Kansas

As Kansas baseball, Dan Fitzgerald thrive, what will he think if rumors swirl about his future?

Published

1 year ago

April 30, 2025

As Kansas baseball, Dan Fitzgerald thrive, what will he think if rumors swirl about his future?

LAWRENCE — There’s a level of attention around the Kansas baseball program exceeding what many might have anticipated in 2025.

The Jayhawks (36-10, 15-6 in Big 12 Conference) are on a nine-game winning streak that includes a win Tuesday at home against rival Missouri. They are back in the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, at No. 25. The conversation is no longer just about KU reaching its first NCAA regional since 2014, because there is a chance the team could go so far as to host a regional, too.

But with that attention, can also come a focus on what coach Dan Fitzgerald has been able to accomplish in Lawrence the just the third year of a rebuild. Other schools in search of a lift of their own programs could come calling, searching to see if Fitzgerald is open to being pried away from Kansas. Cleary, Fitzgerald has proven he’s someone who can ensure fans don’t have to wait all that long to see success from.

Fitzgerald, though, speaking last week, outlined the possibility of his name popping up on social media as a potential candidate for another job isn’t remotely close to his radar or that of his staff’s. While he appreciates how social media can allow someone to reach to so many about a philanthropic cause they care about so quickly, the other side of that is social media can cause so much distraction and drama. Within the KU program he has a no drama policy, and he’d put any talk about another school wanting to hire him into that bucket.

“It’s been really hard, it’s been unbelievably challenging, it’s been incredibly rewarding and we’ve done it together and we’re having so much fun doing it and we came specifically to KU for all the reasons that I’ve said 100 times — to build and to do something really special and to do something sustainable,” Fitzgerald said on April 21, not far removed from sweeping rival Kansas State.

“So, if people talk about that, I promise you this man, it won’t be something that I’m even aware of or care about because I have complete and total focus on executing what we set out to do, continue on the path that we’re going on, and it’s not even a thought.”

Fitzgerald would go on to explain that there’s stuff he reads about all of the time that, once he’s read it, he moves on, and what he’s read doesn’t have an effect on his life. He mentioned looking into hummingbird migration recently as one example, because he has hummingbird feeders in his backyard. The point being, seemingly, that there’s just so much information out there now that one could soon find oneself consumed by it.

Fitzgerald understands the notion of rather having people talk positively about his program than negatively, but added that even if people were saying bad things, he would be unaware of that as well. He pointed back to last year and how he wasn’t thinking about if people thought Kansas overachieved, and instead about the guys in his dugout as they put themselves in position to make a NCAA regional — before ultimately coming up short. He’s focused on evaluating if the program is moving in the right direction.

Fitzgerald says he believes heavily in how much he considers who you work for, and where you work. He praised his relationship with Travis Goff, KU’s athletic director and vice chancellor, and Sean Lester, a deputy athletic director for administration, and how much they’ve all collaborated since he took the job ahead of the 2023 season. Fitzgerald also praised how well two coaches he’s worked for in the past, Dallas Baptist’s Dan Heefner and LSU’s Jay Johnson, have handled the drama that can come with this topic.

“One thing I’d point to is, when this job opened last time, when coach (Ritch) Price retired … as far as I know, like, I think the first time my name was associated with this job is when I took it,” Fitzgerald said. “So, I think most of the time when there’s the rumors and the gossip, it’s usually just that. Just rumors and gossip.”

When Fitzgerald talks to Lester and Goff, the latter of whom said before the Kansas State series, he and Fitzgerald are already talking about what it will take to further the momentum the program has; their conversations encompass a lot.

The landscape isn’t just different at KU compared to a few years ago, but with college athletics as a whole when it comes to name, image, and likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, and more. Fitzgerald described the adjustments as driving on the same road they have been since he arrived, and just changing lanes here and there depending on what’s come up.

Staff retention is vital in Fitzgerald’s mind, considering how collaborative the group he has is, but as he says that he also highlights that commitment to his program is as strong now as it was when he was hired. He expressed how thankful he is to have the opportunity he has. He can’t imagine having better or more immediate access to an athletic director than what he has with Goff.

“The team effort thing is real and it’s not just in talk,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s very much in action, and it is a — it’s the exact partnership that we talked about almost three years ago.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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Kansas Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 10, 2026

Published

11 hours ago

July 11, 2026

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 10 drawing

02-39-44-46-56, Mega Ball: 23

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 4-0-8

Evening: 0-0-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 10 drawing

Red Balls: 01-03, White Balls: 02-08

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 10 drawing

14-42-46-47-57, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kansas

Kansas parents charged after child fatally shoots 5-year-old, 8-year-old

Published

22 hours ago

July 10, 2026

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Kansas parents charged after child fatally shoots 5-year-old, 8-year-old

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Two Kansas parents were charged Thursday in connection with the shooting deaths of their two children.

The Ellsworth County Attorney’s Office charged Aaron French and Makayla French of Brookville with four counts each of aggravated child endangerment.

On March 28, law enforcement responded to a home near Kansas Highway 141 and Avenue N near Kanopolis Lake.

A 5-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy had been shot, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The 5-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The 8-year-old was taken to a Wichita hospital, where he died almost a week later.

The KBI said a young child in the home picked up a loaded, unsecured shotgun and shot the siblings.

Aaron French, 37, and Makayla French, 28, have been ordered to appear in court on July 28.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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Kansas City to reduce bus transit frequency, extended hours after World Cup matches end

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Kansas City to reduce bus transit frequency, extended hours after World Cup matches end

KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne reports on stories in Overland Park, Johnson County and topics about government accountability. Share your story idea with Isabella.

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Saturday marks the final FIFA World Cup 26 match in Kansas City with Argentina set to meet Switzerland on the pitch at Kansas City Stadium.

Kansas City to reduce bus transit frequency, extended hours after World Cup

Public transportation received a big boost during the World Cup.

Johnson County launched JOCO United, and according to leaders, the airport drop and ride service that was implemented for the tournament will stick around.

“It has been very smooth every time,” Johnson County resident Mariah Wickham said. “I’ve been up and down so many times.”

Kansas City, Missouri, also bumped up its transit options, but not all of the those will be sticking around once the final whistle blows.

Tens of thousands of people have been using the airport link, streetcar and the buses to get around Kansas City. The city poured millions of dollars into building up its public transit infrastructure. The KCATA added more frequency to bus transit lines and the streetcar, pushing more fans to use public transportation during the tournament.

Brian Luton

“With the World Cup here, I was able to exercise using the streetcar more frequently and that was really fun,” Trish Luancing said. “It wold be nice to not have to drive everywhere and not have to worry about parking.”

But thousands have been relying on public transit for years, regardless of what event was in town.

“It’s been busier since the World Cup,” Jeffrice Jackson, a bus rider, said. “It’s been smooth sailing.”

The KCATA added streetcar ‘bus bridge’ links, extended bus service hours and increased frequency on East-West routes to link riders to the streetcar. It’s benefited both travelers and commuters.

“[Service] has been more consistent with the World Cup than it was previously,” Jerry Breault, a rider said. “We were missing buses or routes because there weren’t enough drivers to drive that route.”

But the add-on’s stop on Sunday, July 12. If the transit authority can’t find more money, more than a dozen routes will be cut, potentially impacting more than 8,000 riders.

“It’s a little frustrating,” Breault said. “A lot of us rely on it just to get back and forth to work, to take care of our daily needs. It looks like we may be having to find alternatives and we’re not very happy about that.”

The KCATA will potentially suspend these weekday and weekend routes by September:

Weekday Route Eliminations:

9 – 9th Street, 365 average weekday ridership
21 – Cleveland Antioch, 512 average weekday ridership
23 – 23rd Street, 266 average weekday ridership
25 – Troost Local, 1,460 average weekday ridership
27 – 27th Street, 422 average weekday ridership
57 – Wornall, 411 average weekday ridership
71 – Prospect Local, 464 average weekday ridership

Weekend Route Eliminations:

9 – 9th Street, 349 average weekend ridership
21 – Cleveland Antioch, 312 average weekend ridership
23 – 23rd Street, 312 average weekend ridership
25 – Troost Local, 1,431 average weekend ridership
27 – 27th Street, 455 average weekend ridership
57 – Wornall, 595 average weekend ridership
71 – Prospect Local, 982 average weekend ridership

Bus fares came back earlier this summer to offset some of the operation costs, but many have reported issues with the free fare cards and eligibility.

“There’s always funding challenges with the KCATA,” Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said. “How are the fare re-institutions working right now?”

Mayor Lucas told KSHB 41 News Reporter Isabella Ledonne the transit improvements implemented for the World Cup “should continue,” and there are plans to talk with the KCATA commissioners to “make it work”.

“KCATA cannot just be Kansas City supported alone forever,” Mayor Lucas said. “Our approach and our preference is that the region got to see how much they would like [expanded service] during the World Cup. It was always intentional that if they liked it, maybe they would invest and maybe they would want this thing to go further.”

That’s good news to the thousands of daily riders.