Kansas

First of three parts Tiffany Lee wanted a car. She was weary of the two-hour bus ride to her job at a UCLA Health System clinic. She hated having to ask friends to drive her 7-year-old son to his asthma treatments. But as a single mother with three children, bad credit and a $27,000-a-year salary, she couldn't find a bank or dealership willing to give her a loan. Then a friend steered her to Repossess Auto Sales in Hawthorne. Another buyer might have balked at the deal she was offered.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dozens of tornadoes raked the Central Plains on Saturday as residents in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa braced themselves for a long night of tornado-watching. Damage was relatively light in the afternoon as the storm scraped across the sparsely populated farmlands of western and central Kansas. A hospital was damaged in Creston, Iowa, with no injuries reported. But well after sundown, much of the region was still under tornado watches. If anything, the potential for disaster increased as the system headed toward more densely populated areas in eastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska.

Two decades ago, on a warm summer night, the wife of a minister and mother of three died under heartbreaking circumstances. Her station wagon ran off a gravel country road and overturned in the Cottonwood River outside Emporia, Kansas. Early Sunday morning hikers came upon the body, floating in shallow water. But the death of Sandy Bird wasn't an accident.

The Angels made it clear in the off-season that investing more dollars is their preferred route to winning. The Kansas City Royals on Sunday reminded them there's also value in something less: years. Relying on home runs and a combined six runs batted in from their young No. 3 and cleanup hitters, Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler, Kansas City captured the deciding game of the season-opening series with a 7-3 victory at Angel Stadium. "They're aggressive, they're up there swinging — everything went their way today," Angels starter Ervin Santana said after laboring through a 96-pitch Easter outing that lasted 5 2/3 innings.

Scientists were excited to pull a 154-pound meteorite embedded in a Kansas wheat field -- especially because of the way they unearthed it. The team used groundpenetrating radar technology to locate the mass 4 feet under a meteorite-strewn field Monday. "It validates the technique so we can use something similar to that instrument when we go to Mars," said Patricia H. Reiff, director of the Rice Space Institute in Houston.

The following is the full transcript of President Obama's remarks in Osawatomie, Kan., Tuesday as provided by the White House. THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I want to start by thanking a few folks who've joined us today.  We've got the mayor of Osawatomie, Phil Dudley is here.  (Applause.)  We have your superintendent Gary French in the house.  (Applause.)  And we have the principal of Osawatomie High, Doug Chisam.  (Applause.)  And I have brought your former governor, who is doing now an outstanding job as Secretary of Health and Human Services -- Kathleen Sebelius is in the house.  (Applause.)

Hundreds of Republicans turned out on a crisp, clear Saturday in the state's largest city to cast votes in a presidential contest that could influence the drawn-out race, likely giving Rick Santorum bragging rights as he competes to win Tuesday in Alabama and Mississippi. In a possible preview of the results from the Sedgwick County caucus, Gov. Sam Brownback asked the crowd which candidate they supported. Santorum won the loudest cheers. "Kansas matters this year in the presidential race," he said, describing the caucus as "the largest Republican gathering in the state this year and maybe ever in Sedgwick County.

A day after losing all but one Super Tuesday contest, Newt Gingrich retreated Wednesday to the Deep South, abandoning plans to campaign in Kansas in a gamble that victories next week in Alabama and Mississippi can salvage his quest for the Republican presidential nomination. “We clearly have limited resources, and we decided that it would make sense to focus those limited resources on Mississippi and Alabama,” the former House speaker told reporters here after a rally in a hotel atrium.

USC next vs. No. 12 Kansas, Thursday at the Galen Center, 8 p.m. TV: FSN. — USC has played Kansas three times since 2007, losing each time. The Jayhawks are led in scoring (17.8 points per game) and rebounding (11.4) by junior forward Thomas Robinson.

If ever in Abilene, Kan., home of the amazing Eisenhower Museum and Library, you must stay at this B&B. Jay and Adrian Potter are the most gracious of hosts in this prairie setting. Praline French toast, anyone? Abilene's Victorian Inn, 820 N.W. 3rd St, Abilene; (888) 807-7774, http://www.abilenesvictorianinn.com Rooms from $74. Andrea Shapiro, Beverly Hills

Luke Hochevar, who spurned the Dodgers twice after being drafted by them in 2002 and 2005, allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings Saturday to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-3 win over the Angels. Hochevar, who signed with the Royals after being selected with the first pick of the 2006 draft, struck out four and walked two and completely outpitched his counterpart, Angels right-hander Dan Haren. Haren seemed out of sync from the start, giving up consecutive one-out singles to Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur for two runs in the first inning and a leadoff double in the second to Humberto Quintero, who eventually scored on Cain's sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

His two errors in his third-base debut Friday night were tough enough for Mark Trumbo to absorb, but a bigger concern for the Angels and the converted first baseman could be the mental scars left by the rocky performance. "I'd be lying if I said otherwise," Trumbo said Saturday when asked if his confidence was shaken a bit. "It's not that I don't have confidence in myself, but I know how hard the pitchers work to get outs, and any time you don't pick them up, I feel as bad as anybody.

When: 1 p.m. PDT. Where: Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kan. On the air: TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes; Radio: 1150, 1330. Records: Galaxy 1-2, Sporting Kansas City 4-0. Record vs. Sporting Kansas City (2011): 1-0-1. Update: This will be a tough test for the defending MLS champions, who have been listless through their 1-2 start and are now without playmaking midfielder David Beckham, who did not make the trip and is reportedly dealing with back spasms.

NEW ORLEANS -- No one hit a jumper to send the game to overtime, or called a timeout his team didn't have, or put a missed airball in the basket to win the national title. Sometimes the experts are right and serendipity gets dunked. Kentucky won its eighth NCAA basketball championship Monday night with a 67-59 victory over Kansas before a crowd of 70,913 at the Superdome. Photos: Kansas vs. Kentucky There are outcomes that leave you chewing your nails.

The Kentucky Wildcats withstood a late second-half rally by the Kansas Jayhawks to capture the program's eight NCAA championship with a 67-59 victory on Monday night at the Superdome in New Orleans. Kansas, which trailed by double digits for much of the game, had a chance to cut the lead to three points when guard Elijah Johnson elevated for a three-pointer. But a Kentucky defender forced him to pull the shot down, causing him to travel with 23.5 seconds left and Kentucky leading, 65-59.

Kansas starters Pos., Player, Ht., Wt., Stats G Elijah Johnson, 6-4, 195, 10.1 ppg G Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, 185, 16.5 ppg C Jeff Withey, 7-0, 235, 6.3 rpg G Travis Releford, 6-6, 210, 8.6 ppg F Thomas Robinson, 6-10, 237, 17.7 ppg Kansas reserves G Conner Teahan, 6-6, 212, 5.6 ppg F Kevin Young, 6-8, 195, 3.5 ppg Kentucky starters Pos., Player, Ht., Wt., Stats ...

So Dennis McDougal found Kansas a bit boring, eh ("Toto, I Don't Think We're in Hollywood Anymore," Oct. 4)? I understand. Who wants to hear talk shows on cattle or marijuana control when back in 'quake-land he can listen to important topics explored, like restaurants and diets. McDougal did seem put off that the creators of the film "Kansas," none of whom had ever set foot in the place, would load their movie with outdated images of overalls and banks with cages. Yet he thought nothing of liberally quoting anyone he could find who spoke chicken-fried English.

TEMPE, Ariz. - After the final out in their final Cactus League game Sunday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium, an 8-1 exhibition loss to the Chicago Cubs, Angels players deserted the clubhouse, packed bags in tow. They're off to the Southland for a three-game Freeway Series with the Dodgers that begins Monday and for opening day Friday at home against Kansas City. Ace Jered Weaver probably will start against the Royals. Against the Cubs, in his final tuneup, Weaver gave up eight hits and three runs in six innings, with all the runs coming in his final inning.

Thanks for nothing. Again. For the third time in as many home games this season, Chivas USA failed to score. And for the third time they lost, this time to Sporting Kansas City, 1-0, Sunday at the Home Depot Center. "Obviously, it's pretty frustrating not to be able to score," said rookie forward Casey Townsend, who has scored Chivas' only goal this season, at Salt Lake City. "Our defense keeps us in games. It's our job as offensive players to score. " And clearly that's a job that's not getting done.