TOPEKA — A dispute is escalating in Kansas between top Republicans and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration over looser rules for people who receive food assistance. The state Department for Children and Families on Friday released an internal analysis defending the legality of a new policy that makes it easier for adults who are not working to keep receiving food assistance. DCF made the change in May. Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature contend that the policy violates a 2015 law setting stricter requirements for food and cash assistance. They have promised that a committee will review the issue later…
Author: KMAN Staff
HIAWATHA — Authorities have identified a man killed in a small plane crash in the northeastern corner of Kansas north of Hiawatha. Topeka television station KSNT reports that the crash happened late Friday afternoon in a cornfield near Highway 73, just a mile north of the local airport. Emergency responders say the plane was engulfed in flames when they arrived at the scene of the crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Saturday that the pilot, 67-year-old Bruce Lutz of Andover, died in the crash. The patrol says the cause of the crash is not yet known. Members of the Federal…
TOPEKA — Two Kansas lawmakers are encouraging teachers to incorporate culturally relevant studies into their lesson plans. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Democratic Reps. John Alcala and Valdenia Winn have spearheaded the Kansas Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Summer Intensive program, which is in its second year. Alcala helped create the initiative after noticing a lack of representation of various ethnic groups in history text books. The four-week-long program teaches Kansas educators about culturally relevant pedagogy, including Native American, Chicano/Latino, African American and Asian American studies. Teachers then implement the lessons in their classrooms, and share with program directors what did and…
Officers filed a report for theft by deception in Manhattan on June 28, 2019, at approximately 9:45 AM. Officers listed a 32-year-old woman as the victim when she reported an unknown suspect scammed her out of money using the gift card scam. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $20,500.00. Police ask that anyone with information please contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00. Officers filed a report for identity theft and identity…
MANHATTAN — The Riley County Police Department is looking into an incident that scammed a Manhattan woman out of $20,000. Department officials have been warning the public about this type of scam for the last two weeks on its Facebook page, where this information was posted. The scam involves a suspect disguising his or her number as the main line for RCPD’s number. They then use names of RCPD leadership, such as Director Dennis Butler, to convince the victims they are really with the department. So far scammers have used different reasons for calling, but all claim to be associated…
After reviewing more than 100 submissions, the Manhattan Arts and Humanities Advisory Board have settled on seven finalists in the City of Manhattan flag contest. Submissions opened in March 29 and now the choice of Manhattan’s new city flag goes to the public for a vote. Voting opens on Monday, July 1 and closes Sunday, July 14 at 5 p.m. The designer of the winning flag will receive one of the first of the new flags and recognition from Mayor Mike Dodson. Finalist designs were submitted by Kim Medvid, Jordan Peters, Ben Chmiel, Sharon Snyder, Jackson Andre, and Troy Henningson.…
TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that cities have the power to raise the age for buying tobacco products even though state law sets it at 18. The unanimous decision Friday overturns a lower-court order that blocked Topeka from enforcing an ordinance increasing the age for buying tobacco to 21. A company operating Vapebar Topeka and Puffs `n’ Stuff challenged the ordinance just before it was to take effect in January 2018. It argued that the ordinance conflicted with the state law setting the age 18. But the Supreme Court said nothing in the law prevents a city…
WICHITA — A government report shows Kansas growers planted more corn and fewer soybean and sorghum crops in Kansas this spring. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that farmers seeded 5.9 million acres of corn, up 8% from last year. The agency said soybean acreage in Kansas is estimated at 4.7 million acres, down 1% from last year. Sorghum acreage is estimated at 2.65 million acres, down 5% from the previous year. Harvest has finally begun in Kansas for winter wheat crops that were planted last fall. The state is expected to harvest 6.6 million acres of wheat, down…
Riley County Police Department Director Dennis Butler was our guest Friday. Butler discussed details of the department’s new purchase of a Bearcat armored vehicle and why it’s necessary for officers to have that level of protection as well as RCPD’s new policy of no longer printing victim’s names in the daily incident reports.
Four people accused of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school were arrested in Junction City Thursday after police served a search warrant. According to a release by police, officers discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a firearm while performing the search. In addition to the distribution charges, 33-year-old Samantha Goodno, 27-year-old Brandi Leonard and 32-year-old Preston Cressller — all of JC — were charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia. Cressller faces an additional charge of theft of services. 51-year-old Gregory Westfall of Concordia faces all the aforementioned charges as well as possession with…