Politics: Magazine names Roberts funniest U.S. senator

Washington He’s a vote-getter in Kansas, but a laugh-getter on Capitol Hill.

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts has again been named the funniest senator by Washingtonian magazine. In the publication’s “Best and Worst of Congress,” Roberts was the hands-down winner; he won the same title last year and in 2000.

“That’s wrong House members are funny, and senators are humorous,” Roberts said in a telephone interview from Kansas.

He added: “My standard comment on that is, you take your job very seriously, but not yourself. A little levity goes a long way, especially in the Senate.”

Roberts frequently zings colleagues with acerbic one-liners. Years ago, when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich complained about being forced to exit the president’s plane through the rear door, Roberts dubbed him “the Rosa Parks of Air Force One.”

Music: Fiddlers and pickers to take stage in park

The Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships get under way at noon today near downtown Lawrence.

The competition will draw musicians who play a variety of instruments, including the fiddle, banjo, flat-pick guitar, mandolin and other acoustic instruments. Winners will be chosen in each category at the event scheduled to last until 5 p.m. at South Park, 11th and Massachusetts.

Other entertainment will include performances by the Midday Ramblers, Denney School of Irish Dance, and Scott Tichenor, Chris Biggs and Rick Desko; storytelling by Priscilla Howe; and silly hats by K.T. Walsh.

The Kaw Valley Shape Note Singing Assn. will perform from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

The annual championships are in their 22nd year.

Entertainment: KU Med fund-raiser to feature actor’s band

Actor Kevin Bacon’s band will headline the entertainment at KU Med’s first fund-raiser for its Cancer Center.

The Bacon Brothers, also featuring Bacon’s sibling, Michael Bacon, will perform on Sept. 14 at “Treads & Threads,” a black-tie event at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

There also will be pace car rides around the track and access to the Fan Walk and Victory Lane.

An online pre-event auction at www.treadsandthreads.org will include major travel experiences to four speedways.

Individual contribution levels begin at $125, with a range of corporate sponsorship levels. For tickets, call (913) 588-1227, or order online at www.treadsandthreads.org