A group that successfully defeated an anti-abortion ballot measure in Kansas has filed a federal lawsuit against a new state law aimed at curbing foreign influence in elections.

Kansas passed laws allowing military families to more easily transfer into school districts, work in elections and receive tax breaks this year.

Prosecutors must prove that people accused of falsely representing themselves as election officials acted with the intent to deceive.

About a year and a half out from the next gubernatorial election in Kansas, there’s already a crowded field of Republicans vying to flip the governor’s seat following what will be the eight-year run of Democrat Laura Kelly.

State Rep. Patrick Penn, who represents Kansas House District 85 in the Wichita-metro area, is resigning from the Legislature.

Thursday had two filings for school boards, including longtime Emporia school teacher Barb Fowler for USD 253 board. Fowler spent over 40 years in the classroom before retiring three years ago, becoming Emporia’s first National Board Certified teacher, a Kansas Master Teacher and Emporia State Distinguished Alum along the way.

Gov. Laura Kelly wants the Republican-dominated committee drafting a new state funding formula for K-12 public schools to resist pressure to funnel tax dollars into private schools.