TOPEKA, Kan. — Republican lawmakers argue that a pandemic justifies special rules in Kansas for protecting the privacy of people exposed to COVID-19. They have advanced a proposal to preserve them over public health groups’ objections. The Senate voted 26-14 Wednesday to approve a bill that would make contact tracing rules for the novel coronavirus permanent. That sets COVID-19 apart from other infectious diseases, such as syphilis or hepatitis. The GOP-controlled Legislature enacted the special rules at Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s urging, but they are set to expire May 1. Critics say it makes little sense to have different…
Author: KMAN Staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say a man inside his home was killed by a stray bullet from a gun battle that took place outside on the street. Police say the shooting happened shortly after 3 p.m., when an argument involving a group of people erupted in gunfire. Police have not given other details of the shooting, but witnesses along the stretch of Farrow Avenue told news outlets they heard at least a dozen gunshots. Police have not released the name of the man killed. The Kansas City Star reports that the death marked the city’s…
GARDNER, Kan. — Authorities say a man has died after the car he was driving was hit by a freight train in eastern Kansas. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened Wednesday afternoon at Waverly Road near Gardner. Investigators say the train carried and dragged the car for nearly half a mile before it was able to stop. Officials have not released the name of the man killed or details about how the crash occurred. The sheriff’s office is leading the investigation.
OMAHA, Neb. — A new monthly survey of business leaders suggests that strong economic growth will continue over the next few months in nine Midwest and Plains states as businesses continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, said businesses in the area have recovered about half of the roughly 120,000 jobs lost last year when states imposed restrictions related to the coronavirus. Goss said the growth might be even stronger if it weren’t for delays in receiving raw materials and supplies. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,…
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 4200 block of Spook Rock Way in Manhattan on March 31, 2021, at approximately 10:00 a.m. Officers listed a 38-year-old female as the victim when it…
Guests from the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility in Manhattan joined the show, including NBAF Coordinator Dr. Ken Burton, Communications Director Katie Pawlosky and NBAF Transition Coordinator Diana Whipple. Gen. Perry Wiggins, Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council also highlighted military affairs including April being recognized as Month of the Military Child.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Most Republicans have downsized their ambitions for cutting Kansas income taxes and pushed a narrower proposal through the GOP-controlled Legislature. Both chambers voted Tuesday for a bill that would save taxpayers $284 million over three years, sending it to a skeptical Gov. Laura Kelly. GOP legislators want to provide relief to businesses and individuals paying more in state income taxes because of federal tax changes in 2017. The bill also includes a modest increase in the standard deduction for all individual filers. The Senate last month passed cuts worth $1.3 billion over three years. The votes on…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Police in Topeka have arrested a man accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter, whose body was found by first responders called to the family home in January. Police say 45-year-old Jeffrey Exon was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of first-degree murder, aggravated endangerment of a child and failure to report the death of a child. Police and paramedics were called to the home on Jan. 5 for reports of an unresponsive toddler and found 2-year-old Aurora Exon dead. Paramedics said it appeared the child had been dead for several days, and a medical examiner later determined her…
MANKATO, Kan. — Authorities say a teenage worker was killed as he loaded traffic-control equipment onto a trailer on the side of a north-central Kansas highway. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the accident happened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday along U.S. Highway 36 in Jewell County. Investigators say 18-year-old Gabriel Rupp, of Hays, was on the north shoulder of the highway loading traffic control equipment when he was hit by a westbound semitrailer. The semi ended up in the north ditch of the highway. Television station KSNW reports that Rupp was declared dead at the scene. Investigators say the 55-year-old driver…
WICHITA, Kan. — A 31-year-old Wichita woman is charged with first-degree murder in the death of a man who was run over and then shot. Charity Blackmon made her first court appearance on Tuesday. She’s charged in the death of 54-year-old Merrill Rabus, who died on Friday while riding his bicycle. Police say Blackmon hit Rabus with her vehicle and then got out of her car and shot him. She left the scene but was arrested after witnesses followed her. Police said Blackmon and Rabus did not know each other. She is also charged with being a felon in possession…