Kansas and Missouri Schools Moving to Four-Day Weeks
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Hundreds of school systems around the country have adopted four-day weeks in recent years, mostly in rural parts of the country - this includes multiple school districts in Kansas and Missouri. District administrators say the move to a shorter week is saving money and making it easier to recruit teachers. In Missouri, the number of districts switching to a shorter school week has more than doubled since the onset of the pandemic. Data from the Kansas Department of Education lists 71 public schools with four-day weeks this year. The list includes schools in Douglas, Johnson, Jefferson, Franklin, Geary, Riley and Leavenworth counties. But some education experts are questioning the effects on students who already missed out on significant learning during the pandemic. For parents, there is also the added complication, and cost, of arranging childcare for that extra weekday.
(Additional reporting...)
More Schools Adopting 4-Day Weeks. For Parents, the Challenge is Day 5
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — It's a Monday in September, but with schools closed, the three children in the Pruente household have nowhere to be. Callahan, 13, contorts herself into a backbend as 7-year-old Hudson fiddles with a balloon and 10-year-old Keegan plays the piano. Like a growing number of students around the U.S, the Pruente children are on a four-day school schedule, a change instituted this fall by their district in Independence, Missouri. To the kids, it's terrific. "I have a three-day break of school!" exclaimed Hudson. But their mom, Brandi Pruente, who teaches French in a neighboring district in suburban Kansas City, is frustrated to find herself hunting for activities to keep her kids entertained and off electronics while she works five days a week. "I feel like I'm back in the COVID shutdown," she said.
Hundreds of school systems around the country have adopted four-day weeks in recent years, mostly in rural and western parts of the U.S. Districts cite cost savings and advantages for teacher recruitment, although some have questioned the effects on students who already missed out on significant learning during the pandemic. For parents, there also is the added complication, and cost, of arranging child care for that extra weekday. While surveys show parents approve overall, support wanes among those with younger children.
On this Monday, Brandi Pruente was home because Hudson had a mysterious rash on his arm. Most weeks, her oldest would be in charge, with occasional help from grandparents. She has no interest in paying for the child care option the district is offering for $30 per day. Multiplied by several kids, it adds up. "I want my kids in an educational environment," she said, "and I don't want to pay for somebody to babysit them."
Even then, the district-provided child care isn't as convenient because it's not in every school. And in other four-day districts, so many parents adjust their work schedule or enlist family to help that the day care has been discontinued because of low enrollment. That is especially concerning for parents of younger kids and those whose disabilities can make finding child care an extra challenge.
In more than 13,000 school districts nationwide, nearly 900 operate on a truncated schedule, up from 662 in 2019 and a little more than 100 in 1999, said Paul Thompson, an associate professor of economics at Oregon State University.
The practice has taken off mostly in rural communities, where families often have a stay-at-home parent or nearby grandparent. But Independence, known best for its ties to President Harry Truman, is anything but rural, with 14,000 students, including around 70% who are eligible for government-subsidized meals.
The district offers meals on Mondays, but not at every school. Starting in October, struggling students will be able to attend school on Mondays for extra help. Superintendent Dale Herl said discussions with officials at other districts convinced him parents will figure out child care for the other students. "You have to go back and look, you know, what do parents do during the summertime? What do they do over, you know, spring break or Christmas break?" he said, adding that schools already had weekdays off for occasions such as teacher conferences.
In Missouri, the number of districts routinely getting three-day weekends has more than doubled since the pandemic hit, from 12% to 30%. Some Missouri lawmakers have pushed back, arguing students need more time with teachers. One failed legislative proposal would have let students in four-day districts transfer or attend private schools, with their home districts picking up the tab.
Some turn to a shortened schedule to save money. An analysis by the Economic Commission of the States found such savings were modest, totaling 0.4% to 2.5% of their annual budgets.
For many school systems including Independence, which lengthened the other four school days, the hope is to boost teacher recruitment and retention. Some school systems making the switch are competing against districts that are able to pay up to $15,000 more, with just 15 minutes added to the commute, said Jon Turner, a Missouri State University associate professor of education.
But when one district switches to a shortened school week, it gains a recruiting advantage over the others.
Other districts soon follow, making shortened schedules a "Band-Aid" solution with diminishing returns, Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven said. "If everybody becomes a four-day school week," she said, "that is no longer a recruitment strategy."
In some communities, a four-day week is better for families. In the Turner district in north-central Montana, taking Fridays off avoids situations such as basketball games played at districts three or more hours away that leave only a small number of students at school, Superintendent Tony Warren said. The change also provides another day to work on family farms in the district with a little more than 50 students, Warren said, although he now also sees some larger districts adopting the schedule. "They're making the shift to the four-day week because all the districts around them have adopted a four-day week," he said.
The effect on academics is murky, although some studies show the schedule doesn't hurt test scores if the other four school days are lengthened to make up the time, Thompson said. However, the Rand Corporation found achievement differences in four-day districts, while initially hard to spot, became apparent over multiple years.
That worries Karyn Lewis of the research organization NWEA, whose recent study found students are not making up all the academic ground they lost during the pandemic. "Now is not the time to do anything that threatens the amount of instruction kids are receiving," she said.
In Independence, the shortened schedule created opportunities to help struggling students through an off-day program starting in October. Older students, meanwhile, can take classes at a community college. Only a few large districts have adopted a four-day week. The 27J district north of Denver made the switch in 2018 after several failed efforts to increase taxes to boost teacher wages. With surrounding districts able to pay more, teacher turnover had become a problem. Superintendent Will Pierce said the district's own surveys now show nearly 80% of parents and 85% of teachers support the schedule. "Quality of life is what they're reporting," he said. Demand for day care hasn't been huge, with fewer than 300 kids using the off-day program in the district of 20,000 students, he said.
Still, a study published this year found test scores dipped slightly in the 27J district, and that home values also took a hit compared to those in neighboring districts. "Voters need to think about trade offs," said Frank James Perrone, one of the study's authors and an Indiana University assistant professor of educational leadership.
Teacher retirements have dropped in Independence and job applications have increased since switching the schedule. And that's all good, Brandi Pruente acknowledged. "But," she added, "it can't be at the expense of the community or families of the district."
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More Kansans Working From Home
JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. (KCUR) — A new audit says that nearly a third of all Kansas state employees work full-time or part-time from home and that could increase. The non-partisan Legislative Post Audit division found that 30% of the state’s 18,000 employees now work from home. But Kansas could potentially accommodate up to 45% of its workforce remotely. The audit found the biggest benefit was in hiring and retaining staff. In fact, some workers were willing to take a slightly lower salary if they could work from home. Agencies reported that productivity slightly increased because remote workers took fewer sick days, traveled less and were happier overall. The audit found little impact on cost, although there was a small upfront increase as agencies invested in more laptops.
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Influential Kansas House Committee Leader to Step Down Next Month
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An influential Kansas House committee leader who helped temper fellow Republicans' drive to limit what state and local officials can do during pandemics plans to give up his legislative seat next month.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Patton announced Monday that he will step down Oct. 16 to spend more time with his family, and focus on community activities and his legal practice as an attorney. Patton is from Topeka and has served in the House since 2015.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Patton often was a moderating influence on fellow Republicans as the GOP-controlled Legislature pushed Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to accept limits on her power and the power of other officials to require masks or close schools and businesses.
Republicans in Patton's district will pick a replacement to hold his seat until after the 2024 elections. Patton said he timed his resignation to give his replacement an extra year of experience and seniority.
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Auto Parts Store Employee Charged with Murder After Alleged Shoplifter Dies
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSHB) — An employee of O'Reilly Auto Parts in Kansas City, Kansas is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a Missouri man. The employee, 39-year-old Carl Ryan Kemppainen is accused of unlawfully, unintentionally and recklessly killing 23-year-old Diamond Steen, of Kansas City, in an altercation. Police received reports of two people allegedly shoplifting from the store in the Legends shopping district in KCK. Employees had confronted the alleged shoplifters, leading to a physical altercation. The fight resulted in Steen’s death and left another man injured. KSHB TV reports that police ruled Steen’s death a homicide and charged Kempainnen with second-degree murder. The other alleged shoplifter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Steen’s family says the employees should have tried to de-escalate the situation. Kempainnen left the Wyandotte County Detention Center after posting a $125,000 bond.
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Ottawa Allows Beekeeping, Other Urban Farming Activities
OTTAWA, Kan. (KNS) — Ottawa will allow urban farming after an aspiring beekeeper sued the city, and other residents pushed for the right to keep chickens. Ottawa city commissioners voted to create a new city code for urban farming. Now people can sell eggs, vegetables, fruits and honey from their own property at farmers’ markets. And there are guidelines for beekeeping and chicken coops. People can’t have roosters, for example. The new rules bring an end to a lawsuit by a resident who wants to sell honey and fruit. Some other cities, such as Lawrence, have also changed their codes in recent years to let people produce more food in residential areas.
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Pharmacists Stage a Walk Out at CVS Stores in KC
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star) — Twelve Kansas City-area CVS stores closed unexpectedly Thursday and Friday after pharmacists staged a walkout. The Kansas City Star reports that the pharmacists called in sick to protest recent cuts in working hours and reassignments to stand-alone stores. Most of the affected locations were inside Target stores.
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Glitch Caused Kansas, Other States, to Incorrectly Disenroll Thousands of Medicaid Recipients
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — Federal officials say a glitch caused Kansas and 29 other states to inappropriately disenroll half a million children and families from Medicaid over the last few months. This is the latest bump in the process known as Medicaid unwinding. Up to 12,000 Kansans — many of them children — were wrongly dropped from the low-income health insurance program. They lost coverage even though state officials had information showing they remained eligible. Officials say they’re working on reinstating coverage for those people. They have temporarily halted new disenrollments while they work on fixing the issue going forward. Children make up a majority of the 81-thousand total Kansans who’ve been disenrolled from Medicaid since the state resumed reviewing Medicaid rolls in the spring after a three-year pandemic pause.
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Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and other U.S. Lawmakers Try to Cut Food Waste in Half
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A bipartisan coalition of U.S. lawmakers has introduced a proposal designed to cut food waste in half by 2030. The lawmakers submitted their legislation last week and said it would improve collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and regional waste prevention and food recovery organizations. The lawmakers said the proposal would also support new technological innovations and bolster the federal government's approach to food waste. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York proposed the bill in the U.S. House, and Kansas GOP Senator Jerry Moran and Democratic Delaware Senator Chris Coons did so in the U.S. Senate.
Pingree said an estimated 30% to 40% of the U.S. food supply is discarded every year, and that is both bad for the environment and a contributor to food insecurity. Pingree said the proposal "would strengthen the federal government's approach to food loss by tackling waste in every step of our food system - from prevention research and education to composting and donation programs." The proposal would also establish an Office of Food Loss and Waste within the USDA.
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Auto Workers Still Have Room to Expand Strike Against Car Makers. But They Also Face Risks
UNDATED (AP) — Even after escalating its strike against Detroit automakers on Friday, the United Auto Workers union still has plenty of leverage in its effort to force the companies to agree to significant increases in pay and benefits. Only about 12% of the union's membership is so far taking part in the walkout. The UAW could, if it chose to, vastly expand the number of workers who could strike assembly plants and parts facilities of General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, the owner of the Jeep and Ram brands.
Yet the UAW's emerging strategy also carries potentially significant risks for the union. By expanding its strike from three large auto assembly plants to all 38 parts distribution centers of GM and Ford, the UAW risks angering people who might be unable to have their vehicles repaired at service centers that lack parts.
The union's thinking appears to be that by striking both vehicle production and parts facilities, it will force the automakers to negotiate a relatively quick end to the strike, now in its second week. To do so, though, some analysts say the union might have to act even more aggressively. "We believe the next step for UAW is the more nuclear option — going for a much more widespread strike on the core plants in and around Detroit," said Daniel Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities. "That would be a torpedo."
Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst at the consulting firm Guidehouse Insights, suggested that with so many workers and factories still running, the union has a number of options with which to squeeze the companies harder. "They could add more assembly plants to the list," Abuelsamid said. "They could target more of the plants that are building the most profitable vehicles." As examples, he mentioned a plant in Flint, Michigan, where GM builds heavy-duty pickups, and a Stellantis factory in Sterling Heights, Michigan, that produces Ram trucks. All three companies said that talks with the union continued on Saturday, though officials said they expected no major announcements.
In Canada on Saturday, Ford workers began voting on a tentative agreement that their union said would increase base pay by 15% over three years and provide cost-of-living increases and $10,000 ratification bonuses. The tentative deal was forged earlier this week, hours before a strike deadline. The union, Unifor, said the deal, which covers 5,600 workers, also includes better retirement benefits. If the deal is ratified in voting that will end Sunday morning, the union will use it as a pattern for new contracts at GM and Stellantis plants in Canada.
In the United States, the UAW began its walkout more than a week ago by striking three assembly plants — one each at GM, Ford and Stellantis. In expanding the strike on Friday, the UAW struck only the parts-distribution centers of GM and Stellantis. Ford was spared from the latest walkouts because of progress that company has made in negotiations with the union, said UAW President Shawn Fain.
Striking the parts centers is designed to turn up pressure on the companies by hurting dealers who service vehicles made by GM and Stellantis, the successor to Fiat Chrysler. Service shops are a profit center for dealers, so the strategy could prove effective. Millions of motorists depend on those shops to maintain and repair their cars and trucks. "It severely hits the dealerships, and it hurts the customers who purchased those very expensive vehicles in good faith," said Art Wheaton, a labor expert at Cornell University. "You just told all your customers, 'Hey we can't fix those $50,000 to $70,000 cars we just sold you because we can't get you the parts.' " The more combative union has declined to discuss its strike strategy publicly. Fain has said repeatedly that a critical part of its plan is to keep the companies guessing about the UAW's next move. Indeed, the union has shown unusual discipline in sticking to its talking points.
On a picket line Friday, Fain was asked whether striking against the spare-parts centers would hurt — and potentially alienate — consumers. "What has hurt the consumers in the long run is the fact the companies have raised prices on vehicles 35% in the last four years," he shot back. "It's not because of our wages. Our wages went up 6%, the CEO pay went up 40%."
Selling parts and performing service is highly profitable for car dealers. AutoNation reported a gross profit margin of 46% from service shops at its dealerships last year. The problem for the companies is that dealerships and other repair shops typically have lean inventories and depend on receiving parts quickly from the manufacturers' warehouses.
Mike Stanton, president of the National Automobile Dealers Association, said his members want to avoid anything that would impair customer service, "so we certainly hope automakers and the UAW can reach an agreement quickly and amicably." To make up for the loss of striking workers, the automakers are weighing their options, including staffing the parts warehouses with salaried workers. "We have contingency plans for various scenarios and are prepared to do what is best for our business and customers," said David Barnas, a GM spokesman. "We are evaluating if and when to enact those plans." Similarly, Jodi Tinson, a Stellantis spokeswoman, said, "We have a contingency plan in place to ensure we are fulfilling our commitments to our dealers and our customers." She declined to provide additional details.
In negotiating with the companies, the union is pointing to the carmakers' huge recent profits and high CEO pay as it seeks wage increases of about 36% over four years. The companies have offered a little over half that amount. The companies have said they cannot afford to meet the union's demands because they need to invest profits in a costly transition from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles. They have dismissed out of hand some of the demands, including 40 hours' pay for a 32-hour work week.
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Major Grant Awarded to Help Kansans Regain Driving Privileges
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — A more than $300,000 grant will help more Kansans get their driving privileges back. The grant comes as more than 200,000 Kansas drivers have a suspended license. The money will help Kansas Legal Services hire staff who will focus on drivers license work. The group already has two programs to help drivers get back on the road — one in Kansas City, Kansas, and one in Wichita. Kansas Legal Services Executive Director Matthew Keenan says those programs have tremendous demand. “It's very time consuming. It takes months for a client to start in the application process and for them to ultimately have their driver's license restored," he said. "This could all start with a simple speeding ticket. They can’t pay it off, they lose their license and lose their way to get to places like work or the grocery store." Lawmakers are considering changes to take away fewer licenses.
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Report: Kansas Graduates Fleeing State for Better-Paying Jobs
TOPEKA, Kan. (KMUW/KNS) — Kansas universities are not on track to fill the state’s workforce demands because college graduates are finding higher-paying jobs in surrounding states. A report presented to the Kansas Board of Regents shows that the state needs to produce 34,000 more degrees over the next decade to meet Kansas workforce demands. Donna Ginther is an economist with the Institute for Policy and Social Research. She says engineers in Kansas earn $15,000 a year less than engineers in Texas, even adjusted for the cost of living. “Kansas pays low wages, right? And, you know, if businesses want the best and brightest, you have to pay for it," she said. The report shows more Kansas graduates moving to Texas, Colorado and Missouri. The report says the number of graduates who stay in Kansas would need to increase by 26% to fill workforce demands through 2030.
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Virtual State Job Fair Highlights Hundreds of Open State Agency Positions
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas jobseekers are encouraged to attend the state agency virtual job fair this week. This month’s virtual fair, hosted by KANSASWORKS, will feature employment opportunities available across the state’s 98 government agencies. Currently, there are more than 700 vacancies across Kansas. The virtual job fair will be held from 8 am to 5 pm Wednesday, September 27. "These are good-paying jobs with great benefits," said Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland.
Registration is required to participate in the event, regardless of previous participation. The Virtual Job Fair portal features a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers might request to engage in a video interview.
Candidates can participate through any digital device, but it is highly recommended to use a computer to be most effective during the job fairs. If a jobseeker does not have access to a personal computer, they are available at KANSASWORKS offices as well as local libraries throughout the state. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.
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Taylor Swift Turns Out to See Travis Kelce as KC Chiefs Play Chicago Bears
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Taylor Swift took advantage of an invitation from Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to see Kansas City play the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium. There have been rumors flying the last couple of weeks that Swift and Kelce had been talking. They began after Kelce was unable to meet her while attending her stop in Kansas City on her Eras Tour. The 12-time Grammy winner watched the game with Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, from one of the glass-enclosed suites at Arrowhead Stadium.
Travis Kelce put the ball in Taylor Swift's court, and she wound up bringing it to Arrowhead Stadium after all.
The 12-time Grammy Award winner took advantage of an invitation from the All-Pro tight end to see the Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. Swift was decked out in red and white while watching alongside Kelce's mother, Donna, from one of the glass-enclosed suites on a sun-splashed afternoon in Kansas City. She got quite a show, too. Kelce grabbed a 3-yard TD pass in the third quarter, and the reigning Super Bowl champions went on to a 41-10 win.
Kelce did not speak to reporters afterward, but he was spotted leaving Arrowhead with Swift by his side.
"He told me at the last minute" that Swift was coming to the game, said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 272 yards and three scores. "Some things with Trav, he says it and you don't know if it's true or not, he says it so calmly."
Swift is on a break from her Eras Tour, which resumes November 9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Swift has always been reluctant to discuss her personal life in public, but rumors have been flying about the pop superstar and the football player. They began when Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast that he was disappointed that he didn't have the chance to meet Swift and gift her a friendship bracelet during her stop in Kansas City on her Eras Tour. Then, during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Kelce said: "I threw the ball in her court and told her, 'I've seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead. You might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one's a little more lit.'"
Just about everyone has been trying to get the dirt on Swift and Kelce, even pestering his brother and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce for details. He was asked about the potential relationship on 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia. "I don't really know what's happening in Travis' love life. I try to keep his business kind of his business and stay out of that world," Jason Kelce said. "But having said that, I think he's doing great and I think that it's all 100% true."
Just about everyone in the Kansas City locker room was left joking about their tight end and their newest famous fan Sunday, including coach Andy Reid, who joked that "I set them up." "I'm not a big Swifty," Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith said. "But maybe she's a good luck charm. Why not?"
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Patrick Mahomes Throws 3 TD Passes, Taylor Swift Celebrates as Chiefs Rout Bears 41-10
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdown passes, two of them to Jerick McKinnon, and the Kansas City Chiefs routed the Chicago Bears 41-10. Travis Kelce also had a TD catch for the Chiefs, much to the delight of 12-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift, who watched the game from an Arrowhead Stadium suite after getting an invitation from the All-Pro tight end. The Bears lost their 13th consecutive game dating to last season. Justin Fields was just 11 of 22 for 99 yards with a TD and an interception. Kelce was chatting with Patrick Mahomes in practice this week when he mentioned, almost as an afterthought, that he thought Taylor Swift would take him up on his invitation to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears on Sunday. "Some things with Travis," Mahomes explained later, "he says it and you don' t know if it's true or not, he says it so calmly."
Turns out it was true.
Mahomes and Kelce put on quite their own show for the pop star, too. The reigning league MVP threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, his All-Pro tight end caught seven passes and one of the scoring throws, and the Chiefs romped to a 41-10 victory over the Bears — much to the delight of their newest fan, who joyfully pounded on the glass of her Arrowhead Stadium suite throughout the afternoon. "I haven't gotten to meet her," said Mahomes, who was left answering questions about Kelce and Swift's budding relationship after his good buddy ducked out on reporters. "I guess if she ends up being with Travis, I'll meet her at some point." Jerick McKinnon had a pair of touchdown catches and Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire added touchdown runs, helping the Super Bowl champion Chiefs (2-1) deal the Bears (0-3) their 13th consecutive loss dating to last season.
The game was so lopsided by the third quarter that Mahomes and most of the Chiefs' starters got the rest of the day off. "We got things rolling and that's a plus against a defense that, you know, is banged up a little bit," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. Embattled Bears quarterback Justin Fields was 11 of 22 for 99 yards with an interception and a meaningless touchdown in the final minutes. He also led the Bears with 47 yards rushing, a good chunk of that coming on a 17-yard scramble, as the league's 27th-ranked offense finished with just 203 yards against one of the NFL's fast-improving defenses. "We've got to keep this thing tight in our locker room. That's the most important thing," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. "There's going to be a lot of outside noise, as there always is in the NFL. And we've played three games so far in the season. We've got a great opportunity ahead of us. We've got two games in 11 days, and so we're going to focus on that."
Still, their poor performance Sunday was a brutal end to a dismal week of distractions. In the span of a few hours Wednesday, Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams abruptly resigned, citing the need "to take care of my health and family," and Fields had to walk back some comments he made blaming his "robotic" play through the first two weeks on the way he had been coached. Eberflus was left to call defensive plays, just as he did in last weekend's loss to Tampa Bay, and Reid proceeded to make the former Indianapolis Colts coordinator look utterly lost.
The Chiefs began their assault with the first of Mahomes' two TD passes to McKinnon, then Edwards-Helaire scored from a yard out to make it 14-0 early in the second quarter. When the Bears punted a third consecutive time, Mahomes hit McKinnon again to extend the lead, and Kansas City proceeded to score on its next four possessions. As for Fields, well, the QB was not just robotic but inaccurate. When one of the league's most porous offensive lines wasn't allowing the Chiefs to pressure him, Fields was consistently missing open targets down field. "I need to be better," Fields said simply. He was picked off by Mike Edwards late in the first half, leading to Pacheco's touchdown run. And when Harrison Butker added the second of his two field goals, the Chiefs were able to take a 34-0 lead into the break. Kelce added his short touchdown catch early in the second half, celebrating in the back of the end zone by revving the engine on an imaginary motorcycle. High above the stadium, Swift clapped her hands alongside his mother, Donna Kelce. "On Friday he was like, 'Yeah, I think she's coming to the game this weekend,' and went about his business," Mahomes recalled after the game, "and you're like, I guess that just happens. That's Travis."
STATS AND STREAKS
The Bears have not won in Kansas City since Week 5 of the 2015 season. ... Reid won his 271st game, moving him past Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry into fourth place on the career list. ... Mahomes went over 25,000 yards passing for his career. He did it in 83 games, the fastest in NFL history. ... Mahomes had his 22nd game with three TD passes and no interceptions, tying Aaron Rodgers for the most by a QB before turning 30. Mahomes turned 28 last Sunday. ... Kelce needs three more TD catches to pass Tony Gonzalez (76) for second in Chiefs history.
INJURIES
Bears: Starting safety Eddie Jackson was inactive with a foot injury and cornerback Josh Blackwell was dealing with a hamstring injury, all before cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had to be evaluated for a concussion; he later was deemed to have an illness and did not return. Defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Jaylon Johnson also were hobbled during the game.
UP NEXT
Bears: Host the Denver Broncos next Sunday.
Chiefs: Visit the New York Jets next Sunday night.
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Chiefs Offense Gets Going, Galvanized by Perception That Officials Are Picking on Their Right Tackle
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs offense got going against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, piling up yards and points in a 41-10 rout. That came after a couple of lackluster outings by Kansas City to start the season. Perhaps part of the reason for the sudden success was that the Chiefs offense was apparently galvanized by the perception that their right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, has been getting picked on by officials. He was flagged multiple times again on Sunday, one week after getting penalized five times against Jacksonville. The Chiefs offensive line responded by not allowing a sack and paving the way for a running game to go for 153 yards and two TDs.
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Steelers' Team Plane Makes Emergency Landing at KCI, No Injuries Reported
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers' charter flight home following a Sunday night win in Las Vegas made an emergency landing in Kansas City early Monday. Team spokesman Burt Lauten posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that every one on the plane is safe and the team is making plans to arrive in Pittsburgh later in the day. The team was originally scheduled to arrive in Pittsburgh around 5:30 am EDT after improving to 2-1 by holding off the Raiders.
KDKA TV, which has a pair of journalists on the team plane, reported the plane landed in Kansas City while trying to address an oil pressure failure in one of the engines. Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward had a little fun with the situation, joking on X with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop star Taylor Swift that the team needed a ride to Pittsburgh. Swift attended Kansas City's blowout victory over Chicago on Sunday as a guest of Kelce's. The Steelers were given Monday off by head coach Mike Tomlin. They travel to Houston on October 1.
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Missouri Tigers, Kansas Jayhawks Enter AP Top 25 Football Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star) — The Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks now have something in common. The Kansas City Star reports that both schools now have football teams ranked in the new AP Top 25 College Football poll. The Tigers enter the poll ranked No. 23 after beating Memphis on Saturday. MU is 4-0 for the first time since 2013. KU enters the poll right behind Mizzou, at No. 24. The Jayhawks are 4-0 for the second consecutive season — the first time that’s happened since 1914-15 — after defeating previously unbeaten BYU on Saturday.
Like Missouri, this is the first appearance for KU in the Top 25 this season. It’s also the first time KU has been ranked since a No. 19 assessment on October 19, 2022. Meanwhile, K-State (3-1, 1-0) is unranked after defeating UCF 44-31 Saturday in Manhattan. The Wildcats are knocking on the door, however, leading the “others receiving votes” category with 57 votes. K-State started the 2023 season ranked but fell out of the Top 25 with a road loss to Mizzou.
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K-State Agrees with Hoops Coach Jerome Tang on New 7-Year Contract
UNDATED (AP) — Kansas State University and Jerome Tang agreed to a new seven-year contract Monday. The deal comes after the men’s basketball coach took a program that had just two returning players and was picked last in the Big 12 to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season. Tang was working on a six-year deal that he signed last year. He will be paid $3 million for the upcoming season with $100,000 raises each year, finishing with $3.6 million for the 2029-30 season. He also will earn $200,000 retention bonuses after the next four seasons.
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102-Loss Royals Turn into Spoilers Against Playoff-Chasing Astros
UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have lost more than 100 games this year. They've also been a thorn in the side of the defending champion Houston Astros lately. The Royals went 5-1 in two recent series against Houston, leaving the Astros in a precarious spot in the playoff race. Kansas City has now won 10 of its last 11 games. The Astros can be glad they won't see the Royals again until next season. Houston is just a half-game ahead of Seattle for the final playoff spot in the American League.
This wasn't a run you saw coming — but then again, you rarely do when a baseball team starts to play spoiler. The Kansas City Royals, who reached 100 losses more than two weeks ago and have been out of contention for almost the entire season, suddenly became a huge thorn in the side of the defending champions. The Royals went 5-1 in two recent series against Houston, leaving the Astros in a precarious spot in the playoff race. Kansas City has now won 10 of its last 11 games. Even after that impressive stretch, the Royals have the second-worst record in baseball, but you wouldn't have known it watching those matchups with Houston. And the Astros looked nothing like the World Series champs from a season ago.
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