TOPEKA, Kan. — A report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights says the number of women in prison in Kansas is growing far faster than the number of men, outpacing national trends. Kansas News Service reports that from 2000 to 2019, the women’s prison population in Kansas rose by 60% while the men’s rose by 14%. The report doesn’t say why Kansas’ female prison population grew so much, but policy changes intended to reduce the number of inmates likely had different effects on men and women. Topeka Correctional Facility Warden Gloria Geither says the prison is trying to manage…
Author: KMAN Staff
GOVE COUNTY, Kansas — A motorcycle rider who was escorting the body of a World War II veteran died after he lost control of his motorcycle in western Kansas, and a second deadly crash happened minutes later when a car crashed into a firetruck responding to the first crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the motorcycle crash happened on Interstate 70 in Gove County shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday. The second crash happened a few minutes later. The motorcycle driver was identified as 65-year-old Lennie Riedel of Colby, Kansas. The car’s driver was 81-year-old Cal Silvrants of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
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 aggravated criminal threat in the 2200 block of College Heights in Manhattan on February 28, 2020, at approximately 7:50 AM. Officers listed a 17-year-old male as the victim when…
National Weather Service Topeka Meteorologist Sarah Teefey joined us to discuss upcoming storm spotter classes during Severe Weather Awareness Week. Riley County Emergency Management Coordinator Laurie Harrison and Fort Riley Emergency Manager Chris Hallenbeck discussed Severe Weather Awareness week and highlighted the importance of having an emergency plan and kit and how to get notified in a severe weather event. Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department Aquatics Specialist Sydni Baker and Recreation Coordinator Molli Maberry discussed upcoming events including summer program registration, the Little Apple Bike Swap and Youth Outdoor Adventure Challenge in addition to events for Lifelong Rec and Special…
A groundbreaking ceremony for a new recreation center took place next to Anthony Middle School on Friday. The new facility will feature basketball courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, a walking track and artificial turf. Manhattan City Commissioner and former USD 383 Board of Education member Aaron Estabrook says this building is first in a series of rec centers set to be built in Manhattan. He also says these rec centers will be open to both middle-school students and Manhattan residents. Construction on the recreation-portion of the Anthony Middle School rec center is scheduled to finish in January 2021. Manhattan Mayor…
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 aggravated false impersonation in the 2000 block of Plymouth Road in Manhattan on February 27, 2020 at approximately 8:51 AM. Officers listed a 60-year-old man as the victim when…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Kansas college football player and the wounding of current New York Giants cornerback Corey Ballentine will get a new competency hearing. A hearing to determine if Francisco Alejandro Mendez is competent to stand trial on first-degree murder charges was delayed Thursday after a doctor said Mendez had not been truthful or cooperated with his evaluation. After Mendez said he would cooperate, a new hearing was scheduled for March 9. Mendez faces 12 charges after the shooting last year that killed Dwane Simmons and wounded Corey Ballentine, just hours…
DURHAM, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say the driver of a pickup truck has died in a collision with a freight train in central Kansas. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 9 p.m. Thursday at a railroad crossing in the Marion County town of Durham. The patrol says 50-year-old Ronald Myhre, of Gypsum, died at the scene. The patrol says it is unclear why Myhre didn’t stop before hitting the Union Pacific train.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police say a 19-year-old man died in a shooting in central Topeka. Police said Ja’Sean Alston of Topeka was killed early Friday. WIBW reports arriving officers found Alston suffering from life-threatening injuries inside a car. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police did not provide any further information.
Kansas State University has licensed a technology that may lead to production of an antiviral drug to treat coronaviruses and noroviruses. This comes as worldwide concern increases over the novel cornavirus outbreak, COVID-19. A release from the university Friday said two K-State College of Veterinary Medicine virologists, Yungeong Kim and Kyeong-Ok “KC” Chang along with Wichita State University medicinal chemist William Groutas have been using grants from the National Institutes of Health to work on human norovirus therapeutics. They recently received a $3.7 million grant to develop antiviral drugs to treat Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, better known as the MERS…