IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Lawyers are seeking class-action status for a lawsuit that claims Hall of Fame slugger George Brett has been falsely advertising bracelets and necklaces as being able to help improve health and sports performance.

A lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Des Moines claims Spokane Valley, Wash.-based Brett Bros. Sports International, Inc. has falsely claimed the products help customers relieve stiffness, recover from sports fatigue and improve focus.

An Iowa man, Seth Thompson of Adel, says he bought one of the necklaces at the College World Series in Omaha but did not receive any of those benefits.

His lawyers are asking a federal judge to approve a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all customers who have bought the products in the last four years.

The company had no immediate comment.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A group of Johnson County teachers is heading to the Kansas Statehouse to deliver signatures they have gathered in protest of plans to change the state employee retirement system.

Group members say they will deliver some 30 binders with more than 6,400 signatures from school employees from every district in Johnson County to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s office.

Brownback and the Republican-controlled Legislature are proposing to change the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System from a defined benefit program to a defined contribution program.

The changes are designed to close a projected $8.3 billion gap between pension obligations and what the KPERS system is projected to have in assets over time.

Legislators are debating the plan during the current session. School employees are covered by the pension system.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Both chambers of the Kansas Legislature are tackling political redistricting issues.

The House had a bill for redrawing the boundaries of members’ districts on the agenda for its Wednesday session. The measure encountered little opposition in committee.

Lawmakers must adjust the boundaries of their districts and the state’s four congressional districts to account for changes in population over the past decade.

The plan for the state House eliminates a single district each in southeast, southwest and central Kansas, adding districts in the Kansas City area.

Senators were expected to consider multiple plans when they debated congressional redistricting Wednesday afternoon.

Their bill expands the underpopulated 1st District of western and central Kansas to sweep in the Manhattan area in northeast Kansas. Local officials want to remain in an eastern Kansas district.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Legislators are beginning to hear from the public about Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to revamp the way Kansas funds public schools.

The Senate Education Committee held the first of several days of hearings on Monday into the Republican governor’s proposal, which includes changes in the way technical and vocational education courses are taught, as well as a new system for evaluating teachers.

Brownback outlined his proposal during his State of the State address in January. The governor wants to change the funding formula to allow local districts more flexibility in how they raise and spend money.

Members of the House Education Committee are also hearing testimony on parts of the plan this week. Legislators are hoping to have bills debated in the House and Senate by the end of February.