LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence school officials worry that their district will be forced to pay back nearly $672,000 in aid from the state by the end of June under a new school funding law.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports  Superintendent Rick Doll said Monday that the district might impose a hiring freeze for non-teaching jobs. He also said the district may have fewer teachers and larger classes in some schools in the fall.

The new law replaced the state’s former per-student aid formula with grants for districts. It cut $51 million from the amount of aid school districts had expected to receive for the current school year.

The Lawrence district already has received more in aid than the new law provides.

However, legislators are considering not requiring districts to repay the state.

PERRY- A child died in an accident just before 3 p.m. on Monday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Civic driven by Breonna Renae Emery, 22, Lawrence was westbound on U.S. 24 one mile west of Perry.

The vehicle moved over to the edge of the asphalt onto the gravel shoulder. The driver overcorrected. The vehicle began sliding sideways and crossed the centerline into eastbound traffic.

An eastbound 2010 Ford truck driven by Aaron Arvind Thakker, 32, Eudora, struck the Honda in the passenger side.

Emery, Thakker and two children in the Honda Kaysein A. Harris, 1-month old, and Paighton Dunlap, 3, both of Lawrence were transported to Stormont Vail.

The 1- month old died according to the KHP.

The KHP also reported Thakker was not wearing a seat belt.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police have arrested a woman after she called to report that her bicycle had been stolen over the weekend.

Police spokesman Lt. James Espinoza tells The Wichita Eagle that the 27-year-old woman was confronted by a man and woman on Sunday afternoon. The two suspects stole the bike, along with cigarettes and money from the victim, before leaving.

Espinoza says the victim walked to a park and spotted the two suspects with her bicycle. She approached them, and they refused to return her bicycle.

The victim called police, but the suspects left before officers arrived.

Officers discovered the woman had marijuana in her possession, as well as several outstanding warrants. She was arrested and taken to Sedgwick County Jail.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Voters in Wichita will decide whether to approve a ballot that seeks to ease penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

The issue is on the ballot for Tuesday’s municipal election in Wichita.

The proposed ordinance does not legalize marijuana. It makes first-time possession a criminal infraction with a $50 fine. Under state law, it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and a year in jail.

Opponents contend the city has no legal authority to adopt an ordinance that conflicts with state law. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has said he would sue the city if it passes.

Supporters say people should vote for the measure anyway to send the Legislature a message.

WICHITA-  Police reported they arrested the man they believe robbed the Emprise Bank on Monday.  The suspect’s getaway lasted only about four hours.

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WICHITA  -Law enforcement authorities in Wichita are looking for the public’s help to identify a bank robbery suspect.

Police reported that just before 1 p.m. on Monday, a man in these photos entered the Emprise Bank at 257 N. Broadway and demanded money from the teller.

The suspect was last seen fleeing the bank on foot. He was not driving a vehicle.

Police described the suspect as a white male, short, 40-50s, wearing blue jeans, a grey hoodie with a zippered front, dark beanie, grey mustache and glasses.

If you have any information about this suspect, please contact Det. Davis at 316-268-4496 or [email protected].

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas farmers have begun planting this year’s corn amid growing concern for the deteriorating winter wheat crop in several counties where it is dry.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 6 percent of the corn crop has now been planted in Kansas.

But the agency also noted that topsoil moisture conditions for the week ending on Sunday are short to very short across 57 percent of the state.

About 23 percent of the state’s winter wheat crop was rated in poor to very poor condition. About 44 percent of the wheat was in fair condition with 30 percent reported as good and 3 percent as excellent.

Farmers have been fertilizing and applying herbicide to their fields this past week.

DODGE CITY- One person died and 3 were injured in an accident just before 2 p.m. on Monday in Ford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Peterbilt semi driven by Sergio Sorianogacia, 40, Imperial, CA, was westbound on Saddle Road five miles south of the U.S. 56-U.S. 283 Junction south of Dodge City.

The semi failed to stop at a stop sign at U.S. 283 and struck a 2011 Dodge Durango driven by Dale C Kissner, 72, Webster, WI., that was northbound on U.S. 283.

The Durango came to rest on its top in a plowed field in the northwest corner of the Saddle Road intersection.

Sorianogarcia, Kissner and passengers in the Durango Paula J. Kissner, 66, Webster, WI., and Amanda G. Petersen, 17, Inver Grove Heights, MN., were transported to Western Plains Medical Center.

Paula Kissner died and Petersen was later flown to St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

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

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials estimate that it will cost $7.5 million to demolish a state official building in Topeka.

The Topeka Capital-Journal  reports that crews are expected to begin the six-month process of removing asbestos from Docking State Office Building in May. Information posted to the Department of Administration’s website shows the building will be taken down between December and March.

Officials are tearing it down because they believe renovations of the 1950s-era high-rise would be too expensive. There currently are no plans for new construction on the site near the Statehouse.

Details about the demolition are part of a bid solicitation for a new energy service center. The center supplies cooling and heating to the Capitol complex. It currently sits underneath Docking, but the state wants to build a new one.

WAMEGO, Kan. (AP) — With few trees in large swaths of Kansas prairieland, early settlers built fences out of stone instead.

People interesting in learning more about how those fences were built will get a chance this spring during a festival in Wamego. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Native Stone Scenic Byway Committee is offering a stone fence workshop May 2 and 3. The Kansas Sampler Festival will be set up that weekend in Wamego.

Workshop participants will construct a new fence in Wamego City Park. That breaks from the tradition of doing the workshop along the Native Stone Scenic Byway.

A professionally trained dry stone conservancy mason will be the lead teacher. The registration fee is $80.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has dismissed at the request of prosecutors the indictment against a woman who had been accused of obtaining her U.S. citizenship by falsely claiming an identity theft victim was her stepfather.

The government told the court Monday no further action against 48-year-old Antonia Vargas-Ortega is contemplated unless additional evidence is discovered.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson says the evidence today against her isn’t as compelling as prosecutors prefer to go forward with the case.

Her father, Ramon Perez-Rivera, was separately indicted for an identity theft scheme in which authorities say he legally changed a U.S. citizen’s name to his own. Her parents are charged with using the false identity to get food stamps and Medicaid, obtain a passport and driver’s license, and attempt to get Social Security benefits.