EL DORADO, Kan. — A 13th Kansas inmate has died of COVID-19 as the virus continues to spread in the state’s prisons, infecting thousands. The Kansas Department of Corrections said the latest inmate to die had been serving a 24-year sentence for attempted first-degree murder and second-degree murder at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. He was 65 and had an unspecified underlying medical condition. He was taken to a hospital Saturday and died Monday. The state prison system housing about 8,600 inmates has reported 5,303 cases among offenders and another 1,063 among staff. Four staff members also have died.
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — Police are investigating as manslaughter the death of a 26-year-old man who fell to the ground and lost consciousness during a physical fight at an apartment in Wichita, Kansas. The Wichita Police Department identified Tuesday the victim as 26-year-old Sharrod Rollen of Wichita. Officers responding Saturday to call to assist emergency medical responders learned that Rollen had been found deceased in the apartment by acquaintances. Police say an investigation found that Rollen and three others had gone out to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. When they returned to the apartment, Rollen got into the fight. An autopsy…
WICHITA, Kan. — A new library branch in Wichita will be named for a late civil rights leader who grew up in the city. The city council voted Tuesday to name the library for Ronald Walters, who organized a sit-in in 1958 at a Wichita diner that served only takeout food to Blacks. The three-week sit-in ended when the manager of Dockum Drug Store began serving Blacks inside the business. The national NAACP says it was the first youth-led sit-in that got the desired results. Walters had a distinguished academic career, wrote several books and was an advisor to presidents.…
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 battery in the 1000 block of S. Seth Child Rd. in Manhattan on January 4, 2020, at approximately 7:40 p.m. Officers listed a 20-year-old male as the victim…
Tuesday’s program featured a discussion with Manhattan city officials, including City Manager Ron Fehr, as well as commissioners Usha Reddi and Wynn Butler. Butler becomes Manhattan mayor in 2021, per the ongoing ceremonial rotation. Reddi served as mayor in 2020.
The Flint Hills Veterans Coalition has decided on a parade theme for the 2021 Veteran’s Day Parade. Chuck Sexton, FHVC President, says this year’s parade will honor the 30th anniversary of the start of Desert Storm. Sexton says he, himself, went to Desert Storm, and talks about the importance of honoring those veteran’s this year. “It’s those Desert Storm veterans getting together, as a group, and reminding people, as well as thanking those Vietnam veterans that supported us while we were gone and when we came back,” Sexton says. Melody Sexton, FHVC Publicity Coordinator, adds that the start of the…
Two outgoing Riley County commissioners and the outgoing Register of Deeds were recognized for their years of service on Monday. Commissioners Ron Wells and Marvin Rodriguez will end their terms next week after serving a combined 12 years on the commission. Rodriguez presented Wells with a plaque recognizing his years of service and remembered their time together fondly. “I’ve known [Wells] for a long, long time when I worked for the utility company. You’ve been a great help to me all of those years and you’ve been a great help to me here,” says Rodriguez. Wells thanked Rodriguez for his…
COVID-19 test results Pottawatomie County commissioner Dee McKee expressed frustration Monday over the process of getting COVID-19 test results. She says that despite being tested in Manhattan on Dec. 23, she still has not gotten her results back. “My frustration is, frankly, I’ve been trying to isolate since the 23rd of last month and I have no record of having it, nor do I have any way to know that I’m potentially in trouble,” McKee said. McKee also expressed frustration over how test results are being handled by the state. “The data the state has is certainly not valid,” McKee…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Authorities have identified the victim of a New Year’s Eve shooting in Topeka as a 25-year-old man. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that police said the death of Jesus Noel Soto-Villareal brought the city’s homicide total for 2020 to 25. Police said in a news release that officers were on patrol around 5:40 p.m. Thursday when they heard gunshots. Police were then notified that a man suffering from life-threatening injuries had arrived at a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.