LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 18, 2025) – Today, at the Flint Hills Regional Council (FHRC) board meeting in Junction City, Kansas, EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy presented a $1 million award to FHRC for their selection to receive funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). Macy was joined by Kansas State Representative Nathan Butler and FHRC Board President Trish Giordano.

"Today, we are thrilled to present this award for the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund to the Flint Hills Regional Council, a testament to their unwavering commitment to transforming our community,"&nbsp;Macy said. "Having previously received an Assessment Grant, FHRC has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in identifying and preparing sites for revitalization. This new funding will empower them to continue their vital work, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for growth and renewal."

“This $1 million EPA grant is a game changer for the Flint Hills region,”&nbsp;Giordano said. “It empowers us to transform abandoned properties into thriving community assets, sparking revitalization and creating new jobs. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.”

The $1 million grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund (RLF), from which FHRC will provide up to three loans and up to two subgrants to support cleanup activities. Grant funds also will be used to establish the RLF, market the program, and support community engagement activities. RLF activities will focus on Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee counties in Kansas, with a focus on the Kansas cities of Herington, Junction City, and Manhattan.

This grant is part of FY 2025 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, Cleanup Grants, and RLF Supplemental Funding&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-267-million-brownfields-grants-cleanup-communities-across-country">announced</a>&nbsp;in May 2025. This announcement included:

Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants:

Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund Grants:

View the list of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applications-selected-fy-2025-brownfields-assessment-revolving-loan-fund-rlf-cleanup">selected applicants</a>.

EPA’s Brownfields program began in 1995 and has&nbsp;provided&nbsp;nearly $2.9 billion&nbsp;in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date,&nbsp;brownfields investments&nbsp;have leveraged over $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage over 220,500 jobs from both public and private sources.

Flint Hills Regional Council presented with $1 Million Check from EPA Region 7

United Way of Junction City / Geary County is kicking off its Stuff the Bus program tomorrow, Saturday, July 19. Collection locations will be at Walmart and Dillons in Junction City from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Saturday is the first of three collection dates, with the other two on Saturday, July 26, and Saturday, August 2. 

Nichole Mader, the Executive Director of United Way, said the program benefits all schools in USD 475 - Geary County Schools, USD 473 - Chapman Schools, and St. Xavier in Junction City. 

"This is the fifteenth year of Stuff the Bus," Mader said. "Stuff the bus is a community event where volunteers come together and we collect school supplies for USD 475, USD 473, and St. X. All of the supplies collected are divided up and taken to each school before the first day of school."

A wish list of supplies is posted below. Also, drop-off locations are posted below if you purchase items outside of the Saturday collection days.

United Way Kicks off their Stuff the Bus collection this Weekend

There are two more events where you can meet the 10 candidates that are running for election to the Junction City Commission. The first event is this Saturday, July 19, at the Harmony Center in Junction City. From 1:00-2:00 p.m., there will be a question-and-answer session for the candidates.

 The Harmony Center is located at 540 Grant Avenue. 

On Monday night, July 21, the Geary County Republican Party is hosting its monthly meeting at the Blu Restaurant and Bar in Junction City. The candidates have been invited to attend, and this will also be a question-and-answer format. The meeting will be in the back room at Blu and begins at 6:00 p.m. 

The Blu Restaurant and Bar is located at 602 N. Washington St.

In-person advance voting began on Wednesday, July 16, at the Geary County Office Building. The Primary Election is Tuesday, August 5th.

Upcoming Candidate Forums for Junction City Commission Candidates

-- EXTREME HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY...

A prolonged period of hot conditions with heat index values  up to 107 is expected. The affected areas are Portions of central, east central, north central, and northeast Kansas.

Impacts of the heat are heat related illnesses increase significantly during&nbsp;  extreme heat and high humidity events.

The warning could be extended through next  week if the forecast plays out as expected.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Heat Warning in Effect from Noon Saturday - Wednesday

School is just around the corner, and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is ready to register students.  On Wednesday, July 23rd, St. Xavier School Registration Day will be open from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

While there, you can get all of your registration needs taken care of, including registration packets and tuition agreements. The school calendar, supply lists, and other forms will be available to pick up as well. You can also try on and order uniforms, in addition to stopping by the Saint Shop to purchase school swag.&nbsp;

Principal Shawn Augustine said it is the perfect day to come out and see the school, and get everything taken care of in one day. "This day is available for all new families coming in and also to our returning families," Augustine said. "It's a one-stop shop to get school schedules, tuition packets, the school calendar, KSHSAA forms for sports, and an opportunity to check out our Saint Shop and also look at uniforms. It is a perfect day to come out from Noon until 7:00 p.m. for this registration event."

The Saint Xavier School is located at 200 N. Washington St. in Junction City. Find more information on St. X <a href="https://www.saintxrams.org/">here</a>.

St. Xavier School to hold Registration Day on Wednesday, July 23

The 31st Annual Junction City Rodeo is happening this weekend, Friday and Saturday night, July 18th &amp; 19th, starting at 8:00 P.M. at the Geary County 4-H Fairgrounds Arena, located at 1025 Spring Valley Rd in Junction City.

The rodeo will feature: bareback riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Friday night's theme is Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night . On Saturday night, the theme is Red, White &amp; Blue Night.

There will be events for this kids at the rodeo as well. Kids events include the calf scramble, the boot scramble, and mutton busting.

Tickets to the Junction City Rodeo can be purchased at the gate. Adults are $10.00, kids ages 6-12 are $5.00, and those five and under are free.&nbsp;

Junction City Rodeo is this Weekend

On Monday, July 21, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to close the eastbound I-70 entrance ramp at exit&nbsp;299/J-Hill Road for reconstruction in Junction City. This closure is in addition to the following ramp closures:

The contractor has scheduled the I-70 entrance ramp at eastbound exit&nbsp;299&nbsp;to reopen by the end of August.

This final phase, Phase Three, of reconstruction is scheduled to be completed by December, weather permitting. Wildcat Construction Co. Inc., of Wichita, is the prime contractor for this $30 million project.

KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones. For current road conditions, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kandrive.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010197f0b673c7-6f1e76e0-e44d-4db5-94ca-ac4c45798e8f-000000/75SFfB2JbgoUtWO881evdUNKfNqynJvVxGWRVMchbRo=413">kandrive.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 5-1-1. For more information on this project, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.gov%2Fprojects%2Fi-70-pavement-replacement-in-junction-city%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010197f0b673c7-6f1e76e0-e44d-4db5-94ca-ac4c45798e8f-000000/DCzujLCR0N6o7pkPCa85q27KydRW0sa4Rw91ccmcx7A=413">ksdot.gov/projects/i-70-pavement-replacement-in-junction-city</a>.

I-70 entrance ramp -  Exit 299/J-Hill Road to close Monday for reconstruction 

Pre-fair activities kicked off the 99th Geary County Free Fair on Thursday night. A large crowd gathered for the 4-H Public Revue and Royalty Announcement.&nbsp;

The Royalty candidates were Brittney Dibben, Addison Gibson, Morgan Nabus, and Grady Oentrich.&nbsp;

Geary County Free Fair 4-H Royalty

Royal Court: Addison Gibson and Morgan Nabus

Other results are listed below from the 4-H Public Revue.

The theme for the 4-H Public Revue and Fashion Show was Glowing and Growing. (Photos from the event are posted below).

Geary County 4H Public Revue and Fashion Show kicked off the Fair - Royalty Crowned

The Felix Snipes Foundation is hosting a Summer Skate for Elementary School Kids and also an adult skate in the coming weeks.

The first skate for the kids is this Saturday, July 19, from 5-7 p.m. at Spin City in Junction City.&nbsp;

Admission to the kids summer skate is $1 per child.&nbsp; Ages eight and under must be accompanied by an  adult.

Concessions will be available for purchase at the event.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Then, next Saturday, July 26, the Felix Snipes Foundation is hosting an adult skate. The Adult Skate called "Boots on the Ground",&nbsp;Blues and Country Adult Skate and Dance with will also have a live DJ. The adult skate is 21 and older.&nbsp; Dress in your western/country attire.

The cost to attend is $7 per person. All proceeds from the event go toward USD 475 student late fees.&nbsp;

Felix Snipes Foundation is hosting two Summer Skate Events at Spin City

The Geary County Sheriff's Office and Geary County Sheriff Nate Boeckman released the department's report from the second quarter of 2025. (April-June)

According to the report, the average daily population in the Geary County Detention Center was 95 inmates. During the second quarter, the Sheriff's Office announced it conducted 43 prisoner transports. 

A total of 376 citations were issued, 188 arrests were made, and a total of 1,324 traffic stops were conducted. There were 16 drug investigations and 17 DUI charges issued. The Sheriff's Office attended to 14 domestic incidents and 15 battery/assault calls. 

In total, the department handled 4,432 incidents from April 1 through June 30. 

The Geary County Sheriff's Office interdiction team seized 4,816 lbs of marijuana, 415 lbs of cocaine, 6 oz of methamphetamine, and $18,000 in U.S. currency. 

In a statement released on social media, Geary County Sheriff Nate Boeckman shared his thoughts on his department and its goals moving forward. "My key goals continue to focus on building trust and unity within our community while delivering the highest level of protection and service," Boeckman said. "Please don't hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your time and continued support." 

Boeckman was sworn in as Geary County Sheriff in January of this year.

Sheriff's Office reports 2nd Quarter Statistics

Abilene is ready to add another national accolade to its growing list. On Thursday, Newsweek announced the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum &amp; Boyhood Home inn, as a nominee in its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Presidential Attraction. This marks the first time Abilene has been honored by Newsweek.

“Being nominated by Newsweek is a tremendous honor,” said Todd Arrington, Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. “It’s a reflection of the important work we do to preserve and share the story of Dwight D. Eisenhower—one of America’s most admired leaders.” Nominees for Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards are selected by editors with input from travel experts across the country. Abilene’s nomination was submitted by Amy Piper, Follow the Piper, a travel writer who visited the Presidential Library and Museum through the Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau’s Travel Media Hosting Program.

The relationships we build are invaluable, and we’re so appreciative of this nomination,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau. “From USA TODAY and Travel Awaits to True West Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and other respected outlets powered by real traveler experiences, Abilene continues to earn national recognition from those who’ve experienced it firsthand.”

Voting for Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards opens Thursday, July 17 at 11 a.m. CST and closes Thursday, August 14 at 10:59 a.m. CST. Voters can cast their vote daily at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice">https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice</a>.

Best Presidential Attraction Nominee:&nbsp;Eisenhower Presidential Library &amp; Museum200 S. E. 4th St, Abilene, KS

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/">www.EisenhowerLibrary.gov</a>

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/"></a>Located on a stunning 22-acre campus in the heart of Abilene, the Eisenhower Presidential Library &amp; Museum invites visitors to explore the life and legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower—from a modest Kansas upbringing to global leadership as Supreme Allied Commander in World War II and the 34th President of the United States.

The campus includes the recently renovated museum,&nbsp; Eisenhower’s boyhood home, research archives, the Place of Meditation–final resting place of President Eisenhower and his wife Mamie,&nbsp; and a visitor center with a gift shop. Guests can enjoy interactive exhibits, rare personal artifacts, and immersive storytelling that highlights Ike’s military leadership, creation of the Interstate Highway System, formation of NASA, and civil rights progress. Consistently ranked among the top five U.S. presidents by C-SPAN historians, Eisenhower’s steady leadership continues to inspire generations.

“Eisenhower’s legacy continues to receive national attention and to inspire Americans of all ages to be active and engaged citizens,” added Arrington.&nbsp;&nbsp;

BONUS: Abilene's Victorian Inn Bed &amp; Breakfast Nominated as Newsweek's Best Historic Bed &amp; Breakfast.

Once the home of President Eisenhower's boyhood friend, Swede Hazlett, Abilene's Victorian Inn is now a lovely bed-and-breakfast that has been refreshed to its former glory. Guests begin each morning with coffee in the parlor before indulging in dishes like quiche, fresh fruit parfaits, biscuits and more. In the afternoon, you can listen to the sounds of songbirds mixed with a train whistle from a swing on the spacious porch.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Vote daily at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice/best-historical-bb-2025">https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice/best-historical-bb-2025</a>.

Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum Nominated for Newsweek's Best Presidential Attraction

Tonight marks the final home game of the season for the Junction City Brigade.
Junction City will host the KC Knights at 7:00 p.m. at Rathert Stadium.

The Brigade have been on a hot streak lately, winning their last eight games. They’ve won 12 of their last 14 and hold a 23–11 record on the season.

On Saturday night in Hutchinson, nine Brigade players will compete in the Jayhawk Collegiate League All-Star Game at Hobart-Detter Field.

The Brigade will then wrap up their regular season on Sunday night with a road game against the Derby Twins. (This game was originally started on June 29 but was postponed due to rain. The Brigade were leading 2–0 in the first inning when the game was suspended.)

** There is a possibility the Junction City Brigade will get into the postseason NBC World Series in Wichita. The World Series runs from July 24-August 2nd. The field of teams will be announced on Sunday night.&nbsp;

Junction City Brigade Home Finale is Friday night

The 2025 varsity football schedule for the Junction City Blue Jays has been released. Junction City will begin its season at home, playing in Blue Jay Stadium on September 5th. The Blue Jays will host Haysville Campus in the season and home opener. This will be the fifth season for the Blue Jays at Blue Jay Stadium.&nbsp;

Full Schedule is listed below. All games are at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; Home games are in bold.&nbsp;

October 31 - Round one of the playoffs TBD.

In 2024, the Blue Jays went 5-5 and were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs by the Derby Panthers.&nbsp;

All games are broadcast on KJCK Radio 107.9 FM / 1420 AM.

2025 Junction City Blue Jay Varsity Football Schedule is released

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber was nervous.

He had played in Game 7 of the World Series, homered for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

But he had never walked up to the plate in an All-Star Game swing-off.

“That’s kind of like the baseball version of a shootout,” he said after homering on all three of his swings, going down to his left knee on the final one, to overcome a two-homer deficit. That held up when Jonathan Aranda fell short on the American League’s final three swings, giving the National League a 4-3 swing-off win after a 6-6 tie Tuesday night in which it wasted a six-run, seventh-inning lead.

Schwarber earned the MVP award, going 0 for 2 with a walk as the NL won for the second time in its last 12 tries. He became the first non-pitcher MVP without a hit.

“It will be interesting to see where that goes,” said AL manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees. “There’s probably a world where you could see that in the future, where maybe it’s in some regular season mix. I wouldn’t be surprised if people start talking about it like that.”

Concerned about running out of pitchers in an era where no All-Star throws more than one inning,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-new-york-mets-brian-snitker-38d3dc0ea869992ebcab83a4ef4c960b">Major League Baseball and the players’ association made the change in 2022</a>.

In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches.

Boone picked Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Aranda on Monday, and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts picked Eugenio Suárez, Schwarber and Pete Alonso for the NL. Because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eugenio-suarez-allstar-game-3a86937e6a6e74ade4399711717f1f9b">Suárez was hit</a>&nbsp;on the left hand by a fastball in the eighth inning, the NL turned to its alternate, Kyle Stowers.

Players from both teams stood outside their dugouts, some already in street clothes, jumping and shouting after each long ball from their side. Yankees coach Travis Chapman threw to the AL batters and Dodgers coach Dino Ebel to the NL hitters.

Rooker put the AL ahead by homering on his last two swings, and Stowers hit one. Randy Arozarena boosted the AL lead to 3-1.

Ebel had thrown BP to Schwarber two years ago at the WBC.

“He asked me right before, he was like, where do you want it?” Schwarber recalled “I’m like, just middle. And he’s like, `I gotcha.’”

He took two pitches and deposited the third just over the center-field fence. Schwarber took another, then hit a 461-foot drive over the right-center bullpen. After letting two more go by, he dropped to a knee while pulling the third, craned his neck and held his bat it the air as the ball landed in the fourth row of the Chop House seats.

“I didn’t hit it, obviously, my best, but I was thinking I got enough of it,” Schwarber said. “And I was just kind of down there, hoping, saying: go, go, go. And it went. And it was awesome.”

Aranda followed with a fly well short of the center-field warning track, drove a pitch about a foot shy of the top of the right-field wall and hit an opposite-field pop that dropped in medium left.

Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion, didn’t have to bat and patted Schwarber on the head as fireworks went off at Truist Field.

“I felt like a closer like a closer going into a game,” Alonso said, “and then it’s like, wait, the guy in the field got a double play to end the inning. You’re not going in.”

MLB, after consulting with the Elias Sports Bureau,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-college-football-soccer-sports-baseball-3e3fc1fa9ba55a1ec4e563353e69db56">said in 2022</a>&nbsp;that All-Star Games ending in a swing-off would be listed as tied, with a notation of the game being decided in a swing-off. MLB’s official postgame notes listed Tuesday’s outcome as a 7-6 NL victory.

Ketel Marte’s two-run double in the first had put the NL ahead, and Alonso’s three-run homer off Kris Bubic and Corbin Carroll’s solo shot against Casey Mize opened a 6-0 lead in the sixth.

The AL comeback began when Rooker hit a three-run pinch homer against Randy Rodríguez in a four-run seventh that included Bobby Witt Jr.’s RBI groundout. Robert Suarez allowed consecutive doubles to Byron Buxton and Witt with one out in ninth, and Steven Kwan’s infield hit on a three-hopper to third off Edwin Díaz drove in the tying run.

Paul Skenes, the first pitcher to start the All-Star Game each of his first two seasons, reached 100 mph on four pitches in a perfect first. Jacob Misiorowski,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/misiorowski-allstar-game-534280740b0ceafc9dcc10c011df6cbb">a controversial inclusion</a>&nbsp;after pitching in just five major league games in his rookie season, fired nine pitches of 100 mph or more in a one-hit eighth 34 days after his major league debut. The 23-year-old righty, added to the NL roster by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, reached 102.3 mph. There were 21 pitches of 100 mph or more, down from a record 23 last year.

Four of five challenges were successful in the first use of the robot umpire in the All-Star Game

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-allstar-game-uniforms-8f3891854c6aab41e02a8a08c4263ea2">Teams were back in their regular-season club jerseys</a>&nbsp;— whites for the NL, mostly grays for the AL — after four years of special All-Star uniforms that were much criticized. The AL leads 48-45 with two ties.

⚾ Schwarber’s 3 homers in All-Star Game’s first tiebreaking swing-off lift NL over AL

The Jayhawk Collegiate League All-Star game is this Saturday, July 19 in Hutchinson at Hobart-Detter Field. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Nine players from the Junction City Brigade were selected to play in the game. All nine players and their positions are listed below. 

Nine JC Brigade players selected for the Jayhawk All-Star Game

The Junction City Brigade swept the Newton Rebels on Saturday in their doubleheader at Rathert Field.&nbsp;

Five regular season games are left.&nbsp;

Monday, July 14 - @ Hutchinson Monarchs - 7:00

Tuesday, July 15 - vs Monarchs @ Rathert Field - 7:00

Thursday, July 17 - vs KC Monarchs @ Rathert Field - 7:00

Friday, July 18 - vs KC Knights@ Rathert Field - 7:00

Sunday, July 20 - @ Derby Twins (makeup game) - 7:00.&nbsp;

Brigade sweep Rebels over the Weekend

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nick Loftin delivered his second game-winning hit in less than a week, driving in Tyler Tolbert from second base with a single in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.

Tolbert singled off Sean Manaea, who had been dominant in relief in his season debut for the Mets. And when the speedster stole second base, that gave Loftin the chance to deliver another winner after his deciding single Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

Manaea (0-1), who had been out after straining an oblique in spring training and then developing an elbow issue during his rehab outings, allowed that lone run and five hits while striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings.

Noah Cameron delivered another brilliant start for Kansas City, scattering seven hits while matching a career best with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. And the rookie left-hander was in line for his fourth win when John Schreiber and Lucas Erceg shepherded a 2-0 lead — courtesy of John Rave's second-inning double — to All-Star closer Carlos Estévez.

Ronny Mauricio led off the ninth with a double off Estévez (4-2). Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI triple off the center-field wall, and fellow pinch hitter Jared Young delivered a sacrifice fly moments later to tie the game.

Clay Holmes allowed two runs and five hits and a walk over five innings for New York.

Tolbert entered the game in the eighth for Jac Caglianone for his defense. It wound up being his offense that mattered, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep heading into the All-Star break.

The Mets went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight in the game.

The Mets will be represented at the All-Star Game in Atlanta this week by LHP David Peterson, RHP Edwin Diaz, SS Francisco Lindor and 1B Pete Alonso. The Royals will have INF Maikel Garcia, Estévez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. and LHP Kris Bubic there.

⚾ Nick Loftin hits game-winner as Royals beat Mets to avoid 3-game sweep

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Juan Soto homered to lead the New York Mets past the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Saturday.

Soto’s two-run shot into the right field fountains opened the scoring in the fourth. Over his last 20 games, Soto has nine home runs and 19 RBIs.

Frankie Montas (2-1) threw first-pitch strikes to 14 of 19 batters while allowing a run on four hits and striking out five.

Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India opened the sixth with doubles, reducing the Mets lead to 2-1. India had two of the Royals four hits, both doubles.

Reed Garrett relieved Montas and permitted India to advance on a wild pickoff attempt before retiring the heart of the Royals lineup, stranding the tying run.

Jeff McNeil’s two-out RBI single capped the scoring in the ninth.

Edwin Díaz allowed a walk in two hitless frames, earning his 19th save.

Scheduled Royals starter Michael Lorenzen missed the game with illness.

Jonathan Bowlan (1-2), the second of six Royals bullpen pitchers, threw three innings, allowing two runs on four hits, including Soto’s 435-foot home run.

For the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mets-royals-score-0422928fba3a49675263472a78de8105">second straight game</a>, the Mets successfully challenged a safe call on a Royals stolen base attempt. In both instances — Tyler Tolbert on Friday and Bobby Witt Jr. on Saturday — the runner didn’t maintain contact with the base during a head-first slide.

Witt popped up twice with runners in scoring position while his 14-game hitting streak ended. The Royals batted 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position during the first two games of the series.

With a runner at third and the infield drawn in, first baseman Pete Alonso made a diving stop of Vinnie Pasquantino’s sharp grounder, preserving the Mets one-run lead in the sixth.

Soto leads the majors with 77 walks, the most in Mets history prior to the All-Star break.

Mets RHP Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.29 ERA) opposes Royals LHP Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.56) on Sunday.

⚾ Juan Soto's 435-foot homer lifts Mets over Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mark Vientos had a three-run double in the eighth inning, Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer in the ninth and the New York Mets beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Friday night.

Brandon Nimmo singled to open the eighth and Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto walked to load the bases against Steven Cruz (2-1). Carlos Estévez entered to strike out Pete Alonso before Vientos cleared the bases for a 4-3 lead.

Lindor added his 19th homer in the ninth. He has 29 home runs and 81 RBIs against the Royals, his most against any opponent. Juan Soto followed with his 22nd homer, the sixth pair of back-to-back homers by the Mets.

Huascar Brazobán (5-2) won after allowing four hits and a two-run homer by Bobby Witt Jr. while pitching the seventh.

Kodai Senga returned from the injured list to make his first start in since leaving a June 12 start with a right hamstring strain.

Working on a pitch limit, Senga threw four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out four.

Michael Wacha allowed a run on two hits and three walks in five innings, striking out five.

After Kyle Isbel’s seventh-inning leadoff single, pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert stole second. The Mets challenged and the safe call was overturned because Tolbert came off the bag during his head-first slide. Witt homered two batters later.

Senga’s “ghost fork” has induced 113 of his 206 career strikeouts.

Mets RHP Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) was set to face Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61) on Saturday.

⚾ Vientos and Lindor lead the Mets past the Royals

The 2025 regular season for the Junction City Brigade is quickly coming to an end. Although only a few games remain before the regular season ends next week, the Brigade are hosting the Newton Rebels for an important double-header on Saturday night at Rathert Field. 

The first game starts at 5:00 p.m., and the second game will begin around 7:00. Ticket prices to get into the game are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and kids five and under get in free. (One ticket gets you in to both games).

Saturday night is also the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's season kickoff party. There will be a "Pitch In for the Cure" challenge where fans can donate money to earn "runs" in the challenge. Both Newton and Junction City fans are encouraged to participate.

On the season the Junction City Brigade at 17-11, and have won five of their last six games.

JC Brigade to host Double-Header against Newton Rebels on Saturday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice, Jac Caglianone hit the longest measured homer by a Royals rookie, and Kansas City beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

Perez broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with his longball off Isaac Mattson (2-1). He opened the scoring with a 444-foot shot to center in the second.

But the most impressive homer of the game belonged to Caglianone —&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1943109192639762689">a 466-foot, two-run drive</a>&nbsp;to center in the fourth against Bailey Falter. It was the longest homer by a Royals rookie since Statcast started tracking in 2015 and the fourth-longest by any Kansas City player at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals have won six of seven overall. They did not have a multi-homer game this season before doing it Monday night against Pittsburgh, and now they've done it three games in a row. Kansas City hit nine homers in the series.

Pittsburgh fell to 0-6 on its nine-game trip ahead of the All-Star break after getting shut out in three straight games at Seattle.

Perez had his second multi-homer game of the season and 19th of his career, extending his franchise record.

Lucas Erceg (4-2) worked a scoreless eighth and Carlos Estevez pitched the ninth for his 25th save.

Ke'Bryan Hayes had a two-run single in the Pirates' three-run sixth.

<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1943129622788354333">Perez sent the first pitch of the eighth</a>&nbsp;to the walkway just short of the fountains in right-center.

Kansas City swept a series at home for the first time since a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox in early May.

Pirates: Begin a three-game series at Minnesota on Friday.

Royals: Host the New York Mets for three games starting Friday.

⚾ Perez and Caglianone power Royals to win over Pirates 

In several states, a renter has to make $20 or more an hour to afford apartments being leased at Fair Market Value. Nearly half of Americans don’t make enough money to afford a one-bedroom rental.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/naomi-delkamiller-1">Jessica Meza</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">KCUR</a>

Personal stories about struggling to make ends meet appear throughout the report, “Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing.”

Vee, from Missouri, said her small wage increases don’t make a dent in rising rent costs.

“Everything is going up, but the paycheck,” a woman named Detrese from Maryland told the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which authored the report.

The report focuses on the housing wage, defined as the full-time hourly wage needed for workers to afford “a decent rental home that doesn’t occupy more than 30% of their wage.”

On the national level, the data shows, a renter needs to earn about $28 an hour to afford a modest one-bedroom rental without spending 30% of their income to pay for housing. Half of working Americans earn less than that, according to the report.

Published on Thursday, the report begins with an open letter from Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri that warns about the ongoing affordable housing and homelessness crisis in the U.S.

“I know these challenges firsthand. As a child, my family and I lived in public housing. We relied on it to put a roof over our heads, and to make sure there was enough money to put food on the table,” Cleaver writes.

In at least four Midwestern states, minimum wage is not enough to afford a two-bedroom rental at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.loans/hud-loans-blog/what-is-fair-market-rent/" target="_blank">Fair Market Value</a>.

Renters in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri need to make at least $20 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental. Minimum wage earners would need to work several full time jobs to afford it.

Costs are even higher in Illinois, where it takes earnings of almost $30 an hour to afford the same size of dwelling.

“People have lower incomes in those places, so the housing might be more affordable, you know, nominally, but not necessarily, relative to people's incomes,” said Dan Emmanuel, the coalition's director of research.

According to the NILHC report, only one out of four prospective renters eligible for housing assistance are able to receive that aid, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-appropriations-committee-releases-draft-fy26-spending-bill-cutting-hud-funding" target="_blank">budget cuts</a>&nbsp;to federal programs proposed by Congress will drastically impact those who need it.

Under the 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development measure, almost a billion dollars could be cut from HUD, an amount which the NILHC acknowledges is not as high as&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-appropriations-committee-releases-draft-fy26-spending-bill-cutting-hud-funding" target="_blank">originally proposed</a>.

In remarks at a July&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/news/remarks/cole-remarks-fy26-transportation-housing-and-urban-development-and-related-agencies-0" target="_blank">Appropriations Committee session</a>, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who chairs the committee, said:

"The bill empowers local housing and community development decision-making through Community Development Block Grants and NeighborWorks—capacity-building activities that leverage private housing investment dollars.”

Emmanuel said many people will lose their housing and could become homeless as a result of proposed cuts.

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