Author: KMAN Staff

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 4500 block of Anderson Avenue in Manhattan on June 22, 2020, at approximately 7:25 AM. Officers listed Blueville Nursery as the…

Read More

Freedom still rings this September with Boomtown officially back on. Wamego’s annual parade and fireworks show has been officially rescheduled for Sunday, September 6th after receiving approval from the city commission. In addition to the parade and fireworks show, the annual car show will be featured in Wamego City Park and both the Wamego Aquatics Center and Splash Park will be open. Concessions will be available both at the parade and the sports complex during the fireworks show. The band “Departure” will return as well to perform a free concert at the Wamego Rec Complex before the fireworks show. They…

Read More

TOPEKA, Kan. — Embattled Kansas Labor Secretary Delia Garcia has resigned amid escalating problems with the state’s unemployment insurance caseload. Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday she had accepted Garcia’s resignation Sunday night and appointed the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Ryan Wright as acting secretary until a permanent candidate is nominated. On June 10, duplicate payments totaling $7 million were made to more than 4,500 claimants of pandemic unemployment assistance and compensation programs. The Labor Department last week reversed those payments, causing some recipients’ bank accounts to become overdrawn.

Read More

SYRACUSE, Kan. — Authorities have issued a second arrest warrant in a western Kansas killing. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced in a news release that it is seeking 43-year-old Ismael Gomez-Carvajal on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and criminal solicitation in the death of 21-year-old Kevin Palma-Rodriguez. He was found fatally shot Friday at the Country Cafe apartments in Syracuse. A first-degree murder arrest warrant also has been issued for 25-year-old Amner Tejada-Vigil, also known as Jeovany Vijil. The KBI says Gomez-Carvajal and Tejada-Vigil may be driving a purple or blue 2007 Chevrolet Equinox bearing Kansas tag…

Read More

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is recommending that communities wait a little bit longer before moving to the next phase of reopening as cornovirus cases increase. The “Phase Out” stage of Kelly’s Ad Astra reopening plan was set to begin Monday, but Kelly and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are now advising communities to stay in Phase 3 for at least two more weeks. The main difference is that Phase 3 limits mass gatherings to no more than 45 people. The “Phase Out” stage merely urges social distancing but doesn’t limit the size of crowds. The…

Read More

WICHITA, Kan. — Authorities say three people staying in different rooms of a Wichita motel were shot and wounded early Tuesday. Wichita police Officer Charley Davidson said in a news release that the three heard shots being fired outside the Afton Motel and were struck around 1 a.m. Tuesday when they exited their rooms. The victims two men, ages 26 and 60, and a 25-year-old woman were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made. Davidson said the shooting is under investigation.

Read More

TOPEKA, Kan. — Authorities say a passenger in a car that was reported stolen has been killed in a Topeka crash after police called off a pursuit. Police said in a news release that an officer attempted to stop the speeding car around 5:20 .am. Monday, about an hour after receiving a report that the the vehicle had been stolen at gunpoint. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the officer lost sight of the vehicle and ended the pursuit. But a separate officer then observed the stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed before it crashed into a…

Read More

Riley County health department announced Local Health Order No. 13. This new health order is in place due to the recent increase in positive cases, more hospitalizations, and heightened evidence of community spread.  The issue will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday Jun 24 and will remain in effect for 14 days, or until amended, superseded, or rescinded. According to a press release, Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs says the data for the community indicates the need for more restrictions.  The community will need to take steps to protect public safety and prevent the healthcare system from being…

Read More

Pottawatomie County Election Deputy Ashley Rice joined us for segment one along with Commission Chair Dee McKee who joined us for the hour.

Read More

Riley County commissioners Monday approved a contract for advisory services for dispersing federal coronavirus relief funds. The county will contract with Witt O’Brien’s, a Risk Management and Emergency Response Consulting Firm. Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison says Riley County’s portion of the governor’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) spending plan is around $15 million. The county is working on a resolution to be signed by July 15. The county selected this firm based on the magnitude of the dispersal and the firm’s ongoing work with helping Sedgwick County.  Robison says neither county administration, nor any entity in the…

Read More