Kansas.com: Top Stories

Texas races past Kansas

J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:42 CST

AUSTIN — With the nation watching, Kansas football coach Mark Mangino showed a softer side.

He walked onto the field to check on his injured players, even trying to help freshman running back Toben Opurum off the ground. He told a referee that he was “a good man.” He gave sophomore Daymond Patterson a big ol’ hug after a long punt return. You could have called it a Bear hug.

But no amount of love from Mangino, affectionately called “Bear” by old friends in Steel Country, could motivate KU to compete with No. 3 Texas, which demolished the Jayhawks 51-20 on Saturday night to move their losing streak to six.

Nebraska ends Kansas State's season

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:59 CST

LINCOLN, Neb. — This was all or nothing for Kansas State because a Wildcats loss meant no division championship and no bowl game.

And the loss happened, 17-3 to surging Nebraska, which will meet Texas in the Big 12 title game.

But for Kansas State this season wasn’t for nothing. Although the Wildcats’ 6-6 record meant a mere a one-game improvement over last season, the feeling is vastly different, upbeat because of a program rejuvenated by Bill Snyder.

KU researchers work to turn sewage into fuel

Associated Press — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:53 CST

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas researchers are working to turn microbes from treated sewage into a commercially viable biofuel, that one day could be used to power the nation's cars, trucks, airplanes and other modes of transportation.

But for now, the future grows in four farm tanks at Lawrence's wastewater treatment plant, and inside another four at a research station northeast of the Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The project is unmistakably green, a shade that can be produced only by millions of cells of algae fattened with treated waste from the city's sewer system, then harvested after absorbing organic pollutants and yielding oil for transformation into clean-burning biodiesel.

Wichita grandad warns of telephone con artists

HURST LAVIANA — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:53 CST

The phone rang at 11:33 a.m. Thursday.

"This is your favorite grandson," the caller said.

"Chris?" the Wichita man asked.

Extradition flights save county time, money

RON SYLVESTER — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:23 CST

Steve Saffell keeps a Taser tucked by his seat in the cockpit and a handgun holstered underneath his right arm. As pilot of the Sedgwick County sheriff's airplane, Saffell's passengers are usually wearing handcuffs and leg irons.

Neither he nor Nathan Bevis, the county's other deputy pilot, has ever had to pull a weapon at 25,000 feet while returning people wanted on felony warrants to Wichita.

Even in a time of economic crunches and county budget cutbacks, the Sheriff's Office says flying saves taxpayers money — about $3 million since 1986, according to cost analysis reports.

Building a family tradition

Chandra Stauffer — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:28 CST

Holiday traditions are often passed from generation to generation, but a tradition has to start somewhere. For three sisters from Wichita, that tradition started Friday at the Gingerbread Village, a fundraiser for the Assistance League of Wichita.

Patty Ferris has been taking her children to the annual event to make gingerbread houses for five or six years, but this is the first year two of her sisters joined her.

"The kids love it," she said. "I love it. It's become our family tradition."

Copper theft suspect arrested on return trip

STAN FINGER — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

There are legendary tales of criminal masterminds — and then there's the guy who tried to steal copper pipe from a rental house near downtown.

A 39-year-old maintenance man was working on a rental property in the 600 block of North St. Francis shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday when he noticed the door to a garage studio apartment was open across the street — and it shouldn't have been.

When he went to investigate, he found a man removing copper pipe from beneath the kitchen sink. The intruder claimed he was removing the pipe under the instruction of the owner, the maintenance man told property manager Kris Sims via cell phone.

Tiahrt bill would block further bailout spending

dion lefler — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, has introduced a bill in Congress to halt further spending to bail out financial institutions and automakers.

Tiahrt's bill is called the Ensure TARP Expires Act of 2009, and would block Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from spending any more money on the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.

Begun under the Bush administration and continued by President Obama, TARP has injected hundreds of billions of dollars in capital into failing investment, banking, insurance and automotive companies in an effort to stabilize the financial system.

Theft, burglary charges for pregnant woman

STAN FINGER — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

A pregnant woman believed to have stolen from west Wichita residents once they let her inside to make a telephone call has been arrested and charged, authorities said Friday.

Nicole L. Bell, 26, was charged Friday in Sedgwick County District Court with two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of felony theft.

She is accused of stealing $245 from one west Wichita house on Nov. 1 and $103 from a second house on Nov. 18, court officials said.

Alan Keyes in Kansas to stump for Dist. 4 candidate Jim Anderson

DION LEFLER — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:53 CST

Those who want to see former ambassador and presidential candidate Alan Keyes — in Kansas to campaign for congressional candidate Jim Anderson — will have plenty of opportunity.

The campaign is bringing in Keyes to try to drum up support for Anderson, a small-business owner who is running in a five-candidate Republican primary for the 4th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard.

The other candidates are businessmen Mike Pompeo and Wink Hartman; and state Sens. Dick Kelsey and Jean Schodorf.

Mississippi hands Kansas State its first loss

KELLIS ROBINETT — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:46 CST

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Denis Clemente raced upcourt with the basketball, stopped inches short of the three-point line and swished a jumper.

During his time at Kansas State, making shots like that are what the senior guard has done best. Anytime the Puerto Rico native can utilize his speed and find open space before opposing defenses get back and organized, he is dangerous.

Friday was no different, and he scored 17 points. But he took too long to find his offensive groove and Mississippi defeated K-State 86-74 in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Suspect in copper crime returns, gets arrested

STAN FINGER — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:28 CST

WICHITA — There are legendary tales of criminal masterminds — and then there's the guy who tried to steal copper pipe from a rental house Thursday near downtown.

A 39-year-old man went to check on a rental house shortly after 10:30 a.m. in the 600 block of North St. Francis when he noticed the front door had been kicked in, police said.

When he went to investigate, he spotted a 53-year-old man removing copper pipe from beneath the kitchen sink. The suspect bolted from the house and drove off in a green Chevy Lumina.

Tiahrt seeks to fold TARP and end bailouts for bankers and automakers

Dion Lefler — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:13 CST

Tiahrt Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, has introduced a bill in Congress to halt further spending to bail out financial institutions and automakers.

Tiahrt’s bill is called the “Ensure TARP Expires Act of 2009,” and would block Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from spending any more money on the Troubled Asset Relief Program, more commonly known as TARP.

Begun under the Bush Administration and continued by President Obama, TARP has injected hundreds of billions of dollars in capital into failing investment, banking, insurance and automotive companies in an effort to stabilize the financial system.

Motor Mouth Wireless robbed; three arrested

STAN FINGER — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:58 CST

WICHITA — Three men were arrested shortly after a robbery at the Motor Mouth Wireless store on Central Thursday night.

Two armed men came into the store at 4525 E. Central at 7:20 p.m., ordered customers to the floor and demanded money from them and the business, police said.

They then ran out to a waiting car and fled north on Pershing. Victims gave a description of the car to police, and an officer spotted a matching vehicle a short time later.

Pregnant woman arrested, suspected in thefts

STAN FINGER — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:58 CST

A pregnant woman believed to have stolen from west Wichita residents once they let her inside to make a telephone call has been arrested, police said.

The 26-year-old woman, who is about eight months pregnant, was taken into custody at her home in Maize on Thursday and arrested at City Hall about 10:40 p.m. after questioning, police said.

She is suspected of stealing cash and perhaps other valuables from four houses in Wichita and one in Goddard, police said.

Woman hurt in commute crash improves

STAN FINGER — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:48 CST

A 25-year-old woman is in fair condition today after being hurt in a two-car crash during the morning commute.

The collision occurred at 13th and McLean at 7:04 a.m., a Sedgwick County dispatch supervisor said. The woman was taken to Via Christi St. Francis in critical condition, but her condition has improved as she receives treatment.

Check Kansas.com for updates.

Topeka-area man with H1N1 dies

KAREN SHIDELER — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:38 CST

Another death associated with the H1N1 virus was reported today by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. It is the state's 19th H1N1-related death.

KDHE said a 75-year-old man from the Topeka metropolitan area — Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties _ was infected with H1N1 when he died. The man had underlying health conditions that placed him at greater risk for serious complications of influenza, KDHE said.

His death was reported to KDHE on Wednesday.