University of Kansas

KU’s Joel Embiid out of Big 12 Tournament because of stress fracture in back

Kansas coach Bill Self ruled Joel Embiid out of the Big 12 Tournament this week because of a stress fracture in his back. Embiid is also unlikely to play in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Editor's Picks

Royals

Perez, Infante show why their health is valuable to Royals

Royals manager Ned Yost indicated his level of concern was “none” after catcher Salvador Perez took a foul tip off his hand. He only suffered a bruise. Still, any injury involving Perez is a cause for at least a small bit of worry. He is likely the most irreplaceable player on this club, a 23-year-old with burgeoning offensive skills and a Gold Glove already on his resume.

Chiefs

With McCluster, Albert headed out, Chiefs will look for free-agent bargains

While the Chiefs are apparently in wait-and-see mode before NFL free agency begins Tuesday, it appears a few of their players who keyed last season’s playoff run won’t be back in 2014: namely Dexter McCluster and Branden Albert. The Chiefs — who will have about $9.62 million in salary cap space — will probably shop for bargains during the first phase of free agency.

Technology

After years of development, KC startup EyeVerify looks like a success

It has taken 10 years for a concept hatched by UMKC professor Reza Derakhshani to be developed into a viable commercial product sold by a company headed by entrepreneur Toby Rush. In the last few months, EyeVerify has won awards for innovation and marketability of its password-replacement invention for smartphone cameras.

News

Researcher finds ‘work of my heart’ helping Sudanese women in KC

Martha Baird, a 61-year-old psychiatric nurse from Leawood, works in Kansas City’s Sudanese refugee community to heal mental health issues among the women. She wants to see “lay counselors” emerge from within the community and build a network of women helping women to live healthy.

News

Senate OKs bill to combat military sexual assault

The Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill late Monday making big changes in the military justice system to deal with sexual assault, including scrapping the nearly century-old practice of using a "good soldier defense" to raise doubts that a crime has been committed.

THE FOOD ISSUE

Heartland cuisine deserves a place at the global table

It’s not always easy to define Midwestern cuisine. At its heart and soul, Midwestern cuisine is rooted in comfort foods, but that doesn’t mean we can’t imbue staple dishes of meat, potatoes, farm-fresh vegetables and fresh-baked goods with a comfortable dose of creativity.

MARY SANCHEZ

Changes to SAT will even out the playing field

If all we are doing is drawing from not necessarily the smartest pool of talent for our colleges and universities but merely from the most privileged, we all will suffer. The country can’t afford to needlessly screen out students who have great potential, but who haven’t been coached to achieve a high score on these critical tests.

Editorial

Missouri should fix troubled schools, scrap the transfer law

Conflicting and sometimes inappropriate agendas have long hampered efforts to help struggling schools in Missouri. The task now is for the Board of Education and the legislature to draw clear lines of jurisdiction and mutually embrace policies that will help public schools and their students.

Blogs and columns

Crime Scene KC

Stargazing

Cityscape

Red Zone

Campus Corner

The Buzz