Kansas
Kansas State Highway Patrol training K-9s to help with fentanyl detection
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Highway Patrol has turned to K-9s to sniff out synthetic drugs.
KSHB 41’s Megan Abundis went to Topeka to show how the patrol is leading the way in the practice.
In Kansas, dogs are trained to detect cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and now — fentanyl.
“[It’s] Up 984%,” Kansas Highway Patrol Capt. Dennis Shoemaker said referring to overdoses.
The patrol says that’s the increase of Kansas overdoses from 2017-2022; it was enough for them to change what they were doing surrounding fentanyl.
“It’s huge, I mean that’s dramatic,” Shoemaker said. “When you start seeing that and it’s been going on not only the last six months, but for the last few years, you have to develop a game plan on how can we help save lives.”
KHP Lt. Justin Rorh talked about some of the factors that went into the decision to include K-9s.
“I think the driving force was once we found out a safe way to do it,” Rorh said.
Rorh says it involves the team’s K-9s.
KSHB 41
“Police Service Dog Gizmo — I’ve had him for four years, he’s six years old,” Rorh said.
The dogs are first trained to find permeated odor, which is the scent of pure fentanyl.
Handlers wear gloves to not contaminate the odor with human scent.
For the last six weeks, these Kansas K-9s have been in the field and have proven successful, having one recent fentanyl detection.
KSHB 41
“We’re going to take it and run and continue to push forward with it,” Shoemaker said.
But it’s not only helping the Kansas State Highway Patrol.
The K-9s extend their help to other Kansas communities like Lawrence and Ottawa, and Shawnee and Nemaha counties.
“We respond to so many things to help other law enforcement agencies who do not have the training and equipment that we are blessed to have,” Shoemaker said.
The K-9 addition to cracking down on fentanyl is part of a federal-state partnership. Due to the deadly powerful nature of fentanyl, the canine officers get special training to avoid harm.
The officers carry Narcan; they say right now it’s for humans, but could be used on dogs.
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Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga was named the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League MVP on Friday, one day ahead of the league’s championship match.
Chawinga set a new single-season NWSL record with 20 goals this year for the Current.
She also scored the lone goal in the team’s quarterfinal victory and both goals in the championship of the NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup last month.
“From the moment Temwa came to Kansas City, we knew she was capable of playing at an MVP level,” general manager Caitlin Carducci said in a statement.
“Not only has she been an incredible player on the pitch, she’s also been an incredible teammate and representative of the organization off it. Temwa laid an incredible foundation with her play in 2024, and we’re so excited for what’s to come in the years ahead.”
Chawinga is the eighth NWSL Golden Boot winner to also win MVP in the same season since the league’s launch in 2013. She is the first African international to win either award.
The 26-year-old Malawi international arrived in Kansas City this year from the Chinese Super League and took the league by storm in the first season with her eye for goal and her game-changing speed.
Chawinga scored in 13 of the Current’s final 14 matches of the regular season, including goals in eight straight games, which was a first in league history.
She also scored a goal against all 13 other NWSL teams this season, another first, and she added five assists to the Current’s league-record 57 goals this season.
Chawinga’s 20 goals broke Sam Kerr’s previous record of 18 in a season, which Kerr scored in 21 games.
Chawinga played in 25 regular-season games this year.
The next closest scorer in the regular season was Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda, who finished with 13 goals.
Banda scored in last week’s semifinal to help Orlando eliminate Kansas City from the playoffs.
Orlando takes on the Washington Spirit on Saturday in the NWSL Championship at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.
History of NWSL MVPs
2013: Lauren Holiday, FC Kansas City midfielder
2014: Kim Little, Seattle Reign FC midfielder
2015: Crystal Dunn, Washington Spirit forward
2016: Lynn Williams, Western New York Flash forward
2017: Sam Kerr, Sky Blue FC forward
2018: Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns FC midfielder
2019: Sam Kerr: Chicago Red Stars forward
2021: Jess Fishlock, OL Reign midfielder
2022: Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns FC forward
2023: Kerolin, North Carolina Courage forward
The Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls sounded like Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday night as a capacity crowd of 3,400 watched Iowa defeat Kansas 71-58. The Hawkeyes jumped out to an 18-4 lead after the first quarter and never let the lead dip below eight points the rest of the way. They are now 5-0 for the first time since 2017.
Here are my top takeaways from the win and what it means for Iowa moving forward.
A season that began with national championship aspirations is now in danger of ending in disappointment.
Three weeks ago, the Kansas State Wildcats controlled their hopes of making the Big 12 title game and possibly the College Football Playoff. Now, they are just searching for another victory to salvage a once promising season.
“Obviously a disappointing performance on Saturday,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said about Saturday’s loss to Arizona State. “We had a long staff meeting yesterday and talked about a lot of things. We looked at offense, defense and special teams. I don’t think anybody could point a finger at anybody because I don’t think any unit played up to its capabilities.”
The Wildcats were in the driver’s seat after a victory against rival Kansas Oct. 26 in the annual Sunflower State Showdown. They were 7-1 with wins against Oklahoma State and Colorado, the lone blemish coming against BYU.
The victory against the Jayhawks was followed by two upset losses to Houston and the Sun Devils, which all but ended their chances of making the Big 12 championship game.
With two games left against Cincinnati and Iowa State, the Wildcats are basically playing for a more appealing bowl game.
“Our job this week is to right the ship, because we have another opportunity,” Klieman said. “I want our seniors to have an opportunity to go out well.”
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
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