TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has recommended cutting all funding for the Parents as Teachers program, which would end the program.

The House Social Services Budget Committee on Tuesday recommended cutting $7.2 million for the program, which has staff member visit homes to help parents prepare students for school and connect to community resources. The organization is scheduled to celebrate its 25th anniversary next week.

The Hutchinson News reports Rep. Peggy Mast of Emporia proposed the action as part of the state’s response to a multimillion dollar budget shortfall.

Nancy Keel, director of the Kansas Parents as Teachers, says she was caught off guard by the proposal. But she notes lawmakers have tried to end the program in the past and funding was always restored.

BELLEVILLE, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say a fire in north-central Kansas that killed a toddler was started by a child playing with a lighter.

Monday’s fire killed 21-month-old Sawyer White, who was trapped in the basement of a family home in Belleville. His 3-year-old brother was treated for a burned finger.

Belleville fire chief Duffy Strnad says the fire started in a basement bedroom. He says a fire marshal’s report did not specify which child was playing with the lighter.

The Salina Journal reports the boys’ father was at work and their mother, who works nights, was sleeping upstairs when the fire started. Strnad says the older boy was able to go upstairs and wake his mother, who could not rescue her younger son because of the smoke and fire.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Topeka says any new operator of Heartland Park Topeka will have to make more than $7 million in improvements.

City attorney Chad Sublet says the city has submitted an amended project plan to the Kansas Department of Commerce as it tries to buy the troubled racing facility. Whoever the city chooses to operate the track will be required to pay for 16 improvements at Heartland Park, including commerce park development, garages and high-end facilities and a new banquet facility.

Topeka’s efforts to buy the track depend on the state issuing $5 million in additional STAR bonds. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports city manager Jim Colson has said the city won’t issue the bonds if it doesn’t find a track operator.

MANHATTAN –On Tuesday, Kansas State University Police asked the public for assistance in identifying a fan who stormed the court after the K-State basketball win at Bramlage.

The fan came forward and wrote an apology letter to the KSU Collegian.

Nathan Power wrote:
K-State friends, I was the individual identified as the fan who bumped Jamari Traylor during the court storm following K-State’s victory over KU. I want to take this moment to share a sincere apology in breaking from the Wildcat way and stepping outside what is acceptable in the spirit of the game. Following the basketball game I simply let my emotions get the best of me in all of the chaos. In my excitement I was not careful of the people I was around. I am sorry that I made the KU basketball team—Jamari Traylor in particular—feel disrespected. By no means can I change what took place but in the future I will be aware of how emotions can impact good judgment.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Transportation is in the early stages of developing a hub where freight could be transferred between the highways and railroads.

An advisory committee is discussing specifics for a “transload shipping center.” John Maddox, freight and rail manager for the transportation department, says the committee will develop criteria for the facility in the next six to nine months, including financial considerations.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports after requirements are determined, a list of potential sites will be determined, followed by preliminary engineering work. The agency doesn’t have a timeline for completing the project.

Transportation Secretary Mike King said in a news release a transload facility would save customers money on transportation costs.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence, Kansas, police officer is suspended after being arrested on charges related to domestic violence.

The police department says the woman, while in a relationship with patrol officer, reported that he battered and threatened her last month.

The officer was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery, criminal threat, aggravated assault, domestic battery and kidnapping.

He’s is a three-year veteran of Lawrence’s police force.

His first court appearance is Wednesday, and the investigation is continuing.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee is considering a bill to cancel the state’s 2016 presidential primary as lawmakers face key deadlines.

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee was holding a hearing Wednesday on the primary bill. It was the last day the panel could meet before the Legislature’s annual “turnaround” deadline. The panel could vote immediately.

Most bills must clear their house of origin by Friday to be considered further this year.

The Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee also had a Wednesday meeting, as did the House Pensions and Benefits Committee.

As for the presidential primary, lawmakers have canceled every one since 1992 because of the cost and because state law sets the election relatively late, on the first Tuesday in April. Republicans and Democrats have held caucuses instead.

ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — A stretch of state highway in northeastern Kansas now bears the name of an Atchison police officer who was killed on duty in 2011.

KQTV in St. Joseph reports that the stretch of Kansas 7 from Atchison to Troy was renamed Tuesday as Sgt. David Enzbrenner Memorial Highway.

He was a 24-year veteran of the city’s police force until he was killed while delivering a nuisance notice.

Atchison police Lt. Timothy Stout called Tuesday’s event “a special day” that the department and Atchison residents have been awaiting for some time.