Property tax was a hot topic Wednesday at the 2026 area Kansas state legislators meeting as Republican state officials disagreed with their Democrat counterparts and city representatives on who should address the issue. Sen. Brad Starnes, R—22nd District, and Rep. Nathan Butler, R—68th district, said property tax is a top issue for the 2026 legislative session. “There’s going to be a lot of discussion about it,” Starnes said. “It’s the number one topic that’s been hit on all of our doorsteps, and what I continually receive the most emails about regarding that and the importance.” To view the full article…
Author: Rose Gruenbacher
Manhattan City Manager Danielle Dulin presented the city’s vision of growth for the U.S. Highway 24 corridor in east Manhattan. In the next 50 years, Dulin said the city hopes to develop 400 acres for housing and 700 acres for industrial use. Dulin said the city’s community development team created a vision for development in the area along U.S.–24 between Excel Road and Lake Elbo Road. They will continue to work with the Pottawatomie County commissioners to progress development and work through challenges. She said everyone was excited when the development team presented their vision to the commission. Dulin said…
A man charged with second degree murder appeared in Riley County District Court Tuesday for a status hearing. Erick Sanchez-Chavez, 29, of Manhattan appeared via Zoom from the Riley County Jail. He faces charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threat. Police arrested him last month following an investigation into the Dec. 6 killing of 36-year-old Mark Rickenbaker. Sanchez-Chavez’s defense attorney, David McDonald, told Judge John McNish that he hadn’t requested or received discovery materials yet and said he’d be looking into a possible competency issue with his client. Sanchez-Chavez is set for another…
A Manhattan woman made her first appearance in Riley County District Court Monday afternoon for a case charging her with helping a man charged with the murder of 36-year-old Mark Rickenbaker. Joleann Cathleen Killham, 24, is charged with obstructing apprehension or prosecution and interference with law enforcement. A complaint filed with the court said Killham harbored, concealed or aided Erick Sanchez-Chavez when he was identified as a suspect in Rickenbaker’s murder. The same document said Killham concealed, altered or destroyed evidence in the case. Killham was arrested Dec. 10 after continued investigation into Rickenbaker’s murder. She will be represented by…
A suspect identified by the Riley County Police Department for the June 13 arson of Manhattan’s Walmart is currently held in the Dane County Jail in Madison, Wisconsin, for similar charges. Arielle Cole, 45, was arrested by the Madison Police Department and faces charges of negligent handling of burning material, disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and resisting or obstructing. On Nov. 17, a hold was filed for extradition. RCPD representatives identified Cole as the suspect of aggravated arson and criminal trespass at Walmart last June, following a prolonged investigation into a fire that closed the store for the whole of Father’s…
A Manhattan man is scheduled for trial in Riley County District Court after pleading not guilty on Monday to charges including rape and blackmail. Henrry Medrano-Tellez’s trial is scheduled for July 27, after the speedy trial window has closed. Kansas law dictates a defendant held in jail for criminal charges must be brought to trial within 150 days of their arraignment. However, Medrano-Tellez has a hold with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant Riley County attorney John Griffin told Judge John Bosch that Medrano-Tellez’s ICE hold means statutory speedy trial is not an issue. To view the full article visit…
A Topeka man charged with three counts of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy pleaded not guilty to his charges Monday in Riley County District Court. LaMarques Atez Channel was arrested last April following a Riley County Police investigation into an incident from Oct. 25, 2019. All four counts are against a woman born in 1992. One charge of rape stems from a Dec. 10, 2024 incident. Channel’s defense attorney, Joshua Seiden, said he intends to file a motion to dismiss because of “multiplicity of some charges.” Judge Grant Bannister set a five day jury trial for Channel’s case, to start…
Manhattan’s city manager and members of the city commission this month received a letter from United States Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser, expressing concern about remarks made by a Manhattan Municipal Court judge and issuing a warning to the city. Manhattan City Manager Danielle Dulin on Monday confirmed she was “in receipt of a letter from the Department of Justice,” and the concerns within will be addressed. The letter follows an incident Dec. 4 in judge Sarah Barr’s courtroom, in which Kriegshauser said two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in attendance to arrest a woman appearing for charges of driving…
Riley County Police Department representatives on Tuesday said they found no evidence of criminal activity in the investigation of a man’s death last month. Police would not release the name of the man found dead near Linear Trail on Nov. 25. However, comments on RCPD’s social media post to avoid the area and posts made by the man’s mother have revealed him to be 38-year-old Clyde Shull. Shull was found at 7:28 a.m. near a section of Linear Trail between Pottawatomie Avenue and Manhattan Avenue, after police conducted a welfare check. An RCPD spokesperson said there is no reason to…
A new expansion at the Hilton Garden Inn set to complete summer 2026 will bring 40 additional guest rooms, providing accommodation for more attendees of the events held at the hotel’s event center. The hotel currently has 135 rooms available, but with a 29% increase in that department, Katie Bowers, Hilton Garden Inn director of sales, said she hopes to draw more attendees to events the hotel hosts. When the Hilton Garden Inn fills all its reservations, guests reserve rooms with overflow hotels in the adjacent Blue Earth Plaza. “We are still going to definitely work with all of our…