JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri appeals court has set a Sept. 12 hearing on a challenge to a ballot measure authorizing a limited early voting period.
The state Court of Appeals’ Western District approved an expedited schedule for the case after a Cole County judge on Monday rejected a challenge to the ballot wording.

At issue is a measure placed on the November ballot by the Republican-led Legislature that would allow a six-day early voting period before future general elections. The measure prohibits voting on weekends or after regular business hours.
A lawsuit filed by an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union contends the ballot summary is misleading because it fails to say early voting would be allowed only during regular business hours and only if funded by the Legislature.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – Authorities from the FBI, Springfield police and the National Guard, with some wearing hazmat suits, have spent several hours searching a home in north Springfield, and the man who lives there said they were looking for ricin.

KYTV reports that the resident, Tony Altman, was arrested Wednesday night, but was later released. He told the station he got castor beans, which are good for getting rid of moles, from a catalog and someone told authorities he was making ricin with them

The Springfield Police Department said in a statement that officers served a warrant at the home, and investigators wore protective gear to keep officers and the public safe. Officials have not confirmed what investigators were looking for or what, if anything, they found at the home.

LYNDON, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas sheriff’s office is investigating the death of a baby who stopped breathing at a day care facility.

Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn said in a news release that the infant died earlier this week while being taken to a hospital.

The baby was identified as 4-month-old Brody Johnston, of Scranton. The sheriff says his parents wanted the public to know their donation of their son’s organs have saved the lives of two other infants.

An autopsy has been performed, but the sheriff said Thursday the cause of death has not been determined. Osage County health officials closed the day care for two days while they investigated.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are awaiting word on whether the state’s tax collections in August met expectations.

The state Department of Revenue’s report Friday afternoon was expected to renew a political debate over massive income tax cuts enacted at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging. Brownback says the tax cuts are stimulating economic growth, but critics contend the reductions are wrecking the state’s finances.

The Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff is projecting that the state will face a $238 million budget shortfall by July 2016, even if tax collections meet the state’s official projections between now and then.

Kansas collected about $4 million more in taxes in July than anticipated, but tax collections in April, May and June fell a total of $334 million short of expectations.

 

OTTAWA, Kan.- A Kansas teenager died and another was injured in a collision just after 12 noon on Thursday in Franklin County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Saturn Sedan driven by Casey Butterfield, 19, Garnett, was southbound on U.S. 59 behind a semi truck traveling at a speed reported by the semi truck driver of 55 miles per hour. The Satun veered in front of a northbound 2004 Ford Taurus driven by Allison N. Schulz, 19, Princeton.

Butterfield was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

Schulz and a one-week old infant were transported to Ransom Memorial Hospital.

The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas cardiologist says a school principal who performed CPR on one of his patients helped save the man’s life.

WDAF-TV reports  that 70-year-old John Williams was stricken Aug. 18 outside Turner Sixth Grade Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, where he had to gone to pick up a child.

A secretary alerted principal Miranda Hoit that a man had collapsed in the parking lot. Hoit found Williams unresponsive and began CPR while others called 911.

Williams was in a coma for eight days and awoke Wednesday at Providence Medical Center. Dr. Hector Rodriguez, a cardiologist, said Williams has a damaged heart and is prone to arrhythmia. Without Hoit’s actions, the doctor says, Williams “would not be here today.”

Williams said he’s feeling pretty good, but can’t believe he missed eight days.

 

TOPEKA — On Thursday, the Senate Oversight Committee approved Joseph Bain of Goodland, Bill Feuerborn of Garnett, and Zoe F. Newton of Sedan to a four-year term on the Kansas Board of Regents. These individuals fill the positions that will be vacated by Mildred Edwards of Wichita, Tim Emert of Independence, and Edwin “Ed” McKechnie of Archadia.

“Our state’s colleges and universities help educate and prepare students to enter the work force, and the Regents play an important role in overseeing this process,” said Gov. Sam Brownback at their Aug.1 announcement. “Joseph, Bill, and Zoe all bring considerable talent and experience to the board, and I am pleased that they’ve agreed to serve the people of Kansas in this capacity.”

“I believe the Kansas Regents institutions are second to none, and I’m excited to offer my perspective as a product of the Regents system,” Bain said. “I am someone that is still quite close to many of the critical higher education issues students face today, and I think it will be valuable to bring that understanding to the Board of Regents.”

OVERBROOK, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are asking the public for help in finding witnesses to the hit-and-run death of a northeast Kansas pedestrian.

Twenty-year-old Timothy Kemble, of Carbondale, was found dead around 5 a.m. Sunday along U.S. 56 in Osage County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said Thursday investigators hope to talk with anyone who was driving on the highway near Overbrook between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators are also trying to locate the driver of a tractor-trailer that was in the area at that time. The Highway Patrol says the driver is not a suspect, but could have helpful information.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Investigators say a fire at a University of Kansas fraternity house was caused by improperly disposed of smoking materials.

No injuries were reported after the fire Tuesday at the Sigma Chi fraternity house.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire official Shaun Coffey said Thursday the fire caused an estimated $150,000 in damage. Flames were contained to the third floor but lower floors had smoke and water damage.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports  fraternity members said a bathroom and bedrooms sustained the most damage.

The 74 residents of the home were allowed to return to the house Tuesday evening.

Coffey said he did not know what type of smoking materials caused the fire.