TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the debate in Kansas over expanding its Medicaid program (all times local):

6 p.m.

Kansas lawmakers have voted to expand the state’s Medicaid health care program to more low-income individuals.

The bill passed 25-13 in a first-round Senate vote Monday. It will see a final vote Tuesday. If approved, it would then go to conservative Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The House passed the measure last month after expansion supporters tried unsuccessfully for four years to get a floor debate and vote.

Opponents in the Statehouse have largely relied on cost and uncertainty over what Congress will do to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act as reasons not to expand.

But supporters say congressional Republicans’ failure to vote on their health care bill last week is more reason to expand. They contend expansion would be an economic boon to the state.

Brownback has stopped short of saying that he would veto the bill.

4:45 p.m.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has stopped short of saying that he would veto a bill to expand the Medicaid program in Kansas.

But Brownback spokeswoman Melika Willoughby said Monday in an email that that it would be irresponsible to “expand ObamaCare when the program is in a death spiral.”

The 2010 overhaul of the U.S. health care system championed by former President Barack Obama encouraged states to expand their Medicaid programs by promising to pay most of the cost.

The Senate was debating a measure that would expand Medicaid to as many as 180,000 additional poor adults.

Brownback said in a letter with other GOP governors to congressional leaders last week that expanding Medicaid under Obama’s policies moved the program away from its “core mission” of helping the truly vulnerable.

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3:50 p.m.

Legislators and advocates in Kansas pushing to expand the state’s health coverage for the poor and disabled to thousands of adults are buoyed by events in Washington.

They see it as a plus that Republicans in Congress have failed to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

The GOP-controlled Kansas Legislature already was more receptive this year to expanding the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. The state Senate was debating a bill Monday and could send it to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback later this week.

Critics of expanding Medicaid in Kansas have pointed to uncertainty about how Congress might overhaul the U.S. health care system.

Other states pursuing Medicaid expansions under the 2010 U.S. law include Maine, North Carolina and Virginia.

MCPHERSON COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in McPherson County are investigating an armed robbery and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.

Just after 5a.m. Saturday, a man displayed a silver handgun and demanded money from an employee at a business in the 800 block of E. Kansas Avenue in McPherson, according to a social media report.

The man is of unknown race and approximately 5’10” tall and 180 pounds, according to police.

He was wearing a black and gray leather jacket with gray lines down the sleeves, and three large gray blocks decreasing in size on the back.

He wore a black or blue bandanna over his face and gray pullover/beanie hat with black stripes. His pants and shoes were dark, possibly black. When the employee opened the cash register, the man grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash, and ran away.

The public is asked to contact McPherson County Crime Stoppers or the McPherson KS Police Department, if you have any information regarding this case.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An 87-year-old Kansas man who has donated 32 gallons of blood over more than six decades credits his father for his award-winning generosity.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Harold Facklam Jr. of Topeka recently was recognized by the Kansas Health Care Association and the Kansas Center for Assisted Living for the 259 pints he has donated through the American Red Cross.

Facklam donated until April 2015, when health reasons caused him stop.

He tells the newspaper that he doesn’t think about how his donations have affected others or even saved lives.

But he gives a nod to his late father, who he says encouraged him to donate when the younger Facklam was almost 21 in 1951. Facklam’s father gave blood for about 11 years, stopping at age 60.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities have taken a student into custody while investigating threats that have forced the evacuation of a Kansas City-area high school.

The Kansas City Star reports that Clay County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jon Bazzano says police tackled the student Monday when he bolted from Oak Park High School during the evacuation. Bazzano says the student injured his arm during the process.

Deputies and @kcpolice still working methodically through each classroom to check & evacuate students to Staley. Safety is our 1st priority.

— Clay County Sheriff (@SheriffClayCo) March 27, 2017

No weapons have been found, but the North Kansas City, Missouri, school was cleared as a precaution. School official said in an email to families that students were being taken in buses to another school “to ensure law enforcement can most effectively assess the situation.” Authorities are going through classrooms.

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KANSAS CITY (AP) — Students at a Kansas City-area high school are being evacuated as authorities investigate a reported anonymous threat that put the school on lockdown.

Authorities say they found no weapons at Oak Park High School after the threat Monday morning but were clearing out the North Kansas City, Missouri, school as a precaution.

School official said in an email to families that students were being taken in buses to another school “to ensure law enforcement can most effectively assess the situation.”

Media outlets reported that Kansas City bomb-and-arson squad members were at the school.

There was no immediate word about any arrests or charges.

SALINE COUNTY – Police are crediting social media for helping them locate a suspect who struck two bicycle riders with his car.

Just before 11:30a.m. Thursday, three bicyclists were stopped along the north curb line in the 2000 block of Iron Avenue in Salina, according to police.

A vehicle which was west bound on Iron swerved right and struck two of the three riders and drove away.

Tyler Kirk, 18, suffered a broken left ankle and a cut on the back of his head. Joey Soulivong, 19, received minor cuts and scrapes.

This vehicle was reported to be a white two-door 2013-2016 Toyota Scion with damage to right (passenger) front end and right side.

Salina Police put out a vehicle description, given by the victims, on their Facebook page. They received a tip the same day, leading them to the arrest of 18-year-old Ryan Louthan of Salina.

Police cited Louthan for reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, accident involving an injury, duty to render aid, failure to remove debris and driving with a defective windshield.

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SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a hit and run accident and looking for a suspect and vehicle.

Just before 11:30a.m. Thursday, three bicyclist were stopped along the north curb line in the 2000 block of Iron Avenue in Salina, according to a social media report.

A vehicle which was west bound on Iron swerved right and struck two of the three riders.

One bicyclist had a broken left ankle and lacerations to the back of his head. The second rider received minor cuts and scrapes.

This vehicle is reported to be a white two-door 2013-2016 Toyota Scion. There will be damage to right (passenger) front end and right side.

If you have any information concerning who committed this crime, 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.

SEDGWICK COUNTY – A Kansas man died in a house fire on Sunday in Wichita.

Just after 10p.m. fire crews responded to report of the fire at a residence in the 2400 of North Poplar, according to Fire Captain Kelly Zane during the online Monday media briefing.

Upon arrival, fire crews saw smoke and flames coming from the front door of the residence.

They also located a man identified as Martin Ornelas, 58, inside the home. He was transported to Via Christi where he died.

Fire crews did rescue three pets from the home. They were given to other family members.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Zane.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Topeka say they’ve arrested a woman suspected of fleeing a fiery weekend crash that killed a man.

Police say 35-year-old Jeremy Gerhardt of Topeka died at the scene of the crash late Saturday. Police arrested the 56-year-old suspect Theresa Hooper on Sunday, though it wasn’t immediately clear Monday if formal charges had been filed.

Police say officers responding to a reported crash shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday found Gerhardt’s pickup truck that had hit a bridge pillar and on fire.

Police say witnesses reported that the pickup truck had been involved in an accident with a car, which sped away.

COWLEY COUNTY – Sunday night’s storms brought hail, strong winds and heavy rain to portions of south central Kansas.

Residents in Kingman, Sedgwick, Harper and Cowley County reported wind and hail damage. Wind blew a large tree down on Millington Street between 4th and 5th Street in Winfield, according to Cowley County Emergency Management.

USD 471 cancelled classes on Monday in the Cowley County community of Dexter due to a power outage.

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Jefferson County are investigating a suspect on attempted murder charges.

On February 23, deputies booked Brandon Cordell, 21, Kansas City, Kansas, into jail on requested charges of attempted First-Degree Intentional, Premeditated Murder, Aggravated Battery, Knowingly Causing Great Bodily Harm, Disfigurement and Theft, according to the Sheriff’s Department web site.

Cordell is being held on a $100,000 Bond.

He is scheduled for a court appearance Monday, according to the sheriff’s department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man who for more than a decade envisioned crisscrossing the United States by bicycle is about to try to make the trek a reality.

The Kansas City Star reports that 26-year-old Richie Wolfe of Kansas City expects to launch his 7,000-mile journey next Saturday 30 miles east of San Diego in Escondido, California.

Wolfe’s five-month Journey Towards Hope ride is a fundraiser for Restoration House. That’s a Greenwood, Missouri-based residential recovery program for victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Wolfe plans to cycle from California to Georgia, then north to Maine before visiting the Great Lakes states and heading west to Washington state and Oregon. He hopes to finish up by late September in San Francisco.