News

A decision to establish a common consumption area downtown along Main Street could be approved when Ottawa City commissioners meet this week.The idea, which was formally introduced in December by Sara Stauffer, president of the Ottawa Main Street Association, and supported by several downtown businesses, would create a defined consumption area within the city limits, allowing anyone 21 and older to drink liquor or beer.

Feb.

MANHATTAN – A Kansas Forest Service official is encouraging homeowners to fireproof their homes in advance of potential wildfires in the state this year.Eric Ward, the assistant fire manager for the state’s forest service, said actions taken ahead of time can be the difference between saving or losing a home and surrounding structures.“During a major fire, one of the challenges is that there are not enough fire trucks for every home,” Ward said.

TOPEKA — Attorney General Kris Kobach introduced a bill in the Kansas Legislature allowing the state corrections secretary to decide between intravenous injection of drugs or inhalation of a gas inducing suffocation when executing individuals sentenced to death in state courts.Kobach has joined other state attorneys general encouraging reliance on hypoxia for executions since Alabama in January became the first state to put to death a convicted murderer by subjecting a man to inhalation of pure nitrogen until dead.“If Kansas is going to have a death penalty, it needs to be possible to implement,” Kobach said.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office reported the following calls for service from Feb.

HAYS– The Criminal Justice Program at Fort Hays State University announces its sixth annual Criminal Justice Career Fair, an event designed to connect students with professionals in law enforcement, courts, corrections, probation and parole, community crime prevention, mental health, non-profit agencies, and related disciplines.