TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the Kansas Legislature's debates over increasing taxes to fix the state budget and raise additional money for public schools (all times local):

6:40 p.m.

Kansas legislators have advanced a bill that would phase in a $280 million increase in spending on the state's public schools over two years.

The House gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday on an 81-40 vote. It plans to take another, final vote Thursday and is expected to approve it and send it to the Senate.

The state spends about $4 billion a year on aid to its 286 local school districts, but the...