Kansas
Former Kansas City Royals Prospect Looking Like a Find for A’s
The Ahtletics and Kansas City Royals have had some overlapping players over the past year or so, partially because of the trade they made at last year’s deadline. The A’s sent Lucas Erceg over to the Royals in exchange for right-hander Mason Barnett, outfielder Jared Dickey, and the since-departed Will Klein.
CJ Alexander made his MLB debut with the Royals last season, but ended up on waivers late in the year, where the A’s scooped him up. He’s now with Triple-A Las Vegas. Ross Stripling also signed a minor-league deal with Kansas City during the offseason, but ended up not making their roster.
But the key guy for the A’s at the moment is Rule 5 draftee, Noah Murdock. The 26-year-old righty has made three appearances for the A’s thus far, including his MLB debut against the Seattle Mariners. In the third game of the season, Murdock came on with runners on first and second, one run already in, and one out recorded.
He proceeded to get Ryan Bliss to line out, and earned his first MLB strikeout, getting J.P. Crawford looking. Murdock would also work a scoreless seventh against the top of the Mariners’ lineup.
His second outing was less than ideal.
In Monday night’s home debut for the A’s in Sacramento, nobody on the A’s was able to locate their pitches, and with the A’s ultimately losing the game 18-3, Murdock was out there to wear it a bit to try and conserve the bullpen.
He ended up providing one inning of work, giving up six earned on four hits and three walks, striking out one. His ERA skyrocketed to 20.25 after that outing.
Yet, he was back in the mix on Friday in Colorado, and pitched in a key spot. With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Murdock came in and worked an eight-pitch inning to send it to extras. He appeared to be in complete control out there pitching in the snow.
With the A’s failing to pull ahead in the top of the tenth, Murdock was used for a second inning of work, this time with the zombie runner starting the inning on second base, adding an extra level of difficulty.
Again, Murdock was able to navigate the frame without allowing a run to score. He ended up going two innings, didn’t allow a hit, walked a pair (along with two intentional walks), and struck out three.
Without his efforts, the A’s don’t win that game.
Maybe it’s because the A’s late inning options are a bit limited right now with Michel Otañez on the IL and José Leclerc not inspiring a ton of confidence early on, but Murdock seems like he’ll be in that late-inning mix before long. In the two games that he’s been thrust into a big spot, he’s responded. It was the blowout game that inflated his ERA.
Meanwhile, Leclerc, granted he’s a veteran arm, has blown two saves thus far, and his ERA has rebounded while pitching in the blowout losses to the Cubs.
Of course, it’s still early, and when the A’s are at full strength, they’ll have veteran options to take on the key situations in big innings, but with the way that Murdock has looked in those spots so far, he could work his way into a big role with the Athletics as the season goes on.
Not only is he coming up big in big spots, but his sinker is also a ground ball machine, which could be huge while pitching in Sacramento. He can also go after punch-outs, which also play in any park. His mix just feels suited for where the A’s are right now.
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Kansas
Sheriff: Carfentanil seized during Kansas drug bust
MONTGOMERY COUNTY —A series of recent drug arrests lead to taking methamphetamine and fentanyl off the streets in southeast Kansas.
On January 7, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis at the intersection of 10th Street and Walnut Street in Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.
Deputies contacted the driver, identified as Breeanna Conrad of Independence, Kansas, and informed her of the reason for the stop. Deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, deputies located more than six (6) grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of cocaine, marijuana, multiple pills, and drug paraphernalia.
Conrad was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where she was booked on the following charges:• Distribution of methamphetamine• Possession of cocaine• Possession of marijuana• No proof of vehicle insurance• Improper emerging from an alley, private roadway, or building.
Later on January 3, 2026, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Saturn passenger vehicle at the exit ramp from U.S. 400 to U.S. 75 Highway, north of Sycamore, Kansas. The vehicle was occupied by three individuals. Deputies contacted the driver, identified as Heather Leach of Independence, Kansas, and informed her of the reason for the stop.
Deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle.D uring the search, deputies located more than nine (9) grams of methamphetamine, more than six (6) grams of suspected carfentanil, pills, and drug paraphernalia. Leach, along with Tyler Norton and Noah Daniel, both of Independence, Kansas, were taken into custody.
All three were transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on the following charges:Heather Leach• Distribution of fentanyl• Possession of methamphetamine• Possession of drug paraphernalia• Failure to stop or yield at a stop sign• No proof of vehicle insuranceTyler Norton• Distribution of fentanyl• Possession of methamphetamine• Possession of drug paraphernaliaNoah Daniel• Possession of methamphetamine• Possession of a depressant• Possession of drug paraphernalia
Kansas
Kansas City man injured after single-vehicle crash Sunday
WYANDOTTE COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) – A Kansas City man was left with minor injuries after a single-vehicle crash Sunday.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log, the crash occurred around 5:50 a.m. in Wyandotte County.
A 2019 GMC Terrain was traveling eastbound on westbound I-70 in the outside shoulder when it struck the end of the concrete bridge railing for 134th Street.
The driver, a 23-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
View the KHP report HERE.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Kansas Citians hold vigil, protest for Renee Good to get ‘justice’ while demanding ICE reform
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Large protests were organized across the country calling for justice for Renee Good, including in Kansas City, where Good lived before her move to Minneapolis.
Because Renee Good once called Kansas City home, locals still consider her one of their neighbors. They want her death to be a turning point in how ICE works.
The gathering began with a vigil as roughly 1,000 protesters honored Renee Good and everyone else who has died in ICE custody or encounters. Reports show that since President Trump took office again, more than 30 people have lost their lives in that category, marking 2025 the deadliest year for the agency in over 20 years.
Speakers call for reform
“The killing of Renee Good reminded this country of a hard truth: this system doesn’t just harm immigrants,” one speaker during the vigil said. “It harms the soul of our communities.”
In attendance was Bradford Bray, an Iraq War veteran who served in the Air Force and Navy from 1995-2005. He said he is furious about how ICE operates.
“It’s the constitution. That’s what we’re fighting for,” Bray said. “It’s the land of laws. These people are not trained. They’ll hire anybody with a signing bonus. If these people are trained, I’m the Pope.”
Like most in attendance, he disputes arguments by the federal government that Renee Good was trying to run over the ICE agent.
“Even the guy that shot her was filming her and she said I’m not mad at you,” Bray said. “She was pleasant. She was just trying to get out of the way and do the right thing. She was turning her wheels to get out of the way when she was shot.”
March moves through Plaza
After the vigil, most of the crowd turned the protest into a march through the Plaza, spreading the message that killings by federal agents cannot become the norm.
“I’m a 71-year-old great-grandmother who’s afraid for the future of my great-grandchildren in a country that’s turning fascist,” Terisa Mott said. “Any of them could be grabbed off the streets or shot like they shot that woman.”
Counter-protesters present
Some Trump and ICE supporters, like Scott Watts, were among the crowd. He sent condolences to Renee Good’s family but said he believes illegal immigration should not be tolerated.
“I spent time at the southern border and I saw thousands of pretty dangerous people being let out of that border,” Watts said. “That are here now and that’s what Trump’s trying to do is protect us.”
Watts carried a sign highlighting American citizens who had been killed by illegal immigrants over the years, including Mollie Tibbetts of Brooklyn, Iowa, who was stabbed to death while jogging in 2018 by Christian Behena Rivera.
“I’m at a loss for words when it comes to stuff like this,” Watts said. “But I’ll stand out here day after day to try to educate people. I don’t want to fight or anything like that. I just want people to realize there’s dangerous people out there and they need to be aware of those people.”
The gathering stayed peaceful, and traffic kept moving smoothly.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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