TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas legislators are working on a plan for setting aside potentially several hundred million dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds to pay businesses harmed by state and local restrictions imposed last year to check the virus’ spread. The state Senate Judiciary Committee hoped to vote Monday on a bill that would set up state and local funds to pay claims from businesses that either were shut down or had their operations curtailed by state restrictions. Officials would be required to set aside federal COVID-19 relief funds. One attorney representing a Wichita fitness studio’s owner who is suing…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. — A joint operation conducted by federal, state and local police over 10 days has led to more than 250 people being arrested in Topeka and the seizure of 24 guns, nearly 19 kilograms of illegal drugs and $25,000 in cash. The Capital-Journal reports that the effort, dubbed Operation Frontier, was carried out in early and mid-March. Officials said it targeted violent fugitives, gang members and criminal offenders following a significant rise in violence in the area between 2014 and 2019. Officials say that of the 258 arrests made, 138 were felony arrests.
TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s official: The state tourism division in Kansas will become part of the Department of Commerce starting July 1. Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal announced last year recently passed a 60-day period without action by the Legislature, meaning the order can be implemented. Kelly said Monday that the realignment “will support our businesses, our tourism industry, and will play a significant role in our COVID-19 recovery efforts.” The tourism division is currently part of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
On Monday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Duane Sherwood with the Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt preview. Susanne Glymour with the Nonviolence Committee and Kevin Bryant with Manhattan MLK Committee talked about Community Conversation on Race, Safety, Justice and Policing. Dr. Lori Goetsch with the Hale Library joined us in the final segments.
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for aggravated assault in the 400 block of N. Main St. in Riley on March 26, 2021, at approximately 10:24 a.m. Officers listed a 33-year-old male as the victim when…
The Riley County Police Department is now offering a new way for you to help stop crime in the community. Captain Greg Steere says the department is launching a new program called Project SafeCam which allows those with cameras on their business or on their homes to register their cameras. He tells KMAN that it is essentially a community camera registration program. Steere says the program has proven great success for several cities and towns across the country. “It’s a way for us to get information about where those cameras are,” Steere says. “We also see it as a great…
Long time Ogden Elementary Principal Jim Armendariz is retiring at the end of the school year. Armendariz’s retirement was announced during Wednesday’s USD 383 school board meeting. Board member Curt Herrman gave some words about his experiences and the legacy Armendariz leaves behind. “I’ve known him for a long time and I’ve learned a lot from Jim. When I first ran for the board and back in 2006 Jim is one of the first people I talked to you and he was very helpful to me and has been through my career on the board and we will miss him.…
Pawnee Mental Health Services is launching a new website in celebration of its 65th anniversary. PMHS executive director Robbin Cole says that while the website will have the same URL, it will feature a lot of new information. “Information about how to apply for jobs at Pawnee Mental Health [services], who the leadership of the organization is, both in terms of staff, management and board [and] information about coming events,” Cole said. Users of the new website will also be able to use it to donate to PMHS. The plan is to launch the website on April 1. According to…
WICHITA, Kan. — A south-central Kansas man has been sentenced to a year of probation for what prosecutors say was his repeated impersonation of a law enforcement officer over a 15-month period. The Wichita Eagle reports that 34-year-old Kory Michael Farmer, of Derby, was sentenced after pleading guilty last week in Sedgwick County District Court to one count of misdemeanor false impersonation. Court documents say Farmer was caught impersonating a law enforcement officer multiple times between August 2019 and November 2020, in which witnesses reported he operated a pickup truck outfitted with lights and sirens and weaved recklessly through traffic.…
WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita police officials say an officer was injured in a crash during a pursuit of a stolen car. Police spokesman Trevor Macy says the officer who was injured in the chase early Thursday was treated and released from a Wichita hospital. The suspect also was treated and released into custody. Macy says the chase began after officers tried to stop the car in south Wichita. He says the suspect eventually turned and collided with the patrol car, causing it to hit a home. The suspect tried to flee but was arrested. The investigation is continuing.