Parts of Eastern Kansas Receive Record Snowfall Amounts
TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) — Many people in northeast Kansans saw record or near-record snowfall amounts over the weekend. The National Weather Service says Saturday was the snowiest November day in Topeka in 135 years. The Topeka Capital Journal reports that 7.2 inches of snow fell in the Capital City Saturday night and early Sunday. Topeka's record snowfall for one day in November is 9.5 inches, set on November 9th, 1888. The highest total reported in our region over the weekend was 12 inches near Hutchinson. Council Grove saw 10.5 inches. Elsewhere, 7.5 inches of snow was reported in Emporia; 6.8 in Manhattan, while Lawrence had about 5.5 inches.
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Report: Kansas Winter Electricity Grid Lacks Reliability
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) — Extreme winter weather could put the electric grid in Kansas at risk of rolling blackouts this year. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation listed Kansas at an elevated risk for lacking power reliability this winter. The report finds controlled, temporary service interruptions are unlikely but possible in severe, freezing winter weather. But Kansas is currently in a weather pattern called El Niño that makes these events less likely. Jeff Baskin is a technical analyst with the Southwest Power Pool, the organization that manages the state’s electric grid. "The trend here is we’re likely not to see numerous severe cold weather blasts, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to get a significant blast of cold air," he said. The Southwest Power Pool said there's just a 3% chance that it won't have enough energy if demand spikes above normal peaks this year.
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Lansing Prison Inmate Dies over the Weekend
LANSING, Kan. (KPR) — An inmate has died at the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF). The Kansas Department of Corrections says 29-year-old Darionce Terrell Charles-Lott died Saturday night. He was found unresponsive in his cell with no pulse. The cause of death is pending further investigation and the results of an independent autopsy. Charles-Lott was serving more than 10 years in prison for an aggravated battery conviction in Wyandotte County.
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Kansas Teen Dies of Suicide in Foster Home
UNDATED (KC Beacon) – A 15-year-old foster child died of suicide in Kansas last month. The Kansas City Beacon reports that the child’s death comes as mental health treatment for foster kids lags behind court-mandated goals.
The child died in a foster home. The foster parents called for help once they found the teenager's body, but paramedics couldn’t save him. That child was at a KVC Kansas foster home, but every agency in the state struggles to get kids into appropriate treatment. A lawsuit settlement found that 70% of foster kids statewide had their mental and behavioral health needs met. That’s below the 85% requirement. KVC couldn’t comment on the individual case but says KVC Health Systems provided treatment to over 4,000 children in 2022.
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Kansas Duck Hunter Rescued from Freezing Conditions
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) — Kansas wildlife officials rescued a duck hunter over the holiday weekend after the hunter went into hypothermic shock. Game wardens with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks say that on Sunday evening, emergency crews were called to the Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area following a 911 call. When first responders arrived, they were told a duck hunter had been suffering from hypothermia and had gone into shock. WIBW TV reports that game wardens were able to get the freezing duck hunter out of the cold and into a local hospital for treatment. Officials have not released the hunter’s name or any further information about the incident.
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Mystery Dog Illness Reported in Colorado
UNDATED (KNS) – An unknown respiratory illness is spreading among dogs in the U.S., including reported cases in Colorado. Susan Nelson, a professor at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says although no cases have been reported in Kansas, dog owners should be on the lookout, especially if their dog is having trouble breathing or develops a cough.
“Things that should make an owner be a little more alarmed is if they’re so lethargic they’re not wanting to eat. Maybe the respiratory rate is going up more than what it normally is, especially when they’re resting,” Nelson advised.
Nelson says the illness can develop into pneumonia, which could be deadly. She says veterinarians are still working to learn more, but the illness cannot be spread to humans or other species of animals.
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Memorial Planned for Kansas Police Dog That Was Strangled
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas police dog that authorities allege was strangled after chasing a suspect into a storm drain will be remembered this week in a livestreamed memorial service. The service for Bane, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois that the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office used in high-risk situations, will take place on Wednesday. Authorities say the Wichita man accused of killing Bane is jailed on more than $1 million bond. Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Dillon says the man made his first appearance last week on a felony count of battery against a law enforcement officer and harming or killing certain dogs.
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Democrat Announces Plans to Run for Kansas 1st District Congressional Seat
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) – Democrat Paul Buskirk, of Lawrence, plans to seek the Democratic Party's nomination to run against Republican Tracey Mann for the state's 1st Congressional District seat. The Kansas Reflector reports that Buskirk works as a special advisor in the University of Kansas athletics department. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2022. The Kansas 1st Congressional district stretches from Lawrence to the Colorado border. Mann, of Salina, was elected to represent the mostly-rural district in 2020. The primary election will take place on August 6, 2024.
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Kansas Launches Program to Support Prisoners After Release
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — A Kansas initiative is working to fill vacant jobs in the state while also helping people released from prison find employment. About 360 people have participated in the program and more than 70% have secured a job. The joint program from the Kansas commerce and corrections departments provides support like occupational training and transportation to work. The program also follows up with participants for a year after they find a job to help them keep on track. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Mike Beene says the program’s goal is to reduce repeat offenders. But he says it also helps fill jobs amid low unemployment rates in Kansas. “The primary goal of it is to help our employers across the state find talent, keep folks here and grow our economy," he said. The state aims to provide support for 120 former inmates annually.
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Many States Allow Schools to Operate with Little Oversight
UNDATED (AP) — Students left America's public schools in staggering numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families switched to homeschooling. Some turned to private schools, and others who fell off the radar during pandemic school closures never enrolled anywhere else at all. The Associated Press has published a story exploring a category of off-the-grid schooling that has gained popularity in Louisiana: Schools that are allowed to operate without state approval as long as they don't accept public funding. There are laws in many other states that allow anyone to educate children from multiple families with similarly lax oversight. The arrangements raise questions about what kind of education kids are getting — and whether they're getting one at all.
There are at least 17 states where families are allowed to open a private school or a satellite of a private school as a form of homeschooling, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. Typically, these schools are allowed under laws governing private schools or religious schools. The level of oversight and regulation varies widely. The states on the HSLDA's list include Kansas and Nebraska.
In Louisiana, at least, the unapproved schools represent one of two options the state offers for homeschooling. Parents who want their child to receive a state-recognized high school diploma can apply for the official home study program. They must submit documentation such as test scores or copies of the student's work to show their child has received 180 days of schooling at the same quality as a public school's. Alternately, families can set up their own private school without asking for state approval. There are no requirements to prove a child is getting an education.
The unapproved school featured in the story by the AP and The Advocate, a partner news outlet in Louisiana, has been using the system to grant diplomas for a fee, with no classes required. There have been abuse scandals at others, too.
There are bad actors also in public schools, but for unapproved schools in Louisiana, there is no agency with responsibility for overseeing such schools and keeping them accountable.
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Purdue Back at No. 1 in AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll; KU Drops to No. 5
UNDATED (AP) – Purdue is back at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll after its run to the Maui Invitational title. The Boilermakers beat three teams ranked among the top 11. They replace preseason No. 1 Kansas, which dropped to fifth after losing to Marquette in Maui. Arizona climbed to second, Marquette is third and UConn is fourth. Villanova, BYU and Colorado State jumped into the top 20 while Colorado, Arkansas and USC were among those that dropped out of the poll.
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Patrick Mahomes Throws 2 TDs, Chiefs Rally from 14-Point Deficit to Beat Raiders 31-17
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns, and the Kansas City Chiefs ended their three-game second-half scoring drought to rally past the Las Vegas Raiders 31-17. Kansas City fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter but tied it by halftime and pulled away after that. Isiah Pacheco rushed for two touchdowns, and Rashee Rice caught eight passes for 107 yards and a TD. Josh Jacobs rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown for the Raiders, ending a 12-game streak in which the Chiefs did not allow a 100-yard rusher.
The Kansas City Chiefs began to look more like their Super Bowl selves in the second quarter, and by the end, Mahomes had passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns to rally past the Raiders 31-17. "We're so used to Pat scoring 30 points a game," Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. "We've been so spoiled with that as a team. It might not have started (this season) the way we wanted it to start, but as this offense continues to play, they're going to continue to get better. We're going to get back in that rhythm of Pat scoring 30."
Andy Reid won his 125th career game as the Chiefs coach, passing Hank Stram for the team record. That also made Reid the first NFL coach to hold that distinction for two teams — he won 130 games in Philadelphia. Kansas City (8-3) fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter but tied it by halftime and pulled away after that. Isiah Pacheco rushed for two touchdowns, and Rashee Rice caught eight passes for 107 yards and a TD. "We still have stuff to learn from this game," Mahomes said. "There were some situations where we didn't execute at a high enough offensive level, but we obviously took a step in a positive direction. Now it's just continuing to do that throughout the rest of the season." Josh Jacobs rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown for the Raiders (5-7), ending a 12-game streak in which the Chiefs did not allow a 100-yard rusher.
The Chiefs have held 11 consecutive opponents to 24 or fewer points, just three off the team record. They shut down the Raiders in the second half, holding them to 113 yards after Las Vegas picked up 245 in the first two quarters. "Defensively, our guys put the hammer down when needed," Reid said. Kansas City extended its winning streak to six games over the Raiders, and the Chiefs have beaten their AFC West rival in 16 of the past 18 meetings. More importantly for the Chiefs, they bounced back from a 21-17 loss Monday night to Philadelphia, a Super Bowl rematch in which several receivers dropped passes. "It's a tough thing to do to win a game like this after a big Monday night game and then Thanksgiving," Reid said. "You get the tryptophan hangover, so you've got to work through that."
INJURIES
Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) and RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) did not play. ... WR Skyy Moore (knee), T Donovan Smith (neck and shoulder) and G Trey Smith (foot) was injured, but Reid said none were serious.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: At Green Bay on Sunday night.
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Dynamo Blank Sporting KC 1-0 to Advance to Western Conference Final
HOUSTON (AP) — Defender Franco Escobar scored a first-half goal, Steve Clark posted a clean sheet and the Houston Dynamo beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0 to advance to the Western Conference Final. No. 4 seed Houston (15-11-9), in its first season with Ben Olsen at the helm, advances to play the winner of Sunday's other semifinal match between the No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders and defending champion and third-seeded Los Angeles FC next Saturday. Escobar used an assist from Héctor Herrera to send a header into the top left corner of the net in the 39th minute and the Dynamo took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Clark had three saves and Tim Melia stopped two shots for eighth-seeded Sporting KC (12-15-8).
Sporting KC has just two outright wins in 28 all-time playoff matches on the road and that includes the club's 4-1 victory over St. Louis City this postseason. Houston has advanced in five of the last six postseason matchups in the series. Sporting KC's lone win came in the 2013 Eastern Conference Final on its way to winning the MLS Cup.
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No. 5 Iowa Beats No. 16 Kansas State 77-70 for Gulf Coast Showcase Title
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Caitlin Clark scored 32 points, and No. 5 Iowa survived wasting a pair of double-digit leads before rallying to finally beat No. 16 Kansas State 77-70 in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Sunday night. Clark made seven 3-pointers, the last coming with 47 seconds left, to help ensure the Hawkeyes (7-1) would win and avenge a Nov. 16 loss to Kansas State. Molly Davis added 13, while Kate Martin had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Iowa. Serena Sundell and Ayoka Lee each scored 18 for Kansas State (6-1).
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KU to Host 1st and 2nd Rounds of NCAA Volleyball Tournament
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) – The University of Kansas will be hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena later this week. Yale will play fifth seed Penn State, and fourth-seeded KU will play Omaha on Thursday, November 30. The winners of these matches play each other on Friday, December 1. Tickets are available via ncaatickets.com.
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QB Will Howard, Who Led K-State to Big 12 Title Last Season, Among Those Entering Transfer Portal
UNDATED (AP) – Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, who led the Wildcats to the Big 12 title last season and another bowl game this season, joined Wildcats running back Treshaun Ward among a rush of players into college football's transfer portal Monday.
Most teams wrapped up regular seasons this past weekend, leading some to declare their intent to transfer. Howard and Ward are among those who are graduate transfers, meaning they could enter the portal and become immediately eligible, while players who have yet to graduate must wait until Dec. 4 to make their announcements official.
Howard emerged as the Wildcats' starter last year after injuries to Adrian Martinez, and he led them to an upset of eventual national runner-up TCU in the Big 12 title game. Howard was the clearcut starter entering this season, though he was pushed at times by freshman Avery Johnson, and threw for 2,643 yards with 24 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
Howard, who will have one year of eligibility left, had tears in his eyes as he walked off the field after his final game at Kansas State on Saturday. He accounted for two touchdowns in a 42-35 loss to Iowa State in a game played in heavy snow.
In a social media post, Howard thanked Kansas State coach Chris Klieman, his teammates and the Wildcats' fanbase before concluding: "I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life and in the possibilities that lie ahead."
His departure means that Johnson, one of the nation's best dual-threat quarterbacks coming out of high school, will likely start for the Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) in their bowl game. Johnson threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns but may be even more dangerous on the ground — he took over for Howard against Texas Tech and ran for five TDs in a 38-21 victory.
Ward, who arrived at Kansas State from Florida State, is transferring again after ceding playing time to D.J. Giddens throughout the season. He ran for 643 yards and five touchdowns while adding two touchdown receptions.
Another veteran QB hitting the portal Monday was Mississippi State's Will Rogers, who threw for 12,315 yards in four seasons with the Bulldogs; three of those seasons came while he was running the late coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offense.
Rogers posted on social media before a season-ending loss to Ole Miss in the Battle for the Golden Egg that he would transfer.
Notre Dame wide receiver and running back Chris Tyree, along with offensive lineman Zeke Correll, also entered the portal. Each of them have played at least 40 games for the Fighting Irish.
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