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(Photo by Stephen Koranda)The Kansas Senate has tentatively approved an education funding plan that mostly moves around existing funds, in order to comply with a Supreme Court order to equalize funding between rich and poor schools. For example, under this measure, money currently earmarked for school transportation and online classes will be shifted in order to shore up other parts of the education budget. State Senator Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said they are prioritizing spending.(“That’s what this job is, that’s what we do is prioritize our spending. And obviously this has become a significant enough priority that we’re shifting resources from other areas,” said Masterson.)The Senate school funding plan includes policy issues like new licensing rules for teachers. It also prevents the state from spending tax dollars to implement Common Core reading and math standards. Senator Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, made a motion to scrap the policy changes and simply add more money to education funding.(“It addresses what the court told us to do, and all the rest of this stuff that we have in this bill isn’t necessary,“ said Hensley.)Hensley proposed using the state's cash reserves to cover the cost of funding public schools but his motion failed. Debate on the plan lasted into the early morning hours. Legislative leaders say they hope to finish work on the issue before lawmakers leave for a month-long break.

The blacked-out material involves the drugs used in an Alabama execution. The release of the material was ordered after a motion filed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and NPR.

The 85-year-old liberal justice underwent surgery for cancer last month and also recently broke several ribs after a fall.

The deal delivers salary increases to writers, along with boosts to their health and pension funds, and the establishment of guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence.

President Biden has expressed support for the House foreign aid package. It now heads to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass.

Tillis was one of only two Senate Republicans, along with Rand Paul, Ky., who voted against a motion to start debate on Republicans' massive tax and spending bill.

A new mariachi class at Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts Magnet Middle School in Wichita could be the first middle-school mariachi program in the state. Orchestra director Panya Amphone says it's a way to teach students of all backgrounds about the traditional Mexican musical genre.

Stanley Crouch, one of the nation's most prominent jazz critics, is the author of the just-released Kansas City Lightning -- part one of a biography of Charlie "Bird" Parker. Reviewer Craig Morgan Teicher says the story starts a little slowly, but when Parker picks up the saxophone, Crouch's writing cooks.

Emilia Pérez raked in the most nominations Thursday morning, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 2.

The second album from Radiohead offshoot The Smile is very good. But can its singer ever transcend his role in his revolutionary other band?