JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Latest on Missouri lawmakers’ action on the health department’s response to questions about a deadly virus (all times local):

Missouri lawmakers have cut the health department’s budget over a fight for information about a tick-borne virus that killed a state worker.

Lawmakers passed a budget proposal Wednesday that eliminates eight employee positions from the Department of Health and Senior Services’ budget.

The cut comes after health officials have refused to comply with a House subpoena for information on the Bourbon virus.

Missouri lawmakers want to know how many people statewide have tested positive for antibodies associated with the deadly virus. But the health agency refused to supply the data, citing privacy concerns.

House lawmakers started seeking more information when Tamela Wilson died of the virus last year after being exposed working at a state park.

Some Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about the budget cuts, arguing that they could hurt health services.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Catholic priest in Johnson County is charged with stealing more than $40,000 from a parish where he was pastor.

Rev. Joseph Cramer is charged with felony theft and two counts of felony computer crime. Prosecutors say he stole the money from Divine Mercy Parish in Gardner between November 2015 and May 2016.

The 68-year-old Cramer was released on $5,000 bond Tuesday.

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas officials said they contacted prosecutors last September. Cramer was placed on administrative leave and has resigned as pastor.

Court documents don’t say how the alleged crimes occurred or how the money was spent. But as a condition of his bond, Cramer was ordered to stay away from casinos.

Court records don’t name a lawyer for Cramer.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A 7-year-old is recovering from a brain injury after foul ball struck him during a Missouri Southern State University baseball game.

The Joplin Globe reports that Dawson Hirshey of Diamond was struck in the head by a line-drive foul ball April 13. The impact caused a subdural hematoma, several mini-strokes and fractures to his right orbital bone. Doctors at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City removed part of Dawson’s skull to relieve pressure from his injury.

Dawson is undergoing intensive physical therapy to walk again. He also needs a skull-portion replacement, though no date has been set.

Dawson’s mother, Alicia Hughes-Hirshey, says Dawson is slowly rehabilitating and eager to return home. She says Dawson is starting to crack jokes again.

It’s unclear when Dawson will be released from the hospital.

GALENA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two bicyclists from Germany were struck and killed in southeast Kansas.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a minivan traveling in the same direction struck the two cyclists from behind Tuesday morning. It happened on Kansas 66, about 1½ miles (2.5 kilometers) west of the town of Galena, just north of the Oklahoma state line.

The cyclists died at the scene.

Spokesman Rick Wingate says the identities of the two cyclists could not be released yet because relatives in Germany must be notified. He says the German consulate has been notified.

The patrol’s report says the crash was not a hit-and-run. Wingate says he wasn’t aware why the two were in Kansas.

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CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Kansas Highway  Patrol is investigating
a fatal accident involving two bicycle riders.

The KHP reported a vehicle and two bicycle riders were westbound on Kansas 66 a mile and a half west of Galena just after 11 a.m. Tuesday.  The vehicle rear-ended a bicycle.

Authorities have not released names of the victim or additional details.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri House has approved a budget plan that includes close to $99 million more in funding for K-12 public schools next fiscal year.

House lawmakers voted 133-18 in favor of the education spending plan Wednesday. It’s part of a larger budget package outlining roughly $28 billion in state spending for the fiscal year that begins in July.

The budget proposal still needs a final vote of approval from senators.

Enacting the budget proposal would mean lawmakers meet K-12 spending goals outlined in state law, and Republican lawmakers lauded it as providing record funding for schools.

But some Democrats said the increase still is not enough to adequately fund public education.

The budget plan also includes another $10 million for school busing and another $50 million for early childhood education.

KANSAS CITY (AP) – Fire officials say an improperly discarded cigarette caused a three-alarm fire that seriously damaged an office building in North Kansas City.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Wednesday the fire was accidental and no criminal investigation will be conducted.

Fire officials say dry conditions and wind helped fuel the fire.

The building where the fire broke out Tuesday afternoon housed 13 businesses. No one was injured and a damage estimate was not available.

Ham says the ATF was able to quickly determine the cause because there were many witnesses and video of the fire.

The Kansas City Star reports the building’s owner, N.T. Reality, is working to help the displaced businesses relocate to other company-owned properties.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer has been charged with inappropriately touching a non-uniformed female co-worker while he was on duty.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree announced Tuesday that Steven Rios faces one misdemeanor count of sexual battery. The incident is alleged to have occurred in March.

Rios has worked for the department for more than a decade and was on the police detail that protected former Mayor Mark Holland.

If convicted, Rios faces up to six months in the county jail and up to a $1,000 fine. He doesn’t have a listed number. Police and prosecutors didn’t immediately respond to emails asking whether he had an attorney.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korea (all times local):

8:40 a.m.

President Donald Trump says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on his way back from North Korea with three American detainees, saying they “seem to be in good health.”

 

I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018

Trump made the announcement on Twitter Wednesday, saying “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting.”

Trump added that Pompeo had a “good meeting” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump is planning a historic summit with the North Korean leader.

Secretary Pompeo and his “guests” will be landing at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:00 A.M. in the morning. I will be there to greet them. Very exciting!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018

In another Tweet, Trump said Pompeo and the detainees will be landing at Andrews Air Force Base at 2 a.m. Thursday. He says “I will be there to greet them. Very exciting!”