TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of a woman who participated in the deaths of three people who were strangled or smothered with trash bags in her Topeka home. In a unanimous opinion released Friday, the high court also affirmed Kora Liles’ sentences on 11 charges, including three counts of felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated kidnapping. Liles was one of five people charged in the March 2017 deaths of 19-year-old Matthew Leavitt, 38-year-old Nicole Fisher and 20-year-old Luke Davis in a Topeka basement. Police said the violence stemmed from an…
Author: KMAN Staff
Officers filed a report for aggravated battery and abuse of a child in Manhattan on July 15, 2021, around 10:14 a.m. Officers listed a 20-year-old as the suspect when it was reported he abused an infant. The infant was transported to Via Christi in stable condition for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Gerald William Hartman III, 20, of Manhattan was arrested in connection for abuse of a child and aggravated battery. Hartman is confined in the Riley County Jail awaiting a bond hearing. Officers filed a report for aggravated assault and criminal damage to property in the 700 block of Allen…
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with K-State Riley County Extension Nutrition, Health and Food Safety Agent Megan Dougherty. Riley County Seniors’ Service Center Program Coordinator Liz Nelson also joined the program. We also spoke with Tuttle Creek US Army Corps of Engineers Operations Project Manager Brian McNulty.
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce officials are breathing a sigh of relief after the federal government recently announced it won’t redefine what constitutes a “metropolitan statistical area.” Chamber president and CEO Jason Smith: According to the Office of Management and Budget, an area is considered an MSA if it has a population of at least 50,000 people. The federal government had previously been considering changing the population threshold to 100,000. This would have caused Manhattan, which has a population of about 55,000, to become a micropolitan statistical area. Since certain government funding only goes to metropolitan statistical areas, such a…
WICHITA, Kan. — Authorities say a detention deputy has been assaulted by an inmate at the Sedgwick County jail and has sustained multiple facial fractures. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that the deputy was attempting to get the inmate to return to a cell early Tuesday after he had been let out to shower. Authorities say the inmate struck the deputy in the face with a closed fist at least twice, knocking him to the floor. The deputy received 15 stitches.
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas State Board of Education has released a statement saying that critical race theory is not part of state academic standards after hearing from at least one candidate for office who is claiming that it is. Board Chairman Jim Porter, a Fredonia Republican, said it was important for the board to issue a statement partly because he had read a comment from an unnamed candidate for office that inaccurately claimed that critical race theory is being taught in Kansas schools. Board Member Jean Clifford, a Garden City Republican, said not commenting on the issue could be…
GODDARD, Kan. — Health officials have identified another person infected with the bacteria that may have caused an outbreak of illness at a splash park near Wichita. State and Sedgwick County health investigators said Wednesday in a news release that at least seven people who visited Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas, on June 11 have now tested positive for the Shigella bacteria. Investigations are ongoing into other possible linked illnesses. The Shigella bacteria is spread from person-to-person through exposure to contaminated feces.
WICHITA, Kan. — Officials say no one was injured when a small plane made an emergency landing in a field just outside northwest Wichita. The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office says the 41-year-old Wichita man piloting the single-engine Piper Sport was flying to Augusta, Kansas, from Boulder, Colorado, when he experienced engine failure and was diverted to Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. Officials say strong winds forced him to land in a nearby field. Officials say the plane landed safely.
On Thursday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Smith. We also previewed The Red Cross Battle of the Badges with Red Cross Account Manager Kristi Ingalls, RCPD Director Dennis Butler, and Riley County EMS’s James Marstall.
Officers filed a report for theft in the 500 block of E. Poyntz Ave. in Manhattan on July 14, 2021, around 2:09 p.m. Officers listed Matheson Gas as the victim when it was reported an unknown male suspect purchased a Miller digital infinity welding helmet with a stolen card. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $502. Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Officers filed a report for…