TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a bill adding cellphone numbers to the state’s no call law for telephone solicitors.

The measure proposed by Attorney General Derek Schmidt advanced Wednesday on a voice vote. Approval on a second vote expected Thursday would send the bill to the House.

Kansas enacted the no call statute in 2002 to protect residents from unwanted telemarketing calls. People add their numbers to a list maintained by the Federal Trade Commission.

The attorney general can pursue complaints about solicitations made via landline phones but has no authority over calls made to cellphones. The bill would create that authority.

During Senate debate, Hiawatha Republican Dennis Pyle questioned having Kansans use a list maintained by the federal government.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A northeast Kansas doctor says he feels better about his financial future after winning $1 million in a Missouri Lottery game.

Lottery officials said Wednesday that 60-year-old orthopedic surgeon Truett Swaim bought a Mega Millions ticket in early December, but didn’t realize it was a big winner until he checked the numbers last week.

Swaim lives in Leawood, Kan., and bought the ticket just over the state line in Kansas City, Mo.

Swaim says the prize won’t change much about his daily life, but he does plan to work less, play more golf and take a few more vacations. It also will give him and his fiancee some extra cash for a planned honeymoon in Fiji following their upcoming wedding.

3 p.m. UPDATE  TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has heard testimony from an overflow crowd on a bill that would bar use of the Common Core standards for reading and math in public schools.

Supporters and opponents of the standards filled the House Education Committee meeting room and the adjacent corridor for Wednesday’s hearing.

The measure seeks to reverse a 2010 State Board of Education decision to adopt the standards. It would also create an advisory group to develop new guidelines for math and reading.

Witnesses had 90 seconds each to address the committee, which asked no questions and took no action on the bill.

Kansas was part of a multi-state consortium that developed the Common Core standards to create common material that students should master.

States were able to add content to the standards.

5:40 a.m.TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee is preparing to consider legislation that would bar use of the Common Core standards for reading and math in public schools.

The bill scheduled for a hearing Wednesday by the House Education Committee would also create an advisory group to help develop new guidelines for teaching those subjects.

It’s the latest attempt by conservative Republicans to block implementation of the standards adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010. A similar bill failed last year.

Critics argue the standards are weak and give outside entities too much control over Kansas education.

A consortium of states including Kansas developed the Common Core standards to create common material that students should master.

States were able to add content to the standards.

2:20 p.m. UPDATE WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita massage parlor worker has been released on bond while she awaits sentencing in a sex trafficking case.

Xiuqing Tian Framingham, Mass., had been jailed since she pleaded guilty in November to helping induce an immigrant to reside unlawfully in the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says a federal judge on Wednesday granted Tian’s request to be released to a halfway house. The judge also ordered her to obtain lawful employment.

Tian has agreed to testify against her two former employers, who are awaiting trial.

In her plea deal, she admitted moving to Wichita to work for the pair and said they encouraged her to perform sex acts for patrons of two massage parlors where she worked.

5:30 a.m. WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former worker ensnared in a sex trafficking case at Wichita massage parlors wants to be released from jail to a half-way house pending sentencing.

Xiuqing Tian of Framingham, Mass., faces a hearing on her request Wednesday in federal court. She pleaded guilty in November to helping induce an immigrant to reside unlawfully in the United States.

A sentencing date has not been set.

Tian has agreed to testify against her former employers. In her plea deal, she admitted moving to Wichita to work for the pair and said they encouraged her to perform sex acts for patrons of two massage parlors where she worked.

Tian’s lawyer says she has been in custody more than six months and has served more than half of a guideline sentencing range.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Students at public and private colleges in Kansas would get a tax break on textbook purchases under a bill approved by the state House.

Wednesday’s 122-0 House vote sends the measure to the Senate.

The bill creates a state refund for the sales taxes paid on textbooks required for classes at state and private universities, community colleges and technical colleges. Students would apply to the Department of Revenue for the refund.

The proposal comes from Wichita Democrat Brandon Whipple, who said it’s a way to help students and their families.

State officials don’t know how much the break would save taxpayers.

The state’s sales tax is 6.15 percent.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Arkansas City Commission has approved two ordinances that will allow Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to expand its operations in the southeast Kansas town.

The commission’s vote Tuesday night annexed about 9.5 acres of farmland owned by Creekstone that is adjacent to the current plant but outside city limits. It also changed the land’s zoning to heavy industrial.

The Arkansas City Traveler reports the first phase of the expansion, which already is under way, will bring the plant back to full production capacity after a fire last fall. Later phases will increase the company’s cold storage areas and possibly add an additional shift.

City manager Nick Hernandez says if Creekstone adds another shift, it would become Cowley County’s largest employer.