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Salina’s Ken Stonebraker will enter Kansas Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame

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Salina’s Ken Stonebraker will enter Kansas Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame


Life comes full circle sometimes. When it happens in the great fraternity of Kansas high school football coaches, it can take on a whole new meaning.

Longtime Kansas high school football coaching giants Ken Stonebraker and Chuck Porter will be inducted this December in the Kansas Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. A culmination of years of molding young men into men after their paths first crossed in early 1985.

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“I was signed at my house in Ellsworth to go to Wichita State by WSU assistant coach Chuck Porter,” Stonebraker recently recalled. “Chuck had great success as a high school football coach in Kansas and he is in this 2024 hall of fame class with me. We did meet once as opposing coaches in a playoff game and that was special, too.  He was a terrific coach and a better person.”

Stonebraker’s Salina South Cougars defeated Porter’s Buhler Crusaders 51-7 in the first round of the 1997 Class 5A playoffs. 

“We were pretty good that year. We lost to Liberal in the semifinals 21-17 and they went on and won it,” Stonebraker remembered.

Stonebraker and Porter will be enshrined later this year alongside Rich Anderson (St Xavier, Washington County, Goodland, Pratt, Liberal); Girard’s Craig Crespino; Pittsburg Colgan’s Frank Crespino; Sedan’s Les Davis; Ted Easter (Valley Heights, Derby, Andale); and Frankfort’s Larry Schrader. Easter is the first assistant coach to be elected for the HOF. 

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“To be honest it is quite a humbling experience,” Stonebraker said of the HOF election. “There are so many great coaches across the State of Kansas that I feel like others are deserving. To be included with a group of coaches like that is nice. I am not one who wants individual recognition as I know I could not do what I did without all my assistant coaches, players, parents and everybody who contributed to our program.”

In 14 years at South, 1994-2007, Stonebraker fashioned a 101-47 record where the Cougars won state championships in 2000 and 2004 and a runner up finish in 2003. 

“We made six trips to the semifinals and were in the playoffs 10 years out of 14 years as head coach,” he said. “Prior to taking the head job in 1994, Salina South had been to the playoffs once in school history.”

He was the Kansas Coaches Association Class 5A coach of the year in 2000 and the overall coach of the year (all classes) in 2001.

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“I transitioned to Athletic Director in 2007 and was named the Kansas Athletic Director of the Year in 2016 by the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association,” Stonebraker said.

But three words accounted for thousands of words, especially in Salina.

South vs Central. Coach Ken Stonebraker’s Cougars vs Coach Marvin Diener’s Mustangs.

“People forget Salina was the hub every year for the premier game of the year in Week 2,” Diener said. “And we could play two times in a year in Week 2 and (state) semifinals with the winner going to the championship game.”

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They met an uncanny 20 times in football in the 12 years the two friends faced off on the gridiron from 1994-2005. Diener’s Mustangs won 13 of the epic games.

“There would be 6-7,000 people at Salina District Stadium. The end zones were full. Fans would come early and the stands were packed in pregame,” Diener said. “Ringing the bell after the game was a big issue. The atmosphere was beyond what you could imagine. But for the two of us as friends, it was hard. It had a toll man.”

“We had some unbelievable games with Salina Central for several years,” Stonebraker said. “It became commonplace to play them two times a year. When I took the head job at Salina South they were coming off their first state title. We worked extremely hard to try and beat our cross town rival.  

“Once we began competing with them we realized we were a state caliber team. I don’t think we would have reached the height of our program without Salina Central and I am not sure Central would have had all of their success without us. The games we played were pretty wild most times and very close.”

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But it never changed their friendship and the respect each coaching giant had for one another.

“I will always appreciate Ken,” said Diener, who was 253-111 in his coaching career and was an original member of the KFCA HOF class in 2020. 

“Marvin became a good friend,” Stonebraker lamented. “Not everybody in Salina understood or liked that we could be friends. But we shared a lot of information with each other as we played the same opponents. There were only two weeks a year we didn’t talk during the season.

“I respected Marvin and his program tremendously and I think he shared that same respect with me. I think we took the success of both programs for granted because it is just what seemed to happen every year. One of us played for the state title for eight straight years which was quite a run for our city.”

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Stonebraker played two years for Dick Foster’s Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens. His 1983 freshman season they won the national championship. 

In 1985 and ’86, he starred for the Wichita State Shockers where he earned academic All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. He graduated in 1988 from WSU with his degree in Education. That fall he was named head football coach at Argonia High in south central Kansas, a position he held for four years before he became an assistant in football and track until his move to Salina.

“I think one of my strongest features as a coach was that I allowed my assistant coaches to coach and be involved in decision making, game planning and overall production of our football program,” Stonebraker, who touched around 5,000 athletes’ lives in 34 years, said. “I relied very heavily on our entire staff, and I had a great staff.  I could not have done what I did without the support of our entire staff.

“I also learned that being a leader of young men was more important than the X’s and O’s.  Kids are hungry to be led and believe in something.  It is vital for the head coach to be a strong leader and I think I recognized that and did my best to provide that leadership.”

Stonebraker’s influence on being a coach and mentor began in Ellsworth County.

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“I grew up with a coach.  My dad was a head basketball and track coach in Atwood and Ellsworth.  He won a state championship in each sport and both my mom and dad were huge influences in my life,” Stonebraker said. “My high school football coach, Pep Shanelec, was also a huge influence.  I had the opportunity to play for Dick Foster at Coffeyville and he was a legend.  We won the national championship, and I learned a lot about a winning culture.  I then played at Wichita State and learned a lot from some great coaches there.”

Stonebraker said many people played an important part in his teams’ success. 

“I could not have done this job without the support of my family.  My wife Amy and my kids Jessica and Justin were all in and they were committed to my career and lifestyle,” said Stonebraker, who coached around 40 players who played in college. “And like I said earlier, I can’t say enough about the assistant coaches that I had at South.  I learned so much from them and it was a team effort.

“And most importantly we had great players during my tenure as head coach.  I’ve told a lot of people that I was a lot better coach when I had great players.  And we had good, hard-nosed kids that did what they were coached to do and played together as a team.”

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He conveyed this message to his past players. 

“I was pretty tough on kids. I had high expectations,” the all-time winningest coach in South history said. “I hope they know that I loved them. I tried to convey that when I was coaching them. They need to know that they had a huge impact on me as a coach. In education-based athletics you want to see your athletes become great men and women, leaders, and mothers and fathers. To be able to watch these young people grow up and become great adults makes me happy.”

He’s also happy later this year he will be enshrined into greatness that will soon honor a new total of 27 of the greatest Kansas prep football coaches of all-time.

“I can’t believe that I was able to do what I did as a living,” he said. “We all want to win, and I think winning is important. But the relationships I have built with my players, coaches, parents and community members are far more important to me than any games we won. I hope that I had an impact on them because so many had an impact on me. I feel so lucky to have had these experiences.”



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Tyler Reddick needs OT at Kansas to claim fifth win of NASCAR season

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Tyler Reddick needs OT at Kansas to claim fifth win of NASCAR season


It’s still more than a week until May, but Tyler Reddick already has racked up a fistful of wins.

The 23XI Racing hotshoe passed Kyle Larson in overtime to win the NASCAR Cup Series’ AdventHealth 400 on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, Kansas, for his fifth victory in nine races.

After Cody Ware spun while leader Denny Hamlin and second-place Reddick were coming to the white flag for the race’s only caution for cause, the field pitted to set up a green-white-checker finish in overtime at Kansas Speedway.

From third, Larson charged past Hamlin on the restart to claim the lead. But second-place Reddick used his No. 45 Toyota to fly by Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet in Turn 1 after the white flag.

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He held on to beat the Hendrick Motorsports driver by 0.118 seconds for his 13th career win and become the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to claim five of a season’s first nine races.

Reddick also won for the fourth time in a row when being the polesitter — a run that began Feb. 22 in Atlanta and included victories at Circuit of The Americas and Darlington.

Reddick appeared doomed with a few laps left when he screamed over the radio that he was out of gas, which allowed Hamlin to make what appeared to be the winning pass for the lead.

However, Ware’s spin sent the cars to pit road one last time.

“Just really blessed with the late caution,” said Reddick, who led only 10 laps and spun a Toyota stablemate in overtime’s frantic finish. “Not thrilled that I got Christopher Bell. … These late-race restarts get really crazy. Obviously, I had a run on the 5, and I was just shocked to get to his inside.”

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Larson’s car would not turn in the corners.

“It all worked out great, but I was plowing in (Turns) 3 and 4,” said Larson, the race’s defending winner who became the track’s all-time lap leader — he paced 78 of them — but had his winless streak stretch to 33 races. “Reddick was really good there (at the end).”

Chase Briscoe, Hamlin and Bubba Wallace completed the first five finishers.

A Toyota won for the sixth time in the past 11 races at the Midwest speedway.

Polesitter Reddick, Hamlin and Briscoe showed Toyota supremacy early with the first two drivers swapping the lead. Then Hamlin stormed away to a 1.25-second lead 15 circuits into the 267-lap race.

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Hamlin lapped up to the 21st-place car — Todd Gilliland — as drivers such as Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain all were put a lap down. Larson was able to pass Reddick, but Hamlin claimed the 80-lap Stage 1 over Larson followed by Reddick, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell.

In the second segment, Larson began to assert himself. He immediately snatched the point from Hamlin and led until Lap 125 when he, Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Reddick pitted to split Stage 2’s 85 laps.

The completion of the second stage also was rather tame. Larson claimed the segment followed by Hamlin, Reddick, Elliot and Bell as the only problems were drivers having minor setbacks with tires.

The only cautions through the first two stages were for stage-breaks, not incidents.

On Lap 175 shortly after the restart for the run to the race’s end, Bell maneuvered by Hamlin for the lead. Wallace and Reddick rounded out a four-car Camry train with six of the top nine being Toyotas.

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Running third to leader Bell and Reddick, Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Briscoe began the cycle of pits with 52 laps remaining to set up the finish while Reddick and Bell waited five more circuits for service.



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Kansas Governor signs Caleb’s Law, targeting online sextortion of minors

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Kansas Governor signs Caleb’s Law, targeting online sextortion of minors


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed Caleb’s Law, strengthening penalties for online sexual extortion targeting children.

Governor Kelly says the law is named after Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old from El Dorado, who died by suicide after becoming a victim of an online sextortion scheme.

What the Law Does

Caleb’s Law expands Kansas’s existing sexual extortion statute in three key ways:

  • Broadens the definition of sexual extortion to include threats involving explicit images – including AI-generated or digitally altered images
  • Increase criminal penalties when an adult offender targets a minor or a dependent adult
  • Creates two felony offenses: aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death

Under the new law, sexual extortion involving a minor or dependent adult is elevated from a severity level 7 to a severity level 6 person felony for coercive intent cases.

The legislation also elevates a level 4 to a level 3 person felony when the victim is caused to produce or distribute sexual content.

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Statewide Education Requirements

House Bill 2537 also directs the Kansas Attorney General to lead a statewide public education effort on sextortion. The AG’s office will:

  • Prepare and distribute educational materials for schools, students, parents and the public
  • Collaborate with the Kansas State Board of Education and law enforcement agencies
  • File an annual report beginning July 1, 2027, to the Governor, legislative leadership and the State Board of Education on implementation progress
FILE – Kansas Statehouse(Phil Anderson)

The Attorney General’s Office estimates the education effort will require two new positions at a cost of around $213,900 from the State General Fund, rising to an estimated $20,300 in 2028.

In Their Own Words

Gov. Kelly said the law reflects the state’s commitment to keeping pace with digital threats facing children.

“Protecting Kansas children means staying ahead of the evolving threats they face, especially in an increasingly digital world where exploitation can happen in an instant,” she said. “By prioritizing education and awareness, Caleb’s Law ensures that young people, families, and educators have the tools to recognize sexual extortion and seek help before it’s too late. By signing this bill, we’re honoring Caleb’s life by shining a light on this growing danger and taking meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.”

Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City), who introduced the bill, added that it earned unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers.

“Our kids are our future and protecting them from online predators, who are increasingly dangerous and sophisticated, must be a top legislative priority,” he stated. “I’m therefore pleased that the governor is signing Caleb’s Law, which I introduced and received unanimous, bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. What happened to Caleb is tragic and must be stopped.”

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Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) credited Caleb Moore’s family for pushing the legislation forward.

“Sexual extortion in any form should never be tolerated, but children under the age of 18 are particularly vulnerable,” he added.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office also voiced strong support, noting the law addresses one of the state’s most urgent child safety threats.

Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, Kan.
Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, Kan.(Isaac Deer/WIBW)

“HB 2537 is a critical measure to protect Kansans from sexual exploitation and ensure public awareness and education on this growing threat,” said Sarah Hortenstine, Division Chief of Youth Services, Kansas Office of the Attorney General.

Legislative Timeline

Date Action
Jan. 23 Bill introduced, referred to House Committee on Judiciary
Feb. 5 House committee hearing held
Feb. 16 Committee recommends passage
Feb. 18 House passes bill unanimously
Feb. 25 Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
March 17 Senate committee hearing held
March 18 Senate committee recommends passage
March 19 Senate passes bill unanimously

The bill received unanimous, bipartisan support in both chambers – with no recorded opposition.

Background: What Is Sextortion?

Officials noted that sextortion is a form of online exploitation in which offenders coerce victims – often minors – into producing sexual images.

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Those bad actors then use the images to demand more content, money, or sexual acts, according to investigators.

State leaders said cases can escalate rapidly, and the resulting trauma has led to severe psychological harm and, in some cases, suicide.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

For mental health support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.

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Kansas Losing Momentum With Key Transfer Target After New Visits

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Kansas Losing Momentum With Key Transfer Target After New Visits


Since losing Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the transfer portal, Bill Self has been tasked with rebuilding his frontcourt from the 2025-26 campaign. While he has landed former Utah forward Keanu Dawes to succeed Tiller at the four, the Jayhawks’ roster still lacks a true center to replace Louisville commit Bidunga.

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One player KU had hoped to add was Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, who tormented the Jayhawks when the two schools met this past February. However, the chances of him committing to play in Lawrence appear to be dwindling by the day.

The Senegal native recently wrapped up a trip to St. John’s and is set to visit Ann Arbor on Monday to meet with the defending champions, Michigan.

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Kansas was initially supposed to be one of the top schools involved in Thiam’s recruitment, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case. The Jayhawks have been relatively quiet so far and haven’t gained much traction toward securing an official visit.

Not only is Michigan a recruiting powerhouse coming off a national title win under second-year head coach Dusty May, but it also boasts one of the largest NIL collectives in the NCAA. If the Wolverines are seriously pursuing Thiam, it likely means he will come at a hefty price tag.

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KU is expected to increase the NIL budget this year to handle its roster deficiencies from the past few seasons. Regardless, the program must be strategic with its spending, especially with the decision of 2026 prospect Tyran Stokes still looming.

Who Are Kansas’ Alternatives to Moustapha Thiam?

If the Jayhawks are unable to land Thiam, there are a few alternatives on the open market. Those options may not carry the same hype as the 7-foot-2 phenom, who is ranked as the No. 3 center in 247 Sports’ transfer rankings, but they could still provide solid production nonetheless.

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One name to watch is Anton Bonke, another towering big man who has spent time at Providence and most recently Charlotte. He visited KU’s campus earlier this week alongside Dawes and remains a viable option.

Another possible solution could come from within if Paul Mbiya decides to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to Kansas. The incoming sophomore flashed his potential during the postseason and is reportedly open to rejoining the program.

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Finally, FC Barcelona center Sayon Keita is an international prospect who could make his college decision within the next month or two. He took an official visit to Kansas last July.

Whoever ultimately replaces Bidunga, Self will need to act quickly before the remaining top targets come off the board. Bringing back Mbiya and adding a transfer would be a strong start.

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