The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

MICHEL LOUISE KNIGHT, 37, Manhattan, DUI; 1ST CONV; COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF BLOOD; Bond $1500

Hill has a previous drug conviction, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections

CHASITY LEANNE TRIPLETT, 59, Enterprise, Failure to Appear (2x) Bond $7500

ANTONIO TERRELL HILL, 46, OGDEN, DIST HEROIN/CERTAIN STIMULANTS; 3.5-<100GM; Bond $10,000

DARIUS JAROD BASS, 27, Manhattan, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION; Bond $750

VELDER JOSEPH DANIAL BOOTH, 32, Manhattan, Failure to Appear (2x) Bond $535

CITATION REPORT

SAMANTHA TEDESCHI, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:43 PM.

CHRISTIAN PERRY, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:50 PM.

AUTUMN MCDONNELL, 18, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT CLAFLIN RD & N SETH CHILD RD IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (14-104) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:25 PM.

KYLER MARTINEZ, 18, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:05 AM.

CAMERON DRZAZGA, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:05 AM.

JACOB BLAKEMORE, 18, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:55 AM.

LEVI GRIFFIS, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1 AM.

EMMA BURNS, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR LIQUOR; PURCHASE BY MINOR 18-20 YRS; UNKNOWN CONVICTION (41-0727AB) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11 PM.

EMMA BURNS, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR NON-DRIVER ID CARD; UNLAWFUL USE (08-1327) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11 PM.

MICHAEL TAYLOR, 20, WAMEGO, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:44 PM.

JAMIN ROSCOE, 27, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:01 AM.

NELSON REEVES, 22, DE SOTO, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK N MANHATTAN AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY (8-47) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:32 PM.

EMMA HEIMERMAN, 22, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1900 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12 PM.

KATHRYN HAFFNER, 22, BELOIT, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT SOUTHWIND RD & S SETH CHILD RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FAIL TO STOP AT RED LIGHT (4-13(C)) ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:55 AM.

BRITTANY FUNK, 20, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT DENISON AVE & COLLEGE HEIGHTS RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY LEFT TURN (158) ON MARCH 12, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:15 AM.

ROTEM ARIELI, 23, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT PIERRE ST & S 8TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON MARCH 12, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10 AM.

ALEXANDER GIUFFRIDA, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 AM.

RILEAH SOTELO, 20, WAMEGO, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK LARAMIE ST IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:14 AM.

LAUREN MILLER, 19, OF 245 NE 30TH RD, GREAT BEND, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT SUNSET AVE & ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (14-104) ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:37 PM.

GEORGETTE PERRY, 55, LOUISVILLE, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2200 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (31-18) AND FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:39 PM.

TINASHA WATSON, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1500 BLK COLLEGE AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR EMERGING FROM ALLEY OR PRIVATE DRIVE (12-80) ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:27 PM.

KATHERINE NORRIS, 23, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2400 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:33 PM.

KATIE NICHOLAS, 41, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2400 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:29 PM.

PABLO MARRERO SOTOMAYOR, 46, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2400 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:46 PM.

MARION JACKSON, 51, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2400 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:05 PM.

CHEYENNE HOOPER, 21,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1600 BLK FAIRCHILD AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR ADULT SEAT BELT (17-182.1) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:54 PM.

HUNTER GRANT, 19, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1127 MORO ST; TUBBYS BAR AND GRILL IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:10 AM.

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RILEY COUNTY —  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child abuse allegations.

Just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday, police filed a report for aggravated battery, abuse of a child and aggravated endangering a child at a home the 3100 Block of Heritage Court in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Officers listed a 6-month-old boy as the victim. EMS transported the child for treatment, according to RCPD Public Information Officer Hali Rowland

Authorities did not report an arrest and did not release the name of the 24-year-old suspect.

The Sock-it-to-‘em Sock Campaign aims to cover the feet of as many of those in need as possible.

Join the fun on March 30, 2018 as we “Rock the Night Away” to some swingin’ tunes from the 50’s and 60’s, admire some sweet rides at the Classic Car Show, enjoy a meal and adult beverages while raising money for the Sock It To ‘Em campaign.

Each $25 ticket includes meal, drink ticket, dancing and fun. Bring a pair of new socks with you… let’s see how many socks will fit in a car trunk!

Entertainment provided by Michael B. and Chappie with Dave Lewis as MC

Classic Car Show – 5pm to 6:30pm

Event & Bar Opens – 6pm

Dinner – 7pm

Sock Hop – 7:30pm to 10pm

Best Costume Award – 9pm

photo courtesy Manhattan Town Center

Manhattan Town Center

MANHATTAN, KAN.–Manhattan Town Center along with presenting sponsor kstate CREDIT UNION are hosting the Easter bunny at Center Court this spring season for fun photos and an interactive set.

The large Easter set features animatronic bunnies in various activities as well as larger-than-life decorated Easter eggs along with a waterfall feature. Special discounts for military can be found on the mall website www.manhattantowncenter.com.

 “We invite kids of all ages to come check out our awesome spring-themed Easter display at Center Court” said Jeff Sutton, Manhattan Town Center Marketing Manager. “And as usual, Manhattan Town Center will be honoring the Easter holiday and will be closed for business on Sunday, April 1.”

 The Easter Bunny is available for photos daily through Saturday, March 31. Hours of the Easter bunny event are 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Break times will be posted each day.

Manhattan Town Center will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 1. Restaurant, movie theatre and department store hours may vary.

Hill has previous convictions for aggravated assault, according to the Kansas Offender Registry

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 LAURA LYNNE HUSER, 57, Manhattan, DUI; 2ND CONV; COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF BLOOD; Bond $1500

RICK JAMES HILL, 33, Junction City, THEFT OF PROP/SERVICES; $1500K-$25K IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE;OPERATE W/O CRIMINAL DAMAGE PROPERTY; <$1000; Bond $5000

JEFFREY ALAN HUGHES, 45, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $750

JOHN MICHAEL DRAYTON MONROE, 20, Junction City, Failure to Appear; Bond $6000

RICKY DION DUNKLIN, 23, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $5000

TRE RAVON SMITH, 25, Manhattan, Probation violation; Bond $6000

Smith has previous convictions for a sex crime and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

OSCAR TOMAS ZAPATA JR, 22, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $5000

AMBER DAWN BLACKABY, 32, Manhattan, Probation violation; Bond $1500

TERRANCE WILLIAM BURROW, 30, Manhattan, CRIMINAL DAMAGE PROPERTY; <$1000; Probation Violation; Bond $1750

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man charged with sexually assaulting a male University of Missouri-St. Louis student at gunpoint earlier this month inside an on-campus apartment is charged with a similar crime at a Kansas State University fraternity house.

Bagley-photo St. Louis Co. Jail

Devonta Bagley, 23, Belton, Missouri, is jailed on $500,000 bond on charges of sodomy, armed criminal action and burglary in the Missouri case. No attorney is listed for him in online Missouri court records.

He faces similar charges in Riley County, Kansas, where court records say he sexually assaulted a 20-year-old inside the Sigma Chi fraternity house in September while the man was “unconscious or physically powerless.”

Officials say Bagley had been a graduate student at UMSL, but was expelled last fall after a student conduct hearing.

By MADELINE FOX

Kansas’ child welfare agency wants to hire a second full-time investigator to track down kids missing from the state’s foster system.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families building in Topeka. DCF requested additional money in its budget to find and bring back missing children in its care.

The move comes in the wake of reports last October, when the Department for Children and Families was run by Phyllis Gilmore, that the agency had lost track of three sisters who’d run away from a Tonganoxie foster home.

DCF is taking that one step further by requesting $150,000 for its annual budget to hire a second investigator to bring back missing kids. Currently, DCF has one full-time investigator, but the money the agency is requesting would bring a second person on board, and give both a dedicated travel budget.

This is the first time DCF has asked to set aside money for travel to specifically look for runaway youth, according to DCF spokeswoman Theresa Freed. More than $90,000 of the requested amount would go toward travel for the two investigators and any other staff who might be needed to bring missing kids home.

Rep. Barbara Ballard, who brought DCF’s budget requests to the House’s budget-writing committee, said travel costs are expected to be high because travel is often last-minute and costly. When the state locates missing children, a DCF employee would usually have to catch a plane or otherwise hurry to get to the child before he or she runs or is taken elsewhere.

Some lawmakers on the House Appropriations committee balked at the requested amount, but ultimately agreed to fund a smaller amount for this year, and the full $150,000 for successive years.

The number of kids missing from care has varied since this time last year, averaging 82 kids missing per month and peaking in November, at 93 children.

Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.

ALMA, Kan. (AP) — No charges will be filed in the fatal shooting death of a man last month in Wabaunsee County.

County Attorney Tim Liesmann announced Thursday that the shooting of 36-year-old Chad Thomas-Buckbee in Alma was a justified self-defense shooting.

Liesmann said the shooting occurred after Thomas-Buckbee began acting aggressively toward a family member, who tried to lock him out of the house.

He says Thomas-Buckbee got inside the house and was shot after he injured a family member. He died later at a Wamego hospital.

Liesmann did not identify the shooter or the person who was injured.

RILEY COUNTY —Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in February. This was down from 3.5 percent in January and down from 3.8 percent in February 2017, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.

“The state continues to maintain job growth in spite of a short supply of workers,” said Secretary Lana Gordon.

In Riley County, the jobless rate remained at 2.8 percent in February. It was also steady at 3.1 percent in Pottawatomie County. Geary County saw a slight increase form 4.7- 5 percent in February. Wabaunsee County also saw a tiny increase from 3.7-3.8 percent.

Statewide, seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 500 from January. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 200 from the previous month.

“Kansas is experiencing a tight labor market with low unemployment and increased demand for labor as reflected in recent gains in jobs, hours, and real earnings,” said Labor Market Information Director, Justin McFarland.

Since February 2017, Kansas gained 7,700 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 6,000 private sector jobs.

MANHATTAN, KAN. – Additional officers will be present in Aggieville on Saturday, March 24, 2018 to accommodate anticipated celebratory crowds when the Kansas State Wildcats play in the Elite 8 round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. 

Access to Aggieville and the roadways surrounding Triangle Park will be closed to all vehicle traffic beginning at Noon on Saturday. Road closures include: Manhattan Ave. from Anderson to Moro, Moro from Manhattan Ave. to 11^th St. and 12^th St. from the North alley on Moro to the South alley on Moro. 

The Riley County Police Department is requesting local bar owners minimize hard beverage container use if possible. 

The Manhattan Fire Department and Riley County EMS will have additional staff scheduled Saturday. The Kansas Highway Patrol will be providing additional troopers to patrol in and around the Manhattan area.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CHICAGO (AP) — The mayors of Chicago and Overland Park, Kansas, have made a friendly wager on the outcome of the NCAA Elite Eight basketball tournament game between Loyola-Chicago and Kansas State.

Mayor Carl Gerlach- was a 4 year letterman for KSU basketball

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he’ll send Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach Chicago-style pizza from Loyola student favorite J.B. Alberto’s Pizza. Gerlach says he’ll send Emanuel ribs from Kansas City-style barbecue restaurant Q39. The losing mayor also will make a donation to a charity of the winning mayor’s choice.

Emanuel has chosen Chicago’s Becoming A Man youth mentoring program. Gerlach has picked Overland Park’s Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead.

9th seed Kansas State takes on 11th seed Loyola-Chicago at 5:09 p.m. CT on Saturday in Atlanta.

By DAN MARGOLIES

Almost 1,000 veterans in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois were denied care at non-VA facilities because their wait times were incorrectly reported, an audit released last week concludes.

The report, by the Office of Inspector General for the Veterans Health Administration, found that 18 percent of appointments for new patients at VA facilities in the three states had wait times longer than 30 days. The facilities’ own electronic scheduling systems, however, showed only 10 percent had wait times of more than 30 days.

The Kansas City VA Medical Center was among the VA facilities found to have misstated wait times in an audit by the Office of Inspector General for the Veterans Health Administration.
CREDIT VETERANS HEALTH

The inaccurate wait-time data meant that veterans were not identified as eligible for treatment through the VA’s Choice program, which allows veterans who face wait times of more than 30 days, or have to travel more than 40 miles to a VA facility, to seek care at non-VA facilities.

Because wait times were not accurately measured, the inspector general report estimated that staff failed to offer 970 patients the option of receiving care through the Choice program.

The VA came under fire in 2014 amid disclosures that the VA Medical Center in Phoenix had falsified records to conceal long wait times. The scandal prompted a shakeup in the VA health system, including the resignation of Eric K. Shinseki, the secretary of Veterans Affairs. Since then, inspector general reports have found similar problems at other VA facilities across the country.

The new report looked at wait times in the VA region that includes VA facilities in Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Wichita, Topeka and Leavenworth, Kansas; and Marion, Illinois. The region is known as VISN 15 (VISN stand for Veterans Integrated Service Network and encompasses VA medical centers and clinics in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and Arkansas).

“The main thing that is most troubling to me is that the through lines and the themes that contributed to the problems we were seeing with wait times at so many of the facilities as far back as 2014 still seem to be in place,” said Charles Hughes, a policy analyst with the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute who has written about VA wait times.

“I’m not talking about willful manipulation or anything in that vein, but just inconsistent enforcement of the processes that are supposed to be in place,” Hughes said. “Sometimes facility staff doesn’t quite understand what they’re supposed to be doing and the end result is more veterans are waiting longer than the data indicates. And in a lot of cases that can lead to them not getting timely care or being inappropriately not made eligible for the Choice program.”

Kevin T. Arnhold, a spokesman for VISN 15, said in an email that the facilities “appreciate the inspector general’s review and we welcome the oversight because we know it makes us better.”

“And while this report highlighted opportunities for improvement with respect to our wait times, it also validates VISN 15’s efforts to deliver timely health care to Veterans,” he said. “Nevertheless, we are taking this opportunity to redouble our efforts to provide timely, high-quality care to those who have worn the uniform.”

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said in an email to KCUR that the report “clearly shows there’s more work that needs to be done to ensure wait times are being reported accurately, consults are being managed effectively, and veterans who are eligible for the Choice program are able to get the care they need within 30 days.”

Blunt last year co-sponsored legislation called the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, aimed at protecting whistleblowers while making it easier to fire employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Drew Pusateri, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, said via email that McCaskill was reviewing the inspector general report “but finds many aspects of the audit concerning and will be demanding additional information from the VA.”

The report follows a similar audit of another VA region last year, which also found facilities failing to maintain accurate data on wait times.

Neither report reviewed the quality of the health care provided at the facilities. Rather, they measured wait times for new patients and the accuracy of the facilities’ wait-time data.

The VA health system comprises 1,700 hospitals and clinics, making it the country’s largest integrated health care system.

The new inspector general report says that “VA data reliability continues to be a high-risk area.”

In addition to finding that 18 percent of appointments for new patients overall had wait times exceeding 30 days, the report also found that the wait times for 38 percent of new mental health or specialty care appointments were inaccurate. The report said the average wait time for the 18 percent cohort was 53 days.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth also was among the facilities examined in the audit report.

“Staff continued to enter the wrong date in the scheduling system primarily because VISN 15 and facility management did not ensure staff consistently implemented VHA’s scheduling requirements,” the report stated.

“I think a lot of it is just kind of, I don’t want to say incompetence, but misunderstanding or mistakes or just poor performance,” Hughes, of the Manhattan Institute, said.

He added: “It is a little disheartening that we’re into 2018 now and still having a lot of these same issues.”

Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Radsa Herbert has a previous conviction for Theft, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections

DANIELLE CHRISTINE SULLIVAN, 26, Wichita,DUI; INCAPABLE OF SAFELY DRIVING – 1ST CONV DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 3RD OR + IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE;OPERATE W/O; Bond $2000

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — If Democrat Carl Brewer were Kansas governor, lawmakers might be discussing legalizing marijuana to raise extra money for public schools as they struggle to agree on a plan for satisfying a state Supreme Court mandate on education funding.

Some major candidates for governor, like Brewer, believe the state must boost its annual spending on schools by several hundred million dollars, phasing in such an increase in spending. Several aren’t outlining specific proposals, and conservative Republican Kris Kobach said this week that the court’s demand for more money is “unwarranted.”

The Supreme Court ruled in October that the more than $4 billion a year that the state spends on aid to its 286 local school districts isn’t sufficient under the state constitution.

The court didn’t set a specific spending target but hinted in its decision that it might have to rise by $650 million a year. Republican leaders commissioned a cost study by two out-of-state consultants, only to be stunned when it said improving public schools might cost as much as $2 billion more a year.

Donors, interest groups and political activists are watching the nine major hopefuls ahead of the June 1 candidate filing deadline. Education funding is the biggest financial issue facing the state before the Aug. 7 primary election.

The major Republican candidates are Gov. Jeff Colyer, Kobach, Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and former state Sen. Jim Barnett, a Topeka physician.

The major Democratic candidates are Brewer, the former Wichita mayor; state Sen. Laura Kelly, of Topeka; former state Agriculture Secretary Joshua Svaty; and Kansas House Minority Leader Jim Ward, of Wichita.

Kansas City-area businessman Greg Orman has launched potentially the most serious independent campaign for governor in more than 80 years. He said the next governor would face “a different set of challenges” and Orman expects the Legislature to “do its job” by satisfying the Supreme Court.

Colyer, elevated from lieutenant governor when former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback resigned to take an ambassador’s post, told lawmakers soon after he took office that their plan must end education funding lawsuits and should avoid increasing taxes. Spokesman Kendall Marr pointed to those comments when asked about Colyer’s proposals now.

Selzer’s campaign said he would respond to school funding questions next week.

Brewer and Barnett were the only major candidates to suggest specific revenue-raising measures in statements or interviews with The Associated Press. Barnett pointed to a proposal before lawmakers to impose the state’s sales tax on internet purchases, which by one estimate would raise $93 million a year. He said a roughly $600 million increase could be phased in over three years.

Brewer said the recent GOP-commissioned study makes a funding increase of roughly $600 million appear “reasonable.”

“We need to look at all avenues in increasing the state’s revenue, including legalizing marijuana for medical and recreation use and reducing tax exemptions,” Brewer said in an email statement.

Kelly said increasing education funding by between $100 million and $200 million each of the next three years could satisfy the court. Svaty suggested phasing in an increase of “several hundred million dollars.”

Ward said with state revenues exceeding expectations for the past eight months, it’s premature to talk about raising taxes. Kelly also hopes revenue growth can supply extra dollars for schools for at least several years. Svaty said if lawmakers need to discuss raising revenues later, they should take a broad look at the entire tax system first.

Meanwhile, Kobach promised this week that he would govern with “full-throttle conservatism” if elected, cutting both spending and taxes. He rejected the GOP-commissioned study on public school costs and while he stopped short of saying lawmakers should defy the court, he said the state constitution gives them “sole decision-making” power on taxes and spending.

“Hopefully, the Legislature will do what’s right for the taxpayers of Kansas,” he said. “I think the massive hikes that the report called for and that the Supreme Court called for are unwarranted.”

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 NANA SERWAH FREMPONG, 26, Manhattan, CRIM USE OF FINANCIAL CARD- <$1000 THEFT OF PROP/SERVICES; <$1500; Bond $5000

Besa has previous convictions for aggravated battery, endangering a child, reckless driving and criminal damage to property, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections

JASSICA LEN STOKAN, 37, Manhattan, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION; Bond $750

JESSE DUANE BESA, 30, Manhattan, Probation violation, Bond $532

BERNARDO RODRIGUEZ GAMEZ, 58, Manhattan, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION; Bond $750

RANDALL ANTHONY FLANAGAN, 47, Manhattan, INTERFERE LEO;OBSTR/RESIST/OPPOSE MIS WARR; Bond $1000

TERRELL BERNARD BROOKS, 27, Topeka, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 2ND OR +; Bond $1500

ERICK SANCHEZ CHAVEZ, 21, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $500

HEATHER BRITTNEY WILLIAMSON, 27, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $2000

CITATION REPORT

LISA HAMER, 33, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 500 BLK S 5TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:09 AM.

MEGAN KERN, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 410 FORT RILEY BLVD; MOBILE 1 LUBE EXPRESS IN MANHATTAN FOR THEFT (PETTY) (22-26) ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:11 PM.

JOHN FILES, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 400 BLK WILDCAT CREEK RD IN MANHATTAN FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (08-1558) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:55 AM.

BRIEN BRENNER, 20, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2000 BLK N SETH CHILD RD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:45 AM.

BRIEN BRENNER, 20, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2000 BLK N SETH CHILD RD IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:45 AM.

CAMERON COOPER, 18, ST GEORGE, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT POYNTZ AVE & N 4TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FAIL TO STOP AT RED LIGHT (4-13(C)) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:20 PM.

CINDY ZAMBRANO, 23, ALEXANDRIA, VA WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2300 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY TO PASSING EMERGENCY VEHICLE (161) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:51 PM.

MOHAMMED ATTRAH, 24, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2100 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY TO PASSING EMERGENCY VEHICLE (161) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:46 PM.

NIANFENG XIAO, 44, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2000 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY TO PASSING EMERGENCY VEHICLE (161) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10 AM.

SHERYL JENSEN, 64, ST GEORGE, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 11TH ST & E PARK RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:25 PM.

RICHARD PETRIE II, 24, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT CLAFLIN RD & N MANHATTAN AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR VEHICLE TAGS-EXPIRE/ILLEGBLE (19-198) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM.

JOSUE ALVARADO, 20, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 2710 ANDERSON AVE; SUNFLOWER BANK IN MANHATTAN FOR EMERGING FROM ALLEY OR PRIVATE DRIVE (12-80) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:08 AM.

MARGOT HUTCHISON, 30, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2800 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:32 AM.

KATI TUCKER, 33, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 2710 ANDERSON AVE; SUNFLOWER BANK IN MANHATTAN FOR EMERGING FROM ALLEY OR PRIVATE DRIVE (12-80) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:31 AM.

MYUNG LEE, 67, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT KIMBALL AVE & WREATH AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FAIL TO STOP AT RED LIGHT (4-13(C)) ON MARCH 22, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM.

 

By MADELINE FOX

Kansas Lawmakers moved last week to make a bill to release information about the deaths of children in state custody more transparent.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families is pushing legislation to reveal more about fatal child abuse cases. Now lawmakers want the agency to be even more transparent.
MADELINE FOX / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

In response to several high-profile cases where a child had been brought to the attention of the Department for Children and Families and later died, the bill requires the agency to release information about kids who die as a result of abuse or neglect.

Under terms of the bill, an open records request would require DCF to release the child’s age, gender, when they died and a summary of any reports they’d gotten about abuse or neglect in the child’s case. It would also have to report what the department had done in response to those reports.

Lawmakers amended it to apply those same requirements to any child who dies in the state’s custody.

Another amendment says that if the secretary or anyone else asks the court to seal records, anyone requesting the records would be notified. That would allow them to make their case to a judge about why those records should be public.

Rep. John Carmichael, who proposed the amendment, related it to the recent case of Evan Brewer. Carmichael said the media filed requests for information about the death of Evan, a 3-year-old from Wichita whose remains were found encased in concrete. But the didn’t get a chance to go before a judge and argue that it should get access to the records.

The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill, with its amendments. The measure must pass the full House and the Senate to get to the governor’s desk.

Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.