Month: October 2016

Sunny start to the week could be followed by storms on Tuesday night

Monday’s weather will be sunny with a high of 66, and on Tuesday night, thunderstorms could move into the area, according to the National Weather Service.

It will be increasingly cloudy tonight, with a low of 52, the weather service said.

During the day Tuesday, the high will be 74, with a south southeast wind of 7 to 13 mph, gusting to 23 mph, according to the weather service.

Tuesday night, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m., the weather service said. The low will be 60, and a south wind of 9 to 11 mph may gust as high as 22 mph. Between a tenth and a quarter-inch of rain is possible.

The possibility of severe storms remains low in the Kansas City area.

On Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 73. A south southwest win of 9 mph will become west northwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 50, according to the weather service.

Thursday’s forecast is sunny with a high near 70, the weather service said. Thursday night, expect a low of 57, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 78, the weather service said. Friday night, the forecast is partly cloudy with a low of 55, the weather service said.

Thunderstorm outlook for Tuesday night. It's not likely that the Kansas City area will have severe storms, although rain and general thunderstorms are in the forecast. (National Weather Service graphic)
Thunderstorm outlook for Tuesday night. It’s not likely that the Kansas City area will have severe storms, although rain and general thunderstorms are in the forecast. (National Weather Service graphic)

Sporting KC beats San Jose 2-0, to go to MLS Cup playoffs

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Sporting Kansas City punched its ticket to the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday afternoon at sold-out Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Benny Feilhaber buried a first-half penalty kick before Graham Zusi iced the result with a superb late strike, ensuring Sporting Kansas City a club-record sixth straight playoff appearance on the final day of the 2016 regular season.

No. 5 seed Sporting Kansas City (13-13-8, 47 points) will now travel to face No. 4 seed Seattle Sounders FC (14-14-6, 48 points) in Thursday’s Western Conference Knockout Round at Century Link Field – the same site where Sporting KC began its 2016 campaign in March. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. on FS1 and UniMas as Sporting Kansas City looks to reach the conference semifinals for the first time since 2013.

Tickets for Sporting Kansas City’s potential home playoff game in the Western Conference semifinals next Sunday, Oct. 30, will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Monday morning via Ticketmaster.com .

Manager Peter Vermes – who is poised to tie an MLS record with his 13th MLS postseason trip as either a player or head coach – fielded an unchanged lineup from last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Real Salt Lake. Matt Besler hit a major milestone with his 200th regular season appearance for the club, while goalkeeper Tim Melia and midfielder Soni Mustivar both played their 50th regular season matches in Sporting KC colors. For the second straight game, captain Roger Espinoza featured in a wide attacking role alongside Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi.

Sunday’s match was one of 10 to kick off simultaneously on decision day as all 20 MLS clubs drew curtains on the regular season. Sporting Kansas City began the day in sixth place, but rose to fifth when Seattle defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1. RSL took the sixth and final playoff spot in the West, while the reigning MLS champion Portland Timbers crashed out with a 4-1 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

The hosts controlled proceedings for large periods of the match, yet it was San Jose who threatened to open the scoring after 10 minutes. A Sporting KC giveaway at midfield led to a breakaway for Chris Wondolowski, but Besler recovered phenomenally to block his U.S. international teammate’s effort at full extension.

The Earthquakes conjured another opportunity in the 24th minute, with Melia extending his glove to poke the ball off Wondolowski’s feet as the forward attempted to round the goalkeeper. Wondolowski kept possession and lofted a pass far-post to Tommy Thompson, whose cushioned header back across the face of goal was nodded clear by Ellis.

Children’s Mercy Park erupted in delight when Sporting Kansas City was awarded a penalty kick in the 27th minute on a handball from defender Cordell Cato. Feilhaber dispatched the ensuing spot kick to tally his seventh goal of the season and give his side a precious lead.

Knowing three points would effectively secure a playoff berth, Sporting Kansas City tightened up defensively while remaining dangerous in attack. Espinoza and Zusi both had clean looks inside the box on 66 minutes, but neither pulled the trigger and instead Ellis saw his low drive smothered by Bingham.

San Jose was already eliminated from playoff contention entering Sunday’s contest but lacked no ambition, creating its best second-half chance in the 79th minute when Wondolowski headed high on a cross from substitute Shea Salinas.

Feilhaber continued to pull the strings as Sporting Kansas City’s midfield conductor, threading the needle with a gorgeous through ball to Dwyer in the 82nd minute, but the Englishman was denied a shot by the sliding Cato.

Zusi sealed the victory in the 88th minute on a swift break downfield, collecting a diagonal pass from Feilhaber and firing high into the roof of the net from the right side of the box. The U.S. international midfielder tallied his second goal of the year on the play, while Feilhaber notched his team-best 13th MLS assist – and the 50th of his Sporting Kansas City career in all competitions.

Sporting Kansas City swept Sounders FC in the regular season series, earning a 1-0 win in Seattle on March 6 before cruising 3-0 on July 24. Thursday marks the first playoff meeting between the clubs.

– Story from Sporting KC

Elementary school lunch menus

Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools
Monday, Oct. 24
Pork ribette sandwich, seasoned green beans, baby carrots, diced pears, fruit salad, and milk. Alternate entrees: Uncrustable sandwich, fruit salad, yogurt muffin basket.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Chicken nuggets, roll, tater tots, cucumber slices, mandarin oranges, fruit salad, and milk. Alternate entrees: Southwestern chef salad, hummus plate, yogurt parfait.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Chicken and waffles, broccoli, grape tomatoes, orange wedges, fruit salad and milk. Alternate entrees: Garden chef salad, fruit salad and yogurt muffin basket.
Thursday, Oct. 27
No school for students.
Friday, Oct. 28
No school for students.

Turner Public School
Monday, Oct. 24
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; beef and noodles with Italian bread, garden salad, corn, applesauce, fruit; mandarin orange chicken salad, corn, applesauce and fruit.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Cheeseburger; barbecued rib on bun, tater tots, garden salad, mandarin oranges, fruit; Cobb salad, mandarin oranges, fruit, fruit streusel muffin.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Chicken patty; fish patty, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches, roll; strawberry chicken salad, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Chicken nachos with white queso; Mexican pizza, garden salad, Texas pintos, banana orange mix, fruit; taco salad, Texas pintos, banana orange mix, fruit and cornbread.
Friday, Oct. 28
Cheese pizza; corn dog, garden salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, pineapple; popcorn chicken salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, pineapple, fruit streusel muffin.

Piper Public Schools
Monday, Oct. 24
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; beef and noodles with Italian bread, garden salad, corn, applesauce, fruit; mandarin orange chicken salad, corn, applesauce, fruit and Italian bread.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Cheeseburger; barbecued rib on bun, tater tots, garden salad, mandarin oranges, fruit; Cobb salad, mandarin oranges, fruit, fruit streusel muffin.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Chicken patty; fish patty, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches, roll; strawberry chicken salad, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Chicken nachos with white queso; Mexican pizza, garden salad, Texas pintos, banana orange mix, fruit; taco salad, Texas pintos, banana orange mix, fruit and cornbread.
Friday, Oct. 28
Cheese pizza; corn dog, garden salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, pineapple; popcorn chicken salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, pineapple, fruit streusel muffin.

Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Public Schools
Monday, Oct. 24
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; beef and noodles with Italian bread, garden salad, corn, applesauce, fruit; mandarin orange chicken salad, corn, applesauce, fruit and Italian bread.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Cheeseburger; barbecued rib on bun, tater tots, garden salad, mandarin oranges, fruit; Cobb salad, mandarin oranges, fruit, fruit streusel muffin.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Chicken patty; roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches, roll; strawberry chicken salad, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Chicken nachos with white queso; Mexican pizza, garden salad, Texas pintos, banana orange mix, fruit; taco salad, Texas pintos, banana orange mix, fruit and cornbread.
Friday, Oct. 28
Cheese pizza; corn dog, garden salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, pineapple; popcorn chicken salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, pineapple, fruit streusel muffin.