Super Rally: Mahomes, Chiefs Win NFL Title with Late Surge
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - The comeback Chiefs did it again and are Super Bowl champions. Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to three touchdowns in the final 6:13 of last (SUN) night's Super Bowl. The Chiefs overcame a double-digit deficit for the third postseason game in a row to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. The Chiefs trailed 20-10 and faced a third and 15 when Mahomes threw to Tyreek Hill for 44 yards. They scored a touchdown four plays later, and quickly forced a punt. Mahomes then hit Sammy Watkins for 38 yards to set up a 5-yard scoring reception by Damien Williams that put Kansas City ahead to stay with 2:44 to go. Williams is a former Miami Dolphins running back and returned to his former field — Hard Rock Stadium — to enjoy the most significant night of his career. Williams finished off the title march with a touchdown run with 1:12 left, a 38-yarder around the left end to seal the outcome.
========================
KC Set to Celebrate Super Bowl Win With a Victory Parade
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to celebrate their Super Bowl win with a parade. “The Chiefs Kingdom Champions Parade" is set for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Officials announced the celebration Sunday night, shortly after the Chiefs defeated San Francisco 31-20. The festivities will include a victory rally at Union Station in Kansas City at about 1:30 p.m., shortly after the parade ends. Details about the parade already had been leaking out in advance, as the city put generators in place near the site of the rally and businesses in the area made plans to close or operate on a reduced schedule.
===================
Kansas House Cheers Trump Tweet on Chiefs Mentioning State
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A tweet from President Trump saying the Kansas City Chiefs had represented Kansas well by winning the Super Bowl was deleted quickly, but Sunflower State lawmakers didn't let it pass unnoticed. The Kansas House had a little fun Monday with Trump's geographical fumble in congratulating the Chiefs on their come-from-behind victory Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers. Trump later tweeted that he was proud of the team and Missouri, where the Chiefs play. House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a Kansas City-area Republican, had a clerk read Trump's original tweet as if it were a formal message to the chamber and members cheered.
========================
No Coronavirus in Lawrence Patient
LAWRENCE, KAN. - A Douglas County resident being treated for possible novel coronavirus has tested negative for the disease. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reporting those results from the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This comes several days after he had been placed in isolation at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness after recently traveling to Wuhan, China. A news release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says they are continuing to work with the CDC and local agencies to detect and respond to any future cases of coronavirus that may occur in Kansas. KDHE reports that with these results, Kansas currently has no confirmed cases of coronavirus and no suspected cases under investigation.
===================
Rising Kansas Revenues Fuel GOP Anger over Lack of Tax Cuts
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has collected more tax revenue than expected almost every month for more than two years. Republicans are growing increasingly angry that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly still insists the state can't afford income tax cuts favored by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The state reported Monday that tax collections in January were nearly $60 million more than anticipated for a 9% surplus for the month. Tax collections have beaten expectations 31 of the past 32 months, and top Republicans believe a key reason is that some individuals and businesses are paying more in state income taxes because of federal tax changes at the end of 2017.
========================
Kansas Senate Rivals Pledge Strong Support for Trump
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - Hardline conservative Kris Kobach tried Saturday to reassure Kansas Republicans that if they nominate him for the U.S. Senate, they won't see a repeat of his unsuccessful run for governor. His pitch came during a debate at the Kansas Republican Convention in Olathe Saturday. Kobach claimed that no one is closer to President Donald Trump. Trump is expected to easliy win in Kansas in November. Representative Roger Marshall of western Kansas and Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita also pledged strong support for Trump. But Kobach was the first prominent Kansas politician to back Trump in 2016.
========================
Trump Adviser to Kansas GOP: Biggest Divide is Offline vs. Online
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - One of President Donald Trump's senior advisers told Kansas Republicans on Saturday night that she doesn't believe the biggest division in the United States is politics, race or gender. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said she believes the largest divide is between people who live mostly online and people who live mostly offline. Conway was in Olathe for a dinner and tribute for four-term Republican Senator Pat Roberts, who is not seeking re-election. The tribute was the last event of a two-day statewide GOP convention. Conway talked about “these miserable people” who live online.
========================
Kansas Congressman Trailed Primary Rival in Cash at End of 2019
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - Freshman U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins began this year with $190,000 less cash in his campaign fund than GOP primary rival and State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, finance records show. Watkins raised more money than LaTurner during the last three months of 2019 because he received funds from a Republican fundraising committee and took in three times as much money from political action committees. LaTurner began the year with nearly $591,000 in cash for his House campaign after raising about $102,000 in contributions during 2019's last quarter. Watkins had nearly $401,000 in cash after raising almost $128,000 in the last quarter of 2019.
========================
Board Revokes Certification of Former Kansas Police Officer
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -A state oversight board has revoked the law enforcement certification of a former Kansas police officer who is serving time in a sex crime case. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training took the action last month against 36-year-old Casey Lee Wills, of Valley Center. He was sentenced in December to just over five years in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated domestic battery.
========================
KCK Burglary Suspect Fatally Shot by Home Occupant
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Police say a person suspected of breaking into a Kansas City, Kansas, home has been fatally shot by the home’s occupant. The shooting happened early Saturday morning. After a neighbor called 911, arriving officers found a male who had been shot at the home. He was declared dead at the scene. Police spokesman Officer Jonathon Westbrook says a preliminary investigation seems to show that an occupant of the home confronted, then shot, a person suspected of breaking into the home. No charges have been announced.
========================
Untouched Native Prairie Draws Visitors, Preserves History
WAMEGO, Kan. (AP) - An expanse of untouched native prairie grass has been transformed into a destination for those who want to walk across the tallgrass that greeted settlers. The Manhattan Mercury reports that Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards hope to preserve, protect and promote this area a few miles south of Wamego and east of a bend in the Kansas River as one of the few places left in the world to walk through untouched native prairie grass. They hope to one day see recognized with a dedicated interpretive center and expanded walking trails.
====================
13-Year-Old Wichita Boy Arrested in Carjacking
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a 13-year-old boy has been arrested in a carjacking at a Wichita mall. Officer Charley Davidson said the boy was arrested Friday at a Wichita home. Davidson said Monday officers were led to the suspect through witnesses and people involved in a short car chase with Sedgwick County Sheriff's deputies on Wednesday. The stolen car was found after that chase. Authorities say a 57-year-old JC Penney employee told police she was leaving work Monday when two teens demanded her keys, hit her and drove off in her car. She suffered minor injuries. The second suspect hasn't been found.
===================
Some Hospitals Wary as New Liver Transplant Rules Begin
WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-delayed rules that will more broadly share scarce donated livers go into effect Tuesday. Where you live makes a difference in how sick you must be to get a transplant. The new rules aim to ease that geographic disparity by giving the sickest patients first chance at a new liver even it if has to be flown about 500 miles to reach them. But some hospitals in the South and Midwest, where there are more organ donors, say their patients will wait longer as livers once used locally are shipped to urban centers where the shortage is more severe.
===================
Survey Suggests Economy Growing in 9 Midwest, Plains States
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A survey report suggests the economy continues to grow in nine Midwest and Plains states. The Mid-America Business Conditions index jumped to 57.2 in January from 50.6 in December. The survey was conducted before much of the bad news was reported about the coronavirus outbreak that originated in China. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the outbreak could harm the regional economy in the weeks ahead. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Survey organizers say any index score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.
====================
Baylor Strengthens Hold on No. 1 in AP Top 25 Poll; KU at No. 3
UNDATED (AP) — Baylor has strengthened its hold on No. 1 in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. The Bears received 49 of 65 first-place votes in the latest poll to stay comfortably ahead of Gonzaga and Kansas. That's up from 44 first-place votes from the previous week. The Bears are atop the rankings for a third straight week. The Zags got 15 first-place votes after having 19 a week earlier. No. 9 Maryland and No. 11 Auburn made the week's biggest jumps. Each rose six spots. No. 21 Creighton and No. 23 Arizona re-entered the poll. Wichita State and Rutgers fell out.
========================
