LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas Endowment has reached a $1.2 billion fundraising goal two years early but officials say the effort will continue.

The endowment’s Far Above campaign met its goal last week after it received a $58 million gift from the estate of Madison and Lila Self, the largest individual gift in the university’s history. That brought the total raised so far to $1.218 million.

Campaign chairman Kurt Watson says the last two years of the eight-year campaign will focus on using funds for student scholarships and faculty fellowships or professorships, rather than capital needs.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Far Above campaign began in 2008 with a goal of raising $1 billion, which was raised in 2012 to $1.2 billion.

HARPER, Kan. (AP) — Kansas weather is often unpredictable but Sunday was a particularly odd day in the state.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings Sunday evening in Harper, Kingman and Reno counties in south-central Kansas. A tornado briefly touched down about five miles northeast of Harper but no injuries or serious damage was reported.

Later Sunday evening, snow began falling in Cheyenne County in far northwest Kansas.

Much of the rest of the state experienced rain and misty conditions.

Meteorologist Chris Jakub told The Wichita Eagle  the unusual weather occurred when warm and moist conditions met a strong upper-level system. He said the mix of weather was unusual for mid-December in Kansas.

RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s health insurance program faces another big test Monday.

This time it’s more than just getting the website to work.

Monday is the deadline for new customers to pick a health plan that will take effect Jan. 1.

For current customers, it’s the deadline to make changes that could reduce expected premium increase ahead of the new year.

The deadline is midnight Monday, Pacific time. That gives consumers in the East an extra three hours.

HealthCare.gov is expecting heavy traffic, and telephone hold times at the federal call center already have started creeping up.

The issue is not so much technology this time but how well the program works for the millions of consumers who are counting on it.

Open enrollment runs through Feb. 15.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say a 16-year-old boy wounded in a drive-by shooting has died from his injuries.

The Kansas City, Kansas, police department says Kahlif Hampton died Sunday after being shot in the head on Friday. Officers say a woman who was also injured in the home shooting is expected to survive.

Police say suspects fired multiple shots into the townhouse from a vehicle in the back alley.

The department is investigating the shooting and is searching for two suspects. No arrests have been reported.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Independence police are investigating after a decomposing body was found in a wooded area.

Police responded Sunday afternoon after a person found the body near Highway 291 and Truman Road. They say the body showed signs of decomposition.

The age and gender of the person haven’t been released.
The Jackson County medical examiner is working to identify the victim and determine the cause of death.