TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Lieutenant Gov.-elect Lynn Rogers says he's encouraged that the Kansas House has formed a new Rural Revitalization Committee and looks forward to working with its Republican chairman.

Rogers will lead an Office of Rural Prosperity once he and Democratic Gov.-elect Laura Kelly take office Jan. 14. The office will promote rural areas, develop policies for serving them and work to ensure that state agencies' efforts line up with rural communities' needs.

The House committee will examine problems facing rural areas that include declining populations and limited acces...