LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A ballot measure that would let 18-year-olds serve in public office in Nebraska has won first-round approval.

Lawmakers voted 27-11 on Monday to advance the measure, which would apply to the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, the Legislature and the Supreme Court.

Two more legislative votes are required before the measure could appear on the November ballot.

Nebraska imposes an age minimum of 21 for state senators and 30 to serve as a governor, lieutenant governor or Supreme Court justice.

Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill says voters should be able to choose anyone who has reached the federal voting age and is otherwise qualified to serve.

Some senators opposed the measure, saying it could result in governors and justices whose brains haven’t fully developed.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is reporting that it collected about $7 million less in taxes than anticipated in January, with corporate income and sales taxes falling short of expectations. Monday’s report of a shortfall came as legislative budget committees prepared to discuss proposals for closing a projected shortfall approaching $200 million in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The Department of Revenue says the state collected $535 million in taxes last month instead of the $542 million projected in a November fiscal forecast. The shortfall is 1.3 percent.

Since the current fiscal year began in July, the state has collected $3.38 billion in taxes. That’s $26 million less than anticipated.

The department noted that personal income tax collections exceeded expectations in January but not for the entire fiscal year.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republicans in the Kansas House plan to test support this week for changing how state Supreme Court justices are selected.  House Speaker Ray Merrick said Monday that GOP leaders want to see “where people are” on the issue.

House Republicans have scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday caucuses to discuss judicial selection.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has repeatedly called for changing how the justices are selected. He calls the current system undemocratic, but changing it will require amending the state constitution.

A nominating commission led by lawyers screens applicants for Supreme Court vacancies and submits three finalists to the governor. The governor must pick one, and there is no role for legislators.

Some Republicans want to abolish the commission and have the governor make the appointments, subject to state Senate confirmation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been rushed to a hospital after jumping out of a sport utility vehicle while fleeing from police.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the vehicle the man was driving ran over him. Topeka police Lt. Jennifer Cross said in a news release that the chase started early Sunday after police attempted to stop the SUV driver for running a red light. Authorities had been looking for the SUV because it was thought to be connected to a domestic dispute.

Police say the pursuit ended when the man jumped out of the driver’s side. He was transported to a local hospital.

OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Jurors are being selected for the trial of a man accused in the 2013 killings of four people at a Kansas farm, including an 18-month-old girl.

The selection process began Monday in the case against Kyle Trevor Flack. He is charged with capital murder in Franklin County in the shooting deaths of Kaylie Smith Bailey and her young daughter. He’s also charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Andrew A. Stout and Steven White.

Stout, White and Kaylie Bailey were found dead at Stout’s farm in Ottawa, about 50 miles southwest of Kansas City. Bailey’s daughter’s body was found a few days later in neighboring Osage County.

Flack has been in custody since shortly after the bodies were discovered.

Authorities say jury selection could take two weeks.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A suspect who was fatally shot by Missouri police has been identified.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 42-year-old Jeremy Sinclair was killed after he shot at officers following a chase Saturday in the Kansas City area.

Patrol spokesman Sergeant Bill Lowe says troopers had joined a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle just before 10:45 p.m. Saturday.

Lowe says Sinclair drove his vehicle down a boat ramp in Sugar Creek before getting out of the vehicle. Police say Sinclair then placed his hands into his sweatshirt and ignored commands to show his hands.

A bean bag round was fired at Sinclair, initially stunning him, before Lowe says Sinclair turned toward officers and started shooting.

Lowe says troopers and a Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy returned fire, killing Sinclair.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence couple who sought permission to get married in a local cemetery will have to find another venue to proclaim their undying love.

Abbie Stutzer told the Journal-World in an email she thought Oak Hill Cemetery would provide a “nice, memorable” venue for a Halloween evening wedding this fall.

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department denied the request about a week after she submitted her proposal. Mark Hecker, assistant director of Parks and Recreation, said the cemetery wedding just wasn’t a good idea, particularly if a funeral was also scheduled for that day.

Hecker said getting married on land owned by Parks and Recreation actually doesn’t take a special permit, though reservations are required for certain facilities.

LARKINBURG, Kan. (AP) — A body has been found near the Nebo State Fishing Lake in Jackson County.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the body was found Sunday afternoon about one-half mile south of the lake, which is 2 miles southwest of Larkinburg.

The body, which has not been identified, was transported to Kansas City for an autopsy. The case is under investigation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill in the Kansas Legislature would allow people to register to vote on Election Day and cast a ballot the same day.

“Same-day registration” is allowed in 10 states and the District of Columbia, but under Kansas law requires voters to be registered at least 21 days before an election.

 

Representative Gail Finney, a Wichita Democrat, is sponsoring the same-day voter registration bill, which would allow voters to go to their county election office within 20 days before an election, or to their local polling place on Election Day, and cast a ballot at the same time they register.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach told The Lawrence Journal-World while he hadn’t seen Finney’s bill, he believes same-day voter registration can lead to people voting more than once.