Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals manager Ned Yost was laid up in a hospital bed in November after a fall from a tree stand left him with major injuries. But he was walking through a ballroom on Friday as the club gathered for its annual fan festival. He was excited not only to be getting better, but also for a future that figures to be built around a young wave of prospects.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Free agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain and the Brewers finalized an $80 million, five-year contract, one day after Milwaukee acquired center fielder Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins for four prospects. Cain is a former Brewers farmhand. The 31-year old spent the past seven seasons in Kansas City, where he was part of the core group that won the World Series in 2015. He hit .300 with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 26 steals last season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ten-time All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez was elected to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Hall of Fame. His name will be added to Arrowhead Stadium’s ring of honor next season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis has been charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, THC and drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop in suburban Kansas City on Thursday night.

UNDATED (AP) — Parity in the Southeastern Conference and Big 12 has raised the stakes of the Big 12/SEC Challenge as teams in both leagues try to upgrade NCAA Tournament credentials. Tennessee coach Rick Barnes says he’d be disappointed if the SEC doesn’t get eight or nine NCAA Tournament bids. Kansas coach Bill Self believes all 10 Big 12 members remain in NCAA contention.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say some student spectators at a predominantly white school in northwest Iowa greeted a visiting rival boys’ basketball team with racist chants. The chants and slogans at the Jan. 19 game at Spencer High School included some fans yelling that the Storm Lake players should “go back to where you came from.” Other students chanted, “USA.” Spencer Superintendent Terry Hemann says administrators have disciplined the Spencer students involved.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Scoring legend Jackie Stiles is returning to the bench as an assistant for Missouri State while awaiting cancer surgery. The Springfield News-Leader reports that Stiles will be back on the sidelines Friday after a nearly three-week absence. She is undergoing treatment for ocular melanoma and will undergo surgery Feb. 2. Stiles says her prognosis remains good.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri has fired longtime softball coach Ehren Earleywine. Athletic director Jim Sterk says the university has lost confidence in Earleywine’s ability to foster a “healthy environment” for players. The firing comes less than two weeks before the season-opener against San Jose State. The university says an interim coach is expected to be appointed next week.