FERGUSON (AP) – With the grand jury announcement in the Ferguson case drawing near, many churches plan to offer prayer, shelter, food and a safe sanctuary for protesters, residents, school kids and others affected by potential unrest.
A grand jury is expected to decide this month whether to file charges against Darren Wilson, the Ferguson officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in August. There is concern that the announcement could lead to potentially violent protests.
Across the region, houses of worship are planning for the unrest.
Several churches plan prayer vigils and to offer food, shelter, even medical care.
A coalition of 11 churches, mostly in and near Ferguson, on Friday announced a partnership with two school districts to provide support for children and their families after the grand jury announcement.
The Missouri Lottery reported in a media release that on Friday they sent $22.2 million in profits to the Lottery Proceeds Fund for public education.
The November transfer of $22,232,310 is based on Lottery tickets sales in October, and it brings the total for fiscal year 2015 to $104 million.
Since Missouri Lottery sales started in 1986, the Lottery has generated more than $4.9 billion for the state and public education. Programs funded in FY15 include the A+ Scholarship Program, the Foundation Program and Access Missouri.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The future of Kemper Arena might not be decided for months, after Kansas City Council members agreed to seek alternatives to a plan by the American Royal to tear down the arena and replace it with a new building.
The American Royal pitched its proposal again on Thursday to two council committees. But several critics told the council members the city has better ways to spend $20 million in taxpayer money that the Royal’s plan would require.
The Kansas City Star reports the council’s decision to investigate other alternatives means a decision on the arena’s future might be delayed for months.
Noting the strong opposition at Thursday’s meeting, Councilman Ed Ford said council members believe they legally should put out a notice seeking other proposals for the arena.
STEWARTSVILLE – A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 4:30 a.m. on Friday in Clinton County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Chevy Spark driven by Keshia N. Martin, 22, Stewartsville, was northbound on Route K one mile south of Stewartsville, The vehicle traveled off the west side of the road and struck several trees.
A private vehicle transported Martin to Heartland Regional Medical Center.
The MSHP reported she was not wearing a seat belt.
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – The Springfield city clerk has certified a referendum petition opposing expansion of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance.
The Springfield News-Leader reports the decision makes it likely the question will go before voters in April.
The repeal effort began shortly after the city council voted in October to make it illegal to discriminate against people because of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Opponents turned in the petition with more than 2,500 signatures last week, more than twice the 1,144 needed.
The council now can choose to repeal the ordinance, send the issue to voters or take no action, which would also automatically put in on the ballot.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the Senate Republican Leadership Stakeout today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) called on President Barack Obama to work with the new Republican-led Congress to address the real challenges facing the nation, including putting more people back to work and increasing economic opportunity for workers and families.
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service says most of its mail processing functions in Springfield will move to Kansas City in July.
The Springfield News-Leader reports Postal Service spokeswoman Stacy St. John said she didn’t know how many jobs will be moved. A union representative estimated at least 200 employees will be affected.
St. John said the employees will be offered jobs, but most of them will not be in Springfield.
She says the move is part of changes the Postal Service is making nationwide to save $750 million. She says the mail processing center in Springfield is much larger than needed for operations there.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man who police say fatally stabbed his girlfriend will not have a preliminary hearing until December.
The hearing for 23-year-old Trevor William Adkins of Topeka was scheduled for Thursday but was postponed until Dec. 22. Adkins is charged with the premeditated first-degree murder of 22-year-old Lacie L. Atchison in September. He remains jailed on $1 million bail.
Investigators say Atchison’s body was found on a wheelchair ramp outside the home. The couple’s young child was at the home but not injured. Adkins was arrested after neighbors reported a naked man fighting with another man outside the house.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Adkins told police after his arrest that he was on a “bad trip” during the alleged crime after using methamphetamine and ecstasy.
The K-State men’s and women’s basketball teams host a doubleheader Friday, Nov. 14, in Bramlage Coliseum to begin their 2014-15 seasons. Coach Mittie and the women’s team host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 5:30 p.m., followed by Coach Weber and the men’s team taking on Southern Utah University at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the doubleheader start as low as $12.50 with a Wildcat 4 Pack for $50. Single tickets start at just $15.
Fans with men’s or women’s basketball season tickets can attend both games but are asked to sit in the general admission sections for the game for which they do not have a ticket.
To purchase tickets, click here or call 1-800-221-CATS.
Opening Night
Ten-time defending Big 12 Conference champion Kansas begins the 2014-15 season by hosting UC Santa Barbara, Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. (Central). The game will be televised on Jayhawk IMG TV/ESPN3.com. Ranked No. 5 by the Associated Press and No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches’ preseason polls, Kansas is looking to win its 42nd-consecutive home opener in Allen Fieldhouse, dating back to the 1973-74 season. Since 2001-02, the Jayhawks have won their last 12 season openers. UC Santa Barbara (0-0) is coming off a 21-9 season in which it placed second in the Big West Conference with a 12-4 record. The Gauchos are not ranked heading into 2014-15.
About Kansas
Expectations are always high for Kansas and that is status quo for the 2014-15 season as KU coach Bill Self enters his 12th season at the helm with an 82.5 (325-69) winning percentage, the highest winning percentage in school history.
Kansas went 25-10 in 2013-14 and won its unprecedented 10th-straight Big 12 and NCAA-leading 57th regular-season conference championship. Self brings back nine letterwinners, including two starters, from the team that advanced to the round of 32 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Losing the No. 1 and No. 3 overall selections in the 2014 NBA Draft, Self looks to reload for 2014-15. Kansas returning starters are Perry Ellis, a junior forward, and Wayne Selden, Jr., a sophomore guard. Ellis is KU’s leading returning scorer at 13.5 points per game in 2013-14, and rebounder at 6.7 rpg. Selden averaged 9.7 points per game his rookie year at KU and both he and Ellis were named to the 2014 All-Big 12 squad with Ellis a third-team selection and Selden honorable mention. The duo also earned weekly conference honors during 2013-14.
Other key returnees include junior F Jamari Traylor and sophomore guards Frank Mason III and Brannen Greene. Traylor averaged 4.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 2013-14. Included was his first career double-double with personal highs in points (17) and rebounds (14) in KU’s opening round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament against Eastern Kentucky. Mason averaged 5.5 points and 2.1 assists last season and started three games at the point. Greene appeared in 28 games and scored 2.4 points per outing.
Sophomore F Landen Lucas (1.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 22 games last season) and redshirt junior F Hunter Mickelson, a transfer who sat out 2013-14 but practiced with the team, will add depth to the inside. Mickelson started 25 games in two seasons at Arkansas, from 2012-13, where he averaged 5.3 points, 3.6 rebounds with 111 blocked shots. His 72 blocks in 2011-12 set the Arkansas freshman record.
Walk-on guards Christian Garrett, Evan Manning and Tyler Self also return. Garrett is the lone senior on the KU squad, while Manning, son of KU legend Danny Manning, is a junior and Self, son of the KU head coach, a redshirt sophomore. Self injured his foot in preseason practice prior to the 2013-14 season and did not play.
Excluding Mickelson, who has been in the KU system for a year, Self welcomes five newcomers to the roster, including McDonald’s All-Americans forward Cliff Alexander and guard Kelly Oubre, Jr. A power forward who was ranked No. 3 by ESPN100, Alexander was the 2014 Naismith High School National Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball USA. Oubre was ranked No. 11 by ESPN100 and both he and Alexander competed for Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic in the spring 2014. Additionally, Oubre was invited to work at the Kevin Durant Skills Academy and the adidas Nation’s camps in the summer of 2014.
Highly-rated guards Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk round out the KU freshmen for 2014-15. Graham led Brewster Academy to the 2014 national prep championship and New England prep title. At 17, Mykhailiuk is the youngest player in the Big 12 Conference. His international experience is extensive as he has represented his home country, Ukraine, for the past few years at events such as the 2013 U16 European Championships, the 2014 U18 European Championships and the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He was an opponent of Alexander and Oubre at the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit. Walk-on freshman G Josh Pollard, nephew of former KU center Scot Pollard, rounds out the Jayhawk newcomers.
About UC Santa Barbara
Located in Santa Barbara, California, with an enrollment of 20,847, UC Santa Barbara returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from a team which went 21-9 and placed second in the Big West Conference in 2013-14. The Gauchos are coached by Bob Williams who is 269-212 in his 17th season at UCSB and 458-312 in his 26th season overall. UCSB is picked second in the 2014-15 Big West Preseason Media Poll. UC Irvine is the league favorite according to the media.
Senior F Alan Williams is the top returner for UCSB as he led the nation in rebounding last season with an 11.5 per game average. The 2014 Big West Player of the Year and a two-time all-conference first team selection, Williams averaged 21.3 points per game, which also led his league. Junior G Michael Bryson was an honorable mention All-Big West selection last year who averaged 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Senior G Zalmico Harmon was second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio last year at 4.6-to-1. He averaged 7.8 points per game. Junior F Mitch Brewe (4.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) rounds out the returning starters. Sophomore G Eric Childress (5.3 ppg) and junior F Sam Beeler (2.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) are other top returners from last season for UCSB.
UCSB defeated Point Loma 70-54 in its lone exhibition game with Williams leading the way with 20 points and 19 rebounds. Freshman G Gabe Vincent scored 13 points in the victory.
The Series
Kansas won the only meeting with UC Santa Barbara, 72-52, in the opening round of the Wolf Pack Holiday Classic, Dec. 20, 2003, in Reno, Nevada, in Bill Self’s first season at Kansas. KU is 5-2 all-time versus current membership of the Big West Conference with a 3-1 record versus Long Beach State and 2-1 mark against Hawaii.
In the Polls
Kansas men’s basketball enters the 2014-15 season at No. 5 in both the Associated Press the USA Today Coaches’ polls. This marks the third-straight year, and the fifth time in the last six seasons, that the Jayhawks have entered the season No. 7 or higher by AP and the ninth time in the Bill Self era that the Jayhawks start the season slotted seventh or higher. Self, the three-time national and five-time conference coach of the year, is entering his 12th season at KU where he has a 325-69 (82.5 percent) record. Additionally, this is the 23rd time in the 26-year history of the coaches’ poll the Jayhawks have been ranked.
Last season, KU entered the season No. 5 by AP and ended 10th and No. 6 in the coaches’ poll and finished at No. 14. The Jayhawks were ranked in the top-10 on 14 occasions by the AP and 13 weeks by the coaches during the 2013-14 season.
In 2014-15, Kansas could potentially play nine games against teams ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll: No. 1 Kentucky, No. 7 Florida, No. 10 Texas (twice), No. 14 Iowa State (twice), No. 18 Michigan State and No. 19 Oklahoma (t
FERGUSON (AP) – With the grand jury announcement in the Ferguson case drawing near, many churches plan to offer prayer, shelter, food and a safe sanctuary for protesters, residents, school kids and others affected by potential unrest.
