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As they fought to keep Sean "Diddy" Combs out of jail after his sex trafficking arrest, the music mogul's lawyers highlighted a litany of horrors at the Brooklyn federal lockup where he was headed.

Three jurors who condemned Moore to death, a former state prison director, Moore's trial judge, his son and daughter, and pastors called for the governor to change his sentence to life without parole.

Following court decisions restricting the Trump administration's policies on immigration enforcement and cuts to federal agencies GOP lawmakers are pushing back. But they're split on how to respond.

Amber Guyger, who is white, said she entered the wrong apartment thinking it was her own, and shot Botham Shem Jean, 26, because she thought he was a burglar. Her trial begins on Monday.

U.S. taxpayers pay $30 billion a year to fund biomedical research aimed at finding better treatments. But competition for scarce funding and tenure may be prompting some scientists to cut corners.

Oleksandra Kuvshynova's parents say Fox News put their daughter in harm's way unnecessarily, then promoted a false account of her death. They also point blame at a reporter who was with her that day.

Brownback Names Former Adviser to Kansas Supreme Court TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback says Caleb Stegall is "one of the most qualified people" to ever be named to the Kansas Supreme Court. Brownback named his former aide to the high court on Friday and called him "brilliant." He put the 42-year-old on the Court of Appeals last year after he spent three years as the governor's chief counsel. Stegall was one of 13 people who applied for the seat Justice Nancy Moritz gave up to take a seat on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appointment does not require state Senate confirmation. An online magazine Stegall edited in 2005 encouraged "forcible resistance" to state and federal court orders to save the life of a brain-damaged Florida woman, though he later said it only advocated civil disobedience. In a 2008 online newspaper chat, he called the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 ruling legalizing abortion "weak."==============================Kansas Tax Collections $4M Lower Than Expected in AugustTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new report says Kansas collected $4 million less in taxes than expected in August. The Department of Revenue said Friday the state took in $421 million in taxes, about 1 percent below the official forecast of $425 million. The department called revenues flat but said there are signs of economic growth in the figures. Corporate income tax collections exceeded expectations for the month. The state saw a slight surplus in tax collections in July. Since the current fiscal year began July 1, the state has collected about $829 million in revenues, against projections of nearly $832 million. The difference is about $2.4 million, or 0.3 percent. The numbers are likely to renew a political debate over massive income tax cuts enacted at Republican Governor Sam Brownback's urging.==============================Kansas Gets One-Year Waiver of Federal Schools LawKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has received a one-year extension of a waiver that gives it more flexibility in meeting some of the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind education law. The U.S. Department of Education also granted an extension Thursday to Indiana. Kansas first was granted a waiver in 2012, but was told last August it was at "high risk" of losing it because the state hadn't taken enough steps to use student achievement data as part of teacher evaluations. Interim Kansas Education Commissioner Brad Neuenswander said he was "pleased." The Kansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says education evaluation systems will incorporate the student data as a "significant" factor this year. But those student growth measures will not be used to make personnel decisions until the 2017-18 school year.===============================Thousands Lose Power After Wichita Car CrashWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Most of the thousands of people who lost electricity in south Wichita after a car hit a utility pole have had their power restored. Westar Energy spokeswoman Gina Penzig says 11,600 Wichitans were affected Thursday night after the car overturned and rolled into the power pole. The utility replaced the power pole overnight and says all but a handful of customers had their power back Friday morning. Wichita police say the car driver was taken into custody.=============================== Judge Says Suspect's Statements Can Be Used in TrialOTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ruled that statements from the suspect in a quadruple homicide in Kansas can be used at his trial. Franklin County District Court Judge Eric Godderz ruled Friday that statements from 29-year-old Kyle Flack will be admitted during his trial in September 2015. Flack is charged in the deaths of two men, one woman and the woman's 18-month-old daughter in May 2013. The adults' bodies were found outside Ottawa. The child's body was found in nearby Osage County. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Flack made the statements during questioning by investigators. The defense contended the questioning should have ended at least twice because Flack twice mentioned legal representation. Godderz ruled that the statements appeared to be voluntary.==============================KU Police Using New Body-Mounted CamerasLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - University of Kansas police officers have begun wearing body-mounted cameras this week. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the department spent more than $7,000 to buy eight cameras this spring to outfit all officers on duty at any given time. Officers tested the new technology this summer before introducing it Monday. The department's captain, James Anguiano, says it's now department policy for officers to wear the technology at all times during their shifts. The University of Kansas Police Department is the only law enforcement agency serving Lawrence to use body-mounted cameras. Anguiano says he thinks the cost of the cameras is why some other law enforcement agencies don't use the technology.===============================Spirit AeroSystems Offers Voluntary RetirementsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Spirit AeroSystems is offering a voluntary retirement program to some management and salaried employees in Wichita and Kinston, North Carolina. Company spokesman Ken Evans said Thursday the employees must be older than 55 and have worked at least 10 years with Spirit to qualify for the program. Employees have until September 12 to express an interest in the buyout, although that doesn't commit them to retiring or guarantee they will be offered the buyout. Executives and stress and design engineers are excluded from the offer. Evans says the company has no specific number of employees it wants to retire. The Wichita Eagle reports ( http://bit.ly/VUVLrf ) Spirit is making other changes to cut costs, such as bolstering top management, reducing overtime for hourly workers and trying to sell its Tulsa wing plant.==============================Westar Energy Changes Retirees' BenefitsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Westar Energy is notifying its retired employees that they will have to find their own Medicare supplemental plans beginning January 1. Previously, the employees had received group coverage through the company. Westar spokeswoman Gina Penzig says the change will affect about 1,700 retirees who are older than 65 and qualify for Medicare. She says the employees will be paid a stipend to buy individual Medicare supplemental plans, known as Part B. Penzig says the company believes at least 96 percent of the employees will end up with better plans than they had under the current Westar benefits. Westar says it currently spends about $3.5 million a year for retiree health benefits.==============================Sedgwick District Attorney Warns of Mail TheftWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The Sedgwick County district attorney says reports of mail theft are increasing in Wichita. Marc Bennett said Thursday that thieves are targeting government checks and credit card applications. He says they typically steal during the day. Wichita police recorded 134 cases of mail theft since January. Sixty of those happened in the past three months. Bennett says thieves use personal information from stolen mail for identity theft. He suggests residents collect their mail when it's delivered, buy a mailbox lock or rent a post office box. Mail theft can be a misdemeanor, felony or federal crime depending on what is taken.===============================Kansas Woman Convicted in Death of 4-Year-OldHIAWATHA, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas woman has been convicted in last year's beating death of her boyfriend's 4-year-old son. KNZA-FM reports that 30-year-old Janice Summerford entered Alford pleas Friday to second-degree murder, child abuse and interfering with law enforcement. An Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors can likely prove the charges. Summerford, of Hiawatha, had been facing trial next month for the death of Mekhi Boone in March 2013. She was initially charged with aiding and abetting a death, but Brown County prosecutors upgraded the charge to first-degree murder after learning Summerford was the child's primary caregiver. Mekhi's father, Lee Davis IV, was convicted earlier of second-degree murder and felony child abuse and sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison.==============================KHP Seeks Witness to Pedestrian DeathOVERBROOK, Kan (AP) - Authorities are asking the public for help in finding witnesses to the hit-and-run death of a northeast Kansas pedestrian. Twenty-year-old Timothy Kemble of Carbondale was found dead around 5am Sunday along U.S. Highway 56 in Osage County. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Thursday that investigators hope to talk with anyone who was driving on the highway near Overbrook between 4:30 and 5:30 am Sunday. Investigators are also trying to locate the driver of a tractor-trailer that was in the area at that time. The Highway Patrol says the driver is not a suspect, but could have helpful information.==============================Osage County Sheriff Investigates Infant DeathYNDON, Kan. (AP) - A northeast Kansas sheriff's office is investigating the death of a baby who stopped breathing at a day care facility. Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn said in a news release that the infant died earlier this week while being taken to a hospital. The baby was identified as 4-month-old Brody Johnston, of Scranton. The sheriff says his parents wanted the public to know their donation of their son's organs have saved the lives of two other infants. An autopsy has been performed, but the sheriff said Thursday the cause of death has not been determined. Osage County health officials closed the day care for two days while they investigated.==============================Newton Council OKs Financing for Chemical PlantNEWTON, Kan. (AP) - The City Council in Newton has approved financing for a company that plans to build a chemical manufacturing plant at the city's airport. The estimate for Wichita-based ABI Group's project is $6.5 million, which would fund a 20,000-squre-foot manufacturing facility, a 5,000-square-foot hangar and a taxiway. The Wichita Eagle reports ABI Chemicals plans to use the space to make aerospace coatings being developed in conjunction with Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research. Newton plans to lease the facilities to ABI Chemicals for 20 years at rates that will cover debt service payments on a loan from Citizens State Bank.==============================Salina Man Found Guilty in Bicyclist's DeathSALINA, Kan. (AP) - A Saline County jury found a 64-year-old Salina man guilty of misdemeanor vehicular homicide in the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist. Lewis Grider also was found guilty Thursday of felony leaving the scene of an accident in the May 2013 death of bicyclist Gail Kline. He will remain free on bond until his sentencing October 20. The Salina Journal reports that before the verdict, Grider testified that he felt something hit his delivery van and stopped to survey the damage. Believing he had hit a deer, he continued on his trip. The 49-year-old Kline was hit as she was riding alone west of Salina as part of the Kandango Bicycle Tour. A trucker found her in a ditch and called emergency officials.==============================Kansas City Man Gets Lower Sentences for 2 MurdersKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Jackson County jury has recommended new, lower sentences for a man convicted of two murders in Kansas City. Twenty-three-year-old Eria Doss was earlier sentenced to four life sentences plus 200 years for the April 2009 deaths of Andrew Eli and Justin Burdreau during a robbery at Eli's apartment. A Missouri appeals court last year ordered that he be resentenced because the jury in his trial heard improper evidence about his juvenile records. On Wednesday, the jury recommended 30 years each on two convictions of second-degree murder, 10 years for a first-degree robbery conviction and three years on three counts of armed criminal action. He will be sentenced September 26. Prosecutors will recommend the sentences run consecutively. Two co-defendants are already serving prison sentences.===============================Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Trying to Kill Mother WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for trying to kill his 86-year-old mother. Fifty-three-year-old Glenn Fishburn was sentenced Wednesday for attempted second-degree murder and kidnapping after he attacked his mother with a baseball bat and machete in April. Police say Fishburn became upset with his mother when she confronted him about his drinking. She suffered cuts and broken bones. The Wichita Eagle reports that Fishburn originally was charged with attempted first-degree murder but pleaded guilty in July to the reduced charge.==============================Principal Helps Save Kansas Man with CPRKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas cardiologist says a school principal who performed CPR on one of his patients helped save the man's life. 70-year-old John Williams was stricken August 18 outside Turner Sixth Grade Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, where he had to gone to pick up a child. A secretary alerted principal Miranda Hoit that a man had collapsed in the parking lot. Hoit found Williams unresponsive and began CPR while others called 911. Williams was in a coma for eight days and awoke Wednesday at Providence Medical Center. Dr. Hector Rodriguez, a cardiologist, said Williams has a damaged heart and is prone to arrhythmia. Without Hoit's actions, the doctor says, Williams "would not be here today." Williams said he's feeling pretty good, but can't believe he missed eight days.==============================Topeka Jeweler Accused of Buying Stolen GoodsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man is accused of knowingly buying stolen jewelry at his Topeka store, then reselling it as scrap gold. The U.S. Attorney's office says 53-year-old John Dasher, of Silver Lake, made a first court appearance Thursday on 32 counts of money laundering and one count of transporting stolen property. Court records did not list an attorney for Dasher. Prosecutors said Dasher bought gold jewelry at his store, The Diamond House, that he knew had been stolen in home invasions in the Topeka area. The indictment alleges he melted the stolen jewelry and sold it as gold scrap to precious metal wholesalers. Authorities allege the wholesalers paid Dasher more than $430,000 from November 2008 to April 2013.==============================Smoking Materials Caused KU Fraternity FireLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Investigators say a fire at a University of Kansas fraternity house was caused by improperly disposed of smoking materials. No injuries were reported after the fire Tuesday at the Sigma Chi fraternity house. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire official Shaun Coffey said Thursday the fire caused an estimated $150,000 in damage. Flames were contained to the third floor but lower floors had smoke and water damage. The Lawrence Journal-World reports fraternity members said a bathroom and bedrooms sustained the most damage. The 74 residents of the home were allowed to return to the house Tuesday evening. Coffey said he did not know what type of smoking materials caused the fire.==============================Kansas State University to Offer Massive Open Online CourseMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University has announced that a health and wellness course will be its first "massive open online course." The school joins dozens of leading universities that have begun offering free, digital versions of their most popular courses. The so-called MOOCs allow tens of thousands of students to take a class at the same time. But dropout rates often hover around 90 percent. The Kansas State course will teach about the changes that can be made to improve health, physical fitness and overall well-being. The first cycle of the course will be taught October 6 to November 15, with content remaining open to students until December 12. Assistant human nutrition professor Linda Yarrow says the class format encourages instructors to be creative and innovative in their educational offerings.==============================Effort Underway to Bring Movie Theater to HiawathaHIAWATHA, Kan. (AP) — A group of residents in Hiawatha are trying to bring a movie theater back to the northeast Kansas town. Hiawatha's Twin Theatre closed about a week ago after voters in April rejected an initiative that would have funded the construction of a new city-owned theater. Now, a nonprofit group called Hiawatha ACES has launched a fundraising drive to buy and renovate the 40-year-old Twin Theatre. The St. Joseph News-Press reports that the group estimates it would cost $200,000 to update the theater. For now, small improvements and maintenance will begin, with a goal of reopening the theater by the holiday season. However, a second proposal to fund a city-owned movie theater will be on the ballot in November. If it passes, the plans to renovate the Arrow Twin will stop.==========================KC Man Accused of Stealing Police Car DisappearsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two days after a homeless Kansas City man is accused of stealing a police squad car and abandoning it in northern Missouri, investigators say they've not seen any signs of the 30-year-old suspect. Joshua Boyd was charged Thursday in Jackson County with second-degree robbery and resisting arrest in connection with the theft early Wednesday of a Kansas City police cruiser from a gas station after an officer confronted him. The car was found on Interstate 35 near Pattonsburg, about an hour north of Kansas City, but a shotgun that had been in the vehicle was missing. Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Jake Angle said Friday his agency has received no tips or reports of suspicious activity, which he says is surprising because Boyd was believed to be on foot.===============================No. 20 K-State Wary of Opening Against FCS FoesKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas State...ranked number 20 in national college football polls...knows well the perils of playing an FCS school the first weekend of the season. The Wildcats were stunned by North Dakota State last year. This time, it's Stephen F. Austin that rolls into town looking for an upset. The Wildcats return a bevy of talent from a team that rebounded from its season-opening loss to win eight times, though. And the Lumberjacks are coming off a three-win season that resulted in the hiring of coach Clint Conque away from Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas. Kansas State will be guarding against looking ahead on Saturday night. Big 12 play begins next week at Iowa State, and a showdown with number 6-ranked Auburn looms after that.===============================Kansas City Chiefs Turn Attention to Roster, Regular SeasonKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — After four preseason clunkers, the Chiefs know things are about to get real. General manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid were planning to meet Friday to discuss final roster cuts, which are due Saturday afternoon. Then, a chance to sign waived players on Sunday and the start of preparations for the regular-season opener against Tennessee. Dorsey and Reid have several difficult decisions to make. They are enamored of all four quarterbacks on their roster, though Reid can't recall ever keeping that many when he was in Philadelphia. And with suspensions and injuries at wide receiver, the Chiefs could be keeping some around simply out of necessity.===============================Sporting KC, Fluminense FC Agree to PartnershipKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — MLS Cup champion Sporting Kansas City and Brazilian power Fluminense FC have agreed to a partnership that will encompass player transfers, academy exchanges and other opportunities. The partnership, which includes international friendlies, goes through the 2016 season. Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said Friday the clubs have been discussing a partnership since February, but that they "did not want this to be a marketing ploy. We wanted this to be beneficial for both clubs on the business and technical side." Fluminense has agreed to loan at least one player per MLS season to Sporting KC and another player to the club's USL PRO affiliates. The two clubs will also collaborate on exchanging youth players, academy staff and training over the course of the partnership.

Connecticut Deaths Have Kansas Governor Focusing on Mental Health Services TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas 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. He 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. Brownback said he's examining whether Kansas spends enough on mental health services and whether the money is spent effectively.================Spokesperson: Governor Has No Timetable for Filling Cabinet JobTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top aide says that Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has no timetable for filling a key Cabinet post in his administration. Spokeswoman Sherriene Jones-Sontag said Brownback expects to name an acting secretary of administration to replace Dennis Taylor, who leaves the job next month. Jones-Sontag said the governor plans to conduct a thorough search for a permanent secretary. Taylor will become executive director of the Kansas Lottery on January 13. He'll replace Dennis Wilson, who resigned earlier this month for health reasons. The secretary of administration is typically a close adviser to the governor, running a department that oversees state contracting, personnel and computer services. Taylor has held city and state government positions for 35 years and served in former Governor Mike Hayden's Cabinet.================Driving Hazardous as Winter Storm Crossed KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Driving was challenging in northeast Kansas Thursday morning, as workers struggled to keep roads clear of snow driven by strong winds. Interstate 70, which was closed on Wednesday, was open statewide Thursday morning with conditions described as icy and snow packed. A semitrailer was off the road near the Douglas-Shawnee county line as traffic was moving noticeably slower. The Kansas Department of Transportation reported that a stretch of U.S. 36 from just west of Troy to the Missouri border was closed in northeast Kansas. More than 30 schools called off classes across the state, with some opening late. Governor Sam Brownback delayed the opening of state offices in Shawnee County until midmorning, while only essential staff members were required to report to Fort Leavenworth. At the height of the storm, Kansas City Power & Light reported about 40,000 outages in Missouri and Kansas. The numbers were down to 380 in Kansas and 6,000 in Missouri by early afternoon.================ Blowing Snow, Slick Spots Bedevil US 36 in Northeast KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Blowing snow and slick spots have made driving difficult along U.S. 36 in northeast Kansas. A short portion of the highway from Wathena east to the Missouri border was closed Thursday morning because motorists were sliding off the road. But the Kansas Department of Transportation reported that by mid-morning, all roads in northeast Kansas were open. All Star Travel Plaza employee Joetta Wagoner says she slid off the highway twice early Thursday, trying to get to work at the truck stop at the junction of U.S. 36 and U.S. 73 in Hiawatha. She was coming in because two managers couldn't get in. She said only a couple of inches of snow fell, but wind created white-out conditions, preventing people from seeing anything.================ Patrol Blames Winter Weather for Fatal AccidentDODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have identified the man killed in a three-vehicle collision in southwestern Kansas blamed on the season's first big snowstorm. The crash happened amid blizzard conditions shortly before 8 pm Wednesday on U.S. 50, about 13 miles east of Dodge City. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a westbound tractor-trailer and an eastbound GMC vehicle collided head-on. A second westbound vehicle then ran into the others.The crash killed 21-year-old Roy Gaytan, of Dallas, Texas. He was a passenger in the GMC. Authorities initially said it appeared the tractor-trailer had crossed the center line. But the Highway Patrol on Thursday said the crash was still under investigation.================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. The Wichita Eagle reports that 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.================ Some Flights Canceled Due to Midwest Winter StormDALLAS (AP) — American Airlines has canceled about 120 flights due to a winter storm making its snowy way across the Midwest and other bad weather. A spokeswoman for Fort Worth-based American said Thursday that the carrier is trying to delay and not cancel flights for customers trying to make their holiday travel plans. Andrea Huguely says some flights were canceled following thunderstorms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Wednesday night. Some bus travel has also been disrupted by heavy snow and strong winds that combined for blizzard conditions from Kansas to Wisconsin. Maureen Richmond with Dallas-based Greyhound Bus Lines says the carrier's main delays Thursday were in Minnesota and Wisconsin, on routes between Minneapolis and Milwaukee. She did not immediately have figures on cancellations.================Regents Greenlight Tougher Admissions Standards for KUTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Beginning in 2016, students wanting to study at the University of Kansas will have to meet increased admission standards. The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved the new standards. Admission standards will remain the same at the other five regents universities in Kansas. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the new standards will require graduating high school students to complete a pre-college curriculum. For automatic admission, they also will be required to have either a minimum 3.0 GPA and an ACT score of at least 24 or SAT of at least 1090, or a minimum 3.25 GPA and an ACT score of 21 or SAT of 980. A committee will review applications from students who don't meet the criteria for automatic admission.================Kansas Regents Approve Room and Board IncreasesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Students at the state's six universities will pay more for room and board next year. The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved rate increases for all six schools, ranging from a 3.7 percent increase at Emporia State University to 1.08 percent at Fort Hays State. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that other rate increases will be 2.5 percent at the University of Kansas; 3.5 percent at Kansas State and Wichita State universities; and 3 percent at Pittsburg State.================Brownback Urges Moment of Silence for Newtown DeadTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback is urging Kansans to observe a moment of silence this Friday for the victims of the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. Brownback and governors across the country are calling for people to pause and reflect at 9:30 a.m. in local time zones. That's the hour of the shooting last Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The gunman killed 20 first-graders and six adults before committing suicide. He also killed his mother at their home. Brownback described the crime as "senseless" in a news release Wednesday. He says that the state's "hearts and prayers are with everyone in Newtown."================Topeka Police Investigating City's 16th HomicideTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police say a man is in custody for questioning in the stabbing death of a woman. The woman was found dead Wednesday night at an apartment complex. The victim was in her 40s but her name has not been released. Lieutenant Ron Gish says a 23-year-old man is in custody. The Topeka Capital-Journal reportsGish said the suspect told his mother he had stabbed a woman in an apartment. The woman's death is the city's 16th homicide this year.================Drought Continues to Grip MidwestST. LOUIS (AP) — The worst U.S. drought in decades continues its iron-fisted grip across much of the nation's key farming states, though some relief could come from the first major snowstorm of the season trekking eastward across the Midwest. Thursday's weekly U.S. Drought Monitor update shows that roughly 62 percent of the continental U.S. remains in some form of drought, unchanged from the previous week. That number has been above 60 percent largely since July. Nearly 22 percent of the lower 48 states are in extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst categories. That's up a half of a percentage point from a week earlier. The latest numbers are as of Tuesday, before the arrival of the Midwest's first winter snowstorm. All of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma are officially classified as experiencing drought conditions.================Atkins Diet Backer Indicted for Tax EvasionKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence obesity specialist who co-authored the "Atkins Diabetes Revolution" with the late weight loss expert and others has been indicted on tax evasion charges. The U.S. attorney's office said Wednesday that Doctor Mary Vernon is charged with five counts of tax evasion and one count of making a false statement to a bank to obtain a loan. The "Atkins Diabetes Revolution" was published in 2004, a year after the death of Dr. Robert Atkins. The 60-year-old Vernon earned almost $800,000 by working for Atkins' companies from 2003 to 2008. While applying to refinance a home, she is accused of providing documents purported to be income tax returns from 2006 and 2007. But she didn't file returns either year. Vernon didn't immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press.================Midwest, Plains Bankers See Rural Economy GrowingOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of rural bankers shows that rising commodity prices and lower energy costs are helping businesses in Midwestern states and the northern Plains. The Rural Mainstreet Index released Thursday climbed in December, the fourth straight month of growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says the reading is the healthiest recorded since June 2007. The survey showed increases in bank borrowing to purchase farmland and equipment, and rising farmland prices. The December hiring index rose half a point, to 53.5. The home-sales index slipped in December, to 61.3 from November's 62.0. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 representing "growth neutral." It's based on a survey of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.================ Kansas Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Enticing MinorKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 24-year-old Kansas man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for using his cell phone to send graphic texts and photos to a 13-year-old girl. Richard J. Byler of Baxter Springs was sentenced Wednesday. He pleaded guilty earlier to attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. The U.S. Attorney's office for western Missouri says in a release that the child's mother discovered the texts in August 2012 and told authorities. The child met Byler earlier in the summer when she was performing community service at a Joplin non-profit where Byler worked. Federal prosecutors say a law enforcement officer then portrayed himself as the girl on her cell phone, and Byler asked that she send him nude images and proposed meeting for sex.================ Appeals Court Allows Lawsuit in Child's DeathWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit alleging that a Kansas social worker's inaction led to the beating death of a 23-month-old girl. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver Wednesday reversed a ruling by a Kansas court throwing out the lawsuit against Linda Gillen. She no longer works for the Kansas social services agency, but the state is defending her in court. The maternal grandparents of Brooklyn Coons of Coffeyville allege in the lawsuit that Gillen intentionally ignored their complaints about their granddaughter's care. The girl was beaten to death in January 2008. Her father's girlfriend, Melissa Wells, was convicted of murdering the girl. The Wichita Eagle reports the appeals court said the remaining issue is whether Gillen intentionally failed to act on the grandparents' complaints.================ Disbarred KC Attorney Seeks Return of Law LicenseKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A disbarred Kansas City attorney whose conviction for killing his law partner was overturned wants his law license back. Richard Buchli II was convicted in 2002 of first-degree murder in the death of his partner, Richard Armitage, in their Kansas City law office. The Missouri Supreme Court disbarred him in 2005 based on the conviction. A judge overturned the conviction 2006 because evidence was withheld from the defense. Jackson County prosecutors dismissed the case earlier this year after a judge threw out most of the evidence. Buchli is asking the Missouri Supreme Court to rescind his disbarment. The Kansas City Star reports that the Jackson County (Missouri) prosecutor and Armitage's widow object to Buchli getting his law license back.================Convict Among Two Topeka Attorneys DisbarredTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka attorney who stole more than $460,000 from several clients' trust funds and another accused of inadequately representing clients will no longer be able to practice law. Dockets provided by the Kansas Supreme Court on Wednesday show that Robert Telthorst and Steven Rosel have been disbarred. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that the men voluntarily surrendering their law licenses previously. Telthorst pleaded guilty last month to wire fraud and money laundering. He admitted to taking clients' money for his personal use. Meanwhile, three professional conduct complaints had been filed against Rosel. He's accused of making inappropriate advances toward a client's wife and then charging for the time he spent talking to her. Another client says that while he was being interviewed by police, Rosel was "disinterested, and possibly asleep."================Longtime Kansas Teacher Killed in AccidentLOUISBURG, Kan. (AP) — Students and staff at Louisburg High School are mourning the death of a longtime teacher. Miami County authorities say 67-year-old Glenda Beasley was killed Wednesday afternoon on Kansas 68 about one mile west of Louisburg. She had stopped for a school bus that was dropping off children when a pickup truck struck her from behind. Beasley was dead at the scene. The truck driver suffered minor injuries. KMBC-TV reportsBeasley was a business and computer teacher at the high school. She had been a teacher for 29 years and was planning to retire at the end of the school year. About 200 people gathered at the school Wednesday after word of her death spread. Officials said counselors would be on hand Thursday and final exams were postponed.================Kansas Geological Survey to Measure GroundwaterLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Crews from the Kansas Geological Survey will be in western Kansas in early January to measure groundwater levels in more than 500 wells. The work is part of the survey's efforts to track changes in the depth of the region's aquifers. The University of Kansas said in a news release that crews will work near Colby, Goodland, Syracuse and Liberal during the first week of January. The state's Division of Water Resources will measure water levels in nearly 900 more wells in the central and western park of the state. The monitoring focuses on the massive High Plains aquifer system, which consists largely of the Ogallala aquifer. The data is used by landowners, state and federal agencies, local groundwater management districts, private entities and the general public.================$50 Million Powerball Ticket Sold in NE KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Someone in northeast Kansas is a new multimillionaire. Kansas lottery officials say a single ticket sold in northeast Kansas matched all six numbers in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing. The jackpot was worth an estimated $50 million. The ticket matched the numbers of 5-8-20-23-30 with a Powerball of 3. State lottery officials say the cash option for the prize is an estimated $32.6 million. Details of where in the ticket was sold were not immediately released.================Chiefs Prepare for Mirthless Home Finale vs ColtsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arrowhead Stadium hasn't been much of a home-field advantage for the Chiefs lately. Kansas City must win its home finale Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts to avoid having a single home win over the course of a season for the third time in five years. Prior to that, the Chiefs had won more than once at Arrowhead Stadium every season since 1977. Kansas City is a combined 12-27 over the past five seasons, a winning percentage of .308 — well below the Chiefs' success rate of better than 57 percent at their 40-year-old home. Empty seats have been multiplying with every loss the past two seasons, too. While the Chiefs' average home attendance remains 69,304 — good for 13th in the NFL — it also represents just 90.3 percent of capacity, better only than six teams in the league.================Chiefs' Charles Focused on Finishing Strong KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles says he's focused on finishing strong after coming back from a devastating knee injury and then dealing with a murder-suicide that hit close to home. Charles tore his left ACL early last season, but has returned to be one of the few bright spots for the 2-12 Chiefs. He's run for 1,230 yards and four touchdowns this year. What he's overcome physically pales in comparison to what he's dealt with emotionally. Three weeks ago Saturday, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot to death his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, and then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide. Perkins was the cousin of Charles's wife, Whitney, and Charles introduced her to Belcher. Charles declined to talk about the shootings Thursday, saying "I just want to talk about football."================Storm Closes Roads in KSTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Portions of two major highways in northwestern Kansas have been closed because of hazardous winter weather conditions. A powerful storm moving out of the Rockies on Wednesday created near blizzard conditions in portions of the state. Transportation officials closed sections of Interstate 70 and U.S. 36. Blowing snow also contributed to a crash that closed Kansas 96 between Tribune and Leoti. At least two school districts canceled Wednesday classes ahead of the storm. **this story has been updated. Please see above. ================Snow Storm Dumps Foot of Snow in RockiesDENVER (AP) — A storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rocky Mountains is causing problems for travelers as it spreads across the Plains. The main east-west route across Colorado, Interstate 70, was closed from east of Denver to the Kansas line because of poor visibility due to blowing snow Wednesday. Smaller highways were also closed in eastern Colorado. Drivers in Iowa and Nebraska were being warned to be careful or stop driving altogether starting yesterday evening as the Plains gets its first major winter storm of the season. Light snow was also expected at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Thursday and strong winds could make visibility poor. National Weather Service forecaster Jamie Enderlen says that, combined with low clouds, could cause delays at the nation's second-busiest airport.**this story has been updated. Please see above.

Moran, Jenkins Tour NE Kansas VA Medical CenterTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Senator Jerry Moran says he's received complaints from veterans that they're not being given appointments at US Veterans Affairs facilities. Moran said Friday after a short tour of the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka that his office received about a dozen complaints over the past six months from veterans who have called for medical appointments in Kansas and have been told to call back in six months. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins said her office has received multiple complaints from veterans of having appointments changed a few days before they were scheduled. Jenkins also was on the tour. Their visit comes amid scrutiny of VA facilities across the nation. A local VA spokesman says he's not heard of veterans being denied appointments and being told to call back months later.==============================KS Supreme Court Orders New Sentencing for SoldierTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to resentence a Fort Riley soldier who received five life sentences as a habitual sexual offender. In a unanimous decision announced Friday, the high court upheld the Riley County convictions of Tony Tremayne Lewis on several charges, including rape and aggravated criminal sodomy in three attacks in 2009. He was sentenced as a habitual sexual offender based on earlier conviction in Geary County for rape and other charges. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Supreme Court upheld his convictions, but also ruled that the district court erred when it imposed the sentence based on a misinterpretation of state law regarding enhanced sentences for aggravated habitual sexual offenders. The Supreme Court sent the case sent back to Riley County for resentencing.==============================Lawsuits over Monsanto Wheat Transferred to KansasKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A lawsuit filed in Arkansas against Monsanto over the May 2013 discovery of an isolated field of genetically engineered wheat in Oregon has now landed in federal court in Kansas. The assignment Thursday of the Arkansas case to U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil marks the latest transfer of litigation since a federal judicial panel centralized several lawsuits against St. Louis-based Monsanto. The consolidated pretrial proceedings are all in Kansas. The panel first transferred four civil actions last October, and it has since transferred nine others. Lawsuits were initially filed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Mississippi, Washington, Arkansas and Idaho. Monsanto has contended no legal liability exists given the care undertaken, and it has vowed to present a vigorous defense to the lawsuits.==============================Parolee in Advocate's Death Accused of ViolationTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man convicted in the 2006 killing of an advocate for the homeless has been jailed on suspicion of violating his parole. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports 43-year-old John Ray Cornell was arrested Wednesday. Police said he violated a city ordinance by walking in the street when there was a sidewalk available Cornell's bond was set at $200 on the misdemeanor count. But a spokesman for the state Corrections Department says the agency then had Cornell held without bond on a possible parole violation as officials investigate his arrest. Cornell pleaded guilty to kidnapping and involuntary manslaughter for the death of 38-year-old David Owen near a homeless camp along the Kansas River. Cornell was paroled last October. Three other people were convicted of first-degree murder in the death.==============================Saline County Concludes Harassment ProbeSALINA, Kan. (AP) — The Saline County sheriff says the department's investigation into sexual harassment claims won't result in charges against the county's health director. Sheriff Glen Kochanowski told The Salina Journal that his office has finished investigating allegations by a former colleague about Saline County Health Department director Bronson Farmer. The woman alleged that Farmer sexually harassed her in 2006, when they both worked at the health department. No charges were filed at the time. Farmer has denied the allegations. The sheriff reopened the case earlier this year because some people involved in the original investigation weren't interviewed. But Kochanowski said Thursday the interviews have been conducted, and the investigation has concluded without any changes from the previous case.==============================Police Say Elderly Kansas Man Found SafeKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police say an 80-year-old man who hadn't been seen since Thursday has been found safe and in good condition. Police say Leroy Bryant went missing after going for a walk about 11 am Thursday. Police say he has Alzheimer's disease. After the department issued a Silver Alert for Bryant, he was found Friday morning in good condition at a restaurant. It did not provide any other information. Bryant arrived in Kansas two days ago from Denver but is originally from the Kansas City area.============================== Kansas Woman Killed in Car-Horse CrashHOLTON, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka woman has died after the car she was in hit a horse in northeast Kansas. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 58-year-old Vicki Barbara Self was killed in the accident in Jackson County (Kansas) on Thursday night. Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says the accident occurred when car she was in struck a horse along U.S. 75 north of Holton. Self was taken to a Topeka hospital where she was pronounced dead. Morse said the horse, which was killed in the collision, was in the roadway when it was struck. Investigators believe the horse was knocked over the top of the vehicle and went partially through the windshield. He says a second southbound vehicle also hit the horse, but no one in the second vehicle was injured.==============================KS Agriculture Department Relocating to ManhattanMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The new address is already on the letterhead as the Kansas Department of Agriculture prepares to complete its 56-mile move from Topeka to Manhattan. KMAN-AM reports that the agency will officially open for business Monday in its new quarters. The three-story building is on the edge of the Kansas State University campus next to the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, which is still under construction. The Agriculture Department announced plans for the move last year, saying it made sense to be located in what officials called the hub for the future of agriculture and biosciences in Kansas. A few employees will remain at an office in Topeka, but about 150 jobs have been moved. Some workers have moved to Manhattan, and as many as 50 will carpool daily from the Topeka area.==============================Kansas Hosting National Speech and Debate EventOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Hotel rooms will be hard to come by in Overland Park starting Sunday as thousands of students, coaches and educators arrive for the National Speech and Debate Tournament. About 7,000 people altogether, including more than 4,000 middle- and high school students, are expected to be in the northeast Kansas community for the weeklong event. The Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau says that 17,800 hotel rooms have been booked for the tournament, about 85 percent of the city's entire hotel inventory. That's more than double the 8,800 rooms booked in 2013 for the U.S. Youth Soccer national championship. Students will compete in a range of categories, including policy debate, dramatic interpretation and congressional debate. Events will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center and at several public schools.==============================Topeka Considering Purchase of Heartland ParkTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka city officials are considering a plan to acquire the financially struggling Heartland Park. The city said in a news release Thursday that the city council would discuss the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday. The news release says the council would consider an agreement that would require the city to issue about $4.7 million in new sales tax revenue bonds to acquire Heartland Park and all associated property from the current owner, Jayhawk Racing. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the motorsports facility has an estimated economic impact of $160 million on the city. Heartland Park has a quarter-mile drag strip with 23 suites, a 2.5-mile championship road course and a 3/8-mile dirt oval track.==============================Memorial to Fallen Educators Dedicated in EmporiaEMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Family members and friends of educators killed in the line of duty say a new memorial in Kansas will keep their memories alive in a world where their killers are usually better known. The Emporia Gazette reports that Crystal McGee was among several who spoke Thursday at a dedication ceremony for the Memorial to Fallen Educators, near the National Teacher's Hall of Fame on the Emporia State University campus. McGee's husband, James McGee, was principal at Goddard Junior High School when a 14-year-old student fatally shot him in 1985. She says the memorial lets families know their loved ones aren't forgotten. Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher Liesl Fressola read the names of her six colleagues gunned down in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. Among them was her best friend.==============================3-Lane I-70 on Project List for Missouri Tax PlanJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri highway officials are proposing to widen Interstate 70 to three lanes in each direction between suburban St. Louis and Kansas City if voters approve a transportation sales tax. The I-70 project between Wentzville and Independence was one of hundreds of items on a proposed project list released Friday by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The agency plans to take public comments through July 3, and the state Highways and Transportation Commission will vote on a final list July 9. Proposed Constitutional Amendment 7 on the August ballot will ask voters whether to impose a three-quarters cent sales tax for transportation that would last for 10 years. The measure says it would raise $534 million annually for state and local governments.==============================Figures Say Kansas Lags Other States in GrowthTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New federal statistics show Kansas's gross domestic product grew slightly faster than the national average last year but still lagged behind most other states in the region. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the U.S. Department of Commerce says Kansas' gross domestic product grew 1.9 percent in 2013. GDP is the value of finished goods and services and is considered a key indicator of economic health. The U.S. saw a 1.8 percent growth in its GDP last year. But the statistics showed that among eight neighboring or Plains states, only Missouri saw lower GDP growth than Kansas, with 0.8 percent. The top GDP growth in the region was North Dakota's 9.7 percent, followed by Oklahoma at 4.2 percent and Colorado at 3.8 percent.==============================Potawatomi Leader Killed in Motorcycle AccidentMAYETTA, Kan. (AP) — A 56-year-old leader in the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in northeast Kansas has died in a motorcycle crash involving a deer. The Kansas Highway Patrol says James Potter of Delia died in the crash Wednesday evening west of Mayetta after his motorcycle hit a deer, left the roadway and landed in a ditch. The patrol says someone driving by early Thursday saw Potter and the motorcycle and notified authorities. Suzanne Heck, editor for the tribe's newspaper and website, said Thursday that Potter was tribal council secretary. An obituary posted on the tribe's website says Potter served on the tribal council for 16 years and had also been on the executive board of National Congress of American Indians. Services are scheduled for Monday, with burial Tuesday at the Danceground Cemetery.==============================Former Regents CEO Takes KU DirectorshipLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A former leader of the state Board of Regents has been named director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Kansas. The appointment of Reggie Robinson was announced Thursday. He replaces Marilu Goodyear, who is leaving the post to become an assistant vice chancellor at the university's Edwards Campus in Overland Park. Robinson holds bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Kansas. He was appointed president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents in 2002, leaving that job in 2010 to teach law at Washburn University and direct its Center of Law and Government. Robinson has also held senior positions in the U.S. Justice Department, and served four years in the Army.==============================KC Arts Leader to Head National Endowment for ArtsWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Missouri arts leader Jane Chu as the next chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. The White House is expected to make an official appointment within days, and Chu will start work at the arts agency. The Senate confirmed her appointment Thursday. Since 2006, Chu has served as president and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. The center is home to the Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. The National Endowment for the Arts has not had a permanent chairman since Rocco Landesman left the post at the end of 2012. The federal agency funds local arts programs produced by groups nationwide.==============================MO Man Pleads Guilty to Arson and Insurance FraudKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A western Missouri man has admitted leading a conspiracy to buy cheap houses and set them on fire to collect nearly $435,000 in insurance benefits. The U.S. Attorney's office says 27-year-old Joshua Stamps, of Independence, Mo. pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges alleging arson and insurance fraud. Prosecutors said Stamps and his co-conspirators bought five Kansas City houses at prices ranging from $6,500 to $15,000 but insured them for as much as $307,000. After setting the houses on fire, the conspirators filed claims for insurance payments. The scheme went on from 2007 through 2013. Stamps' plea agreement requires him to pay a judgment of nearly $435,000. He also faces 10 to 25 years in prison without parole. A sentencing date will be set later.==============================State Investigates Death of Lucas City WorkerLUCAS, Kan. (AP) — A Lucas city worker died while installing a security light in the small northeastern Russell County town. Lucas city clerk Kay Mettlen says the 65-year-old man and another city employee were doing electrical work Thursday morning when he died. The cause of the death is still being investigated. The Salina Journal reports the other worker called for help but the man died at a Russell Hospital. His name has not been released. The Kansas Department of Labor is helping with the investigation.==============================Kansas Judges Ponder Legal Lessons from HolocaustTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dozens of Kansas judges have heard a presentation about how Germany's judiciary aided the Nazis and the Holocaust before and during the Second World War. The presentation Thursday by Marcus Appelbaum and William Meinecke Jr. of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington came during an annual conference for nearly 300 Kansas judges. Both told reporters before their presentations that Germany had a tradition of an independent judiciary and many of the judges who served before the Nazi regime continued in the judiciary. They said judges interpreted laws broadly to assist the Nazi regime and often appear to have done so to remain relevant in public life. Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss said the history contains lessons for the judiciary and reminds citizens that they must remain involved.==============================Science Fiction Writers Meeting in LawrenceLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A conference at the University of Kansas this weekend will explore the ways science fiction and reality often overlap. Science fiction writers will be attending the Campbell Conference in Lawrence Friday through Sunday. It's the 35th year of the event. This year's program will honor the work of Frederik Pohl, who died in September 2013. He was a writer, editor, literary agent and scholar of science fiction. A theme of this year's conference will be the relationship between science fact and fiction. James Gunn, founder of the University of Kansas's Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction, says science fiction studies how change can affect humans in the future, and how the choices people today make will influence the future.==============================Escaped Hutchinson Inmate Recaptured in WichitaHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Hutchinson inmate who has been missing since Saturday has been recaptured in Wichita.The Kansas Department of Corrections says 43-year-old Christopher Ward was arrested Thursday evening by Kansas Department of Corrections agents, K-9 officers and U.S. Deputy Marshals. Further details of his arrest were not released. He walked away from his work site Saturday evening at Cal-Maine Industries in Chase, northwest of Wichita. He was serving time for convictions in Butler and Sedgwick counties for burglary, theft, aggravated burglary, fleeing and eluding and aggravated escape from custody. Ward was scheduled to be released in May 2016.==============================Wichita Man to Stand Trial for ShootingWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 38-year-old Wichita man accused of trying to kill his wife and two sons will stand trial in Sedgwick County. Pettix McMillan is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder in the March 24 shootings at the family's west Wichita home. He's being held on $1 million and was bound over this week for a trial scheduled to begin July 14. McMillan is accused of shooting his wife and sons, ages 13 and 5, during a domestic dispute. The wife and the 13-year-old ran to separate neighbors to report the shootings. McMillan was later found in a wooded area near the home The three family members are recovering from their wounds.==============================Horses at Closing Boys Ranch Need New HomesLAKE AFTON, Kan. (AP) — Sedgwick County is looking for homes for eight horses that had been kept at a home from troubled boys that is closing in July. Commissioners voted Wednesday to move the horses, which are ages 13 to 25, out of the Judge Riddel Boys Ranch near Lake Afton. It's one of many things that must be done before the ranch closes. The ranch is being shuttered because the county said it could not afford to operate it. The state did not budget more money for the ranch during the last session. The Wichita Eagle reports 14 boys will remain at the ranch until July 18 to complete summer school, with the last boy scheduled to leave July 20. The county likely will lay off a few employees at the ranch.==============================Minor Injuries in Kansas City School Bus AccidentKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A school bus carrying two adults and two students rolled over, causing minor injuries. The accident happened Thursday morning near the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City. The Grandview School District told KSHB-TV that the small bus had picked the students up from their homes and was headed to the Nova Center School, a school for students with special needs. The children were not transported to the hospital for injuries. Police said the adults were taken to the hospital as a precaution. Police says it's unclear how the accident occurred.==============================University of Denver Welcomes New ChancellorDENVER (AP) — The University of Denver is welcoming its new chancellor. Rebecca Chopp, who most recently served as president of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, is scheduled to be at the school Friday morning to meet with the campus community. The university announced Thursday that Chopp would succeed Robert Coombe, who is retiring after 33 years in office. Chopp will be the first woman to lead the school, one of the largest and oldest private universities in the Rockies. The Salina, Kansas native is also a scholar of American religious movements. She is scheduled to start work before the fall semester.==============================Chiefs Release Flowers Following Voluntary WorkoutsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs released cornerback Brandon Flowers on Friday, shortly after finishing up three weeks of voluntary workouts in which the former starter was conspicuously absent. Kansas City has been bumping up against the salary cap, so the move to part ways with Flowers was largely expected. He was due to make $5.25 million this season, and the former starter carried a salary cap number of $10.5 million next season. The decision to release Flowers will save the Chiefs about $7.25 million this season and $7.5 million next season. That money could be used to help the Chiefs sign quarterback Alex Smith and linebacker Justin Houston to contract extensions. Both of them are in the final year of their contracts.

KanCare Acting Inspector General Resigns Amid QuestionsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The new acting inspector general for the state's privatized Medicaid program has abruptly resigned amid questions about his appointment and lack of confirmation by the Kansas Senate. Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Sara Belfry said Phil Hermanson stepped down Friday afternoon. Belfry said Hermanson submitted a resignation letter, but KDHE has declined to release it. Hermanson did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment. Hermanson began work in April, charged with identifying fraud in the state's Medicaid system known as KanCare. He has no investigatory or auditing expertise. But his duties in the $77,000-a-year job were limited because he hasn't been confirmed. The Legislature is out of session until next year, but a Senate committee can give the go-ahead for appointees to serve until lawmakers convene again.==============================Kansas Union to Challenge Part of Education LawTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The largest teachers' union in Kansas says it will mount a legal challenge to parts of a new law that will end guaranteed tenure in public schools and encourage corporate funding for private school scholarships. The Kansas National Education Association announced Friday that it would have a news conference at 11 am Monday at its Topeka headquarters. The announcement said the legal challenge would cover "aspects" of an education law approved this year by the Republican-dominated Legislature. It was not more specific, and KNEA officials wouldn't comment. The new law boosts aid to poor school districts, but starting in July, it will end guaranteed teacher tenure. It also grants up to $10 million in tax credits a year to corporations that bankroll private-school scholarships for at-risk children.==============================Kansas Joins Call for State Power to Review VA SitesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says allowing states to inspect U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics would help the federal agency with what he calls credibility problems. Brownback also said Thursday that giving vouchers to veterans who've been waiting for care at VA facilities so they could get care elsewhere is the best way to deal with backlogs. The governor made his comments a day after an official at the VA medical center in Wichita confirmed it had an unauthorized list of 385 veterans who were waiting for care, some of them for more than 90 days. On Tuesday, Brownback joined fellow Republican governors from five other states in sending a letter to Democratic President Barack Obama. The letter called for state reviews of VA sites and federal vouchers for veterans.==============================Kansas Congressmen Demanding Answers on VA IssuesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas congressmen Mike Pompeo and Tim Huelskamp are demanding answers from the U.S. Veterans Affairs medical center in Wichita about its unauthorized waiting list for care. Pompeo sent a letter Thursday to medical center Director Francisco Vazquez, asking who allowed the center to create its unauthorized list and when. Medical Center Executive Secretary Diane Henderson said Wednesday that 385 veterans had been on the list, some longer than 90 days. But she declined further comment Thursday. Pompeo also asked whether employees responsible for the list's creation had been disciplined. Pompeo's 4th District includes Wichita. Huelskamp represents the 1st District of western and central Kansas and serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He traveled to the Wichita medical center Wednesday. He said Thursday he received few answers then.==============================Missouri Senator: Kansas City VA Had Secret ListST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt says the Veterans Affairs medical center in Kansas City, Missouri, has been maintaining a secret waiting list of veterans, the latest of several centers around the country to maintain such an unauthorized list. Blunt spokeswoman Amber Marchand says the list contains the names of 37 patients. Blunt's office said Thursday that the Kansas City VA confirmed the list hours after Blunt sent a letter asking if the secret list existed. Blunt told reporters in a teleconference earlier Thursday that such a list allows VA centers to skew statistics and give misleading information about how quickly veterans are getting treatment. The Kansas City VA Medical Center says in a statement that its top priority is addressing the problem of veterans waiting for health care.==============================Senate VA Bill Could Mean New Clinic in KansasWASHINGTON (AP) — A bill winning approval from U.S. senators to resolve problems in the troubled Veterans Affairs system would create new health facilities, including one in Johnson County in Kansas. Under the larger bill agreed to by senior senators Thursday, the measure authorizes the VA to lease 26 new walk-in health facilities in 18 states and spend $500 million to hire more doctors and nurses. One of those proposed facilities would be in Johnson County. It's uncertain when the bill would come to a vote. The Senate bill is a response to a building national uproar over veterans' health care following allegations that as many as 40 veterans may have died while waiting an average 115 days for appointments at the Phoenix VA hospital or its walk-in clinics.==============================Some Still Without Power After Storms Pound KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Thunderstorms pounded sections of central Kansas with baseball-size hail, high winds and heavy rains early Thursday morning The National Weather Service says winds estimated up to 80 mph swept through the area and that rainfall amounts varied from more than 1 inch in northeast Wichita, to more than 2 inches in McPherson. Hail measuring more than 3 inches in diameter was reported in McPherson, and hail about 2.75 inches in diameter was reported south of Galva.The heavy storms also snapped tree limbs and downed power lines. More than 1,000 Westar customers were without electricity in Saline County early Thursday, and nearly that many were also without power in Sedgwick County. Westar says some residents around Salina and Topeka who lost power after Thursday's storms might have to spend another day without electricity. The utility said in a news release that the storms knocked down 24 power poles in Salina, and it could be about 7 pm Friday before power is restored to about 2,000 customers. About 1,200 customers might be in the same situation until Friday evening in Topeka, where high winds blew down numerous power lines. Westar says the storms knocked out power to more than 12,000 customers, and power was restored to about 75 percent of those residents on Thursday. Westar has asked utilities in Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma for assistance.==============================Senate Must Confirm New KanCare InspectorTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ The state's new inspector general for its privatized Medicaid program can't conduct oversight work until he is confirmed by the Kansas Senate, which isn't in session. Phil Hermanson began work in April as inspector general, charged with identifying fraud in the state's Medicaid system known as KanCare. The former Kansas House member has no investigatory or auditing expertise, a DUI conviction and business bankruptcy, and personal finance and campaign ethics problems. A spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says Hermanson is technically only ``acting'' inspector general until he is confirmed. Sara Belfry says he can be involved in training programs, but cannot conduct oversight work. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports an interim Senate committee could take up Hermanson's appointment, although no hearing has been set.==============================Defendant's Comments at Issue in Kansas Murder CaseOTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Lawyers for a Kansas man accused of killing four people will get more time to respond to prosecutors' attempts to use comments the defendant made to police. Kyle Flack is accused of killing Kaylie Bailey, her 18-month-old daughter, Lana-Leigh; Andrew Adam Stout and Steven Eugene White last spring in Franklin County. He's charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Stout and White. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Flack for the deaths of Kaylie Bailey and her daughter. The Lawrence Journal-World reports a detective testified that Flack told him he killed White. Flack's lawyers contend the statement shouldn't be used during trial because he made it after asking if he needed a lawyer. A judge Friday set an August 29 hearing to consider the issue.============================== Man on Witness List in Jewish Sites Deaths ChargedKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal weapons charge has been filed against a witness in the case against a 73-year-old man accused of fatally shooting three people at suburban Kansas City Jewish sites. A May 7 grand jury indictment shows John Mark Reidle is accused of lying about buying a Remington shotgun at a Walmart in southwest Missouri on April 9. Reidle has pleaded not guilty to the charge of importing/manufacturing firearms. The Kansas City Star first reported that Reidle is among witnesses listed on the Johnson County, Kansas, complaint against Frazier Glenn Cross Jr. Cross is charged with killing three people in attacks at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas, and the nearby Village Shalom senior care facility. The indictment does not link the shotgun purchase to the April 13 shootings.==============================Free Fishing Day Scheduled for Saturday in Missouri, KansasKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Anglers get to fish for free in Missouri and Kansas this weekend. The Kansas City Star reports that Saturday is a Free Fishing Day in the two states, which means anglers won't need a permit, trout stamp or trout park daily tag at most reservoirs and state fishing lakes. But other regulations on such things as size and creel limits will still be in place, and some private fishing areas may also still require permits. The annual promotion is part of National Fishing Day.==============================Retrial in 2004 Lawrence Death Set for DecemberLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) _ A retrial in the 2004 death of a Lawrence woman is scheduled for December, although it might be moved out of Douglas County. Martin Miller is charged with killing his wife, 46-year-old Mary Miller, in July 2004. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2005 but the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the conviction in February, citing incorrect jury instructions. Prosecutors allege he strangled his wife at their home because he was having an affair and wanted to collect $300,000 in life insurance. During a hearing Thursday, Miller's attorney, Richard Ney, said he might seek a change of venue because of the publicity surrounding the case. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the defense has until August 22 to file the venue motion. Miller is out of jail while awaiting the retrial.==============================Kansas City Blast Linked to Fireworks ProductionKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Investigators looking into a powerful explosion at a house in Kansas City say they suspect fireworks production as the cause. The blast Wednesday morning knocked the house in southeast Kansas City off its foundation and sent four people to hospitals, including a 52-year-old man who lost both legs and an arm. KCTV reports part of the home had to be demolished before agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives could safely get inside. The investigators said Friday they found evidence that led them to believe someone was illegally making fireworks in the basement. The ATF has referred the case to the U.S. attorney's office for determination of any criminal charges. Two of four dogs that were also in the house at the time were killed.=================================Kansas Man Convicted in Death of Iraq War VeteranLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas man who admitted hitting an Iraq War veteran with a beer bottle during a house party brawl has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the man's death. The Lawrence Journal-World reports a lawyer for 23-year-old Justin Gonzalez said she would appeal Thursday's conviction on the basis of jury instructions and excluded evidence. Gonzalez, of Mission, testified he struck 27-year-old Nicholas Sardina at a Lawrence house party in February 2012. Gonzalez said he acted after Sardina punched one of his friends. Prosecutors said Gonzalez used excessive force in striking Sardina, who later died from his injury. Sardina, originally from Clarence, New York, was a sergeant in the Kansas National Guard and had served three tours in Iraq. He had also taken classes at the University of Kansas.==============================Kansas AG to Help Lead Anti-Trafficking GroupTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has been named by his colleagues across the country as the vice chairman of their national Human Trafficking Committee. The Kansas Republican successfully pushed legislation in 2013 aimed at strengthening state laws against human trafficking and providing better support for victims. The committee of the National Association of Attorneys General studies anti-human trafficking efforts throughout the country to share best practices. Schmidt also will serve as vice chairman for the group's Midwest region. The national association had its summer meeting this week on Mackinac Island, Michigan.==============================Kansas Gun Dealer, Glock Execs Face IndictmentTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas firearms distributor and two high-ranking officials with Glock Inc. are among five people indicted by a federal grand jury on charges involving bribes and kickbacks to gain preferential treatment. Federal prosecutors say 40-year-old Olathe gun dealer John Sullivan Ralph III paid more than $1 million to 42-year-old James "Craig" Dutton of Acworth, Georgia, and 65-year-old Welcome D. "Bo" Wood Jr. of Oviedo, Florida, from 2003 to 2011. The Kansas City Star reports Ralph did business as OMB Guns and is accused of funneling the money through businesses created by the wives of Dutton and Wood. Both of the couples also are charged. The indictment says the two company officials steered potential customers to OMB Guns and helped Ralph sell guns intended for law enforcement to commercial businesses.==============================Fort Riley Warns of Increased Noise LevelsFORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) - Neighbors of Fort Riley can expect more noise than usual as the northeast Kansas post observes the 70th anniversary of D-Day and marks the founding of the Army's 1st Infantry Division. Events were scheduled to start with cannon fire between 6:30 and 7 a.m. Friday to honor soldiers who died in the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the Big Red One, were among the first to go ashore that day. The annual Victory Week celebration marking the 1917 creation of the Big Red One starts Saturday, with music and fireworks. There's also a concert by country music's Brett Eldredge on Monday night, and a live-fire exercise involving aircraft and ground forces June 11. ============================== Porcupine Gives Pup Faceful of Quills GODDARD, Kan. (AP) — A boxer puppy in suburban Wichita has learned a painful lesson about porcupines: Leave them alone. KWCH-TV reports that a showdown with a porcupine left the pup, named Tatum, with a faceful of white quills. There were so many, in fact, that owner Gary Koenigs initially thought Tatum had a beard of chicken feathers. The Goddard man says he pulled out about 50 quills Thursday morning, then took Tatum to Wichita for treatment at Animal Hospital of Auburn Hills. There, Dr. Gary Stamps removed more than 200 quills in a half-hour surgery. Stamps said he's only treated three other pets in similar situations during 23 years as a veterinarian. Koenigs said Tatum is recovering at home, resting well. Stamps let the Koenigs family keep the quills as a keepsake. ====================================Kansas City Primps for 2016 GOP ConventionKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The chairman of the Republican National Committee says Kansas City may have an edge over some other cities working to host the 2016 Republican National Convention. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said Thursday that Kansas City "has a nice little advantage" by being able to host the event in either June or July. Priebus and the RNC site selection committee arrived in Kansas City on Wednesday to look over the facilities that would be used during the convention. The committee, which leaves Kansas City on Friday, visited Cleveland earlier this week and travels next to Dallas and Denver before making a final selection, likely in August. Priebus says the start date of the convention is likely to get underway on either June 27 or July 18, but a final decision hasn't been made.==============================Dole Announces Schedule for Next KS TourGARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole returns to Kansas next week for the fourth of several trips planned this year to his home state. The 90-year-old Russell native lives in Washington, D.C., and is making the homecoming tour to greet longtime friends and supporters throughout the state. Dole spends an hour at each stop, chatting with fans and old acquaintances. Aides said Thursday that next week's trip will begin Monday evening in Garden City. On Tuesday, Dole is to visit Lakin, Syracuse, Tribune, Leoti and Scott City. The schedule for Wednesday has stops in Dighton, Ness City, LaCrosse and Great Bend. Dole's tour concludes Thursday, June 12, with visits to Lyons, St. John, Larned and Hanston.==============================Students Lose Prime KU Basketball Seats to DonorsLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Kansas athletics officials say they will offer a prime section of seats for basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse to donors, rather than to students who traditionally sat there.The 120 seats in Section U are just beyond the baseline, at floor level, near the tunnel where the Jayhawks enter and leave the Fieldhouse. It has been part of the university's student section for years. Beginning next season, the seats will be offered to Williams Education Fund donors instead. The Lawrence Journal-World reportsthat spokesman Jim Marchiony says the move is in response to a student government-led effort to lower the students' athletic fee from $25 per student per semester to $7. He says the change will not reduce the total number of student seats during the games.==============================Kansas City's Union Station Gets $4M GiftKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Hall Family Foundation has donated $4 million to help fund capital improvement projects at Union Station in Kansas City. Union Station officials announced the gift Thursday, saying the money would go toward improvements to Science City and other projects, such as a pedestrian bridge and a new lower-level entrance. The Missouri Development Finance Board last year awarded Union Station $2.25 million in state tax credits for the project, allowing contributors to deduct 50 percent of their donations from their state taxes. The Kansas City Star reports that the Hall Family Foundation is making an outright gift of $3 million to Union Station, which uses $1.5 million in tax credits and leaves $750,000 in credits available for other donors.