TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Senate is moving toward a vote on Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s nomination for an ambassador’s post.

The Senate is moving ahead and has filed cloture on the nomination of @govsambrownback to be the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Looking forward to approving the nomination as early as this week.

— Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) January 22, 2018

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed a motion Monday to cut off debate on President Donald Trump’s nomination of the conservative Republican governor to serve as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

McConnell communications director David Popp said in an email that a vote on the motion would occur Friday unless minority Democrats agree to have a vote sooner. Ending debate would clear the way for a second vote on Brownback’s nomination.   Read Brownback’s Senate testimony here.

Trump first nominated Brownback for the ambassador’s post in July, but his appointment has faced opposition from Democrats and LGBT groups.

Brownback would resign if he is confirmed. Fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer would be elevated to governor.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Republican Gov. Eric Greitens has made his first public appearance in nearly two weeks since acknowledging an extramarital affair, announcing a budget plan that would slice at least $68 million from public colleges and universities.

Greitens pitched the cut on Monday while outlining his roughly $28.8 billion budget recommendation for the fiscal year that begins in July. He’s also asking for about $48 million less than what’s called for under state law to full fund K-12 public schools.

Greitens has faced scrutiny for the affair with his then-hairdresser in 2015. He did not directly answer repeated questions from reporters Monday over whether allegations that he took a partially nude photo of the woman are true. He has denied allegations of blackmail.

TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

On Monday afternoon, police were called to a Topeka hospital after a victim arrived for treatment of non-life threatening injuries they received after being stabbed by a known subject, according to Lt. Colleen Stuart.

The stabbing occurred in the 300 Block SE Lime in Topeka.

Police are attempting to locate Cori-Anne McKinney ,23, as a person of interest for aggravated battery in this incident.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact DET Iams kiams@topeka.org 785-368-9026-Office or CrimeStoppers at 234-0007

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A man who embezzled at least $380,500 from a University of Missouri fraternity has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Sixty-three-year-old Burt Beard, of Kirksville, was sentenced Monday and ordered to make restitution to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

The Columbia Tribune reports Beard apologized for his actions before he was sentenced. He pleaded guilty in September to bank fraud for embezzling the money. He was the fraternity Missouri chapter’s treasurer for more than a decade.

James Feuerbaher, president of the corporation that owns the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house at Missouri, said the building badly needed repairs during the time Beard was embezzling.

The national Sigma Alpha Epsilon leadership ordered the Missouri chapter to cease all activity in December, citing an investigation into health and safety violations.

MOBERLY, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri paramedic is accused of burglarizing a patient’s home and stealing medication from another home.

Randolph County prosecutors have charged 44-year-old Richelle Grapes, of Moberly, with two counts of burglary, assault, stealing and possession of a controlled substance.

The Moberly Monitor-Index reports investigators said Grapes was arrested Dec. 22 after she was discovered inside the home of a patient she had taken to the hospital. Grapes works for the Randolph County Ambulance District.

Investigators say the elderly woman was hospitalized and her daughter found Grapes inside the home.

Randolph County Prosecutor Mike Fusselman said Grapes also was found in possession of opiate-based medication taken Dec. 21 from a rural county home.

Grapes was suspended from the ambulance service. Online court records don’t indicate that she has an attorney.