KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two maintenance workers at a Kansas water park where a boy was decapitated have been indicted in the case.

The indictments unsealed Wednesday charge David Hughes and John Zalsman with obstruction of justice. Both men pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Wyandotte County Court.

Hughes was maintenance supervisor at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kansas, and Zalsman was on the maintenance staff.

Ten-year-old Caleb Schwab was killed while riding the 17-story Verruckt waterslide in August 2016.

The indictment involves whether a brake mat meant to slow the rafts on the Verruckt was repaired after it fell off days before Caleb was killed.

The men allegedly told Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents the brake mat never existed but the indictment says a video showed it had been on the ride.

By STEPHEN KORANDA

Friday is the deadline for candidates in Kansas to make it official by filing with the secretary of state’s office to appear on the ballot.

That date is also an important cutoff for voters. It’s the final day people in Kansas can switch political parties before the primary election on Aug. 7.

Here are four things to know about the deadline:

Party switching

People who want to switch political parties have to do it before Friday, June 1, at noon.

This affects people who are currently registered as Republican, Democrat or Libertarian but want to vote in another party’s primary. The primaries are closed in Kansas, meaning voters have to be registered with a party to cast a ballot in that primary. The Libertarian Party does not have a primary ballot.

Voters can register online or at many local locations, such as the county election office.

Independents

The rules are different for unaffiliated voters.

Voters with no party affiliation on their registration can still choose to register with a political party after Friday. They can even affiliate with a party on Election Day and then vote in the primary. The deadline this week only affects people who are switching political parties.

What can wait

People who only need to change their address or are registering for the first time in Kansas have a later deadline.

The deadline to register for the first time, or change addresses without switching political parties, is July 17.

First-time registration

Kansas voter registration rules still apply to people registering to vote for the first time, sort of.

Kansas has a requirement that people registering to vote for the first time in the state prove their U.S. citizenship with a document such as a birth certificate. However, court rulings in lawsuits over the policies mean those rules aren’t currently enforced for people registering to vote with the federal form. The proof-of-citizenship rules are still being enforced when people register to vote with the state form.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.

DIAMOND, Mo. (AP) – A 7-year-old boy who was hospitalized after being hit by a foul ball at a Missouri college baseball game is recovering at home and preparing to throw out a first pitch at the same stadium where he was injured.

Dawson Hirshey, of Diamond, suffered a brain bleed after he was hit by the ball during an April 13 at a Missouri Southern State University baseball game.

The Joplin Globe reports Dawson returned home last week after spending weeks at a Kansas City hospital. He wears a special hat to protect the spot where part of his skull was removed and walks with the help of a leg brace while continuing occupational and physical therapy.

Dawson will throw out the first pitch Friday at a Joplin Outlaws’ game at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Two people, including an off-duty Kansas police officer, died in an accident just after 2p.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Acura RDX SUV driven by Peter V. Bieri, 72, Lawrence, was northbound in the southbound lanes on U.S. 75 and collided head on with a southbound 2015 Hyundai SUV driven by Trey C. McCluskey, 25, Topeka.

Bieri and McCluskey were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Hyundai Taylor R. McCluskey, 25, Sabetha, was transported to the hospital in Topeka. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Trey McCluskey was an officer for the Topeka Police Department. He began his service in July of 2015, according to Deputy Chief Wheeles.  “McCluskey was a well-liked and respected member of the Field Operations Bureau, working the night shift.

We honor his memory of sacrifice and commitment. We commend his personal choice to serve the Topeka community in the “noble profession of law enforcement.”

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says two people, including an off-duty Topeka police officer, died in a wrong-way, head-on collision.

The patrol says the crash occurred Tuesday afternoon just north of Topeka. A third person riding in one of the vehicles was seriously injured.

No names have been released but the Topeka police department confirmed one of the dead was an officer in the department.

The patrol says one of the vehicles was going north in the southbound lanes on Kansas 75 when the two vehicles collided.

An investigation is continuing.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Eric Greitens’ planned resignation as Missouri governor has elevated another Republican military veteran to the office, but one with more experience in working with state lawmakers.

Mike Parson will automatically rise from lieutenant governor to governor on Friday when Greitens steps down. Greitens had faced possibly being impeached by the state House over investigations of his political and personal life.

The 62-year-old Parson spent 12 years representing southwest Missouri in the Legislature, where he was a strong abortion opponent, supported the National Rifle Association and successfully pressed for a constitutional amendment benefiting farmers. He’s also a former Missouri sheriff.

The 44-year-old Greitens was a political novice when elected governor in 2016. He came into office criticizing “corrupt career politicians” and repeatedly clashed with fellow Republicans

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Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Parson says the resignation of Republican Gov. Eric Greitens “will allow our state to heal and move forward from what has been a difficult time.”

The Republican lieutenant governor is to take over as governor when Greitens’ resignation becomes official at 5 p.m. Friday.

Greitens announced his resignation Tuesday amid multiple investigations into alleged sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations.

Parson is a former state lawmaker, Polk County sheriff and cattle farmer from Bolivar. He said in a brief written statement that he is “ready to fulfill the duties of the office with honor and integrity.”

One of Parson’s first duties could be to decide whether to sign or veto numerous bills passed during the recently concluded legislative session.

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5:30 p.m.

A former Missouri governor says the state’s next chief executive “will be worthy of this new responsibility.”

Ex-Republican Gov. Matt Blunt issued a statement Tuesday praising GOP Lt. Gov. Mike Parson.

Republican Gov. Eric Greitens announced he would resign amid a scandal involving a former hairdresser in 2015 and questions about whether broke the law in financing his 2016 campaign, which means Parson will ascend to the top job.

Blunt said Parson will be dedicated to working with the Republican-controlled Legislature to move the state forward. Greitens has had a sometimes rocky relationship with lawmakers.

Blunt also noted that Parson is a former county sheriff and called Parson a “law and order leader.”

Blunt served one term as Missouri’s governor, from 2005 to 2009.

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5:25 p.m.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says her office has reached a “fair and just resolution” on criminal charges against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, now that he’s stepping down. But, she says, details won’t be released until Wednesday.

The Republican governor announced his resignation Tuesday, blaming “legal harassment” for his troubles.

Gardner launched an investigation after Greitens admitted to a 2015 affair with his St. Louis hairdresser. The investigation led to a felony indictment in February on invasion of privacy, accusing Greitens of taking an unauthorized and compromising photo of the woman.

The charge was dropped earlier this month, but a special prosecutor has been considering whether to refile it.

In April, Greitens was charged with another felony in St. Louis for allegedly using a charity donor list for political purposes.

Gardner said in a statement that the last several months have been difficult. She didn’t say if one or both of the charges will be dropped. A spokeswoman for Gardner declined comment beyond the statement.

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5:10 p.m.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says Gov. Eric Greitens “has done the right thing” by announcing his resignation.

Greitens made the surprise announcement Tuesday, as the Legislature considered impeachment over issues related to the governor’s extramarital affair with his St. Louis hairdresser in 2015 and his alleged use of a charity donor list for campaign purposes.

His resignation will be effective at 5 p.m. Friday.

Hawley, like Greitens a Republican, said in a brief statement that he wished Lt. Gov. Mike Parson well as he prepares to make the transition to governor. Hawley says he stands ready to assist in the transition.

Hawley is running to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

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4:55 p.m.

Republican leaders in the Missouri House say GOP Gov. Eric Greitens has “put the best interest” of the state’s residents first in deciding to resign.

House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, and Majority Leader Rob Vescovo issued a joint statement Tuesday, moments after Greitens announced he was stepping down Friday.

They said as public servants, their duty is to put the best interests of the people first and, “The Governor’s decision today honors that duty and allows Missouri to move forward.”

The three leaders also pledged to help ensure a smooth transition to power for Lt. Gov. Mike Parson as he takes over for Greitens.

They also thanked members of a special House investigatory committee and said for their “serious and professional” manner.

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4:50 p.m.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens says he is resigning after months of what he called “legal harassment.”

The Republican governor made the startling announcement Tuesday. He will resign effective 5 p.m. Friday.

The resignation comes amid a special session in which the state Legislature is considering impeachment. Two potential criminal cases against Greitens remain unresolved.

Greitens said in a brief statement that the past few months have been “incredibly difficult” for him, his family and friends. He says that while he has made mistakes, he has broken no laws.

A St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on Feb. 22 on one felony count of invasion of privacy. The charge was dismissed earlier this month, but a special prosecutor was considering whether to refile charges. Prosecutors say Greitens took a compromising photo of a woman with whom he had an affair without her consent in 2015, before his election.

Greitens also was charged in April for allegedly using a charity donor list for political purposes.