Hutchinson voters will decide today whether to approve a proposed city sales tax in a special election that will determine funding priorities for the community.

One significant change for this election affects voters who normally cast ballots at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Those voters will instead vote at Memorial Hall.

In addition to in-person voting, advance ballots must be received by the Reno County Clerk’s Office no later than 7 p.m. Tuesday to be counted. Ballots that arrive after the deadline cannot be accepted under Kansas law. Officials emphasize that ballots must be in the clerk’s possession by 7 p.m. — postmarks do not qualify.

The sales tax question has drawn significant public discussion in recent weeks, with supporters and opponents outlining differing views about the measure’s long-term impact on the community.&nbsp;

Voters who encounter issues at the polls or have questions about their ballot are encouraged to contact the Reno County Clerk’s Office for assistance.

Hutchinson residents to vote on sales tax

The&nbsp;American Red&nbsp;Cross&nbsp;urges donors to&nbsp;help&nbsp;the national blood supply recover from&nbsp;a&nbsp;severe blood shortage&nbsp;and&nbsp;empower their health&nbsp;by making an appointment to give blood or platelets in March.&nbsp;As a thank-you for helping save lives,&nbsp;successful donations will receive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy00S4iAQxfHTwI6UNB-dLFi4yTWsDt0xUTI4kNLrT2nN9v_ejxOM2V-ilmQRwaK14PSWJDJ6h-viMiEB5jVatMgRgESY9Z7iRBbW6EfrfLhZcGjHccIRlb_0neW5_zUH7UVaN5GRQ2aPwTx9gMfwHXRJ23m-unJXBbOC-fP5DE04t9r7Umrloba7grnUTMVs9ZAX3UXBLG_5c3YF80Etb8N2HkUfwjuZJkWoi9k5_cLtf1DuCi76CXRLXzQ8KNelK38Ruhf5fYdcD93PJnJ8PbvgHcNoQvTeeMdiJktkFsAg4kOG1ep3gn8BAAD__5dgZFk">free A1C testing</a>, commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes,&nbsp;in&nbsp;March (one result per calendar year).&nbsp;

New Red Cross&nbsp;data reveals&nbsp;1 in 5&nbsp;blood donors have elevated A1C levels&nbsp;— a sign that&nbsp;prediabetes and diabetes&nbsp;are prevalent&nbsp;among adults in&nbsp;generally good&nbsp;health.&nbsp;The findings are based on the first year of free A1C&nbsp;screening&nbsp;offered by the Red Cross, which provided results to more than&nbsp;920,000&nbsp;blood donors nationwide over three testing periods in 2025. Among donors with elevated A1C levels,&nbsp;80%&nbsp;had&nbsp;readings&nbsp;indicating&nbsp;prediabetes&nbsp;— a condition that can often be reversed through lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.&nbsp;

“Too many people still face gaps in access to preventive care, and the Red Cross is proud to help close them by giving our 2.5 million blood and platelet donors easy access to essential health information, like their blood sugar levels,”&nbsp;said Dr. Courtney Lawrence,&nbsp;Red Cross&nbsp;medical&nbsp;director. “By giving blood and downloading&nbsp;our&nbsp;Blood&nbsp;Donor&nbsp;App, individuals can be informed and empowered to better manage&nbsp;and&nbsp;advocate&nbsp;for their health.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The A1C test does not require fasting and provides an average blood sugar level over the past three months.&nbsp;Visit <a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy0uO6yAQheHVwAzLFMXDAwaZeBsRUOWExBb3gtXefitRT79zfooQCs5OctTeg_Zag5HPmAp7k-eciZYMAMEm3Mhu7KlsuQRZo1uShs1h0AbtXYPxOoTFBy9wHpX4Xf-rI9Wd-1COPNlC6K16o4XX9BnkHp_n-U-Ym4BVwHpd19SZSm9j5L01mlp_CFjlwVST6rxzGqwqxS_c_0CYGxiHC8gej9TL9Eql5SFw5vTY-fudSjvkODvz8enJWDQEQVmHqNAQq0WnpDJ4y4y2wKblT4TfAAAA___Qildm">RedCrossBlood.org</a>, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule your&nbsp;March&nbsp;donation appointment.&nbsp;All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31, 2026,&nbsp;will&nbsp;also&nbsp;receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email. See&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy00S4iAQxfHTwI6UNB-dLFi4yTWsDt0xUTI4kNLrT2nN9v_ejxOM2V-ilmQRwaK14PSWJDJ6h-viMiEB5jVatMgRgESY9Z7iRBbW6EfrfLhZcGjHccIRlb_0neW5_zUH7UVaN5GRQ2aPwTx9gMfwHXRJ23m-unJXBbOC-fP5DE04t9r7Umrloba7grnUTMVs9ZAX3UXBLG_5c3YF80Etb8N2HkUfwjuZJkWoi9k5_cLtf1DuCi76CXRLXzQ8KNelK38Ruhf5fYdcD93PJnJ8PbvgHcNoQvTeeMdiJktkFsAg4kOG1ep3gn8BAAD__5dgZFk">RedCrossBlood.org/March</a>&nbsp;for details. &nbsp;

Donating blood in March is part of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy8Fu8yAQBOCngRuWWRYwBw7RL-X2X_oC0ZpdJyR23YLVvH6VqMf5ZoYzTAXHoCXbGMFGa8HpWy4k42LnMbiUQqHCiZdgybtCMI_LomsOiSwsASfr0F8suGinKcUpKhx7ZXnUb7NRXaV1EziyL4zRmwd6uA-vQq_5dhxfyp0UnBWcn8_n0IRL23sf9nZVcP4Q_veK__fP46Y34UqmySrUxVTOb7j8gXIncAET6JY3amW4U9nnrnAUuq7y3g5l33Q_msj2-rPz6Bgm4wOiQcdikiUyM0Qvgr7AYvVPht8AAAD__3ATWhc">Red Cross Month</a>, a&nbsp;national&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;that encourages people to deliver support when help&nbsp;can’t&nbsp;wait by also making&nbsp;a financial donation,&nbsp;volunteering&nbsp;or&nbsp;taking a lifesaving skills class.&nbsp;

Why&nbsp;You Should Know Your&nbsp;A1C&nbsp;

Millions of U.S. adults are living with undiagnosed prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, which are often preventable&nbsp;and&nbsp;in many cases,&nbsp;reversible. These conditions often develop silently, though if untreated, they can lead to serious health complications such as stroke, heart&nbsp;disease&nbsp;and kidney failure.&nbsp;

Early detection&nbsp;isn’t&nbsp;just good&nbsp;for long-term health —&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;also a warning&nbsp;for&nbsp;people’s&nbsp;wallets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

An&nbsp;American Diabetes Association study found that, while&nbsp;people with&nbsp;prediabetes&nbsp;typically incur&nbsp;a few hundred dollars&nbsp;in&nbsp;additional&nbsp;medical costs&nbsp;each year,&nbsp;those with blood sugar levels that have progressed to the diabetic range could face several thousand dollars more in annual expenses&nbsp;—&nbsp;as much as 25 times higher.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How to Find Out Your A1C from the Red Cross&nbsp;

After making a successful blood, platelet or plasma&nbsp;donation in March, donors can&nbsp;access&nbsp;their A1C&nbsp;result&nbsp;within one to two weeks&nbsp;through&nbsp;the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy0uO6yAQheHVwAzLFMXDAwaZeBsRUOWExBb3gtXefitRT79zfooQCs5OctTeg_Zag5HPmAp7k-eciZYMAMEm3Mhu7KlsuQRZo1uShs1h0AbtXYPxOoTFBy9wHpX4Xf-rI9Wd-1COPNlC6K16o4XX9BnkHp_n-U-Ym4BVwHpd19SZSm9j5L01mlp_CFjlwVST6rxzGqwqxS_c_0CYGxiHC8gej9TL9Eql5SFw5vTY-fudSjvkODvz8enJWDQEQVmHqNAQq0WnpDJ4y4y2wKblT4TfAAAA___Qildm">RedCrossBlood.org</a>.&nbsp;Anyone with an&nbsp;elevated A1C level&nbsp;is encouraged&nbsp;to consult&nbsp;their&nbsp;health care provider.&nbsp;

In addition, donors can access and track their&nbsp;blood pressure, hemoglobin,&nbsp;pulse&nbsp;and body temperature, which are taken during each donation’s&nbsp;mini‑physical&nbsp;to ensure&nbsp;they’re&nbsp;healthy enough to give.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How&nbsp;Blood Donation&nbsp;Can Help Bridge&nbsp;Health Care Gaps&nbsp;

As the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to help bridge existing health care gaps by providing blood donors with critical health insights.&nbsp;Through the Red Cross Blood Donor App&nbsp;and online donor portal, donors can track their results and share them with their health care provider.&nbsp;

These efforts are part of the broader Red Cross mission, which has supported the health of communities for 145 years. Today in Kansas, this work includes installing free smoke alarms in neighborhoods at&nbsp;high risk&nbsp;for home fires, providing basic health and mental health services to disaster survivors, and supporting the well-being of military families,&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;and their caregivers.&nbsp;

Here is a list of blood drives in the area:&nbsp;

Harvey County Hesston 3/16/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Hesston Mennonite Church, 309 S. Main

Newton 3/10/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Salem UMC, 115 Old Main Street 3/12/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Newton High School, 900 W. 12th St. 3/26/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Harvey County Court House, 800 N. Main&nbsp;

North Newton&nbsp; 3/24/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bethel College Memorial Hall, 300 E. 27th St.&nbsp;

Sedgwick&nbsp; 3/5/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Sedgwick High School, 400 W. 4th&nbsp;

McPherson County Galva&nbsp; 3/14/2026: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sugar Creek School, 1558 21st St.&nbsp;

Lindsborg&nbsp; 3/23/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lindsborg Evangelical Covenant Church, 102 S Washington St&nbsp;

McPherson&nbsp; 3/10/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Prairieland Partners John Deere, 2401 E. Northview&nbsp; 3/12/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., City of McPherson,&nbsp;400&nbsp; E.&nbsp;Kansas Ave&nbsp; 3/19/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 N. Elm&nbsp; 3/20/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 N. Elm&nbsp;

Pratt County Pratt&nbsp; 3/20/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Pratt First United Methodist Church, 100 N Jackson St&nbsp;

Reno County Buhler&nbsp; 3/27/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church, 415 North West&nbsp;

Haven&nbsp; 3/13/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., St Paul Lutheran Church, 8513 E Arlington Rd&nbsp;

Hutchinson&nbsp; 3/14/2026: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of&nbsp;Latter Day&nbsp;Saints, 518 East 43rd&nbsp;&nbsp; 3/23/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Central Christian School, 1910 East 30th Ave&nbsp; 3/27/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Park Place Christian Church, 2600 N. Adams&nbsp;

Nickerson&nbsp; 3/10/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Nickerson High School, 305 S. Nickerson&nbsp;

Pretty Prairie&nbsp; 3/11/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Pretty Prairie High School, 204 E Main St&nbsp;

Red Cross to offer free A1C testing in March

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

The Hutchinson Police Department honored its officers, staff and community partners during its annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony this past weekend, highlighting achievements from 2025 and recognizing acts of exceptional service.

Among those recognized were Reverend Charles Crumble Sr. and New Resurrection Church for their support of first responders during a major incident last year.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 1, 2025, a large-scale emergency response unfolded in the 1000 block of East Third Avenue. First responders from five local and state agencies worked the scene for hours in temperatures hovering around 25 degrees.

During the incident, New Resurrection Church, located at 1001 E. Third Ave., opened its doors to officers, firefighters, agents and crime scene personnel, offering a warm place to rest and access to restroom facilities as crews rotated through the scene.

As the morning continued, Crumble informed authorities that the church would also prepare lunch for those on duty. First responders were served goulash, sandwiches and a variety of snacks, drinks and desserts.

Members of the congregation remained on site throughout the response, ensuring personnel had relief from the cold and offering spiritual guidance to those who requested it. Church staff stayed in communication with command personnel to identify any additional needs as the situation evolved.

Police officials said the church’s compassion and hospitality provided critical support during a traumatic and demanding incident.

In recognizing Crumble and New Resurrection Church, the department cited their extraordinary generosity and commitment to serving the community, noting their assistance helped first responders cope with the circumstances while continuing their work.

Hutch PD recognizes New Resurrection Church for support during 2025 incident

Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School’s TC Theatre will bring a sweet classic to the stage this week with its production of “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka.”

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. March 5, 6 and 7, with a 3 p.m. matinee on March 8 at the school.

The musical, based on the beloved story by Roald Dahl, follows the adventures of young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners as they tour the mysterious Wonka Chocolate Factory under the guidance of the eccentric candy maker, Willy Wonka. Along the way, the children encounter imaginative inventions, colorful characters and important lessons about honesty, humility and kindness.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Seating is reserved and tickets may be purchased online at <a href="https://our.show/tcwonka">https://our.show/tcwonka</a>.

The production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.

TC Theatre’s presentation of “Willy Wonka” continues Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School's tradition of student-led performances showcasing talent in acting, music and stage production for the Hutchinson community.

Trinity Catholic Jr/Senior High School to present "Willy Wonka'

The Hutchinson City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. this evening in the Council Chambers at City Hall.&nbsp;

On the consent agenda, council members are also scheduled to consider a request to vacate a&nbsp;portion&nbsp;of 36th Avenue in the Kisiwa Creek Addition to accommodate The Meadows on Monroe housing development.&nbsp;Also, on the consent agenda are approvals of grant of&nbsp;Opiod&nbsp;Settlement funds to Substance Abuse Center of Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In new business, the council is expected to vote on approval of the final plat for the 57-lot The Meadows on&nbsp;Monroe&nbsp;addition. The final plat includes three changes from the preliminary plat: collocating drainage and utility easements,&nbsp;eliminating&nbsp;a sidewalk requirement on the east side of Monroe Street, and removing sidewalk requirements on West 37th Circle and North Madison Court.&nbsp;

The council will also consider benchmark adjustments for the Plum Creek housing development to align project funding with construction progress. The project has experienced delays attributed to labor availability, material&nbsp;costs&nbsp;and interest rate volatility. Phase One includes 35 single-family homes and eight duplex buildings east of Plum Creek Elementary School.&nbsp;

In a change, the previously&nbsp;scheduled public hearing&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;the Landmark Community Improvement District has been removed from the agenda at the request of the petitioner.&nbsp;

Council members are expected to set April 21 as the hearing date for five properties&nbsp;deemed&nbsp;unsafe as part of the city’s effort to address&nbsp;blight. The structures are&nbsp;located&nbsp;at 915 E. Fifth Ave., 404 W. Fifth Ave., 201 N. Waldron St., 113 W. Ave. B and 827 E. First Ave.&nbsp;

The council will also receive an update on the worm farm building located at 3405 East Fourth Ave.&nbsp;

The next regularly scheduled city council meeting is set for April 7.&nbsp;

Council to consider setting public hearing on blighted homes

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. ——————————————

Katelin	Renea	Pritchard		3/2/2026 12:27&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Leshawn	Wontel	Trass		3/2/2026 3:29&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Dakota	Jordan	Pearman		3/2/2026 4:37&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Anthony	Carl	Saracco	Jr	3/2/2026 6:34&nbsp;PM	Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

Dustin	Dean	Chartier		3/2/2026 6:49&nbsp;PM	Rape; Circumstances Unknown,					Battery; Sexual,					Indecent Liberties with a Child; Unknown Circumstances,					Indecent Solicitation of a Child; Unknown Circumstances,					Indecent Solicitation of a Child; Unknown Circumstances,					Lewd and lascivious; Felony unknown circumstance

David	Malachi	Gendreau		3/2/2026 9:03&nbsp;PM	Burglary; Non-dwelling for felony, theft, dv, sex,					Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999

Daily Bookings

The Hutchinson Community College Symphonic Band and Concert Choir will join forces with the Salt City Orchestra for a special spring concert, “Between Sound and Silence,” at 7 p.m. March 9. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The concert will celebrate the arrival of spring with music centered on renewal and hope. The HutchCC Symphonic Band is directed by Eric Stambaugh, and the Concert Choir is directed by Judson Lee.

A highlight of the evening will be a performance of “Illuminare” by composer Elaine Hagenberg. The extended five-movement work for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra will be presented by the HutchCC Concert Choir in collaboration with the Salt City Orchestra.

“Illuminare,” Hagenberg’s first extended composition, weaves together lesser-known sacred texts in Latin, Greek and English. The piece moves through themes of beauty and goodness disrupted by darkness and confusion before the gradual return of light restores hope and peace.

The collaboration began when Salt City Orchestra Board President Daniel Spears contacted the HutchCC Fine Arts Department about renting the college’s performance hall for future concerts. Following that discussion, Lee invited the orchestra to provide the string section for “Illuminare.”

Spears said the partnership offers an opportunity to highlight the orchestra’s musicians as the group prepares for its inaugural full concert in June at the Dillon Nature Center. He added that the board is focused on identifying a music director and expanding the orchestra’s roster.

Lee serves as director of choral activities at Hutchinson Community College. A native of Iowa, he has worked with choirs and students of varying ages and backgrounds for the past decade.

Spears is the music director for USD 444 Little River/Windom schools. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in instrumental performance from Bethany College and a Master of Science in Education degree from Fort Hays State University. In addition to teaching, Spears remains active as a performer, composer and arranger in the Hutchinson area. He is a founding member of the Salt City Orchestra and currently serves as president of its board of directors.

The March 9 performance is open to the public and welcomes the community to experience an evening of music marking the transition into a new season.

HutchCC, Salt City Orchestra to Present ‘Between Sound and Silence’

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

Three-day Outlook

MCPHERSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after noon Monday in McPherson County, according to a media release from McPherson Police.

A witness told police a van was eastbound in 800 Block of East 1st Street. The vehicle traveled off the road, crossed oncoming westbound traffic and onto the grass and struck a tree at the southeast entrance of the McPherson High School parking lot.&nbsp; The driver identified as 62-year-old James Willis of McPherson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

Kansas man dies after crash near McPherson High School

As March marks National Reading Month, United Way of Reno County reminds Kansans of the opportunity to build a free home library with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

By enrolling in this program, all young children (from newborns to age five) across the Sunflower State are eligible to receive one free, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home each month. There are no qualifications other than age and Kansas residency. Families do not need to meet income requirements or complete extensive paperwork. If a child is under five and lives in Kansas, they qualify.

Children enrolled from birth can receive up to 60 books by the time they are ready for kindergarten, and every eligible child in a household can be enrolled to receive their own books. While families may occasionally receive a duplicate title, new selections are regularly introduced to keep the reading experience fresh and engaging.

Recent research underscores the powerful impact of the program. A newly published international study found that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is linked to stronger early literacy outcomes and richer reading experiences at home. The study indicates the program helps close early literacy gaps by strengthening foundational skills, increasing how often children are read to, and boosting children’s interest and engagement during shared book reading. It also found that families participating in the program are more likely to develop positive reading habits and traditions, with caregivers engaging in meaningful interactions—creating a warm, consistent home literacy environment that supports long-term success.

“Our goal is simple: put books into the hands of children and help families build a culture of reading at home,” said Elizabeth Walton, Development Manager and Dolly Parton Imagination Library Manager at UWRC. “The recent study confirms what we see in our communities every day—when children receive books of their own, families read together more often, conversations grow richer, and kids develop stronger early literacy skills. This program is about more than books. It’s about creating joyful reading experiences that lay the foundation for lifelong learning.”

This reading month, UWRC encourages families and community members to sign up eligible children they might know and spread the word about this free community program supported by UWRC. For more information or to enroll a child, visit: <a href="http://www.uwrenocounty.org/free-kids-books">www.uwrenocounty.org/free-kids-books</a>.

Build a library at home for free

WINDER, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia man who gave his teenage son the gun he's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-high-school-lockdown-3969d34cf6a7adc787facf21c469ef4d">accused of using to kill two students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a high school was convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter Tuesday.

Jurors took less than two hours to find Colin Gray guilty of all charges in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, northeast of Atlanta. Gray is one of a number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-parents-charged-bbe07bf6f882fd44f893639dc36c0825">parents prosecuted after their children were accused</a>&nbsp;in fatal shootings across the country.

Colin Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. Gray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Another teacher and eight other students were wounded. Gray was also convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children.

He showed little emotion as the verdict was read and then as he watched each juror being polled by the judge. Deputies then handcuffed him behind his back as he stood at the defense table, consulting with his lawyer. He will be sentenced at a later date. Second-degree murder is punishable by at least 10 but no more than 30 years in prison, while involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Gray gave his son, Colt, access to a gun and ammunition “after receiving sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger the bodily safety of another.”

The teen's mother,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-school-shooting-trial-colin-gray-82af44f531a374c3480b4fd6aaac6454">Marcee Gray — who testified</a>&nbsp;that she had urged Colin Gray to take any guns and lock them inside his truck so they were not accessible to their son — declined to comment when reached by phone after the verdict. She and Colin Gray were separated in the months leading up to the shooting, and Colt lived mostly with his father during that time. She wasn't charged in connection to the shooting.

Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was indicted on a total of 55 counts, including murder. He has pleaded not guilty and the judge in his case has set a status hearing for mid-March.

Investigators said Colt Gray carefully planned the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school attended by 1,900 students.

He boarded the school bus with a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and then shot people in a classroom and hallways, investigators said.

Colin Gray had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apalachee-high-school-colin-colt-gray-04346f61a8fc8cba2520343866c56eb6">given his son the gun as a gift</a>&nbsp;the Christmas before the shooting and allowed him to have access to the gun and ammunition, despite his awareness that his son’s mental health had deteriorated, a prosecutor said.

Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikolas-cruz">Nikolas Cruz</a>, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, prosecutors said.

History: Father who gave gun to school shooting suspect convicted of murder

NEW YORK (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elections">2026 midterm season</a>&nbsp;begins in earnest on Tuesday with two of the nation's most consequential Senate primaries playing out in Texas, a political behemoth that Democrats have been fighting to flip for decades.

Is this the year? Republican leaders in Washington openly fret that a victory by conservative firebrand Ken Paxton over four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn would give Democrats a rare shot of winning the seat come November. The contest has already cost Republicans tens of millions of dollars, and there will be much more spent ahead of a May 26 runoff if no one gets 50% in the three-way primary that also includes Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Democrats, meanwhile, are picking between two rising stars with conflicting styles. There's U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who made a name for herself through confrontation, and state Rep. James Talarico, a former middle school teacher who is working toward a divinity degree.

Primaries are also taking place in North Carolina and Arkansas. Voting comes just days after President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;launched a major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">military campaign against Iran</a>, injecting an urgent foreign policy component in races otherwise focused on domestic issues.

Is the Democrats’ Texas threat for real this time?

Democrats have been raising the prospect of a Texas upset for decades. And yet the party hasn't won a Senate race there since Lloyd Bentsen's reelection in 1988.

Both sides believe this could be the year that things change. But much depends on Tuesday's results.

Some Republican leaders in Washington, including key allies of Trump, warn that a victory by Paxton, who has well-documented&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-texas-547f46284c7858905b067fefa2c48f0b">personal baggage</a>, would undermine their chances in November. If he's the nominee, the party would need to divert tens of millions of dollars from other states to protect the seat.

Paxton could finish first on Tuesday, although he's not expected to earn the 50% needed to avoid a May 26 runoff election against the second-place finisher. For now, Cornyn is most likely to claim that position, while Hunt has made an aggressive case as well.

The runoff could get even uglier for a party that has already spent more than $100 million on the nomination fight, making it the most expensive primary in state history.

Democrats have a tough choice on their side as they decide what kind of fighter it wants to run against Trump's Republican Party.

Privately, Republicans say they're most worried about Talarico. The 36-year-old Democrat blends progressive politics with biblical fluency in a way that is uncommon among many national Democratic figures.

Talarico denounces “politics as a blood sport” and says people want “a return to more timeless values of sincerity and honesty and compassion and respect.”

On the other side is 44-year-old Crocket, a former civil rights attorney who has feuded with Republicans and drawn Trump's scorn. One of her advertisements boasts that she “drives the president crazy.” Another has the tagline “Crockett fights for us.”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris backed Crockett in a recorded call that went out across the state over the weekend.

“Texas has the chance to send a fighter like Jasmine Crockett to the United States Senate,” Harris said.

The primary elections come just three days after the U.S., in coordination with Israel, launched a major attack against Iran. Trump has suggested the military campaign could take at least four weeks. At least six U.S. soldiers have already been killed and the president predicts more deaths.

Foreign policy rarely shapes U.S. elections, although the timing of the conflict could certainly help shift voters' attention in primaries that have largely focused on issues at home. Texas, after all, is home to many military families.

The Republican candidates have overwhelmingly aligned themselves with Trump and his “America First” movement. The president's aggressive interventions overseas could complicate that message and force his allies to answer difficult questions.

So far,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-cornyn">Cornyn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ken-paxton">Paxton</a>&nbsp;have been quick to line up behind Trump. “Hopefully lives will not be lost needlessly, but this always entails risk,” Cornyn said Saturday.

The president sits at the very center of Tuesday's contests whether he is on the ballot or not.

Trump visited Texas on Friday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-texas-cornyn-paxton-hunt-gop-primary-cd31dbec10c54ce230ae915e51cbccf0">dangled a potential endorsement</a>&nbsp;in the Senate race. But on the eve of the primary, he had yet to make a pick.

All of the Republican candidates have worked to convince voters they are aligned with Trump, who remains overwhelmingly popular among the primary electorate. Former Trump campaign chief Chris LaCivita is on the Cornyn payroll as well.

Trump stars in the Democratic primary as well, where Crockett, far more than Talarico, has grown a national brand based on her fierce opposition to Trump.

Depending on Tuesday's results, Texas may play a prominent role in the balance of power in Congress for the last two years of Trump's term. And he certainly doesn't want to be known as the Republican president who presided over Texas' shift blue.

Texas may dominate the chattering class, but North Carolina may be just as important — if not more — for the makeup of the Senate come November.

Even before Republican Sen. Thom Tillis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tillis-senate-north-carolina-trump-reelection-republicans-382f72ff5228d864b38009904cbc4e6b">announced his retirement</a>&nbsp;last June, North Carolina presented Democrats with one of few opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat in an otherwise difficult electoral map.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-senate-roy-cooper-tillis-49e7b69b20db803f75a1893e1e890f18">Former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper</a>&nbsp;is the dominant figure in the six-person Democratic field. The most prominent name in the Republican field is Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chair who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-north-carolina-whatley-senate-cooper-cb3b4109f85bf2f23fee93f05f253d7b">Trump’s backing</a>.

A more competitive primary is expected in North Carolina's 4th District, where incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee, 69, is facing progressive Nida Allam, 32, who has endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., among other progressives.

Allam, a county commissioner and the first Muslim woman ever elected to public office in North Carolina, is campaigning on a message of a “brighter future.”

A mess in Texas? What to watch in Tuesday's primaries

Washington&nbsp;–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, is urgently calling on any Kansan currently in the Middle East — or anyone with a loved one there — to evacuate immediately. His office is actively assisting with departures. Anyone needing assistance should email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:EvacHelp@marshall.senate.gov">EvacHelp@marshall.senate.gov</a>&nbsp;or call (785) 829-9000.

The U.S. State Department has advised any American currently in the following countries to depart immediately:

Senator Marshall strongly encourages all Americans abroad to enroll in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive the latest security updates directly from the nearest U.S. embassy.

If you or a loved one needs assistance evacuating, contact Senator Marshall's office immediately by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:EvacHelp@marshall.senate.gov">EvacHelp@marshall.senate.gov</a>&nbsp;or calling (785)829-9000.

Kan. U.S. Senator's office assisting Kansans evacuate from Middle East

By&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-chapman">MICHELLE CHAPMAN</a> Associated Press

The average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 11 cents overnight to about $3.11 in the U.S., according to motor club AAA.

Gas prices were already rising before the U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fc413267e23c8b36fd6521216033adaf">strikes on Iran</a>&nbsp;as refiners switch over to summer blends of fuel, but crude futures have risen sharply this week because of the war.

On Tuesday, oil futures soared to levels not seen in more than a year as Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-03-2026-8755877b603e46ed3df8107689c1ee23">drone strike&nbsp;</a>on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Benchmark U.S. crude jumped 8.6% to $77.36 a barrel.

Brent crude, the international standard, added 6.7% to $81.29 a barrel. Global oil prices jumped to start the week over concerns that the war will clog the global flow of crude.

AAA: Average price for a gallon of gas jumped overnight 

Some of the United States' most important historical documents began a first-of-its kind journey Monday as part of the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/250th-anniversary-us-july-4-celebration-semiquincentennial-e35a3f57b952663f60056c24d0e6a7f0">250th anniversary</a>&nbsp;commemoration.

Typically housed in highly controlled vaults under the watch of preservation experts at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/america-250-declaration-of-independence-democracy-d49050f62425ed6ddecc5dfb42ba8a20">National Archives</a>, documents such as the 1783 Treaty of Paris that formally ended the Revolutionary War and the 1774 Articles of Association that urged colonists to boycott British goods are rarely moved.

But those documents, signed by George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and other American revolutionary leaders, will be making their way&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2026/nr26-1">across the country</a>&nbsp;and put on display for free at local museums.

“It's tangible history, and tangible history inspires,” said Jim Byron, senior adviser to the acting archivist of the United States. “These documents have not traveled, and they’ve certainly not traveled collectively, ever. They are here in vaults.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/company/about-bca/washington/boeing-backs-america--freedom-plane-to-touch-down-in-seattle">Boeing 737 “Freedom Plane”</a>&nbsp;transporting the documents is just one of many events and activities planned across the country to mark America's upcoming 250th anniversary celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. A congressionally chartered commission,&nbsp;<a href="https://america250.org/">America 250</a>, and a separate White House-led initiative, called&nbsp;<a href="https://freedom250.org/">Freedom 250</a>, are both coordinating events, an overlap that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/america-250-congress-spending-history-trump-9163856922b428f53a8e1a7c30a06a04">faced some criticism</a>&nbsp;in Washington.

Among the planned activities are a&nbsp;<a href="https://freedom250.org/events-calendar/freedom-truck-mobile-museums">fleet of mobile museums</a>&nbsp;driving across the country, a&nbsp;<a href="https://america250.org/our-american-story/">story collection initiative</a>&nbsp;and a Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has even announced plans for a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">Patriot Games</a>&nbsp;” sporting event featuring high school athletes and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-white-house-america-250-a9a819e6610a8390b5d1a794c276d03e">UFC mixed-martial arts fight</a>&nbsp;at the White House.

The “Freedom Plane" is scheduled to depart Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday and head to its first stop in Kansas City, Missouri, where the documents will be transferred to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theworldwar.org/">National WWI Museum and Memorial.</a>&nbsp;The records include a rare original engraving of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1823 from a copperplate of the original; the Oaths of Allegiance signed in 1778 by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and other officers of the Continental Army; and a rare draft copy of the U.S. Constitution that includes handwritten notes by the delegates.

Other planned stops will be in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, the Detroit suburb of Dearborn and Seattle.

“The reality that these documents are leaving D.C. and coming to the heartland is fantastic,” said Matt Naylor, president and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, where they will be on display for a little over two weeks starting Friday. “There's a lot of excitement about that and a lot of talk in and around the city about what that means.”

Naylor said the early response has been overwhelming. Local schools have already booked visits for more than 5,000 schoolchildren.

“That’s indicating that there’s a lot of enthusiasm for this,” he said.

The "Freedom Plane" tour was inspired in part by the “American Freedom Train” that toured 48 states in 1975 and 1976 as part of the country's bicentennial celebration. It carried various pieces of American history, including the original Louisiana Purchase documents, Judy Garland's dress from The Wizard of Oz and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-owens-track-and-field-jennifer-song-michael-phelps-katie-ledecky-22ec8bac1a46e522d166eac63e3447a0">Jesse Owens'</a>&nbsp;gold medals from the 1936 Olympic Games.

Major historical documents start journey across US as part of nation's 250th anniversary celebration

KANSAS CiTY—Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 21-year-old Jalen S. Gilliam.

Just after 10p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of E 76th street in Kansas City, Missouri on a sound of shots call, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they located two adult male victims inside a vehicle at the intersection of 76th and Lydia. One man, later identified as Gilliam, was suffering from gunshot wounds and officers immediately began performing life saving measures while ordering EMS. Gilliam was transported&nbsp; to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. The other male victim sustained non life threatening gun shot wounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the course of the initial investigation officers located a possible subject of interest in a nearby residence. Officers surrounded the house and an Operation 100, a police stand off, was initiated. Trained negotiators and tactical officers were called in to the scene to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.&nbsp; Police ultimately determined the house was empty.

This is being investigated as a homicide, and no one is in custody at this point. Detectives are still working to determine what led to shots being fired and the victims being struck.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police ID man shot in vehicle in Kansas City 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital with a drone early Tuesday as it kept hitting targets around the region, while the United States and Israel pounded Iran with airstrikes in what U.S. President Donald Trump suggested was just the start of a relentless campaign that could last more than a month.

The attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a “limited fire” and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound. It followed an attack on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-02-2026-cb42936de1d8c261be8f30f11c6665fa">the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait</a>, which announced Tuesday it had been closed until further notice. The U.S. State Department also ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, as well as Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates as a precaution.

The expanding conflict has so far killed hundreds of people, the vast majority in Iran.

Across Iran’s capital, explosions rang out throughout the night into Tuesday, with aircraft heard overhead. It was not immediately clear what had been hit. The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site had sustained “some recent damage,” though there was “no radiological consequence expected.” Natanz earlier came under attack by the U.S. in the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June.

In Lebanon, Israel launched more strikes on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia group. Explosions could be heard and smoke seen in a southern suburb of Beirut. Israel also said its soldiers were “operating in southern Lebanon.” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the Lebanese army was evacuating some of its positions along the border.

The conflict could have far-reaching consequences

The expansion of Iranian retaliation across the Gulf and the intensity of the Israeli and American attacks, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>&nbsp;and the lack of any apparent exit plan portend a possibly prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences.

Iran has hit many countries deemed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-dubai-emirates-tourism-attack-b256f514b290c987b3004cc87744f038">safe havens in the Mideast</a>&nbsp;in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli strikes. Recent targets include two Amazon data centers in the UAE and a drone impact near another in Bahrain that caused damage, the company said Tuesday. Iran has also hit energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-strait-hormuz-us-protests-persian-gulf-db7159d715453977279ab9cfd918e6e4">a fifth of all oil traded passes</a>, sending global oil and natural gas prices soaring.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed,” declared Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, threatening to set fire to any ships attempting to transit. “Don’t come to this region.”

The U.S. State Department urged U.S. citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries due to safety risks, as have many other countries, though with much of the airspace closed many remain stranded.

Trump said operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared “to go far longer than that.” He later added that the U.S. had a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and pre-positioned “high grade weaponry.”

“Wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies,” he wrote on social media.

Hundreds dead in Iran and dozens in Lebanon along with 11 in Israel

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said the U.S.-Israeli operation has killed at least 787 people. In Israel, where several locations were hit by Iranian missiles, 11 people were killed. The semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported airstrikes killed 13 Iranian troops in Kerman, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Iran’s capital, Tehran.

Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Hezbollah killed 52 people in Lebanon.

“Military escalation would force more families from their homes and hit civilians hard,” said Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization on Migration, calling for the international community to press for de-escalation. “Millions are already displaced in the region.”

The U.S. military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. All six were Army soldiers in a logistics unit in Kuwait, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Three people were killed in the UAE, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The chaos of the conflict became apparent when the U.S. military said Kuwait had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc">“mistakenly shot down”</a>&nbsp;three American fighter jets while Iran was attacking it with aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. U.S. Central Command said all six pilots ejected safely.

Israel and US target nuclear facilities and missile infrastructure

Iranian state TV said strikes caused two explosions early Tuesday at a broadcasting facility in Tehran, but said no one was injured.

Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters that airstrikes targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment site on Sunday.

“Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” he said.

Israel and the U.S. have not acknowledged strikes at the site, which the U.S. bombed in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. Israel has said it is targeting the “leadership and nuclear infrastructure.”

Trump said the military campaign’s objectives are to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, wipe out its navy, prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensure that it cannot continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-proxies-us-israel-hezbollah-war-b0f919b657bb33c464f6d943d7142464">support allied groups</a>&nbsp;like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which fired missiles at Israel on Monday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June</a>, though it has maintained its right to do so and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained, however, that Iran was rebuilding “new sites, new places” underground for making atomic bombs. He offered no evidence to support his claim.

“We had to take the action now and we did,” Netanyahu told Fox News Channel’s Hannity.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed limited activity at two nuclear sites in Iran before the war. Analysts said Tehran was likely assessing damage from the 2025 U.S. strikes and possibly salvaging what remained.

Attacks on Iran have drawn in proxy forces from around region

The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate.

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