Rock Chalk Ball tickets remain available

Tickets are still available for the ninth annual Rock Chalk Ball sponsored by the Kansas University Alumni Association.

The event, this year with the theme “Come Together,” begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., with cocktails and a silent reception. It will be followed by a dinner, live auction and dance featuring Beatles cover band Liverpool.

Tickets for the black-tie event, which range from $100 to $175 each, are available through Wednesday by calling (800) 584-2957 or visiting www.kualumni.org.

Proceeds from the ball help support KU scholarship programs.

Sheriff’s office seeks court-skipping suspect

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to help put the cuffs on a Douglas County man wanted for skipping court.

Darren M. Warner, 41, is wanted for failing to appear in court on a cocaine possession charge. He’s also wanted for failing to appear in Johnson County court, officials said.

Sheriff’s officials on Monday asked anyone with information about the case to call the Crime Stoppers hot line, 843-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Stranger disrupts downtown newscast

Strange things can happen in the middle of a snowstorm at night on Massachusetts Street.

During a live broadcast late Sunday from Lawrence, a man walked up to KCTV5 reporter Rob Lyles and attempted to push him.

The incident occurred about 11 p.m. during a late weather newscast while Lyles and a photographer were standing at 11th and Massachusetts streets, news director Regent Ducas said.

The photographer adjusted his focus to try to minimize the intrusion and Lyles pushed the suspect away. Then, just as suddenly as he arrived, the suspect got on his bike and rode away, Ducas said.

“There was nobody around — the street was vacant — until he came up,” Ducas said. “I thought they (the news team) handled it well.”

Lyles wasn’t hurt and the station decided it wasn’t necessary to file a police report, Ducas said.