KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Health officials estimate that as many as 1,500 children in Kansas City and hundreds more in neighboring Kansas counties have lead poisoning from lead paint.

The Kansas City Star reports that although lead paint was outlawed in 1978 the problem persists, largely in poor neighborhoods. Effects of lead poisoning include hearing loss and learning disabilities.

Kansas City’s Project Lead Safe KC has removed lead hazards from about 2,500 homes by repainting and by replacing windows. But the program also has been hit by federal budget cuts.

In Kansas, the state’s lead poisoning prevention programs disappeared after the state lost federal funding to budget cuts. Kansas devotes almost no money to lead poisoning prevention, and when federal funding returned for some programs two years ago, Kansas didn’t apply for it.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An 18-year-old Kansan has become the first woman in Kansas to enlist as a U.S. Army infantry soldier.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Tristan Guzman Guzman was sworn in on May 24 in Olathe.

She said she knew she wanted to go into the military since she was 11 years old.

Women couldn’t be infantry soldiers until the federal decision lifting gender-based restrictions from all military positions became effective in January. An infantry soldier is a land combat soldier trained in face-to-face combat and bears the brunt of warfare on the front lines.

Guzman was a three-sport athlete in high school in Allen will also receive an airborne classification. That means after she completes basic training next year at Fort Benning she’ll attend another training session to receive her airborne status.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Law enforcement officials believe two inmates who escaped from a maximum security prison last week made their getaway in a laundry truck.

Court records obtained by the Lincoln Journal Star say officials believe Armon Dixon and Timothy Clausen stowed onto a laundry truck that left the Lincoln Correctional Center at 9:15 a.m. Friday bound for another state prison in Tecumseh.

The documents say a 911 caller reported seeing two men dressed as inmates running Friday in an area where the truck stopped at an intersection.

The newspaper says authorities later discovered a hole in the truck’s roof.

Dixon was captured Saturday after a massive manhunt in Lincoln, but Clausen remains at large.

Both men are convicted rapists and are considered a great danger to the public.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita is poised to declare a public emergency so a bar can properly celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar applied to the city for a special permit so it could cordon off part of the parking lot for the event.

The celebration is scheduled for June 18-19. Mort’s co-owner Morrie Sheets says he’s gotten congratulations on the anniversary, including from Gov. Sam Brownback.

But The Wichita Eagle reports city officials couldn’t grant the permit because the public parking lot is city-owned and state law prohibits drinking on public property, unless the local government authorizes it by ordinance. The only way to get an ordinance through in time is to declare an emergency.

So, the City Council is expected to adopt an emergency ordinance at meeting Tuesday allowing the event.

The bar is a renovated former gasoline station near the city’s downtown area.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri has denied a request from a student group that wants to put a marijuana leaf on a T-shirt next to the university’s name.

Leaders for the campus chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws are fighting the decision, saying it’s about First Amendment rights and fairness.

The Kansas City Star reports MU NORML wanted to raise money selling T-shirts with a marijuana leaf in the shape of an animal paw next to the campus skyline, another cannabis leaf and the name of the group and the university.

The group sought the university’s permission, but was rejected.

The university says it’s reviewing a foundation’s recent letter in support of the group.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol is looking for new troopers.

The patrol is accepting applications for trooper through Aug. 1 for consideration to be part of the 58th basic recruit camp scheduled to begin next March.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizens and at least 21 years old by Aug. 18, 2017, when they would be sworn in. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalence. All necessary qualifications and requirements along with additional information on what can be expected during the hiring process can be found under the Career Opportunities tab of the Nebraska State Patrol website.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jackson County prosecutors have filed charges against an 18-year-old woman accused of forcing two teenagers into prostitution.

Jessi C. Larkie faces two counts of sexual trafficking of a child under 18 in connection with incidents that authorities said occurred between late March and mid-May. Online court records don’t list a lawyer for Larkie.

The Kansas City Star reports court records show that a 15-year-old girl told investigators she met Larkie online and Larkie later suggested the girl move in with her. After moving in, when the girl couldn’t find work, Larkie suggested the girl make money working as a prostitute and told her to stand at a street corner and “look cute.”

A 14-year-old girl who ran away from her Overland Park, Kansas, home told investigators a similar story.

PRATT, Kan. (AP) — Kansas wildlife officials are asking thousands of nonresident hunters who received duplicate deer permits from the April drawing to give them back.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism says a printing error sent duplicate mailings to more than 3,200 hunters in early June. The department says successful applicants should have received only one mailing, with one set of permits.

Duplicate permits can neither be used nor transferred to another hunter.

Hunters who received duplicate permits and carcass tags are being asked to return them to the KDWPT licensing station in Pratt.

The department says its staff is working with the contracted printer to find out what led to the error and to make sure all successful applicants received the correct permit.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Southern State University plans to resume sending legislative interns to the state Capitol for the 2017 session.

The university in Joplin withdrew its four interns during the 2015 session. University officials have never said exactly why they took the action. After the 2015 session, House speaker John Diehl resigned for exchanging sexually explicit texts with an intern and Sen. Paul LeVota resigned amid allegations that he sexually harassed interns. The University of Central Missouri also pulled its interns that year.

The Joplin Globe reports changes made during this legislative session convinced Missouri Southern to reinstate the intern program.

The changes included requiring House members to attend sexual harassment training and appointing an ombudsman to coordinate and advocate for the interns.