KU Announces Football Facility Renovation, Hosts ESPN GameDay
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The University of Kansas Athletics Department announced a major renovation of Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. The project is estimated to cost around $350 million, coming from private donations, local and state economic development funds, and premium seating sales at the existing stadium. This comes as the KU football program hosts ESPN's GameDay for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed Friday and Saturday "Kansas GameDay Weekend," noting that it is the first time KU and Kansas State University have both been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll at the same time since the 2007 season. The Jayhawks, 5-0, take on the TCU Horned Frogs, 4-0. The game is sold out for the third straight week.
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Kansas Chamber of Commerce Opts Out of Statewide Endorsements
TOPEKA, Kan. (KC Star/KPR) - The Kansas Chamber of Commerce has released its list of endorsements in the upcoming midterm elections. Kansas City Star reports that the Chamber's PAC -- which endorsed Republican Derek Schmidt for governor last month -- opted not to endorse any other candidates for statewide office, including Attorney General and Secretary of State. The Chamber earlier endorsed state senator Kellie Warren over Kris Kobach in the Republican primary. The group issued endorsements for Kansas House races while staying out of the statewide contests. Chamber spokesperson Sherrine Jones-Sontag explained, “The chamber PAC decided that its efforts are best focused on the race for governor and then also focused on elected pro-job House members."
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Man Pleads Guilty to Wichita Double Homicide
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A man pleaded guilty Friday in the shooting deaths of a teenage Wichita couple whose bodies were found three days apart last year. 24-year-old Dontenzie Kelly is scheduled to be sentenced next month after admitting to two counts of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Kaylah Blackmon and 17-year-old Michael Beasley. Beasley's body was found February 1st, 2021, outside an abandoned church. Blackmon's body was found three days later inside her truck at a Wichita apartment complex.