The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

(AP) --  The University of Nebraska at Kearney wants
to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association,
starting in the 2012-13 school year.

 In a news release, UNK officials say they'll ask the University
of Nebraska Board of Regents to support UNK's application. The UNK
request is on the regents' Aug. 17 agenda.

 UNK's application requires a vote of the MIAA's CEO Council.
 UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen says joining the MIAA would
reduce "travel burdens."

 The Kearney school has been a member of the Rocky Mountain
Athletic Conference since 1994. Its 14 schools ranging
geographically from Nebraska to western Colorado to southern New
Mexico.

 The MIAA's members are in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska and
include the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)