TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick says he’s not planning to have his chamber debate a bill aimed at protecting college religious groups that want to limit their membership.

Merrick said Wednesday that the House must concentrate on closing a budget shortfall and drafting a plan to raise new revenues.

The Stilwell Republican’s comments came hours after the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups said during a news conference that the bill would force state colleges to financially support discrimination.

The bill would prohibit state colleges from providing resources to groups for requiring leaders or members to profess certain religious beliefs or adhere to a faith-based code of conduct.

Supporters say the measure ensures that groups can operate in line with their beliefs. The Senate passed it last month.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and top GOP legislators are at odds over reconsidering an income tax break for business owners enacted by lawmakers three years ago.

Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita and House Taxation Committee Chairman Marvin Kleeb of Overland Park said Wednesday that a reconsideration of the policy will get a serious look.

Brownback and lawmakers must close a projected budget shortfall that legislative researchers peg at $422 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The state slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging to stimulate the economy. It exempted 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers from income taxes.

Brownback said Wednesday that he wants to preserve the policy. He said among other alternatives, he’ll push legislators to eliminate income tax deductions instead.

ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas prosecutors say there is not sufficient evidence to bring felony charges against Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle after a domestic disturbance.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Wednesday his office has completed its review of the Feb. 3 incident involving Randle and the mother of his child at a hotel in Wichita.

The case may still be referred by police to the city prosecutor’s office for potential misdemeanor charges.

A former girlfriend, Dalia Jacobs, told police Randle brandished a gun and broke a car window during the altercation. She filed for a protective order the next day, claiming Randle pointed a gun at a vehicle with their son and Jacobs’ friend inside.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team would have no comment.

BURLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 13-year-old boy has drowned in a river in eastern Kansas.

The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that Matthew Edwards of Burlington drowned Tuesday evening in the Neosho River in Burlington.

Numerous agencies responded to the river and worked for about an hour to recover the teenager from the water.

Details about what led to the boy’s drowning were not released.

TOWANDA – Two Kansas men were injured in an accident just before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Jeep SUV driven by Kyle L. Fredericks, 22, Wichita, was northbound on Adams Road just north of Kansas 254 near Towanda at a high rate of speed.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It left the roadway and struck two trees.

Fredericks and a passenger Tyler Zimniak, 30, Sedgwick, were transported to St. Francis Medical Center.

They were not wearing seat belts according to the KHP.

SALINA – Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death of a man found in a lean-to just east of downtown Salina on Tuesday afternoon.

Police Captain Mike Sweeney said officers were sent to the 200 block of South 4th just before 3 p.m. on the report of a dead person.

“The body of a black man was found by the property owner,” said Sweeney.

Police have not released the name of the man, and there was no obvious sign of trauma to the body.

The case currently is being investigated as an unattended death.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and other critics say a legislative proposal in Kansas aimed at helping campus religious groups would force state colleges to financially support discrimination.

The ACLU, Equality Kansas, Mainstream Coalition, National Organization for Women and Americans United for Separation of Church and State had a news conference Wednesday to decry the measure.

The bill would prohibit state colleges from refusing to recognize or provide resources to groups for requiring leaders or members to profess certain religious beliefs or adhere to a faith-based code of conduct.

The Senate passed the measure last month.

House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey called it a common-sense bill.

But the critics said the measure would give groups a right to public financial support even if they discriminate based on race or gender.