Trump: Pompeo Not Leaving Cabinet for Kansas Senate Race
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is "absolutely not leaving" the Cabinet even as top Republicans make a pitch for him to run for the Senate in Kansas. Pompeo served four terms in the House, representing Kansas' 4th Congressional District, and was Trump's CIA director before moving to the State Department. The decision by longtime Republican Senator Pat Roberts to retire has prompted an effort by other GOP senators to recruit Pompeo for 2020. He's said that push has included a call from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Trump tells CBS' "Face the Nation" that McConnell may have spoken to Pompeo but "I asked him the question the other day. He says he's absolutely not leaving. I don't think he'd do that. And he doesn't want to be lame duck."
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KC Chiefs Mahomes Named NFL Most Valuable Player
ATLANTA (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player after throwing for 50 touchdowns and 5,097 yards. The second-year player led the Chiefs to their first AFC championship game appearance since the 1993 season. Mahomes received 41 votes of 50 votes and also came away with the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Two former Kansas City Chiefs -- Tony Gonzalez and Johnny Robinson -- were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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KU Exploring Appeal of NCAA Punishment for DeSousa
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self was forceful but measured in his response to the NCAA's punishment of sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa, who was declared ineligible for this season and next because his guardian had received impermissible benefits. "Nothing really surprises me based on recent things we've read about other institutions," Self said, "but I would say that I don't think it's time for us to move on. I don't think we go into this planning on having him — we prepare like we don't, and if we ever get him it would be a bonus. But regardless of the situation, we have to and should and want to fight and advocate for him." Kansas athletic director Jeff Long grew emotional in discussing the case during a brief news conference before the game. "I have always respected the NCAA and trusted the process, but I must tell you that my faith has been shaken," Long said. "We stand behind our student-athletes when we believe they've been wronged."
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Shawnee Mission Principal Resigns after Hit-and-Run Crash, DUI Arrest
SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee Mission School District principal has resigned after police say he hit a car and left the scene while driving under the influence. The Kansas City Star reports that 34-year-old Cory Strathman submitted his resignation after the crash last week. The Shawnee Mission school board approved the resignation at a meeting Thursday. Police arrested Strathman after they say he hit another vehicle the afternoon of Jan. 25. Police say he had been drinking and taking medication at the time of the crash and was also driving with a suspended license and had no proof of insurance. Strathman had been had been principal of Rosehill Elementary since 2014 and had worked in the school district since 2008.
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KU Study: Most Americans Overestimate Gun Ownership
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A recent study says most Americans tend to overestimate how many people own guns, a finding that some experts say could have political ramifications nationwide. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that University of Kansas political scientists Don Haider-Markel and Mark Joslyn examined the results of a 2016 nationally representative survey of nearly 1,300 American adults. The researchers found that more than 75 percent of those who responded to the survey overestimated what percentage of Americans own guns. The researchers say approximately 25 percent of Americans are gun owners, but most of the survey's respondents believed that slightly over half of the country's population owns guns. Joslyn says the overestimation could cloud Americans' expectations for the future. The survey found people expect gun ownership to increase, but history shows it's been declining.
