The Rock Chalkboard

Seven baseball Jayhawks named to All-Big 12 teams
Senior closer Stephen Villines was the lone Jayhawk tabbed with first-team recognition, as he ranked tied for first in the league with 14 saves and third in appearances (30), while striking out 53 batters on the year. He broke the KU all-time saves record, is the NCAA active saves leader, and is one save away from tying the league's record for all-time career saves set by Huston Street (41) from 2002-04.

Lance Leipold's pitch to current KU players: 'Keep an open mind'
As Lance Leipold attempts to build his Kansas football staff, he'll also look to keep the roster together going into his first season as coach. While the Jayhawks went only 3-18 under previous coach Les Miles, Miles did bring in upward of 45 signed high school prospects, which could set the foundation for Leipold's time in Lawrence.

Five-star point guard TyTy Washington sets commitment date
"I just felt like those six, each of the schools situation fits me best," Washington said Sunday during a recent Instagram Live with ESPN's Paul Biancardi. "The style of play, location, opportunity to come in and play right away, the relationship I have with the coaches. Not just the assistants but the head coaches."

2022 CB Korbyn Green talks Kansas spring game visit, bond with Chevis Jackson
"They looked real good," Green said. "It was definitely cool to see because in the Big 12 defense is really a high commodity. There are so many high-powered offenses out there, so to see that KU was doing that well with their defense is definitely something I like to see. Especially their D-line — and y'all know one of the corners, Jacobee Bryant, got a pick-six, so that was always fun to see."

Bits o Chalk

MRI reveals no ligament damage to knee of Sacramento Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton
Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton has no ligament damage to his left knee, an MRI revealed, but likely will miss the rest of the season.

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors cool off after lights fail at Smoothie King Center, as New Orleans Pelicans rally for win
"I hadn't seen that one before," Curry said of the lights delay. "They tried to get me saying I shot it before the lights went out. But it's a weird situation, because we were flowing a little bit, and I guess kinda after that it was kind of a rough offensive situation but -- a tough game all the way around."

Lonzo Ball lives up to words with rebound performance in New Orleans Pelicans' win
Williamson said Ball told him: "I'll be there tomorrow."

Sources -- Nate Bjorkgren's future with Indiana Pacers uncertain due to issues with players, staff
Amid a year of difficulties with players and staff, Indiana Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren's future with the franchise is uncertain as the regular season nears an end, sources told ESPN.

Eraser Dust

Vaccines Bring Rich Nations Back to Life as Covid Ravages Poorer Countries - The New York Times
That split screen — clubs and restaurants reopening in the United States and Europe while people gasp for oxygen in India — was never supposed to be so stark. Some 192 countries signed up last year for Covax, a vaccine-sharing partnership, and the Gates Foundation poured $300 million into an Indian factory to make doses for the world’s poor. The European Union’s top executive told a global summit last June: “Vaccination is a universal human right.”

Births fall to 42-year low in U.S., new CDC data shows - CBS News
The number of births in the U.S. fell 4% in 2020, dropping to the lowest level since 1979 and continuing a multi-year trend of declining birth rates. That's according to a report published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

Starbucks Responds After Barista's Viral Tweet About Complicated Order | PEOPLE.com
"On today's episode of why I wanna quit my job," Twitter user @ProjectJosiee captioned a photo of an iced coffee drink with a comically long list of special requests, including but not limited to caramel drizzle, caramel sauce, caramel crunch, honey blend, extra whipped cream, extra ice, extra Frapp chips, and cinnamon topping. He also posted video from his TikTok account @ProjectJosie about getting "verbally harassed by Karens" over their coffee orders.

Californian accused of indecent exposure, assault at local hotel | Daily Inter Lake
According to the charging document, a hotel employee called 911 to report a man, later identified as Morton, running around the pool area naked and assaulting guests.

Montana ends unemployment pay boost amid worker shortage | Daily Inter Lake
The Labor Department has not seen evidence that enhanced unemployment benefits are keeping people out of the labor force, Trupo said.

'Simpsons' producer Al Jean on new 'Star Wars'-inspired short and the 'Mandalorian' cameo you didn't see - CNN
"The Simpsons" executive producer Al Jean and the show's team could have used a little of The Force's power when producing the new Disney+ short -- "Maggie Simpson in 'The Force Awakens From Its Nap'" -- in a mere four months.