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

KS Officials to Discuss Disabled Waiting ListTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two top officials in Governor Sam Brownback's administration are preparing to make an announcement about the waiting list faced by hundreds of physically disabled Kansans seeking in-home services. Lt. Gov. Jeff Coyer and Aging and Disability Services Secretary Shawn Sullivan are holding a Statehouse news conference today (MON). The administration didn't provide any details. Advocates have filed complaints based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states must provide services to people with disabilities. Earlier this year, negotiations broke down between the Brownback administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and HHS forwarded the waiting list complaints to the Justice Department. Sullivan told legislators in September that the state is trying to clean up the waiting lists to determine who still needs services.==============================KC Man Killed while Trying to Walk across I-35LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man whose car broke down on Interstate 35 near Liberty, Missouri is dead after being hit by a car while trying to cross the highway. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 41-year-old David Ellis had car trouble around 7:30 Saturday night while driving north on the interstate, just south of the Missouri 152 exit. The patrol says Ellis walked about 100 yards along the side of the road before trying to cross the northbound lanes of the highway and being hit by a card driven by a 45-year-old Kansas City woman. Investigators say his body was tossed into the air and landed in the median. KSHB-TV reports there were at least two subsequent crashes after Ellis was hit, tying traffic up on the highway for hours.==============================Medicaid Expansion Issue in KS Legislative RacesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback's allies have raised the potential expansion of the state's Medicaid program as a campaign issue in the days before Tuesday's election decides races for the Kansas Legislature. It comes as conservative Republicans try to bind Democrats to President Barack Obama and the federal health care overhaul. It's a tactic that's worked in GOP-leaning Kansas. Many Kansas Republicans are skeptical of the federal law's promise to fund the expansion because of Washington's ongoing budget problems. Retiring House Speaker and conservative Hutchinson Republican Mike O'Neal says voters need to know whether legislators and candidates would support an expansion. But Democrats aren't openly embracing a Medicaid expansion. They contend the state can't seriously contemplate any additional spending because of massive income tax cuts enacted this year.==============================Former Dodge City Officer Sentenced to LifeDODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former Dodge City police officer has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a 25-year-old woman. Christopher Tahah was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 20 years. The Dodge City Globe reports that Tahah was convicted in September of felony first-degree murder in the 2007 death of Erin Jones in her Dodge City home. Tahah was first convicted in 2008 of first-degree murder in Jones' death. But the Kansas Supreme Court threw out the conviction last year, saying the jury should have been allowed to consider lesser charges, including involuntary manslaughter. Ford County District Judge Leigh Hood also sentenced Tahah to a consecutive 8 1/2-year sentence for criminal discharge of a firearm in an occupied dwelling.===============================Two KS Lawmakers Favor Parole for 2-Time KillerTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas legislators are urging state corrections officials to parole a convicted killer serving a life sentence for murdering a 75-year-old Topeka woman 31 years ago. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports there may be others in the Legislature who believe that 63-year-old Ormond Wimberly Junior is ready to re-enter society. But the Department of Corrections isn't releasing that information. Wimberly was convicted of the 1981 death of Sarah Woody, who was shot five times during a robbery. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor — who adamantly opposes Wimberly's release — says the inmate already was on parole for a previous murder when he killed Woody. Republican Rep. John Grange and Democratic Senator Oletha Foust-Goudeau wrote letters last month to the Prisoner Review Board in favor of granting Wimberly parole.==============================Teen Burglar Must Apologize to Kansas ChurchesHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A 16-year-old serial burglar who targeted Hutchinson churches has been ordered to apologize in person to the six congregations he victimized. The Hutchinson News reports the apologies are part of the sentence imposed Friday by Reno County District Judge Tim Chambers against Joshua Hickey. Prosecutors charged Hickey as an adult after he and three older defendants were arrested in August for a string of thefts and break-ins around Hutchinson from early April to late July. Hickey avoided trial by pleading guilty in October to 38 counts, including 19 felonies. Investigators said Hickey broke into a half-dozen churches, hitting some of them twice. Besides ordering the apologies, the judge also placed Hickey on two years' probation. Violations could send him to jail.==============================KS Board of Regents Considers "Post-Tenure" ReviewsLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents is considering requiring the state's six universities to conduct periodic reviews of tenured faculty. Board of Regents Vice Chairman Fred Logan says the "post-tenure" reviews would assess how professors are performing, perhaps every five years. He said the regents could approve the policy at their December meeting. Andrew Torrance, a law professor who is Faculty Senate president at the University of Kansas, says most faculty members would not object to the proposal, if it is not done only to be punitive. Logan said the policy would not weaken tenure protections, and faculty would be involved in planning the post-tenure process. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Logan doesn't think the policy would be implemented until at least next year.==============================Man Bites Police Officer after Shocked with TaserWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 35-year-old man bites a police officer while being arrested after police used Tasers to subdue him for refusing to drop a knife at a Wichita bar. The Wichita Eagle reports police were called to The Place bar at 1:25 Sunday morning and found the man with a knife. Police spokesman Sergeant Scott Brunow says officers ordered him to drop the knife, but he refused. Police say the man bit a police officer in the hand while he was being arrested. A 42-year-old man who tried to help the suspect, and a 34-year-old woman who tried to get other bar patrons to join in the altercation, also were arrested.==============================Children's Mercy Hospital in KC Bans Soda Pop from MachinesKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City children's hospital says it plans to ban soda and sugar-filled juices from its vending machines, the cafeteria and gift shop. Officials at Children's Mercy Hospital say the move is aimed at fighting childhood obesity. It will take effect in January. Karen Cox, the hospital's executive vice president, says employees and visitors will be able to bring in their own surgary drinks, but the drinks won't be sold at the hospital. Hospital administrators say Children's Mercy is the first hospital in the Kansas City metro region to implement such a ban. The Kansas City Star reports that the ban is part of the Partnership for a Healthier America, a national program focusing on eliminating childhood obesity.==============================Minimal Damage after Fire at Hutchinson PrisonHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — No injuries and minor damage were reported after a fire at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. The fire Sunday evening was reported in D Cell House Sunday evening. Prison spokesman Dirk Moss says the cause is under investigation. Battalion Chief Doug Hanen says the fire occurred in a restricted area where plumbing and cables are contained. Crews extinguished the fire within 10 minutes. Prisoners were moved to the prison yard when the fire was reported but returned to the cell block after the fire crews left. This is the second fire at the facility in the past month. An inmate was treated for smoke inhalation after a fire in his cell in October. No one else was injured.==============================KS Parties Make Last Push on Legislative RacesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans and Democrats are making their final push to woo voters in hot races for the Kansas Legislature. Voters had until noon Monday to cast ballots in advance at local election offices, with polls set to open across the state at 7 a.m. local time Tuesday. Secretary of State Kris Kobach is predicting that 1.2 million people will vote, 68 percent of those registered. The most closely watched races are for state Senate seats, where GOP conservatives are hoping to gain a solid majority by ousting several Democratic incumbents. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce has sent multiple mailings trying to tie Democrats to President Barack Obama and the federal health care overhaul. Meanwhile, Democrats have made GOP Gov. Sam Brownback and massive income tax cuts he championed their biggest issue.==============================KS Dems Put $96K in Legislative Races in 2 DaysTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new campaign finance report shows that the Kansas Democratic Party spent nearly $96,000 in only two days to help legislative candidates during the final days before Tuesday's elections. The report filed by the party with the secretary of state's office shows that the mailings helped Democrats Kyle Russell of Roeland Park and Lisa Johnston of Overland Park in their campaigns for open Kansas Senate seats in Republican-leaning Johnson County. Their mailings cost the Democratic Party more than $22,000 on Thursday and Friday. The party spent about $73,000 on mailings for 18 House candidates during the same two days. Democrats contend they need such aggressive efforts to counter mailings by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, which has spent more than $400,000 boosting GOP candidates.==============================Kansas Turnpike Rates to Increase Next YearTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Drivers on the Kansas Turnpike will start paying more on Feb. 1. The Kansas Turnpike Authority announced Monday that cash rates for cars and light trucks will increase an average of 10 percent. Rates for K-TAG users will increase an average of 5 percent. Drivers of large commercial vehicles will pay about 5 percent more, whether they pay cash or use the electronic K-TAG. The Turnpike Authority said in a news release Monday the increased revenue will pay for future capital needs, including deck replacements for some of the turnpike's 348 bridges. No tax dollars are used to maintain the turnpike.==============================Fake War Hero Sentenced in Kansas for FraudKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A western Missouri man who lied about being a disabled war hero to get federal contracts has been sentenced to prison in Kansas. The U.S. Attorney's office says 70-year-old Warren Parker, of Blue Springs, Mo., was sentenced Monday to slightly more than seven years. Parker pleaded guilty in April to numerous counts, admitting he lied to secure more than $7 million in government contracts under a program designed to help small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. Parker claimed he served in Vietnam and earned three Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts. In fact, authorities say, he never left Missouri while serving as a National Guard mechanic from 1963 to 1968. Three co-defendants await trial along with Parker's company, Silver Star Construction, which operated in Missouri and Stilwell, Kan.==============================Vandals Hit Vehicles, Stores in TopekaTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Topeka are investigating a rash of vandalism to vehicles, businesses and mailboxes over the weekend. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports police received at least 25 reports of vandalism from Friday night through Sunday morning. Most of the incidents occurred on the city's west side. Nearly 20 vehicles had windows, windshields and rearview mirrors damaged. Someone shot out the windows at three stores, including a Payless ShoeSource. And at least one residential mailbox was damaged.

UPDATE: State Board Delays Decision on Ballot, President ObamaTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials want more information before deciding whether to remove President Barack Obama from the state's November ballot. The State Objections Board heard arguments Thursday on a claim from a Manhattan resident that President Obama is not eligible to be president because his father was from Kenya. The resident, Joe Montgomery, also questions whether Mr. Obama has a valid birth certificate. The president released a copy of his long-form birth certificate last year, and Hawaii officials have verified his citizenship repeatedly. But the Kansas board — made up of the secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor — said Thursday it wants certified documents from Hawaii and two other states where similar questions about President Obama's citizenship have been raised. The board plans to meet again Monday and may rule then.=====================UPDATE: Kansas Board Upholds Ex-Lawmaker's Spot on BallotTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Kansas officials are letting a former state lawmaker remain on the ballot as he seeks to return to the House, rejecting a claim that he doesn't live in his district. The State Objections Board ruled Thursday for former House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, of Wichita. Sawyer is the Democratic nominee in the 95th House District. A tea party leader had objected to Sawyer's candidacy. The objections board is made up of the secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor. Kansans for Liberty President Craig Gabel questioned whether Sawyer lived at the address he listed in filing for office. But Sawyer owns the property and has been registered to vote there since 1993. Sawyer, who also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998, faces freshman Republican Representative Bennie Boman in November.=================UPDATE: 2nd Kansas Official Dodges Medicaid Waiting List InquiriesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Another state official has told a panel that the U.S. Department of Justice isn't currently investigating the state's waiting lists for development services. Shawn Sullivan, secretary for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, told a legislative budget committee on Thursday that he couldn't get into specifics about possible federal questions about the waiting lists. He cited advice from a deputy state attorney general. The comments came a day after one of Sullivan's deputies refused to answer questions or provide information about people on waiting lists for physical or developmentally disabled services. The refusal drew criticism from legislators, who said the public had a right to transparency in government. Sullivan said that the agency is trying to clean up the waiting lists to determine who still needs services.=====================Crop Insurance Losses Begin to Mount Amid Drought WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of U.S. farmers are filing crop insurance claims this year as drought and triple-digit temperatures burn up crops in the Corn Belt. The final cost to the taxpayer-subsidized program has yet to be determined, but Kansas State University is forecasting underwriting losses at nearly $15 billion. That figure is based on anticipated claims totaling $25 billion. Extension specialist G.A. "Art" Barnaby says the Agriculture Department's Risk Management Agency cut premiums for corn and soybeans in many states, expecting new technologies to eliminate or reduce big losses. More than $1.42 billion in insurance claims have been paid so far, with the bulk still to come. Texas is leading the nation with $518.6 million in claims, followed by Kansas with $223 million. Colorado is third with $66 million.=====================Rain Eases Drought as Midwest Corn Harvest UnfoldsST. LOUIS (AP) — The latest update on the nation's worst drought in decades shows that farmers bringing in their weakened corn crops caught some relief with recent rains that soaked much of middle America. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map shows two-thirds of Iowa now in extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst categories. That's because the amount of that state in extreme drought rose slightly while the swath in exceptional drought remained unchanged at 2.4 percent. The worst two drought categories held steady in Nebraska, at 97.4 percent of the state, and were nearly unchanged in Illinois, at 6.67 percent. Missouri's numbers dropped more than 6 percentage points, to 25.20 percent. The land area in the lower 48 states in extreme or exceptional drought remained at about 21 percent.===================== US Education Secretary to Visit Emporia, TopekaEMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will hold a town hall meeting at Emporia State University during a two-city stop in Kansas next week. Duncan is on a 10-day national tour that ends September 21. He'll be at Emporia State on Tuesday afternoon to hold the town hall meeting. He'll also visit the National Teachers Hall of Fame, located on the Emporia campus. Duncan will be in Topeka earlier Tuesday to visit the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. He'll be joined there by members of the State Board of Education and officials of the state Education Department.===================== Topeka Zoo Will Appeal USDA Finding on ElephantsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Topeka plans to appeal the U.S. Department of Agriculture's findings concerning care of two elephants at the Topeka Zoo. After an inspection in August, the USDA cited the zoo for violating the Animal Welfare Act. The Topeka Capital-Journal reportsthat the specific violations won't be made public until after the appeal process is completed. The city's announcement comes the same week the zoo received a five-year accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. City manager Jim Colson says the city "respectfully disagrees" with the USDA inspector's findings. He says receiving accreditation shows the zoo has animal care programs that are among the best in the country.==================== BPI Sues ABC News for DefamationLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Beef Products Incorporated has filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC News for its coverage of a meat product that critics dubbed "pink slime," alleging the network misled consumers to believe the product is unhealthy and unsafe. The Dakota Dunes, S.D.-based company is seeking $1.2 billion in damages for roughly 200 "false and misleading and defamatory" statements about the product. The lawsuit, filed in a South Dakota court Thursday, also accuses ABC News of improper interference with the relationships between BPI and its customers. BPI attorney Dan Webb says the reports led consumers to believe the beef is not meat, but an unhealthy slime unfit for human consumption. ABC News senior vice president Jeffrey W. Schneider says the lawsuit has no merit. ABC News is owned by The Walt Disney Company.====================Jury Finds Kansas Officer Not at Fault in ShootingTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man convicted of kidnapping a northeastern Kansas couple has lost his bid for damages from a Topeka police officer who shot him while making the arrest. Twenty-six-year-old Jesse Dimmick was a fugitive from criminal charges in Colorado when he burst into a home in the Topeka suburb of Dover in September 2009. The couple escaped and called police when Dimmick fell asleep. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports a Shawnee County jury on Thursday ruled against Dimmick in a lawsuit seeking up to $436,000 in damages from the city of Topeka and police Sergeant Guy Gardner. Gardner says his weapon fired accidentally. The jury ruled that Dimmick — now a prisoner in a Colorado jail — was 100 percent responsible for the incident.====================Kansas Star Casino Exceeds Revenue ProjectionsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Star Casino near Mulvane is continuing to easily exceed revenue projections. The Kansas Lottery said Wednesday that entering September, the casino generated $129.5 million since it opened in mid-December 2011. It has been averaging more than $15 million a month. The lottery owns and operates the casino's games. The Wichita Eagle reports if that pace continues, the casino will bring in more than $180 million this year. In 2010, consultants predicted the casino would generate $159.1 million in 2012. The revenue numbers are expected to increase when the Kansas Star's permanent casino opens early next year. It will include more slot machines, gaming tables, and food services. The permanent casino is scheduled to open in January, but casino officials say it could open sooner.====================Kansas Guardsmen to Document Afghan OperationsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Three members of the Kansas National Guard are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan with an unusual assignment. The guardsmen are members of the 102nd Military History Detachment. They'll spend their time in Afghanistan recording the missions of U.S. troops through interviews, photos, and document collections. Officials say the goal is the preserve the history of Operation Enduring Freedom, including the role of the Kansas National Guard. A departure ceremony for the three soldiers is scheduled Friday afternoon at the State Defense Building in Topeka. They head next to Fort Dix, New Jersey to complete their training before deploying to Afghanistan.==================== KU Won't Ban Tobacco Use on All CampusesLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas won't join a growing trend of schools banning all tobacco use. An advocacy group, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, says 562 college campuses banned all tobacco use as of July 1. The University of Missouri will implement a campuswide ban on tobacco on January 1, 2014. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that KU officials say the university won't follow the trend. Spokesman Tim Caboni says the university's medical campuses in Kansas City, Kansas and Wichita have banned all tobacco since 2006. On the Lawrence campus and the Edwards campus in Overland Park, smoking is not allowed in or near campus buildings. Smoking and tobacco is allowed in designated areas at Memorial Stadium and chewing tobacco is allowed in student housing. Caboni says the current policy works well.==================== Judge Sets Hearing for Ex-KU Ticket ConsultantWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has set a January hearing date for a former University of Kansas athletics consultant seeking a shorter sentence for his part in a ticket-scalping conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Monti Belot will hear the case of Thomas Ray Blubaugh on January 16. Blubaugh is serving a 46-month sentence at a federal prison in Oklahoma. He pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the United States. Blubaugh is the husband of Charlette Blubaugh, former ticket director for KU athletics. They were among seven people convicted in a $2 million scheme involving the theft and sale of Jayhawk basketball and football tickets. Thomas Blubaugh contends the sentencing court improperly considered the value of tickets he had hidden in a storage facility. He also claims his lawyer did a poor job.====================Homicide Suspect Found Dead after Long StandoffKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas say the suspect in an early-morning homicide has been found dead inside a home. Officers entered the home around 11:30 am Thursday, nearly eight hours after getting a tip that the suspect might be inside. Tactical officers surrounded the home, and neighbors were warned to stay indoors during the standoff. The case began with a report of a shooting around 3:30 am. Police found a man shot to death outside a house and were told the suspect was inside another home nearby. Names of the homicide victim and the suspect have not been released, and police have not said how the suspect died.==================== HHS Secretary Sebelius Violated Politicking BanWASHINGTON (AP) — A government ethics office says Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated a federal law that restricts political activity by government officials. In a report Wednesday, the federal Office of Special Counsel said off-the-cuff remarks by Sebelius during a February 25th speech to a gay rights group in North Carolina violated the Hatch Act. Sebelius called for President Barack Obama's re-election and endorsed a Democratic candidate for governor. In a formal response, Sebelius said that any violation was "technical and minor" and was corrected after her official trip was reclassified as political, and the government was repaid for her travel. Since Sebelius is a Cabinet official, the ethics office referred the case to the White House for "appropriate action."====================Police: 2 Women Stealing from Wichita School BuildingsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say two women apparently are sneaking into schools and stealing from staff members. Police say the thieves hit at least four schools since the school year began. The most recent theft occurred Wednesday at Jackson Elementary. Superintendent John Allison says in a message to employees that the suspects look for rooms that are empty because the staff is busy elsewhere, such as supervising students who are leaving at the end of the day. He says they have stolen purses, billfolds and other personal items from staff. The suspects are described as two black females, between 20 and 25 years old, 5 feet to 5-foot-6-inches tall. One is approximately six to seven months pregnant. The district has turned surveillance video over to Wichita police.========================Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty in 3 Church BurglariesARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 23-year-old Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to charges related to three Cowley County churches. On Thursday, Scott Mears of Ponca City, Oklahoma pleaded guilty to two counts of non-residential burglary and two misdemeanor theft charges related to burglaries at three Cowley County churches. Mears was scheduled to be sentenced October 25. The Arkansas City Traveler reportsthat Mears admitted committing burglaries in July at the Hillcrest Bible Baptist Church in Arkansas City, and the First Christian Church and the Trinity Lutheran Church, both in Winfield. Mears was arrested in Emporia. Authorities say he could face charges of burglarizing other churches in several cities. Mears was being held Thursday in the Cowley County Jail on a $50,000 bond.========================Family Donates Organs after Boy's Driveway DeathKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The heartbroken family of a Kansas City toddler who was killed in the driveway of his home has donated the little boy's organs. Two-year-old Benjamin Thompson was run over Monday night by a pickup truck driven by his father. Family members said Benjamin ran behind the truck as his father was backing up. Family members tell KMBC-TV that four children have benefited from the organ donations as of Thursday, receiving his corneas and two heart valves. Police have called the death accidental. Investigators said the father checked his rearview mirrors before backing up but didn't see Benjamin as the child ran toward a trampoline in the home's front yard.========================Kansas Official Refuses Questions on Medicaid Waiting ListTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas official has refused to answer some questions from legislators about a waiting list of poor residents with severe disabilities who are seeking assistance. Gary Haulmark of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services appeared Wednesday before the Legislative Budget Committee. Haulmark told the panel his department's legal counsel advised him not to answer any questions about Medicaid waivers because of potential litigation. The federal government has been investigating complaints that Kansas is violating the civil rights of people waiting for help. The Legislative Research Department says more than 7,500 Kansans are under-served or are on the waiting list for services. That's up from slightly less than 2,100 in 2008. Republican Senator John Vratil of Leawood said he was baffled by Haulmark's reluctance to discuss the numbers.**this story has been updated. Please see above. ===================== Kansas to Review Challenges to Ex-Lawmaker, President ObamaTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas board is preparing to settle challenges to spots on the November ballot for President Barack Obama and a former lawmaker seeking to return to the Legislature. The State Objections Board is made up of the secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor. Other items on its agenda Thursday include disputes over presidential candidate listings for the Reform and Americans Elect parties. Manhattan resident Joe Montgomery objected to Mr. Obama's listing as the Democratic nominee for president, claiming that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen. A tea party group's president has questioned whether former Kansas House member Tom Sawyer lives at the Wichita address he listed on his filing papers. Sawyer is the Democratic nominee in the 95th House District, and says he has owned the home for two decades.**this story has been updated. Please see above.

There are a handful of key races that could indicate how big (or small) a GOP wave is coming on election night and afterward.

UPDATE: Parties Agree to Delay in KCC Open Meetings LawsuitTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor has agreed to delay his lawsuit against the Kansas Corporation Commission over alleged open meetings violations while the utility regulatory board reviews its policies. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor said Wednesday he filed a motion in state court agreeing to a 120-day stay while the KCC conducts a voluntary audit of its procedures. Taylor's June 19 lawsuit alleges the three-member commission violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act by taking binding action on a Salina water rate increase without convening in public to vote. Taylor's office says the motion was filed Tuesday in Shawnee County District Court.=============Kansas Joins Drug Settlement CaseTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has joined a nationwide settlement over adulterated drugs manufactured by an India-based company. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Attorney General's office said in a news release Wednesday that a federal investigation found evidence that India-based Ranbaxy made and distributed 26 generic drugs that did not meet standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The 26 drugs were manufactured in two plants in India and included prescription products intended for children, such as the antibiotic amoxicillin. The settlement orders that about $324,000 be refunded to the Kansas Medicaid program. Ranbaxy also entered into a consent decree with the federal government to address outstanding manufacturing quality and data integrity issues at the two manufacturing plants in India.=============White House: Westboro Protests 'Reprehensible'WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it can't fulfill a request to deem a group that protests at soldiers' funerals a hate group. But it says President Barack Obama believes such actions are reprehensible. The Obama administration is responding to petitions through the White House website to label the Westboro Baptist Church a hate group and revoke its tax-exempt status. Almost 700,000 people signed five related petitions. The group claims when American troops die, it's God's punishment for America tolerating homosexuality and abortion. The White House says the federal government doesn't maintain a list of hate groups. But it's releasing a map showing where the petition-signers come from. The map shows high density in Kansas, where the Westboro group is based, and Connecticut, where church members threatened to picket Newtown victims' funerals.=============New Report: Kansas Highway System No. 2 in Nation TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new report from a libertarian-leaning think tank rates the Kansas highway system second among all states for its overall condition and cost-effectiveness. The Reason Foundation ranked Kansas only behind North Dakota in its annual report on state road systems. In the previous two years, the Los Angeles-based group rated Kansas third in the nation. The foundation said Kansas kept its highways in good condition while having lower-than-average costs per-mile for maintenance and administrative costs. The latest report was based on data reported to the federal government in 2009. The following year, Kansas started a 10-year, $8 billion transportation program, following up on programs in 1989 and 1999. Transportation Secretary Mike King said Tuesday that Kansas will continue to have a "world-class" system.============= Kansas Launches Jobs, Education Site for Veterans TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new website has been launched by the state of Kansas to help link military veterans with educational and employment opportunities. The new KanVet site was announced this week by Governor Sam Brownback and Major General Lee Tafanelli, state adjutant general. It's aimed at active duty veterans, as well as members of the National Guard. Veterans will be able to use the site to find information about educational opportunities in Kansas, including lists of schools and links to scholarship programs. The employment portion offers links to state agencies, the Kansas National Guard, career fairs and information about starting a business. Other information about services and programs and veterans can be found through a link on the site to the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs.============= Manhattan Man Considers Senate Run Against Roberts MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A Manhattan man says he's considering a run against Republican U.S. Senator Pat Roberts. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Aaron Estabrook says he is forming an exploratory committee to look into running against Roberts, who's up for re-election in 2014. Estabrook, an Army veteran, works at the Salvation Army as a case manager for homeless veterans in northern Kansas. He says he'd run under the banner of the "Moderate Party of Kansas," a political action committee he co-founded last year. He ran unsuccessfully for the Kansas House as a Democrat last year. Roberts spokeswoman Sarah Little says Roberts doesn't take any election for granted "and will continue to fight for Kansans each and every day whomever his opponent may be." Roberts is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.============= Kansas Ag Secretary Announces Management Changes TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman has made changes in the department's top management because of the departures of two high-level administrators. Rodman announced Tuesday the immediate promotion of Assistant Secretary Jackie McClaskey to deputy secretary. McClaskey has worked in the Agriculture Department since January 2011. Erik Wisner will become assistant secretary for administrative services next week. He is now a special assistant on regulatory and policy matters. Chad Bontrager will become an assistant secretary in August, overseeing agribusiness development, food safety and lodging inspections and the state's weights and measures program. He is currently agribusiness development coordinator. They'll replace Assistant Secretary Kim Christiansen, who will become executive director at the utility-regulating Kansas Corporation Commission, and Assistant Secretary Jim Riemann, who's retiring in August.=============Kansas Child Recovering After Pit Bull MaulingHOISINGTON, Kan. (AP) — A central Kansas boy is in a Wichita hospital after being mauled by a neighbor's pit bull. KAKE-TV reports that the 4-year-old from Hoisington was in critical condition Wednesday. Hoisington police say the boy was playing in a backyard Monday afternoon when the dog jumped a fence and attacked him. The boy was taken first to a Barton County hospital, then transferred to Wichita due to the severity of his injuries. The pit bull was euthanized and tested negative for rabies.=============Kansas Teen Being Questioned in Father's KillingSHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Police in a northeast Kansas community have detained a 14-year-old boy after the fatal shooting of his father. KMBC-TV reports the shooting occurred around 3 pm Tuesday during a custody exchange in the Johnson County community of Shawnee. Police said the boy's mother and stepfather had taken him to a business in rural Shawnee to exchange custody with the mother's ex-husband. Investigators believe the boy walked over to a car where his father was waiting and shot him with a handgun. The mother and stepfather were inside the building at the time. The father's name has not been released. Police say they have no other suspects and don't yet know a possible motive.=============Dodge City Approves Wind Turbine MeasureDODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Officials in Dodge City have approved a measure to allow wind energy systems in all zoning districts, including residential areas. The Dodge City Globe reports that the city commission on Monday approved an amendment to the 2000 Dodge City zoning ordinance to add wind energy conversion systems as a conditional use in all zoning districts. Dodge City spokeswoman Jane Longmeyer says the Dodge City Planning Commission held a public hearing on April 16 and recommended permitting wind energy conversion systems on residential and commercial property. City Clerk Nannette Pogue says while wind turbines will now be permitted on residential and commercial property regulations will address how much land is needed for the turbines and how far they must be from buildings.=============New KU Program Aims to Fill Rural Social Worker VoidLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas is starting a new program to address a shortage of social workers in western Kansas. Data collected by the university's School of Social Welfare shows that fewer than 200 of the state's 4,000 licensed social workers live in the western half of the state. Last month, the school launched a new yearlong Master of Social Work program based in western Kansas. It's the state's first such program west of Wichita. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that students will complete some work online. They'll also go to class every other weekend at either Fort Hays State University or Garden City Community College. Their instructors will be experienced local social workers. University of Kansas faculty will set the curriculum and provide training.=============Defendant Pleads No Contest in Topeka DeathTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — One of nine defendants charged in the shooting death of a Topeka woman has pleaded no contest. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 21-year-old Bayate Rayshawn Covington pleaded no contest Tuesday in Shawnee County court to reckless second-degree murder and other charges in the July 2011 shooting death of Natalie Gibson. Sentencing for Covington is July 18. Gibson was killed during an attempted robbery at her home that also left another woman wounded. Terms of the plea include requiring Covington to testify in pending cases related to the death. Five other defendants in the case have been sentenced, two await trials, and the case of another hasn't been resolved yet.============= Lawrence Police Seeking Parking Meter ThiefLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence police are looking for help finding a thief who's been stealing downtown parking meters. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the thief has apparently used a pipe cutter, or a similar tool, to saw off at least five parking meter posts since April. At least two parking meters were also reported stolen in Lawrence in 2010, though it's not clear how they were removed. Police say the destruction of parking meters is far more costly than the loss of the coins in the meter. The cost to replace the post and meter heads is about $800 for the single meters and $1600 for dual-meter assemblies. Police are asking business owners, residents and visitors to call 911 if they see someone tampering with a parking meter.============= Feds Charge 9 KSU Students with Visa FraudTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Nine Kansas State University students from Nepal have been charged with scheming to commit visa fraud. A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges the students conspired to maintain their visas by temporarily pooling their money. Prosecutors contend the goal was to make it appear they had sufficient funds to meet requirements that they could support themselves. All nine are charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud plus varying counts of visa fraud. The government alleges the students presented a notarized bank letter to their international student adviser to obtain certification of financial responsibility. The indictment says that once they got the needed documents, they returned most of the temporarily obtained funds. The U.S. attorney's office says the maximum penalty for each count is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.============= Kansas Utility Regulators Approve Operations ChangesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas board that regulates utilities has approved operational changes after replacing its top staff member and facing allegations that it violated the state's Open Meetings Act. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the Kansas Corporation Commission decided Tuesday to schedule two public meetings a week to handle routine business, rather than just one. Also, the KCC will require that major staff changes be reviewed by all three commission members. Chairman Mark Sievers confirmed Tuesday that he removed Patti Petersen-Klein as KCC executive director in June. The move came after a consultant's report said there was a rift between her and KCC employees. Also in June, the Shawnee County prosecutor filed an open meetings lawsuit against the commission following a water rate increase for a Salina housing development.============= Kansas Star Casino Postpones Tim McGraw Concert MULVANE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Star casino south of Wichita is postponing Sunday's performance by country singer Tim McGraw to avoid conflicting with a weekend concert for tornado relief in Oklahoma. McGraw was to have been the inaugural performer in the casino's new arena. Kansas Star said Tuesday the show has been rescheduled to October 12. On Saturday, a large cast of country stars including Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and Ronnie Dunn will perform in Norman, Oklahoma to raise money for tornado recovery. Tickets for McGraw's postponed show in Kansas will be honored at the October concert. Kansas Star also says it will donate $5 from each ticket sold for either date to Oklahoma's relief efforts.=============1 Killed, 2 Injured in Southern Kansas House FireCALDWELL, Kan. (AP) — One person was killed and two people were injured in a house fire in south-central Kansas. According to The Wichita Eagle, the fire was reported early Wednesday at the home in Sumner County. Caldwell Fire Chief Pat York says that when firefighters arrived the single-family home was fully engulfed in flames. The names of the victim and the injured people were not released. York says the state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.=============Wichita Woman Leaves $6 Million Gift to UniversityWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Officials at Wichita State University say a philanthropist who died last year left a $6 million estate gift to the school's foundation. The university announced the donation from Velma Wallace on Tuesday. She had been a longtime supporter of Wichita State along with her husband, aviation pioneer and Cessna Aircraft executive Dwane Wallace, who died in 1989. More than half of the money will be added to the Dwane and Velma Wallace Endowment Fund, which benefits engineering students and the College of Engineering. About 39 students received engineering scholarships from the fund the last academic year. Other portions of the estate gift will go to the College of Education, Wichita State athletics and the School of Music. Velma Wallace died last July at the age of 95.=============Missouri Teen Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Fatal CrashPLATTE CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City teenager has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for causing a fatal accident while texting. The Kansas City Star reports that Rachel N. Gannon pleaded guilty in May 2012 when she was 17 to second-degree involuntary manslaughter, third-degree assault and violating the Missouri law that prohibits motorists 21 or younger from texting while driving. The accident killed 72-year-old Loretta Larimer of Camden Point. Gannon told police she was looking at her phone when she lost control of her vehicle. A judge initially placed Gannon on five years' probation and ordered her to serve 48 hours of "shock time" in jail, find a job, serve 72 days of house arrest and perform 300 hours of community service. Authorities say she has violated that probation.============= Missouri AG Says State May Have to Use Gas Chamber for Executions KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says that state may have to resort to using the gas chamber to carry out death sentences as an "unintended consequence" of the Missouri Supreme Court's refusal to set execution dates. Executions have been on hold in Missouri since the state Supreme Court has declined to set execution dates. The court says execution dates would be "premature" until a federal legal challenge is resolved regarding the use of the drug propofol as Missouri's new execution method. Koster told The Kansas City Star on Tuesday that if the court doesn't change course, the legislature may have to fund alternative execution methods. The only execution methods authorized in Missouri are lethal gas and injection. Koster says the gas chamber may be the last option to enforce state law.

Fed up with what they see as their industry's tolerance of men's transgressions and predatory behavior, women are telling their stories — in person, in group chats and on LinkedIn.

Paul Davis, former Democratic Kansas House leader and the party’s nominee for governor in 2014, reported that his campaign has raised more than $400,000.

Kansas congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is defending a campaign finance change included in a massive spending bill passed recently by the House of Representatives

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A popular Lawrence holiday parade has been cancelled … Leavenworth has won a round in its battle against a private prison company … and Topeka officials say the sale of the Hotel Topeka is nearly complete. These stories and more can be found in this commercial-free summary of KPR news headlines, which is made possible by KPR listener-members. This summary is generally posted by 10 am weekdays and updated through 7 pm.