TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill rewriting rules for special congressional elections so military personnel overseas have more time to vote.

The Senate approved the measure on a 40-0 vote Tuesday. The House passed the bill last week. It goes to Gov. Sam Brownback and he is expected to sign it.

The measure arose from congressman Mike Pompeo’s nomination by President-elect Donald Trump as Central Intelligence Agency director.

If Pompeo is confirmed, the 4th District in south-central Kansas would have the state’s first special congressional election since 1950.

State law says a special election must occur from 45 to 60 days after the governor declares a vacancy. The bill would make the window from 75 to 90 days to give people overseas more time to return ballots.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A $1 million bond was cut in half for a Missouri woman charged in the 1989 killing of a Kansas teenager.

Carolyn Heckert, of Smithville, was charged last year with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 18-year-old Sarah DeLeon after the investigation into the case was reopened.

DeLeon was found stabbed to death along railroad tracks in Kansas City, Kansas, in December 1989.

The Kansas City Star reports Heckert has been in custody since she was charged in October. Investigators haven’t said how she was linked to the crime.

During a hearing Monday, her bond was reduced to $500,000 after her attorney argued no evidence linked Heckert to the killing and she was not a risk to flee.

Heckert will be on house arrest if she makes bond.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A conservative Kansas House member says he’s drafting a bill to require transgender students in public schools to use bathrooms associated with their genders at birth.

Republican Rep. John Whitmer of Wichita said Tuesday his bill also would impose the same policy for locker rooms and accommodations for students on overnight trips.

Whitmer said he plans to introduce the measure soon. He said it will not apply to private schools or higher education, and it won’t allow people to sue for damages if a school violates the policy.

He and other supporters of such a policy believe it would protect students and their privacy.

But LGBT-rights advocate Tom Witt says transgender students shouldn’t be singled out because it will make them targets for bullying.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Labrador retriever who brought comfort to mourners at a Kansas funeral chapel has died.

The Leavenworth Times reports that the dog, named Windsor, frequently went to work with his owners, Davis and Debbie Moulden, at their Davis Funeral Home in downtown Leavenworth. Davis Moulden says he observed “pain melt away” from mourners when Windsor put his nose or paw on them.

Davis said he didn’t train Windsor to be a comfort dog and that Windsor “did it on his own.” Windsor died earlier this month at the age of 10 of cancer.

The Mouldens also have a 5-month-old yellow Lab who already is making the rounds. His name is JC, which stands for James Collier. James Collier Davis was Davis Moulden’s grandfather and former Leavenworth mayor.

WASHINGTON  — President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the final daily press briefing on Tuesday with White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Obama praised Earnest for “his smarts and his maturity,” but added that one of his best qualities has been his integrity.

In May of 2014,  Earnest replaced Jay Carney as the White House Press Secretary.

Earnest attended Rice University, where he majored in political science and policy studies. He joined then-Senator Obama’s presidential campaign in March 2007 as his Iowa Communications Director.

He attended the private Barstow school in Kansas City.

Obama says Earnest is “tough and didn’t always give you guys what you wanted,” but that he tried to make sure to share as much of the administration’s vision and policy as possible.

Watch Earnest’s final press briefing here

Earnest praised the journalists attending the briefing, saying that they serve a role that is a “uniquely American feature of our government.

He said, “it’s made President Obama a better president and a better civil servant.”

EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — Law enforcement officials have seized 10 gaming machines from two El Dorado businesses.

KAKE-TV reports Butler County Sheriff’s officers and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission seized the machines last week after a two-month investigation.

Butler County Sheriff Kelly Herzet the machines aren’t allowed in businesses because gambling is not legal in Kansas anywhere but in casinos.

Four machines and $4,200 were seized from the True Lies Bar & Grill. Six machines and $6,800 were seized from the Jump Star Convenience Store.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks, won’t have to serve a 35-year-sentence after all.

President Barack Obama has commuted Manning’s sentence after six years in prison.

Obama also pardoned 64 others people, including retired Gen. James Cartwright. He was charged with making false statements during a probe into disclosure of classified information.

Obama’s term in office set to end on Friday. He has now commuted the sentences of 1,385 people and granted a total of 212 pardons.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City man accused of participating in animal cruelty and a string of armed robberies this summer in Lawrence is currently being held at Douglas County Jail.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports 19-year-old Pierre Percy Walker was booked Friday on suspicion of one felony count of cruelty to animals and three felony counts of aggravated robbery.

Police say three armed men approached three unrelated victims in separate locations on June 6 and robbed them. All suspects used a shotgun, and a dog was shot to death in one incident while on a walk with its owner.

Walker was initially at Wyandotte County Jail after being arrested a month after the incidents, on suspicion of what police say was an unrelated aggravated robbery. He was later transferred to Douglas County to face

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a shooting.

Just before 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to the intersection of Southeast 7th and Southeast Brookside Drive in Topeka, according to a media release.

First responders found two white, male subjects suffering from gunshot wounds. One man’s wounds appeared to be life-threatening.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital.

No additional details were released.