On Thursday, March 5th, 2026, members of the Hutchinson Police Department Special Operations Unit, Repeat Offender Unit, and Investigations Division served a search warrant related to suspected drug distribution at 2620 East 2nd Avenue in Hutchinson, Kansas. As a result of the investigation, officers seized approximately 302 grams of methamphetamine, 239 grams of marijuana, 56 grams of THC wax, 14 pills, THC cartridges, one firearm, and U.S. currency. One juvenile was placed into police protective custody.

Following completion of the investigation, the listed individuals were arrested on the charges noted:

Travis R. Boyd, 42-year-old male of Hutchinson, was arrested for Distribution of Opiates x2, Distribution of Hallucinogenic, Aggravated Endangering a Child, Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Opiates x2, Arrange Sale/Purchase of Controlled Substance Using a Communication Facility, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Jessica H. Ramey, 27-year-old female of Salina, was arrested for Possession of a Stimulant with 1 Prior Conviction, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

· Mark D. Benewiat, 57 year old male of Hutchinson, was arrested for Distribution of Opiates, Arrange Sale/Purchase of Controlled Substance Using a Communication Facility, Possession of Opiates, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While License Suspended.

Ashlynn N. Hamby Raya, 23 year old female of Great Bend, was arrested for Distribution of Opiates, Distribution of Hallucinogenic, Sell/Distribute/Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Opiates, Possession of Marijuana with 1 Prior Conviction, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

· Rhyen J. Naab, 31 year old male of Hesston, was arrested for Possession of Stimulants with 1 Prior Conviction, Possession of Marijuana with 2 Prior Convictions, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

If you have information about the distribution of narcotics, please contact the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2816, your local law enforcement agency, or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 800-222-TIPS. You can also use the P3Tips App on your smartphone, or text RENOKS to 738477 to receive a link to an anonymous tip form. (Msg frequency varies. Msg &amp; data rates may apply. Text HELP for help and STOP to cancel. P3 Terms and Privacy Policy.)

Five arrested in drug distribution investigation

Dear Dave, How do you feel about moving credit card balances to other companies to get lower rates when you’re trying to get out of debt?

I just paid off my first credit card, and a friend suggested this idea for paying off the others faster. — Von

Dear Von, Lots of people think they’ve really done something big to solve their debt problems when they do this. And I’m sure your friend is trying to help with this suggestion, but you’ve got to remember that getting out of debt, and gaining control of your finances, is all about changing the habits of the person you see in the mirror every day. You’ve got to make a commitment to a lifestyle change that includes getting out of debt, staying out of debt, and sticking to a written, monthly budget. That includes keeping track of every, single dollar, giving it a job to do and living on less than you make.

Now, your friend’s idea might help speed up the process a tiny bit. But the habits that got you into debt in the first place won’t change just because you’ve switched credit card companies. What you’re talking about is an easy way to lower the interest rates—temporarily, in most cases—but it doesn’t change your everyday behavior with money.  

When people have problems with debt, it’s often the result of dumb financial choices and living above their means. I’ve run into so many folks who got into trouble with money just because they wanted to impress other people. But guess what? When you change, interest rates don’t matter nearly as much. And when you shift your mindset about money, it will make a huge difference in a way that changing credit card companies and chasing lower interest rates can’t.

I hope this helps, Von. And take a look at my Baby Steps plan while you’re at it. I promise, if you follow those steps, it will help you move forward, get ahead and put you on the road to a debt-free life and financial peace! 

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: The face in the mirror

The Hutchinson Animal Shelter is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a little luck and a lot of love, offering a special adoption promotion designed to help adult pets find their forever homes.

Now through St. Patrick’s Day, anyone adopting an adult dog or adult cat at the shelter will have the chance to receive a discounted — or even free — adoption fee through the shelter’s “Clover Wall” promotion.

Under the promotion, prospective adopters first meet a pet and complete the standard adoption application and approval process. Once approved, adopters will pull a clover from the shelter’s Clover Wall at the time of payment. The amount written on the back of the clover will determine the adoption fee, with possibilities ranging from $5 off the regular price to completely free.

Shelter staff say the promotion is designed to encourage more people to consider adopting adult animals, which are often overlooked compared to puppies and kittens.

Adult pets can offer several advantages for new owners. Their personalities are already established, and many have moved beyond the high-energy stages that come with very young animals, making them easier for some families to integrate into their homes.

The Hutchinson Animal Shelter hopes the promotion will help more adult dogs and cats find permanent homes during the St. Patrick’s Day season.

Residents interested in adopting can visit the Hutchinson Animal Shelter anytime between now and St. Patrick’s Day to meet available pets and try their luck on the Clover Wall.

Hutch Animal Shelter holding special St. Patrick's Day adoption event

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. ——————————————

Richard		Acosta	III	3/6/2026 9:37&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Timmy	Lee	True&nbsp; 3/6/2026 1:11&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Reghan	Anastacia	ONeal		3/6/2026 1:44&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Clint	Devon	Keim		3/6/2026 2:40&nbsp;PM	Poss of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Kimberly	Stephanie	Ortiz-Portela		3/6/2026 3:08&nbsp;PM	Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500,					Criminal Trespass; Defiance of Order

Ian	Stuart	Laymon		3/6/2026 7:20&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Joshua	William	Kelley		3/6/2026 7:40&nbsp;PM	Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Introduce Firearm, Ammo, Explosive or Controlled Subst,					Agg battery; Recklessly use deadly weapon

Nicholas	James	Loesch		3/6/2026 8:01&nbsp;PM	DUI; Alcohol or drugs; Felony

William	Leon	Shumway	Jr	3/6/2026 10:51&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

Reno Valley Middle School will host its 30th annual Empty Bowls Supper on Thursday, March 12, continuing a long-standing tradition that raises funds to help fight hunger in Reno County.

The event began three decades ago when former Reno Valley art teacher Jean Regier learned about similar community dinners from her sister, who was teaching art in California. Inspired by the concept, Regier worked with school administrators and fellow teachers to launch the program locally.

“Thirty years ago, my sister was talking about the Empty Bowls suppers they had around her school,” Regier said. “So I looked into it, and here we are 30 years later.”

From its earliest days, the project combined art, music and community service. Students created handmade clay bowls in art class while the school’s music program provided entertainment during the supper.

Today, the tradition continues under the coordination of Betsy Koon, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Reno Valley Middle School. Koon has led the event for the past 10 years after Regier retired, working alongside a large team of teachers and staff who help organize the evening.

“We kind of have it down to a science after 30 years,” Koon said. “We have different teams that handle different pieces of the project, and everyone works together to make it happen.”

A central part of the event is the creation of hundreds of handmade ceramic bowls. Middle school students craft the bowls using several pottery techniques, including coil building, pinch pots and slab construction. In previous years, high school pottery students also assisted by using potter’s wheels to form bowls that middle school students then decorated.

After the bowls are shaped, they must dry for about a week before being fired in a kiln. The pottery goes through a two-step firing process — first a “bisque firing” at roughly 1,500 degrees, followed by glazing and a second firing at temperatures near 2,100 degrees.

Because each kiln can only hold so many pieces at once, producing a full batch of bowls takes several weeks.

“It’s a long process,” Regier said. “But by the time we’re finished, we have a great variety of bowls made by the students.”

The evening itself centers on a community chili supper. Students help supply ingredients such as beans, tomatoes, crackers and other items through a schoolwide collection effort, allowing nearly all funds raised to go directly to charity.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Christian Soup Ministry in downtown Hutchinson, which provides meals and support for individuals facing food insecurity.

Koon said the cause is especially meaningful for students after learning about hunger challenges in the community.

“In Reno County, nearly 16 percent of residents face some level of food insecurity,” Koon said. “That’s a big number for a county our size, and we’re proud to support a place like the Christian Soup Ministry that helps those families.”

The 30th annual Empty Bowls Supper will take place at Reno Valley Middle School on Thursday, March 12. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with chili served beginning at that time. A student dramatic performance titled Yaron, the Yodeling Cowboy, written by teacher Dan Brinkley, will begin around 6 p.m.

The event is open to the public and operates on a free-will donation. Each family attending will receive a handmade bowl created by students as a keepsake of the evening.

Organizers say the tradition has grown into a meaningful way for students and the broader community to come together in support of neighbors in need.

“It really shows how our county pulls together,” Koon said. “People give what they can from the heart, and it all goes to help someone who needs it.”

Reno Valley Middle School to host 30th Annual Empty Bowl Supper

 New Beginnings has announced the hiring of Carissa Paxton as its new director of housing, a position aimed at strengthening efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities in the Hutchinson community.

Paxton brings extensive experience in housing development, community needs assessment and residential real estate to the role. Her background includes work in both public service and nonprofit initiatives focused on housing and community engagement.

Before joining New Beginnings, Paxton served as the youth leadership program coordinator for Rise Up Reno Prevention Network. She also previously worked as housing coordinator for the City of Hutchinson, where she was involved in local housing initiatives and community development efforts.

In addition to her nonprofit and municipal experience, Paxton continues to work as a residential real estate specialist, giving her additional insight into the local housing market.

Officials with New Beginnings said Paxton’s experience in housing policy, development and community collaboration will help support the organization’s work in addressing housing needs and expanding affordable housing options in the area.

The director of housing position was created through funding provided by the Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Housing Initiative. The grant supports efforts to strengthen housing resources and increase access to affordable housing in Hutchinson and Reno County.

New Beginnings hires Carissa Paxton as director of housing

Students from the International Baccalaureate Visual Arts program at Hutchinson High School will showcase their work during a special public reception Friday evening at the Hutchinson Art Center.

The event will take place Friday, March 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the art center and will highlight artwork created by students enrolled in the IB Visual Arts program at Hutchinson High School.

Organizers say the evening is designed to celebrate the creativity and dedication of local student artists while giving the community an opportunity to view their work in a professional gallery setting.

Guests attending the reception will be able to explore a variety of student-created pieces while enjoying light refreshments and live music performed by students from the Hutchinson High School Orchestra.

The event is free and open to the public.

Hutchinson Art Center to showcase Hutch High artists

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped nearly 27 cents since last week to $3.25. The conflict in the Middle East has sent crude oil prices higher to the mid $70/barrel range. 

The recent increase puts the national average at the same price as it was in early April of 2025. Springtime typically sees higher gas prices as gasoline demand rises and summer-blend gasoline production begins. 

The last time the national average made a similar weekly jump was back in March of 2022 during the start of the Russia/Ukraine conflict. 

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/" target="_blank">new data from the Energy Information Administration</a>&nbsp;(EIA), gasoline&nbsp;demand&nbsp;decreased&nbsp;last week from 8.73 million barrels per day to 8.29 million. Total domestic&nbsp;gasoline&nbsp;supply&nbsp;decreased&nbsp;from&nbsp;254.8 million&nbsp;barrels&nbsp;to&nbsp;253.1 million.&nbsp;

Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day.&nbsp;

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI&nbsp;rose 10 cents to settle at $74.66&nbsp;a barrel.&nbsp;The EIA&nbsp;reports&nbsp;crude oil inventories&nbsp;increased by 3.5 million barrels from the previous week. 

At 439.3 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the&nbsp;five-year&nbsp;average for this time of year.&nbsp;

Jump at the pump as gas average goes up nearly 27 cents

A bridge replacement project in rural McPherson County will require the temporary closure of a section of Comanche Road beginning next week.

According to McPherson County Public Works, crews will replace a bridge located just west of K-61 Highway along Comanche Road. To allow for construction, Comanche Road will be closed to through traffic between K-61 and 9th Avenue.

Officials said the area immediately surrounding the bridge will be closed to all traffic during the project.

The closure is expected to begin Monday, March 9, with construction anticipated to last about seven months, weather permitting.

Bridge Replacement to close portion of Comanche Road

Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across central Kansas Friday afternoon and evening, bringing the potential for damaging winds, large hail and the possibility of a strong tornado. 

Our weather partners at KSStorm.info say scattered severe storms are likely to form across central Kansas, including Hutchinson, Salina and Wichita. Storms are expected to begin developing after about 4 p.m. as a cold front moves southeast through the region. 

Storms that develop could produce several dangerous conditions, including:

The strongest storms are expected to move across central Kansas between about 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., with the potential for severe weather continuing overnight as the storm system tracks southeast. 

Areas farther east in Kansas and into Missouri could see storms arrive later in the evening, possibly after 8 p.m. 

Emergency officials encourage residents to prepare ahead of the storms by:

The severe weather threat could last into the early morning hours Saturday as storms continue pushing southeast across the region.&nbsp;

Severe storms possible across central Kansas

The Kansas Legislature has officially passed HCR5022, a resolution calling for a convention to propose congressional term limits.

Following the measure’s earlier approval in the Kansas House, the Kansas Senate finalized passage today with a bipartisan 30–8 vote, marking a significant step in a growing national movement aimed at advancing term limits for members of Congress.

The resolution was led by Sen. Mike Thompson and Rep. Bill Sutton and is supported by the nonpartisan nonprofit U.S. Term Limits, which has been working with states across the country to encourage congressional action on the issue.

By approving HCR5022, Kansas joins other states urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment establishing term limits. Advocates say the effort is designed to demonstrate that states are prepared to take action if Congress does not act first.

Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, a convention to propose amendments can be called if 34 states pass similar resolutions. Historically, when the number of states calling for a convention has grown, Congress has often acted on the issue before a convention is held.

“This achievement reflects the growing demand from Americans for reform in Washington,” said Philip Blumel, president of U.S. Term Limits. “Eighty-seven percent of Americans support term limits on Congress, with strong majorities across party lines. By passing this resolution, Kansas is helping remind Congress that the American people expect action — and that expectation is only growing stronger.”

HCR5022 received bipartisan support in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. With the Senate’s approval today and the House’s earlier passage this session, the resolution is now officially enrolled.

Kansas legislature passes resolution supporting congressional term limits convention

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michigan-wolverines-football">Michigan football</a>&nbsp;coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sherrone-moore-michigan-ecc29f440a54659c40a98b02f3b534ce">Sherrone Moore</a>&nbsp;pleaded no contest Friday to two misdemeanors in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-sherrone-moore-5bbef9c47eb0a4048818e80c443a9767">criminal case</a>&nbsp;that arose immediately after he was fired for having an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/sherrone-moore-charged-with-stalking-home-invasion-after-being-fired-as-michigan-football-coach-25f92f6b73e648ce9732612d49c43adb">inappropriate relationship</a>&nbsp;with his executive assistant.

The deal was struck on the same day that a judge planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/ex-michigan-football-coach-sherrone-moores-attorney-seeks-to-have-charges-dismissed-e07c02892ab24eb28a4904d0d717fd9e">hear a challenge</a>&nbsp;to Moore’s arrest in December on three charges, including felony home invasion. Those charges were dropped in exchange for Moore pleading no contest to misdemeanor trespassing and misdemeanor malicious use of a telecom device.

“Things have changed,” Judge J. Cedric Simpson said.

Moore had confronted the woman with whom he had been having an affair and blamed her for his dismissal, even threatening to kill himself with butter knives in her apartment, authorities said.

Fired Michigan football coach, Kan. native, reaches plea deal in home invasion case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli and American authorities spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sharing information that allowed the strikes to be carried out in a surprise daylight attack, according to an Israeli military official and a person familiar with the operation.

(Video below of Iran President Ali Khamenei at the UN Sept. 22, 1987-CSPAN)

The eventual barrage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran</a>&nbsp;came so quickly that they were nearly simultaneous — with three strikes in three locations hitting within a single minute — killing Khamenei and some 40 senior figures, including the head of the Revolutionary Guard and the country’s defense minister, the Israeli military official said.

The official insisted on anonymity to more fully detail the attack, but said that a variety of factors created a golden opportunity to take out much of Iran’s leadership, like weeks of training and monitoring the movements of senior figures as well as intelligence in real-time before the attack began that key targets were gathered together.

Striking by day also gave an additional element of surprise, said the official, who said that so many major, rapid-fire strikes were critical to keep key officials from fleeing after the first strike. The official said Israel closely cooperated with its U.S. counterparts and had used a similar tactic at the beginning of last June’s war — which resulted in the killing of several senior Iranian figures.

The official also noted Khamenei having posted defiant tweets taunting President Donald Trump in the days before the attack.

The details about the strikes came as the conflict entered its second day, with Trump saying in a video message Sunday that he expected it would continue until “all of our objectives are achieved.” He did not spell out what those objectives were.

The Republican president also said the U.S. military and its partners hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including paramilitary Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems and nine warships, “all in a matter of literally minutes.”

Before the attacks, the CIA had for months tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including the country’s supreme leader.

The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of the strikes was adjusted in part because of that information about the Iranian leaders’ location, according to the person, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The intelligence-sharing between U.S. and Israel reflects the preparation that went into the strikes, which continued for a second day Sunday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">Khamenei’s killing</a>&nbsp;threw the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the Islamic Republic</a>&nbsp;into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-succession-c1d1505581d36ffc84d3ededcb10a7d5">uncertainty</a>&nbsp;and raised the risk of escalating regional conflict.

Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that tracking the movements of the supreme leader and the heads of other adversarial nations “is obviously one of the highest priorities of our intelligence community.”

The U.S. regularly shares intelligence with allies including Israel. Those partnerships, and the accuracy of the intelligence they yield, is often critical not only to the success of a military operation but also to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-war-wmds-us-intelligence-f9e21ac59d3a0470d9bfcc83544d706e">public’s support for it</a>.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the committee, told The Associated Press that, historically, “our working relationship with the Mossad and Israel is really strong.” Mossad is the Israeli spy agency.

Warner said he has serious concerns about the justification for the strikes, Trump’s long-term plans for the conflict and the risks that U.S. service members will face. The military announced that three American troops had been killed in the Iran operation.

“No tears will be shed over their leadership being eliminated, but always the question is: OK, what next?” Warner said.

How CIA tracked Iranian leaders for months ahead of attacks 

Public ownership of stadium shields bonds for project from federal income tax

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/"></a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House introduced legislation Friday authorizing creation of a state sports authority to allow construction of a publicly owned stadium spectacular enough to persuade the Kansas City Chiefs to move from Missouri to Kansas.

Public ownership of the $3 billion stadium was viewed as a necessity because private ownership would make the $1.8 billion in state bonds issued for the project subject to federal income taxes.

Attorney Korb Maxwell told state lawmakers in January that failure to form a sports authority to allow stadium ownership by the state would likely kill the project.

Terms of the sports authority legislation involving the state of Kansas and owners of the Chiefs were outlined in an 11-page bill scheduled to be discussed Tuesday during a joint session of the House and Senate commerce committees.

The bill introduced by Rep. Sean Tarwater, a suburban Kansas City Republican, would need to be fast-tracked during the final two or three weeks of the 2026 session of the Legislature.

Under House Bill 2793, the nine voting members of the sports authority would have to be appointed by Aug. 31. Members of the board would be Kansas residents and chosen by the governor and leaders of the House and Senate. The group would include a representative of the Chiefs and the secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The bill would allow the sports authority to take possession of facilities other than the domed stadium constructed for the Chiefs. The authority would be authorized to sell real or personal property and be exempt from state property tax. In addition, the authority would be exempt from city, county and state sales taxes.

Purchases by the sports authority for contractual services, construction, repairs, supplies, equipment or furniture “shall not be subject to the competitive bidding requirements” of state law, the bill said.

The deal would enable the Chiefs to engage in a lease agreement giving the franchise exclusive use of the stadium at agreed upon times and the right to retain some or all revenue from ticket sales, suite licenses, personalized seat licenses, concessions, advertising, naming rights, broadcast deals and other income tied to the stadium.

The sports authority would be responsible for submitting annual reports to the Legislative Coordinating Council and the commerce committees of the House and Senate.

The Legislature is taking up the House bill at a time when some lawmakers have expressed opposition to the incentive package for construction of a stadium and practice facility for the Chiefs.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat seeking the party’s nomination for governor, said the stadium plan was a “raw deal for Kansans.”

“At a time when our leaders should be laser focused on lowering costs for Kansans, instead they are delivering a massive giveaway to billionaires and asking us to foot the bill,” Holscher said. “The stadium deal makes big promises of nebulous economic growth, but risks blowing open our state budget.”

The bill doesn’t outline boundaries of the STAR bond district in Johnson and Wyandotte counties that would generate sales tax revenue to pay for construction projects serving the Chiefs.

Kansas House introduces bill creating sports authority needed to complete Chiefs stadium deal

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement a investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have released the name of the victim as 58-year-old Derrick Copeland,&nbsp;according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just after 4:30pm Thursday were dispatched to a reported shooting at an apartment building in the 1200 block of Askew in Kansas City, according to Becchina.

Officers were led into an apartment inside the building. There they located a Copeland unresponsive. Officers called for EMS into the scene who declared Copeland deceased.&nbsp;

 Preliminary investigation indicates that a caller responded to the apartment and observed Copeland injured and unresponsive inside. The caller then called 911 for police and ambulance. There are not any suspects in custody at this time.&nbsp;

Police ID 58-year-old homicide victim found in KC apartment

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned in a Truth Social post that more Iranian officials will be targets, saying, “Today Iran will be hit very hard!,” while noting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-7-2026-d347fd6a03185f51d670bf4e7cbf5373">an apology by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian</a>&nbsp;earlier in the day to neighboring nations over Tehran’s attacks.

Gulf countries say they have intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.

Saudi Arabia said it stopped four drones attacking the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours. Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were interrupted after passengers were ushered down into train tunnels as several blasts were heard and the alert sounded.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-russia-intelligence-35afae34198408d670941f971d383378">hammered Beirut and Tehran</a>. Death toll continued to rise Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;were reported killed.

&nbsp;President Trump’s administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026#0000019c-c378-d99c-af9e-e7799c500000">would not negotiate with Iran</a>&nbsp;without its “unconditional surrender.”

Read President Trump's new warning to officials in Iran

JOHNSON COUNTY —Lightning caused significant damage to a Kansas home Friday.

Just before 12:30 pm, firefighters at a “lightning strike investigation” discovered fire in the basement at a home near 143rd St. and Pflumm Road, according to a social media report from the Olathe Fire Department. 

Lightning appears to have struck the roof. Damage inside the home is significant. There were no injuries. Four people are temporarily displaced. Olathe Police Department, Overland Park Fire Department and Johnson County MED-ACT helped at the scene.

Lightning strike caused significant damage to Kansas home 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026">U.S. and Israel continue their bombardment</a>&nbsp;and Iran fires retaliatory salvos at American assets and allies in the Persian Gulf.

Still, it's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. Russia is in the rare club of countries that maintains friendly relations with Tehran, which has faced years of isolation over its nuclear program and its support of proxy groups that have wreaked havoc in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

The White House downplayed reports that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. targets in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday told reporters that “it clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a CBS' “60 Minutes” interview on Friday said the U.S. is “tracking everything” and factoring it into battle plans, when asked about the reports Russia was aiding Iran.

“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” he said. “And anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly.”

Leavitt declined to say if Trump had spoken to Russian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;about the reported intelligence sharing or whether he believed Russia should face repercussions, saying she would let the president speak to that himself.

Asked whether Russia would go beyond political support and offer military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been no such request from Tehran.

“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue,” he said Friday.

Pushed on whether Moscow has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the Iran war’s start, he refrained from comment.

Russia has tightened its relationship with Iran as it looked for badly needed missiles and drones to utilize in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">four-year war against Ukraine.</a>

The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.

The former U.S. administration also accused Iran of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-ukraine-ballistic-missiles-us-intelligence-1e637abe11396989c641fa5bf3f57b24">transferring short-range ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Russia for its war in Ukraine</a>.

Details about the U.S. intelligence were first reported by The Washington Post.

Asked whether the revelation had shaken Trump’s faith in Putin’s ability to cut any peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, Leavitt said, “I think the president would say that peace is still an achievable objective with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-iran-5cafbae5d360a44c4502b69647269037">seeking Ukraine’s expertise</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-gulf-war-drone-49c8ea76358e579447ff839485f394ac">countering Iran’s Shahed drones</a>. Tehran has been supplying Russia with Shaheds for its war on Ukraine and are now utilizing them in retaliatory attacks throughout the Gulf.

Zelenskyy says that he's spoken to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation.

“Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night," said Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. “When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help.”

Trump, who has struggled to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war, has had an up-and-down relationship with Zelenskyy. He's frequently pressured the Ukrainian leader to heed Russian demands, including that Kyiv concede Ukrainian territory still in its control.

🎥Hegseth on report Russia is giving Iran intel on U.S. military targets

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — Kansans won’t know until at least Tuesday if a judge will delay implementation of the state’s new “bathroom law,” but a concession by Attorney General Kris Kobach means key components of the law can be delayed until March 26.

Douglas County District Judge James McCabria heard arguments Friday about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 244</a>, the controversial new law that forces people to use bathrooms in government buildings and gender markers on driver’s licenses based on sex assigned at birth.

The three-hour hearing focused on technicalities, including whether the law meets any one of five specific criteria that would lead the judge to approve a temporary restraining order and pause enforcement of the law for up to 14 days.

Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Kansas Department of Administration&nbsp; said the law’s speedy implementation provided no grace period to Kansans needing a new driver’s license and for government leaders statewide to put a system in place for tracking bathroom usage.

The law took effect Feb. 26, a little over a week after the GOP-led Legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. Kansans who held driver’s licenses with a gender marker that didn’t match their sex at birth were told their licenses were immediately invalidated and government leaders statewide were told they had to immediately enforce the bathroom portion of the bill.

Kobach told McCabria he agreed to give Kansans who needed to update driver’s licenses until March 26 to complete that. He also said he wouldn’t enforce the law’s penalties — which could be as high as $125,000 per day for violations — for cities, counties, municipalities and schools that might violate the bathroom rules, as well.

Harper Seldin, an ACLU attorney representing the two Lawrence transgender men who brought a case against the law under pseudonyms Daniel Doe and Matthew Moe, told the judge the law violates the Kansas Constitution.

SB 244 infringes on the rights of personal autonomy, expectations of privacy, and equal protection under the law, and has other issues, he said.

“The attorney general is incorrect when he says that we’re asking the court to break new ground,” Seldin said. “This is not a novel set of theories that require the government to do anything. The thread through these individual rights claims is that this is about Daniel and Matthew’s right to be left alone by the government.”

Seldin also said the law targets transgender individuals, which can be shown by the results of its implementation even if it’s not stated outright. He said the way SB 244 was implemented violated the Kansas Constitution when the bathroom portion of the bill was “logrolled” into the bill that originally addressed driver’s license and birth certificate gender markers.

Logrolling refers to dropping a bill into an unrelated bill, sidestepping the opportunity for public input. Seldin said cramming two separate subjects into one law violates the Kansas Constitution, which has a “single subject” clause.

Kobach said the two issues are congruent in that they both deal with defining sex within Kansas government.

“It’s this idea that bills should mean what they say and say what they mean,” Seldin said. “There’s a particular perniciousness to a law that hides the law.”

Kobach told the judge that a driver’s license is a government document, used for government purposes, and the state has the right to define the information contained in the document.

McCabria questioned Kobach about briefs included in the plaintiff testimony outlining the negative psychological effects on transgender people being made to use documents that don’t match their gender identity.

“Whatever a person may feel about their need to be perceived by the world in a certain way, what right do I have to compel the government to identify me in that way?” McCabria asked.

Kobach said the driver’s license is a document that records pertinent information, and sex is one of the elements, along with eye color and birthdate, that doesn’t change over time.

Kobach said the bathroom portion of the bill maintains the status quo in Kansas, where he contended residents have always gone to the bathroom that matches their biological sex at birth.

Seldin said trans people in the state have been going to the bathroom without any harms for decades.

Kobach said women who hear a man’s voice or see a man in private spaces could become anxious about their safety.

He acknowledged plaintiff’s assertions about the psychological or emotional harm they may suffer but told McCabria that in a balance of equities, that didn’t outweigh the harms of “99-plus percent of the population.”

When McCabria asked him to substantiate that number, Kobach said he didn’t mean to imply that everyone outside of transgender individuals were harmed by the law.

“Many courts have recognized the fear that ‘biological females’ have when a ‘biological male’ is in the bathroom with them, and that is something that I think any Kansan can identify with, especially a female,” Kobach said after the hearing.

Asked how women would be affected by seeing or hearing a transgender man who now has to use a woman’s bathroom, Kobach said, “All kinds of hypothetical cases are possible.”

McCabria said he had hoped to make a ruling Friday but that he needs more time to study the filings in the case and examine constitutional issues. He said he expects to rule by Tuesday.

“I think most people want to be respectful,” Seldin said after the hearing. “I think most people don’t want to pry into other people’s private lives. I think a law like this suggests the opposite, that Kansans have some prurient interest in other people’s habits and private spaces. And I don’t think that’s right.”

Z Kemp attended the hearing because her partner and many friends are affected. She said the law has caused “a lot of stress and anxiety.”

“That’s just unnecessary because as they’ve stated before, there was — especially with the bathroom situation —- no prior problem,” she said. “It’s only a problem whenever you make it a problem. I don’t think it’s that radical to just let trans people be. Just let them go to the bathroom.”

Avie Fallis said she has been through a lot of physical and legal changes to find herself. She said she is tired of well-meaning people recommending that she leave Kansas, which is her home state where her family and loved ones live.

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