KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The head of the Kansas Highway Patrol says he plans to retire, effective Jan. 5.

The state announced the retirement plans of Col. Ernest Garcia in a news release issued Monday.

Garcia was appointed to the job in 2011. Before that, he was a 40-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He also was the Sergeant at Arms for the U.S. Senate.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports retirement comes months after a patrol survey indicated low morale among troopers and broad dissatisfaction with the agency’s leaders.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A building planned to be a tall residential structure in Los Angeles has erupted in flames that could reportedly be seen for miles at times. Officials say the fire closed down portions of two major freeways. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman David Ortiz says more than 250 firefighters are battling the early-morning blaze.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The administration of Gov. Sam Brownback is moving forward on a plan for the state’s long-term water supply.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the more ambitious parts of the plan include dredging state lakes and possibly building an aqueduct from the Missouri River to western Kansas. They would require large amounts of new revenue, as well as cooperation from other states.

During a meeting of the governor’s Council of Economic Advisers last week, Agriculture Secretary Jackie McClaskey asked for help forming a panel to come up with options for long-term funding of the plan.

In western Kansas, farm irrigation is depleting the underground Ogallala Aquifer. In some counties, irrigation has been forced to halt entirely.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback isn’t publicly ruling out any ideas for helping to close state budget shortfalls.

That’s left officials and lawmakers to speculate about the proposals he’s expected to roll out before the Legislature convenes again Jan. 12.

The Republican governor’s administration is working on a plan to close combined shortfalls of more than $700 million in the current and next state budgets.

A few GOP legislators have talked about diverting money set aside for big highway projects or backtracking on aggressive personal income tax cuts enacted at Brownback’s urging in 2012 and 2013 in an effort to stimulate the economy.

The budget problems also could jeopardize increased funding for public employee pensions aimed at stabilizing the long-term health of the retirement system for teachers and government workers.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A sexual assault task force at the University of Kansas wants to make it clear that students can be disciplined for sexual misconduct no matter how far from campus it occurred.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the task force finished proposed changes to the student code on Friday and plans to submit a bill recommending the changes to the Student Senate in January.

The main intent of the proposal is to specify that its policies apply to students who commit sexual wrongdoing in places like off-campus apartments and Greek houses. Task force co-chairwoman Angela Murphy says it also would cover students “on the beach on spring break or even farther away.”

The university already contends its student code already allows it to discipline students who commit off-campus offenses.

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are making a final push this month to give schools a temporary break from healthier school meal standards.

The rules phased in since 2012 and championed by first lady Michelle Obama require more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in the lunch line.

Some school nutrition directors have lobbied for a break, saying the rules have proven to be costly and restrictive. House Republicans have said they are overreach, pushing a one-year waiver that would allow schools to opt out of the standards for the next school year if they lost money on meal programs.

The waiver stalled this summer, but has new life as some GOP lawmakers are pushing to include it in a catchall spending bill to keep government programs running.