Junction City&nbsp; Manager Kim Zimmerman Tuesday night credited the city public works staff for their efforts during the recent snow storm. They drove more than 4,000 miles in their snow removal efforts, and that did not include contractors that provided assistance.

The city manager plans to do an after action review on the efforts during the storm.

Officials also recognized that Fort Riley and Geary County helped with all the snow plows.

Police Chief addresses snow topics

Junction City Police Chief Kirt Nichols noted that there was two weeks warning ahead of the snow storm. Some people chose not to stay home. Nichols said he saw a lot of community members helping neighbors.&nbsp;

The police chief said there has been a meeting with Geary County Sheriff Nate Boeckman and they are seeking to make things work with the police department and sheriff's department.

Officials address snow topics

Love, music, and fine dining come together this Valentine’s season aboard the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad’s Valentine’s Smoky Valley Limited Dinner Train.

The two-hour journey departs from Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 15. The short trip takes passengers on a scenic ride through the Smoky Hill River Valley to Enterprise, Kansas. The experience blends history, charm, and romance.

Guests will board beautifully restored passenger coaches, including the Enterprise, Chicago, and Eveland Creek, where they will be treated to a prime rib dinner prepared by Chef Amanda Collins of Amanda’s Bakery &amp; Bistro in Abilene. Adding to the ambiance, the Abilene High School Select Choir will perform romantic serenades featuring classic love songs. Passengers can also enjoy optional indulgences, including wine, beer, and chocolate, available for purchase.

With only 160 tickets available, the event offers an intimate and exclusive celebration of love. Tickets are $100 per person, plus taxes and fees, and can be reserved at <a href="http://www.asvrr.org">www.asvrr.org</a>.

This Valentine’s dinner train promises an enchanting evening, blending fine dining, live music, and the historic charm of the official State Heritage Railroad of Kansas.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day aboard the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad

By Dr. Russell Arben Fox Heaches politics at Friends University in Wichita

Kansas cities, like all American cities—including all the blue ones that our new president regularly attacks—are not radical places. They may have more Democratic voters than the state’s rural counties, and those voters may prefer more egalitarian policies than will ever pass in Topeka, but their economies are just as dependent upon capitalism as the state and country as a whole.

There are exceptions, though. For example, unlike the Kansas and United States governments, Kansas city governments are legally forbidden from making use of direct income taxes as a revenue tool. This is the case for most cities across the country (though not Missouri cities, incidentally), and is one reason why American municipalities compete to attract corporate investment: growing their property and sales tax base is often their only way to fund services.

Some cities do, however, have an additional source of revenue: local philanthropists.

Wealthy people and businesses have, of course, used their resources to benefit society throughout history; Andrew Carnegie famously insisted that spending all one’s money on building public goods was far wiser than leaving it to the government or (worst of all) to one’s children. And this giving can have a national or international reach.

But because such philanthropy comes from specific people and organizations in specific places, it is often the towns and cities they live and do business in which benefit the most.

Some philanthropy is small-scale: Kansas non-profits generate over $14 billion, and Kansans themselves donate nearly $2 billion, each year. Every church, athletic club, arts organization, youth group, and more which benefits from that work adds to their local community.

Most attention, though, obviously goes to those willing and able to share with their towns and cities on a major scale, helping to build parks, performing arts centers, museums, and libraries, and funding scholarships, educational programs, civic infrastructure, and more. So when some of these big players move, city governments pay attention, and rightly so.

Hopes for local philanthropy, however, can get complicated. Any Kansan who has visited Grand Rapids, Omaha, or Bentonville, and seen the massive impact which the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/a-look-back-richard-and-helen-devos-foundations-impact-in-west-michigan">DeVos</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ketv.com/article/warren-buffett-impact-berkshire-hathaway-wealth-changed-omaha/60658807">Buffett</a>, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ocolly.com/news/the-waltons-canvas-changing-bentonville-s-future/article_5b124eb2-a993-11ee-a03a-fb42291ff011.html">Walton</a>&nbsp;families have had on the amenities of those cities, can’t deny the value of such generosity. The same thing is visible in Tulsa—yet the centralizing tendencies of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nationswell.com/what-we-can-learn-from-george-kaiser-family-foundations-place-based-work-in-tulsa/">Kaiser</a>&nbsp;family there has given rise to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michaelpaulmason.medium.com/the-kaiser-system-e8c14bca395">criticism</a>, and similar concerns crop up in other cities as well.

In Kansas, one might think that Wichita’s Koch family, one of the richest in the country, might head this list. But despite some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Koch_Arena">high</a>-<a target="_blank" href="https://markartsks.com/">profile</a>&nbsp;gifts, their money has mostly gone to the support the Kochs’ preferred ideological causes, with the foundations set up by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ingrams.com/article/home-grown-generosity/">Sunderland, Hansen, and other</a>&nbsp;families in the Kansas City area&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources/ks/top">far outpacing them</a>&nbsp;in civic support.

Charles Koch’s son Chase has recently&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article298481938.html">made waves</a>&nbsp;by buying up properties in downtown Wichita—including former apartments in a city facing a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article288215105.html">housing shortage</a>—and has talked of his desire to add to the city’s music and arts scene. But what community developments may come of his interests remain to be seen.

Philanthropists have always been part of the Kansas landscape. The best ones, whether their donations are large or small, are those that work with local governments and civic organizations to make certain their support aligns with community needs and a shared municipal vision. Yes, the intentions of philanthropic action deserve respect;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://philanthropydaily.com/the-kansas-government-just-protected-charitable-donations/">that’s the law</a>. But while Kansas cities and towns will always be grateful for charitable support, receiving it as a reflection of merely personal goals doesn’t satisfy Carnegie’s measure of public giving at all.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS

The Good and Could-Be-Better of Kansas Philanthropy   

Junction City Commissioners dealt with multiple items in their meeting this week,

--The governing body approved installation of a marble plaque by the JC Eagles 830 in Heritage Park. It will be a 48 by 16 plaque.

--They tabled until their next meeting consideration of a proposal to transfer ownership of C.L. Hoover Opera House property at 131 West 7th from&nbsp;Junction City Opera House Inc. to the City of Junction City.

--Received input on lack of ordinance enforcement on snow and ice removal from sidewalks. Officials will visit with the city attorney and police chief on the matter.

--Commissioners were asked what it would take for them to be comfortable with approving chickens in Junction City. More information will be needed but it was noted that it could put an additional burden on city staff.

--And the breakdown for public boards and committees where commissioners will serve for the coming year include:&nbsp;

Military Affairs Council--Commissioner Al Gordon&nbsp;

Chamber of Commerce Board of Director -- Mayor Jeff Underhill&nbsp;

Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDC) -- Commissioner Pat&nbsp; Landes

Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization -- Commissioner Ronna Larson with Mayor Jeff Underhill as an alternate

Junction City Commission news notes

Geary County Historical Society Executive Director

The Geary County Historical Society will be celebrating Kansas's 164th birthday this Saturday, January 25th,&nbsp; at their monthly STEAM Saturday program.

The Executive Director for the Society, Heather Hagedorn, said Kansas Day activities including engineering your own pioneer trunk, packing a covered wagon and a Kansas state symbol mosaic station will be open to participants of all ages. The activities will be held at the Museum at 530 N. Adams between 1:00-3:30 on Saturday

. Thanks to support from United Way Junction City/ Geary County, STEAM Saturday is free for all participants.&nbsp;Kansas will celebrate its birthday statewide on January 29th, the day that President Buchanan signed paperwork admitting Kansas into the Union in 1861.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Historical Society will host Kansas Day activities

The Junction City boys and girls basketball teams will both have a busy week, as both varsity teams will compete in mid-season tournaments.&nbsp;

The Lady Jays will play in the Salina Invitational Tournament (SIT), with games at both Salina Central and Kansas Wesleyan. The Junction City girls will be the seven seed in the tournament, and will play two seed Andover on Thursday at Salina Central High School, with tip-off at 3:00 p.m.&nbsp;

The Blue Jays will head west to Dodge City to play in the Dodge City Tournament of Champions. All games will be played at the United Wireless Arena.&nbsp; The first round matchup will have Junction City (7-0) against Bishop Carroll (5-3). Tip-off will be on Thursday at 2:30.&nbsp;

107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio will be in Dodge City broadcasting all the Junction City Blue Jay games.&nbsp;

JCHS basketball teams to play in mid-season tournaments this week

Representatives from Eagle Railcar in Junction City donated $600.00 to the JC Breakfast Optimist Club to help support the club's work with Geary County youth organizations.  Eagle Railcar, located on Hoover Road, has 86 employees. Eagle Railcar repairs and refurbishes railcars for various companies, which deal with railway transportation.

JC Breakfast Optimist Club Receives Donation From Eagle Railcar

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.

James Washington, Failure to appear, arrested 01/16

Megan Houston, Probation violation, arrested 01/16

Charles Evans Jr., Arrest by LEO, warrant arrest, arrested 01/16

Cassondra Weis, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, arrested 01/16

Nicole Cochrun, Probation violation, arrested 01/17

Miguel Estrada Dodminguez, Driving in violation of restrictions, Driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked, arrested 01/17

Kiera Rice, Theft-all other, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 01/17

Andres Garibay-Rojas, Driving while suspended, 2nd or subsequent conviction, arrested 01/17

Kyle Ruttledge, Transporting an open container, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, arrested 01/18

Joseph Walley, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,  Transporting an open container, Possession of marijuana, arrested 01/18

Jeremy Williams,&nbsp;Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, arrested 01/18

Ronald Wilson, Domestic battery, Assault, arrested 01/18

Emil Williams,&nbsp;Transporting an open container, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, Driving while suspended, arrested 01/18

Daseani Forbes, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 01/19

Christopher Trotter, Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked, arrested 01/19

Samantha Hooper, Outside warrant, arrested 01/19

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 17-22

Junction City Commissioners have elected&nbsp; Jeff Underhill to serve as mayor for the coming year. He was nominated by Commissioner Ronna Larson with the motion seconded by Commissioner Pat Landes. Commissioners Al Gordon and Richard Pinaire voted no. Underhill succeeds Pat Landes in the mayor's role.

Pat Landes was elected vice mayor. He was nominated by Ronna Larson with Jeff Underhill seconding the motion. Al Gordon made it clear later in the meeting that he also voted no in the vice mayor election.

Commissioners conducted their annual reorganization Tuesday night. The members of the governing body decided to have each commissioner continue serving on the same public boards and committees that they&nbsp; served on last year.

Jeff Underhill is the new mayor of Junction City

The Geary County Historical Society ended 2024 with the&nbsp;installation of the first three of five interpretive signs that will be installed near all of our buildings. 

Historical Society Executive Director Heather Hagedorn said that John Sterling and Marty Schmedemann were able to install signs at Starcke House, Wetzel Cabin and Spring Valley School before the weather&nbsp;turned. Two more signs will be installed outside the Little Cabin and St. Joseph’s Historic Church in the spring.&nbsp;

Three interpretive signs are installed

Fort Riley, KS – The 1st Infantry Division returns to the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California, for the first time since its historic first-ever division level training rotation there in 2021. This rotation marks only the third time that an entire division, rather than a brigade, will undergo the rigorous and realistic training environment of NTC.

Traditionally, NTC rotations have been the domain of individual brigades, but in a significant shift aimed at enhancing warfighting capabilities, divisions are now rotating through NTC. The 1st Infantry Division is&nbsp; deploying not only its division headquarters, but also elements of its combat aviation brigade, division artillery brigade and division sustainment brigade to the National Training Center.

The 1st Infantry Division has rigorously prepared for this rotation through a series of intense field training exercises conducted at Fort Riley.. These exercises included company-level combined arms live-fire exercises (CALFEX), constructive training scenarios, and a live Wet Gap Crossing to ensure a high level of readiness.&nbsp;

"Our preparation for this NTC rotation has been thorough and relentless, with nothing at rest,” said Maj. Gen. Monté Rone, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley. “Being ready to deploy, fight and win is our number one priority. Our training at home station consisted of tough realistic combat focused training at multiple echelons of command and during limited visibility. This rotation will not only allow us the opportunity to adapt our formations to the modern battlefield but will also ensure we are able to fight and win decisively anywhere in the world.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Key to the success of the 1st Infantry Division is its continuous transformation and adaptation to the modern battlefield. The Division has developed survivable, dispersed, low-signature command posts, reducing total manning significantly. By leveraging advanced technologies and tactical innovation, the Division is staying ahead of adversaries and is "adapting above the M" by developing new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that integrate new capabilities and make better use of existing ones. The Division is working to find non-materiel solutions for capability requirements.

During this NTC rotation, the Division will employ new capabilities such as AFN On the Move, TOC in the Box, Starshield, Kymeta, and Wi-Fi Pucks. These technologies provide reliable, secure, and mobile communication networks, enhancing the Division's ability to maintain situational understanding and reduce electromagnetic signatures while rapidly moving command posts and key leaders.

One of the standout elements of this rotation will be the long-range, out-of-contact attacks conducted by the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (1-1 ARB) using AH-64E Apache helicopters. These advanced helicopters provide unparalleled targeting and surveillance capabilities, incorporating Link 16 to synchronize joint effects into operations. The mission, conducted over a 200-kilometer range, will demonstrate the Division's ability to defeat live electronic warfare (EW) threats through joint kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities.

The lessons learned from this NTC rotation will be integrated into the 1st Infantry Division's "Building Victory" program, ensuring continuous improvement and readiness to dominate the modern battlefield. The Division's deliberate learning process, supported by dedicated observers, will culminate in the publication of lessons learned around March 2025.&nbsp;

 1st Infantry Division prepares for its second “division in the dirt”

WACO, Texas (AP) — Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BaylorMBB/status/1882271226623889568">VJ Edgecombe scored 20 of his career-high 30 points</a>&nbsp;in the second half to rally Baylor to a 70-62 win over Kansas State on Wednesday night.

The Bears were down a dozen when Dug McDaniel drilled a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up 40-28 less than four minutes into the second half.

Baylor was down nine when Jalen Celestine made a pair of free throws to ignite a 19-5 run for a 55-40 lead. Edgecombe had 11 points and capped the surge with a 3-pointer. Celestine also had a pair of 3s in that stretch.

Brendan Hausen hit his third 3 of the half to pull Kansas State within 57-56 with just under five minutes to go but Celestine and Edgecombe worked the Bears' lead back to nine with a minute left.

Celestine scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half for the Bears (12-6, 4-3 Big 12 Conference). Norchad Omier grabbed 13 rebounds for Baylor.

David N'Guessan scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Kansas State (7-11, 1-6), which has lost 15-straight road games and six overall. McDaniel and Hausen both added 12.

McDaniel hit a 3-pointer, Coleman Hawkins converted a three-point play and then McDaniel added a pair of layups for a 10-0 run that helped the Wildcats take a 30-26 lead at the half.

Baylor shot 25% in the first half but 60% in the second, when the Bears made 5 of 8 3s and 15 of 19 free throws with just one turnover.

No. 23 West Virginia plays at Kansas State on Saturday when Baylor plays at Utah.

🏀 Freshman VJ Edgecombe scores 30 to rally Baylor over K-State

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 16 points to lead five Kansas players scoring in double figures as the 12th-ranked Jayhawks won 74-61 at TCU on Wednesday night after trailing by 14 points in the first half.

AJ Storr scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime for the Jayhawks (14-4, 5-2 Big 12). His stepback jumper with 11:30 left put them ahead to stay, right after the junior guard had turnovers on consecutive possessions, and ignited a 14-2 run he ended with a jumper.

Zeke Mayo added 13 points and Shakeel Moore 11. Flory Bidunga had 10 points and 10 rebounds, giving the 6-foot-9 freshman his first career double-double, along with four blocked shots.

Noah Reynolds had 14 points to lead TCU (10-8, 3-4), which has alternated wins and losses the past eight games. Vasean Allette had 13 points and Brendan Wenzel had 11.

After Kansas was down 14 midway through the first half, Mayo's jumper tied the game at 33 just before halftime. The preseason No. 1 team now has its lowest ranking this season.

TCU missed a chance for its second win in a row over a Top 25 team after a win Sunday at then-No. 25 Baylor.

Dickinson had the ball cradled into his body with both arms on an offensive rebound when TCU forward Trazarien White also grabbed at it. They remained tangled and both got technical fouls after officials reviewed the play. TCU had possession and White had an alley-oop dunk from Reynolds to make it 48-47 with 12:44 left, its last lead.

TCU missed its last six shots and only made two free throws over the final 3:37.

🏀 No. 12 Kansas overcomes early deficit and beats TCU

In girls only action on Tuesday night, the Junction City Lady Jays lost 44-27 to the Shawnee Mission West Lady Vikings.&nbsp;

Junction City trailed 11-4 after the first quarter, but the Lady Jays went on a 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 13-12 with under three minutes to go in the first half. Shawnee Mission West then went on their own 10-0 run to close out the half, and take a 23-12 halftime lead.&nbsp;

In the second half, the Lady Vikings kept extending their lead and beat Junction City 44-27.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With the loss, Junction City falls to 1-6 on the season. Next up for the Lady Jays is the Salina Invitational Tournament, where they will play three games in three days.&nbsp;

Lady Jays fall to Shawnee Mission West 

The Kansas Shrine Bowl has announced the four member Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be inducted, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Manhattan. The 2025 class will be inducted during the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony at the Coach Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter National Football Foundation Banquet. The event will be hosted at the Shamrock Plaza at Coach Bill Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes:•&nbsp;CJ Hamilton, Silver Lake H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl Coach (1977, 1985, 1986, 2003, 2004)•&nbsp;Kent Sedlacek, Hanover H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl East All-Star (1979)•&nbsp;Collin Sexton, Abilene H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl West All-Star (2012)•&nbsp;Dane Simoneau, Salina Sacred Heart H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl West All-Star (2007)The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame was established for the purpose of honoring those individuals who have gained recognition and fame for themselves and the Kansas Shrine Bowl as a result of their endeavors and accomplishments both on and off the football field.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame consists of 32 inductees, with the 2025 class soon to join. To learn more about the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/HallofFame">www.KansasShrineBowl.com/HallofFame</a>.Tickets to the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Ceremony and the Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter National Football Foundation Banquet in Manhattan on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, are available for $30. Please contact Jeff Bollig at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jbollig84@gmail.com">jbollig84@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or call 913-449-1635 for additional ticketing information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Announced

ATLANTA (AP) — The pass seemed to hang up there forever. Did it feel like seven weeks? Did it feel like 10 years?

What a great debate for Ohio State fans to have forever.

When that&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/OhioStateFB/status/1881552148040958413">teardrop of a throw</a>&nbsp;from Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard on third-and-11 finally landed, light as a feather, in the hands of receiver Jeremiah Smith late in the fourth quarter Monday, Ohio State had locked up what would be a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame for its sixth national title and first in a decade.

It was that 56-yard gain that snuffed out a feverish Notre Dame comeback and made the Buckeyes the champion of the sport's first 12-team playoff, just as they were champions of its first four-team tournament a decade ago.

“They were running man coverage and I said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna let this loose and let him make a play on it,’” Howard said of a play that felt about 100 years removed from Ohio State's once program-defining “Three yards and a cloud of dust.”

This was a win that hardly anyone thought possible a mere seven weeks ago — Nov. 30 — when a 13-10 loss to Michigan led to a near-riot on the field and questions over whether coach Ryan Day would keep his job when the calendar flipped.

“It’s a great story about a bunch of guys who have just overcome some really tough situations, and at the point where there’s a lot of people that counted us out (they) just kept swinging and kept fighting,” Day said.

Buckeyes were on cruise control, then suddenly, ND came to life

It might be that much sweeter because of how it went down in a jam-packed stadium in the middle of SEC country that looked like a Christmas tree — Ohio State fans on one half in red, Notre Dame's on the other in green.

Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter. The in-stadium camera found legendary Irish coach Lou Holtz in his luxury box, and he ignored all those booing Buckeye fans and flashed a thumbs-up.

But Notre Dame's time was running out. After stopping the Buckeyes on their first two plays and using their timeouts, the Irish put Christian Gray — whose interception&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-notre-dame-orange-bowl-score-34fe8fc6414366145cfaa10f0147964c">wrapped up Notre Dame's semifinal win</a>&nbsp;over Penn State — in single coverage on Smith.

Smith got behind Gray on the right sideline and Howard dropped his best pass of the season into the hands of the second-team All-American.

It set up a field goal that started the celebration in earnest, and also helped Ohio State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-state-notre-dame-cfp-national-championship-betting-line-4e59407b67c901d23a06f511099c45bc">cover the 8 1/2-point spread</a>&nbsp;at BetMGM Sportsbook.

“It was do or die, it was that type of down,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “He’s a heck of a player. He’s difficult to cover.”

Howard and Judkins make transfer portal pay off for Ohio State

Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores, but nothing will beat the pass to Smith with everything on the line.

The receiver, who had been bottled up by Texas in the semifinals then fairly quiet for most of this game, finally got loose for the kind of play he’s been making all year. He finished with five catches for 88 yards.

“We felt at the end we wanted to give Jeremiah that shot,” Day said. “We really hadn't thrown it all night, but I thought, ‘Know what, let’s be aggressive, let's do this and lay it on the line.'”

Ohio State didn't really look like a team that needed to take risks after scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions, then adding a field goal on its fifth.

When Quinshon Judkins (100 yards, 11 carries, three TDs), a transfer from Mississippi who highlighted Ohio State’s judicious use of the ever-growing portal, busted a 70-yard run to set up the score that made it 28-7, this game looked over.

It wasn’t, and now Freeman will have to answer a few tough questions — one about the failed fake punt in the third quarter that turned into a field goal for a 31-7 lead; the other about sending Mitch Jeter in for a short field goal attempt while down 16 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 9. It might have looked like a better call had Jeter’s kick not clanged off the left upright.

“I know it’s still a two-score game, but you have a better probability of getting 14 points than you do 16 points,” Freeman said.

Ohio State dominated most of the night, and all through the playoffs

Really, though, Ohio State was the better team. The Buckeyes outgained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308. Howard completed his first 13 passes and never really got stopped. Ohio State punted a grand total of once.

The Buckeyes rolled through four games in the new, expanded playoff — what great timing for Ohio State that the tournament swelled to a dozen teams in a year it didn't even play for the Big Ten title — by an average score of 36-21.

Ohio State was seeded eighth, but the seedings were pretty much meaningless. The worse seed won every game in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, and the Buckeyes dominated in this title-game showdown of No. 7 vs. No. 8.

A fine ending to a season that almost got away

It puts to rest, for now, any angst about that 13-10 Michigan loss in November — Ohio State’s fourth straight in the series — that ended with a brawl after Wolverine players tried to plant a flag at midfield.

The whole scene left a lot of folks, both in and out of Buckeye circles, thinking Day, in his sixth season, had outlived his usefulness on a campus that hadn’t tasted a title in a decade.

Instead, the Ohio State marching band can dot the “I” next time with the national-title trophy. And Day can join a list of title-winning coaches with Urban Meyer (2014) Jim Tressel (2002), Woody Hayes ("Three yards and a cloud of dust") and Paul Brown (who went on to become the namesake of the NFL's Cleveland Browns).

Also, Day’s .873 winning percentage coming into the game was third among coaches with 50-plus games — one spot behind none other than the Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne, himself.

The Notre Dame loss means college football still has never had a Black coach win the national title.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-notre-dame-king-trump-football-faf2fc685b25a887dd6eec083223a591">Freeman was trying</a>&nbsp;to become the first.

Instead, another kind of history. This marked the first time the Big Ten has taken back-to-back titles since 1942. Last year’s champion was Michigan, which was sitting home watching this one, but still played a special role in a Buckeyes redemption story hardly anyone saw coming.

🏈 Ohio State wins 1st national title since 2014, outlasting Notre Dame in CFP championship game

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DAVE%20SKRETTA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer</a>

Kansas State forward Ayoka Lee will be sidelined indefinitely after an X-ray and MRI exam revealed the All-American fractured a bone in her foot in the second quarter of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll">No. 10</a>&nbsp;Wildcats'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-state-kansas-state-score-9dd812c75d1e801072ee17f55468bd8b">win over Arizona State</a>.

The school called it “probable” that Lee will return before the end of the season, but more will be known in the coming weeks.

“It's not good,” Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie said after the 81-69 win Sunday over Arizona State. “It’s not going to be a week or two.”

Lee only played 13 minutes in the game, leaving for good with 4:21 left in the first half.

The Wildcats, who do not play again until visiting Colorado on Saturday, entered the week 19-1 and 7-0 in the Big 12, and they are riding a 14-game win streak, the fourth-longest in Division I women's basketball. The Wildcats' only loss came against No. 13 Duke in the Ball Dawgs Classic in late November.

Lee is a big reason for their success. The 6-foot-6 forward from Byron, Minnesota, is averaging 16 points on 65.4% shooting, even though she's played limited minutes because of a number of blowouts. She also is averaging 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

Lee set the women's Division I scoring record when she had 61 points against Oklahoma in January 2022. She is already Kansas State's career scoring leader with 2,482 points, and she holds school records for rebounds, blocks and field goals.

Lee also has had a history of injuries, though. She redshirted as a freshman while recovering from a knee injury, and she missed the entire 2022-23 season&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-manhattan-college-basketball-womens-kansas-d3a64345f3647364b65ddce0bb3b7c02">because of surgery</a>&nbsp;on the other knee. She also sat out several conference games a year ago after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ayoka-lee-ankle-injury-kansas-state-87bbcaff2e509fea0da1043076736901">she hurt her ankle</a>, and Mittie has limited her minutes at times this season in an effort to keep her healthy.

The Wildcats will lean more heavily on Missouri State transfer Kennedy Taylor, Imani Lester and Eliza Maupin while Lee is out.

"I think it’s just the next-man-up mentality, and I think Eliza came in and played really well for us,” Kansas State guard Taryn Sides said after the win over the Sun Devils. “We don’t really know a whole lot about Yokie. Hopefully she’s OK.”

🏀 K-State All-American Ayoka Lee out indefinitely with injury

The Junction City Girls wrestling team took 6th out of 24 teams at the Hays tournament. Seven of 11 girls placed in the top 6.&nbsp; 

--3rd place: Elizabeth Edgerton Diaz 130 lb

--1st place: Jaidyn Alvarado 100 lb. Jaidyn also became the first girl in Junction City high school history to reach 100 wins in her career. Jaidyn wrestled 4 matches Saturday reaching 100 in her quarterfinal match.&nbsp; She ended up wrestling 4 matches winning all by fall in the first period.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Lady Jays turn in solid finish in wrestling

<a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Voice of the Wildcats.” That title belongs to the legendary sportscasters who have broadcast Kansas State University football and basketball games through the years.

Wyatt Thompson is the current and longtime Voice of the Cats, which he especially appreciates because of his roots in rural Kansas. Thompson became Voice of the Wildcats in 2002. He grew up in rural Kansas near Solomon.

Among his interests was livestock judging in high school FFA, which included two elements: One, placing a class of livestock in the desired order; and two, stating oral reasons to a judge to describe the reasons for that placing.

This process required him to make quick judgments and to state his observations articulately and accurately. In a sense, those skills also serve him well as a sportscaster.

Thompson continued livestock judging at Colby Community College but found himself drawn to sports broadcasting. He made the change. In 1976, he began his career, spending time at radio stations in Great Bend and Abilene. He was recognized with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Play-by-Play Award in 1982.

From 1985 until 1989, Thompson worked at KAYS in Hays where he was the play-by-play voice at Fort Hays State. He won the Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1989.

Then Thompson moved to Denver. He was the play-by-play voice for Colorado State's football and men's basketball teams for five years. In addition to his duties at CSU, Thompson was also a sports reporter on radio and host of the Countdown to Kickoff show for the Denver Broncos.

Thompson won the Colorado Broadcasting Association award for best play-by-play announcer in 2000.

In 2002, he moved to K-State to become the Voice of the Wildcat, a position he still holds today. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of legendary broadcasters who have previously served as Voice of the Wildcats:&nbsp;Dev Nelson, Mitch Holthus, Steve Physioc and Greg Sharpe.

Today, Thompson is senior director of broadcasting for the K-State Athletic Department as well as Voice of the Wildcats. He&nbsp;serves as host of the Chris Klieman and Jerome Tang coaches’ shows on television and radio. In addition, he is heavily involved in various Catbacker Club, alumni and athletic department functions, frequently serving as a keynote speaker.

In an era of NIL -- Name, Image, Likeness -- and the transfer portal, it seems remarkable that he is observing local players from Kansas making an impact for their home state team. 

For example, in football, he sees Sam Hecht from Shawnee snap the ball to Avery Johnson, who went to Maize, who then might hand off the ball to Dylan Edwards from Wichita or D.J. Giddens from Junction City – and they just might be led by a block from Hadley Panzer of Lakin.

An estimated 55 Kansans are on the K-State football roster – far more than any other state.

It is especially exciting to see such in-state talent perform well. According to the K-State athletic department, since 1990 K-State’s all-conference selections have come from 37 cities in Kansas.

“I love broadcasting K-State sports for so many reasons,” Thompson said. “At the top of the list would be the amazing coaches and players that I get to work with daily.”

He also relishes the game day experience. “You can just feel the excitement for each game, and the love this fan base has for Kansas State University and the Cats,” Thompson said.

Thompson won the Hod Humiston Award for sports broadcasting from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 2011. Over the course of his career, Thompson has been named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year six times. He ranks second all-time among K-State broadcasters in awards won, and fourth all-time among broadcasters in the state of Kansas.

In 2022 he was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

It's an impressive record for a farm kid from the rural community of Solomon, population 993 people. Now, that’s rural.

Voice of the Wildcats. We commend Wyatt Thompson for making a difference by sharing the excitement of Power 4 football and basketball with fans across Kansas and beyond. We’re always thankful to hear his voice.

Now That’s Rural: Wyatt Thompson, Voice of the Wildcats, former Voice of FHSU Tigers

&nbsp; Junction City Boys Wrestling Team finished 2nd at the Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel Dual Tournament on Saturday.

Junction City defeated Wichita Northwest 65-13 , Wichita Southeast 65-17, Andover 40-25 and Salina South 47-23.&nbsp; The Blue Jays lost in the finals to Kapaun Mount Carmel 41-39.&nbsp;

In the individual weight classes at 106 Riley Luckenbill, 175&nbsp; Josh Brookshire, 190 Christian Simmers, 215 Chris Coy and 285 Avery Florence all went 5-0 and were named to the All Tournament Team.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blue Jays compete at Kapaun Mount Carmel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria Wednesday left a female student dead and another student wounded, nearly two years after another deadly school shooting in the city that ignited an emotional debate about gun control in Tennessee.

The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself with a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news conference. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson.

Police Chief John Drake said the shooter “confronted” student Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, in the cafeteria and opened fire, killing her.

The wounded student was grazed by a bullet. He was treated and released from the hospital, Drake said. Another student was taken to a hospital for treatment of a facial injury that happened during a fall, Aaron said.

Metro Nashville Police, federal and state agencies are examining “very concerning online writings and social media posts connected to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson” as they work to establish a motive, police said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Investigators at this point have not established a connection between Henderson and the victims, and police said the gunfire may have been random, according to the statement.

Two school resource officers were in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m., Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria and by the time they got down there the shooting was over and the gunman had killed himself, Aaron said.

The school has about 2,000 students and is in Antioch, a neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of downtown Nashville.

The children were bussed from the school to a medical center where officials helped shocked parents reunite with their children.

Dajuan Bernard was waiting at a Mapco service station to reunite with his son, a 10th grader, who was being held in the auditorium with other students Wednesday afternoon. He first heard of the shooting from his son, who “was a little startled,” Bernard said. His son was upstairs from the cafeteria but said he heard the gunfire.

“He was OK and let me know that everything was OK,” Bernard said.

“This world is so crazy, it could happen anywhere," he said. "We’ve just got to protect the kids, and raise the kids right to prevent them from even doing this. That’s the hardest part.”

Local

Region

Sports