Wichita Eagle October 9, 2022

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Halloween events from family-friendly to just for adults

BY AMY GEISZLER-JONES Eagle correspondent

Whether you’re looking for a good scare or to score treats, there are plenty of opportunities for adults and families — and even pets — to get into the spirit of Halloween this month. The activities range from ongoing family-friendly annual events like Hay, Hooves and Halloween at Old Cowtown and Boo at the Zoo to new seasonal activities like a Halloween-themed selfie spot and an indoor haunted house. Check out this monster list we’ve compiled.

ALL AGES AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS

Haunted Selfie House, The Selfie Spot, 1811 E. Douglas. 4-9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 31. Book a one-hour time slot online to get your selfies at all 15 selfie stations decorated with a Halloween/fall theme. Adults 21 and older can book a special adults-only slot between 6 and 10 p.m. every Saturday for $25. Regular admission: $15 for ages 13 and older, $10 ages 5-12, free for ages 4 and under with an adult. More info: theselfiespotondouglas .com

Residential displays. The College Hill neighborhood has had a longrunning reputation as Halloween Central when it comes to creative holiday displays and some are pretty elaborate. Lights on David Street, at 409 N. David St in Wichita, which started as a Christmas holiday drive-by residential display, also has a

Halloween display of lights and decorations that can be viewed from dark to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 7-8 and 14-5, and then every night from Oct. 21-31. During the weeknights, the display will shut down at 9 p.m. Organizers advise turning off your headlights and viewing the display from the northbound side of the street. More info: lightsondavidstreet.webs .com

Dinosaurs after Dark, Field Station Dinosaurs, 2999 N. Rock Road, Derby, 7-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights until the end of October. Expect to see some movie monsters, plus what organizers say is “the most scariest monster of all.” Other activities include kid-friendly songs, games and takehome treats. Ticket prices are pay-your-age with a $12 maximum for nonmembers and $10 for members. Ticket sales end at 8:15 p.m. More info: kansasdinos.com/ dinosaurs-after-dark

Pumpkins at the Park, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, 1000 S. Hawkins Lane, Goddard, 6-9:30 p.m. Saturdays in October. Most events at this wildlife park are geared for younger kids, but they do offer a couple of events more appropriate for teens (a cage maze and zombie laser tag) and two bars for adults to accommodate families of all ages. Regular features include escape rooms, creepy crawlers, bounce house, haunted hayride, an Isle of Intrigue, a Dr. Frank N. Stein stage show, a waterfall light show, crafts, 15 candy stations and games. Tickets: $20 for ages 3 and older. More info: pumpkinsatthepark.com

Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular, Botanica, 701 N. Amidon, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 12-15. It’s unlikely you’ll find a place with more jack-o-lanterns displayed than Botanica this year. This event features more than 1,600 decorated and lit pumpkins, a haunted woodland walk, petting zoo, fire dancing, aerial acrobatics s’moresmaking around fire pits, live music and more. Purchase timed tickets online. Tickets: $12 adults, $9 for members and kids ages 3-17, free for ages. 2 and under. More info: botanica.org/jack lantern-spectacular

Family ArtVenture: Paper Screams, Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15. The monthly ArtVenture event for October is a play on WAM’s new exhibition “Paper Dreams,” which opens that day. There will be art making, live music and more going on. Saturday is always free admission day at WAM for all ages. More info: wichitaartmuseum.org

Overnight Creature Adventure, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd., 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 until 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. This isn’t a special Halloween activity since the zoo regularly has these overnight campouts, but, hey, you’ll be spending the night during October at the zoo where maybe animals go bump in the night and there are some creepy creatures like snakes, spiders and others. For ages 5-plus. Tickets: $35 with a $5 discount for members. More info: 316660-9453 or scz.org

Boo’reakfast, Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean. Three hourly

seating times start at 8 a.m. Oct. 22. Special guests at the science museum’s Halloween event include various movie characters who will be available for photo opportunities. Costumes for visitors are encouraged. Other activities include games and even writing notes in ghost ink. Tickets: $18 with a $3 member discount, includes breakfast, activities and admissions to all exhibits for the day. Reservations required as space is limited. More info: 316-660-0600 or exploration.org Boo at the Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd., 9 a.m.4 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23. Wear costumes to visit the zoo and enjoy Halloween fun with all the creatures, including spiders, snakes and others you may find a bit creepy. Regular admission prices apply: $22 adults, $17 children 3-11 and seniors 62+, members free with member ID. Tickets purchased online are discounted $2. More info: 316-660-9453 or scz.org Hay, Hooves and Halloween, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd., 2-8 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23. The headless horseman of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” comes to life and rides the living history museum’s streets — and this year he’ll be chasing protagonist Ichabod Crane on horseback too. At this popular Cowtown event, expect to see zombie cowboys having an undead gunfight and ghosts haunting the historic houses in a familyfriendly environment. There’s other entertainment and, of course, candy. Costumes encouraged. Admission: $5 per

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person, free for kids ages 4 and under and for members. More info: 316-3503323, oldcowtown.orgor facebook.com/events/

1585717208471693/

1585717215138359

A Spirited Halloween, Spirit Riding, 10010 E. 47th St., Derby, 4-8 p.m. Oct. 22. This event includes a maze, horseback rides, pony cart rides and face painting. Tickets: $12 per person, kids 2 and under free, groups of 5 or more $10 per person. Pumpkin painting is an add-on activity. More info: facebook.com/events/ 1733826736985301

Kids’ Halloween, Museum of World Treasures, 835 E. First St., 5-8 p.m. Oct. 27. Check out the museum’s mummies and dinosaur skeletons on display, along with other spooky, family-friendly exhibits and do some trick-or-treating. Costumes are welcomed. Admission: $6. More info: 316-263-1311 or worldtreasures.org

Villains at the Farm, Eberly Farm, 13111 W. 21st St., 4-7 p.m. Oct. 28, Expect candy games, a spooky walk, hay rack and barrel train rides, and, of course, villains at this event. Admission: $8 for ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 4-12. Free ages 3 and under. Rides are add-ons. More info: facebook.com/events/ 456019682987164

Living Wax Museum, Monikahouse, 1121 N. Bitting, 5-8 p.m. Oct. 28 & 29, and Nov. 4 & 5. Local artists re-create known real people, some living and some dead, in creative costumes and vignettes in this 1887 Victorian house in Riverside.

Live music follows the museum tours until 11 p.m. Tickets available for $10 at waxmuseum.eventbrite .com. Tickets increase by $5 at the door. Boos! & Bonfire Halloween Bash, Carl Brewer Community Center,

McAdams Park, 1329 E. 16th St., 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29. It’s a neighborhood Halloween party with candy, bonfires and door prizes. Costumes encouraged. Free. More info: facebook.com/events/

485769713050883

Costume contest and trick or treat at Klausmeyer Farm and Pumpkin Patch, 8135 S. 119th St. West, Clearwater, 10 a.m.7 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30. Head to a popular Wichita-area pumpkin patch in costume to do some trick or treating. Check out the other activities at the patch like pig races, milking demos, a hay bale maze, playground and more. Admission: $10 for farm and pumpkin patch combo, $13 for farm, pumpkin patch and maze, free for ages 2 and under. Some activities require additional purchase. More info: 316-706-5391, klausmeyerdairyfarms .com

3rd annual WAAL Fall Festival, Towne West Mall, 4600 W. Kellogg Drive, 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Oct. 29. The Wichita Animal Action League’s fall festival is for pets and their owners, with a costume contest for the four-legged attendees. Activities include a photo booth, raffle and adjustments by a pet chiropractor. More info: facebook.com/events/

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Spooky Sunday, Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 30. Brunch starts at 10 a.m., with activities following: a Halloween bingo at 10:30 a.m., pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating for kids in costume from 11 a.m-1 p.m. and a live music performance at 1 p.m. More info: 316-535-7150 or chickennpickle.com/ wichita

4th annual Halloween

Hootenanny, Cedar Creek Farm & Pumpkin Patch, 6100 N. 119th St.

Wichita nears full circle on POT LAWS

Wichita outlawed marijuana 10 years before federal prohibition. Now, it has been decriminalized in the city but remains illegal under state and federal law

BY CHANCE SWAIM cswaim@wichitaeagle.com

Wichita’s decision to repeal its marijuana laws could bring an end to the city’s 95-year war on “loco weed” deeply rooted in racism, disinformation and prohibition-era police tactics — a war that continues to disproportionately affect racial minorities.

Wichita’s decision to decriminalize brings the city to nearly full circle on its marijuana policies. The drug was legal in Wichita for 57 years before a racial panic helped touch off a chain reaction across the country that eventually led to a federal prohibition that remains in place. The Wichita City Commission

outlawed marijuana in the city in 1927, ten years before federal prohibition. In September, the Wichita City Council voted to decriminalize marijuana after city data showed Black residents are nearly nine times more likely to be charged with marijuana crimes in municipal court than non-Hispanic white residents. In the 95 intervening years, Wichita went from being one of the first cities in the country with a marijuana ban to one of the last major cities to decriminalize it — despite a recent green wave of marijuanafriendly laws in surrounding states and

major cities.

nearby

Wichita Eagle archives

A Wichita Eagle photo shows Capt. H. L. Pennington and Hugh Friel, investigator of the Kansas attorney general, from July 19, 1938, one year after the federal government criminalized marijuana. Authorities celebrated the bust as the largest in state history at the time.

Wichita Eagle archives Wichita police declared a war on marijuana in 1927, before the City Commission passed an ordinance banning cannabis. This article appeared in the Wichita Eagle on March 21, 1927.

FROM PAGE 3A

POT LAWS

Wichita is now aligned with the two largest cities in Missouri — Kansas City and St. Louis — and nearly 100 other cities that have recently reduced or eliminated low-level marijuana penalties. But a statewide prohibition means Wichita pot smokers could still be arrested by Wichita police and face charges in state court. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, and Kansas is one of the few remaining states with a blanket prohibition.

All of its surrounding states have legalized or decriminalized marijuana. Recreational use is legal in Colorado. Medical use is allowed in Missouri and Oklahoma. Nebraska decriminalized possession of small amounts, but marijuana sales remain a felony.

The Kansas House passed a medical marijuana bill last year that died in the Senate. Senate leaders have said it could come up again in the 2023 session.

While Kansas voters field ballot questions on whether to grant the Legislature more power to regulate abortions or state agencies, voters in Missouri and Oklahoma will soon get to decide whether to legalize recreational use of marijuana.

Nineteen states, two territories and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of marijuana for adult recreational use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. They have also reaped the benefits of more tax dollars, which are usually directed to boost funding for schools, law enforcement and local government.

The Tax Foundation estimates Kansas is forgoing at least $45 million in annual tax revenue by banning marijuana. But that could be a conservative estimate. Colorado, which legalized adult-use recreational marijuana in 2012, brought in an additional $423 million in tax revenue from marijuana sales last year.

PLANT WAR

Marijuana was first viewed as a rather benign substance with some medicinal use. Then it was demonized and treated as a deadly, dangerous and highly addictive drug that would turn users into violent predators. Now, even the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency recognizes its short-term effects are no more serious than sedation, coughing and increased appetite. No overdose deaths of marijuana have been reported, according to the DEA.

Cannabis — especially hemp, which does not produce a “high” when smoked — had been embraced by the United States government since the Colonial Era. For five decades in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Wichita newspapers ran ads promoting its use.

But in the 1920s, that all changed.

A fear campaign successfully convinced the Sunflower state that marijuana was a deadly drug that had been brought to Kansas by a growing population of Mexican migrants.

“Cannabis indica” became known as “loco weed.” “East India Hemp” became “Marihuana.”

A drug that had been advertised in Wichita as a cure for foot pain and common cold since

the 1870s was rebranded as a “Mexican dream drug” that would turn white teenagers into homicidal maniacs.

Wichita’s ban was driven largely by a railroad agent’s racist disinformation campaign, which was amplified by a major media empire and law enforcement officials across the state.

C. H. Almond, special agent for the Santa Fe Railway in Topeka, stumped across the United States spreading racist lies about the dangers of cannabis and its proclivity to turn Mexican railroad workers into violent criminals. His claims were amplified by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who saw hemp as a threat to his investments in the paper milling industry.

In a 1926 piece in The San Francisco Examiner, Hearst’s flagship newspaper, Almond is credited with discovering “the Kansas peril”

and “directing the campaign to ban marijuana in Kansas under the guise of protecting Kansas youth from becoming addicted to “a narcotic worse, if possible, than opium, cocaine or heroin.”

Hearst’s newspaper chided Kansas for its inaction on marijuana and urged it to take a leading role in cannabis prohibit, as it had done by being the first state to outlaw liquor.

“School children are smoking it, prisoners are growing it secretly in the jailyards, grownups soak it in perfume. Scores have already gone crazy from it and hundreds are getting that way as fast as they can,” the article proclaimed.

The Examiner warned that Kansas was overrun with marijuana plants and addicts — and that “there is evidence that Kansas is not only consuming the drug but spreading it to the outlying states.”

It also advocated for total eradication of hemp plants, which the article falsely claimed could destroy the soil at Kansas farms.

Ottawa University’s student newspaper debunked The Examiner’s story almost immediately, writing that professors and researchers were unable to find any record of the plant in Kansas.

But, for the rest of the Kansas press, Almond became the leading authority in the state on marijuana. And the “loco weed” panic began.

Within a year of the San Francisco newspaper’s account, the Wichita Police Department declared a war on marijuana, and the Kansas legislature passed a state law criminalizing marijuana.

Wichita’s Mexican migrant population had increased from 135 in 1915 to anywhere between 934 to 2,500 in the early 1920s, spurred in large part by work on the railroads. At the time, the total population in Wichita was just over 70,000.

A 1920 report by the Interchurch World Movement said most of Wichita’s Mexican families lived in the “packing house district” along both sides of the Santa Fe railroad tracks north of 13th Street, which agents like Almond would have patrolled, and along the Union railroad tracks near Gilbert street.

Almond warned that Mexican migrants were bringing marijuana to Kansas and that “the big danger of the marihuana in this country is that its use might be taken up ignorantly by the flaming youth of the country who do not realize the dangers involved in the drug.”

He claimed “nine out of ten Mexicans who go crazy are the victims of marihuana smoking.”

The Wichita Eagle also indulged in the racist moral crisis.

“The police raiding squad will have to convert their sledges into scythes when the first vegtation (sic) appears here this spring,” The Eagle wrote on March 21, 1927. “The state legislature has outlawed the marihuana plant, a dream producing drug.”

“It is not unusual for colored men and Mexicans to be lodged in the city jail with marihuana in their pockets,” The Eagle wrote. “In the Mexican section, the plant has grown unbothered for the past 30 years. A prolific plant, it has spread over a wide area. The

San Francisco Examiner

In a 1926 piece in The San Francisco Examiner, C. H. Almond, special agent for the Santa Fe Railway in Topeka, is credited with discovering “the Kansas peril” and “directing the campaign to ban marijuana in Kansas under the guise of protecting Kansas youth from becoming addicted to “a narcotic worse, if possible, than opium, cocaine or heroin.”

A 1910 Wichita Beacon story portrays cannabis as a drug used by Mexicans as a substitute for liquor, which had been outlawed in Kansas.

Think retirement is out of reach? Here’s what to know

BY JON HEALEY Los Angeles Times

The pandemic caused tectonic shifts in the job market as workers young and old quit and searched for something better

According to the Pew Research Center, a little more than half of adults ages 55 and older had ditched the grind by late 2021, compared with 48% in the months before the first case of COVID-19 was recorded.

If you’ve been tempted to join the throng and if you’ve been working for a company with 50 or more workers, chances are good that you’ve accumulated some retirement savings through a pension or retirement plan.

Experts caution, however, that the transition from a life of work to a life of leisure isn’t simple and that it’s crucial to have a plan. David John, senior policy adviser for AARP’s Public Policy Institute, said researchers have found that “people who do the planning and do budgeting end up with a much better retirement outcome than people who just wing it or use a rule of thumb.”

The souring stock market and the rekindling of long-dormant inflation also are throwing cold water on the idea of retiring now.

“If you ask any financial planner, they’re going to tell you, just sit this one out,” said Mo Wang, a retirement scholar who directs the Human Resource Research Center at the University of Florida.

But it’s misleading to think of retirement as life without work. For many people, it’s a life with less work.

“Call it semi-retired: You work doing what you have to do for 40 years, then you work doing what you want to do for the next 10 to 15,” said John Pilkington, a wealth adviser executive at Vanguard Personal Advisor Services.

That’s why some version of “retirement” may be available to you even if you haven’t socked away much. According to the Federal Reserve, in 2019, half of Americans ages 55 to 64 had $134,000 or less in retirement savings. The Times consulted

two dozen researchers, financial planners and counselors about how to tell when you’re ready for retirement. Here are their tips and insights.

Q:When are you financially ready to retire?

A: If you haven’t started planning yet, then the answer is probably “no time soon.” That’s because retiring successfully is, in part, a numbercrunching exercise to make sure you can sustain the life you want to live on the income you’ll be collecting.

“Expense control is critical,” Mark Berg, a certified financial planner in Wheaton, Ill., said in an email. In fact, he wrote, you should start preparing to moderate your lifestyle five to eight years before retiring.

Pilkington said it’s important to review your investments at least three years ahead of retirement to start “dialing down the risk exposure.”

Reality check: The first step, John said, is figuring out whether you’ll have enough regular income in retirement to at least cover your basic needs, such as housing and health care. Vida Jatulis, a certified financial planner in Oak Park, California, put it this way: “It’s like solving a mathematical problem. ‘This is what I have coming in; what can go out?’ It’s a finite resource.”

Unfortunately, solving that problem requires a degree of realism that eludes many of us, said Rashida Lilani, a certified financial planner in Roseville, California. “We tend to underestimate how much we spend and overestimate how much we make,” she said.

That’s why everyone should have a budget, Lilani said, to show them how much they are actually spending and what they’re spending it on so they can be more deliberate about it.

Plenty of tools online can help. These include free apps from companies such as Mint and paid services from You Need a Budget and EveryDollar that can automatically track your credit and debit card usage.

Social Security: The vast majority of American

FROM PAGE 4A

POT LAWS

supply in Wichita has always exceeded the demand.”

“The marihuana plant grows freely in Wichita along the railroad tracks,” The Eagle declared.

Wichita police didn’t wait for state law to take effect to start arresting for marijuana. The city’s first arrest was a 35-year-old Mexican man named Francisco Bezuo, arrested mid-April of 1927. The city attorney charged him with vagrancy and drunkenness because “police knew of no other term under which to book him.” He was fined $25 and sentenced to 60 days in jail.

In November 1927, the Wichita City Commission passed a law banning marijuana. It carried a $100 to $500 penalty and up to six months in jail.

The Wichita Eagle, a week after the city passed its ordinance, called marijuana “the low-class Mexican’s substitute for cocaine, heroin and other brain-destroying narcotics” that, when smoked, “produces temporary insanity –often of the homicidal type. It does not soothe like morphine, it does not stimulate like cocaine. It simply flogs the addict into a terrific activity which more often than not takes a criminal turn.”

The first conviction under the new city law was Manuel Barrerto, a 25-year-old Mexican man who received a 60-day sentence for a handful of “loco weed,” the Wichita Beacon reported Dec. 2, 1927. Within five years, Wichita police began using marijuana as a

retirees are eligible for Social Security, but those benefits fall well below what most people spend every month – on average, they amount to only 37% of a person’s earnings. Yet the most popular age to start collecting those benefits is 62, when they first become available – at a level 25% to 30% below what they would be at full retirement age (66 to 67 for anyone born after 1943).

Experts say that if you’re in good health, you shouldn’t claim your benefits until you’re 70, when they will be more than 25% higher than they would be at full retirement age. But that’s not an option if you don’t have other reliable sources of post-retirement income.

And even the reliability of Social Security is subject to some debate. According to the trustees overseeing the program, Social Security isn’t collecting as much money in taxes as it needs to pay full benefits to all eligible Americans after 2034. Unless the federal government does something to boost the program’s revenue before then, benefits will have to be cut 23%, the trustees reported.

It’s a good idea to have some savings to meet the unexpected expenses that inevitably arise, Jatulis said, even if that means scaling back your spending for a few years before retiring.

Expert guidance: “It really does help to get professional advice,” John of AARP said.

An adviser can not only help you come up with a plan but also stick with it when the economy sours and the markets go sideways.

There are thousands of professionals offering to help. The most important question to ask is how they get paid. Do they have a stake in the investment choices you make – for example, by receiving a commission if you invest in a particular mutual fund? To avoid this kind of conflict, look for an adviser who pledges to act as your “fiduciary,” who will be legally obligated to put your interests first.

There are good sources of free advice, too. Using funding from Wells Fargo,

the Assn. for Financial Counseling & Planning Education offers to connect anyone seeking help with an accredited financial counselor for one or more free, virtual sessions. To sign up, go to the website of the Coordinated Assistance Network, which is administering the program. Alternatively, veterans can sign up at the network’s site for one free session with an accredited financial counselor.

Do-it-yourself: A number of financial services companies offer “robo advisers,” which are online tools that help you choose investments and keep your portfolio balanced. The advice is personalized to some degree and there may be experts on call, but you won’t get the kind of one-on-one attention you would if you hired a certified financial planner.

Some, such as Schwab Intelligent Portfolios and SoFi Automated Investing, are available at no charge Others, such as Vanguard Digital Advisor, Betterment and the femalefocused Ellevest, charge a low monthly fee or a small percentage of the assets they’re managing for you.

For an even more DIY approach, there are online calculators and other tools that can help you work out how much income you’ll need in retirement and whether your current investments can provide it. A good place to start is the rundown of nine online calculators by the personal finance news site

The Balance.

Bear market: Many retirement pros advise people to postpone making withdrawals after a sequence of low returns on stocks, until their market accounts rebound. Researchers also found that the worst effects could be parried by dialing back withdrawals by a few percentage points for five

years. Health care costs: Medicare is available to every American 65 and older, and its hospital coverage is available for free to the millions of people who paid Medicare taxes over the years. But it doesn’t cover all of your health care bills, nor will it pay for many types of longterm care.

Your house: Many Americans’ main asset heading into retirement is their home. If you’re still paying off your mortgage, you might want to hold off retiring, said Andy Millard, a certified financial planner in Columbus, N.C.

Other experts say that having a mortgage isn’t a deal-breaker for retirement, especially if the interest rate is low. The real priority should be getting rid of your consumer debt, such as credit card balances, said Shonty Spatola, a certified public accountant and personal financial specialist in Woodland Hills, California.

A second question is whether you have more house than you need. Downsizing to a smaller home could free up cash to add to your retirement savings, noted Jason Stein, a certified financial planner in Irvine, California.

Finally, experts say that taking out a reverse mortgage – that is, borrowing against the equity in your home, with the loan repaid when the house is sold or bequeathed – can be a viable option in some limited circumstances. One drawback of these loans, though, is that the revenue they generate may not last as long as you do.

Q:When are you psychologically ready to retire?

A: “A lot of people don’t think about the emotional readiness of retirement,” said Joanne Danganan, an

accredited financial counselor as well as a financial educator and coach in Los Angeles. If you’re about to leave behind a working life that consumed 40 or more hours of every week, she said, you need to ask yourself how you’ll spend those hours going forward. “You can only do so much Netflix in a day,” she said.

“There’s a reason why instances of depression and suicide increase postretirement,” said Joshua Escalante Troesh, a certified financial planner in Rancho Cucamonga, California. “Part of this is you’re moving from one identity to another.”

“The key with retirement is to make sure you are retiring to something rather than from something,” said Jay Zigmont, a certified financial planner who specializes in advising people who don’t have kids. “Retirement is ... about a different quality of life.”

Wang of the Human Resource Research Center said it’s important to have activities with a clear time structure to replace the one provided by work. People don’t adjust well to retirement without that kind of structure, Wang said.

The uncertainty about the daily routine – when to wake up, when to eat, what to do – can be stressful, he said.

Working less, living more: For a growing number of older Americans, retirement and work aren’t mutually exclusive. In the last 10 years, Wang said, one-third to twothirds of the people who retired have continued to engage in some kind of work.

Many just want to work without worrying about how much they’ll make. Others, Hummel said, want to switch to a career that’s more enjoyable but less lucrative.

Besides, it’s healthier to be out in the world and not isolated.

Q:What other factors should you consider?

A: Another key issue, Wang said, is whom you’ll be spending your retirement with. “You don’t want to have a social network where everyone is working, and you’re the only one retired,” he said. The jury’s still out on whether a social network online is a useful substitute for one in real life, Wang said, especially when you factor in concerns about privacy and fraud.

cities that have recently decriminalized marijuana.

The smell of marijuana has long been used as a tool by police to search vehicles and other property without a warrant. The City Council held that Wichita police can continue to make arrests for marijuana possession or use it as a reason to search their person or property.

Other localities have taken a different approach.

pretense to increase patrols of Wichita’s Mexican neighborhoods, largely concentrated near the railroad tracks on the north and south sections of the city.

Wichita police told Eagle reporters in 1932 that rising popularity of marijuana among “Wichita school youths” had prompted “police investigations in the Mexican districts.”

By the late 1930s, the marijuana panic had spread across the country. The federal government outlawed it across the United States in 1937.

Except for a brief pause in 1969 and early 1970, it has been illegal at the federal level ever since.

NEW POLICY

The 2022 repeal of Wichita’s marijuana prohibition isn’t the first time Wichita has moved towards decriminalizing marijuana.

But it’s the first time in nearly a century that city officials followed through on the idea as states and cities around the country move towards legalization of recreational use, medical use or some form of decriminalization.

A city advisory board in 1977 recommended decriminalizing marijuana possession; but the proposal was ultimately dropped when the Kansas Attorney General’s Office provided an informal opinion that marijuana crimes could still be prosecuted in district court.

“That’s what we thought it would say,” Kenneth Kimbell, chairman of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board, said at the time. “I guess there’s nothing we can do.”

The situation hasn’t changed. But Wichita City Council members are banking on the fact the district attorney does not have the resources to prosecute all of the offenses.

“We’re going as far as we can as a city to stop ruining people’s lives,” Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said. “The city’s getting out of the business of increasing the number of young people and people of color with criminal records over something that’s legal in every state that surrounds us. We’re done waging war on our own talent pool.”

Still, Wichita falls short of other

State legislatures, cities and courts have held that marijuana odors can’t be used as probable cause for searches of property, especially in places where its use has been legalized.

The most recent example is St. Louis. In December, its local government passed an ordinance decriminalizing marijuana and banning its police department from using the “odor or visual presence” of cannabis as the sole reason for a police officer to initiate an interaction with a civilian.

On paper, Wichita is no longer treating marijuana possession as a crime in municipal court.

In practice, the Wichita Police Department may still use it as a reason to initiate a search without a warrant and as probable cause to make an arrest. The Sedgwick County district attorney can also charge people in state court with misdemeanor possession for small amounts.

Chance Swaim: 316-269-6752, @byChanceSwaim

Dreamstime/TNS

Have you been saving for decades? You still might not be able to quit working entirely in retirement.

Death toll rises to 10 in blast at gas station in Ireland

The death toll from a gas station explosion that shattered a small village in northwest Ireland rose to 10 on Saturday, and emergency workers who combed through piles of rubble said they did not expect to find more bodies.

Irish police said no one remained missing after Friday’s explosion in

FROM PAGE 2A

Creeslough, County Donegal. Police are investigating the cause of the blast, and Superintendent David Kelly said evidence “is pointing toward a tragic accident.”

Ireland’s police force, An Garda Siochana, said the midafternoon explosion killed four men, three women, two teenagers and a girl of primary school age. Eight people were hospitalized — one in critical condition — after

HALLOWEEN

West, Maize, 5- 7 p.m. Oct. 30. Another pumpkin patch is having a special trick-or-treat event. Candy stations are part of the activities for the kids, along with all of the pumpkin patch activities including hay bale characters, a petting zoo, pony rides and corn maze. Admission: $5, free for children under 1 or with a season pass. More info: 316-295-8718 or cedarcreekict.com/events

MOVIES

Fall Fridays Family

Movie Night, Bradley Fair, 2000 N. Rock Road. 6 p.m. 14 and 21. Fallthemed family movies will be shown this month: “Coco” Oct. 14, and “Hocus Pocus” Oct. 21, The event starts at 6 p.m. with crafts, snacks and other activities; movie starts when sun sets around 7 p.m. Tickets” $5 per child, adults free. Buy tickets online or in person (cash only) at the event. Bring blanket or collapsible seating. More info: bradleyfair.com/events

“Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This cult classic will be shown at Augusta Historic Theatre and the Orpheum Theatre this month: Tickets for the 10 p.m. Oct. 15 showing at the Augusta theater are $15, which includes a prop bag. The Orpheum is showing the film twice on Oct. 28. The 8 p.m. show is for all ages, while the midnight showing is for adults 21 and older. Admission is $10 with $5 prop-bag add-ons. Get tickets at wichitaorpheum.com.

“Journey to the Center of the Earth” followed by “The Descent,” 11 a.m. Oct. 22. Travel underground to watch these movies as part of Cavegrass at Strataca, a Tallgrass Film Association event at the Hutchinson salt mines attraction located at 3650 E. Ave. G. Tickets are $20 for one film, $30 for both. More info: facebook.com/events/

709174277017766

“Casper,” Capitol Amphitheater, 1607 E. Central Ave., Andover, 7 p.m. Oct. 22. It’s free to watch this movie about friendly ghost.

“Hocus Pocus” on Exploration Place’s dome theater, 300 N. McLean. Event times are 7 p.m. Oct. 27-29 and at 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 29. Doors open an hour before. This is an interactive movie experience, with prop bags given to audience members. Open to all ages. Tickets: $20 or $30 for VIP tickets; $3 discounts for EP members.

STAGE PERFORMANCES

“The Witches of Eastborough,” Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley, Friday-Sunday performances thru Oct. 29. The plot: Samantha and her aunts Glenda and Glendora are headed to a banquet to honor the citizens of Eastborough but two new neighbors, Rock and Douglas, have other plans. The melodrama production is followed by the “Toil & Trouble” mu-

the blast destroyed the Applegreen service station in the community of about 400 people near Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast.

Emergency responders from Ireland and neighboring Northern Ireland joined in what police said Saturday was “search and recovery” operation. Sniffer dogs combed the debris, and a mechanical digger lifted piles of rubble from the site on Saturday.

The explosion leveled the gas station building, which holds the main shop and post office for the village, damaged an adjacent apartment building and shattered the windows in nearby cottages.

“There were blocks thrown a hundred yards away from the scene,” local medic Dr. Paul Stewart told Irish broadcaster RTE. “The whole front of the building collapsed… and the roof of the first floor collapsed down into the shop. It’s a miracle they got anyone out.”

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said it was one of the “darkest of days for Donegal and the

entire country.”

“People across this island will be numbed by the same sense of shock and utter devastation as the people of Creeslough at this tragic loss of life,” Martin said.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, who represents Donegal in Ireland’s parliament, said the service station was well known across the country because of its prominent position on the area’s main N56 road, and was “the heart” of the local community.

“People are shocked and numbed,” he told Irish broadcaster RTE. “People have been rally-

sical comedy revue. Rated PG-13 for some innuendo.

Tickets: dinner or brunch and show tickets start at $35 and show-only tickets start at $25. Reservations: 316-263-0222 or mosleystreet.com

“IX’TICHA** SpiderGod of the Amazon,”

Kechi Playhouse, 100 Kechi Road, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sunday performances through Oct. 23. This production is a comedic homage to the 1950s B monster movies. The plot: Stranded explorers must battle the elements, wild animals, a mysterious tribe and a huge spider.

Tickets: Friday and Saturday night performances are $16, $15 for Sunday matinees. Reservations:

316-744-2152

“The Rocky Horror Show,” Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night performances with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees from Oct. 14 to 30, with a second late show Oct. 29. Anyone who’s seen or heard of the cult movie will understand the live production’s plot.

Tickets: dinner and show start at $45 with discounts available, show-only tickets start at $30 with discounts. Reservations: 316-612-7696 or crownuptown.com

“The Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie, Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees Oct. 20-30. One of the Dame Agatha’s more popular stage productions, this play features a murder and stranded, snow-bound guests and staff at the Monkswell Manor who have a murderer in their midst. Tickets: $15 with discounts available, with all seats $11 on Thursdays. 24-hour reservation line: 316-686-1282.

“Carrie: The Musical,” Roxy’s, 412 E. Douglas, 8 p.m. ThursdaySaturday night performances with 2 p.m. Saturday matinees, Oct. 27-Nov 12. This award-winning musical revival continues the tradition of October Brated movies made into musicals. Ticket: $36.36 (with fees). Purchase online at roxysdowntown.com

ADULTS ONLY Apparition: Asylum popup cocktail bar at Headshots Bar & Grill, 2120 N. Woodlawn, #324, 6-11 p.m. WednesdaySaturdays through Oct. 29. For 21+. $5 per person for a reserved table. More info: 316.260-4370

Haunted Selfie House, The Selfie Spot, 1811 E. Douglas. The 6-10 p.m. Saturday timeslot through Oct. 31 is for 21 and older. Book a one-hour time slot online to get your selfies at all 15 selfie stations decorated with a Halloween/fall theme. Admission: $25. More info: theselfiespotondouglas .com

Spooky Night of Treasures, Museum of World Treasures, 835 E. First St., 6-10 p.m. Oct. 28. Participants in the museum’s fall fundraiser will be treated

with food, drinks, photobooths, spooky tours of the museum — which already has mummies and dinosaur skeletons on display — and more. Tickets: $50. More info: 316263-1311 or worldtreasures.org

Costume Party on the Farm, Eberly Farm, 13111 W. 21st St., 8-11 p.m. Oct. 28. A popular events venue, Eberly Farm for the first time is hosting a 21and-older costume party with prizes, music and more. Cash bar and concessions available. Tickets: $15. More info: facebook.com/events/ 351442173690578

Rooftop costume party, Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich, 8:3011:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Vie for the best costume prize while enjoying sounds from DJ Ripley. More info: 316-535-7150 or chickennpickle.com/ wichita

2nd annual Purple

Rain Halloween Party, Jenny Dawn Cellars, 703

E. Douglas, Ste. 180, 7-11 p.m. Oct. 29. Dress in an ‘80s costumes or impersonate the artist Prince. Activities include dancing, drink specials and a costume contest. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. More info: .facebook.com/events/ 1142331976359948

HAUNTED

ATTRACTIONS

Klausmeyer Farm

Haunted Package, 8135 S. 119th St. West, Clearwater, 7- 10 p.m. Saturdays through the end of October. The $30 haunted package includes 100 paintballs with a ride on the Zombie Paintball Trailer, Barn of Fear, a haunted maze with actors and a five-acre maze. Each attraction can be purchased separately

More info: 316-706-5391 or klausmeyerdairyfarms .com

The Haunted Cannery, 10001 NW U.S. 77 near El Dorado (at Walter’s Pumpkin Patch), 7:30-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays until the end of October. This is the 19th season for this attraction, which primarily takes place in a four-story canning elevator that visitors can reach by either a hayrack ride or an upgraded “hell-bound” ambulance or closed-lid rolling casket ride. Zombies, vampires, chainsaws and more account for some of the scares. General admission includes the hayride, the Haunted Cannery and the Lunatic Asylum attractions. Tickets: $25, $50 for the RIP ticket; “scaredypants” upgrade for $5. Get a $5 discount on the general admission and RIP pass when using cash.

Tickets sold online (hauntedcannery.com) and at the door.

Field of Screams and Clown Town, Prairie Pines, 4055 N. Tyler Road, gates open at 7 p.m. with the attraction opening at dark Fridays-Sundays in October plus Thursdays, Oct. 20 and 27 and Monday, Oct. 31. The attraction’s storyline revolves around the haunted, sick fields belonging to the Spurlock family who were murdered. An even darker side exists in Clown Town. Limited, timed tickets sold online only at scaryprairiepines.com.

Tickets: $25 for Fridays and Saturdays, $20 for all other days. Not recommended for children younger than 8. Weatherdelay hotline: 316-3032037.

Wicked Island at OJ Watson, 3022 S. McLean, 8 p.m.- midnight, Fridays

ing together and everyone’s concern is with the families of those who have lost their loved ones and how they can support them.”

Another local lawmaker, Pearse Doherty, said people in the community were in shock.

“(It’s) something nobody ever thought could happen in a little village like this where everyone knows each other,” he said. “A quarter past three yesterday, kids were coming out of school, people were going to collect their welfare payments. For such a nightmare to occur, that will take some time to sink in.”

attraction at Mike Steiner’s Winfield home as grown into a huge production comprising nine semitrailers full of equipment, 30 animatronics and as many as 20 actors. Four escape rooms are also available for an add-on fee of $10 per person; book an escape room at the time you arrive, but best to book ahead. Admission: $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 12 and under; buy at the door or in advance at fearticket.com. More info:facebook.com/labyrinthofterror

Echoes of Fear, Old Cowtown, 1865 Museum Blvd., 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 28 and 29. Kids 14 and older may attend Friday night only; Saturday’s event is for those 18 and older. Cowtown is banking on its haunted reputation but adding live actors and spooky attractions — like a haunted carnival at its farm site and look for a haunted hospital — for this twonight only event. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets: $15 per person, free to Cowtown members. More info: 316-3503323, oldcowtown.orgor facebook.com/events/ 1025183334800045.

TRICK/TRUNK OR TREAT EVENTS

Saturday, Oct. 15

4:30 p.m. Bikers Edge Powersports, 1201 E. Central, costume contest, free food

and Saturdays through the end of October (weather permitting). Ticket sales start at 7:30 p.m. and park gates close at 11:30 p.m. A wonderful family park by day with fun activities, Watson Park undergoes a sinister transformation for this event. Admission: $30 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult) for timed tickets purchased online, $40 for a fast pass to the head of the line. At-the-gate admission is $20 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under but expect wait times. More info: 316684-5991 or wickedwoodswichita.com

13 Sinister Souls Haunted House, 527 E. Harry. This new attraction is open on Friday and Saturday nights in October, along with Sunday, Oct. 30, and Monday, Oct. 31. Hours are 7 p.m.-midnight. This will be a 30minute-long experience inside a 10,000-squarefoot indoor haunted space featuring more than 10 actors. Tickets: $25 for ages 13 and older, $15 for ages 6-12. More info: 13sinistersouls.com

Warehouse of Terrors, 1640 W. 140th Ave. North, Milton. 8 to 11 p.m. Saturdays through the end of October. An old furniture store is remade into a warehouse of terrors. Not recommended for young children. Admission: $30. More info: 316-371-4532

Labyrinth of Terror, Winfield Fairgrounds, 1105 W. Ninth Ave., 7:3011 p.m. Thursday-Sundays, starting Oct. 13, and Monday, Oct 31. This attraction is also open on Wednesdays but with no live actors and at the lower admission price of $5 to make it more suitable for families to try out. What started as a backyard

5 p.m. Empower Martial Arts locations, 314 N. Rock Road and 13303 W. Maple

Sunday, Oct. 23 11 a.m.- 3p.m. The COOP and Coffee House, Derby

4-6 p.m. Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill

Friday, Oct. 28

6 p.m. Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka

Saturday, Oct. 29

2-4 p.m. Countryside Christian Church, 1919 S. Rock Road

4 p.m. Halloween Race and Trunk or Treat, Emery Park BMX, 2339 E. MacArthur Road, costume contest. $10 fee for race signups, $5 for practice run.

4-6 p. m. Pavilion Square, 2121 N. Tyler Road

4-7 p.m. Tabernacle Bible Church, 1817 N. Volutsia St.

5-7 p.m. Colonial Heights Assembly of God, 5200 S. Broadway

6 p.m. St. Joseph Catholic School, 139 S. Millwood St.

Sunday, Oct. 30

2 p.m. University Congregational Church, 9209 E. 29th St. North

3-5 p.m. Club Hope, 11931 W. Central Ave.

3 p.m. Wichita First Church of the Nazarene, 1400 E. Kellogg Drive

3-10 p.m. Halloween photo booth and trunk or treat, Derby High Park, 2801 E. James St.

5 p.m. Onyx Nightclub, 10001 E. Kellogg Dr., includes family costume and decorated vehicle contests

AMY E. CONNFile photo

Pet owners will dress up millions of dogs for Halloween parades, parties, pictures and contests.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with events in Wichita

BY EDUARDO CASTILLO edcastillo@wichitaeagle.com

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month ends on Oct. 15, but there are still a couple of big events being held by Wichita organizations to mark it.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15.Observation of the month began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was later expanded in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, according to the US Census website.

Como Establecer Credito con HIRE (How to establish credit with HIRE): This event is a collaboration of Hispanics in Real Estateand Empower. HIRE president Alex Ibarra said the event will be a come-and-go Q&A where attendees will be receive information on how to establish or repair credit.

“I think for Spanish speaking families, we have a misunderstanding of how important credit is to make large purchases like a home. We want to get them on the right foot and inform families on work-

ing on it early,” Ibarra said. “You know, the earlier the better.”

Q&A speakers will include Sarah Balderas of Balderas Legal Group and Manuel Osorio of Osorio Financial and Consulting.

Balderas is an immigration attorney who will be able to assist those who are undocumented and have legal questions. Osorio is a financial consultant and accountant who offers credit repair. The event will be hosted in Spanish and English, but it will primarily be in Spanish, Ibarra said.

The event will be at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Evergreen Community Center, 2601 N. Arkansas.

Vamos Nomar Fiesta:

A festival to wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month. This event will run from 4 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Nomar Plaza in Wichita’s North End district. Parts of 21st street will be closed to allow for live music, food trucks and vendors. Admission is free.

“We want people to come to the North End and celebrate the culture, meet new businesses and hear different music... almost like a Shop N’ Grub with its own unique identity,” Rodriguez said.

Eduardo Castillo: 316-268-6213, @ByEddieCastillo

Brother of suspect in California family’s killing arrested

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ AND STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press

The younger brother of a man suspected in the kidnapping and killings of an 8-month-old baby, her parents and an uncle, was arrested on suspicion he helped his brother destroy evidence, authorities said Friday.

Alberto Salgado, 41, was arrested late Thursday and accused of criminal conspiracy, accessory, and destroying evidence, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said. He’s booked in the Merced County Jail — the same place where suspect Jesus Salgado, 48, is being held on kidnapping and murder charges. It wasn’t clear whether either brother had a lawyer who could speak on their behalf.

The bodies of Aroohi Dheri; her mother Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39, were found by a farm worker late Wednesday in an almond orchard in a

remote area in the San Joaquin Valley, California’s agricultural heartland.

Jesus Salgado — a convicted felon who tried to kill himself a day after the kidnappings — had worked for the family’s trucking business and had a longstanding feud with them, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke told The Associated Press Thursday.

He was treated at a hospital before being taken to jail. Warnke had said detectives were also seeking a person of interest believed to be his accomplice.

Relatives of the victims and fellow members of the Punjabi Sikh community were shocked by the killings.

Jaspreet Kaur, Amandeep Singh’s widow, said in a GoFundMe fundraiser that her husband and his brother had been in the United States for 18 years and supported not only their families in California but also their elderly parents back in India.

“This is the story of our

shared American dream gone wrong,” she wrote. “Our loving family was violently taken away from us on October 3rd.”

Kaur said her husband routinely donated food to the local food bank and never missed Sunday service in the local Sikh temple. They had a 9year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son.

The baby’s parents married three years ago in India and reunited two years ago after her mother immigrated to the U.S., she said.

At a vigil Thursday evening in downtown Merced, hundreds of people held lit candles and formed a circle around enlarged photos of the victims. Religious leaders of different faiths opened the ceremony with prayers for the family, the Merced Sun-Star reported.

“Tonight was the community coming together and showing the Singh family that ‘we’re here with you and we will be here with you for as long as you need us, and we will remember the names of those we lost,’” family friend Priya Lakireddy told the newspaper.

The city of Merced, where the family lived and had their trucking business, will hold evening vigils in their memory through Sunday.

BRIAN HAYESFile photo

The

SAN FRANCISCO

Crash claims life of Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy, 22

BY MICHAEL STAVOLA mstavola@wichitaeagle.com

A 22-year-old Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy known for her bubbly personality died Friday, less than one week after she went on patrol, Sheriff Jeff Easter said in a news conference Saturday.

Sidnee Carter was southbound on 135th Street West when her vehicle collided with one

BY TASSANEE VEJPONGSA AND DAVID RISING Associated Press

UTHAI SAWAN, THAILAND

Grief-stricken families prayed Saturday at a Buddhist temple filled with children’s keepsakes, flowers and photos of the smiling toddlers who were slain as they napped on blankets at a day care center in northeastern Thailand.

Coffins containing the 36 killed, 24 of them children and most of them preschoolers, were released Friday and placed inside Wat Rat Samakee and two other temples in the town nestled among rice paddies in one of Thailand’s poorest regions.

Several mourners stayed at Wat Rat Samakee overnight in the tradition of keeping company for those who died young.

“All the relatives are here to make merit on behalf of those who died,” said Pensiri Thana, an aunt of one of the victims, referring to an important Buddhist practice. She was

Sidnee Carter

heading west on 29th Street North. The crash happened around 9:26 p.m., while Carter was headed to a disturbance call. She died at the scene. The other driver was taken to an area hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Carter dreamed of being

in law enforcement from a very young age, Easter said.

“She’s young,” Easter said. “She had her whole life ahead of her.”

Carter joined the Sheriff’s Office in September 2020 and spent one and half years as a jail deputy. She entered the academy in February and graduated in July of this year. She completed field training and starting on patrol by herself Oct. 1.

Mourners pray at Thai temple filled by children’s keepsakes

among those staying the night at the temple. “It is a tradition that we keep company with our young ones. It is our belief that we should be with them so they are not lonely.”

The massacre left no one untouched in the small town, but community officials found helping others was helping assuage their own grief, at least momentarily.

“At first, all of us felt so terrible and couldn’t accept this. All the officials feel sad with the people here. But we have to look after everyone, all these 30 victims. We are running around and taking care of the people, giving them moral support,” Somneuk Thongthalai, a local district official, said.

A mourning ceremony will continue for three days before the royalsponsored funerals, which will culminate in the cremation of the bodies according to Buddhist tradition.

No clear motive may ever be known for Thailand’s deadliest mass kill-

ing after the perpetrator left the day care center Thursday and killed his wife and son at home before taking his own life.

Late Friday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida visited hospitals

“Sidnee is a very bubbly personality, extremely friendly, always helpful, was always smiling, well respected by her peers, her supervisors, and she is a little bit short in nature, but there is no hill that she couldn’t climb,” Easter said. “She just had that bearing about her that she just made other people want to be better because of the way she was.”

She is survived by her parents, brothers and sisters, he said.

Easter said there aren’t yet many details about the wreck, which is being investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol. During a news briefing Friday

where seven people wounded in the attack are being treated. The monarch met with family members of the victims in what he said was a bid to boost morale.

“It is a tragedy that this evil thing has happened,” the king told reporters in a rare public appearance.

“But right now, we have to think of what we can do to improve things to the best

night, Easter said 29th has stop signs, but 135th does not.

Anyone wanting to send their condolences or donations to help the family can contact Robin Busch at robin.busch@sedgwick.gov or by letter to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, 141 W. Elm, Wichita, KS 67203 and putting Attention to Robin Busch

“Our family here at the sheriff’s office is grieving at this point,” Easter said. “It will impact us for quite some time.”

Michael Stavola: 316-268-6278, @MichaelStavola1

of our ability.”

Outside the Young Children’s Development Center in Uthai Sawan, bouquets of white roses and carnations lined an outside wall, along with five tiny juice boxes, bags of corn chips and a stuffed animal. At Wat Rat Samakee, mourners and those trying to lend them support crowded the grounds.

Man pleads guilty in deaths of teenage Wichita couple

A man pleaded guilty Friday in the shooting deaths of a teenage Wichita couple whose bodies were found three days apart.

Dontenzie Kelly, 24, is scheduled to be sentenced next month after admitting to two counts of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Kaylah Blackmon and 17-year-old Michael Beasley.

Beasley’s body was found Feb. 1, 2021, outside an abandoned church. At the time, authorities said Blackmon might be in danger and launched a search. Her body later was found inside her truck at a Wichita apartment complex.

Explosion damages bridge to Crimea, hurts Russia supply line

BY ADAM SCHRECK AND VASILISA STEPANENKO Associated Press

KYIV, UKRAINE

An explosion Saturday caused the partial collapse of a bridge linking the Crimean Peninsula with Russia, damaging an important supply artery for the Kremlin’s faltering war effort in southern Ukraine. Russian authorities said a truck bomb caused the blast, which killed three people.

The speaker of the Russian-backed regional parliament in Crimea immediately accused Ukraine of being behind the explosion; Moscow didn’t apportion blame. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly threatened to strike the bridge and some lauded the destruction, but Kyiv stopped short of claiming responsibility.

The explosion risked a sharp escalation in Russia’s eight-month war, with some Russian lawmakers calling for President Vladimir Putin to declare a “counterterrorism operation” in retaliation, shedding the term “special military operation” that had downplayed the scope of fighting to ordinary Russians.

The Kremlin could use such a move to broaden the power of security agencies, ban rallies, tighten censorship, introduce restrictions on travel and expand a partial military mobilization that Putin ordered last month.

Hours after the explosion, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that the air force chief, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, would command all Russian troops in Ukraine. Surovikin, who over the summer was placed in charge of troops in southern Ukraine, had led Russian forces in

Syria and was accused of overseeing a brutal bombardment that destroyed much of the city of Aleppo. Moscow, however, continues to suffer battlefield losses.

On Saturday, a Kremlinbacked official in Ukraine’s Kherson region announced a partial evacuation of civilians from the southern province, one of four illegally annexed by Moscow last week. Kirill Stremousov told Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti agency that young children and their parents, as well as the elderly, could be relocated to two southern Russian regions because Kherson was getting “ready for a difficult period.”

The 12-mile Kerch Bridge, on a strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, is a tangible symbol of Moscow’s claims on Crimea and an essential link to the peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The $3.6 billion bridge, the longest in Europe, is vital

to sustaining Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine. Putin himself presided over the bridge’s opening in 2018.

The attack on it “will have a further sapping effort on Russian morale, (and) will give an extra boost to Ukraine’s,” said James Nixey of Chatham House, a think tank in London. “Conceivably the Russians can rebuild it, but they can’t defend it while losing a war.”

Russia’s National AntiTerrorism Committee said a truck bomb caused seven railway cars carrying fuel to catch fire, resulting in the “partial collapse of two sections of the bridge.” A man and a woman in a vehicle on the bridge were killed, Russia’s Investigative Committee said. It didn’t say who the third victim was.

All vehicles crossing the bridge are supposed to undergo state-of-the-art checks for explosives. The truck that exploded was owned by a resident of the

AP Flame and smoke rise from the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russian mainland and the Crimean peninsula, on Saturday in Kerch, Crimea. Russian authorities say a truck bomb has caused a fire and the partial collapse of the bridge.

Krasnodar region, in southern Russia. Russian authorities said the man’s home was searched and experts were looking at the truck’s route.

Train and automobile traffic over the bridge was temporarily suspended. Automobile traffic resumed Saturday afternoon

on one of the two links that remained intact from the blast, with the flow alternating in each direction, Crimea’s Russia-backed regional leader, Sergey Aksyonov, wrote on Telegram. Rail traffic was resuming slowly. Two passenger trains departed from the

Crimean cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol and headed toward the bridge Saturday evening. Passenger ferry links between Crimea and the Russian mainland were being relaunched Sunday.

While Russia seized areas north of Crimea early during its invasion of Ukraine and built a land corridor to it along the Sea of Azov, Ukraine is pressing a counteroffensive to reclaim those lands.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its troops in the south were receiving necessary supplies through that corridor and by sea. Russia’s Energy Ministry said Crimea has enough fuel for 15 days.

Russian war bloggers responded to the bridge attack with fury, urging Moscow to retaliate by striking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Putin ordered the creation of a government panel to deal with the emergency.

biological siblings can be “incredibly important.”

“However, one of the things that I’m frustrated with is they did not act in what we call child time,” he said. “A year or two to a 16-year-old is a lot different than a year or two to an infant. Infants naturally reach out and form bonds and attachments, it’s how we grow and develop.”

The little girl has formed those bonds and attachments with his family over the past three years, he said. She and her little brother constantly play together, his wife said, and even at daycare they used to be referred to as the “foster twins.”

“If the agency had worked within child time, the damage would have been far less significant,”

John DeHaven said. “But, however, they spent over a year on their thumbs essentially. And now the damage to (the little girl) from my professional opinion would be catastrophic.”

Kansas foster parents fear state will take child, 3, from home

BY LAURA BAUER AND KATIE BERNARD lbauer@kcstar.com cbernard@kcstar.com

When Nicole DeHaven’s little girl sees the orange lights, pumpkins and ghosts hanging outside homes or inside stores, she can’t help but get excited.

The toddler knows the big day — her big day — is coming. And all these decorations must be for her third birthday, which is just three days before Halloween.

“Every time she sees something she’s like, ‘It’s my Happy Day! It’s my Happy Day,’” said DeHaven, of Gardner. “She thinks all of it is for her. Her brother says it, too.”

But DeHaven still can’t bring herself to plan a party for the little girl she and her husband, John, have fostered in their home since she was three days old. Because, deep inside, the DeHavens fear that the state of Kansas could come any day and take her away and drop her off at an adoptive home 2½ hours away with people she doesn’t know.

All before her “Happy Day.”

As each day passes, the couple fights to keep their family intact. And at the same time, Cornerstones of Care, a child welfare contractor for the state of Kansas, works on an adoption that would place the toddler in a home with three of her biological siblings she’s never lived with.

For many, the DeHavens’ story has become an intense battle of what may look good on paper — adopting four biological siblings together — versus what is best for a little girl who could be taken from the only home she’s ever known.

“The amount of stress and anxiety is, I can’t even begin to describe it,” DeHaven told The Star. “I don’t sleep. My husband has a hard time sleeping.

It’s just we’re terrified. We’re terrified that they’re going to come one day and just out of retaliation, take her from daycare.”

If the little girl — who the couple nicknamed “Meeps” because of a phase where she kept saying, “Me, Me, Me” — is taken to that new home, she’ll leave behind her foster brother who is just one month younger and who has been in the DeHaven home since he was six days old. To keep that from happening, the DeHavens have hired an attorney and told their plight to Kansas lawmakers hoping someone could do something.

Kansas is one of the only fully privatized child

welfare systems in the country, with four contractors, including Cornerstones of Care, that handle foster care services in the state. The system has been beleaguered for years. While improvements have been made, guided by a 2020 legal settlement, the state still falls short of key measures.

In the DeHaven case, Cornerstones continues to move toward adoption, Nicole DeHaven said. And as that happens, the case continues to draw ire from many fellow foster parents and lawmakers.

Among their chief concerns: If the contractor and the state knew that in the end the four children needed to be adopted together, why wasn’t that done sooner? Why didn’t they move more quickly to keep the little girl from building a bond with a family during her first three years of life?

“It’s a very sobering situation,” said Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, who has spoken to the Kansas Department for Children and Families multiple times on behalf of the family in her district. “And it is, I believe, already starting to create an atmosphere of uncertainty. … Just that aspect of being taken away from all that you know, there are no words that a 3-year-old can understand for that.

“It is ideal to keep siblings together. But first and foremost, must always be the guide of what is best for the individual children, each individual child, what is best for them? And that is being ignored.”

ADOPT ALL OR NONE

On Halloween three years ago, John DeHaven — who is a licensed clinical social worker and in the past has worked in child welfare — got a call at work. Would he and Nicole, who had become licensed foster parents the month before, be interested in taking in a threeday-old girl?

“He knew he didn’t have to call me,” Nicole said. The answer was yes.

Four weeks after that

call, the couple received another one. This time, about a six-day old boy. By the end of 2019, the DeHaven family had grown to four and the bond between all of them had started to grow.

The couple would eventually adopt the little boy in October 2021.

And though they filed paperwork to adopt the little girl soon after the court terminated the girl’s biological mother’s parental rights in December 2020, the process wouldn’t go as smoothly.

The girl has six biological siblings who were removed from the mother’s home about four months before she was born. One sibling has since aged out of foster care, DeHaven said, and two want to remain in care with a guardian until they reach 18.

The remaining three biological siblings are in foster care together. That family would like to adopt the youngest, DeHaven said, and another couple has told the state they would like to adopt the other two to meet their specific needs.

Cornerstones’ plan, however, is to take those three siblings and move them to an adoptive home with the little girl who has lived with the DeHavens. That move would not only separate them from people they have bonded with, but also from schools and sports teams for the older children.

“What sounds like on paper a great policy, these are siblings that have not been together since this little girl was born,” Baumgardner said. “Except for on play visits.”

The DeHavens said that after they told Cornerstones of Care they wanted to adopt the girl, they were told “we are not an option and we never will be an option.”

“We were not going to be able to adopt all four kids,” Nicole DeHaven said. “So it was like an all or nothing thing.”

Mike Deines, spokesman for DCF, said after the DeHavens spoke to lawmakers last month agency Secretary Laura Howard “immediately

instructed the department to look into the case.”

And though the case review is complete, details can’t be shared on a specific case, Deines said.

“It is important to keep siblings together in both placement and legal permanency whenever possible, which is why DCF does everything we can to recruit foster families who can care for large sibling groups,” he said. “... Decisions to split up siblings and adopt them out to separate families are carefully considered and require specific approval from the case team and the court.”

Nicole DeHaven worries about what she may one day have to say to the little girl whose first word was “Dada” and who loves Minnie Mouse and hanging out with her brother.

“How do I explain to the girl that’s almost three years old, that these people want to be her mommy and daddy?” DeHaven said, her voice breaking. “How do I explain to her that if this goes through, she’s never going to be able to see her brother again?”

TELLING THEIR STORY TO LAWMAKERS

John and Nicole DeHaven stood side by side at a podium inside the Kansas Capitol last month. Lawmakers on the Kansas Joint Committee on Child Welfare oversight listened intently to their story.

Typically, people speak for 10 or 15 minutes, sometimes less. But the DeHavens stood there for just over an hour.

Nicole DeHaven broke into tears explaining their struggles and the loss she was at for how to explain to their son why his sister wasn’t with them anymore.

“This would be equivalent to his sibling dying,” she said.

DeHaven explained that she and her husband felt they were victims of retaliation for pushing against the wishes of caseworkers at Cornerstones of Care.

After they argued with their caseworker over what therapist to bring the little girl to, DeHaven said, the case worker falsely claimed John had gotten aggressive and slammed his hand on a table.

“Every time we stand up and advocate we get slammed down,” she said.

John DeHaven, who currently works at Osawatomie State Hospital, spent 13 years as a social worker and investigator inside Kansas child welfare, for both the state and contractors. He told lawmakers that he typically agrees that kinship care and being adopted with

knows and loves,” the bonding assessment said. “If she were removed at this point and placed with people who she has limited history or attachment with, significant attachment issues would likely arise.

“Removing this attachment from her life could likely result in developing an unhealthy attachment style which may contribute to mental health concerns for many years to come.”

But the family was then told in June that the second assessment couldn’t be used in Wyandotte County court where the case is because the team at Cornerstones didn’t tell them to get an assessment, only play therapy. The therapist rescinded her assessment, the family said, after being contacted by Cornerstones of Care. However, the little girl is still getting therapy by that therapist.

Lawmakers expressed support and concern. The DeHavens, they said, were the rare example of a family willing to speak publicly.

“I have had call after call after call from foster parents who have the same as what you’re talking about,” said Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican and chair of the committee. “And they want to come tell their story but they’re scared to death to do it because of retaliation.”

Keeping siblings together often comes above the individual interests of children, said Charlotte Esau, an Olathe Republican.

“I hear it too often … we’re putting kinship care over what is in the best interest of all the children,” Esau said.

After the DeHavens’ testimony, executives at Cornerstones of Care answered lawmakers’ questions about the case. They said they had only recently become aware of the family’s concerns and were launching an investigation.

“There are a lot of parties involved in this case that supported the position where this ultimately landed,” Dr. Lanette Madison, executive director of Kansas Programs, said. “I can assure you we do a very thorough deep dive.”

Cornerstones of Care told The Star they could not comment on a specific case but provided their policy on keeping siblings together.

“Siblings who are kept together frequently have better outcomes. DCF

Policy 5237, relative to Sibling Placement and Connections, states that Cornerstones of Care is obligated to make every effort to have siblings achieve permanency together and place siblings in separate homes only in ‘extreme circumstances,’”

Cornerstones of Care spokesman Jon Ratliff said in an email.

Early this year, a family resource worker at Cornerstones recommended the family hire an attorney and get a bonding assessment done, Nicole said. The family resource team sent a list to her husband of groups where licensed therapists conduct those assessments.

The couple chose Attachment and Trauma Therapy.

But, on April 19 — six weeks after it was completed — they got a call from a Cornerstones caseworker saying that DCF does not accept assessments by that group, Nicole DeHaven said.

In May, the DeHavens completed a second assessment with another group recommended by Cornerstones.

That assessment explained that removing the little girl from the DeHavens’ home “could be devastating to her future.”

“At the age of 2½ this is the family who (she)

“It’s so frustrating,” Nicole DeHaven said. “(The case team) keeps saying we didn’t tell you that.”

But a caseworker did, she said.

FOSTER PARENT NUMBERS DROPPING

Since the couple spoke to the Joint Committee in Topeka, Nicole DeHaven said more than 100 people have contacted her through message boards and forums.

“They say, ‘This happened to us, this is the same story,’” she said.

“‘And that’s why we don’t do foster care anymore.’ Because of the retaliation that they suffered, and unfortunately, that the children suffered.”

Indeed, the number of foster parents has decreased significantly in the past two years, though the exact reason why isn’t clear. One of the state’s contractors testified to the Legislature last month that Kansas has lost nearly 500 foster families since May 2020.

These days, DeHaven spends many nights and other free moments on the Internet researching other cases and state laws and policies. The more time she spends doing that, or talking to people who may be able to help, the less time she has to sit around and think about what could soon happen to her family.

“I feel like the time is ticking and I’m losing time,” DeHaven said. “I’m losing that opportunity to try to get people aware of this and saying, ‘This has to be stopped. They can not go through with this, because they’re hurting these children and really hurting our little girl.’ … There’s a panic.” If the DeHavens are able to keep the toddler, they’ve told the contractor and the state they will maintain and continue to build the relationship between her and her biological siblings.

The couple asked the Division of the Child Advocate to investigate their case in July. That investigation is ongoing. Nicole DeHaven received an email Wednesday asking for more information.

After the hearing, Baumgardner has continued to talk with the DeHavens and touch base with DCF on the case. The focus continues to be the little girl, the lawmaker said, not in pointing the finger at a contractor or worker.

“I know it’s easy for folks to say this is just one child,” Baumgardner said. “It is one child. And it illustrates that every single child is important. This is the one I know of today.

“And if we say, ‘Well, you know, we shouldn’t jump in, this is just one child,’ then at what point are we going to bring about change?”

Laura Bauer: 816-234-4944, @kclaurab Katie Bernard: (816)234-4167, @KatieJ_Bernard

Courtesy John and Nicole DeHaven

John and Nicole DeHaven worry the state will soon remove from their home a girl they have fostered since she was born almost three years ago.

JOHN HANNA AP

Laura Howard, left, with Gov. Laura Kelly.

the recap

A brief look back at stories that had readers talking this week

Biden tours Florida sites hit by hurricane

Country music icon

Loretta Lynn dies

Loretta Lynn, the firebrand singer-songwriter who explored her dirtpoor childhood in her career-defining 1970 hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” died Tuesday of natural causes at her home in Tennessee, her family said. She was 90. Lynn was arguably the single most important female figure in postwar country music. Her songs embraced changes women were demanding with the rise of feminism. She also projected a persona who could take care of herself, in no need of rescue by a man.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

President Joe Biden arrived Wednesday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida, to survey damage inflicted by Hurricane Ian, get a briefing on the response and recovery efforts, and meet with people impacted by the storm.

“I wanted to tell you in person that we’re thinking of you and we’re not leaving. We’re not leaving until this gets done. I promise you that,” the president said in Fort Myers.

After arriving in Florida, Biden and first lady Jill Biden boarded Marine One to survey storm-ravaged areas via helicopter. The Bidens then went to Fisherman’s Wharf, where they were greeted by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his spouse, Casey DeSantis.

The group moved into the wharf, where Biden, DeSantis and their wives spoke with affected residents.

Biden said the recovery will take months or years. “The only thing I can assure you is that the federal government will be here until it’s finished,” he said.

While in Florida, Biden announced a doubling of the time –to 60 days from 30 days – that the federal government will pick up 100% of costs for search and rescue, sheltering, feeding and other emergency measures to save lives, the White House said Wednesday.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said that there isn’t yet a cost estimate for the previously authorized or newly expanded assistance.

The Florida trip came two days after Biden visited Puerto Rico to inspect damage inflicted by Hurricane Fiona.

A total of 105 deaths from the hurricane had been reported as of Wednesday morning.

More states allowing kids to take mental health days

BY ANDREA ATKINS Special To The Washington Post

With child mental health problems on the rise in the past few years, a growing number of states have adopted laws that let students take an excused absence if they feel anxious, depressed or need a day to “recharge.”

A dozen states already have measures in place that allow kids to take off for mental health and not just physical health reasons. A handful of others are considering making similar changes to school absentee rules.

The move is a recognition of a disquieting trend: In December 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued an advisory declaring a mental health crisis for American children, citing “an alarming number” of young people struggling with “feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide.” Between March and October 2020, the height of the pandemic, the percentage of children visiting the emergency room for mental health issues rose 24% for children ages 5 to 11 and 31% for children ages 12 to 17, according to the Children’s Hospital Association.

In 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the second leading cause of death among teens, a 31% rise over 2019.

Christine M. Nicholson, a clinical child psychologist in Kirkland, Wash., said she supports this effort to allow mental health days. She said kids sometimes need to skip school, go for a hike, see a movie or even stay

home and bake a cake or watch TV.

“I think mental health has to be appreciated as much as physical health,” she said. “Kids are having a tough time, and they need a break.”

“The pandemic, with its isolation, didn’t help,” said California state Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Democrat who introduced a bill that was signed into law in 2021. The bill does not specify how many days a year a child can take.

Portantino’s brother Michael took his own life in 2010 at age 52.

Proponents of such measures say they are long overdue and can help de-stigmatize mental health in the eyes of parents and children. So far, Washington, California, Illinois, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, Oregon, Connecticut, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Kentucky pro-

vide mental health days.

“If nothing else, it makes a huge statement that mental health matters as much as physical health,” said Mike Winder, a Republican Utah state representative who sponsored a bill that became law in 2021. Winder introduced the bill after conversations with his daughter, who suffered with her own mental health issues.

“This policy is communicating from the highest levels that it’s OK to take care of your mental health,” he said of the bill, which does not limit the number of days a child can take.

But how does taking a “mental health day,” which Americans traditionally have construed as an excuse for playing hooky, improve mental health?

“When students are feeling physically unwell, there is a universal under-

standing that they should stay home and they should take time to feel better,” said Barb Solish, director of Youth and Young Adult Initiatives for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which supports the use of mental health days.

School policies that recognize mental health as an acceptable reason for absence can help students take the time they need to care for themselves and restore their health,” Solish said. “Practically speaking, if you have a fever, you’re not paying attention in class, right? You’re not learning the lesson. If you’re feeling overwhelming anxiety, you’re not learning either.”

In states that have adopted them, the policies vary, although in all cases, parents must sign a note excusing their child. Some place limits on the number of days off a child can

Peace Prize goes to activists in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia

Human rights advocates in the former Soviet neighbors of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to fight authoritarian regimes as Europe’s worst military confrontation since World War II is roiling the region.

Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, Memorial of Russia and Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties were awarded the $900,000 prize by the Oslo-based Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday.

The announcement was unexpected, with opposition leaders in Belarus and Russia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Alexey Navalny – both vocal critics of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine – long tipped as potential winners.

BLOOMBERG NEWS

Men offer prayers Wednesday for the victims of Saturday’s soccer stampede in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Locked gates likely led to 131 deaths after soccer game, Indonesia president says

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said Wednesday that locked gates contributed to the crush at the soccer stadium that left 131 dead and over 400 injured when police fired tear gas and set off a run for the exits. The deaths included 17 children.

Kanjuruhan soccer stadium in East Java’s Malang city became the site Saturday night of one of the world’s deadliest disasters at a sporting event. Widodo pledged a thorough investigation.

Police continued to insist the gates were open but could accommodate only two people exiting at a time. A police chief and nine officers were removed from their posts Monday; 18 others are being investigated. ASSOCIATED PRESS

claim – for instance, in Connecticut, students can have two days per year and they may not be consecutive – while others, such as California, do not.

As with all absences, missed schoolwork is expected to be made up. But the policies do not dictate how the days off may be used – whether for staying in bed or attending therapy appointments or something else. Some suggest that could engender abuse. Portantino bristles at the idea.

“We don’t question that a parent would like Johnny to stay home because he has a cold. That’s the exact reason we have to have this bill. That’s a stigma we have to correct. We’re not making a distinction between physical and mental health. If your child is sick, your child is sick,” he said.

But some worry that isn’t the right approach.

In the National Review, Daniel Buck, editor in chief of Chalkboard Review, a newsletter focusing on education, wrote that school mental health days “could alleviate immediate distress but facilitate habits that only worsen anxiety and depression in the long run.” He suggested that they would teach kids avoidance rather than how to deal with the real issues that plague them, such as too much social media.

Instead, he suggests schools help build “habits of emotional awareness such as regular reflection, discussions with loved ones, or planned, appropriately timed days of rest.”

Solish said it’s important for parents to get to the bottom of why a child might ask for time off. And, she added, if a child is asking for or taking an abundance of these days off, that can be a signal something is wrong and indicates a need for professional help.

“We’re not going to solve the youth mental health crisis with a few mental

health days. But it’s a great starting point.”

MAKE THE MOST OF A ‘MENTAL HEALTH’ DAY

“There’s no perfect way to take a mental health day,” said Barb Solish, director of Youth and Young Adult Initiatives for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “But it does help to be intentional.”

Here are her tips for reaping the most benefit from a mental health day.

A Listen to your child: Ask open-ended questions about their relationships and experiences and why they think they need a day off. Then let them talk.

A Make it meaningful: Try to avoid catching up on school work or getting lost in social media. “Those are stressors for kids,” Solish said.

A Pursue calming activities: Take a walk, bake, draw, get lost in nature.

“Whatever brings your kid back to center is a good thing to do,” said Solish, adding that you don’t want to overschedule the day, because that will be stressful in its own way. Should parents allow kids to indulge in video games, television or other screen time? “Nothing is really off limits,” Solish said. “You just want to make sure you’re being really thoughtful about what is going to help.”

A Ease up on the feelings talk: “You don’t have to push kids to talk about their feelings all day,” Solish said. You can talk about how important it is to take care of your mental health.

A Know when you need more help: If your child is showing increased irritability, sleeplessness, a depressed mood, low motivation or is regularly asking to stay home from school, you may need help from a mental health professional. Contact a pediatrician, school counselor or your family doctor to find a recommendation.

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL

EVAN VUCCI AP

President Joe Biden, center, talks to a person affected by Hurricane Ian as he tours the area on Wednesday in Fort Myers Beach, Fla.

DICKY BISINGLASI AP

CAROLYN COLELos Angeles Times/TNS

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy tours King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2021, before talking to a panel of students about mental health issues.

the outlook

A brief look ahead at stories that will have readers talking this week

Next Jan. 6 hearing set for Thursday

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has scheduled its next hearing for Oct. 13, pushing the investigation back into the limelight less than three weeks before the midterm election that will determine control of Congress.

It will be the panel’s first public session since the summer, when lawmakers worked through a series of tightly scripted hearings that attracted millions of viewers and touched on nearly every aspect of the Capitol insurrection.

The committee had planned to hold the hearing in late September, but it was postponed.

The panel has not yet provided an agenda.

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s chairman, told reporters last week that the hearing would touch on recent revelations about Save America PAC, Trump’s chief fundraising vehicle.

The hearing is also expected to include never-before-seen interview footage of witnesses the committee has deposed since late July. That could include Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who was interviewed last week behind closed doors.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guard struggles as troops leave at faster pace

Soldiers are leaving the Army National Guard at a faster rate than they are enlisting, fueling concerns that in the coming years units around the country may not meet military requirements for overseas and other deployments.

According to officials, the number of soldiers retiring or leaving the Guard each month in the past year has exceeded those coming in, for a total annual loss of about 7,500 service members.

The problem is a combination of recruiting shortfalls and an increase in the number of soldiers who are opting not to reenlist.

The losses reflect a broader predicament across the U.S. military, as all the armed services struggled this year to meet recruiting goals.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

UN: Ukraine nuclear plant loses external link

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe, has lost its last remaining external power source as a result of renewed shelling and is now relying on emergency diesel generators, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Saturday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said the plant’s link to a 750-kilovolt line was cut at around 1 a.m. Saturday. It cited information from Ukraine as well as reports from IAEA experts at the site, held by Russian forces.

All six reactors at the plant are shut down but they still require electricity for cooling and other safety functions. Plant engineers have begun work to repair the damaged power line and the plant’s generators

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Weinstein goes on trial in Los Angeles

Five years after women’s stories about him made the #MeToo movement explode, Harvey Weinstein is going on trial in the city where he once was a colossus at the Oscars.

Already serving a 23year sentence for rape and sexual assault in New York, the 70-year-old former movie mogul faces different allegations including several that prosecutors say occurred during a pivotal Oscar week in Los Angeles. Jury selection for an eight-week trial begins Monday. Weinstein has been indicted on four counts of rape and seven other sexual assault counts involving five women, who will appear in court as Jane Does to tell their stories.

He has pleaded not guilty. Four more women will be allowed to take the stand to give accounts of Weinstein sexual assaults.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and others

answer questions at a ceremony at Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado, on Aug. 16.

Military site to be national monument

President Joe Biden will travel to Colorado this week to designate a historic military site as a national monument, delivering on a key priority of Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, who is fighting for reelection.

According to three people familiar with the planning, Biden and Bennet are set to appear together at an event Wednesday where the president will officially designate Camp Hale, a World War II-era training site nestled along the Continental Divide, as a national monument.

The move, which Bennet and Colorado’s predominantly Democratic congressional delegation have pushed for, will protect the site’s historic buildings and wildlife habitats from potential development by energy companies and honor the veterans who trained there decades ago.

Biden has previously expanded existing national monuments, but Camp Hale would be the first entirely new monument designated since he took office.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Loud and clear: New justice speaks volumes at bench

BY JESSICA GRESKO Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and its newest justice, said before the term began that she was “ready to work.” She made that clear during arguments in the opening cases.

The tally: 4,568 words spoken over nearly six hours this past week, about 50% more than any of the eight other justices, according to Adam Feldman, the creator of the Empirical SCOTUS blog.

The justices as a whole are generally a talkative bunch. For now, Jackson’s approach seems less like Justice Clarence Thomas, who once went 10 years without asking a question, and more like Justice Neil

Gorsuch, who in his first year was one of the more active questioners. On Tuesday, in a case that could weaken the landmark Voting Rights Act, which sought to bar racial discrimination in voting, Jackson was particularly vocal.

Appeal ruling to allow Arizona abortion restart

BY BOB CHRISTIE Associated Press

PHOENIX Abortions can take place again in Arizona, at least for now, after an appeals court on Friday blocked enforcement of a prestatehood law that almost entirely criminalized the procedure. The three-judge panel of the Arizona Court of

Appeals agreed with Planned Parenthood that a judge should not have lifted the decades-old order that prevented the older law from being imposed.

The brief order written by Presiding Judge Peter J. Eckerstrom said Planned Parenthood and its Arizona affiliate had shown they are likely to prevail on an appeal of a decision by the judge in Tucson to

At one point, she spoke uninterrupted for more than three and a half minutes to lay out her understanding of the history of the post-Civil War 14th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing formerly enslaved people equal rights. Jackson’s

allow enforcement of the old law.

Planned Parenthood had argued that the lower court judge should have considered a host of laws restricting abortions passed since the original injunction was put in place following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that said women have a constitutional right to an abortion.

Those laws include a new one blocking abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy that took effect last month. The previous limit was 24 weeks, the viability standard established by now-overruled U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Nobel Prize in Economics to be announced

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm will announce the 2022 Nobel Memorial Prize in economics on Monday. The Nobel Prize in Economics, which is not one of the original five Nobel Prizes created by Alfred Nobel in 1895, was established in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank.

Last year’s award went to David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens for providing new insights about the labor market and showing what conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn from natural experiments.

The economics prize is the last of the prizes to be announced. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Dec. 10 in Stockholm.

WIRE REPORTS

statement ran three transcript pages, the longest Feldman could remember ever seeing.

“I can’t think of a time where you’ve seen a junior justice take hold of the arguments” to the same extent, Feldman said using the court’s shorthand title for the newest justice.

A jurist with a liberal record, Jackson joined a court where conservatives hold a 6-3 advantage, so in many of the most most contentious cases her vote likely does not matter to the outcome. But her performance during arguments seemed to show she intends to make herself heard.

“I have a seat at the table now and I’m ready to work,” she said last week at an appearance at the Library of Congress following her ceremonial investiture at the high court.

In three of the four cases the court heard this past week, she was the most active speaker among the justices.

Feldman said new justices usually sit back and take things in but “poke their heads up occasionally” to ask a question. “This was a different approach,” he said.

“Arizona courts have a responsibility to attempt to harmonize all of this state’s relevant statutes,” Eckerstrom wrote, mirroring arguments made by attorneys for Planned Parenthood.

The U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe in June, and Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich then asked that the injunction blocking enforcement of the prestatehood abortion be lifted. It had been issued in 1973, shortly after Roe was decided. Pima Court Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson agreed on Sept. 23 and lifted the order two weeks ago.

N. Korea says US carrier aggravates tensions

North Korea warned Saturday the U.S. redeployment of an aircraft carrier near the Korean Peninsula is causing a “considerably huge negative splash” in regional security, as it defended its recent missile tests as a “righteous reaction” to intimidating military drills between its rivals.

The North Korean Defense Ministry statement came a day after the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan began a new round of naval drills with South Korean warships off the peninsula’s east coast. The Reagan and its battle group returned to the area after North Korea fired a missile over Japan earlier this week to protest the carrier group’s previous training with South Korea.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

2 killed as protests around Iran continue

Anti-government demonstrations erupted Saturday in several locations across Iran as the most sustained protests in years against a deeply entrenched theocracy entered their fourth week. At least two people were killed.

Marchers chanted antigovernment slogans and twirled headscarves in repudiation of coercive religious dress codes. In some areas, merchants shuttered shops in response to a call by activists for a commercial strike or to protect their wares from damage.

The protests erupted Sept. 17, after the burial of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who had died in the custody of Iran’s feared morality police.

Virginia “Ginni” Thomas arrives for an interview Sept. 29 with the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.

JINTAK HAN TNS

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE AP

Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stands between Associate Justices Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan during a Supreme Court group portrait in Washington on Friday.

West Wichita’s Jose Pepper’s restaurant closes after a decade

BY DENISE NEIL dneil@wichitaeagle.com

As of Wednesday, Wichita is down to one Jose Pepper’srestaurant.

The Overland Parkbased Mexican food chain abruptly closed its west Wichita restaurant at 2243 N. Tyler Road on Wednesday. A manager who’d been at the restaurant for two years said employees showed up for work on Wednesday morning and were greeted by a giant

banner announcing that the restaurant was closed.

The banner reads, “Thank you for your support over the last decade” and encourages people to visit Wichita’s other Jose Pepper’s restaurant at “1423 E. 13th St.” (The address is actually 11423 E. 13th St.)

The west-side Jose Pepper’s was Wichita’s second and opened in February 2012. The east-side restaurant has been open since August 2009.

The manager, who

Tax cut trend reaches two-thirds of states

BY DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, MO.

States brimming with cash are cutting taxes at a rapid pace.

With the enactment Wednesday of an income tax cut in Missouri, about two-thirds of U.S. states have adopted some sort of tax relief in 2022.

For taxpayers, the trend means billions of dollars back in their pockets. Some already have received rebate checks. Others will realize their tax savings over several years.

One-time rebates – typically totaling several hundred dollars per taxpayer – have been more common in Democraticled states, though some Republican-led states also have provided refunds.

Many Republican-led states have instead opted for permanent income tax rate reductions, sometimes phased in. In such cases, workers might notice a gradual reduction in the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecks – and potentially get a refund when they file their annual income tax returns.

Here’s a look at the tax-cutting trend across the U.S.

BUDGET SURPLUSES

Economic shutdowns at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic triggered sharp revenue declines for many states in 2020. But those losses turned out to be shortlived. As the economy recovered, state tax revenues came roaring back.

At the same time, the federal government provided billions of dollars of pandemic relief funds to taxpayers, which helped boost consumer spending. The federal government also provided billions of dollars of aid directly to states, further bolstering their finances.

The 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30 for most states, marked the second straight year of

asked not be named, said that employees had no warning about the closing, though they were offered positions at the east-side store. She opted not to take one but posted about her plight on social media and has already received several job offers.

Jody Sight, the director of human resources for Jose Pepper’s, said that the owners decided to close the west Wichita restaurant after much deliberation. Sales had been slumping since CO-

VID, she said, and the company invested money into a remodel last spring hoping that would help.

“It never got sales going in the right direction,” she said. “It was a business decision we had to make and not one we enjoyed

making.”

She confirmed that the company offered positions at the east-side Jose Pepper’s to the employees affected by the closure. Several other restaurant owners and managers also reached out on Wednes-

day offering to help hire displaced staff. They said they heard from representatives from both HomeGrown and On the Border.

The company, which owns 11 Jose Pepper’s restaurants that are in the Kansas City area, in Topeka and in Wichita, also owns two restaurants called Cactus Grill, both of which operate in the Overland Park area.

She said the company would watch the market for another Wichita location where it could potentially open a Jose Peppers or a Cactus Grill restaurant.

“We’re still trying to scope it out and see what we could do,” she said. “Anything’s possible.”

Denise Neil: 316-268-6327, @deniseneil

The original Town & Country Classic will close to relocate

BY DENISE NEIL dneil@wichitaeagle.com

When the owner of Town & Country Classic last month announced plans to open a restaurant in the just-vacated New Neighbors space near 21st and Amidon, he said it would be an expansion, not a relocation.

Since then, though, the plans have changed.

the restaurant at K-42 and Maize Road on Oct. 14 then reopen in the new space at 21st and Amidon on Oct. 18.

Davis said crews have been working hard on the move and making repairs at the new space. Initially, he and Wood hoped to be open at 21st and Amidon by the end of September, but they’ve faced delays in getting equipment shipped.

Wood opened Town & Country Classic after the March 2020 death of Larry Conover, whose family had owned the original Town & Country restaurant at 4702 W. Kellogg since 1957. That restaurant closed at the start of the pandemic and never reopened.

large growth in tax collec-

tions. Many states reported their largest-ever surpluses, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers. That allowed states to enact tax cuts and rebates, even while increasing spending on government programs and services.

TAX RELIEF TRENDS

At least 33 states have approved some form of tax relief this year. Income tax rate cuts have passed in 14 states. All have Republican-controlled legislatures except New York, where Democrats who hold power accelerated a previously approved tax rate reduction. At least 15 states have approved one-time rebates.

In addition to general income tax cuts and rebates, some states have approved targeted tax breaks for families or retirees. Others have cut sales taxes on food or suspended gas taxes to help offset the effects of inflation.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an order Monday extending the state’s gas tax suspension another month, until after the Nov. 8 election. Kemp estimates the state already has forgone about $800 million in gas tax revenue, which benefits roads. He plans to backfill that by using some of the state’s $6.6 billion surplus.

MISSOURI TAX CUT

While signing the income-tax-cut legislation Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said the estimated $760 million reduction, when fully phased in, will be “the largest tax cut in the state’s history.”

Under previous law, Missouri’s top individual income tax rate already was scheduled to fall from 5.3% to 5.2% in January, with the potential to gradually drop to 4.8% if revenue-growth triggers were met in future years. The new law will cut the tax rate to 4.95% in January and exempt the first

$1,000 of income from taxation. The tax rate could drop to 4.8% as soon as 2024 if state tax revenue grows by at least $175 million over the high mark of the previous three years.

Missouri’s new law also authorizes three additional annual tax cuts that could eventually reduce the tax rate to 4.5%. Each reduction would occur only if state revenue grows by an inflation-adjusted $200 million over the high mark of the previous three years while also exceeding an inflation-adjusted baseline.

Parson said the cuts amount to a 5% reduction in people’s taxes.

TAX CUT HESITANCY

Some states have bucked the tax-cutting trend. Politically divided government has made agreement difficult among Republicans and Democrats in such states as Minnesota and Wisconsin. But tax relief also has failed in some entirely Republican-led states.

A Republican effort to call a special session of the Montana Legislature to provide tax rebates failed to draw enough support in September.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, called the GOP-led state Legislature into a special session in June – and again in September – to consider a sales tax cut for groceries and a reduction in the individual income tax rate. But lawmakers adjourned without passing anything.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, also called lawmakers into special session this summer to consider an income tax cut. But the Republican-led Legislature has not passed it. GOP Senate leaders instead have proposed to cut personal property taxes. In November, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to eliminate property taxes on business equipment and inventory. Justice has spoken against the proposal, saying it could harm schools and counties that rely on property taxes.

Vance Davis, who is the general manager of Billy Wood’s Town & Country Classic restaurant at K-42 and Maize Road, said that just before opening day at 2315 W. 21st St. later this month, the original location at 10510 W. Southwest Blvd will close.

The reason, Davis said, is continuing issues with the building, the latest of which is a broken-down air conditioner.

“Down the road, we might open again somewhere over there on the south side of town,” Davis said. The plan now is to close

We’re just trying to get the kitchen done,” Davis said. “Everything else is done. Everything else is ready.

The menu will be the same as the one at the original Town & Country Classic and will feature daily breakfast, blue plate specials, burgers and more. The restaurant serves many recipes made famous at the original Town & Country on West Kellogg, including fresh-baked bread and cinnamon rolls. It will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

With the family’s blessing, Wood decided that he would take over Town & Country and run it in Larry’s honor. But he could not reach an agreement with the landlords on the longtime building on West Kellogg, so he found the spot at K-42 and Maize Road. That restaurant has been operating since July of 2020. Different owners took over the Town & Country space on West Kellogg and reopened itin October 2020, but it lasted only until August of last year The building has been vacant and listed for lease ever since.

Denise Neil: 316-268-6327, @deniseneil

Breonna Taylor warrant details deepen mistrust in police

BY DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Recent revelations about the search warrant that led to Breonna Taylor’s death have reopened old wounds in Louisville’s Black community and disrupted the city’s efforts to restore trust in the police department.

Former Louisville officer Kelly Goodlett admitted in federal court that she and another officer falsified information in the warrant. That confirmed to many, including U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, that Taylor never should have been visited by armed officers on March 13, 2020.

Protest leaders who took to the streets of Kentucky’s largest city after she was fatally shot by police say Goodlett’s confession confirms their suspicions that Louisville police can’t be trusted and that systemic issues run deep. They say officers abused demonstrators after the botched raid, and that her fatal shooting is just one of many reasons why the community remains wary.

“What bothers me so incredibly, is that so many lives were lost because of this lie,” said Hannah Drake, a Louisville poet and leader in a push for justice after Taylor’s death. “They don’t even understand the far-reaching tentacles of what they did.”

More than once during that long, hot summer, individual officers escalated rather than calmed a

situation. An officer who shot into the restaurant, injuring the dead man’s niece, was fired after taunting demonstrators on social media, daring them to challenge the police. Another Louisville officer faces a federal charge over hitting a kneeling protester in the back of the head with a baton.

“We were right to protest,” Louisville Urban League President Sadiqa Reynolds tweeted shortly after Goodlett’s plea. “People are dead and lives upended because of a pile of lies.”

Some Louisville officers have been disciplined, fired, and even charged with crimes for abusing protesters, in addition to the four officers now charged federally in relation to the botched raid. But the problems can’t be blamed on a few rogue officers, according to a lawsuit brought by Taylor’s white neighbors, who were nearly hit by gunfire during the raid.

They accuse the department of having a “warrior culture” and cultivating an “us vs. them” mentality.

And the family of a Black man shot dead in his restaurant’s kitchen by law enforcement says in a lawsuit that police aggression during a curfew instigated his death.

Louisville is working on numerous reforms, implementing a new 911 diversion program, increasing leadership reviews of search warrant requests and improving officer training. The city has outlawed “no

knock” warrants, conducted an independent audit and paid Taylor’s mother $12 million in a civil settlement. A new police chief, Erika Shields, was hired in 2021.

Such reforms have been implemented amid a continuing U.S. Department of Justice investigation of LMPD’s policing practices, which could land at any moment.

The chief called Taylor’s death “horrific,” and said in an interview with The Associated Press that she welcomes the federal investigations, which led to charges against Goodlett and the other officers. “I think we’re in an important place that was necessary to get to, before we move on,” she said.

Mayor Greg Fischer, whose 12-year run ends this year, said city officials turned the probes over to state and federal officials “because the community rightfully was saying LMPD should not be investigating LMPD, and I agree with that.”

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s investigation then ended without any officers being charged directly in Taylor’s death. It took federal prosecutors to convict Goodlett she pleaded guilty to conspiracy and admitted to helping create a phony link between Taylor and a wanted drug dealer. Goodlett resigned the day before her charges were announced in August and awaits sentencing next month.

DENISE NEILThe Wichita Eagle

The west Wichita Jose Peppers restaurant abruptly closed on Wednesday.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson holds up legislation cutting the state’s income tax rate after signing it into law on Wednesday at his Capitol office in Jefferson City, Mo. Parson said the new law would reduce people’s taxes by 5%.

Disasters like Ian pose extra risk for older people

BY ANITA SNOW AND JAY REEVES Associated Press

FORT MYERS, FLA. Older people with limited mobility and those with chronic health conditions requiring the use of electrically powered medical devices were especially vulnerable when Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida, and experts warn such risks to society’s oldest are growing as disasters increase with the impact of climate change.

Almost all of the dozens of people killed by Ian in hardest hit Lee County were 50 or older, with many in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. That’s highlighted the rising dangers

for those least likely to be able to flee such disasters and those most likely to be impacted by the aftermath.

Climate change makes hurricanes wetter and more powerful, but it also increases the frequency of heat waves like ones that scorched the Pacific Northwest the last two summers, killing scores of mostly aged people. It’s also intensified drought fueled wildfires like the inferno that incinerated the California town of Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people, again mostly older.

“It’s not terribly surprising that physically frail, socially isolated people are the most likely to die in these events. But it is

politically significant,” said New York University sociology professor Eric Klinenberg. “If we know people are at risk, why aren’t we doing more to help them?”

Klinenberg, who wrote the book “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago” about extreme heat that killed more than 700 mostly older and Black people in July 1991, called Ian a mere preview. “We saw this happen in Chicago, in (Hurricane) Katrina, in (Superstorm) Sandy, and we are going to see more and more as the globe becomes increasingly hotter,” he said. Florida in particular will feel the increased impact of climate-fueled disas-

ters, sitting in the path of many Atlantic storms and with a large share of retirees drawn by warm weather, a vast coastline and relatively cheap housing. About 29% of Lee County’s population is 65 and older. One of the more dramatic stories of Ian dem-

onstrates the risks. Johnny Lauder’s 86-year-old mother Karen Lauder, who uses a wheelchair, initially refused to evacuate. But as the water inside her home began to rise nearly above her head, she was unable to flee and her son had to come rescue her in an

ordeal he documented.

The extreme dangers some face when they lose power was especially clear in Lee County, where an 89-year-old man died after the electricity he needed for his oxygen went out and then his backup generator failed.

Florida has attempted to address some of these issues by setting up shelters where people with health conditions that require electricity for oxygen, dialysis and devices like ventilators can preregister to stay.

AARP Florida Director Jeff Johnson praised the special shelters, saying the state’s county emergency management agencies had modernized and improved evacuation operations the past two decades.

“There is room for improvement, but it would be wrong to say they aren’t doing anything,” he said.

GERALD HERBERT AP

Physician Karen Calkins tends to Mona Guibord, 94, as she waits to be evacuated from Pine Island, Fla., in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Oct. 1.

FOUR MLB TEAMS TRY TO REMAIN ALIVE WITH A WIN IN GAME 2 OF WILD-CARD SERIES. Go to kansas.com/eedition/ xtrasports

Maize stuns Derby behind game-winning drive by Johnson

BY TAYLOR ELDRIDGE teldridge@wichitaeagle.com

For the third consecutive season, the Derby-Maize game found a way to exceed the hype.

Friday’s showdown had the promise to be the must-see game of the Kansas high school football regular season and it delivered even more theatrics than that in a game that saw Maize escape with a 52-51 win in the final minutes.

In a game between two of the best teams in the state and a possible AV-CTL Div. I league title on the line, the two heavyweights combined for 103 points and more than 1,000 yards of total offense.

It was the third straight year the rivalry game has been decided by a single point (Maize won 36-35 in 2020, then Derby won 42-41 in 2021).

With his future college head coach, Chris Klieman, in attendance, Kansas State quarterback recruit Avery

Johnson finished with 531 total yards of offense and seven touchdowns to help erase a 20-point deficit and lead the game-winning drive in the closing moments. Derby had its own heroics, as quarterback Brock Zerger produced 310 total yards and four touchdowns, while Notre Dame commit Dylan Edwards totaled 192 total yards and a pair of scores and Iowa State defensive end Samuel Same forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

Here are the three key sequences of Friday’s game that allowed Maize to remain unbeaten at 6-0 and make its claim as the best team in Class 5A.

K-STATE COMMIT AVERY JOHNSON FINDS THE RIGHT CONNECTION

In the biggest regular season game of the year, it wasn’t a coincidence that Maize quarterback Avery Johnson targeted

SEE JOHNSON, 4B

Kansas unveils plans for football facilities overhaul

BY GARY BEDORE gbedore@kcstar.com

The University of Kansas is moving forward with its project to renovate the football stadium, KU’s athletic department announced Fridayin naming HNTB as the lead architect in partnership with Lawrencebased Multistudio and Nation’s Group.

The entire “11th and Mississippi Project” aims to transform the area near the intersection of 11th and Mississippi streets with new facilities that could include a mix of conference and entertainment space, retail space and other functions.

The project, set to break ground next year, will feature prominently what KU calls “major upgrades to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.”

In a news release about the project, Kansas Athletics notes that Memorial Stadium, constructed in 1921, is one of the nation’s oldest football venues. The university’s aim, the release states, is to “create a world-class experience for fans while providing Kansas Football the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level, as well as renovations to the Anderson Family Football Complex.”

Meeting with reporters Friday, KU athletic director Travis Goff said: “We won’t cut any corners on what it’s going to take to have an incredible fan experience. Profound is what the outcome will be.”

No dollar amount for the project was mentioned in the Friday news release. But Goff was later asked specifically if $350 million would cover the total cost.

Record crowd watches Carroll-Kapaun football at Riverfront

BY TAYLOR ELDRIDGE teldridge@wichitaeagle.com

A record-setting crowd was in attendance for the first high school football game played at Riverfront Stadium, as Bishop Carroll prevailed with a 26-21 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel on Friday.

A total of 8,066 fans came out to watch the Catholic rivalry game in Wichita’s new downtown baseball stadium, which was transformed into a football field by the groundskeeping crew of the Wichita Wind Surge

The crowd topped the previous record that was set earlier this summer when 7,709 fans witnessed the first no-hitter in Wind Surge history on Aug. 20, 2022 and the 7,509 fans who came for the stadium’s debut for a Wichita State baseball game on April 10, 2021.

“That was an awesome experience that I think the kids on both teams are going to talk about for the rest of their lives,” Carroll coach Dusty Trail said.

“Shoot, that was something special for me and I’ve been coaching high school football (for three-plus decades). It was a pretty cool night.”

Chiefs’ Hardman dealing with heel injury

BY JESSE NEWELL jnewell@kcstar.com

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman says he feels fortunate. This could’ve been a lot worse.

He’s watched replays of the moment when he injured his heel against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 ... and well, it wasn’t pretty.

“I didn’t know it looked that bad, honestly, until I watched the film. It looked crazy watching it,” Hardman said Thursday.

“But luckily, it was just the heel. It’s definitely an injury that you can play through, so happy it was just that.”

That’s the good news for Hardman, who has played 43 and 37 snaps for the Chiefs in the last two games while working through the ailment.

The bad news? He doesn’t feel like himself yet, which has been the most significant factor in his limited receiving numbers over the past two weeks.

“It’s like more of a ‘You can’t do everything you want to do’ type thing. It’s definitely a pain tolerance that you can tolerate, as far as cutting or going for speed or even stopping,” Hardman said. “But it’s just something you’ve just got to work at and treat daily to get back right. So it’s nothing too crazy.”

Without knowing the backsto-

Making use of Riverfront Stadium before and after baseball season has long been the vision for the Wind Surge front office of CEO Jordan Kobritz and general manager Bob Moullette. The ballpark hosted the Jayhawk Conference football championship game last fall, so head groundskeeper Ben Hartman had experience preparing for a football game.

The experience showed in Friday’s presentation, which impressed both high school fan bases.

“They did an amazing job with the camera angles and showing replays and graphics

ry, it’d be much easier to criticize Hardman for lack of production after he entered this season with high expectations following the Chiefs’ trade of Tyreek Hill.

So far, Hardman has eight catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Those stats have fallen off significantly since he was hurt, as he’s combined to grab two catches for 6 yards in the last two weeks.

When asked about Hardman on Thursday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he believed better days were ahead.

“I think you saw in the first few weeks, he was having some good plays and making some stuff happen. He got a little banged up, and he hasn’t had that same production these last two,” Mahomes said. “But I think as he gets more and more healthy, he’ll continue to be involved in this offense. He’s

on the big screen,” Carroll athletic director Tyler Fraizer said. “It made for a great environment and I think everyone absolutely loved the experience.

“You kind of had questions about if a football game down at that stadium would be a good setup or not, but that was a top-notch experience hands down.”

There were challenges fitting a crowd around a football field with the dimensions of a baseball stadium, but Trail said he was pleasantly surprised by

SEE STADIUM, 4B

“That’s what I believe we have … that’s in the Board of Regents-approved kind of rolling annual budget,” he said, not committing to that figure.

The project, KU says in the release, “will start with renovations to Anderson Family Football Complex, as well as site preparation work related to storm water, sanitation, Wi-Fi availability and electrical system upgrades, in the first half of 2023. KU will select a construction manager in the weeks ahead.”

The project will be funded primarily by “private donations, economic development funds, premium seating sales in the stadium, and future development opportunities that will be created on the site,” according to the news release.

Goals for a reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, KU said, “include upgrades to the in-game experience such as seating bowl design with

SEE FOOTBALL, 5B

JEREMY DAVIS Courtesy

Bishop Carroll quarterback Jackson King escapes a tackle in a 26-21 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel at Riverfront Stadium on Friday.

Kansas City wide receiver Mecole Hardman (left) catches a pass as Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill defends during the first half Sept. 15 in Kansas City.

SPORTS PLANNER

MLB batting average lowest since 1968

BY RONALD BLUM Associated Press

NEW YORK

Higher velocity and increased shifts led to the major league batting average dropping to .243, its lowest since 1968.

ON THE AIR

SUNDAY’S TV / RADIO

COLLEGE SOCCER

Women: Boston College at Louisville, 11 a.m., ACC

Women: Michigan at Michi-

State, 11 a.m., BTN

Women: Florida State at Notre Dame, 11 a.m., ESPNU

Women: Florida at Missouri, 1 p.m., SEC

Women: Iowa at Minnesota, 1 p.m., BTN

Women: Texas A&M at Mississippi, 1 p.m., ESPNU

Women: Indiana at Rutgers, 2 p.m., ESPN2

Men: Stanford at Oregon State, 2 p.m., PAC-12

Women: Tennessee at Georgia, 3 p.m., SEC

Women: Arizona at UCLA, 4 p.m., PAC-12

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

Women: South Carolina at Tennessee, 11 a.m., SEC

Women: Southern Methodist at Wichita State, 1 p.m., ESPN+ (online)

Women: Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech, 1 p.m., ACC

Women: Notre Dame at Boston College, 3 p.m., ACC

Women: North Carolina State at Wake Forest, 5 p.m., ACC

Women: Stanford at Utah, 5 p.m., ESPNU

Women: Oregon at Washington, 6 p.m., PAC-12

GOLF

DP World Tour: The Open de España, final round, 6:30 a.m.,

GOLF PGA Tour Champions: The Constellation Furyk & Friends, final round, 1 p.m., GOLF

PGA Juniors: The Junior League Championship, 3 p.m.,

ESPNU

PGA Tour: The Shriners

Hospitals For Children Open, final round, 4 p.m., GOLF

LPGA Tour: The Mediheal

Championship, final round, 8 p.m., GOLF (taped)

HORSE RACING NYRA: America's Day at the Races, 11:30 a.m., FS1; 1:30 p.m.,

FS2

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: The Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, 4 p.m., CNBC

MLB PLAYOFFS

AL Wild Card Series: Seattle at Toronto, game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m., ABC

AL Wild Card Series: Tampa Bay at Cleveland, game 3 (if necessary), 3 p.m., ESPN

NL Wild Card Series: San

Diego at NY Mets, game 3 (if necessary), 6:30 p.m., ESPN NL Wild Card Series: Philadelphia at St. Louis, game 3 (if necessary), 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

MOTOR SPORTS Intercontinental GT Chal-

lenge: part 1, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 11 a.m., CBSSN (taped)

NASCAR Cup Series: The Bank of America ROVAL 400 (Playoffs, round of 12), at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, 1 p.m., NBC Intercontinental GT Challenge: part 2, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 7:30 p.m., CBSSN (taped) NBA Preseason: Chicago at Toronto, 5 p.m., NBA Preseason: LA Lakers at Golden State, 7:30 p.m., NBA Preseason: Minnesota at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m., Bally Sports KC Extra NFL NY Giants vs. Green Bay, at London, 8:30 a.m., NFL Pittsburgh at Buffalo, noon, CBS Chicago at Minnesota, noon, FOX Dallas at LA Rams, 3:25 p.m., FOX Cincinnati at Baltimore, 7:15 p.m., NBC, 1240-AM, 97.5-FM

RODEO PBR Team Series: The PBR Rattler Days, Game of the Week, 4 p.m., CBS (taped) PBR Team Series: The PBR Rattler Days, day 3, 5 p.m., CBSSN

SOCCER English Premier League (EPL): Fulham at West Ham United, 8 a.m., CNBC

EPL: Leeds United at Crystal Palace, 8 a.m., USA

EPL: Liverpool at Arsenal, 10:30 a.m., USA

EPL: Manchester United at Everton, 1 p.m., USA

MLS: Columbus at Orlando City, 1:30 p.m., FS1

MLS: Real Salt Lake at Portland, 4 p.m., ESPN2

TENNIS

ATP: Tokyo, singles final, 2:30 a.m., TENNIS

ATP: Nur-Sultan, singles final; WTA: Ostrava and Monastir, singles finals, 5:30 a.m., TENNIS

ATP: Florence and Gijon, early rounds; WTA: Cluj-Napoca and San Diego, early rounds, 4 a.m. (Monday), TENNIS

Defensive shifts and 100 mph pitches set records this season, contributing to the worrisome offensive decline Major League Baseball is trying to address.

When the average dropped this low more than a half-century ago, MLB lowered the pitcher’s mound. Next year’s rules changes announced last month include the first restriction on shifts, a decision made over the objection of the players’ association.

“We’ve engaged in a process to develop rules that will bring back the best form of baseball,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said at the time.

The major league average was .269 in 2006 but fell to .254 in 2016 and .245 during the pandemicshortened 2020 season,

Ewart Shadoff expands lead at Calif. LPGA event

Jodi Ewart Shadoff started out Friday as hot as she finished the day before at the LPGA Mediheal Championship. She finally hit a few bumps, but not before expanding her lead with a 3-under 69.

Ewart Shadoff opened with a 64 in Camarillo, Calif., by making four

Tournament host Furyk shares Champions lead

Tournament host Jim Furyk shared the firstround lead in Jacksonville, Fla., at the Constellation Furyk & Friends, along with Steve Flesch and reigning Q-School medalist Rob Labritz.

After a 5-under 67 at Timuquana Country Club, 52-year-old Furyk is looking for his fourth win with

then dropped by one point in each of the following years. The only seasons with lower averages than this year were the record low of .237 in 1968 along with 1967 and the dealball era seasons of 1884, 1888 and 1908.

Defensive shifts on balls in play totaled 66,961 this season, Sports Info Solutions said Monday, up from 59,063 last year and 2,349 in 2011. The major league-best Dodgers led this year with 2,912 shifts and NL Central champion Cleveland had the fewest at 1,600.

Batting average for left-handed hitters was .236 this year, down from .254 in 2016, when lefties were one point below the big league average.

Luis Arraez’s .316 average for Minnesota was the lowest by an American League batting champion since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski hit .301 in 1968.

Velocity has a lot of do with the fall. There were 3,356 pitches of 100 mph of more, 0.05% of the major league total of 703,918, according to MLB Statcast. That was up

straight birdies over her last five holes. The 34year-old from England added three birdies in her opening four holes and looked to be on her way.

She sprinkled in enough bogeys to slow her progress and still wound up with a four-shot lead over Paula Reto going into the weekend.

Ewart Shadoff is winless over 245 starts that covers 11 years in her LPGA career.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

the Champions. Rob Labritz led a Champions event for the first time after Friday’s first round. The 51-year-old has made 22 starts on the tour, and is seeking his first win.

After winning the PURE Insurance Championship two weeks ago, Steve Flesch, 55, could become the first to win back-toback tournaments on the Champions tour since Bernhard Langer in 2017.

Mariners reliever Andres Munoz averaged 100.2 mph with his fastball.

from 1,829 in 2021 and 1,056 in 2019.

Minnesota’s Jhoan Duran had the most 100 mph pitches with 392, followed by Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene (337), St. Louis’ Jordan Hicks (274) and Ryan Helsey (237) and Seattle’s Andrés Muñoz (209).

Duran averaged 100.8 mph with his fastball, Muñoz 100.2 and Hicks 100.1.

“Every time that bullpen door swings open, it’s velocity,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “The guys, they weren’t like that. The closers weren’t throwing like they are now. But it’s kind of the way they are growing up

and now they are trained — and amazing to me, the number of them, too. It’s like they just keep coming.”

The average four-seam fastball velocity was 93.9 mph, up from 93.7 mph in 2021 and 93.1 mph in 2015, when Statcast first began measuring.

“The way the game is now, everybody’s throwing that hard. It’s not fun to face, but it’s just how the game is,” Seattle’s Ty France said. “To be able to step in the box on this stage, it was pretty cool.”

Home runs dropped to 5,215 from 5,944 last year and a record 6,776 in 2019.

Lopez-Chacarra leads by 5 after 2 rounds at LIV

Associated Press

BANGKOK, THAILAND

One of the best former amateur golfers in the world is leading after two rounds of the LIV Golf tournament in Thailand.

Ex-Oklahoma State player Eugenio LopezChacarra turned professional to play on the LIV series. The two-time firstteam All-American was No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before he signed a three-year contract with the Saudibacked LIV tour.

On Saturday he birdied three of his first five holes and eagled his sixth on the way to a 9-under 63 and a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the 54-hole event.

The Spanish player, one of the co-leaders after the first round, had a 36-hole total of 16-under 128 on the newly opened Stone-

hill Golf Club course north of Bangkok. There was a four-way tie for second. First-round co-leader Richard Bland (68), Sihwan Kim (66), Harold Varner III (66) and Patrick Reed (65) were at 11 under.

Branden Grace, one of the first-round leaders with Lopez-Chacarra and Bland, withdrew after three holes Saturday with an undisclosed injury.

“The conditions are great and the course is unbelievable,” LopezChacarra said. “But I think the key was I went back to see what I was doing in college because I was working so good and I didn’t do as good the first four weeks as a pro, and it was just try to have fun and then play to not make bogeys.

“I’m actually hitting it pretty good, but I’m playing smart and I’m having fun.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Notebook

Louisville: Louisville was without dual-threat starting quarterback Malik Cunningham for Saturday’s game at Virginia because he remains in the concussion protocol after

taking a hit to the head in last week’s loss to Boston College. The fifth-year senior ran for three touchdowns and threw for another. Cunningham did not travel to Virginia with the Cardinals (2-3, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), school officials said, and Domann was scheduled to start. ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Kapaun Mt Carmel 21 Buhler 28, Augusta 14 Burrton 82, Pawnee Heights 60 Canton-Galva 46, Hutchinson Central Christian 0 Central-Burden 60, Oxford 24 Centralia 28, Garden Plain 13 Central Plains 60, Otis-Bison 14 Centre 55, Chetopa 7 Chapman 62, Wichita Trinity 36 Chase County 40, Lyndon 38 Cheney 48, Nickerson 2 Circle 40, Abilene 0 Conway Springs 46, Sterling 8 Cunningham 57, Southern Coffey County 6

Eureka 40, West Franklin 20 Goddard 33, Maize South 14

Goessel 52, Pretty Prairie 6

Halstead 56, Lyons 8

Haven 34, Douglass 28

Hays 41, Dodge City 6 Hesston 42, Clearwater 0 Howard West Elk 62, Cedar Vale/Dexter 0

Hutchinson 28, Campus 7 Hutchinson Trinity 48, Medicine Lodge 8

Inman 38, Ellinwood 0 Kingman 35, Chaparral 7 Little River 48, Herington 0

Maize 52, Derby 51

Marion 46, Council Grove 15

McPherson 34, Wellington 32

Moundridge 42, Solomon 34

Mulvane 14, Winfield 7

Newton 45, Salina South 14 Oswego 50, Flinthills 0 Peabody-Burns 45, Altoona-Midway

STEPHEN BRASHEAR AP

Royals will interview Grifol and Wilson for Matheny’s job

BY LYNN WORTHY lworthy@kcstar.com

Kansas City Royals executive vice president and general manager J.J. Picollo made the decision to fire manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred, but there will not be a full house cleaning of the club’s major-league coaching staff.

In fact, two members of Matheny’s staff will vie for the chance to replace Matheny. Picollo also announced that several other members of the staff will be retained regardless of the choice as the new manager while the status of others remains undetermined.

Picollo addressed reporters on Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium after the club

fired Matheny and Eldred on Wednesday night following the season finale.

Matheny also spoke to The Star in a telephone interview.

During Picollo’s news conference, he said bench coach Pedro Grifol and third-base Vance Wilson will be the lone internal candidates to replace Mathney as the Royals front office casts “a wide net” in their search for their next manager.

Senior director of hitting performance Alec Zumwalt stepped in as interim hitting coach in May when the Royals dismissed Terry Bradshaw.

Zumwalt and the coaches from the hitting-development department will remain part of the majorleague staff. That group includes assistant hitting

coach Keoni DeRenne and special assignment hitting coach Mike Tosar.

“Because of the results that we’ve seen in the hitting department, we don’t want to mess with that right now,” Picollo said.

First-base coach Damon Hollins, who previously served as the organization’s minor-league outfield baserunning and bunting coordinator, will also remain part of the staff.

The futures of coach John Mabry and bullpen coach Larry Carter remain undetermined. Both could return to the Royals, but neither is assured to be back next season.

The status of bullpen catcher/lead strategist Parker Morin and bullpen catcher/strategist Allan de San Miguel also appears to be up in the air.

The next manager will take part in the hiring process for the new pitching coach, and the rest of the staff will be determined after those two positions are filled.

Picollo did say senior director of pitching performance Paul Gibson will continue to oversee the pitching department on the player-development side, though there will be a new pitching coordinator working under Gibson as the club decided not to renew Jason Simontacchi’s contract.

Lynn Worthy: 816-234-4951, @LWorthySports

Pereira riding confidence, a 63 for Las Vegas lead

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS

Mito Pereira of Chile led a parade of players from the International team at the Presidents Cup in the Shriners Children’s Open on Friday, making birdie

on half of his holes for an 8-under 63 that gave him a one-shot lead.

Pereira took care of the par 5s at the TPC Summerlin and putted for birdie on every hole except the par-4 12th, where he had to save par from a bunker left of the green.

His one lapse was on the seventh hole toward the end of his round when he ran a 20-foot birdie putt some 6 feet by the cup and three-putted for bogey.

Pereira was at 12-under 130, one shot ahead of Robby Shelton, who birdied the par-5 ninth on his

ROYALS FINAL 2022 STATISTICS

final hole for a 63.

Right behind were 20year-old Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim, top performers for the International team in their own right two weeks ago at Quail Hollow. Another shot back was Cam Davis of Australia, who also had a solid

debut in the Presidents Cup.

Perhaps it was no accident. The Internationals were outmanned because of so many defections to Saudi-funded LIV Golf, and yet they gave the mighty Americans a brief scare on the final day before another U.S. victory.

Pereira said it was a case

of captain Trevor Immelman reminding them each night they were great players who could win.

“I think Trevor did a really good job with us, encouraging us how good we are, how good we play golf,” Pereira said. “So I think we carry that over here. Right now we’re just playing really good.”

Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol meets with Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and the umpires before the start of their game in Kansas City, Mo., in 2021.

senior receiver Justin Stephens the most.

Stephens had the best receiving game of his career, hauling in nine of Johnson’s passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. The connection between the two childhood friends has been growing since they were junior football teammates.

“Me and Ave’s connection has been crazy ever since we started playing with each other,” Stephens said. “We just have ‘it’ and I don’t think it will ever go away.”

That’s why when Maize, trailing 51-49 with less than four minutes left, was faced with a 3rd-and-16 from the Derby 46-yard line, Johnson knew before the ball was snapped who he was going to with the game potentially on the line. “I watched a ton of film before this game because I really wanted to win this one,” Johnson said.

“When I saw what coverage (Derby) was in, I knew that Justin had the 1-on-1 matchup with the safety.”

There were no spoken words between Johnson and Stephens in the huddle before the play, but both knew where the ball was going when the play was dialed up for Stephens to run a wheel route down the right sideline.

Sure enough, the defender bit on the out route and Stephens turned upfield with a step of separation. The offensive line shielded Johnson long enough for him to hit his back drop, step up in the pocket and rocket a 40yard rope to the opposite side of the field to connect with Stephens in stride for a gain down to the Derby 6-yard line.

“If you’re not a quarterback, it’s hard for people to really understand how big of a role that connection can play in a game,” Johnson said. “Every time I put the ball in the air, he seemed to come down with it. He’s so good at feeling out where I want him to be in certain situations and we’ve been on that same brain length for a long time. We’ve been doing this for years.”

Stephens said he knew a perfect spiral was headed his way as soon as he turned his head around.

“You can just sense it,” Stephens said. “We usu-

ally don’t even really say anything. When you feel it, you feel it. It’s just a connection thing and it’s just chemistry from playing with each other for so long. It’s love.”

Johnson hopes Stephens’ game-breaking performance against Derby will start to attract Division I scholarship offers.

“He’s a Division I talent, so these college football coaches need to get on him,” Johnson said. “He has the body, he has the physique, he has the hands, he has all of the intangibles. I really hope somebody offers him because if they don’t, I’m going to be pushing for him to come walk on with me at K-State.”

MAIZE’S SOPHOMORE KICKER BECOMES THE HERO

A pit had formed in the stomach of Mason Teague since the second quarter when he dropped the snap to him as the punter and Derby recovered for a touchdown to put the Eagles in a 20-point deficit. “I really hope we don’t lose this game because of that touchdown,” Teague remembers thinking.

The sophomore tried to erase that bad memory from his head watching on the sidelines as Avery Johnson worked Maize, trailing 51-49, into field position to potentially take the lead late in the fourth quarter.

Teague began kicking into the net with his holder, Drew Kemp, when the offense reached midfield. But the nerves didn’t really set in until Johnson connected with Justin Stephens for a 40-yard pass down to the Derby 6-yard line with less than three minutes remaining.

“My heart was racing,” Teague said. “I had a lot of adrenaline flowing.”

Maize coach Gary Guzman never lost confidence in his sophomore kicker, even with the mistake earlier in the game.

Rather than turning Johnson loose to try to score the go-ahead touchdown, Guzman played it conservatively: calling three straight hand-offs up the middle, forcing Derby to use its final two timeouts, and draining the clock down to less than 90 seconds in the process.

“Mason is a weapon for us and he’s only going to get better. He’s young,” Guzman said. “But absolutely, we knew at that range, he was going to hit it. The only concern was about (Derby) bringing the house and blocking it.”

Teague found confidence in sticking with his routine: setting his mark, taking three steps back and two steps to the left.

The snap by Stephens, the hold by Kemp, and the kick by Teague made the 20-yard field goal look as routine as they would hope in such a pressurefilled moment.

“I just had to clear my mind about that dropped punt and put it through the uprights,” Teague said. “The biggest part for me was my follow through. I shanked one right (against Andover Central) because I didn’t have a good follow through. I made sure to have that follow through, so it went right through the uprights.”

After worrying for most of the game about costing his team a victory, Teague ended the night being mobbed by teammates who chanted his name as the hero following the win.

“That felt really great,” Teague said. “I love my teammates and I love the game of football. That was a lot of fun.”

THE EAGLES MAKE ONE FINAL DEFENSIVE STOP FOR THE WIN

As a 3-year starter and all-state defensive tackle, Caden Miranda has seen a lot of snaps in his career at Maize.

When Derby lined up on the right hash with four receivers split wide and a running back in the backfield on a 4th-and-7 play with 45 seconds left and the game on the line, Miranda had a hunch what to do next.

“I guessed,” Miranda said sheepishly. The Eagles only rushed three and dropped back eight into coverage, but Miranda’s educated guess that Derby would roll out quarterback Brock Zerger to the open side of the field proved correct.

Derby’s play never had time to develop because Miranda beat the center off the snap, snuck by the

guard and applied pressure on Zerger within seconds.

“I was shocked because I was busy watching the back half of the field to make sure nothing was leaking out,” Maize defensive coordinator J.J. Milanovich said. “And then I glance back and there’s big, old number 47 barreling through like a free rusher. I’m still trying to figure out how he got back there so fast.”

Miranda swallowed up the Derby quarterback before he could make a desperation heave, sending the Maize sideline into hysterics.

“I was so tense because you want to get him so bad,” Miranda said. “I was sprinting as hard as I could and then I got him and I was honestly shocked. I was speechless.

“Then I came to the sideline and everyone was

smacking me on the helmet. I think I have a concussion now.”

Milanovich stressed to his defense to not to become demoralized giving up touchdowns to Derby because the game could be decided by a single stop in the end. Sure enough, the Eagles finished the game with two straight defensive stands.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you giving up 51 points is a fun time,” Milanovich said. “I’ve never given up 51 and been happy about it before, but going against a team like Derby, especially with a player as talented as Dylan Edwards, every play you just hold your breath and hope your guys rally.”

Taylor Eldridge: 316-268-6270, @tayloreldridge

FROM PAGE 1B

STADIUM

how lively the atmosphere was down on the field.

“I was surprised by how loud it was down on the field,” Trail said. “We’ve played at Cessna Stadium, but you don’t get the same feeling there because the stadium is so big. It feels empty. Tonight definitely didn’t feel empty. There were people everywhere and it really gave you that college football, big-stadium feel.”

The game itself also delivered on the hype, as

yet another Holy War rivalry game came down to the final minute only for Carroll (4-2) to pull it out in the end for the 24th straight year.

After Carroll shot out to a 10-0 lead, Kapaun took the lead with two straight touchdowns. Tate Blasi (130 receiving yards) put the Golden Eagles back in front with a 78-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Jackson King. Carroll took a 26-14 lead, then Kapaun quar-

terback Dylan Hamilton threw his second scoring pass to trim the deficit to five points with one minute remaining in the third quarter. Kapaun had a handful of opportunities to threaten in the fourth quarter, but never found the go-ahead score to drop to 3-3 this season.

Omari Elias led the way for Kapaun with 166 rushing yards and a score, while Derek Breese, King and Thomas Gorges combined for 224 rushing yards for Carroll.

Taylor Eldridge: 316-268-6270, @tayloreldridge

MEREDITH FRAHM Courtesy

Maize receiver Justin Stephens celebrates the Eagles’ thrilling 36-35 victory over Derby in 2020.

JEREMY DAVIS Courtesy Kapaun Mt. Carmel quarterback Dylan Hamilton threw two touchdowns in the first high school football game played at Riverfront Stadium on Friday.

NASCAR promises safety changes on new car for 2023

BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press

CONCORD, N.C.

NASCAR says it had a productive test of its new car and promised drivers that solutions to some of their safety concerns should be implemented by next season.

NASCAR’s top leadership held a 75-minute meeting ahead of Saturday’s practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It said it expects a new rear clip, rear bumper structure and center section on next year’s Next Gen car. Those parts are too stiff right now and drivers have complained all season they are feeling the force from routine crashes more than before.

Alex Bowman and Kurt Busch are both sidelined with concussions suffered in crashes in the Next Gen, and Cody Shane Ware won’t race Sunday because he has a broken foot that would be under too much strain on Charlotte’s hybrid road course/oval circuit. It’s the first time in at least two decades that three full time Cup drivers will miss a race.

NASCAR had a slide presentation prepared, but two different drivers likened the session to an episode of “Seinfeld.” Erik Jones described it as an airing of grievances” while Brad Keselowski, driver and part-owner of RFK Racing, said “everybody had a little bit to say, this may be a little bit of a Festivus.”

“It was definitely tense from the driver side. NASCAR did a good job of trying to answer the questions asked, but you can tell that there’s frustra-

tion,” driver Christopher Bell said. “We got through two slides. I believe that they had a much larger presentation available to us, but we got stuck in open conversation that took up the majority of the time.”

Drivers said NASCAR presented them with data from Wednesday’s crash test and outlined the improvements found in the exercise. One of the main goals of the Next Gen was to cut costs and in doing so, the new car was made to be durable and withstand crashes without being destroyed so that teams need only a sevencar fleet for the 38-race season.

The car has proven to be safer in many areas and drivers believe they will be protected in catastrophic crashes. But the impacts to the rear of the cars have been jarring, and after claiming they’ve complained to NASCAR during the entire design process that the Next Gen is too stiff, the drivers finally snapped after Bowman’s concussion two weeks ago and went public with their concerns.

“We just want to feel less inside the car. You look from the outside and you watch crashes and it doesn’t look like anything is happening,” Bell said.

“But our body seems to be absorbing the majority of the impacts instead of the car absorbing the impacts. We just want the car to help us out where we’re not absorbing as much.”

Busch, who will miss his 12th consecutive race, attended the meeting.

Ryan Blaney said drivers met last week at Talladega to present a unified front in the meeting.

FROM PAGE 1B

FOOTBALL

improved sightlines that increase fan comfort and bring fans closer to the field; expanded concessions, restrooms and accessible seating locations; improved concourse circulation; and new premium amenities such as club seats, loge seats and ledge suites.

“Stadium design will include multi-use spaces to augment any convention and conference facilities that may be part of the project. Kansas Athletics is partnering with Elevate Sports Ventures to conduct fan focus groups to solicit feedback on what fans want in a reimagined stadium. Additionally, Elevate recently completed a survey to understand what seating options and amenities are most important to fans.”

“This project is un-

matched in its vision to benefit a broad range of KU constituents while signaling a new era for Kansas Football,” Goff noted in the news release.

“Once complete, this project will ensure our football program has the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level and provide the bestpossible game day experience for student-athletes and fans. Moreover, we are thrilled this project goes beyond football to benefit the entire university and the regional economy.”

The university’s architecture and design partners will meet next week with KU football coach Lance Leipold to discuss improvements to the Anderson Family Football Complex, which will focus on the student-athlete and

recruitment experience.

“This project will have a profound impact on the future of Kansas Football and the entire community,” Leipold said. “It will specifically impact our current and future football players, who will now have a state-of-the-art facility to train in. With an up-to-date facility and a commitment to improve Anderson Family Football Complex, our day-to-day operation will be more efficient and effective.

This is an exciting time for Kansas Football, and this certainly adds to it.”

“Now, more than ever, college athletics — and certainly sustained success in the sport of football — are critical to the health and vibrancy of our entire university community,” Goff said. “There is tremendous excitement for this project among donors and partners who

believe in KU’s mission, and in partnership with KU Endowment, we’ll be reaching out in earnest to our benefactors and supporters to ensure this ambitious vision becomes reality.”

KU has commissioned an economic impact study to analyze the effect of potential mixed-use space that would be developed as part of the project. Additionally, the university will soon begin the process of selecting a project developer to help formulate a vision for how the mixed-use facilities in and around the reimagined football stadium could be used, KU stated in its release. Additional details about the project will be provided in the weeks ahead.

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KYLE RIVAS TNS

Kansas Jayhawks football coach Lance Leipold leads his team out of the tunnel before a game at David Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.

Giants relying on Barkley looking like his old self

The Giants headed to London to play the Packers with question marks at quarterback. Daniel Jones sprained his left ankle last Sunday but was showing improvement by midweek. At practice Wednesday, he wore a pair of high-top red shoes for more support.

Tyrod Taylor was in the concussion protocol after he also left Sunday’s 20-12 win over the Chicago Bears. Coach Brian Daboll tasked Saquon Barkley with taking direct snaps to help close out the game. Practice-squad quarterback Davis Webb would be the third choice.

Jones’ ability to run is key to New York’s success. He has 18 rushing first downs — the most among quarterbacks and tied for third-most overall through four games. The fourthyear player is the team’s second leading rusher and ran for two touchdowns last Sunday. A one-dimensional Jones would make it easier for defenses to focus exclusively on Barkley. New York’s offense is averaging a league-leading 192.5 rushing yards per game — nearly double last season’s 99.3-yard average.

Sunday’s Games

Lions at Patriots key matchup: Lions receivers vs. Patriots secondary. This will be the second top-five passing offense New England has faced this season. The other, the Dolphins, had 242 passing yards in the season opener.

XTRA Football

Giants running back Saquon Barkley has run 84 times for 463 yards in four games this season, averaging 115.8 yards.

Seahawks at Saints key matchup: DK Metcalf against top Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a normally elite performer who is looking to bounce back after giving up a costly pass interference penalty and pivotal reception in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to Minnesota.

Steelers at Bills key matchup: Steelers QB Kenny Pickett versus Bills pass rush. Von Miller’s offseason addition has contributed to the Bills leading the AFC and being fifth overall with 13 sacks. It’s on Pickett to avoid third-and-longs and getting the ball out quickly.

Texans at Jaguars key matchup: Texans rookie Dameon Pierce ran for 131 yards and a touchdown last week against the Chargers and now faces a defense that gave up 210 yards and four touchdowns rushing at the Eagles. Titans at Commanders key matchup: Derrick Henry against Washington’s defense. Henry is coming off his best rushing performance and didn’t appear happy with the Titans’ struggles in the second half. Washington

Sunday’s Games

is giving up 116 yards rushing per game.

49ers at Panthers key matchup: Panthers QB Baker Mayfield vs. 49ers defense. Mayfield has had an NFL-high 11 passes batted at the line of scrimmage. Bears at Vikings key matchup: Bears DBs vs. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. Led by S Eddie Jackson, the Bears have a talented but young secondary with two rookie starters: CB Kyler Gordon and S Jaquan Brisker.

Bengals at Ravens key matchup: Bengals QB Joe Burrow vs. the Baltimore secondary. Burrow threw for 941 yards and seven touchdowns against the Ravens last season, and Baltimore’s pass defense remains a work in progress.

Chargers at Browns key matchup: QB Justin Herbert vs. Cleveland’s secondary. The Browns have been prone to major breakdowns so far this season, and they can’t afford any gaffes against the Chargers’ quick-strike offense and top-rated passing attack.

Cowboys at Rams key matchup: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs vs. Rams

WR Cooper Kupp. Diggs figures to spend plenty of time covering the All-Pro Kupp in a matchup of last season’s leaders in interceptions and receptions, yards receiving and touchdowns.

Dolphins at Jets key matchup: Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle vs. Jets CBs D.J. Reed and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. The speed of the WRs will be a big test for the Jets, particularly Reed and Gardner — who are off to a solid start. Jets coach Robert Saleh compared Hill and Waddle, combined with Mostert and the Dolphins’ TEs, to a “4x100 relay team.” Eagles at Cardinals key matchup: QB Jalen Hurts will be a good test for the Cardinals defense, which had a bad start in the season opener against the Chiefs, but has been pretty good over the past three weeks. Defensive linemen J.J. Watt and Zach Allen and linebacker Dennis Gardeck all had big plays last week. Falcons at Buccaneers key matchup: Falcons run game vs. Bucs defense looking to rebound after allowing 189 yards rushing during last week’s loss to the Chiefs. No team has been better at stopping the run over the past threeplus seasons. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Results and analysis from this week's games can be found in the subsequent day's online eEdition, along with other bonus content not available in print. Subscribers have free access once they've activated their digital account. Go to kansas.com/eEdition, then click on the ‘XTRA Football’ from the Section List pop-up menu.

Byron wins appeal, regains playoff points

BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press

An appeals panel on Thursday reinstated the 25 points William Byron had been docked by NASCAR for deliberately spinning championship rival Denny Hamlin, a critical decision that helps his playoff hopes.

The three-person panel found that Byron did break a NASCAR rule for spinning Hamlin under caution. But Hendrick Motorsports had appealed the NASCAR penalty, which was initially a $50,000 fine and the loss of 25 critical points in the championship race.

The panel instead upped the fine to $100,000 and gave Byron back his points. The favorable ruling moved Byron from below the elimination line headed into Sunday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the playoff field will be cut from 12 to eight.

Byron was 10th in the standings with the loss of

points; he’s now seventh in the standings and 14 points above the cutline.

The decision from the panel — television executive Hunter Nickell and short track promoters Dale Pinilis and Kevin Whitaker — upended the standings headed into the second elimination race of the playoffs.

Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe, who were both tied for eighth, both dropped below the cutline. Christopher Bell dropped from 33 points below the cutline to 45 points out, and Daniel Suarez now sits in eighth in the standings.

The controversy surrounding Byron’s action at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks ago was because the NASCAR officials in the scoring tower missed the deliberate spin of Hamlin. It was done out of anger under caution; despite the lengthy caution period and massive replay screen in the Texas infield, NASCAR simply missed it and wasn’t able to issue an in-race penalty.

NASCAR teams: Revenue model is unfair, ‘broken’

BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

The most powerful teams in NASCAR warned Friday that the venerable stock car racing series has a “broken” economic model that is unfair and has little to no chance of longterm stability, a stunning announcement that added to a growing list of woes.

The Cup Series is heading into the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course playoff elimination race Sunday with three full-time drivers sidelined with injuries suffered in NASCAR’s new car and no clear answer as to how to fix the safety concerns.

It got much worse as teams went public with their year-long fight with NASCAR over equitable revenue distribution.

The economic model is really broken for the teams,” said Curtis Polk, who as Michael Jordan’s longtime business manager now holds an ownership stake in both the Charlotte Hornets and the two-car 23XI Racing team Jordan

and Denny Hamlin field in NASCAR.

“We’ve gotten to the point where team’s realize the sustainability in the sport is not very long term,” Polk said. “This is not a fair system.”

The Race Team Alliance was formed in 2014 to give teams a unified voice in negotiations with the sanctioning body. A four-member subcommittee outlined their concerns at a Charlotte hotel, with Polk joined by Jeff Gordon, the four-time NASCAR champion and vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, RFK Racing President Steve Newmark, and Dave Alpern, the president of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Hendrick and Gibbs have won six of last seven Cup Series championships dating to 2015, but Gordon said the four-car Hendrick lineup, the most powerful in the industry, has not had a profitable season in years. It will again lose money this season despite NASCAR’s cost-cutting Next Gen car.

I have a lot of fears that sustainability is going to be a real challenge,” Gordon said.

Led by Polk, whose role with the Hornets brings familiarity with the NBA’s franchise model, the RTA presented NASCAR in June with a seven-point plan on a new revenue sharing model. The proposal “sat there for months and we told NASCAR we’d like a counteroffer,” Polk said.

He did not disclose the seven points other than noting that team sustainability and longevity were priorities. The committee said Friday they are open to all ideas, including a spending cap like that in Formula One.

“We are amenable to whatever gets us to a conceptual new structure,” Newmark said.

NASCAR responded to the RTA last week with a counteroffer of “a minimal increase in revenue and emphasis on cost-cutting,” Polk said.

The team alliance was unanimous in that the only place left to cut costs is layoffs.

“We’ve already had substantial cuts. We are doing more with less than we ever have in 30 years,” Alpern said.

JOHN MINCHILLO AP

A NASCAR panel found that William Byron did break a NASCAR rule for spinning Denny Hamlin under caution, but gave Byron back his championship points.

BUTCH DILL AP Ross Chastain (1) leads a pack of cars at Talladega last weekend.

Trackhouse heads into 100th start in championship contention

BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press

CONCORD, N.C. The first racing book Justin Marks ever read was called “The Unfair Advantage,” written during a one-year sabbatical by the late Mark Donohue about his boss Roger Penske.

Castillo sharp, M’s blank Jays in wild-card opener

BY IAN HARRISON Associated Press

TORONTO

The Seattle Mariners gave Luis Castillo a threerun lead before he threw his first pitch in Friday’s wild-card opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was all the support he would need, and more. Castillo and Andrés Muñoz combined on a shutout, Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer and the Mariners won in their first postseason game since 2001, beating the Blue Jays 4-0.

Eugenio Suárez had two hits and two RBIs and rookie Julio Rodríguez reached base three times and scored twice for the Mariners. Game 2 was scheduled for Saturday.

The series winner plays AL West champion Houston in the Division Series starting Tuesday in Texas.

Suárez hit an RBI double off Blue Jays All-Star right-hander Alek Manoah in the first inning and Raleigh followed with a drive to right.

“It was very good going out there and having that lead,” Castillo said through a translator.

“That gives me that little extra energy when I go on the mound.”

Throwing two different kinds of fastballs at 100 mph and his changeup at 92 mph, Castillo scattered six singles in 7 1⁄3 innings. He struck out five and walked none, facing the second-highest scoring team in the AL.

“When you’ve got two pitches over 99 that are doing two different things, that makes it tough,” Blue Jays infielder Whit Merrifield said.

Castillo, acquired in a midseason trade from Cincinnati, became the first pitcher in Mariners history to throw more than seven scoreless innings in a postseason start.

Raleigh said Castillo was “awesome.” Suárez called him “unbelievable.”

“Credit to Luis, he was in total command today,”

Seattle manager Scott Servais said.

The right-hander turned away from home plate and pumped his fist after fanning designated hitter Danny Jansen to end the seventh, Castillo’s third straight strikeout.

“Wow,” Servais said. “Some kind of performance by him.”

Castillo’s only other postseason start came with Cincinnati in 2020, when he lost to Atlanta in the wild-card round. Castillo allowed one run in 5 1⁄3 innings in that one but the Reds were eliminated with a 5-0 defeat. Toronto has lost four straight postseason games and seven of their past eight.

“It’s two out of three,” Manoah said. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”

Muñoz came on in the eighth after Castillo hit George Springer on the left wrist with his 108th pitch. Springer went down in pain and was checked by the trainer but remained in the game. Xrays on Springer were negative, interim manager John Schneider said.

Muñoz finished the eighth by getting Bo Bichette to fly out and retiring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a grounder to shortstop.

Matt Chapman’s twoout double in the ninth was Toronto’s seventh hit of the game, and first for extra bases. Muñoz quickly closed out the Blue Jays.

Making his first career postseason start, Manoah gave up four runs in 5 2⁄3 innings, matching the total he allowed in six September starts. Three of the four hits off him were for extra bases.

“They beat me on my mistakes,” a downcast Manoah said.

Manoah was in trouble right from the start, hitting Rodríguez on the hand with his fourth pitch of the game, and missing high and tight to Ty France with his fifth.

Rodríguez advanced on France’s grounder and scored on Suárez’s double

to right. Raleigh followed with a 362-foot drive into the right field bullpen on a 3-2 fastball.

“An uncharacteristic first inning, to be sure,” Schneider said.

Raleigh is the first player in Mariners history to homer in his first career postseason at bat.

“Cal’s been on fire, not so much with hits but with homers,” Servais said.

Last Friday, Raleigh had a pinch-hit home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Oakland and clinch Seattle’s first postseason berth since 2001.

The early outburst drained much of the energy and excitement from a sellout crowd of 47,402 on hand for Toronto’s first home postseason game since the 2016 AL Championship Series.

Manoah hit Rodríguez for a second time in the fifth, and Seattle’s star newcomer made Toronto pay once more, advancing to third on France’s single to right and scoring on Suárez’s grounder.

Springer and Bichette hit back-to-back two-out singles off Castillo in the third but Guerrero flied out.

Merrifield and Springer reached on two-out singles in the fifth but Castillo got Bichette to ground out.

BLANKED

Toronto was shut out for the sixth time in its postseason history, and the second time at home. It was the second time the Mariners have held an opponent off the scoreboard in the playoffs. They also did it Oct. 10, 2000, against the Yankees.

GAME STATS

Subscribers can find up-to-date standings and statistics from the previous day's games in our eEdition by using the section list to jump to 'Xtra Stats' in our app or online at kansas.com/ eedition.

Marks grew up in admiration of Penske, Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs, the top owners in American motorsports. When he was 15, Marks got his picture taken with Gibbs at the 1996 Daytona 500. He wanted to be a racecar driver and made it happen with 80 starts across NASCAR’s three national series. He never ran a full season, won only one career race and eventually switched to his entrepreneurial efforts, which included entering NASCAR ownership. He started Trackhouse Racing one season ago.

On Sunday, the organization enters its 100th race poised to advance both its drivers into the round of eight.

The 41-year-old is beyond humbled at what he’s accomplished and how quickly the team has become a legitimate challenger to NASCAR’s big dogs.

“These guys were my heroes and they represent what the true top of the sport is, a sport that I’m so passionate about,” Marks said. “Just to have an opportunity to walk through the garage as colleagues is incredibly humbling. Then for us to be in the playoffs and in position to compete against them this deep is just humbling and a testament to how talented everyone is in this building and how hard they are working.”

Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez have combined this season to give Trackhouse its first three wins in team history. Chastain heads into Sunday’s playoff race on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway ranked third in the standings, needing to finish ninth or better to automatically advance into the next round. Suarez is seventh in the standings, 12 points above the cutline needing a finish in the top eight to guarantee he advances.

The field will be trimmed from 12 to eight but really only three drivers will be dropped: Alex Bowman is sidelined for a second consecutive week with a concussion and will be eliminated.

Suarez believes he and Chastain can both contend for the race win on Charlotte’s hybrid road course that uses part of the oval. Chastain scored his first career Cup win on the COTA road course in Texas and Suarez’s only Cup win came on the Sonoma Raceway road course.

“We have a very good road course program at Trackhouse Racing. Both Ross and I have won races and been strong in each race,” Suarez said. “It’s a great feeling as a driver to know you have a strong chance to win every time you race.”

Marks launched the team last season around Suarez, the only Mexican driver in NASCAR’s top level, on a leased charter because the demand to buy the guaranteed spots in the field was too high. When he found through negotiations last year that the charter price was only rising — 23XI paid a record $13.5 million last season for its second one — Marks took a different route.

He cold-called Chip Ganassi and asked whether Ganassi was interested in selling him his NASCAR team. Ganassi listened to the pitch and in November turned over the keys to his race shop, the contracts for his employees and his two charters. Chastain was retained from the Ganassi lineup and the team has been the surprise of the season. Marks credits NASCAR’s new Next Gen car for some of Trackhouse’s success. Although the car is currently under intense scrutiny because three full-time drivers will miss Sunday’s race with injuries suffered in crashes, Marks firmly believes the car has delivered on its promise of leveling the playing field and improving competition.

NASCAR heads into Charlotte with a recordtying 19 different winners of points-paying races, while Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney won nonpoints races to make it 21 different drivers in victory lane this season.

“I am a huge believer this car is going to be successful by cultivating a great – and I sound super redundant because I say it all the time – is building a great culture where people are really excited about coming to work here,” Marks said. “The work that we do on these race cars, now that where in such a tight window and you can’t engineer a piece of equipment that is superior to another team’s piece of equipment, it’s the pride that you take in the work that you do in assembling that piece of equipment.

“That is what has given us the opportunity to do what we’re doing.”

NATHAN DENETTE AP

The Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of an AL wild card playoff series in Toronto on Friday.

SPORTS

NFL players union urges quick changes to concussion protocol

The NFL Players Association urged the league on Friday to implement changes to its concussion protocol in time to protect players in this weekend’s games.

The players’ union wants to strengthen the protocol to avoid a repeat of what happened to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Week 3 against Buffalo. Tagovailoa was unstable when he walked off the field following a hit and was evaluated for a concussion, but he quickly returned to the game and the Dolphins said a back injury had caused his wobbly gait.

Tagovailoa subsequently suffered a concussion four days later at Cincinnati and is out indefinitely.

“Our union has agreed to change the concussion protocols to protect players from returning to play in the case of any similar incident to what we saw on Sept. 25,” the union said in a statement.

“We would like these changes to go into effect before this weekend’s games to immediately protect the players and hope the NFL accepts the change before then as well.”

In its own statement, the league said it was working on updates to the protocol but did not commit to implementing them before Sunday’s games.

“As we have discussed with the NFLPA, we agree that changes to the joint NFL-NFLPA protocols are

necessary to further enhance player safety. We have already spoken to members of the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee and the leadership of the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants and Independent Certified Athletic Trainers who serve as spotters to discuss these likely changes,” the NFL said.

Colleges

Villanova: Freshman forward Cam Whitmore is set to have surgery on his right thumb after injuring it in practice Wednesday.

Figure Skating

Obituary: Bridget Namiotka, a figure skater who accused her late pairs skating partner John Coughlin of sexual abuse, died in July at the age of 32, her parents told USA Today.

Namiotka made her accusations against Coughlin after he took his own life in 2019 following an interim suspension from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

She said in a Facebook post that Coughlin had abused her for two years. They skated together from 2004 to 2007, beginning when she was 14 and he was four years older.

They won the silver medal at junior nationals in 2006.

Namiotka’s parents told USA Today in an interview that their daughter died on July 25, having “succumbed to her long strug-

gles with addiction after several very difficult years of dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse.”

Golf

European tour: Jon Rahm leads the Spanish Open by a stroke after Saturday’s third round in Madrid. Min Woo Lee was alone in second place at 15-under, with six players two behind him at 13-under.

MLB

Rangers: Interim manager Tony Beasley was the first candidate interviewed in the Texas Rangers’ managerial search that general manager Chris Young hopes to wrap up in three to four weeks.

Young said Friday that Beasley would be the only internal candidate for the job.

Motorsports

F1: Max Verstappen of Red Bull will be on pole position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight Formula One drivers’ title.

NBA

Magic: Jalen Suggs has a sprained left knee capsule and bone bruise, but his collision with Dallas’ Dorian Finney-Smith Friday night did not lead to more serious injuries. Friday preseason highlights: Duncan Robinson scored 29 points to lead the visiting Miami Heat to a 111-108 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Robinson shot 7 for 11 from the field, including 5 for 7 on 3-pointers. Jamal Cain, an undrafted rookie who played his last college

season at Oakland University, scored 19 points.

... Top draft pick Paolo Banchero scored 19 points and Terrence Ross added 16 to lead visiting Orlando against the Mavericks, 110-105.

NHL

Canucks: Vancouver acquired defenseman Riley Stillman from the Blackhawks on Friday for center Jason Dickinson and a 2024 second-round draft pick.

Flames: Calgary has signed defenseman MacK-

enzie Weegar to an eightyear, $50 million extension, the team said Friday.

Soccer

US women’s national team: Ten weeks after conquering Europe, England women proclaimed themselves ready for even more after beating the world champion United States 2-1 in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Friday. Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway scored to help England beat the U.S. for the first time since 2017 and less than 10 months before the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. England stopped the Americans’ 13-game winning streak and 21-match unbeaten streak dating to a 1-0 defeat to Canada in a 2021 Olympics semifinal.

Tennis

Agel Open: In Ostrava, Czech Republic, No. 1ranked Iga Swiatek got past former junior partner and rival Caty McNally 6-4, 6-4, and Barbora Krejcikova was the first of three Czechs in the quarterfinals to advance when she ended the career-best run of Alycia Parks 7-6 (7), 6-3. Swiatek will next face Ekaterina Alexandrova or local wild card Tereza Martincova, while Krejcikova lined up Elena Rybakina.

Astana Open: In Kazakhstan, Novak Djokovic survived a second-set tiebreaker in the Astana Open semifinals and shortly after, his opponent Daniil Medvedev retired with a leg injury on Satrurday. Djokovic will play third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final. Japan Open: Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz set up an all-American final at the Japan Open after winning three-set semifinals on Saturday.

STAS FILIPPOV AP

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev during their ATP 500 Astana Open semifinal match in Kazakhstan on Saturday.

TORU HANAI AP

Sparks fly as Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during Saturday’s practice for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix.

Alex Smith details how he circumvented concussion protocol

BY PETE GRATHOFF pgrathoff@kcstar.com

The NFL’s concussion protocol is in the spotlight again — following Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s dreadful injury in last week’s game against the Bengals.

Former Chiefs

quarterback Alex Smith was asked Monday how the protocol works by Pablo Torres on the ESPN Daily podcast, and Smith delved into his own experiences with the Chiefs in 2016.

During an Oct. 30 game against the Coltsat Lucas Oil Stadium, Smith twice hit his head on the turf. Twice he left the game and was evaluated for a concussion. And once he was allowed to return to the game.

The Chiefs later said Smith wasn’t ruled to have had a concussion. But on the podcast, Smith said he lost consciousness at one point and definitely had a concussion.

FIRST QUARTER

Smith first left that game against the Colts after being hit while sliding. Smith tried to jump up, but was wobbly, much like Tagovailoa last week, he said.

After being removed from the game, Smith was asked basic questions on the sideline. He said those are simple queries such as, do you know where you are? Or what did you have for breakfast?

“You quickly can find out if somebody’s slow to respond, doesn’t know, that’s your first ticket to

get into the protocol and once you’re in it, you’re obviously not going back into the game,” Smith said.

But in that 2016 game, Smith passed the test and was taken to the locker room for round two of testing with a trainer and neurologist.

“At the very beginning, (the neurologist) is going to ask you a bunch of questions, he’s going to give you some words, a bunch of words he’s going to ask you, then he’s going to distract you,” Smith said.

“He’s going to (ask questions) ... geography questions, they can be simple math questions, he’s going to ask you a bunch of stuff.

“He’s giving you this kind of sobriety test. So he’s also asking you to perform kind of basic agility, balance standing on one leg, at the end of this 10 to 15 minutes, he’s going to come back to these words he gave you at the very beginning of the test. And if you do well on this entire thing, you’re not in the protocol if he deems you to not have a concussion at this point. You are not in the protocol, you cleared it.”

Smith was hyper-focused on passing the test because he had lost his starting job with the 49ers in 2012 when he left a game because of a concussion. Colin Kaepernick took over and Smith never started again for San Francisco.

So while in the Chiefs locker room, Smith withheld information about how he was feeling because he considered his concussion symptoms to

be mild and he wanted to play again.

The doctor determined Smith had passed that test and he returned to the Chiefs sideline. Smith pressed coach Andy Reid to allow him to return to the game.

“Here’s a coach I have a ton of respect for. Has coached football as long as anybody, right? He was there but ... the experts cleared me. I passed,” Smith said. “I passed their metric of a concussion that I got through and similarly that Tua shouldn’t have (go through). And I went back in the game.”

THIRD QUARTER

Smith returned in the second quarter of that game against the Colts. But shortly after halftime, Smith again was hit while sliding and his head slammed into the turf.

“I’d kind of talked to Andy Reid into running some QB-driven run plays, read options and I loved them and I always told him I’d protect myself,” Smith recalled. ”And so I slid feet first on the first one. I slid kind of late (with a) defender coming over the top. When you slide feet first as a quarterback, you’re just so vulnerable. And sure enough, he kind of hits me in my head and same kind of thing as Tua, I bounced off the turf. And that was the first incident.

“Well, (on the) second incident, like here we go again. ... I slide again, I feel like I slide even earlier. Sure enough safety comes over the top clips my head. And it’s like, same thing. I hit my head

What betting line says about Monday’s Chiefs-Raiders game

BY SAM MCDOWELL smcdowell@kcstar.com

Every season, as the Las Vegas Raiders visit Kansas City, a parade of Chiefs coaches and players cycle though the media room and stand behind a lectern, and they respond to questions about “Raider Week.”

Truth is, though, the phrase has lost some of its

FROM PAGE 1B

punch — because at some point, to develop and perpetuate true animosity toward a rival, you have to feel the threat of actually losing to them more than once every few years. The Chiefs have dominated the so-called rivalry in recent seasons, and if you’re looking for the culprits, the head coach and quarterbacks are good suspects.

Let’s start with the head coach and return to the

HEEL INJURY

though, and spoke Thursday about it being three weeks since he went down in the Chargers game.

“I’m close to being out of the training room,” Hardman said, “and being back to 100%.”

Hardman has remained a considerable part of the Chiefs offense over the last two weeks, logging

quarterback later. Andy Reid is 15-3 against the Raiders since arriving in Kansas City — and get this, he’s not been an underdog once.

Why change now?

The Chiefs are a fulltouchdown favorite, precisely 7 points, when the two teams meet Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s the sixth time in the last seven of these matchups that the Chiefs

his contract situation hadn’t weighed on him in 2022.

68% of the team’s plays against the Colts and 46% vs. the Buccaneers.

The personal timing of his heel issue couldn’t be much worse. The 24-yearold Hardman is in the last year of his rookie deal, meaning he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Hardman said Thursday

Former

on the ground. And yeah, it happened all over again.”

This time, Smith didn’t try to get up right away. That’s because he lost consciousness.

“I’m out on the field for a short period of time, a very small period of time and come to with a bunch of trainers and people all over around me,” Smith said. “And for me, at that point, a rush of emotion. You’re pissed at yourself, to be honest, that it happened, that I let it happen.”

There was no testing on the sideline this time. Smith went right back to the locker room.

”It’s the same protocol, though, right?” Smith said. “So you start with those first, same basic, generic, easy questions, you knock those out, and here we go again. And we go down this the second test, which is the same thing, this time, it’s a whole series of new words that you’ve got to remember and then you go down this whole sobriety test, again, agility, balance, answering all these kind of problem-solving questions, any kind of common sense things people would know.

will be favored by a touchdown or more.

Which leads us back to the quarterback. Patrick Mahomes is 7-1 in his career playing the Raiders, and in those eight starts, his offenses have reached the end zone at least four times in all of them. Not one exception.

He has a career 112.4 quarterback rating against the Raiders, bolstered by two meetings last year in which he threw 7 touchdowns without an interception.

I’ll ask again: Why change now?

The Raiders are allowing 7.52 yards per pass attempt, which ranks 27th in the NFL. It doesn’t help that they have the league’s second-to-last sack rate, just 3.7%.

All of the signs point not only to a Chiefs win, but also a Chiefs cover.

The Chiefs are 2-2 against the spread this year; they actually finished as underdogs in Tampa Bay last week. Las Vegas is 1-3 against the spread.

The over/under for the game is 51 points.

The pick: Chiefs 38, Raiders 17

Last week’s pick: Chiefs (pick ‘em)

My record against the spread this year: 3-1

PLUS THREE

1. Patrick Mahomes, over 275.5 passing yards

Um, see above.

posted career-highs in catches (59) and receiving yards (693).

“They’re trying to evaluate my response time, things like that, come back to those same questions at the end of it. Ten minutes later, I crushed it. I crush the second one better than the first one. I knock this one out. And Pablo, wouldn’t you know it? I’m out of the protocol.”

Smith didn’t return to the game this time as Nick Foles finished off the 3014 victory.

After the game, there was confusion. Reid said Smith had a concussion, but the Chiefs’ head athletic trainer, Rick Burkholder, said the following day that wasn’t the case.

AFTERMATH

Despite having passed the tests during the game, Smith was put in the concussion protocol back in Kansas City and Foles played the following week’s game against Jacksonville.

Although Smith didn’t like the move at the time, he is grateful the Chiefs did it because he clearly had a concussion in Indianapolis.

“I even remember our head trainer like laughing about it like, ‘The concussion that you didn’t have.’

Going with history here. Mahomes has fallen below this number in three consecutive games, albeit barely, which might make taking the over a bit of a trap, but I’ll fall for it: He has topped this number in six of the eight career matchups against the Raiders, and the Raiders pass defense will allow the opportunity for a big night.

2. L’Jarius Sneed, over 6.5 tackles (solo plus assists)

Sneed is having a breakout year in his third NFL season, a transformation from a reliable cornerback to a Pro Bowl-caliber player. The fact that he plays in the slot against threereceiver sets, therefore becoming involved in the running game, helps this particular wager.

Sneed has recorded at least seven total tackles in all four games this season. In the last three, he’s been on the field for every defensive snap. That helps, too.

3. Derek Carr, longest

Like everybody knew it, like it happened,” Smith said. “Obviously the entrance into the protocol was imperfect, and still is, but I kind of slipped out this side door. ...

“I remember sitting down with Andy later that week and I didn’t have any symptoms. I had done really well and Andy, I think was very frustrated at himself that he had stuck me in the game the week prior, and obviously made the wise decision that, given the fact that I still had passed all the stuff (tests), that he wasn’t going to let me play.

“And I’m thankful for him for that, along with our trainer and doctors that all made great decisions. Again, for me at a point when I was still symptom-free, passing tests and moving along and feel like, ‘Hey, let’s go.” And so I sat a week and thankfully ..I’ve never had another incident the rest of my career. So, I’m sure if you look at my medical records, technically, I probably only had one official concussion in the eyes of the NFL.”

Pete Grathoff: 816-234-4330, @pgrathoff

completion is under 36.5 yards

Took this one last week with Tom Brady, and it cashed. Feels like this line is set more on reputation than the new reality of the initial four weeks. The Chiefs were destroyed by explosive plays a year ago, but they’ve yet to allow a 40-yard passing play all season.

Add to that, Carr’s receiving threats aren’t known for the deep passes. (Davante Adams is a terrific wide receiver, but his career yards per catch is just 12.1.) In the last three weeks, Carr has completed one pass that gained more than 23 yards, which, of course, is the risk in this bet. All it takes is one play to flip this into a losing bet.

Prop bet record last week: 2-1

Prop bet season record: 6-6

Sam McDowell: 816-234-4869, @SamMcDowell11

“I’m just letting the play speak for itself,” Hardman said. “Just make some plays here and there, and whenever your number’s called, take advantage of it. And then that (the contract) will take care of itself.”

There’s still plenty of season left to show his skills. Hardman’s best production with the Chiefs came a year ago, as he

And while Hardman says the Chiefs’ 3-1 start still means his season is “going good,” he admits he’s ready to feel better when playing.

“Just trying to get healthy, man,” Hardman said, “and just doing what I can do to help the team the best way I can.”

Jesse Newell: 816-234-4759, @jessenewell

DAVID EULITT deulitt@kcstar.com

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smithtalked to Pablo Torres on Monday’s ESPN Daily podcast about a 2016 game when he twice hit his head, was evaluated and was ruled to have no concussion. But on the podcast, Smith said he lost consciousness at one point and definitely had a concussion.

CHRIS O'MEARA AP Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson (88) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrate a touchdown with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) during the second half against the Buccaneers on Oct. 2 in Tampa, Fla.

President Biden’s instincts to avoid joining war are sound

BY JASON WILLICK The Washington Post

Conventional wisdom is crystallizing in Washington that if Russian President Vladimir Putin used a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, the United States would automatically become a combatant in the war. “Just to give you a hypothetical,” retired Gen. David Petraeus said last Sunday, NATO “would take out every Russian conventional force that we can see and identify on the battlefield in Ukraine and also in Crimea and every ship in the Black Sea.” The Pentagon must plan for all scenarios, but the case for direct U.S. military intervention in Ukraine is dangerously

weak. It was weak at the start of the war, and it will be just as weak if Putin resorts to weapons of mass destruction at its ignominious end.

President Biden’s strategy of avoiding direct U.S. involvement in Ukraine –criticized by hawks since the war’s early days – is working. Once Russian tanks rolled in February, three outcomes became possible. The first is the one both Putin and U.S. intelligence apparently expected: that Russia would swiftly overrun the country and Kyiv would fall. The second was a grinding stalemate, with lines of control eventually stabilizing somewhere in Ukraine’s east. The third was a Ukrainian victory. The closer Ukraine can

Senate hopeful contrasts with Sen. Jerry Moran

BY MARK HOLLAND Special to The Eagle

The election on Nov. 8 presents a choice between two very different views of America.

I choose the America that looks forward to what is next. I believe our best years are ahead of us and I seek to embrace the future unafraid. My opponent to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate wants to make America something it used to be. I choose to look forward to a collaborative future. My opponent is looking backward to a polarized past.

I never thought it was fair that my dad was the preacher at my church and my mom was a teacher at my school. Yet, this upbringing gave me values of service and accountability. These are the same values I have worked to instill in my own four children, and these are the values that I bring to elected office.

As a former Wyandotte County commissioner and the former mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, I know there is no Democratic or Republican way to pave a street. We elect officials to solve problems, and I believe Washington D.C. is the problem we need to solve. We need a new senator who can work across the aisle and provide bold, courageous leadership for Kansas.

As a third-generation pastor, I know we do not sit on the left or right side of the church depending on which party we belong to. We worship together, sing in the choir together, and serve in the food kitchen together. Washington could learn something about our communities of faith and how we work together.

I can work with individuals who are both left and right of center, but if you cannot see the center from where you are standing, you are likely standing in the wrong place. My opponent, Sen. Jerry Moran, often gets a pass for supposedly being a centrist, but his voting record is extreme. Here are just a few examples:

get to that third outcome, the better for the United States’ interests in the long run. But a nuclear crisis stands in the way. That was always clear: Russia keeps a massive stockpile of low-yield weapons intended for battlefield use in situations it considers vital to its survival, which could include the failure to hold territories in eastern Ukraine.

As Russian forces suffer a weeks-long string of defeats, the prospect of Ukrainian victory is becoming thinkable without the United States having ever sent its army to the battlefield or air force to the skies. To say now that Washington must join the war directly if Putin goes nuclear would turn Biden’s

successful strategy upside down. It would mean that the fruit of success is not greater American security but a greater likelihood that the United States will become a combatant in a major war.

The Biden administration’s goal from the outset has been to support Ukraine with arms and logistics and punish Russia for its aggression without putting Americans in harm’s way. It has done so. And if Putin in desperation detonates a nuclear device – which would likely have limited battlefield effectiveness – the Biden administration can continue its support, with more and more potent weapons.

But any U.S. guarantees to join the war if Putin

breaks the nuclear taboo could distort Ukraine’s decision-making. Thus far, Western officials have said that Ukraine should decide for itself when and whether to seek a ceasefire with Russia. As the country fighting for its survival, it is best equipped to know the benefits and risks.

That’s true as long as the physical battlefield is limited to Ukraine. But if Russian nuclear escalation in Ukraine would automatically trigger a shooting war between NATO and Russia, then the risks of the war in eastern Ukraine would be spread across the Western alliance. And Ukraine would take on more risk than it otherwise would.

No one can predict how a war with Russia would play out. Yes, NATO could try to restore nuclear deterrence by using its superior conventional forces to severely damage Russia’s. But that could prompt Russia to try another round of nuclear

escalation. As one analyst observed, nuclear war is “the only level on which Russia enjoys parity with the United States.”

A nuclear strike by Russia against Ukraine would indeed change the world, but the United States’ refusal to join the war directly would not. NATO has declined to bring Ukraine into its defense perimeter. NATO members are covered by America’s nuclear umbrella, as are treaty allies such as Australia, Japan and the Philippines. The credibility of those guarantees would not be at stake.

“Let justice be done, though the heavens may fall” is a legal maxim that can’t be realized in domestic law, much less foreign policy in the nuclear age. The restoration of all of Ukraine’s territory is just – and NATO should back Kyiv regardless of Putin’s nuclear threats. But as the war bends toward a just outcome, it would be a mistake to invite the heavens to fall.

A I trust women and I would vote to codify Roe v Wade. My opponent has an extreme record of banning abortion rights. He voted for Supreme Court justices to eliminate Roe v Wade. He has co-sponsored 75 different bills in the U.S. Senate to take away choice for women. He gave $50,000 to the constitutional amendment campaign in August that would have allowed the Kansas Legislature to impose severe restrictions on abortion rights.

A I believe in the separation of church and state. My opponent wants the government to enforce his religious views about women and abortion.

A I back working families. My opponent voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill that is bringing $3.8 billion of real jobs and real wages to Kansas.

A I back our seniors and I would protect Social Security and Medicare. My opponent voted against Medicare negotiating better prescription medicine costs for Kansas seniors. And he voted against capping the cost of insulin.

A I support commonsense gun reform. Just a few weeks ago, Democrats and Moderate Republicans voted for modest gun reform. My opponent sided with the extremists and voted against it.

A I will always defend democracy. My opponent refused to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol or to renew the Voting Rights Act.

My opponent has spent 20 years in Washington D.C., weakly following the political winds. The result of his lack of leadership is a government as toxic as any in our lifetimes.

Kansas deserves better leadership. I look forward to serving as your next U.S. senator.

Rev. Mark Holland is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate for Kansas, a United Methodist minister and former mayor or Kansas City, Kansas.

Baffling ballot question about sheriffs attacks local control

BY MARLA FLENTJE Special to The Eagle

November ballot Question 2, a proposed constitutional amendment about the election and removal of sheriffs, is bad for local democracy and should be soundly rejected by voters.

The amendment would tie the hands of voters to reform local government services according to their needs. Passage of the measure will also revoke the power held by county prosecutors to initiate removal of sheriffs from office for misconduct.

The amendment’s assault on democracy is obscured by verbose and misleading ballot language. As with the August election question on abortion, this amendment’s authors rejected plain English in the service of deceiving voters.

An initial reading of the amendment’s garbled text suggests its passage would allow voters to elect their sheriff. But voters in nearly all counties already elect the sheriff and have done so since the beginning of statehood.

While working at the Kansas Association of Counties, I learned how

little most Kansans know about county government; they assume counties are identical to city governments. But there are important differences between the two. A bit of background about how counties differ is helpful to make sense of this amendment.

The election of four administrative officers –clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, and sheriff – is a holdover from the 19th century formation of Kansas county governments.

Presently, in almost all Kansas counties, the sheriff is responsible for maintaining law and order, enforcing state laws, and managing the county jail. The sheriff shares law enforcement duties with a county (or district) attorney and police chiefs in the county’s cities. All police chiefs are appointed by an elected city council or city commission.

In the early 20th century, voters in many cities approved Progressive Era reforms including appointment of professional managers, merit selection of employees, and “shorter ballots.” For much of Kansas history, however, such reforms were passed over by county voters. But

in more recent years, voters in several counties, including Johnson, Wyandotte, Riley, and Greeley, have approved similar reforms including elimination of elected administrative offices and merger of specific city and county services.

The notion that local citizens are in the preferred position to decide how local governments can best serve their community is a bedrock principle in Kansas law. The amendment violates this tradition by restricting county voters’ options for reorganizing their local governments.

Elevating sheriffs to constitutional status is unprecedented and undemocratic. Our Constitution is silent when it comes to local offices.

Instead, it delegates to the Legislature responsibility to authorize city and county officers. Presently, state law requires elected sheriffs, but also enables a process for voters to eliminate the position — as voters in Riley County did when they consolidated city and county law enforcement departments.

The Constitution only mandates state-wide elected officers, such as

the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Constitutional designation for a sheriff would make it unique among local officials with no explicit rationale except a self-serving one for sheriffs to perpetuate the office. Indeed, constitutional status for sheriffs would render it impossible to ever change the position.

The amendment will invalidate local control by prohibiting local prosecutors from launching removal from office proceedings. Presently, a local county or district attorney can initiate a court process – called an ouster – to remove a sheriff for misconduct.

Removal from office for cause has been successfully performed numerous times in state history. The proposed amendment deletes this local authority so that only the state attorney general can initiate ouster proceedings.

When voting in November, a “No” vote on this amendment will maximize the autonomy of local citizens to reform their local governments and remove sheriffs from office for misconduct.

Marla Flentje is retired after working with county and city governments in the Midwest for more than 30 years and a leader in Women for Kansas.

BY MARK MARDEROSIAN

Games and activities for young readers who need something to fill their day.

FIRST IN HER CLASS

Manon Rheaume, the first woman to play in an NHL game, continues to break barriers

BY HELENE ELLIOTT Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES

Playing goal was as natural to Manon Rheaume as breathing.

She didn’t intend to be the only girl on her youth teams, the first girl to play in the famed Quebec International Pee Wee tournament and the first girl to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. There weren’t many options for girls to play hockey in the 1980s and 1990s. She had to compete against boys if she wanted to play at all, and she was determined to play. She also didn’t intend to make history, but she couldn’t say no when the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning invited her to their training camp after she had helped Canada win gold at the 1992 women’s world championships. She played one period of an exhibition for Tampa Bay against St. Louis on Sept. 23, 1992, becoming the first – and still only –woman to suit up for an NHL game.

“I never even thought I would even play in the NHL. It wasn’t even a dream of mine,” said Rheaume, who played one period of an exhibition against Boston a year later and spent several seasons playing in men’s minor leagues. “I just happened to stumble into it.”

Thirty years later, she has made it to the NHL. Not in uniform but as a member of the Kings’ player development department, one of many accomplished women who have been hired for meaningful roles on NHL teams the past few years.

Rheaume, mother to hockey-playing sons Dylan St. Cyr, 23, and Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, 15, joins a staff that also includes

scout Blake Bolden, the first Black woman to play in the now-defunct National Women’s Hockey League.

It’s not that teams and leagues are becoming “woke.” They’ve belatedly realized admitting women into their stale, restricted old boys’ club adds knowledge, perspective and experiences that can invigorate the sport.

Rheaume’s sons had participated in summer camps in Los Angeles and she knew Kings President Luc Robitaille through charity work and mutual friends. Their conversations took a serious turn when she indicated she wanted to work for a team after spending years organizing successful girls’ hockey programs in Michigan and doing analysis for RDS, a French-language TV network in Canada.

Robitaille recognized a fit. “I personally find, same with Blake Bolden, that these girls are overachievers. They work really hard, and when you get them in your organization, they bring that attitude,” he said. “It’s amazing to see. To me, I think there’s huge value.

“Manon, with her background and how much work she had to do and fighting against adversity to get to the level she got, there’s certainly a lot that could be taught to those young players.”

Rheaume, 50, isn’t replacing goaltending guru Bill Ranford. Her title is player operations/ prospect advisor. She watched the Kings’ prospects during training camp, building relationships she will reinforce by visiting them when they’re with their junior team. She also participated in a Special Olympics ball hockey clinic, and Robitaille plans to feature her in community and women’s hockeyfocused events this sea-

son. Working with the Kings’ young players is ideal for Rheaume, who was familiar with many of them from tournaments her sons played in.

“It’s really meeting our draft picks and getting to know them and see if I can see or feel something about those players. More like as a mom,” she said. “Having two kids that play, I know when things go wrong, they call me. I

don’t know if it’s easier to talk with me than their dad. I feel like I’m bringing that side of it.” She never imagined having this job because there were no women in positions of great responsibility in hockey. But as she inspired little girls – and little boys – to follow their dreams, she can now inspire them to look beyond the rink toward careers in the game. She’s in good company.

The Vancouver Canucks employ two female assistant general managers, Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato and former college player Emilie Castonguay. Standout U.S. Olympian Meghan Duggan is director of player development for the New Jersey Devils, where Kate Madigan is the assistant GM. Meghan Hunter is an assistant GM for the Chicago Blackhawks, who hired Kendall Coyne Scho-

field as a player development coach. Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser, who has a place in the Hall of Fame and a medical degree, is an assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Alexandra Mandrycky, a data specialist, is an assistant GM of the Seattle Kraken.

“All those women that played at a high level, even if they don’t make it to the NHL, they’re able to contribute to an NHL team in a different way with their ideas and their knowledge of the game,” Rheaume said.

Could a woman play in the NHL? Coyne Schofield and others have excelled in skills contests at NHL All-Star weekend but they didn’t have defenders lining them up when they competed. “They’re very skilled. Let’s say we put that in a body-checking situation – it’s a little different,” Rheaume said.

“You can ask me, could I have played in the NHL way back then? Doing a training camp is one thing. Doing a full year, facing those shots, I was bruised all over after a week. Physically, I didn’t have the same strength as a man possessed.

“But I cannot say that a woman could never play there, because you never know. You could have a woman that’s super strong, super fast, or a female goaltender that is big and very agile and can play at that level. Nobody thought I would be able to do it in camp, so that’s why I would never say no.”

Because she said no to those who doubted her so many years ago, other women have had the opportunity to say yes to significant roles in a game that can’t be for everyone if it doesn’t let everyone have a say in its present and its future.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Manon Rheaume uses her glove to make a save during her professional debut against the St. Louis Blues in 1992 in Tampa, Fla. Rheaume became the first – and still only – woman to suit up for an NHL game.

CHRIS O’MEARA AP

Manon Rheaume, seen in 1992, says: “All those women that played at a high level, even if they don’t make it to the NHL, they’re able to contribute to an NHL team in a different way with their ideas and their knowledge of the game.”

The Guardians’ Jose Ramirez singles during Friday’s eighth inning of a wild card baseball game against the visiting Rays.

Ramírez sends Guardians past Rays in AL opener

hours, 17 minutes. Cleve-

off McClanahan, and Ramírez, a four-time AllStar who finished second to Aaron Judge in RBIs in the AL this season, drove a 1-1 changeup over the wall for just his second postseason homer in 97 at-bats.

As the red-towel waving fans in Progressive Field screamed, Rays manager Kevin Cash appealed whether Rosario missed second. TV replays showed Ramirez slowing and touching the bag.

While the umpires waited for an official ruling, the crowd spontaneously sang “Jose … Jose … Jose,” like never before, prompting Ramírez to pop out for a curtain call. The home run stood and Cleveland had a slim lead it protected.

Obituaries

Adams, Wanda, 69 Wichita Oct 05 Resthaven Mortuary Allmond, Thomas Ray, 87 Benton Oct 02 Heritage Funeral Home

Anderson, Anita

Beckman, Bernard “Bernie”, 82

Cochran, Jean, 95

Drees, Thomas, 59

Evans, Eddie Joe, 76

BY TOM WITHERS Associated Press

CLEVELAND

José Ramírez connected for a two-run homer, Shane Bieber dominated Tampa Bay for 7 2⁄3 innings and the young Cleveland Guardians played with poise in their postseason debut, beating the Rays 2-1 in the wild-card opener on Friday.

Ramírez’s shot off

Shane McClanahan in the sixth inning helped Cleveland end an eight-game postseason losing streak and left the club one win from advancing in its first season as the Guardians.

Bieber, rocked in his only other playoff appearance two years ago, allowed just three hits and struck out eight before being lifted with a runner on in the eighth.

Emmanuel Clase took it from there, getting four outs for his first postseason save and finishing a game that took just 2

land’s closer led the majors with 42 saves in the regular season.

Jose Siri homered for the Rays, who dropped their sixth straight game overall and must win Game 2 on Saturday to force a decisive Game 3. The series winner plays the AL East champion New York Yankees in the Division Series starting Tuesday in the Bronx.

With 17 players making MLB debuts, the Guardians entered lacking playoff experience. However, Ramírez and Bieber have been here before, and both came through for the AL Central champions.

And the Guardians, who played “small ball” all season to win an unexpected division title, leaned on power for this win.

With Cleveland down 1-0 and running out of outs, Ramírez delivered — as usual.

Amed Rosario singled with one out in the sixth

Padres hammer Scherzer, rout Mets in opener

BY MIKE FITZPATRICK Associated Press

NEW YORK

After pounding Max Scherzer in a stunning romp, the San Diego Padres are halfway home in the wild-card round.

Josh Bell and Manny Machado smashed two of San Diego’s four homers off an ineffective Scherzer, and the Padres blew out the New York Mets 7-1 on Friday night in their playoff opener.

“This is not a game that you normally see out of Max, so we were fortunate,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Yu Darvish shut down the Mets once again, and San Diego also got long balls from leadoff batter Jurickson Profar and slumping Trent Grisham against Scherzer — booed off the mound in the fifth inning at sold-out Citi Field.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner exited his first postseason start for New York down 7-0, a massive disappointment after Scherzer was signed to a $130 million contract in December to pitch big games for his new team.

“Baseball can take you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and this is one of the lowest of lows,” Scherzer said.

San Diego needs one road win over the next two days to take the best-ofthree National League wild-card series and advance to face the topseeded Los Angeles Dodgers.

Blake Snell starts Saturday night in Game 2 against scuffling Mets ace Jacob deGrom.

“Every game in a threegame series feels like it’s monumental,” Melvin said.

After winning 101

games during the regular season, second-most in franchise history, the Mets are suddenly facing elimination at home after falling flat before a revved-up crowd of 41,621 in their first playoff game since 2016.

“We’ve been really good and now we get to see what we’re made of,” said slugger Pete Alonso, who struck out in the first two playoff at-bats of his career — including with runners at the corners and one out in the first inning.

Eduardo Escobar homered and doubled off Darvish, who has won all three of his starts against New York this year with a 0.86 ERA.

The star right-hander from Japan, coming off a 16-win season, was the NL pitcher of the month for September and picked up right where he left off. He wriggled out of trouble early when the game was still competitive and then settled in to throw seven innings of six-hit ball without a walk for his first postseason victory in five years.

Darvish is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in eight career regular-season starts against the Mets, including 3-0 at Citi Field.

“We’re getting pretty spoiled,” Melvin said, noting that Darvish “invents pitches” during his outings. “It’s kind of a typical Yu Darvish game.”

The 38-year-old Scherzer also lost a critical game last weekend in Atlanta, giving up nine hits — including two homers — and four runs over 5 2/3 innings. He missed about nine weeks this season during two stints on the injured list with left oblique injuries, but finished 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA and said Thursday he was fully healthy.

Scherzer had little snap on his pitches, though, and

Siri’s one-out homer in the sixth — just the second hit allowed by Bieber — gave the Rays a 1-0 lead. Siri flew out to deep center in his first at-bat in third before driving a 1-0 pitch over the fence.

Tampa Bay didn’t get its first hit of Bieber until the fifth, when Harold Ramírez bounced a single into center. But Bieber buckled down and got two outs before striking out Christian Bethancourt, the right-hander’s third punch-out to end an inning.

When he was lifted, Bieber received a thunderous ovation he tried to return by clapping into his glove.

Both Shanes, McClanahan and Bieber, were looking to rebound from poor playoff outings.

GAME STATS

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the Padres took advantage. Bell launched a tworun homer in the first in his initial postseason plate appearance and flipped his bat after his first home run since Sept. 6.

“I kind of blacked out for it,” Bell said. “It felt like I was on a cloud.”

GAME STATS

Subscribers can find up-to-date standings and statistics from the previous day's games in our eEdition by using the section list to jump to 'Xtra Stats' in our app or online at kansas.com/eedition.

Obituaries

Erlene Farr

March 13, 1938October 5, 2022

June 13, 1945October 7, 2022

Hutchinson, KansasBarbara Pearle Sheldon, 77, died October 7, 2022, in Hutchinson. She was a retired Christian educator, Diaconal Minister, and Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Barbara had served churches in Valley Center, Wichita, and Syracuse as well as on the Annual ConferenceStaff,andasStaff Director. In addition, Barbara was the interim director of Grace Med Clinic. With her husband, Tom, of 55 years, she participated in churches at Oxford, Kechi, Newton, South Hutchinson, Mulvane, and Great Bend. Other survivors include: daughters, Lori,Robin(Joe);grandsons, Matthew, Ethan, and Quinn; brother, John Cottle (Janice); sister, Joan Orr; foster brother, Richard Geier (Donna); and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 14, 2022, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 N. Main, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Trinity’s Tiny Treasures Preschool, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Gene Miracle

August 26, 1935 - September 30, 2022

Wichita Kansas - Gene Miracle

August 26, 1935 – September 30, 2022

Lynne Graber

June 29, 1941September 30, 2022

Loveland, Colorado - On September 30, 2022, Lynne

M. Graber, a wonderful mother and wife, passed away in Greeley, Colorado surrounded by love. She was eighty-one. Born to Arvid and Maxine Graber, Lynne graduated from Wichita State and went on to become a well-loved elementary school teacher. Lynne met Allen Graber in Hutchinson and they married and raised a son in Wichita. Lynne loved playing bridge, gardening, reading, and dancing whenever she could talk Allen into it. She regularly volunteered at the pediatrics unit at Via Christi and took great joy in helping others.

She is survived by her son Jeff Graber, daughter-in-law Nikki Graber, sister Kay Shepperd, and beloved nieces Kara Mc Cune and Kristin Obert and their loving families.

The graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 15th, 2022, 2:00 PM, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina Kansas, she will be laid to rest next to Allen.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Kansas Food Bank. https://kansasfoodbank.org/how-to-help/ donate-money

Ronald Ringer

September 24, 1935 - October 4, 2022

Derby Kansas - Erlene

(Ewy) Farr died on October 5, 2022 at age 84. She was born on March 13, 1938 in Newton, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, Waldo and Sarah Ewy, and her brother, Marvin Ewy. She is survived by daughters Tracy (Steve) Blake and Vicki (Jeff) Smith, both of Derby; grandsons Eli (Sara) Shunatona and Brett (Samantha) Smith; brothers Harold (Joan) Ewy of Camdenton, MO, Ralph (Cheryl) Ewy of Moore, OK; and sister Karen (Richard) Suenram, Syria VA; as well as 7 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on October 11, 2022 at Woodlawn United Methodist Church.

A memorial has been established with Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 S Woodlawn Blvd, Derby KS 67037.

GeneDelaneyMiracle,87, died Friday, September 30, 2022. Funeral service will be Saturday, October 15, 1:30 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 842 N. Tyler Rd., Wichita, KS. Preceded in death by his parents, Carlie and Millie Miracle, sister Robbie Cooper, and brother Glen Miracle. Survived by his wife, Patricia Miracle; sisters, Carlene Dean, Pat Miracle; daughter Janell Sawyer; son Kent (Jennifer) Miracle; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

October 14, 1940October 4, 2022

Wichita, Kansas - Ronald G. “Ron” Ogden, 81, passed away Tuesday, October 4, 2022. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 pm, Saturday, Oct. 15, at Broadway Mortuary, 1147 S. Broadway. Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Jean K. Ogden; parents, George and Neva Ogden; brother, Jim Ogden and step-son, Monte Hensley. Survivors include his sons, Marv Ogden (Jackee), Tim Ogden, and Mike Ogden (Mary); and stepdaughter, Elizabeth Tanner (Rick). Memorials to: The Kansas Humane Society. Share condolences and view extended obituary at www.cozine.com. Services by Cozine Memorial Group-Broadway Mortuary.

Suellen Petrillo

June 25, 1950September 24, 2022

Medicine Lodge Kansas - Ronald Lloyd Ringer, 87, of Medicine Lodge, KS, died October 4, 2022 at Hilltop Manor Nursing Center, Cunningham, KS. Rosary service will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medicine Lodge, Kansas on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Schulte, KS on Monday, October 10, 2022 at 11am. Interment will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery Schulte, Kansas. Memorials may be made to Holy Rosary Parish, Medicine Lodge, Kansas, St. Peters Parrish, Schulte, Kansas or the Barber County EMS in care of Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104.

Obituaries

Hours: Monday-Sunday - 8am-5pm

To

Wichita Kansas - Suellen Petrillo was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Suellen was strong, smart, independent, artistic and creative. She worked as a Paralegal and was very involved in the Wichita civic community. Sue leaves behind sisters Sara Wilson (Bill) and Vicky Foster (Craig), brother, Vince Petrillo (Mary), many favored nieces and nephews and many very loyal friends including Mondy Benton and Mary Potter. Sue is predeceased by her mother, Sara Petrillo, her father, Vic Petrillo, and companion, Bob Tanner. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM, November 5, 2022 at The Fun Venue, 221 N. St. Francis, Wichita KS. Full obituary can be found at https://www.bakerfhwichita. com

Obituaries

Hours: Monday-Sunday - 8am-5pm

Barbara P. Sheldon

Ronald G. “Ron” Ogden

Obituaries

Teresa Ann “T.A.” Arnold June 1, 1956 - September 29, 2022

resa was kind, loving, and good beyond measure. She will be dearly missed.

Alvin Goheen

November 24, 1930 - October 6, 2022

Edna Kansas - Teresa

Ann “T.A.” Arnold born June1,1956,diedSeptember 29, 2022.

Teresa was a joy and pleasure to everyone who knew her. Her infectious smile and laugh could brighten the darkest day. She never hesitated to help anyone she met and took in every stray animal that crossed her path. She was creative in every sense and had enormous artistictalentthatsheexpressed in a multitude of ways. She loved her family more than anything and was able to spend the last few months living with her daughter’s family in Edna, Kansas. Te-

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents Wanda Lee and Kenneth Arnold, and siblings Kris, Kerry and Mike Cook. She is survived by sister Kelly Rains, brothers Kurt (Kim) and Eric Arnold, daughter Sheila Johnson (Paul), son Sean McKenzie, grandchildren Garen and Juno McKenzie, Isaac and Riley Johnson, Lily, Seany, Kaden, Lukas, and Logan McKenzie, and Brendan Pursley, her former husband Kevin McKenzie and his family, and niece Brandi Biggs (Jeff Zeidler). She is also survived by her two best friends Straw Hidaka and John Dinkelspiel and her devoted canine companion, Squeakers.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local humane society or charity of your choice.

Condolences to Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, 1747 Broadway, Joplin, MO 64801.

Thomas Drees

September 16, 1963 - September 22, 2022

Andale Kansas - Alvin Paul Goheen, age 91, retired machinist, died Thursday, October 6, 2022.

A Rosary to be held Monday, October 10th at 7:00 pm with a Mass of Christian Burial and interment on Tuesday, October 11th at 10:30 am at St Joseph Catholic Church in Andale, Kansas.

Alvin was born on the family farmstead of Paul Benjamin and Sinnie Christine (Teselle) Goheen, NW of Downs, Kansas. He was the first of nine children that filled their loving home with hijinks and laughter.

After high school, he drove the local school bus, then later transported fuel to the Wichita area. Alvin soon was engaged to the “Cutie

Mary L. Stephenson September 24, 2022

Pie of Osborne High”, Helen Pauline Henke, daughter of Ernest and Margaret Henke. They were married on August 2, 1950, then moved to Wichita to start a family of their own.

Alvin honed his skills in machine tooling at Boeing, then Eades Tool Company. In 1980, he partnered with three of his cohorts and founded 4-Star Tool & Die, where he retired in December 2003. Alvin spent his remaining years enjoying time with family, western movies (especially John Wayne) and old tractors (yes, the green and yellow ones).

Preceded in death by his wife Helen; brother, David Goheen; son, Mark Goheen; daughter, Dianne Gibson. Survived by brothers, James (Janice), Myron, Lloyd (Diane), Dale (Judy); sisters, Phyllis (Bill) Blanchard, Sharon (John) Miller, Doris (Doug) Newcomb; children, Paul (Patricia), Wexford, PA, Teresa (Steven) Weninger, New Braunfels,TX,Mary(Claude “Hap”) Harpster, Norwich, KS; son-in-law Greg Gibson, Goddard; 9 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild.

Jerry Larrison

Wichita, Kansas - We are saddened that our brother Tom Drees passed away on September 22, 2022. He was definitely his own man and he will be greatly missed by his friends and family. Unfortunately this past year, his health prevented him from being able to enjoy the wind in his sails, fishing the walleye spawn, or enjoying himself with friends and family before being called home. He was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He spent the majority of his career in quality assurance at Learjet. He was also involved with insurance sales. He loved to fish, hunt, sail, music (es-

pecially vinyl albums) and gardening. He had a passion for finding a good deal on sporting equipment and different knickknacks. There was no estate or garage sale that was safe. And he didn’t mindhavingtwoorthreesets of the same thing. He is precededindeathbyhisparents, William and Mary Drees, who we miss very dearly. He is survived by siblings Bill (Betty) Drees of Overland Park, KS, Jean Snyder of Santa Barbara, CA, Kevin (Marsha) Drees of Stillwater, OK, Chris (Tom) Sanders of Hutchinson, KS, Nancy (Scott) Nixon of Frisco, TX, and Rick (Marci) Drees of Wichita, KS; along with numerous nephews and nieces. A rosary and memorial service will be held at DeVorss, Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary, 201 S. Hydraulic, Wichita, KS 67211, on October 29, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you donate to Midwest Transplant Network; or to another organ transplant organization of your choice.

Linda Flakes

July 16, 1947 - October 1, 2022

trator in the Catholic Church and was allowed to give Reflections at Liturgy. She developed and wrote Ethics procedures for Hospitals.

I think she was so proud to become a 1st Degree Black Belt in Tae Quan Do at the age58.Shewasanincredible photographer and many of her pictures and much of her story can be found on hers and my website uniquelyus. net. Most of all she was filled with love, for me and everyone she met.

Wichita Kansas -MyBeloved wife of over 57 years, Linda Flakes died unexpectedly Saturday, October 1, 2022. She was born Linda Margaret McDonald July 16, 1947 in Lumberton, North Carolina. She left 3 daughters Gigi, Nikki, and Jamie and 5 grandchildren, each of whom she loved deeply and personally. Her accomplishments were immense and far too many to list. She was my wife, my lover, the very air I breathed. She was a great Substitute Teacher, a wonderful grandmother and mother. She was an accomplished Director of Religious Formation programs that had as many as 700 students. She was a Lay Pastoral Adminis-

Michael Barney

June 15, 1959September 27, 2022

I miss rubbing her feet, her smile and just her most telling and wonderful looks she would give me.

I miss you beyond words and I will find you even if it takes eternity. Linda very much believed in God and us.Sheisnotgoneasshewill be with me and you forever. She believed as I do that everyone was entitled to good health care so any memorials should be given to Hunter Health Care Clinic in Wichita. They provide health care for those who otherwise would not have any. Her forever devoted husband, John

Jean Cochran September 4, 1927 - October 6, 2022

October 26, 1935 - October 7, 2022

Pratt Kansas - Jerry Kent Larrison, 86, passed away Friday, October 7, 2022 at Pratt Health and Rehab. He was born on October 26, 1935 in Pratt to Morris Wilbur and Irene (Swonger) Larrison. Jerry married Karellen K. (McGuire) Larrison on September 2, 1956 in Pratt. They were married for 66 years.

Jerry was raised on a farm near Sawyer where he attended and graduated from Sawyer High School in 1953. He graduated from Pratt Junior College and went on to graduate from Dallas Institute of Gupton & Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1957. He served in the United States Army in Graves Registration at Fort Lee, Virginia and Arlington National Cemetery. He previously worked for Williams Mortuary in Pratt, Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, Manager of Culbertson Mortuary in Wichita, Manager and Vice President of Resthaven Mortuary and Cemetery in Wichita and Manager of Lakeview Mortuary in Wichita. In 1978, Jerry and Karellen purchased Williams Mortuary and became Larrison Mortuary. They later purchased Foulk Funeral Home in Turon, Forsyth Funeral Home in Medicine Lodge and Ayres Calbeck Mortuary in Pratt. He was a member of

Pratt First United Methodist Church and Pratt Elks Club, and past Chairman of American Red Cross Cannonball Trail Chapter of Pratt, past Scout Master of Troop #201, past Member of Greenlawn Cemetery Board, past President of Pratt Rotary Club, past Member of Pratt Shrine Club and Wichita Midian Shrine, Wichita Consistory with honorary 32nd and 33rd Degree, Member of Pratt Kilwinning Lodge #265, Larned Lodge #167, Past President of Kansas Funeral Director Association. He enjoyed camping, fishing and boating with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Karellen; children, Pamela (Randy) Marsh of Port Charlotte, Florida, Krystal (Steve) Larrison and Eric (Mandy) Larrison of Lake Arrowhead, Kansas; sisters, Morene Larrison of Haviland and Reta Bell of Sawyer; grandchildren, Aaron (Lindsey) Marsh, Tara (Brian) Marsh, Zachary (Annie) Wedel, Gabrielle (Billy) White, Savana Larrison, Annika (Oliver) Larrison, Maric Larrison, Lauren Schmidt, Lanie (Austin) Carr and Shiloh Carr; and 6 great-grandchildren.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be Sunday, October 9, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Monday, October 10, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Larrison Mortuary with John Hamm presiding. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt. Memorialsmaybemadeto Pratt Area Humane Society in care of Larrison Mortuary. Online condolences may be made at www.larrisonmortuary.com.

Charmis Secrest Manny September 12, 1926 - October 6, 2022

er and mother in Wichita for many years, raising 4 children. She later resumed nursing activities, working at Wesley Medical Center and at the Southeast Wichita Family Medical Center, from which she retired.

Wichita, Kansas Charmis Secrest Manny, 96, Retired Registered Nurse, died Thursday, October 6, 2022, in Wichita, KS. Charmis was born on Sept. 12,1926,inruralRenoCounty, KS, to James L. Secrest and Opal (Cooper) Secrest. During her childhood years she lived in rural areas around Langdon, Abbyville and Arlington, KS. After graduating from Arlington High School, in the mid1940’s she attended nurses’ training at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing in the historic Carey Mansion in Hutchinson, KS. It was in Hutchinson where she met Ernest C. “Easy” Manny, Jr., whom she married on Sept. 17, 1949. They moved to Dallas, TX, where she worked as an RN at The Methodist Hospital, and later to Lawrence, KS, finally settling in Wichita in 1952.

Charmis was a homemak-

Oklahoma City Oklahoma - Mary Stephenson passed away September 24, 2022, at the age of 87.

She was born to Albert and Helena Kraus and raised in Garden Plain, Kansas. She married Tom Stephenson on May 31, 1959. She was married to Tom for 55 years before he died. Mary and Tom raised their family in Watonga,Oklahoma,thenmovedto Oklahoma City.

She is survived by her 4 children Craig Stephenson (Beckie) from Ponca City, Oklahoma, Katrina Stephenson from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Shreese Wilson (Daryl) from Peoria, Illinois, and Mappy Laughlin (Steven) from Houston, Texas. She is also survived by her sister Rita Chalmers (Danny) from Manset, Maine; her brother Albert Kraus, Jr. from Garden Plain, Kansas;

and her sister-in-law Jerilynn (Bill) Moss, Wichita, KS. She was a loving mother and sister. She especially loved her 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. She and Tom hosted many foreign exchange students and she loved to travel with family and friends.

After many years of working in public service as the Blaine County Election Board Secretary, she retired from the Oklahoma State Election Board. She was a strong believer in serving others and passed her love of public service to her children.

She had many hobbies, was an avid gardener and enjoyed working in her flower gardens. She was a talented seamstress, making many of her own clothes and her most recent hobby was cross-stitching. She was a card shark and passed her love of rummy games to her children and grandchildren. She never lost her sense of humor.

She was loved and will be missed.

A memorial service will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to Integris Hospice House in Oklahoma City would be appreciated.

Doloris Vasquez

January 23, 1934 - October 2, 2022

Wichita Kansas - Doloris Sophia (Peterson) Vasquez passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the age of 88. Doloris was born January 23, 1934, in Monroe, Nebraska to Edward and Monica (Wandro) Peterson. She is preceded in death by her husband Carlos; parents; brother, Jerome; sister, Rita Stransky; brothers in-law ThomasEverling,andThomas Stransky; daughter in-law, Jennifer Vasquez; and granddaughter, Heather Stewart. Passing on her traditions and values, she leaves her son John C. Vasquez; daughters, Maria B. Stewart and Christina Vasquez-DeFazio; sons in-law, Chris Stewart and Carmine DeFazio; grandchildren, Robert P. Vasquez, John M. Vasquez, Demi Garza, Teresa Stewart, Rose Stewart,ThomasStewart,Jo-

Wanda Adams

November 16, 1952 - October 5, 2022

seph Stewart, Mary Stewart, and Anthony Stewart; future granddaughter in-law, Randa Taylor; great-granddaughter, Chandler Morgan Vasquez; brothers, Norb (Ruth) Peterson and Edward (Debbie) Peterson; sisters, Sister Mary Monica Peterson, Monica Everling, and Bernie (Frank) Cinadr; and a host of dear familyand friends.Visitation will be held Sunday, October 9, 2022 from 5-7 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 861 N. Socora St. Wichita, KS 67212. A rosary service for Doloris will follow promptly, at 7:00 PM, also at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, October 10, 2022, at 10:00 AM, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 861 N. Socora St., Wichita, KS 67212, with graveside service to follow at Ascension Cemetery, 7200 E. 45th St N., Bel Aire, KS 67226. Flowers may be sent to DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary, 201 S Hydraulic Ave, Wichita KS 67211. Memorial contributions can be made to: A Better Choice, The Lord’s Diner, and Wichita Catholic Diocese Seminary.

Anita G. Anderson

May 31, 1957September 22, 2022

Wichita Kansas

Charmis is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Clarence “Easy” Manny, Jr. They were married for 69 years. She is also preceded in death by her parents, James and Opal Secrest; brother, Rev. Joseph Secrest of Walton, IN; sister, Ruth Jones of Kansas City, MO.

She is survived by her sons, Ernest Clarence “E. C.” (Tamara Penry-Manny) Manny, III of Wichita, Dale S. (Annette) Manny of Overland Park, KS; daughters, Marta Manny (Ron Fowler) Bukacek of St. Pete Beach, FL, Lora L. Manny of Wichita; grandchildren, Ernest C. “Pete” Manny, IV, Kara (Nick) Hanna, Allyson Manny-Conley (Peter Conley), Nicole Manny, Casey Bradley, Michael Manny; brother, Rev. Ron (Patsy) Secrest of Laurel, DE. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM, Friday, Oct. 14, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Graveside Service will be at 2 PM Saturday, Oct. 15, at Lone Star Cemetery, Pretty Prairie, KS. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com

Wanda Lee Adams, age 69, of Wichita, Kansas passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Wanda was born November 16, 1952 to Leo J. and Wanda F. Collins. During her life she worked at St. Joseph Hospital, B-Mark Pools and Cessna Aircraft. Wanda had a very caring heart and was passionate about helping others. Whenever she visited her neighbors, family or friends she always came bearing gifts and looked for opportunities where she could help out. She enjoyed gardening, bargain shopping, and spending time with her family.... especially her grandkids. She also loved to travel, bird watch and experience new places. Her parrot, Bandit, was her best buddy. She taught him to say lots of new words and he loved to dance and spend time with her, often telling her it was “time to eat”. Wanda is preceded in death by her parents, Leo J. Collins, Wanda F. Collins; her brothers: Leonard Collins, Michael Collins, and Jimmy Collins. Wanda is survived by her daughter, Stephanie (Bill) Bowen; her brother, Kevin Collins; two grandchildren, Lexi Bowen and Laney Bowen.

Wichita, Kansas - Lifelong Wichita resident Anita G. Anderson passed away on Thursday, September 22 at her home in Wichita. She was 65 years of age. To see full obituary go online to www.hillsidefuneralhomewest.com Services will be private.

Norval Madden

October 5, 1931January 29, 2022

Wichita Kansas - A celebration of life will be October 15, 2022, 1 pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church. A video has been set up at Wichita TPC YouTube Channel for the Madden Celebration for friends unable to attend. https://obits.oldmissionmortuary.com/obituary/norval-madden

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Phillies’ 6-run ninth tops Cards in wild-card win

BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

The Philadelphia Phillies showcased plenty of plucky resilience all season, bouncing back from a poor start and the firing of their manager to qualify for the postseason for the first time in more than a decade.

It was going to take more than a two-run deficit in the ninth inning Friday to keep them down.

Even against the playoff-tested St. Louis Cardinals.

Philadelphia rallied for six runs in the ninth, silencing a sellout crowd at Busch Stadium and sending Jean Segura and the Phillies to a 6-3 victory in the opening game of their National League wild-card series.

It was the first time in 94 postseason games that St. Louis, an 11-time World Series champion, had blown a lead of at least two runs going into the final frame, according to Sportradar.

“It’s what we do. We fight,” said Alec Bohm, who was plunked on the shoulder by Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley with the bases loaded to drive in the first run. “We’re never out of it. That’s just kind of who we are.”

Asked how it felt in the dugout during the goahead rally, Phillies manager Rob Thomson — who replaced Joe Girardi after their poor start to the year — replied simply: “Electric.”

That’s because the Cardinals, who were 74-3 on the season when leading after eight innings, were

poised to put another one away after Juan Yepez hit the first go-ahead pinchhit homer in franchise history with two outs in the seventh.

But after struggling all afternoon against José Quintana and the St. Louis bullpen, the Phillies finally got their offense going. JT Realmuto began the decisive rally with a single off Helsley, and walks for Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos loaded the bases before the All-Star closer plunked Bohm.

The Cardinals training staff checked on Helsley, who jammed a finger on his pitching hand earlier in the week in Pittsburgh, and he was replaced by Andre Pallante. He gave up Segura’s go-ahead single through the right side of the infield.

“It was exactly what I wanted,” Pallante said. “It just got through.”

Edmundo Sosa added another run when he brazenly scored on Bryson Stott’s grounder to first base, and Brandon Marsh drove in another run when a tough hop got past Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong.

“Unfortunately,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said, “that last inning got away.”

By the time Kyle Schwarber added a sacrifice fly, Phillies reliever Zach Eflin had plenty of wiggle room in the ninth.

It looked as if Eflin might need it, too, when Nolan Arenado and Dylan Carlson reached base and Nolan Gorman hit a twoout RBI single to right.

But Eflin responded by striking longtime Cardinals star Yadier Molina to end it, leaving Philadel-

phia one win away from facing NL East champion Atlanta in the divisional round.

“That’s why you play 27 outs,” the Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins said. “There’s just a ton of belief in this dugout.”

There was a sentimental breeze sweeping through Busch Stadium before the game. Ozzie Smith cheerfully walked to the mound to deliver a ceremonial first pitch, and if the flag-waving Cardinals fans packed into every nook and cranny closed their eyes during introductions, they might have thought they were watching a game a generation ago.

After all, some familiar faces were in the lineup from the last time St. Louis and Philadelphia met in the playoffs.

That was 11 years ago to the day Friday, when the Cardinals beat the Phillies in a dramatic pitchers’ duel between Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay in Game 5 of the NL divisional series. Molina and Albert Pujols played for St. Louis that night while erstwhile ace Adam Wainwright, pitching out of the bullpen this series, also was there to celebrate.

Just like that night in Philadelphia, pitching dominated most of Friday’s series opener.

GAME STATS

Subscribers can find up-to-date standings and statistics from the previous day's games in our eEdition by using the section list to jump to 'Xtra Stats' in our app or online at kansas.com/ eedition.

EricChristianOlsen starsin “NCIS: LosAngeles”Sundayon CBS.

ARTS & CULTURE

Springsteen releasing soul music cover album in November

BY KARU F. DANIELS New York Daily News

The Boss is getting a chance to do what he always wanted to do.

Bruce Springsteen has announced that his next album will be a collection of soul music covers that will pay homage to the old school. Titled “Only the Strong Survive,” the project will be released Nov. 11 on Columbia Records.

On the 15-track opus, the 73year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will add his stamp to songs previously performed by Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, Four Tops, The Commodores, Jerry Butler and transgender pioneer Jackie Shane (“Any Other Way”), among others.

New art museum exhibit features ‘superstars’ of early modern art

BY AMY GEISZLER-JONES Eagle correspondent

The Wichita Art Museum is pulling out some rarely seen works by well-known early modern artists, such as Edward Hopper and Alfred Dove, from its collection for its next featured exhibition.

Done on paper, these works are rarely seen because they’re more fragile than other works and won’t last long if displayed for lengthy periods.

Light is their kryptonite. And once the colors fade, they’re gone, said WAM curator Tera Hedrick.

“Works on paper are the most fragile medium compared to an oil painting or a bronze sculpture,” Hedrick said.

“Works on paper are really supposed to be, at a maximum, spending only a third of their life being seen and the other two-thirds of the time, they’re supposed to be tucked away. They’re supposed to be resting in the cool and in the dark. That’s what makes this exhibition special.”

The WAM works — which Hedrick calls the “superstars” of early modern artists in WAM’s collection —will be displayed along with works on paper by another leading artist of the 20th century, Alfred Maurer, in “Paper Dreams:

Alfred Maurer and American Masterpieces.”

The exhibition opens Saturday, Oct. 15 — when admission is free — with artmaking activities, live jazz, a dance

performance and tours. There also will be a mini used-book sale going on. Maurer’s work is from the Weisman Museum in Minneapolis. WAM and the Weisman

Book shows personal side of ‘Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee

BY JAY REEVES

HOMEWOOD, ALA.

To the world, Harper Lee was aloof to the point of being unknowable, an obsessively private person who spent most of her life avoiding the public gaze despite writing one of the bestselling books ever, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” To Wayne Flynt, the Alabama-born author was his friend, Nelle.

Flynt, a longtime Southern historian who became close friends with Nelle Harper Lee late in her life, has written his second book about the author, “Afternoons with Harper Lee,” which was released recently with Flynt signing copies at a bookstore in suburban Birmingham.

Based on Flynt’s notes from

dozens of visits with Lee over a decade before her death in 2016, the book is like sitting on a porch and hearing tales of Lee’s childhood and family in rural Alabama, her later life in New York and everything in between. That includes the time a grandfather who fought for the Confederacy survived the Battle of Gettysburg despite heavy losses to his Alabama unit, according to Flynt.

“I told her, ‘You know, half the 15th of Alabama was either killed or wounded or captured, and he got away? Is that just luck or the providence of God? What in the world is that?’”

Flynt said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“And she said, ‘No, it’s not the providence of God. He could run fast.’”

The public perception of Lee as a hermit is wrong, Flynt, a

former history professor at Auburn University, said. No, she didn’t do media interviews and she guarded her privacy zealously, but she also was warm and kind to friends that included a former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, Flynt said. And Lee was “deeply religious” in a way many people aren’t, he said.

“It’s an attempt to tell the story of the authentic woman, not the marble lady,” Flynt said.

The book also is a tribute to Flynt’s late wife Dartie, who died in 2020. Lee, who suffered a stroke in 2007, seemed to identify with the physical travails of Dartie Flynt, who had Parkinson’s disease, Flynt said.

“I think she tolerated me because she loved Dartie,” he said.

Born in 1926 when the South was still racially segregated by law, Lee grew up in the south

both have prominent American art collections along with another connection: WAM emerita director Patricia McDonnell had been a curator for the Weisman Museum.

Maurer was an American painter who hobnobbed with artists in Paris at the end of the 19th century — “like all the cool kids were doing, going to galleries and Parisian art school and being exposed to European modernism,” Hedrick said.

That influence can be seen in how Maurer’s art started changing from his earlier years when his work was much more realistic and precise. While his art wasn’t accepted critically or commercially at the time, he’s now among those superstars Hedrick referred to.

“Paper Dreams” will include 27 of Maurer’s works on paper.

The entire exhibition can be considered a foray into art history from about the beginning of the early 20th century to the early 1940s when American artists were experimenting and reflecting the changes going on in society around them.

WAM’s stellar collection of early modern work stems from the fact that its co-founder Elizabeth Navas was shopping for art to start WAM at the time these contemporary artists were

SEE SUPERSTARS, 2C

He recorded the album at his own Thrill Hill Recording studio in New Jersey with the E Street Horns, producer Ron Aniello and backing vocalists Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore, Curtis King Jr., Dennis Collins and Fonzi Thornton (who performed on Luther Vandross’ biggest hits).

The album features guest vocals from Sam Moore of “Soul Man” fame.

“I wanted to make an album where I just sang. And what better music to work with than the great American songbook of the ‘60s and ‘70s? I’ve taken my inspiration from Levi Stubbs, David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin, the Iceman Jerry Butler, Diana Ross, Dobie Gray and Scott Walker, among many others,” Springsteen said.

“I’ve tried to do justice to them all – and to the fabulous writers of this glorious music. My goal is for the modern audience to experience its beauty and joy, just as I have since I first heard it.”

“Only the Strong Survive” was the title of a chart-topping song Butler recorded in 1968. It was also the name of a powerful 2002 documentary that “Showbiz 411 columnist Roger Friedman helmed, which paid homage to stars from R&B and soul music’s heyday from the late 1950s to early ‘70s.

With the announcement of the album, a Thom Zimny-directed music video for Springsteen’s cover of Frank Wilson’s “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” was also released.

“Only the Strong Survive” follows Springsteen’s 2020 album “Letter to You.”

It’s also the “Born In the U.S.A” crooner’s first collection of covers since April 2006’s “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions,” a collection of folk songs made famous by Pete Seeger.

injustice

Courtesy of the Wichita Art Museum

Edward Hopper’s “Adam’s House” is part of the Wichita Art Museum’s Roland P. Murdock Collection. It’s part of the museum’s new “Paper Dreams” exhibit.

Courtesy of the Weisman Art Museum

“Still Life” by Alfred Maurer will be on display at the Wichita Art Museum starting Oct. 15.

Alabama town of Monroeville, the daughter of a lawyer who served as a model for attorney Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a story of race,

and the law during the Jim Crow era. The town itself became Maycomb, the book’s

Alabama historian Wayne Flynt holds a copy of his new book, “Afternoons with Harper Lee,” about the late author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” at a book-signing in Homewood, Ala., on Sept. 22. Flynt and his late wife were friends with Lee, who died in 2016.

Sidney Poitier was not expected to live. He was born two months premature to uneducated tomato farmers in the Caribbean. His father planned to use a shoe box as a makeshift coffin.

Poitier’s rise from that humble origin to become an Oscar-winning box office draw and civil rights figure who remade Hollywood seems almost scripted, almost too good to be true, but such was Poitier, a life well-lived.

The new documentary “Sidney” respectfully traces that life, delivering a portrait of a striver hoping to improve everything he did every day. “I truly, truly try to be better tomorrow than I was today,” he says to the camera.

Written by Jesse James Miller and directed by Reginald Hudlin, “Sidney” is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey – who lent several hours of her own interviews with Poitier –and members of his family. It glows with respect for a man who earned it.

Poitier became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw. He died this year at 94.

For much of the film, a gray-haired Poitier addresses the camera in a gray suit jacket with a pocket square and a white open-necked button-down shirt – flawlessly elegant, as always. Sometimes old interviews are added from a younger Poitier, making it seem as if he is in conversation with himself.

Highlights include the devastating confrontation with racism as a teen in Miami, the fun story of his first encounter with a

FROM PAGE 1C

LEE

setting.

Preferring football, softball, golf and books to small-town social affairs or college sororities, Lee’s well-known desire for privacy may have come in part from a feeling of being different from others growing up around her in the South, Flynt said.

“I think she occupied a world where she felt she was not like other girls,” he said.

A childhood friend of fellow author Truman Capote, Lee was rarely heard from in public after her partly autobiographical “Mockingbird” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961

Sidney Poitier documentary shows a constant striving

Sidney

EEE

Featuring: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee, Louis Gosset Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Harry Belafonte, Lenny Kravitz, Quincy Jones

Director: Reginald Hudlin

MPAA rating: PG-13 for adult themes and racial slurs

Running time: 1 hour 52 minutes

Where to watch: In select theaters and on Apple TV+

five years before Will Smith smacked Chris Rock at the Oscars, Poitier’s Detective Virgil Tibbs slapped an actor playing a white plantation owner onscreen in the film “In the Heat of the Night.” It was electrifying, coming in 1967 as the civil rights movement was reaching its heights. Listening to how it profoundly affected future Black stars is powerful.

subway and how a classified ad looking for actors changed his life. “I can be many things here,” he thought. Tossed out of the American Negro Theater for being lousy, he took acting classes and lost his Caribbean accent by buying a radio for $14 and learning to mimic a newsreader he admired.

The filmmakers have a charismatic change-maker as their focus, but credit to them for also exploring when he missed his high ethical standards, as when he had a long affair with Diahann Carroll, triggering a divorce that split the family.

Poitier’s moral compass

and was made into a hit movie. She mostly lived in an apartment in Manhattan, where it was easier to blend in than back home until the stroke left her partially paralyzed.

Flynt and his late wife knew Lee’s two sisters, and they became close to the author after she returned to Alabama for good following the stroke. They visited her at a rehabilitation center in Birmingham and then at an assisted living home in Monroeville, where she spent years before her death. Lee died just months after the release of her novel “Go Set a Watchman,” which actually was an early version of “Mockingbird.”

The book doesn’t get into the most private aspects of Lee’s life; Flynt

SUPERSTARS

on the scene.

Navas was a friend and professional colleague of Louise Murdock who had donated her money to start an art museum in Wichita. For nearly 20 years, up until WAM opened in 1935, Navas was creating the foundation for the museum’s collection, which now numbers well over 10,000 pieces.

With the reputation Navas had helped establish with the collection, other benefactors started donating works from that time as well.

The watercolor by John Marin that will be displayed in the exhibition was donated by artist Georgia O’Keeffe; Arthur Dove’s son donated pages from his father’s sketchbook. The majority of the WAM works in the exhibition are watercolors, with 29 pieces being displayed. The other works are prints, photogravures and a few ink drawings and pastels, Hedrick said. The exhibition will close

was stronger than most. Early in his career, he turned down an exploitative part, an unheard of decision at the time. And then after he had made his way to the top and opened the door for other unrepresented actors, he was criticized.

Some called him out for being too accommodating in “The Defiant Ones,” chained and helping a white Tony Curtis, or for loving a white woman in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” The pioneer became passe as Black militancy grew strength. So Poitier pivoted to directing and producing, still helping others up the

said they simply didn’t discuss such things. But it does recount her worsening isolation from deafness and blindness toward the end of her life; her love of gambling; the furor over “Watchman;” and her authorship of a stillunpublished manuscript about a bizarre murder case in central Alabama.

Lee was steeped in literature and religion, Flynt said. She preferred the King James Version of the Bible to all others for its lyrical language, he said, and her favorite authors included Jane Austen and C.S. Lewis.

“When she died, on her ottoman in her little two rooms, was the complete anthology of all of C.S. Lewis’ books. It must have weighed 50 pounds,” he said.

ture Series on Nov. 30. Epstein co-curated the Maurer portion of the exhibition and wrote a book on Maurer, “Alfred H. Maurer: At the Vanguard of Modernism.”

WAM EXHIBIT: ‘PAPER

DREAMS: ALFRED MAURER AND AMERICAN MASTERPIECES’

What: an exhibition of rarely seen paper works from the collections of the Wichita Art Museum and the Weisman Museum in Minneapolis

Where: Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd.

ladder. The film benefits from the candid memories of Poitier’s children and ex-wife, as well as friends like Morgan Freeman, Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, Andrew Young, Spike Lee, Denzel Washington, Louis Gosset Jr. and Robert Redford.

Other voices are less effective, showing a starpulling flex but with little connection to the man. Barbra Streisand adds little – “He was like, Wow!’ Movie stars should be, ‘Wow!’” – and we learn that Halle Berry wanted to marry him.

Even Oprah seems a little suspect interviewing

herself but she makes it count when she recalls meeting Poitier for the first time at her 42nd birthday, a time in her life when she was being criticized by the Black community for not doing enough, just as Poitier had been.

“It’s difficult when you’re carrying other peoples’ dreams,” he told her. “And so you have to hold on to the dream that is inside yourself and know that if you are true to that, that’s all that matters.”

For those unfamiliar with some of Poitier’s more famous moments, news of a pivotal slap will come as a surprise. Fifty-

Another rich vein is revealed in the relationship between Poitier and Belafonte, which one of the former’s children likens to having the dynamic of an old married couple. They bonded, they fought, they reconciled, they once even outran the KKK. There seems almost to be another film here about these two charismatic men.

But let us first celebrate Poitier, a man of impossible dignity and ethics, a man who Lenny Kravitz in the film says “came to this Earth to move it.”

Do the ‘Time Warp’ again – ‘Rocky Horror’ show will travel

BY MARK KENNEDY Associated Press

NEW YORK

Courtesy of the Weisman Art Museum

“Portrait of a Girl with Gray Background” is one of the 27 Alfred Maurer works on paper that are included in the Wichita Art Museum’s new exhibit, “Paper Dreams: Alfred Maurer and American Masterpieces.”

Jan. 23. Art historian Stacey Epstein, who specializes in 20th-century American art and is the leading authority of Maurer’s art, will give a free lecture as part of WAM’s Wooden Lec-

When: Oct. 15-Jan. 23. Opening reception activities on Oct. 15 — when admission is free — include artmaking, live entertainment and tours. WAM hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays, closed Mondays.

Admission: free for all visitors on Saturdays; $10 adults; $5 for ages 60 and up; $3 college students, youth ages 5-17; free for children under 5 and WAM members.

More information: wichitaartmuseum.orgor 316-268-4921

Barry Bostwick

Grab your toilet paper. Bring a flashlight. Don’t forget a newspaper – or your fishnets. A touring, interactive version of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is hitting the road to celebrate the cult film’s birthday with screenings, live shadow casts, the invitation to be inappropriate and one of its original stars – Barry Bostwick.

“It’s an excuse to go crazy, be rude, throw stuff, yell and be silly –who doesn’t want that?” asks Bostwick. “Everyone there is having fun, a communal experience. Especially now after the pandemic, we need to gather and blow off some steam.”

Released in 1975, the sci-fi, cross-dressing rock musical film became a cult favorite and entered the pop culture lexicon for its many iconic and memorable scenes, including the song “The Time Warp” which has been covered by handfuls of artists and the often quoted phrase, “Dammit, Janet!” Other things yelled are less PG-13.

It has morphed into an interactive event in which people throw rice during a wedding scene, place newspapers on their heads and squirt water during a rain storm scene, and toss dried toast during a dinner toast scene. People often come dressed in corsets, fishnets, maid costumes, butler costumes and heavy stains of eye shadow.

“It has endured because it was always organic,” said Bostwick. “The callbacks and throwing stuff was never introduced by the filmmakers or the studio. It was by fans, who added layer after layer and then that all got standardized.”

The story centers on the goody two-shoes Janet and Brad, a young couple with car trouble who stumble on an old castle filled with eccentric characters: cross-dressers, scientists and a maid, included. This leads to some interesting pairings and experimentations. The film made household names of Bostwick, who played Brad, Susan Sarandon as Janet and Tim Curry, the castle’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

The tour will play in stage theaters across the country, which will throw up a massive screen and show the movie while actors dressed as the characters perform the show in front of the screen and the audience gets seriously weird. Before the show, there are costume contests and fans can see a traveling mini-museum of memorabilia from the film, including a feather boa worn by Curry and a sequined top worn by the character Columbia.

The tour kicks off Saturday in Florida’s Pompano Beach before hitting California, Idaho, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Vermont and North Carolina. Some of the traditional practices – like shooting squirt guns and tossing rice – have been lost along the way, but if you forget to bring other items, prop bags are available for sale.

Scott Stander, who produces the show as part of

his portfolio of concerts, variety shows and celebrity evenings, said part of the appeal of “Rocky Horror” has been its invitation to audiences to cut loose.

“I think part of it is getting to be whatever they want to be. You could be red or blue and it doesn’t matter. You will get along – one of the few things you can get an audience in together and nobody talks about anything but having a great time,” he said.

“Where can you go dress in fishnet or or be square and act like Brad and hear shout-outs from the audience and have toast flying or toilet paper and just be involved? It’s just so different. There’s nothing like it.”

Bostwick will be at each stop, meeting guests and introducing the film. He has had a very varied career since “Rocky Horror,” including roles on “Scrubs,” “Cougar Town” and “Spin City,” plus winning a Tony Award — but few projects have triggered as much sustained enthusiasm as playing Brad.

“I was at a convention last month and I looked out and saw 2,000 people and most of them were under 25. It gets passed down from one generation and I think becomes a rite of passage to adulthood,” he said.

The pandemic forced the annual tour to be held at drive-ins, but the new version is back to in-person gatherings, something Stander feels we’ve missed.

“I think right now we’re looking for anything fun and different to get out and have a good time and forget your troubles, don’t you think?”

BOB ADELMANApple TV via AP

The new documentary “Sidney” traces the life of actor Sidney Poitier, who died this year at 94.

FROM PAGE 1C

Ladew Gardens delights with manor house, award-winning gardens and 100 topiaries

BY GRETCHEN MCKAY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Harvey Ladew had already lived the good life when in 1928, he bought a 250-acre farm in the Maryland countryside to indulge his passion for fox hunting.

Pleasant Valley Farm, as the white farmhouse was then known, was in pretty bad shape at the time. But that didn’t bother the lifelong bachelor born into the upper reaches of New York society in 1887. He had both inherited wealth from his family’s leather business and a sophisticated eye cultivated by years of extensive travel. He renovated the manor

BY MARY WINSTON NICKLIN The Washington Post

The sun beat down on Ghent. It was the hottest day I could remember ever spending in Belgium, and it was a relief to be on the water. I paddled the canoe through the confluence of the Lys and Scheldt rivers. The voices of sunbathers carried from the quay, where moored houseboats bobbed beneath gabled houses and planters popping with pink flowers. But I didn’t dwell on Ghent’s undeniable charm. Instead, I watched the water … until I saw it up ahead, partially submerged: a plastic bottle, riding the currents on its way to the North Sea. I extended my trash-grabber and snatched it.

Over the years, I keep returning to Belgium’s second city. Once I made a pilgrimage to see a world-famous masterpiece, Van Eyck’s “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb,” also called the Ghent Altarpiece. The city’s energy was so irresistible that I’d returned to survey the happening restaurant scene with a friend from Brussels. On each successive trip, I’ve been amazed that Ghent –just about half an hour by train from Bruges and Brussels, and about an hour from Antwerp – isn’t overrun with tourists.

Most recently, I wanted to dive into Ghent’s green ethos. Beyond its cool vibe, the city has been making waves for its sustainability initiatives and eco-minded tourism strategy.

So I boarded a boat by DOKano. The idea behind this nonprofit: Rent a canoe for the price of a bucket of trash that you retrieve yourself from Ghent’s waterways. (A donation is also welcome.)

What started in 2017 as the brainchild of five parents at school pickup has morphed into an organization that’s popular with

house into something fabulous, but it was the masterpiece of a garden he worked on for more than four decades that would become his claim to fame.

Known as Ladew Topiary Gardens, the garden estate just north of Baltimore delights with 22 acres of flower and topiary gardens created in the English Arts and Crafts style. It includes 15 garden “rooms” and over 100 larger-than-life shrubs or trees clipped into ornamental shapes. Adding to its appeal is that Ladew, who died in 1976, designed nearly every inch himself, with no formal training. He drew inspiration

from the great Edwardian and Renaissance gardens he’d seen globetrotting, says Emily Emerich, executive director of the gardens. “He got a taste for style and architecture during his travels.”

Such is the site’s splendor that Architectural Digest in 2012 named it one of the top nine topiary gardens in the world. Garden Club of America also has high praise for the lavish garden estate that opened to the public in 1971, designating it “the most outstanding topiary garden in America.” Both the house and gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and attract 50,000 visitors a year.

Key to Ladew’s master plan was the creation of a sweeping expanse of lawn called “The Great Bowl” that’s enclosed by tall hedges of wavelike hemlock and yew hedges topped with swimming topiary swans. Yet that’s just the start of the estate’s surprises.

The art of topiary dates from Tudor and Elizabethan England, and generally has limited use in modern gardens because it is expensive and timeconsuming to maintain. A form of living sculpture, the greenery is grown on a steel wire frame and must be clipped often to maintain its defined shape.

One of the first topiary visitors see is a fox run-

ning across the lawn with hounds and a mounted rider in pursuit. Crafted from living Japanese yew hedges, it captures Ladew’s beloved field sport in life-size motion.

The gardens rooms also show their creator’s sense of humor. Each is devoted to a single color, plant, bouquet or theme. In the Garden of Eden, visitors find a statue of Adam accepting the forbidden fruit from Eve – while hiding two apples behind his back. The Sculpture Garden includes living sculptures of Winston Churchill’s top hat and “V” for victory.

Other structures include a butterfly house and a charming little tea house created from the former facade of London’s Tivoli Theatre ticket booth. It includes a wet bar, “so I don’t think they had tea there very often,” Emerich says with a chuckle.

What you see and smell at Ladew depends on when you walk through its gates; the experience changes with every season. This time of year, billowy masses of sweet autumn clematis and hardy hibiscus are in full bloom along with dahlias, roses, re-blooming bearded iris and fragrant, lightpink plants known as naked ladies (Colchicum).

Some of the gardens have blocking vistas so visitors have to “peek around the corner and be surprised,” says Emerich.

The antiques-filled manor house, which was expanded in the 1930s and once hosted such famous guests as Cole Porter, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable, is also worth a visit. It celebrates Ladew’s love of horses with a plethora of equestrian-themed art and tchotchkes. Of particular note is the oval dining room, included in Helen Comstock’s book “The 100 Most Beautiful

If you go

Getting there: Ladew Topiary Gardens is in Monkton, Maryland, about 20 miles north of Baltimore.

Garden details: The estate comprises 250 acres, with 22 acres of formal gardens. Many of the existing hedges and other topiary are more than 50 years old. Visitors can experience more than a dozen “garden rooms,” a 1.5-mile Nature Walk, a native Butterfly House, and the circa 1747 Manor House.

Hours/admission: Ladew is open every day except Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and until 7 p.m. Tuesdays, April through October. Admission is $15, $10 for students and seniors, and $4 for ages 2-12 at ladewgardens.com or the gatehouse. Docent-guided tours of the house are $5. Parking is free.

Food/drink: Ladew Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offers a variety of sandwiches, seasonal salads, quiche, soup and baked goods. Nearby Iverness Brewing offers more than a dozen beers on tap, along with food trucks Thursday through Sunday. Independent Brewing Co. in Bel Air (26 rotating drafts) and Harford Vineyards & Winery (17 wines) in Forest Hill are other options. More info: ladewgardens.com or 410-557-9466

Rooms in America.” A handle on one of the bookcases opens a hidden doorway that allowed Ladew to slip into the garden when unwanted guests arrived.

mented-reality experience that’s an immersion in the Van Eyck brothers’ world.

A playground for artists, Ghent is fertile ground for experimental ideas, particularly in sustainability. Most recently, the city’s tourism recovery plan, launched in 2021 with a green focus, was the result of diplomacy and compromise. To determine the future of tourism, local residents were engaged alongside business managers in citywide debates.

Ghent is Belgium’s unsung capital of cool

both locals and visitors. DOKano also offers teambuilding outings and educational excursions with school groups, who are encouraged to sort the trash before nominating the “catch of the day.” Some of the more curious finds? A toy monkey, sneakers, perfectly usable heart-shaped luggage. Ghent’s vibrant spirit and political engagement stem from its history. The story is told with flair at STAM, the Ghent City Museum, whose very architecture – an amalgam of restored medieval cloisters and contemporary glass – reflects the modern city itself. Back around 630, a wandering French missionary named Amandus arrived to proselytize the local population, building a church that later became St. Bavo’s Abbey. Ghent grew into a medieval powerhouse

thanks to the cloth trade.

In the oldest written description of Ghent (1154), geographer al-Sharif alIdrisi waxed poetic in Arabic: “It is a beautiful, flourishing city with many stately homes and grand vistas. It possesses gardens, orchards and fields that provide a continual harvest.”

In the Middle Ages, Ghent was the secondlargest city in northern Europe after Paris. This prosperous trade hub even boasted its own army, with which it challenged the Counts of Flanders and Dukes of Burgundy. Over time, the creation of craft guilds – each demanding political participation – encouraged diplomacy and the exchange of ideas.

Today, the population numbers more than 265,000 people of about 160 nationalities, with

approximately an additional 85,000 university students arriving each autumn. “It brings an injection of youthful energy,” says Mieke Thienpont, a professional guide and president of the Ghent Guides association.

“The city is very much alive,” says Luk Darras, a former Belgian ambassador who has lived here for 17 years. “It’s friendly and dynamic – open to industry and change – and also socially engaged.”

Ghent’s heritage is reason enough to travel here. There’s the formidable Castle of the Counts, the 15th-century Great Butchers’ Hall, the UNESCOlisted belfry lording over it all. Founded in 1235, the Beguinage of Our Lady at Hoyen – also a UNESCO site – once housed religious women in a unique, self-sustaining community. Guildhalls with ornate-

ly sculpted facades flank the quays of Graslei and Korenlei. The Museum of Fine Arts (MSK), considered Belgium’s oldest museum, is celebrating its 225th anniversary with a rich program. And back to the aforementioned Ghent Altarpiece, of which Darras says is “the one painting you have to see in your life,” a visitor center inside St. Bavo’s Cathedral brings the restored work to life through an aug-

Other examples abound. The Ghent Light Plan was launched in 2007 as a means of illuminating the city’s monuments and buildings at night in a dazzling yet energy-efficient way. Cycling culture is pervasive, boosted by infrastructure (such as bike parking garages) and city incentives. A lowemission zone was established in January 2020 to keep polluting cars out of the city center. In fact, many locals have ditched their cars in exchange for bikes or community carsharing services.

Ghent was the first Belgian city to launch Fairbnb, the sustainable vacation rental platform that reinvests 50 percent of its revenue in local communities. But perhaps the biggest example of pioneering initiatives: In 2009, Ghent witnessed the launch of “Thursday Veggie Day,” now a global phenomenon that encourages people to skip meat for a day to help fight climate change. Ghent is today a vegetarian capital with a variety of restaurants.

MARY WINSTON NICKLINThe Washington Post

The Castle of the Counts is an imposing fortress in the historical city center of Ghent.

HELEN NORMANLadew Gardens/TNS

In Ladew’s Garden of Eden, visitors find a statue of Adam accepting the forbidden fruit from Eve – while he hides two apples behind his back.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLERS

Author Means at his best with these stories of loss and grief

BY MICHAEL SCHAUB Star Tribune

“Grief takes as long as it wants, in various formations, and doesn’t follow rules the way we’d like to think it does,” says a character in David Means’ new short story collection.

That’s why grief is so hard to live with, and so difficult to write about – it’s unpredictable, idiosyncratic; it destroys in a new way every time.

But Means has never shied away from subjects that are hard to tackle; he’s an unfailingly compassionate writer given to constantly challenging himself and his readers.

“Two Nurses, Smoking” is Means at his best – intelligent, often funny, always beautiful.

The collection begins with “Clementine, Carmelita, Dog,” which follows a dachshund who chases a rabbit and finds herself separated from her owner: “How had she gotten into this predicament, her belly low to the ground, lost in a forest?”

When she’s found by another human and taken in, she’s content enough, but still experiences pangs of grief at the loss of her previous companion.

It’s not easy to pull off a story with an animal protagonist; it can easily turn twee or emotionally manipulative. Means doesn’t fall into that trap, though, and he acknowledges the limits of the form: “In this

BOOK NOTES

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5. “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin New and notable

BOOK REVIEW

account, as much as possible, dog has been translated into human, and like any such translation, the human version is a thin, feeble approximation …”

He treats his dog character with … well, humanity, for lack of a better word. It’s an elegantly structured story that doesn’t sacrifice its heart for the sake of cleverness.

In “First Encounter,” Means follows a man beset by sadness who can’t help but sabotage himself. His high school daughter, mourning her boyfriend who was killed in a car crash, has filled the void in her life with drugs; one day, he finds her sleeping in a park that’s “sort of a wildlife preserve for truants.” While she’s hospitalized, she catches her dad kissing a woman who’s not his wife, and he realizes that the life he knows might be about to slip away forever.

It’s a tremendously sad story in the John Cheever tradition, but Means makes it all his own, laying bare the kind of pain that’s both common and unfathomable. Among his

“The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency”

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Two Nurses, Smoking: Stories

By David Means; Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 224 pages, $26

greatest strengths as a writer is the combination of empathy and nearunderstatedness that he’s cultivated; it’s on full display here.

The collection closes with “The Depletion Prompts,” a stunning story about a writer struggling to write about his own troubled family. It’s told in second person through a series of writing prompts: “Write into the steel of your rage, a rage that seems lost to you now as you sit alone in a house during a pandemic, con-

at Watermark Books.

“Our Missing Hearts: A Novel” by Celeste Ng (Penguin Press, $29) From the author of “Little Fires Everywhere” comes a deeply suspenseful and heartrending novel about the power — and limitations — of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.

EIGHTH DAY BOOKS Bestsellers

Disability advocate Wong turned her anger into action

BY ANNA LEAHY Special To The Washington Post

Alice Wong was born with muscular dystrophy, which hampered her ability to walk by the time she was 7 or 8 years old. As a firstgrader, she had to make her way slowly down the hall, lagging behind her classmates. One day, her teacher took Alice’s hand. Side by side, they led the class through the school. Walking together, in tandem – adult-child, nondisabled-disabled, teacherstudent – we set the pace for the entire class,” Wong writes in “Year of the Tiger.” “I have not felt that seen, safe, or cared for by a teacher since.”

Much of Wong’s education was filled with “enraging, traumatic, discriminatory, bullying, and embarrassing experiences,” but this teacher made young Alice feel as if she were brimming with potential.

While some of those enraging experiences are among the topics Wong explores, that’s only part of

the story in “Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life.” Wong, who now uses a wheelchair and breathes with the assistance of a ventilator, was born more than a decade before the Americans With Disabilities Act would go into effect. Only two years into the ADA era, the private Quaker school she attended, Earlham College in Indiana, had “to create an accessible bathroom in the one dorm that didn’t have steps.” She had access to a single restroom on campus. After respiratory failure

By Alice Wong; Vintage, 400 pages, $17 paperback

required a break in her studies, she transferred to the nearby public university, where she commuted from home.

Ultimately, she found her way to graduate school in the Bay Area, where she would flourish within the disability rights community. Even as Wong’s surroundings continued to present barriers, her selfadvocacy expanded into activism, including founding the Disability Visibility Project, which collects oral histories.

“Year of the Tiger” is the wide-ranging story of this activist’s life. Wong warns, “You will not find any pithy themes,” and it will not “be neatly digestible with sentimental generalizations about the meaning of life.”

Publishers Weekly bestsellers for week ending Sept. 24. HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “Dreamland” by Nicholas Sparks (Random House)

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3. “The Bullett That Missed” by Richard Osman (Viking/ Dorman)

4. “Blowback” by Patterson/ DuBois (Little, Brown)

5. “The Butcher and the Wren” by Slsins Urquhart (Zando)

6. “Vince Flynn: Oath of Loyalty” by Kyle Mills (Atria)

7. “Lucy by the Sea” by Elizabeth Strout (Random House)

8. “Carrie Soto Is Back” by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Ballantine)

9. “All Good People Here” by Ashley Flowers (Bantam)

10. “Clive Cussler’s Hellburner” by Mike Maden (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

11. “The 6:20 Man” by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing)

12. “Desperation in Death” by J.D. Robb (St. Martin’s Press)

13. “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus (Doubleday)

14. “Less is Lost” by Andrew Sean Greer (Little, Brown)

15. “The Viper” by J.R. Ward (Gallery) HARDCOVER NONFICTION

(G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

3. “Midnight Shadows” by Nora Roberts (Silhouette)

4. “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyoski (Plata)

5. “2 Sisters Detective Agency” by Patterson/Fox (Grand Central Publishing)

6. “Married in Texas” by Debbie Macomber (Mira)

7. “Clive Cussler’s The Devil’s Sea” by Dirk Cussler (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

8. “Fire & Blood” (media tie-in) by Martin/Wheatley (Bantam)

9. “Under a Killer Moon” by B.J. Daniels (HQN)

10. “Vince Flynn: Enemy at the Gates” by Kyle Mills (Pocket)

11. “Secrets” by Fern Michaels (Zebra)

12. “Nothing to Lose” by J.A. Jance (William Morrow)

13. “Three Women Disappear” by Patterson/Serafin (Grand Central Publishing)

14. “The Next Accident” by Lisa Gardner (Bantam)

FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX TNS

fined to the space not only by your desire to create but also by a desire to stay safe.”

The degree of difficulty here is staggeringly high; writing prompts are rarely interesting to people who aren’t writers themselves, and crafting a story from them seems like the tallest of orders. Yet Means does it beautifully, finding beauty in the pain, and somehow making the reader part of the story.

It’s a stunning accomplishment in a collection full of them. This is a remarkable book not just about grief, but about the moments of brightness that punctuate it, making it both easier and, somehow, even more painful. As Means himself puts it: “In an average life lived by a relatively average soul, what else remains but singular moments of astonishingly framed light?”

1. “The Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World” by Rich Villodas

2. “A Journey of Sea and Stone: How Holy Places Guide and Renew Us” by Tracy Balzer

3. “Think Little: Essays” by Wendell Berry

4. “A Country of Marriage: Poems” by Wendell Berry

5. “The Brothers Karamazov: The Bicentennial Edition” by Fyodor Dostoevsky New and notable “Home: 100 Poems”

Instead, drawing from principles of sociology, Wong chronicles her circumstances and intellectual growth, including how her agitation and dissatisfaction led her “to become more of an advocate and to use that individual anger to help other people.”

This collection is part playbook, part scrapbook. It includes transcripts of enlightening and sometimes topically overlapping interviews, tips for conducting interviews based on her experiences, and personal photographs and drawings, including a collaborative graphic essay about the “truth universally acknowledged that cats know how to live.”

The short essay is Wong’s go-to form. “Essays are my jam,” she proclaims, and that’s where incisive critiques, humor, practicality and optimism become compellingly inseparable. In a different context, the jumps from essay to interview to comic strip might seem disjointed, and the occasional recasting of events within different forms or from different vantages might feel repetitive, but in the story of Wong’s activist life as a disabled Asian American woman, this expansive structure serves as a version of her first-grade teacher’s hand. “Year of

1. “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy (Simon & Schuster)

2. “The Simply Happy Cookbook” by Steve Doocy (William Morrow)

3. “The Divider” by Peter Baker (Doubleday)

4. “Starry Messenger” by Neil deGrasse Tyson (Holt)

5. “Smart Brevity” by VandeHei/Allen/Schwartz (Workman)

6. “The Return of the Gods” by Jonathan Cahn (Frontline)

7. “Good Inside” by Becky Kennedy (Harper Wave)

8. “What If? 2” by Randall Munroe (Riverhead)

9. “Dinners with Ruth” by Nina Totenberg (Simon & Schuster)

10. “The Great Reset” by Alex Jones (Skyhorse Publishing)

11. “Breaking History” by Jared Kushner (Broadside)

12. “Letter to the American Church” by Eric Metaxas (Salem)

13. “Like a Rolling Stone” by Jann S. Wenner (Little, Brown)

14. “The Gift of Influence” by Tommy Spaulding (Currency)

15. “Your Purpose Is Calling” by Dharius Daniels (Zondervan)

MASS MARKET PAPERBACK

1. “The Judge’s List” by John Grisham (Vintage)

2. “Where the Crawdads Sing” (media tie-in) by Delia Owens

edited by Christian Wiman (Yale, $25.00). In this poignant collection, Christian Wiman draws together one hundred evocative poems and prose fragments about home, exploring home’s deep theological, literary, philosophical, historical, political, and social dimensions.

“The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics” by Benjamin Lipscomb

the Tiger” demonstrates an individual mind at work, as one might expect from a good memoir, and encompasses something larger. Wong’s anger and her humor permeate this book. In the wake of a friend’s death, for instance, she is “horrified to see media outlets ... get the details about Stacey’s [Stacey Park Milbern’s] life wrong,” both at the time of her death and a year later. When Wong receives a direct message from a journalist asking for intimate details, “anger boiled forth.” Whether in response to her own experiences or the broader cultural thoughtlessness toward the disabled community, Wong conveys an impulse to be gentle” mingled with “the need to make clear in no uncertain terms that some people need to” back off. There are plenty of lighthearted moments as well. The “Proust-ish Questionnaire” chapter reveals not only Wong’s greatest fears, which include spiders as well as power outages that could put her life in peril, but also her favorite lipstick colors, coffee roasters and songs. She has fun with her self-proclaimed nerd status, shares inside jokes with friends and admits that she uses coffee instead of yoga to center herself.

15. “Sons of Thunder” by Johnstone/Johnstone (Pinnacle) TRADE PAPERBACKS

1. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover (Grand Central Publishing)

2. “Maybe Now” by Colleen Hoover (Atria)

3. “Reminders of Him” by Colleen Hoover (Montlake)

4. “Spy X Family, Vol. 8” by Tatsuya Endo (Viz)

5. “Solo Leveling, Vol. 5” by Chugong (Yen)

6. “Love on the Brain” by Ali Hazelwood (Berkley)

7. “A Court of Silver Flames” by Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury)

8. “The Night and Its Moon” by Piper CJ (Bloom)

9. “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry (Berkley)

10. “The Lost Girls of Willowbrook” by Ellen Marie Wiseman (Kensington)

11. “Things We Never Got Over” by Lucy Score (Bloom)

12. “The American Roommate Experiment” by Elena Armas (Atria)

13. “The Wish” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing)

14. “The Ninth Month” by Patterson/DiLallo (Grand Central Publishing)

15. “Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune (Berkley) ASSOCIATED PRESS

(Oxford, $27.95). On the cusp of the Second World War, four women went to Oxford to begin their studies: a brilliant Catholic convert; a daughter of privilege longing to escape her upbringing; an ardent Communist and aspiring novelist; and a quiet lover of newts and mice who would become a great public intellectual. As they drifted toward and away from each other, they argued that courage and discernment and justice — and love — are at the heart of a good life.

While very much the story of one life, “Year of the Tiger” is also about collective power and collective responsibility. A family tree of her deceased disabled friends, for instance, visualizes Wong’s connection with others. There are also social media memes and text message exchanges that manifest the crucial role the internet plays in Wong’s life as a social and intellectual space. She speaks often about collective care, collective effort, collective values, collective liberation and “a collective force holding everyone together with bonds of interdependence.”

It is in this context of interdependence that Wong is a self-declared oracle. As she puts it, “My body, which the state calls ‘broken,’ I call an ‘oracle.’” As someone who uses a machine to assist breathing, she writes, “it’s not just the distant flames that I can see before you. But it’s the cold math that calculates the value of my life, an algorithm of expendability that – whether you realize it or not – can come for you as well.” One in four adults in the United States has some kind of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and any of us might become disabled.

THIS IS A REMARKABLE BOOK NOT JUST ABOUT GRIEF, BUT ABOUT THE MOMENTS OF BRIGHTNESS THAT PUNCTUATE IT.

JUMP START ROBB ARMSTRONG

PEANUTS CHARLES SCHULZ

DOONESBURY GARRY TRUDEAU

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE STEPHAN PASTIS

PICKLES BRIAN CRANE

GARFIELD JIM DAVIS

BALDO HECTOR CANTÚ & CARLOS CASTELLANOS

THE FLYING MCCOYS GLENN & GARY MCCOY

ZITS JERRY SCOTT & JIM BORGMAN

CLOSE TO HOME JOHN MCPHERSON

MT. PLEASANT RICK MCKEE & KENT SLIGH

CANDORVILLE DARRIN BELL

PUZZLES - JUMBLE

PUZZLES - NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

PUZZLES - SCRABBLEGRAMS

PUZZLES - WORDFIND

PUZZLES - SUDOKU

PUZZLES - UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD

PUZZLES - BOGGLE

PUZZLES -

RUBES LEIGH RUBIN

CRABGRASS TAUHID BONDIA

GARFIELD JIM DAVIS

CANDORVILLE DARRIN BELL

BOUND & GAGGED DANA SUMMERS

BEFORE SWINE STEPHAN PASTIS

WIZARD OF ID PARKER & HART

JUMP START ROBB ARMSTRONG

BALDO HECTOR CANTÚ & CARLOS CASTELLANOS

PEANUTS CHARLES SCHULZ

DILBERT SCOTT ADAMS

ZITS JERRY SCOTT & JIM BORGMAN

BABY BLUES RICK KIRKMAN & JERRY SCOTT

TUNDRA CHAD CARPENTER

PICKLES BRIAN CRANE

THE FLYING MCCOYS GLENN & GARY MCCOY

TO HOME JOHN MCPHERSON BIZARRO WAYNO & PIRARO

CLOSE

PEARLS

PUZZLES - 7 LITTLE

The content on this page was prepared for publication Saturday, and ran online in our digital edition. We repeat it here as a courtesy for readers of print who follow these puzzles throughout the week.

PUZZLES - UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD

PUZZLES - 7 LITTLE

PUZZLES - SUDOKU

PUZZLES -

PUZZLES - WORD GAME

PUZZLES - JUMBLE

TAKE NOTE Missing the Crypto or Cipher puzzles? Find similar code-breaker puzzles along with the Daily Commuter crossword in our eEdition under the ‘XtraFun’ navigation label at kansas.com/eedition

PUZZLES - BOGGLE BRAINBUSTERS!

Garlic popular among gardeners

BY PATRICK VARINE Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.

Garlic is apparently gaining quite a bit of popularity with home gardeners.

According to a recent poll conducted by AllAboutGardening.com, home gardeners in a dozen U.S. states searched “how to grow garlic” more than questions about any other fall crop.

As someone who grows garlic in the triple digits every season, I can tell you: Garlic is about as close as it gets to a set-itand-forget-it crop.

And while you can certainly plant it in the springtime, most home gardeners plant their garlic in late October or early November, letting it overwinter in the ground and giving it a nice head-start in the spring.

There are two primary types of garlic, soft-neck and hard-neck. Soft-neck garlic produces large bulbs with more cloves, and it also produces plants that can be braided and hung in the classic Italian-kitchen style to cure and dry. Hard-neck garlic produces a smaller bulb with fewer cloves. I grow about six or seven different types of garlic each year. When I harvest my garlic in the summer, I save the bestlooking bulbs to replant. You just separate the cloves, space them about 6-8 inches apart, and pop them 2-3 inches under the soil with the pointy end facing up. I usually cover mine with a thick mat of straw.

By the time winter sets

How to test and improve your home’s tap water

BY MICHELE LERNER Special To The Washington Post

Water filters, whether installed on a faucet or on a pitcher in your refrigerator, have been around for decades for healthier drinking water.

But not everyone uses them, and they don’t address the impact of hard water on your home and appliances. We asked several experts about what homeowners need to know about the quality of

WEEKEND

well should test their water at least once a year. Well water does not always have access to water treatment plants.

Dunphy: Hard water is one of the most common water quality issues discovered during testing. It can be found in homes with either city or well water. Another common issue in city water is disinfection chemicals (i.e., chlorine) and byproducts, which cause unpleasant tastes and smells, damaged hair and skin, and possible adverse health ef-

magnesium and calcium.

Hard water can:

A Decrease the lifespan of appliances and hot water heaters.

A Produce residue or stains in tubs, showers, toilet bowls, drinking glasses, dishes and laundry.

A Cause a mineral deposit build-up in shower fixtures, faucets, disposals and pipes.

A Create unpleasant taste and odor in water and cause dry or itchy skin.

Q: Is hard water bad for drink-

test kits on the market. Most are fairly simple to use. Fill a clean container with tap water, insert a test strip into the container, let it dry, then compare it to the chart provided to see what it indicates.

Q: Does a regular water filter –in the fridge or on a faucet –solve water quality issues?

Dunphy: Most simple refrigerator, pitcher or faucet filters rely on carbon as the primary filtration method. This will reduce some chemicals through absorption, but it will not address water problems such as hardness, metals, bacteria, viruses or ultrafine contaminants. These filters also only treat certain water sources in the home, leaving all other sources untreated such as showers, baths, sinks, appliances, etc.

Khiel: Installing a water filter in the refrigerator or on a faucet can certainly help with water quality issues; however, it depends on what is in the water. For example, in hard water situations, the iron and magnesium need to be removed to help the water quality. Typically, the faucet filters are not designed to do this. Understanding what is in the water will help determine what kind of filter, if any, would be needed.

Q: What else can homeowners do to improve their water quality?

Gordon: Homeowners can improve their water quality through regular maintenance of hot water heaters, older pipes and other plumbing devices. Keep storm drains clear by regularly cleaning up leaves and other yard debris. Dispose properly of hazardous materials such as paint and chemicals. Investigate different types of water filter systems that vary in size and price points to find the system that is right for your home.

Dunphy: To improve water quality, homeowners can invest in a whole home water treatment system based on concerns and specific contaminants in their water supply identified via testing.

A combination water softener/ carbon system or salt-free water conditioner/carbon system is typically recommended for homes supplied by city water. A well water-supplied home usually requires more sophisticated ad-

RACHEL ELLISMLive/TNS, file

Most water in the U.S. is filtered at water treatment plants, and water safety standards are mandated by the government. However, those living in rural areas who get their water from a well should test their water at least once a year.

Pumpkin pancakes put autumn spin on breakfast favorite

BY ANDREA YEAGER

The morning crush is on. The alarm did not go off, so what happens? Breakfast gets skipped. By 10 a.m. all thoughts are on food, even a crust of bread sounds good.

Nutritionists, doctors and, yes, mothers have said, “Break-

fast is the most important meal of the day.”

Breakfast is not a favorite meal with some. They do not like eggs and certainly do not have time to prepare a meal. Get a jump on the day with some healthy, tasty recipes that can be made in advance. A couple of hours of cooking and prep time can get the week off to a great start.

Healthy muffins or scones can be made one day and enjoyed for the week if properly refrigerated or stored in airtight containers. Eating Well magazine has been sharing breakfast ideas for years. The recipes are good for you and give you fiber and proteins to get through the morning slump. Take a Sunday night and make pumpkin pancakes made

with whole grain. If properly packed in the refrigerator or in the freezer, the pancakes can be heated quickly in the microwave. Add some toasted pecans on top for added fiber. This would even make an easy dinner. This recipe from Eating Well in 2014 suggests experimenting with different types of whole grains by replacing up to 1/2 cup

Pumpkin pancakes

1 1⁄2 cups white whole-wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

2 cups buttermilk

1 1⁄

1 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk egg, buttermilk, pumpkin, pecans, oil. Sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients and whisk just until combined. Resist overmixing. It will make the pancakes tough. Let the batter sit, without stirring for 10 to 15 minutes. As the batter rests, the baking powder forms bubbles that create fluffy pancakes and the gluten in the flour relaxes to make them more tender.

Coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray, heat over medium heat. Without stirring batter, measure out pancakes using about 1⁄4 cup batter per pancake and pour into the pan or griddle. Cook until the edges are dry, and you see bubbles on the surface, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, 2 to 4 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining batter, coating the pan with cooking spray and reducing the heat as needed.

Make ahead tip: The mixture of dry ingredients can be refrigerated for up to 1 day; cooked pancakes can be frozen airtight, in a single layer, for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave.

–

From Eating Well Magazine, January/February 2014

of the whole-wheat flour with cornmeal, oats or buckwheat flour. Flaxseed or chia seeds can add extra fiber and omega-3s.

Moist pumpkin bread

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling

4 large eggs

3⁄4 cup vegetable oil

2⁄3 cup water

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

3 1⁄

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

1 1⁄

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1⁄

2 teaspoon ground ginger

1⁄

2 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 8-by-5-imch bread loaf pans.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, eggs, vegetable oil, water and sugar until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and spices until just combined.

Pour batter into the prepared loaf pans.

Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Note: If the top of the loaves start to brown, simply place a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the top and finish baking.

Getty Images

Bring out fall flavors in a sweet, spiced pumpkin bread

BY ANDREA YEAGER Special to the Sun Herald

Pumpkin bread is tough to beat.

While you might have discovered banana bread in the

throes of the pandemic, pumpkin bread takes the ease of quick bread and elevates it alongside warm spices that help its flavor stand out. You will find pumpkin bread provides you more space to experiment with spices. After trying

this recipe, you could sub out one of the spices for cardamom, substitute maple syrup for sugar or even experiment with adding nuts in the batter. Quick breads like this will inspire home cooks or even children to try several flavors.

Children learn good math skills in the kitchen, especially about fractions, weights and measures. Cooking also teaches life skills. They learn to survive in a kitchen when they go off to college or move into the first apartment.

From www.thestayathomechef.com/

A loaf ofbread can be a welcomed gift for a senior neighbor. Teachers and bosses who are time-starved enjoy a homemade loaf or two.

This pumpkin bread is easy and comes together with little work — mix your wet ingredients, then slowly add your dry ingredients, spread it into a loaf pan, and slide it into the oven for an hour or so at 350 degrees.

MIKE HASKEY mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

Pancakes are an awesome breakfast food and adding pumpkin just makes them better.

Special to the Sun Herald

Made with sweet pumpkin puree and warm spices like ginger, pumpkin bread makes for a great treat.

Welcome fall with this one-pot dish: Baked pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe

BY ADRIENE RATHBUN Eagle correspondent

Nothing welcomes the fall season quite like a comforting bowl of pasta. September seems to be one of the busiest months of the year, and somehow everyone still wants dinner each night.

Insert this week’s recipe for a delicious, simple one-dish dinner: Baked Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe. If you can fit all the food groups into one dish, you should, especially when feeding a toddler — or anyone for that matter. This meal is so delicious, it might

Bacon, butternut squash pasta touches all the emotions

BY JULIE HIRSCHHORN julie.hirschhorn@gmail.com

Do you ever have those days where you’re so defeated and upset, only pasta can fix it?

As someone in their twenties, it happens to me more often than I’d like.

Sometimes we have bad days. We miss our train, our car breaks down, we mess up at work, and Mercury is somehow always in retrograde. Here’s the thing about pasta, though: It never lets you down. It’s there for you when you’re happy, when you’re sad, or when you’re not even hungry — you just want something salty, buttery, and full of gluten while you’re on the couch.

Enter my bacon butternut squash pasta. You might not be able to say it five times fast, but you can make it with just five main ingredients in less than 45 minutes. If you don’t have shallots, you can use a small red onion — tears will likely be shed either way.

I regularly use this in my meal prep rotation because it has everything I want in a dish: warm, salty pasta for comfort,

Bacon Butternut Squash Pasta

16 oz., or 1 box of pasta (I recommend using a shape like fusilli, farfalle, or penne)

2 cups cubed butternut squash

8 oz. thick cut bacon

2 shallots, diced (you can also use 1 small red onion if that’s what you have on hand)

½ cup Parmesan cheese

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper

2 tbsp. olive oil

Heat oven to 400 degrees. On a large baking sheet, drizzle the cubed squash with olive oil and crushed red pepper. Move to one side of the sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove squash from oven and add the diced shallots and bacon slices on the other side of the pan. Bake for another 30 minutes or until the squash is fork tender and the bacon is cooked through. Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces.

While the squash and bacon are cooking, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions or until al dente. Reserve half a cup of pasta water. Drain the pasta and pour back into the pot. Combine the cooked squash, shallots, bacon, and add the Parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water. Serve immediately.

Serves 6-8.

bacon and Parmesan for indulgence and crispy butternut squash for my serving of vegetables.

If you’re having a bad day, a good day, or even just an aver-

age day, I hope you’ll consider my bacon butternut squash pasta to add some brightness to your kitchen and belly!

Ragu bolognese with tagliatelle offers satisfying flavors

BY ADRIENE RATHBUN Eagle correspondent

Ragu Bolognese with Tagliatelle is a simple pasta dish with big flavor. I love this recipe because like most wonderful Italian cuisine, it’s about fresh, simple ingredients prepared in a loving way and it yields beautiful, worthy results. Ragu meaning “meat sauce” comes from Bologna, and like any good traditional cuisine there are thousands of recipes for it with minor tweaks and spins, according to family tradition or someone’s palette.

The thing I love most about this recipe is the simple list of ingredients, and the manageable yield. The recipe I normally make for Ragu Bolognese feeds an army, which is fantastic when we’re entertaining, but a bit much for our small family on a regular night. Also, like any good recipe, this sauce simmers for three hours. That means you can make it ahead of time, let it simmer and your home will smell as good as this sauce tastes. This week’s recipe comes

from a cookbook that was a birthday gift last year by a dear friend, Joanna. She shares a passion of cooking and entertaining, too. The cookbook is called Old World Italian, and it’s actually written by a French woman. You would never know it though. A flip through this book will have you longing for an Italian getaway with its gorgeous moody photography, and

make it into your regular dinner menu rotation.

Any time there’s pasta and a creamy cheese sauce in a recipe, you cannot go wrong. Add Italian sausage, garlic, broccoli rabe and sage, and the whole dish goes to next-level deliciousness. I like to top it with some Parmesan cheese because why not?

Pasta is a welcomed old friend we used to enjoy, and then some food allergies and low-carb diets robbed us of that joy. We are back to full-fledged pasta eating around here, and I’m not sorry about it. Serve this pasta dish alongside an Italian salad, and dinner is ready to enjoy.

One-Pot Baked Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Kosher salt

12 ounces Fontina and/or aged cheddar cheese

6 garlic cloves

2 large sprigs sage

1 bunch broccoli rabe

¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups half and half

1 pound ridged medium pasta shells, or large tube pasta such as lumaconi or rigatoni

Place racks in center and upper third of oven; preheat to 325 degrees. Heat a large pot of water over high heat. Add several tablespoons of salt and bring to a boil (for the pasta).

Grate 12 ounces Fontina cheese on the large holds of a box grater (you should have about 4½ cups). Smash 6 garlic cloves, peel, and coarsely chop. Pick all sage leaves from stems and set aside about 10. Finely chop remaining leaves (you should have about 1 tablespoon). Trim tough ends from 1 bunch of broccoli rabe, then cut stems to 2-inch pieces. Leave leafy ends long.

Heat a deep, large ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over mediumhigh heat. Add ¼ cup oil and swirl to coat. Remove 1 pound sausage from casings and add to skillet. Break into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook, undisturbed, until sausage is browned, about 4 minutes. Stir a couple of times and continue to cook, undisturbed again, until sausage is fully cooked through, about 3 minutes longer.

Add garlic, chopped sage, and ½ teaspoon red pepper and cook, stirring until garlic is golden, about 2 minutes.

Stir in 2 cups half-and-half and simmer until sauce is thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low.

Gradually add about two-thirds of cheese, bit by bit, stirring constantly and letting cheese melt completely before adding more, until sauce is smooth and thick, about 3 minutes; season with salt and remove from heat. Meanwhile, cook 1 pound pasta shells in boiling salted water 2 minutes shy of package instructions (8-10 minutes depending on type). During the last 2 minutes, add all of the broccoli rabe to the pot with pasta. Drain in colander and shake several times to remove excess water. Return pasta and broccoli rabe to empty pasta pot.

Add cheesy sausage mixture from skillet to pot with pasta. Stir until pasta and broccoli rabe are coated in sauce, then transfer everything back to skillet.

Cover skillet tightly with foil and bake on center rack until pasta is tender and sauce is bubbling, 30-40 minutes. Let rest a few minutes while you heat broiler.

Remove foil and top with remaining cheese. Toss sage leaves with remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl and arrange over pasta. Broil until cheese is browned and bubbling in spots, about 5 minutes (depending on strength of boiler).

Let pasta cool a minute or two before serving.

- Bon Appetit

Ragu Bolognese with Tagliatelle

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large carrot, finely chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 large celery stalk, finely chopped

1 teaspoon oregano

½ pound ground pork

10 ounces ground beef

3 cup red wine

2⁄

the author’s darling little family photos sprinkled in.

Serve this Ragu Bolognese with Tagliatelle with a bold Sangiavese wine, a hunk of crusty bread (homemade, if you like to bake bread) and maybe a fresh green salad, too. Fall weather calls for slower cooked foods, a slower pace and a happy time of year.

shoulder

2 cups tomato passata (strained puree of raw tomatoes)

4 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup beef stock, plus more if needed

Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound Tagliatelle pasta, fresh or dried

Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrot, onion, celery and oregano. Cook until slightly colored, about 5 minutes. Add the pork and cook until browned, then add the beef and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. Add the red wine and cook for 2 minutes to reduce.

Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the tomato passata and tomato paste. Add the beef stock and stir well until the tomato paste is incorporated. Season with salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to as low as possible. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, adding a few tablespoons of beef stock if the mixture looks a little dry, until you get a smooth and rich sauce, about 3 hours.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the tagliatelle to the boiling water and cook to al dente according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, toss into the ragu sauce and mix gently to combine. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan.

CHRISTIE WHITE

Pasta with bacon, Parmesan and butternut squash.

MATTHEW LEAVITT

Serve ragu bolognese with tagliatelle with a bold Sangiavese wine, a hunk of crusty bread and maybe a fresh green salad

Sweet

Get smoky, sweet chicken legs with this air fryer recipe

BY ANN MALONEY The Washington Post

Sometimes a recipe makes a bold claim. I want to try it because it sounds good, but I end up cooking it with a bit of a cynicism – a “we’ll see ...”

In her new cookbook, “The Quick & Easy Spiced Nice Cookbook,” Farrah

Jalanbo wrote that these air fryer chicken legs taste like they have been “slow cooked in a smoker” – and, oh, goodness, she’s right.

The legs – a thrifty cut of the bird – are pierced and rubbed with a sweet and spicy paste of oil and honey whisked with Cajun seasoning, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, chili powder and garlic powder. They are then cooked in the air fryer – and turned several times – until well charred.

Jalanbo, a first-generation Syrian American, grew up in Southern Cali-

fornia, but she writes in her first cookbook that because the family had close friends from all over the world, she grew up eating various Middle Eastern dishes as well as Mexican and South Asian food. So her cookbook is filled with “fusion recipes” that are “inspired by several different cuisines.” (She puts cumin and coriander in her sujuk quesadillas.)

On her TikTok, which has 1.8 million followers, you can watch her make these drumsticks. Her popular Spiced Nice Instagram account, which she started three years ago, has attracted more than 260,000 followers.

Jalanbo’s cookbook makes another bold claim: that the 60 recipes included will be ready in 30 minutes or less. I haven’t made them all, of course, but I did make her za’atar chicken skewers (with za’atar, sumac and garlic powder) and basil lemon meatballs (ground chicken with fresh basil, lemon and ricotta cheese as well as garlic powder

Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Drumsticks

30 minutes

2 to 3 servings

We ate these drumsticks for dinner with a lightly dressed mixed raw vegetable salad – made while the drumsticks cooked, so it was all ready in about a half-hour. The chicken would also make a great party dish or a game-day snack for football season.

The air fryer produced the best result and required no preheating, but we got similar results cooking the chicken on a heatproof rack in a preheated oven or toaster oven, using the convection setting.

Storage notes: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

1⁄4 cup honey

2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

31⁄2 teaspoons avocado or vegetable oil, plus more for greasing

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon fine salt

6 chicken drumsticks (about 11⁄2 pounds total)

Green salad, for serving

Place the honey in a large microwaveable bowl and heat it in the microwave on high for 20 seconds.

Remove the bowl from the microwave and whisk in the Cajun seasoning, oil, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper and salt until a smooth, red paste forms.

and dried thyme). Both were full of flavor and came in right on time.

Over and over again, as I looked through the cookbook, I’d think the ingredient list looked a little long but then realize it was just because she included teaspoons of various dried, ground spices.

Along with a few quick and easy weeknight meals, I got another little bonus from Jalanbo’s cookbook: inspiration to be a little freer and easier with my own spice cabinet. Why not add a little sambal chili paste to the eggs when I’m breading my chicken cutlets, as she does? Or how about goosing my salmon spice rub with a little ground cumin and sumac?

Isn’t that what solid cookbooks are supposed to do? Give us good recipes, sure, but also inspire us and give us tools to do our own thing?

Biscuit-like dumplings float like clouds atop a simple stew of large pieces of tender chicken studded with bright orange carrots and flecks of herbs in this dish of Sheri’s Shortcut Chicken Stew With Fluffy Dumplings.

Fluffy clouds of comfort

How to make Southern dumplings for a cozy family supper

BY SHERI CASTLE Special to Washington Post

A simmering pot of fragrant stew earns top honors when it comes to comfort food, but the comfort doubles when it is topped with fluffy dumplings. They are the bonus prize in each bowlful — the unexpected delight that makes the meal special enough to feel restorative. Such a dish sure hits the spot on a winter evening, just right for a cozy family supper, although it can be the sleeper hit of a casual dinner gathering as well.

Dumplings come in a host of shapes and sizes around the world, but most are a type of simple bread or pastry that enhance or extend more expensive ingredients. The ones in the accompanying recipe are pillows of light yet substantial dough added to the pot shortly before the stew is served. They take their cues from drop biscuits rather than pastry, so there’s no rolling, shaping or futzing. Just stir up the dough, spoon it into the pot, cover and come back in about a half-hour.

Chicken with dumplings is the benchmark for Southern dumplings. Although the dumplings are the stars, the stew has to keep up its end of the bargain. Using a rotisserie chicken for the meat and the broth not only saves time, it adds flavor from the roasted skin and bones. The ready-touse meat also eliminates the temptation to overcook the chicken. Old recipes often called for boiling the chicken for upward of an hour, which might have been a good advice for tough old yard birds, but can turn the meat into ropey strands. Rotisserie chickens are seasoned, so wait until the broth has reduced before adjusting the salt. The dumpling dough isn’t heavily seasoned, so don’t be alarmed if the stew seems a tad salty when tasted on its own — it will be balanced when the two come together in the bowl.

These dumplings, which are about the size of a golf ball, float atop the stew as they cook, resulting in puffed tops, fluffy middles and tender bottoms — more like bread than noodles. When the pot lid is

lifted, the aromas and experience are heady.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING DUMPLINGS

A Because the dough is leavened (or raised, as some cooks would say), stir it together right before it goes atop the stew.

A Bring the stew to a boil before adding the dough. One might worry that the boiling stew would cause the dumplings to break apart, but actually the opposite is true. The hot liquid quickly seals the dumplings, so they rise instead of spread. It is akin to baking biscuits in a very hot oven.

A Don’t peek inside the pot until the dumplings are likely to be done. Lifting the lid too soon or too often lets heat escape and deflates the dumplings.

A A one-ounce spring-release scoop, such as a #30 disher, makes quick work of creating uniform dumplings. Scoop, drop. Scoop, drop. But in lieu of a scoop, two large-ish soup spoons will do. Use one to lift the dough from its mixing bowl and the second to push the dough onto the burbling stew.

Using a sharp knife, lightly puncture the chicken all over to allow the marinade to get into the meat. Add the chicken to the bowl and rub the marinade into each piece until well coated.

Remove the basket from the air fryer and lightly rub it with oil. Arrange the drumsticks in the basket in a single layer. It’s fine if they touch, but allow for as much space as possible between the pieces.

Set the air fryer to 380 degrees – there is no need to preheat – and air-fry the chicken for 8 minutes; then, using tongs or a fork, flip the pieces and cook, flipping every 5 minutes, until the chicken looks dark red with charred spots and has an internal temperature of 165 degrees, about 15 more minutes total. Depending on the size of your drumsticks and the air fryer being used, they may need less time.

Serve with a salad.

Nutrition information per serving (2 drumsticks), based on making 3 | Calories: 521; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Cholesterol: 184 mg; Sodium: 788 mg; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 24 g; Protein: 45 g Adapted from “The Quick & Easy Spiced Nice Cookbook” by Farrah Jalanbo (Page Street Publishing, 2022).

Sheri’s Shortcut Chicken Stew With Fluffy Dumplings

Yields: 6 to 8 servings

Here, fluffy and biscuit-like dumplings float like clouds atop a simple stew of large pieces of tender chicken studded with bright orange carrots and flecks of herbs. Rich broth with plenty of body that actually tastes like chicken is the bedrock of this stew and other recipes.

A note about the rotisserie chickens: We have called for small birds, and all their meat can be used. But if you buy larger rotisserie birds, like the ones at Costco, only use the white meat and reserve the dark meat for another use. Why? Because using all the meat from a large bird will thicken the stew to the point where the dumplings won’t be able to float.

From cookbook author Sheri Castle.

Ingredients

For the broth and stew

A 2 small, plain rotisserie chickens (see headnote)

A 4 cups cold water

A 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (store-bought or homemade)

A 3 large thyme sprigs

A 3 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed

A 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

A 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

A 1 small onion, chopped (about 3⁄4 cup)

A 2 medium ribs celery, thinly sliced (about 3⁄4 cup)

A 2 medium carrots, scrubbed well and cut into thin rounds (about 1 1⁄2 cups)

A 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

A 1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more as needed

For the dumplings

A 2 cups flour

A 1 tablespoon baking powder

A 1 teaspoon kosher salt

A 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar

A 1⁄2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

A 4 tablespoons (1⁄2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and chilled

A 2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening (may substitute leaf lard)

A 3⁄4 cup half-and-half

A Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

For the broth and stew: Pull the meat from the chickens and tear it into largish bite-size pieces; cover and refrigerate until needed.

Place the carcasses and skin in a large saucepan or small pot. Add the cold water, broth, thyme sprigs and 1 teaspoon of the salt; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for about an hour, until the carcasses fall apart and the liquid reduces to about 8 cups and tastes like rich chicken soup. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a large saucepan; discard solids. Stir in the vinegar and keep the broth warm on the lowest heat setting.

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, thyme leaves and a pinch of salt, stirring to coat. Cook for 8 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften, stirring often. Add the broth and cook for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Season with the remaining 2 teaspoons salt and the pepper. Stir in the reserved rotisserie chicken; reduce the heat to low.

For the dumplings: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and pepper in a medium bowl. Work in the butter and shortening with your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly. Add the half-and-half and stir only until combined to form a soft, sticky dough. Bring the chicken stew to a boil over medium-high heat. Use a 1-ounce scoop or two soup spoons to drop golf-ball-size dumplings evenly over the surface of the stew. Reduce the heat to medium; cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the dumplings are firm, fluffy and somewhat dry on top.

Uncover and let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.

GORAN KOSANOVICFor The Washington Post

JUSTIN TSUCALASFor The Washington Post

Halloween treats you can make in 10 minutes or less

BY MICHELLE STARK Tampa Bay Times

When darkness falls on Halloween night, you better be prepared with the essentials: food and drink to keep you sustained through a barrage of trick-or-treaters.

The holiday this year is a school night, which means you need noshables you can make quickly and with little fuss. And since it’s Halloween, we’re leaning into the hokey vibes with food that is both snackable and adorable. Bust out your pumpkin cookie cutters or your decorative skull punch bowl for this festive feast.

Here are 10 Halloweenthemed food and drinks you can make in 10 minutes or less, leaving you plenty of time to turn that old bridesmaid dress into a zombie costume.

APPLE BITES

I make these every year for Halloween, because we desperately need some fruit in this mix. To make, quarter 2 or 3 apples. Place quarters in a bowl and squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over top. Mix; this will prevent the apples from browning too much. Now, take a quarter and cut a gap into the side, through the apple skin, to create an opening for the mouth. Make it large enough to fit two rows of teeth. For the teeth: My go-to is slivered almonds, the more jagged and mismatched the better. You can also use shelled sunflower seeds; anything that can pierce easily into the apple’s flesh. Coat the inside of the gap with peanut butter or almond butter, then stab the apple’s flesh with the almond slivers, using 4 or 5 on the top of the gap then repeating on the bottom. Repeat with remaining apple quarters.

BANANA GHOSTS

We’re keeping with the fruit theme, but also coating it in candy, because this is Halloween. To make, start by peeling 3 large, ripe bananas, then cut them in half horizontally. Insert wooden ice pop sticks or wooden skewers into the bananas. Place 2 cups white chocolate chips or baking chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl with 2 tablespoons shortening. Microwave in 30-second increments until melted. Stir. Dip each banana in the mixture, coating it completely. Hold skewer upright for about 10 seconds to allow any excess goo to drip off, then place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Gently break up some chocolate chips, then press two pieces into the banana to create ghoulish eyes. Repeat with remaining banana halves, then freeze for 15 minutes before serving.

BLEEDING HEART BRIE

Every celebratory food spread needs some melty brie cheese, and this one is no exception. Start with an 8ounce tube of refrigerated crescent rolls, or 2 storebought pie shells. Place one dough layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, then spread about 1 tablespoon red jam or jelly over the dough. Your choice on the flavor. Place an 8-ounce round of brie cheese in the center of the dough, then heap a couple more tablespoons jam onto the brie, spreading it slightly so it starts to drip down the sides. Place second layer of dough on top, pressing lightly to adhere to the bottom layer. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut dough into the shape of a heart. Roll the edges of the dough up slightly to secure. If you don’t have enough dough to make a heart, you can simply roll the edges up without shaping it. Brush with egg wash: 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, until crust is golden. Let cool

slightly, then cut into it before serving so the red jam can ooze out dramatically.

BLOOD RED PUNCH

This drink goes great with your bloody brie. And it can be made alcoholic, or not. Use your most gothic drinking glasses for serving. Make one drink at a time: Add 3 maraschino cherries and 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice to a glass. If going the alcohol route, add 11⁄2 ounces vodka to the glass and stir. Fill the glass with ice, then fill with club soda. Stir and serve immediately.

CANDY CORN BARK

Even candy corn haters can get behind this treat, which disguises the waxy candy’s flavor by mixing it with lots of other sugary items to create a quick treat. To make it, melt 16 ounces white chocolate chips or white baking chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments until melted. On a long piece of parchment paper, spread 1 cup crushed pretzels, 1 cup chopped chocolate chips (I like dark chocolate) and 1 cup chopped peanuts. Mix them a little, then form into a loose square. Pour white chocolate all over the top, then spread just slightly so some white chocolate touches all of the mixture. Sprinkle 1/2 cup candy corn on top, pressing candy corn slightly into the still-wet chocolate. Place in freezer for 5 minutes to allow chocolate to harden.

CHEESY EYEBALLS

You can do these eyeballs one of two ways. The easiest way is to buy those little balls of mozzarella in the grocery store. They’re sometimes called “pearls,” and they’re about the diameter of a quarter. Or, buy an 8-ounce log of goat cheese and roll a handful of mini balls yourself. Once you’ve got your cheese balls

ready, place them on a plate and use a skewer or straw or other small utensil to poke tiny holes in the top of each ball. Then, in a small bowl, mix equal parts honey and water; start with 1/4 cup of each. Roll one cheese ball around in the liquid so it’s nice and gooey, then return to plate. Repeat with remaining balls. Now for the pupils. You can get creative here. I used whole peppercorns, but you can also use a small piece of olive or chocolate chips. Place whatever you use into the small hole in the top of the cheese ball, then serve on a platter or in another dish.

MUMMY DOGS

This is the Halloween version of pigs in a blanket. To make, you’ll need some refrigerated biscuit dough and some precooked hot dogs or any kind of sausage. I like to use full-sized hot dogs for these. To make, roll one biscuit into the longest, thinnest strip you can, then wrap tightly around one hot dog. Leave a small part at the top open for the mummy’s face. Repeat with remaining dogs and biscuits, then bake in a 350-degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until biscuit dough is cooked through. The dough should puff up and look like mummy wrappings. Create eyes with little dots of mustard on the open area of the hot dog. Serve with ketchup for a bloody aesthetic.

ONE-POT PUMPKIN PASTA

This pasta could not be easier to make, plus it will provide a solid main dish for the evening. Not to mention that thin wiggly angel hair pasta swimming in an orange sauce is on theme for this night. Add the following to a pot: 12 ounces angel hair pasta, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth (you could even use water), 1/2 medium onion finely chopped, 3 cloves

PRODUCT REVIEWS

If you’re looking forward to making a lot of soup this fall, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more useful tool than the immersion blender. Sometimes called a hand blender or stick blender, these compact kitchen tools are able to puree ingredients right inside your pot or Dutch oven, saving you time and the hazard of transferring hot liquids into a blender. Immersion blenders with whisk attachments can also make homemade whipped cream in seconds and many come with food chopper cups fitted with blades to turn your immersion blender into a small food processor. If you’re unsure of how much you’ll use this kitchen gadget, you might spring for the $60 Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender, which does a fine job for not a ton of money. But for habitual soup, sauce and dip makers, the $120 Breville Control Grip, which combines power and precision, is super simple to operate and comes with four excellent attachments.

KitchenAid’s excellent model is our pick for the best cordless hand blender.

After many hours of blending, whipping and chopping (and a whole lot of leftover soup), we’ve landed on these three models as CNET’s top recommendations.

Best overall immersion blender: Breville Control Grip BSB510XL

CNET take: This was one of the pricier immersion blenders we tested, but it gives a whole lot of bang for the buck. The Breville Control Grip is incredibly easy and intuitive to use and packs plenty of power, despite lower total wattage than some others on the list. It also has one of our favorite handles, which is both sturdy and comfortable. This hand blender weighs a manageable 3.8 pounds and has good balance. We also like the rubber protectors on the bottom of the blade guard, which prevent it from scratching a pot or Dutch oven.

minced garlic, a couple tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cover pot, bring to a boil and let cook for about 8 minutes. Remove lid, stir in 4 ounces goat cheese and a handful of fresh parsley (optional) and stir well. If soupy, let cook with the lid off for a minute. If dry, add a couple tablespoons water and stir. Serve, preferably with some Cheesy Eyeballs on top.

PRETZEL BROOMS

These are adorable, and also a great little snack, the saltiness of the pretzels pairing well with mozzarella cheese. Start with a handful of mozzarella string cheeses. Cut each log of cheese in half horizontally, so you have two stubby cylinders of cheese. Carefully insert a small pretzel stick into one side of the cylinder, and push it about halfway down. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, make 5 or 6 snips into the bottom half of the cheese, creating strands. Wrap a strand of fresh chive around the top of the cheese, where it meets the pretzel, and tie carefully to secure.

WITCHES FINGERS

You’ll need whole carrots for this one. Cut each carrot in half, then use a vegetable peeler to start peeling the top half of the carrots. The goal is to taper the top half a bit so that it looks like a finger. You can even try to carve a couple of knuckles into the bottom half of the carrot using a small knife. When you’ve got your desired shape, add a dab of cream cheese to the top of the carrot and press a piece of slivered almond onto the cream cheese. This is the fingernail. Fill a deep bowl with a dip of your choosing, then place the carrots in the dip, fingernails up.

For $120, you’ll get the mighty Breville stick blender and four handy accessories: a wire whisk, food chopper bowl, large jug for mixing and an ice crusher attachment that you can screw into the jug for making mixed drinks and smoothies. All of the attachments are made from extremely high-grade plastic and feel particularly durable. If you’re looking for an immersion blender that can do far more than puree soups and sauces, this is the one to buy.

Best cordless immersion blender: KitchenAid Cordless Blender KHBBV53BM CNET take: If a corded immersion blender feels restrictive, KitchenAid’s cordless hand blender is another excellent option. It has adjustable variable speeds and plenty of power to whip potatoes, blend veggies and emulsify pesto and salad dressings with ease.

The KitchenAid was one of the easiest to attach and operate with a comfortably placed safety switch on the backside of the handle. We also love the look and feel of this stick blender with its durable matte-plastic build. It has great weight distribution and is a true pleasure to use. This basic cordless immersion blender can be had for $100, but will run you closer to $160 if you choose the bundle with a whisk, food chopper attachment and blending cup.

Best value immersion blender: Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-179 CNET take: You can purchase this formidable hand blender along with a whisk, chopper and mixing cup, all for $60 to $70 depending on color. Considering its excellent performance in the tests we ran, that makes it an easy pick for the best value immersion blender of the bunch. The Cuisinart sports 300 watts of power (even more than our top pick) and an easy speed control dial on top of the handle for precision blending and whipping.

If we have one complaint about this budget-friendly model, it’s the placement of the safety button. It’s located directly above the power button and it can be a bit awkward to hold both down at once. Compare that to the KitchenAid, which has its safety button on the back so you can use your natural grip to hold it down. For what it’s worth, the Cuisinart’s safety button is probably safer, since it’s almost impossible to press it by accident.

GRETCHEN MCKAYPittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS, file

Little ghouls and goblins will love these crescent roll-wrapped mummy dogs.

Immersion blenders are handy for fall soups

CNET

Celebrate fall and Halloween with this festive dish

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service

This colorful fall dinner is also perfect for Halloween. Salmon fillets are baked and topped with a black olive and shallot sauce. It’s served with black beans and orange carrots. Shallots are part of the onion family. They are small and teardrop-shaped and are milder than onions.

The trick to cooking this salmon in the oven is to make sure the oven is at temper-

ature before adding the salmon.

To save time, the shallots and olives can be chopped and mixed with the oil and vinegar dressing in the food processor. Remove the sauce and set aside. Do not wash the bowl and add a slicing disk to the processor. Slice the carrots for the side dish.

Helpful hints: A Any type of vinaigrette can be used.

A Red onion can be used instead of shallots for the salmon sauce.

Countdown: A Preheat oven to 350.

A While oven preheats prepare ingredients.

A Bake salmon and make sauce.

A While salmon roasts, make carrots and beans. Shopping list:

A To buy: 3/4 pound salmon fillet, olive oil spray, 1 container black pitted olives, 1 bottle low-fat oil and vinegar dressing, 1 can reduced-sodium black beans, 1 shallot.

A Staples: olive oil, carrots, ground cumin, salt and black peppercorns.

Apple Pie Parfaits

Active time: 35 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

4 to 5 servings

Roasted Salmon With Black Olive-Shallot Vinaigrette

Yield: 2 servings

3⁄4 pound salmon fillet

Olive oil spray

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 pitted black olives, coarsely chopped 1⁄2 medium-size shallot, finely chopped (about 2 teaspoons)

3 tablespoons low-fat oil and vinegar dressing

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with olive oil spray. Place salmon on the foil and spray with olive oil spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place salmon in oven and bake 15 minutes. Meanwhile, mix olives and shallots with the dressing. Set the vinaigrette aside at room temperature while salmon is baking. Spoon the vinaigrette over the salmon while it is still warm.

Per serving: 296 calories (49% from fat), 16.3 g fat (2.2 g saturated, 6.8 g monounsaturated), 98 mg cholesterol, 34.1 g protein, 3.1 g carbohydrates, 0.4 g fiber, 206 mg sodium.

Festive Black Beans

Yield: 2 servings

1 cup sliced carrots

2 cups water

11⁄2 cups canned reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Add carrots and water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Add the beans and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. The carrots should be cooked and the beans warm. Drain leaving about 2 tablespoons water on the beans and add the olive oil, cumin and salt and pepper to taste.

Per serving: 195 calories (7% from fat), 1.5 g fat (0.3 g saturated, 0.5 g monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 11.5 g protein, 35.5 g carbohydrates, 14.1 g fiber, 189 mg sodium.

These scrumptious dessert cups are layered with apple pie flavors, with apples simmered until tender and aromatic with maple syrup, cinnamon and a touch of lemon juice, then piled over graham cracker crumbs and topped with a lovely, gently tangy blend of vanilla-spiked whipped cream and Greek yogurt. It’s a better-for-you treat that is a delightful way to cap off a fall or winter meal or to enjoy as an afternoon pick-meup. Storage notes: Leftover parfaits can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

4 medium apples (11⁄2 pounds total), such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Grimes Golden apple, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn or a mix, unpeeled, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch table or fine sea salt

3 sheets (11⁄2 ounces) graham crackers

1/4 cup very cold heavy cream

2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar

Reinvent an iconic dessert with lighter apple pie parfaits

BY ELLIE KRIEGER Special To The Washington Post

When I am asked the wouldyou-rather question “cake or pie?” I am pie all the way, no hesitation. But as much as I love a freshly baked, double-crust apple pie, most of the time I want a dessert that’s lighter, healthier and easier to make. These dessert cups answer that call scrumptiously. They center on the fresh apples that, to me, are one of the most exciting things about this season. Simmered in a skillet with a touch of maple syrup, lemon juice and cinnamon, the fruit

becomes tender, aromatic and pie filling-like, with a nuanced flavor that comes from using a variety of different apples, each with its own unique taste profile.

I like to leave the apple peels on for their lovely color, rustic texture and nutritional value, but you could certainly peel them if you prefer. Once cooled, the cooked apples are layered in jars or glasses with graham cracker crumbs and my go-to creamy topping of vanilla-spiked, fresh whipped cream folded with Greek yogurt.

I developed the cream topping years ago as a way to accommodate a bigger dollop in a betterfor-you way, but I’ve come to

prefer it on most fruit desserts for its taste alone, as it adds a complementary, gentle tang. I also find it to be more stable than regular whipped cream, lasting several days in the refrigerator. With graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of each parfait absorbing the lovely juices from the apples, and an extra crunchy sprinkle of them on top of the soft cream, this treat is a delightful way to cap off an autumn meal or savor as an afternoon pick-me-up. In fact, depending on my mood, I might even choose it when given the option “pie or parfait?”

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt (nonfat, low-fat or whole)

In a large, deep skillet, combine the apple slices, maple syrup, water and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and salt, and set the skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples soften but still retain their shape, and most of the liquid has evaporated, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

While the apples are cooking, place the graham crackers into a ziptop bag and, using a rolling pin or mallet, crush them into a fine crumb. You should wind up with about 1⁄2 cup of crumbs.

In a large bowl, combine the cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and, using a hand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. Using a flexible spatula, fold in the yogurt until well combined. Distribute the graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of 4 or 5 (8-ounce) jars or glasses, reserving 1 tablespoon of the crumbs for garnish. Add the apple mixture, then top each with a dollop of the whipped cream, finish with a sprinkle of the reserved graham cracker crumbs and serve.

Nutrition per serving (using whole fat Greek yogurt), based on 5 |

AL DIAZMiami Herald/TNS

Roasted Halloween salmon, with black olive sauce and a side of black beans and carrots, is a colorful meal.

TOM MCCORKLEFor The Washington Post

Apple pie parfaits are made with layers of graham cracker crumbs, cooked apples and a creamy topping.

Everything you need to know about freezing soups

BY LAUREN SALKELD TheKitchn.com

Soup is easy to make and even easier to enjoy, but it’s simply not the kind of dish you make for one. When you make soup, you make a lot – perhaps that’s why large pots are often called soup pots! Fortunately, soup is ideal for freezing and serving later, which means you can stir up a big batch and then eat it for weeks or even months to come. But what’s the best way to freeze soup and how long will it last? Read on for everything you need to know, including which containers to use, how to thaw frozen soup and which soups freeze better than others.

BEST SOUPS FOR FREEZING

All soup can be frozen, but brothy soups, puréed soups, and soups packed with hearty vegetables and proteins (think: lentil, minestrone or French onion) freeze better than those made with milk, cream, pasta or grains. You can still freeze your favorite chicken noodle or cream of asparagus, but you’ll want to make a few freezerfriendly adjustments. No matter what kind of soup you are making and freezing, if it has a garnish – be it croutons, grated cheese, or fresh herbs – wait to add that until you’re ready to serve.

BEST CONTAINERS

The ideal container for freezing soup depends on how you plan to eat it later, your freezer space, and what you have on hand. If space is an issue or you like to freeze individual servings, airtight freezer bags are a great option. Put your soup in the bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and seal it tight. Next, find a way to freeze the bag flat. This could mean laying it on the “floor” of your freezer or placing it on a baking sheet or in a plastic container and putting that in the freezer. Once the soup is frozen into a compact square or rectangle, it can be stacked in the freezer or arranged like books on a shelf.

Be sure to use high-quality freezer bags, which are thicker and sturdier than your average sandwich bag. If you are still

nervous about leaks, leave the soup on the baking sheet or in the plastic container – a setup that works particularly well if you keep a bunch of soup in the freezer.

If you prefer not to use plastic bags or are freezing a larger quantity of soup, use freezersafe glass or plastic containers. Although they can be bulky, containers come in a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit the portions you’re after and the dimensions of your freezer. There are also great options like reusable freezer bags and blocks like Souper Cubes.

BEST WAY TO FREEZE SOUP

Once you’ve made your soup, always let it cool completely. It might be tempting to skip this step, but it lowers the risk for foodborne illness and helps prevent freezer burn. Plus, putting hot soup in the freezer can thaw the food that is already in there. To speed the cooling process, place the hot soup pot in an ice bath and stir it often to lower the temperature. Alternatively, divide your soup into smaller portions for faster cooling – you can even use the containers you plan to freeze it in.

If you haven’t already moved your soup to its freezer-friendly bag or container, now’s the time to do so. A measuring cup or ladle makes easy work of this step. For convenience, divide

soup into portions you will use, whether that means individual servings to take to lunch, three servings to enjoy over the course of a few evenings, or a larger amount to serve your family or feed the neighborhood kids after a day of sledding.

Remember that liquid expands when frozen, so leave a bit of extra space in the bag or container. If using a glass or plastic container, you can lay a sheet of plastic wrap on top of the soup as an added layer of protection against freezer burn.

Before your soup goes in the freezer, always, always label it. In addition to writing the name of the soup, include the number of servings and either the date it was frozen or the date it should be eaten by. We all have our preferred system, but clear labeling will save you a headache down the line and will mean that your family can easily enjoy the soup you took the time to make and freeze.

HOW LONG TO FREEZE

Soup is a very, very broad category, so how long you can freeze an individual recipe will vary. However, if frozen properly, most soups will stay fresh for at least three months.

HOW TO THAW, REHEAT FROZEN SOUP

As with most frozen food, the best way to thaw soup is in the

How to Freeze Soup

Freezing the soup

A Prepare soup according to recipe directions, omitting any dairy, pasta, grains, fresh herbs or garnishes.

A Allow soup to cool completely.

refrigerator. Soup frozen flat in bags is thin and will defrost quickly. Place it on a plate or in a bowl just in case the bag has a hole or leaks. To speed things up, put the bag in a water bath.

Soup frozen in plastic or glass containers can also be thawed in the refrigerator or a water bath, as well as in the microwave, as long as the container is microwave-safe.

If thawing in the microwave, you can also heat the soup up that way. Alternatively, warm the soup in a saucepan. If your defrosted soup lacks liquid, gradually add broth or water, about half a cup at a time, until it’s as soupy as you desire.

Freezing can flatten flavors, so be sure to check your soup for seasoning. And if you held back a garnish, add it now.

HOW TO FREEZE SOUP WITH DAIRY

Soups enriched with milk, cream or cheese are rich and satisfying, but freezing and reheating dairy can cause it to separate and turn grainy. The good news is that most recipes have you add dairy near the end, so you can simply make your soup up to that step and wait to add the milk, cream or cheese until you’ve thawed, reheated and are ready to serve. Here’s a hot tip: When labeling your soup for the freezer, note how much dairy to add, so you’re not scrambling to find the recipe while the soup is bubbling away on the stove.

HOW TO FREEZE SOUP WITH PASTA OR GRAINS

Whether it’s chicken noodle, chicken and rice, mushroom and barley, udon or pho, there are a lot of soups made with pasta, rice or a grain of some kind. Those starches make soup heartier and more satisfying, but they also soak up a lot of liquid, which can make them fall apart, as well as create an overall less soupy soup. But there’s an easy fix: Leave out any pasta or grain until you thaw and reheat your soup. As with dairy, do yourself a favor and add a note when you label the soup. Cook the pasta or grain separately and add it to your soup when ready to serve.

With these easy tips, you are ready to make and freeze pot

To speed the cooling process, place the hot soup pot in an ice bath and stir if often to lower the temperature. Alternatively, divide your soup into smaller portions for faster cooling – you can even use the containers you plan to freeze it in.

A If you haven’t already done so, transfer the soup to freezer bags or freezer-safe plastic or glass containers. If using freezer bags, put your soup in the bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and seal it tight.

A Label the soup with the name of the soup, the number of servings and either the date it was frozen or the date it should be eaten by. It’s also helpful to note any ingredients that need to be added when reheating the soup.

A Transfer the soup to the freezer. If using bags, freeze the bags flat by laying them on the floor of your freezer, on a baking sheet or in a plastic container in the freezer. Once the soup is frozen into a compact square or rectangle, it can be stacked in the freezer or arranged like books on a shelf.

Thawing and reheating the soup

A The best way to thaw soup is in the refrigerator. Place it on a plate or in a bowl just in case the bag has a hole or leaks. To speed things up, put the bag in a water bath. Soup frozen in plastic or glass containers can also be thawed in the refrigerator or a water bath, as well as in the microwave, as long as the container is microwave safe.

A Soup can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. If the soup is too thick, add broth or water about a half cup at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. When reheating, add any ingredients, such as dairy or pasta, that were omitted when freezing.

A Garnish and serve.

after pot of soup. All that’s left is to pick a soup recipe – or several!

Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe adapted from Crisco’s

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

¾ cup vegetable shortening

1 ¼ cups firmly packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons almond milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

(I’ve experimented with dark chocolate chips for a richer flavor)

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.

Beat shortening, brown sugar, vanilla and milk with a mixer until blended.

MICK BODIE

Beat in egg and the rest of the dry ingredients until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Resist eating too much of the raw cookie dough.

Chocolate

will improve even the worst days

BY JULIE HIRSCHHORN hirschhornjulie@gmail.com

Nobody makes better cookies than my mom. I’m sorry, but facts are facts. I remember coming home after a long day at school, completely ravenous (was it just me, or did teenage angst make you a hungry bear, too?) I would complain about how I couldn’t do math (still true),

grumble how physics was the death combination of math and science (also still very true), and whine about how we had to read Shakespeare’s “Othello”when I really just wanted to re-read “Harry Potter.” High school was tough, man. Those thoughts got pushed to the back burner when I’d get home from field hockey practice and smell my mom’s chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven — and suddenly, I just knew that

everything was going to be all right. It’s true — these chocolate chip cookies make everything better, whether you didn’t do well on a project at work, got in a fight with your partner, or got emotional re-watching “Grey’s Anatomy” for the sixth time (don’t judge me). Whatever the situation, these cookies are here for you. The key ingredient in this recipe is shortening. Yup, you heard me. Some bakers may

consider using shortening a cardinal sin, but it actually helps make the cookies flaky and retain a round shape instead of flattening and becoming conjoined on the baking sheet, thanks to the higher melting point.

Feel free to make the dough ahead of time and freeze for later, or bake immediately and test your self-control. If you decide to make the dough in advance and bake later, scoop the dough onto the baking sheet as if you were going to bake them, but freeze the dough until firm. Once frozen, place the balls of dough in a plastic freezer bag, so you can take out as

Take tablespoonfuls of cookie dough and roll them into balls, placed 3 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for 8–10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11–13 minutes for a crispier batch. Remove to a baking rack to cool completely.

Yield: Makes three dozen cookies

many servings as you would like

— whether it’s two cookies or five, I support your choice. You might need to increase the baking time for a few minutes. Cookies are served best warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an episode of your favorite reality television show.

MCCLATCHY FILES/KRTTNS, file

High-quality freezer bags are a great option for saving soup. Put your soup in the bag, squeeze out as much air as possible and seal it tight. Freeze it flat and then it can be stacked.