LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A family claims in a lawsuit that an 87-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at a Lawrence retirement center. The lawsuit against Brandon Woods at Alvamar claims that Jean S. Allen was assaulted October 2010 in her room. It also alleges that the center’s staff tried to conceal the crime from authorities, Allen’s family and medical personnel. Jeffrey Merritt, executive director of the center, denied the claims Thursday and said the company would fight the claims in court. Bill Skepnek, an attorney for the family, says Allen was nearly immobile when the alleged attack occurred. She had been…
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A federal appeals panel has heard arguments about the legal battle over the route for the South Lawrence Trafficway. Attorneys for the federal government, the Kansas Department of Transportation and groups opposed to the unfinished trafficway project argued Thursday in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The main point of contention is whether the road should be run through the Baker Wetlands. A federal ruling in 2010 said the route through the wetlands was legal. Bob Eye, an attorney for opponents, said the project needs a new route. Lawyers for KDOT and the Federal Highway…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing that legislator repeal 51 Kansas statutes and regulations that have been determined by the administration to be unnecessary. The list released Friday includes regulations covering agriculture, property appraisal, corrections, state agency organization, state labor agency authority and county office administration. The specifics will be discussed at news conference later Friday. The Republican governor last year gave Department of Administration Secretary Dennis Taylor the task of identifying rules, regulations and laws that were considered impediments to improving the economy or reducing state government. The governor created the Office of the Repealer in 2011.…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Republican leaders in the Kansas House leaders have developed a tax plan that keeps key elements of GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s income tax proposal but adds a sales tax decrease. House Speaker Mike O’Neal said Friday that the plan supports the general goals of Brownback’s administration to decrease individual income tax rates and help 191,000 business operators. The plan also keeps a much-criticized proposal from Brownback to eliminate a tax credit for poor workers and their families while putting more money into social services. But the House GOP’s plan would decrease the state sales tax from 6.3…
Riley County Police received a report of an attempted burglary that ended quite differently. Police arrived at the Ewing Road home of 37-year-old Frank Kincaid and found no signs of forced entry. RCPD searched the residence and found Kincaid inside, and having what police reports describe as “medical difficulties”. Police say that Kincaid appeared to be lethargic, and slow to respond. Kincaid was transported by Riley County EMS to Mercy Regional Health center where he later died. In a statement to the press on Friday the Riley county police said that an autopsy was pending, and the death continues to…
A Topeka man involved in a multiple vehicle accident last weekend in Manhattan has died from his injuries. Jerome Little, 60, was Life Starred to Via Christi/St. Francis in Wichita after the Sunday morning accident at Tuttle Creek and Leavenworth, which also involved Abdelmalik Hussein, 47, and David Stanley, 47, both of Kansas City. Little had been traveling southbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard and failed to stop at the intersection, ramming into the rear of Hussein’s vehicle, which then struck Stanley’s. Little was removed from his vehicle by onlookers after it caught on fire, and he complained of significant injuries to…
A security scare was reported Thursday evening at a Manhattan elementary school. According to Riley County Police, a student from the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary school contacted school officials on Thursday evening to report a suspicious man who had allegedly contacted the student on school grounds. School officials locked down the school, and reported the alleged incident to the RCPD. The student said the man approached, and made suspicious comments which made the student nervous. The student left the area and contacted school officials at around 5pm. RCPD says the department is still investigating the incident, and no further information is available…
Skepticism surrounding the renewel of the interlocal half cent sales tax was voiced during Thursday’s joint City-County meeting, including Riley and Pottawatomie counties and the city of Manhattan. Preliminary estimates show the current proposal bringing in great revenue for the city of Manhattan over the next 10 years. “They would see about, just very conservative estimates, $28,000,000 into the city coffers,” Karen McCullough, Riley Count Commissioner, said. McCulloh adds other options are being examined at the county level should the voters not pass the sales tax renew. “Certainly hope this passes in August,” McCulloh said. “If not, the plan is the county…
The investigation into the 2010 firing of former RCPD narcotics detective Mark Bylkas has been completed. Now Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson says the case is in the hands of a special prosecutor. “The special prosecutor has been appointed to review those reports,” Wilkerson said. “And, when that’s done, we’ll respect the decision that he or she makes.” Bylkas is suing the Riley County Law Board, RCPD Director Brad Schoen and others for wrongful termination. He claims he was cut from the force and falsely accused of a crime to cover up misconduct within the department. The investigation was carried…