Ed. Note: We have corrected this article. The original article had an incorrect address for the fire.&nbsp;

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Fire crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 800 block of East Avenue B on Monday afternoon, where firefighters quickly contained a blaze at the rear of a home.

When crews arrived, they found a small exterior fire on the back of the residence. Firefighters made an aggressive exterior attack and brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading further into the structure.

The home was occupied at the time of the fire, but the homeowner escaped safely. Reno County EMS evaluated the resident at the scene and later released them.

Fire officials said damage was limited to the exterior and first floor of the residence. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Hutchinson Fire thanked Reno County EMS, Reno County Emergency Communications, the American Red Cross and the Hutchinson Police Department for assisting at the scene.

Hutchinson firefighters contain house fire

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As St. Patrick’s Day celebrations take place across the United States, a local pastor with roots in Northern Ireland is offering perspective on the holiday’s deeper meaning—while also highlighting a long-running international youth program that continues to impact lives in Hutchinson.

Keith Neill, associate minister at First Presbyterian Church, said St. Patrick’s Day has historically been more than parades and festivities, particularly in Ireland.

“St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was taken as a slave from Britain as a teenager, escaped, and later felt called to return to Ireland to spread Christianity,” Neill said. “For a long time, the day was centered around religious services.”

Neill noted that prior to the 1970s, pubs in Ireland were closed on March 17 in recognition of the holiday’s religious significance. While modern celebrations now include parades in cities such as Belfast, Londonderry and Dublin, he said the day remains a public holiday focused on family and heritage.

He also pointed out that some traditions commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day in the United States are not rooted in Irish culture.

“The corned beef and cabbage tradition is really Irish American,” Neill said. “Back home, it would be more stews and traditional dishes. And not everyone wears green—historically, people might wear a shamrock instead.”

Neill, who is from Northern Ireland, said differences in how the holiday is observed between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have diminished over time.

“Thankfully, we’ve reached a point where people can celebrate St. Patrick as part of shared heritage, rather than seeing it through a religious divide,” he said.

In addition to discussing the holiday, Neill highlighted the Ulster Project, a youth leadership and cultural exchange initiative that has brought Northern Irish teens to Hutchinson for more than two decades.

The program began in 1975 during “The Troubles,” a period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, with the goal of fostering understanding and leadership among young people from different religious and cultural backgrounds.

“It was about taking young people out of that environment and helping them see a different way forward,” Neill said. “I was part of the very first group in 1975, and it had a profound impact on my life.”

Hutchinson became a host community for the Ulster Project in 2000. Since then, local families have welcomed teens from Portadown, Northern Ireland, each summer.

This year’s group is scheduled to arrive July 1 at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport. Participants are selected through an interview process in Northern Ireland, with organizers aiming to choose students who demonstrate leadership potential.

“We always say we’re getting the cream of the crop,” Neill said. “These are young people whose families are invested in giving them this opportunity to grow and make a difference.”

During their stay, teens are paired with host families and participate in activities designed to build relationships across cultural and religious lines. Neill said the experience often exposes participants to new perspectives, including attending different church services and adapting to cultural differences in daily life.

“The openness here, especially around faith, is something that really stands out to them,” he said. “And, of course, the Kansas summer heat is always a bit of a shock.”

Neill said the program’s impact extends well beyond the summer experience, with many participants maintaining lifelong friendships.

“We’ve seen young people stay connected for years,” he said. “Some have even had their American host friends stand up in their weddings. Those relationships are lasting.”

As preparations continue for this summer’s visit, Neill said the Ulster Project remains a meaningful example of how cultural exchange can build understanding and shape future leaders.

“It’s about relationships,” he said. “And those relationships can change lives—not just for the kids who come, but for the families and the community here as well.”

St. Patrick's Day: Irish traditions, The Ulster Project

RENO COUNTY, Kan — Nitrate levels have continued to be above allowable limits in Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area. The last nitrate level test was collected on March 4, 2026. The level tested at 13 mg/L, which exceeds the Kansas and Federal (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L for public water supply systems. The nitrate levels in water resources have fluctuated in many areas which come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems and run-off).

Reno County provides routine notices for acute nitrate violations from KDHE. Notices provide Yoder residents education about nitrates in drinking water, and informs residents that bottled water will be provided, upon request, to any household with members at increased risk from the nitrates, such as infants under 6 months, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and other at-risk customers as identified by a health care provider.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Construction has started to blend the water in the Yoder Water District with water from the City of Hutchinson.&nbsp; This blended water will have an immediate reduction in the Nitrate concentration that is served to the public.&nbsp; The project is on track to be completed by the end of May, 2026.

The District will continue the KDHE required quarterly samples and public notifications until this issue is resolved. We appreciate your patience.

Rural Water District 101 nitrate levels continue to exceed allowable limits

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — IdeaTek is inviting graduating high school seniors across its service areas to apply for its first-ever Freedom Fighter Scholarship Program, a new initiative aimed at recognizing creativity, ambition and community impact.

The program will award three scholarships totaling $5,000. The top honor, the Visionary Award, will provide $2,500, followed by the Innovator Award at $1,500 and the Pioneer Award at $1,000.

Unlike many traditional scholarships, the Freedom Fighter program does not require a minimum GPA. Instead, IdeaTek is focusing on students who demonstrate passion, drive and a commitment to making a difference in their communities.

Applicants are asked to submit a five- to 10-minute video outlining their dreams, career goals and how they plan to give back. Additional requirements include one letter of recommendation and a senior photo.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. on April 10, 2026.

Eligibility is open to graduating seniors living in IdeaTek service areas, with priority given to students from IdeaTek subscriber families.

Students can apply online at ideatek.com/scholarship.

IdeaTek officials say they hope the program not only supports students financially, but also highlights the ideas and stories of young people working to shape the future of their communities.

IdeaTek launches 'Freedom Fighter' Scholarship Program

Dennis Dutton Special to Hutch Post

Audiences stepping into the Betsy Dutton Theatre later this month may feel as though they’ve stepped inside an old movie screen. Sterling High School Theatre will present the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace in a striking “living black and white” production, where everything on stage—from the set and costumes to the actors themselves—appears in black and white. Directed by Greg McGlynn, the production runs Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door are $5 for adults and $4 for students.

“It’s just like watching an old black-and-white movie,” McGlynn said. “There is no color at all. The set, the costumes—it’s all black, white, and many shades of gray. Even the actors’ skin is gray.”

The visual concept recreates the look of a 1940s film, immersing audiences in a monochrome world where every element—from scenery to wigs to makeup—is carefully designed in black, white, and shades of gray. Only one moment breaks the illusion.

“There will be one splash of color—red—at the very end when the plot is revealed,” McGlynn said.

The style fits perfectly with Arsenic and Old Lace, the darkly comic story of two sweet elderly sisters who have an unusual way of helping lonely gentlemen—by poisoning them and burying them in their basement. Their nephew Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who has loudly denounced marriage, suddenly finds his life spiraling into chaos when he discovers the family’s shocking secret.

For McGlynn, the play carries a special regional connection. Playwright Joseph Kesselring served on the music faculty at Bethel College in nearby Newton from 1928 to 1930 and lived in the historic Goerz House during that time, a home believed to have inspired the Brewster residence in the play.

This production marks the fourth time McGlynn has directed Arsenic and Old Lace, which he first staged in 2009. The director and his cast visited the Newton Goertz House recently to see the house and to pose for pictures in costume.

“One cool aspect this time is that my two kids are in the cast,” he said. “My son James, a sophomore, plays Mortimer Brewster, and my daughter Kate, a freshman, plays one of the crazy aunts. Neither of them was even born yet when I directed the show the first time.”

The “living black and white” concept has become something of a signature for McGlynn, who first encountered the technique while teaching in Dallas in the late 1990s after seeing productions by Pegasus Theatre Company.

Each production presents unique challenges. The set and costumes must be coordinated using multiple shades of gray, and actors wear specially applied gray makeup to complete the monochrome effect.

The Sterling High School production is also breaking new ground for the program. McGlynn said the show features the largest set ever built for the Betsy Dutton Theatre—a massive two-story Victorian box set that has even been wired for lighting.

Sterling High School Theatre’s Arsenic and Old Lace will be performed March 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Betsy Dutton Theatre. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and will be available at the door prior to each performance.

Sterling High play is in living black and white

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — StartUp Hutch's March Entrepreneurship Connections, to feature speaker Shane Iwashige, an entrepreneur, business owner and community leader.

Iwashige will share insights from his journey in business. He began his entrepreneurial path as a teenager selling firewood and has since launched five businesses in the real estate and home services sectors.

Entrepreneurship Connections is a free networking event aimed at fostering discussion and building relationships among local entrepreneurs. It is held monthly on the last Tuesday of each month, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sandhills Brewing, 111 W. Second Ave.

The event brings together aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs from across Reno County for an evening focused on conversation, peer learning and connection.

StartUp Hutch says that Iwashige's experience as a startup entrepreneur led him to recognize the value of coaching and practical leadership, which he now uses to help entrepreneurs and organizations gain clarity, make progress, and grow with purpose.

Iwashige said he is driven by a desire to build strong organizations with engaged teams working to improve their communities, and he embraces challenges that require curiosity, creativity and experimentation.

During the event, he will discuss lessons learned from building businesses and navigating uncertainty.

“Entrepreneurship Connections is about bringing people together to learn from those who have firsthand experience building businesses and navigating uncertainty,” said Graham Klemme, executive director of StartUp Hutch. “Shane brings an authentic entrepreneurial perspective and a deep commitment to Hutchinson that will resonate with both emerging and established business owners.”

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees who register in advance will receive a complimentary drink ticket.

Organizers said the event is designed for individuals at all stages of business development, from those exploring new ventures to established business owners looking to expand their network.

March 'Entrepreneurship Connection' to feature Iwashige

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. ——————————————

Ca'Darius	Trayvon	Sapp		3/16/2026 11:16&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Buddy	Joe	Smith		3/16/2026 12:33&nbsp;PM	Violation of Offender Registration Act; 1st Conv; Person, In Transit From-To Other Agency

Jeremiah	Tanner	Davis		3/16/2026 1:28&nbsp;PM	Distribute marijuana w/in 1000' sch; &lt;25 gm,					Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use,					Drugs; Arrange sale/purchase of controlled substance using a communication facility

Richard	Andrew	Petty		3/16/2026 3:23&nbsp;PM	Direct Contempt

Christopher	Martin	Snell		3/16/2026 7:43&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction),					Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation

Alec	Joseph	Shanelec		3/16/2026 8:10&nbsp;PM	Criminal Deprivation of Property; Other than Motor Vehicle or Firearm,					Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct

Delicia	Marie	Raner Meyer		3/16/2026 9:35&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Honain	Steven	Culy		3/16/2026 11:00&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council voted Monday to remove Police Chief Justin Holiday "for cause" following a weeks-long suspension and administrative review.

Following an executive session, the city council approved the decision in a 5–2 vote. Holiday had been placed on suspension on Feb. 17, with city officials stating at the time that the action was “based on the needs of the department and the community.”

City officials extended the suspension by an additional two weeks on March 2 to allow for further administrative review. No specific details regarding the reason for the suspension or removal have been released, with the city continuing to describe the situation as a “personnel matter.”

In the interim, Sgt. Cory Ryan has been appointed acting police chief. The city has also entered into an agreement with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office to assist with law enforcement coverage as needed.

Lyons city council removes police chief

Three-day Outlook

The Reno Choral Society will present its 85th annual performance of Messiah this weekend, continuing a long-standing musical tradition in the community.

The performance will take place Sunday at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. Conducting the performance will be Dr. Bradley Vogel, who is in his second year leading the work for the organization.

Vogel brings decades of music education and conducting experience to the role. He taught for 33 years, including nine years in public schools at Inman and Haven High School before spending 22 years at Tabor College, where he conducted annual performances of Messiah. He later spent two years teaching at McPherson College before retiring from full-time teaching.

Today, Vogel works with Educational Travel Adventures, helping schools and organizations across the United States — and occasionally internationally — plan educational travel experiences, often involving choirs, orchestras and bands performing abroad.

Despite stepping away from the classroom, Vogel said conducting remains a meaningful way to stay connected to music and musicians.

“Getting to work with singers and continue exploring great music like Messiah is something I truly enjoy,” Vogel said.

The renowned oratorio, composed by George Frideric Handel in the 18th century, is considered one of the most famous works in the classical repertoire. Unlike an opera, an oratorio features similar musical storytelling but without staging, costumes or acting.

The text for Messiah was compiled by Charles Jennens using passages from the Bible. Rather than telling a strict chronological story, the work reflects on the prophecy, life, death and resurrection of Christ, concluding with themes of redemption and heaven.

Written in the Baroque style, the piece features expressive melodies, intricate choral passages and a combination of soloists and large chorus sections. Vogel said audiences will likely recognize several iconic moments, particularly the famous “Hallelujah” chorus.

“That’s certainly the movement that people recognize most,” Vogel said. “But there are many other choruses people may know as well, like ‘For Unto Us a Child Is Born’ and ‘All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray.’”

The work also carries a fascinating historical note. Handel composed Messiah in just 24 days — an impressive feat considering the work contains more than 50 individual musical movements.

Vogel said repeated performances of the piece over the years continue to reveal new musical connections and insights.

“The more time you spend with it, the more relationships you discover between the different movements,” he said. “Handel created something that flows together in a remarkable way.”

This year’s performance also carries a personal connection for Vogel. The featured tenor soloist is his son, David Vogel, who developed his musical abilities under his father’s mentorship and now performs professionally in a variety of styles.

“It’s hard to describe how special that is,” Vogel said. “We’ve worked together for many years, and it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to perform together again.”

The soprano soloist, Holly Swartzendruber, is also a longtime colleague of Vogel’s from their years teaching together at Tabor College, making the production a reunion of sorts for the musicians involved.

Vogel said audiences attending the performance can deepen their appreciation by paying attention to how Handel’s music reflects the meaning of the biblical texts.

“The music is beautiful, but when you follow the words and hear how Handel expresses those ideas musically, it adds a whole new dimension to the experience,” he said.

Tickets will be available both in advance and at the door for Sunday’s performance. Members of the Reno Choral Society hope the community will come out to support the singers and enjoy one of the most enduring works in the classical music tradition.

Reno Choral Society to present Handel's 'Messiah'

The traffic signal at the intersection of 27th&nbsp;Avenue and Main Street recently sustained wind damage that caused a structural failure to the traffic signal pole on the northeast corner of the intersection.

Due to the damage, the northeast traffic signal pole is currently being removed. While the signal is offline, the intersection will operate as a stop-controlled intersection, with stop signs in place for eastbound and westbound traffic.

Drivers should use caution when approaching the area and expect possible impacts to traffic flow and minor delays during peak travel hours.

27 and Main Street traffic signal offline due to wind damage

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflecto</a>r

TOPEKA — A banking official told lawmakers Monday about an elderly customer who was scammed into giving tens of thousands of dollars to what she believed would be a scholarship honoring her dead husband.

Tony Weingartner, manager of the financial intelligence unit at Topeka-based Capitol Federal Savings Bank, said the bank engaged with the woman, and law enforcement and social workers met with her, but she “could not believe that that would occur illegitimately and that she was defrauded.”

“She couldn’t accept it,” he said. “And now, my understanding is, even with a conservator over her finances, she still believes that there’s a scholarship out there for her husband. There isn’t one.”

Weingartner used the anecdote to demonstrate the need for legislation that would hold telecommunications providers and social media platforms liable for fraudulent activity that results in losses for banks.

In another example, he said, the bank lost $45,000 last month after a customer was tricked by a fraudster who appeared by caller ID to be a bank employee. The customer provided account information.

The fraudster then convinced the victim’s phone service provider that the victim needed calls transferred to a new number. When the bank called to verify the legitimacy of checks from the victim’s account, fraudsters answered the phone and provided a green light.

Representatives for the banking industry appeared before a joint committee of House and Senate lawmakers to initiate conversation about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2648/" target="_blank">House Bill 2648</a>. The bill would require social media platforms such as Meta, which operates Facebook, to verify the identity of advertisers, give users a clear and conspicuous tool to report suspected fraud, and investigate reports of fraud within 72 hours.

Social media platforms would be liable for damages caused by fraudulent ads if they knowingly allow such ads on their platform or ignore credible reports of fraud.

The bill also would prohibit telecommunication companies from transmitting a call that falsely identifies a caller’s name or phone number.

Rep. Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee, said he wanted to hold an informational hearing on the bill, even though it won’t advance this year.

Kelly VanZwoll, of the Kansas Bankers Association, introduced the bill in early February. She told the joint committee that banks have been on the front lines of protecting consumers, and they want regulators and industry to work with them.

“It really is a team sport,” she said. “We can’t do it alone, and that’s what we need your help.”

She presented information she attributed to reporting by the Wall Street Journal and Reuters news service about fraudulent ads on Meta: 50% of scams for one large bank were traced to Meta, 70% of new Meta advertisers are flagged for fraud, and 96% of valid user scam reports are ignored. Additionally, she said, Meta earned $16 billion — 10% of its 2024 revenue — from ads that were scams or for banned goods. When Meta detects fraud, she said, the penalty is to charge bad actors a higher rate.

A Meta representative didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment for this story.

Megan Stokes, state policy director for the Computer and Communications Industry Association, of which Meta is a member, said in written testimony that the bill is unconstitutional because it regulates interstate services that are under federal domain and would criminalize protected free expression in violation of the First Amendment.

She objected to a private right of action in the bill that would allow individuals to sue companies for violations. She predicted courthouses would be flooded with “frivolous claims with little evidence of actual injury.”

Gerry Keegan, who represents CTIA, a trade association for the wireless industry, said telecommunication providers share a goal of protecting residents from fraud. They are actively developing new technology, he said, including an effective framework called “STIR/SHAKEN,” to combat bad actors.

“This legislation would impractically and improperly establish that providers of voice and messaging services would be liable for the actions of bad actors on their networks,” Keegan said. “While well-intentioned, this legislation would do little to deter bad actors who are already violating existing laws and would instead impose new requirements on law-abiding companies who are hard at work in the fight against unwanted and illegal robocalls and texts.”

Kansas banking officials ask lawmakers to hold social media, phone companies liable for fraud

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A suspect accused of sneaking into a school and making unauthorized with a 13-year-old girl made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.&nbsp;

Michael D. Arnold, 36, was charged with stalking, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Police have arrested Arnold after investigating two incidents at Gordon Parks Academy,&nbsp;2201 E 25th Street N. Wichita, in which he entered the school and made unauthorized contact with a 13-year-old girl, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

The first incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, at Gordon Parks Academy. Investigators learned Arnold gained access to the building and had contact with the 13-year-old girl speaking with her without parental authorization.

The second incident happened Tuesday, March 10, when Arnold returned to the school entered the building where school staff told him to leave immediately and called police.

Detectives with the Wichita Police Department’s Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked the case and took Arnold into custody March 12.

USD 259 has banned Arnold from all district schools.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said, “Our concern is first and foremost with this young girl and her family. This incident is deeply troubling, and I know it has also caused concern throughout the school community and across Wichita. Any situation involving the safety of a child demands our full attention. I am grateful for the officers whose work brought this man into custody. I want the family, the school, and the public to know that our Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit and our entire department remains committed to protecting children and ensure the individual involved in this incident is held accountable.”

Kan. man faces a judge for 'unauthorized contact' with student at school

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating the death of a couple found dead in a Kansas City apartment have identified the victims as&nbsp;

22-year-old Yasmene Herrera and 21-year-old Victor Campos, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shoosting in the 2600 block of NE. 42nd Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

At the scene, officers heard the sound of a gunshot coming from inside an upstairs apartment. Officers made entry inside of the residence to search for any victims and render any necessary medical aid. An adult male was located suffering from gunshot trauma. He was unresponsive. An additional adult female was located. She unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and declared both individuals deceased.&nbsp;The case is now being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide.

Police ID couple found dead in Kansas City apartment

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responding to an incident involving a fuel tank on a commercial barge at Tuttle Creek Lake. The contractor involved is expected to begin work on Tuesday to recover the tank.

According to a a media release from Corp of Engineers, the incident occurred just before 2p.m. Sunday when a fuel cell holding approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel became submerged in 20 feet of water.

High winds and wave action from the lake are suspected to be the cause of the incident. No foul play is suspected. 

The Corp of Engineers activated their emergency response plan and are working closely with the contractor who owns the barge, the National Response Center and the state of Kansas to assess and contain the situation.

Response crews and equipment, including a dive team, are deploying to the site to mitigate any potential environmental impact. 

The public is advised to avoid boating in Tuttle Creek Cove until further notice.We are committed to providing timely and transparent updates as more information becomes available. "The safety of the public and the protection of the environment are our top priorities," the Corp reminded.

Work continues to recover fuel tank that fell into Tuttle Creek Lake

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that would require&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/midterms-voting-laws-photo-id-citizenship-republicans-feecb51a6efa41cf32d18fe4b15c08ce">proof of U.S. citizenship</a>&nbsp;for new voters has become a rallying cry for President Donald Trump, who claims that passage of the bill will “guarantee the midterms” for his Republican Party in November.

The bill, which the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-trump-midterms-citizenship-republican-filibuster-b83df9d9d92f82aded39c0859750ae9f">Senate will take up as early as Tuesday</a>, would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when they register and to present approved identification when they go to the polls, among other new rules that Trump and his most loyal supporters are pushing as part of an effort to assert more federal control over elections.

Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens. But the legislation would lay out strict new requirements for voters to prove their status.

Democrats are uniformly opposed to the legislation and expected to block its passage through the Senate. They say the legislation would disenfranchise millions of American voters who don’t have birth certificates or other documents readily available — both Republicans and Democrats who would be newly registering to vote.

Despite the long odds of success, Trump has been pushing Senate Majority Leader John Thune to move ahead with the bill and suggested Republicans eliminate the filibuster or find another workaround to pass it. Thune has repeatedly said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">there isn’t enough support in the Senate to do that</a>.

Instead, Republicans plan to hold an extended debate on the bill for a week or more, an effort to try and appease Trump and make Democrats defend their position.

The bill would “require Americans to demonstrate that they’re eligible to vote,” Thune said last week. “And that they are who they say they are.”

Proof of citizenship would be needed for new voters

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-save-act-citizenship-voting-elections-a37c139461d11eb5f82086680b67ffe7">Safeguard American Voter Eligibility</a>, or SAVE America Act, would force Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/save-act-documents-requirements-citizenship-voting-congress-dfb43bcdd0255d3665da588a60286b4e">prove they are citizens when they register to vote</a>, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate.

Driver's licenses in many states would not be enough. The legislation says that the identification must be compliant with new REAL ID rules and also indicate that the applicant is a citizen of the United States — which few state licenses do.

A person registering to vote could also present a passport or a birth certificate. U.S. military members could present a military ID along with a record of service that shows where they were born.

Most people registering to vote would have to present the documents in person at an elections office, including people who vote by mail. Advocacy groups that oppose the legislation say that the bill would crush voter registration efforts ahead of this year's elections.

The bill would create new penalties for election officials who register applicants who have not presented documentary proof of citizenship. Opponents say that provision could potentially scare workers into turning away valid applicants while also discouraging people from working or volunteering at polling locations. It would also allow private individuals to sue election officials in some circumstances.

Voter identification expansion would include mail-in ballots

While federal law requires that voters are U.S. citizens, there is not currently a nationwide requirement that voters must show identification when they go to vote. Currently, 36 states have voter identification laws in place, some stricter than others, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The bill would require voters in all states to present valid identification, and those voting by mail would have to send a photocopy. Overseas military and some qualified disabled individuals would be exempt from those rules.

Republican supporters most frequently highlight this section of the bill when pushing for its passage. Thune said last week that if you have to show an ID to get a library card, “it’s not too much to ask voters to show ID to vote in federal elections.”

States would be required to share their voter rolls

The legislation would require states to share voters' information with the Department of Homeland Security as a way to verify the citizenship of the names on the voter rolls — giving the federal government unprecedented access to state voter data. Many states are already embroiled in legal fights with the Trump administration over demands that they provide voter information.

Supporters of the state-federal sharing say that it would enable DHS to compare the state information with their own databases that are used to verify immigration status.

But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer predicted that handing over names to the federal government would allow DHS to ”purge tens of millions of people from the voter rolls.”

Trump pushes for Republicans to add his other priorities

Senate Republicans are expected to offer amendments on the floor as part of their talkathon in support of the bill. Trump has said he wants more provisions added, including a ban on mail-in ballots, which are used by many states.

Trump has long criticized mail-in ballots and used it as a central argument in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-fbi-seize-georgia-ballots-fulton-county-87300edb3ea86961c69132e6a2dfd6e8">false claims of fraud in the 2020 election</a>&nbsp;he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. But voting groups — and many lawmakers in both parties — have long championed the practice as helping to make it easier for Americans to vote.

The president also wants to add two unrelated provisions around transgender rights issues — one that would ban those born as men from playing in women’s sports and another to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors.

If the SAVE America Act were enacted, the new rules for voter registration and voter identification at the polls would take effect immediately. Trump says it’s necessary for Republicans to win in the midterm elections — even though they won both chambers of Congress and the White House without the law in 2024.

With primary elections getting underway next month, critics say it would be difficult and costly for state election officials to implement, and could confuse voters.

Marc Elias, a Democratic elections attorney, said he isn’t ”aware of any state that currently requires what this would require.”

“If it’s passed tomorrow, the day after states would need to implement this,” Elias said.

Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

What's in the GOP voting bill co-sponsored by Kansas U.S. Senator

WICHITA, Kan. - Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the Sunday night homicide of a 16-year-old Wichita boy.

Just after 9p.m. police responded to the 1100 block of S. Webb Road in Wichita after reports of a shooting, according to a media release.

When officers arrived, they found the teen in a vehicle with a gunshot wound to his upper body. EMS took him to a hospital, where he later died.

The preliminary investigation indicates there was a disturbance between the 16-year-old suspect and the victim, during which a shot was fired. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

Officers secured the scene while homicide investigators, K-9 officers and additional personnel processed evidence and followed leads. Through those efforts, investigators identified and arrested the boy.

The boy was booked into the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center on a requested charge of second-degree murder.

Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.

 16-year-old Kansas boy accused of killing another teen

WASHINGTON (AP) —About 200 U.S. troups have been wounded since the start of the Iran war though more than 180 service members have returned to duty, Capt. Tim Hawkins, the spokesman for U.S. Central Command, told The Associated Press.

Hawkins said 10 service members are considered seriously wounded.

The previous update released last week by the Pentagon put the number of wounded personnel at around 140 and eight as “severely injured.”

CENTCOM has not said when or where those troops were wounded, or given details on the type of injuries.

Since the war in Iran began, 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

Number of U.S. troops wounded in Iran war continues to climb

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run identified the victim as 67-year-old&nbsp;Tommy English of Topeka. 

Just after 10p.m. March 9, police responded to a report of an injury accident at the intersection of SW 6th Street and SW Horne Street in Topeka, according to a media release.

Officers learned that a pedestrian, later identified as Tommy English had been struck by a vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the incident involved a hit-and-run crash. The vehicle driver, Elizabeth A. Neal, 38, of Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and remains jailed on requested charges of Driving While License Suspended, Failure to Stop at an Accident Resulting in Death, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer; Conceal/Alter/Destroy Evidence, Vehicular Homicide

Police ID victim in fatal Kansas hit-and-run

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child, and said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in revamping a key vaccine advisory committee.

The decision halted an order by Kennedy —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/childhood-vaccine-schedule-trump-rfk-hhs-9b8df9e2767c1261aaac4e2331e77fa3">announced</a>&nbsp;in January — to end broad recommendations for all children to be vaccinated against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-flu-cases-cdc-subclade-k-29cc5a68eb100585c8e0dbd2ec47b3eb">flu</a>, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV.

It also stopped a meeting of a Kennedy-appointed vaccine advisory committee, which was set to convene this week in Atlanta.

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