on April 13th, 2011 Riley County District Court Judge David Stutzman first heard from a number of investigators and detectives. Riley County Police Captain in charge of Investigations, Jeff Hooper, was the first to approach the stand. Hooper was questioned about details involving the events after the homicide occured and the way Drake was questioned about it. Hooper indicated the night after of the homicide, the body was found and the investigation began. The police Captain added Drake appeared to have…
The economy for Manhattan is looking up as Lyle Butler, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, spoke to the Riley County Commission about economic development. Butler brought up a number of topics for the commission to hear and to question. NBAF was a short topic of conversation as Butler said there isn’t much new as most are waiting to see how the election in November turns out. Forbes has again ranked Manhattan. Unfortunately, Manhattan isn’t number 1, but it is still ranked number 5 this year. Butler said this still makes Manhattan look appealing nationally as companies and…