TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and sentence of a woman in the brutal killing of a 52-year-old Lawrence man.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the state court on Friday upheld 23-year-old Sarah Gonzales-McLinn’s conviction and Hard 50 sentence for killing Harold Sasko in 2014. The court sent the case back to Douglas County District Court for re-sentencing, saying the judge erred in ordering that she be under lifetime supervision upon release.

Gonzales-McLinn, of Topeka, was convicted of first-degree murder in March 2015 of drugging and nearly beheading Sasko at his Lawrence home. Authorities say McLinn drugged Sasko, tied him up and inflicted deep cuts on his neck. She was arrested two weeks after the killing in Florida.

Sasko was Gonzales-McLinn’s supervisor at a Lawrence pizza restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – Scoring legend Jackie Stiles is returning to the bench as an assistant for Missouri State while awaiting cancer surgery.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that Stiles, a native of Claflin, Kansas, will be back on the sidelines Friday after a nearly three-week absence. She is undergoing treatment for ocular melanoma and will undergo surgery Feb. 2. Stiles says her prognosis “remains very good” and expressed thanks for “all the support so far.” A news release announcing her cancer said it was caught early.

Stiles was the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history until Kelsey Plum broke her record last season. Stiles led Missouri State to the NCAA Final Four in 2001.

Stiles says she plans on waiting to share her experience until she returns to full-time coaching.

BROWN COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Ernest Benjamin Reynolds III, 40, Morrill, was westbound on 280th Road one mile east of Hamlin at a high rate of speed,

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It left the roadway to the south, traveled through a barbed wire fence and a telephone pole, went airborne over a creek bed and came to rest in a pasture south of the roadway.

Reynolds was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the State of Board of Education’s response to criticism of a high-ranking Kansas education official (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

The State Board of Education has expressed its full support for a top Kansas schools official under fire from some lawmakers.

The board voted 9-1 Friday to advise Education Commissioner Randy Watson of its full support for Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis.

Watson would have the final decision on whether to discipline Dennis over questions about how some school funding dollars were allocated.

The board met after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought to have Dennis and his staff suspended. Their request was a response to an audit last month that questioned how some transportation dollars were being allocated.

1:55 p.m.

The State Board of Education is having a private meeting with a top Kansas education official under fire from top Republican legislators.

The board held its session Friday with Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis after having a closed session to discuss legal issues related to the allocation of transportation funds.

The board convened after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought the suspension of Dennis and members of his staff.

An audit last month questioned the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years. The top Republican lawmakers said they want a thorough audit of school funding.

The audit said state law did not authorize the calculation in distributing transportation dollars. Dennis has said lawmakers knew of the practice for decades.

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1:25 p.m.

Dozens of local school superintendents and Kansas lawmakers have packed the State Board of Education’s meeting room to show their support for a high-ranking education official.

The board had a closed session Friday to discuss legal issues and planned to have another one to discuss personnel matters.

It met after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought the suspension of longtime Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis and members of his staff.

The Republican lawmakers’ request followed an audit questioning the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years. They said they want a thorough audit of school funding.

But dozens of other lawmakers signed a letter supporting Dennis and four former governors sent their own calling for a vote of confidence in him.

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12:30 p.m.

Four former Kansas governors are urging the State Board of Education to give a vote of confidence to a high-ranking education official under fire from legislators.

The four ex-governors sent a letter Friday supporting Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis ahead of a special board meeting. Former Republican Govs. Mike Hayden and Bill Graves and ex-Democratic Govs. John Carlin and Kathleen Sebelius signed it.

The board scheduled its meeting after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle asked to have Dennis and members of his staff suspended. The Republican lawmakers’ request followed an audit questioning the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years.

The four governors said the data provided by Dennis throughout his decades-long career has been of the highest quality.

KANSAS CITY —Former Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper James Carson pleaded guilty in federal court to violating an individual’s civil rights by using excessive force, according to Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division John Gore.

According to documents filed in connection with the plea, on June 25, 2013, the Defendant, James Carson, was acting under color of law as a Trooper for the Kansas Highway Patrol when he used unreasonable force against an arrestee, R.T.

According to the documents, Carson conducted a lawful arrest and then transported R.T. to the Labette County Jail, where at least five other law enforcement officials were present. As Carson removed R.T. from the patrol vehicle and escorted him into the booking area, R.T.’s hands were cuffed behind his back. Without warning, Carson kicked the legs out from underneath R.T., causing R.T. to crash down on his back onto the floor. Carson admitted in court that he used force against R.T. for the purpose of punishment and not for a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

As part of the plea agreement, Carson has agreed to surrender his law enforcement credentials and never again accept any employment related to law enforcement.

“Any law enforcement official who uses excessive and unreasonable force against an arrestee violates the Constitution and its provision to provide for the safety and security of all citizens,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute officer misconduct and protect the integrity of our civil rights laws.”

This case was investigated by the Topeka Resident Agency of the Kansas City Field Office of the FBI. The case was initially investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag of the United States Attorney’s Office and Trial Attorney Rose Gibson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement officials are asking the public for help to locate a missing Kansas man.

On Friday, December 15, the family of 25-year-old reported Alex Michael LaRussa contacted the Salina Police Department that he was missing.

LaRussa was last seen just before 9:30p.m. Friday, December 8 in the area of Iron and Ohio Streets in Salina.  He was driving a tan 2004 Ford Explorer with Kansas tags at the time of his disappearance.  LaRussa is described as white male, approximately 6-foot-2 and weighs about 175 pounds.

He has black hair and brown eyes. His left leg was amputated above the knee and he is wheel-chair bound.

If you have any information concerning the disappearance of Alex LaRussa, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

PRATT, Kan. (AP) — A hospital official says a mother whose four children were killed in a southern Kansas house fire is in critical condition.

Cheree Eggleston suffered burns and was flown Thursday morning from the town of Pratt to St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Her children, the youngest a baby, died after being trapped in the home’s basement. Besides the mother, three other adults in the home survived.

Pratt police Detective Jeff Ward says the cause of the fire is unknown. A state fire marshal is on scene investigating.

Pratt is about 80 miles (128.74 kilometers) west of Wichita.

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PRATT COUNTY — Officials remain on the scene of a deadly Thursday morning house fire near the intersection of 2^nd and Austin in Pratt, according to the city law enforcement center.

Four children died in the fire, according to Pratt police Detective Jeff Ward.

The children’s mother, Charee Eggleston, was transported to a Wichita hospital for treatment of severe burns.

The children, ranging in age from 4 months to 4 years, were trapped in the basement of the home.

Friends of the family have established an online fundraiser to assist the family.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A couple considered people of interest in the slaying of a Nebraska woman have pleaded not guilty to charges in an unrelated gold coin scheme.

Aubrey Trail entered his pleas Thursday in a U.S. District Court videoconference. He’s being held in a Leavenworth, Kansas, prison. Bailey Boswell entered her pleas Monday in Lincoln.

Investigators say Trail used a false name in November 2015 when he persuaded a Kansas couple to enter a joint venture to purchase a gold coin, with the understanding they would later sell the coin and split the profits.

Prosecutors say the coin wasn’t worth what Trail had said and that Trail and Boswell used false documents and websites for the ruse.

Authorities say the two are people of interest in the death of a 24-year-old Lincoln woman, Sidney Loofe. They were arrested Nov. 30 near Branson, Missouri