TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The administration of Gov. Sam Brownback is moving forward on a plan for the state’s long-term water supply.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the more ambitious parts of the plan include dredging state lakes and possibly building an aqueduct from the Missouri River to western Kansas. They would require large amounts of new revenue, as well as cooperation from other states.

During a meeting of the governor’s Council of Economic Advisers last week, Agriculture Secretary Jackie McClaskey asked for help forming a panel to come up with options for long-term funding of the plan.

In western Kansas, farm irrigation is depleting the underground Ogallala Aquifer. In some counties, irrigation has been forced to halt entirely.

EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — Kansas authorities say six people have been hospitalized and released after a SUV carrying 11 people struck a car.

Butler County Sheriff Kelly Herzet tells the Wichita Eagle  the rollover accident happened Saturday night near the border of Sedgwick and Butler counties.

He says the 78-year-old car driver failed to yield when making a U-turn on Kansas 254. He says most of the passengers from the SUV are related and were headed to visit a family member in a Wichita hospital. They range in age from 3 to 50.

Five SUV passengers and the car driver were treated. No charges have been reported.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police are investigating the death of a woman who was shot in a Lowe’s Home Improvement store parking lot in Kansas City, Kansas.

Officers found the woman dead on Sunday afternoon. They haven’t released her identity but say she was in her 20s.

Kansas City, Kansas, Officer Thomas Tomasic tells KCTV-TV the shooter likely knew the woman. He says there isn’t a danger to the general public.

Officers are examining surveillance footage from Lowe’s.

No arrests have been reported.

WICHITA- A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just after 5:30 p.m. on Sunday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Crystal Hooser, 16, Wichita, was stopped at the stop sign on 151st and Kansas 96.

The Pontiac failed to yield to the right of way, and pulled out on to Kansas 96 and was struck by a westbound semi.

Hooser was transported to Wesley Medical Center.

The semi truck driver Chester Zeiset, 37, Sublette, was not injured.

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

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The fiance of a woman who was raped and set on fire in a Wichita park said the man charged in the attack should have been kept in jail.

Twenty-six-year-old Cornell McNeal, of Wichita, faces one count of capital murder or an alternative count of first-degree murder in the death of Letitia “Tish” Davis. She suffered from burns on more than half her body and cuts on her head in the Nov. 14 attack and died Nov. 22.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Davis’ fiance, Marty Bell, wonders why McNeal had not been kept in jail. McNeal had been accused of pummeling his 52-year-old neighbor nine days before the park attack. But McNeal left a work-release facility two days before the attack.

McNeal’s attorney has declined to comment.

MANHATTAN- One Kansas teen died and another was injured in an accident just before 5 a.m. on Sunday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Chevy Camaro driven by Wyatt, R. Howe, 17, Riley, was westbound on Anderson Avenue four miles west of Manhattan.

The driver lost control of the car. It traveled into the north ditch and struck a tree.

A passenger Brent E. Kilbourn, 17, Riley, was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.

Howe was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka.
The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Relatives of an 18-year-old who was killed in a house fire last month were outraged to receive a more than $16,000 bill from Topeka for tearing down the damaged structure.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (https://bit.ly/1w2cJSo ) reports that Morgan Duncan’s family members had a memorial service for the 18-year-old Saturday afternoon. While the mother and grandparents were preparing to say their final goodbyes, they received the bill.

The city of Topeka told Duncan’s mother, Cheri Duncan, she could make payments. But Duncan’s grandmother, Mary Johnson, says her daughter didn’t have homeowner’s insurance and probably won’t be able to handle even a small monthly payment.

Johnson says Cheri and Morgan Duncan were on a fixed income of about $1,400 per month before the fire.

ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The nation’s highest military court will hear oral arguments this week in the case of a Kansas airman of aggravated assault for exposing multiple sex partners to HIV at swinger parties in Wichita.

DELPHOS- A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 4 a.m. on Sunday in Cloud County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford F 150 driven by Carrie M. Brayton, 21, Glasco, was driving southbound on 90th Road 4 miles north of Delphos.

The truck drifted across the northbound lane, entered the east ditch and rolled ejecting the driver.

Brayton was pronounced dead a the scene and transported to McDonald-Roberts Funeral Home.
The KHP reported she was not wearing a seat belt.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback isn’t publicly ruling out any ideas for helping to close state budget shortfalls.

That’s left officials and lawmakers to speculate about the proposals he’s expected to roll out before the Legislature convenes again Jan. 12.

The Republican governor’s administration is working on a plan to close combined shortfalls of more than $700 million in the current and next state budgets.

A few GOP legislators have talked about diverting money set aside for big highway projects or backtracking on aggressive personal income tax cuts enacted at Brownback’s urging in 2012 and 2013 in an effort to stimulate the economy.

The budget problems also could jeopardize increased funding for public employee pensions aimed at stabilizing the long-term health of the retirement system for teachers and government workers.