Missouri

Kansas City Chiefs owners fund radio ad campaign opposing Missouri abortion amendment

Published

3 months ago

October 11, 2024

Kansas City Chiefs owners fund radio ad campaign opposing Missouri abortion amendment

Anna Spoerre and Rudi Keller
| Missouri Independent

The family business that owns the Kansas City Chiefs is one of the biggest funders of a political action committee opposing a proposed amendment to overturn Missouri’s abortion ban.

Unity Hunt, the business that controls the assets of the late Lamar Hunt, including the Chiefs, in late September donated $300,000 to the Leadership for America PAC. It is currently running ads on several conservative radio stations across the state opposing the abortion-rights amendment, which will appear on the November ballot as Amendment 3.

Leadership for America is an independent spending PAC created in January. Prior to receiving the donation from Unity Hunt, the PAC had $31,159 on hand.

Along with paying directly for radio ads, Leadership for America has donated $100,000 to Vote “No” on 3, the main opposition group in the Amendment 3 campaign. And on Oct. 3, the PAC donated $100,000 to a PAC called Missouri Leadership Fund, which gave $100,000 to Vote “No” on 3 six days later.

Neither Unity Hunt nor the Kansas City Chiefs responded to requests for comment.

No one from Leadership for America could be reached for comment. The telephone number given to the Missouri Ethics Commission for treasurer John Royal has been disconnected.

The ads, which began airing across the state on Monday, call Amendment 3 “cleverly-worded to convince you that it only allows abortions until fetal viability.”

“But it has loopholes that allow for abortions through all nine months of pregnancy,” the ad continues. “Abortion proponents used to say ‘safe, legal and rare.’ But now they want abortion as common as the morning after pill.”

Supporters of the amendment say claims of abortions in the third trimester are misleading, since the legal freedoms around abortion would only apply until fetal viability, which is generally considered to be around 24 weeks, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The amendment text would allow the Missouri legislature to regulate abortion after fetal viability with exceptions only to “protect the life, or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”

Abortion is illegal from the moment of conception in Missouri, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies. There are no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

Leadership for America has spent a little more than $32,000 on the radio ads, which are set to run through Nov. 4. There are no other broadcast ads opposing the amendment.

Organized efforts against Amendment 3 have been hugely outspent by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the committee backing the amendment. The campaign reported spending $7.3 million through June 30 and has purchased more than $8.7 million in television ads since the start of September.

Vote “No” on 3 has not filed a full disclosure report but has amassed $870,000 in donations greater than $5,000 since Aug. 30.

While the content of the Leadership for America ad aligns with most other opposition talking points, the original source of the money behind the ad drew some attention.

“It is incredibly disappointing to see Unity Hunt spend resources on this campaign to spread lies and continue the fear-mongering surrounding Amendment 3,” said state Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City.

Nurrenbern, who is running for the 17th Senate District in Clay County, said she was particularly alarmed by the size of the donation from a family she said “has done so much good for Kansas City and the Kansas City area.”

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State Rep. Ashley Aune, also a Democrat from Kansas City, said she wasn’t surprised to see the Hunt family backing an effort to stop abortion.

“But also, it’s disappointing because when you have such a big platform,” Aune said. “Using that platform to sow misinformation is a really irresponsible way to use it.”

In 2020, Lamar Hunt Jr. served as the master of ceremonies at the Kansans for Life annual Valentine’s Day banquet.

Hunt, an owner of the Chiefs, told the crowd: “I do not think it is a cliché to say we are in a life and death battle for the truth and authentic dignity of the human person.”

Hunt six years earlier published a blog post to his website contemplating what he observed as cultural shifts away from the “pro-choice” movement, comparing the momentum in the “pro-life” community to the San Francisco 49ers comeback and near-win in the final seconds of the 2013 Super Bowl.

This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.

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Missouri

Women’s Hoops Takes on Missouri on Thursday – University of Oklahoma

Published

6 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Women’s Hoops Takes on Missouri on Thursday – University of Oklahoma

NORMAN – No. 13 Oklahoma looks to move above .500 in SEC action on Thursday night when it hosts Missouri (11-8, 0-4 SEC) at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

The Sooners (14-3, 2-2 SEC) and Tigers meet for the 60th time overall but the first as SEC foes.

Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ with Chad McKee and Whitney Hand Jones calling the action, and the game will air on 107.7 FM The Franchise with Brian Brinkley and Kevin Henry on the call.

The Sooners enter Sunday’s contest ranked 12th in the latest NET ranking, and has not lost a conference home game against an unranked opponent in nearly three years.

FAN INFO

Thursday’s contest is one of Oklahoma’s $2 concession nights and fans can enjoy $2 soda, popcorn and select beer.

Give the gift of Sooner sports this holiday season and save big on tickets to every athletic event in January! Plus, score savings on SEC Baseball Opening Weekend, the Sooners’ football season opener next August, and more. Holiday ticket packages are on sale now.

Single-game tickets are also available

Season ticket holders can pick up their free Watch More OU Women’s Basketball shirts on the south concourse before the game.

Doors to the arena open one hour before tip for the general public, and the Lloyd Noble Center’s clear-bag policy is in effect.

THE STARTING FIVE

The Sooners dominate in the paint, averaging 44.0 paint points per game (PPPG), the third most in the nation, while holding opponents to just 22.9 PPPG. They shoot 57.1% on 2-point attempts, sixth nationally and second in the SEC. Leading the charge is All-American center Raegan Beers, who scores 12.1 of her 17.3 points per game inside the paint. OU’s paint dominance is further fueled by 15.4 offensive rebounds per game (17th NCAA), generating 15.2 second-chance points per contest (10th NCAA).
OU is excelling on both ends of the court, standing as one of just six teams nationally to rank in the top 20 in scoring offense (88.5 PPG, 4th), shooting percentage (47.9%, 15th), opponent shooting percentage (35.5%, 17th), and rebounding margin (+15.9, 3rd). Notably, four of the last five NCAA champions were ranked in the top 20 of each category when they lifted the trophy.
In the latest ESPN bracketology on Jan. 14, Oklahoma was tabbed as a No. 4 seed, which would provide hosting duties in the tournament for the second time of the Baranczyk era (2022). Of Oklahoma’s 29 regular season opponents, 14 are in the latest bracket on ESPN, including four from its non-conference slate (UNLV [W], Duke [L], Louisville [W] and Michigan [W]).
If the Sooners score 70 points on Thursday, they’ll tie a program record for consecutive games of 70+ points, matching the mark set by Baranczyk’s teams over the first 18 games of her Oklahoma tenure.
The Sooners head into Thursday’s game ranked No. 12 in the latest NET rankings and No. 13 in the AP poll. Oklahoma has appeared in every AP poll this season, beginning the year at No. 10 and climbing as high as No. 8. The team is currently riding a streak of 19 consecutive weeks in the AP poll – the fourth-longest streak in program history and the longest since a 40-week run from 2015 to 2017.

LAST TIME OUT

Raegan Beers scored 16 points and added six rebounds, and No. 10 Oklahoma rolled past Texas A&M 77-62 on Sunday. The Sooners (14-3, 2-2 SEC) bounced back from a loss to Mississippi State on Thursday to claim their first home SEC win in their first season in the conference.

SERIES HISTORY

Thursday features a renewed rivalry as former Big 12 foes Oklahoma and Missouri meet for the 60th time. The Sooners hold a narrow edge in the all-time series, leading 30-29. OU has dominated in Norman with a 16-9 record, while Missouri has the advantage in Columbia at 14-10 and at neutral sites, leading 6-4.

Oklahoma enters the matchup on a six-game winning streak in the series. The Sooners’ last win came on March 8, 2012, with a 70-59 victory in Kansas City, Missouri’s last game in the Big 12.

UP NEXT

The Sooners head to Columbia to take on No. 2 South Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET). The game will air nationally on ESPN with Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck on the call.

The contest is Oklahoma’s sixth top-25 matchup of the season. The Gamecocks are the defending national champions and have won 67 straight games at Colonial Life Arena and 51 straight regular season SEC games.

FOLLOW OKLAHOMA BASKETBALL
For updates, follow @OU_WBBall on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma Women’s Basketball on Facebook.

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Arkansas visits Missouri after Grill’s 22-point outing

Published

13 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Arkansas visits Missouri after Grill’s 22-point outing

Associated Press

Arkansas Razorbacks (11-6, 0-4 SEC) at Missouri Tigers (14-3, 3-1 SEC)

Columbia, Missouri; Saturday, 6 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -5.5; over/under is 149.5

BOTTOM LINE: Missouri hosts Arkansas after Caleb Grill scored 22 points in Missouri’s 83-82 win over the Florida Gators.

The Tigers have gone 13-0 in home games. Missouri scores 84.9 points while outscoring opponents by 15.6 points per game.

The Razorbacks are 0-4 in SEC play. Arkansas ranks seventh in the SEC shooting 34.3% from 3-point range.

Missouri averages 8.7 made 3-pointers per game, 1.2 more made shots than the 7.5 per game Arkansas gives up. Arkansas averages 8.8 more points per game (78.1) than Missouri gives up (69.3).

The matchup Saturday is the first meeting this season for the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Robinson II is averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals for the Tigers.

Adou Thiero is scoring 16.8 points per game and averaging 6.0 rebounds for the Razorbacks.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 8-2, averaging 81.3 points, 29.7 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 10.1 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.7 points per game.

Razorbacks: 6-4, averaging 76.4 points, 32.8 rebounds, 16.1 assists, 5.9 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.4 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Deadspin | Arkansas tries to pick itself up off floor at Missouri

Published

21 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Deadspin | Arkansas tries to pick itself up off floor at Missouri

Jan 14, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari reacts to a play against the LSU Tigers during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Arkansas coach John Calipari found himself in an unusual position this week: His team was 0-4 in Southeastern Conference play and tied for last in the standings.

Calipari is trying to remain positive as the Razorbacks, 11-6 overall, prepare to play at resurgent Missouri (14-3, 3-1) Saturday in Columbia, Mo.

“I thought we played (with) more joy than we have,” Calipari said after Arkansas fell 78-74 at LSU on Tuesday. “I know I coached that way, but . . . I got to do a better job. And told them after the game, I’m not cracking, so let’s just keep going. Let’s get ready for the next one.”

The Razorbacks went 11-2 in nonconference play and defeated Michigan, which was ranked No, 14 at the time. Then came their SEC schedule and losses at Tennessee and at home to Ole Miss and Florida before the defeat at LSU. The Vols, Rebels and Gators were all ranked at the time of their games with Arkansas.

“They’re trying. I just got to do a better job,” Calipari said of his team. “I feel bad for them. I’m going to have to drag them across the finish line on some of these games. I just have to do it.”

Boogie Fland, who had 19 points and five assists against LSU, is averaging 15.7 points and 5.7 assists per game. Big man Adou Thiero leads Arkansas with 16.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Missouri, on the other hand, boosted its NCAA Tournament profile by scoring an 83-82 road upset of No. 5 Florida on Tuesday.

The Tigers have received a big lift from sixth-year guard Caleb Grill, who missed five games earlier this season with a neck injury. He has scored 45 points over his last three games while shooting 11-for-22 from 3-point range.

Grill scored 22 points off the bench at Florida. He hit his first four 3-point shots to get the Tigers rolling in the first half, then sealed the victory with two free throws with five seconds left.

“That was one of the more resilient victories I’ve ever been a part of,” Grill said. “And everyone knows I’ve been in college forever.”

The Tigers feature a deep team with balanced scoring. Forward Mark Mitchell (13.6 points per game) and guards Tamar Bates (12.8), Grill (12.2) and Anthony Robinson II (10.7) lead the way.

–Field Level Media

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