The Youth Philanthropy Council of Hutchinson Community Foundation awarded $5,000 in grants to eight projects at a ceremony Sunday at the Hutchinson Art Center.

Led by students from across Reno County, the Youth Philanthropy Council is a grantmaking program designed to involve area students in philanthropy: the practice of giving money, time and talents to help make life better for other people. The group began meeting in November to discuss local issues of concern to youth and the community, learn about grantmaking, and present grants to youth-serving organizations.  

The grants were awarded from the Richard W. Dillon Memorial Fund for Youth Philanthropy, established by the Dillon family to honor Dick Dillon for his extensive philanthropic work in the community.

The 14 members of the 2025-2026 council are Ryan Cherry and Benjamin Gazaway, Buhler High School; Gavin Foster and Lucy Steen, Fairfield High School; Madison Richey and Kalya Rose, Haven High School; Annalee Eckhoff, Leah Foos, Margaret Kaplan, Kinsley Koestel, and Blake Patterson, Hutchinson High School; Will Barkley and Isaiah Hathaway, Nickerson High School; Sam Vogel Trinity Catholic High School.

Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, $399: The grant will bring a new, more beginner-friendly 3D printer to the innovation lab at Avenue A after-school and summer programs for K-5 students.

Fairfield Schools-USD 310, $345: The grant will allow the school district to create a more engaging experience for elementary school students during the summer and provide them with services/opportunities to help minimize the learning gap from May to August.

Family Community Theatre, $505: Funding will be for the launch of the FCT Youth Social Media Team, an innovative, youth-led initiative designed to bridge the gap between theater arts and modern digital communication. This program will serve approximately 30 youth annually by rotating teams of five students across the theater’s six seasonal productions.

Love Hutch Daily, $1,000: The funding will go toward building a greenhouse for the after-school program to be used year-round but especially to expand gardening abilities in the winter months.

Love Hutch Daily, $500: The funding will go toward purchasing woodworking supplies to enhance the after-school program’s woodworking classes.

Sky Ryders Performing Arts Foundation, $750: This grant will help purchase drumsticks and mallets for the approximately 30 percussionists participating in the organization’s summer drum and bugle corps program.

The Mary Magdalene House, $700: This grant will provide funding to teach middle-school-age children in foster care basic cooking skills.

Wisdom in Motion, $801: Funding will help support the organization’s hands-on international cooking class that’s designed to help young people explore global cultures through food, storytelling and shared experiences. Each month, youth focus on one country and prepare a full menu consisting of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. In addition to cooking, youth learn about the country’s cultural traditions, geography and food history through guided discussion and reflection.

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership and collaboration to strengthen Reno County. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $115 million.

Youth Philanthropy Council awards $5K in grants

Qualifying high school seniors are encouraged to apply for several scholarships administered by the Hutchinson Community Foundation, with applications due by noon on March 27.

The scholarships are available to students meeting specific eligibility requirements and are designed to support Reno County students pursuing higher education in a variety of fields.

Among the scholarships currently accepting applications are the Denny Hart Family Athletic Scholarship, the Lois and Avory Johnson Scholarship for Reno County Students, the Hutchinson News Future Journalist Scholarship, and the Myrtle F. and M. Eugene Hobson Memorial Fund for Nursing Education.

Each scholarship has its own criteria and may support students pursuing athletics, journalism, nursing or other educational paths. The Hutchinson Community Foundation administers the funds annually to help local students continue their education after high school.

Students interested in applying can review eligibility requirements and submit applications online through the Hutchinson Community Foundation website at hutchcf.org/nonprofitsandgrants/scholarships.

Questions about the scholarships or application process can be directed to Senior Program Officer Jan Steen at 620-663-5293 or by email at jan@hutchcf.org.

Deadline for Hutchinson Community Foundation scholarships approaching

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. ——————————————

Miguel	Angel	3/8/2026 9:02&nbsp;AM	Gaytah Trejo		DL Violation; No Drivers License,					In Transit From-To Other Agency

Kolton	Matthew	3/8/2026 11:23&nbsp;AM	King		Probation Violation

Sarah	Rene	Blanton		3/8/2026 10:24&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Ricky	Rydell	Tipton		3/9/2026 3:17&nbsp;AM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Poss of marijuana

Jeremy	Evan	Vansyckle		3/9/2026 3:17&nbsp;AM	Kidnapping; To Inflict Bodily Injury or to Terrorize the Victim or Another,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant

Daily Bookings

Families across Kansas can now apply for SUN Bucks, a summer food assistance program designed to help households purchase groceries for school-aged children when school meals are unavailable.

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a permanent federal program administered in Kansas by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The program provides a one-time annual benefit of $120 per eligible child to help families buy food during the summer months.

The benefit is issued as a single payment and can be used like other SNAP EBT benefits to purchase food such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products and whole grains at grocery stores, farmers markets, online retailers and other locations that accept EBT.

Applications are currently being accepted for the summer 2026 program. However, benefits will not be issued until summer 2026.

Some families will automatically qualify for the benefit and will receive a notification letter from the Department for Children and Families confirming their eligibility. Those households will not need to apply.

Children may qualify for SUN Bucks in several ways. Eligible children include those ages 7 to 17 who live in households that have received Food Assistance or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families since July 2025. Children enrolled in Kansas schools who have been approved for free or reduced-price school meals may also qualify automatically.

Other families whose children meet income guidelines for free or reduced-price school meals but who have not been approved through their school may still be eligible but will need to apply through the DCF Self-Service Portal.

Children in the custody of the Kansas Department for Children and Families and enrolled in a Kansas school are also eligible for the one-time benefit. Foster families, relatives or other caregivers must submit an application after April 1, 2026, to ensure the benefits are issued to the correct address.

Households that need to apply will be asked to provide basic information about the child, including age, birth date, school, mailing address and household income. Social Security numbers, proof of citizenship and pay stubs are not required to apply.

If approved, the $120 benefit will be added to an existing Kansas Benefits Card or issued on a new card mailed to the household.

Officials say the program is intended to supplement other summer food resources. Children who receive SUN Bucks can still participate in local summer meal programs offered through schools or community organizations.

SUN Bucks benefits must be used within 122 days of being issued. Any unused funds will be removed from the card after that time.

Families who did not receive an eligibility letter but believe their child qualifies can apply through the DCF Self-Service Portal at dcfapp.kees.ks.gov or contact DCF customer service at 1-888-369-4777 for more information.

Applications Open for Kansas SUN Bucks 

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.info forecast.</a>

Three-day Outlook

When residents of three western Kansas counties raised concerns about rising cancer rates and potential environmental cancer risks in their communities, Kansas State University researchers responded with research and collaboration that led to results.

A project led and funded by K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://cancer.k-state.edu/">Johnson Cancer Research Center</a>&nbsp;has been studying and testing groundwater contamination in private wells and radon levels in homes in Russell, Ellsworth and Lincoln counties since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/archives/2024-02/Johnson-Cancer-Research-Center-evaluates-cancer-risks-in-three-KS-counties.html">March 2024</a>. The project was initiated from residents' concerns about increasing cancer rates in these counties, including colorectal cancer in Russell County and prostate and lung cancers in Lincoln County.

Now that the initial research phase has concluded, the researchers have identified results and implemented strategies to help reduce cancer risks and promote community health.

<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/chem/about/people/faculty/rafferty/">Ryan Rafferty</a>, interim director of the Johnson Cancer Research Center and associate professor of chemistry, is leading the research team alongside collaborators in geology, public health, environmental science and&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.k-state.edu/">K-State Extension</a>.

As part of the project, community members could volunteer to have K-State researchers test their homes for radon at no cost. Rafferty said the radon testing results have been a significant concern, prompting the need to install radon mitigation systems.

"The radon tests were off the charts," Rafferty said. "It was concerning to see what the levels were, but luckily, once we got mitigation systems into about 90% of the houses tested, they were back down to safe levels. Anyone who wanted help received it."

Private well water testing across the three counties, also conducted voluntarily, found elevated mineral levels that may also pose health risks, Rafferty said, and improved water filtration systems could help reduce the public's exposure.

Jessica Kootz is a family and consumer sciences specialist in Ellsworth for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.midway.k-state.edu/">K-State Extension Midway District</a>. As a dedicated catalyst for improving community health, she has been a strong advocate and partner for the project.

"Sometimes a lot of our focus is just on healthy living, but healthy living can run a lot deeper," Kootz said. "With this project, one of the focuses was, if there is something in the ground that's contributing to our health, how long has it been there? What we're doing to our environment today might not affect us, but it could affect generations to come."

Kootz helped coordinate town halls in Ellsworth, Lincoln and Russell counties for residents to learn more about the project and how they could participate in research efforts.

During follow-up town hall meetings, the researchers shared anonymized results of their findings with community members for their awareness.

"The people in these counties are hungry for knowledge," Rafferty said. "They want to know what is happening in the ground that they farm and live on."

<b>Living K-State’s land-grant mission</b>

The project reflects K-State’s land-grant commitment to addressing real-world health challenges, Rafferty said, helping to provide not only education, but also education for Kansans’ quality of life. The group is working on the next steps to continue the project and implement additional mitigation efforts.

"We are working to rebuild the team, as both professors who started this great work have retired," Rafferty said. "The team is excited to return to these communities, continue to provide results and build connections so that the community members can continue to feel like their voices are being heard."

With the anticipation of additional funding from the Johnson Cancer Research Center and potential support from other entities, the team could expand water and radon testing to more homes, he said.

"We are living our land-grant institution's mission," Rafferty said. "That's why it was so important for us to get out there with the center's mission for fighting cancer. Radon is a big cause of cancer, and we're happy that we can mitigate it in so many homes in that area, and we look forward to helping many others."

"Every single person in this wonderful state of Kansas deserves to live a healthy and long life," he said.

The project team also includes Shreepad Joglekar, professor and head of the art department, who is documenting the daily lives of community members through photography and video interviews for the project "Surveying the Invisible: Cancer and Research in Kansas"; Helene Avocat, visiting assistant professor in geography and geospatial sciences; Luke Romang, a 2025 graduate in geology; Karin Goldberg, adjunct professor of geology; Matt Kirk, professor of geology; and Sherry Fleming, former director of the Johnson Cancer Research Center.

Cancer rates are rising in western Kansas. K-State is helping community members address the issue

In last month’s column, I took policymakers to task for forgetting former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting experiment, which cratered state revenues. School funding cuts&nbsp;landed&nbsp;the state in court. Kansas also borrowed over&nbsp;$1 billion&nbsp;from the state highway fund (the “Bank of KDOT”), fell out of compliance with federal regulations&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;the minimum staffing at mental hospitals, and&nbsp;witnessed&nbsp;a prison riot in overcrowded conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet last year, the Kansas Legislature passed a new “glide&nbsp;path”--&nbsp;this one to a flat rate income tax.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Missouri’s governor has proposed an income tax phaseout similar to Brownback’s.&nbsp;

My critics on X suggested that these budget cuts were&nbsp;actually the&nbsp;responsibility of former Kansas Governors Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkison.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project published a reply in the&nbsp;Topeka Capital-Journal,&nbsp;arguing that the economic troubles during the Brownback years were&nbsp;actually caused&nbsp;by problems in the farm economy, that Kansas’ real problem was too much spending, and that Missouri’s plan has better safeguards.&nbsp;

In fact, the second term of the Sebelius-Parkinson Administration coincided with the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008-9, which triggered the Great Recession and slashed state tax collections. Governors and legislators responded with deep spending cuts to keep the state budget in balance. Sebelius and Parkinson also fought to keep the state in compliance&nbsp;on&nbsp;school funding.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sebelius even called a special session of the Kansas Legislature for this purpose.&nbsp;&nbsp;They also&nbsp;sought&nbsp;to&nbsp;leverage&nbsp;federal matching&nbsp;funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas revenues had&nbsp;largely recovered&nbsp;by fiscal year 2013, then dipped dramatically after Brownback’s tax cut.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sebelius and Parkinson made clear that their solutions were both painful and temporary, while Brownback’s “glide path” made these budget cuts permanent, with no end in sight, until they were repealed in 2017.&nbsp;

Former Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen considered the farm economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;He compared Kansas to Oklahoma,&nbsp;Nebraska,&nbsp; Missouri, and Colorado, finding that Kansas had the slowest population growth during the Brownback years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, the other states did not experience fiscal crises then. The farm economy is important throughout this region, yet only Kansas experienced a fiscal crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

My critics suggest that Kansas&nbsp;failed to&nbsp;cut spending.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet I already discussed the deep cuts in spending made to cope with this&nbsp;manmade&nbsp;budget catastrophe, which shorted social services and landed the state in court over school funding.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are the largest items in the state budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tuohey ends his column by writing, “In short, Brownback never had a plan to balance the budget. Missouri does.” While vague, he may be referencing the revenue triggers included both in the 2025 Kansas income tax cut, and in the Missouri proposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;No income tax cuts occurred this year in&nbsp;Kansas, because&nbsp;the revenue thresholds were not reached.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The triggers provide some relief, but are they the right priorities?&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, once again, Kansas appears on track to&nbsp;short&nbsp;the funding for special education programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Without the tax cuts, the revenue from economic growth could fund this in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;Should it instead be diverted to a flat tax, which overwhelmingly&nbsp;benefits&nbsp;the wealthy?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I commend my critics for engaging with a civil tone.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet one thing&nbsp;remains&nbsp;clear: fourteen years after the “Glide Path to Zero,” voters need to remind policymakers just how costly these policies really were

<i>Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.&nbsp;</i>

Remembering the Brownback tax cut experiment– accurately 

The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is inviting community members to learn more about the growing data center industry during an upcoming public information session and panel discussion next week.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center in Hutchinson. Organizers expect the program to last about two hours. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Deborah Teufel, president and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, said the session was organized in response to questions and concerns raised by community members about the potential impact of data center development in the region.

“We have been hearing questions and concerns in the community about the data center industry,” Teufel said. “We thought it would be helpful if the chamber could partner with other entities to provide an information session to help educate the public, answer questions, dispel myths and give people a chance to have a healthy dialogue about the topic.”

The chamber is hosting the event in partnership with Greater Hutch, the region’s economic development organization.

Two keynote speakers will open the discussion. Paul Hughes, who manages mega projects for the Kansas Department of Commerce, will discuss statewide trends and opportunities related to large-scale development projects. Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs for Evergy, will provide insight into energy policies and regulations that govern how utilities supply power to large industrial users such as data centers.

Klindt is also expected to address how energy costs for large consumers are structured and how those costs affect both the utility provider and customers.

Following the keynote presentations, a panel of industry representatives will discuss several aspects of data center development, including the economic impact of projects, emerging water-cooling technologies, environmentally responsible development practices and infrastructure considerations for host communities.

Panelists are expected to include representatives from companies involved in the data center supply chain. Among them is Superior Boiler, a Hutchinson-based manufacturer now owned by Watts Water Technologies, which produces water-cooling systems used in large facilities such as data centers.

Teufel said the discussion will also include developers who work with communities on data center projects and can speak about how companies evaluate potential locations and negotiate agreements with local governments.

Organizers hope the event will provide a broad look at the industry and help residents better understand both the opportunities and considerations involved.

“We want this to be a holistic conversation,” Teufel said. “Any responsible community that wants to look at different industry sectors should do its due diligence and consider all the factors when making important decisions.”

The panel discussion will conclude with a moderated question-and-answer session led by the chamber, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts.

Community members are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time or bring them to the event.

Chamber to host information session on data centers

Adamson		Joshua	Michael	3/7/2026 3:56&nbsp;PM	Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant

Cordell		Nicholas	Van	3/7/2026 5:34&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,&nbsp;Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

Shane	Daniel	Lebeau		3/7/2026 8:46&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Bobby	Earl	Gunnels		3/7/2026 8:51&nbsp;PM	Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant,					Flee &amp; Elude; 1st Offense

United Way of Reno County is inviting residents to nominate neighbors in need and sign up as volunteers for its upcoming Spring Community Work Day, scheduled for Saturday, April 25.

Carla Stanfield, director of marketing and development for United Way of Reno County, said this year’s event will focus specifically on helping individual homeowners with outdoor projects across the county.

“We’re trying something a little bit different this year,” Stanfield said. “We’re asking folks to nominate a friend, a neighbor or even themselves if they have outdoor projects that they could use help on with volunteer labor.”

The organization is accepting nominations through March 22. Projects may include yard cleanup, removing fallen limbs, repairing fencing and exterior painting.

Stanfield said the effort is designed to assist residents who may struggle to complete such work on their own, including older adults, individuals with disabilities and households facing financial challenges.

“We have a lot of folks in our community that maybe have mobility challenges or financial constraints,” Stanfield said. “This is an opportunity for volunteers to come together and make a real difference for their neighbors.”

Community Work Day has been a United Way initiative in Reno County for more than 15 years, connecting volunteers with service opportunities throughout the area.

Historically, the event has involved about 30 project sites and more than 400 volunteers working across the county in a single day. Stanfield said organizers hope to see similar participation this year, though the event will focus solely on residential projects.

Volunteers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. Most projects require general physical labor such as raking leaves, clearing branches or assisting with basic repairs. United Way provides needed supplies for projects, and volunteers receive event T-shirts.

Participants may volunteer individually or as part of a group, such as coworkers, church groups, civic organizations or families.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on April 25 and will serve communities throughout Reno County, including Hutchinson and surrounding towns.

Stanfield said the day highlights the spirit of community service that defines Reno County.

“To see hundreds of people show up just to help their neighbors with hands-on work is pretty humbling,” she said. “It’s a reminder of how generous our community really is.”

Residents can submit project nominations or volunteer online by visiting uwrenocounty.org and selecting the Community Work Day event on the calendar. Those who prefer to register by phone may call the United Way office at 620-669-9329.

UWRC seeking volunteers, project nominations for 'Community Work Day'

Dillons and the Food Bank of Reno County are partnering for a community food drive next week to help stock shelves at the organization’s newly opened location.&nbsp;

The event is scheduled for Friday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dillons Marketplace on East 30th Avenue in Hutchinson. Community members are invited to stop by and donate food items that will directly support local families facing food insecurity.&nbsp;

The drive will help supply the Food Bank with much-needed staples, including canned fruit, cereal, canned chicken and tuna, pancake mix, and syrup.&nbsp;

To help launch the effort, Dillons will begin the food drive with a $20,000 donation to the Food Bank of Reno County.&nbsp;

The food drive comes as the Food Bank celebrates the opening of its new facility and works to expand services for residents across Reno County.&nbsp;

Dillons, Food Bank of Reno County to hold food drive

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; Police arrested a suspect after responding to an incident involving an 8-year-old girl in west Wichita.

Just before 11:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 2800 block of West Central in Wichita for a reported disturbance. The caller told police that their 8-year-old had left home and was walking in the 600 block of North Gordon when a man approached her and grabbed her.

The girl was able to break free and run to her grandparents' location, who called 911.

Officers arrived quickly, located the suspect, later identified in Sedgwick County booking records as 27-year-old Tanner J. Warren, near North Gordon, and detained him without incident.

Detectives with the Exploited and Missing Child Unit conducted the follow‑up investigation and arrested Warren. He was booked into Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping and child abuse.

Kansas man accused in attempted abduction of 8-year-old girl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said it killed six men Sunday in a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">Trump administration’s campaign</a>&nbsp;against alleged traffickers.

Sunday's attack brought the death toll to at least 157 people since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in small vessels in early September.

As with most of the military’s statements on the more than 40 known strikes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs. It posted a video on X that showed a small boat being blown up as it floated on the water.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-drugs-venezuela-911-hegseth-3db3aafed492556bb9ca7de855c4849e">justified the attacks</a>&nbsp;as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-latin-america-china-d1cbf9af62f10e0644770f2e2b2bd791">meeting with Latin American leaders</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Trump encouraged them to join the U.S. in taking military action against drug-trafficking cartels and transnational gangs, which he said pose an “unacceptable threat” to the region's national security.

To that end, Ecuador and the United States conducted military operations this past week against organized crime groups in the South American country.

With Saturday's gathering, Trump aimed to demonstrate that he remains committed to focusing U.S. foreign policy on the Western Hemisphere, even while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-8-2026-f0b20dbffaea9351ae1e54183ffe53ff">waging a war</a>&nbsp;on Iran that has had repercussions across the Middle East.

Critics&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-drugs-25000-lives-c6e4c750b0dc6f15d397d598c9bd169f">have questioned the overall legality</a>&nbsp;of the boat strikes as well as their effectiveness, in part because the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-drug-smuggling-cocaine-coast-guard-caribbean-e10930a4c7e48eeb23816867e7987bcc">over land from Mexico</a>, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India.

The boat strikes also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-venezuela-boat-strikes-trump-6eaa178757a39803f0d4b5324dd43c1f">drew intense criticism</a>&nbsp;following the revelation that the military killed survivors of the very first boat attack with a follow-up strike. The Trump administration and many Republican lawmakers said it was legal and necessary, while Democratic lawmakers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642">legal experts said</a>&nbsp;the killings were murder, if not a war crime.

🎥US military kills 6 in new strike on drug boat in the Eastern Pacific

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-mojtaba-khamenei-supreme-leader-a2de686507c9179788d2a8793c8414a0">Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader</a>, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early Monday, as the war that began a little over a week ago with his father's killing took a dramatic turn.

The younger Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post, even before an Israeli strike killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

His appointment came after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as the country awaited a decision by the Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects the supreme leader. State TV read a statement from the assembly saying he was selected based on “strong” votes and urging the nation to unite behind him. The station broadcast scenes of people celebrating in parts of Tehran.

There has been only one other transfer of power in the office of supreme leader since the Islamic Revolution almost a half-century ago.

A secretive figure, the 56-year-old Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran’s theocracy and will have final say over all matters of state. He will serve as commander-in-chief of the military and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also has authority over a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon, if he chooses to decree it.

The selection of Khamenei faces the likelihood of U.S. criticism. “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” U.S. President Donald Trump has said. “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has derided the 56-year-old who has never been elected or appointed to a government position, as “a lightweight.”

 Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader “is not going to last long” without his approval.

But Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support, as did the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to state TV, praised the Assembly of Experts for “courageously” convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and “can handle this situation.”

What President Trump said about new Iran supreme leader

CHICAGO (AP) — Oil prices spiked near $120 per barrel before falling back Monday as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-8-2026-f0b20dbffaea9351ae1e54183ffe53ff">Iran war</a>&nbsp;intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummeling financial markets.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, surged to $119.50 per barrel early in the day but later was trading at $107.80 per barrel.

West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, spiked at $119.48 per barrel but fell back to $103 per barrel.

The war’s toll on civilian targets grew as Bahrain accused Iran of striking a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-desalination-water-oil-middle-east-12b23f2fa26ed5c4a10f80c4077e61ce">desalination plant</a>&nbsp;vital to drinking water supplies, and oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight strikes by Israel.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-gasoline-iran-war-inflation-1a1b7c3e5fbd735aa87c43ac664501cb">Oil prices have surged</a>&nbsp;as the war, now in its second week, ensnares countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.

Prices moderated after the Financial Times reported that some members of the Group of Seven industrial nations were considering releases of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-oil-strategic-petroleum-reserve-f94657cbef74c0c682f5cc6472bfb3cb">strategic oil reserves</a>&nbsp;to alleviate pressure on the markets. The unconfirmed report cited unnamed people familiar with the talks.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump downplayed the idea of turning to America’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-opec-business-government-and-politics-climate-environment-59aa11307b222550d48fb42ff0c3bd59">Strategic Petroleum Reserve,</a>&nbsp;saying U.S. supplies were ample and prices would soon fall.

Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil — about 20% of the world’s oil — typically are shipped every day through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, according to independent research firm Rystad Energy. The threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks has all but stopped tankers from traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE have cut their oil production as storage tanks fill due to the reduced ability to export crude. Iran, Israel and the United States also have attacked oil and gas facilities since the war started, exacerbating supply concerns.

The surge in costs for oil and natural gas is pushing fuel prices higher, cascading through other industries and jolting Asian economies that are especially vulnerable due to the region's heavy reliance on imports from the Middle East.

The last time Brent and U.S. crude futures traded near the current level was in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Higher energy costs push inflation higher, straining household budgets and denting the consumer spending that is a main driver of many big economies.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed 5.2% on Monday while other markets also foundered. U.S. futures were down more than 1.5%.

On Friday, the S&amp;P 500 dropped 1.3% and the Dow plunged as many as 945 points before finishing with a loss of roughly 450. The Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-iran-inflation-jobs-gas-prices-7fbd5e99e3b6023963dd3de226aee4e4">In the U.S</a>., a gallon of regular gasoline rose to $3.45 on Sunday, about 47 cents more than a week earlier, according to AAA motor club. Diesel was selling for about $4.60 a gallon, a weekly increase of about 83 cents.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said U.S. gas prices would be back under $3 a gallon “before too long.”

“Look, you never know exactly the time frame of this, but, in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months thing,” Wright added.

If oil prices stay above $100 per barrel, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.

Iranian authorities said strikes by Israel on oil depots&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-6-2026-6108249f19c4bc162eacd7847976c174">in Tehran</a>&nbsp;and a petroleum transfer terminal early Sunday killed four people. Israel’s military said the depots were being used by Iran’s military for fuel to launch missiles. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, warned that the war’s impact on the oil industry would spiral.

Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to China, which may need to look elsewhere for supply if Iran’s exports are disrupted, another factor that could increase energy prices.

The price of natural gas also has climbed during the war, though not by as much as oil. It was selling for about $3.33 per 1,000 cubic feet late Sunday. That’s 4.6% higher than its Friday closing price of $3.19, after rising about 11% last week.

Crude oil prices spike to highest price in over three years

Kansas City—Authorities are investigating the cause an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just after 7a.m. Saturday Kansas City Fire Department companies were dispatched to&nbsp;a reported fire in the 3700 block of Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke and fire showing from a 3-story apartment and initiated an offensive fire attack. Multiple hose lines were advanced into the structure to fight the fire.

Searches throughout the structure were performed and reported all clear. The fire was brought under control&nbsp;at&nbsp; 7:43 a.m.

No injuries have been reported from this incident .Dangerous Buildings and City Planning have been requested to the scene.

Fire at 3-story apartment building in Kansas City

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent knife attack and have made an arrest.

Just after 5:30p.m. March 5, police responded to a call at the intersection of SW 17th Street and SW Washburn Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

Officers located a man with multiple stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the investigation, Kevin E. Hill, 54, Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and was booked on requested charges of Aggravated battery; Knowingly use weapon cause great body harm/disfigure/death.

Kansas man accused of violent knife attack

KANSAS CITY —Kansas City Aviation Department (KCAD) received a call of a potential device inside the Kansas City international Airport (MCI) terminal Sunday Morning, as well in the parking garage.

Airport police and other law enforcement, including the FBI, worked quickly to evaluate the situation and ensure the safety of everyone. 

As part of that process, KCAD staff evacuated travelers from the terminal and held inbound flights on the taxiway away from the gates during the event.

Law Enforcement was able to determine no credible threat to the Airport or those inside the terminal. Once that determination was made, KCAD has started working to resume normal operations and minimize disruptions. ​The evacuation lasted approximately two hours.

During the sweep of the garage, a vehicle on the top floor was identified by K9 units as suspicious. As protocol, KCPD Bomb and Arson were called in to investigate and the garage was kept closed for an additional three hours.

Bomb and Arson investigated the vehicle and was able to determine that there was no threat.

As always, the KCAD and FBI encourage anyone who becomes aware of anything suspicious or concerning to report that to law enforcement.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement including the FBI forced the evacuation of portions of Kansas City International Airport terminal Sunday afternoon due to a threat.

On their social media page, the airport wrote, "The Kansas City Aviation Department is aware of a situation at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). As a precaution, the department has evacuated sections of the Airport Terminal."

"Airport Police are working with the FBI to substantiate any potential threat."

FBI Director Kash Patrol wrote on social media, "The FBI&nbsp;and our law enforcement partners quickly responded to the scene and secured the area. The threat was reviewed and determined not to be credible. Terminal has been swept, cleared, and normal operations resumed." 

"Thank you to our federal partners at U. S. Department of Transportation and Secretary Duffy for the coordination and quick response. 

Threats like these are a federal crime. FBI and law enforcement partners will fully investigate and bring to justice anyone responsible."

Just before 2p.m. the Airport terminal re-opened.&nbsp;

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote, "The security incident at Kansas City&nbsp;is now clear and normal operations are resuming. I want to thank law enforcement including the FBI for their timely response.

Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

New details on KCI terminal evacuation during threat investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. military announced an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.

The seventh American service member killed in the Iran war was an Army soldier, a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to The Associated Press. The service member died on Saturday from injuries sustained during a March 1 Iranian attack on the kingdom.

The American death toll since the start of combat operations now stands at seven. Six Army reservists were also killed in the March 1 attack on Kuwait.

All seven casualties from the war in Iran were Army soldiers. The first six deaths were Army reservists killed in a March 1 attack on a command center in a Kuwaiti port.

A U.S. National Guard Soldier also died in a health-related incident in Kuwait on March 6 during a medical emergency, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. The exact cause of death is under review.

The identity of the fallen warrior will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification, according to the U.S. Central Command.

U.S. military reports more service member deaths in Iran conflict

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faces charges in&nbsp;connection with the fatal shooting of a teenage girl that occurred in Independence in June 2021.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2821/Finch-Redacted-Complaint">Justin Finch</a>, 21,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Burglary.&nbsp;

Finch was a juvenile at the time of the homicide. Last week, a Family Court judge certified him to stand trial as an adult.&nbsp;

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