By JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican lawmakers in Kansas appear skittish about being able to block Medicaid expansion, offering political cover to moderate GOP colleagues if they back off their push for an expansion this year.

@GovLauraKelly is pushing for a socialist, Bernie Sanders-endorsed health care plan. Medicaid needs reform, not expansion. We cannot surrender to the mess of Obamacare in Kansas. #ksleg pic.twitter.com/i0bJb3sOVm

— Susan Wagle (@SenatorWagle) April 2, 2019

State Senate President Susan Wagle told reporters Tuesday that GOP leaders plan to have a legislative committee study Medicaid expansion this summer and fall. She said the panel would review proposals that could generate broader support among Republicans, such as a work requirement or drug testing for people receiving the expanded coverage.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has made expanding Medicaid health coverage for as many as 150,000 additional Kansas residents one of her top priorities after her Republican predecessors thwarted it. Expansion has bipartisan support, but conservative Republicans who oppose it hold key positions in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Expansion opponents prevented even a legislative committee vote on a plan until supporters forced a debate in the House two weeks ago and passed a modified versionof Kelly’s plan. The Senate has yet to take up the bill, and expansion supporters are trying to pressure that chamber’s GOP leaders into allowing a vote while working on ways to maneuver around them.

“If it passes, it will be a plan that’s affordable for Kansas and it will be catered to our needs,” said Wagle, a conservative Wichita Republican who’s been a strong expansion opponent. “We’re willing and open to discuss it, but we want to do the right thing.”

GOP leaders have argued that Medicaid expansion will be too expensive for Kansas, even with the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act’s promise that the federal government will cover most of the cost. Wagle also argued that state lawmakers should wait to see whether Congress overhauls health care again, but President Donald Trump on Tuesday deferred his push for a GOP alternative until after the 2020 election.

Thirty-six states have expanded Medicaid or have seen voters approve ballot initiatives. The federal government would cover 90 percent of the cost for Kansas.

State Rep. Susan Concannon, a moderate western Kansas Republican who supports Medicaid expansion, said GOP leaders are “feeling the heat” of popular support for it and further study is a “stall tactic” to get them through this year.

“I have a feeling their districts are starting to show their support for Medicaid expansion as well, and this is their effort to respond,” said Sen. Randall Hardy, another GOP moderate from central Kansas.

Kelly called on legislators to pass an expansion bill this week. Lawmakers are scheduled to begin an annual spring break Saturday and reconvene May 1 to wrap up business for the year.

“Enough is enough,” Kelly told reporters during a news conference. “No more stall tactics. No more bait and switch. No more excuses.”

Kelly’s administration estimates that the net cost of an expansion to Kansas would be $34 million during its first full year. Republican leaders believe the figure is far too low.

Wagle said legislators need months to review what other states have done, study what limits the Trump administration might allow and examine alternatives to Kelly’s plan.

“We want to put caveats in,” Wagle said. “We want time to look at those.”

But expansion supporters said an expansion plan will pass the Senate this year if backers can engineer a vote. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, dismissed Wagle’s arguments for further study.

“It’s a position of weakness,” he said.

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two people were hurt in a crash on a smoke-obscured highway in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that the wreck happened Tuesday on the Kansas Turnpike about 5 miles southwest of Emporia. More than 100 controlled burns were conducted that day in Lyon County.

Because of the smoke, 70-year-old Gary Craig of Culver, Indiana, had slowed to around 10 mph. His sport utility vehicle then was hit by a pickup truck. The patrol says Craig and a passenger were taken to a hospital with injuries that weren’t believed to be serious. The truck’s driver wasn’t hurt.

Controlled burns are used to control invasive species and encourage plant growth.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Two teenagers from Topeka are charged with attempted first-degree murder and robbery in the shootings of two brothers at a Holcom Park Rec Center in Lawrence.

Benson Edwards Jr., and Sahavione Caraway, both 17, made their first appearances Tuesday in Douglas County District Court. Both pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors could decide to try both as adults.

The charges allege that the defendants shot the two victims several times on Friday afternoon at Holcom Park during an attempted robbery.

Police haven’t released the names of the brothers, who are 18 and 16. On Tuesday, the older brother was in critical but stable condition and the younger was in stable condition.

Edwards also is charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Edwards and Caraway remain in juvenile custody.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Animal control officers in Kansas City are investigating how the dismembered remains of a horse ended up in a city park.

A man playing disc golf found the remains Monday evening in Kessler Park.

Police spokesman Capt. Tim Hernandez says the horse appeared to have been prepared for consumption. After the meat was removed, the carcass was placed in a barrel and dumped in the park.

The horse’s head, hooves, legs, entrails, ribs and lungs were scattered in the area.

Hernandez said in a news release that a veterinarian will determine the time and cause of the horse’s death.

Animal control will lead the investigation unless it is determined the horse was stolen.

HUTCHINSON — AT&T has chosen Hutchinson to be the first city in the nation to beta test a federally-backed smart city system.

Hutchinson Police Chief Jeffrey Hooper presented a proposal to the Hutchinson City Council. The city must present AT&T with a letter of commitment to move forward.

Chief Hooper explained the concept and how it would work. Hooper said the technology would help law enforcement by allowing officers to access a phone that has called authorities. Officers could start recording the crime and authorities would be able to tap into the system and see the crime as it’s happening.

Hooper also talked about AT&T strengthening its towers in Hutchinson. That includes putting cameras on certain intersections for first responders to access. In an emergency situation, lights and sirens would trip the lights to red and allow emergency vehicles to pass through more safely.

“It would also have sensors on that intersection where we could see the traffic flow, traffic pattern where we could see congestion at that intersection, such as a stalled vehicle or an accident, something like that,” Chief Hooper said.

Hutchinson was chosen because Kansas is the nation’s leader for the 911 dispatch communications system. There are 98 communications centers connected to the statewide system.

Drones could also be connected to the system for major events — such as flooding or wildfires. There is some concern regarding the drones since they are not allowed in certain areas, including the Hutchinson Airport. There are also some privacy concerns with drones. Those issues will be addressed and worked out before the drones are used.

There would be no upfront cost to the city, however, there would be a service fee if the city chooses to stay on the system. Hooper also says there will be some staff time commitments across the city.

Any final decision will come before the city council at a later time.