Kansas

Lions Rookie Report: Vaki, Williams, Ukwu Shine

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2024

Lions Rookie Report: Vaki, Williams, Ukwu Shine

The Lions notched their first win of the preseason Saturday night – in come-from-behind fashion – behind the leg of kicker Jake Bates. Bates nailed a 43-yarder as time expired to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 24-23.

The game featured multiple rookies that stepped up in a big fashion. Most notably, running back Sione Vaki and wide receiver Isaiah Williams, an undrafted free agent, came through with solid performances.

Vaki helped spearhead a Lions scoring drive to close the first half, while Williams made an impact both as a receiver and on special teams. He led the team in receiving for a second straight week (six catches for 71 yards), and also fielded three punts for 41 yards.

With each passing week, Williams – a product of the University of Illinois – is looking more and more like he’s going to claim a spot on Detroit’s season-opening 53-man roster.

Let’s take a look now at how Vaki and the rest of the Lions’ six 2024 draft picks fared against the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

CB Terrion Arnold

Arnold did not suit up on Saturday. He sat out the contest with a pectoral injury, which he suffered during practice this past Monday. He’s not, however, expected to miss any time during the regular season due to the ailment.

CB Ennis Rakestraw

Just like Arnold, Rakestraw sat out Saturday’s exhibition tilt with an injury. Rakestraw, just like Arnold once again, suffered the injury – his of the ankle variety – during this past Monday’s practice.

Regarding the ailment, the Missouri product said on Instagram Live earlier this week, “We are perfectly fine.” Subsequently, at this present moment, it’s believed that the injury isn’t serious for the second-rounder.

OL Giovanni Manu

Lining up at left tackle, the third-round pick logged 40 reps on offense and another five on special teams Saturday. That was good for 52 percent of Detroit’s offensive snaps and 16 percent of the team’s special teams snaps.

There wasn’t much positive or negative to take away from Manu’s performance.

Positively, though, the University of British Columbia product didn’t account for any penalties, which is of significance for an offensive lineman.

From the Lions’ perspective, the hope is that Manu continues to log solid reps as the regular season nears.

RB Sione Vaki

Vaki had a solid performance for a second straight week.

Most notably, on the final drive of the opening half, the Utah product had four catches for 60 yards, as well as a carry that went for three yards. He further displayed his versatility by fielding a kick return and combining with special teams ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin for a tackle on a kick return in the second quarter.

Vaki totaled six carries for 22 yards, and contributed another 60 yards as a receiver. It was a strong display from the fourth-round pick, likely further strengthening his chances to win the No. 3 running back job.

DL Mekhi Wingo

Wingo didn’t make a huge impact on Saturday. The 2024 sixth-round pick logged 35 total snaps (30 on defense and five on special teams), and secured just one tackle. Overall wise, the LSU product had a quiet day against the Chiefs.

OL Christian Mahogany

Mahogany, the final pick of Detroit’s 2024 draft class, remains on the team’s non-football illness list.

He has missed all of training camp with an undisclosed sickness. He recently returned to the team after being away since minicamp in June. Mahogany has yet to return to practice, and has been working with the training staff to prepare for action.

At minicamp, the sixth-round pick received the majority of his reps at right guard and with the second-team offense.

UDFA stock watch

The aforementioned Williams is starting to prove doubters wrong, along with defensive end Isaac Ukwu.

Ukwu received the starting nod against Kansas City and fared well. Most notably, he recorded a sack of Chiefs reserve quarterback Chris Oladokun in the third quarter.

Ukwu has impressed Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn with his ability to get after the passer so far in training camp.

“We’re trying to figure that out, and that’s what training camp is about. But, I’ll tell you, he’s been a pleasant surprise as far as his ability to rush off the edge,” Glenn said of the undrafted rookie. “But, the thing is a lot different, we have to stack back and then read that triangle. So, we’re trying to get all to be able to do some things like that.”

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Kansas

RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Saturday after Wednesday sub-state wins

Published

18 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Saturday after Wednesday sub-state wins

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Wednesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

6A Boys West Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Topeka High 57, Washburn Rural 50 (will play Maize Saturday)
Junction City 70, Dodge City 56 (will play Derby Saturday)
Manhattan 58, Wichita-Northwest 56 (will play Wichita-East Saturday)

4A Boys East Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Rock Creek 62, Louisberg 57 (will play Bishop Miege Saturday)
Atchison 74, Wamego 43
Hayden 72, Independence 56 (will play Atchison Saturday)
Eudora 76, Santa Fe Trail 68

GIRLS

5A West Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Hays 80, Topeka West 18
Eisenhower 55, Seaman 41
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 71, Emporia 41

5A East Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Shawnee Heights 89, Sumner 15 (will play Pittsburg Saturday)
Basehor-Linwood 74, Highland Park 28 (will play Piper Saturday)

3A Pomona-West Franklin Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Osage City 75, Columbus 31 (will play Frontenac Saturday)

3A Sabetha Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Silver Lake 48, Nemaha Central 26 (will play Riley County Saturday)
Riley County 51, Jeff West 40 (will play Silver Lake)

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Kansas

RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Tuesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

5A East Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

KC Washington 68, Highland Park 38
Shawnee Heights 49, De Soto 37 (will play Leavenworth Friday)

5A West Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Topeka West 55, Hutchinson 32 (will play Bishop Carroll Friday)
Emporia 61, Great Bend 41 (will play Maize South Friday)
Seaman 73, Valley Center 51 (will play Hays Friday)

3A West Franklin Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Burlington 60, Osage City 35 (will play Baxter Springs Friday)

3A Sabetha Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Hiawatha 73, Oskaloosa 48 (will play Heritage Christian Friday)
Silver Lake 58, Sabetha 39 (will play Perry-Lecompton Friday 7:30 p.m.)

GIRLS

6A West Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Washburn Rural 60, Wichita South 32 (will play Derby)
Topeka High 69, Maize 45 (will play Liberal)
Manhattan 67, Free State 21 (will play Wichita East)

4A East Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Rock Creek 71, Parsons 23 (will play Tonganoxie)
Wamego 54, Labette County 33 (will play Bishop Miege)
Hayden 2, Athison 0 (will play Baldwin)

2A Eskridge/Mission Valley Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

Rossville 71, KC Christian 49 (will play Maur Hill-Mount Academy)
Lyndon 61, Jeff. Co. North 31 (will play Valley Heights)
Valley Heights 65, Doniphan West 41 (will play Lyndon)

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Kansas

Doe v. State of Kansas | American Civil Liberties Union

Published

2 days ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Doe v. State of Kansas | American Civil Liberties Union

In early 2026, the Kansas state legislature passed SB 244, a law which prohibits transgender people from using public restrooms on government property that align with their gender identity and establishes a private right of action that allows anyone who suspects someone is transgender and in violation of the law to sue that person for “damages” totaling $1,000.

The law also invalidates state-issued driver’s licenses with updated gender markers that reflect the carrier’s gender identity. In February 2026, transgender people across the state received letters from the state Department of Revenue’s Division of Vehicles informing them that their driver’s licenses “will no longer be valid,” effective immediately. SB 244 also prohibits transgender Kansans – or those born in Kansas – from updating the gender marker on state-issued birth certificates and driver’s licenses in the future.

The same day SB 244 went into effect, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Kansas, and Ballard Spahr LLP filed a lawsuit challenging SB 244 in the District Court of Douglas County on behalf of two transgender men who had their driver’s licenses invalidated under the law. The lawsuit charges that SB 244 violates the Kansas Constitution’s protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process, and freedom of speech.

“The invalidation of state-issued IDs threatens to out transgender people against their will every time they apply for a job, rent an apartment, or interact with police,” said Harper Seldin, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project. “Taken as a whole, SB 244 is a transparent attempt to deny transgender people autonomy over their own identities and push them out of public life altogether.”

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