Hutchinson voters have narrowly approved the proposed city sales tax following Tuesday’s special election.

According to unofficial results from the Reno County Clerk’s Office, the measure passed with 2,316 votes in favor and 2,166 votes opposed, a margin of 150 votes. Just over 16 percent of the registered voters voted in the election.&nbsp;

The approved 0.75% city sales tax will help fund several city priorities, including street maintenance, parks and recreation improvements, stormwater infrastructure and other city services. City officials have also said the tax will allow the stormwater utility fee currently included on residents’ water bills to be eliminated, shifting that cost to the sales tax instead.

In a statement following the vote, Hutchinson Mayor Scott Meggers thanked residents for participating in the election and engaging in what he called an important community discussion.

“I want to thank the voters of Hutchinson for participating in the election and taking time to engage in an important decision for our community,” Meggers said. “I also want to thank our residents, city staff, the City Manager, and my fellow City Council members who helped provide information and have thoughtful conversations about the issue.”

Meggers said he appreciated those who supported the measure while also acknowledging residents who voted against it.

“This was an important discussion for our community, and I’m grateful to those who spoke up and supported a yes vote for the future of Hutchinson,” he said. “At the same time, we respect the voices of those who voted against the measure.”

Meggers added that city leaders will now focus on implementing the measure responsibly.

“Moving forward, our responsibility is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and follow through on the commitments made to the community,” he said. “We will continue working together to move Hutchinson in a positive direction.”

Voters approve Hutchinson sales tax 

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.info 7-day forecast.&nbsp;</a>

Three-day Outlook

The Hutchinson City Council has scheduled a public hearing to consider the status of five residential properties identified as unsafe and dangerous structures within the city.

During Tuesday evening’s meeting, the council approved a resolution setting a hearing for 5:30 p.m. April 21, 2026, to review the condition of the properties and determine next steps.

City Building Official Jason Ladely told council members that inspections determined the structures meet the definition of unsafe or dangerous buildings under Chapter 21, Article 7 of the city code.

The properties included in the resolution are located at:

Lady said the city has issued notices to the property owners and opened property maintenance cases for each location beginning in 2025. One of the properties, at 913 E. Fifth Ave., was the site of a structure fire that prompted an investigation in June 2025.

City officials said the upcoming hearing will allow property owners the opportunity to address the conditions of the buildings before the city determines whether demolition or other action is required.

According to Lady, funding for potential demolitions is already included in the city’s fiscal year 2026 demolition budget, meaning the action is not expected to create additional financial obligations for the city.

Based on the size and type of the structures, Lady estimated demolition costs would likely range from $5,000 to $8,000 per property.

Council members also discussed whether nonprofit housing partners, including Interfaith Housing and Community Services, had attempted to contact owners about acquiring or rehabilitating the properties. Lady said the city provides its list of problem properties to nonprofit partners, though he could not confirm whether those specific addresses had been contacted.

The five properties are in addition to five other residential structures the council began the unsafe structure process on earlier this year. Those properties are:

A public hearing for these properties is set for 5:30 p.m. on April 7.

City officials said addressing abandoned and unsafe housing aligns with Hutchinson’s strategic objective of investing in neighborhoods and improving housing conditions, particularly in areas south of 17th Avenue, identified in the Reno County Housing Needs Assessment as priority areas.

Council sets hearing for dangerous and unsafe structures

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. ——————————————

Pleasure	Marie Uluwehi	Torres		3/3/2026 8:30&nbsp;AM	Violation of Offender Registration Act; 1st Conv; Non Person

Michael		Aleman		3/3/2026 1:02&nbsp;PM	DUI; Alcohol or drugs; Felony

Jacob	Lee	Stapleton		3/3/2026 3:56&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Crystal	Jessica	Acosta		3/3/2026 5:24&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Cody	James	Looney		3/3/2026 8:36&nbsp;PM	Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Agg intimidation of witness/victim; Threat,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant,					Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO

Daily Bookings

 Voters in the McPherson school district approved both questions in a two-part bond proposal aimed at funding facility upgrades and long-term improvements across the district.

According to unofficial results Tuesday night, Question 1 passed with 2,290 votes in favor and 1,313 opposed, while Question 2 was approved by a vote of 2,172 to 1,435.

District officials said the proposal represents a significant step toward implementing the district’s Long Range Facility Plan, which the McPherson Board of Education adopted in December 2025.

The first bond question authorizes $62.5 million to renovate and renew McPherson High School, install secure entrances at Lincoln and Roosevelt elementary schools, and pay off existing leases for HVAC and energy improvements as well as the high school turf field and track facility.

District leaders previously noted the first bond question would not increase the current property tax rate, because it relies on a mill levy already being collected for an existing bond.

The second bond question, totaling about $27 million, includes a 4.75 mill property tax increase. For the owner of a $200,000 home, the district estimated the increase would cost about $9.10 per month.

Projects included in the second question call for additions and renovations at Eisenhower Elementary School so it can be converted into a new middle school, along with improvements at Lincoln, Roosevelt and Washington elementary schools. The proposal also includes plans to add restrooms, concessions and additional bleachers at the athletic field at McPherson High School.

District officials said the two questions were linked, meaning Question 1 had to pass for Question 2 to move forward.

With both questions approved, the district is expected to begin planning and implementing the projects outlined in the long-range facilities plan. School officials have said the upgrades are designed to address aging infrastructure, improve security and expand space to meet the district’s future needs.

McPherson School bond questions pass

Voters in Newton USD 373 have approved a $50 million school bond aimed at addressing aging infrastructure and safety improvements across the district.

Unofficial results show the bond passed with 2,197 votes in favor and 1,219 votes opposed.

District officials said the bond focuses primarily on what they describe as “end-of-life issues,” including replacing aging roofing systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment in several school buildings.

The measure also includes safety and security upgrades throughout the district. Plans call for strengthening existing storm shelters at elementary schools and constructing new multi-use spaces designed to serve as storm shelters during severe weather.

Those new spaces are planned for Cooper Early Education Center, Chisholm Middle School and Newton High School.

District officials said the new facilities will be used for school activities and programs but will also function as storm shelters during severe weather events.

Newton voters pass USD 373 bond issue

Wichita voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed city sales tax increase Tuesday, dealing a decisive defeat to a measure city leaders said would have funded a range of community improvements.

According to unofficial election results, 41,097 voters cast ballots against the proposal, compared with 9,143 voting in favor.

The measure would have implemented a new city sales tax aimed at funding various municipal priorities. Supporters argued the tax would provide needed revenue for infrastructure, public safety and other city projects, while opponents raised concerns about the added cost to consumers and the overall tax burden.

With the proposal failing by a wide margin, the city will now have to reassess how to address the funding needs that were tied to the tax plan.

The results represent a clear message from Wichita voters, with more than four out of five ballots cast opposing the measure.

Final results will be certified following the completion of the official canvass by election officials.

Wichita sales tax soundly defeated

MARION COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating alleged child sex crimes involving a teacher.

On February 23, the Marion County Sheriff's office Lt. Detective Aaron Christner received a report on inappropriate communication between a student and a teacher from Peabody-Burns High School, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

The investigation revealed the teacher had sexual contact with a student. With assistance from the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children's Task Force, further evidence was discovered. On Tuesday, 30-year-old Brett T.&nbsp; McGee was arrested. He was booked into jail just before noon Wednesday, according to online jail records.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is listed as the&nbsp;Vocational Agriculture teacher at Peabody-Burns USD 398, according to the school web site.

The Marion County Sheriff asked that anyone with additional information on the case or any other mistreatment of a child to call them.

Kansas teacher jailed for alleged sexual contact with a student

Early results in the Wichita sales tax election show a 4 to 1 difference between votes against the tax increased compared those in favor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Early results showing defeat in Wichita sales tax question

The initial vote totals for the City of Hutchinson have been released.&nbsp;&nbsp;

We will update this story when more results are released by the Reno County Election Office.&nbsp;

Sales tax election results

RAFAEL GARCIA K-State News and Communications Services

It may be months or even years before the long-term geopolitical ramifications of this weekend's airstrikes in Iran become clear, but a Kansas State University agricultural economist says gas prices are likely to spike in the coming weeks.

Gregg Ibendahl, associate professor of agricultural economics, specializes in agricultural production and finance, especially fuel pricing seasonality and impacts to the ag industry.

As a region, the Middle East is the world's leading producer of oil, and any uncertainty in the stability of the region's governments, economies and shipping capacity has typically resulted in price shocks, Ibendahl said.

Following airstrikes on Saturday that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent reciprocal strikes, crude oil futures had already risen 8%, from $67 per barrel on Friday to $72 on Monday morning.

What history suggests about pump prices

By analyzing 20 years of oil and gas price data, Ibendahl found that in the immediate term, gas prices typically go up about 2.4 cents per gallon for every $1 increase in oil's price per barrel.

"Prior to this weekend, U.S. regular gasoline averaged $2.98 per gallon nationally," Ibendahl said. "With the baseline $6 per barrel increase, prices could rise to between $3.10 and $3.16 within a month. Remember too, oil prices rose to $130 per barrel shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to gas prices of $5 per gallon."

Spikes in crude oil prices usually lead to a similar change in gasoline prices in the subsequent week, Ibendahl said. But crucially, crude oil movements can influence pump prices for more than a month, especially when uncertainty remains about the future stability of an oil-producing region.

Gas prices could climb even higher

Ibendahl's forecast, he pointed out, does not take into account other factors, such as extended violence or suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — an Iranian-controlled 21-mile chokepoint through which about 20% of globally traded oil passes.

A shutdown of the strait could lead to oil prices that are well over $100 per barrel, or even more if warfare in the region starts targeting oil production facilities.

At that point, gas prices at the pump quickly start approaching $4 per gallon — or even more, if oil prices follow a similar trajectory to the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Longer term, the price increase could be 4.2 cents per gallon for every dollar per barrel," Ibendahl said. "While conflict may be occurring in the Persian Gulf, the resulting impact on gas prices will be felt at stations nationwide before the end of the month."

Gregg Ibendahl is an associate professor of agricultural economics, specializes in agricultural production and finance, especially fuel pricing seasonality and impacts to the ag industry at Kansas State University.

Will gas hit $4? K-State economist breaks down the numbers

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stefanie-dazio">STEFANIE DAZIO</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-sedensky">MATT SEDENSKY</a> Associated Press

Frustrated and anxious travelers searched Tuesday for any way out of the Middle East and beyond as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-03-2026">widening Iran war</a>&nbsp;choked off commercial air traffic through the region for a fourth straight day, stranding hundreds of thousands of people.

What began Saturday with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran quickly rippled far beyond the immediate conflict zone. With airspace closed or heavily restricted across much of the Gulf, passengers have been stranded not only in the region but also in cities far from the fighting after their connecting flights were canceled.

“They say ‘Get out,’ but how do you expect us to get out when airspaces are closed?” said Odies Turner, a 32-year-old chef from Dallas who was stuck in Doha, Qatar. “They just have been canceling every flight. I want to go home.”

The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-states-trump-strikes-6c602da7d44cb8c34fa1a9f85f352e4a">told American citizens</a>&nbsp;to leave more than a dozen countries&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">in the region</a>&nbsp;right away using any available commercial transportation. The countries include Iran and Israel, as well as Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

More than 19,000 of the roughly 51,600 flights scheduled into and out of the Middle East between the start of the war and Friday have been canceled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/embassies-iran-state-department-strikes-travel-1ce7865cb17bf201025aab98a17afb74">The U.S. State Department</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday it was “actively securing” military and charter aircraft to fly Americans out of the region. It said it was in contact with nearly 3,000 citizens seeking assistance or information.

“We know that we’re going to be able to help them,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Tuesday, while cautioning that “it’s going to take a little time because we don’t control the airspace closures.”

Rubio urged stranded Americans to contact the State Department: “We need to know who you are.”

Earlier in the day, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem was “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.” He provided information ”as a courtesy to those wishing to leave” about an Israeli government shuttle bus to Egypt that Americans could try “as you make your own security plans.”

Israel’s airspace has been closed since Saturday, although some land crossings remain open.

El Al, Israel’s flag carrier, said it was launching a large-scale “recovery operation.” Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Ben-Gurion Airport is preparing to gradually reopen for limited incoming flights starting early Thursday.

Under the plan, one passenger flight per hour will be allowed in the first 24 hours — totaling about 5,000 people — with more possible depending on security conditions. It is unclear whether only Israelis will be permitted on the flights, and no commercial departures leaving Israel have been approved.

Australia said a commercial flight from Dubai to Sydney was scheduled Wednesday to start repatriating 24,000 Australians stranded in the UAE.

“This is a consular crisis that dwarfs any that Australia has had to deal with in terms of numbers of people,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Across the Middle East, travelers waited in terminals and hotels, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-6c73ef0f5836632a2d2b34145900c28b">stayed inside because of airstrikes</a>. Some cruise passengers were unable to disembark or reroute because ships could not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">sail through the Strait of Hormuz.</a>

Matt Carwell, an American staying in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-dubai-emirates-tourism-attack-b256f514b290c987b3004cc87744f038">Dubai</a>, was speaking with The Associated Press by phone from his hotel balcony when he suddenly stopped midsentence.

“Wow,” the 46-year-old said. “There was just a boom.” A fighter jet roared overhead moments later.

Carwell, who volunteers at a New Hampshire school, has flights booked and keeps waiting for one that doesn’t get canceled.

“Right now, we’re safe and comfortable,” he said, but not everyone is. “Just feel for them and feel for the people who have either lost their lives or lost someone they’re close to.”

Airspace across Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria were still shut Tuesday, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. The UAE declared its airspace partially closed, and Jordan suspended flights daily from the mid-afternoon until 6 a.m. local time.

The geography of the war has magnified the disruption to air travel. Gulf airports connect Europe, Africa and Asia, and carriers routinely funnel long-haul passengers through hubs such as Dubai and Doha.

“Within the Middle East, an eight-hour flying distance covers two-thirds of the world population,” said Anita Mendiratta, an aviation and tourism consultant who was stranded in Bangkok. When that corridor is blocked, Mendiratta said, it forces planes far north or south, which “puts huge pressure on the airlines.”

Some of the aviation notices governing the closures allow authorities to reopen or restrict portions of airspace on short notice depending on security conditions, meaning flight schedules can change rapidly as the conflict continues to unfold.

Despite the uncertainty, some travelers have managed to catch flights.

Oman Airways advertised flights from Muscat International Airport for passengers able to reach the city from the UAE. Virgin Atlantic said it planned to resume limited service between London Heathrow and both Dubai and Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Oman’s airspace remained open, while Saudi Arabia kept most of its airspace operating despite partial closures near its border with Iraq and along the Persian Gulf — making Muscat and Riyadh key staging points for repatriation efforts.

Some wealthy travelers are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stranded-travelers-iran-war-gulf-charter-flights-9f2af0716bc72ad4a13d9d70f83b207b">paying large sums for luxury flights</a>&nbsp;to Europe, first traveling overland to Muscat or to Riyadh to reach airports considered safe from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-03-2026-8755877b603e46ed3df8107689c1ee23">Iranian drone and missile attacks</a>. Prices for charter flights have soared since the start of the war.

Emirates and Etihad operated a limited number of repatriation flights Tuesday, even as their regular commercial schedules remained suspended. Both carriers said the departures were focused on moving stranded passengers and operating cargo or repositioning flights with government approval.

“We called our children at 3 a.m. to ask forgiveness because we might die and to tell them we love them,” said Mariana Muicaru, one of hundreds of Romanian pilgrims who had been stranded on a church trip to Israel. She described watching rockets streak across the sky, before eventually reaching Bucharest on Tuesday.

In Germany, passengers arriving in Frankfurt from Dubai on Tuesday were asked by reporters if they were glad to be home.

“Yes, of course,” Wassim Mahlas said. “I’m breathing German air again.”

Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report, including Danica Kirka, Daniel Niemann, Kristen Grieshaber, Nicolae Dumitrache, Samy Magdy, Jovana Gec, Josh Funk, Julie Walker and Rod McGuirk.

Travelers scramble as Iran war strands thousands across the Middle East

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 1p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the area of 70th and Cleveland on a shooting call, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. On arrival officers located a vehicle stopped in the road at that location. Officers were directed inside the vehicle where they located an adult male shooting victim.

Officers rendered aid to the victim and called for EMS. EMS transported the victim to the hospital with life threatening injuries. Detectives responded to the scene to begin their investigation along side of crime scene investigators.

A short time later detectives were notified the victim was pronounced deceased from his injuries at the hospital.

Preliminary information indicates the victim and multiple other people were at a location nearby on 71st Street. When they came in contact with one or more suspects. That interaction escalated to shots being fired and the victim was struck.

The victim and others entered a vehicle and left the scene and drove to the location where police contacted them on 70th and Cleveland

Police have not reported an arrest and did not release the victim's name.

Homicide: Dispute led to deadly gunfire in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/election-primary-3-3-2026">midterms</a>&nbsp;are here. The 2026 campaign kicked off Tuesday with high-profile primary elections in Texas, where Republican Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-cornyn">John Cornyn</a>&nbsp;is heading toward a runoff vote against state attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ken-paxton">Ken Paxton</a>. Democrats chose state Rep. James Talarico over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett to be their candidate.

For all the focus on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-primary-senate-cornyn-paxton-hunt-crockett-talarico-121c1591bb8406d3edfdb63a2c0c3ab8">Texas</a>, elections in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-primary-senate-house-007a4f9cff708d441b79e20f089c6306">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;could have a bigger impact on which party ultimately wins the Senate majority in the fall.

In the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-cornyn-talarico-paxton-crockett-iran-27689b2580fc24517ab12db8d7f110a5">first election</a>&nbsp;since President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;joined Israel in launching dramatic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">attacks on Iran</a>, there were also contests in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-primary-huckabee-sanders-cotton-24c6f499359b9c3d19a15a118ac4ede5">Arkansas</a>.

Here are some takeaways from Tuesday night.

By rallying behind Talarico, the party sided with someone who pledged to change Washington while finding consensus.

The 36-year-old state representative’s win over Crockett cements his status as a rising star and will likely make him one of Democrats’ most prominent candidates this year. He campaigned with denunciations of “politics as a blood sport” and an insistence that people want “a return to more timeless values of sincerity and honesty and compassion and respect.”

That was in contrast to Crockett, who gained national fame with her fiery style and unabashed antagonism of Trump and other Republicans.

Indeed, the biggest differences between Talarico and Crockett largely hinged on style rather than policy.

Crockett argued that Democrats need to focus on energizing their base, betting that motivated voters in metropolises like Houston and Dallas could swamp Republicans. Talarico’s campaign, meanwhile, took a more expansive approach, often highlighting his faith in ways that could appeal beyond diehard Democrats.

That style is why many Republicans are worried about Talarico’s candidacy. Though a Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, Talarico’s campaign could prove potent depending on who emerges from the Republican runoff.

The election isn’t over for Republicans in Texas

Cornyn and Paxton will keep fighting for the Republican nomination through a May 26 runoff.

For Cornyn, the results keep alive his hopes of remaining in the Senate. But it’s still a sign of vulnerability that he couldn’t win the race outright.

Although Cornyn has expressed occasional skepticism of Trump, he has been a reliable ally to the president. Paxton, however, claimed he was more aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, pulling away support that may have otherwise gone to Cornyn.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-texas-cornyn-paxton-hunt-gop-primary-cd31dbec10c54ce230ae915e51cbccf0">didn’t endorse</a>&nbsp;either candidate during the primary, but the results may raise pressure on him to take a side. Republicans in Washington have expressed concern that Paxton, who has well-documented political baggage, may be a weaker candidate in the general election.

Regardless of what happens, expect more cash to be pumped into the race. Cornyn and well-funded allied groups spent at least $64 million in television advertising alone since July.

While the race goes on, one person will be missing:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-hunt-paxton-cornyn-c89ebc6ca776bf5793b73913550d92c6">Wesley Hunt</a>. The congressman was a late entry into what had been a head-on contest between Cornyn and Paxton. His presence in the race further divided Republicans, making the runoff harder to avoid.

The first elections of the year weren’t entirely smooth sailing

In two major Texas counties — Dallas and Williamson — there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-midterms-voters-polls-democrats-republicans-5ffabf9d6b60d42d4fc84b9c06d93ae4">significant confusion</a>&nbsp;over where voters could cast their ballot. For years, they could vote anywhere in the county. But for this primary, the local Republican parties opted against countywide voting.

With state law mandating that both parties have to agree to use the countywide system, voters could only vote at their assigned precinct — forcing many to figure out where exactly that was.

Things quickly turned messy, with lawsuits, changes to voting hours and Democrats calling foul. Crockett called the rule change an “effort to suppress the vote.” Talarico’s campaign said it was “deeply concerned.”

Political parties run their own primaries in Texas, meaning a repeat of Tuesday’s confusion is unlikely to repeat in November.

But this isn’t happening in a vacuum. Texas is central to Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/redistricting">redistricting</a>&nbsp;effort to protect Republicans’ narrow majority in the House.

The party has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-gop-save-act-midterm-election-voting-a9a4f256fef5b1c9899f74abc5fddafa">pushed legislation</a>&nbsp;that would impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements. The bill is a long shot in the Senate but serves as another reminder of Republican efforts to change election rules heading into November.

In addition, any raw feelings could complicate Democrats’ chances later this year. Crockett’s campaign has said she’ll sue over voting problems, and her accusations of voter suppression are important in a state where Black voters are central to any Democratic candidate’s success.

If Talarico has a shot, he will likely need Crockett’s help in encouraging her disappointed supporters to back him.

A critical Senate race takes shape in North Carolina

One of this year’s marquee Senate contests was practically a done deal heading into Tuesday.

Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/roy-cooper">Roy Cooper</a>&nbsp;will face Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-north-carolina-whatley-senate-cooper-cb3b4109f85bf2f23fee93f05f253d7b">Michael Whatley</a>&nbsp;in a race that’s critical to deciding control of the Senate in November.

Both parties have reason to feel confident about their chances in the general election.

For Democrats, Cooper is an ideal candidate in one of the most politically competitive states. A former two-term governor, he has proved that he can win statewide elections.

Republicans, meanwhile, are going into the campaign with a candidate who is backed by Trump, an endorsement that could help energize voters during an otherwise challenging year. And as the former chair of the Republican National Committee, Whatley is familiar with party resources and how they can be deployed during a tough campaign.

Still, each candidate must overcome notable challenges. While Democrats like Cooper have been successful in races for governor, they’ve struggled in Senate contests. Whatley will also need to make inroads with moderate or independent voters that may not view Trump’s endorsement as a reason to turn out in November. Trump is the reason this is an open Senate contest in the first place. His disagreements with the incumbent Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/thom-tillis">Thom Tillis</a>, prompted the two-term senator to decide against reelection.

Get ready for what could be a messy race to November — one where spending could hit $1 billion.

🎥Takeaways from the first elections of the 2026 midterm campaigns

LANSING, Kansas. –&nbsp;Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Raymond Michael Sanders, 32, died Tuesday afternoon, according to statement from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 Sanders was found unresponsive in his cell. Staff and Emergency Medical Service personnel administered life-saving measures but were unable to revive him. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Sanders was serving a 10-month sentence for parole violations. He previously served 33 months on four convictions of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer in Jefferson County, Kansas.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Kan. inmate with conviction of assault on law enforcement officer found dead

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions flared as questions mounted at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-68d78b2215cc6c021937859ce852e1f2">shifting rationale</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-03-2026">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers demand answers over the strategy, exit plan and costs to Americans in lives and dollars for what is quickly becoming a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">widening Middle East conflict</a>.

Trump officials made their case at the Capitol during a second day of closed-door briefings, this time with all members of the House and Senate ahead of a looming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-constitution-37ec6685d9ded1d467a719f91e537487">war powers resolution</a>&nbsp;vote intended to restrict Trump’s ability to continue the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-netanyahu-trump-support-ef032c6370bd31294cab5641a57ba8af">joint U.S.-Israel campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran.

“The president determined we were not going to get hit first. It’s that simple,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a testy exchange with reporters at the Capitol.

Rubio pushed back on his own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-68d78b2215cc6c021937859ce852e1f2">suggestion</a>&nbsp;a day earlier that Trump decided to strike Iran because Israel was ready to act first. Instead, he said Trump made the decision to attack this past weekend because it presented a unique opportunity with maximum chance for success.

“There is no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trump’s watch,” he said.

The sudden pivot to a U.S. wartime footing has disrupted the political and policy agenda on Capitol Hill and raised uneasy questions about the risks ahead for a prolonged conflict and regime change after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">six U.S. military service personnel have died</a>&nbsp;so far.

The situation has intensified the push in Congress for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/war-powers-act-trump-congress-9e6832fb5f5f844acf8992008d3a8d63">war powers resolution</a>&nbsp;— among the most consequential votes a lawmaker can take, with the war well underway — as administration officials are telling lawmakers they will likely need supplemental funds to pay for the conflict. It comes at the start of a highly competitive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/election-primary-3-3-2026">midterm election season</a>&nbsp;that will test Trump’s slim GOP control of Congress.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer left the closed hearing, saying he was concerned about “mission creep” in a long war.

Senators demand answers, and some cheer Trump on

Senators spent the morning grilling Trump officials during an Armed Services Committee hearing over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-68d78b2215cc6c021937859ce852e1f2">Rubio’s claim</a>&nbsp;Monday that the president, believing that Israel was ready to act, decided it was better for the U.S. to launch a preemptive strike to prevent Iran’s potential retaliation on American military bases and interests abroad.

Sen. Angus King, the independent from Maine, said it’s “very disturbing” that Trump took the U.S. to war because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-netanyahu-trump-support-ef032c6370bd31294cab5641a57ba8af">Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;wanted to bomb Iran. Past U.S. presidents, he said, “have consistently said, ‘No.’”

Defense official Elbridge Colby told senators the president directed the military campaign to destroy Iranian missiles and deny the country nuclear weapons.

Trump himself disputed the idea that Israel had forced his hand. In his own Oval Office remarks, he said, “I might might have forced their hand.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Trump ally from Oklahoma, said the president “did the world a favor.”

“How about we say, ‘Thank you, Mr. President, for finally getting rid of this nuisance,’” he said.

But Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., demanded to know how this fits into Trump’s “America First” campaign promise not to commit U.S. troops to protracted military campaigns abroad.

Trump has suggested the war could drag on, and has not ruled out sending American troops into Iran.

“’America First’ and ‘peace through strength’ are served by rolling back — as the military campaign is designed to do — the threats posed,” Colby responded. “This is certainly not nation-building. This is not going to be endless.”

What’s next for the Iranian regime and its people

Questions are growing over who will lead Iran after the death of Khamenei, who has ruled the country for decades, and worries of a leadership vacuum that creates unrest.

Democrats warned against sending U.S. military troops into Iran after more than two decades of war in Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

“I am more fearful than ever we may be putting boots on the ground,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., after the closed briefing.

And while House Republicans applauded in support of the Trump administration’s operations, warning signs flared.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he supports the operation, for now. “My flag starts going up, the longer this goes, my flag starts going up, the more there’s boots on the ground,” he said.

Many lawmakers expressed concern over the number of Americans calling their offices seeking help evacuating from the region as the war spreads. “It’s getting worse, not better,” said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger.

Trump, in calling for Iranians to seize this opportunity to take back their country, has acknowledged the uncertainty.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump said Tuesday. He also panned the idea of elevating Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran’s last shah, to take over in Iran.

Republicans insist it’s not for the Americans to decide the future of Iran.

“That’s going to be largely up to the Iranian people,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said flatly, “We have no ability to get into the nation-building business.”

War powers resolutions become a consequential vote

Both the House and Senate are preparing to vote on war powers resolutions that would restrain Trump’s ability to continue waging war on Iran without approval from Congress.

Under the U.S. Constitution, it’s up to Congress, not the president, to decide when the country goes to war. But lawmakers often shirk that duty, enabling the executive branch to amass more power to send the military into combat without congressional approval.

“Why are we spending billions of dollars to bomb Iran?” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said there would be strong support from Democrats for the resolution.

But Johnson has said it would be “frightening” and “dangerous” to tie the president’s hands at this time, when the U.S. is already engaged in combat.

Other lawmakers have suggested that if Congress does not vote to restrain Trump, it should next consider an Authorization of the Use of Military Force, which would require lawmakers to go on record with affirmative support for the Iran operation.

“The reason why there’s so much consternation on our side is because President Trump has not given us a clear reason why he is in Iran,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “If he wants to declare war on Iran, that is the job and responsibility of Congress under the Constitution.”

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