AP Top Kansas News at 5:45 a.m. CDT

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Anthony's 50 points lead Nuggets past Knicks

DENVER (AP) -- The last two points were the hardest for Carmelo Anthony.

With the game in the balance, the crowd chanting "MVP! MVP!" and Anthony's sights set on an offensive milestone, the Nuggets forward sank a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining to finish off a career-high, 50-point performance and help Denver beat the New York Knicks 128-125 Friday night.

"They might have been the two toughest free throws I've shot in a while," Anthony said. "We've got the game on the line, 50, you're right there and you want to get it. If I didn't say I wanted to get it, I'd be lying to you. I'm right there. But most importantly they were two big free throws."

He wasn't kidding. Every point the Nuggets scored -- Denver also got 32 from Chauncey Billups and 17 from J.R. Smith -- was crucial to holding off a Knicks team that got 41 points from Al Harrington, one shy of his career high.

"Usually, you would hope when you have a night like this, that you'd definitely win one," Harrington said. "We're just upset we couldn't come out on top."

The problem was Anthony's night was just a little better.

------ Letter prompts probe of Kan. juvenile facility

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas officials are investigating a Topeka juvenile detention facility after receiving an anonymous letter claiming boys are housed in "inhumane and immoral" conditions in a segregation unit.

Someone purporting to be a social worker at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex sent the letter earlier this month to numerous governmental agencies.

The letter claims the complex has inadequate sleeping provisions and insufficient hygiene materials, lacks medical treatment and places juveniles in isolation for long periods of time. It includes the names of five juveniles it says are being held in poor conditions.

Corrections spokesman Bill Miskell said complaints against detention centers are common, and the letter's claims are being examined.

"Not all investigations are made public, but we investigate any allegation of wrongdoing that we receive," Miskell said. "When we receive info that gives us cause for concern that requires attention of an outside agency -- the attorney general, for example -- we bring them into the process.

Miskell said he didn't know when the probe would be complete and he wasn't sure whether any of the conclusions would be made public.

------ Money raised for Kan. law enforcement memorial

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Organizers of a law enforcement memorial in Wichita say they've raised enough money to pay for the project.

Wichita Police Capt. Randy Landen, who is coordinating the memorial campaign, says a fresh set of pledges has helped reach the fundraising goal of $600,000.

The memorial will honor the 29 police and sheriff's deputies killed in the line of duty in Sedgwick County. Construction already has started and the memorial is expected to be dedicated next spring.

Besides paying for the memorial, some money will be set aside cover maintenance and add names over time. Organizers have already had to plan for one addition after deputy Brian Etheridge was fatally shot Sept. 28.

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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, http://www.kansas.com

------ Kansas zoo serves feast fit for elephants

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- The Sedgwick County Zoo didn't forget about its elephants on Thanksgiving.

Several families turned out Thursday as African elephants Cinda and Stephanie were treated to a special feast.

Zookeeper Norma Gheen says she has prepared a Thanksgiving meal for the elephants for about six years.

The main course, turkey, is a paper bag with sweet potato slices as feathers.

Gheen says that because cardboard and paper are made from trees, eating them is much like eating tree branches, a regular part of an elephant diet.

The elephants weren't the only zoo animals to get a Thanksgiving treat. The gorillas got to tear up paper turkeys.

------ KU donations in question as donors lose money

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- University of Kansas officials hope big donors will continue to give large sums and honor their pledges to university, although many have lost significant money in the economic downturn.

Dana Anderson, a university graduate and financial supporter, saw his net worth decline during the recession. Anderson is vice chairman for The Macerich Co., which owns 72 malls in 23 states. He has watched his stock holdings drop from more than $100 a share to less than $6 a share.

"These are certainly challenging times," Anderson said. "I made pledges toward athletics and the marching band and the libraries when my net worth was significantly different. And my income was significantly different. I think, hopefully, we will come back. Hopefully. These are tough times right now."

Anderson's donations paid for a large chunk of the construction of new facilities at Kansas. He pledged $12 million toward construction of the $33 million football complex next to Memorial Stadium, which includes practice fields, offices and a training center.

Jim Marchiony, an associate athletics director, declined to tell the Lawrence Journal-World the status of particular pledges but said financial support remained commendable.

"We have a very, very, very good rate," he said. "Fortunately, our donors, alums and supporters are very good about fulfilling their pledges. Our people have been terrific."

------ Hotel boosts revenue projections for Kan. casino

MULVANE, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas gambling consultants have predicted that the addition of a hotel will boost revenue at a Sumner County casino.

Last month, Chisholm Creek Casino Resort announced it would add the hotel with at least 100 rooms to its first phase. The casino is expected to open in September 2011 and the hotel six months later.

Because of the hotel, Cummings Associates has raised its gambling revenue forecast for 2013, the first full year of casino operations. It's now expected to generate $166.5 million, $3.5 million more than its original forecast.

Meanwhile, Wells Gaming Research increased its 2013 forecast to $153.9 million, an increase of $9.3 million.

But the consultants also say the Chisholm Creek Casino Resort stands to lose revenue if a proposed Indian casino in Park City or slots at Wichita Greyhound Park begin operation. Neither project has a certain future.

Cummings said slots at the greyhound park would draw "very substantial amounts of revenue ($100 million)," and reduce the Chisholm Creek gambling revenue by 23 percent, to $127.8 million, Cummings said.