WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the final days of the congressional session (all times local):

1:15 p.m.

A bipartisan group of senators wants to help immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children and granted work permits by President Barack Obama.

Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are sponsoring a bill as a remedy for those immigrants in case President-elect Donald Trump rescinds the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, which has extended work permits and temporary deportation relief for those people.

During the campaign Trump pledged to terminate Obama’s executive actions on immigration, but he said in a Time Magazine interview this week that he will “work something out” for DACA.

Graham and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, are co-sponsors of the legislation. It’s unclear how many other Republicans would support it. The lawmakers plan to push the bill next year.

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12:50 p.m.

A Montana Democrat says he wants to curb the power that members of Congress and top-level bureaucrats can wield once they’ve left the federal government for jobs in the private sector.

On a conference call with reporters Friday, Sen. Jon Tester says he’ll be introducing legislation early next year to enforce President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to “drain the swamp” in the nation’s capital of lobbyists, donors and political cronies.

Tester says he hopes Trump will support his bill. But the senator says he’s worried the president-elect is actually “bringing in more gators” by tapping a host of insiders and campaign contributors for jobs in his administration.

Tester says his bill would ban ex-lawmakers and certain While House officials from doing any lobbying for five years after leaving civil service.

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12:37 p.m.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia says he and other coal-state Democrats will continue fighting for retired miners next year if they lose their current fight to extend benefits in a short-term spending bill.

Manchin says Democrats “will carry the momentum” of the current political standoff “and win the fight in January.”

Manchin told reporters on a conference call that he is still seeking to find a solution in the short-term spending bill to keep the federal government operating beyond Friday’s midnight deadline. But he said that regardless of what happens, retired miners will get at least four months of benefits.

The spending bill has stalled in the Senate as Democrats fight for a one-year extension for the miners’ health benefits rather than the temporary fix.

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10:27 a.m.

The Senate’s top Republican is seeking to turn the tables on the coal-state Democrats standing in the way of swift passage of a stopgap spending bill over health benefits for retired miners.

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Friday the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress have waged a “war on coal” that has created economic hardships for miners.

The spending bill to keep the federal government operating through April is stalled in the Senate as Democrats facing re-election in 2018, including West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, are fighting for a one-year extension for the miners’ health benefits rather than the temporary, four-month fix in the bill.

Manchin has called the short fix “horrendous” and “inhumane.”

McConnell says the temporary extension is the best they’re going to get.

He says “this is a good time to take yes for answer.”

Topeka–Westar Energy energized a new 60 mile high-voltage transmission line this week.

The new transmission line from Salina to Concordia will ensure wind energy developed in the area can be delivered to customers, according to media release. It also improves reliability and gives communities better access to power markets, which reduces power prices.

“A modern, resilient transmission system helps our communities thrive by providing reliable power and access to renewables and low-cost energy sources,” Kelly Harrison, vice president, transmission, said.

“Westar continued our practice of working with communities and landowners to build a transmission line that would benefit the area, completing the project early and under budget.”

The $54.5 million project was completed $13.7 million under budget.

In 2012, the Southwest Power Pool accepted Westar Energy’s proposal to build the project. SPP identifies transmission projects that are needed to improve reliability and efficiency of the power grid that serves a 14-state area.The line was energized Dec. 7, 2016.

By ALEX SMITH

Planned Parenthood Great Plains says it has been flooded with support since the national election in November.

The women’s health organization, which serves Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, says that between Nov. 8 and Dec. 1, it has received three times the amount of donations it receives in a typical month.

Spokeswoman Bonyen Lee-Gilmore says around 200 volunteers have signed up during the same period, compared to around 10 in an average month.

She says supporters have expressed concern about potential threats to abortion access and Planned Parenthood funding from the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

“Volunteers who are signing up are very direct about the fact that they know that times are about to get tough, and so they want us to know that they are here for us, that they support us and that they are going to do what they can to keep health care open and accessible to every person,” Lee-Gilmore says.

Planned Parenthood provides abortions, among other women’s and reproductive health services. Abortion-related services account for 3 percent of its services, according to Planned Parenthood’s annual reports.

During the presidential campaign, Trump declared himself “pro-life” and said he favored defunding Planned Parenthood.

Lee-Gilmore says 70 percent of the recent donations have been made in the names of Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump or Mike Pence.

The spike in donations mirrors a similar phenomenon at Planned Parenthood affiliates around the country. The Atlantic magazine, citing Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, reported more than two weeks ago that in the aftermath of the elections, 80,000 donations had poured in.

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business burglary in rural Saline County.

Just after 7 a.m. Friday deputies of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lang Diesel, 144 W. Farrelly Road i in reference a business burglary, according to a media release.

Suspects forced entry into the business through a window. Numerous items including electronics, diagnostic scanners, tools and cash were stolen. Several items inside the business were damaged, including a soda machine, candy machine and office supplies.

Total loss and damage is at least $15,000.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas forward Carlton Bragg Jr. has been arrested on suspicion of domestic battery.

The 20-year-old sophomore from Cleveland was taken into custody early Friday and accused of causing “reckless bodily harm to a family member,” according to booking records. His case was forwarded to the Douglas County prosecutor but no charges had been filed as of Friday morning.

Kansas associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said the school is aware of the situation and was still gathering facts. It is unclear whether Bragg will play Saturday against Nebraska.

Bragg has appeared in all nine games with five starts for the third-ranked Jayhawks this season, and is averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16 minutes.

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court says the state violated the rights of a man jailed for more than four years pending trial on the claim he was a sexually violent predator subject involuntary civil commitment.

The justices agreed Friday with a Sedgwick County District judge who ordered Todd Ellison released from jail. The court found the state violated his due process rights after he remained jailed for 1,705 days.

Ellison is a convicted sex offender. The state tried to have him involuntarily committed after he served his prison sentence. Kansas law allows that in some circumstances, but the person is entitled to a jury trial to determine if those conditions exist.

He was jailed in June 2009 on the commitment claim. A judge ordered his release in March 2014.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate won’t have a licensed lawyer among its 40 members in the 2017 session.

The Hutchinson News reports that the situation means some state statutes will have to be modified. The statutes call for a licensed attorney to serve on some committees.

Democratic Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, described the situation as a “new low water mark.” Haley is a lawyer, but his license hasn’t been current for years.

For the last four years, the Senate has had two licensed attorneys. But outgoing Senate Vice President Jeff King didn’t run for re-election, and Majority Leader Terry Bruce was defeated in the August primary.

Haley says the state should pay lawmakers more. The base per diem for Kansas legislators is $88.66, with $142 a day for subsistence.