Trail Blazers beat Grizzlies in play-in, earn first-round series with the Lakers How athletes protesting the national anthem has evolved over 17 years Trail Blazers, Grizzlies advance to NBA play-in game; Suns, Spurs see playoff dreams dashed After Siakam blocked a layup attempt by LeBron James, rookie Terence Davis II of Ole Miss swished a 3-pointer that put the Raptors up 12 with 3:50 left.Davis was undrafted. Siakam went 27th in the first round. Powell was a second-round pick. Last year the Raptors were the first NBA champs who didn’t have a lottery pick on their roster.This year they picked up Stanley Johnson, of Mater Dei and Arizona, who went eighth in his draft class. He played three minutes on Sunday, bringing his season total to 14.“It’s been fun,” Siakam said. “Anytime you get to shoot more, it’s good, and we still have that chemistry. Guys might have left, but most of these guys have been around for years, and we know each other and we’ve practiced together.”In this game, they flat outworked the Lakers, but there was strategy, too. Coach Nick Nurse ordered double-teams on Anthony Davis early. Whether that’s the reason Davis devolved into a long shooter in this game isn’t clear, but the offense dehydrated in a second half in which the Lakers shot 32 percent.Green didn’t get early looks and went 0-for-5. LeBron James probably deferred too much and had five field goals.“They’re the fastest team in the league,” coach Frank Vogel said of Toronto, “and when you don’t execute offensively, they take advantage of it.”Related Articles AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREUCLA alum Kenny Clark signs four-year contract extension with PackersWhether the 2019 world champions have become a perennial, dropping blooms in the spring and then regenerating in the fall, will be decided as we go.But the Raptors again are a nightmare sight for the NBA personnel directors who somehow didn’t draft them, and they showed the Lakers, even some Lakers who should have known better, that portfolios don’t win every game.“We wanted to attack them,” said Norman Powell, who spent four years at UCLA and is now a five-year man in Toronto, waiting and working. “We wanted to make sure they knew this was going to be a hard night for them. There are a lot of guys in the league that are like the guys you saw tonight, just waiting for an opportunity. I’ve been in that spot. You’ve got some of the best players in America sitting behind some of the other best players in America.”Siakam played through a tough shooting night and had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and his two run-outs off missed shots blunted the Lakers’ comeback at the end. VanVleet, the undrafted and nerveless guard, was brilliant with 23 points and 10 assists.Boucher is a 6-foot-10 sliver from Montreal who played on Oregon’s Final Four team and was the G-League Player of the Year in 2019. He scored 18 with three blocks, and the Lakers’ famed rim-protectors could not control him. Lakers, Clippers schedules set for first round of NBA playoffs 
The Clippers took Leonard’s strength and skill away from Toronto, but the seeds he planted are still there. His relentlessness and stoicism helped the Raptors cast aside years of playoff derailment.“I think we all learned a lot from him,” Siakam said. “He never seems to get rattled. I’ve added that to my game, too. When I miss a couple of shots, Freddie will get in my ear and tell me to keep shooting them, and I play with more confidence. I’m trying to be more of a leader, too. We still have some leaders, and I’m trying to be more vocal.”On Monday night the Raptors play Leonard and the Clippers, with the added subplot of Paul George’s possible L.A. debut.“We don’t get no break,” Siakam said, smiling as he moved toward the door, wearing the team colors of a pick-me-up bouquet. Lakers practice early hoping to answer all questions PreviousLos Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) dunks over Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, right, drives past Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsToronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet (23) scores against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) works for a rebound next to Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, left, scores against the Lakers during the second half of an NBA game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis shoots over Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel talks to Anthony Davis during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) scores against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, left, blocks a shot from Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, rear, is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, center, drives past Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors’ OG Anunoby (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The Lakers’ LeBron James dribbles between Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, left, and Marc Gasol during the first half of an NBA game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) dunks over Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)NextShow Caption1 of 14Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)ExpandLOS ANGELES — Pascal Siakam was wearing a printed, flowery shirt that evoked images of the Panama City rainforest.“Nice shirt, P,” called out Fred VanVleet, his Toronto Raptors’ teammate. “No, don’t button it. Not when you got that 130.”As in $130 million, which was Siakam’s recent four-year contract extension.His team is 7-2, without Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. His team broke the Lakers’ seven-game win streak Sunday night, 113-104, without Leonard, Green and the injured Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. Instead, mystery guests like Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came to the fore and thrashed the Lakers by 18 points in the second half. That made the Lakers 7-2, too. Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error
K-State Research and Extension-Sumner County is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time office professional. Â Applicants need computer skills and financial bookkeeping skills. Â Applications are available at 320 N. Jefferson, Wellington and will be accepted until the position is filled. Â K-State Research and Extension-Sumner County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.The following link is the Sumner County Extension website where you will find the Office Professional Job Description followed by the Application for Employment: Â Â www.sumner.ksu.edu.
Rebuilding Camp St Prison…despite 20 companies being prequalified in 2017 for reconstruction…Govt sole source overseas firmSince coming to office in 2015, the coalition Government has been engulfed in several controversies where it sole sourced goods and services. However, this trend seems to be heading into 2018; with more matters of this nature to follow.Speaking during the 83rd sitting of the eleventh Parliament, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan indicated that a company had been sole sourced out of the United States to reconstruct a prison at the ruined Camp Street Prison. Only the concrete block stands, following a devastating fire set by escaping inmates in July 2017.His comments were in response to a motion originally spearheaded by Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill. It was subsequently introduced by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, as Edghill’s suspension continues from the House.In his response to the National Assembly, Ramjattan stated that local companies were unwilling to get involved in “this type” of tendering. The Minister suggested that the reason for this was because they were ignorant of the process.“We had to ensure, because of a certain person in NPTAB (National Procurement and Tender Administration Board) saying there must be some experienced contractors that know a thing or two about prisons. And if we have to single source, we have to single source.”“And we went and single sourced a firm out of America, (which) has built over 300 prisons and has built the Guantanamo prison steel cell. And so they got the contract and they will come down. The important point here is to know we arePublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattandoing something. Steel cells came out of money we allocated last year,” Ramjattan declared.UntruthsBut Ramjattan’s words that persons are unwilling to bid for a project of this nature are not supported by what actually occurred. Last year, Government cancelled a tender for the multimillion-dollar reconstruction of the Administrative Blocks for the Georgetown prison. The project was at the time being undertaken by the Public Infrastructure Ministry.At the time, a total of 20 companies had been shortlisted from a prequalification process and were invited by the then acting Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn, to conduct a site visit on July 27, 2017. They were to respond by the following day on whether or not they would be submitting a bid for the project.However, the visit was rescheduled the following day by the Ministry’s Work Services Group Manager for Procurement and Contracts, Philip Bryan. The procurement manager, by way of email, indicated that the site visit for the project was rescheduled for the following day, July 27, 2017.On July 28, 2017, Vaughn wrote again to the bidders saying, “The Ministry regrets to inform you that a decision was taken by the executing agency to annul this bid.” Vaughn, in giving reason, pointed to a clause which speaks to the “Employer’s right to accept any bid and to reject any or all bids.”The Ministry subsequently clarified that the process was annulled because the Public Infrastructure Ministry was not the subject Ministry. According to the Ministry, it was just providing “technical support” for the Public Security Ministry.Disregarding procurement lawsThe Government has been under fire for some time for continuously disregarding procurement laws by not putting requests for goods and services to public tender, but instead sole sourcing. Its policy for procuring drugs has especially been under the microscope.The issue of the sole sourced drugs came to light when, in a letter dated February 28, 2017, the now ousted Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Chief Executive Officer Allan Johnson thanked the Public Health Ministry for authorising the procurement of medical supplies from Trinidad company ANSA McAL to the tune of $605,962,200.This was even though local firms could have supplied the same quantity and quality of drugs at lower prices. It was subsequently found by the Public Procurement Commission that procurement laws were not followed.In May of last year, the parliamentary Opposition had fielded questions in the National Assembly to Communities Ministry.When a response came from Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan it was revealed that nine out of 10 regions in Guyana did no public tendering for drugs and medical supplies between January 2016 and February 2017. In addition, all regions indicated that no prequalification process was followed. This was all done in the name of emergencies.When in the Opposition, the coalition Government had been heavily critical of the former Administration procuring process.