GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Garden City police say a 31-year-old suspect is facing a possible first-degree murder charge after a restaurant owner was killed. Police said in a news release Tuesday that Marcus William Roady was arrested in the death of 69-year-old Ernie Ortiz. Officers found Ortiz Thursday lying the parking lot of the El Conquistador Restaurant in Garden City. He had been shot several times and died later at a hospital. Police have said the shooting could be linked to an attempted robbery. KAKE-TV reports Kansas Department of Corrections records show Roady is on parole for drug and…
Author: KMAN Staff
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas plans to close its Center for STEM Learning and a program designed to attract math and science teachers. Program director Steven Case said Friday that the center and the UKanTeach program will close at the end of the academic year because of budget cuts at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Lawrence Journal-World reports students in the UKanTeach program complete a science, technology, engineering or math bachelor program while also receiving a teaching license in math or some science programs. An email to students in the program said officials in…
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County school district has voted to add LGBTQ protections to its nondiscrimination policy. The Shawnee Mission school board voted unanimously Monday night to adopt the LGBTQ language. It joins nearby districts in Olathe, Blue Valley and De Soto, who have added the nondiscrimination language. The Kansas City Star reports the vote came after 10 residents spoke against changing the policy, while a handful of others supported the proposal. Board member Deb Zila said she believed the change reflected the district’s practice of welcoming all children and trying to accommodate them as best it…
The Pottawatomie County Commission approved a proclamation of a State of Local Disaster Emergency during their meeting Monday Morning. This is in response to sinkholes that recently formed along Hayes Drive due to flooding a couple weeks ago. The commission also unanimously voted to submit an application for a grant from a new Kansas Department of Transportation cost-share program. Public Works director Peter Clark describes the project for which the grant would be used. This project would cost between $1 million and $1.5 million to complete. K-DOT would look for the party receiving the grant to provide at least 15…
Riley County commissioners gave approval to extend the local emergency declaration during their meeting on Thursday. This is still due to flooding experienced from the spring and summer. The idea of extending the declaration was brought up last week to help the city be reimbursed for the recent damages from flooding. Emergency Management Director Pat Collins says not only are they still seeing flooding, but they cannot tell if it is related to recent flooding or earlier in the year. “We still have roads underwater so it’s imperative we continue this on. I don’t see any harm in keeping this…
Tuesday’s guests were Manhattan City Mayor Mike Dodson and City Manager Ron Fehr.
Manhattan residents will soon get a chance to let their hair down for a good cause. Katie’s way, an organization that assists the youth with mental health problems is hosting a fundraiser called Hair for Hope later this month. Katie’s Way Resource Development Coordinatore Deanna Nitschke says all funds raised will go to Katie’s Way. Attendees will also be treated to a hair fashion show where attendees will get to watch different styles go through the runway. The event will cost $25 to attend. There will also be an auction and a raffle to help fundraise. Hair for Hope Chair…
Monday’s program featured Riley County Historical Museum board member Roger Brannan and Rocky Ford School Committee member Doug Tippin discussing one room schools in Kansas and their role in the state’s history as well as baseball in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s in Riley County. We also previewed the Rocky Ford School open house planned for October 6.
Governor Laura Kelly has appointed Assistant Riley County Attorney Kendra Lewison as the next district judge in the 21st Judicial District. Lewison’s appointment fills the vacancy created when former Chief Judge Meryl Wilson retired in June. Her name was one of four submitted to the governor’s office as a finalist for confirmation. The position encompasses Riley and Clay counties. She also becomes the first woman to serve as a district judge in the 21st Judicial District. After serving one year in office, Lewison will stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If…
INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (AP) — A sanitation worker for the southeast Kansas town of Independence has been killed in the crash of a truck. The Wichita Eagle reports that the crash happened Thursday on U.S. 160 as the truck was on its way to the county landfill, killing 20-year-old Taylor Lee Edwards of Independence. Edwards was a temporary worker for the sanitation department. Officials say a second employee in the truck, a 52-year-old man, was hurt and taken to a hospital. The Kansas Highway Patrol says in a report that a driver’s side tire blew out on the truck, sending the…