PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (KCTV) – More than 150,000 Jayhawks call the Kansas City metro home. Many of them were at the annual KU Kickoff in Prairie Village Friday night for the unofficial start of the season.

“We’ve come multiple times, but this is our first year as a family and married,” said KU alumna Sara Halpin. “It’s a big deal to be a family friendly event.”

Halpin attended KU as an undergrad and went through its School of Pharmacy. She’s turned her husband, Sean, into a Jayhawk as well along with their baby Thomas.

“I think it’s exciting with Kotelnicki coming back. The offense should be pretty good,” said Sean.

Fans joined in chants and cheers with the Spirit Squad, Big Jay, and Baby Jay. They heard from Head Football Coach Lance Leipold and some of the players, Head Baseball Coach Dan Fitzgerald, Director of Athletics Travis Goff, and Voice of the Jayhawks Brian Hanni.

“I’m excited to see the Jayhawks back in action, see the fans come together and support the Jayhawks again,” said Noah Ginsberg, a KU alumnus. “Seeing everyone back at the Booth have some fun and keep cheering on win after win after win.”

Tents with face paint stations, Jayhawks merch, local businesses and more were set up across the parking lot. Fans of all ages attended and expressed optimism ahead of the season.

“Yeah, I’m excited,” said Jared Rottinghaus, a KU alumnus. “There’s a whole lot of new players. I don’t really know a lot of them yet. Compared to last year, we have a lot of new folks with a new offensive coordinator, so I’m excited to see what happens.”

KU’s first football game is Friday, Sep. 4 against Long Island University at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – No injuries were reported after a fast-moving fire spread between two vacant homes on Thursday, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

KCFD crews responded to the 6800 block of 13th street around 6:42 p.m. on a reported house fire. When they arrived, firefighters reported heavy flames from a single story home that spread to a second home. Officials said both homes were vacant.

Crews initially tried to fight the flames from inside the house, however, due to the intensity of the fire, the incident commander ordered everyone to evacuate the homes and fight from the outside.

KCFD said the fire is under control and no injuries have been reported. A third occupied home was protected.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by KCFD.

A Kansas man shot and killed five of his family members, including four young children, then fatally shot himself inside their home, officials said.

The shooting unfolded in Winfield, a small city of about 11,000 residents in southeast Kansas, on Aug. 11, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The Winfield Police Department responded after they received a call at about 8:50 a.m. from the man, identified as 53-year-old Ronald H. Williams Sr., who told dispatchers he had killed his family and intended to kill himself.

The victims were identified as Kelly L. George, 44; Carol A. Williams, 9; Ronald H. Williams Jr., 7; Sarah K. Williams, 5; and Kelly M. Magee-Williams, 3.

Gunman called 911

Ronald H. Williams Sr. called 911 about 8:50 a.m. on Aug. 11 to report he had killed his entire family and was about to turn the gun on himself, Winfield police chief Robbie DeLong said at a news conference, reported the Topeka Capital-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.