KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A group of nearly 40 men and women will join Kansas City area students in the classroom this fall as part of a new program designed to prepare aspiring teachers be effective urban educators.

The Kansas City Star reports that the 39 students will be a part of the Kansas City Teacher Residency, which was launched this year with a $1.2 million federal grant. The program is modeled off of medical residencies.

In the first year of the program, the students receive $25,000 while in residence. They teach full time and finish their degrees in the second year.

The first class was chosen from 130 applications and consists of some recent education school graduates, along with others with bachelor’s degrees who are seeking a career change.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say they found a body in a Kansas hotel room that erupted in flames during a shootout in which three federal agents were injured while trying to arrest a robbery suspect.

The FBI said in a release Sunday that two deputy U.S. marshals and an FBI agent suffered non-life-threatening injuries Saturday night when they came under fire while trying to arrest 28-year-old Orlando J. Collins at the Topeka hotel.

The FBI says during the gunfire, a fire broke out in the room where authorities later found an unidentified body. It didn’t identify the body or say if Collins was arrested.

Authorities said earlier four agents were injured. The FBI didn’t specify the nature of the injuries and didn’t immediately return calls seeking clarification about the change.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pressure is mounting on a panel of 12 Missouri lawmakers who will decide the fate of a contested measure to protect businesses that oppose gay marriage.

At issue is a proposed constitutional amendment to ban penalties against businesses that cite religion while denying some goods or services for same-sex weddings.

The measure is under national scrutiny following business backlash in states with laws seen by some as discriminatory to LGBT people, such as North Carolina.

Members of the Missouri House panel say LGBT-rights advocates, businesses, churches and friends and family are trying to sway how they vote.

If the bill doesn’t make it out of committee, it’s dead and won’t head to voters to decide this year.

The committee chairman says a vote is planned this week.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Springfield third-grader is selling lemonade to help pay for his adoption. Nine-year-old Tristan Jacobson sold $1 lemonades Friday in front of the home he shares with Donnie Davis and her husband, Jimmy, who have been Tristan’s kinship guardians since Tristan was 5.

The Springfield News-Leader reports the money from the lemonade stand and a weekend yard sale will go toward helping pay about $5,000 in legal fees so Tristan can be adopted.

Donnie Davis says she and her husband already consider Tristan their son. She says the adoption is “more for reassurance for him, knowing that he has his forever family and he has our name.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have announced the death of a squirrel that hung out around police headquarters and had his own Twitter following. Police say the squirrel, which went by @OPDSquirrel on the social media site, was found dead in the police headquarters’ parking lot in downtown Omaha.

A post by Omaha Officer Michael Bossman on Tuesday announced the death, accompanied by a picture of a dead squirrel outlined with chalk.

The squirrel’s Twitter account, however, remains active. The rodent’s nearly 350 followers have been treated to follow-up tweets from friends and family — including one from Mrs. OPDSquirrel, who thanked everyone for their kind words and said “he will be sorely missed by our 35 children and I.”

Police suggest donations to First Responders Foundation of Omaha in lieu of flowers.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A bill given first-round approval in the Missouri House would give state residents a chance to vote on whether to ban red-light cameras. The House gave initial approval to legislation on Wednesday. It would put a question on the November ballot that would prohibit the cameras.

The proposal, sponsored by state Rep. Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville, comes after the Missouri Supreme Court struck down red-light camera laws in some Missouri cities.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Spencer says municipalities have begun using the cameras to raise money, rather than control traffic.

If approved by voters, the law would require cities to cancel contracts with companies that provide the cameras. Some cities and law enforcement organizations oppose the ban.

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has suspended the license of a Lawrence attorney for 18 months amid complaints from her clients and others attorneys.

Under an order issued last week, Joan M. Hawkins also was instructed to pay the costs for the disciplinary proceedings.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Hawkins is the owner of J Hawk law firm and handles family law cases. She didn’t immediately return a phone message that The Associated Press left at her office seeking comment.

The court’s order said Hawkins had filed false pleadings in district court, delayed returning unearned legal fees to a former client and improperly called into question the veracity of a court employee. The court also found that she engaged “in behavior that unreasonably delayed the resolution of two legal matters.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City leaders are calling for $27.6 million in public funds to help complete revitalization of the 18th and Vine jazz district.

The Kansas City Star reports that City Manager Troy Schulte and a councilman who represents the district made the case to the City Council on Thursday for the public spending.

They say the money could help leverage $12 million in private funding.

Before falling into disrepair, the area east of downtown became world famous for the hard-swinging, bluesy jazz style played in its club. Struggles remain despite more than two decades of work. Completed projects include the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball museum.

Schulte urged the city to “do it right and declare victory once and for all at 18th and Vine.”

OFFERLE, Kan. (AP) — Officials are investigating after 50 to 60 cattle were found starved to death in southern Kansas.

Sheriff Bryant Kurth says the cattle were found March 31 near Offerle in Edwards County.

Edwards County Attorney Mark Frame says between 50 and 60 cattle were found dead or near death at a feedlot owned by Offerle rancher David Oliphant, who was hospitalized.

Frame says the animals had water but no food.

The Hutchinson News reports area farmers are caring for another 50 to 60 cattle. He says farmers in the area have told him they would have helped if they had known the cattle needed feed.

Frame said he couldn’t comment on any possible charges because the case is still under investigation.