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Local business reports nearly $3,000 stolen through fraudulent transactions

KMAN Staff — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:37:45 +0000

Riley County Police are investigating after nearly $3,000 was reportedly stolen from Dillons through fraudulent transactions.

Officers filed the theft report at about 11:11 a.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of Westloop Plaza.

Police said a known 57-year-old male suspect used fraudulent transactions to steal from the company.

The total estimated loss was $2,930.

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Riley County approves EMS internship partnership

Arturo Mauricio-Gonzalez — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:16:11 +0000

The Riley County Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between Riley County and Wichita State University to provide internship opportunities for emergency medical students with Riley County emergency services.

Students would complete a background check and county orientation before beginning an internship.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Manhattan woman pleads not guilty to arson

Rose Gruenbacher — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:19:46 +0000

A Manhattan woman will go to trial in December, after pleading not guilty to arson on Monday in Riley County District Court.

Virgina Lynn Beneux, 46, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated arson of an apartment building and one count of criminal damage. A jury will hear her case during a 3-day trial beginning on Dec. 28.

Beneux was arrested for the alleged crimes on Feb. 26 and is still incarcerated.

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Manhattan woman pleads not guilty to arson

Rose Gruenbacher — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:19:46 +0000

A Manhattan woman will go to trial in December, after pleading not guilty to arson on Monday in Riley County District Court.

Beneux was arrested for the alleged crimes on Feb. 26 and is still incarcerated.

The post Manhattan woman pleads not guilty to arson appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

Riley County commissioners weigh ‘special use’ classification for data centers, battery storage

KMAN Staff — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:21:53 +0000

Riley County officials recommended commissioners designate data centers and battery storage systems as “special use,” allowing for review by county staff, the planning board and the county commission while also allowing for public input.

The standards for data centers and battery energy storage systems would differ from those for wind and solar energy, but Riley County planning and special projects director Amanda Webb said creating specific criteria would be consistent with the county’s existing approach to specialized land uses.

Commissioners also considered scheduling speakers to better inform them amid regulation talks. Webb presented speaker proposals to county commissioners Monday. The county is in a moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage systems, which lasts through Nov. 12.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Clay Center man injured after pickup leaves road, hits electrical pole

KMAN Staff — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:33:16 +0000

21-year-old Clay Center man was injured early Saturday in a single-vehicle crash in Riley County.

Riley County Police responded at about 12:59 a.m. to the 17000 block of Green-Randolph Road, where a 2013 Dodge Ram 2500 driven by Elijah Burton had gone off the road and damaged an electrical pole and the concrete wall of a ditch.

Burton was transported to Clay Center Hospital for his injuries.

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Riley County weighs administrator benefits, first-year goals

Arturo Mauricio-Gonzalez — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:02:01 +0000

Riley County commissioners fine-tuned the pay and expectations for the new county administrator position during their Thursday meeting.

The administrator will report to the county commission and oversee more than a dozen departments, including emergency services, health, finance, the county appraiser, county counselor and human resources.

Human resources director Elizabeth Ward presented information on the proposals. The commission discussed potential benefits Aug. 20 and directed staff to explore the costs and potential options.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Wilkerson says he won’t run again

KMAN Staff — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:53:47 +0000

By Ned Seaton

Barry Wilkerson, the top criminal prosecutor in Riley County for more than two decades, is going to step away.

He won’t seek re-election for county attorney in 2028, he told The Mercury in an interview Monday.

He still gets satisfaction from the job, he said, but at age 62, “it’s just time for somebody else to take over,” he said. It’s tougher for him to work the hours that he said the job requires. He said he’d been thinking about stepping out for awhile, and after discussing it with family, he told people in his office this week and then The Mercury, saying he’d always tried to be transparent with the press and the public.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Kansas City man pleads guilty to forgery, theft

Rose Gruenbacher — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:14:33 +0000

A Kansas City man pleaded guilty to charges including theft and forgery on Aug. 17 in Riley County District Court.

Kahlil Adams Kilian, 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery, two counts of felony theft and attempted theft after reaching a plea agreement with state prosecutors. In return for his plea, Killian’s remaining three charges of identity theft were dropped.

Court documents identified multiple victims in the case. A man and woman were listed as victims of forged checks and Cat Cans, KS State Bank, Community First National Bank and Mike’s Plumbing were included as victims for the counts of theft and attempted theft.

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Riley County commissioners approve exchange of $323,000 in federal funds

Arturo Mauricio-Gonzalez — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:44:43 +0000

Riley County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a request to exchange more than $323,000 in federal transportation funds for state dollars that will be used for future transportation projects.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is making $323,157 available to Riley County for the 2026 federal fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. John Ellermann, Riley County public works director and county engineer, presented the request to commissioners.

“The exchange of federal dollars for state dollars, it gives us a little bit more freedom to do projects the way we want to do them without a lot of federal regulation behind them,” Ellerman said.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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