KANSAS CITY (AP) – Two Missouri cities are looking to increase their use of solar energy farms instead of relying on oil and coal.

The Kansas City Star reports Sugar Creek and Independence are considering adopting large-scale renewable energy facilities.

Sugar Creek says it has an agreement with a solar-energy business to install a solar farm if enough consumers sign up.

And developers last month submitted proposals to build a solar energy farm Independence.

Industry figures released in December rank Missouri 10th nationally for solar power use.

Missouri energy companies have already opened solar farms across the state, including one in Springfield, Butler and another near St. Louis.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A pilot program in Springfield helps people who are aging out of foster care and need help to enter the workforce.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the courses teach 17- to 21-year-old participants to find customer service jobs. They receive job placement assistance and ongoing support – from business and community leaders – to help keep the positions.

Organizers say the project is needed because teens exiting foster care are less likely to graduate high school, go college or find long-term employment. Ozarks Technical Community College and the Community Partnership of the Ozarks are working together to provide the 10-week courses.

The pilot project, which is one of two statewide, received about $120,000 in state funding this first year. A second Missouri pilot is at St. Louis Community College.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A state lawmaker wants to increase the speed limit on Missouri’s rural interstates and freeways from 70 mph.

State Rep. Mike Kelley of Lamar filed legislation recently to boost the speed limit on those roads to 75 mph.

Kansas increased speed limits from 70 mph on some roads in 2011.

The Kansas City Star reports traffic-related fatalities and injuries in Kansas are up on roads with newly increased 75 mph speed limits. But transportation officials say it’s too early to blame that on the speed limit.

Numbers from the Kansas Transportation Department show a 54 percent increase in highways deaths on those roads since the speed limit was raised. Injuries are up about 13 percent compared with the two years before the new speed limit went into effect.

SPRING HILL, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have identified the 56-year-old man who died after being shot inside of his Spring Hill home.

The Kansas City Star reports police say they found Larry Rangel dead inside his home Saturday.

Authorities say a suspect is in custody and is Rangel’s roommate. The cause of the shooting is still under investigation.

On Saturday afternoon, a man approached police in a parking lot and said that Rangel’s roommate had shot someone. Police found the roommate had outstanding warrants in Johnson County.

The suspect was arrested, and authorities say he had a handgun in his possession.

TOPEKA- A semi driver was injured in an accident just before 7p.m. on Sunday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 semi driven by Jonathan K. Green, 41, Moodys, OK., was northbound on U.S. 75 seven miles north of Topeka in the right lane when it crossed a fog line and struck a Dodge Durango which was abandoned on the east shoulder.

The semi entered the east ditch, struck the embankment, went through a barbed wire fence, and overturned.

Green was transported to Stormont Vail.
The KHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the collision.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Experts say community gardens are taking root in Topeka.

Kansas State extension official Jamie Hancock says she’s familiar with 29 community gardens in Shawnee County, with many of those located in Topeka. She added that during the past year, the efforts “really caught fire.”

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that K-State Research and Extension is serving as a networking hub for community gardening efforts in the area. Their efforts include teaching gardening skill and getting the word out about grant opportunities that can provide seed money.

K-State Research and Extension also works with Topeka Common Ground. The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization coordinates community gardening resources.

Organizations maintaining community gardens include Girl Scout groups, church organizations and residents of senior citizens’ communities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A tea partyer who’s been an outspoken critic of House Speaker John Boehner says he’ll challenge Boehner for the job when the new Congress convenes Tuesday.

Republican Louie Gohmert of Texas says voters made clear in the November election that they want change. Republicans unseated Democrats as the majority party in the Senate and increased their advantage in the House.

Boehner still is expected to win despite opposition from some Republicans who refused to back the Ohio lawmaker in 2013.

Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida has said he is open to challenging Boehner.

Two other Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma, have said they will not vote for Boehner in the speaker’s race.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A children’s center in Topeka has attracted more than a quarter million visitors since opening in 2011, including nearly 75,000 last year.

The Topeka Capital-Journal  reports that people from 42 states came through the doors of the Kansas Children’s Center this past year. The final event of 2014 was a mid-day countdown to the New Year on Wednesday. Executive director Joanne Morrell says 900 balloons dropped on about 400 attendees during the party.

The center features interactive, hands-on educational activities and displays for children. In 2015, it will offer new programs including a program for home schooled students that will focus on science, technology, engineering and math. There also will be an expansion of engineering field trips and camps in partnership with Bartlett and West engineers.