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Here are the AP headlines for our area, as compiled by KPR news staffers.

Here's a look at area news headlines from the Associated Press, as compiled by the KPR News Team.

Here's a summary of today's news headlines from Associated Press, as compiled by KPR staff.

Here's a look at area news headlines from the Associated Press, as compiled by the KPR News Team.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A conservative social agenda that rewrote the state's abortion, gun rights and voter ID rules dominated Kansas's top stories of 2013, underscoring the state's persistent move to the right under Governor Sam Brownback.Reporters and editors for The Associated Press picked the state's changes to abortion laws as Kansas's top story, as legislators enacted a sweeping law that bans sex-selection abortions, blocks tax breaks for providers and prohibits them from furnishing instructors or materials for public schools' sexuality courses. The new restrictions also affect providers' websites and spell out what information patients must receive before their pregnancies are terminated. Most of the law took effect in July, with lawsuits pending in state and federal court, as the state's legal costs mounted.Government leaders were also busy on other social issues. With a push from the National Rifle Association, Kansas became the first state to attempt to restrict the use of state funds for lobbying or advocacy on gun issues, and it also enacted a law declaring that the federal government has no power to regulate firearms, ammunition or accessories manufactured, sold and kept in Kansas. Lawmakers also passed a measure to ensure that people with valid concealed carry permits can bring their weapons into more public buildings.The year also saw Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach champion a law that requires new voters to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship when they register, as an anti-fraud measure. The law took effect in January, and the list of voters whose registrations were on hold -- preventing them from legally casting ballots -- grew to more than 18,000. Kobach initiated a federal lawsuit, working with Arizona, in hopes of forcing federal officials to modify their registration form to aid in the law's enforcement, and the American Civil Liberties Union launched its own litigation.The year's number-2 story came December 13 when the FBI foiled an alleged plot by a Wichita avionics technician to detonate a car bomb inside the city's Mid-Continent Regional Airport. Terry Lee Loewen was charged with plotting with undercover FBI agents to collect explosives, put them in a vehicle and drive them into the airport terminal in an act of "violent jihad."Prosecutors claimed Loewen became radicalized toward violence against the U.S. after searching for and downloading documents about jihad. Loewen, who had loaded his vehicle with explosives that he didn't know were inert, was arrested on the morning he planned the attack as he tried to enter the airport gate.The number-3 story was drought, and for a change the news was mostly good. Drought conditions eased significantly across Kansas, bolstering predictions for better crops of corn, sorghum and soybeans. But by the end of summer, dry conditions remained a problem for some growers, especially in the state's northwest corner where heat was again wilting crops.The rest of the top 10:No. 4 — HEALTH CARE: Kansas opted out of having its own, state-run online health insurance marketplace, leaving uninsured Kansas to navigate the troubled federal website after its startup in October. Also, legislators blocked any expansion of the state's Medicaid program as contemplated by the federal health care law, complaining about the potential cost. The state turned over the administration of its Medicaid program to three private companies, and Governor Sam Brownback proclaimed that the state was delivering better care at less costs, though by the end of the year, hospitals were complaining that they were seeing long delays in reimbursements.No. 5 — BRADLEY MANNING: Chelsea Manning, the Army private formerly known as Bradley Manning, was convicted and sentenced in August to serve a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth for sending more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Manning has threatened to go to court over her desire to live as a woman and receive hormone replacement therapy.No. 6 — SEACAT TRIAL: Former Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy Brett Seacat was convicted in June in the death of his wife after a trial in which prosecutors contend he set fire to the family's home in Kingman to destroy evidence as their two young sons slept down the hall.No. 7 — KANSAS FARM BODIES: An Ottawa man was charged with killing four people on an eastern Kansas farm in May. Kyle T. Flack, who was 28 at the time, was charged with capital murder, first-degree murder, rape and criminal possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say he killed three adults and an 18-month-old girl in late April and early May. No motive has been publicly alleged.No. 8 — SCHOOL FUNDING. The Kansas Supreme Court heard arguments in October in the state's appeal of a ruling requiring legislators to increase annual spending on public schools by at least $440 million, after negotiations with lawyers for aggrieved parents and school districts didn't go anywhere.No. 9 — SOUTHEAST KANSAS FAMILY KILLED. A 22-year-old southeast Kansas man remained jailed on $5 million bond and facing capital murder charges after being arrested for the November killings of a Parsons woman and her three young children.No. 10 — 'HARD 50' FIX. In June, a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Virginia case raised questions about the constitutionality of the Kansas law that allows people convicted of first-degree murder to be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 50 years. Brownback called a special session for September, and lawmakers passed a fix in two days. But the special session also raised questions about whether the law should be even tougher.Other stories drawing attention:— JUDICIAL SELECTION: Brownback and conservative Republicans who want to change how Kansas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court members are selected succeeded in changing the process for the Court of Appeals but not the higher court, so that the Court of Appeals judges are chosen by the governor, with Senate confirmation. Brownback appointed his chief counsel, Caleb Stegall, to a new Court of Appeals position, then touched off protests by refusing to release the names of all applicants. Stegall was confirmed by the Senate during the special session.— TOPEKA KILLINGS: A 45-year-old woman with a history of past drug offenses was found shot and seriously wounded behind a central Topeka restaurant on December 1. As they were investigating, police went to her home and found the bodies of her 43-year-old brother, 56-year-old ex-husband and a 34-year-old woman, all shot to death. The first woman died, giving Topeka its first quadruple homicide.— BORDER WAR. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon called for a moratorium on efforts by his state and Kansas to use incentives to lure businesses across their shared line in the Kansas City area. But Nixon, a Democrat, got flak from Republicans in both states. In Missouri, he was accused of trying to grab more power over economic development programs, while in Kansas, GOP lawmakers said their state shouldn't abandon a winning strategy.— SPORTING KC: The professional soccer team, with its home in Kansas City, Kansas won Major League Soccer's championship in December, making it the first Kansas team to win a professional title.— KU PROFESSOR'S TWEET: University of Kansas journalism professor David Guth sparked outrage with a tweet after September shootings that killed 13 people in Washington, D.C. It said, "The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you."— ABORTION CLINIC: In April, an abortion clinic opened up in Wichita in the same building where slain abortion provider George Tiller worked before his 2009 murder.— ESCAPED INMATES STANDOFF: Two inmates who fled a Kansas prison in May were charged in Missouri where they were accused of trying to ambush the officers pursuing them and of attempting to kidnap the mayor of the small town where they were eventually captured after less than a day on the run.— HEPATITIS C INFECTIONS: A traveling medical technician who stole painkillers and infected dozens of patients with hepatitis C in multiple states, including Kansas, was sentenced to nearly 40 years in prison in December. Six patients in Hays were among the more than 40 people affected by the infections.

WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani says the old advice around losing weight through determination and resilience and willpower was wrong: "The truth is that this is a chronic condition."

Here's a look at area headlines from the Associated Press, as compiled by KPR news staffers.

Here are the headlines for our listening area, as compiled by KPR news staffers.

Lawsuit Against Kobach Returned to Kansas CourtTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union that a state court should decide a lawsuit challenging Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's enforcement of the state's voter-citizenship rule. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren in Wichita returned the lawsuit Tuesday to Shawnee County District Court. The ACLU filed the case last year in state court, challenging plans by Kobach to create separate rules for Kansans using a state registration form and those using a federal form. The state form requires voters to provide documents proving their U.S. citizenship. The federal form does not. Kobach wanted the ACLU lawsuit heard by Melgren. Kansas and Arizona have sued the federal government and Melgren last month ordered a modification of the national voter registration form.===============Governor Signs Kansas Jobless Tax Bill TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has signed a bill that he says will save Kansas employers about $42 million by adjusting their payments to the fund that pays benefits to unemployed workers. Brownback had a signing ceremony Tuesday at Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Kansas. Executives from the electronic health records company attended, along with state Labor Secretary Lana Gordon and officials of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. Brownback's office says the bill will lower payments for about 44,000 businesses. Employers who've paid more into the fund than their workers have received in benefits will see a 15 percent cut in rates. The measure also provides a discounted rate to non-construction employers who open businesses in Kansas.===============KS Teachers Vow to Fight for RightsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Leaders of the top Kansas teachers' union are vowing to continue the fight through November's elections against the Legislature's vote to eliminate tenure. Lawmakers inserted the provision Sunday into a bill that increases state funding for public schools. The measure is now on Governor Sam Brownback's desk. The Kansas National Education Association said Tuesday that ending tenure would limit teachers' ability to advocate for their students' best interests. The union also says depriving teachers of the administrative due process provided by tenure puts their jobs in jeopardy. Proponents of the change included conservative Republicans and the group Americans for Prosperity. They argued the move would give local school boards and administrators more power to remove underperforming teachers and would improve the quality of public education.===============Kansas Lawmakers OK Tougher Medicaid Fraud LawTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is praising legislators for unanimously approving a measure to increase penalties for defrauding the state's Medicaid program. Schmidt said Monday the bill approved over the weekend also would make it easier to fine people who file false Medicaid claims. The Medicaid program is funded jointly by states and the federal government and provides health coverage for the needy and disabled. Kansas law now carries a presumed sentence of two years' probation for a first-time offender convicted of defrauding Medicaid of $25,000 or more. Under the bill, a person defrauding Medicaid of between $100,000 and $250,000 would face nearly three years in prison. Someone defrauding the program of $250,000 or more would face almost five years in prison.===============Salina Voters Back $111 Million Bond IssueSALINA, Kan. (AP) — An election conducted by mail has ended with voters in the Salina school district approving a $111 million bond issue. Participation was nearly 66 percent in the mail-in balloting, which ended at noon Tuesday. KSAL-AM reports that Saline County clerk Don Merriman announced shortly after the deadline that roughly 8,400 ballots were cast in favor, with about 5,600 against. About 500 votes remained to be counted. Funds from the bond issue will address numerous needs in the district, including safety and security, all-day kindergarten and career and technical education. Officials also plan improvements at both high schools in the central Kansas district and construction of storm shelters at all schools.===============Investigation into County Health Director RevivedSALINA, Kan. (AP) — The Saline County sheriff is reopening an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against the county's health director, who started work Monday. Bronson Farmer said he is more concerned about his new job as director of the Saline County Health Department than he is about Sheriff Glen Kochanowski's decision to reopen the investigation. The Salina Journal reports a woman alleged that Farmer sexually harassed her in 2006, when they both worked at the health department. Farmer said Monday that the allegations were found to be false in 2007 and he is confident the new investigation will result in the same finding. Kochanowski says he reopened the case because some people involved in the original investigation were not interviewed. He says the interviews could change the finding, or confirm it.===============Police Seek Federal Help in Highway ShootingsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police are asking federal investigators to help determine whether more than a dozen shootings in less than a month along Kansas City-area roads and highways are connected. Three drivers have been wounded by gunfire as they drove along area highways, many in an area called the Grandview Triangle, where three interstate highways intersect. Ten of the 13 shootings happened in Kansas City, including Sunday evening when a 57-year-old man was eastbound on Interstate 470 when he was shot in the left calf. The other three shootings were in the suburbs of Leawood, Blue Springs and Lee's Summit. Police spokesman Tye Grant says Chief Darryl Forté met with FBI officials on Monday and has asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to assist.===============County Commission Wants Input on Prairie ChickenGARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Finney County commissioners say they want to have a say in the federal government's efforts to decide the regulations for the lesser prairie chicken. The commission signed a letter Monday to the Bureau of Land Management asking for coordinating status while the agency devises a plan to regulate the lesser prairie chicken and its habitat. The bird was designated as a threatened species in March. The BLM had asked Kansas counties affected by the decision to participate in the process. But county commissioners said they want more than just input, and being given coordinating status would ensure more of a voice. The Garden City Telegram reports that coordinating status would mean the BLM must consider the county's concerns because the county previously adopted a Natural Resource Coordination Plan.=============== Fort Riley Opening Center for Sex Assault VictimsFORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Fort Riley is opening a new Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center this week to assist survivors of sexual assault and help prevent the abuse from happening again. Major General Paul Funk II, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, will tour the center after it opens Wednesday and hear about the various services to be offered. The center on the northeast Kansas Army post will have eight staff members, including three victim advocates and a special agent with the Criminal Investigation Division. It will be open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm during all duty days. Fort Riley says team members also will be available outside of the normal hours, as necessary.=============== Legislature Funds Wichita State Innovation CampusTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita State University officials are celebrating after the Kansas Legislature approved $2 million for a new effort to create more technology jobs. The university also will get back some of the millions it lost last year when lawmakers cut its budget and put a cap on some employees' salaries. Wichita State wants to create an Innovation Campus by forming partnerships with companies, which will be housed in four buildings on campus. The Wichita Eagle reports that the effort to attract and train technology jobs is designed to make the city's economy more diverse and less dependent on aviation companies. The Legislature gave the university discretion in how it will use the money, whether for building the complex or paying operating costs.===============Man Found Guilty in Salina HomicideSALINA, Kan. (AP) — A Salina man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of a 27-year-old mother of five children. A Saline County District Court jury on Tuesday also found Dane DeWeese guilty of conspiracy to commit murder for his role in the April 2013 death of Kristin Tyler. Tyler's body was found in rural Salina about two weeks after her family and friends last had contact with her. The Salina Journal reports that the jury deliberated only about two hours before convicting DeWeese. He will be sentenced June 16. Another man, Joel Heil, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in Tyler's death. He is scheduled to go on trial May 7.===============Former City Councilman Admits Child Sex CrimesCOLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — A former city councilman and school crossing guard from southeast Kansas has pleaded guilty to six counts of child sex crimes. Seventy-nine-year-old Stanley Pickering, of Baxter Springs, has been jailed since his arrest in January. KOAM-TV reports that Pickering pleaded guilty Tuesday in Cherokee County District Court to criminal sodomy, indecent liberties with a child and indecent solicitation of a child. The Kansas attorney general's office says two of the counts carry the potential for life in prison without the chance of parole for 25 years. Pickering resigned as an elementary school crossing guard and from the Baxter Springs City Council after his arrest. He remained on the ballot for last week's council election, but he lost to a write-in candidate. Officials have said none of the offenses occurred on school property.===============Judge Affirms Verdict in Brother's ID Theft CaseWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has upheld the convictions in Kansas against a man who posed for decades as his dead infant brother to escape child support obligations and legal difficulties in Canada. U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten rejected on Monday a defense effort to set aside the jury verdict in the case of Leslie Lyle Camick, a telecommunications field engineer who lived in Winfield. A federal jury in January found him guilty of aggravated identity theft, obstruction of justice, mail fraud and wire fraud. The judge refused to accept the defense argument that Camick committed no identity theft by taking his late brother's name, because that is how everyone knew him in the United States. Marten said a successful deception is still a deception. Sentencing is April 21.===============Cosmosphere Capsule Headed for Exhibit in GermanyHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson is preparing to launch the Liberty Bell 7 space capsule on a trip to Germany. The capsule, flown by Gus Grissom in a 1961 space flight, will leave the Cosmosphere in August to be part of an exhibit in Bonn, Germany from October to February 2015. The Hutchinson News reports that the Cosmosphere is planning an exhibit beginning May 10 that will showcase the artifacts from Grissom's 15-minute suborbital space flight, including survival gear, medical equipment and personal items he had on board. The Liberty Bell sank in the Atlantic Ocean after Grissom's flight. It was recovered in 1999 by the Cosmosphere's SpaceWorks team and the Discovery Channel. Spaceworks restored it, and it has been at the Cosmosphere for eight years.=============== Great Bend to Host Annual Farm, Ranch ExpoGREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) — Organizers of the annual Great Bend Farm and Ranch Expo say the event is expected to draw more than 500 exhibitors and thousands of spectators. The exhibition runs Wednesday through Friday at the Great Bend Expo complex, located about 2 miles west of the city. Admission is free. This is the third year for the expo. Some of the new attractions include demonstrations on low-stress cattle handling and horse training. Speakers from Kansas State University will discuss their research. Demonstrations of combines and sprayers are also planned.

Here's a summary of the day's Kansas and regional news from the Associated Press.