TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Members of the all-Republican Kansas congressional delegation and officials in the GOP-dominated state government are resisting calls to tighten access to firearms following the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school earlier this month.
So far, no prominent Kansas elected official who’s strongly supported gun rights has backed away from positions that have brought him or her support from the National Rifle Association.
Officials in both Washington and Topeka say they want to examine services for the mentally ill and have expressed concern about what they see as a violent culture that fuels shootings. The GOP-led Legislature is unlikely to restrict access to firearms.
Some GOP officeholders are urging caution. They argue that it’s too early to talk about policy changes so close to the horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – After several delays and long lines, the new vehicle title and registration system in Kansas has processed more than 2 million customer transactions.
The state Department of Revenue says in a release that the new system replaced a 25-year-old mainframe system and moved Kansas from a paper-driven process to an electronic one and that the new system successfully processed its 2.1 millionth customer transaction this week.
The new system to help drivers renew license tags and register their cars however caused long delays and lines at motor vehicle offices across Kansas after it was introduced in May, prompting anger from residents and county treasurers’ offices.
Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan thanked residents and county treasurers for their cooperation during the transition and said the move to the updated system was necessary.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, right, scrambles away from Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Brandon Siler during the first half Sunday in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The expectations placed upon Andrew Luck almost seemed unfair.
Being the heir to Peyton Manning in Indianapolis is heady stuff for a rookie taking the reins of a franchise that won two games last season.
Now, after guiding the Colts back to the playoffs – and breaking Cam Newton’s single-season passing record for a first-year player – it’s safe to say Luck exceeded just about all of them.
Luck threw for 205 yards Sunday, and his 7-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne on third-and-goal late in the fourth quarter gave the Colts a 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. That put them into the playoffs without worrying about anybody else.
”Would we have done it without him?” Colts interim coach Bruce Arians asked. ”No.”
Luck broke Newton’s record of 4,051 yards passing in the second quarter. But it was extending his own rookie record for fourth-quarter comebacks to seven was more important.
The Chiefs had rallied behind Jamaal Charles’ 226 yards rushing to tie the game 13-13 heading into the fourth quarter. The Colts’ defense stuffed quarterback Brady Quinn on fourth-and-inches to give Luck a chance.
That’s all he needed.
After a miserable stretch in which he connected on 1 of 13 passes, the fabulous freshman calmly led Indianapolis (10-5) downfield. He completed a key pass to T.Y. Hilton on third down and made two nice throws to Wayne before hitting the veteran in the back of the end zone.
”We had so many opportunities all game, especially on third down, that we squandered,” Wayne said. ”We wanted to get that done. That was the opportune time to do it.”
Darius Butler returned an interception 32 yards for the Colts’ other touchdown, helping them join the 2008 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season.
Most of those wins have come under Arians, who has filled in admirably while Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia. Pagano is expected to rejoin the Colts this week.
”Mission accomplished. That’s all I can say,” Arians said. ”Without getting emotional again, knowing that (Pagano) is going to be back Monday, the work week shouldn’t be as stressful.”
Charles’ big day included an 86-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half. It was his second 200-yard game of the season, and came one week after he managed 10 yards on nine carries against Oakland.
”It was fun today, competing out there and doing it while we were trying to come back,” Charles said. ”It was fun going out there and putting out a performance like that.”
Charles joined the Titans’ Chris Johnson and former Lions great Barry Sanders as the only players with three runs of 80 or more yards in a season. His third career 200-yard game also set a franchise record, which he had shared with Larry Johnson.
Peyton Hillis added 101 yards on the ground for the Chiefs (2-13), who had 352 yards rushing in a losing effort – the first time that’s happened in NFL history.
A big reason why was Quinn, who was just 10 of 22 for 162 yards with two interceptions.
”This game was without a doubt, 100 percent on my shoulders,” he said. ”You can’t play the way I played today and win a football game.”
His trouble began with the Chiefs’ fifth offensive play, when he threw woefully behind Dexter McCluster – who wasn’t even looking for the ball. Butler picked off the pass in stride, taking it untouched to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Kansas City managed a field goal by Ryan Succop, but he missed his next try and the Colts went the other direction to set up the first of Adam Vinatieri’s two field goals.
Charles fumbled in the red zone later in the second quarter, and the Colts moved into Vinatieri’s range for a 36-yard field goal and a 13-3 halftime lead.
Charles electrified a sparse crowd on the first play of the second half. He angled to the left and then found room down the sideline, cutting back toward the middle of the field and winning a foot-race with the Indianapolis defense for an 86-yard touchdown run.
The Chiefs were in position to take the lead later in the third quarter, but Quinn was picked off by Vontae Davis in the end zone. The defense forced a three-and-out and Kansas City was driving again before settling for Succop’s tying 47-yard field goal.
The Chiefs got the ball back again late in the fourth quarter, but Quinn was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches from the Indianapolis 27.
That turned the ball over to Luck, who completed an 11-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton to convert a third down before he and Wayne won it.
”At times it looked a little bleak,” Arians said. ”Guys hung in there, made plays when they had to make them. Offensively we struggled, and then put together a drive, like we have all year.”
Notes: Chiefs WR Terrance Copper (left knee) and DT Tyson Jackson (left foot) left with injuries. … Wayne had five catches to become the fifth player in NFL history with four 100-catch seasons. He also became the 14th player to reach 13,000 yards receiving.
Even though Christmas almost over, for many, the shopping spree of the season is still continuing. For those consumers, Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes says that the Christmas Craft Mall in Great Bend features many unique and original items from businesses and vendors around the area.
The Christmas Craft Mall is at 1705 Main Street in Great Bend, and will be open through December 28th.
Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin, right, looks for a teammate to pass to as he is pressured by Kansas State guard Will Spradling (55) and forward Thomas Gipson (42)during the first half Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Will Spradling had 16 points and five assists, including one that set up Shane Southwell’s 3-pointer in the closing minutes, and Kansas State beat No. 8 Florida 67-61 on Saturday night.
Rodney McGruder added 13 points and Jordan Henriquez had nine points and five blocks for the Wildcats (9-2), who watched a 10-point halftime lead evaporate before clamping down against one of the nation’s top defensive teams and then pulling away in the final minutes.
Patric Young had 19 points for the Gators (8-2), including two with just over 2 minutes left that got them within 58-55. But that’s when Southwell knocked down his 3 from the corner, and McGruder made two free throws with 1:05 left to create some breathing room.
Kansas State held on from the foul line for its first regular-season, non-conference win over a top 10 team since defeating No. 8 Minnesota on Dec. 21, 1981.
Kenny Boynton and Scott Wilbekin scored 11 each for the Gators, whose only other loss came at then-No. 8 Arizona. Leading scorer Mike Rosario was held to five points on 1-of-9 shooting.
The Wildcats have been struggling in new coach Bruce Weber’s motion offense, and it showed in sloppy, lackluster losses to No. 2 Michigan and No. 14 Gonzaga. But they finally managed to get it clicking just enough against one of the nation’s premier defenses.
Still, it was defense that ruled this one from the start.
Kansas State built an early lead by turning over Florida twice in the opening minutes, and the Gators responded with a 9-2 surge in which they twice scored off turnovers in transition.
Kansas State eventually settled down on offense, and that proved to be the difference in the first half. Spradling began to hit from the perimeter, 6-foot-9 sophomore Thomas Gipson went toe-to-toe with the 6-9 Young in the paint and the Wildcats slowly built a lead.
McGruder’s basket with just under 5 minutes left made it 26-19, and after the Gators’ Michael Frazier curled in a 3-pointer for his only basket, Kansas State rattled off seven more points that helped it take a 33-23 lead into the break.
The lead was built on the Wildcats out-defending the nation’s No. 1 defense.
Florida shot just 30.8 percent (8 of 26) from the field and was 2 of 9 from beyond the arc, and even struggled at the foul line, where the Gators were 5 of 9. They didn’t get many second chances, either, with the Wildcats owning the glass on both ends of the floor.
Kansas State’s Achilles’ heel has been the start of the second half, though.
It happened to the Wildcats again.
The Gators scored on their first six trips down the floor and put together a 12-3 run that allowed them to wipe out almost the entire deficit. Boynton’s 3 with 13:10 left drew them even at 41-all, the closest they’d been since leading 19-17 midway through the first half.
But every time Florida threw a haymaker, Kansas State had a counter-punch.
Rosario’s first basket, a 3-pointer with 10:42 left, was matched by McGruder’s jumper. A bucket by Wilbekin was matched by a 3-pointer from Kansas State’s Martavious Irving, and slowly the Wildcats extended the lead back to 57-47 with 5:20 left.
Things were going so well for Kansas State that Henriquez, who had been 2 for 19 from the foul line, stepped up and calmly knocked down four straight free throws.
Kansas State wound up shooting 41.7 percent from the field against a team that had been holding opponents to 49.6 points per game. The Wildcats also ended up with a 36-27 advantage on the glass and committed just 10 turnovers against the Gators’ intense man-to-man defense.
Ohio State’s Aaron Craft (4 )scrambles for a steal against Kansas’ Elijah Jounson (15) during the first half Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mike Munden)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Redshirt freshman Ben McLemore scored 22 points and No. 9 Kansas proved it was more than just a bully at home by beating seventh-ranked Ohio State 74-66 on Saturday.
It was the third victory for the Jayhawks (10-1) in little more than a year over the Buckeyes (9-2). Kansas won a 64-62 thriller in last year’s NCAA semifinals.
The Jayhawks, who had yet to play a true road game, held Ohio State without a field goal for more than 10 minutes of the second half. The Buckeyes, who were led by Deshaun Thomas’ 16 points, hit just 9 of 36 shots from the field in the final 20 minutes.
Jeff Withey added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – State labor officials say the unemployment rate in Kansas fell to a seasonally adjusted 5.4 percent in November despite slowing job growth.
The Department of Labor reported Thursday the unemployment rate had fallen from 5.7 percent in October. The rate is a full 1 percent below the seasonally adjusted rate in November 2011.
Interim Labor Secretary Lana Gordon said the job market is moving in the right direction. Kansas added 1,100 private sector jobs in November and employers have increased payrolls by 4,900 jobs over the past year.
The workforce has shown slight growth in recent months, standing at 1.49 million in November, up about 7,000 people since September.
On a county level, Wilson had the highest jobless rate in Kansas at 7.8 percent.
As an annual part of the Christmas season locally, Veteran’s Memorial Park has been a staple of Great Bend’s Holiday Trail of Lights. Now, unknown subjects have put its continuation at Vet’s in jeopardy.
According to the Great Bend Police Department, several holiday light displays at Vet’s park were extremely damaged, and some possibly destroyed. Lieutenant William Browne of the GBPD says that the vandalism occurred sometime Thursday night, and that officers are currently following any leads on individuals who may have been in the park after hours.
Browne says that the displays impacted include at least six displays as part of the twelve days of Christmas, as well as multiple fixtures by the shelter house. The Santa Claus on top of the shelter house’s roof, along with the golfing Santa display were both pulled over. Both fixtures had their metal rebar bent. Complete damages are still being assessed, and Lt. Browne says that the state of the lights depend on the extremity of each fixture’s tube lighting damages. Many displays were bent and possibly stomped on, resulting in many frameworks needing replaced. The overall outlook for the future is currently unknown.
Great Bend Police Chief Dean Akings says that CrimeStoppers will give a reward of up to $1,000 dollars for anyone who calls their line (888-305-1300) with information on this crime.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Members of the all-Republican Kansas congressional delegation and officials in the GOP-dominated state government are resisting calls to tighten access to firearms following the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school earlier this month.
