A charter bus with K-State branding crashed Tuesday morning in Oklahoma City while carrying a group of seventh grade students from Lawrence.

Oklahoma City Police said the crash happened near Southeast 44th and Interstate Highway 35. Emergency responders pulled the bus out of a hotel parking lot after a semi-truck driving north struck it.

The passengers of the bus included 24 students from St. John Catholic School and four chaperones. Principal Jeff Harkin said the group was on a trip to see cultural and religious sites in the area. He said the students and chaperones were uninjured and well enough to continue the trip.

K-State athletics representative Kenny Lannou said it was an Arrow bus not owned by the university.

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A Manhattan native and K-State grad who serves on the board that will pick the next university president says he expects that person to be in place by the start of the fall semester next year.

Matt Crocker, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, also says there’s no need for a turnaround artist, since K-State is in a good position with “some wind at its back,” noting rising enrollment and big state and private investments in agriculture facilities and programs.

“It’s on the right track,” Crocker said in a recent interview with The Manhattan Mercury. “I’m confident that with some of the things we’ve seen, we’ll get some very qualified candidates to apply for the position.”

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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With less than a week until votes are counted to elect Kansas’ newest class of legislators, Kansas House of Representatives hopeful Brenda Bandy, a Democrat running for the 67th district, raised the most money among local races with $76,766.

Republican candidate Stacy Kohlmeier reported just under 20% of Bandy’s donations, with $15,375 raised during the same period, which ended Thursday. However, Kohlmeier had the most donations during the primary reporting period with $45,537.

In the 66th district, incumbent Democrat Sydney Carlin raised a total of $18,600. The Republican candidate, Noah Perry, raised $787. Libertarian Andrew Frey did not turn in a finance report.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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Riley County officials are reviewing a new annexation request from the city of Manhattan and considering more frequent coordination between the county and city legal departments, county counselor Jacob Hansen told commissioners Monday.

The county received the annexation request from Manhattan the previous week.

“We get 30 days from the date in which it’s provided to us,” Hansen said. “Notice is provided to us to make a determination of whether or not it is hinder the growth or development of an area.”

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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A Fort Riley soldier will serve 40 years in prison after he exploited children to make child pornography by pretending to be a woman.

The U.S. attorney’s office on Monday said Bebak Gurung, 22, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor by producing child pornography.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into Gurung in 2025 after it received a report that a child in New York was victimized in online message platforms. The FBI received saved files of communication between the child and Gurung.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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A Manhattan man on Monday pleaded guilty to three fentanyl distribution charges, a fraction of the charges he originally faced across three cases.

David Alan Labombarbe, 39, entered a plea deal with state prosecutors in Riley County District Court and now is convicted of distributing between 1 and 3.5 grams of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl and possession of digital drug scales and baggies. The crimes were charged in one of three cases against him.

Labombarbe said the charges arose because he was going through a rough patch after the death of someone he knew and was using fentanyl in his home when police showed up. He said he used the drug himself and intended to distribute it to others.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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A former Riley County Jail corrections officer pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of trafficking contraband into the jail for an inmate.

Ashley Britt, 24, of Manhattan was initially charged with eight counts of trafficking contraband, but state prosecutors dropped the remaining six charges when she entered the plea deal.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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A 32-year-old Manhattan man was arrested Monday in connection with a reported burglary at a Manhattan hotel earlier this month.

According to the RCPD, Sydney Mychal Brannon was arrested just before 3 p.m. in the 900 block of South Seth Child Road on allegations of burglary and violating protection orders.

The arrest stems from an Oct. 18 incident at the Hilton Garden Inn in the 400 block of South Third Street, where a male suspect reportedly gained unauthorized access to a hotel room.

A 55-year-old man, a 52-year-old woman and the hotel were listed as victims.

Brannon was issued a total bond of $7,000 and remained confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of the report.

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A 34-year-old Topeka woman was arrested Monday in Manhattan on multiple allegations, including burglary, theft and fleeing law enforcement.

According to the RCPD, Kimberlea Jean Becklund was arrested just before noon at the Riley County Law Enforcement Center on a Riley County District Court warrant.

The warrant includes allegations of vehicle burglary with intent to steal a firearm, theft from a motor vehicle, residential burglary, reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement during the commission of a felony, and theft of property or services.

The allegations stem from a report originally filed in December 2024.

Becklund was issued a total bond of $7,000 and is no longer confined in the Riley County Jail.

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By Nathan Gaddie

A local nonprofit will begin work in early 2027 improvements to its facility. Be Able officials say the changes will create a more welcoming environment and better serve the community.

Be Able opened in September 2020 and serves 65 to 80 people every day, organizers said. Located on the corner of Fifth and Yuma streets, the organization offers shelter, free Wi-Fi and computer access, food, laundry, showers, clothing, resource guidance and mail service for more than 200 people needing a temporary address to obtain identification.

Director and founder Scott Voos said improvements to the 86-year-old building will make the space feel more welcoming and modernize the building.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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