Kansas Lawmakers Probe Police Raid on Marion County Newspaper
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP/KPR) - What happened last year when police raided a small town newspaper and the home of its publisher in central Kansas? That's what a bipartisan group of state lawmakers would like to know. Dozens of lawmakers are now asking the state’s attorney general to release more information about the investigation into the police raid on the Marion County Record in August. It's unclear whether the issue will get a hearing, but 35 Democrats and 10 Republicans in the Kansas House have introduced a resolution condemning the raid and directing Attorney General Kris Kobach to provide a report on whether anyone's civil rights were violated.
(Additional reporting...)
Kansas Lawmakers Want a Report on Last Year's Police Raid of a Marion County Newspaper
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dozens of Kansas lawmakers launched an effort Tuesday to direct the state's attorney general to release information from an investigation into a police raid last year on a weekly newspaper, but it wasn't clear that their measure would get a hearing in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Thirty-five Democrats and 10 Republicans in the Kansas House introduced a resolution condemning the Aug. 11 raid of the Marion County Record's offices, the home of its publisher and the home of a city council member in Marion in central Kansas. The resolution would direct Attorney General Kris Kobach to provide a report on whether the investigation found that people's civil rights were violated.
The raid put Marion, a town of about 1,900 residents about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, at the center of a national debate over press freedom. It also focused an intense spotlight on the police chief who led the raid because the paper had been looking into his past.
The 98-year-old mother of Publisher Eric Meyer died the day after the raid, something he attributed to the stress it caused, and within days the local prosecutor declared there wasn't enough evidence to support the raid. Legal experts said it likely violated state or federal law, and then-Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody resigned in early October. “This is something that happened in Kansas that garnered international attention and concern about the state of our free press in the world and very particularly here in Kansas,” said state Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, a Kansas City-area Democrat and a leading sponsor of the resolution. “I felt it was really important for the Kansas House to send a strong message.”
The resolution is likely to go to the House Judiciary Committee. Chair Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican, said she needs to review the measure, adding, “I can't say for sure that I'm going to have a hearing.”
Kobach, an elected Republican, said that if anyone is charged with a crime, information will come out during the legal proceedings. He said when no one is charged with a crime, "Then our system has a preference for not throwing everything on the table.”
Cody has said he was investigating whether the newspaper and city council member had illegally violated a local business owner's privacy or committed other crimes by obtaining her driving record, which included a past drunken driving offense. Meyer has said the newspaper only verified the information's authenticity, and no criminal charges have been filed.
Kobach oversees the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which took over the investigation into the newspaper and the city council member. Later, Kansas officials asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to look into the circumstances surrounding the raid.
Meyer said Tuesday that he'd like to have a formal statement from authorities that the newspaper or its staff is no longer under investigation. He said making information public would be “a first step,” but there are questions about why the raid was necessary and about how search warrants are issued in Kansas.
The lead sponsors of the resolution are Poskin and another Democrat, Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence. Meyer said it could be “the kiss of death” for the measure. “You know, if a Democrat said the sun is going to rise in the east in the morning, the Republicans would deny it — and vice versa, I might add,” he said. Several legislators and staffers said the resolution drew criticism from some Republicans for explicitly linking the raid to the death of Meyer's mother, Joan Meyer, the paper's co-owner.
The resolution also declares that the raid undermined "the role of journalism in encouraging engaged, civic-minded, critical thinkers.”
Asked about the resolution, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in an emailed statement that it would go through “the normal committee process” — which gives a committee chair wide discretion in what measures to consider. “Freedom of speech and law and order are two very important considerations here,” Hawkins said.
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Lawmaker Proposes Bill Instituting New Rules for School, Library Book Bans
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – Banning books from a school or public library would be more difficult under a law being proposed by one Kansas legislator. The Kansas News Service reports that Democratic Senator Cindy Holscher introduced a bill that would require anyone protesting a book to read it in full and give a detailed list of reasons why they think it should be removed. It says people filing complaints must live in the community served by the library. And the bill would require 5% of residents in a school district to sign a petition before a book ban could be requested. Holscher says outside actors have unfairly attacked books dealing with race, gender and sexuality. “Parents have been voicing frustration that they want business to kind of return to normal vs. all of these side shows of people coming in from other areas, challenging books.” The bill has been referred to committee, but so far no hearing is scheduled.
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March for Life Protestors Gather at Kansas Statehouse
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – Anti-abortion protestors rallied at the Kansas Statehouse Wednesday for their annual March for Life. The Kansas News Service reports that protestors called on lawmakers to enact policies they say would help women carry unplanned pregnancies to term, such as requiring child support during pregnancy. Kansans for Life lobbyist Jeanne Gawdun said a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling prevents Kansas from banning abortion, adding that “...the focus of the pro-life legislative agenda is on these life affirming proposals that protect the safety of pregnant women, highlight the humanity of the preborn child, and provide aid for women who choose life for their babies.” Gawdun added that this year’s election is critical for the movement. “Right now we are so blessed to have a supermajority of pro-life legislators in both chambers. And we will need that with two more years of Governor Kelly,” she said. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed several anti-abortion laws last year but Republican legislators overrode those vetoes. Abortions in Kansas have increased sharply since 2022, when many nearby states banned the procedure.
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Hundreds Write in Support of Callery Pear Ban
UNDATED (KNS) – The Kansas News Service reports that more than 350 people wrote to the Kansas Department of Agriculture about restricting invasive pear trees – with more than 90% in favor of a ban. Kansas officials want to ban the sale of Callery pear trees starting in 2027. The trees are commonly called by cultivar names like Bradford pear. Carol Baldwin is a rangeland management specialist with Kansas State Research and Extension. She supports a ban to protect ranches and prairies. “If you look across the state line into Oklahoma, you can see the absolute devastating damage that these trees have done to the native rangelands,” she explained. The trees are spreading wild in at least 50 Kansas counties. Ranchers have a hard time stopping these trees from eating up grassland because prescribed fire usually doesn’t kill them.
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Developers Plan $150 Million Margaritaville Hotel in KCK
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KSHB) - Developers are planning to build a $150 million Margaritaville Hotel in Kansas City, Kansas. The Sunflower Development Group announced Tuesday that the hotel is scheduled to open in the spring of 2025. The hotel will include swimming pools, retail businesses, bars and restaurants. KSHB TV reports construction is already underway on the 229-room hotel, which will be located on the grounds of the former Schlitterbahn Waterpark at the northeast corner of I-10 and I-435.
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Lawrence High School Student Killed in Fatal Olathe Shooting
OLATHE, Kan. (LJW) - A fatal shooting in Olathe last Friday claimed the life of a Lawrence High School student. Police say 15-year-old Brianna Higgins, a sophomore at Lawrence High, died from gunshot wounds she suffered Friday night in Olathe. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that school district officials held a moment of silence for Higgins during this week's school board meeting. The shooting remains under investigation. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Higgins to assist the family with funeral expenses.
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Kansas Man Dies in Medical Helicopter Crash near Oklahoma City
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A Kansas man died in a helicopter crash over the weekend. The man, identified as flight nurse Adam Tebben, was killed when the medical helicopter went down near Weatherford, Oklahoma, west of Oklahoma City. KSNW TV reports that Tebben was a travel nurse from Wichita on assignment in Oklahoma. The Emporia Gazette says Tebben graduated from Chase County High School and Baker University in Baldwin City. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what went wrong on the flight.
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Fire Erupts at Douglas Co. Judicial & Law Enforcement Center
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Fire broke out Tuesday night at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center in Lawrence. The flames were contained by a built in sprinkler. No one was injured. Investigators believe the fire was accidental, caused by an electrical malfunction. The blaze erupted in a jury deliberation room in the basement of the building.
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Wichita School District to Shutter a Half-Dozen Schools
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) - The Wichita school district plans to close about a half-dozen of its 90-plus schools by the end of this academic year. Enrollment continues to decline, which means less state funding. And Wichita schools need more than $1 billion worth of repairs and maintenance. Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld says closing and consolidating schools is the only way to avoid massive job cuts. “This is something that happens," he said. "So, it’s part of the cycle, although it isn't easy. And if it’s my school, it feels completely different.” Districts across the country are facing closures tied to declining enrollment and the end of federal COVID relief funds. The Kansas City, Missouri, district will close or repurpose 10 schools as part of its consolidation plan. Wichita, the largest school district in Kansas, plans to close four to seven schools at the end of this academic year to make up for a $42 million budget shortfall. Superintendent Bielefeld says the district can’t afford to keep operating all of its 90-plus schools. (Read more.)
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Tax Credit Available to KS Businesses to Offset Child Care Costs
UNDATED (KC Beacon) - Kansas businesses can apply for a state tax credit to help offset the costs of child care for their employees. The Kansas City Beacon reports that over a year after the credit passed, businesses are not using it. The tax break goes unused for a few reasons. Some businesses would still struggle to offset child care even if they got money back. But the credit is also just overlooked. A business can get money back by building and operating a child care center or just contracting with a licensed provider. Paula Neth is the President and CEO of the Family Conservancy, a group that’s working with an online toolkit to spread awareness about kickback. “We’re hoping that this toolkit really demystifies that for our employers across the state of Kansas," she said. Businesses don’t need to build their own child care centers to cash in. Businesses can get thousands back by offering other day care subsidies to workers.
Businesses can learn more by going to RaisingWyCo.org.
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Eight Names Make the Kansas Presidential Preference Primary
TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) - Kansas will hold its own presidential preference primary this year. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that eight names will appear on the ballot - four from each major party. The Kansas primary will be held March 19th. All candidates who appear on the ballot either paid a $5,000 filing fee or gathered 5,000 signatures from Kansas voters who are registered to the party they're competing in.
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Iconic Steam Engine Could Become New Symbol for State of Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Kansas already has an official state flower, tree, animal, insect and reptile. Now, state lawmakers are considering whether to add an official state train, in this case, a 100-year-old historic locomotive, to the list of official state symbols. A bill introduced in the Kansas House this month (HB 2501) seeks to designate the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe train #3415 as the official state locomotive. KSNT reports that the bill has been referred to a committee. The locomotive in question was built in 1919 and currently sits at the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad yard, where it was moved to in 1996. It was previously located in the city park in Abilene for about 40 years.
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Frustration Growing with Boeing's Manufacturing Problems
UNDATED (AP) - The leaders of United Airlines and Alaska Airlines took turns Tuesday blasting Boeing over manufacturing problems that have led to the grounding of more than 140 of their planes, with United's CEO saying his airline will consider alternatives to buying a future, larger version of the Boeing 737 Max. "I am more than frustrated and disappointed. I am angry,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told “NBC Nightly News” in an interview that aired Tuesday night. “My demand on Boeing is, what are they going to do to improve their quality programs in-house?”
United CEO Scott Kirby said that Boeing needs “real action” to restore its previous reputation for quality.
Boeing said workers at its 737 factory would stop work on Thursday to hold a special session to focus on quality.
The strong and unusual criticism of Boeing by airline executives follows a January 5 accident in which a panel called a door plug blew off an Alaska Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) above Oregon, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane.
U.S. regulators grounded most Max 9s the following day, and investigators are probing whether bolts that help hold the panel in place were missing or broke off.
United, which has been unable to use its 79 Max 9s, disclosed on Monday that it expects to lose money in the first three months of this year because of the grounding.
Kirby said on CNBC that he believes that the Max 9s could be cleared to fly again soon, “but I'm disappointed that the manufacturing challenges do keep happening at Boeing.”
At times over the past few years, manufacturing flaws have held up deliveries of Max jets and a larger Boeing plane, the 787. Last year, United received 24 fewer Boeing aircraft than it expected.
United has a standing order for Max 10 jets, a larger version of the Max line. However, that model and a smaller one, the Max 7, are years behind schedule for being certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. The grounding of the Max 9 jets is likely to further complicate Boeing's drive to get the new models approved.
Kirby said the Max 10 is at least five years behind schedule and could be pushed further into the future.
“I think this is the straw — the Max 9 grounding — is probably the straw that broke the camel's back for us,” he told CNBC. “We're going to at least build a plan that doesn't have the Max 10 in it.”
Airlines rarely cancel orders, but sometimes they switch among various models in an order. Kirby wasn't specific about what planes United could acquire instead of the Max 10 but said the airline would talk to Boeing. He noted that there is only one other global manufacturer of such large planes — Boeing's European rival, Airbus.
Doing without the Max 10 probably means that Chicago-based United won't grow as fast as it had hoped, Kirby added.
Minicucci said Alaska Airlines, which has 59 Max 9s, had planned to order Max 10s, but he suggested that could change.
“Everything is open at this point ... we are going to do what is best for Alaska long term, in terms of fleet mix,” he said.
Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes division, apologized for the Max 9 grounding and said the company is making changes.
“We have let down our airline customers and are deeply sorry for the significant disruption to them, their employees and their passengers," Deal said in a prepared statement. “We are taking action on a comprehensive plan to bring these airplanes safely back to service and to improve our quality and delivery performance.”
Production workers at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, will spend Thursday taking part in “working sessions focused on quality.” The sessions will let workers “pause, evaluate what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and make recommendations for improvement,” Deal said.
The company promises similar sessions at all its commercial-plane factories.
The FAA has stepped up oversight of Boeing and is investigating whether the company and its suppliers — chiefly Spirit AeroSystems, which made the door plug — are following quality procedures in manufacturing.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident on the Alaska jetliner. Pilots were able to turn around and make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, and no serious injuries were reported.
The Max, Boeing's best-selling line of planes, has a troubled history, going back to crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed a total of 346 people. Those crashes — in Indonesia and Ethiopia — involved Max 8s and were attributed largely to an automated flight-control system that Boeing later overhauled.
All Max jets were grounded worldwide for 20 months after the crashes. Congressional investigators faulted Boeing for failing to fix design flaws and the FAA for weak oversight of the aircraft maker.
Shares of United Airlines Holdings Inc. rose 5% Tuesday, the first day of trading since the company said it would lose up to 85 cents per share in the first quarter because of the Max 9 grounding but earn $9 to $11 per share for the full year — a better 2024 outlook than analysts expected. Shares of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group gained 3%.
Shares of The Boeing Co., which is based in Arlington, Virginia, fell less than 2%.
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Another Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against BPU in KCK
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCUR) - The Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas, is facing another lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. KCUR Radio reports this is the tenth such lawsuit against BPU in the past two years. Eric Lindsey has been a carpenter for BPU for the last 12 years. In his federal lawsuit, Lindsey alleges he’s experienced discrimination almost from the day he was hired. Lindsey alleges that his white colleagues would say “yes’em boss” when asked for help. He says BPU’s H-R department has ignored his complaints of abuse and harassment. This is the second discrimination lawsuit filed this month against BPU. In an email, BPU said it doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
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Kansas Ag Officials Confirm State's 15th Case of Deadly Bird Flu
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) - The Kansas Department of Agriculture has confirmed the state's 15th case of avian influenza since December 1st. The Kansas Reflector reports that these 15 cases come amid a national outbreak that began in 2022 and has spread to all but three states. Kansas Ag Secretary Mike Beam says the outbreak in this state has been concentrated at egg-laying facilities in McPherson and Rice counties and at gamebird facilities in Mitchell County. Officials say this round of bird flu appears to be transmitted primarily by wild birds interacting with domestic flocks. In most cases, entire commercial and backyard flocks at an infected location must be euthanized. In testimony before state lawmakers, the ag secretary said a contributing factor in the spread of bird flu is the presence of backyard flocks in which birds are allowed to roam free and more easily come into contact with migratory birds.
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Non-Profit World Cup Group Seeks Funding from State of Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – The nonprofit preparing the Kansas City region to host World Cup matches in 2026 wants up to $32 million in Kansas state funding. The Kansas News Service reports that KC 2026 says the funding would support marketing, transit and security. Matches will be held at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri, but Kansas will host teams and visitors for practice and more. Katherine Holland, with KC 2026, says the money would help keep the World Cup from overwhelming Kansas communities. “We can’t shut these communities down for 40 days. We need to make sure that we are providing support to continue with regular host city operations.,” she added.
The nonprofit estimates the event will bring about $163 million to the Kansas economy. Kansas Democratic Governor Laura Kelly included about two-thirds of the nonprofit’s request in her 2024 budget proposal. But GOP leadership seems skeptical about providing funds. The 2026 World Cup will be held across 16 cities in North America. It’s the first time World Cup matches will be played in the U.S. since 1994.
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Kansas Foster Care Sees Key Improvements, But Still Lags Behind Many States
TOPEKA, Kan.. (KNS) – The Kansas foster care system has seen some improvements in recent years but it still lags behind most of the U.S. in some key areas. The Kansas News Service reports that the rate of kids who enter foster care each year in Kansas is at its lowest in 18 years, but it’s still nearly twice the national rate. The Kansas Department of Children and Families largely credits the improvement to additional funding for prevention services. Those help families with things like mental health and parenting skills. The department says it’s seeking grant funding to further expand those services. It also hopes to reduce how much time children spend in foster care before adoption. Right now, that averages out to nearly three-and-a-half years.
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Number of Unionized Workers in Kansas Has Dropped
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - More workers are part of a union in the U.S. than last year. But the share of unionized workers in Kansas has stagnated. Only about 10% of the U.S. workforce belonged to a union last year. In Kansas, the percentage of employees represented by unions dropped by one percent from 2022 to 2023. The drop is likely because 42,000 more people joined the workforce last year, many of whom likely are not unionized. Still, support for labor unions is at a decades-long high, with about 67% of people approving of unions. In the Kansas City area, the share of unionized workers was also flat, according to Current Population Survey microdata, which has a smaller sample size. (Read more.)
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Big 12 Faces Another Barrage of Big Games This Week
UNDATED (AP) - The Big 12 can make an argument as college basketball’s best conference the past few years, with two national champions in three years and multiple teams making the NCAA Tournament each season. This season has been no different. Even with TCU dropping out, the Big 12 led the way in this week’s AP Top 25 poll with seven ranked teams, led by No. 4 Houston and No. 7 Kansas. The slate of Big 12 games this week includes No. 4 Houston at No. 20 BYU, No. 23 Iowa State at Kansas and No. 20 Texas Tech at No. 11 Oklahoma.
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As Much as the Chiefs Love Arrowhead Stadium, They Relish Playing the Spoiler on the Road
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Isiah Pacheco had just spent four quarters dodging the Buffalo Bills, and churning his way for nearly 100 yards rushing and a touchdown, when he was finally able to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs advancing to another AFC championship game.
He did it while dodging some snowballs from the fans.
That probably wouldn't have happened inside friendly Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs had played all their playoff games the previous five seasons, along with their wild-card win over Miami earlier this postseason.
But they were finally forced onto the road for the divisional round last weekend, and they proved they were up to the challenge in a 27-24 win over the Bills.
“We appreciated them throwing snowballs. That was fun,” Pacheco said Wednesday. “It comes with the game. We love playing in that environment. You have to love that, going there with one goal and coming out with the goal you went with.”
The Chiefs will face a similar environment Sunday, when they visit Baltimore to play the Ravens for a spot in the Super Bowl.
It will be the first time in six years the AFC championship will be decided somewhere other than Kansas City, where Patrick Mahomes and Co. have been so successful over the years. And it will be the first time the Chiefs hit the road for a conference title game since Jan. 23, 1994, when Joe Montana was the quarterback and they lost 30-13 in Buffalo.
“I didn't think much of going on the road, that it would be much different. We do it during the season,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “It was a great environment up there (in Buffalo) to play, even though they were against you. It's really football right there, and they love their team, and they're passionate. It's a great environment. That's the way I look at it.”
That's the way Mahomes looks at it, too.
One of the popular storylines heading into last weekend concerned the fact that Mahomes had never played on the road in the postseason.
Now, the headline has changed to this: Mahomes has never lost on the road in the postseason.
“I love Arrowhead Stadium,” he said, “but it's always fun when you come together as a team and really be like, ‘It's you all versus everybody,' and you get the win. It's always great to be in great environments and find a way.”
The Chiefs have found a way before, though you have to go back in the record books. the previous time they won on the road in the postseason to reach the Super Bowl was Jan. 4, 1970, when they beat the Raiders 17-7 in Oakland in the AFL championship game; they proceeded to beat the Vikings for what would be their only Super Bowl title for five decades, until Reid and Mahomes came along.
They also won in Buffalo on Jan. 1, 1967, in the AFL championship game to reach the first Super Bowl, where they lost to the Packers of Vince Lombardi.
Winning a conference title game on the road is hardly an easy endeavor, though. Home teams are 35-18 in NFC title games and 36-17 in the AFC championship game, where the Chiefs went 3-2 in the past five that were played in Kansas City.
But the Chiefs also might be built for winning away from home. They have experienced players in Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and others, and an experienced staff led by Reid, who also coached Philadelphia to five NFC title games. Their talent was evident by three players that were chosen first-team All-Pro: left guard Joe Thuney, cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive tackle Chris Jones. And many of those players have been playing alongside each other for years.
All of those factors help to explain why the Chiefs were 6-2 away from home during the regular season — they were just 5-4 at Arrowhead Stadium — and why they so relish the opportunity to play spoiler in someone else's home.
“It's important for us,” Pacheco admitted. “It means so much when you have to go to another environment with a 53-man roster, understand it's y'all against the city, and when you come out successful, it means a lot. Shows how hard we've been working.”
NOTES: Pacheco (toe) did not practice Wednesday, though his injury is not considered serious enough to keep him out of the game. ... Thuney (pectoral strain) did not practice and appears a long shot to play. Versatile veteran Nick Allegretti would take his place. ... FS Mike Edwards remained in the concussion protocol, which could mean rookie DB Chamarri Conner gets the start in his spot. ... RG Trey Smith did not practice Wednesday because of an illness.
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AFC Title Game Means a Reunion for John Harbaugh and Andy Reid, Who Coached Together in Philadelphia
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — John Harbaugh once defeated his own brother in a Super Bowl, so going up against someone he used to work with may not be all that emotional.
Still, there's plenty of respect between the Baltimore coach and his counterpart this weekend: Kansas City's Andy Reid.
“Obviously, it’s a big deal in terms of the relationship,” Harbaugh said this week. “It goes back a long, long, long way. Utmost respect for Andy, utmost appreciation for what he’s accomplished as a coach. We were together for 10 years, the first 10 years there in Philly. We were in a lot of championship games, and a lot of playoff games."
They'll face each other as head coaches for the first time in a playoff game when the Ravens host the Chiefs on Sunday. That's somewhat remarkable given how successful they've been. This is Harbaugh's fourth AFC championship game with Baltimore and Reid's sixth in a row with Kansas City.
Reid leads their head-to-head series 5-2 since he and Harbaugh went their separate ways during the former's tenure at the helm of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“John does a phenomenal job. He knows the whole game,” Reid said. "He was a great special teams coach, a great secondary coach and he’s been a great head coach. Very proud of him and all he’s done and accomplished.”
Harbaugh was a special teams coordinator in 1998 for the Eagles under Ray Rhodes, then remained in that role for eight seasons after Reid took over the following season.
“Ray Rhodes was great to be around for a year or two. If Ray’s out there listening, just thank you very much. I’m always appreciative of what I learned from Ray,” Harbaugh said. “Then Andy came in, I was hoping to stay, and he gave me an opportunity to do it. I was young and just figuring things out. That was good of him, and hope he’s glad he did, looking back on it.”
Reid said he'd known Harbaugh's father, Jack, before keeping John on his staff in Philadelphia.
“His dad was the best. He was real close with LaVell Edwards (at BYU). I did a thing at a hospital one time with them. I was a young coach, carrying Coach Edwards’ bag. And I got to know them, and we were like, the three coaches at this whole convention that showed up at the hospital,” Reid said. "We spent a couple of days together and it was great. I never forgot it. So when I met John, I was like, ‘If you’re half as good as your dad, you’re on.’ And he’s been that.”
Harbaugh became a secondary coach for Philadelphia in 2007, then took over the Ravens the following season. He won a Super Bowl in his fifth season in Baltimore. The opponent in that game was San Francisco, then coached by his brother, Jim.
Lately, Reid's Chiefs have been the team to beat in the AFC. Their streak of six straight conference title games has been accompanied by two Super Bowl wins, one of which came last year.
Reid also reached four NFC title games in a row in Philadelphia with Harbaugh on his staff.
Aside from Harbaugh, Reid's coaching tree includes another Super Bowl-winning head coach in Doug Pederson, as well as Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills, whom Kansas City defeated last weekend.
“You think about all the great coaches that were on that staff that Andy assembled and mentored and taught us all so much,” Harbaugh said. “We were a close group of guys, a staff that loved each other. I see a lot of that on this (Ravens) staff, too.”
Although it's been a while since he and Reid coached together, some of the lessons are easy to recall.
“I tell this story a lot. One of the things with Andy, he had this three-by-five card behind his desk on his bulletin board. It just said, ‘Don’t judge,’” Harbaugh said. "I got the nerve to ask him about it one time, and he just basically (said) it's kind of a biblical principle. Take people where they’re at. Assume the best. Try to communicate with everybody on equal terms. I’ve never forgot that.”
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