EMPORIA, Kan. — A 23-year-old Emporia man is charged with first-degree murder after a fatal crash that happened as the suspect was fleeing from police. During his first court appearance Monday, Devawn Mitchell declined a court-appointed attorney. He faces more than 25 charges resulting from the incident in Emporia on Thursday, Police say a pursuit began after Mitchell swerved in the direction of a patrol car, forcing the officer to evade a collision. Police say they tracked Mitchell in Emporia but called off two pursuits because of he was speeding and running stop lights. Police say Mitchell eventually hit a…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — A 41-year-old teacher at a private Christian school is accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor student. Police arrested Matthew McFarren, a high school teacher at Trinity Academy in Wichita, on Saturday. Wichita police spokesman Charley Davidson said in a news release that detectives began investigating after receiving a tip that McFarren was having a relationship with a 16-year-old student. Police say Trinity Academy officials are cooperating with the investigation. The school has students in K-12. References to McFarren are no longer on the school’s website. Investigators turned the case over to the Sedgwick County…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas legislators have approved a measure that would give judges and prosecutors a little more than two years to clear a backlog of criminal cases that built up during the coronavirus pandemic. The House voted 114-7 to pass a bill that would suspend until May 1, 2023, legal deadlines for criminal cases meant to protect defendants’ constitutional right to speedy trials. The bill goes next to Gov. Laura Kelly because the Senate approved it last week. The House vote came just before the state health department reported that more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been…
TOPEKA, Kan. — The only Asian American lawmaker serving in the Kansas Legislature says he was physically threatened in a western Kansas bar by an out-of-state patron, who he said questioned if he had been carrying COVID-19. State Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat who is Chinese American, said the man also, using an expletive, questioned why he was wearing a face mask. Many members of the Asian American community see the shootings at three Georgia massage businesses and spas that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent, as a reminder of harassment and violence that…
WICHITA, Kan. — A federal terrorism task force is investigating after mail laced with a dangerous toxin was sent to a Sedgwick County government office. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Sedgwick County Finance Department in the county courthouse received the certified letter on Monday. Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz says the three-page letter was coated in a white powder. He says two employees who handled the letter experienced coughing and skin irritation and that investigators have determined the substance is a chemical used in dye making. It is highly toxic and potentially fatal if enough is inhaled, swallowed or…
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 theft in the 1500 block of College Ave. in Manhattan on March 22, 2021, at approximately 6:11 a.m. Officers listed a 20-year-old male as the victim when it was…
Pottawatomie County Commissioner Pat Weixelman discussed county road construction projects, solar energy regulations and other county business. We also heard from new Manhattan Housing Authority Executive Director and current Manhattan City Commissioner Aaron Estabrook, Assistant Executive Director Mandy Thomas and Public Housing Manager Patrick O’Neil about their renewed vision and focus going forward under new leadership.
Rina Neal has been named the new finance director for the City of Manhattan. Neal previously served as the city’s assistant director of finance. She will succeed interim finance director Tammy Galvan, who will stay in her position as human resources director. In her role as finance director, Neal will be responsible for leading the finance department, which includes budgeting, accounting, revenue collection, property management, treasury management and customer service. Neal first joined the city in 2002 as a senior accountant after graduating from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in business administration and a minor in economics. She went…
One new COVID related death in Riley County is being reported by the health department. The patient was a 97-year-old female. She tested positive on Janu 4 and passed away on Mar 15. Her passing brings the total number of COVID-related deaths in the county to 36. Riley County has identified 17 new positive coronavirus cases and 15 additional recoveries since the last report on Mar 17. The total number of active cases in the county is 57. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for one positive patient. No COVID-positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).…