Hutchinson voters have narrowly approved the proposed city sales tax following Tuesday’s special election.

According to unofficial results from the Reno County Clerk’s Office, the measure passed with 2,316 votes in favor and 2,166 votes opposed, a margin of 150 votes. Just over 16 percent of the registered voters voted in the election.&nbsp;

The approved 0.75% city sales tax will help fund several city priorities, including street maintenance, parks and recreation improvements, stormwater infrastructure and other city services. City officials have also said the tax will allow the stormwater utility fee currently included on residents’ water bills to be eliminated, shifting that cost to the sales tax instead.

In a statement following the vote, Hutchinson Mayor Scott Meggers thanked residents for participating in the election and engaging in what he called an important community discussion.

“I want to thank the voters of Hutchinson for participating in the election and taking time to engage in an important decision for our community,” Meggers said. “I also want to thank our residents, city staff, the City Manager, and my fellow City Council members who helped provide information and have thoughtful conversations about the issue.”

Meggers said he appreciated those who supported the measure while also acknowledging residents who voted against it.

“This was an important discussion for our community, and I’m grateful to those who spoke up and supported a yes vote for the future of Hutchinson,” he said. “At the same time, we respect the voices of those who voted against the measure.”

Meggers added that city leaders will now focus on implementing the measure responsibly.

“Moving forward, our responsibility is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and follow through on the commitments made to the community,” he said. “We will continue working together to move Hutchinson in a positive direction.”

The sales tax is set to take effect on Oct. 1. It will remain in effect until Sept. 30, 2036.

Voters approve Hutchinson sales tax 

KIOWA COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office detention officer Monday afternoon for child sex crimes.

On Monday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m., KBI agents arrested Dustin Dean Chartier, 36, of Greensburg, at the Kiowa County Courthouse, according to a media release from the KBI.

 Chartier was arrested on requested charges of rape, aggravated sexual battery, indecent liberties with a child, lewd and lascivious behavior, and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child.

In December 2025, the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office requested the KBI investigate allegations of sex abuse of a minor by a detention officer in 2021. Chartier was placed on administrative leave during the KBI investigation. While investigating the initial allegation, a second victim disclosed another sex abuse incident, prompting the KBI to open an additional investigation. The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office was fully cooperative with the investigation.

Following his arrest Chartier was booked into the Reno County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

KBI: Two child victims report sex abuse involving Kan. jail deputy 

JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher

Every year since 1948, FFA members, agriculture teachers, alumni and supporters have come together to celebrate National FFA Week. The tradition is held during the week of Feb. 22, in honor of George Washington’s birthday — a fitting tribute to a leader who valued agriculture and innovation.

For many local chapters, FFA Week carries the same excitement as homecoming. There are dress-up days, special events like donkey basketball or Drive Your Tractor to School Day, and plenty of friendly competition. More than 20 years later, I still smile when I think about organizing “FFA Olympics,” visiting elementary classrooms in my blue corduroy jacket and the countless hours we poured into making the week memorable at my high school.

For state and national officers, however, FFA Week looks a little different. Their schedules are typically packed with chapter visits, media interviews, workshops and trips to state capitols or meetings with supporters. During my year as a national officer, most of my teammates were dispatched across the country with back-to-back appearances, inspiring members and celebrating alongside local chapters.

One teammate, Emily, and I had a very different experience.

We began the week helping with an appreciation breakfast for National FFA staff hosted by local chapters. Then we flew to Washington, D.C., for legislative and agency visits to promote FFA. What we didn’t anticipate was a snowstorm — every single night.

Each day, we navigated nearly a foot of fresh snow in high heels, making our way to meetings on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies. The snow didn’t stop business hours, so we were still able to meet with staff and share FFA’s story. But once evening arrived, the city shut down. Instead of attending chapter banquets or community events, we found ourselves ordering pizza from the same delivery place each night. While our teammates were spending 16-hour days energizing FFA members across the country, Emily and I were curled up in our hotel room voting for Carrie Underwood on “American Idol.” It wasn’t the FFA Week we expected — but it was certainly one we’ll never forget.

In recent years, social media has added a new dimension to FFA Week. Alumni and supporters update profile photos with pictures from their own FFA days, sharing how the organization shaped their leadership, confidence and career skills. A few years ago, Give FFA Day was established on the Thursday of FFA Week, providing a focused opportunity to give back.

That spirit of generosity is part of why I said yes when asked to join the Kansas FFA Foundation Board of Directors last year. My own FFA experience — and the impact I continue to see in students across our communities — made it an easy decision. What I’ve witnessed in my short time on the board has exceeded expectations. Dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to elevate opportunities for students and support agriculture teachers in meaningful ways.

This year’s Give FFA Day momentum was impossible to miss. Media partnerships, coordinated social media campaigns and a live event at headquarters helped build excitement around Kansas’s goal of raising $50,000. The response was extraordinary.

By the end of the day, more than $106,000 had been raised, with donations coming from all 50 states and every one of Kansas’ 105 counties. The outpouring of support demonstrated just how deeply FFA resonates — not only with current members but with generations who understand its lasting influence.

FFA Week is about celebration, yes. But it is also about investment — in students, in teachers and in the future of agriculture. Watching that support materialize in such a tangible way was both humbling and inspiring.

For me, FFA Week will always carry memories of blue jackets, spirited competitions and even a snowy Washington, D.C., adventure. More importantly, it represents a community committed to developing the next generation of agricultural and community leaders — and that is something worth celebrating every year.

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

Insight on Agriculture: Celebrating FFA Week

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The Kansas Department of Corrections and the Bureau of Land Management have agreed to extend the Wild Horse and Burro Program at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility, keeping the long-running initiative in operation through May 31, 2026.

The agreement prevents the immediate closure of the program, which has operated at the facility for more than 25 years. State and federal officials said the extension will allow both agencies additional time to negotiate a long-term contract aimed at securing the program’s future.

Under the extension, approximately 300 wild horses and burros will remain at the Hutchinson facility rather than being relocated to long-term holding facilities. The animals will continue to be cared for by trained handlers participating in the program.

Officials said the decision also preserves the specialized roles of resident horse handlers at the correctional facility. Participants gain vocational training in horse care, handling and training, skills that can help support employment opportunities after release.

The program’s continuation also ensures ongoing training for the animals as part of the Bureau of Land Management’s national Wild Horse and Burro adoption efforts. Horses trained at the Hutchinson facility receive halter and saddle training, making them more suitable for adoption by private owners.

Since its launch in 2001 at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility, the program has served both animal welfare and rehabilitation goals. In addition to preparing wild horses for adoption, the program provides incarcerated participants with opportunities for personal development, responsibility and job-related skills aimed at supporting successful reentry into society.

Officials from both agencies said the extension provides time to work toward a sustainable funding and operational model that would allow the program to continue long term.

KDOC, BLM extend Wild Horse Program at HCF

Students at Prairie Hills Middle School are gaining early workplace experience through a unique in-school jobs program that has grown rapidly over the past three years.

District leaders recently highlighted the program during a community conversation about activities and initiatives in the Buhler USD 313 school district.

Prairie Hills Principal Abby Thompson said the program, coordinated by teacher Ashley Bunting, allows students to apply for and work in various roles throughout the school building.

“It’s preparing them for their next step as they become teenagers and apply for real jobs,” Thompson said. “They learn that you have to communicate, be on time, and let your supervisor know if you can’t make it because other people are depending on you.”

The program began three years ago with about 30 students participating. This year, it has expanded to more than 200 students — roughly 40 percent of the school’s 550-student population.

Bunting said the idea was originally launched by educator Courtney Clawson and has continued to grow as students and staff embraced the concept.

“It’s a unique opportunity for every kid in the building to get involved, regardless of their athletic ability or skill set,” Bunting said. “They can apply for a variety of jobs in the building, and then we train them to do real jobs.”

Student positions include math tutors, teacher aides, lunchroom cleanup crews, hallway maintenance helpers and teams that prepare the gym for physical education classes and after-school activities. Other students assist with setting up traffic cones for parent pickup or serve as guides who give visitors tours of the building.

Teachers supervise each job group, creating what Bunting described as a school-wide effort involving nearly every staff member.

“We have 15 or 16 teachers who supervise jobs, but even the teachers who don’t supervise play a role by allowing students to go to their jobs during champion time or lunch,” she said. “Every adult in the building has had a part in making it work.”

Thompson said the program has also helped foster school pride among students.

“When you see kids investing in their school — whether it’s cleaning up, helping teachers or greeting visitors — they really take ownership in the building,” she said.

Superintendent Cindy Couchman said the initiative reflects the district’s goal of preparing students with life skills long before they graduate.

“Sometimes we say we all teach seniors,” Couchman said. “Programs like this help build the DNA of a Buhler graduate — respectful, responsible and ready for the workforce.”

District officials say participation levels show the program is resonating with students and giving them valuable lessons in responsibility, teamwork and work ethic before they enter high school and eventually the workforce.

PHMS program gives students real-world job experience

Pride and progress in a community don’t always start with a large, headline-grabbing project. They can also start with what residents see every day — active storefronts, well-kept properties, safe streets and signs of forward movement.

According to the 1,144 residents who responded to the 2025 Love Where You Live Resident Perception Survey, those visible signs of progress matter deeply.

The recent survey results mark the second year of Hutchinson Community Foundation’s three-year Love Where You Live Community Empowerment Initiative, designed by Ohio-based Innovation Economy Partners, to provide communities in Reno County with data and a process for making progress. The initiative centers resident perceptions, dialogue and collaborative action to strengthen community pride and accelerate visible progress.

As with the 2024 survey, residents from seven communities across Reno County — Buhler, Haven/Yoder, Fairfield area, Hutchinson, Nickerson, Pretty Prairie, and South Hutchinson — were asked how they felt about their towns, what they viewed as priorities, and what indicators might signal progress. This year’s survey engagement built on the 1,022 people who took the survey in 2024.

Across both years, residents’ priorities have remained consistent: attracting new businesses, removing blight, improving infrastructure, improving housing and supporting local business growth. Child care access, workforce training, mental health services and revitalized downtown spaces also consistently ranked near the top.

When residents were asked to articulate priority projects in their own words, the most common themes were centered on economic development, housing, infrastructure, community revitalization, and programs and amenities for families and youth.

“Basically, what the people over the last two years are saying, and how we’re framing it, is ‘Grow the economy, fix up the place and make it easier to live here,’” said Jan Steen, Hutchinson Community Foundation senior program officer.

The foundation is encouraging communities to consider incremental improvements to highly visible challenges that can be faster to execute and more financially manageable while also helping improve community perceptions.

“If communities can find that one small, visible project and quickly address it — maybe it’s fixing a sidewalk, sprucing up an abandoned property, adding some lighting — and then find another, and another, those incremental changes add up. Residents will see those improvements as signs of progress, then confidence and pride improve, which can lead to more improvements that spur investments that allow bigger challenges to be addressed. It’s a loop that can eventually lead to growth,” Steen said.

As part of the second phase of the survey cycle, Steen has met with communities to better understand their needs and explore how the community foundation can support their goals.

“As volunteers and community leaders better understand priorities their neighbors want addressed, we don’t want them to wonder what to do with their reports,” he said. “I’m here to sit down and discuss those local needs, then connect people with the resources they’ll find beneficial to moving forward and building their capacity – grant identification and grant writing support, leadership training, coaching, facilitation, past-project evaluation, asset mapping, and the expertise of our network of partners.”

The foundation also supports progress on priorities through its Fund for Reno County grant cycles. Awards for Impact Cycle I grants, focusing on community catalyst and community and economic development projects, will be announced soon, with the fund’s second grant cycle of the year supporting dynamic culture and thriving kids projects opening for proposals this summer.

To review full reports for each community and an interactive data tracker, visit renosurvey.com. For more information, contact Steen at jan@hutchcf.org or 620-663-5293.

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership and collaboration to strengthen Reno County. Since 1990, the foundation has granted more than $115 million.

Data from 2nd year of Reno County survey shows consistent themes

The City of Lyons has extended paid administrative leave of the city’s police chief pending further review, city officials announced. 

In a statement, the city said the decision to place the police chief on paid administrative leave was made Feb. 17 after “careful deliberation” and in accordance with the authority of the city's chief administrative officer. The statement said the move was based on the needs of the department and the community. 

City officials emphasized that the decision was not made lightly and noted the risks law enforcement officers face in serving their communities. 

At the City Council meeting on Monday, council members requested a two-week extension of the suspension to allow for additional administrative review. Because the matter involves personnel issues, the city said it will not comment further while the review is ongoing. 

To maintain continuity in operations, Sgt. Cory Ryan has been appointed temporary acting chief of the Lyons Police Department. 

The city also entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office under Kansas statute K.S.A. 12-2909 to ensure adequate law enforcement coverage continues for the community. 

City officials said Lyons remains committed to supporting its officers, strengthening public safety and maintaining public trust. Additional updates will be provided as the administrative review progresses. 

City of Lyon's extends administrative leave of police chief

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The Hutchinson City Council has scheduled a public hearing to consider the status of five residential properties identified as unsafe and dangerous structures within the city.

During Tuesday evening’s meeting, the council approved a resolution setting a hearing for 5:30 p.m. April 21, 2026, to review the condition of the properties and determine next steps.

City Building Official Jason Ladely told council members that inspections determined the structures meet the definition of unsafe or dangerous buildings under Chapter 21, Article 7 of the city code.

The properties included in the resolution are located at:

Lady said the city has issued notices to the property owners and opened property maintenance cases for each location beginning in 2025. One of the properties, at 913 E. Fifth Ave., was the site of a structure fire that prompted an investigation in June 2025.

City officials said the upcoming hearing will allow property owners the opportunity to address the conditions of the buildings before the city determines whether demolition or other action is required.

According to Lady, funding for potential demolitions is already included in the city’s fiscal year 2026 demolition budget, meaning the action is not expected to create additional financial obligations for the city.

Based on the size and type of the structures, Lady estimated demolition costs would likely range from $5,000 to $8,000 per property.

Council members also discussed whether nonprofit housing partners, including Interfaith Housing and Community Services, had attempted to contact owners about acquiring or rehabilitating the properties. Lady said the city provides its list of problem properties to nonprofit partners, though he could not confirm whether those specific addresses had been contacted.

The five properties are in addition to five other residential structures the council began the unsafe structure process on earlier this year. Those properties are:

A public hearing for these properties is set for 5:30 p.m. on April 7.

City officials said addressing abandoned and unsafe housing aligns with Hutchinson’s strategic objective of investing in neighborhoods and improving housing conditions, particularly in areas south of 17th Avenue, identified in the Reno County Housing Needs Assessment as priority areas.

Council sets hearing for dangerous and unsafe structures

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone">REBECCA BOONE</a>

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The last two names of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Kuwait attack</a>&nbsp;were released Wednesday by the Pentagon, and they are from California and Iowa.

The soldiers identified Wednesday were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

The Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when a drone strike hit the command center in Kuwait and is “believed to be the individual who perished at the scene,” according to the statement. A medical examiner will confirm identification, the Pentagon said.

Four soldiers were previously identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

They died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">military campaign against Iran</a>. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

O’Brien was promoted to major in August 2024, according to a Facebook post, which shows him alongside two young children.

The signal officer and information systems engineer in the Army Reserve was a manager of defensive cyber operations at an Iowa-based cybersecurity company, according to his LinkedIn. He had a career spanning two decades in information and cybersecurity.

The other four soldiers identified were: Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa,; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of the deaths. Trump will attend the dignified transfers of the soldiers when they arrive in the U.S., the White House said Wednesday. The ritual honors service members killed in action.

Coady had been checking in with his family from Kuwait every hour or two after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">U.S. and Israel launched</a>&nbsp;their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">military campaign against Iran</a>, even as Iran launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-03-2026">retaliatory strikes</a>.

When he didn’t respond to messages Sunday, “most of us started to wonder,” Coady’s father, Andrew, told The Associated Press. “Your gut starts to get a feeling.”

Amor was just days away from returning to her husband and children.

“She was almost home,” her husband, Joey Amor, said Tuesday. “You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first — it hurts.”

Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes she grew with her son, a high school senior. She enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.

A week before the drone attack, Amor was moved off-base to a shipping container-style building that had no defenses, her husband said.

“They were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,” he said.

Childhood friend Natalie Caruso wrote on Facebook that she was “absolutely heartbroken” about Amor’s death.

“Nicole was always up for an adventure and she had such a contagious laugh!” Caruso wrote Wednesday.

Coady recently told his father he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously.

He was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, Andrew Coady said Tuesday.

“He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier,” Coady said. “He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone.”

Coady, an Eagle Scout, was close to his family and often called, even if for only a few minutes. He was studying cybersecurity at Drake University in Des Moines, and he wanted to become an officer.

“I still don’t fully think it’s real,” his sister Keira Coady said. “I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back.”

Khork was very patriotic and wanted to serve in the military from childhood, his family said in a statement Tuesday.

He enlisted in the Army Reserve and joined Florida Southern College’s ROTC program.

“That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was,” his mother, Donna Burhans; father, James Khork; and stepmother, Stacey Khork; said in a statement.

Khork, who loved history, had a degree in political science.

His family described him as “the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.”

Abbas Jaffer posted Monday on Facebook about his friend of 16 years.

“My best friend, best man, and brother gave his life defending our country overseas,” Jaffer said.

Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local church’s gym.

“I thought he was going to be the last person in, because he hates all this (hoopla),” his wife, Michelle Tietjens, told the Lincoln Journal Star at the time.

Tietjens’ cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens’ 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate “unimaginable loss.”

“We lost a brave soldier this weekend and many hearts are broken,” Golike wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

Tietjens earned a black belt in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo and was “an instructor who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others,” the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance said on Facebook.

Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Coleman said Tietjens was his mentor.

“You could call him day or night,” Coleman told KETV. “He always took the time, you know, he made you feel important.”

Boone contributed from Boise, Idaho, and Toropin from Washington. Associated Press reporters Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Josh Funk and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; and David Fischer in Miami contributed.

Pentagon releases names of 2 more U.S. soldiers killed in Iran conflict

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sean-murphy">SEAN MURPHY</a> Associated Press

An Arkansas man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-father-sheriff-candidate-daughter-shooting-9daf9a7b2b1947cfd3de81c4439c8cf0">accused of killing</a>&nbsp;his teenage daughter’s alleged abuser won the Republican nomination for local sheriff while waiting to stand trial for murder in his rural county, where he ran on a message of seeing the failures of law enforcement.

Aaron Spencer defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in Tuesday’s primary elections, according to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas secretary of state. He would not be able to serve if he is convicted of killing Michael Fosler, 67, who at the time was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.

Spencer’s attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer won more than 53% of the vote with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Staley, whose department arrested Spencer in 2024, conceded the loss.

“Congratulations to Mr. Spencer. Tonight the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision,” Staley said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Spencer said in a statement that his message of accountability resonated with voters.

“Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability,” Spencer said. “This wasn’t a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.”

He is now set to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the heavily Republican county in November.

Spencer has pleaded not guilty and is out on bond while awaiting trial, which was originally scheduled to start in January. The trial was delayed after the presiding judge was removed from the case. A new date has not been set.

Court documents show that on the night of the October 2024 shooting, Spencer woke up to find his daughter missing from her bedroom and went searching for her in his truck. He found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer eventually forced Fosler’s truck off the highway and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man, records show.

Prosecutors argue Spencer had planned to kill Fosler even before that night and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler.

Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the election results have no bearing on the facts of the case.

“Aaron Spencer did exactly what the law allows and exactly what any father would do: he protected his daughter and himself from harm,” Cassinelli said. “At some point, those responsible for this prosecution will have to reckon with that.”

Spencer pledged in a Facebook post last month that if elected he would establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

Man accused of killing daughter's alleged abuser wins GOP sheriff's nomination

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-constitution-37ec6685d9ded1d467a719f91e537487">war powers resolution</a>, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the resolution.

The vote gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave.

“Today every senator — every single one — will pick a side," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?”

Sen. John Barrasso, second in Senate Republican leadership, said during the debate that GOP senators would send a message that Democrats are wrong for forcing a vote on the war powers resolution.

“Democrats would rather obstruct Donald Trump than obliterate Iran’s national nuclear program,” he added.

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support

After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-trump-iran-israel-nuclear-41f4f308683c2ee10420225e1380cf21">already wary of entering</a>. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the war could extend eight weeks, a longer time frame than has previously been floated by the Trump administration. He also acknowledged that Iran is still able to carry out missile attacks even as the U.S. tries to control the country's airspace.

U.S. service members “remain in harm’s way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same press conference.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. military members were killed</a>&nbsp;over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa acknowledged the human costs of the war in her floor speech.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">One of the soldiers killed</a>&nbsp;Sunday was from Iowa and a National Guard unit from her state was also attacked in Syria in December, resulting in the deaths of two other soldiers.

“But now is our opportunity to bring an end to the decades of chaos,” said Ernst, who herself served as an officer in the Iowa National Guard for two decades.

Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-02-2026-cb42936de1d8c261be8f30f11c6665fa">hoping to end the bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.

The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-68d78b2215cc6c021937859ce852e1f2">where lawmakers stand on the war</a>&nbsp;as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.

“Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. “Everybody's got to declare whether they're for this war or against it.”

Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, was different.

Unlike Trump's military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">ricocheting across the region</a>. For Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-mideast-america-first-23737d6fee8ae5aaf5a06627fd85a076">promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements</a>, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.

“War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we're taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long pushed Trump to engage overseas, argued that the widening conflict represented an opportunity for Arab and European countries to join in the fight against Iran and the militant groups it supports.

“I don’t mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea,” he told reporters, but also argued that too much power over the military was ceded to Congress in the War Powers Act, which mandates that presidents must withdraw troops from a conflict within 90 days if there is no congressional authorization.

On the other side of the Capitol, an intense debate over the war unfolded before a vote Thursday. The House first debated a resolution presented by GOP leadership affirming that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.

Rep. Brian Mast, the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Trump for taking action against Iran, saying the president is using his own constitutional authority to defend the U.S. against the “imminent threat” of Iran.

Mast, an Army veteran who worked as a bomb disposal expert in Afghanistan, said the Democratic resolution was effectively asking “that the president do nothing.”

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, said before the debate that the hardest votes he has taken in Congress have been to decide whether to send U.S. troops to war. “Our young men and women’s lives are on the line,” he said, his voice showing emotion as he emerged from a closed-door briefing late Tuesday with Trump officials.

At a news conference Wednesday, several Democratic members who are also veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spoke about the heavy costs of those conflicts.

One of them was Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war and act tough, they're not talking about them doing it, they're not talking about their kids,” Crow said. “They're talking about working class kids like us.”

Moran, Marshall help Senate reject effort to block war with Iran 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-olson">ERIC OLSON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;TOM COYNE Associated Press

Lou Holtz, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">College Football</a>&nbsp;Hall of Fame coach who led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/notre-dame-fighting-irish-football">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six schools, has died. He was 89.

Notre Dame announced on Wednesday that Holtz died in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. Spokeswoman Katy Lonergan said a cause of death was not provided by the family.

Holtz became the first and so far only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games during a career in which he compiled a record of 249-132-7. He still ranks 10th all-time in career victories by a Football Bowl Subdivision coach, eighth all-time with 388 games coached.

At Notre Dame, he went 100-30-2 in 11 seasons producing both the third-highest win total in school history and the second-highest loss total.

Holtz won at every stop — except for a brief stint in the NFL.

He didn’t just win games, either. The diminutive coach captivated fans with his occasionally fiery sideline demeanor, his self-deprecating wit and folksy phrases all while demanding excellence, on and off the field, from his much larger players.

Holtz became such a popular personality that after coaching his last game, in 2004 with South Carolina, he parlayed that into a broadcasting career and motivational speaking.

On their social media page the University of Notre Dame&nbsp; President Rev. Robert A. Dowd wrote, “Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather."

"Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”

- University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz dead at 89

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rebounded Wednesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-iran-energy-oil-trump-75edbda5b8fa3038b47f143cc16855f0">two days</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">punishing swings</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-oil-gas-gallon-aaa-e2daee318b8e3e6a1124713909a410e4">oil prices</a>&nbsp;stopped spiking and reports gave encouraging updates on the economy.

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