Baltimore Oriole Uses KC Visit to Urge Race Dialogue
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones says the widely condemned racial insult hurled at him at Fenway Park illustrates the need for dialogue about race and for fans to police each other. He says he is trying to grapple with the reality that "people aren't afraid to show ugliness and hate right now." Jones spoke yesterday (SAT) at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City while his team plays a series with the Royals. He describes what happened to him in Boston on Monday night as "very unfortunate." A bag of peanuts also was thrown in his direction. He says this should serve as a reminder that players are trying to do their job and should be respected. Jones adds that he doesn't mind if fans "yell at us a little bit," provided the catcalls do not degenerate into obscenities.
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Proposed Kansas Prison Faces Bipartisan Skepticism
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A plan in Kansas to build a new prison to replace the state's oldest and largest lockup faces bipartisan skepticism from legislators worried that their oversight is being skirted.
Republican Governor Sam Brownback's administration expects by the end of the week to have a list of qualified companies interested in building the new prison in Lansing. The project would cost up to $155 million. The cash-strapped state could finance it with bonds or lease the new prison from a private company for up to 40 years before buying it. Legislators must approve demolition of existing buildings and authorize any bonds for the project. Brownback's administration can sign a lease-purchase agreement with a private company on its own. But lawmakers have considered requiring another review of the project by legislative leaders.
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Two Gorillas Headed from Wichita to Florida Zoo
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two gorillas that had been the first to arrive at a Wichita zoo thirteen years ago are headed to warmer climes in Florida. The Sedgwick County Zoo says primate brothers Shango and Barney will be leaving next Friday for the Miami zoo, giving the Kansas zoo more space for its nine other gorillas. 28-eight-year-old Shango and 23-year-old Barney came to the Sedgwick County Zoo in 2004.
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Kansas Prosecutor Warns about Jury Duty Scam
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A southern Kansas prosecutor is warning residents about a scam involving supposed jury duty. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says that as part of the hoax, the caller refers to himself as a sheriff's deputy and tells the would-be victim that he or she missed jury duty and that a warrant is about to be issue for his or her arrest. Bennett says the caller then demands that the citizen buy a prepaid money card to care of the fine. The prosecutor says the caller is using a phone number that appears to be coming from the Sedgwick County courthouse. Bennett says no one from that county's sheriff's office would ever call anyone to tell them they missed jury duty.
