Sam Mellinger

College basketball needs some help — starting at the top

The picture you get talking to people inside college basketball about their sport is they love the game, but hope it gets help. There are several simple shifts that could make the sport cleaner, faster, and better to watch (and play, for that matter).

Royals

Becoming Yordano: A journey to the launch point of the Royals’ rocket arm

Yordano Ventura quit school at 14 and was working construction until his big break: a tryout that led to a spot in the Kansas City Royals’ academy in the Dominican Republic. But even after making the major leagues and pitching in the World Series, Ventura wouldn’t live anywhere else than Las Terrenas, his hometown, where he trained on the beach and swam in the ocean.

Local

Death of Brandon Ellingson, who drowned in handcuffs, gets another look

Special prosecutor Amanda Grellner acknowledged that she is reviewing the case after receiving new information. Four months ago, she declined to press charges against Missouri Highway Patrol trooper Anthony Piercy after a coroner’s inquest found Brandon Ellingson’s death in the Lake of the Ozarks to be an accident.

Star Magazine

Shelter stories: Readers share their successful pet adoption tales

About two months ago, the FYI section featured animals available for adoption at local shelters in its “12 Strays of Christmas” series. We wanted to hear from readers about their successful adoptions and the impact their four-legged family members have had on their lives. We were flooded with stories. Now, we’re sharing some of our favorites.

Latest News

Woman dies in overnight fire in Kansas City, Kan.

Sun 8:44 AM

'Napoleon Dynamite' school bus ends up at charter school

Sun 9:27 AM

Koch event drawing 2016 hopefuls Rubio, Paul, Cruz, Walker

Sun 9:20 AM

Japan stunned by video claiming death of 1 of 2 IS hostages

Sun 10:07 AM

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on I-35 in Lenexa

Sat 9:41 PM

Ukraine: Phone calls prove rebels attacked city, killed 30

Sun 8:58 AM

Royals pitcher Brandon Finnegan gets award ... from the Texas Rangers

Sun 9:22 AM

Former Raytown South coach Bud Lathrop is back on the bench

Sat 5:46 PM

California drought could end with storms known as atmospheric rivers

Sun 7:12 AM

Arizona man loses Super Bowl credential after Facebook post

Sun 4:07 AM

Balloon crew launches in bid to break 2 major records

Sun 9:42 AM

Kansas lawmakers hear from supporters and opponents of legalizing medical marijuana

Sat 6:55 PM

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Chiefs

Losses to Chiefs were turning points for Patriots, Seahawks on road to Super Bowl

Defeats at Arrowhead Stadium proved to be the turning points for the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in their run to Super Bowl XLIX, which is Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. Kansas City beat Seattle 24-20 in November and routed the Patriots 41-14 in September.

Health Care

Area medical workers see progress in the effort to eradicate Ebola in Africa

The World Health Organization and other medical groups, pushing caution and vigilance, are far from declaring the epidemic over, but they note positive trends. Lenexa-based medical humanitarian group Heart to Heart International is under contract to operate an Ebola treatment unit in the Tappita area of Liberia until the end of April.

Local

Grieving another loss, Thompson family declares: ‘We have tremendous faith’

Amy, the inspiration for Kansas City’s Memorial Day run, died in 1989 after she was shot in the head three years earlier. Tricia, struck by a drunken driver in 1989, died Wednesday after 26 years of care by family, friends and nurses.

Back to Rockville

Musician John Doe’s legacy still evolving and growing

“This Far,” a double-vinyl release, became a way for the singer/songwriter, a member of the the legendary Los Angeles punk band X and a solo artist, to put his career in perspective. Doe performs Monday at Knuckleheads in Kansas City and Tuesday at the Bottleneck in Lawrence.

House & Home

Brooklyn transplants’ Olathe home is an architectural marvel of concrete and steel

But to John and Cynthia Gillis, it’s a geometric poem that tells the tale of a partnership that spans beyond four decades and into the tall grasses of a Kansas meadow. When construction began in April of 2013, neighbors thought the landowners were building a church.

Local

Video: Main span of Fairfax bridge over Missouri River demolished with explosives

C.W. Gusewelle

Gov. Sam Brownback’s push to change Kansas Supreme Court seen as linked to school finance

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Win a pass for 2 to the 2/11 screening of Fifty Shades of Grey

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Blogs & Columns

Cindy Hoedel

Not so long ago, ‘free-range’ parenting was the norm

The fact that a Maryland couple is being investigated by Child Protective Services for letting their kids walk home by themselves from a park shows our society has taken legitimacy away from responsible parents who try to foster independence.

Cindy Hoedel

Not so long ago, ‘free-range’ parenting was the norm

Steve Rose

Few people really understand this muddled budget crisis in Kansas

What is occurring in the state is so confusing, very few understand what’s going on. What everyone should know is the answer to this simple question: When Gov. Sam Brownback and the Kansas Legislature slashed income and business taxes at a magnitude unprecedented in state history, what exactly were they looking to accomplish?

For Pete's Sake

Coincidence? Today’s word of the day on ‘Sesame Street’ is inflate

The word of the day in today’s episode of “Sesame Street” was inflate. Was that a weird coincidence given the controversy surrounding Tom Brady and the Patriots. Or was it merely trolling? You decide.

Eyewitness

From the archives: The Lathrop Building, 1943

A photo of a downtown building from The Kansas City Star’s photo archives

Stargazing

Brooke Shields posts scariest selfie ever

Brooke Shields is one brave woman. We would never ever let someone see us with our mouth like this at the dentist – except, of course, the dentist. But Shields is a very good sport.

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