Wire
Heloise
Dear Heloise: We had an incident today. My beloved little Alley Cat was grooming herself. Somehow, she managed to grab her collar, and it ended up around her ears and in her mouth. Thank goodness we were home at the time. She was choking. Please let all pet owners know to check the collars on their pets. Who would have thought that a collar could pose a choking hazard? I adjusted it to a tighter fit, and hopefully she won’t be in danger aga...
full story
Sports briefs
7-footer transferring from Arizona to Kansas LAWRENCE (AP) — Jeff Withey, a 7-foot freshman who spent one semester at Arizona but did not play for the Wildcats, will transfer to Kansas next semester. Kansas coach Bill Self confirmed Withey’s decision Wednesday night via text message. Arizona’s top 2008 freshman, Withey requested a release from his scholarship before the season began after coach Lute Olson suddenly retired in October. Wit...
full story
Celebrities
ATLNTA (AP) - Rapper Young Jeezy remembers many childhood Christmases when his family struggled to afford gifts. “I never really looked forward to Christmas,” he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I knew how it was to look forward to Christmas and not know if you’re getting a gift or not. But I always used to say if I was fortunate enough, I was going to help the less fortunate.” On Wednesday, Young Jeezy delivered gifts door...
full story
Two anti-tax groups in Kansas merging
TOPEKA (AP) — Two groups well-known in Kansas politics for advocating lower taxes and restraints on government spending are merging. The groups are the Kansas Taxpayers Network, based in Wichita, and Americans for Prosperity’s state chapter, based in Topeka. They are combining their organizations after the network’s executive director, Karl Peterjohn, won a seat on the Sedgwick County Commission. “With our mission and goals being so simila...
full story
Story of Chase Kear: Miracles, perseverance, love
WICHITA (AP) — The story of Chase Kear sounds straightforward: Pole vaulter sustains terrible injury, makes an unexpected recovery, returns home in time for Christmas. Dig deeper, beneath the basic plot line, and there are many other threads to the tale. There’s perseverance, a young man’s will keeping him alive when he probably should have died, pushing past others’ expectations for his recovery. There’s the love of family and friends, a...
full story
Oddities
Giant snowman rises again in Alaska — mysteriously ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A giant snowman named Snowzilla has mysteriously appeared again this year — despite the city’s cease-and-desist order. Someone again built the giant snowman in Billy Powers’ front yard in an east Anchorage neighborhood. Snowzilla reappeared before dawn Tuesday. Powers is not taking credit. When questioned Tuesday afternoon, he insisted Snowzilla just somehow happe...
full story
AP Coach of Year: Alabama’s Nick Saban
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Four straight losses were bad enough for Alabama, and one humbling defeat to Louisiana-Monroe was even worse. Nick Saban could have lost his team right there. Instead, he might well have claimed it. “Coach came in and talked to us and was like, ’We’ve got an opportunity to change things with this bowl game,”’ Crimson Tide safety Rashad Johnson said. The Tide won the Independence Bowl over Colorado to end last seaso...
full story
Ask Amy
Dear Amy: We have become best friends with our neighbors, and we spend quite a bit of time together. Unfortunately, they’re smokers. We’re not. Recently, I was diagnosed with a chronic sinus infection and asthma-like symptoms that get worse when I’m around cigarette smoke. My doctor told me to steer clear of any smoke or my symptoms will get worse. He also said that I will probably develop full-blown asthma if I don’t heed his advice. When...
full story
Hawks, Snyder top Kansas sports in ’08
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It’s been a sports year unlike any other in Kansas, a fan’s bonanza of biggests, bests, mosts and “finallys.” Mario Chalmers swished a 3-pointer that was nothing less than the most important shot in the entire storied lore of Kansas basketball. Propelled into overtime by Chalmers’ historic jumper, Bill Self’s Jayhawks then capped an amazing comeback by beating favored Memphis 75-68 in overtime in the NCAA championshi...
full story
Edwards: Chiefs will compete in ’09
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Whether he’s their head coach or not, Herm Edwards sees a contender taking shape in Kansas City in the very near future. “I see them competing next year,” the embattled coach of the 2-13 Chiefs said in what may be his last regular-season Tuesday news conference. “I think this is going to be a good football team next year. I really do. That’s just my opinion. I think the players feel that way, too.” The massive rebu...
full story
Heloise
Dear Readers: Here are some travel hints to help prevent you from losing your luggage when traveling. While the problems may be with the airline, airport or service you use, there are some steps you can take to help prevent luggage from being lost: * Remove old flight tags so there’s no confusion about where your bag is going. Check that the correct destination tag is attached -- many sound the same: SBS (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and SVS ...
full story
Religion Briefs
Vatican embraces iTunes prayer book, says it can spread Church message VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is endorsing new technology that brings the book of daily prayers used by priests straight onto iPhones. The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications is embracing the iBreviary, an iTunes application created by a technologically savvy Italian priest, the Rev. Paolo Padrini, and an Italian Web designer. The application inclu...
full story
Ask Amy
Dear Readers: Recently I ran a letter from “Far-Away Family” that detailed the writer’s effort to rework the traditional gift exchange. I suggested that the family could exchange holiday letters and family photos instead of more material gifts this year. Many readers responded to this letter, and I was inspired by their efforts to pare down their material giving. Many are choosing to use their resources to help others. Giving to worthy causes...
full story
Budget woes spark talk of ag agency merger
TOPEKA (AP) — The state’s financial problems revive a proposal to merge two small agencies into the Department of Agriculture. The proposal comes from the Legislature’s audit committee, and supporters believe it could reduce spending by $3.5 million over five years. Under the plan, the Department of Agriculture would absorb the duties of the currently independent Animal Health Department and State Conservation Commission. However, both agenci...
full story
Celebrities
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A court has put a higher value on being Britney Spears’ father this year: about $75 an hour. For helping his daughter through her turbulent period, Jamie Spears on Monday was awarded an additional $51,000 payout, reflecting an increase in his monthly payments since he took over his 27-year-old daughter’s affairs in February. Jamie Spears had been receiving $10,000 a month for his work, but Los Angeles Superior Court Comm...
full story
Jerrells’ triple-double lifts Baylor
The Associated Press Curtis Jerrells paid enough attention to late-game passing that it didn’t cost him a piece of Baylor basketball history. Jerrells recorded the school’s fourth triple-double and the ninth ever in the Big 12 Conference in the 21st-ranked Bears’ 74-59 victory over Hartford on Monday night. Jerrells had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Baylor (10-1). He secured the statistical feat with an assist to Kevin Rogers,...
full story
Recession-proof Yankees keep spending millions
Ronald Blum AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The big, bad Yankees are flexing their mighty checkbook, and the rest of baseball isn’t happy. While the recession has many teams cautious about spending, the Yankees remain in a Gilded Age, dropping close to a quarter-billion dollars on a single day for high-profile free agents. The Mets have lavished big money, too, and other teams are jealous. “This year they just both went crazy,” San Fr...
full story
Gould kicks still-in-it Bears past Packers in OT
CHICAGO (AP) — The coldest home game in Chicago Bears history rightfully came against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears, still in contention for the playoffs, were being outplayed by a Packers team that had already been eliminated from the postseason a week earlier. “I understand why we were getting booed. We hadn’t really shown up at all, but you have to play two halves,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. That’s what the Bears did Monday nigh...
full story
Heloise
Dear Heloise: I’ve been a closet reader of your column for many years because it appears on the same page as my daily crossword puzzle. It is a great source of many useful hints and has led me to a discovery that I find especially pleasing. I have always enjoyed biscuits and gravy but have rarely indulged. Heloise to the rescue! I now more frequently enjoy this forbidden repast by making a batch of your delicious, feather-light “angel bisc...
full story
Woods’ absence opens door
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Tiger Woods posed next to the trophy on the 18th green, a familiar scene with a rare twist. It was Sunday, and his clothing did not include so much as a trace of red. Plus, he was wearing a jacket — black, not green. He was merely the host of the Chevron World Challenge. His duty was to thank sponsors and volunteers and give the trophy to Vijay Singh. “I’m on the operational side this week,” Woods said. That ...
full story