JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Another Missouri county is establishing a special program to help military veterans who facing certain criminal charges get special assistance as an alternative to jail or prison.

The Jefferson City News Tribune reports the veterans’ treatment court being established in Cole County will be the seventh in the state and the second in central Missouri.

Veterans’ courts in Missouri typically accept veterans who are charged with low-level offenses and pass a screening. They receive treatment through the Veterans Administration for problems such as service-related mental health and substance abuse issues.

Judge Pat Joyce of the 19th Judicial Circuit said Wednesday that officials in neighboring Osage and Morgan counties have agreed to refer qualifying veterans to the Cole County program.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two competing plans for the future of Kemper Arena in Kansas City focus heavily on youth sports, an industry that has been growing rapidly in recent years.

Kansas City-based Foutch Brothers has a $22 million plan to acquire the arena from the city and repurpose it for youth basketball, volleyball and other athletics. The Kansas City Star reports a consultant concluded this week the plan has merits.

The American Royal has proposed demolishing Kemper Arena and replacing it with a custom-designed $50 million multipurpose building that it says could be filled with even more youth sports offerings.

Kansas City council members are researching both options and trying to figure out what the city can afford before making a final recommendation later this month.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities have identified a man shot and killed outside a Cleveland nightclub as former Kansas State University football player David Garrett.

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland reports the 26-year-old Garrett was shot in the chest around 3:25 a.m. Saturday outside Lavish Ultra Lounge on the city’s West side. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died shortly thereafter.

The Cuyahoga  County medical examiner identified Garrett.

Garrett played his senior season at T.W. Harvey High School in Painesville, joining Kansas State’s team in 2009. He was an Associated Press honorable mention All-Big 12 pick after the 2010 season.

Witnesses told police there was a fight inside the club that continued outside. Someone fired a shot and it hit Garrett.

No one’s been arrested. An investigation continues.

LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — A man has died in a lawnmower accident in the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa.

The Kansas City Star reports that the victim was riding a standing mower against traffic when he was struck by a car and killed Saturday morning. The victim died at the scene.

CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A free steak dinner for everyone who predicted the Senate races in Kansas and South Dakota would be in doubt three weeks from Election Day.

Or that the most-discussed campaign TV ad would show a smiling woman talking about castrating hogs.

These midterm congressional elections are serving up a tableful of surprises.

Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio isn’t in trouble after all. But three-term Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas is.

So, too, is Republican Gov. Sam Brownback in Kansas — one of the most Republican states.

President Barack Obama’s health law has faded as the all-important GOP issue in many places. Replacing it are new warnings about the threat of Ebola and Islamic terrorists.

Third-party candidates are injecting uncertainty into Maine’s gubernatorial race and South Dakota’s Senate race.

DALLAS (AP) — Health officials say a health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the Ebola patient hospitalized there has tested positive for Ebola in a preliminary test.

A statement posted on the Texas Department of State Health Service’s website Sunday says “confirmatory testing will be conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.”

Officials say the health care worker reported a low grade fever Friday night and was isolated and referred for testing. Preliminary test results were received late Saturday.

Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, says officials have “been preparing for this possibility.”

Health officials have interviewed the patient and are identifying any contacts or potential exposures.

Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S., died Wednesday in Dallas.?

ST. LOUIS (AP) – A weekend of peaceful daytime protests and nightly police standoffs is expected to continue Sunday in St. Louis as organizers prepare for a “wave of resistance” they anticipate will lead to widespread arrests the following day.

Organizers of the four-day Ferguson October summit to protest the early August police shooting death of Michael Brown are scheduled to train participants in nonviolent civil disobedience tactics Sunday morning.

On Monday, a “direct action” led by local and visiting clergy members is planned for Ferguson and other spots in and around St. Louis. Protest leaders don’t plan to release details until shortly ahead of time to avoid tipping off law enforcement.

A crowd that organizers estimated at 3,000 marched through downtown St. Louis on Saturday. Police reported no arrests or violent incidents.