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In this prequel to Mad Mad: Fury Road, Furiosa comes fully into her own as an action hero, hurling dynamite one minute and climbing up on top of the truck to fend off an attacker the next.

Inductees this year also included A Tribe Called Quest and Dave Matthews Band, and posthumous recognition for Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, Norman Whitfield and Big Mama Thornton.

Armed with nothing but a piece of colorful chalk, these kids are celebrating the return of school — and getting the tools and language to advocate for themselves.

Pro-democracy protestors in Nepal hope to increase pressure on the country's king with a day of protests Thursday. Demonstrators say they will continue their campaign until the king relinquishes his powers. But they do not agree on a new political system to replace his absolute authority.

Top executives for the gun rights nonprofit were accused of using millions in NRA donations for private luxuries. A jury found former CEO Wayne LaPierre liable for more than $5.4 million in damages.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned "lies and misinformation" that he said are undermining U.K. democracy, in response to a barrage of attacks on his government from Elon Musk.

Texas Governor to Campaign for BrownbackWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Texas Governor Rick Perry is scheduled to be in Wichita next week to raise money for Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's re-election campaign. The Wichita Eagle reports that Perry is to attend a reception September 24 at a bank office that formerly housed the Carnegie Library. An invitation on Brownback's campaign website requests donations of $500 to $4,000 for Brownback and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer. The two Republican governors have had a close relationship for years. Both are former state agriculture secretaries, and Brownback endorsed Perry's 2012 campaign for the GOP nomination for president. Brownback also attended a Houston prayer rally hosted by Perry in August 2011.===============================Kansas Voter Wants to Keep Democrat in Senate RaceTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas voter says he wants to cast his ballot for the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate who is trying to get his name removed from the ballot. An attorney for 57-year-old David Orel of Kansas City, Kansas, asked the state Supreme Court on Monday for permission to file friend-of-the court arguments as the justices consider a petition from Democrat Chad Taylor. The court is hearing Taylor's case Tuesday. Orel's filing said removing Taylor from the ballot would divest him of his right to vote for his chosen candidate against three-term Republican Senator Pat Roberts. Taylor dropped out of the race at the urging of some Democrats who see independent candidate Greg Orman as the stronger rival for Roberts and don't want to split the anti-Roberts vote.===============================State Representative Defends Residency, CondoSALINA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas state representative says the nearly half-million-dollar condominium he owns in Lawrence is just where he stays during legislative sessions, while his official residence is at his sister's house in Salina. Republican Representative J.R. Claeys tells The Salina Journal that he blames Democrat Gary Swartzendruber for raising questions about his residency because his opponent can't win on the issues. Claeys acknowledges owning the Lawrence condominium, but says it's normal for lawmakers to rent an apartment or buy a place there to stay while the Legislature is in session. The Douglas County appraiser lists Claeys's condo as being valued for tax purposes at $433,400. Still, Claeys insists he spends most of the year living with his sister, her husband and their three children in Salina, in the district he represents.===============================KCC Investment Rulings Might Save Customers MoneyTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Corporation Commission decisions on utility investments could save customers millions of dollars. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that KCC recently filed a complaint with federal authorities arguing Westar Energy is charging too much return on equity for its transmission projects. Westar currently charges 11.3 percent. The KCC argued it should be 9.37 percent. The reduction could drop rates $15.8 million annually. The commission also recently approved up to a 9.1 percent return on equity for a rate case involving Atmos Energy. Previous cases typically had a rate of 10 percent. The KCC says a 9.1 percent rate increase would raise rates about $4.2 million, while 10.5 percent would increase rates by $6.3 million. KCC spokesman Jesse Borjon says the decisions don't meant the commission is making a policy change.==============================Roberts Jumps on Clinton's Mention of Kansas RaceKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton has mentioned Kansas as a competitive race while talking about Democratic efforts to hold onto Congress. Clinton's comments Friday on the PBS NewsHour have caught the attention of Kansas Senator Pat Roberts. The Republican is in a tight race with independent candidate Greg Orman after Democrat Chad Taylor stopped campaigning. Orman is projecting himself as fresh and authentic while acknowledging that he's been both a Republican and a Democrat. But Roberts' campaign has attacked Orman as a liberal pretending to be a conservative. Roberts's campaign manager, Corry Bliss, said in a news release that Orman will "say and do anything to get elected, even if it means pretending he's not a Democrat." Orman's spokesman says Roberts's campaign will "say and do anything to get him reelected."==============================9 Other KS Candidates Used Declaration ClauseWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - State records show that Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Chad Taylor is the only candidate since 2010 to fail to use wording that the secretary of state's office says is required to withdraw from a statewide race. The Wichita Eagle reports that nine other candidates have withdrawn after winning their party's nomination in the past four years. Records obtained by the Eagle show all of them declared they were incapable to serve, as required by state election law. Secretary of State Kris Kobach has kept Democrat Chad Taylor on the ballot against his will. Kobach says Taylor did not declare himself incapable to serve if elected in his letter withdrawing from the race. Taylor sought to withdraw to clear the way for independent candidate Greg Orman to directly oppose Republican Pat Roberts. This week, the Kansas Supreme Court will consider Taylor's lawsuit to have his name removed from the November ballot.==============================Dems Deny Kansas GOP School Consolidation ClaimsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Democrats say that claims that their party's gubernatorial candidate is pro-school consolidation are false. Governor Sam Brownback has attacked Democratic challenger Paul Davis on the issue based on remarks made by Davis's appointee to a school efficiency task force. The appointee, former Republican state senator John Vratil, was interviewed in 2011 by The Topeka Capital-Journal for an article about rural Kansas population decline. Vratil is quoted saying "rural school districts will be starved out of existence." The Brownback campaign has sent out mailers warning Kansans of the "Davis-Vratil Education Agenda: Consolidation." Vratil told the Capital-Journal last week that there was nothing in the 2011 story to support the contention he sought forced consolidation of districts. Davis has said he opposes forcing small districts to combine to concentrate resources.===============================Sentencing for Former Lawmaker Pushed Back AgainTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Sentencing has been pushed back for a former Kansas state legislator who pleaded guilty in May to defrauding a Colby bank out of more than $400,000. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 40-year-old Trent LeDoux of Holton was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, but his attorney filed for a continuance because LeDoux is having surgery on Thursday. The former Republican state representative now will be sentenced on November 17 in federal court. It's his second continuance after his attorney earlier filed for one pushing back his previously scheduled August 11 sentencing date. LeDoux applied for three loans and told a bank he was going to use all of the money to buy cattle, but instead used some of it to pay off debts and make contributions to his campaign account.==============================Kansas School Efficiency Taskforce to MeetTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A wide range of topics will be on the table when a new Kansas commission meets to look for efficiencies within the state's public school system. Legislators created the K-12 Student Performance and Efficiency Commission this year. The members are meeting Thursday and Friday at the Statehouse. The Kansas Association of School Boards has obtained a list of draft recommendations prepared by Legislative staff for consideration by the commission. One proposal calls doing away with the traditional teacher salary schedule, which ties pay to education and years of experience. The salary schedule would be replaced with a salary range that takes into account experience, education and area of expertise. Another idea is to offer incentives to districts that enter into cooperative agreements or agree to consolidate with other school districts.==============================Agriculture Hall of Fame Has Budget StrugglesBONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — The leaders of the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs are trying — again — to figure out how to ensure its future. The hall closed for the season in May because of financial troubles, the second time in five years that's happened. Only two part-time employees and several volunteers work there but a dedicated board is determined to make the hall relevant again. The 160-acre facility is the national hall of agriculture. It has separate museums and many exhibits that give an extensive history of farming and agriculture. The Kansas City Star reports that the hall's board of directors is searching for ways to get younger people involved in the hall and to update its technology and exhibits — all without any government funding.==============================Officer Injures Missouri Teen with Stun GunINDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) - A 17-year-old boy is in critical condition after police say an officer shot him with a stun gun during a traffic stop. Independence Police Sgt. Darrell Schmidli says the driver was stopped Sunday afternoon because of an outstanding warrant. He says the driver refused to roll down the window or get out of the car. He says the officer used the stun gun on the teen, who allegedly struggled with police as he was removed. The teen was hospitalized in critical condition. Police say they don't know what caused the medical emergency. A friend who witnessed the stop tells WDAF-TV the teen was using his cellphone to record the officer. Another witness tells the station she saw the teen convulsing. Schmidli says police will review video of the stop.==============================Jurors Return in Hutchinson Bail Bondsman CaseHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Jurors are returning to court this (MON) morning in Hutchinson to begin deliberating the fate of a Kansas bail bondsman accused of coercing women he bailed out of jail to have sex with him. Both sides rested Friday in the trial of 66-year-year-old Dwight Jurgens. He's accused of two counts of aggravated human trafficking, four counts of attempted aggravated human trafficking, aggravated criminal sodomy and rape. Prosecutors allege Jurgens told women he would revoke their bonds if they didn't have sex with him. The judge gave jurors the weekend off. They return this morning for closing statements before beginning deliberations.==============================Topeka Bids Emotional Farewell to Slain OfficerTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Hundreds of mourners turned out in Topeka over the weekend to remember a police corporal killed in the line of duty. Officers from more than 70 law enforcement agencies were on hand when Corporal Jason Harwood was buried Saturday. The observance featured the reading of a letter to Harwood from his surviving identical twin brother, Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremy Harwood. Also, the German shepherd who was Harwood's K-9 partner before his promotion to corporal two years ago lay down in front of the casket. Harwood was a decorated 15-year police veteran who was shot during a traffic stop last weekend. Prosecutors have announced plans to seek the death penalty against the man charged in the killing.============================== Topeka Crash Kills 85-Year-Old Motorcycle RiderTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police have released the name of an 85-year-old motorcycle rider who was killed in a chain-reaction crash. The man was identified Monday as Harold Eulert, of Topeka. Eulert was riding a motorcycle on a Topeka bridge Friday afternoon when it was hit from behind by a pickup truck. The impact pushed the motorcycle into another truck. Eulert was critically injured and died at a Topeka hospital. ==============================Olathe East Football Player In Critical ConditionOLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas high school football player is in critical condition after collapsing during a football game. The Kansas City Star reports that Olathe East High School senior James McGinnis was rushed into surgery Friday night at Overland Park Regional Medical Center with bleeding around his brain. His father, Patrick McGinnis, said doctors were removing a piece of his son's skull to relieve pressure. A hospital spokeswoman told The Associated Press on Sunday that James McGinnis remains in critical condition. Olathe East assistant coach Mike Thomas says the 165-pound linebacker and slotback had made a tackle a few plays before collapsing. Olathe East head coach Jeff Meyers also said that James McGinnis had suffered one concussion during his sophomore season, but had not had any other related medical issues.==============================2 Dead, 3 Injured in Kansas Turnpike AccidentTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Authorities say two people have been killed and three injured in a single-vehicle crash on the Kansas Turnpike west of Topeka. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a sport utility vehicle driving from Omaha, Nebraska, rolled Saturday night near a highway exit. Turnpike officials said the vehicle was turning too fast while exiting the highway. The victims were identified as 22-year-old Janetta-Marie Niesha Godbolt and 20-year-old Arthur L Godbolt Jr. Three other occupants of the vehicle were taken to a hospital, but their conditions weren't immediately available.===============================Kansas City Airport Officials Promise Better Wi-FiKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Officials at Kansas City International Airport say they've heard the complaints from travelers about spotty Wi-Fi service and they're working to make it better. The Kansas City Star reports that the city's Aviation Department plans to spend $250,000 to completely upgrade Wi-Fi service and make other technological improvements. The airport started offering Wi-Fi about a decade ago. Overland Park-based Sprint Co. agreed to pay for and install the necessary infrastructure. Customers paid $9.99 for up to eight hours. When the agreement with Sprint expired, the Aviation Department took over the service and made it free. Officials say that there have been upgrades since, but not enough to keep up with demand, which has increased dramatically as more people travel with computers and phones they want to use to access the Internet.===============================Couple Sentenced in Nearly $4 Million FraudKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A northern Missouri couple was sentenced to federal prison after the woman embezzled nearly $4 million from a company where she worked and she and her husband filed false income tax returns. Federal prosecutors say 61-year-old Donna Preszler was sentenced Monday to five years and 10 months in prison without parole. Her husband, 64-year-old Terrance Preszler, was sentenced to three years without parole. The couple, formerly from Chillicothe, also was ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution to Burdg, Dunham & Associates Construction Corp. and $1.2 million to the Internal Revenue Service. They also must forfeit a nearly $4 million money judgment, vehicles, several trust accounts and two residential lots. Donna Preszler was an accounts manager at the construction firm in Hamilton.===============================Missouri Education Commissioner to ResignJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's top education official says she will resign at the end of this year. Missouri's State Education Commissioner, Chris Nicastro, announced her departure Monday. She has served as head of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education since 2009. Over the past year, Nicastro had been criticized by some state legislators and officials for her handling of high-profile issues. An audit released last month faulted the department's process for hiring a consultant for a potential overhaul of the Kansas City School District. Some state lawmakers also have been upset with the way the department has handled a student-transfer law for unaccredited districts in the St. Louis area. During Nicastro's tenure, the department implemented the Common Core educational standards, which some lawmakers oppose. It also adopted a new school accreditation system.==============================Police: Hutchinson Boy Dies After Being Pinned Under TrailerHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Hutchinson police say a 4-year-old boy has died after being pinned under a flatbed trailer. The accident was reported Sunday afternoon at a home on the city's southeast side. Police say the trailer was not attached to a vehicle and was in the home's front yard. They say the trailer's ramp fell on the boy. The child was taken to an area hospital where he later died. Police have not released his name. They say foul play is not suspected.==============================Sedgwick Sheriff Investigates Fatal Pedestrian AccidentWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Sedgwick County authorities are looking for the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian. The Wichita Eagle reports that a 43-year-old man from Clearwater was hit early Sunday while walking in a road. The Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators are trying to locate anyone who may have been in the area between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 am Sunday.==============================KU Baby Lab Studies Brain DevelopmentOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - The researchers at the University of Kansas who monitor the seemingly everyday activities of babies are seeking to unlock the key to childhood language development. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the KU Baby Lab at the university's Edwards Campus is studying how infants pay attention in social settings. The first phase of the study is for two years and about halfway finished. The second phase will be a three-year longitudinal study of children with signs of developmental delays. The research could eventually reveal early warning signs of autism and lead to advancements in the way all infants are taught language. The university also has baby labs in Lawrence and at the KU Medical Center===============================Iwig Dairy Making a ComebackTECUMSEH, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas dairy that filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012 is rebounding. The Iwig Dairy Farm now has 100 cows near Tecumseh and sells its milk, ice cream and butter at stores on the farm, in Lawrence and in Topeka. The family farm, which has been raising cows since 1910, expanded into processing and bottling milk and selling it in retail stores in 2005. Then a long drought began, driving up feed prices for the farm's animals. Two years ago, the farm filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy, which was designed for financially distressed family farmers. Owner Tim Iwig told The Topeka Capital-Journal that he has considered producing other dairy products, such as yogurt and sour cream, but will focus on the farm's best sellers for now. ==============================Wichita Airport Plans Disaster DrillWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The Wichita Airport Authority is planning a large-scale disaster exercise featuring the mock crash of a 737 aircraft. Tuesday's exercise begins at 9 am and will be located just north of Kansas 42 between two runways at the Wichita airport. It is expected to include 300 people from various emergency management agencies. The Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial airports to practice responding to simulated disasters at least every three years. Airport officials will provide information to the public using the Twitter handle @FlyICT and #ICTdrill.==============================Missouri Trooper Worried About Job After Prisoner DrowningKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Newly released records show that a Missouri Highway Patrol trooper expressed concerns in a call to a supervisor that he might have made mistakes after an Iowa man drowned in custody. The Kansas City Star reports that it obtained a video recording of the call from the Missouri State Highway Patrol as part of a massive records release. The release came after a special prosecutor decided last week that Trooper Anthony Piercy wouldn't face criminal charges in the death of Brandon Ellingson. The 20-year-old went into the water May 31 as Piercy was transporting him from the Lake of the Ozarks on suspicion of boating while intoxicated. Responding patrol boats captured Piercy talking. At one point, Piercy apologized and said he "probably did a bunch of things wrong."==============================7 Protected Pelicans Shot in KansasMANKATO, Kan. (AP) - A game warden in northern Kansas is asking the public for help to find anyone connected to the shooting death of seven American white pelicans. Jewell County game warden Mike Peterson says he found the federally protected birds shot to death in Lovewell Reservoir on Friday. Peterson believes the birds were all killed at the same time. The pelicans are currently migrating through the reservoir, which is along the Nebraska border. The Salina Journal reports the pelicans are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and those who shot the birds would be subject to fines and jail time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jewell County game warden at (620) 450-7190 or call Operation Game Thief at (877) 426-3843.==============================Salina Hospital Ousting Patients Who Use TobaccoSALINA, Kan. (AP) - A hospital in Salina says patients who refuse to observe its no-tobacco rule are being sent home. Salina Regional Health Center and its clinics have been tobacco-free since 2007. But hospital officials say some patients continue to sneak cigarettes or chew tobacco. Patients were warned last month that tobacco users would be discharged and considered to have left against medical advice. The hospital said it would end all treatment for patients who insist on smoking and tell them to find a ride home. Administrators say some patients have already been booted. The mandate covers the Salina hospital, Lindsborg Community Hospital and the center's eight clinics in Salina.==============================Missouri Farming Rights Measure Survives RecountJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A recount of a Missouri farming rights amendment appears to have confirmed its passage. Opponents of the measure had asked for a recount after the official tally from the August election showed the proposed constitutional amendment passing by a margin of 2,490 votes out of nearly 1 million cast. According to figures submitted by local election authorities to Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, the recount has reduced that margin of passage to 2,376 votes. The secretary of state's office is expected to officially certify the results of the recount Monday. The amendment creates a constitutional right to engage in farming and ranching. Missouri is just the second state behind North Dakota to place farming rights in its constitution.==============================Grand Slam Leads Red Sox Rally Past RoyalsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Boston's Daniel Nava hit a grand slam, Xander Bogaerts added a three-run shot and the Boston Red Sox rallied past the skidding Kansas City Royals 8-4 on Sunday. Kansas City blew a four-run lead and dropped three of four games in the series to the last-place Red Sox. The Royals fell 1 1-2 games behind Detroit, which beat Cleveland, in the AL Central. ==============================Chiefs Lose to Broncos 24-17, RB Jamaal Charles InjuredDENVER (AP) — Terrance Knighton batted away Alex Smith's fourth-and-goal pass to Dwayne Bowe with 15 seconds left, preserving the Denver Broncos' 24-17 win over the scrappy Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The Chiefs converted 11 of 16 third-down opportunities but were unable to capitalize in the biggest moments as the Broncos defense mustered two goal-line stands for the second straight week. Peyton Manning was 21 of 26 for 242 yards and three TDs. Chiefs All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles left the game with a left ankle injury after being brought down in the first quarter. His return was questionable. Charles rushed for 1,287 yards last season, which was third-most in the NFL. The Chiefs are already missing Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive tackle Mike DeVito as both ruptured their right Achilles tendons last weekend.

Kansas Has Lower Unemployment but Lower Job Growth in OctoberTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Federal statistics show Kansas is seeing slower private-sector job growth than the U.S. as a whole, while unemployment in the state declined in October to 4.4 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Kansas gained 13,900 private-sector jobs in October compared with October 2013. The new total of nearly 1.14 million was 1.24 percent higher. The U.S. as a whole saw private-sector employment grow 2.24 percent from October 2013 to October 2014. Kansas reports its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in October improved from the 4.7 percent rate in September and 5.2 percent in October 2013. The national unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in October, down from 5.9 percent in September and 7.2 percent in October 2013.=============================Kansas Prisons Face Severe Staffing ShortagesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The interim director of the Kansas Association of State Employees says state correctional officers are being put at risk because of critical staffing shortages in state prisons. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Rebecca Proctor testified last week before the Joint Committee on Pensions, Investments and Benefits. The legislative committee may consider legislation to standardize the pension benefits of Corrections Department employees. Proctor told the committee about inmates attacking guards and said all the adult facilities are short-staffed. She says that lawmakers should address wages before looking at pension benefits. Department of Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay confirmed that job vacancy rates in the state prison system range from 10 to 15 percent at each facility. He says low wages and dangerous working conditions are a big part of the problem.=============================Depletion of Aquifer Empties Western Kansas StreamsLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer is causing western Kansas to lose many of its perennial streams. A water expert said at a workshop in Lawrence that many streams in western Kansas used to be fed by the aquifer because its water table was higher than the streams. But because the aquifer's water table has dropped 3 feet of more below the stream beds, most of the streams are now dry year round. Kansas Geological Survey geohydrology section chief Jim Butler called it a tremendous loss to the state's ecosystem. Butler said the problems could be solved if western Kansas farmers pumped less water by using techniques such as no-till.=============================School Funding Suit Complicates Kansas Budget ProblemsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Even before state courts decide whether Kansas spends enough money on public schools, an education funding lawsuit is complicating efforts by legislators and Governor Sam Brownback to close budget shortfalls. A three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court expects to rule by the end of December in a lawsuit filed in 2010 by parents of more than 30 students and four school districts. Both sides predict an appeal to the state Supreme Court. The case is affecting state officials' thinking as they wrestle with predicted budget shortfalls totaling more than $714 million for the current budget year and the one beginning in July. Aid to public schools is the biggest item in the state's annual budget. Many legislators are wary of cutting it with the lawsuit pending.===============================UPDATE: Autopsy Begins on Kansas Woman Found Raped, BurnedWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An autopsy has begun on a Kansas woman who died this weekend, days after she was sexually assaulted and set on fire in a park. Sedgwick County spokeswoman Brittany Clampitt said Monday that coroner's officials were investigating, but it wasn't clear when the examination would be complete. Relatives held a memorial for Letitia "Tish" Davis on Sunday evening in Wichita's Fairmount Park, where she was found Nov. 14 with burns on more than half her body and cuts on her head. Cornell McNeal has been jailed and charged with attempted murder and rape. He doesn't yet have a lawyer. Police Lt. James Espinoza told The Wichita Eagle that charges would be amended after Davis died Saturday. The district attorney's office said prosecutors would determine appropriate charges based on new evidence.=============================Kansas Universities Seek Room and Board Rate IncreaseTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - State universities in Kansas are seeking to hike their room and board rates for the upcoming school year. The Kansas Board of Regents is expected to approve the increases in December. There was a first reading of the proposals last week. At the University of Kansas, a typical rate for a residence hall double-room and a middle-of-the-road meal plan, called the "Crimson Flex," would increase an average of 2.9 percent, for a total of $9,324. The university says costs could vary depending on the type of room and meal plan. Other universities in the Regents system are proposing similar increases, ranging from 2.7 percent at Fort Hays State University to an average 5 percent increase at Emporia State University.===============================KBI Surveying Law Enforcement Agencies on KitsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The state's investigation bureau is trying to determine if Kansas has a backlog of untested sexual assault kits. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the kits include swabs and specimens gathered during exams of sexual assault victims. Officials say that across the country, hundreds of thousands of the sexual assault kits remain untested. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation recently sent surveys to all Kansas law enforcement agencies to see if there is a backlog problem. KBI Director Kirk Thompson says the state agency doesn't think there's a backlog issue in Kansas, but wants to be sure that's the case. KBI hopes to begin analyzing the survey's results starting next year. Thompson says that 66 kits are currently awaiting testing at KBI labs.===============================Pratt Man Given 2 Life Sentences for MurdersPRATT, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old Kansas man was given two life sentences for killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says Bryant Alan Seba of Pratt was sentenced Monday for the shooting deaths of 22-year-old Alexandria Duran and her unborn child in July 2013. He also was sentenced to another 272 months for attempted premeditated murder in the shooting of 28-year-old Brandon Wright, who was paralyzed. Seba will not be eligible for parole for at least 50 years. Testimony at trial indicated people in Duran's house and Seba's house had several racially-tinged confrontations. Witnesses said Seba fired into a crowd of people after Duran and her uncle intervened in a fight that involved Seba, who is white, and Wright, who is black.===============================Capital Murder Suspect Seeking to Change His NameTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man whose capital murder conviction was overturned because of ineffective counsel is seeking to change his name, which prosecutors said will have no impact on his upcoming retrial. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Phillip Delbert Cheatham Jr. has filed court documents seeking to change his name to "King Phillip Amman Reu-El," and is scheduled for a hearing next month before a judge who will decide whether to grant the change. Cheatham was convicted in 2005 of killing 38-year-old Annette Roberson and 42-year-old Gloria Jones in 2003. The 41-year-old is charged with capital murder, with two alternative counts of premeditated first-degree murder in the deaths of Roberson and Jones and attempted first-degree murder of Annetta Thomas. His trial is scheduled for early next year.===============================Deputy Escapes Serious Injury When Semi Hits CarLEON, Kan. (AP) — A Butler County sheriff's deputy escaped serious injury when a semi-trailer truck hit his patrol car in south-central Kansas. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the accident happened Monday morning near Leon on westbound U.S. 400. The westbound truck hit the patrol car while the deputy was helping a stalled motorist. The truck driver was taken to Wesley Medical Center with non-critical injuries. The deputy was treated for minor injuries at the scene. Traffic on westbound U.S. 400 was reduced to one lane while the accident was investigated.===============================Kansas Felon Found Unfit for Trial in Vegas HeistsLAS VEGAS (AP) — A 34-year-old Kansas felon has been declared psychologically unfit for trial in federal court in the July armed robberies of a Las Vegas Strip casino cashier and a bank. Trial was canceled Friday for Scott Alan Carmitchel on charges of interference with commerce by robbery at the Bellagio and armed robbery of a City National Bank branch. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Carmitchel was ordered to remain in federal custody for mental health treatment and another psychological examination. U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware in Las Vegas scheduled a March 3 status check in the case. Carmitchel was released from a Kansas prison in December. He's accused of spending nearly $50,000 from the July 25 Bellagio heist and the July 22 bank robbery on prostitutes and a shopping spree.===============================Kansas Among 21 States Pushing to Overturn Maryland Gun-Control LawHAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Twenty-one states are asking a federal appeals court to overturn provisions of Maryland's gun-control law that ban 45 assault weapons and a limit gun magazines to 10 rounds. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led the coalition in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in the Fourth U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia last week. The brief says the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep firearms in homes for self-protection. The other states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, and Kentucky. A U.S. District Court judge in Baltimore upheld the provisions in August. The state of Maryland has until December 31 to respond to the filing.=============================KHP: 1 Dead, 6 Injured in Oskaloosa CrashOSKALOOSA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Highway Patrol says a 17-year-old boy has died in a crash that hospitalized a woman and five children. Troopers say Hunter Terrell of McLouth crashed into an SUV over the weekend while trying to pass a pickup truck on a highway near Oskaloosa. They say he lost control of his Honda Civic while attempting to get back into his lane. Twenty-six-year-old Carolanne Todd of Oskaloosa and five children ranging from 1- to 10-years-old were hospitalized. Their conditions are unknown.=============================Chanute Man Dies in One-Vehicle AccidentCHANUTE, Kan. (AP) — A southeast Kansas man has died after his pickup truck went off the side of a bridge near Chanute. The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the victim as 51-year-old Jack Cheyney of Chanute. The patrol says the accident happened Saturday morning when Cheyney's truck went off the roadway, struck a bridge rail and flipped into the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene.=============================Abilene's Great Plains Theatre Will Rebuild After July FireABILENE, Kan. (AP) - An historic theater in Abilene that was destroyed by fire will be rebuilt. Maggie Hoffman, executive director of the Great Plains Theatre, says an architect has been hired to develop plans to replace the theater. The building was destroyed by fire after being hit by lightning in July. It was built in 1883 and housed a professional Equity theater for 20 years. Hoffman says no date has been set for the new theater to open but it could be three to five years. She says the theater's supporters want to see what the architect envisions, and then have plenty of time to raise the funds needed for a new building. The Salina Journal reports a professional fundraising expert will be hired to help raise money and apply for grants.==============================Investors Seek to Develop Southeast Kansas CasinoWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A group of Kansas investors has proposed a $130 million casino in southeast Kansas, the third project to vie for the license. The Cherokee County Commission on Monday endorsed the project from Castle Rock Casino Resort. The company wants to build a casino with 1,400 slot machines, 35 table games and a poker room with 16 tables. Also planned are a 200-room hotel, three restaurants and a health club and spa. The application deadline is December 18, with the State Lottery Commission to make the selection. Castle Rock says it could open by June 2016, if it wins. Castle Rock says it decided to build in Cherokee County because the proposed resort would sit within a mile of Kansas' borders with Oklahoma and Missouri and just 50 miles from Arkansas.==============================KC Prepares for Holiday Lighting TraditionKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals left-fielder Alex Gordon will flip the switch that lights up Kansas City's Country Club Plaza on Thanksgiving night. Gordon will be accompanied by Kansas City General Manager Dayton Moore. The annual event attracts tens of thousands of people to the upscale shopping and dining district, where several blocks of buildings will be outlined in holiday lights through Jan. 18. A local celebrity gets the honor each year of flipping the switch. Musical performances also will be part of Thursday night's festivities.=============================Dodge City Educator Named Teacher of the YearWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A high school biology teacher from Dodge City High School is the 2015 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Shannon Ralph has taught for 18 years in middle and high school, with 13 years at Dodge City High School teaching biology, honors biology and AP biology. Her selection was announced during a ceremony in Wichita Saturday night. She has received numerous previous honors and has presented at several national conferences. Ralph will receive $4,000, a free rental car for a year for her Teacher of the Year duties, free enrollment to several Kansas universities for life and other prizes. Ralph was chosen from among eight finalists, who will work together this year to promote education and teaching.===============================Suspect in 5 Kansas City Deaths Pleads Not GuiltyKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man suspected of killing five people in a Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhood has pleaded not guilty to all charges he faces, including five counts of first-degree murder. Thirty-four-year-old Brandon Howell entered the plea in Jackson County Court on Monday morning. Prosecutors say Howell brutally beat George and Anna Taylor on September 2, then fatally shot Alice Hurst; her son, Darrel Hurst; and Susan Choucroun outside their homes before fleeing in the Taylors' SUV. Howell was arrested hours later when police found him walking with a loaded shotgun. Besides the murder counts, he's charged with four counts of armed criminal action, first-degree burglary, stealing a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm.===============================KU Nearly Meets First Enrollment Goal for International Student ProgramLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas officials say they have nearly met a first-semester target of international students enrolled through a recruitment program. Earlier this year, the university and company Shorelight Education formally announced a partnership for the International Academic Accelerator Program, which is aimed at increasing the school's international enrollment to help diversify the student body. A university official says about 7 percent of undergrads are from other countries. Overall, about 9 percent of the school's students are international. The Lawrence Journal-World reports officials had a goal of recruiting 60 students for its first semester in the program and ended up with 57 this fall. For about a $45,000 flat fee, the program provides about a year's worth of room, board, tuition and activities for participating international students.===============================Kansas Restroom Places Second in National ContestLUCAS, Kan. (AP) — A toilet-shaped restroom in a small north-central Kansas town has placed second in a national contest. The Wichita Eagle reports that the honor was bestowed upon the Grassroots Art Center's Bowl Plaza in Lucas last Wednesday, which was World Toilet Day. The public restrooms at Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia were voted No. 1. The competition is sponsored by Cintas, a company that designs restrooms. The finalists in the "Top 10" best restrooms in the nation contest were named in September, and people could vote for their favorites. The Lucas facility got its start in 2008 when the town's approximately 400 residents banded together because there was a need for a public restroom. It took them four years to raise money and design the facility.=============================Shaq Joins Hill, 6 Others in College Hoops HallKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shaquille O'Neal and his coach at LSU, Dale Brown, joined six other luminaries with induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City on Sunday night. Former Duke star Grant Hill, Louisville standout Darrell Griffith, longtime Maryland coach Gary Williams, Stetson's Glenn Wilkes Sr., Five-Star Basketball Camp founder Howard Garfinkel and the late Prairie View A&M star Zelmo Beaty were also inducted. They join dozens of other players, coaches and contributors who have been enshrined in Kansas City since the inaugural 2006 class. The induction takes place annually on the eve of the CBE Classic at the nearby Sprint Center. No. 14 Iowa State plays Alabama and Maryland faces Arizona State in Monday night's semifinals. The championship game is scheduled for Tuesday.=============================KU Women's Basketball Team Beats Georgetown 55-42LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas women's basketball team defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 55-42 Sunday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. Double-digit scoring efforts by three KU seniors powered the Jayhawks to the win over Georgetown. It was Kansas' third game in a row having three or more Jayhawks finish with double-digit points. With the win, KU improves to 4-1. The Jayhawks will finish a six-game home stand hosting Iona College on Wednesday night in Lawrence.==============================K-State Beats Purdue 88-79 in MauiLAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Marcus Foster scored 24 points and Kansas State held on to beat Purdue 88-79 after blowing most of a big early lead Monday in the opening game of the Maui Invitational. Coming off a disappointing loss to Long Beach State, Kansas State (3-1) attacked Purdue early, hounding the Boilermakers into one mistake after another while building a 15-point halftime lead. Purdue (3-1) fought its way back into it behind Kendall Stephens, who scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half. The Boilermakers pulled within 75-70 on a 3-pointer by Stephens with just over 3 minutes left, but got no closer. Isaac Haas added 19 points and six rebounds for Purdue. ==============================Chiefs Place Berry on Non-Football Illness ListKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have placed Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry on the non-football illness list after a mass was discovered in his chest following Thursday night's game in Oakland. Berry began feeling discomfort in his chest near the end of the game, and a series of tests taken in Oakland and back in Kansas City revealed the mass. Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said that there has been no definitive diagnosis, but the leading possibility is lymphoma. Burkholder said that Berry had never complained of the pain until last week, and a physical taken over the summer came back clear. Berry was on his way Monday to Atlanta, where he was to be examined by specialists at Emory University.

Q: Talk about the power of education! Elmer McCollum grew up on a farm in southeast Kansas, near Fort Scott. But after graduating from the University of Kansas and Yale, he went on to mak...

Kansas High Court Hears Offender Registry CaseTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The attorney representing a convicted child molester has urged the Kansas Supreme Court to take a fresh look at the state's criminal offender registry because social media has made the Internet the new town square for public shaming. Attorney Chris Joseph said during oral arguments Thursday that the world has changed dramatically since 2003, when the U.S. Supreme Court found criminal offender registration was not punitive. But Assistant Attorney General Christopher Grunewald argued that justices should overturn a Kansas judge's finding that removed a Lenexa man's name from the offender registry. The state contends the case seeks to end the dissemination of public information to third-party websites. The outcome of the case has implications for people whose listing requirements were retroactively lengthened when the state changed its law in 2011.===============================Kansas Court to Hear US Senate Ballot Dispute Next WeekTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Supreme Court will hold a hearing next week on a petition by the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate to get his name removed from the November ballot. The court on Thursday scheduled arguments on Democrat Chad Taylor's petition for 9 am Tuesday. Chief Justice Lawton Nuss said in a two-page order that the court was hearing the case without a review by a lower court because of the need for an authoritative ruling. Taylor dropped out of the Senate race last week. But Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach said Taylor's withdrawal letter didn't comply with a state law limiting when nominees' names can be removed from the ballot. Taylor's withdrawal could boost the chances of independent candidate Greg Orman defeating three-term GOP Senator Pat Roberts.===============================Stegall to Join Kansas Supreme Court on December 5TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Caleb Stegall is scheduled to be sworn in as the Kansas Supreme Court's newest justice on December 5. The Supreme Court announced the swearing in-ceremony Friday. Stegall currently serves on the Kansas Court of Appeals. Governor Sam Brownback appointed him to the state's highest court last month. It was Brownback's first appointment to the seven-member Supreme Court. Stegall will replace former Justice Nancy Moritz, who was appointed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Stegall is 42 and was serving as Brownback's chief counsel when the governor appointed him to the Court of Appeals last year. He served as Jefferson County's elected prosecutor for two years before joining Brownback's staff in January 2011.===============================Kansas Senator Has 1st Web Ad; Foe Calls It 'Fake'TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Senator Pat Roberts's re-election campaign has posted an online ad attacking independent candidate Greg Orman as a liberal pretending to be conservative. But Orman's campaign demanded Friday that Roberts' team remove the ad because it edits audio from their recent debate at the Kansas State Fair. The ad accuses Orman of pretending to be conservative like Roberts. It features a string of video clips from the debate in which Orman agrees with Roberts. The last of those clips features audio edited from two parts of the debate. Orman spokesman Sam Edelen called the audio "fake" and said it had been manipulated while being represented as exactly what Orman said at the debate. Roberts campaign manager Corry Bliss called the criticism laughable.===============================KU Creates Sexual Assault Task Force, Requires TrainingLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The University of Kansas will create a task force and require training in response to criticism of its handling of sexual assault complaints. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little announced Thursday that the task force will review the university's current policies and practices and recommend improvements. In a message on her website, Gray-Little said she wants to ensure that students, faculty and staff take training on the subject and not completing the training will lead to sanctions. The actions come after some university students and activists released a video telling prospective students that the university was not safe. A panel discussion on sexual assault also will be held next Thursday during Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Gray-Little says she will attend the discussion.===============================Lawmakers Send Letter Opposing Transplant ChangesKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fifty-two U.S. House members have signed a letter voicing concerns about a proposal to change the map that governs how donated livers are distributed around the country. The letter, dated Friday, was written by Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder, a Republican. It comes in advance of a meeting Tuesday in Chicago to discuss a proposal to redraw the nation's transplant regions. The issue is that some areas have fewer donated organs, and higher demand for them, than others. The United Network for Organ Sharing, which runs the nation's transplant network, has proposed basing the map on the distribution and demand for donated organs. The lawmakers who signed the letter are largely from the South and the Midwest. Those regions have higher organ donation rates and fear they would be negatively affected.===============================Services This Weekend for Slain Topeka OfficerTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Law enforcement officials and people from across Kansas are remembering a Topeka police corporal killed in the line of duty. Corporal Jason Harwood will lie in state from 3 to 6 pm today (FRI) in Exhibition Hall at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. His funeral is Saturday morning. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports officers from the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Topeka Police Department and several other departments gathered at a Topeka church Thursday as a U.S. Honor Flag was delivered. The flag was brought from Texas to Kansas, where members of the Topeka Police Department honor guard carried it into the church. Harwood was a decorated 15-year police veteran who was shot after he pulled over a car Sunday.===============================Kansas Courthouse Evacuated for Suspicious ItemLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas courthouse is open again after being evacuated when an employee found a couple of liquid-filled bottles taped together near a handicapped entrance. Douglas County sheriff's spokesman Lieutenant Steve Lewis says investigators decided not to take any chances after the suspicious bottles were found around 8:30 am Friday at the old courthouse in Lawrence. Lewis says the Olathe bomb squad was called in to handle the items, and after a robot retrieved them a search dog sniffed around and didn't find any signs of explosives. The courthouse was reopened at 1 pm Friday and Lewis says the incident is considered resolved.===============================Investigators: Fire at Northeast Kansas Mansion Was ArsonSHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Investigators in northeast Kansas say a fire that destroyed a 9,000-square-foot home this week was intentionally set. The owner of the secluded mansion near Lake Quivira in Shawnee was out of town in Colorado when the fire broke out Wednesday afternoon. The Shawnee Fire Department said Friday someone had also stolen items from the house and vandalized it. Investigators did not specify how the fire was set. KCTV reports that the four-bedroom, eight-bath house sits on 15 acres and also has a pool, a greenhouse and a fish pond. The home had recently been listed for sale for $1.5 million, but the listing had been pulled and the house was not for sale at the time of the fire.===============================Ogallala Aquifer Subject of State Fair DiscussionHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Ideas for sustaining the Ogallala Aquifer will be discussed this weekend at the Kansas State Fair. A Kansas State University group called the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy is organizing round-table discussions Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds. The Ogallala is an underground source of water locked inside gravel and sand hundreds of feet below the surface. It stretches across several states, from Nebraska to Texas, including about 30,500 square miles in western and central Kansas. But water is being pumped out of it to irrigate crops faster than it can be replenished. The goal of the nonpartisan Kansas State group leading the discussion is to understand the issues and options.===============================Deal in Works on Some Claims over Monsanto WheatWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A potential settlement appears to be in the works on some claims in lawsuits over the May 2013 discovery of genetically engineered Monsanto wheat in an Oregon field. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil in Kansas has given the parties until September 29 to file stipulations of dismissal of claims brought by growers of soft white wheat. She has also stayed proceedings to give the remaining parties a chance to explore a possible settlement. An order filed Wednesday in federal court in Kansas gives the parties until October 27 to file a joint report on efforts to resolve the case. At least 13 lawsuits against St. Louis-based Monsanto over have been consolidated in Kansas. The lawsuits were initially filed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Mississippi, Washington, Arkansas and Idaho.===============================Kansas State University Restricts Travel to African CountriesMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Kansas State University is restricting travel of university-sponsored students, faculty and staff to several African countries affected by the Ebola virus. The university said in a letter Wednesday to the Kansas State community that it will deny university-sponsored travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which have been placed on a federal travel alert list. Travel requests to nearby Nigeria and the Congo will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The university also said that anyone who has traveled to those countries in the last four weeks needs to be screened at the Lafene Health Center on the Manhattan campus. The Manhattan Mercury reports that as of Wednesday, 16 people who were screened were found to be not at risk of contracting Ebola.===============================Kansas Supreme Court to Hold Session at CollegeKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Supreme Court plans to hold court late next month at Kansas City Kansas Community College as part of its outreach effort in which sessions occasionally are held at various sites across the state. The justices will be in session from 9 am to noon October 29 in the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC main campus. The schedule includes oral arguments in two criminal cases and three civil cases. Prior to the Supreme Court's visit, its staff will work with the college's faculty to identify classes of students who would like to attend the special session. That will include providing background information about the cases to the students so they know the basic legal questions being argued. The court began visiting various communities in 2011.===============================Police Chase Ends in Fiery Crash in KansasMINNEAPOLIS, Kan. (AP) — A law enforcement chase of a vehicle ended with a crash and fiery accident in north-central Kansas. Ottawa County Sheriff Keith Coleman says the chase started Friday morning in Minneapolis when an officer tried to stop a pickup truck because a taillight was out. The driver fled and was chased by Minneapolis police and Ottawa County sheriff's deputies on U.S. 81 into Saline County. It eventually hit a Saline County Sheriff vehicle, went down an embankment and caught fire. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the truck was stolen. KCLY reports that Coleman said the vehicle was carrying several cans of gasoline, which likely caused the fire. The 51-year-old driver of the truck was treated for minor injuries and is jailed in Ottawa County. The trooper was treated for minor injuries.=============================== Thieves Target Wichita Habitat for Humanity SiteWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Officials of Wichita Habitat for Humanity are scrambling to make up for a costly break-in at a storage unit. KWCH-TV reports that subcontractors and electricians at a home-building site discovered earlier this week that all of the power tools being stored in the pod had been stolen. Wichita Habitat for Humanity executive director Ann Fox says someone used a saw to cut through a padlock. She says the replacement cost is about $12,000. Police had not recovered any of the tools by Friday. But members of the Wichita Area Builders Association have replaced some of the items out of their warehouses. Fox said she's grateful for the help. The project has been underway for several months, and Fox said the donated tools will help keep the work going.===============================Kansas Corn Crop Forecast Larger than AnticipatedWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The latest government forecast on Kansas crop production is painting a far rosier picture than had been anticipated for most fall crops just a month ago. The National Agricultural Statistics Service predicted Thursday that Kansas growers would bring in 578 million bushels of corn this season. That figure is 14 percent above last year's production. Higher yields that are averaging 154 bushels per acre are making up for the fact that harvested corn acreage this year is expected to be down 6 percent this year to 3.75 million acres. Production of grain sorghum in Kansas is now estimated to come in at 182 million bushels, up 10 percent from a year ago. Harvest of soybeans is forecast at 147 million bushels, up 15 percent from last year.===============================Woman Sentenced for Texting-While-Driving FatalityPRATT, Kan. (AP) - A southern Kansas woman has been placed on a year of supervised probation for a texting-while-driving crash that left another driver dead. The Pratt Tribune reports that 36-year-old Jennifer Dale, of Preston, must also pay a $1,000 fine under the sentence she received Wednesday. Dale pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of vehicular homicide in the December 2012 crash that killed 78-year-old Virginia Sell, of Stafford. Authorities said Sell had slowed on Kansas 61 to make a left turn when her car was rear-ended by Dale's vehicle. The impact sent Sell's car into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer. Sell was thrown from her car and died at the scene. Dale's probation requires her to speak at six schools about the consequences of texting while driving.===============================FBI Probes Vandalism at Missouri Congressman's OfficeKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Federal investigators are looking into what appears to have been an attempt to firebomb a U.S. congressman's office in Missouri. Kansas City police were called to U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver's office in Kansas City around 2:50 am Thursday after an alarm sounded at the building. Police Sergeant Kari Thompson says two alcohol bottles - one rum and one Jagermeister - were found shattered on the ground outside below a broken office window. Thompson says paper towels were sticking out of the necks of the bottles and it appeared they had been ignited but were extinguished during flight. Cleaver was in Washington, D.C., and there were no staff members in the building at the time. FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton says the agency is investigating the incident.===============================Kansas Conference Reviews Higher Education CoursesOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - Faculty from state universities, community colleges and technical colleges in Kansas are meeting to review courses as part of an effort to make sure students can transfer some credits among all institutions. Nearly 300 people were registered to attend Friday's annual Kansas Core Outcomes Group Project conference at Johnson County Community College. The project is coordinated by the state Board of Regents. Faculty members review course materials and set common outcomes across institutions, so that the transfer of credits is then guaranteed for students. The conference then recommends courses to add to the board's list for guaranteed credit transfers, with the regents making the final decision. There are 46 courses on the list, and 11 others are under consideration.===============================3 Missouri Residents Sentenced for Selling MethKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A 40-year-old Kansas City man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms while trafficking in drugs. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas City says Carlos Olivas, also known as "Chuco," was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in April. A northwest Missouri mother and her son were sentenced on Wednesday for participating in the same meth-dealing conspiracy. Prosecutors say 47-year-old Onis Eads - also known as Onis Jones - of Humphreys was sentenced to three years and 11 months, while her son, 25-year-old John Carr of Galt, was sentenced to eight years and 11 months. Carr and his mother both admitted purchasing large amounts of methamphetamine from Olivas so they could sell it.===============================Newton Police Shift Patrols to Combat VandalismNEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Newton police warn that a rise in the amount of city graffiti could lead to gang fights over turf. Sergeant Bryan Hall told KAKE-TV on Thursday that there have been 57 cases of new graffiti found in the past six months. He says gangs often use the tags to mark their territory. Hall says the increase has caused police to shift patrols to downtown and near the skate park. Police hopes residents will report graffiti using the department's crime tracking application. ===============================Former Bank Worker Sentenced for EmbezzlementKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Kansas City woman is going to prison for embezzling more than $650,000 from the bank where she worked. The U.S. Attorney's office says 54-year-old Lisa L. Taylor was sentenced Thursday to six years and six months without parole. Taylor pleaded guilty in February to defrauding UMB Bank, where she worked as a closing account specialist from May 2006 until October 2010. Eleven of her friends and relatives in Missouri and Kansas also pleaded guilty to taking part in the conspiracy. Taylor admitted generating 377 fraudulent checks, some of them payable to friends and relatives who cashed the checks and gave Taylor part of the proceeds. The scheme also involved $97,000 worth of checks made payable to fictitious names. Taylor forged the signatures and deposited the checks into her own bank account.==============================Police Chase Ends with Arrests in MissouriKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Kansas City, Kansas, police say they've arrested a homicide suspect after a chase that crossed state lines. Police say the tried to stop a vehicle in Kansas because the driver fit the description of a homicide suspect. They say the chase ended in North Kansas City, Missouri, after the vehicle crashed. They say the driver and two other men attempted to flee on foot. Police have not released their identities.=============================Wichita Police Plan Arrests in Junior Football BrawlWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Wichita police say they plan to arrest some of the people who beat up a coach at a junior football league practice. Lt. James Espinoza told KAKE-TV on Thursday that charges are pending and arrests will be made "in the near future." He says several people involved in the Monday fight have been banned from the league. Police say the fight began in Wichita's Linwood Park after one man complained his son wasn't getting enough playing time. They say six men attacked the coach, with one using brass knuckles and another indicating he had a gun. They say the coach's wife pulled out a gun and fired a shot into the air. No one was seriously hurt. A league representative says the coach is no longer with the team.===============================Royals Fall to Red Sox But Holland, Duffy Could Return For WeekendKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The last-place Boston Red Sox took advantage of three critical errors by the first-place Kansas City Royals, pulling away late in a 6-3 victory Thursday night Kansas City's advantage in the AL Central dropped to a half-game over idle Detroit. Royals pitcher Liam Hendriks failed to last three innings while making a spot start for left-hander Danny Duffy, who is shelved with shoulder soreness. But Royals manager Ned Yost said before Thursday night's game that All-Star closer Greg Holland could be available by this weekend after dealing with some tightness in his right arm, while Duffy was awaiting word from doctors before beginning to throw again. Holland has not pitched since saving a 4-1 win over Texas on Sept. 3.=============================Jayhawks Hope to End Road Suffering at DukeLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Charlie Weis may not know exactly how long it's been since the Jayhawks last won on the road, but he has a decent grasp of the drought. He calls it an eternity. It's been 1,827 days, or just about five years exactly. When the Jayhawks beat the University of Texas, El Paso 34-7 on September 13, 2009, every player on the current Kansas roster was still in high school — or middle school. KU hopes to break their long, away-game, losing streak when they visit Duke this weekend.===============================Dissecting the Kansas City Chiefs' Terrible Season OpenerKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Was last year a smoke-and-mirrors mirage? Did the Kansas City Chiefs go from 2-14 to 11-5 and the playoffs on the strength of dumb luck? There's an argument to be made for it after their season-opening loss to Tennessee. Alex Smith threw three interceptions after receiving a big contract extension. Running ball Jamaal Charles touched the ball 11 times after getting his own new deal. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended. First-round draft pick Dee Ford got on the field for just three snaps. Defensive starters Derrick Johnson and Mike DeVito were lost to season-ending injuries, too. Now, the Chiefs will have to pull out of a downward spiral at arguably the toughest place in the AFC: Denver. They visit the Broncos in Week 2 on Sunday.==============================Chiefs Starting Lineman Allen Likely Headed to IRKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jeff Allen had surgery Friday on his right elbow and will likely be out the rest of the season, the latest blow to a team already ravaged by injuries and suspensions. Allen hurt his elbow after starting Sunday's season-opening loss to Tennessee. In the same game, Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and starting defensive tackle Mike DeVito ruptured their right Achilles tendons, ending their seasons. Allen was supposed to be the starting left guard, but he moved to right tackle when Donald Stephenson was suspended four games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Ryan Harris is expected to start at right tackle when the Chiefs visit Denver on Sunday.