Potential delay of jury trials The Pottawatomie County Attorney’s Office currently has three jury trials scheduled to begin in August, but those may be delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. “Right now, our Supreme Court does not want us to hold any jury trials unless it is a constitutional violation of speedy trial, which we are not (in violation) on any of our current cases,” Sherri Schuck, Pottawatomie County attorney, said. The right to a “speedy trial” is laid out in the sixth amendment of the U.S. Constitution and ensures that a defendant will be granted a trial within a…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. — Another surge in coronavirus cases has pushed the number reported in Kansas during the pandemic past 23,000 and reported COVD-19-related deaths past 300. The report of another increase in cases came as Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly prepared to issue an order aimed at delaying the reopening of the state’s K-12 public schools for three weeks from mid-August to after Labor Day. The state health department said Monday that Kansas’ total cases grew by 6.2% since Friday. The department said there were 1,369 new cases to bring the total to 23,334. The agency reported eight new COVID-19-related deaths…
TOPEKA, Kan. — A civil rights group says it has resolved a lawsuit challenging a blanket ban on signs and restrictive permits for protests at the Kansas Statehouse. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said Monday in a news release that under the terms of the dismissal, individuals and groups no longer need a permit or a legislative sponsor to reserve space. Hand-held signs are no longer banned. And a person can only be banned from from the Statehouse if they break the law, not just for a rules violation.
WICHITA, Kan. — Police say a 62-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly trying to abduct a 10-year-old boy who was walking on a sidewalk in Wichita. The Wichita Police Department said Monday that 62-year-old Webb Ketcherside has been booked on suspicion of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child and attempted aggravated kidnapping. Ketcherside is accused of approaching the boy at about 4:50 p.m. Sunday, making sexually explicit comments and grabbing his arm. The boy was able to break free and run to a QuikTrip for help. An investigation led police to Ketcherside, a registered sex offender who was arrested…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say a hit-and-run crash involving three vehicles has left one driver dead and closed a bridge for hours. Police say the crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Monday on the 7th Street Trafficway bridge. Investigators say the crash happened when a speeding pickup truck cross the median and side-swiped car before crashing head-on with a white utility truck. Police say the male driver of the car died at the scene, while a passenger in the car and the utility truck diver were uninjured. Police say the driver of the pickup ran from…
On Tuesday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr and Mayor Usha Reddi.
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 criminal damage to property near the intersection of S Scenic Dr and Stagg Hill Rd in Manhattan on July 17, 2020, at approximately 8:39 AM. Officers listed the Kansas…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A review of records by The Associated Press shows that Kansas residents who want to learn about their state legislators’ financial interests have about a 50% chance of finding the information online. To see a report that’s not online a resident must visit or call the secretary of state’s office in Topeka and request a copy at 50 cents a page. Secretary of State Scott Schwab’s office says the issue is that about half of lawmakers file the disclosures on paper rather than online, and outdated equipment prevents staff from uploading the forms to the computer…
GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Police in the Kansas City suburb of Gardner, Kansas, say a 19-year-old man has died in a crash there. Television station WDAF reports that the crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 35. Investigators say the man’s northbound car missed an exit, launched into a grassy area and rolled. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police had not released his name by Monday morning. An investigation into the crash continues.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Spirit AeroSystems sent some employees notices about voluntary layoffs, citing the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and the grounding of the 737 Max. The Wichita Eagle reported.he five-page notice that went out Friday says both reduced overall demand for new commercial airplanes, and that as a result, “production rates for commercial aircraft have fallen from historic highs to much lower volumes. The notice says there is “no expectation for a quick recovery.” It is unclear how many employees are affected. The announcement follows months of layoffs and furloughs in the aviation industry.