TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Education Department will continue distributing millions in bus funding despite a recent audit that says the payments are barred under current state law.

The state Board of Education says it will keep paying for school districts’ bus operations under the same formula it’s been using for decades until instructed otherwise. A January independent audit of how transportation aid to districts had been distributed says the formula is based on a law repealed in 1973.

The board held a meeting Jan. 26 in response to a letter from Republican lawmakers urging board members to suspend the Education Department’s top school finance officer pending the audit. But the board voted almost unanimously to support the officer’s continued employment.

Lawmakers have introduced bills to clear up confusion on the transportation aid formula.

ROLLA, Mo. (AP) – Authorities in Missouri say five people died and dozens were injured after more than 650 crashes occurred on snow-covered roads.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the wrecks began Sunday afternoon as the snow started to fall. The National Weather Service says rapidly declining temperatures throughout the day caused the wet roadways to freeze over.

The largest crash happened on Interstate 44 near Marshfield, about 150 miles southeast of Kansas City. Authorities say 60 to 80 vehicles were damaged in the wreck and a 55-year-old California man was killed.

In Iowa, authorities closed part of Interstate 35 near Ames on Monday after up to 50 vehicles collided on the snow-covered pavement. Officials say the wrecks were caused, in part, by drivers trying to enter the freeway and crashing into existing accidents.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A new report from Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says lawsuits against the state cost taxpayers at least $23 million last year.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a year-end report from Hawley, a Republican, showed that 16 of the 45 major payouts were related to employee discrimination, including six from cases involving workers at the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The report found the state paid out nearly $8.1 million in claims for employment discrimination and harassment by supervisors and co-workers.

The actual total may be higher. Democratic state Auditor Nicole Galloway, in a separate report, has cited millions of more dollars in legal expense at agencies that use their own attorneys in lawsuits.

JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for ID theft.

Late Friday,  a sheriff’s Deputy stopped a vehicle in the 100 block of Arizona Street in Holton, Kansas for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The Deputy quickly determined while on scene that the passenger of the vehicle, William Randall Manrose, 47, of Topeka had just allegedly committed a forgery at Walmart in Holton.

The investigation determined Manrose allegedly made a purchase at Walmart using someone else’s identity and used a fake driver’s license to pass a forged check.

Manrose was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for forgery, and identity theft.  Manrose posted bond and was released from the Jail on Sunday.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — All employees and interns working for Kansas executive branch agencies will be required to undergo annual sexual harassment training, new Gov. Jeff Colyer announced Monday.

Colyer outlined the new policy during a Cabinet meeting and then signed an executive order during a Statehouse news conference to put it into effect. He allowed The Associated Press into the Cabinet meeting.

It is the Republican governor’s first executive order since taking office last week after replacing former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback, who resigned to serve as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

The executive branch has not had a single anti-harassment policy across all agencies.

“I just want us to make sure that the culture is respectful and very professional,” Colyer told his Cabinet. “I think that’s what all of us want.”

Colyer told reporters at the news conference that his administration will be “fierce” in enforcing the executive order but is still working on a policy for how employees are disciplined if they do not participate in the annual training.

Colyer’s order comes as the top state lawmakers are reviewing the Legislature’s anti-harassment policy, which has been in place since 1994 and hasn’t required annual training for lawmakers, their employees or interns. Legislative leaders held multiple, voluntary training sessions since December.

Top lawmakers initiated a review of the Legislature’s sexual harassment policy review after the ex-chief of staff for a former Democratic leader said publicly in October that a lawmaker once asked her for sex in 2015. She described harassment as “rampant” and said female college-student interns regularly served as after-hour designated drivers for intoxicated lawmakers in 2016.

Colyer said his executive order will require an outside, independent review when an elected official or Cabinet secretary is accused of harassment.

He said the order also will require agencies to review their anti-harassment policies at least once every three years.

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following a Monday morning shooting.

Just after 2a.m., police were dispatched for a report of shots fired into a vehicle occupied with three people in the area of the 1700 block of Iowa Street in Lawrence.  No injuries were reported.  Police took 46-year-old Alfred D. Sanders of Lawrence into custody.  He has been booked in to the Douglas County Correctional Facility on three counts of attempted 2^nd degree murder.

Anyone with more information on this incident is asked to contact the Lawrence Police Department

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Candidates would be required to be at least 18 to run for statewide offices in Kansas under a bill introduced in response to six teenagers entering the race for governor.

The House Elections Committee discussed last week setting an age requirement for running for governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer and state commissioner of insurance.  The committee could vote Monday. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor would also have to live in Kansas for four years before seeking office, but the bill wouldn’t take effect until after this fall’s election.

Besides the six teens seeking the state’s top office, another is running for secretary of state. Proponents of the bill argued that most states require candidates to be older.

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. (AP) – A man from Central America who is facing deportation has been taking refuge in a suburban St. Louis church for the past four months.

Alex Garcia came to the United States from Honduras 13 years ago. The 36-year-old worked construction and began a family.

A few years back, he caught the attention of the federal agency charged with enforcing immigration laws

Twice, he got a one-year reprieve to stay in the country. But last summer, his third request was denied. Instead of reporting to immigration officials, he showed up at the Christ Church United Church of Christ in Maplewood, which is providing him sanctuary. His wife and the couple’s blended family of five children remain in Poplar Bluff, 150 miles away.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an attack on officers early Saturday.

Just after 2:00am, a man later identified as Anthony Hernandez of Topeka entered the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.

Hernandez wielded a machete and stated that he had a bomb. Officers were able isolated him outside the building and initiated communications that continued for over an hour.

Hernandez subsequently “aggressed on officers” with his machete, according to Roth. Officers used a Taser and took him into custody. He received only superficial injuries, according to Roth.

No officers were injured in this incident.

Police booked Hernandez for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Criminal Threat, and other charges. He is being held on a $25,000 Bond.