Author: KMAN Staff

Riley County health officials have confirmed the 31st COVID-19 related death. The patient a 76-year-old male, tested positive January 7 and died Sunday at Ascension Via Christi. The health department also confirmed 68 new positive cases and 147 additional recoveries in Monday’s report, bringing the active case count to 233. The hospital currently has three patients in its care, including one in the Intensive Care Unit. With the 780 remaining doses of the vaccine, the county plans to continue vaccinating residents 65 and older with severe health conditions on Tuesday. For the remainder of the week, the health department will…

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Police are searching for a man they believe is connected to a man’s death and a possible kidnapping in Kansas City, Kansas, on Saturday. Officers found a man in his 40s dead inside a home in the 1800 block of Minnesota Avenue Saturday evening. Police did not immediately release the victim’s identity. Kansas City, Kansas, police spokeswoman Nancy Chartrand said 27-year-old Kenneth Crowley is a person of interest in the homicide. Chartrand said Crowley is also being sought in connection with the possible kidnapping of 37-year-old Laneia Taylor, who has since been found. Crowley may be…

WICHITA, Kan. — Police say a pedestrian died after being hit by a pickup truck as he crossed a Wichita street over the weekend. Police say the incident happened Friday night just north of downtown Wichita. Investigators say a 62-year-old man was crossing Broadway at 11th Street when he was hit by a northbound pickup truck driven by a 20-year-old man. Police have not released other details of the crash, including the name of the man killed.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Six women have sued top officials of the Kansas Highway Patrol, alleging they discriminated against female employees and created a hostile work environment. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that former and current employees allege in a lawsuit filed Friday that the agency violated federal anti-discrimination law, the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and their First Amendment speech rights. The Highway Patrol did not immediately return a message Monday seeking comment. The women’s lawsuit comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed last month by two former majors who allege their own dismissal was retaliation for attempting…

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. — Authorities say four people from Topeka, Kansas, died in a crash in southeast Nebraska. Cass County Sheriff’s Capt. David Lamprecht says the wreck happened Sunday evening on Highway 75 just south of Union, Nebraska. Lamprecht said a pickup truck driven by a La Vista, Nebraska, man crossed the center line and hit an SUV registered in Topeka. Those who died at the scene were identified as the SUV driver, 21-year-old, Ashley Bracken; 22-year-old passenger Tatiyana Wade; 4-year-old Malaysia Reece and 5-year-old Keniah Robinson, all of Topeka. Wade’s 20-year-old sister, was hospitalized with serious injuries. The driver…

OMAHA, Neb. — A new monthly survey shows continued economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders indicated the coronavirus pandemic is still hurting business. The overall index for the region in January suggests improved growth, coming in at at a strong 67.3 from December’s 64.1. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth, while a score below 50 suggests recession. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He estimated a rosier economic outlook in the coming months, citing an increase in the survey’s confidence index. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,…

On Monday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Game Waren Ben Jedlicka and Tuttle Creek State Park Manager Todd Lovin. Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department Director Eddie Eastes, also joined the program along with Douglass Center Director Dave Baker and Recreation and Fitness Coordinator Kyliah Kellerman.

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 criminal damage to property and theft in the 700 block of Pecan Cir. in Manhattan on January 29, 2021, at approximately 6:56 a.m. Officers listed Schwans Sales Enterprises Inc.…

Riley County has administered over 4,000 doses of the COVID vaccine, with more clinics planned this week. The health department will continue vaccinating individuals 65 and older with severe health conditions, with another clinic planned Tuesday. Those who qualify will be notified via text, email and phone call. The notice will include links to more information and forms to print and fill out before you arrive for your vaccine. Forms will be available on-site as well. To date, more than 15,000 people have registered to receive the vaccine. Information on how to sign up to receive the vaccine is available…