1. On January 2, 1860, the first issue of the Leavenworth Daily Times was published. The paper was one of the oldest and most influential papers in the state until it merged with other publications in 1916.

2. On January 2, 1861, Kansas was admitted as the 34th state in the United States. This followed a tumultuous period in the state's history known as "Bleeding Kansas," during which pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces engaged in violent conflicts.

3. On January 2, 1902, a train derailment in Stafford, Kansas killed 16 people and injured many more. The accident was caused by a broken rail. It remains one of the deadliest train accidents in Kansas history.

4. On January 2, 1941, Fort Riley in northeast Kansas was designated as the home of the 1st Cavalry Division, which would go on to become one of the most storied divisions in US military history.

5. On January 2, 1971, the Kansas City Chiefs played in the longest game in NFL history, a divisional playoff game against the Miami Dolphins that lasted over 82 minutes of game time. The game is known as the "Longest Game Ever Played" and is considered one of the most memorable in NFL history.