THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say two students who were plotting a Columbine-style attack at a central Florida middle school have been arrested.

Sumter County Sheriff’s officials said in a news release that the boys, ages 13 and 14, planned the attack at The Villages Charter Middle School for Friday.

Deputies say rumors about a shooting began circulating Tuesday. The 13-year-old was questioned as he arrived at school Wednesday and told deputies he and another boy had talked about the plot. When the older boy was questioned, he mentioned the 1999 Columbine shooting that killed 12 students and a teacher at the Colorado high school.

Neither boy had weapons at school, but deputies say guns were found at their homes when they were arrested Thursday.

They’ve been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republicans are meeting Feb. 9 and Democrats are convening two days later to pick their nominees for the congressional seat formerly held by CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

The special GOP convention in the 4th Congressional District will be in Wichita at Friends University and starts at 7 p.m.

Democrats plan to meet at 1 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita.

In both parties, local activists make the choice.

Gov. Sam Brownback has called an April 11 special election to fill the seat.

Republicans expressing an interest in the seat include State Treasurer Ron Estes, former congressman Todd Tiahrt and Donald Trump campaign adviser Alan Cobb.

The Democratic candidates are former State Treasurer Dennis McKinney, Andover police officer Charlie Walker and Wichita businesswoman Laura Lombard.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Senate Republicans have approved a bill that would resolve an immediate shortfall in Iowa’s $7.2 billion state budget.

Lawmakers in the GOP-led chamber voted along party lines Thursday for the legislation, which has cuts totaling about $117 million.

The reductions require some Iowa departments to cut about $88 million for the budget year that began last July, leading to less spending on corrections, higher education and public safety.

An additional $25 million would be taken from various funds, including support for economic development and the arts. About $4 million would be saved from unused tax credits.

The bill heads to the GOP-controlled House, where there’s support.

Senate Democrats argued the cuts would hurt critical spending. Senate Republicans say they tried to reduce the impact of some of the cuts.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft are one step closer to being able to operate statewide in Missouri.

In a 140-16 vote Thursday, the House passed a bill that would outline statewide regulations, such as a $5,000 fee, background checks and vehicle inspections. It will now go to the Senate for approval.

The legislation has moved quickly through the House after speaker Todd Richardson listed it as a priority at the beginning of the session.

Uber and Lyft say the regulations would make it easier to expand statewide. Municipalities currently have the power to create their own rules for the transportation companies.

Uber operates in St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and Kansas City. Lyft started operating in Springfield Thursday.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — A report released by Big Ox Energy says an ongoing sewer odor is not primarily because of wastewater from the waste recycling company’s plant, but rather the below-code plumbing in dozens of South Sioux City homes.

According to the report released Tuesday, most of the homes reporting “rotten eggs” sewer odors either have insufficient or broken plumbing systems or are sharing a wall with other units that have below-code plumbing. Engineering firm Black & Veatch began testing last week for sulfur-related compounds in the homes that could be causing the odors.

The Sioux City Journal reports Big Ox converts organic waste into methane gas, and went online at Roth Industrial Park in September. Shortly after going online, many residents that share a sewer line with the park began complaining of the odor. About two dozen residents were displaced from their homes, and a dozen still remain in hotels.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An outspoken Nebraska state legislator has resigned following an uproar over a tweet he sent that implied women’s march protesters were too unattractive to be victims of sexual assault.

Republican Sen. Bill Kintner announced at a news conference Wednesday morning in the state Capitol that he would resign the seat he has held since 2012.

Kintner made the announcement less than an hour before Nebraska lawmakers were scheduled to debate whether to expel him — the first time the Legislature would have taken such an action in recent history.

Even before Kintner retweeted the comment, he had faced criticism for a pattern of behavior that included cybersex on a state computer. He paid a $1,000 fine for that incident.

Kintner represented a largely rural and suburban district south of Omaha.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Law enforcement cellphone tracking devices are coming under scrutiny in at least eight states, with lawmakers introducing proposals ranging from warrant requirements to an outright ban.

Legislators are citing privacy and constitutional concerns, including Fourth Amendment search and seizure violations. The eight states include Missouri, as well as California, Connecticut, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon and South Carolina.

The suitcase-size devices are widely known under a brand name, Stingray. They mimic cellphone towers and allow law enforcement to track the location of cellphones in real-time.

At least 13 states already have passed laws requiring police to get warrants to track cellphones in real time.

The American Civil Liberties Union says it has identified 70 law enforcement agencies in 23 states and the District of Columbia that own cell-site simulators.