WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will consider whether retailer Abercrombie & Fitch’s refusal to hire a woman wearing a Muslim headscarf was religious discrimination.

A lower court said the New Albany, Ohio-based company didn’t discriminate against the job applicant because she didn’t’ say she needed a religious accommodation.

But the Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear the Obama administration’s appeal.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had sued on behalf of Samantha Elauf. The agency contended that Elauf wasn’t hired at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, store because her hijab violated Abercrombie’s dress code.

The company later changed its dress rules.

A federal judge initially sided with the government.

But an appeals court reversed that decision, saying Elauf never specifically requested a religious accommodation even though she was wearing the headscarf during her interview.

HARPER, Kan. (AP) — At least eight earthquakes have shaken southern Kansas this week, with the largest cracking walls.

The earthquakes occurred the same week that a panel commissioned by Gov. Sam Brownback announced there isn’t enough evidence to link recent quakes to oil and gas exploration in the region. The group recommended more monitoring.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that this week’s largest earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 4.4 when it struck just after 1 p.m. Thursday about seven miles southeast of Harper. Another quake that struck nearby about 30 minutes later had a preliminary magnitude of 3.4.

Interim Kansas Geological Survey director Rex Buchanan says four other earthquakes rocked the state Tuesday and that at least two were recorded Wednesday. All but one of them occurred in Harper County.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas legislator says he was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this year about state government under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

Ex-Republican state Sen. Dick Kelsey confirmed Thursday that he had multiple conversations with the FBI, ending in July. During a news conference, he and Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley called on Brownback to cut any ties with former chief of staff David Kensinger.

Kensinger left as Brownback’s chief of staff in April 2012 to form a lobbying firm. He remains an unpaid adviser to Brownback’s re-election campaign.

Kelsey said the FBI identified Kensinger as a subject of its inquiry. Kensinger did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

Brownback’s campaign was preparing a response.

Federal authorities would not confirm or deny an investigation.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling more than 117,000 vehicles from the 2013 and 2014 model years for a defect that could cause them to stall.

The recall involves the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Traverse, Express and Silverado; the Cadillac CTS, Escalade and Escalade ESV; the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Acadia, Savana and Sierra; and the Buick Enclave.

GM says metal slivers in the chassis control module could cause an electrical short. If that happens, the vehicle could stall.

GM knows of no accidents or injuries related to the defect. It believes only 1 percent of the vehicles being recalled are affected.

The recall includes 97,540 vehicles sold in the U.S. and 20,201 exported elsewhere. Around 4,500 vehicles haven’t yet been sold.

GM will notify owners. Dealers will replace the module for free.

NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase & Co. says that a data breach affected 76 million households and 7 million small businesses.

The New York-based bank says there is no evidence that the account information for the affected customers, such as account numbers, passwords or Social Security numbers, was stolen. The bank says it has not seen any unusual customer fraud related to the hack.

ABILENE, Kan. (AP) — A longtime central Kansas radio personality has died after crashing his car into a ditch on his way to broadcast his morning show.

The Salina Journal reports 79-year-old Gary Houser of Abilene was driving his pickup truck at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday on Old U.S. Highway 40 when the vehicle went off the road and rolled. Dickinson County Undersheriff James Swisher says Houser was not wearing a seatbelt.

Houser was on his way to KABI radio station, where he was well-known for playing songs of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. He was behind the microphone at KABI when it went on the air in April 1963 and was in the radio business more than 50 years.

A memorial graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Abilene cemetery.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge is aiming for trial early next summer for the man charged with plotting a suicide bombing at a Wichita airport.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot on Thursday set deadlines for motions in the case against Terry Loewen, an avionics technician facing terrorism-related charges, but he stopped short of setting a firm trial date.

Loewen has been in jail since his December arrest for allegedly trying to bring a van filled with inert explosives onto the tarmac at Mid-Continent Airport.

The judge told Loewen during a brief hearing that he recognizes where he is, and is sure he doesn’t like it. Loewen replied, “Not a lot, sir.”

He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and other charges.

BRETT ZONGKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The long-delayed effort to build a memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower near the National Mall has won a key approval, despite ongoing objections to architect Frank Gehry’s design.

A federal agency that oversees national capital planning approved the preliminary building plans Thursday. The National Capital Planning Commission debated the design and voted 9-1 to approve the concept.

Gehry revised his design in September for a memorial park. He removed two large, steel tapestries on the sides of the park and left one as a backdrop depicting the Kansas landscape of Eisenhower’s Midwestern roots. Sculptures would depict Eisenhower as president and general.

In April, the planning commission rejected the previous design, citing the size and placement of columns holding the tapestries.

Winning approval is a significant step for the project.

KANSAS CITY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 12-noon on Thursday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy Impala driven by Hafizu U. Cheema, 29, Overland Park, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at 18th street.

The vehicle hydroplaned and struck the barrier wall.

Cheema was transported to KU Medical Center.

The KHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.