Manhattan ? Two Manhattan men have been arrested in last week’s fatal beating of a decorated U.S. Army combat medic near the city’s Aggieville district.

KMAN-AM reports that Riley County police on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old on a second-degree murder charge, and a 20-year-old on an aiding charge. They’re accused in the death of 31-year-old Kevin Lynn Cockrum, who was found injured early last Thursday and died the next day.

Cockrum earned two Purple Hearts during three tours of duty in the Middle East. He was at the scene in Baghdad when the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003.

SRS plans new adoption initiative

Topeka — The head of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services says he plans a major initiative to boost adoptions of children in state custody.

SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki told The Wichita Eagle he’d like to modify the “One Church, One Child” program that started in Chicago in the 1980s to recruit adoptive parents. That program encourages couples to adopt. Once they adopt, a church agrees to act as a support system, providing rides to activities and other help.

Siedlecki also said he’s planning a series of meetings throughout the state in October aimed at finding new ideas to reduce childhood poverty, neglect and abuse.