A busy Fourth of July weekend is expected at Tuttle Creek State Park. That’s according to Todd Lovin, the Tuttle Creek State Park manager, who says camp sites are all booked up. “This year, we’re seeing just record numbers of people coming to the park,” Lovin said. “If you want to camp, you need to make a reservation early. Every weekend is pretty much 100 percent full. Cabins, you know, are the same way. Even during the week is the same way on those.” According to Lovin, there are still plenty of primitive camping areas available, such as the Cedar…
Author: KMAN Staff
BELLE PLAINE — A coalition of Kansas lawmakers, religious leaders and racial justice advocates called Thursday for an investigation into a retired white police detective accused of preying on Black women for sex over decades and framing for murder the son of one of them. A letter signed by 27 state lawmakers from both parties was sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations asking them to investigate former detective Roger Golubski and others in the police force. The letter contends the allegations show “a pattern of abuse toward poor, minority residents.“ His lawyers did not immediately respond to an email…
NEOSHO FALLS — Two sheriff’s deputies have shot an armed 41-year-old man at a campground in a tiny southeast Kansas town following an altercation. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the shooting Thursday afternoon in Neosho Falls occurred as two Woodson County deputies were questioning the man about a vehicle that had been reported stolen. The KBI is investigating the shooting. Both deputies shot the man and he was taken to an area hospital. The KBI said the man was later flown to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, underwent surgery for his injuries and is…
TOPEKA — A federal lawsuit alleges Black employees at a Frito-Lay plant in Topeka faced racial discrimination and harassment that was tolerated by managers. The lawsuit says white employees used racial slurs and threatened to lynch Black workers, and that white employees were promoted over Black workers. The lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of three former and current employees. A spokeswoman for the plant said Frito-Lay did not tolerate discrimination but officials would not comment on the litigation. Tiffany Klosener, an attorney for the employees, said they sued after the behavior became too much to bear, and in…
Health Department Director Julie Gibbs joined KMAN in the 7 am hour to provide our COVID update.
On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with K-State Research & Extension Director Gary Fike. We also spoke with Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Karen Hibbard. And in our final segment we spoke with Miranda Urban a co-organizer of a protest against racism in Manhattan, happening Saturday.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Despite opposition from the state’s top health director, the Kansas State Fair will be held this year. The state fair board voted Tuesday to have the 10-day fair in September. Secretary of Health Lee Norman told the board before its vote that the fair should not be held because of public health concerns. Masks will be required only at indoor commercial and competitive display areas and crowd sizes will not be limited. Fair General Manager Robin Jennison said the staff has devised plans to respond to health concerns and those plans will be fine-tuned as needed.
Officials will not attempt to capture an alligator that was seen in the Wildcat Creek and Linear Trail area Wednesday evening. According to a City of Manhattan release, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has been contacted by animal control to determine how to approach the situation Officials do not believe the alligator poses a threat to the public, but anyone in the area is still advised to be cautious. “We really want people to remain on the trail,” Deb Watkins, the T. Russel Reitz Animal Shelter director, said. “There is no reason to go off the trail.” Linear…
OLATHE, Kan. — A Missouri man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for a 2018 shooting outside a Kansas elementary school that killed one man and left another paralyzed. WDAF-TV reports that 34-year-old Anthony Grable of Kansas City will not be eligible for parole for 50 years. He pleaded guilty last year to first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and burglary. Grable was installing playground equipment at Sunrise Point Elementary in July 2018 when a fight over tools escalated to a crime spree. Grable shot and killed Todd Eugene Davis and critically injured Efren Joaquin Gomez.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas’ top public health official predicts the state will face steeper increases in new coronavirus cases. State health secretary Dr. Lee Norman also suggested Wednesday that Kansas blew its chance for a summer pandemic respite by reopening its economy too quickly. Norman blamed a recent surge in new reported cases on gatherings over the long Memorial Day weekend and the lifting of statewide restrictions on businesses and gatherings on May 26. He said Kansas is not “anywhere close” to leaving the first wave of the pandemic. Norman’s comments came after the Kansas State Fair’s board voted to…