HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Hutchinson police say a 29-year-old woman who was found unconscious in an alley in August has died. The Hutchinson News reports Lora Beth Stratton had been on life support at a Wichita hospital since she was found strangled on Aug. 24. She died Wednesday. Two people were arrested in Stratton’s assault. Reno County Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton says he has filed a motion to amend the charge against Isaac Granville Ervin but a hearing on that motion has not been set. Stanton said he will seek a first-degree murder charge against Ervin, who is currently charged…
Author: KMAN Staff
WINFIELD, Kan. (AP) — A custodian at a south-central Kansas high school has been charged with child sex crimes. Twenty-one-year-old Brenden Jantzen was charged Wednesday with one count indecent liberties with a child, a girl under the age of 16. Winfield Police say he was arrested over the weekend after the allegations were reported to law enforcement. His job duties at Winfield High School also included working in the in-school suspension program.
On Thursday edition of In Focus we spoke with Dr. Ken Burton – NBAF Coordinator, Marty Vanier, and Dr. David Keffer, about the new Bio Research center. Governor’s Military Counsel Executive Director General Perry Wiggins also stopped by In Focus, and spoke about soldiers returning back to Fort Riley, as well as Apple Days and the Historical Society of Fort Riley.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Republican state treasurer has abandoned a campaign for an open U.S. Senate seat to challenge a first-term GOP congressman he describes as vulnerable to Democratic defeat. Treasurer Jake LaTurner says Rep. Steve Watkins isn’t likely to win re-election. LaTurner’s announcement Wednesday comes a week after former Gov. Jeff Colyer called on him to run for the eastern Kansas seat that Watkins narrowly won last year. Following Wednesday’s announcement, Watkins’ spokesperson Bryan Piligra called the contrast between the two candidates clear, touting Watkins’ “life of service” compared to LaTurner’s “self-service.” “Congressman Watkins is a war veteran,…
Manhattan is seeking proposals for multiple planned public art exhibits in the Downtown area. The City Commission approved a call for submissions for a juried art exhibition Tuesday. Five installations will dot the 3rd Street corridor, placed in 10 potential sites from Blue Earth Plaza past the Manhattan Town Center and ending at Osage Pocket Park. The project is funded via a $10,000 grant from the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. “I think this is a positive step forward,” says Commissioner Linda Morse. “When I travel to other communities, whether it’s in their airport or through their communities, I’m always struck…
Parking at the Manhattan Regional Airport will come at a cost at a yet-to-be determined date. The City Commission unanimously approved a $4.5 million project — including interest — to expand the lot from around 700 spots to around 900 spots, repair existing asphalt of which more than a third is failing and improve lighting among other aspects. A $5 per day fee is estimated to bring in $700,000 per year, which will finance the project which only needs $615,000 per year to cover the bond. The expansion has been in the works for multiple years. Airport Director Jesse Romo…
Wednesday’s guests included USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade and board member Darell Edie, discussing the substance abuse prevention annual report and construction highlights being discussed during the Sept. 4 meeting. Flint Hills Veterans Coalition members also joined us Wednesday to preview the annual Veterans Day Parade November 11. Guests included Past President Dave Ekart, Vice President Chuck Sexton and Entry Coordinator Chuck Tannehill.
The owner of a Manhattan property that was significantly flooded in 2018 has just under 3 months to address health and safety issues identified by code services. If he doesn’t by December 1, the city can demolish it. The L-shaped shopping center at 3003 Anderson Avenue in Plaza West that formerly housed restaurants like La Hacienda and Golden Wok Buffet was inundated by an estimated 7 feet of water in the Labor Day flood of Wildcat Creek. Manhattan code officials say little progress has been made to clean and repair the premises, noting they found mold and rotten food still…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A government snapshot of crop conditions shows the harvest of corn is now under way in Kansas. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Tuesday that 1% of the corn in the state has been harvested, near the 4% average at this point in the growing season. The agency rates half of the corn out in fields in good to excellent condition, with 34% of the crop in fair shape. About 16% is in poor to very poor condition. Other crops are also making progress. About 83% of the soybeans in Kansas are setting pods, with 3%…
LARNED, Kan. (AP) — Kansas prison officials say a 29-year-old man convicted of drug crimes in Lyon County died at the Larned Correctional Mental Health facility. Michael Jared Fancher was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon. An autopsy will be conducted to determine Fancher’s cause of death. Fancher was convicted in Lyon County in 2018 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Kansas Department of Corrections says he was transferred from El Dorado to Larned in February and would have been eligible for parole in July 2024. He had previous convictions for drug possession and drug sales. The corrections department and…