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STAR Bonds package makes waves amidst Kansas, Missouri border war truce

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STAR Bonds package makes waves amidst Kansas, Missouri border war truce


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The economic truce between Kansas and Missouri could be over after Kansas legislators approved the STAR Bonds intended to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the border.

In 2019, Governors Laura Kelly and Mike Parsons signed an agreement that prevented Kansas City metro communities from poaching each other’s businesses across state lines. Kelly claims the Chiefs were never discussed in the truce, but Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Quinton Lucas feels the Kansas lawmakers crossed the line.

”I do think that this ends what was a good compromise,” Lucas said, “I think that will long term be bad for the taxpayers and it’s something that frankly we all need to sit down and see if there’s a way we can rebuild.”

Kansas leadership insists this bill is meant to unite both sides and ensure the sports franchises are not swayed to relocate to a completely different part of the country.

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“The fan base is on both sides of the line and we heard it in our debates that, ‘We have the benefit of the Chiefs over here,’” Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson explained. “Well, the same would be true in Kansas. It’s not really a war. We want to keep the Kansas City Chiefs in the Kansas City area because there would be a loss if we lost that franchise in this area.”

While the owners ultimately decide where the teams call home, Kansas now has a seat at the table.

“We don’t know if they’ll jump the state line but we have to do our part and now they can do their part,” Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins emphasized.

The ball now remains in Jackson Co., Missouri court, where voters rejected a sales tax to finance a new Royals stadium in downtown Kansas City, Missouri a few months ago.

“It was largely in part about leverage and the teams are in an exceptional leverage position,” Lucas said. “Now I think what they are able to say is, ‘What’s the best deal we can get over here and what’s the best deal we can get over here,’ and then at the end of the day, what’s the deal they’re going to take.”

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The lease on the Chiefs and Royals’ current complex runs through 2031, but the clock is ticking with both teams recently emphasizing the need for renovations or relocation.



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What we learned from Mississippi State baseball’s series sweep vs Missouri State

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What we learned from Mississippi State baseball’s series sweep vs Missouri State


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  • Mississippi State is still trying to figure out who its starting second baseman will be.
  • Freshman Lukas Buckner has impressed with his composure and hitting ability.

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball swept Missouri State this weekend, but it didn’t mean there was no sweat in the final inning. 

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The No. 19 Bulldogs (6-1) entered Sunday’s ninth inning leading 6-1 in a combined no-hitter. That was until William Zareh blasted a three-run homer. The Bears (2-4) brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but Virginia transfer Chase Hungate came to the rescue with two game-ending outs for the 6-4 win. 

“I know we had a no-hitter into the ninth, but that’s a really good offensive lineup,” MSU coach Chris Lemonis said. “There’s pros inside that lineup. You are going to look up at the end of the year and you’ll probably see Missouri State in a regional like we had last year with Evansville heading to a Super Regional.”

The win meant MSU has swept both of its weekend series to begin the season. Its only loss so far was at Southern Miss on Tuesday, and the 6-1 record is the program’s best since 2019.

Here are three things we learned about Mississippi State from the series.

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Mississippi State has depth, but Chris Lemonis isn’t satisfied yet

The Bulldogs scored 18 runs in the series with lots of flex in the lineup. Only five players — Ace Reese, Ross Highfill, Noah Sullivan, Hunter Hines and Bryce Chance — started all three games. 

Different players came through in big moments throughout the weekend. 

Sullivan, a USC-Upstate transfer, hit a go-ahead RBI double with two outs in the eighth inning on Friday. Reese, a Houston transfer, slashed a triple that drove in three runs the next day. Four players hit home runs on Sunday, when each starter had at least one hit.

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“We’re still not maximizing our offensive opportunities, and I think that’s something we got to keep (working on),” Lemonis said. “We’re having, like, a good at-bat, a good at-bat and then a really bad one. You don’t need to have a great one. You just need to have an average one and move the inning along. We’ll get up there and have a couple big hits and then strike out, strike out, which we got to correct.” 

Mississippi State still figuring out second base

Mississippi State started three players at second base against Missouri State. 

Sawyer Reeves, a transfer from The Citadel, started the first four games of the season but has slumped to 1-for-13 start at the plate. He also committed two costly errors against Southern Miss. The redshirt senior did not start any games this weekend. 

Lukas Buckner started at second base on Friday and Saturday and Gehrig Frei in the finale.

Frei committed an error in the first inning of Sunday’s game, the only error by the Bulldogs all weekend, but redeemed himself when he launched a home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the inning.

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“I think one thing is we’re all aware that we have great depth, position player-wise,” Frei, a North Alabama transfer, said. “We got guys who can go in there and make an impact right away. It’s a good thing about our ball club.”

Lukas Buckner impressing as a freshman

Buckner didn’t start the first four games of the season but did start at shortstop on Friday and second base on Saturday.

The Knoxville, Tennessee native has been one of the most impressive freshmen on the team. 

He pinch-hit on Tuesday at Southern Miss and slapped two of MSU’s hits in the game. Buckner followed it with his first career start on Friday, adding two more hits at shortstop and the leadoff batter. He reached base twice again on Saturday.

“I think the biggest thing is just how composed he is,” Sullivan said of Buckner. “It’s like he’s been here like two, three years already. He knows how to work, he knows how to play and he’s about as good as it gets.”

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Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.



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VIDEO: John Calipari, players postgame – Arkansas 92, Missouri 85

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VIDEO: John Calipari, players postgame – Arkansas 92, Missouri  85


Watch the postgame press conference from Arkansas head coach John Calipari, Johnell Davis and Zvonimir Ivisic after the 92-85 over the No. 15 Missouri Tigers at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday evening.

Visit our homepage for complete coverage of Arkansas basketball, including everything you need to know from the Hoop Hogs’ loss.



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Iowa State wrestling closes regular season with victory at Missouri

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Iowa State wrestling closes regular season with victory at Missouri


The No. 12-ranked Iowa State wrestling team (12-5, 6-2 Big 12) closed its regular season with a 21-18 victory over No. 25 Missouri (5-10, 4-4 Big 12) Saturday in Columbia, Mo.

The Cyclones took six of 10 bouts, including the first four. Evan Bockman and Nate Schon came through with pivotal wins at 184 and 197 pounds to clinch the dual for the Cyclones.

Garrett Grice earned a crucial pin at 133 pounds after Ethan Perryman got the Cyclones on the board first with a 7-4 decision over No. 32 Gage Walker at 125 pounds.

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Grice got the nod for Iowa State at 133 pounds and came up with big bonus points when he pinned Kade Moore in 4:22.

At 141 pounds, No. 11 Jacob Frost earned a 9-8 decision over No. 16 Josh Edmond. Frost has won 12 of his last 13 matches.

No. 7 Paniro Johnson made it four in a row for the Cyclones to open the dual with a 4-1 decision over Logan Gioffre at 149 pounds.

Iowa State next competes at the Big 12 Championships on March 8-9 in Tulsa, Okla.

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125: Ethan Perryman (ISU) dec. #32 Gage Walker (MIZ), 7-4

133: Garrett Grice (ISU) WBF Kade Moore (MIZ), 4:22

141: #11 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. #16 Josh Edmond (MIZ), 9-8

149: #7 Paniro Johnson (ISU) dec. Logan Gioffre (MIZ), 4-1

157: James Conway (MIZ) dec. #11 Cody Chittum (ISU), 9-3

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165: #15 Cam Steed (MIZ) WBF Aiden Riggins (ISU), 3:31

174: #1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZ) WBF Cade Schmidt (ISU), 6:24

184: #10 Evan Bockman (ISU) dec. #9 Colton Hawks (MIZ), 1-0

197: Nate Schon (ISU) dec. Jesse Cassatt (MIZ), 4-2

285: Seth Nitzel (MIZ) dec. #26 Daniel Herrera (ISU), 9-3

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The Iowa State sports information department contributed this report.



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