Kansas
In my Kansas backyard, a parable for Texas school shooting – Kansas Reflector
![In my Kansas backyard, a parable for Texas school shooting – Kansas Reflector In my Kansas backyard, a parable for Texas school shooting – Kansas Reflector](https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GettyImages-1399257531.jpg)
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion items from writers who share our purpose of widening the dialog about how public insurance policies have an effect on the day-to-day lives of individuals all through our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Affiliation and teaches visible journalism and photojournalism on the College of Kansas.
My daughter got here in from our yard to inform me one thing was improper.
Our household canine, she stated, had one thing. A child hen.
That morning, like many different mornings just lately, I struggled to pry myself away from studying information, listening to podcasts and weighing coverage responses to gun violence in America. Most of my time on the subject has been scrolling by social media, studying posts of anguish and frustration responding to the varsity shootings in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 college students and two lecturers.
Opening the again door onto our deck, I walked out into the slanting daylight of a quiet Kansas summer time morning. Within the grass under me, our canine stood over a small tuft of feathers nestled into the grass.
“Come right here, woman,” I requested gently at first. “Depart it.”
She regarded up at me and froze, her entrance ft remained astride the brown child hen. She didn’t transfer.
“Mae. Come right here!” I ordered. She regarded down on the hen after which again to me, by no means budging.
As I walked down the staircase to the yard, I remembered. A month earlier than, I had been trimming the bushes only a few yards away from the place my canine now stood. As I clipped stray limbs, I heard loud squawks and tweets immediately above my head. I regarded as much as see a nest, only a foot away.
“Don’t fear,” I informed the unseen birds, as I moved away from the bush after clipping the final department. “We’re not going to harm anyone. The whole lot’s all proper.”
The scene turned greater than merely an on a regular basis anecdote about our canine catching a small animal. This small tragedy of nature in our yard turned a parable: a narrative echoing the grief and powerlessness of fogeys throughout the nation as they arrive at faculties to search out carnage and despair.
Now, standing subsequent to our canine and its prey, I noticed the cardinal dad and mom watching us. I noticed the daddy first, his vibrant pink coloring perched on a snaking tree trunk on our again fence line. He darted to a fence publish, then again to the tree trunk, after which to a tree department. As he did, he voiced an pressing, staccato name. The mom, along with her muted pink plumage, was flitting between completely different perches and squawking as nicely.
The scene turned greater than merely an on a regular basis anecdote about our canine catching a small animal. This small tragedy of nature in our yard turned a parable: a narrative echoing the grief and powerlessness of fogeys throughout the nation as they arrive at faculties to search out carnage and despair.
The stillness at my ft — my canine and the infant hen — contrasted the frantic motion and voices of the cardinals.
I assumed the hen was useless. I grasped my canine’s collar, pulling her again into the home. She craned her neck again to the infant hen, drawn to her prey by forces she couldn’t management or perceive.
Inside, I discovered a plastic bag to take away the hen’s physique. My children, bereft on the prospect of loss of life in our yard, regarded by the slats within the blinds.
Outdoors once more, I bent down over the lifeless child hen, the mom and father nonetheless circling the scene. I regarded towards them after which glanced again towards the bush with the nest. I imagined the scene that had occurred there this morning. The child hen possible had stepped to the sting of the nest for one among its first makes an attempt at flight.
I imagined the dad and mom watching these first flaps. After weeks of tending their egg within the nest, after weeks of feeding their hatchling, after shielding it from spring thunderstorms, their child hen grew daring sufficient to fly — if solely briefly.
All of that nurturing, I spotted, had ended with this scene. My canine thought that one other life was a squeaky toy, a sport. The dad and mom have been propelled to behave however frozen from serving to. And I used to be powerless to assist till it was too late.
My fingers scooped below the tufted wings and impossibly small bones of the infant hen, lifting it from the grass. The ultimate few chirps from the hen answered its dad and mom a couple of yards away. I couldn’t look twice after I caught my first glimpse of the hen’s eyes, shrouded now by its eyelids. I carried the small physique to the trash bin.
Returning to the again door, I noticed the dad and mom once more, crossing paths in flight as they searched the empty yard. They nonetheless known as out, unanswered.
For hours, they remained there, two cardinal dad and mom in a yard vigil that has haunted my week because it runs parallel to our nationwide human tragedies of younger lives shattered.
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Kansas
Yuli Gurriel's Houston homecoming being realized with sudden Kansas City trade
![Yuli Gurriel's Houston homecoming being realized with sudden Kansas City trade Yuli Gurriel's Houston homecoming being realized with sudden Kansas City trade](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/4328796_yuli-img.jpg?w=1600)
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — For the first time since Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, Yuli Gurriel will stand in the batter’s box inside Houston’s Minute Maid Park on Sunday. It just won’t be with the Astros.
On Saturday, the Kansas City Royals completed a trade with the Atlanta Braves to acquire the 40-year-old Cuban infielder, who has been playing on a minor-league deal. Despite the trade deadline having come and gone, the Royals were able to obtain Gurriel since he had yet to come up to the major league level in 2024.
The video above was produced in 2017.
And in a twist of fate, the Royals are starting Gurriel as the designated hitter when Kansas City and Houston face off Sunday in their series finale.
SEE PREVIOUS STORY: Former Astros teammates Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman reunite in heartwarming spring training photo
So, how did a sudden Gurriel homecoming unfold, and what was the first baseman doing since his exit after Houston’s latest world championship?
Gurriel’s final game with Houston was painful. In Game 5 of the 2022 World Series, he suffered a right knee injury that kept him out of the clinching game in Houston.
The Astros decided to attempt an upgrade at the first base position in the 2023 offseason by signing free agent Jose Abreu on a three-year, $58.5 million. The signing effectively put Gurriel, also a free agent, on the outs.
Gurriel signed a one-year deal with the Miami Marlins for 2023, where he played in 108 games and appeared as a pinch hitter in one postseason matchup.
The 40-year-old was back on the market for the 2024 season and signed with the Braves organization two weeks into the regular season. The Braves, who are in a dogfight with the Phillies for the National League East crown, were seemingly gearing up for a Gurriel call-up after he took reps as a second and third baseman in Triple A.
But after Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino broke his thumb during their series in Houston, Gurriel became appealing to postseason-contending Kansas City. He was reportedly traded for cash considerations.
Gurriel’s arrival on Sunday also coincides with major league rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players in time for the last month of the season.
The Houston Astros, who have found instant success with waiver-wire claim Ben Gamel and free agent Jason Heyward, both outfielders filling in the void left by Kyle Tucker’s injury, picked up Sugar Land Space Cowboys members Cesar Salazar, a catcher, and Forrest Whitley, a pitcher.
Salazar made his major league debut in 2023 and last played with the Astros on July 11 this year. Whitley, a San Antonio native, debuted on April 16, 2024, after eight seasons in the Astros minor-league system, but had yet to play again since.
Entering Sunday’s game, Houston holds a five-game lead over the Seattle Mariners for the American League West. The Astros head to Cincinnati on Monday for a series opener, take their first off day in 18 days on Tuesday, and resume the series with the Reds on Wednesday.
Houston can also add a wild-card bye into the postseason conversation. The ‘Stros sit three games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the AL’s second seed. The two teams face off for the last series of the season at the end of this month.
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Kansas
Kansas State players of the game vs UT-Martin
![Kansas State players of the game vs UT-Martin Kansas State players of the game vs UT-Martin](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/31201911/Tobi-UTM-1-1.jpeg)
Kansas State offensive MVP: DJ Giddens
It was another nice and easy day at the office for Kansas State running back DJ Giddens.
The Junction City running back went over 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game. His five game streak of going over the century mark is tied for fourth in K-State school history. Giddens finished the game with 124 rushing yards and added six receiving yards.
Dylan Edwards provided a nice spark for the Wildcat offense in his first game after transferring from Colorado. Edwards scored multiple times in the contest Saturday night with one on the ground and a receiving touchdown.
In the first home start for Avery Johnson, there were some ups and downs.
However, Johnson still finished with two touchdowns through the air and added some nice runs as well. Jayce Brown was a major bright spot receiving as well with 71 receiving yards. The true sophomore led Kansas State in receiving and had the most receptions with five.
Defensive MVP: Tobi Osunsanmi
For defense there was a few different options for MVP. I really wrestled back and forth between two.
Ultimately, I decided on Tobi Osunsanmi. The Wichita native was a man possessed in his snaps. He showed his elite burst and was able to get to the quarterback at a very high clip. Osunsanmi finished the game with 1.5 sacks (2.5 if he completes one instead of letting the quarterback escape).
He also added another quarterback hit to go along with the sacks.
Desmond Purnell was also flying around the field Saturday evening. He led K-State in tackles with seven and was tied for first in tackles for a loss with 1.5.
K-State special teams MVP: Ty Bowman
Anytime you can create a touchdown on special teams, it is an easy choice for special teams MVP. Ty Bowman blocked his second career punt in the season opener versus UT-Martin. The beneficiary of Bowman blocking the punt was Colby McCalister who returned the ball one yard for a touchdown.
Chris Tennant was also perfect on all of his kicks. Tennant knocked in a 45 and 43-yard field goal and was perfect on all of his extra points.
Kansas
Tulane Football’s Path to Victory Must Exploit Inexperienced Kansas State
![Tulane Football’s Path to Victory Must Exploit Inexperienced Kansas State Tulane Football’s Path to Victory Must Exploit Inexperienced Kansas State](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4096,h_2304,x_0,y_268/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/tulane_green_wave_on_si/01j6mvw0vcfqn9xhqdjr.jpg)
The stage is set for Tulane football’s highly anticipated Week 2 matchup against the Kansas State Wildcats as they seek to become contenders on a national stage.
Intriguingly, the Green Wave and the Wildcats have some parallels on offense. Kansas State kicks off the season Saturday against FCS opponent UT-Martin, much like Tulane opened against Southeastern Louisiana.
Sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson will make his first regular season start, much like redshirt freshman Darian Mensah led Tulane to their 52-0 victory Thursday night. Johnson did appear in eight games as a true freshman and started for the team in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, beating North Carolina State.
However, he did so behind an offensive line that looks nothing like the one that will take the field next Saturday at Yulman Stadium. The Wildcats must replace four of five starters, including third-round draft pick Cooper Beebe. Just as Tulane had to find Vincent Murphy to take over for Sincere Haynesworth.
Though the group of returners isn’t exactly inexperienced, they don’t have any time playing together in concert. The lone starter remaining is right guard Hadley Panzer, who likely is starting this season at left guard. Presumed starting left tackle Easton Kilty is making his first FBS start.
It helps that Kansas State’s offensive line coach, Conor Riley, was promoted to coordinator. He has pieces to work with that have credible game snaps. The challenge is whether they can come together as a unit.
While Avery Johnson has more experience than Darian Mensah, Mensah benefits from a much more stable offensive line. Tulane returned both starting guards and right tackle and brought in key transfers to fill the remaining holes. In their season debut, they gave Mensah time in the pocket, but the run blocking left much to be desired.
Tulane brought in transfers on the defensive line to bolster their pass rush. They got to the quarterback twice with two sacks last Thursday, but the Bandit role was a point of concern. Their three-man front is spaced to spread out their top playmakers, Adin Huntington at defensive end and Patrick Jenkins at tackle.
With Huntington to the field and Jenkins to the boundary, it forces defenses to either focus attention on one side of the line or just shut down the best two players. That awards a lot of one-on-one opportunities for the rusher at Bandit. The players who rotated in the first game didn’t make much of a case.
Terrell Allen didn’t make any standout plays, nor did Matthew Fobbs-White, though the latter showed some disruptive abilities off the line of scrimmage. Frankly, Shi’Keem Laister was the most productive in a packaged role. Laister had a hurry and forced Southeastern to throw quickly, leading to incompletions on the drive.
Tulane doesn’t need the Bandit to be the hero, but they need a player to step up and credibly command attention to open up lanes for Huntington, who only recorded one hurry in his debut for the team.
Importantly, the team likely didn’t show their cards on the ways they might get to the quarterback. It might come from the second level. Linebacker Sam Howard had more pressure snaps than Fobbs-White and Allen, and he recorded a hurry and beat his blocker on another.
Could Tulane rely on blitzing and utilizing defensive backs and linebackers as rushers? Not all season. But creativity and confusion might just be enough to rattle the Wildcats as both teams race to figure out what the other is made of with merely one game of film.
The secondary came together as Tulane’s season opener went on, and should be a point of strength, but the best coverage is a pass rush. Especially with an opponent that has similar turnover and areas to exploit. For the Green Wave to pull off a victory on Sept. 7, the key lies in the lane to the quarterback.
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