Kroger, the parent company of Dillons Stores and one of the nation’s largest supermarket chains, has announced plans to close nearly 60 of its stores across the United States over the next 18 months.

The move, revealed in the company’s <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465925060909/tm2518164d1_ex99-1.htm">first-quarter 2025 earnings report</a> released Friday, reflects what Kroger described as a strategic effort to improve its bottom line while reinvesting in customer experience.

Kroger's first quarter ended on May 24.&nbsp;

According to the report, the closures are expected to provide a "modest financial benefit" and will affect roughly 2% of Kroger's total store count. As of the beginning of its current fiscal year, Kroger operated 2,731 locations nationwide.

The company did not release a list of which stores will close.&nbsp;

The report stated that all employees at the stores which will be closing will be offered positions at other Kroger locations, according to the company. No specific timelines for individual store closures were in the report.

Kroger emphasized that cost savings from the closures will be directed toward improving the in-store experience for customers, although the report did not have any information specifically addressing the improvements.&nbsp;

The announcement comes at a time when the grocery industry is undergoing rapid change, with rising competition from online retailers and shifting consumer habits putting pressure on traditional supermarket models.

Kroger to close 60 stores over the next 18 months

The Harvey County Health Department will close to the public from June 25 to June 30 as it prepares to relocate from the third floor to a newly renovated second-floor space at 215 S. Pine St. in Newton.

The department plans to resume its normal business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning on July 1.

The move is part of a broader remodeling project underway at the county-owned, three-story facility. The Health Department had been temporarily housed on the third floor while renovations took place on its permanent second-floor offices.

Harvey County purchased the Pine Street building in 2022 to address growing space needs at the Harvey County Courthouse. In November 2024, county commissioners approved a bid from Vogts Construction to lead the remodeling project, which began in January following design planning and public discussion.

Several other county departments are also slated to relocate to the building in phases. The Planning, Zoning and Environmental Department will be the next to move in the coming months, followed by the Department on Aging, the Appraiser’s Office and the Harvey County office of Kansas State Research and Extension.

The full remodel is expected to be completed later this year.

Harvey County Health Department to temporarily close

 Local law enforcement agencies are warning Reno County residents about a recent string of scams in which victims were tricked into sending thousands of dollars via Bitcoin.

The Hutchinson Police Department and the Reno County Sheriff’s Office say they’ve received multiple reports over the past two weeks involving scammers impersonating law enforcement officials and federal agencies. In one case, a victim was conned out of thousands of dollars by someone posing as a Reno County Sheriff’s detective. Another report involved an individual who lost $4,300 after being contacted by someone claiming to represent a federal agency.

Authorities emphasize that these scams often use high-pressure tactics and threats of arrest to manipulate victims into making immediate payments using Bitcoin—a digital currency that is difficult to track or recover.

“Law enforcement agencies will never call and collect payments to avoid arrest,” officials said in the Facebook Post. “No law enforcement entity, including the court system, will demand payment through gift cards, Bitcoin, or similar methods.”

Residents are urged to be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting money and to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer by contacting the agency directly.

For verification or questions, contact the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2816 or the Reno County Sheriff's Office at 620-694-2735.

Sheriff's Department, Police Department warn of Bitcoin scam 

The Reno County Department of Aging will offer an interactive dementia simulator experience Friday, June 27, aimed at helping participants better understand the daily challenges faced by those living with dementia.

The event, part of the county’s Community Collaboration Series, will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Department of Aging, 120 W. Avenue B. It will be led by Nicole Stahl, a physical therapist assistant and community liaison with Specialized Homecare.

Using simulation tools and guided activities, the session allows participants to experience the confusion, frustration and sensory changes that often come with dementia. Organizers say the program is designed to build empathy and provide practical insight into caregiving strategies.

“This eye-opening experience helps people understand the needs of those living with dementia and teaches skills that can make a real difference in their daily lives,” Stahl said in a statement.

Department of Aging to host Dementia simulator experience Friday

KIM BALDWIN<br>McPherson County farmer and rancher

June is the month that tests my schedule and patience as we await the start of wheat harvest. For years my replies to a variety of invitations and requests have always defaulted to something to the effect of, “That’s June, so if we’re harvesting wheat we won’t be able to.”  

June is the one month out of the entire year where I fully exercise being noncommittal.

Our June days are determined by whether the wheat is ready or not. If it’s not ready, a last-minute invitation to have a friend over or spend a few hours at the city pool are possible. But if the wheat is ready, the day has already been intentionally made clear and our efforts are directed to getting the wheat out of the fields as quickly as possible ahead of any summer storms.

We generally have a pretty good idea of when our wheat harvest will take place on our farm based on history and memories posted on social media. Yes, some years we’ve started harvest earlier than normal, but we have established a “normal” harvest window give or take a few days based on the weather.

But there are exceptions, and this year is definitely one of those. We’ve passed the halfway point of the month of June, and with that, we have also passed our “normal” harvest window. 

Normally we are in the thick of wheat harvest by this time of the month. I often joke that we will more often than not celebrate Father’s Day with naps because everyone is experiencing a level of tiredness that only occurs during wheat harvest.

But not this year. We are still quite energized at this point in the month mostly because we have had so much rain. The rain has essentially halted all work. From finishing up soybean and sorghum planting to swathing hay and harvesting wheat, we have been unable to get into the fields simply because it’s too wet.

We generally have completed our wheat harvest by the Fourth of July, and I begin thinking about and planning some family activities we’d like to do with the kids before they return to school in August. But this year, that might be pushed back as there’s a pretty good chance that we’ll still be harvesting wheat in early July.

I know the summer heat will soon turn up. I know that the Kansas winds will blow again. And I know that soon we will have dry fields and it will be “go time.”

The combines are ready. The trucks are ready. The workers are ready. And as soon as we can go, we will.

But until then, I’ve decided to extend my practice of being noncommittal into a portion of July as well. Afterall, our wheat harvest is turning out to be anything but normal this year.

<i>"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. </i>

Insight: Waiting on wheat 

Get ready for lights, laughter, and a whole lot of live entertainment! 

Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre invites YOU to a spectacular unveiling of its 2025–2026 Live Season Announcement on Tuesday, July 1st. 

The stage is set at the Fox Theatre for a vibrant night of entertainment, insider reveals, and community celebration. 

The doors will open at 5:15 PM, and guests can enjoy a cash bar and mingle in the majestic atmosphere of the historic theatre before the season reveal begins at 6:00 PM. 

“This is going to be our most fun-filled and family-friendly season yet,” said Josh Davies, Executive Director of the Fox Theatre. “We’ve got eight incredible shows that will have you laughing, cheering, and maybe even dancing in your seat. From comedy to crowd-pleasers for all ages — this season is a love letter to live entertainment!” 

Be among the first to discover the lineup and experience why the Fox continues to be the heart of live performance in our community. Whether you're a longtime supporter or a first-time&nbsp;visitor, this is the perfect way to kick off a new season of unforgettable moments. 

Season tickets will go on sale Monday, July 7th, giving early birds the first chance to secure the best seats in the house. 

Don't miss your chance to be part of the magic — join us July 1st at the Fox Theatre and be the first to experience what's coming to the stage this season!

Fox Theatre to release 2025-2026 Live Season on July 1

The Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson is celebrating National Boys and Girls Club Week, June 23–27, by inviting the community to step inside its mission through events, alumni engagement, and youth showcases.

The national observance, recognized by more than 5,000 clubs across the globe, celebrates the life-changing impact of Boys and Girls Clubs in their communities. Locally, the Hutchinson club is marking its 35th year with a theme of “Open the Blue Door”, encouraging former members and community supporters to reconnect and see the club’s progress firsthand.

“This is a rally week,” said Lance Patterson, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson. “It’s a chance to show off the great work our youth are doing and let alumni and supporters walk back through our doors to see how we’ve grown.”

The club is serving more than 500 children and teens in its summer programs, averaging 300 participants daily. Activities this week include a focus on health and wellness, workforce readiness, creative arts, and career planning. On Tuesday, the club highlighted its Work-Based Learning initiative, which places more than 30 teens in their first job experiences throughout the community.

“Fit for the Future” is the week’s guiding theme, a nod to both physical health and career preparation. Staff and members donned workout gear on Monday as part of a wellness kickoff. Later in the week, art will take center stage as an Atlanta-based artist is leading teens in self-portrait projects using a variety of media.

The community is invited to a family night and open house Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Shadduck Park Community Center, 600 W. 2nd Ave. Current members, families, alumni, and newcomers are encouraged to attend. The club’s Avenue A site is full for summer, but openings remain for incoming sixth graders and older youth at Shadduck.

Patterson also announced that the Hutchinson club is helping to launch a similar program in Salina. Interviews are underway for a new director, and the goal is to open the new site by November.

“We’re excited to help build something from the ground up in Salina,” Patterson said. “It speaks volumes about the strength and reputation of what we’ve built here in Hutchinson.”

According to the club’s 2024 Impact Report, 99% of teen members believe they are prepared to succeed in the workplace, and 89% report an understanding of how their emotions impact their actions—skills the organization emphasizes through daily interaction and mentorship.

“Those results don’t happen by accident,” said Lindsey Fields, Director of Impact. “They’re the product of consistent support, strong relationships, and helping kids try things they wouldn’t have tried otherwise.”

Funding remains a challenge, however. The club relies heavily on grants, with 61% of its budget coming from such sources, including a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant that remains uncertain for future cycles.

“Grants give us heartburn because of their unpredictability,” Patterson said. “We’re constantly working to increase individual and local support so we can continue to meet the needs of our community no matter what.”

Despite funding hurdles, the club remains a critical community resource.

“Our youth are the future of this community,” Patterson said. “And our job is to make sure they’re ready for it.”

For more information on Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson or to get involved, visit <a href="http://www.bgchutch.com">www.bgchutch.com</a>.

Boys and Girls Club celebrating 35 years 

Commissioner Winger stopped by the BW Studios to visit with us about happenings in the county, and the ongoing budget process.&nbsp;

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Richard Winger, Reno County Commission 

Lindsey Fields and Lance Patterson of the Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson were in to talk about the 35th anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson happening this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Lindsey Fields and Lance Patterson, Boys and Girls Club of Hutchinson 

Some farmers, ranchers, and Agri-Chemical companies want the Trump administration to ask for their input on future activities of the Make America Healthy Again Commission. 

 That's because the commission blamed pesticides as a possible health risk in their first report.  The agriculture community said they weren't invited or involved in the first report, and it contained mistakes and distortions that have created fears about the safety of the food supply.

Listen to today's Ag Minute in the player below.&nbsp;

AG Minute: Make America Healthy Again Commission  

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. ——————————————

Thomas	David Cox&nbsp;6/22/2025 9:21 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;DUI; 1st conviction; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Katherine	Ann&nbsp;Mendenhall&nbsp;6/22/2025 9:00 PM&nbsp; Failure to Appear

Laithen	Levii Shocklee6/23/2025 4:55 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;Criminal Use of Weapons; Possession of Firearm by someone Addicted to and an unlawful user of controlled substance,&nbsp;Criminal Possession of Firearm by Felon; Conviction in Previous 5 Years of specified KSA,&nbsp;Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Theft; Possess Stolen Property; $1,500 to $24,999



Daily Bookings 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Monarchs (12-3) will pay host to the Wichita Wildcats tonight at Hobart-Detter Field in Carey Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Hutchinson is slated for 19 home games this season, all of which will be streamed live on HutchPost.com and the MonarchsLive.tv channel. Glen Grunwald of Eagle Media will handle the play-by-play, with Matt Peterson on the video stream.

🎥⚾ WATCH LIVE: Hutch hosts Wichita Wildcats tonight at Hobart-Detter Field

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will return to Missouri Western State University for their 2025 training camp, marking the 15th year the club has held camp in St. Joseph. The team and university have also agreed to a multi-year extension to continue the partnership.

Open practices are scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 22, and run through Wednesday, Aug. 13. All practices will take place on the Mosaic Training Fields and are free to the public unless otherwise noted. Fans must reserve tickets in advance at <a href="http://www.chiefs.com/trainingcamp">www.chiefs.com/trainingcamp</a>, and space is limited due to anticipated demand.

Season Ticket Members will have first access to reserve tickets beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 24. The general public can begin reserving tickets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25. Fans may reserve up to six tickets per day for a maximum of three practices. Paid practice days and exclusive Season Ticket Member dates do not count toward the three-practice limit.

Three practices will require a $6 admission fee: Sunday, July 27; Saturday, Aug. 2 (Family Fun Day); and Sunday, Aug. 3. Two practices—Tuesday, July 22 and Thursday, Aug. 7—are reserved exclusively for Chiefs Season Ticket Members and will not be open to the general public.

Ambassador Day is set for Monday, July 28, and Military Appreciation Day will be held on the final day of camp, Wednesday, Aug. 13. Team autograph sessions are scheduled for July 22, July 27, Aug. 2, Aug. 3 and Aug. 7.

Parking is $7 per vehicle and must be purchased in advance during the ticket reservation process. Parking will be free for Season Ticket Members on their two exclusive days. All tickets will be mobile-only and accessible through the Chiefs Mobile app.

🏈 Chiefs announce 2025 training camp schedule in St. Joseph; ticket reservations begin June 24

🎧⚾ Royals drop series in San Diego; 🏈 West wins 52nd Shrine Bowl; 🏀 Thunder wins first NBA title

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court for the final time this season, collapsed into the arms of coach Mark Daigneault and finally smiled.

The climb is complete. The rebuild is done. The Oklahoma City Thunder are champions.

The best team all season was the best team at the end, bringing the NBA title to Oklahoma City for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander finished off his MVP season with 29 points and 12 assists, and the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pacers-tyrese-haliburton-injury-game-7-8ef02bc6a6892d26c98a5dbee531c5cc">who lost Tyrese Haliburton to a serious leg injury in the opening minutes</a>&nbsp;— 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.

“It doesn’t feel real,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, the Finals MVP. “So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It’s crazy to know that we’re all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours and we deserve this.”

Jalen Williams scored 20 points and Chet Holmgren had 18 for the Thunder, who finished off a season for the ages. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and the playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third most in any season.

Only Golden State (88 in 2016-17) and the Bulls (87 in 2015-16) won more.

It’s the second championship for the franchise. The Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA title in 1979; the team was moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. There’s nothing in the rafters in Oklahoma City to commemorate that title.

In October, a championship banner is finally coming. A Thunder banner.

“They behave like champions. They compete like champions,” Daigneault said. “They root for each other’s success, which is rare in professional sports. I’ve said it many times and now I’m going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team and now they’re champions.”

The Pacers led 48-47 at the half even after losing Haliburton to what his father said was an Achilles tendon injury about seven minutes into the game. But they were outscored 34-20 in the third quarter as the Thunder built a 13-point lead and began to run away.

“Deflated, but proud of everything we’ve accomplished,” Pacers guard TJ McConnell said.

Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, which still is waiting for its first NBA title. The Pacers — who were 10-15 after 25 games and were bidding to be the first team in NBA history to turn that bad of a start into a championship — had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the series, but they simply didn’t have enough in the end.

Home teams improved to 16-4 in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-finals-2025-thunder-pacers-cc44027f3b4e715a5de3ac28fc4bcea3">NBA Finals</a>&nbsp;Game 7s. And the Thunder became the seventh champion in the last seven seasons, a run of parity like none other in NBA history.

Pacers forward Pascal Siakam was part of the Toronto team that won in 2019, Thunder guard Alex Caruso was part of the Los Angeles Lakers team that won in the pandemic “bubble” in 2020, Milwaukee won in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Pacers forward Thomas Bryant and Denver prevailed in 2023, and Boston won last year’s title.

And now, the Thunder get their turn. The youngest team to win a title in nearly a half-century has reached the NBA mountaintop.

The Thunder are the ninth franchise to win a title in NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s 12 seasons. His predecessor, David Stern, saw eight franchises win titles in his 30 seasons as commissioner.

🏀 Thunder beat Pacers in Game 7 for first NBA title

🏈 West team prevails in third quarter of 52nd Kansas Shrine Bowl

⚾ Wind Surge drops series finale to Travelers

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jose Iglesias tied the game with two-run, two-out, bases-loaded pinch-hit single in the seventh inning and then&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1936916158826864995">drove in the winning run</a>&nbsp;with a grounder in the ninth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Sunday to take two of three.

Iglesias hit a soft bouncer to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who fielded it, spun around and threw home too late to get Luis Arraez.

Arraez started the decisive rally with a single off Daniel Lynch IV (3-2) and took third on Xander Bogaerts' double. John Schreiber came on and allowed Iglesias' grounder.

Robert Suarez (2-3) worked the ninth. He is appealing his three-game suspension for hitting Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday night.

Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer for the Royals and phenom Jac Caglianone leaped and got his glove over the right-field wall to rob Jackson Merrill of a two-run home run in the eighth.

Seth Lugo, who pitched for the Padres in 2023, was brilliant in retiring 18 straight batters after allowing Fernando Tatis’ leadoff single.

The Padres finally broke through when Merrill, who returned from the seven-day concussion injured list, doubled into the right-field corner leading off the seventh. Lugo retired Manny Machado and made way for Angel Zerpa, who issued consecutive two-out walks.

Iglesias, pinch-hitting for left-hander Jake Cronenworth, hit an opposite-field single to right, and he tripped and fell breaking out of the box.

Perez lined a 1-0 pitch from Randy Vásquez 412 feet into the left-field stands to break a scoreless tie in the sixth.

Kansas City's Drew Waters was thrown out trying to score from first on Freddy Fermin’s double to center in the ninth.

It was Iglesias' fifth career walk-off and first since July 2, 2019, with Cincinnati.

⚾Iglesias drives in the tying and winning runs as the Padres beat the Royals 

🏀 McPherson's Pyle shines in KBCA Boys All-Star Game

🏀 Blue beats Gold in KBCA Girls All-Star Game 

WICHITA, Kan. — Ethan Giesbrecht struck out 11 over six strong innings and the Hutchinson Monarchs jumped out to an early lead in route to a 7-4 victory over the Wichita Wildcats Saturday night in Rose Hill.

Giesbrecht, who scattered five hits and allowed three runs while walking two, notched the win for Hutchinson (12-3), setting the tone early by striking out the side in the first inning — despite giving up a solo home run to Jackson Ellison.

The Monarchs grabbed control in the top of the first, capitalizing on early command issues from Wildcats starter Jace Meyer. After a single and two hit batters loaded the bases, Tyler Vassart roped a two-run double to right, and Hutchinson tacked on two more in the second on back-to-back bases-loaded walks.

The Wildcats cut the lead to 4-2 on a solo homer from Josiah Sems in the second and drew closer on a Gunner Lewis homer in the sixth. But Hutchinson answered in the top of the seventh, when Vassart launched a solo home run to center — his third RBI of the night — to push the lead to 6-3.

The Monarchs added an insurance run in the ninth when Vassart scored on a misplayed pop fly by the Wildcats’ infield.

Wichita threatened in the bottom of the ninth, plating a run on an RBI single from Austin Selenke, but Russell Copous slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts and a dropped third strike to end the game.

Copous earned the save, working the final frame after Daegan Vinduska tossed two solid innings in relief of Giesbrecht.

Meyer took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing four runs on three hits and five walks over just 1.2 innings.

Vassart led Hutchinson offensively, going 2-for-4 with a double, homer, walk, and three RBIs.

The Monarchs return home Monday night for their next contest versus the Wildcats at Hobart-Detter Field. First pitch is at 7pm and can be viewed on Hutchpost.com and monarchslive.tv.

⚾ Hutchinson Monarchs power past Wichita Wildcats behind Giesbrecht’s gem

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites but indicating it was prepared to step back from escalating tensions in the volatile region.

There were no U.S. casualties, President Donald Trump said, as he dismissed the attack as a “very weak response” and said the U.S. was warned by Iran in advance.

“Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

(President Trump visited the base in May.)

Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base attack, but said it successfully intercepted the short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.

Those comments, made immediately after the attack, suggested Iran wanted to de-escalate with the United States, something Trump himself said after the strikes early Sunday on Iran.

Trump said that Iran might be able to “now proceed to Peace and Harmony” and said he would encourage Israel to do the same.

However, Israel’s war on Iran continued, with the Israeli military expanding its campaign Monday to target sites symbolic for the country’s theocracy.

Iran announced the attack on state television as martial music played. A caption on screen called it “a mighty and successful response" to "America’s aggression.”

Iraqis said they were informed by U.S. officials that missiles were launched toward the the Ain al-Assad base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq, but the missiles never arrived, an Iraqi security official who was not authorized to comment publicly told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

A U.S. military official said there was no confirmed attack on the base in Iraq. He also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment.

Iran fired 19 missiles at the base in Qatar, and one impacted the facility but caused no casualties, a Qatari military officer said late Monday.

Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri told reporters that seven missiles were fired from Iran and all were intercepted over the water between the two countries by Qatari air defenses. Iran then fired 12 more missiles and 11 were intercepted over Qatari territory, but one hit the U.S. base, Al Hajri said.

It was not immediately clear how much damage was caused by the missile.

The number of missiles differed from a figure given by Trump, who said 14 missiles were fired, 13 were knocked down and one was “set free” because it posed no threat.

The Al Udeid base is also home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of air power across the region, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest such wing in the world.

Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”

The retaliation came a day after the U.S. launched a surprise attack Sunday morning on three of Iran’s nuclear sites.

Read President Trump's statement after Iran's strike on US air base

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied, and the price of oil tumbled Monday on hopes that Iran will not disrupt the global flow of crude, something that would hurt economies worldwide but also its own, following the United States’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">bunker-busting entry</a>&nbsp;into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-trump-bomber-news-06-23-2025-9e78510c88ccc5e262341f41550609c5">its war with Israel</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 climbed 1%, coming off a week where stock prices had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-inflation-73ce222b5b803474c48ff0008f5a8626">jumped up</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-tariffs-rates-b8cceca51655d69ee007b411bc9418b4">down</a>&nbsp;on worries about the conflict potentially escalating. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 374 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.9%.

The price of oil initially jumped 6% after trading began Sunday night, a signal of rising worries as investors got their first chance to react to the U.S. bombings. But it quickly erased all those gains and swung to a sharp loss as the focus shifted from what the U.S. military did to how Iran would react.

By late Monday, the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. oil had dropped 7.2% to settle at $68.51 after briefly topping $78. That brought it nearly all the way back to where it was before the fighting began over a week ago, when it was sitting just above $68.

The losses accelerated sharply after Iran announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-trump-bomber-news-06-23-2025-9e78510c88ccc5e262341f41550609c5">missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar</a>, which the U.S. military uses. Iran said it matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites this past weekend, which could be a signal of a desire to deescalate the conflict.

Perhaps most importantly for financial markets, Iran’s retaliation did not seem to target the flow of oil. The fear throughout the Israel-Iran war has been that it could squeeze the world’s supply of oil, which would pump up prices for it, gasoline and other products refined from crude.

Iran is a major producer of crude, and it could also try to block the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-israel-war-oil-15ce74cc8df0f19a6b7f6357773b07c8">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;off its coast, through which 20% of the world’s daily oil needs passes on ships.

Several analysts said Iran would likely not close the waterway because Iran itself uses the strait to move its own crude, mostly to China, and it needs the revenue made from such sales of oil.

“It’s a scorched earth possibility, a Sherman-burning-Atlanta move,” said Tom Kloza, chief market analyst at Turner Mason &amp; Co. “It’s not probable.”

Neil Newman, managing director of Atris Advisory Japan, said hope remains that the Israel-Iran war could be a short conflict, with the thinking being “the one big hit by the Americans will be effective and then we’ll get back to sort of business as usual, in which case there is no need for an immediate, panicky type of reaction.”

Of course, not everyone is sure about Iran’s next move.

Andy Lipow, a Houston analyst covering oil markets for 45 years, said countries are not always rational actors and that he wouldn’t be surprised if Tehran lashed out for political or emotional reasons.

“If the Strait of Hormuz was completely shut down, oil prices would rise to $120 to $130 a barrel,” said Lipow.

“It would mean higher prices for all those goods transported by truck, and it would be more difficult for the Fed to lower interest rates.”

The Federal Reserve has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-fed-fa91e7b38ca858ff54f57bc642111188">hesitant to cut interest rates</a>&nbsp;this year because it’s waiting to see how much&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;will hurt the economy and raise inflation.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-tariffs-b0f098351a1f3f850a4c20b215556027">Inflation</a>&nbsp;has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/producer-prices-inflation-economy-trump-tariffs-0a25bf91e2dde5df0d8c131a2d95c816">relatively tame</a>&nbsp;recently, but a rise in oil and gasoline prices would put upward pressure on it. That in turn could keep the Fed on hold because cuts to rates can fan inflation higher, along with giving the economy a boost.

In the bond market, Treasury yields eased after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-economy-inflation-a90fe4835c1e5d381d16e32bc778981d">Fed Gov. Michelle Bowman said she would support cutting</a>&nbsp;rates at the Fed’s next meeting in just a month, as long as “inflation pressures remain contained.”

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.33% from 4.38% late Friday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, dropped to 3.84% from 3.90%.

On Wall Street, Elon Musk’s Tesla was the single strongest force pushing the S&amp;P 500 higher after jumping 8.2%. The electric-vehicle company began a test run on Sunday of a small squad of self-driving cabs in Austin, Texas. It’s something that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-selfdriving-robotaxis-musk-waymo-austin-autonomous-d50749e288dc50ceff44b8e6a4b64961">Musk has long been touting</a>&nbsp;and integral to Tesla’s stock price being as high as it is.

Hims &amp; Hers Health tumbled 34.6% after Novo Nordisk said it will no longer work with the company to sell its popular Wegovy obesity drug. Novo Nordisk’s stock that trades in the United States fell 5.5%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 57.33 points to 6,025.17. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 374.96 to 42,581.78, and the Nasdaq composite gained 183.56 to 19,630.97.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. France’s CAC 40 sank 0.7%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

Stocks rally following the US air strikes on Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Defense Department official is confirming a missile attack from Iran on a U.S. military base in Qatar but says no casualties have been reported.

The official said Monday that Al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. The U.S. is continuing to monitor the situation, said the official.

The confirmation came soon after Iran acknowledged the missile attacks, saying the attack in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on its nuclear sites over the weekend, signaling its likely desire to de-escalate.

Iran launched attacks Monday, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the volatile region.

Shortly after the attack, the Gulf nation of Bahrain that is home to the U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters temporarily suspended flights in its airspace, which is similar to what Qatar did shortly before it was hit.

Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base attack, but said it successfully intercepted the missiles and no casualties were reported. It said its airspace is now safe.

Iran said the attack in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on its nuclear sites over the weekend, signaling its likely desire to de-escalate.

Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.

The Ain al-Assad base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq was also targeted, an Iraqi security official who was not authorized to comment publicly told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

But Iran did not claim credit for that attack, which could have been carried out by militias.

It was not immediately clear if there was damage to the Iraq base or any injuries.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the attack by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards was “a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, its airspace, and international law.”

Al Udeid is also home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of air power across the region as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the world.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched missile attacks Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the volatile region.

Israel expands war to include symbolic targets

Earlier in the day, Israel expanded its war against Iran to include targets associated with the country's struggling theocracy, striking the gate of a Tehran prison notorious for holding political activists and hitting the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests.

As plumes of thick smoke rose over Tehran, Israel was attacked with yet another barrage of Iranian missiles and drones. The persistent fire has become a reality for civilians in both countries since Israel started the war to target Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.

On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel said it attacked “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” but Israeli officials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran's government, their archenemy since the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Israeli military warned Iranians that it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran over “the coming days” as its focuses has shifted to symbolic targets as well. The military issued the warning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world as an internet shutdown has crippled the country.

The latest strikes unfolded only hours after President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility himself after just a day earlier inserting America into the war with its unprecedented stealth-bomber strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.

“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he asked on his Truth Social website.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later described Trump as “simply raising a question.” However, suggestions of overthrowing the Iranian government drew new anger from Tehran, which insists it will not negotiate at this time and is threatening to retaliate directly against either American troops or interests in a Mideast already inflamed by the still-raging Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

In the Tehran strikes, Israel blew open a gate at Evin prison. Iranian state television shared black-and-white surveillance footage of the strike at the facility known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

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