&nbsp; MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series</a>&nbsp;presents the Gatlin Brothers' "Country &amp; Christmas" tour at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.The Gatlin Brothers — Larry, Steve and Rudy — are Grammy award-winners who have dazzled audiences for 70 years. They have accrued a lifetime of noteworthy achievements in their career, including a Grammy for Best Country Song, three Academy of Country Music awards for Single of the Year, Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, and five nominations for the Country Music Association's awards.

The Gatlin Brothers have entertained audiences in venues and stages all over the world, from the Grand Ole Opry to Carnegie Hall. They have performed for the Grammy Awards, the American Music Awards and the People's Choice Awards. They appeared on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "Oprah," "Hee-Haw," "Love Boat," "The Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack," the "Merv Griffin Show," "Solid Gold," the "Barbara Mandrell Show" and their own variety special on ABC

Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours. Tickets for youth 17 and younger are half price for this show. Discounted tickets to this show are also available for K-State faculty and staff, individuals 62 and older, and members of the military. Original IDs will be required to obtain discounts — third-party, photocopied or web-based IDs are not accepted.

Iconic country music artists to perform holiday show at McCain Auditorium

Junction City Commissioners dealt with a number of items this week.

--Commissioners learned about a city POW / MIA program that could be established with signage. There would not be any cost for the city. This would be the fifth such program in Kansas. Dan Watkins outlined the program and will work with the city manager.

--They approved a change order of $79,930 for 2024 water system improvements.

--Commissioners awarded a bid for a fiscal sustainability plan totaling $31,400 to Columbia Capital Management.

--Commissioner Ronna Larson noted that United Way is seeking volunteers for their Day of Caring on Saturday.

--The Chamber of Commerce is hosting their Jingle Mingle on Dec. 5.

--Mayor Pat Landes credited the appearance of the recently completed 6th Street project.

--Interim City manager Gerry Vernon noted that the public meet and greet for the new city manager candidates is Friday night at the Opera House. It is scheduled from 6-8 p.m.

--Public Works Director Ray Ibarra informed the governing body that before work can proceed on a new roundabout at McFarland and Eisenhower can proceed some water and sewer line repairs need to be made.

Junction City Commission news notes

In observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the following closures within the Geary County Public Works Department are as follows:

Thursday, November 28, 2024: The Public Works Department, Landfill, and Transfer Station will all be closed.

Friday, November 29, 2024: The Public Works Department &amp; Landfill will be closed but the Transfer Station will resume normal operating hours, 8AM to 4PM.

The Public Works Department and Landfill will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Geary County Public Works notice

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Daniel Fenimore, Failure to appear, arrested 11/19

Geary County Booking Photos Nov. 20

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Seitz Elementary fourth grade student Sergio Lopez placed second overall at the 2025 Pokémon Latin America International Championships&nbsp;in São Paulo, Brazil.&nbsp;

Lopez, who competed in the Junior Division of Pokémon TCG, was one of only two United States students out of 120 competitors to place in the top four of the division at one of the most prestigious Pokémon Trading Card Game competitions in the world. By earning runner-up accolades at the three-day competition, Lopez, who’s favorite Pokémon character is Rowlet, has now qualified to compete at the 2025 Pokémon World Championships on August 15-17 in Anaheim, Calif.

Seitz Elementary Student Shines at Pokémon Latin America International Championships

Junction City Commissioners received updates on a number of topics during their Tuesday night meeting.

Snow removal procedures were covered by Public Works Director Ray Ibarra. Priorities for removal include when 2 inches of snow fall on major arterial streets, 2-3 inches on collector streets and 4 inches on residential streets.

Emergency snow routes include mostly arterial and collector routes. Vehicles must removed from those streets during snow storms.

City public works crews work 12-hour shifts removing snow but they are currently short on personnel. Five employees are assigned to each shift but when fully staffed there are eight employees per crew.

Junction City Commission gets snow removal procedures update

Submitted for&nbsp;Insight Kansas&nbsp;by Michael A. Smith

With the election of three new members this year, the Kansas State Board of Education is expected to shift more conservative on issues like the recognition of Trans students, books in the school library, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.&nbsp; Yet for all the publicity these issues receive, they do not really capture what the Kansas School Board does most of the time.

There seems to be a bipartisan near-consensus behind the “career readiness” focus in schools.&nbsp; Such a focus undoubtedly has its advantages, but today it has become single-minded.&nbsp; Career readiness is crowding out vital civic education and extracurricular activities, to the detriment of students.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It started out well.&nbsp; Curricula like the Olathe School District’s 21st Century programs have been designed to keep students focused, connecting their coursework to intended careers.&nbsp; These programs offer internships and other opportunities so students can make connections and experience a typical workday in their intended field.&nbsp; Such programs can be useful, keeping students motivated and equipping them with valuable skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Unfortunately, today, things are running off the rails.&nbsp; Consider college preparation.&nbsp; Not all students wish to attend college, and they should not be pressured to do so.&nbsp; Yet many do set their sights on college, and today’s high school environment bombards them with opportunities–and expectations–to take college courses while still in high school.&nbsp; These include Advanced Placement (AP) courses, in which students prepare for standardized tests, and dual enrollment courses, in which the high school teacher is also an adjunct faculty member at a local community college or university. Another option is Early College Admission (ECA), in which students are bussed from high school to an area college or university.&nbsp; Cramming in as many of these early college courses as possible displaces vital high school experiences like civic education and extracurricular activities.&nbsp; With students’ anxiety already running sky-high, adding this additional pressure only makes things worse, throwing the students’ lives out of balance and crowding out opportunities to do things they enjoy, like sports, debate, and drama.&nbsp; It also limits their opportunities to make friends face to face, so they turn to social media instead.&nbsp; Meanwhile, history and government classes keep getting cut while our civic culture lies in tatters. Today, many high school graduates struggle to distinguish between reliable sources of information and baseless conspiracy theories.&nbsp; Is it worth it?

Consider a future teacher who completes two full years of college courses while still in high school.&nbsp; They sail through college in only two years and hit the job market…&nbsp; at 20 years old.&nbsp; Can any Kansan seriously say that a 20 year old teacher who cannot even legally buy alcohol is emotionally ready to teach high school students only two or three years younger?&nbsp; Such nonsense is exactly what the Kansas School Board has been encouraging lately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Remember, college-bound students can always take their university credits when they get to college.&nbsp; The best thing high school can do is send them there well-prepared and genuinely excited about the college experience. Students choosing non-college career paths also deserve this preparation, since they, too, will need additional training or schooling beyond high school.

In the latest&nbsp;Kansas Speaks&nbsp;poll, 47.8% of respondents agreed that the primary purpose of higher education is to produce an educated citizenry, versus only 32.9% who believed that the primary goal was workforce readiness, with others remaining neutral or undecided.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansans get it. &nbsp; The question is, will the new Kansas School Board listen?

Career Readiness Must Share Space With Civic Education, Extracurriculars

On November 20, the JC Breakfast Optimist Club supported three organizations that work with youth in Geary County.  The Girl Scouts are preparing for the Christmas Parade and upcoming cookie sales.  Ellen Westerhaus represented the Girl Scouts to receive the $200.00 check.

I.C.A.R.E. is the Intergenerational Clearinghouse and Research Education Center in Junction City.  The organization works to involve older adults and youth in activities, being pen pals, learning about each other in the different periods of time in which each lived and providing exercise equipment at local parks. Scott Olson, President, represented I.C.A.R.E. Two hundred dollars was donated by the Optimists.

The Court Appointed Special Advocate of the 8th Judicial District representative was Lisa Hatt.  C.A.S.A. is an advocate for local children of abuse and neglect.   A $200.00 donation was made to C.A.S.A. by the Optimists. 

 JC Breakfast Optimist Club Donates To Three Organizations

K-State Research and Extension – Central Kansas District Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, millions of Americans are preparing to cook the turkey, the centerpiece of the holiday feast. To ensure a safe and stress-free holiday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers essential tips for thawing your turkey to avoid foodborne illnesses.

Refrigerator thawing is the safest method, maintaining a consistent, safe temperature throughout the process. Allow about 24 hours of thawing time for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. Keep the turkey in its original wrapping and place it on a tray in the refrigerator to catch any drips.

Cold water thawing is faster than refrigerator thawing but requires more attention. Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water and change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Plan for about 30 minutes of thawing time per pound.

Microwave thawing is the quickest method but is best suited for smaller portions or specific cuts. Follow your microwave’s instructions carefully and cook the turkey immediately after thawing.

The USDA advises against thawing a turkey on the countertop, in hot water, or outdoors in places like the garage or porch. These methods can promote bacterial growth and increase the risk of foodborne illness.

Additional tips for preparing your turkey

If you’re short on time, you can cook your turkey directly from the frozen state. Allow about 50% more cooking time for this method. Ensure the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, as recommended by the USDA. Use a food thermometer to check the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh.

For questions about safe food handling, the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline is available to help:

	•	Phone: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)

•	Live Chat: <a href="http://www.ask.usda.gov/">www.ask.usda.gov</a>

The hotline operates Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (except federal holidays) and on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For additional resources from K-State Research and Extension – Central Kansas District, visit their website at <a href="https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/">https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu</a>.

Let me know if you’d like any additional adjustments!

NEWMAN: How to safely thaw a turkey

GEARY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Subaru Outback driven by April M.&nbsp;Kulczyk, 45, Junction City, was northbound on U.S. 77 in west-central Junction City.

The SUV crossed the center line and struck a 2009 Infiniti G37 driven by Kaleb M&nbsp;Jones-Bransford, 21, Ponca City, Oklahoma.

After impact, the SUV continued northbound, again crossing the center line and colliding head-on with a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by&nbsp; Bradley S. Linton, 56, Enterprise.

&nbsp;After the second collision, the Ford came to rest in the west ditch while the Subaru came to rest in the northbound lane of traffic. The Infiniti traveled into the west ditch and struck a guardrail.

Linton was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson's Funeral Home. EMS transported Kulczyk to&nbsp;Stormont-Vail Healthcare in Topeka. Jones-Bransford was not injured. All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dead after 3-vehicle Junction City crash

Geary County Emergency Management reminds&nbsp; the public to get ready to drop those water hoses and get them drained if you have not already.

Cooler and drier weather is ahead as highs reach the 50s the next couple of days. Highs look cooler still for Thursday and Friday as we stay in the 40s. Temperatures then come up slightly into the weekend.

Prepare for chillier weather

By Kenny Lannou, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Communications/PR&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;Four Wildcat programs recorded Big 12-best graduation rate figures, and K-State’s all-sport graduation rate of 92 percent ranked was the second-highest in department history, as the NCAA released its latest graduation rate data.</a>

K-State’s men’s golf (100), women’s golf (100), tennis (100) and volleyball (100) programs all had Big 12-leading GSR figures, while as a department, K-State was fifth among current Big 12 membership with an overall average GSR of 92 percent. Other notable scores were baseball (92), which ranked third among Big 12 schools, and women’s track and field (97), which ranked second.

All colleges and universities are required by NCAA legislation and federal law (the Student Right-to-Know act from 1990) to report student graduation rates, and those institutions offering athletics aid are required to report for their student-athletes as well. The NCAA acquires student-athlete graduation rate data from the Department of Education’s Integrated Post-Secondary Data System Graduation Rate Survey (IPEDS-GRS).

The student-athlete graduation rate calculated directly based on IPEDS-GRS (which is the methodology the U.S. Department of Education requires) is the proportion of first-year, full-time student-athletes who entered a school on athletics aid and graduated from that institution within six years. This federal rate does not account for students who transfer from their original institution and graduate elsewhere; they are considered non-graduates at both the college they left and the one from which they eventually graduate.

 Four Wildcat Programs Highlight Latest Graduation Rate Figures

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 15 points and 15 rebounds, Dajuan Harris Jr. scored 16 points, and No. 1 Kansas shrugged off a sluggish start to beat UNC Wilmington 84-66 on Tuesday night and give Jayhawks coach Bill Self his 800th career win.

David Coit added 13 points and Zeke Mayo had 10 for the Jayhawks (5-0), who led 43-38 at halftime before going on a 12-2 run to start the second half. They stretched the lead to 20 and coasted to their 18th straight nonconference home win.

The Jayhawks next face No. 12 Duke in the Vegas Showdown on Tuesday.

Khamari McGriff had 18 points and Noah Ross had 10 with nine boards for UNC Wilmington (4-1), which was picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association after winning 21 games last season.

The Seahawks weren't intimidated by the 372nd straight sellout at Allen Fieldhouse. They beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena just last season. And while Kansas started the game with energy, UNC Wilmington matched it for the first 20 minutes. It wasn't until Harris led the Jayhawks' early second-half charge that they put the game away.

UNC Wilmington got just seven points from Donovan Newby. He had 20 in a recent win over USC Upstate.

Kansas lost freshman Flory Bidunga to an injury in the first half. He did not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped to the bench. He did not return. Bidunga's loss would be a big blow to the Jayhawks' interior depth.

Kansas roared out of halftime on the run that ultimately decided the game.

The Jayhawks won despite shooting 6 of 25 from 3-point range.

The Seahawks play Colgate on Nov. 27. The Jayhawks play the Blue Devils on Tuesday.

🏀 No. 1 KU beats UNC Wilmington to give Bill Self 800th career win

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Ugonna Onyenso came off the bench to score 16 points in 12 minutes and Kansas State shook off a poor first half to beat Mississippi Valley State 74-56 on Tuesday night.

On a night the Wildcats (3-1) shot just 36%, Onyenso was 6 of 7 from the floor and made all four of his free throws. C.J. Jones scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half. David N’Guessan added 10 points while Coleman Hawkins, who was just 1-of-11 shooting with two points, grabbed 13 rebounds.

Arthur Tate scored 16 points and Antonio Sisk 15 for the Delta Devils (1-4).

The Wildcats led 25-23 at halftime, having been up by as many as 14, after shooting just 29% and 1 of 13 from 3-point range. They finished 3 of 23 from the arc but hit 25 of 27 free throws.

Brenden Hausen, averaging over 15 points a game for Kansas State, got his first points of the game and the Wildcats' first of the second half with a 3-pointer, and that started a 10-0 run. The lead reached 19 with seven minutes to go.

Mississippi Valley State made a final run to get within 10 but the Wildcats responded with nine straight points, the last four by N'Guessan, to push the lead back to 19.

In the first half, the Delta Devils got a pair of 3-pointers from Tate and five points from Donovan Sanders to outscore the Wildcats 16-4 over the final 4 1/2 minutes to tie before David Castillo's jumper at the end of the half gave the lead back to the Wildcats.

🏀 Onyenso sparks Kansas State in win over Mississippi Valley State

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Kansas State junior&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;was one of 10 running backs in the country – including four from the Big 12 – to be named a semifinalist for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.

Giddens is the fourth player in school history to be named a semifinalist or finalist for the award that recognizes the top running back in college football. Darren Sproles was a finalist in 2003, while Daniel Thomas (2010) and Deuce Vaughn (2021 and 2022) were each semifinalists.

A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens has rushed for 1,128 yards and five touchdowns on 176 carries in addition to hauling in 18 catches for 219 yards and another score. He ranks eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (134.70), ninth in total rushing yards, 10th&nbsp;in all-purpose yards per game (134.70) and 15th&nbsp;in rushing yards per carry (6.41).

Giddens is the fourth player in school history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining the aforementioned Sproles (2002, 2003, 2004), Thomas (2009, 2010) and Vaughn (2021, 2022). He ranks second in school history in single-season rushing yards per carry (6.41), sixth in rushing yards per game (112.8) and tied for eighth in 100-yard rushing games (6), while he is 98 rushing yards shy of entering the single-season top-10 list and 13 yards away from tying for fifth in school history among juniors.

Three finalists for the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced next Tuesday, and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during&nbsp;The Home Depot College Football Awards&nbsp;on December 12. The formal presentation of the award will take place at the annual banquet scheduled for January 31, 2025.

Kansas State returns to action on Saturday when the Wildcats host Cincinnati inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Senior Night contest kicks off at 7 p.m., and will be shown on ESPN 2.

K-State’s Giddens Named Semifinalist for Doak Walker Award

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=23756&amp;type=Archive">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-november-18-2024/4923">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-breakout-interviews-november-18-2024/4924">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a>

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Monday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex to preview K-State’s Senior Night contest against Cincinnati inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.

“Good afternoon, every. Obviously, it was a disappointing performance on Saturday. [We] had a long staff meeting yesterday. We talked about a lot of things. It's interesting because, looking at our offense, defense and special teams, I don't think anybody could point a finger to anybody, because I don’t think any unit played up to its capability. We struggled on third down on defense, we struggled to rush the football early, had a couple of turnovers, couldn't get off the field, had a couple opportunities to kick up the field that maybe could have made it a one-score game late. Didn't do it. 

So, we’ve got some guys hurting. I know that because they want to win and want to be successful. Our job is this week to get them right and right the ship because we have another opportunity at home here. These seniors, especially these six-year guys that came in with me when I started, and the fifth-year guys that have been around us for a long time, I want to make sure that those guys have an opportunity to go out well and go out successfully. So, we've got to attack this week and have a really good week of practice. 

We've got some guys banged up that we don't know a lot about yet. That will probably be more later in the week, but we do have some injury issues that we've got to make sure that we have enough depth.”

K-State Previews Home Finale During Weekly Press Conference

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1858303241391427722">ran for a 26-yard touchdown</a>&nbsp;on fourth down with 2:17 left, sealing the Buffalo Bills' 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champions their first loss of the season.

James Cook rushed for two touchdowns and Allen threw a 12-yard TD pass to Curtis Samuel for Buffalo (9-2), which closed the gap on Kansas City (9-1) in the race for the AFC’s top seed.

Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs were the NFL's last undefeated team and finally ran out ways to eke out one-score victories and overcome second-half deficits. The Chiefs had won 15 straight, including playoffs, since they fell 20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 17, 2023.

The Bills have won six straight and moved closer to their sixth straight AFC East title.

Buffalo has defeated the Chiefs in four straight regular-season meetings, though Kansas City holds the postseason edge, having won the past three matchups dating to 2020. And it wouldn't be a surprise if the teams met again in January.

The packed stadium erupted in chants of “MVP!” as the videoboard showed replays of Allen’s touchdown. Bills coach Sean McDermott opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 instead of kicking a field goal for a five-point lead. Allen faked a pass to his left and then broke up the middle, where he bounced off two Chiefs defenders before crossing the goal line.

Allen played through a sore throwing hand, which was examined on the sideline during the game. He finished 27 of 40 for 262 yards with the TDs passing and rushing and an interception.

The rushing touchdown was the 58th of Allen’s career, moving him into second on the Bills list, one ahead of O.J. Simpson, and seven behind Thurman Thomas. Allen’s two-touchdown outing also increased his total to 244, tying Jim Kelly for first in team history.

Buffalo’s defense ended Kansas City's desperate final drive linebacker Terrel Bernard intercepted Mahomes.

Mahomes finished 23 of 33 for 196 yards with three touchdown passes -- two to tight end Noah Gray and another to Xavier Worthy — and two interceptions.

After trading leads five times in their last meeting — Kansas City’s 27-24 win in the divisional playoff round in January — the teams traded leads four times in the first half. Cook scored twice before halftime and Buffalo took a 16-14 lead into the break, one it never relinquished, after Tyler Bass closed the second quarter by hitting a 33-yard field goal.

A highly anticipated showdown between two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks turned into a battle of defenses through three quarters with the teams exchanging seven punts in calm and mild conditions, with temperatures in the high 40s and minimal wind.

The Bills went ahead 23-14 a little over two minutes into the fourth quarter when Allen capped a 10-play, 83-yard drive with a short pass to Samuel, who sidestepped a defender and raced into the end zone.

Mahomes responded by marching the Chiefs on a 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard TD catch by Gray with 7:53 left.

The Chiefs had shown resolve in winning their first nine games by a combined 58 points, with four decided on the final play. That included a 16-14 win over Denver last week in which Leo Chenal blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

This time there were no late-game dramatics for a Chiefs offense that finished with a season-low 259 yards.

The matchup was just the fifth since 1970 in Week 11 or earlier between teams with eight or more wins. ... Bills DE Von Miller had a sack, moving into sole possession of 17th place on the NFL list with 127 1/2 — one ahead of Derrick Thomas and a half-sack behind Rickey Jackson.

Bills: WR Amari Cooper returned after missing two games with an injury to his left wrist. ... Starting RT Spencer Brown (ankle) did not play.

Bills: After a bye, host San Francisco on Dec. 1.

🏈 Buffalo hands Kansas City first loss of the season

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Jalon Daniels threw for 169 yards, Dylan Neal ran for two touchdowns and Kansas upset No. 7 BYU 17-13 on Saturday night to hand the Cougars their first loss of the season.

The Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) beat ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks for the first time in school history and improved to 3-0 against the Cougars. Neal surpassed 4,000 yards rushing in his career, finishing with 52 yards on the ground.

The victory over BYU kept alive hopes of Kansas qualifying for a bowl game for a third consecutive season following a 1-5 start.

“I feel like our team has always done a great job being able to stay the course,” Daniels said. “I feel like a big staple within our program is being able to trust the process.”

Jake Retzlaff threw for 192 yards for BYU (9-1, 6-1, No. 6 College Football Playoffs). LJ Martin ran for 76 yards for the Cougars, who were held to a field goal in the second half.

BYU totaled 354 yards but went just 2 of 4 in the red zone and came away with no touchdowns on all four drives inside the 20.

“They had a really good game plan,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “Looking at the stats, we just didn’t make enough plays and (made) way too many mistakes to come out with the victory. “

Trailing 13-10 entering the fourth quarter, Kansas went ahead on Neal’s 3-yard run.

Daniels quick-kicked on fourth-and-14 when the drive stalled at BYU’s 36. His kick deflected off Evan Johnson’s helmet and when Jakob Robinson dove to secure it, the ball squirted out of his arms. Quentin Skinner pounced on the loose ball at the 3 to set up the go-ahead score.

“We found a way this time,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said.

BYU drove to the Kansas 15 with two minutes left. The Cougars stalled on offense coming out of the two-minute timeout. They gained four total yards on three straight runs and a false start penalty backed them up to the 16. BYU turned it over on downs with 46 seconds left when Chase Roberts was tackled 3 yards short of a first down.

“We had all the confidence in the world in our defense to be able to go out there and make a stop,” Daniels said.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the first half. Kansas took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive following Neal’s 7-yard burst up the middle. BYU went ahead 10-7 in the second quarter on a 30-yard strike along the sideline from Retzlaff to Hinckley Ropati.

The Cougars had a chance at another go-ahead score before halftime when they drove 70 yards over a minute down to Kansas 5. Mello Dotson intercepted Retzlaff in the end zone on a fade route to keep BYU from putting another touchdown on the board.

“We can’t score in the red zone,” Roberts said. “I feel like we struggled a little bit in practice this week in the red zone, and it carries over. You got to lock in. You got to be prepared when you come out and play a good team like Kansas.”

Kansas: The Jayhawks took care of the ball and made smart decisions against an opportunistic BYU defense that ultimately forced only one turnover.

BYU: A turnover prevented a potential go-ahead score before halftime. A second one led to a late Kansas lead.

BYU opened the third quarter with a 17-play drive that covered 66 yards and took 10:26 off the clock. The drive culminated in a 35-yard field goal from Will Ferrin that ended up being the Cougars' only second-half points.

“It didn’t seem like it was going to ever end,” Leipold said. “That might be one of the longest drives I’ve seen in my career. 17 plays. But to hold them to that field goal was huge.”

BYU will likely drop out of the Top 10 following its first loss.

🏈 Kansas upsets BYU handing the Cougars their first loss of the season

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Sam Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, Jordyn Tyson had 12 catches for 176 yards and two of the scores, and Arizona State held off No. 16 Kansas State 24-14 on Saturday night in the Sun Devils' first trip to their new Big 12 rival.

Cam Skattebo returned from an injury to run for 73 yards, and the Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) built a 21-0 halftime lead, before Kenny Dillingham's team held on for a third straight win to remain in contention for the Big 12 championship game.

Avery Johnson threw for 258 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown run for Kansas State (7-3, 4-3, No. 16 CFP), which had been 4-0 at home this season and 15-3 over the past three. D.J. Giddens ran for 133 yards and Joe Jackson had a TD run.

The bumbling Wildcats, who turned the ball over three times and failed to get the snap down on two field-goal tries, sure didn't look like a conference title contender that had last week off to prepare for the Sun Devils.

Johnson was picked off on the second play of the game, and Arizona State marched 49 yards with Leavitt hitting Tyson for the touchdown. On the next series, Dylan Edwards and Giddens were stuffed on consecutive carries, giving the Sun Devils the ball back on downs. And on the Wildcats' third series, Jayce Brown fumbled the ball away after a catch.

Arizona State capitalized on all the mistakes. Leavitt found Tyson for the second time from 30 yards out for a 14-0 lead, then hit wide open Chamon Metayer from 16 yards out to make it 21-0 early in the second quarter.

The cacophony of errors continued for the Wildcats: They had a 67-yard TD reception negated when offensive lineman Andrew Leingang blocked too far downfield. Johnson overthrew wide open Ty Bowman on a would-be 69-yard connection. And with first-and-goal at the Arizona State 5, they not only failed to get into the end zone but fumbled away the field-goal snap.

Arizona State headed to halftime serenaded by the sound of Kansas State fans booing their own team.

The Wildcats tried to rally late, beginning with Johnson's touchdown with 2:51 left in the third quarter. They got the ball back and needed just 1:19 to score again and convert the 2-point conversion. But the Sun Devils picked up a couple of first downs on their next possession, running enough clock to make Kansas State's comeback bid nearly impossible.

The Wildcats muffed one last field-goal try with just over 2 minutes left that would have made it a one-possession game.

Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 but is very much alive in the title chase. The Sun Devils face seven-ranked BYU, which along with No. 17 Colorado is ahead of them in the standings, at home next week.

Kansas State's Big 12 title chances essentially ended thanks to two straight dismal halves. The Wildcats allowed Houston to rally from a 19-10 second-half deficit in a 24-19 loss, then dug a first-half hole Saturday night that was far too deep.

Arizona State has a showdown with BYU on Saturday.

Kansas State plays its home finale Saturday against Cincinnati.

🏈Arizona State holds on to beat No. 16 Kansas State 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — AJ Storr had a season-high 16 points off the bench and three starters also reached double figures as No. 1 Kansas easily handled Oakland 78-57 on Saturday.

KJ Adams scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, Rylan Griffen added 11 and Hunter Dickinson finished with 10. Dickinson led the Jayhawks with nine rebounds.

Kansas (4-0) pulled away methodically in the first half, leading by 22 at halftime. The Grizzlies never got closer than 18 in the second half. Kansas played the final 4:32 with only reserves in the game.

Allen Mukeba led Oakland (1-3) with 19 points, and Tuburu Naivalurua added 12.

Oakland struggled from 3-point range, shooting 6 of 23 (27%), and was woeful at the free-throw line (3 for 12).

Oakland: The Grizzlies were no match for Kansas inside during the first half, when the game was decided. They were outrebounded 20-12 and outscored 26-14 in the paint.

Kansas: The Jayhawks have too much depth for a mid-major program like Oakland to overcome. The Jayhawks got points from 11 players. They had 36 bench points, compared to 17 for Oakland.

Dickinson hit a floater in the lane at the 4:37 mark of the first half to give Kansas a 34-17 cushion. Griffen made a baseline 3 just before the buzzer, and the Jayhawks took a 46-24 lead into the locker room.

DaJuan Harris scored only two points in 23 minutes, but he had six assists and just one turnover. He was tenacious on defense, with four steals — including three in the first few minutes of the second half when Kansas eliminated any thoughts of an Oakland comeback.

Oakland returns home to face Eastern Michigan on Thursday. Kansas hosts UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday.

🏀No. 1 Kansas beats Oakland as Storr scores 16 off the bench

DALLAS(AP)— Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power, has died. He was 82.

USA Gymnastics said Karolyi died Friday. No cause of death was given.

Karolyi and wife Martha trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the U.S. and Romania, including Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.

“A big impact and influence on my life,” Comaneci, who was just 14 when Karolyi coached her to gold for Romania at the 1976 Montreal Olympics,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCc1ex3pJWU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank">posted on Instagram</a>.

The Karolyis defected to the United States in 1981 and over the next 30-plus years became a guiding force in American gymnastics, though not without controversy. Bela helped guide Retton — all of 16 — to the Olympic all-around title at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and memorably helped an injured Kerri Strug off the floor at the 1996 Games in Atlanta after Strug’s vault secured the team gold for the Americans.

Karolyi briefly became the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics women’s elite program in 1999 and incorporated a semi-centralized system that eventually turned the Americans into the sport’s gold standard. It did not come without a cost. He was pushed out after the 2000 Olympics after several athletes spoke out about his tactics.

It would not be the last time Karolyi was accused of grandstanding and pushing his athletes too far physically and mentally.

During the height of the Larry Nassar scandal in the late 2010s — when the disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor was effectively given a life sentence after pleading guilty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-north-america-de31f08ab1fe435c88129d64bd1fbee4">to sexually assaulting gymnasts and other athletes</a>&nbsp;with his hands under the guise of medical treatment — over a dozen former gymnasts came forward saying the Karolyis were part of a system&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0c67e962d7524c87a865d3c468bdd521">that created an oppressive culture</a>&nbsp;that allowed Nassar’s behavior to run unchecked for years.

Still, some of Karolyi’s most famous students were always among his staunchest defenders. When Strug got married, she and Karolyi took a photo recreating their famous scene from the 1996 Olympics, when he carried her onto the medals podium after she vaulted on a badly sprained ankle.

Gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, who trained multiple Olympic gold medalists has died

JOHNSON COUNTY —A man accused in connection with a crash that left a 9-year-old Kansas boy dead has entered a plea in the case.

On Friday, 25-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Matthew Jacobo, 25,&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to reckless second degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

He was originally charged with second degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of a firearm while driving under the influence, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Just before 7p.m. on December 1, 2023, police responded to a crash involving a white truck and a black sedan near Johnson Drive and Bell Road in Shawnee, Kansas, according to a media release.&nbsp; EMS transported nine-year-old Nolan Davidson of Lenexa to Children's Mercy in critical condition. He died December 7, according to a GoFundMe page for the family.

The driver of the truck later identified as Jacobo left the scene.&nbsp; Police tracked him down and made an arrest the night of the crash.

Nolan and his family were on their way from one basketball game to another when they were involved in the crash. The collision, impacted the rear passenger side where Nolan was seated.

Jacobo is scheduled for sentencing on January 7, according to the district attorney's office.

Man enters plea in crash that killed 9-year-old Kansas boy

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect from Texas on drug allegations.

Just after 3:30p.m. November 17, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, a narcotics detecting K-9 was deployed and illegal narcotics were located. Maria D.L. Vidal Cruz, 51, of Mount Pleasant, TX was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine

Sheriff: Texas woman was transporting meth in Kansas 

SEWARD COUNTY – The former city manager of Liberal, Russell “Rusty” Varnado is under investigation on sex crime allegations, according&nbsp; to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

In August, the Liberal Police Department asked the KBI for assistance investigating when allegations arose. The crimes occurred between March and August of 2024, when Varnado was city manager. Following the allegations, Varnado was fired from his position.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, deputies of the Seward County Sheriff’s Office arrested Varnado, 37, on a KBI warrant for rape, sexual battery, and lewd and lascivious. Varnado was booked into the Seward County Jail.&nbsp;

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