Chiefs

Chiefs lose five players in first 90 minutes of free agency, re-sign Husain Abdullah

Over the past two months, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid have taken turns repeating the mantra build through the draft. So when free-agency officially began at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and five Chiefs starters were snapped up by other teams within the first 90 minutes, it hardly qualified as a shock. Also Tuesday, the Chiefs re-signed backup safety Husain Abdullah to a two-year deal, a source told The Star.

BLAIR KERKHOFF

Which Big 12 team will cut the nets in KC? Eight are capable

This is the 18th Big 12 Tournament, and after the NCAA selection committee does its thing on Sunday, the guess is we will not have seen anything like it. Baylor coach Scott Drew marveled at the field. “Toughest I can remember,” Drew said. “Not even close. More teams can win it this year. Normally, going in there are two or three teams that are the favorites.”

News

With an eye for history and detail, Kansas City’s model railroaders produce sprawling masterpieces

The Kansas City area is a hotbed for model railroading with over three dozen “fully finished” private layouts. Perhaps that’s a product of Kansas City’s legacy as a real-life rail hub. In any case, Kansas City’s model railroaders are a collegial bunch. Operating a model railroad can require up to a dozen people, and the gatherings serve as social functions.

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Sports

Down the hill from KU, Haskell carries out a different basketball mission

On the same night KU plays Texas in front of a sold-out crowd, another college basketball celebration has begun in Lawrence. Three players from Haskell Indian Nations University are lined up at midcourt to be recognized for before their final home game. Their time at Haskell has been rewarding, the players say. But the real news here is three of the players have made it to this point.

Eat + Drink

Americans develop a thirst for Irish whiskey, which blends well in cocktails

Sales of Irish whiskey surged 576 percent between 2003 and 2013 in the United States, making it the fastest growing category, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. Last year alone, sales jumped 20 percent. Americans might be rediscovering Irish whiskey now, but it’s hardly new.

News

Video: St. Thomas Aquinas salutes teacher-reservist before he heads to Afghanistan

Air Force reservist Leo Brown, a religion teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, will be deployed to Afghanistan later this month with the 442nd Fighter Wing. This is his last week in the classroom before he reports for duty. On Tuesday, students and teachers surpised Brown by lining the halls and cheering as he was summoned from his classroom.

Development

Twelve-story office tower is proposed for Country Club Plaza area

A developer is proposing a $78 million office tower at 46th Terrace and Pennsylvania Avenue, the first new office project pitched for the Country Club Plaza area since a controversial plan fell through three years ago. The 12-story building is being pursued by Block Real Estate Services for a 1.5-acre location where the firm had proposed a hotel project last year.

Politics

KCI choice comes with a cost, consultants tell task force

With a looming deadline for a recommendation, the KCI citizen task force still has a difficult choice to make for the airport’s future: Undertake major renovations at two existing terminals that will likely cost in excess of $700 million and won’t solve all the airport’s problems. Or build a new single terminal and solve all the problems –– but be ready to spend $800 million to $1.2 billion.

Politics

Missouri bill would ban laws targeting specific dog breeds

The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Brian Nieves, allows for local ordinances prohibiting dogs from running at large, as long as the regulation is not specific to breeds of dogs. If passed, it would undo any local ordinances already in place, including one in Kansas City that mandates pit bulls be spayed or neutered.

World News

Malaysia says not sure which way jet was headed

More than four days after a Malaysian jetliner went missing on route to Beijing, authorities acknowledged Wednesday they didn't know in which direction the plane and its 239 passengers was heading when it disappeared, vastly complicating efforts to find it.

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