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Better read the fine print of your health insurance policy. An unlucky woman in Minnesota learned her policy was woefully skimpy only after she fell while walking her dogs, and faced a $19,000 bill.

Here are the headlines for our area, as compiled by KPR news staffers. Weekday headlines are generally posted by 10 a.m. If you appreciate our news summary, please make a pledge to KPR. Help us continue to serve by becoming a sustaining member.

Kansas Senate Passes Bill Voiding Local Gun RegulationsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has approved legislation that would strip cities and counties of their power to regulate firearms and nullify existing local gun ordinances. The 34-2 vote Wednesday sends the measure to the House. A House committee has endorsed a similar bill, but the chamber hasn't taken it up. Supporters are hoping a version will clear the Legislature this week and go to Governor Sam Brownback. The Senate bill would ensure that the open carrying of firearms is legal across the state, but local officials could still prevent it inside public buildings. Supporters say a patchwork of local regulations confuses gun owners and infringes upon gun-ownership rights guaranteed by the state and U.S. constitutions. Opponents contend cities and counties know best whether gun restrictions are appropriate for their communities.===============Kansas House Panel Approves School Funding PlanTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has approved an education funding plan that would boost the state's total annual aid to public schools by $78 million. The Appropriations Committee voted 12-11 late Tuesday to send the measure to the full House for debate later this week. The measure is designed to satisfy a Kansas Supreme Court decision last month directing lawmakers to increasing aid to poor school districts. The plan would provide an additional $141 million to poor districts. But it would offset the cost by trimming $63 million from other forms of aid to all school districts. It would reduce the state's funding for school transportation programs, teacher pensions and programs helping students at risk of failing. School districts also could levy additional local property taxes to supplement their state funds.===============Tax Credit Clouds Future of Kansas Senate School BillTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Critics of an amendment to give a property tax credit to parents of students attending private schools in Kansas are questioning its legality and financial impact. Supporters of the plan say it's all about fairness. Senator Dennis Pyle, a Hiawatha Republican, says Wednesday that the idea is to help defray the costs for parents who choose to send their children to nonpublic schools. Parents would get a credit equal to the cost of tuition, fees or other expenses deducted from their school property taxes every year. The language was inserted Tuesday by the Senate Ways and Means Committee in its $129 million school funding package. The provision was one of several amendments to a bill aimed at satisfying a March 7 Kansas Supreme Court opinion regarding school spending.===============Bill for Luring Casino to Southeast Kansas Passes LegislatureTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill aimed at bringing a state-owned casino to southeast Kansas has cleared the state Legislature and is going to Governor Sam Brownback. The House approved the proposal Wednesday on an 84-36 vote. The Senate approved it last week. The bill lowers the investment required for a southeast Kansas casino from $225 million to $50 million. The state also would drop the fee it charges to a prospective developer to $5.5 million from $25 million. A casino in southeast Kansas was authorized by a 2007 law, but area officials say the required investment and the fee are too high to attract interest from developers. The Kansas Lottery owns the rights to the gambling but would have a private developer build and operate the casino.===============KDOT Reports 2014 Costliest Winter Since 2008TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Transportation says the winter season of 2014 was its most expensive in several years. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the department spent an estimated $22 million to keep state highways open for travel during the rough winter weather. That's the most the department's had to spend since the winter of 2008, when it spent $23.7 million. The department says this year's numbers won't be finalized until the end of the fiscal year. KDOT says the lowest amount the department has spent in the last seven years was $6.8 million in 2012.===============Immigration Sweep Nets 19 Arrests in KansasLIBERAL, Kan. (AP) — Immigration officials say 19 people were arrested in an operation in Liberal in the southwest Kansas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a news release Wednesday that the operation was part of its commitment to prioritize the removal of immigrants with criminal histories and serious violators of immigration laws. The three-day sweep concluded last Thursday. ICE says the arrests included 18 immigrants with prior convictions for drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, aggravated assault, burglary, domestic assault, driving under the influence and illegal re-entry after deportation. The group included five who were also fugitives with outstanding orders of deportation. Four of them had been previously deported. Two women and 17 men were arrested. Eleven had come to the United States from Mexico, seven from Guatemala and one from Honduras.=============== Kansas Senate Approves Bill Addressing Legal Issues Arising From Abortion LawsuitsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has approved abortion legislation addressing legal issues raised in state and federal lawsuits filed by abortion providers. The 33-7 vote Wednesday sends the measure to the House. Supporters hope the measure can clear the Legislature this week and go to Governor Sam Brownback. Abortion opponents have said the bill makes minor changes in existing laws rather than setting new policy. Planned Parenthood officially is neutral on it. The bill revises a requirement that the home pages of abortion providers' websites link to a state health department site with information about pregnancy and fetal development. Providers would no longer have to say that the state's information is accurate and objective. The measure also revises language in Kansas laws on medical emergencies in which abortion restrictions are waived.===============KS Secretary of State Wants Stronger Prairie Chicken BillTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Secretary of State Kris Kobach says a Kansas House committee has taken the teeth out of legislation to protest the federal government's listing of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species. Kobach on Wednesday described the bill as being "gutted." The measure still declares that the federal government has no authority to regulate prairie chickens or their habitats in Kansas. But the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee removed a provision making it a felony for a federal employee to attempt to enforce federal laws, regulations or treaties dealing with the bird. Kobach had a staffer with his re-election campaign tweet to his supporters to contact lawmakers. State officials worry that the listing will allow the federal government to force landowners to adopt costly conservation practices.===============KS Joins Oklahoma in Lawsuit on Wildlife RegulationTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has joined Oklahoma in a lawsuit challenging the process used by the federal government to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office announced Wednesday that Kansas on Tuesday became part of a case filed earlier this month in federal court in Oklahoma. Oklahoma filed the lawsuit before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened. It argues the service is not following the process spelled out by federal law. Kansas officials contend that the listing isn't necessary because the five states with lesser prairie chicken habitats have developed a conservation plan. They are Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. The federal agency says the lesser prairie chicken's population has declined dramatically since 2012.=============== Driver Who Hit Toll Plaza Might Have Been AsleepLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The company that hired a Colorado man who died when he hit a toll plaza on the Kansas Turnpike says it appears the man was asleep at the wheel. However, The Kansas Highway Patrol says the cause of the accident is still under investigation. Thirty-year-old Sergiy Angelchev of Aurora, Colorado died Saturday when his tractor-trailer hit the toll booth on westbound Interstate 70 in Leavenworth County. A passenger in the truck is hospitalized in critical condition. The toll plaza was not staffed at the time of the accident. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Angelchev's manager for Eastern Freight Solutions says photos taken just before the crash appear to show him sleeping. He had driven about 955 miles in two days when the accident occurred.=============== Food Supplier Recalling 8,700 Pounds of ChickenENID, Okla. (AP) — A food supplier with operations in Oklahoma is recalling more than 8,700 pounds of frozen chicken products because of misbranding and undeclared allergens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the products from AdvancePierre Foods were formulated with milk and soy, which are not declared on the label. The recall affects 10-pound bulk cases of Our Down Home Style Chicken Breast Fritters for Chicken Frying. The USDA says the products were distributed to food-service establishments in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The USDA says it's received no reports of illnesses. Advance Food Company was founded in Enid, Oklahoma in 1973. In 2010, the company merged with Pierre Foods to create AdvancePierre Foods, which has headquarters in Ohio.===============State Assessment Tests Hit by Cyber AttacksTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas schools already struggling to administer math and reading assessment tests are now dealing with another problem. State education officials say unknown people launched cyber-attacks against the tests last week. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the attackers slowed down or disabled networks used to administer the tests by overwhelming them with traffic, rather than hacking into them. The attacks started Thursday and briefly stopped on Sunday. Testing ran smoothly on Monday but the cyber-attacks resumed on Tuesday. Officials from the Kansas State Department of Education and the University of Kansas testing center said Tuesday no student data was compromised. The tests have already been plagued by technology problems this year, prompting several districts to delay or cancel administering them.===============Feds Outline Abortion Threat Appeal Before CourtWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to set oral arguments in the case of a Kansas abortion opponent who sent a letter to a Wichita doctor saying someone might place an explosive under her car. The government set out the grounds of its appeal Wednesday in filings to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. At issue is whether U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten was wrong in concluding Angel Dillard's letter was not a "true threat." Marten summarily ruled last year that Dillard's letter to a Wichita doctor who planned to offer abortion services was constitutionally protected speech. Dillard claims in a cross-appeal that the government violated her speech and religious rights when it sued her for sending the letter to Dr. Mila Means in 2011.===============Sheriff Says Efforts to Stop Sexual Assaults at Sedgwick County Jail ContinueWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Sedgwick County sheriff says there have been increased efforts to combat sexual assaults in the county jail. The Wichita Eagle reports that Sheriff Jeff Easter said Wednesday the efforts since he became sheriff in December 2012, include enhanced training for staff and allowing more ways for inmates to report incidents. Easter's comments Wednesday come about a week after a former sheriff's deputy was charged with unlawful sexual relations involving two inmates. The sheriff says his office is also adding about 250 video cameras to the jail to deter attacks. The cameras are part of security system improvements costing $4.5 million.===============Kansas City Remains in Race to Host GOP ConventionKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City remains in the running to host the 2016 Republican National Convention. The Republican National Committee said Wednesday that the list of competing cities had been narrowed from eight to six. Besides Kansas City, those still in the running are Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas. Republican staff members now will visit each of the six cities for a more in-depth look at the financing, convention site, media work space and hotels. They are to present their findings to a site selection committee in May. The panel then will determine which sites will get official visits from the full delegation of Republican National Committee members. The two applicants eliminated Wednesday were Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio. Kansas City last hosted the Republican National Convention in 1976.===============Officials Set Traps to Find Ash Borer InfestationsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal and state agriculture officials are setting 568 traps across Kansas to detect and prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer. The beetle has killed millions of ash trees since it was first discovered in North America in 2002. In Kansas, it was found in Wyandotte County in 2012 and Johnson County in 2013. Kansas is participating in a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey to monitor known infestations and detect unknown beetle populations. The state plans to set up 80 traps in Barton, Bourbon, Douglas, Ellsworth, Leavenworth, Marion and Osage. USDA is also putting some up. Traps are coated with a nontoxic glue. Kansas has implemented an intrastate quarantine for firewood, nursery plants and mulch for affected counties to prevent further spread of the pest.===============Hays Fined $18K for Wastewater ViolationHAYS, Kan. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency has fined the city of Hays for violations at the city's wastewater treatment facility. The Hays Daily News reports that the EPA fined the city $18,000 for the 2012 violations. The EPA's initial fine was $29,000, but the amount was lowered after negotiations. The city was fined for problems stemming from the testing processes to lower nitrates, ammonia and phosphates. The unsuccessful experiment led to excessive ammonia levels for several days before staff caught the error and reported it to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Hays City Commission is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the issue. Commissioners can opt to pay the penalty or challenge it in court. City staff has recommended accepting the decision.===============Haysville Residents Approve 1 Cent Sales TaxHAYSVILLE, Kan. (AP) — A 1-cent retail sales tax was approved in Haysville, but not by much. The Sedgwick County Election office says the tax for road maintenance and parks and recreation programs passed Tuesday with 284 voting yes, and 267 opposed. The city's sales tax will now be 8.5 percent. The city plans to use funds from the tax to widen some roads and add recreation programs. The new tax takes effect July 1. City officials estimate it will raise nearly $500,000 each year until it expires in 10 years.=============== Ellis County Investigating ArsonsHAYS, Kan. (AP) — A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to a conviction in several recent arsons in Ellis County. The Hays Daily News reports that authorities have been investigating as many as 20 fires in the county. Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin says detectives have interviewed numerous people, but they haven't said how the fires started. The Kansas Fire Marshal's office has said the fires started March 6 and continued for another 10 days, culminating in a massive grass fire that burned nearly 1,200 acres of grassland in northwest Ellis County. The reward will be paid upon the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fires.===============KS Group Seeks to Decriminalize MarijuanaWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A statewide group seeking to legalize marijuana in Kansas has launched a petition drive in Wichita to remove criminal penalties for possessing an ounce or less of the substance. The Wichita Eagle reports that members of the group Kansas for Change told City Council members Tuesday they would be back with at least 4,300 verified signatures on the petitions. It will be up to the council to approve the proposal or place it on a ballot for a public vote. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says even if the petition drive were to succeed and voters agree, state and federal laws prohibiting possession of marijuana still take precedence. Esau Freeman with Kansas for Change said similar petition drives are underway in Topeka, Wyandotte County, Emporia, Salina and Lawrence.===============Highland Community College Coach Pleads Guilty in Car Theft RingST. LOUIS (AP) — The women's basketball coach at Highland Community College in northeast Kansas has pleaded guilty to being part of a car theft ring. William Smith, the former women's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy and five counts of mail fraud. Prosecutors say Smith and 20 other people — mostly from the St. Louis area — stole or fraudulently obtained vehicles from individuals and automobile dealerships in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. They then staged accidents and filed false theft reports to obtain insurance money. The St. Joseph News-Press reports Smith pleaded guilty to obtaining fraudulent transfer titles from the Osage Nation for five vehicles in 2011 and 2012. The transfer titles allowed the vehicles to be resold.===============No Trial for Driver in KS School Bus MishapEL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — The driver of a school bus that toppled into a south-central Kansas creek last October has been granted diversion on a single misdemeanor charge. KWCH-TV reports that Morris Peterson had been scheduled to go on trial Wednesday in Butler County on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and child endangerment. But prosecutors on Monday dropped the reckless driving charge and put the endangerment charge on hold for a year. The case will be dismissed if Peterson does not have any violations in that time. Ten children were aboard the Douglass School District bus on October 31 when high water swept it off the road and into a rain-swollen creek. Investigators said Peterson misjudged the edge of a railing on a low-water bridge. All of the children got out through an emergency exit.===============Wichita Man Pleads Guilty in Shooting DeathWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old Wichita man has pleaded guilty in the 2013 death of a former high school football player. The Wichita Eagle reports that Eric Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of 19-year-old Jordan Turner, a former football player at Wichita South High School. Turner was shot to death in a field last March. His body was found about a month after he was shot. Two co-defendants have been convicted of first-degree murder. Jackson's sentencing is May 7.===============Umpires Use Instant Replay Review in Royals-Tigers GameDETROIT (AP) — Umpires overturned a call at first base in the sixth inning of Detroit's game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, the first time baseball's expanded instant replay system has been used at Comerica Park. Tyler Collins of the Tigers was initially called out at first, giving Kansas City a 4-6-3 double play. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus came out to talk to first base umpire Chris Conroy, and the play was then reviewed. The crowd cheered its approval when the review began, and then again when a replay on the scoreboard showed Collins appeared to beat the relay to first. The call was overturned after a delay officially announced at 3 minutes.

Plan Would Fund Kansas Capitol CenterTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new proposal from Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's administration would use bonds and transportation funds to help finance a new visitor center and other work at the Statehouse. The proposal, outlined by Budget Director Steve Anderson in a memo to Brownback and legislative leaders, would use $7 million in transportation funds and $5.4 million in bonds. The visitor center would be the last part of a 12-year renovation of the Statehouse interior so far projected to cost $320 million. The transportation money would cover work on the grounds. The Associated Press obtained a copy of Anderson's memo from a legislative source Friday. Governor Brownback and legislative leaders plan to meet Monday to consider authorizing the bonds. Legislative leaders have said previously they expected private dollars to fund the visitor center.====================Kansas Governor Modifies Order Related to Drought TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has revised an executive order making it easier for drought-stricken livestock producers to get hay to their animals. Thursday's order replaces one Brownback issued in late July waiving some rules for trucks on Kansas roads. The order suspends requirements for registration and fuel tax permits from the state Revenue Department. It also suspends several regulations of the Kansas Corporation Commission. Brownback says the goal is to make it easier to deliver hay to livestock in places where drought has damaged or destroyed pastures and silage crops. Brownback also announced that Marshall County has been declared a federal natural disaster area, bringing all 105 Kansas counties under federal designation.=====================Judge Nixes Bonuses for Top Hawker Beechcraft ExecsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge has nixed a proposal to give eight top Hawker Beechcraft executives up to $5.3 million in bonuses. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stuart Bernstein handed down on Friday his finding that the bonus plan sets the bar too low to qualify as anything other than a retention program for insiders. Bernstein said nothing in his opinion is meant to denigrate their efforts or minimize their contributions to the success of the bankruptcy case. But he ruled the plan does not meet legal standards setting challenging goals for such bonuses. The judge said he rejected the plan because executives would likely earn bonus pay merely by remaining at their jobs. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers had opposed it, as did the U.S. Justice Department's bankruptcy watchdog agency.=====================Hawker Beechcraft Union Approves Pension ChangesWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Machinists at Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita have voted to freeze their pension plan amid fears of losing it during the aircraft maker's bankruptcy restructuring. Union officials say 97 percent of members voting Friday supported a proposal that retains pensions for hourly employees and retirees while freezing future accruals starting December 31. It also creates a new retirement income savings plan and retains a 401(k) plan. Union spokesman Frank Larkin says negotiations are especially complicated when one party is in bankruptcy. He says the company has assured the union that if the changes were ratified, the plan would become part of any sales agreement. The bankruptcy court must still approve the contract changes.===================== Kansas Slaughterhouse Settles Class-Action LawsuitWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A class-action lawsuit by workers at a south-central Kansas slaughterhouse has been settled in mediation. No details of the settlement in the case against Creekstone Farms Premium Beef are included in a notice filed Thursday in court. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of an estimated 700 workers at the Arkansas City (ar-KAN'-zuhs) City packing plant over so-called "gang time" compensation. The practice pays employees only when product is moving, plus 10 minutes for putting on and removing protective gear. The workers also claimed the company wasn't paying for all the time they worked. Creekstone contended it paid employees for all time worked, including overtime. The litigation had been granted conditional class-action status in February.======================Kansas Justices Overturn Conviction in Sheriff DeathTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has overturned the capital murder conviction and ordered a new trial for the man sentenced to death for killing a Greenwood County sheriff in 2005. The unanimous ruling on Friday sends back the case of Scott Cheever, who was convicted in October 2007 for the shooting death of Sheriff Matt Samuels when the officer was serving a warrant at a rural home where meth was made. The justices ruled that Cheever's constitutional rights were violated when a psychiatrist disclosed Cheever's psychological records during the trial without his consent. The testimony was based on Cheever's evaluations when the case was in federal court before it was remanded to state court. Cheever's conviction for manufacturing of methamphetamines and criminal possession of a firearm were upheld.===========================19 West Nile Virus Cases, 1 Death Reported in KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials have received their first report of a death from West Nile virus. In a report Friday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says the state has had 19 probably or confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus this year. KDHE did not provide details on the fatal case. Spokeswoman Miranda Steele says officials can't recall any other West Nile deaths in Kansas since the virus was first reported in the state in 1999. Twelve of this year's cases were cases reported in Sedgwick County, with the rest throughout the state. West Nile virus causes only mild illness in most people, but it can become serious, with permanent neruological effects. =============================Fake Kansas Bail Bondsman Scams FamilyKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A sheriff's office in Wyandotte County is looking for a man pretending to be a bail bondsman. Authorities say the man took $1,500 last month from a family trying to bond a relative out of the county jail. The theft took place on July 26 at the Wyandotte County Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas. Officials say the victims of the scam believed the man was a legitimate bail bondsman and gave him the cash. A surveillance photo released Friday shows an adult white male who was wearing a collared shirt and metal-rimmed sunglasses.=============================Judge Denies Lower Bond in Topeka SlayingTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County judge refused to lower the $1 million bond for a suspect in a Topeka slaying whose first murder trial ended in a hung jury. An attorney for 18-year-old Daquan D. Wilkins of Topeka argued Thursday that Wilkins's bond should be lowered because he was not directly involved in the shooting death of 40-year-old Natalie Gibson. Wilkins also was charged with aggravated battery in the shooting of Gibson's partner, Lori Allison. The two women were shot as they arrived at their home in July 2011. Wilkins was one of nine people charged in the shootings. District Judge David Debenham declined to lower the bond after prosecutors said Wilkins was a danger to the community. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Wilkins's second trial is scheduled to begin November 5.===========================Leavenworth Man Dies After Moped Hit by CarLEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 61-year-old Leavenworth man died when the moped he was riding was hit by a car. Leavenworth police say the accident happened early Friday near the entrance of a Home Depot store in Leavenworth. The man's identity has not been released and police continue to investigate the crash.=========================DA: Wichita Police Justified in Fatal ShootingWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A prosecutor says Wichita police were justified in last year's shooting death of a robbery suspect at a Dollar General store. Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston released her report Friday on the killing of 27-year-old DeJuan Colbert. Three officers responded to a robbery in progress at the store the night of October 30, 2011. The officers reported seeing three men armed with knives and wearing bandanas. Foulston's report says Colbert raised a steak knife and charged at the officers. All three officers opened fire. An autopsy found Colbert was shot 15 times. Foulston says Colbert's actions posed a "deadly and imminent threat" to police and civilians in the store. The other two suspects were arrested without incident. ===========================Salina Ordinance Opponents Get Petition CertifiedSALINA, Kan. (AP) — The Saline County Clerk says opponents of a Salina ordinance prohibiting discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity gathered enough signatures to have the issue reconsidered. Saline County Clerk Don Merriman on Thursday certified that the opponents collected more than the number of signatures required to have the issue returned to the city commission. An ordinance protecting people from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity went into effect June 4. The Salina Journal reports the petition will go before the city commission in the next 20 days. If commissioners reject it, the repeal effort will go before voters in the next 90 days.=====================Hutchinson Voters to Face Conflicting PetitionsHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Hutchinson voters are likely to face dueling questions on whether to repeal or expand a law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Reno County Clerk's office has certified that petitions submitted last week by opponents and supporters of the ordinance each had sufficient valid signatures. One petition seeks to repeal an ordinance passed by the city council in June. Supporters want to expand the limited protections included in the ordinance. Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff says the City Council will consider the petitions September 4. The council can either adopt the conflicting changes or agree to put the issue to a public vote within another 90 days. The Hutchinson Daily News reports the timeline would allow the issue to be on the November general election ballot.====================== Fire in SE Kansas Scorches More Than 3 Square MilesFREDONIA, Kan. (AP) — One of the biggest grass fires to hit Kansas in the current spell of dry, windy weather has burned more than three square miles in the southeast. Wilson County Emergency Manager Terry Lyons says the agency was alerted around 2:30 pm Thursday to hay bales and a field on fire south of Fredonia. Firefighters from several departments responded. The flames spread north over more than 1,900 acres before the fire was mostly contained around 6:30 pm. Some areas were expected to burn at least into Friday. Firefighters were able to protect houses, but several outbuildings were destroyed and pipelines from the many oil and gas wells in the area were damaged. Authorities said at least two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known.====================== Suspicious Item Empties Dodge City LibraryDODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 51-year-old man has been arrested after comments he made led to the evacuation of Dodge City's public library. Authorities emptied the library Thursday morning after staff members heard the man making alarming statements. A bomb squad was called in to inspect a suspicious package he left behind. KWCH-TV reports officers determined the package did not contain anything hazardous. The man was questioned and later arrested on suspicion of making an aggravated criminal threat. Authorities said library employees called police after hearing the man talking on a pay phone and making a reference to an explosive device going off in 15 minutes. Nearby streets were closed to traffic during the investigation.==========================NM Man Arrested in Vast Child Porn Network Linked to KS ManALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man has been charged in a massive child porn investigation that started in Massachusetts and has led to 46 arrests in seven countries. Sixty-seven-year-old Richard Dates of Grants, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque on Friday. The reporter and copy editor for the Cibola Beacon newspaper told the judge he is on Social Security and cannot afford to pay for an attorney. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a preliminary hearing and a bail hearing. In documents filed in federal court Friday, authorities said searches of computers owned by a Massachusetts man and a Kansas man arrested earlier this year showed Dates had chatted online with the men and received photos of children engaged in sexual acts.======================== DA Exposes Obstacle to Kansas Meetings ComplaintsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An investigation into Republican Governor Sam Brownback's private dinners with lawmakers has exposed a problem that could prevent future open meetings complaints against the Kansas Legislature. A report from Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor notes the Kansas Open Meetings Act requires government bodies to give notice of their meetings only to people or organizations requesting it in advance. If people don't ask, they can't complain about not being notified. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Thursday that the Legislature does not have a way to file requests to be notified of meetings that occur during its annual 90-day session. Brownback had seven private dinners for members of 13 legislative committees in January at Cedar Crest, his official residence. Taylor concluded legislators committed technical violations of the open meetings law.====================== Wichita Anti-Fluoride Group Seeks Debate WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita group opposed to adding fluoride to city water is challenging fluoride supporters to a televised debate ahead of a November vote. The Wichita Eagle reportsthe group Pure Water for Wichita issued the challenge to Wichitans for Healthy Teeth. The debate is proposed for October 17, about three weeks before the election. Pure Water spokeswoman Ann Garvey says she's hoping for an open and frank discussion about fluoride. A spokesman for Wichitans for Healthy Teeth said it had not yet received the challenge. The Wichita City Council this week decided to put the question on the city's November ballot. Proponents of fluoridation believe it helps prevent tooth decay. Opponents contend fluoride can cause health problems, and forcing citizens to use it is a violation of individual freedoms.====================== Jamaican Immigrant Convicted in Sham MarriageWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal jury has convicted a Jamaican woman of entering into a "sham marriage" with a Kansas soldier so she could get legal immigration status. Twenty-eight-year-old Shannakay Hunter count get up to five years imprisonment on each count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud and lying to the government. The current New York resident is likely to get far less under sentencing guidelines. The government contends her 2010 marriage to former Fort Riley soldier Joshua Priest was a fake arrangement to give her a green card and him $1,500 in extra monthly benefits for married soldiers. Priest has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and wire fraud in a deal with the government for leniency in exchange for his testimony against Hunter.=====================Construction Blamed for Fire at KU FraternityLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Investigators in Lawrence say construction work touched off a fire at a fraternity house near the University of Kansas campus. No injuries were reported from the fire Wednesday afternoon at the Sigma Chi Fraternity, which is home to 82 students. The Lawrence Journal-World reports investigators concluded Thursday the fire was accidental and started with construction work being done on the building's exterior. The first sign was smoke coming from the roof. Damage is estimated at more than $150,000. Fraternity members were allowed to return to the house Wednesday night, although four of them had to move out of damaged rooms.=======================KU Linebacker Shelby Leaves Football ProgramLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas linebacker Jon Shelby has left the program for what coach Charlie Weis described as personal reasons. Shelby was a late addition to Weis's first recruiting class at Kansas. He had spent the past two seasons at Nassau Community College in New York, helping lead the Lions to 19-2 record. Shelby made 82 tackles in 21 games. Weis also said in a statement that defensive tackle Ty McKinney plans to finish his requirements at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas on September 7. That would allow him to report to KU in time to enroll for the fall semester. Weis said that once McKinney's academic situation is in order, he'll get up to speed with the Jayhawks. KU opens the season September 1 against South Dakota State.

Forecast Rains Raise Fears of More Kansas FloodingWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — More wet weather is on the way for drenched Kansas counties where swollen rivers are raising new flooding fears. Heavy rains that began last week have already caused flash flooding over roads and swamped some homes in central Kansas. But emergency managers are now more concerned about the storms expected to begin Wednesday and stretch into the weekend. The National Weather Service says it has been raining off and on since July 21, with Wichita getting 13.4 inches from that date through Monday. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the drought monitor update to be issued later this week will show the end of drought conditions in central, north-central and parts of southeast Kansas. The drought persists in far western Kansas.=============Strong Winds Sweep Through Central KansasPRATT, Kan. (AP) — Another round of strong storms took down power lines and trees in central Kansas as residents kept a worried watch on swollen waterways. Winds ranging from 80 to 100 mph were reported Monday night in Pratt and Butler counties. Emergency officials say the winds caused extensive damage at the Shady Creek marina at El Dorado Lake. Power outages were reported in Butler, Pratt, Harvey and Greenwood counties. More flooding is a concern in Reno County, which has had lowland flooding since Sunday. Reno County Emergency Management Director Bill Guy says Cow Creek is rising in Rice County and that water will soon be flowing into Reno County, where some rural residents have left their homes. Twenty-one counties in south-central, central and southeast Kansas are under a flood warning.=============UPDATE: Kansas Governor Signs Special Session ProclamationTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has signed a proclamation formally calling the Kansas Legislature into special session beginning September 3 to rewrite a state law allowing judges to sentence convicted murderers to serve at least 50 years in prison. Brownback had a Tuesday afternoon signing ceremony in the Statehouse rotunda. He had already announced the special session, but a proclamation is required to convene it. The governor was responding to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision raising questions about the constitutionality of the state's "Hard 50" law. Attorney General Derek Schmidt had pressed the governor to call such a session. Legislators and prosecutors have said a special session is necessary to rewrite the law and protect public safety. Brownback and top legislators expect the session to last no more than three days.=============Kansas Governor Also Sets Duration for Special SessionTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has not only set the opening date and time for a special session of the Kansas Legislature, but he's also specified that lawmakers should finish their business within three days. Brownback issued a proclamation Tuesday calling the Legislature into special session at 8 am on September 3 to rewrite the state's "Hard 50" criminal sentencing law. The statute allows judges to sentence convicted murderers to serve at least 50 years in prison. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in June raised questions about the law's constitutionality. Brownback and top legislative leaders have said repeatedly that they want a short special session focused on the "Hard 50" law. And in his proclamation, Brownback called on lawmakers to approve the bill rewriting the law by 5 pm September 5.=============Kansas AG Says He's Seeking Consensus 'Hard 50' FixTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says he's working with local prosecutors to draft a consensus proposal for repairing a state law that allows convicted murderers to be sentenced to at least 50 years in prison. Schmidt watched Tuesday as Gov. Sam Brownback signed a proclamation calling the Legislature into special session September 3 to rewrite the "Hard 50'' law. The attorney general asked for the special session because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June raising questions about the law's constitutionality. Schmidt's request had bipartisan support from prosecutors. Schmidt said the measure he'll propose will ensure that the "Hard 50'' still can be imposed going forward. But he said it will also seek to apply any changes to pending first-degree murder cases.============= Kansas Legislative Panel Named for 'Hard 50' StudyTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislative leaders have appointed a joint committee to review Attorney General Derek Schmidt's proposal for revising the state's "Hard 50" criminal sentencing law. The appointments of six senators and eight House members were released Monday. House Judiciary Committee chairman Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican, will head the panel. Governor Sam Brownback has called a special session for September 3 to rewrite the state law allowing judges to sentence convicted murderers to serve at least 50 years in prison. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June raised questions about the statute's constitutionality. Schmidt's office is drafting a proposal for revising the law. The joint committee is expected to review it before the special session begins. The members are: — Senate Republicans (5): Majority Leader Terry Bruce, Hutchinson; Jeff King, Independence, Senate vice president and Judiciary Committee chairman; Forrest Knox, Altoona; Julia Lynn, Olathe, and Greg Smith, Overland Park. — Senate Democrats (1): David Haley, Kansas City, ranking party member on the Judiciary Committee. — House Republicans (6): Kinzer, Olathe; John Rubin, Shawnee, Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee chairman; John Barker, Abilene; Ed Bideau, Chanute; Mark Kahrs, Wichita, and Charles Macheers, Shawnee. — House Democrats (2): Jan Pauls, Hutchinson, ranking party member on the Judiciary Committee, and Emily Perry, Mission.============= Large Meth Seizure Reported in Douglas CountyLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in Douglas County say they've seized 25 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $1 million. Lawrence police tell 6News Lawrence that the seizure was made last week. Few other details about the case were released Monday because the investigation continues. Police Sergeant Trent McKinley says authorities believe the meth came from Mexican producers and was meant for distribution in Douglas County. He says cash, cocaine, other drugs and a handgun were also seized. The evidence is being turned over to federal agents.=============Large Sinkhole Draws Curious to Western KansasSHARON SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — A sinkhole estimated to be about 90 feet deep is drawing so many curiosity seekers to western Kansas that the landowner is pleading for people to stay away. Wallace County officials say the sinkhole, which is 200 to 300 feet wide, was discovered July 31 in a pasture several miles north of Sharon Springs. Rex Buchanan, interim director of the Kansas Geological Survey, says the sinkhole occurred naturally and is not caused by groundwater depletion or oil or gas drilling. After the sinkhole was publicized, people began driving to see it, often entering the private pasture belonging to Margaret Hoss and her family. The Salina Journal reports that Hoss says gawkers have ignored signs to stay out of the pasture, so barricades were put up on Monday.=============Anglers Find Small Alligator in Northeast Kansas LakeATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas sheriff wants to know who dumped a small alligator in a lake, where it was spotted by fishermen. KAIR-FM reports that the group of anglers made the discovery Saturday while fishing at Atchison County Lake. They alerted the lake's caretaker, who called the sheriff's department. Sheriff Jack Laurie says deputies and members of the Atchison County Humane Society caught the alligator Monday using a net, a dog kennel and other tools. The Humane Society planned to turn it over to an animal reserve called Monkey Island, near Lee's Summit, Missouri. Laurie believes that someone had the alligator as a pet but released it when it started growing. If the owner is found, the sheriff says charges including animal cruelty are possible.=============Lawrence Man Charged in Store Voyeurism CaseLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man accused of making secret video recordings of people undressing in downtown Lawrence stores will be back in court in September to hear evidence against him. A Douglas County judge set the September 30 hearing during a brief court appearance Monday by 35-year-old Orion M. Graf, a University of Kansas graduate student. Graf is facing 10 felony counts of breach of privacy. He was arrested on July 28 after Lawrence detectives searched several downtown Lawrence stores. Police and prosecutors have refused to release more details about the allegations. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that a court-appointed defense attorney representing Graf declined to comment on the case.=============Man Who Escaped From Hutchinson Prison in CustodyTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man who escaped from a minimum-security unit at a Hutchinson facility is back in custody. State corrections officials say 44-year-old Mark Edward Lucas turned himself Tuesday morning to authorities in Shawnee County. Lucas escaped Saturday afternoon and authorities had said he likely was traveling to Topeka. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Lucas's latest convictions were for shoplifting from a Topeka Walmart store, where he had been permanently banned for previous thefts. Lucas had made guilty or no contest pleas to resolve 19 previous theft cases before his latest conviction. Before his last sentencing, he blamed his struggles on crack cocaine.=============Human Remains Found at Downtown KC AirportKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating after human remains were found at the Wheeler Downtown Airport. Construction workers unearthed the skeletal remains Monday evening. Investigators have not determined if the remains are male or female. Police say it appears the remains have been at the site for a long time.============= Kansas Board to Consider 'Freedom Week' GuidelinesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas State Board of Education is poised to approve amended guidelines for public schools to observe the new "Celebrate Freedom Week." Lawmakers approved legislation establishing the week earlier this year. Proponents said Kansas students should learn more about the founding of the United States and the key documents that form the basis of government. The Board of Education will discuss the new guidelines at its monthly meeting August 13. The guidelines will then be submitted to the Department of Administration and the attorney general for review. The State Board of Education will hold a public hearing later this year. The guidelines apply to kindergarten through eighth grade. They include discussion of the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and religious references that influenced the drafting of the documents.=============Kansas Awards $2M for Recreation Trail ProjectsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas agency has awarded $2 million for development of 16 recreational trails projects, including a route through the Flint Hills region. The grants were announced Tuesday by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The agency received applications for funds totaling more than $5 million. The goal of the program is to improve the outdoor amenities of parks and recreational offerings statewide. The largest award was for $900,000 to the Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy for use on the Flint Hills Nature Trail. In addition, the Kaw Nation was awarded $350,000 for the Allegawho Project south of Council Grove, while $31,000 was awarded for a B-29 bomber museum trail in Pratt. The state trail grant program requires a 20 percent match from the local entity receiving the funding.=============Hutchinson City Council Officially Bans Public NudityHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — It's officially against the law to be nude in public in Hutchinson. The Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a city ordinance banning public nudity. City Attorney Paul Brown said police sought the ordinance because current laws didn't cover certain situations involving public nudity, generally involving people who are mentally ill. The new ordinance gives officers a way to detain a person and begin a process for addressing mental health issues. The Hutchinson News reports that the law will not apply to children under 10 years old, a nude model in an art class or a breastfeeding mother. Brown says police will not be overly aggressive in enforcing the law. It will not be enforced in back yards, private swimming pools or the locker room at the YMCA.=============Kansas Nursing Board Allowed to Hire 2 InvestigatorsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback and legislative leaders are allowing the Kansas Board of Nursing to hire two additional investigators to help it regulate a growing number of nurses. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the plan approved Monday will cost the state an additional $148,000 a year. The board will cover the cost from regulatory fees it already collects from nurses. The board now has five investigators. Executive Administrator Mary Blubaugh said the board has seen investigators' average caseloads grow from 240 to 455 since 2007. Blubaugh said Kansas has about 64,000 nurses, an increase of more than 12,000 since 2007. She said the new investigators will help the board get closer to its goal of closing 80 percent of its cases within nine months, instead of the current 40 percent.============= Victoria's Secret to Feature K-State Branded ClothingMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Fans of Kansas State University have a new way to show their support for the school. Apparel retailer Victoria's Secret is introducing a line of women's clothing bearing the Wildcat logo Tuesday as part of its PINK Collegiate Collection. The Manhattan Mercury reports that the collection includes comfortable clothing such as T-shirts, sweatshirts and yoga pants. Tami Breymeyer, Kansas State's licensing director, says her office received several requests from fans to have the university involved in the PINK collection. The University of Kansas also is part of the PINK collection. The universities receive 10 percent of the wholesale price of the items.=============Kansas Youth Minister Backs Out of Plea DealJUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former Junction City minister has backed out of a plea bargain involving allegations he sexually abused young boys in his church's congregation. WIBW-TV reports that 26-year-old Jordan Young was expected to plead guilty Tuesday to several charges as part of a negotiated settlement, but when he went into the courtroom he told the judge he didn't want to go ahead with the deal. Young also said he wanted to fire his attorney, which Judge David Platt approved. Young has been in jail since his arrest last August after Junction City police investigated reports of sexual misconduct at Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church, where Young served as youth minister. Assistant prosecutor Michelle Brown has given few details of the deal other than to say Young faced extensive time behind bars.=============Kansan Sentenced in Scheme That Led to Arson DeathTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Manhattan man who took part in an armed robbery that ultimately led to a deadly arson fire has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison. Twenty-year-old Dennis James Denzien pleaded guilty in May to aiding and abetting a robbery. The U.S. Attorney's office says he was sentenced Monday in federal court in Topeka. Denzien was one of five people charged in a series of incidents February 6th that ended with an arson fire at a Manhattan apartment building. The fire killed 34-year-old tenant Vasanta Pallem, a postdoctoral researcher in chemical engineering at Kansas State University. Denzien admitted driving another defendant to and from a convenience store for a robbery. Two other defendants have pleaded guilty to setting the fire to distract police investigating the robbery.============= Crackdown on Exploding Targets in 5 StatesDENVER (AP) — Federal authorities are cracking down on the use of exploding targets on U.S. Forest Service land in five states to prevent them from sparking wildfires. Monday's order covers forest and grasslands in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Violators could face a fine of up to $5,000 and be sent prison for up to six months. Exploding targets can be purchased legally. They're used for shooting practice and explode when hit by a bullet. According to the Forest Service, they've caused at least 16 wildfires nationally in the last year. In the five state region, they're blamed for starting seven since the beginning of 2012. The largest was Springer Gulch near Colorado's Lake George. It cost $2.7 million to fight. The Bureau of Land Management is considering a similar ban.============= Drought Leads to Tighter Colorado Wheat Seed SupplyDENVER (AP) — Exceptional drought conditions and untimely freezes that have left some southeast Colorado winter wheat fields with nothing to harvest have also limited the certified seed supply for next season. The Colorado Wheat Research Foundation predicts there will be enough seed available if farmers get in touch with dealers early. Certified seed growers in northeast Colorado, which got a little more moisture than southeast Colorado this season, say they've been fielding calls from southeast Colorado, western Kansas, and the panhandles of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas to see if they have surplus certified seeds to sell. Certified seed grower Dan Anderson near Haxtun says his supply is already about 70 percent sold. He says customers are speaking up for seed earlier this year because they're aware of drought problems around the region.=============K-State Rewards Hill With New 5-Year DealMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State has rewarded baseball coach Brad Hill for the best season in school history with a new contract that will guarantee him $1.735 million over the next five years. The deal includes an average compensation of $292,000 and retention incentives of $125,000 if he remains coach through the 2015 season and $150,000 through the life of the contract. The new contract replaces a five-year pact Hill signed after the 2010 season, and it includes additional pay for appearances in the Big 12 championship and NCAA tournament. The Wildcats won a school-record 45 games last season and their first regular-season league title in 80 years. They advanced to the super regionals, where they were eliminated by Oregon State, one game shy of making the College World Series.

Groups Seek to Participate in KS/AZ Voter Registration LawsuitTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The national League of Women Voters and the group's Kansas and Arizona chapters are seeking to intervene in a federal lawsuit over proof-of-citizenship laws in the two states. The groups filed their requests Thursday in a federal court case in Kansas. The national advocacy group Common Cause, three Arizona-based Hispanic-rights groups and an Arizona political consultant also filed requests to intervene. Last week, a Washington-based voter registration group, three Arizona-based advocacy groups and an Arizona state senator sought to intervene. The lawsuit was filed in August by Kansas and Arizona and Secretaries of State Kris Kobach and Ken Bennett. They're trying to force the federal government to modify a national voter registration form to help the states enforce policies that require new voters to produce citizenship papers when registering.=============== Kobach Says He's Not Seeking Dual Voter SystemTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he's not trying to impose a dual voter registration system in Kansas, as a new lawsuit alleges. Kobach said Thursday his office is only doing planning and hopes to avoid a system treating voters differently, based on what registration forms they use. The lawsuit was filed in Shawnee County District Court by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a gay rights group and two voters. It seeks to block Kobach from limiting voters who use a federal voter registration form to voting only in federal races and not local and state contests. The federal form doesn't require people to comply with the state's proof-of-citizenship requirement. But Kobach notes that he's pushing the federal government to change its form.=============== Kansas Unemployment Dips to 5.6 Percent in OctoberTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is reporting that its unemployment rate dropped slightly to 5.6 percent in October, and the state saw a gain in private sector jobs over the year. The state Department of Labor reported Thursday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month declined from the 5.7 percent recorded in September. The jobless rate also was 5.6 percent in October 2012. But the department said in Kansas the number of people holding nonfarm jobs in the private sector was 18,400 higher in October than in October 2012, for a total of 1.12 million. The rate of growth was 1.7 percent. The most robust sector in over-the-year job growth was in business and professional services, which saw employment rise 5.2 percent to nearly 167,000.=============== Proposal: End Cost Studies for Some Rate IncreasesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission is proposing ending cost studies for proposed rate increases that are less than 10 percent. KCC chairman Mark Sievers made the suggestion in a statement responding to Westar Energy's recent $30.7 million rate request, which was approved Thursday. Sievers suggested that the commission could presume rate increases of less than 10 percent are reasonable. He says that would save time and the expense of cost allocation and rate design studies. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that cost allocation was an issue in Westar's latest case because the utility sought larger increases for residential and small commercial customers. The Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board argued residents should pay less of the increase. The utility and CURB used different formulas to reach their conclusions.===============UPDATE: Army Makes Changes to Gender Study Staff Following Controversial EmailTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Pentagon officials say an Army colonel who wrote an internal email suggesting that photos of attractive women should be avoided in promotional materials has stepped down from her duties involving a gender study. Pentagon officials said Friday that Colonel Lynnette Arnhart had agreed to step aside from leading a gender integration study. According to Politico, which first reported the email's contents this week, Arnhart stated that "average-looking women" should be used in Army materials used to attract women for combat roles. Arnhart is stationed at Fort Leavenworth as part of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command Analysis Center. In addition, Wright said that Colonel Christian Kubik, a public affairs officer, was suspended for his involvement in the email. Messages seeking comment from Arnhart and Kubik weren't immediately returned.===============Probation for KS Woman Accused in SchemeLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Jefferson County woman accused of trying to trade a government assistance check to hire someone to kill a former boyfriend has been sentenced to probation. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Rebecca Burch of Lakeside Village pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and great bodily harm. She has been sentenced to two years' probation in Jefferson County District Court. Burch also has to comply with recommendations of her mental health care providers as a condition of her probation. Burch was charged in June for allegedly trying to trade a government assistance check for killing a former boyfriend. She was arrested after an undercover officer posing as a prospective contract killer contacted her about the scheme.===============Visitors Rescued After Elevator Malfunction at KS Detention Center TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An elevator at the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center became stuck, trapping 17 visitors for more than an hour. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports a child who was among those stuck in the elevator Tuesday evening was taken to a Topeka hospital with anxiety issues. Major Tim Phelps of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections says the elevator's computer determined it was carrying more than its 2,100-pound capacity, causing the elevator to freeze between the second and third floors to keep it from falling. Corrections employees contacted the company that services their elevators, and the people inside were freed after about an hour and 20 minutes. Phelps says the corrections department plans to be more aggressive about not letting visitors overload elevators.===============Driver in KS School Bus Crash Facing ChargesDOUGLASS, Kan. (AP) — A southern Kansas school bus driver has been charged with endangering a child and reckless driving after his bus carrying 10 children slid off a road and into a rain-swollen creek. KAKE-TV reports that 64-year-old Morris F. Peterson was charged Friday in Butler County for the October 31 incident in which he and the students had to be rescued by emergency responders. Three children suffered minor injuries. The Kansas Highway Patrol released a report earlier this month saying the driver misjudged the edge railing and drove off the side of the water-covered bridge. Peterson is no longer employed by the Douglass school district. He was suspended on November 4 and his resignation was accepted a week later. Both charges are misdemeanors. It wasn't immediately clear if Peterson had an attorney.===============Fort Scott Man Sentenced to Life for Wife's DeathFORT SCOTT, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old southeast Kansas man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife, injuring his son and burning the family's home down near Fort Scott. Brent Bollinger of Fort Scott was convicted in September of first-degree murder, aggravated arson and aggravated child endangerment. His wife, Brenna Nicole Bollinger, was found dead after a fire at the couple's home on October 13, 2011. Their 2-year-old son, Bryson Bollinger, was hospitalized for treatment of burns for about a month after the fire. Bollinger also suffered serious burns in the fire. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says Bollinger will not be eligible for parole for 25 years and eight months.===============Charges Filed in 2010 Fatal CrashTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 25-year-old northeast Kansas man has been charged in head-on crash that killed a Topeka man in 2010. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Aaron Emerson Meade, of Meriden, is charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence after a crash in March 2010 that killed 50-year-old Neil L. Highsmith. Shawnee County District Court records show Meade was charged November 15. He was booked into the Shawnee County jail Thursday, where he was being held on a $50,000 cash or surety bond. Lee McGowan, chief of staff for the county district attorney's office, said he couldn't comment on the case or why it took more than 3½ years to file charges.=============== KU Student Newspaper Writer Resigns After Lifting Portions of ColumnLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A University Daily Kansan columnist has resigned after his editors found that he lifted much of a recent column from another publication. In an editorial published Thursday, the Kansan reported writer Bryenn Bierwirth had resigned and apologized for the column. It says Bierwirth's column on hospice care and dying "borrowed" its key points from an article published last year by The Guardian. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Bierwirth was an opinion columnist and account executive for the Kansan. Editor-in-chief Trevor Graff wrote that the paper would be reviewing its procedures to prevent similar problems in the future. The Kansan is the university's student newspaper and operates independently from the school.=============== 4 Arrested in Shooting Near KCK Elementary SchoolKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say four people were arrested after a shooting in which at least one bullet entered an elementary school in Kansas City, Kansas. No one was injured in the shooting Wednesday near Whittier Elementary School. Police on Thursday chased a vehicle thought to be connected to the shooting. The vehicle eventually was stopped by a tire-puncturing device on Interstate 670 and the four people were taken into custody.===============Jury Convicts Ex-Doctor on Firearm, Drug ChargesWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal jury has convicted a former Kansas doctor of illegally having a handgun and drugs. Jurors found 57-year-old Lawrence M. Simons of Wichita guilty Thursday of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and unlawful possession of controlled substances. The jury found him not guilty of illegally possessing ammunition. Simons, a convicted felon, was on probation when he was accused earlier this year of giving a bondsman a gun as partial payment for bailing him out of jail in an unrelated domestic threat case. Prosecutors also contend that because he had earlier surrendered his license to write prescriptions, he could not lawfully possess drugs that were later found in storage lockers. Simons was first convicted in 2010 for unlawfully distributing controlled substances. He'll be sentenced February 10.===============Court Changes Scheduling in KS Illegal Drug CaseTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge is approving changes in hearing schedules in a case involving a Manhattan doctor accused of illegally distributing prescriptions from his Kansas clinic. U.S. District Court Judge Julie Robinson approved the motion late Thursday to grant time for plea negotiations to continue between prosecutors and attorneys for 53-year-old Michael P. Schuster. Schuster is charged with one count each of conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances, drug distribution, unlawfully distributing drugs to a person under 21 years old and using and maintaining a premises for drug distribution. Prosecutors allege Schuster signed blank prescription pads that his staff used to give painkiller prescriptions to patients when Schuster was out of the country. Robinson's order delays court action from January until early February, with a trial date of May 19.===============Former KU Football Player's Trial Moved to MarchLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A trial has been rescheduled for a former University of Kansas football player accused of robbery. Chris Martin was scheduled to appear in Douglas County court for trial Monday. His case has been moved to March 3. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Martin faces one count of aggravated robbery in a May 13 armed robbery during a home invasion in Lawrence. Martin's free on a $35,000 bond. Martin was dismissed from the KU football program in June. The program recruited Martin as a four-star defensive end, but he never played a game for the Jayhawks. His lawyer didn't immediately return a message seeking comment. Another former KU football player, Jeremiah Edwards, was sentenced to three years of probation for his part in the robbery.=============== MO Governor Nixon Critical of Diverting Water to KSKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says diverting Missouri River water to Kansas would be "ill-advised." In a letter sent Thursday to Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, Nixon says Kansas water officials should reconsider studying the feasibility of building a 360-mile aqueduct. Kansas officials envision diverting as much as 4 million acre feet of Missouri River water and sending it west to support irrigated farming of corn and other crops. Plans to move forward with the aqueduct study were announced Tuesday. The talk comes amid concerns that the current use of the Ogallala Aquifer to support Kansas agriculture is unsustainable. Nixon says the river is "the lifeblood of numerous Missouri communities." He noted the river is used for drinking water and to ship goods to market.=============== KC Officer Pleads Guilty to AssaultKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City police officer has pleaded guilty to assault for hitting a suspect several times during an arrest. Carl Counti pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree assault and was sentenced to two years' probation and 30 days in jail. Counti resigned from the department Thursday. The 21-year-old suspect was taken into custody October 5 after he jumped out of a car and ran from police. Officers caught him a short while later and handcuffed him when he continued to resist. Court records said Counti struck the suspect in the head and face at least six times. A photo taken of the suspect after the arrest shows his right eye blackened and swollen shut. The incident was discovered by a police supervisor who reviewed dashboard videotape of the arrest. ===============French Business Tech Company Opening Office in KCKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A France-based business intelligence technology company is establishing a North American headquarters in Kansas City and is expected to hire 44 employees within the next five years. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon on Thursday announced that BIME Analytics is investing roughly $390,000 to locate in the city's Crossroads District. BIME was founded in 2009 and is a cloud computing company that offers easy-to-use business intelligence data. Though it's based in Montpellier, France, the company says nearly one-third of its clients are in North America. Company CEO and co-founder Rachel Delacour says Kansas City was chosen because the city is a growing technology hub and the state has a friendly corporate tax structure.=============== Emporia State Gets $200K Gift from DonorEMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Emporia State University has received an anonymous gift of $200,000. The university said in a release Thursday that the donor also gave the school nearly $200,000 on another occasion. Emporia State says the two donations will establish its Distinguished Business Scholar program. Jennifer Denton, Emporia State Foundation vice president for stewardship and administration, said the same person is also making a planned gift to bring the endowed scholarship fund to $1 million. The school is involved in a fundraising campaign to raise about $45 million. To date, the campaign has recorded gifts and pledges of nearly $20 million.=============== Judge Delays Trial in Kansas Restaurant CaseWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has delayed until next year the trial of two Wichita restaurant operators accused of employing people who are in the country unlawfully. U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten on Thursday postponed the trial of 33-year-old Yong Lin and his wife, 29-year-old Zhuo Mei Weng, until March 11. The couple had been previously scheduled to go to trial on December 17. The couple is charged with conspiracy and harboring people who are in the U.S. unlawfully. The indictment alleges they paid the workers at their World Buffet Grill in cash and failed to complete employment eligibility forms. The judge noted in his order that the defense needs more time to review and discuss the evidence with the couple. He also noted other professional obligations of counsel warranted a delay.=============== KCMO City Council Moves to Sever Museum from Union StationKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Council is considering a proposal that would have the city take responsibility for the Kansas City Museum's collection. Under the proposal, which was referred to a council committee Thursday, Union Station would relinquish its control of the museum's collection. Union Station director George Guastello says the proposal is a good solution to a continuing controversy over the collection. The Kansas City Star reports that the new arrangement would take effect May 1. The agreement does not address ownership of the museum's collection. But it would make the city responsible for storing and maintaining the collection. The city would keep the nearly $1.4 million generated annually by a property tax to support the museum, but would pay Union Station $131,000 a year for storage space.=============== Georgetown University Bounces Back, Defeats K-State 90-63SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera had 25 points to lead four Georgetown starters in double-figures as the Hoyas overwhelmed Kansas State in a 90-63 men's basketball victory on Friday at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Jabril Trawick added 16 points for the Hoyas (2-2). Georgetown coach John Thompson III didn't hold his tongue in critiquing his team's dismal second-half performance in its opening-game loss to Northeastern on Thursday. The Hoyas responded by playing much more fluidly in their offensive sets and by limiting their mistakes. They led by as many as 29 and shot 63 percent from the field for the game with 19 assists. Kansas State (2-3) fell in a 10-0 hole early and never could sting together a meaningful run. Thomas Gipson led the Wildcats with 18 points. In his third game back after from injury Gipson got more involved, but again was stunted early because of foul trouble.

Kansas Education Groups Respond to NRA School ProposalTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas education groups are criticizing the National Rifle Association's call to put an armed security officer in every school in the U.S. in the wake of last week's mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school. Even a state legislator known as a gun rights proponent had some doubts Friday about the NRA's idea. Kansas teachers union lobbyist Mark Desetti said the NRA's proposal would turn schools into armed fortresses. Kansas Association of School Boards official Mark Tallman said the move could prove expensive. Republican state Representative Forrest Knox, of Altoona, agreed that someone with a firearm would help stop and prevent mass shootings. But he said a killer would likely try to take out an officer first. The Kansas State Rifle Association said it fully supports the NRA proposal.================Kansas Jobless Rate Falls to 5.4 PercentTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State labor officials say the unemployment rate in Kansas fell to a seasonally adjusted 5.4 percent in November despite slowing job growth. The Department of Labor reported Thursday the unemployment rate had fallen from 5.7 percent in October. The rate is a full 1 percent below the seasonally adjusted rate in November 2011. Interim Labor Secretary Lana Gordon said the job market is moving in the right direction. Kansas added 1,100 private sector jobs in November and employers have increased payrolls by 4,900 jobs over the past year. The workforce has shown slight growth in recent months, standing at 1.49 million in November, up about 7,000 people since September. On a county level, Wilson had the highest jobless rate in Kansas at 7.8 percent.================Kansas Chamber to Seek Pensions DebateTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Chamber of Commerce plans to push legislators next year to reopen a debate over public pensions and start a 401(k)-style plan for new teachers and government workers. Two chamber officials said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press that a further overhaul of the state pension system is on the group's legislative agenda because pension costs help boost state spending. The powerful chamber plans to formally release its agenda next month, but Vice President Kent Eckles and Legislative Affairs Director Eric Stafford provided details during the interview. Legislators approved measures earlier this year and last year to deal with a projected $9.2 billion long-term funding gap faced by the state pension system. But lawmakers stopped short of putting new hires in a 401(k)-style plan.================Kansas Supreme Court Upholds Murder ConvictionTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction of a Topeka man in the shooting death of a retired jeweler. The court on Friday denied the appeal of 41-year-old Allen Dale Smith, who was convicted in 2008 of killing 77-year-old Clarence David Boose. Smith's attorneys argued that prosecutors made prejudicial comments during closing arguments at Smith's trial. The court said in its opinion that the comments did constitute misconduct but weren't enough to reverse Smith's conviction. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Boose was shot in the head when he surprised burglars at his home in 2005. Smith and his cousin, Leonard Wayne Price, shot Boose as part of a crime spree in northeast Kansas to get money to buy methamphetamine. Smith and Price were sentenced to life in prison.================Parents in Lawrence Parking Lot Abuse Case Plead No Contest LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Two Illinois parents accused of binding and blindfolding two of their children in a Walmart parking lot in Kansas have pleaded no contest to charges. Adolfo Gomez of Northlake, Illinois pleaded no contest Friday to two counts of felony child abuse and three misdemeanor counts of child endangerment. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that his wife, Deborah Gomez, pleaded no contest to three counts of child endangerment on December 14. Sentencing for Adolfo Gomez is scheduled for February 8. Prosecutors are recommending a 30-month sentence for Adolfo Gomez and a year of probation for Deborah Gomez. Both parents were arrested June 13 when Lawrence police found two children, ages 5 and 7, tied up near their vehicle in the Walmart parking lot. Three other children were in the car unrestrained.================Newtown Deaths Have KS Governor Focusing on ServicesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback says he wants to examine whether the state is providing adequate mental health services in the wake of last week's mass killings at a Connecticut school. But in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Brownback also said he's wary of having a debate about gun control. The Republican governor says the issue is so politically polarized, and debating it would prevent discussion of other issues. Brownback has previously limited his comments about the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School to expressing support for the victims' families. A gunman killed 26 people, including 20 children, before turning his weapon on himself last Friday. Brownback said he's examining whether Kansas spends enough on mental health services and whether the money is spent effectively.================2nd Traffic Fatality in Kansas Blamed on Icy RoadsGRANDVIEW PLAZA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol is reporting a second fatality blamed on this week's winter weather. The patrol says 26-year-old Jason Skyler Harper of Manhattan died in the accident Thursday afternoon on Interstate 70 in Geary County at Grandview Plaza. KMAN reports the patrol says Harper lost control of his car because of icy conditions and hit a dump truck that was parked on the side of the road. A passenger in Harper's car was taken to Geary Community Hospital. The truck driver was not hurt. A crash Wednesday evening in Ford County killed 21-year-old Roy Gaytan of Dallas, Texas. He was a passenger in a vehicle that collided head-on with a tractor-trailer truck in the midst of a blizzard. A third vehicle then ran into the other two vehicles.================Governor Hears Report on Kansas Drought ConditionsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback says Kansas farmers, ranchers and communities should review their water use and conservation plans as drought conditions persist. Brownback received an update Thursday on the drought and steps being taken around the state to maintain adequate water levels. Officials said water supplies remain critically low, especially at the 24 federal reservoirs around the state. Several are more than 30 percent below normal levels. The officials noted that the John Redmond Reservoir in east-central Kansas is at 46 percent capacity. Brownback says it's difficult to predict when the drought will end. He urged water users to update any conservation or emergency plans should conditions worsen.================Lawrence Woman Gets Probation in Child's DeathLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence woman whose daughter died after ingesting drugs found in a plastic Easter egg has been sentenced to three years of probation. Twenty-five-year-old Rebecca Lynn Wynne was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest in November to reckless involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated child endangerment. Prosecutors say Wynne's 5-year-old daughter died in April after ingesting opiates in her parents' home. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the child endangerment charges involved Wynne's 6- and 4-year-old children, who have been in protective custody since April. All three of the children were playing with morphine and Oxycontin pills that Wynne obtained the day before her daughter died. At the sentencing, Judge Paula Martin said Wynne posed no danger to the community and was dedicated to rehabilitating herself.================Northeast Kansas Couple Win $50M Powerball JackpotTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas husband and wife have come forward to claim a $50 million Powerball jackpot. The Johnson County couple, both retired and in their 70s, were announced Friday as the winners in Wednesday night's drawing of the multistate lottery. They've chosen to remain anonymous, as allowed by Kansas law. The couple said they've spent a couple of sleepless days trying to decide what to do with their winnings. They've chosen the cash option, which works out to a lump sum of nearly $23 million after taxes. They have three children and five grandchildren and plan to share some of the money with family and friends. The winning ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven store in the Johnson County town of Shawnee.================KC Man Found Guilty of Killing Man Who Was ApologizingKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 32-year-old Kansas City man was convicted of killing a childhood friend who was trying to apologize to him. Curtis Bradley will be sentenced February 8 for second-degree murder and other convictions in the March death of 31-year-old Wiley Garner Jr. The Kansas City Star reports the two men were childhood friends but had argued before a picnic. Prosecutors say Garner wanted to apologize but Bradley began shooting as Wiley approached with his hand outstretched. Two other people were wounded.================Wichita Officials Apologize for Icy StreetsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Top officials in Wichita have apologized for failing to prevent streets from icing up just before a morning rush-hour that saw dozens of accidents. Mayor Carl Brewer and city manager Robert Layton issued the apologies Thursday and pledged to do a better job the next time freezing precipitation is in the forecast. With the forecast late Wednesday calling for a light dusting of snow, city crews were prepared overnight to treat and clear intersections, hills and curves. But the snow was preceded by rain, and the temperature stayed above freezing. Layton says crews were caught by surprise when the temperature suddenly plummeted after 6 am, creating a glaze of ice on the roads.================2 Dead in Wichita House FireWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Investigators are seeking the cause of a house fire that killed two people in Wichita. Firefighters were called to the scene in southeast Wichita around 9:40 am Friday. One person was found dead in the house. The other died later at a hospital. Relatives told KAKE-TV the victims were a man in his 60s who had trouble walking and a younger nephew who lived with him. Wichita Fire Chief Ron Blackwell says a 911 caller reported the fire and said pets may have been trapped in the home. Crews quickly brought the flames under control and found one victim in the living room and the other in a bedroom.================Two People Killed in I-70 Crash East of DenverDEER TRAIL, Colo. (AP) — Two people are dead after a tractor-trailer and a pickup collided in eastern Colorado. The crash happened just before 9 am Thursday on Interstate 70 at Deer Trail about 60 miles east of Denver. State trooper Josh Lewis says both the dead were in the pickup. The truck driver wasn't injured. The crash temporarily shut down eastbound lanes. Skies were clear at the time but temperatures were below freezing after a storm on Wednesday. Lewis says investigators are determining if the weather was a factor. I-70 westbound was shut down for several hours near Glenwood Springs in western Colorado because of several crashes there. No injuries were reported. Separately, a collision in Colorado Springs killed one person. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports the coroner identified him as 26-year-old Orlando Medina-Cauich.================ Census: Kansas Lagged Nation in Population GrowthTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows the Kansas population growing more slowly than the nation and most other states. The U.S. Census Bureau is estimating that the population in Kansas grew by one-half of 1 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, while the nation's population grew by three-quarters of 1 percent. The Census Bureau said Kansas ranked 30th among states and the District of Columbia in population growth. According to the figures, Kansas gained 15,000 new residents to make its population almost 2.9 million. But North Dakota, the leader, saw its population grow nearly 2.2 percent during the same period. Among neighboring states, Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma saw greater growth than Kansas, while Arkansas, Iowa and Missouri lagged behind the Sunflower State.================Bond Reduction Denied in Salina HomicideSALINA, Kan. (AP) — A judge denied a request for a bond reduction for a Salina homicide suspect who wanted to spend Christmas with his grandparents. During a hearing Thursday, Salina County Judge Rene Young denied a request from 29-year-old Kyle Nelson to reduce his $500,000 bond. Nelson is charged with second-degree murder in the July 31 killing of 37-year-old Jeffrey B. Powell. The Salina Journal reports testimony at a preliminary hearing indicated Nelson shot Powell over the theft of a go-kart that belonged to Nelson's children. Nelson's attorney argued that Nelson had no history of violence and should be allowed to get out of jail for the holidays. Saline County Attorney Ellen Mitchell said someone who shoots another person for taking a go-kart shouldn't get to go home for the holidays.================Manhattan Man Sentenced to 24 Years for HomicideMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old Manhattan man is going to prison for 24 years for last year's shooting death of a father of five. WIBW-TV reports Michael Blake Layne was sentenced Thursday in Riley County District Court. Prosecutors agreed to the sentence when Layne pleaded no contest last month to reduced charges of second-degree murder, robbery and kidnapping. Layne admitted shooting 31-year-old Steven Freel and dumping his body along a dirt road in December 2011. Layne claimed self-defense, but prosecutors said he feared that Freel would talk to authorities about robberies the two had committed together. Another man, 42-year-old Domingo Soto, was sentenced earlier this week to life in prison for aiding and abetting in Freel's killing. Prosecutors described Soto as Layne's boss and said he provided the gun used in the murder.================Hepatitis C Cases Linked to NH Hospital Worker RiseCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Five more people have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C a former traveling hospital worker is accused of spreading through tainted needles. The total is now 44 in four states. David Kwiatkowski is charged with stealing painkillers from New Hampshire's Exeter Hospital and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his own blood. Thirty-two New Hampshire patients have tested for the same strain of the liver-destroying disease he carries. A dozen other cases have emerged in states where he previously worked. He remains jailed in New Hampshire. Maryland health officials announced four new cases Friday from Johns Hopkins Hospital. There are also six cases in Kansas, along with one case from the Baltimore VA Medical Center and one at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania.================University of Missouri Sued by Camera OperatorCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City cameraman is suing the University of Missouri after he fell off a platform while he was videotaping a basketball game at Mizzou arena. In a lawsuit filed in Boone County this week, Jeron Swann alleges that a wooden platform he stood on to videotape the game had no stairs, handrails or other method to climb on or off. Swann says he fell onto the concrete floor while trying to get off the platform. His attorney says Swann has undergone several surgeries and can no longer perform certain types of work. A spokeswoman for the University of Missouri System says the school does not comment on litigation. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Swann is seeking more than $25,000 for himself and another $25,000 for his wife.================Ski Resort Emerges from Bankruptcy Under KC-Based Real Estate Trust OwnershipMCHENRY, Md. (AP) — Maryland's only ski resort says it has emerged from bankruptcy protection under a new management firm. The Wisp Resort in McHenry, Maryland said Friday that the Salt Lake City-based Pacific Group will run the business for new owner EPT Ski Properties. The local management team, headed by General Manager Tim Prather, will remain in place. Prather says Wisp is planning improvements in the coming year. They include expanded offerings for both winter and warm-weather recreation. The previous owners filed for bankruptcy protection last year after defaulting on loans to build a golf course community near the ski hill. That project was sold to another party during bankruptcy proceedings. EPT is a unit of Kansas City-based real-estate investment trust EPR Properties. It bought the resort for $23.5 million earlier this month.

US Supreme Court to Hear Kansas CasesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear several cases that involve Kansas this month. The Kansas Attorney General's office says Kansas has a role in 11 of 53 cases expected to be heard by the Supreme Court during the upcoming term. Nine of the 11 cases don't involve Kansas as a direct party, but the state filed briefs in the cases. Among the Kansas cases directly affecting Kansas is one regarding a state court decision overturning the conviction of Scott Cheever, who was found guilty in the 2005 slaying of Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels. The high court will review the 2012 decision by the Kansas Supreme Court to overturn Cheever's capital murder conviction on grounds trial prosecutors violated Cheever's right under the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination.=================KS Congressman Pompeo Downplays Debt Ceiling WarningsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo says "this is the moment" to reduce the size of government. The Republican from Wichita made the comments Monday as he tries to shore up support back home for taking a conservative hard-line against reopening government or raising the debt ceiling without spending cuts. Speaking outside a Rotary Club, Pompeo says he would "absolutely not" vote to raise the debt ceiling without any strings attached. He also claims there are not enough votes in the house to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. Pompeo says the fight isn't about what Congress is going to do next week or next year. He says Republicans in the House of Representatives want to change the long-term trajectory of the nation's financial condition.=================Most KS National Guard Members Recalled from ShutdownTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — All but five of the 772 Kansas National Guard airmen and soldiers who were furloughed last week because of the partial federal government shutdown are being called back to work. The Kansas adjutant general's office says Monday that the recalls come after the Department of Defense issued guidance over the weekend regarding which employees were covered by the federal furlough orders. Those five National Guard technicians who remain furloughed don't meet the guidance for recalls as stated by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. However, Major General Lee Tafanelli, state adjutant general, says the 263 federally-funded state employees furloughed last week do not fall under the new guidelines and will continue to be furloughed. Tafanelli says he hopes the shutdown ends soon and the department is able to return to normal operations.=================Kansas Supreme Court to Hear School Finance AppealTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorneys for parents and school districts are facing off against lawyers for the state in front of the Kansas Supreme Court over the funding of public schools. Tuesday's hearing is the second such court battle in less than a decade. At issue is whether the seven-member court will uphold a lower-court ruling issued in January ordering the state to increase school funding by at least $440 million. The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by attorneys representing several school districts, including Dodge City, Hutchinson, Kansas City and Wichita. They argue the state has failed to comply with a 2006 court order to increase funding. State attorneys argue that legislators have complied with the order and did their best in difficult economic times. A decision is anticipated by early January 2014.=================Panel Begins Work on Kansas Court Budget IssuesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Chief Justice Lawton Nuss is telling a special advisory panel to review the potential consequences to state courts if a funding gap isn't closed. Nuss convened the panel Monday to look at the ramifications of a projected $8.25 million shortfall in the judicial branch budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2015. The shortfall could result in forcing employees to take unpaid leave. Nuss told the panel to prepare for the worst. State Senate Vice President Jeff King has written to the 10-member council attempting to blunt the perception that legislators are shortchanging the courts. King says there are options for savings in the system and that legislators are open to reviewing the judiciary's needs in the 2014 session.================= Lack of Manpower Has KS Coroner Falling BehindTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A crushing workload and a lack of funds to hire more help has a Kansas coroner months behind in finishing reports, which is having an impact on the local prosecutor's office. Shawnee County coroner Don Pojman says he's often up until 2 or 3 in the morning finishing reports for District Attorney Chad Taylor's office. That's in addition to his responsibilities to review infant deaths for the state, sign cremation permits and complete reports for other deaths. The Topeka Capital Journal reports that Pojman's office used to have 15 employees. But in his first year, his budget was cut by $450,000, or 53 percent, and his staff eventually dwindled to four. Taylor says getting another pathologist is more important to his office than hiring six more attorneys.=================Ex-Soldier Sentenced for Killing KS National Guard MemberMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A former Fort Riley soldier has been sentenced to life in prison in the death of a Kansas National Guard member outside a Manhattan motorcycle club. KMAN reports that Daniel Parker, of Junction City, apologized before he was sentenced Monday in Riley County District Court for first-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm. Parker was accused of opening fire on the "Assassin Street Rydaz" clubhouse as the victim, 21-year-old Frederick Beverly, manned the gate for a party early on New Year's Day, 2012. Prosecutors said Parker had argued earlier with a club member. The prosecution said it was fortunate more people weren't injured, noting that Parker fired more than 20 rounds. Beverly's sister, Sharlene Beverly, said she had endured sleepless nights and that Parker "took a good person."=================Man Dies After Falling Off Vehicle in Central KSHAYS, Kan. (AP) — A 23-year-old man has died after falling off the hood of a moving vehicle in central Kansas. The Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that Roland A. Rummel was run over Sunday in northern Ellis County and died Monday at Hays Medical Center. The Salina Journal reports that Rummel reportedly exited a vehicle and then jumped onto the hood while the vehicle was in motion. When the driver pressed the brakes, Rummel fell off and was run over. The driver was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and transporting an open container.=================Topeka Man Pleads Guilty in Wife's DeathTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of his wife. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Manuel Alcala pleaded guilty Monday in the death of Ashley Alcala, who was killed at her home last year. He was charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the shooting death. Alcala's mother, Manuela Alcala, also entered guilty pleas Monday to four related felonies in the case, including obstruction of prosecution and interference with law enforcement. Both mother and son were scheduled to stand trial Monday in the death. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 24. Another defendant in the case, Gabino Alcala, is scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday, and a hearing date for a fourth defendant, Benjamin Anaya, hasn't been scheduled.================= Emporia Man Pleads No Contest to StalkingEMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — A 61-year-old Emporia man has pleaded no contest to charges accusing him stalking several area women. The Emporia Gazette reports Thomas Hebb pleaded no contest Friday to 39 counts, including several counts of stalking and promoting obscenity. Hebb could face up to one year in prison on each count. Hebb was arrested January 22 after a 14-month police investigation involving letters he allegedly sent to about 20 area women. He's free on $50,000 bond. A sentencing hearing has been set for December 5. Hebb remains free on $50,000 bond.================= KU Athletics Considering Changes to Late Night EventLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas athletic officials are considering changes to Late Night in the Phog after complaints about a lack of crowd control at the event last Friday. The Late Night festivities mark the official beginning of the basketball season and fans typically line up for hours before it starts. Associate athletic director Jim Marchiony says KU Athletics plans to discuss changes that might be needed to control crowds as they wait to be allowed into the free event. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that fans complained about frequent cutting in line and a mob rushing the entrance when the doors opened Friday. Between 3,000 and 5,000 fans were turned away. Others reported fights broke out and no one from the university was providing security or crowd control.=================Northeast KS Bridge Demolition RescheduledATCHISON, Kan. (AP) _ The start of demolition work on a northeast Kansas bridge has been rescheduled because of high water levels along the Missouri River. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that divers can't safely complete needed work for the first blast of the U.S. 59 Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge because the Missouri River has risen from recent heavy rain and snow in northern states. The first blast of the bridge's demolition had been scheduled for Monday. But the Kansas Department of Transportation says that's now rescheduled for Wednesday. The department says dates for the second and third blasts are under discussion. The bridge spans the Missouri River between Atchison and Winthrop, Missouri.=================Hundreds of Bras Line Kansas River BridgeLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Drivers across a Kansas River bridge near Lawrence might have some trouble keeping their eyes on the road. The guardrail on the east side of the bridge has been decorated with hundreds of decorated bras. The display is to publicize Breast Cancer Awareness Month and promote Health Care Access, a clinic that provides health care for poor Douglas County residents. The Bras Across the Kaw exhibit is not a new display. But Shelly Wakeman, director of the Health Care Clinic, says people didn't always know who hung the bras, or the purpose of the display. Two large pink banners hung this year explain those points. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that money raised by the display will go to Health Care Access. The display will be up through October 20.=================KU Researchers Win Grant to Improve Foster CareLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas researchers have won a $2.5 million federal grant to develop a system to screen foster children for trauma. The screening tool will be used to create treatment plans to help children when they are young. The goal is to reduce the need for hospitalizations, incarcerations and other more costly expenses as the children grow older. There also will be a tracking mechanism that permits statewide, systems-level progress monitoring. The university says that few states have universal screening and assessment tools to deal with trauma in young children. The researchers hope that the Kansas system could prove to be a national model. Researchers will work with the two foster care contract agencies in Kansas on the project.=================KU Gets $4.4M Federal Grant for Chemical ResearchLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Researchers at the University of Kansas have received a $4.4 million federal grant to help develop sustainable manufacturing processes for chemicals. The university says the four-year grant to its Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis comes from the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency. Center director Bala Subramaniam says one of the major challenges for the chemical industry is to develop sustainable manufacturing processes. A major part of the project will be to identify what part of the manufacturing chain involves toxic materials. The university says the project will support five graduate students, five postdoctoral researchers and several pre-service high school science teachers.================= KU Ponders Major Renovation of Football StadiumLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger has revived plans for a major renovation of the University of Kansas football stadium. The Kansas City Star reports that Zenger acknowledges a Memorial Stadium project would require a massive fundraising effort. No budget or timetable for the renovation has been set. But Zenger says Kansas began the design process for an eventual renovation last month. The early work on the project comes as construction continues on a new, $39 million complex in west Lawrence for soccer, softball and track and field. The complex is expected to host the Kansas Relays in the spring, and its opening would allow Kansas to remove the track around the football field at Memorial Stadium, a possible first step in a larger project.================= Attorney Hopes to Keep Lid on Client's ConfessionWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas attorney is asking a judge to suppress statements his client made when he went into Sedgwick County jail in December and asked to be arrested for killing his wife. Guy Wayne Palmer is charged with first-degree murder in the December 16 death of his 61-year-old wife, Debra. The Wichita Eagle reports the woman's body was found at the couple's home after investigators followed up on Palmer's claims. Sheriff's Sergeant Jeremy Wood testified Friday he didn't initially thought Palmer might be a homeless person looking for a place to stay. A suppression hearing that started Friday continues Monday, with jury selection in Palmer's trial to begin Tuesday. His attorney says he wasn't read his Miranda rights before making his statements so they should be suppressed.================= Mandela's Civic Organization to Receive Dole Leadership PrizeLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Dole Leadership Prize is going to a civic organization started by former South Africa President Nelson Mandela. The Robert Dole Institute of Politics plans to present the 2013 Dole prize to Mandela's great-grandson, Luvuyo Mandela, on October 27th at the University of Kansas. The $25,000 monetary prize is to benefit the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. The prize is awarded annually to an individual or group whose public service leadership inspires others. Mandela, who is 95, was incarcerated for 27 years in South Africa. He was released in 1990 and served as president of the country from 1994 to 1999. Bill Lacy, director of the Dole Institute, says he can't think of anyone more deserving of the 10th anniversary Dole Leadership Prize than Mandela.=================Lower KS Court to Reconsider Ex-Teacher's Case in Sex Abuse ConvictionBUHLER, Kan. (AP) — A lower court will reconsider the case of a former south-central Kansas high school debate coach convicted of sexually molesting a South Korean exchange student. Richard Young, of Buhler, was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison after being convicted in 2008 in Reno County District Court. Prosecutors said he fondled the 15-year-old student within days of the boy's arrival to attend Buhler High School. But the Kansas Court of Appeals reversed the conviction last year, saying the trial judge improperly allowed evidence that Young had sexually abused his stepsons. Now, the Kansas Supreme Court wants the lower court to reconsider its ruling based on a previous appellate court ruling addressing the admissibility of prior sexual crime evidence. The Hutchinson News reports that Young remains incarcerated.=================KC Plaza Jewelry Store Robbed as Owner AttackedKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police say two men with hammers robbed a jewelry store on the Country Club Plaza, despite the efforts of the store's owner to stop them. Investigators say the men came into Vinca Jewelry Sunday afternoon and smashed the displays before taking some of the jewelry. Owner Simon Zouein says he fought with one of the men for several minutes and eventually ran out of the store. He suffered minor injuries. Police say the two men escaped in a maroon Dodge Neon with a broken passenger-side window. Vinca Jewelry was the scene of a million-dollar robbery in 2010 when thieves cut into the building during the night. That robbery was never solved.================= Police Identify KC Girl Hit by Ice Cream TruckKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police have identified the 8-year-old girl who died after she was hit by an ice cream truck. Police identified the girl Sunday night as Lillian E. Simon of Kansas City. Investigators say Lillian was hit by the truck after she ran in front of it Friday evening in the northern part of the city. She died later of her injuries. Police say the truck had pulled over to serve a customer, and when the driver started moving again, hit the girl as she darted in front of the vehicle. No citations have been issued.================= 5-Year-Old Girl, Firefighter Burned in House BlazeKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 5-year-old girl has died and a firefighter who tried to save her suffered second-degree burns to the face after a house fire in Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas City Star reports the fire was reported just after 4 am Sunday, and when emergency crews arrived they found heavy flames coming from the rear and center sections of the home. The girl was found in or near a bedroom at the back of the house, which had no smoke detectors. A woman and a 7-year-old girl escaped and were taken to an area hospital for evaluation. The name of the victim and other occupants weren't released pending notification of relatives. The cause remains under investigation.==================Missouri Man Gets 14 Years for al-Qaida SupportKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City businessman who pleaded guilty more than three years ago to providing financial support to al-Qaida has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. Khalid Ouazzani was sentenced in a Kansas City federal court Monday. The 35-year-old had faced up to 65 years in prison for bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to support a terrorist group. In his plea bargain, Ouazzani admitted making false claims to borrow money for a used auto parts business and wiring the proceeds to a bank in Dubai. That money was used to purchase an apartment that later sold for a $17,000 profit, which was given to al-Qaida. Ouazzani also admitted sending the terror group $6,500 from the sale of his business. Prosecutors say Ouazzani swore an oath of allegiance to al-Qaida.

A Thomson Reuters analysis of what the privately insured spend on health care shows that it's wrong to presume that a region with high Medicare spending also has a cost problem from private insurance.

Special Counsel Jack Smith says U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon was wrong when she dismissed the case against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified and top-secret documents.