LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas says it will respond to strong student demand and offer a minor in Spanish, beginning in the fall semester.

The university announced Tuesday that students minoring in Spanish will take a combination of language, culture and literature courses, plus a new Spanish 101 course. That course will be designed to review the opportunities that come with the degree.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the university receives 60 to 80 inquiries a year from students about a Spanish minor. The Student Senate passed a resolution in 2012 supporting the minor.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — A southeast Kansas woman pleaded guilty to shooting her estranged husband to death two years ago at her father’s home.

Fifty-three-year-old Carla C. Moutz, of Pittsburg, was scheduled for trial this week in Crawford County District Court.

The Joplin Globe reports she instead pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault for shooting her husband in May 2013. Sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 27.

Prosectuors say Moutz shot her estranged husband, 49-year-old John Moutz, in Pittsburg, after an alcohol-fueled argument.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss is preparing to give the annual State of the Judiciary address amid a push to change how the high court’s members are selected.

The speech Wednesday will be webcast from the Supreme Court chamber.

His address comes less than a week after Republican Gov. Sam Brownback called in his State of the State address for changing how Supreme Court justices are selected.

A nominating commission led by attorneys screens applicants for vacancies and names three finalists. The governor picks one, with no role for legislators.

Brownback said either the governor should appoint each justice directly, subject to Senate confirmation, or justices should be elected, as they were before 1960.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — More than 500 young farmers are expected to gather in Manhattan this week for the annual Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers leaders conference.

The three-day event kicks off Friday with various competitions, while the opening keynote address on Saturday will focus on genetically engineered crops. Workshops throughout the day also include information about crop insurance, farm data, water and the state Legislature.

The event is being held at the Manhattan Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn.

JULIE PACE, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says America is turning the page after years of war and recession.
Obama is using his State of the Union address tonight to argue for his economic policies, including a tax increase on the wealthiest Americans to help those less fortunate. He is declaring that “Middle-class economics works.”

Watch the President’s address live HERE

Obama’s comments came in excerpts prepared for delivery and released ahead of the address.
He also is calling for “a smarter kind of American leadership” that combines military power and strong diplomacy.
He is calling for a new war authorization to fight Islamic State militants. And he wants legislation to combat cyberattacks.

An Airman assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base died this weekend in Knob Noster, Mo. The Airman was assigned to the 509th Maintenance Group.

“We are mourning the loss of a valued member of our Whiteman family,” said Brig. Gen. Glen VanHerck, 509th Bomb Wing commander, in a news release.

“During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with this Airman’s family, loved ones, and all those affected by this tragedy. Here at Whiteman we are a family and we are here standing by to offer whatever support we can to help them through this difficult time.”

Local law enforcement officials are currently investigating the incident, and Whiteman Air Force Base will work in conjunction with them to release more details as they become available.

The release did not identify the airman or the circumstances of death.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A government program that helps people pay winter utility bills will begin taking applications this week.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program is offered to those with disabilities, the elderly, or families with children who meet income eligibility standards.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families will take applications Tuesday through March 31.

The Wichita Eagle reports that more than 48,000 household used the program last year, with an average benefit of $522.

Program applicants must show they have paid energy bills for two of the past three months, and the payments equaled or exceeded $80 or the total balance of the energy bills, whichever was less.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two people are in the hospital after they were injured in two separate hunting accidents on the same day.

According to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, a 15-year-old male was shot in the leg while turkey hunting with three other boys on Sunday.

Morse says a shotgun accidentally discharged and hit the teen. He was taken to a Topeka hospital and is in stable condition.

The sheriff didn’t give a specific age for the boy carrying the shotgun but says he’s no older than 10.

Less than five hours after the first incident, The Topeka Capital Journal reports another person was injured after falling from a tree stand.

The male, whose name or age wasn’t released, was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition.