OTTAWA COUNTY- A Kansas man died in an accident just after 7p.m. on Thursday in Ottawa County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy Blazer driven by Jerry L. Penn, 57, Minneapolis, was eastbound on Mulberry Road four miles northwest of Minneapolis.

The vehicle went left of center and the driver overcorrected.

The vehicle entered the south ditch, returned to the roadway and overturned.

Penn was transported to the hospital in Minneapolis where he died.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are considering proposals to curb the power of the courts as they grapple with a recent state Supreme Court ruling on education funding.

The state House and Senate judiciary committees were convening a joint meeting Friday to discuss proposed amendments to the state constitution to block the courts from threatening to close schools in education funding lawsuits. Lawmakers have two versions.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has called a special legislative session for next week to address the recent ruling that the state’s education funding system remains unfair to poor school districts.

The justices warned that schools might not reopen after June 30 unless lawmakers make additional changes.

If lawmakers approve an amendment by two-thirds majorities in both chambers, it would go to voters in the November election.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new tribute to fallen soldiers will be honored at a war memorial in Topeka.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a statue titled “Homage” will be dedicated Saturday morning at the Gage Park War Memorial. The statue depicts a soldier paying respect to a fallen comrade next to a rifle, helmet and boots on the ground.

Sculptor Jim Brothers created the statue. He’s known for the Eisenhower Statue in the U.S. Capitol’s Hall of Statues, the National D-Day Memorial in Virginia, the Korean War Memorial on the National Mall and a statue of Gen. Omar Bradley.

Other events in the area during the dedication include a USO show at the Gage Park Amphitheater and performances by Marshall’s Band, the Fairlawn Road Swing Band, the Topeka Police Department, and Pipe and Drum Corps.

RENO COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. on Thursday in Reno County.

The Reno County Sheriff reported Royce Steinert, 47,  Hutchinson, was riding a bicycle in the13200 block of East G Avenue.

The passenger mirror of a 2002 Dodge truck driven by Raymond Stubby, 39, Burrton, struck Steinert on the back left shoulder.

The impact caused the bike to crash into the south ditch.

Raymond told deputies he had seen the red flashing taillight of Royce’s bike but thought it was further ahead of him, according to the sheriff’s department.

Burrton EMS transported Royce to Newton Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

GEARY COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating a burglary at a business in Junction City.

Police are seeking suspects allegedly involved in the break-in at Performance Audio, 118 North Washington Street, according to a media release.

Stereo equipment was stolen in the early morning hours of June 11.

Police say the subject pictured and another man allegedly broke into the business.

If you can identify this man or have information about the crime contact crime stoppers at 762-8466 or visit the Geary County / Junction City Crime Stoppers 

To text a tip, Text CRIMES ( 27643 ) and start your tip off with “tipjc”

You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge is standing by his earlier ruling that Secretary of State Kris Kobach has no legal right to bar people who register to vote using a federal form from voting in local and state elections.

This week, Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis rejected Kobach’s request to reconsider his January decision, which came after the executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission required proof-of-citizenship on the national voter registration form in Kansas, Georgia and Alabama.

The court previously said the right to vote under Kansas law is not tied to the method of registration.

It is unclear what impact the ruling will have on Kobach’s instructions this week to allow thousands of people who register at motor vehicle offices without citizenship documents to vote only in federal races.

DAVID PITT, Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The attorney for a former lottery official accused of fixing jackpots has argued that his client’s conviction last year on fraud charges should be thrown out.

On Thursday, Eddie Tipton, appealed his July 2015 convictions related to fixing a 2010 Iowa Hot Lotto game.

The former Multi-State Lottery Association security director’s attorney told the Iowa Court of Appeals the evidence doesn’t support the convictions and Iowa’s statute of limitations law should have prohibited prosecution.

State prosecutors countered that they have plenty of evidence Tipton modified computers to pick numbers he later played to get a winning ticket.

Tipton is free on appeal but faces 10 years in prison if the conviction is upheld.

He faces a second Iowa trial on charges he fixed games in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The government is reporting that three babies have been born in the U.S. with birth defects caused by the Zika virus.

Birth defects from Zika were also seen in three other pregnancies that ended.

Thursday’s report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the first accounting of pregnancy outcomes in the U.S. that involve an infection with mosquito-borne virus.

The CDC says 234 pregnant women in the United States — residents and visitors — have been diagnosed with Zika. Most of the pregnancies are ongoing.

All the cases are connected to travel to areas with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. There has been no spread by mosquitoes of the Zika virus in the U.S.

TOPEKA – A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison for robbing a gas station, according to acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Darrian Michael Stewart, 22, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on June 20, 2014, he robbed a BP convenience store at 1401 S.W. Huntoon Avenue in Topeka. He entered the store about 8:23 p.m. before approaching the clerk at the counter with what appeared to be a black handgun and demanding money. He fled the store on foot. Later he was identified from surveillance video and arrested.

Beall commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.