Kansas
Classic rock band names replacement for longtime member on 50th anniversary tour
A classic rock band has replaced a band member on its 50th anniversary tour for the second time this year.
Kansas announced Monday that Dan McGowan will replace longtime bassist and co-lead vocalist Billy Greer on the rest of the group’s tour dates. Greer retired last week after nearly 40 years with Kansas, appearing on seven studio albums and serving as emcee during concerts for the past 18 years.
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, McGowan was a recent sub for Greer and previously played bass with Kansas keyboardist Tom Brislin’s band Gold Rotation. McGowan also performs in the progressive rock band Tea Club with his brother Patrick.
“I am thrilled and honored to be joining Kansas,” McGowan said in a statement. “I am also deeply aware of the gigantic shoes that I will be filling. Dave Hope [who played bass on Kansas’ early albums] and Billy Greer are among the best musicians in rock history.”
“I want the fans to know that I love the music of Kansas, and I hold it in highest reverence,” McGowan added. “I am committed to doing justice to the band’s incredible legacy, and I am so grateful for this unbelievable opportunity!”
Greer was the second Kansas member to leave the band this year after original drummer Phil Ehart suffered a heart attack in February. Ehart remains with Kansas as the band’s manager, while longtime drum tech Eric Holmquist replaced him on stage.
Kansas said none of its tour dates will be affected by the lineup change. No upcoming concerts are scheduled in New York state, but Kansas played Albany and Rochester this past May.
Kansas, named after their home state, released its first album in 1974 and became one of the most popular rock bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s with songs like “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind” and “Point of Know Return.” Ehart and original Kansas guitarist Richard Williams are the only two original members still with the band.
“The band Kansas and its entire organization extend heartfelt gratitude to Billy for his decades of exceptional musicianship,” a group statement said.
Kansas
Where to watch Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 30
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Saturday as the Kansas City Royals visit the Texas Rangers.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers?
First pitch between the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 30.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers on Saturday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
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MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for May 30 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Bates County Circuit Court judge Friday sentenced a Linn County, Kansas, man in connection with the December 2025 death of Airen Andula, 13.
Damon Leonard, 47, was sentenced to four years in prison for abandonment of a corpse, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of abandoning a corpse on May 22.
Andula disappeared from his Pleasanton, Kansas, home on Dec. 21, 2025. A day later, law enforcement found the boy’s body in a ravine in Bates County, Missouri. He had died from multiple dog bite injuries.
Police were led to the boy’s body after a phone call from Leonard.
Court documents said Leonard “admitted that he transported the deceased child from Kansas to Missouri and left the body in the bottom of the creek” before he returned home.
KSHB 41 reporter Fernanda Silva spoke with Andula’s family earlier this week — after the guilty plea and ahead of Friday’s sentencing.
His family shared that the guilty plea brought a small sense of justice, but it didn’t do much to ease the pain of their loss.
READ MORE | Family of Airen Andula speaks out ahead of sentencing
“We’re missing our kid every day of our lives,” the boy’s father Charles Andula told Silva.
Leonard received credit for time served of 158 days in his sentence, per court records.
—
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – It may not seem like a lot of relief, but gas and diesel prices have declined over the past week.
Friday morning’s national average for a gallon of unleaded gas was $4.39, according to the Automobile Association of America.
That’s down three cents from $4.42 on Thursday; down 16 cents from a week ago; but was up 17 cents from $4.22 a month ago and up $.23 from $3.16 a year ago.
In Kansas, AAA says, unleaded gas on Friday was averaging $3.96 a gallon — down four cents from $4.00 on Thursday; down 13 cents from $3.96 a week ago; but up 26 cents from $3.70 a month ago; and up $1.07 over $2.89 a year ago.
Diesel fuel also was dropping in price. AAA says Friday’s national average for a gallon of diesel was $5.52 a gallon — down three cents from $5.55 on Thursday; down 12 cents from $5.64 a week a go; but up six cents from $5.46 a month ago and up $1.98 from $3.54 a year ago.
Kansas diesel fuel prices, according to AAA, checked in at an average of $4.98 on Friday. That’s five cents below $5.03 on Thursday; down 16 cents from $5.14 a week ago; but up 24 cents over $4.74 a month ago; and up $1.72 from $3.26 a year ago.
In Topeka, GasBuddy.com on Friday morning showed unleaded gas prices ranging between $3.77 and $4.09 in Topeka, with diesel fuel going for between $4.94 and $5.29 a gallon.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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