LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas has surpassed a $5 million fundraising goal for the first phase of a renovation project.

The university announced Wednesday nearly 200 donors had raised $7.4 million for the museum. More than $5.8 million was given by 11 donors.

The first phase of the project encompasses 30,000 square feet of the museum’s galleries, teaching and research areas, gathering spaces and collections storage.

The university says the additional money will help improve more gallery and public spaces, and address several longstanding accessibility and infrastructure needs.

The Spencer closed for construction in April, and galleries are expected to reopen in 2016. It’s the first renovation since the museum opened in 1977.

WASHINGTON –On Wednesday Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) represented the state of Kansas as he signed letters with a Taiwanese Agricultural Delegation and American grain representatives, in which the island nation declared their intent to purchase over $3 Billion in American product over the next two years.

At the LBJ Room of the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Huelskamp, the Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission from the Republic of China (Taiwan), the U.S. Grain Council, U.S. Wheat Associates and U.S. Soybean Export Council gathered for the ceremonial signing of intent to purchase American corn, soy and wheat. Huelskamp also visited with the Taiwanese Ambassador and encouraged the Taiwanese to allow their citizens to purchase Kansas pork.

Congressman Huelskamp gave the following statement on his signing of these Letters of Intent:

“As a Kansas farmer, I was honored to sign agreements with the nation of Taiwan to expand import of our Kansas agricultural production. I am thankful that Taiwan has been such a loyal customer for my fellow Kansas farmers and me. With these letters of intent, I am confident that Kansas farmers, indeed the entire state, will continue to win with additional exports around the world.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State officials with regulatory authority over Kansas’ underground water resources are still looking for an individual or group willing to enter into a voluntary conservation program.

The purpose of legislation signed by Gov. Sam Brownback in April was to create a network of Water Conservation Areas that would restrain consumption, maintain agricultural production and help extend life of the Ogallala Aquifer. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the program was hailed as central element of the administration’s commitment to more efficient industrial use of water.

Kansas Department of Agriculture secretary Jackie McClaskey says convincing water right holders to engage in Water Conservation Areas is critical in advancing Brownback’s 50-year plan for managing the resource.

Brownback also signed legislation aiming to extend the life of the Ogallala Aquifer in 2012.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A transgender student recently elected homecoming queen at her Kansas City-area high school says she’s happy to be in the spotlight and representing the transgender community.

Landon Patterson says it felt too good to be true on Saturday when the crown was placed on her head as Oak Park High School’s homecoming queen.

The Kansas City Star reports Patterson has been a member of her school’s co-ed cheerleading team and cheered as a boy as a freshman, sophomore and part of her junior year.

She announced in a video on social media in May that she was a girl, not a boy. The 17-year-old student says she was expecting a lot of hate, but that instead has received mostly support from her schoolmates.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two Koch family foundations are making a $10.5 million donation in land and money to the new Wichita Center for the Arts.

A new 38,000-square-foot center is planned for 17 acres owned by the Kochs. The project, without the land, is valued at $14 million.

The Wichita Eagle reports the Charles Koch Foundation is donating the land, which is valued at $4.5 million. The Fred and Mary Koch Foundation is giving $2 million and will have another $4 million challenge grant.

Liz Koch, an honorary trustee for the arts center, says the donation honors her mother-in-law, Mary Koch, a strong supporter of the arts center who died in 1990.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2016 and be finished by late 2017 or early 2018.

TOPEKA – Federal prosecutors Wednesdayfiled an involuntary manslaughter charge against a Riley County man in connection with a shooting death at Fort Riley, according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Juwan D. Jackson, 18, who lives on the Fort Riley base, is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. A criminal complaint alleges that on Sept. 11, 2015, Jackson handled a firearm in a reckless manner, resulting in the shooting death of 16-year-old Kenyon Givens, who also lives on Fort Riley.

If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Army Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi are prosecuting.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a Wichita concrete company worker.

The Wichita Eagle reports 35-year-old Donnie Lalonde pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated robbery Sept. 4 for the February 2014 death of 44-year-old Efren Antonio Villarreal-Alvarado.

According to authorities, co-workers found Villarreal-Alvarado in his car with a gunshot wound to the chest in the parking lot of Santana Concrete. He later died at a hospital.

Lalonde is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20.

Another man, 42-year-old Deon Nolan Hale, is also charged in Villarreal-Alvarado’s death. He’s awaiting trial in November.

ANDOVER – A Kansas teen and a semi driver were injured in an accident just before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Mustang driven by Brooke Dane Morris, 18, Murdock, was westbound on Kansas 254 six miles north of Andover.

The Mustang struck a 2004 International semi that was northbound on Butler Road and failed to stop for a stop sign.

Morris and the semi driver Dwight D. Henry, 70, Wichita were transported to Wesley Medical Center.

Both were properly restrained at the time of the collision, according to the KHP.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas State University researcher who was fired after accusing his colleagues of misrepresenting data in an academic journal has lost a bid for whistleblower protection under federal law.

The inspector general’s office at the National Science Foundation concluded that the research assistant professor of biology, Joseph Craine, didn’t qualify for the legal status based on allegations of retaliation from his superiors. However, the investigation did uncover evidence that two professors who sought Craine’s firing referred to him in profane terms in emails withheld by Kansas State University.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that university officials declined to comment on the foundation’s report, the Kansas Whistleblower Act and the nondisclosure of emails.

The National Science Foundation became involved because it sponsors research on prairie grassland coordinated by the university.