LIBERTY, Mo. — Kansas county officials have had various reactions to Gov. Laura Kelly’s decision to give them the authority to determine their own coronavirus restrictions. The state’s most populous county, Johnson County, said restrictions limiting how businesses operate and the size of gatherings will now be only guidelines. But Wyandotte, Douglas and Lyon counties chose to keep the restrictions in place for now. Officials in some other counties were planning to meet on Wednesday to discuss a way forward. Kelly on Tuesday changed her previous mandate for a phased reopening of the state’s economy to only recommendations for the…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita police officer is charged with child sex crimes stemming from alleged incidents in 2012 before he was an officer. Wichita police announced Tuesday that Officer Joshua Hageman is charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child. The department said the alleged crimes happened when Hageman was 20. He is accused of inappropriately touching two 15-year-old girls while at a home in Colwich. Police say Hagemen is on administrative leave without pay. He has been a Wichita officer for three years.
WICHITA, Kan. — Police in Wichita have announced an arrest in a nearly 2-year-old murder case. Police say 27-year-old Juan Carlos Caballeros-Yescas was arrested May 9 in El Paso, Texas, and extradited to Kansas on Tuesday. Caballeros-Yescas is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in the July 7, 2018, shooting death of 41-year-old Lucy Mojica in her Wichita home. Police say Caballeros-Yescas was dating Mojica at the time of the killing and quickly focussed on him as the primary suspect. But he had fled the area and couldn’t be found until he was tracked down in Texas earlier this…
Update 6 p.m. By Nick McNamara Two new recoveries were reported Wednesday afternoon, reducing the number of active COVID-19 cases in Riley County to six. That brings Riley County’s numbers to 57 recovered individuals out of 64 cumulative positive tests and one novel coronavirus-related death. Officials Wednesday provided no further updates on any positive individuals. In Riley County’s final live COVID-19 response update on Facebook, Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says the continually improving local conditions does not mean the public should drop its guard. “It’s important to stay the course, wear your mask when you’re out, continue proper hand…
The 45th annual Kaw Valley Rodeo has been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19. The decision came during the Kaw Valley Rodeo Association’s meeting last week. It is not yet certain how this decision will impact the Riley County Fair and other related events, but Riley County K-State Extension Director Gary Fike tells KMAN he believes there will at least be a 4-H fair with all regular exhibits, but is uncertain what that may look like. While nothing is finalized, it is possible the fair could include no carnival. According to Fike, a number of food vendors have already committed…
USD 378 Riley County Schools Superintendent Cliff Williams joined the program along with retiring USD 384 Blue Valley/Randolph Superintendent Brady Burton and incoming Superintendent John Cox for an update on both districts. The final two segments featured a salute to Burton with colleagues calling in to thank him for his 15 years with the school district.
State Sen. Tom Hawk of Manhattan weighed in on Gov. Kelly’s veto of House Bill 2054 Wednesday morning and what it means for her ability to make decisions during the pandemic. 51st District State Rep. Ron Highland of Wamego shared his thoughts on the governor’s decision and what happens now that the legislature has been called back for a special session June 3.
By John Hanna – Associated Press Kansas TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Democratic governor on Tuesday vetoed a sweeping coronavirus measure passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, ratcheting up a partisan dispute over her response to the pandemic and possibly setting up a court fight over her power to direct it. Gov. Laura Kelly not only vetoed the measure approved by lawmakers in the last moments of their 2020 session to curb her emergency powers, but promised to issue a new emergency declaration to replace one that was set to expire. Many Republicans believe she doesn’t have the legal authority to…
The Pottawatomie County Commission will have a little competition in this year’s election for who will be representing District 2. Pat Weixelman, a Pottawatomie County commissioner who has represented District 2 for about 12 years, will face Nancy McCarter, the current Pottawatomie County clerk. KMAN sat down with Pat and talked about his background, why he is running for reelection and his stances on various county issues. This conversation can be found below. Can you tell us a little bit about your family life and your time here in Pottawatomie County? Where in Pottawatomie County do you live? You…
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 1400 block of Chase Pl. in Manhattan in May 25, 2020, at approximately 1:10 PM. Officers listed a 21-year-old female as the victim when she reported…