Antonio Brown has withdrawn his no contest plea to first degree murder and child abuse charges.  Prosecutors say Brown killed his girlfriend’s 14-month old son in October of 2011.  A Salina Judge had scheduled Brown’s new trial to begin in July. He also faces aggravated escape from custody charges after he escaped the Saline County jail earlier this year.

(AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback says Kansas legislators need to quickly approve $202 million in new bonds for a new, national biosecurity lab because of the federal government’s ongoing budget problems.

Brownback said Friday it’s best to get the financing resolved soon for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility planned at Kansas State University.

President Barack Obama’s proposed budget includes $714 million for the lab. It would study animal diseases and ways to protect the nation’s food supply and replace an aging facility on Plum Island, N.Y.

Kansas already has issued $105 million in bonds, but Obama’s budget requires the additional amount. Some GOP state legislators are wary.

Brownback says he understands concerns about debt but doesn’t want lingering uncertainty about the project’s funding.

Lawmakers return from their spring break May 8.

(AP) — Kansas is honoring two Topeka officers who were killed on duty last year by adding their names to the Law Enforcement Memorial on the Statehouse grounds.

The state plans to remember their deaths during its annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony on May 3 outside the Statehouse. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for the night before at the memorial, on the northeast part of the grounds.

Topeka police Cpl. David Gogian and Officer Jeffrey Atherly were shot to death in December while checking possible drug activity outside a supermarket. Their killer later was fatally shot by law enforcement officers.

(AP) — An emergency homeless shelter will open in Hutchinson Monday, thanks to a lot of help from volunteers and donors.

New Beginnings says it will open the NOEL Lodge on Monday afternoon. It will have 25 beds, with men’s and women’s dormitories and three family rooms. An open house for the public will be held Saturday.

The shelter was to open in February but was delayed after inspectors found problems with a firewall, requiring New Beginnings to raise another $25,000.

Four Hutchinson churches contributed thousands of dollars in materials and labor. Other churches and several contractors also offered donations or reduced labor.

Previously, Hutchinson didn’t have an emergency homeless shelter. Instead, New Beginnings distributed hotel vouchers for one night at a time during extreme weather.