&nbsp;State Senator Michael Murphy is calling for a temporary halt on new data center development in parts of south-central Kansas, citing concerns about water use, energy demand and long-term infrastructure impacts.

Murphy, a Republican from Sylvia representing the 34th District, issued a statement Monday urging county commissions in Reno, Kingman and Barber counties to adopt a three-year moratorium on new data center projects.

“While large-scale data centers may come with some enticing incentives, they also bring some very well-known, and unknown, problems,” Murphy said in the release. He pointed to the significant water consumption required to operate such facilities and the strain they can place on local electric grids.

Murphy said data centers “use huge amounts of water, water we do not have to spare,” and argued that a single facility could consume more electricity than a new power plant planned for Reno County could produce.

The senator also raised questions about transparency and long-term impacts, including who would bear the cost of increased power demand and the potential health effects of exposure to infrasound. He said residents have expressed concerns that have not been fully addressed.

“Before we bring these centers to our counties, we need some answers to these questions and more, data driven from serious studies, not just answers to placate the people,” Murphy said.

Murphy called on county officials in the three counties to enact a three-year pause on new data center development to allow time for scientific study and public review. He said such a moratorium would provide an opportunity for “meaningful, thorough scientific studies” and help restore public confidence.

The 34th District includes portions of Reno, Kingman and Barber counties.

Murphy also referenced comments by Senate Majority Leader Blasi, saying that if local moratoriums are not adopted, he would support the introduction of state legislation to address the issue.

“I hope we can continue the good relationship between the state and the district and look forward to working together in the best interests of our citizens and communities,” Murphy said.

Murphy calls for halt on data center development

Dear Dave, I’m 50 years old, and through a series of bad life decisions, I have nothing set aside for retirement. Now that I’m finally in a better place financially, I’m getting to the age where people say to invest conservatively.

Because of this, I’m afraid to invest in anything aggressive, and that makes me feel like I’ll never be able to have a decent retirement. I’ve put aside $20,000 in a savings account so far. Any advice you have would be appreciated. —Jack

First of all, you’re not at the age where you need to be investing conservatively. I don’t know where you heard this or who told you it was a good idea, but they’re wrong. You’re only 50. I’m not investing conservatively, and I’m 63. I’m investing in good, growth stock mutual funds that are growing like weeds. And you should be too.

Listen, I’m not saying you need to shift into panic mode. But you do need to get moving on this retirement thing today. It’s great that you’ve started saving money, but I’d be pretty nervous if all I had to my name at age 50 was $20,000. At this point, you should have something like $250,000.

You mentioned being afraid to invest more aggressively. I’ve learned over the years there are two situations where fear can be a positive thing. The first is being afraid of things we don’t understand. One day when I was 12, my dad told me to move the car. I didn’t understand you weren’t supposed to stomp the gas pedal all the way to the floor. That little episode scared us both silly, and I spun almost all the gravel out of our driveway. Now, with years of practice and understanding, I’m a better driver. Being behind the wheel doesn’t scare me at all.

The other positive type of fear is being afraid of things that can legitimately hurt us — like standing in the middle of the highway. If you do this, you should be afraid an 18-wheeler will come flying down the road and turn you into a pancake.

But when you’re afraid of something just because you don’t know how to do it — like you are with investing — you can dispel that fear with knowledge and wisdom. That’s why I want you to find a good investment professional. I’m talking about someone with the heart of a teacher, who will help you learn the ins and outs of investing and take away the fear you feel. If you do this, your confidence, and your knowledge, will begin to grow. Once that happens, you’ll start to feel comfortable pouring into good retirement investments.

Get to it, Jack. You can make this happen!

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave says: When it comes to investing, knowledge and wisdom dispel fear

The Hutchinson High School Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for its annual Wall of Honor award, recognizing outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions in their professions, communities, and beyond.

To be eligible, nominees must be graduates of Hutchinson High School and must have graduated at least 10 years prior to nomination. Candidates should demonstrate a high level of achievement in one or more of the following areas:

The Wall of Honor selection process does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, nationality, disability, economic status, or marital status. Individuals may be nominated posthumously.

Nomination forms are available online at:<a target="_blank" href="https://u345601.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.RcwPaJjKaE88gUN1WQFO7UMK6mfYcuUw9TGIRugPWEl44KFBTm5shkSyhcN1YjMW8U4t_Hfzz9OzPZS47VQYqNBwPb3qf6C5g5e5laW239ACX56VvHVTfUlNgaRPg9VSuOEk5j1BOHZOEnIQaBw3-2FtPy2YMRzfv2j33amVTCA5VgYcqFQxDMwAD3x7tvwPNVO4FpdWTUG7zBSmiSsotKQFNQeZMdxxhkRbD-2FTe-2FqBLBGAF-2FuWgdlXDQcVvHdcXo5YlyTZ3G5RCJKGZ6eiSSyncqWdnbKdIC4fQCx97PAnrx6Rs-2BRmoNlhpZ1XaYOtKKQAfgbe8x4q1AarSvN54l7u7GcwqOPILKWFLmdoE11SYQwVCSU-3D"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://u345601.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.RcwPaJjKaE88gUN1WQFO7UMK6mfYcuUw9TGIRugPWEl44KFBTm5shkSyhcN1YjMWfRfP_Hfzz9OzPZS47VQYqNBwPb3qf6C5g5e5laW239ACX56VvHVTfUlNgaRPg9VSuOEk5j1BOHZOEnIQaBw3-2FtPy2YMRzfv2j33amVTCA5VgYcqFQxDMwAD3x7tvwPNVO4FpdWTUG7zBSmiSsotKQFNQeZMdxxhkRbD-2FTe-2FqBLBGAF-2FtC-2FY2s5OEXFPxh7ktLZKbVcuWNu3YI0-2BxklUftiT-2BBfeE8w9DrRYVsf1AEoY4VNlLpmwv7-2BEkXfT16P0cxhZEGhGhVn8pjBuU9uJptZkqRI1ttWJwOUdfrlPBd45Tt4-2Bc-3D">https://bit.ly/HutchWallOfHonor</a> or at the Hutchinson High School office, 810 E. 13th Avenue.

The nomination form requires basic biographical information, including volunteer activities, special honors and awards, and any supporting documentation such as newspaper clippings. Nominators must also submit a brief paragraph explaining why the individual deserves to be recognized.

A selection committee made up of three students, three teachers, and three members of the Alumni Association will select three honorees. All submitted nominations will remain on file and eligible for consideration for two years.

The 2026 Wall of Honor inductees will be recognized during a series of events held in conjunction with the HHS Homecoming football game on October 2. Honorees residing outside the area will be responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements.

Each recipient will receive a personal plaque, and an additional plaque will be permanently displayed inside Hutchinson High School in recognition of their achievements.

Completed nominations and questions may be directed to Hutchinson High School, Attn: Marci Malashchuk, or emailed to <a href="mailto:malashchuk.marci@usd308.com">malashchuk.marci@usd308.com</a>.

Nominations open for HHS Wall of Honor 

Curious George is a bright-eyed, always-on-the-move pup with a nose for adventure and a heart that wants to be everyone's friend. This 52lb Beagle mix is true to his&nbsp;name,&nbsp;&nbsp;

George is happiest when&nbsp;he's&nbsp;investigating new sights and smells, learning what routines mean, and figuring out how to earn extra treats.&nbsp;He's&nbsp;a social, people-focused dog who enjoys attention, gentle praise, and having a job to do-especially anything that involves exploring the yard, going for walks, or working on basic manners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

George would do best with an adopter who can provide regular exercise, a consistent daily schedule, and a little patience while he settles in and learns the house rules. In return, he offers enthusiasm, affection, and plenty of&nbsp;entertaining&nbsp;"what's over here?" moments.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If&nbsp;you're&nbsp;looking for a fun companion who will keep you smiling and motivated to get outside, Curious George may be your perfect match.&nbsp;

To adopt&nbsp;Curious George, contact The Hutchinson Animal Shelter at&nbsp;<a href="tel:620-694-1924" target="_blank">620-694-1924</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Hutchinson Animal shelter is&nbsp;located&nbsp;at 1501 South Severance Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

🐶 Adopt a Furry Friend: Curious George

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. ——————————————

Cynthia	Elaine	Reyes		2/27/2026 10:58&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Michelle	Lynn	Caldwell		2/27/2026 1:53&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Pre-trial order

Cody	James	Looney		2/27/2026 12:00&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Tarrant	Clay	Young		2/27/2026 4:35&nbsp;PM	DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Joseph	Mackencie Tyler	Morin		2/27/2026 4:36&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Dustin	Robert	Lytle		2/27/2026 5:01&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Stephen	Joseph	Bonnar		2/27/2026 6:26&nbsp;PM	DWS; 1st conviction

Charles	Joseph Bryant	Adams		2/27/2026 6:27&nbsp;PM	DWS; 1st conviction

Michael	Paul	Batchelor		2/27/2026 7:31&nbsp;PM	DWS; 1st conviction

Dakota	Cejay	Shrader		2/27/2026 9:40&nbsp;PM	Direct Contempt,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant

Charles	Devonte	Norman	III	2/27/2026 10:09&nbsp;PM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant,					Assault of LEO; Properly identified on duty

Daily Bookings

Leadership is often defined not during easy seasons, but in moments of uncertainty, loss, and change. For Erica Rivera, resilience has become a defining characteristic of her six years as Executive Director of Beyond Barriers and her 19-year commitment to the organization overall.

Headquartered in Hutchinson with offices in Dodge City and Pratt, Beyond Barriers provides employment services, independent living resources, vision services, advocacy, and education. All services are free of charge. The organization believes individuals are healthiest and happiest when they are connected to and contributing within their communities.

Rivera stepped into executive leadership following a season of profound transition. The organization had experienced the retirement of its longtime Executive Director and the sudden passing of Assistant Director Andy Reichart, leaving both emotional and operational gaps.

“Loss changes you,” Rivera said. “It reminds you how important people are — the staff you work beside and the consumers you serve. It strengthened my resolve to lead with heart and purpose.” 

Her leadership has been marked not only by professional challenges, \but deeply personal highs and lows as well, including battling cancer \and welcoming a grandchild.

Those experiences shaped her leadership philosophy: steady, compassionate, and grounded in perspective.

“Over the past six years, I have grown in confidence and leadership. Stepping into the Executive Director role challenged me in new ways and helped me learn how to make difficult decisions, manage responsibilities, and lead with purpose. I have learned to trust myself more and believe in my ability to lead. I am still learning every day, but I am proud of how far I have come and how much I have grown both personally and professionally,” said Rivera. 

Colleagues describe Rivera as someone who blends institutional wisdom with courage. Having served in multiple roles over 19 years, she understands the organization from the inside out, from direct consumer services to strategic oversight. At the same time, she has not hesitated to innovate.

Under her leadership, Beyond Barriers has:

Rivera’s willingness to try new ideas, combined with her deep loyalty to the organization’s mission, has positioned Beyond Barriers for long-term success.

For Rivera, leadership is not about titles or timelines. It is about people. “It’s important to stay connected to the individuals we serve,” she said. “If we lose sight of that, we lose sight of everything.”

Six years into her executive role and 19 years after first walking \through the doors as a young professional, Rivera’s commitment remains clear: remove barriers, strengthen communities, and ensure every individual has the opportunity to live independently and contribute fully.

Rivera marks six years guiding Beyond Barriers

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

Three-day Outlook

By <a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Crispy, hand-breaded chicken fingers, house-made sauces and a full lineup of combo meals are coming to Hutchinson this spring.

The Coop Chicken Fingers plans to open at 420 E. 30th Ave., in the former Taco John’s building, with a target launch in early May. The Hutchinson store will mark the company’s first Kansas location, with a Wichita site expected to follow later this summer.

The concept centers on made-to-order chicken served in three, four and five-finger combos, along with a Coop sandwich combo and a grilled cheese combo. Each meal comes with fries and a drink.

“We care about serving food fast, serving fresh food fast,” co-owner Eliot McDonald said. “If you have good speed of service but the food’s not fresh, what’s the point?”

McDonald has spent nearly a decade in the chicken finger industry. Most recently, he served as director of operations for a national chicken chain, where he worked alongside current business partner Henry Panameño.

Panameño was McDonald’s third hire at that former brand in 2019, and the two have worked together for seven years.

“We know what each other’s strengths and shortcomings are,” McDonald said. “We complement each other well and raise each other up.”

After exploring franchising opportunities that did not materialize, the pair decided to launch their own brand.

“We decided we were going to start our own brand,” McDonald said. “So we started The Coop Chicken Fingers just this past year.”

The company opened its first location in November 2025 in Ames, Iowa, directly across from Iowa State University.

“It’s been a huge success so far,” McDonald said. “Students love it, people that live in the town love it. We do have a very good product.”

Unlike many growing quick-service chains, The Coop Chicken Fingers is not a franchise. McDonald said maintaining ownership control is key to protecting standards.

“We want to control our product and our service,” he said.

The Ames store thrives on foot traffic from the university and does not have a drive-thru. But McDonald said that model would not translate as effectively to most standalone markets.

“These types of concepts do better in drive-thrus,” he said. “If you’re going into just a city that doesn’t have that foot traffic, you have to have a drive-thru.”

Kansas offered multiple second-generation restaurant sites with existing drive-thru infrastructure. McDonald and Panameño toured the Hutchinson property and several locations in Wichita before signing leases in both cities.

“We wanted to stay fairly close,” McDonald said. “We were looking predominantly in the Midwest and stumbled on the location in Hutchinson, also a few in Wichita. We felt that would be easiest for us to expand to and build a big footprint there.”

The location on East 30th Avenue stood out for its traffic volume and visibility.

“We really liked it. Love the traffic there,” McDonald said.&nbsp;

Exterior painting has begun at the Hutchinson site, and interior renovations are underway. Kitchen equipment has been ordered, and the company is working through permitting and signage approvals.

The Wichita location is expected to open in early July. McDonald said spacing the openings will allow the company to focus on execution.

“I really don’t want to open two stores two weeks apart,” he said. “If you give it two months apart, that gives you a lot more time and a lot more leeway.”

In addition to original chicken fingers, the restaurant offers a spicy option with the heat built directly into the breading rather than added after cooking.

“You have other brands where their spicy is something that goes on after it’s cooked,” McDonald said. “Ours is inside the breading. It’s just like eating a regular finger, but it has a very good kick to it.”

Sauces are central to the concept. The Hutchinson location will feature eight house-made options: Coop Sauce, which is a mustard-based smoky sauce; Fox Sauce, a ketchup-and-mayo-based peppery sauce; Buttermilk Ranch; Jalapeño Ranch; BBQ; Buffalo; Hot Honey; and Honey Mustard.

The company is also exploring adding gravy to the menu, as McDonald noted that would do well in the Hutchinson market.

The Coop expects to hire between 25 and 30 employees for the Hutchinson store, with hiring projected to begin in mid-April depending on permitting progress. Positions will include both part-time and full-time roles.

McDonald plans to relocate to Kansas within the next 30 days and will spend the majority of his time in Hutchinson and Wichita as the company builds its footprint in the state. He said finding a general manager with strong ties to the Hutchinson community is a priority.

Store hours are expected to run from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the possibility of extending to 11 p.m.

The Coop’s branding features orange and red tones and a fox mascot, a nod to the “fox in the henhouse” theme. Once renovations are complete, the Hutchinson building will feature a large neon fox outline on the exterior.

If construction and permitting remain on schedule, The Coop Chicken Fingers will open in early May along East 30th Avenue — the first step in what McDonald expects will be a significant Kansas expansion.

“We’re very optimistic about this market,” he said.

The Coop Chicken Fingers expands into Hutchinson and Wichita

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Friday that her administration has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to protect Kansans’ personal data from being shared with foreign governments and to ensure compliance with state and federal privacy laws governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Under the agreement, the USDA will cancel its disallowance letter and end efforts to withhold Kansas’ SNAP administrative funding after the state shares data under terms negotiated by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

“The USDA’s decision to adhere to the DCF’s terms ensures that Kansans’ private, personal information, including full Social Security numbers, will not be shared with foreign governments,” Kelly said in a statement. “Kansas has complied with federal and state laws throughout this entire process and all we have wanted is for the USDA to do the same.”

State officials said the agreement resolves a dispute that began after the USDA requested extensive personal information on Kansans who have received or applied for SNAP benefits during the past five years. According to the governor’s office, the original request included provisions that would have allowed personal information — including full Social Security numbers and dates of birth — to be shared with foreign governments.

Kelly and her administration maintained that Kansas could not legally comply with the request until concerns about data protection were addressed. State officials cited confidentiality requirements under the federal Food and Nutrition Act and the Kansas Cybersecurity Act.

After the USDA rejected DCF’s corrective action proposal in September 2025, the agency issued a disallowance letter seeking to withhold $10.4 million in SNAP administrative funding. DCF appealed the decision, a move that immediately prevented the funding from being withheld.

The state has not lost any SNAP administrative funding during the dispute, and the program has continued operating without interruption, officials said.

With the new agreement in place, Kansas officials said data sharing can proceed under terms that safeguard personally identifiable information and comply with both state and federal law.

Kelly: Agreement reached with USDA over SNAP data

The City of Hutchinson is notifying residents and contractors of a recent scam attempt involving an individual impersonating Community Development Director Matt Williams.

The fraudulent message requested payment of an invoice via wire transfer. The City wants to make clear that this email did not originate from the City of Hutchinson, and there has been no compromise of City email systems or internal accounts.

Official City email addresses end in&nbsp;@hutchinsonks.gov.&nbsp;Residents and contractors are encouraged to carefully review the sender’s full email address before responding to any payment-related communication.

The City of Hutchinson will never request payment by wire transfer.

If you receive an email that appears suspicious or includes an unusual payment request, do not respond or send funds. Please contact the Community Development Department directly at&nbsp;620.694.2630&nbsp;with related questions.

Anyone who believes they may have received a fraudulent email related to this incident is asked to forward it to&nbsp;info@hutchinsonks.gov&nbsp;for review.

The Hutchinson Police Department is investigating the matter.

City warns of e-mail scam

Bath &amp; Body Works has opened in a new exterior location at Uptown Hutch Mall, marking another step in the transition away from the mall’s interior storefronts.

The national fragrance and personal care retailer relocated from its previous space inside the mall to a new storefront along the mall’s exterior. The move comes as remaining interior tenants prepare to shift locations or close as the interior portion of the mall begins to be remodeled.

Krista Johnson the manager for Bath &amp; Body Works tells us that she hopes that the outside exposure brings a lot more foot traffic.

Johnson said the store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.&nbsp;

Buckle and Maurices are also relocating to exterior-facing spaces at the mall.

Buckle has announced plans to open its new location March 9. Maurices will close its interior store March 21 and reopen March 28 in a new exterior storefront located between Buckle and Bath &amp; Body Works.

However, one retailer will not be making the move.

Famous Footwear will close as a result of the interior mall shutdown. The store’s final day of sales will be March 21. Store management said they were unable to reach an agreement for a new location at the mall. The closest Famous Footwear location for area shoppers will be in Newton.

Another interior tenant, Selectel Wireless, is relocating outside the mall entirely. The business plans to move downtown to 325 N. Main.

The changes reflect a broader reconfiguration of Uptown Hutch Mall as they transition retailers from traditional indoor mall spaces to exterior storefronts or other locations within the community.

Hutch Post has reached out to mall management for more details but have not heard back.&nbsp;

Bath & Body Works opens at new location at Uptown Hutch Mall

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>, who assembled theocratic power in Iran over the decades as its supreme leader and sought to turn it into a regional powerhouse, bringing it into confrontation with Israel and the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-government-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-6acdb64d36fcbe05b3ee725d8a585d96">over its nuclear program</a>&nbsp;while crushing democracy protesters at home, has died. He was 86.

Iranian state media reported the death early Sunday, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">a major attack</a>&nbsp;launched by Israel and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said hours earlier that Khamenei had been killed in the joint operation.

Khamenei dramatically remolded the Islamic Republic since he took the reins after the death of Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3042785d564d4acaa2e4a18bfc206d25">Ruhollah Khomeini</a>&nbsp;in 1989. Khomeini was the fiery, charismatic ideologue who led the overthrow of the shah and installed rule by Shiite Muslim clerics tasked with spreading religious purity. It fell to Khamenei, a stodgier figure with weaker religious credentials and a leaden demeanor, to turn that revolutionary vision into a state establishment.

He ended up ruling far longer than Khomeini. He greatly expanded the Shiite clerical class and built the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1a91d52c042141e4b7c8e93e6a20040e">paramilitary Revolutionary Guard</a>&nbsp;into the most important body underpinning his rule. The Guard became a military and business behemoth, the country’s most elite force and head of its ballistic missile arsenal, with hands across Iran’s economic sectors.

But the strains became harder to contain. Political repression and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/soaring-cost-of-food-and-essentials-squeeze-iranian-families-amid-tensions-with-us-4fca82ab094b4cedb3e8ad630b704c40">the faltering economy</a>&nbsp;fueled successively bigger waves of mass protests. Anger over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-mahsa-amini-crackdown-f26a5f687d87785841241d266ca3e872">2022 death of Mahsa Amini</a>, detained for not wearing her mandatory headscarf properly, escalated into demonstrations against social restrictions. In early January, hundreds of thousands marched in cities across the country, many chanting, “Death to Khamenei.”

Khamenei responded with the deadliest crackdown seen in nearly 50 years of clerical rule as security forces opened fire on crowds, killing thousands.

At the same time, the Mideast wars sparked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-deaths-numbers-3e74e053814fd798fc1321c44f3e3c34">Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel</a>&nbsp;set in motion the collapse of the regionwide “Axis of Resistance” built by Khamenei. Israel and Iran attacked each other directly for the first time in 2024. I&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c">srael struck Iran again in June 2025</a>, as it and the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea-sanctions-728b811da537abe942682e13a82ff8bd">targeted the country’s nuclear program</a>&nbsp;and killed top military officers and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated by sending missiles and drones at Israel.

Khamenei’s death raises questions about the future of the Islamic Republic.

The 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a group of mostly hard-line clerics, will choose Khamenei’s replacement. But no clear successor is in place.

As he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026">launched the bombing</a>&nbsp;in February, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iranians to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-trump-address-f662a4f3378535d81197be699fb35a3e">“take over your government. It will be yours to take.</a>&nbsp;This will be probably your only chance for generations.” What happens next may depend greatly on bodies like the Revolutionary Guard, which has repeatedly shown its willingness to use overwhelming force to keep power even as many of Iran’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-memorials-chehelom-71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb">90 million people grow disenchanted</a>.

“Culturally, the government is bankrupt,” said Mehdi Khalaji, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said in 2017. “The ideology of the Islamic Republic did not work at all.”

From a questioned start to a hard-line grip on Iran

Ali Khamenei was born into a religious family in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, a hotbed of revolutionary fervor during the struggle against the Western-allied shah,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/343d87fdb960424e9ec0f4a90dc64fcb">Mohammad Reza Pahlavi</a>.

Like many other Iranian leaders, he studied under Khomeini at the seminary in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, in the early 1960s, before the Khomeini's exile to Iraq and France.

Khamenei joined the anti-shah movement, facing time in both prison and in hiding. When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3042785d564d4acaa2e4a18bfc206d25">Khomeini returned to Iran in triumph in February 1979</a>&nbsp;and proclaimed the Islamic Republic, Khamenei was appointed to the secretive Revolutionary Council. In 1981, he was elected Iran's third president; that same year, a bombing by opponents left him with one hand paralyzed.

With his thick, heavy-framed glasses, Khamenei lacked the steely gaze and fiery aura of Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Revolution. He fell far short of Khomeini’s religious scholarship, holding the relatively low rank of “hojatolislam” in the Shiite clerical hierarchy.

After being named supreme leader after Khomeini's death, he bounded overnight to the level of grand ayatollah, at the top of the hierarchy, and for years had to deal with skepticism over his credentials.

Khamenei acknowledged the doubts with humility. “I am an individual with many faults and shortcomings and truly a minor seminarian,” he said in his first speech in his new post.

Despite his lack of charisma, Khamenei stabilized Iran after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-5da81b6ba552db5f9ad6eb9bf4cc8525">the 1980s war with Iraq</a>&nbsp;and governed for over three decades — far longer than Khomeini.

Hard-liners considered him second only to God in his authority. Khamenei created an ever-growing bureaucracy of Shiite clerics and governmental agencies that blurred responsibilities and left him as the ultimate arbiter. As Iran questioned whether to keep the Revolutionary Guard after the war with Iraq, Khamenei came to its rescue and allowed the paramilitary force to gain a powerful grip on Iran’s economy. He also used a system of appointees to undercut the civilian government elected by its people.

The rise and fall of Iran’s proxy forces

Under Khamenei's reign, Iran shifted fully from conventional warfare to support for proxies, building the so-called Axis of Resistance to advance its interests in the region. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-hezbollahisrael-lebanon-b4daa0a6084df27099cef45b59120034">Lebanese militant group Hezbollah</a>, established with Iran's help in the 1980s, drove Israel from southern Lebanon in 2000 and battled it to a stalemate in the monthlong 2006 war.

Through Hezbollah, Iran perfected a strategy of making local militant groups its allies to project power — often through violence. Iran followed that model when backing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-15d10ed74c7f3cc7fd36fa0f77f73e54">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>, who in 2014 seized the country's capital, Sanaa, and held on for over a decade in a stalemated war in the Arab world's poorest nation — despite facing a Saudi-led coalition and later,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-israel-f820b848eb76fa3ecc8056ca332cabae">U.S.-led airstrikes over their attacks in the Red Sea</a>&nbsp;corridor.

Elsewhere, suspected Iranian-backed militants bombed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-bombing-jewish-community-center-921ee279365a80a729f819117ca905ce">Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994</a>, killing 85 people. Iran also was allegedly linked to the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers housing complex in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 members of the U.S. military. Iran denied responsibility for both attacks.

Iran emerged as a prime beneficiary of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-invasion-war-timeline-saddam-hussein-50828061c98e410063753045179bdcfb">U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003</a>, which replaced its main regional threat, Saddam Hussein, with a friendly Shiite-led government. Iranian-backed militias waged a brutal insurgency against U.S. forces and embedded themselves within the country's political landscape.

Khamenei used the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force most successfully after the Sunni extremists of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">Islamic State group seized large swaths</a>&nbsp;of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Guard troops advised Shiite militias, the best fighters in Iraq, and gave crucial support to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-816e538565d1ae47e016b5765b044d31">President Assad in Syria’s civil war</a>.

That secured Assad for a decade, until the chaos sparked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-music-festival-6a55aae2375944f10ecc4c52d05f2ffe">Hamas' attack on Israel</a>&nbsp;in 2023. Israel devastated the Gaza Strip and launched airstrikes and ground operations pulverizing Hamas, which Iran had armed and funded for years. Israel is widely believed to have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hamas-israel-30968a7acb31cd8b259de9650014b779">Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh</a>&nbsp;in an operation in Tehran in 2024, further embarrassing the Islamic Republic.

Hezbollah found its ranks targeted by exploding pagers and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hezbollah-lebanon-israel-nasrallah-8da2e424e85152f0f41aa142391075ed">Israeli campaign killed its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah</a>. Then, in December 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-ousted-rebel-offensive-timeline-8c54a8b97803d4b10cde53b97227128e">rebel fighters toppled Assad</a>&nbsp;in an offensive in Syria, ending a half-century of his family's autocratic rule.

Nuclear program advances to near-weapons-grade levels

The supreme leader remained deeply suspicious of the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-presidential-election-us-israel-hamas-war-analysis-b876feed55807a36aef03ea44fd1c10d">referring to it as the “Great Satan”</a>&nbsp;even after President Barack Obama came into office in 2009, offering dialogue and a fresh start.

He shrugged off U.N. sanctions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-nuclear-watchdog-iaea-iran-4706276a489b1a4cce2ca6260d0b3182">pushed ahead with Iran’s nuclear program</a>, which the U.S. and its allies say hid a secret project to build a nuclear weapon up until 2003. Khamenei issued a verbal fatwa, or religious ruling, that nuclear weapons are un-Islamic, but vowed the country would never give up its right to develop what he called a peaceful nuclear energy program.

Under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Tehran agreed to drastically reduce its stockpile and enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. But only three years later, Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew Washington from the accord, arguing it didn't go far enough.

Iran has since broken all the limits of the nuclear deal and accumulated a stockpile of uranium enriched to nearly weapons-grade levels, now large enough to pursue several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so. Diplomatic efforts to restore the deal under President Joe Biden stalled.

In a March 2011 speech, Khamenei used toppled Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who had given up his own nuclear program years earlier, as an example of why Iran’s nuclear program remained so important&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-middle-east-islamic-state-group-coronavirus-pandemic-tunisia-26e27da4a70743eafb25a5bcf5d61ba1">in the wake of the Arab Spring</a>&nbsp;upheavals in the Middle East.

“Just the way you give a lollipop to a child, Westerners gave ‘incentives’ to them and they gave up everything,” Khamenei said.

Protests and demands for change intensified

Khamenei's first major challenge came in 1997, when pro-reform politicians gained control of parliament and cleric&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ea865319f1ff4afebe4ce358d89ab217">Mohammad Khatami was elected president</a>&nbsp;by a landslide, riding a large youth vote. The reformists demanded a loosening of the strict social rules imposed by the revolution and called for improved ties with the outside world, including the U.S.

Khamenei-backed hard-liners moved to contain the liberal movement, fearing it would eventually call for an end to clerical rule. Khamenei stopped parliament from loosening restrictions on the media in an unusually overt intervention. Clerical bodies blocked other key liberal legislation and banned many reformist lawmakers from running for reelection, ensuring a return of hard-liner control in the 2004 elections.

That set the stage for the election of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-election-raisi-ahmadinejad-557dd8e41a9abf78e0ad02e0e21d4e00">hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</a>&nbsp;in 2005 and his disputed reelection in 2009 amid charges of vote-rigging. Mass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab649e2190834e19b1f006f76493645f">protests broke out, posing the greatest threat</a>&nbsp;in decades to Iran’s clerical leadership. The Revolutionary Guard, Basij militia and police unleashed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b94b46844e9646c08d8cd0764d8cd840">crackdown in which dozens were killed</a>&nbsp;and hundreds arrested.

The turmoil, and reports of protesters being tortured to death or raped in prison, dealt a severe blow to Khamenei’s prestige.

As sanctions bit further, popular unrest rose. Economic protests broke out in 2017 and demonstrations escalated in 2019 over a rise in government-set gasoline prices. A bloody crackdown that followed killed over 300 people, according to activists.

Although Khamenei struggled to preserve the ideological purity of the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s government has largely failed to rid the country of Western influence. Satellite dishes, banned in theory, crowd Tehran’s rooftops. Banned social media sites are widely used, even by some prominent politicians, despite being blocked.

Protests erupted again in 2022 over the death of Amini, a young woman detained for not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. More than 500 people were killed and tens of thousands arrested when security forces crushed the demonstrations again.

In late December 2025, new economic protests erupted and would grow into what appeared to be the biggest protest movement ever. Hundreds of thousands across the country took to the streets, overtly demanding an end to the Islamic Republic. Some even chanted for the return of the shah's son, living in exile since 1979. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/iran-security-forces-threaten-staff-at-hospitals-packed-with-protesters-aff95a0ba6a34f9496eddc0b5e44abb1">ferocity of the crackdown</a>&nbsp;stunned Iranians.

With U.S. President Donald Trump, Khamenei faced a more aggressive and unpredictable American drive to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Trump unilaterally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal</a>&nbsp;with world powers in 2018, bringing a return of sanctions.

The two sides came close to war with the United States after an American drone strike killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-tehran-international-news-iraq-ali-khamenei-5597ff0f046a67805cc233d5933a53ed">Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani</a>&nbsp;in January 2020. At Soleimani’s mass funeral that drew millions to the streets,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ali-khamenei-ap-top-news-iraq-iran-united-arab-emirates-14792cc1d7f73ffec8f8c425b73b44fb">Khamenei wept over the casket</a>&nbsp;of the man he once called a “living martyr.” Two days later, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">Guard mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner</a>&nbsp;after its takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people aboard.

Iran ramped uranium enrichment back up, reaching 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Still, when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-deal-khamenei-us-tensions-bc11763f45041ac84171ebc3866f1273">Khamenei resumed talks,</a>&nbsp;underscoring the deep toll the sanctions had taken.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-rial-currency-us-7077a417560efcb6d9cbf7102cbc8b57">Iran’s long-ailing economy</a>&nbsp;entered a freefall worsening domestic unrest.

But a deal remained elusive. In June 2025, Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, inflicting heavy damage, though how far back it set the program remained unclear.

During the crackdown on nationwide protests in January, Trump renewed threats to strike, demanding Iran make major concessions at the negotiating table. Then came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-embassy-staff-436162f886bdaed30c8dd0cdbe1b5aea">three rounds of indirect talks</a>. Then came Saturday.

Former Associated Press writer Brian Murphy contributed.

Iranian state media confirms Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">U.S. President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

Aerial footage posted to social media by U.S. Central Command showed U.S. munitions striking what appeared to be a variety of targets from drones to buildings.

The video montage was released Saturday afternoon. It showed black and white aerial footage of what appeared to be a drone on a runway, a radar tower, a missile battery, and a compound of buildings. They were all being struck by what seemed to be bombs or missiles and followed by large explosions.

The footage features the words “unclassified” at the top of the screen and a targeting reticle in the middle.

U.S. Central Command did not provide more details about the video.

🎥US posts aerial footage showing strikes on variety of targets

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, saying his passing is “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

The death occurred after a joint U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites.

Trump in his post called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history.”

Trump said that Khamenei “was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”

Dubai,UAE(AP)-Israeli officials told The Associated Press Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>&nbsp;is dead. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. or Iran on his status.

The assassination of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, would throw its future into doubt.

In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday.

Shortly after the address, two Israeli officials said Israel had confirmed his death. The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and gave no further details.

Trump says Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead

&nbsp;The U.S. and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran. As of 12 noon CST Saturday, several members of the Kansas Congressional delegation used their social media accounts to comment on the military action.

Kansas lawmakers comment on U.S. military attack on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.

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