LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Nebraska prison inmate who said he believes in the divine Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Stephen Cavanaugh’s lawsuit was dismissed Tuesday as the judge granted a motion from the state’s attorneys.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said in his ruling that “FSMism” is not a religion as outlined by federal law. Gerrard says it is a parody intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life and the place of religion in public education.

Cavanaugh filed the lawsuit in 2014, seeking $5 million and a court order mandating that inmates who practice FSMism receive the same rights and privileges as inmates who practice other religions.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate has voted to tighten the laws on when police can use deadly force.

Senators voted 30-2 Thursday to bring the state’s law into line with a 1985 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that police can only use deadly force when an officer believes a fleeing felon poses a serious threat to others.

Missouri’s law does not currently specify that a fleeing felon has to be dangerous.

Bill sponsor Sen. Bob Dixon said confusing jury instructions after the police shooting in Ferguson demonstrated that the law needs clarification.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety says police are told in training that state law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution. But legal experts say police could invoke the looser Missouri statute in a criminal defense.

The bill now goes to the House.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal judge in St. Louis is weighing whether to sign off on a $1.6 million settlement to a class-action lawsuit involving tens of thousands of unsolicited faxes.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the proposed settlement could amount to up to $180 per copy for dental businesses that received the unwanted faxes.

Indiana-based Zimmer Dental Inc. sells dental implants and other products. The company denies any wrongdoing as part of the settlement of the 2015 lawsuit filed by a dental office in the St. Louis suburb of Sunset Hills.

As part of the settlement proposal, the plaintiffs’ lawyers will receive more than $533,000.

U.S. District Judge Ronnie White told attorneys during a hearing Thursday that he’d take the settlement under advisement.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police say an officer who was assaulted by a driver during a traffic stop shot and wounded the motorist after that person tried to flee.

Authorities say the shooting happened shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday. The driver fled the scene but was later arrested.

Police Lt. Chris Heaven tells the Topeka Capital-Journal that the female officer may have been dragged as the driver attempted to flee. Police Lt. Colleen Stuart says the officer fired once, wounding the driver.

The officer sustained injuries to a hand and arm.

The officer and the driver were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries police said were not life-threatening.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The state Board of Regents has named former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers as interim president at Kansas State University.

The regents announced the appointment Thursday.

Myers served as the joint chiefs chairman in 2001-05, making him the chief military adviser to President George W. Bush and then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

He is a 1965 graduate of Kansas State, and since his retirement from the military, he’s had a part-time position there as a professor of military history and leadership. The military science building on campus is named for him.

Myers will replace former President Kirk Schulz, who stepped down in March to become president of Washington State University.

The regents anticipate naming a permanent replacement for Schulz by the end of this year.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A door sales and service company plans to expand and renovate its headquarters in Kansas and add 150 new jobs.

The Kansas Commerce Commission announced in a news release Wednesday that DH Pace Company will spend about $3 million to expand its corporate headquarters in Olathe to accommodate the new employees.

In 2013, DH Pace relocated from four locations in North Kansas City, Missouri, into one plant in Olathe. The construction is expected to be completed about June 30.

DH Pace Company operates facilities in over 25 markets throughout the U.S. It has more than 1,500 employees with annual sales exceeding $300 million.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are warning people to ignore emails that claim the motorists were ticketed after being caught speeding by a red light camera.

Police say it’s likely the emails are part of a scam targeting motorists whose GPS information has been leaked.

The department no longer issues tickets from red light cameras. The city suspended its red light camera program in November 2013 after several court cases against them were filed.

The department also notes the city’s Municipal Court doesn’t send emails about citations or court dates. The court responds to emails only if they are initiated by citizens.

The Missouri Supreme Court issued new guidelines to re-establish the red-light camera programs but Kansas City has not yet done so.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers are advancing a proposed ban on donation of fetal tissue from abortions.

House members voted 120-34 Thursday to outlaw the practice. The vote follows Republican outcry over undercover videos released last summer that purported to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of aborted fetal body parts.

Planned Parenthood denies wrongdoing, and Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster found no evidence of wrongdoing in Missouri.

The legislation headed to the Senate would also establish a tracking system for fetal remains from abortions. It requires hospitals, abortion clinics, and pathology labs that deal with fetal-tissue remains from abortions to adopt whistle-blower protection policies.

Democratic opponents slammed the bill as adding unnecessary regulations on abortion facilities. Some argued women should have the option to donate tissue for medical research.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed a bill toughening some ethic rules following scandals in the Legislature that prompted a push for reform.

The Democratic governor on Thursday signed legislation to ban lawmakers from hiring each other as paid political consultants.

The measure comes as lawmakers try to tighten ethics policies following resignations last year of two lawmakers accused of inappropriate behavior toward interns.

The House passed legislation earlier Thursday banning lawmakers and statewide elected officials from lobbying until at least six months after their terms end.

The political-consulting bill is significant for Nixon, who has called for ethics reform since assuming office in 2009. This is his final year as governor.

Other pending ethics-related proposals include banning lobbyist gifts to lawmakers. Campaign contribution limits have been a nonstarter.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Salina police say a 12-year-old boy has been arrested following an incident with a toy gun on a school bus and an unrelated incident involving a knife on a playground.

Captain Mike Sweeney said two girls on a school bus Tuesday afternoon reported to the bus monitor that another student was playing with a gun. The bus driver was notified and police responded to the bus, where they confiscated a toy rifle cap gun. The boy was released to his mother.

Police say that a couple of hours later, officers responded to the Schilling Elementary School playground, where the same boy allegedly displayed a 4-inch blade, and chased and threatened to stab an 8-year-old child and two 9-year-old children.

Sweeney said the boy is in juvenile detention and could face charges, including aggravated assault and making criminal threats.