Author: KMAN Staff

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The second of two sisters charged in the death of a Park City man goes on trial this week. KFDI reports that Rhonda Pischel is charged with first-degree murder in the May 2000 death of Todd Stover, 36. He died on an insulin overdose. Pischel’s sister, Sharon Huddleston, was convicted in February and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for 25 years. The sisters were living in Joplin, Mo., when they were arrested last July. Prosecutors said Huddleston was angry because Stover did not keep a promise to get her a job at an…

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence city commissioners are expected to approve spending $1 million to fund planning to convert the former Farmland Industries plant into a business park. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the project to convert the former fertilizer plant is the largest development in Lawrence in many years. City Manager David Corliss says he wants the city to be able to offer lots ready for business in the next 12 to 18 months. He is urging commissioners meeting Tuesday to discuss a master plan for the 450-acre site to determine how many lots can be offered. Removal of old…

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An Illinois man has been arrested for the weekend murder of a Junction City woman. Junction City Police officers apprehended Nathaniel Lewis, Jr., 19,  Sunday morning on charges of First Degree Murder in the shooting death of Jennifer Pigg, 24. Officers were dispatched to an apartment just after 1 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a woman suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers found Pigg dead from a single gunshot wound. The motive of the shooting is still unknown. An autopsy will be scheduled in Topeka. Lewis is currently confined at Geary County Detention Center and is being held on no bond…

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HAYS, Kan. (AP) A Kansas soldier who died when the helicopter he was flying was shot down in Afghanistan will be memorialized this week in his hometown of Hays. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Nichols was among 30 U.S. troops killed Aug. 6 in the crash of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The 31-year-old pilot grew up in Hays and graduated from Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. The Hays Daily News reports the funeral will be held Friday morning in the school’s fieldhouse. Nichols and his family lived in Kansas City, Mo. He served with the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment…

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ATLANTA, GA (AP) The New York Times is reporting that the Southeastern Conference presidents will meet Sunday to discuss Texas A admission to the league. A person with knowledge of the situation confrims to The Associated Press that the meeting will be held in Atlanta. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting has not been publicly discussed. The Times says all but one of the SEC presidents will be at the meeting, held a day before the Texas A System board of regents meets. The board has called a special meeting Monday that includes an agenda item…

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One of the most decorated coaches in Kansas State basketball history was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night. Tex Winter joined eight former players and coaches as part of the 2011 induction class. Joining Winter were Arvydas Sabonis, Chris Mullin, Tara VanDerveer, Artis Gilmore, Herb Magee, Reece Tatum, Teresa Edwards, Tom Sanders, and Dennis Rodman Best known as the innovator of the triangle offense, Winter was part of nine NBA championship teams but is remembered around Manhattan for his contributions to Kansas State. Winter coached at K-State from 1953 – 1968, compiling 268 wins to go…

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CHICAGO (AP) Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers added his first home run in the majors to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. Konerko went deep in the third and Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk. Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago. Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in…

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ANDOVER, Kan. (AP) The fatal explosion and fire at a Butler County propane company occurred after a coupling broke, but officials say they may never know what caused that coupling to break. Andover Fire Chief Jim Woydziak told The Wichita Eagle that the fire and explosion Aug. 2 at Global Propane occurred after a coupling broke as a worker was filling a 33-pound propane cylinder. Jeffrey Burnham of Wichita died, and two other workers were injured. The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation into the blast. But Woydziak said investigators may never know what caused the coupling…

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