Kansas

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson embraces leadership role at a young age

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson embraces leadership role at a young age

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman knew from the moment he started recruiting Avery Johnson, that there was something about him, a certain presence that you want in a quarterback.

“He had an it factor,” Klieman said of Johnson, who indeed will be the Wildcats’ starting quarterback this season as a sophomore. “You can tell the guys that have it factors, and the confidence but not arrogance.”

From the time he arrived in Manhattan last year as a true freshman after a standout career at Maize High School, Johnson has done nothing to dispel that notion. His athleticism — particularly his speed, agility and arm strength — all were on display at various times last year when he served as Will Howard’s backup.

Johnson’s finest hours came in 2023 came during a game at Texas Tech, where he ran for five touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory, and then as most valuable player as starting quarterback in the Pop-Tarts Bowl after Howard entered the transfer portal.

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson is ready to lead the Wildcats’ offense

But what has stood out about Johnson perhaps as much as his physical tools, is his ability to command the respect of teammates as well as coaches at such a tender age.

“For a young, young player, he has been a great leader, as well as learning from some of these older guys that are here with him,” Klieman said.

Establishing himself as a leader has been a priority for Johnson ever since he learned that he would start the bowl game. It carried over to the spring and now through player-led summer workouts.

“Just trying to be more vocal and get in front of the guys whenever I get the chance and just continue to lead by example, and just doing my best to gain everybody’s trust,” Johnson said. “I feel like the biggest thing is whenever adversity strikes, whether that’s in the weight room or struggling in the warmup or practice, a run, whatever it might be, just get in front of the team and being vocal and encouraging guys.

“Not bringing guys down, but just trying to pick them up and then let them know to get back to our standard.”

Add Kansas State football quarterbacks coach Matt Wells to list of Avery Johnson fans

It didn’t take winning the starting job for Johnson to demonstrate the it factor that Klieman saw during the recruiting process. That is why he didn’t hesitate in bringing Johnson to Las Vegas on Tuesday as one of K-State’s five representatives at Big 12 media days.

“We saw enough last year that for us, we knew he was going to be the guy long term for us, and he was ready for the moment,” Klieman said. “It was his time and I told him when we recruited him, he’s going to be the face of the program.

“And it came up late in his first year where he ended up truly being the face, and I’m excited because he’s taken that mantle really well, and he’s been a great leader.”

Johnson has earned the team’s respect by putting his money where his mouth is, Klieman added.

“He always has been a really mature guy. But he’s a humble guy, and he works his tail off,” Klieman said. “He’s the best competitor I’ve been around since Easton Stick, and I had Easton at North Dakota State for five years, and he’s with the Chargers.

Kansas State football quarterback Avery Johnson’s maturity shines through in bowl victory

“Avery is that kind of competitor. If you come out and watch a morning run, he’s not losing any of the competition drills. He’s not losing any of the races where it’s not a race, where he’s just going to finish first in everything he does.”

Super-senior linebacker and team captain Austin Moore agreed.

“He is accepted as the guy because he puts in the work, and not only is he an exceptional talent, which anyone can see by just watching him,” Moore said in an interview with Go Powercat. “But he’s someone that’s going to put in the work and have the talent, which is a rare thing to see.

“I’ve been around for a long time, and you don’t see that happen a whole lost.”

For Johnson, his leadership remains a work in progress.

“Just trying to be more vocal,” he reiterated. “Other than that, just continuing to put my head down and work and continue to lead by example.”

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

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Where to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 19

Published

14 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 19

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 Friday as the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Kansas City Royals.

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 St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals?

First pitch between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for (ET) on Friday, June 19.

How to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals on Friday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, June 19, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

Matchup: STL at KC
Date: Friday, June 19
Time: (ET)
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
TV: Apple TV
Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for June 19 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.

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Mixed results for Kansas City World Cup start as some businesses struggle

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Mixed results for Kansas City World Cup start as some businesses struggle

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) — It’s been a week since the World Cup began in Kansas City, but some local businesses aren’t feeling the expected influx in traffic and are asking for support.

On Thursday, KC2026 provided numbers for the FIFA Fan Festival and the ConnectKC26 transportation system.

From June 11 to June 16, KC2026 said more than 63,000 people attended the FIFA Fan Festival.

There are mixed results for where everyone is from:

52% from Kansas or Missouri
33% from the United States
15% from out of the country

As of 2 p.m. on June 17, ConnectKC26 has a total of 86,540 registered passes.

Breakdown of routes from KC2026:

Stadium Direct: 57,302
Regional Direct: 17,284
Airport Direct: 11,954

As for business traffic, it depends on where you look. Some businesses in the Country Club Plaza said they’ve seen an uptick, especially on the first match day.

“We just had a really fun time with all of the fans, and I think we did a good job preparing for it,” said KC Style Haus Owner, Deserae Minor.

But many businesses are sharing their disappointment online.

‘Ghost town’

Caitlin Benedict, who owns Bisou, a European-style coffee and pastry shop, took to Instagram after shopping at a Crossroads night market.

“We are all in this together, it sucks. It was dead. It’s been dead everywhere,” said Bisou Owner, Caitlin Benedict.

After sharing her disappointment online, she saw an uptick in business on Thursday.

“It’s nice when the community can help out, and you can back up your own hometown at the same time,” said Janet Garciga, who drove in from Lee’s Summit to visit Bisou.

People sit outside on the patio in Bisou Kansas City, after its owner asked for more support during the World Cup.(KCTV5 News)

“I don’t want them to just come to Bisou, and I don’t want it to just be for a day. I want them to go everywhere else, and I want them to support everyone else, and consistently, especially for the next month and a half while FIFA is here,” said Benedict.

She heard from businesses experiencing the same issues in Mission, other spots downtown, Kansas City, Kansas, and Overland Park.

Flags wave outside of Buffalo State Pizza in Kansas City, Missouri during the World Cup.(KCTV5 News)

Down the road in the Crossroads, Buffalo State Pizza saw fans for the French match on Tuesday.

“But after that, I mean, we even close early on Tuesday because that was, it was dead,” said Buffalo State Pizza Owner, Phillippe Lechevin.

Shopping bags and matchas aren’t filling up at Dear Society either.

“The 10 years that I’ve been here in Kansas City. I have seen a lot of these big events coming into town, and we’ve been told to prepare and get ready for these huge crowds. And to be honest, after the NFL draft and after so many things that I’ve seen in 10 years, I didn’t do anything different,” said Dear Society Owner, Chanel Jezek. “I kind of knew. I had a feeling like we weren’t going to be as busy as they were projecting because they’ve done this to us before.”

Dear Society in Kansas City, Missouri, is described as an experiential retail concept by the... — Dear Society in Kansas City, Missouri, is described as an experiential retail concept by the owner.(KCTV5 News)

Multiple factors = slow traffic

All three, Bisou, Buffalo State Pizza, and Dear Society, said there isn’t really someone to blame, but rather multiple factors that could be part of the issues.

A lot of eateries in town added a 20% automatic gratuity to bills, Bisou and Buffalo State Pizza decided not to take part, but worry that it is keeping locals away.

Visit KC projected 650,000 visitors throughout the entire tournament, and these businesses wonder if the possibility of large crowds and no parking is also keeping residents at home.

“I think we lost a lot of the regular ones. You know, the number was shown earlier back in February, you know, the 600,000 people. People who have the option to work from home, but maybe they didn’t want to deal with the traffic, since there’s no traffic. So hopefully they’re going to come back,” said Lechevin. “People may realize, actually, you know, it’s not as crazy as it is. I can still park in my regular spot and have lunch at my regular spot without being, you know, charged an extra amount.”

Jezek said she’d love to see KC2026 and FIFA add more locally owned businesses on their website so fans know where to find them.

“We are not seeing an increase in traffic on the streets. We are not crowded like they were predicting. You can still come in. You can still support your local businesses, your favorite coffee shops, your favorite places to grab your gifts, or whatever. We’re here. We’re slow. And there are more places to park,” said Jezek.

Benedict said it is an honor to have the World Cup here, but wants to see more honesty and support from leaders.

“I feel like it’s good for our city. It’s recognition. But at the same time, I want leadership to step in and say, okay, we didn’t get as many travelers as we should have,” said Benedict.

These businesses are hopeful that fans, locals, and other owners all come out and support these small shops throughout the metro during the World Cup and beyond.

“I would say just keep coming and supporting us and showing up,” said Jezek.

KCTV5 reached out to Visit KC, but did not have any numbers it could share at this time.

Mayor Quinton Lucas’ office shared the statement below after this story aired on Thursday:

“While the economic impact of a global event of this magnitude will naturally vary by business and by neighborhood, Mayor Lucas is encouraged by what he is hearing from Kansas City’s entertainment and hospitality sectors. Hotels, bars, and restaurants reported strong activity as Kansas City welcomed tens of thousands of guests for the opening match. As we look toward this weekend’s games and the remainder of the tournament, we’ll continue to highlight opportunities for our visitors and residents alike to join in the fun and celebration of this one in a generation moment.”

Businesses are hopeful that the longer the World Cup goes on, the more people will show up. KCTV5 plans to check in with these businesses throughout the tournament to see if traffic picks up.

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Cooler temps, rain and rumbles in southern Kansas

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Cooler temps, rain and rumbles in southern Kansas

Cooler temperatures today, but we will keep a chance of thunderstorms going in south-central Kansas this morning. One or two could be strong.

Temperatures stay cooler in southern Kansas thanks to clouds and rain in the area. Warmer temps and sunshine to the north.

Another chance of severe weather will visit Kansas this weekend, with a complex of strong storms rolling across the area Saturday night.

KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Jack Maney:

Wichita:

Today: Mostly cloudy. 60% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 80 Wind: NE 8-18
Tonight: Mostly to partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers. Lo: 62 Wind: NE/E 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 85 Wind: E/SE 5-15
Tomorrow Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 68 Wind: SE 5-15

Wichita Weekly

Sat: Hi: 87 Lo: 73 Partly to mostly cloudy. 50% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 92 Lo: 67 Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 82 Lo: 65 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 84 Lo: 66 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 86 Lo: 68 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 88 Lo: 69 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.

SOUTHWEST: Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, Greensburg, Guymon

Southwest:

Today: Partly to mostly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 84 Wind: NE/E 10-25
Tonight: Mostly to partly cloudy. Lo: 58 Wind: E/SE 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 85 Wind: SE 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 62 Wind: SE 5-15

Southwest Weekly

Sat: Hi: 92 Lo: 66 Mostly cloudy. 40% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 91 Lo: 59 Mostly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 82 Lo: 58 Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 83 Lo: 60 Mostly to partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 85 Lo: 61 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 89 Lo: 62 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.

NORTHWEST: Colby, Goodland, Hill City, Oberlin, McCook

Northwest:

Today: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Hi: 86 Wind: NE/E 5-15
Tonight: Mostly clear to partly cloudy. Lo: 61 Wind: E/S 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 86 Wind: S/SE 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 61 Wind: SE 5-15

Northwest Weekly

Sat: Hi: 90 Lo: 61 Partly to mostly cloudy. 50% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 84 Lo: 55 Mostly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 78 Lo: 56 Mostly to partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 82 Lo: 58 Partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 85 Lo: 59 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 87 Lo: 60 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.

NORTHCENTRAL: Salina, Great Bend, Hays, Russell, Beloit, Osborne

North Central:

Today: Mostly to partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 83 Wind: NE 8-18
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lo: 60 Wind: NE/SE 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 86 Wind: SE 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 66 Wind: SE 5-15

North Central Weekly

Sat: Hi: 88 Lo: 70 Partly to mostly cloudy. 70% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 88 Lo: 63 Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 81 Lo: 62 Mostly to partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 84 Lo: 64 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 86 Lo: 66 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 88 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.