TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has drafted a plan for expanding the state’s Medicaid program for the poor and disabled in line with the federal health care overhaul.

The bill introduced Monday in the House by the Vision 2020 Committee would impose a special tax on hospitals and other health care providers to raise any state matching funds required to tap extra federal dollars.

It also would allow the state to require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work.

Committee Chairman and Lawrence Republican Tom Sloan said the proposal is designed to start a discussion about expanding Medicaid to provide health coverage to as many as 169,000 people.

But many Republicans in the GOP-dominated Legislature are still wary of getting the state involved with the 2010 federal health care law.

FULTON – A 34-year-old man died Sunday after wrecking his ATV in a Fulton alley.

The Fulton Police Department said Nicholas Davison of Fulton, died after his ATV crashed in the 800 block of the alley between State and Vine Streets before 6:30 p.m.

Police said Fulton Fire personel and Callaway EMS staff began treating Davison at the scene, and transported him to the Callaway Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra are basking in a Grammy Award win.
The orchestra’s recording of John Adams’ “City Noir” took home the Grammy Sunday for best orchestral performance.

The orchestra has won seven Grammys, but this was the first since 1991.

The latest recording includes two of Adams’ recent compositions, the symphonic work “City Noir” and the Saxophone Concerto. Both were recorded at Powell Hall in St. Louis in 2013.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Missouri State University plans to provide a customized education program for about 50 students and teachers from China.

The school said the $1.38 million agreement will pay for all costs for 50 agriculture students and 10 faculty members from Ningxia University.

The Springfield News-Leader reported the 10-month program will begin Sept. 15.

The Chinese university will select students majoring in such areas as wine and grape engineering, grassland management and animal science.

They will earn 24 credit hours of coursework in English and agricultural studies.

The 10 faculty members from the agricultural and wine schools will be offered non-credit training in teaching methods, English language and professional development.

Missouri State vice president Jim Baker said the agreement will help the university extend its impact internationally.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A Missouri Republican wants to ban local laws that raise the minimum wage, require employers to offer paid sick leave or other benefits or prohibit employers from asking about criminal convictions early in the job application process.

Rep. Caleb Rowden, of Columbia, introduced a bill Thursday that he said will ensure businesses don’t have to deal with confusing and complex regulations that vary across the state.

Rowden said the bill will protect businesses from radical activists on local city councils who want to attack job creators and hurt the middle class.

Columbia last year approved a measure barring employers from asking about criminal convictions on initial employment applications.

Some large cities in other states have passed laws requiring employers to offer paid sick leave or raising the minimum wage.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Authorities said one person has died after his motorcycle crashed near a southwestern Missouri airport.

The Springfield News-Leader reported 31-year-old Bradley N. Price of Republic died in the late Saturday night accident.

Lt. Chad Eutsler of the Springfield Police Department said Price appeared to have lost control when driving his motorcycle east on Highway 266 near the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

The department said Price hit the median and was thrown from the vehicle.

Eutsler said police are investigating the wreck and interviewing witnesses.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — The daughter of an Illinois woman accused of supporting extremist groups claims her mother has been falsely accused.

Sejla Ramic tells WREX-TV her mother, 42-year-old Jasminka Ramic of Rockford, doesn’t stand with terrorism and would never send money to a terrorist organization. She says whoever assumed her mother would do so is mistaken.

Jasminka Ramic is among six Bosnian immigrants, including 3 from Missouri, accused of sending money and military equipment to the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, an al-Qaida-affiliated rebel group. She’s charged with conspiring to provide and providing material support to groups designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations.

The station reports the Ramics were in Germany and unaware of the indictment until a reporter contacted them. It’s unclear if Jasminka Ramic has been arrested or has a lawyer.