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…
Author: KMAN Staff
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…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Two Topeka police officers who shot and killed a man in 2017 will not be added to a lawsuit filed by the man’s family. Attorneys for Dominique White’s family acknowledged this week that a legal rule prevents them from pursuing a wrongful death count against the officers. A federal judge signed an order Tuesday making the effort moot. Officers Justin Mackey and Michael Cruse shot White in the back as he ran away from them in September 2017 in a Topeka park. The officers were cleared of criminal wrongdoing. The family’s lawsuit alleging the city failed to…
Riley County has confirmed six new positive coronavirus cases and 10 additional recoveries since Monday. This brings the total number of active cases to 23. Ascension Via Christi Hospital is not currently caring for any COVID-19 positive patients. The percent positive rate for the week of March 21 was 1.1 percent, or 18 positive cases out of 1,648 total tests. Riley County began Phase 5 vaccinations this week, which includes anyone age 16 and older. The administering of second doses, also known as boosters, will begin tomorrow (Thursday). Two mobile vaccine clinics will be rolled out this week. The first…
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 rape in Manhattan on March 30, 2021, at approximately 12:21 p.m. Officers listed a 35-year-old female as the victim and a 56-year-old male known to her as the suspect.…
Guests Wednesday included Tuttle Creek State Park Manager Todd Lovin and Riley County game warden with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Ben Jedlicka. We also spoke to Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jack Allston about their annual report and positive economic outlook based on 2020 figures.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A troubled Kansas foster care management provider has reached an agreement with the state to repay $9.4 million in unspent grant funds. The deal that the Kansas Department for Children and Families announced it had reached Tuesday with St. Francis Ministries comes on the heels of earlier controversies. In January, Nebraska agreed to pay millions more to St. Francis after it significantly underbid the company that used to provide child welfare services in the Omaha area. And Kansas officials announced in December that St. Francis employees had falsified documents to show visits with families that never took place. DCF spokesman…
The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation celebrated the seventh annual Community Foundation Awards Monday, this time in a virtual format. Despite the awards ceremony being canceled last year due to the pandemic, the show went on as local businesses, organizations and people were recognized through a video created by 502 strategic marketing agency for their efforts to improve their community. Several awards celebrating local volunteer efforts were handed out, including the Rising Star Volunteer Award, which is reserved for those under 50-years old. The Rising Star Volunteer Award went to Manhattan Soup Kitchen co-founder Shelly Williams, “My dream for Manhattan Soup…