Kansas
Taylor Swift visits Kansas City children’s hospital on eve of her 35th birthday
Taylor Swift visited a children’s hospital in Kansas City, Mo., on the eve of her 35th birthday.
The “Karma” singer, 34, stopped by Children’s Mercy Kansas City on Thursday with her beau Travis Kelce and met with patients, staff and specially trained facility dogs during her visit.
A patient named Rylie took several photos with the global superstar, and his grandmother, Anita Belt, raved about his experience and said that Kelce, 35, was also visiting.
“Children’s Mercy Hospital does their best to nurse seriously ill children, comfort family, and bring a little joy when they can. Today did not disappoint!” she wrote in a public Facebook post.
“Thank you Taylor Swift for bringing some joy to Rylie today!!”
“Travis Kelce was in the building as well, but didn’t stop in his room. Great way to bring a smile and make a memory! ❤️.”
Page Six reached out to Kelce’s rep for confirmation of his visit.
Another patient, an 11-year-old Swiftie named Baylee, also met the singer after nearly a week in the hospital. Her mother, Melissa Nuzum, called it “the coolest, most unexpected surprise ever” on her Facebook page.
“We absolutely gained so much more love and respect [for] Taylor,” Nuzum exclusively told Page Six. “She was lovely and personable.”
In her Facebook post, she also revealed that Swift gave Baylee a signed copy of her “Eras Tour Book.”
Workers at the hospital were also in awe of the surprise visit. Pediatric oncology nurse Nkiru Chigbogwu took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of Swift smiling behind a group of professionals with two thumbs in the air.
“meeting Taylor Swift was NOT on my bingo card today,” she wrote over the snap.
The 14-time Grammy winner seemed to enjoy visiting a trained hospital dog named Jellybean while spending time at Children’s Mercy as well.
An Instagram account for Jellybean and her peers shared two images of Swift petting the 4-year-old golden retriever as she sat on a bed with her.
Swift wore a green button-up shirt with a matching pleated miniskirt with opaque black tights and knee-high Christian Louboutin boots.
Swift has certainly felt the giving spirit this holiday season — her hospital visit comes days after Page Six confirmed she gave her tour cast and crew about $197 million in bonuses between the May 2023 start and Dec. 8 conclusion of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
As for her birthday, it’s not clear how she plans to celebrate.
A source for Us Weekly claimed earlier this month that she is “excited” to ring in her new year of life.
Kansas
IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi
Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.
Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.
In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.
He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.
In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.
He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.
The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.
Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.
More transfer portal information:
For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.
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Kansas
Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU
Kansas football coach Lance Leipold explains signing QB Jaylen Mason
Check out some of what Kansas football coach Lance Leipold had to say Wednesday about why the Jayhawks signed quarterback Jaylen Mason.
LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.
The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.
Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.
Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.
Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.
Kansas football transfer portal additions
Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle
Kansas football transfer portal departures
Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)
Jacoby Davis (cornerback)
Dylan Brooks (defensive end)
Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)
Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)
Trey Lathan (linebacker)
Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)
Harry Stewart III (running back)
Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end
Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)
David McComb (3-star quarterback)
Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman
Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)
Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)
Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)
Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman
Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)
Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)
Damani Maxson (3-star safety)
Jaden Hamm (tight end)
Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)
JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)
Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)
Efren Jasso (punter)
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Kansas
Hundreds celebrate Kwanzaa at Kansas City’s Gem Theatre
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Hundreds of people packed the Gem Theatre over the weekend to celebrate Kwanzaa.
The celebrations run nightly through January 1. Each night highlights a different core value, including unity, cooperation and faith.
The event features local vendors and performances. Organizers say it’s a great way to start the new year.
The Kwanzaa celebration is free and open to everyone.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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