<a>According to the Kansas Department of Transportation I-70 through Junction City is scheduled to reopen to unrestricted winter travel by the end of Friday, Nov. 22,following the completion of Phase Two construction and a three-day lane reduction for bridge work in Grandview Plaza.</a>

Phase Three of I-70 construction is scheduled to begin in mid-March 2025. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and carried through construction via the westbound lanes while pavement is replaced in the eastbound lanes.

The multi-phase $30 million project includes construction of temporary crossovers, pavement and drainage structure replacement, bridge rehabilitation and resurfacing of some local routes. The project is scheduled to be completed by December of 2025, weather permitting.

I-70 in Junction City reopens to unrestricted traffic for winter

DICKINSON COUNTY —Traffic is backed up for drivers traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 in Dickson County.

A semi was involved in an accident and the vehicle was on the south side of the Interstate.&nbsp; The KHP has not reported any injuries as of 6:15p.m. Friday.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Eastbound I-70 backed up due to crash

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with former legislator, realtor, and Real Men Real Leaders executive director Reynaldo Mesa.

🎤Forward Ever: Reynaldo Mesa, Real Men Real Leaders

Abilene CVB Director Julie Roller announced that Abilene's new Holiday Inn Express &amp; Suites opened its doors Thursday evening, offering travelers a modern place to stay along Kansas I-70. The four-story, 65-room property features a 400-square-foot meeting space ideal for small to medium-sized groups, along with amenities like an indoor pool and fitness center.

“We are thrilled to bring this property to Abilene and its visitors,” said Anjan Ghosh Hajra, property owner. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during the construction delays and are confident travelers will love the finished hotel.”This marks the Ghosh Hajra family’s second investment in Abilene. Their original Holiday Inn Express, built in 2000, is being rebranded as Abilene Inn &amp; Suites, a Choice Hotels property.

“Abilene’s businesses, attractions, and visitors are grateful for the continued investment the Ghosh Hajra family has made in our community,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau.&nbsp; ”Travelers can book accommodations at both properties online.

Abilene welcomes new Holiday Inn Express & Suites, former property rebranded

Pottawatomie County Economic Development has announced that Colliers is presenting the opportunity to acquire the crane served Caterpillar production plant in Wamego. The facility, currently owned by Caterpillar and employing roughly 300 full time employees, will be vacated by approximately the fourth quarter of 2025.&nbsp;

Caterpillar plant in Wamego is up for sale

Jody Johnson of Dwight, Kans. is the recipient of the 2024 Geary County Extension Appreciation Award.

Jody is an active volunteer for Geary County K-State Research and Extension, serving as a Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) counselor for the past three years. During that time, she and FCS agents have saved Geary County residents over $200,000 in savings each year for necessary medicine and health expenses. Jody’s passion for helping others through the complicated healthcare system came from a background in animal health, customer service and volunteerism.

Graduating from Kansas State University in 1976 and 1981 with degrees in veterinary medicine and pathology, Jody would work in pathology before serving as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Alumni Affairs for the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. She then entered industry and worked in customer services for Hills Pet Nutrition, while continuing her involvement in the American Veterinary Medicine Association, focusing on healthcare insurance initiatives for independent veterinarians across the United States.

In addition to her 15 years of volunteerism as SHICK counselor in the local area, Jody volunteers as a member of the Marion Hill Lutheran Church of White City, Little Huskies Daycare, an election board volunteer as well as being a lifetime member of the K-State Alumni Association and the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).

Today, Jody and her husband Gary, along with two of their children, operate their farm and ranch in Dwight. The couple have four adult children and nine grandchildren. Jody shared that her love of assisting others stems from her mother and her many years in customer service.

The award was created in 1983 so that an individual, family or business, that goes above and beyond in their support of Extension in a county can be recognized.

Extension Appreciation Award is presented

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrest.

Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police arrested 20-year-old Cristian Soto of Manhattan on requested charges that include multiple offenses of violation of the Offender Registration Act x 8.

In December of 2023, Soto was convicted of Aggravated Robbery; Armed w/ dangerous weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Soto is being held on a $60,000 bond, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

RCPD: Registered Kansas offender jailed on new allegations

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.

Travoris Steele, Criminal trespass, arrested 11/21

Jason Ludecke, Probation violation, arrested 11/21

Roberto Ramosgatica, Failure to appear, arrested 11/21

Brian Hill, Unlawful restraint, arrested 11/21

Geary County Booking Photos Nov. 22

Junction City Commission Approves Reforms to Child Care Ordinances and Enforces Regulations Against Illegal Child Care

Junction City, KS – The Junction City Commission unanimously approved significant changes to local child care ordinances aimed at reducing barriers for in-home child care providers. These reforms come in response to recent state-level updates, which highlighted the need for local ordinances to be aligned with current regulations.

The newly approved changes remove previous restrictions on operational hours, allowing family child care providers to offer services outside of traditional work hours. This adjustment supports families who require care during shift work and nontraditional hours, fostering a more flexible child care environment.

In addition, the commission eliminated local permit requirements and associated fees, significantly decreasing operational costs for providers. Compliance with state licensing regulations and inspections will now be managed exclusively through state offices, streamlining the licensing process for Junction City providers. Providers still need to show state licensing to the City to facilitate code compliance and emergency response.

A notable addition to the ordinance is the designation of illegal child care as a municipal offense, carrying penalties that may include hefty fines and potential jail time. Illegal child care in Kansas is defined as caring for more than two unrelated children for more than 20 hours a week without a state license. While operating an unlicensed child care facility has been illegal for some time, enforcement of these regulations has been insufficient.

Individuals with questions or those who are interested in becoming a licensed provider can email the Geary County Child Care Coalition (gc3c.info@gmail.com) for assistance in accessing the appropriate resources.

Junction City Commission Approves Reforms to Child Care Ordinances

The ribbon cutting was held for a&nbsp; new shelter in Fifth Street Park in Junction City Thursday afternoon.

The Quality Play for All project received help from multiple organizations, including the City of Junction City, Hutton Construction,&nbsp;&nbsp;students from Kansas State University’s chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America,&nbsp; USD 475 Career and Technical Education Students,&nbsp;&nbsp;Kaw Valley Engineering and Foley Equipment.

Quality Play for All spokesman Kendall Schoenrock said the shelter is located in between the playground equipment and the basketball court in the park. "This is really an awesome joint collaboration.

The Geary Community Healthcare Foundation has provided $4,184 to Quality Play for All for future improvements in the park.

New shelter project is completed in Fifth Street Park

Patterson Family Foundation seeks to strengthen rural economy with this generous investment.

Manhattan, KS – Manhattan Area Technical College has been awarded a $668,000 grant by the Patterson Family Foundation. The school said the grant focus on students in grades 6-12 and aims to grow and sustain the talent pool in rural communities.

The initiative strengthens key industries identified by the Patterson Family Foundation as "the backbone of America's economy and vital to the health and well-being of rural communities." Manhattan Tech has long been a leader in these professions, including Welding, Construction/Carpentry, HVAC-R, Electrical, Automotive Services, and Industrial Machinery Mechanics. The grant will benefit rural-identified counties, including Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Marshall, Morris, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, and Waubansee. 

"As part of this initiative, students have the opportunity to earn credentials and college credit at little to no cost," states Manhattan Tech President Jim Genandt. "With the generosity of the Patterson Family Foundation, we are building an educational pathway that can lead to certificates and degrees at Manhattan Tech and ultimately an in-demand profession in a rural critical field."

A portion of the funding will go toward creating a Mobile Technology Lab equipped with virtual and augmented reality tools that can be brought directly to these communities.&nbsp;

Junior and senior high school teachers will also benefit through access to training, equipment, and ongoing mentoring provided by Manhattan Tech to effectively teach hands-on and technology-enabled lessons in these fields. 

Additionally, efforts made possible by this grant will foster community engagement by enabling parents, counselors, and community workforce specialists to participate in virtual and hands-on experiences, thereby enhancing their understanding and promotion of these occupations to area youth. 

For more information on how to participate, please contact:

David Umanzor, Outreach Coordinator, davidumanzor@manhattantech.edu

Manhattan Tech is awarded $668K grant for rural workforce development

Clarksville, Tenn.&nbsp; – The magic continues in Tennessee. Barton Community College, playing as the No. 6 seed at the NJCAA Div. I National Volleyball Championships, opened the tournament Wednesday with a 3-0 sweep against Navarro (Texas). Thursday evening, the Cougars followed that with a 3-0 win against No. 14 seed Indian Hills to advance to the national semifinals for the first time since 2003.

One day after taking down No. 3 seed New Mexico Military Institute in the opening round, Indian Hills fell short to the Cougars.&nbsp; 25-21, 25-14, and 25-16.

In the other semifinal, No. 2 seed Miami-Dade needed five sets to dump No. 10 Missouri State-West Plains. Barton (33-2) will take on Miami-Dade at 7 p.m. Friday.

Barton advances to national semifinals with 3-0 win against Indian Hills

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the Junction City Middle School eighth-grade girls basketball team won the JCMS tournament.&nbsp;

Eighth-grade JCMS girls basketball team wins tournament

The Junction City Blue Jays football team hosted an end-of-season awards banquet to officially conclude the 2024 football season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the awards banquet, each coach spoke to the team and addressed their thoughts on the season as well as looking forward to next season. The seniors in attendance were able to perform their "last hit" and awards were given out as part of the banquet as well.&nbsp;

Ron Lowry Memorial Award Winner - Adrian Moreno &amp; Brock Nabus

Malcolm Tibbetts Memorial Award Winner - Jamarcus Tyson &amp; Petren Bartolome

Joseph Sinegal Memorial Award Winner – Trevon Briley

Al Simpler Memorial Award Winner - Petren Bartolome

Elijah Carter-Salisbury Memorial Award Winner – Trevon Briley &amp; Toby Johnson

Black Lion Award Winner – Lovell Autry &amp; Luke Nelson

Frank Drew Memorial Award Winner – Noah Aguon

Felix Snipes Memorial Award Winner - Xander Caldwell

Offensive Player of the Year - Justice Fonoti

Defensive Player of the Year - Lovell Autry

Special Teams Player of the Year - Ethan Hileman

Scout Team Offense Player of the Year - Scholar Brown

Scout Team Defense Player of the Year - Luke Nelson

The Blue Jay varsity team finished the season with a 5-5 record.

Blue Jays host end-of-season Awards Banquet

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

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A former <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/01/gop-candidate-in-2nd-district-fighting-for-enrichment-of-american-exceptionalism/">candidate for</a> Kansas 2nd District congressional seat in 2024 is in jail on multiple allegations following an investigation into interference with the judicial process.

On November 21, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received information that a male subject in Topeka had engaged in the harassment of a Shawnee County District Court Official on multiple occasions, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Deputies arrested 44-year-old Michael A. Ogle of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges, interference with the judicial process and Harassment by telecommunications device.

This incident is still under investigation.

Kan. man who ran for Congress accused of phone harassment of court official

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Ellis County man who was accused of killing his wife in 2022 has been found competent to serve a prison sentence.

Jay Schumacher's attorney had requested an evaluation to determine if he was eligible to serve his sentence at Larned Correction Facility, in a secure mental health facility, instead of serving a standard prison sentence.

Jay Schumacher, 67, Hays, who was accused of beating his wife to death, pleaded no contest to three felony charges that are expected to put him behind bars for a decade or more.

Schumacher was first charged with killing his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2c3cf903-b65a-45fa-bb67-a90446c67e61">Karen Schumacher</a>,&nbsp;in 2022.

According to court documents,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/31909cf2-4721-42e3-ab7e-5e2de4392888">Jay Schumacher&nbsp;</a>was initially charged with murder in the first degree — mistreatment of a dependent adult, aggravated battery, domestic battery and mistreatment of a dependent adult.

This week, after an evaluation by clinical staff at Larned, Schumacher was determined to qualify for routine disposition of his case.

According to Schumacher's plea agreement, he agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated battery and mistreatment of a dependent adult.

The voluntary manslaughter plea is an Alford plea. Under an Alford plea, the defendant does not have to admit to the criminal act and can maintain innocence. It also allows the state to reach an agreement on the length of a prison sentence that may not have coincided with the actual charge.

Under the agreement, both parties agreed Schumacher would serve a minimum sentence of 114 months, or nine years and six months in prison for counts one and two,&nbsp; voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery.

A sentencing has been set for 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 in front of Judge Glenn Braun in Ellis County District Court.

ELLIS COUNTY —An Ellis County man accused of beating his wife to death pleaded guilty Friday to three felony charges that are expected to put him behind bars for a decade or more.

Jay Naldo Schumacher, 66,&nbsp; was first charged with killing his wife&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2c3cf903-b65a-45fa-bb67-a90446c67e61">Karen Schumacher</a>&nbsp;in 2022.

Following more than two years of court proceedings, the Ellis County Attorney’s office and Schumacher reached a plea agreement on Friday following mediation.

According to the plea agreement, Schumacher agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated battery and mistreatment of a dependent adult.

The voluntary manslaughter plea, is an Alford plea. Under an Alford plea, the defendant does not have to admit to the criminal act and can maintain innocence. It also allows the state to reach an agreement on the length of a prison sentence that may not have coincided with the actual charge.

Under the agreement both parties agreed Schumacher would severe a minimum sentence of 114 months, or nine years and six months in prison for counts one and two; voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery.

The full length of the sentence will be determined by the judge at sentencing later this year.

The state wants the 34-month sentence for the final charge, mistreatment of a dependent adult, to run consecutively with the 114-month sentence. Under Kansas sentencing guidelines, the sentence would be capped at 142 months.

The defendant is going to argue the 34-month sentence for mistreatment of a dependent adult, to run concurrently with the first two charges for a total of 114 months in prison.

Schumacher’s attorneys are also requesting that he be placed in custody of the Larned State Correctional Facility instead of with the Kansas Department of Corrections.

NW Kan. man found competent for prison for wife's beating death

HARVEY COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before noon Friday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford Expedition driven by Madison Jo&nbsp;Vinduska, 29, Marion, was&nbsp;turning from eastbound U.S. 50&nbsp; to North East Lake Road.&nbsp;

 The driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making the left turn. A westbound 2015 Ram 1500 driven by Kanitra Reatha&nbsp; Crump, 38, Wichita, struck the SUV.

EMS transported&nbsp;Vinduska to Wesley Medical Center. EMS also transported Crump and a 3-year-old male passenger from Marion in the Ford to the hospital in Newton.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vinduska was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

3-year-old, 2 Kan. women hospitalized after crash

EDITORS CLARIFICATION: This story was first published on Nov. 4, 2024. It was updated by the Associated Press on Nov. 22, 2024, to make clear that the U.S. attorney’s office said it is not asserting that the cryptocurrency account from which the FBI recovered the funds had ties to any specific location or country.

WICHITA, KANSAS (AP) — Sobs of relief broke out in a federal courtroom in Kansas on Monday as dozens of people whose life savings had been embezzled by a bank CEO learned that federal law enforcement had recovered their money.

"I just can’t describe the weight lifted off of us,” said Bart Camilli, 70, who with his wife Cleo had just learned they’d recover close to $450,000 — money Bart began saving at 18 when he bought his first individual retirement account. “It’s life-changing.”

In August, former Kansas bank CEO Shan Hanes was sentenced to 24 years after stealing $47 million from customer accounts and wiring the money to cryptocurrency accounts run by scammers. Prosecutors said Hanes also stole $40,000 from his church, $10,000 from an investment club and $60,000 from his daughter’s college fund and lost $1.1 million of his own in the scheme. Deposits were “jettisoned into the ether,” said prosecutor Aaron Smith.

Hanes' Heartland Tri-State Bank, drained of cash, was shut down by federal regulators and sold to another financial institution. Customers’ savings and checking accounts amounting to $47.1 million were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which paid off their losses.

But there were still 30 shareholders of the community-owned rural bank Hanes helped found — including his close family friends and neighbors — who thought they lost $8.3 million in investments: well-planned retirements were upended, funds for long-term eldercare gone, education funds and bequests for children and grandchildren zeroed out.

On Monday the shareholders stood to cheer federal Judge John W. Broomes in Wichita after he told them, one at a time, that they’d be paid back in full. The FBI recovered the funds from a cryptocurrency account held by Tether Ltd.

During an earlier sentencing hearing, these victims had called Hanes a “deceitful cheat and a liar,” and “pure evil.”

Margaret Grice came to court Monday figuring she’d get $1,000 back. Instead, she learned she’d be recovering almost $250,000, her entire 401(k).

“I’m just really thrilled,” she said. “I can breathe.”

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