TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A major financial rating agency says Kansas’ credit outlook is stable after lawmakers overrode Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill that largely rolls back the income tax cuts he championed in recent years.

The Kansas City Star reports that Moody’s Investor Services affirmed the state’s A2 credit rating and revised its outlook from negative to stable after the legislation action Tuesday night.

Kansas has experienced multiple credit downgrades in recent years. Moody’s says the state has repeatedly hurt its credit outlook by depleting cash reserves and deferring pension contributions, but the $1.2 billion tax increase would “go a long way toward solving the state’s budget challenges.”

Moody’s also upgraded the credit rating for the state’s IMPACT bonds, which are based on income tax, from A1 to A3.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has approved a bill that would delay part of a law that toughens regulations for amusement park rides.

Provisions of the law that include stricter inspection requirements and more oversight of amusement park rides still would take effect July 1. The amended bill approved Thursday by the House would delay a provision that creates criminal penalties for operating a ride without a license until Jan. 1. The bill now goes to the Senate.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the amended law also would prohibit the Department of Labor from enforcing penalties until new requirements and rules are published.

The initial bill was passed in April after the death of Republican Rep. Scott Schwab’s son, Caleb, last summer at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — The city of Springfield, Missouri, is moving closer to starting a local prescription drug monitoring program.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that a City Council committee decided Tuesday to let the full council vote on a bill that would create the program. The ordinance would add the city to a group of more than two dozen jurisdictions in Missouri that have decided to take control without the help of the state.

Missouri is currently the only place in the country without statewide prescription drug tracking.

Clay Goddard is the assistant director of health at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. Goddard says the program is meant to prevent people intending to abuse prescription medication from “doctor shopping.”

He says the ordinance would help “reduce opioid misuse, save lives and reduce crime.”

RIVERTON, Kan. (AP) — Empire District Electric Co. plans to demolish its coal-fired power plant near Riverton, Kansas, sometime this month.

The Joplin Globe reports the company isn’t announcing the date of the demolition because it doesn’t want to attract crowds.

Empire said Thursday the $6.5 million project will demolish three units of the plant. The demolition comes after the utility opened its natural gas-powered generating unit in 2016.

The parts of the plant being razed were all constructed around 1950. They were converted from coal-burners to natural gas in 2012 and retired in 2014 and 2015.

Blake Martens, vice president of electric operations, says the natural gas unit is more efficient and uses cleaner fuel.

Empire says the demolition is not expected to cause any service interruptions.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A report says a Missouri parole board member and employee played a game during parole hearings in which they earned points for incorporating song titles and unusual words such as “manatee” and “hootenanny” into their questioning.

The Department of Corrections inspector general report says the officials awarded themselves extra points if the inmates said the words too. The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center at St. Louis released the report Thursday.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that it has prompted calls for Gov. Eric Greitens to remove member Don Ruzicka, who acknowledged coming up with the game.

Ruzicka doesn’t have a listed number. He told an investigator that the hearings were still “thorough.”

The corrections department didn’t immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City, Missouri, is planning to expand its curfew plans to city parks and trails after several recent homicides that occurred on or near them sparked concerns.

The Kansas City Star reports that the ordinance was approved Wednesday by the City Council’s Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committee.

The city ordinance keeps the trails open between 5 a.m. and midnight.

The committee also advanced a resolution directing the city manager to collaborate with the parks department on a safety plan over the next six months.

The curfew is a reaction to four killings dating back to August around the trail system. The most recent was on Indian Creek Trail. The Kansas side of the trail closes the route from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are looking for a Topeka woman and say her estranged husband took her against her will.

Topeka police Lt. Chris Heaven said Thursday morning that officials are “very concerned.” The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that an arrest warrant has been obtained for 38-year-old Pedro Enrique, whose 33-year-old wife, Viviana Vazquez, filed for divorce in April.

Police say her kidnapping was reported around 7 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities say two children were left behind and weren’t injured. Divorce records show that the couple had 3- and 10-year-old children.

Later Wednesday, officers thought they saw movement while preparing to serve a search warrant at Enrique’s house. But police determined the house was unoccupied after efforts were made to make contact with anyone inside.

Police continue looking for a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser.

LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is helping lead President Donald Trump’s commission on election fraud, says he is running for governor.

The Republican was announcing his 2018 bid Thursday in Lenexa, Kansas.

Kobach has helped draft laws and ordinances in several states aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration, and he has a national reputation for championing tough voter identification laws. He has been advising Trump since before the election.

Kobach’s announcement comes just two days after Kansas legislators enacted a law rolling back income tax cuts championed by current Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Lawmakers did so by overriding Brownback’s veto. Kobach strongly criticized the move.

Kobach is also a strong abortion opponent and gun-rights advocate.

The 51-year-old has been Kansas’ secretary of state since 2011.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas Athletics expects its budget to increase about 3.5 percent to $93.3 million for fiscal year 2018.

The Kansas Athletics Inc. board approved the proposed budget on Tuesday.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Kansas Athletics CFO Pat Kaufman told the board the increase could be mostly attributed to an anticipated “modest” increase in revenues from ticket sales for all sports, along with donations.

KU Athletics also receives revenue from disbursements, including NCAA and Big 12 revenues.

Kaufman said an area of focus will be coaching salaries, which are low compared with peer institutions. He says the goal is to raise salaries to the middle or top-third of peers.

Kansas Athletics manages and oversees intercollegiate athletics for the university but the two entities have separate budgets.