KINGSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Forget about hollowed out pumpkins with triangular eyes and a jagged mouth.

The Kansas and Missouri artists who participate in extreme-carving are fashioning gourds into intricate creations.

Rudy Garcia, of Overland Park, Kansas, honed his skills working for toy companies. His creations include Orcs, aliens, goblins, witches, werewolves and Jason from the “Friday the 13th” franchise. The Kansas City Star reports that he charges $150 to $400 for a custom-carved pumpkin. He carves only about eight pumpkins per season.

April Mazeikis, of Independence, Missouri, is a software analyst by day. Five years ago, she began pumpkin carving. Her creations include Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Jackson.

Their talents will be on display this weekend at Powell Gardens, a botanical garden east of Kansas City.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita mother and her boyfriend have pleaded to lesser charges in the abuse and death of the woman’s 3-year-old daughter.

Evan Schuessler and Monica Krueger each faced first-degree felony murder and other charges in the June 2014 death of Emma Krueger. But both pleaded guilty to reduced charges before their scheduled trials.

Schuessler pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse earlier this month. Krueger pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree reckless murder and obstructing prosecution.

The Wichita Eagle reports before the girl’s death, police went to the south Wichita apartment where she lived after getting a report of a child being abused. But authorities said officers were given the wrong address and could not find the child. Emma died three weeks after police were called.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City-based artist has donated about 800 pieces of her work to Washburn University’s Mulvane Art Museum.

The university announced Friday that Rita Blitt, a painter, sculptor and film maker, and her husband, also made a financial donation for a gallery addition. The gallery will be used to house Blitt’s art and help the museum prepare for traveling exhibits. Washburn Foundation spokeswoman Kathy Busch says the Blitts did not want the amount of the monetary gift publicized.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports  the gallery could be complete in 18 months.

The new addition will extend White Concert Hall to connect to a planned recital hall.

Bllitt’s work has been shown across the world. She has had more than 70 solo exhibitions.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — The trial for a 15-year-old Kansas girl accused of killing her sister will be delayed until March.

A Saline County Court judge agreed Friday to delay the first-degree murder trial of Sierra Niehaus, who had been scheduled for trial later this month. She is being tried as an adult.

Prosecutors allege Niehaus stabbed her 13-year-old sister, Galazia, to death at the family’s rural Saline County home on Aug. 1, 2014.

The Salina Journal reports Niehaus’ attorney asked for more time to prepareor the trial.

The new trial date is March 21.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City fire department official says firefighters were within minutes of avoiding a building collapse on Monday that killed two and injured two others.

Battalion Chief James Garrett told The Kansas City Star

fire officials were establishing a “collapse zone” when the building’s wall fell Monday night. Collapse zones move fire crews away from weakened structures that could crumble.

Garrett said all companies were told to move back from the building about 2 ½ minutes before the collapse. At least six firefighters continued to work in an alley inside the collapse zone trying to save a nearby grocery store. He says crews would have been safe if the building had stayed intact for a few more minutes.

The fire killed firefighters Larry J. Leggio and John V. Mesh.

HARVEY COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Harvey County displayed a powerful reminder on the dangers of texting and driving this week.

On Monday afternoon, according to a social media post from the Harvey County Sheriff’s office a woman driving on Ridge Road near Southwest 72nd lost control of her vehicle while texting.

The driver walked away from the accident, according to the sheriff.

“Please pay attention to your driving and stop texting!”

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Friends University in Wichita has officially inaugurated its new president.

Amy Bragg Carey officially became the first female president in the university’s 117-year history during ceremonies on Friday.

Friends is a Christian university of Quaker heritage.

Carey previously was vice president of institutional advancement at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota.

DETROIT (AP) — Problems with exploding Takata air bag inflators continue to spread to more vehicles, this time hitting a small number of 2015 General Motors cars and SUVs.

Documents posted Saturday by U.S. safety regulators say GM is recalling more than 400 vehicles because the side air bag inflators could rupture and send shrapnel into drivers and passengers.

The recall means that the air bag problems are growing to more newer models and into side air bags. Previously the problem was limited mainly to older vehicles and front air bags. Eight people have been killed worldwide because of the faulty inflators and more than 100 have been hurt.

The latest recall covers certain 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, Malibu and Camaro vehicles as well as the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS and GMC Terrain.