OLATHE, Kan. — A Johnson County judge has dismissed a misdemeanor domestic battery charge against an Overland Park city councilman but said prosecutors could refile the case later. Councilman Scott Hamblin was charged after police were called to his home on July 21. No injuries were reported. Johnson County Judge James Phelan dismissed the case Thursday after denying the prosecutor’s request for a continuance. Prosecutors said a police officer who was an essential witness couldn’t testify because he is quarantined after exposure to COVID-19. They also said police had not been able to serve the victim a subpoena to testify.
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWERNCE, Kan. — The Kansas Attorney General’s office is moving to dismiss a felony theft case against former University of Kansas researcher Liuqi Gu. However, Assistant Attorney General Paul Brothers said in the motion that the case could be refiled. The motion filed Tuesday says the state needs more time to investigate because of “recent developments” in the case. Prosecutors have alleged Gu used his university discount to get steep cost reductions on scientific equipment, which he then sent to China. Gu was charged in December 2019 with four felonies and two misdemeanors. An evidentiary hearing in the case had…
News from K-State Communications and Marketing Former longtime CEO and dean of Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus, Dennis Kuhlman, died Monday due to complications of COVID-19. Kuhlman served as CEO and dean of the Salina campus from 1997 until his retirement in 2012, leading the campus’s enrollment growth and its establishment as an aviation industry leader. He also grew campus facilities, including the addition of the Student Life Center, which opened in 2009. K-State President Richard Myers says Kuhlman’s leadership “helped establish our Polytechnic campus in Salina as one the preeminent aviation and applied technology institutions in the country. The university…
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 and criminal damage to property in the 2600 block of Blueline Cir. in Manhattan on December 9, 2020, at approximately 7:22 a.m. Officers listed a 21-year-old female as…
Fort Riley guests included Specialist Tabetha Tinsley and Sgt. Ryan Tate speaking about Operation Santa Claus, the annual toy drive for children of Fort Riley soldiers. We also heard from Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Champagne about the 1st Infantry Division Band’s virtual holiday concert. Champagne and Staff Sgt. Elliot Chodkowski performed two holiday songs as part of their appearance on the program Thursday. Ascension Via Christi President and CEO Bob Copple was our guest on the latter half of Thursday’s show, speaking on the potential timeline for a rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines in Kansas as well as successes the…
A COVID-19 vaccination is just around the corner. Ascension Via Christi President and CEO, Bob Copple, tells KMAN vaccines have been made and are waiting for the full approval from the FDA before distribution. On KMAN Thursday morning, Copple said as early as next week, they could have doses of the vaccine in Manhattan and begin vaccinating health care workers. Widespread public access to vaccines still isn’t likely until spring. He says many people may be worried about how quickly this vaccine was produced, but reassures that all safety measures have still been followed. “We’ve seen that throughout this process,”…
Continuing in the fashion of previous years, the “Cops N’ Kids” program will continue to provide gifts to children in the community unable to afford presents. The program originally set out to serve more than 50 families every year, and as it continued, through the gifts from representatives and the general population, the program has served around 75 kids every December. As for the past 30 years, officers or other employees of the police department would meet with the children at Walmart, then would go shopping. This serves the purpose of ensuring the choice the child makes is both appropriate,…
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force The Manhattan City Commission debated Tuesday about whether to vote on establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force next week. Mayor Usha Reddi, who first proposed the idea in August, says the idea is to bring together diversity experts from local organizations to make resources more available to underrepresented and marginalized communities. “There are organizations already in some of these structures, such as the university, such as Fort Riley as well as USD 383, that we can kind of consolidate for our own city and make sure we are more welcoming and inclusive,”…
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 3400 block of Woodduck Way in Manhattan on December 8, 2020, at approximately 6:22 a.m. Officers listed a 47-year-old male as the victim when it was…