TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler remains hospitalized because of high blood pressure. Emler’s office confirmed Friday that he would not return to the Statehouse for the day’s business. It said he remains at an area hospital, but declined to identify which one, citing his need for privacy and rest. The Lindsborg Republican has been absent from the Statehouse since Wednesday afternoon. Emler, a 62-year-old attorney, was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and is serving his third term. He’s in his second year as majority leader. He previously served as chairman of the budget-writing Senate…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Sedgwick County prosecutors say three teens who faked a robbery at a Subway restaurant in Wichita were playing a dangerous game called “Urban Skittles.” A statement from the district attorney’s office says the game originated in England. It is played by one or more youths who run into a random business and order everyone to the floor. The youths then count the number of people on the floor before leaving. The Wichita Eagle reports that’s what happened Monday when a young man walked into the restaurant, put his hand in his pocket and ordered everyone down. Police…
LUCAS, Kan. (AP) The quirky Kansas town of Lucas is planning a daylong celebration of bathrooms. The center of attention at the June 2 party will be a blinged-out giant toilet. The town of 407 residents is selling chances on eBay to have the first flush of the toilet. The Wichita Eagle reports the town has spent four years constructing a massive building designed to look like a toilet. A giant toilet paper roll sits outside. The toilet’s 14-foot mosaic lid is always up. Every wall is decorated and the building includes a chandelier made from the bottom of wine…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Vandals broke or knocked over 67 headstones some marking the graves of Civil War veterans at a cemetery in Hutchinson. The damage was discovered Wednesday at Eastside Cemetery. The cemetery manager says 21 of the markers were broken and the rest knocked over. Hutchinson police believe the vandalism happened late Tuesday or early Wednesday. No one has been arrested. The Hutchinson News reports many of the markers that were broken are from the 1800s and mark the graves of Civil War or Mexican-American War veterans. Eastside is the oldest cemetery in Hutchinson and also hold the graves…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas House has approved a bill that makes several changes to hunting and fishing regulations. The bill approved Thursday would increase the age to qualify for free hunting and fishing licenses from 65 to 75. And it would give those 65 to 75 the chance to buy annual licenses or a $38 lifetime pass. The Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism says free hunting and fishing for seniors is causing budget problems for the department, which receives no state general funds. The Wichita Eagle reports the bill also establishes a project to study allowing crossbows during…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) The third of four suspects in the death of a Salina man will serve two years of probation. Twenty-year-old Tyeler Cookson also was ordered Thursday to perform 40 hours of community service for the death of 48-year-old Robert Unselt, who was killed in January during a fight. Before his sentencing, Cookson testified that Unselt died after hitting his head on the pavement during the fight. He said Unselt started the confrontation with the four men. The Salina Journal reports Unselt’s family has disputed that contention. His wife has filed a $1 million wrongful death lawsuit against the…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) State officials have prohibited skiing, swimming and wading in four lakes because of concerns about high levels of toxic blue-green algae. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the warning Thursday for Memorial/Veterans Lake in Great Bend, Winfield City Lake, Marion Reservoir and Marion County Lake. The state is also advising people to avoid contact with the Old Herington City Lake in Dickinson County, where lower levels of blue-green algae were detected. Skin contact can cause allergic reactions. Ingesting the infected water can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even death. Animals can die from drinking too much…
FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) A brigade of soldiers from Fort Riley is preparing to leave for a deployment to Afghanistan. Officials with the 1st Infantry Division say hundreds of soldiers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are scheduled to depart from the northeast Kansas Army post next week. The Dragon Brigade has twice deployed to Iraq since 2006 when it was organized at Fort Riley. Col. Joseph Wawro and Command Sgt. Maj. Wiley Hutchison, the brigade’s commander and senior noncommissioned officer, cased its colors April 26 in preparation for its first deployment to Afghanistan. The brigade will serve under…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) State labor officials say the Kansas economy continues to show growth this spring as evidenced by a decline in the April unemployment rate. The Kansas Department of Labor says the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in April, down from 6.2 percent in March. The rate was 6.7 percent in April 2011. Labor Secretary Karin Brownlee says Kansas should be pleased with the job growth and that it is acceptable at this time. However, the department’s economist says the rate of private sector job growth has slowed in the past three months and called the rate…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Federal prosecutors have charged a former Topeka doctor who continued practicing medicine after state regulators suspended her medical license. A criminal information filed Thursday charges Diana Carver with health care fraud and illegally dispensing drugs. Such documents typically are filed with the consent of the defendant and indicate a plea deal has likely been reached in the case. A current phone number could not be found to reach Carver for comment. Prosecutors allege Carver continued to practice medicine after the Kansas Board of Healing Arts suspended her medical license in July 2010. She is accused of submitting…