WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a broad bill on Thursday to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress to address a growing national problem.

The bill, which passed 89-10, would reduce regulations, regulate corporate investors and expand how housing dollars can be used to build affordable homes and rentals. It will now head back to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year.

“There is growing demand for affordable housing in rural communities in Kansas and across the country, underscoring the importance of practical and innovative solutions to help meet that need,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will streamline rural housing programs, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and help expand access to affordable housing for rural families. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law so we can continue to strengthen rural America and improve access to affordable housing.”

“We have a housing shortage all across America,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who worked with Republicans to win overwhelming support from both parties for the legislation. “We need more housing of every kind. More housing for first-time home buyers, more housing for renters, more housing for seniors, more housing for people with disabilities, more rural housing, more urban housing, more, more, and more."

The legislation, she said, "will help drive down prices.”

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., led the effort with Warren. He said ahead of the vote that the Senate would “do what so many people failed to do in this legislative body for the last few decades, and that is pass consequential legislation that makes it easier to become a homeowner.”

Despite the bipartisan vote in the Senate and a shared eagerness to pass the legislation ahead of the midterm elections, It’s unclear whether the House will take up the bill again — or if President Donald Trump will sign it.

Trump has backed the legislation through the bipartisan negotiations, but he has also slowed its momentum with a declaration last weekend that he won’t sign any new measures unless Congress passes legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">require voters to show proof of citizenship</a>&nbsp;and end most mail-in balloting. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of that bill next week, but it is unlikely to pass as all Democrats oppose it.

At the same time, House leaders have indicated that they are unlikely to accept the Senate version of the housing legislation and have suggested they could launch a formal conference process to negotiate a final deal between the chambers — a process that could take months.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the bill’s passage that conference negotiations are a possibility, “but obviously the quickest way to do this would be to pick up the Senate bill and pass it.”

If the White House wants that to happen, he said, “they’ll probably have to make that argument to House leadership.”

House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., said in a statement that Senate passage is “an important step” but added that, “it is critical we get the details right and mitigate some of the concerns raised by House members with the Senate bill.”

Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced the legislation as there has been a national shortage of home construction and as prices have climbed faster than incomes. The bill would give local governments more power on housing issues, allow banks to invest more in affordable housing and lift limits on the number of public housing units that can receive private financing through Section 8 funding to rehabilitate properties.

“You’ve got many provisions in this bill that stop treating the U.S. like one single housing market and start giving local leaders the tools they need to fix their unique regional puzzle,” said Peter Carroll with Cotality, a company that tracks housing data.

The bill aims to make homebuilding easier by streamlining some regulations that require environmental reviews and inspections. It also lifts a limit on a grant for emergency shelter beds and street homelessness outreach.

As many affordable housing developers are leaning on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3d-printing-homes-manufactured-modular-housing-crisis-b61a54e0caee09f221b859fd99b18a43">manufactured and modular homes</a>&nbsp;that can be transported to areas that need housing, the legislation also would eliminate the requirement that they have to be built on a permanent chassis, reducing costs and making them easier to build and design.

One of the more contested provisions of the bill would bar institutional investors from buying single-family homes — a top priority for Trump.

The bill defines such investors as any that directly or indirectly own 350 or more single-family homes. Investors of any size would not be required to sell single-family homes bought before the date that the bill becomes a law.

They would still be allowed to buy or build single-family homes if they rent them out, but would be required to sell them to an individual homebuyer after seven years.

Trump has pushed the ban as he has been under pressure to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-high-prices-inflation-angry-voters-e6e65165deaf9dfc8dbb986f43b1a61a">voters’ concerns about affordability</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterm elections. “People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump said in a social media post in January, calling on Congress to act.

Critics of the bill’s limits on large institutional investors say it will lead to less rental housing inventory and higher rents as landlords face less competition. At the same time, it’s unclear how a ban that targets institutional investors that own 350 or more single-family homes would meaningfully reduce competition that ordinary homebuyers may face when they shop for a home.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023 — well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm. They slowed last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">a 30-year low and</a>&nbsp;have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-c284d47896979530871c1660b0e05ca6">January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-29d84f7fa22d4b8ccc2d2906e9e58618">February</a>&nbsp;versus a year earlier.

A sharp run-up in home prices, especially in the early years of this decade, and a chronic shortage of homes nationally worsened by years of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.

Meanwhile, while the median U.S. monthly rent has been declining for more than two years, it was still 15.2% higher in January than it was at the start of 2020, according to data from Realtor.com.

Kramon reported from Atlanta and Veiga reported from Los Angeles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773348589836.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a broad bill on Thursday to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress to address a growing national problem.The bill, which passed 89-10, would reduce regulations, regulate corporate investors and expand how housing dollars can be used to build affordable homes and rentals. It will now head back to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year.“There is growing demand for affordable housing in rural communities in Kansas and across the country, underscoring the importance of practical and innovative solutions to help meet that need,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will streamline rural housing programs, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and help expand access to affordable housing for rural families. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law so we can continue to strengthen rural America and improve access to affordable housing.”“We have a housing shortage all across America,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who worked with Republicans to win overwhelming support from both parties for the legislation. “We need more housing of every kind. More housing for first-time home buyers, more housing for renters, more housing for seniors, more housing for people with disabilities, more rural housing, more urban housing, more, more, and more."The legislation, she said, "will help drive down prices.”Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., led the effort with Warren. He said ahead of the vote that the Senate would “do what so many people failed to do in this legislative body for the last few decades, and that is pass consequential legislation that makes it easier to become a homeowner.”<h2>Roadblocks ahead for the legislation</h2>Despite the bipartisan vote in the Senate and a shared eagerness to pass the legislation ahead of the midterm elections, It’s unclear whether the House will take up the bill again — or if President Donald Trump will sign it.Trump has backed the legislation through the bipartisan negotiations, but he has also slowed its momentum with a declaration last weekend that he won’t sign any new measures unless Congress passes legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">require voters to show proof of citizenship</a>&nbsp;and end most mail-in balloting. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of that bill next week, but it is unlikely to pass as all Democrats oppose it.At the same time, House leaders have indicated that they are unlikely to accept the Senate version of the housing legislation and have suggested they could launch a formal conference process to negotiate a final deal between the chambers — a process that could take months.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the bill’s passage that conference negotiations are a possibility, “but obviously the quickest way to do this would be to pick up the Senate bill and pass it.”If the White House wants that to happen, he said, “they’ll probably have to make that argument to House leadership.”House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., said in a statement that Senate passage is “an important step” but added that, “it is critical we get the details right and mitigate some of the concerns raised by House members with the Senate bill.”<h2>Making housing more attainable</h2>Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced the legislation as there has been a national shortage of home construction and as prices have climbed faster than incomes. The bill would give local governments more power on housing issues, allow banks to invest more in affordable housing and lift limits on the number of public housing units that can receive private financing through Section 8 funding to rehabilitate properties.“You’ve got many provisions in this bill that stop treating the U.S. like one single housing market and start giving local leaders the tools they need to fix their unique regional puzzle,” said Peter Carroll with Cotality, a company that tracks housing data.The bill aims to make homebuilding easier by streamlining some regulations that require environmental reviews and inspections. It also lifts a limit on a grant for emergency shelter beds and street homelessness outreach.As many affordable housing developers are leaning on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3d-printing-homes-manufactured-modular-housing-crisis-b61a54e0caee09f221b859fd99b18a43">manufactured and modular homes</a>&nbsp;that can be transported to areas that need housing, the legislation also would eliminate the requirement that they have to be built on a permanent chassis, reducing costs and making them easier to build and design.<h2>Corporate investors</h2>One of the more contested provisions of the bill would bar institutional investors from buying single-family homes — a top priority for Trump.The bill defines such investors as any that directly or indirectly own 350 or more single-family homes. Investors of any size would not be required to sell single-family homes bought before the date that the bill becomes a law.They would still be allowed to buy or build single-family homes if they rent them out, but would be required to sell them to an individual homebuyer after seven years.Trump has pushed the ban as he has been under pressure to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-high-prices-inflation-angry-voters-e6e65165deaf9dfc8dbb986f43b1a61a">voters’ concerns about affordability</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterm elections. “People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump said in a social media post in January, calling on Congress to act.Critics of the bill’s limits on large institutional investors say it will lead to less rental housing inventory and higher rents as landlords face less competition. At the same time, it’s unclear how a ban that targets institutional investors that own 350 or more single-family homes would meaningfully reduce competition that ordinary homebuyers may face when they shop for a home.<h2>A need for reform</h2>The U.S. housing market has been in a slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023 — well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm. They slowed last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">a 30-year low and</a>&nbsp;have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-c284d47896979530871c1660b0e05ca6">January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-29d84f7fa22d4b8ccc2d2906e9e58618">February</a>&nbsp;versus a year earlier.A sharp run-up in home prices, especially in the early years of this decade, and a chronic shortage of homes nationally worsened by years of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.Meanwhile, while the median U.S. monthly rent has been declining for more than two years, it was still 15.2% higher in January than it was at the start of 2020, according to data from Realtor.com.___Kramon reported from Atlanta and Veiga reported from Los Angeles.

Senate passes Kan. U.S. Senator's housing bill to improve access, affordability

NEW YORK (AP) — With no clear end in sight, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-12-2026-oil-prices-90e17dbf7354d1e9428994ab2a036506">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel on Thursday, and stocks sank worldwide.

The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.5% and resumed its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stock-markets-iran-war-458890210407eb0cba85c7e1a684c890">sharp swings</a>&nbsp;following a couple days of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-trump-9015cbc7db4569fddd124659acfcaf86">relative calm</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739 points, or 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.8%.

The center of action was again the oil market, where the price of a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 9.2% to settle at $100.46. Worries are worsening that the war could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-hormuz-oil-shipping-49a1901c35cf2507830776a29706cf98">block the production of oil</a>&nbsp;in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-oil-prices-gasoline-economy-consumers-a5b47c09f83406adf2a00616382003f6">surge of inflation</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-economy-oil-gas-66806b02a000235f1979e591279b6554">global economy</a>.

Iran’s new supreme leader released his first statement Thursday since succeeding his late father, saying his country would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-12-2026">keep up attacks</a>&nbsp;on Gulf Arab neighbors and use the effective closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;as leverage against the United States and Israel. A fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through the strait, and oil producers in the region are cutting production because their crude has nowhere to go.

Countries around the world are trying to make up for that, and the International Energy Agency said Wednesday that its members would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">release a record amount of oil</a>, 400 million barrels, from stockpiles built for such emergencies.

But such moves are short-term fixes, and they do not clear the long-term risks. Analysts have said that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices could jump to $150.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investors-iran-war-stock-market-panic-c4aaaec1ed1055f45f401cc5d7be59ec">history of bouncing back</a>&nbsp;relatively quickly from military conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t stay too high for too long. Even with all the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">up-</a>&nbsp;and-&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-1f7bf89b783a9ba731f4b25564bf80f8">down</a>&nbsp;swings of the last couple weeks, many rocking markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour to hour</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is just 4.4% below its all-time high set in January.

What’s made this jump for oil prices frightening is not only the degree — prices jumped near $120 this week to their highest level since 2022 — but that they’re occurring during an uncertain time for the economy.

Last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">hiring by U.S. employers was surprisingly weak</a>, which raised worries about a possible worst-case scenario for the economy called “stagflation.” That’s where economic growth stagnates while inflation remains high, and it’s a miserable mix that the Federal Reserve has no good tools to fix.

A more encouraging signal arrived Thursday. A report said that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-7d7482b3fe6d8a3957b9abf386c66019">number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;inched lower last week. That’s a sign that layoffs are potentially remaining low around the country.

Dollar General, meanwhile, reported better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. But the retailer with relatively low prices, whose customers often have the least cushion to absorb higher gasoline prices, gave forecasts for revenue this upcoming year that indicated a potential slowdown in growth. Its stock fell 6.1%.

Some of Wall Street’s worst losses again hit companies with big fuel bills. Cruise-ship operator Carnival fell 7.9%, and United Airlines sank 4.6%.

Worries about the private-credit industry also continued to hurt the market. Investors have been pulling their money out of some funds and companies that have lent to businesses whose profits are under threat. Many of the worries are focused on business that may not pay back their loans because of competition from AI-powered rivals.

Morgan Stanley fell 4.1% after its North Haven Private Income Fund said it allowed investors to redeem 5% of its total shares instead of the nearly 11% they had requested. That 5% cap is the advertised limit.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 103.18 points to 6,672.62. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739.42 to 46,677.85, and the Nasdaq composite sank 404.16 to 22,311.98.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across Europe and Asia.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1%, and France’s CAC 40 sank 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

In the bond market, Treasury yields continued to climb because of upward pressure from rising oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.26% from 4.21% late Wednesday and from just 3.97% before the war started.

Higher yields make all kinds of borrowing more expensive, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-a411c97f2ac6b5da22f3e6479944af66">mortgages</a>&nbsp;for potential U.S. homebuyers and bond offerings for companies looking to expand. They also push down on prices for all kinds of investments, from stocks to crypto.

Because of the spike for oil prices, traders have pushed back forecasts for when the Fed could resume its cuts to interest rates. President Donald Trump has been angrily calling for such cuts, which would give the economy and job market a boost but also potentially worsen inflation.

A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 9.7% to settle at $95.73.

AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683569393523.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — With no clear end in sight, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-12-2026-oil-prices-90e17dbf7354d1e9428994ab2a036506">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel on Thursday, and stocks sank worldwide.The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.5% and resumed its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stock-markets-iran-war-458890210407eb0cba85c7e1a684c890">sharp swings</a>&nbsp;following a couple days of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-trump-9015cbc7db4569fddd124659acfcaf86">relative calm</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739 points, or 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.8%.The center of action was again the oil market, where the price of a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 9.2% to settle at $100.46. Worries are worsening that the war could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-hormuz-oil-shipping-49a1901c35cf2507830776a29706cf98">block the production of oil</a>&nbsp;in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-oil-prices-gasoline-economy-consumers-a5b47c09f83406adf2a00616382003f6">surge of inflation</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-economy-oil-gas-66806b02a000235f1979e591279b6554">global economy</a>.Iran’s new supreme leader released his first statement Thursday since succeeding his late father, saying his country would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-12-2026">keep up attacks</a>&nbsp;on Gulf Arab neighbors and use the effective closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;as leverage against the United States and Israel. A fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through the strait, and oil producers in the region are cutting production because their crude has nowhere to go.Countries around the world are trying to make up for that, and the International Energy Agency said Wednesday that its members would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">release a record amount of oil</a>, 400 million barrels, from stockpiles built for such emergencies.But such moves are short-term fixes, and they do not clear the long-term risks. Analysts have said that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices could jump to $150.To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investors-iran-war-stock-market-panic-c4aaaec1ed1055f45f401cc5d7be59ec">history of bouncing back</a>&nbsp;relatively quickly from military conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t stay too high for too long. Even with all the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">up-</a>&nbsp;and-&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-1f7bf89b783a9ba731f4b25564bf80f8">down</a>&nbsp;swings of the last couple weeks, many rocking markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour to hour</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is just 4.4% below its all-time high set in January.What’s made this jump for oil prices frightening is not only the degree — prices jumped near $120 this week to their highest level since 2022 — but that they’re occurring during an uncertain time for the economy.Last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">hiring by U.S. employers was surprisingly weak</a>, which raised worries about a possible worst-case scenario for the economy called “stagflation.” That’s where economic growth stagnates while inflation remains high, and it’s a miserable mix that the Federal Reserve has no good tools to fix.A more encouraging signal arrived Thursday. A report said that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-7d7482b3fe6d8a3957b9abf386c66019">number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;inched lower last week. That’s a sign that layoffs are potentially remaining low around the country.Dollar General, meanwhile, reported better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. But the retailer with relatively low prices, whose customers often have the least cushion to absorb higher gasoline prices, gave forecasts for revenue this upcoming year that indicated a potential slowdown in growth. Its stock fell 6.1%.Some of Wall Street’s worst losses again hit companies with big fuel bills. Cruise-ship operator Carnival fell 7.9%, and United Airlines sank 4.6%.Worries about the private-credit industry also continued to hurt the market. Investors have been pulling their money out of some funds and companies that have lent to businesses whose profits are under threat. Many of the worries are focused on business that may not pay back their loans because of competition from AI-powered rivals.Morgan Stanley fell 4.1% after its North Haven Private Income Fund said it allowed investors to redeem 5% of its total shares instead of the nearly 11% they had requested. That 5% cap is the advertised limit.All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 103.18 points to 6,672.62. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739.42 to 46,677.85, and the Nasdaq composite sank 404.16 to 22,311.98.In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across Europe and Asia.Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1%, and France’s CAC 40 sank 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.In the bond market, Treasury yields continued to climb because of upward pressure from rising oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.26% from 4.21% late Wednesday and from just 3.97% before the war started.Higher yields make all kinds of borrowing more expensive, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-a411c97f2ac6b5da22f3e6479944af66">mortgages</a>&nbsp;for potential U.S. homebuyers and bond offerings for companies looking to expand. They also push down on prices for all kinds of investments, from stocks to crypto.Because of the spike for oil prices, traders have pushed back forecasts for when the Fed could resume its cuts to interest rates. President Donald Trump has been angrily calling for such cuts, which would give the economy and job market a boost but also potentially worsen inflation.A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 9.7% to settle at $95.73.___AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Oil price jumps, stocks sink worldwide with no end in sight for Iran war

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>

Passengers at a handful of airports this week waited in hours-long security lines as the government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security dragged on.

Though Transportation Security Administration officers are required by law to work during a lapse in funding, more than usual have been absent after receiving only a partial paycheck during the most recent pay period. TSA officers will miss an entire paycheck this weekend if the shutdown is still in effect then.&nbsp;

No end to the shutdown appeared imminent Wednesday, as the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have funded TSA and other agencies in DHS that are not related to immigration enforcement.

In the meantime, TSA officers are not being paid.&nbsp;

Most live paycheck-to-paycheck, said Johnny Jones, the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, which represents TSA agents.

The lack of pay has contributed to absenteeism, Jones added. The union does not condone coordinated “sick-outs,” which are illegal.&nbsp;

But individual officers miss work for one of three reasons during a shutdown, he said: pre-planned time off, legitimate illness or personal emergencies, and those calling in sick but seeking other work to pay bills.

“If you’re normally receiving a paycheck, you wouldn’t have that third group,” he said.

Some of those who are working are going without lunch or making other sacrifices, Jones added. And he said two colleagues were evicted during the most recent shutdown last fall, which lasted for 43 days.

The U.S. war against Iran, which has an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-iran-war-estimated-cost-billions-already-no-end-sight" target="_blank">estimated price</a>&nbsp;in the billions of dollars in just its first two weeks, has also driven resentment among TSA workers, Jones said.

“One of the things that I’ve heard from the colleagues is that, man, we got plenty of money to go fight wars and bomb Iran, but we can’t pay our own employees,” he said.

No exceptionally long wait times were reported Wednesday, but the previous few days saw several examples of snarled security lines.

Security lines&nbsp;<a href="http://houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/government-shutdown-hobby-airport-21963811.php" target="_blank">topped three hours</a>&nbsp;at Houston’s William P. Hobby International Airport on Monday and Tuesday.&nbsp;

Lines at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were up to two hours Monday and the airport’s social media drew a direct line to the shutdown.

“Due to impacts from the federal government’s partial shutdown, there continues to be a shortage of TSA workers at the security checkpoint … which is causing longer-than-average lines,” the airport’s X account&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/flyneworleans/status/2030952799811355119?s=20" target="_blank">posted</a>.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also urged passengers to leave extra time to account for factors including “TSA staffing constraints.”

CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-absences-double-shutdown-300-quit-airport-security-lines/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that more than 300 TSA agents have left their jobs since the shutdown began. TSA officials did not respond to messages seeking confirmation of that figure.

The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Washington’s Patty Murray, sought unanimous consent Wednesday for the Senate to approve a bill that would fund all of DHS other than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the secretary’s office.

Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican who chairs the subcommittee on Homeland Security funding, objected.

Murray’s bill “would effectively defund our law enforcement officers that are charged with keeping Americans safe,” Britt said.

Each party blamed the other for the impasse, which has been unbreachable since the department’s funding lapsed Feb. 14.

Following the January fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, Democrats are demanding changes to immigration agencies’ conduct as a condition of funding the department.

Republicans have said they are willing to negotiate the issue, but the parties disagree on what to do for the department, which also includes the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in the meantime.

Republican leaders sought to pass a short-term continuing resolution to fund the entire department, but Democrats rejected it, saying it would allow the operation of immigration agencies without adding accountability measures.

“Right now, TSA agents are going without pay because Republicans and the White House have decided they would rather shut down all of DHS than pass some very basic reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol,” Murray said. “We also want TSA and FEMA funded, but we are not going to be blackmailed into cutting a blank check for ICE to get it done.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, said Democrats have stopped negotiating on DHS funding in a bid to keep the issue alive for the November midterm elections.&nbsp;

“The American people are tired,” he said. “Lines get longer at the airports because TSA isn’t funded. The American people want us to do our jobs. Republicans are at the table. We’re ready to work toward a solution. Democrats have walked away.”

Jones, the AFGE member and TSA officer, declined to say which approach to short-term funding was preferable, but said it was Congress’ job to fund the federal government.

“We all swear the same oath to the same Constitution,” he said. “Now my job function is a little different than theirs, so they need to do theirs so I can do mine.”

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>Passengers at a handful of airports this week waited in hours-long security lines as the government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security dragged on.Though Transportation Security Administration officers are required by law to work during a lapse in funding, more than usual have been absent after receiving only a partial paycheck during the most recent pay period. TSA officers will miss an entire paycheck this weekend if the shutdown is still in effect then.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE. The Democrats’ DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights. There is ZERO reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points — Democrats… <a href="https://t.co/sp1vnzXJbb">pic.twitter.com/sp1vnzXJbb</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2030748642651549895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>No end to the shutdown appeared imminent Wednesday, as the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have funded TSA and other agencies in DHS that are not related to immigration enforcement.In the meantime, TSA officers are not being paid.&nbsp;Most live paycheck-to-paycheck, said Johnny Jones, the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, which represents TSA agents.The lack of pay has contributed to absenteeism, Jones added. The union does not condone coordinated “sick-outs,” which are illegal.&nbsp;But individual officers miss work for one of three reasons during a shutdown, he said: pre-planned time off, legitimate illness or personal emergencies, and those calling in sick but seeking other work to pay bills.“If you’re normally receiving a paycheck, you wouldn’t have that third group,” he said.Some of those who are working are going without lunch or making other sacrifices, Jones added. And he said two colleagues were evicted during the most recent shutdown last fall, which lasted for 43 days.The U.S. war against Iran, which has an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-iran-war-estimated-cost-billions-already-no-end-sight" target="_blank">estimated price</a>&nbsp;in the billions of dollars in just its first two weeks, has also driven resentment among TSA workers, Jones said.“One of the things that I’ve heard from the colleagues is that, man, we got plenty of money to go fight wars and bomb Iran, but we can’t pay our own employees,” he said.<h2>Long lines</h2>No exceptionally long wait times were reported Wednesday, but the previous few days saw several examples of snarled security lines.Security lines&nbsp;<a href="http://houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/government-shutdown-hobby-airport-21963811.php" target="_blank">topped three hours</a>&nbsp;at Houston’s William P. Hobby International Airport on Monday and Tuesday.&nbsp;Lines at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were up to two hours Monday and the airport’s social media drew a direct line to the shutdown.“Due to impacts from the federal government’s partial shutdown, there continues to be a shortage of TSA workers at the security checkpoint … which is causing longer-than-average lines,” the airport’s X account&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/flyneworleans/status/2030952799811355119?s=20" target="_blank">posted</a>.Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also urged passengers to leave extra time to account for factors including “TSA staffing constraints.”CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-absences-double-shutdown-300-quit-airport-security-lines/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that more than 300 TSA agents have left their jobs since the shutdown began. TSA officials did not respond to messages seeking confirmation of that figure.<h2>Senate gridlock</h2>The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Washington’s Patty Murray, sought unanimous consent Wednesday for the Senate to approve a bill that would fund all of DHS other than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the secretary’s office.Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican who chairs the subcommittee on Homeland Security funding, objected.Murray’s bill “would effectively defund our law enforcement officers that are charged with keeping Americans safe,” Britt said.Each party blamed the other for the impasse, which has been unbreachable since the department’s funding lapsed Feb. 14.Following the January fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, Democrats are demanding changes to immigration agencies’ conduct as a condition of funding the department.Republicans have said they are willing to negotiate the issue, but the parties disagree on what to do for the department, which also includes the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in the meantime.Republican leaders sought to pass a short-term continuing resolution to fund the entire department, but Democrats rejected it, saying it would allow the operation of immigration agencies without adding accountability measures.“Right now, TSA agents are going without pay because Republicans and the White House have decided they would rather shut down all of DHS than pass some very basic reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol,” Murray said. “We also want TSA and FEMA funded, but we are not going to be blackmailed into cutting a blank check for ICE to get it done.”<h2>Politics cited</h2>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, said Democrats have stopped negotiating on DHS funding in a bid to keep the issue alive for the November midterm elections.&nbsp;“The American people are tired,” he said. “Lines get longer at the airports because TSA isn’t funded. The American people want us to do our jobs. Republicans are at the table. We’re ready to work toward a solution. Democrats have walked away.”Jones, the AFGE member and TSA officer, declined to say which approach to short-term funding was preferable, but said it was Congress’ job to fund the federal government.“We all swear the same oath to the same Constitution,” he said. “Now my job function is a little different than theirs, so they need to do theirs so I can do mine.”

Long security lines pop up at airports as TSA officers go without pay

SEDGWICK COUNTY.—A man jailed on federal crime allegations who was arrested after a chase and crash will return to court Thursday.

Erik Harper, 37, is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing in Judge Rodger Woods, courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In December, Wichita police, with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Harper who was wanted on federal and state warrants after a pursuit and crash.

Just after 2p.m. December 30, officers spotted Harper driving a stolen 2004 GMC Sierra near East Central Avenue and North Oliver Avenue in Wichita, according to a media release from police.

Harper was wanted on a federal warrant and a felony state warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers followed the truck and requested assistance from the KHP Air Support Unit.

A Kansas Highway Patrol unit equipped with a grappler attempted a traffic stop near East Central Avenue and North Edgemoor Street. The grappler was deployed to prevent the suspect vehicle from fleeing, but Harper escaped. Shortly afterward, the Haper's vehicle collided with a 2024 Subaru Impreza in the westbound lanes near the 6800 block of East Central Avenue.

Officers took Harper into custody at 4:53 p.m.

The Subaru’s occupants, a 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Harper was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail and later transferred to Butler County Jail. He was charged with robbery, eluding police and aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767216017214.png" alt="Harper- from his Sedgwick County booking." />
 <figcaption>Harper- from his Sedgwick County booking.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY.—A man jailed on federal crime allegations who was arrested after a chase and crash will return to court Thursday.Erik Harper, 37, is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing in Judge Rodger Woods, courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In December, Wichita police, with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Harper who was wanted on federal and state warrants after a pursuit and crash.Just after 2p.m. December 30, officers spotted Harper driving a stolen 2004 GMC Sierra near East Central Avenue and North Oliver Avenue in Wichita, according to a media release from police.Harper was wanted on a federal warrant and a felony state warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers followed the truck and requested assistance from the KHP Air Support Unit.A Kansas Highway Patrol unit equipped with a grappler attempted a traffic stop near East Central Avenue and North Edgemoor Street. The grappler was deployed to prevent the suspect vehicle from fleeing, but Harper escaped. Shortly afterward, the Haper's vehicle collided with a 2024 Subaru Impreza in the westbound lanes near the 6800 block of East Central Avenue.Officers took Harper into custody at 4:53 p.m.The Subaru’s occupants, a 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.Harper was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail and later transferred to Butler County Jail. He was charged with robbery, eluding police and aggravated battery.

Preliminary hearing for Kan. man captured after chase, crash

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas legislators’ lineup of property tax relief legislation could chip away at state and local revenue, but some see the proposals as course correction, making up for years of rising property taxes.

One bill would phase out Kansans’ property taxes in favor of added sales taxes, and another would exempt seniors from paying property taxes that go toward funding school districts.

But legislators, who have eagerly pursued tax relief legislation in recent years, were conflicted about the proposals.

Sen. Mike Murphy, a Sylvia Republican, said Tuesday that the Legislature needs to look at property tax relief differently. Past measures haven’t made much of a dent, he said, and he often hears from constituents who are struggling to pay their property taxes.

“I look at property tax as a Titanic that’s hit the iceberg, and it’s going down,” Murphy said. “We can rearrange the deck chairs. We can ask the band director to play a little bit peppier song, but I don’t think it’s going to — we’re not going to be able to fix it.”

He propped up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb488/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 488</a>, or the “Kansas property tax freedom act of 2026,” as a potential solution. The bill would phase out property tax payments over the next two years and eliminate property tax levies beginning in the 2028 tax year. Taxing jurisdictions such as school districts, counties and cities would make up for the lost revenue through sales tax surcharges on medicine, fuel, rent and mortgage payments, utilities, child care and K-12 tuition.

Murphy acknowledged during the Tuesday hearing before the Senate’s tax committee that the bill, as written, didn’t work.

Sen. Jeff Klemp, a Lansing Republican, agreed.

“It’s not ready for prime time on all the aspects of it, but I think it warrants a conversation, and I’m glad you brought it up,” Klemp said.

Both chambers would need to pass a resolution and a majority of voters would have to approve an amendment to the state constitution to phase out and eventually prohibit property tax levies before the act could go into effect.

For supporters, the bill was a silver bullet solution that they believed could provide near immediate property tax relief.

Tatum Lee, a former state legislator who represented a west-central district, said the bill was crucial to maintaining affordability for generations.

“It doesn’t matter if you live on a farm or if you live in a house. Your home is where the heart is and we should not have to be renting from the government year after year,” Lee said.

Sen. Marci Francisco, a Lawrence Democrat, asked Murphy whether the proposal would disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Murphy didn’t directly answer the question, saying a response would depend upon individual properties’ circumstances.

Charlotte O’Hara, a Johnson County commissioner and Republican candidate for governor, said the property tax burdens of today are a symptom of the 1986 voter-approved constitutional amendment that created the current annual property appraisal system.

“For 40 years we have been busy eviscerating our tax base,” O’Hara said.

Simultaneously, voters approved another amendment in 1986 to allow cities and counties to offer 10-year property tax breaks to new or expanding businesses that added employment opportunities.

“We have a two-tier tax regimen in Kansas: Those who lobby and can get favors and the rest of us,” O’Hara said.

People are fed up, she said, and Band-Aids will no longer work.

A fiscal assessment attached to the bill estimated the state would lose nearly $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2027, $5.8 billion in 2028 and $7.9 billion in 2029.

The bill outlined a plan beginning in 2027 to impose a state surcharge of $1.60 per transaction worth $20 or more. For transactions less than $20, the state would impose a surcharge worth 7.6% of the transaction total. Pending local voter approval, taxing entities such as counties, cities and school districts would also be able to add on a local surcharge within their boundaries to debt service payments on general obligation bonds for capital improvements. The bill did not define amount limits for local surcharges.

Even with the surcharge reimbursements, the Kansas Department of Revenue estimates the state would lose $14 billion over the next three years.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1625/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1625</a>, another proposed constitutional amendment, would exempt residential property from school district tax levies if the property’s owner is above the age of 60.

Rep. Ken Corbet, a Topeka Republican, presented the bill to the Senate tax committee Wednesday.

“As we go door to door, people are always asking, ‘I don’t have any kids at school. Why am I paying these frickin’&nbsp;school taxes?’ Or, maybe they never had kids at all and they’ve been paying for 40 years,” Corbet said at a Wednesday hearing.

Nearly a quarter of Kansas’ population is over 60 years old, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, and that age group makes up an estimated 30% of the state’s taxpaying population. The bill, however, did not include a cost assessment.

“Remember, if you’ve got enough money for Panasonic and the Chiefs, this is pencil dust,” Corbet said.

He said school property taxes are “out of control,” and seniors are being taxed for a product they do not use.&nbsp;

Francisco, the Lawrence Democrat, said taxes allocated to school districts are retroactive payments for the education older generations received years ago.

Sen. Ethan Corson challenged Corbet’s argument, calling it circular logic.

“If I haven’t checked out a book from the library, should I have to pay for the library? If I haven’t gone to a particular park, should I have to pay for parks?” he asked.

He added: “There are just some things that are part of the community that are a shared responsibility.”

Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican and chair of the Senate tax committee, said she doesn’t think seniors mind paying for education.

“But when we’re starting to carpet football fields and other things, I think they see that when they’re trying to decide whether they buy their medicine, pay their property tax or buy food,” she said.

SCR 1625 and SB 488 are just two of many proposals targeting property taxes that are snaking through the Legislature. The Senate advanced&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1616/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 25, which would<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/26/kansas-senate-approves-cap-on-property-valuations-despite-questions-on-real-tax-savings/">&nbsp;cap annual property valuation increases</a>, but critics are&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/14/kansas-republicans-home-assessed-value-cap-may-or-may-not-reduce-property-taxes/">skeptical the bill would provide immediate relief</a>. The House passed provisions last month that creates a pathway for voters to file<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/kansas-house-dramatically-amends-bill-aimed-at-constraining-local-property-tax-increases/">&nbsp;protest petitions if local governments raise property taxes</a>&nbsp;more than 3% annually.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/10/kansas-senate-reverses-self-to-kill-budget-proviso-using-safety-net-funds-for-property-tax-cuts/">Tyson tried to divert a tranche of state lottery revenue</a>&nbsp;to replace property tax revenue collected for K-12 schools. Republican Rep. Blake Carpenter also pitched an idea for next year’s Legislature, which involves&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/19/kansas-republican-envisions-freedom-fund-to-eliminate-state-property-tax-without-cutting-services/">cutting sales tax exemptions to replace</a>&nbsp;the state levy to fund public schools.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773327086450.png" alt=" Sen. Mike Murphy, a Republican from Sylvia, pitched the "Kansas property tax freedom act of 2026” as a remedy for rising property taxes across the state. He appears here on Feb. 2, 2026, at a committee hearing in Topeka, Kansas. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Mike Murphy, a Republican from Sylvia, pitched the "Kansas property tax freedom act of 2026” as a remedy for rising property taxes across the state. He appears here on Feb. 2, 2026, at a committee hearing in Topeka, Kansas. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas legislators’ lineup of property tax relief legislation could chip away at state and local revenue, but some see the proposals as course correction, making up for years of rising property taxes.One bill would phase out Kansans’ property taxes in favor of added sales taxes, and another would exempt seniors from paying property taxes that go toward funding school districts.But legislators, who have eagerly pursued tax relief legislation in recent years, were conflicted about the proposals.Sen. Mike Murphy, a Sylvia Republican, said Tuesday that the Legislature needs to look at property tax relief differently. Past measures haven’t made much of a dent, he said, and he often hears from constituents who are struggling to pay their property taxes.“I look at property tax as a Titanic that’s hit the iceberg, and it’s going down,” Murphy said. “We can rearrange the deck chairs. We can ask the band director to play a little bit peppier song, but I don’t think it’s going to — we’re not going to be able to fix it.”He propped up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb488/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 488</a>, or the “Kansas property tax freedom act of 2026,” as a potential solution. The bill would phase out property tax payments over the next two years and eliminate property tax levies beginning in the 2028 tax year. Taxing jurisdictions such as school districts, counties and cities would make up for the lost revenue through sales tax surcharges on medicine, fuel, rent and mortgage payments, utilities, child care and K-12 tuition.Murphy acknowledged during the Tuesday hearing before the Senate’s tax committee that the bill, as written, didn’t work.Sen. Jeff Klemp, a Lansing Republican, agreed.“It’s not ready for prime time on all the aspects of it, but I think it warrants a conversation, and I’m glad you brought it up,” Klemp said.Both chambers would need to pass a resolution and a majority of voters would have to approve an amendment to the state constitution to phase out and eventually prohibit property tax levies before the act could go into effect.For supporters, the bill was a silver bullet solution that they believed could provide near immediate property tax relief.Tatum Lee, a former state legislator who represented a west-central district, said the bill was crucial to maintaining affordability for generations.“It doesn’t matter if you live on a farm or if you live in a house. Your home is where the heart is and we should not have to be renting from the government year after year,” Lee said.Sen. Marci Francisco, a Lawrence Democrat, asked Murphy whether the proposal would disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Murphy didn’t directly answer the question, saying a response would depend upon individual properties’ circumstances.Charlotte O’Hara, a Johnson County commissioner and Republican candidate for governor, said the property tax burdens of today are a symptom of the 1986 voter-approved constitutional amendment that created the current annual property appraisal system.“For 40 years we have been busy eviscerating our tax base,” O’Hara said.Simultaneously, voters approved another amendment in 1986 to allow cities and counties to offer 10-year property tax breaks to new or expanding businesses that added employment opportunities.“We have a two-tier tax regimen in Kansas: Those who lobby and can get favors and the rest of us,” O’Hara said.People are fed up, she said, and Band-Aids will no longer work.A fiscal assessment attached to the bill estimated the state would lose nearly $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2027, $5.8 billion in 2028 and $7.9 billion in 2029.The bill outlined a plan beginning in 2027 to impose a state surcharge of $1.60 per transaction worth $20 or more. For transactions less than $20, the state would impose a surcharge worth 7.6% of the transaction total. Pending local voter approval, taxing entities such as counties, cities and school districts would also be able to add on a local surcharge within their boundaries to debt service payments on general obligation bonds for capital improvements. The bill did not define amount limits for local surcharges.Even with the surcharge reimbursements, the Kansas Department of Revenue estimates the state would lose $14 billion over the next three years.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1625/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1625</a>, another proposed constitutional amendment, would exempt residential property from school district tax levies if the property’s owner is above the age of 60.Rep. Ken Corbet, a Topeka Republican, presented the bill to the Senate tax committee Wednesday.“As we go door to door, people are always asking, ‘I don’t have any kids at school. Why am I paying these frickin’&nbsp;school taxes?’ Or, maybe they never had kids at all and they’ve been paying for 40 years,” Corbet said at a Wednesday hearing.Nearly a quarter of Kansas’ population is over 60 years old, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, and that age group makes up an estimated 30% of the state’s taxpaying population. The bill, however, did not include a cost assessment.“Remember, if you’ve got enough money for Panasonic and the Chiefs, this is pencil dust,” Corbet said.He said school property taxes are “out of control,” and seniors are being taxed for a product they do not use.&nbsp;Francisco, the Lawrence Democrat, said taxes allocated to school districts are retroactive payments for the education older generations received years ago.Sen. Ethan Corson challenged Corbet’s argument, calling it circular logic.“If I haven’t checked out a book from the library, should I have to pay for the library? If I haven’t gone to a particular park, should I have to pay for parks?” he asked.He added: “There are just some things that are part of the community that are a shared responsibility.”Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican and chair of the Senate tax committee, said she doesn’t think seniors mind paying for education.“But when we’re starting to carpet football fields and other things, I think they see that when they’re trying to decide whether they buy their medicine, pay their property tax or buy food,” she said.SCR 1625 and SB 488 are just two of many proposals targeting property taxes that are snaking through the Legislature. The Senate advanced&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1616/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 25, which would<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/26/kansas-senate-approves-cap-on-property-valuations-despite-questions-on-real-tax-savings/">&nbsp;cap annual property valuation increases</a>, but critics are&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/14/kansas-republicans-home-assessed-value-cap-may-or-may-not-reduce-property-taxes/">skeptical the bill would provide immediate relief</a>. The House passed provisions last month that creates a pathway for voters to file<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/kansas-house-dramatically-amends-bill-aimed-at-constraining-local-property-tax-increases/">&nbsp;protest petitions if local governments raise property taxes</a>&nbsp;more than 3% annually.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/10/kansas-senate-reverses-self-to-kill-budget-proviso-using-safety-net-funds-for-property-tax-cuts/">Tyson tried to divert a tranche of state lottery revenue</a>&nbsp;to replace property tax revenue collected for K-12 schools. Republican Rep. Blake Carpenter also pitched an idea for next year’s Legislature, which involves&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/19/kansas-republican-envisions-freedom-fund-to-eliminate-state-property-tax-without-cutting-services/">cutting sales tax exemptions to replace</a>&nbsp;the state levy to fund public schools.

Kansas property tax system is akin to ‘Titanic that’s hit the iceberg,’ lawmaker says

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have arrested a suspect&nbsp;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.

Detectives booked the suspect identified in county booking records as 36-year-old<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=359071"> Michael D. Arnold </a>into the Sedgwick County Jail on a stalking charge.

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 at 3:05 p.m., Wednesday, officers took Arnold into custody and transported him to the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;

USD 259 has banned Arnold from all district schools.

Investigators will present the facts of the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.

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.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773323196383.png" alt="Arnold -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Arnold -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have arrested a suspect&nbsp;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.Detectives booked the suspect identified in county booking records as 36-year-old<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=359071"> Michael D. Arnold </a>into the Sedgwick County Jail on a stalking charge.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 at 3:05 p.m., Wednesday, officers took Arnold into custody and transported him to the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;USD 259 has banned Arnold from all district schools.Investigators will present the facts of the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.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 arrested after 'unauthorized contact' with student at school

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's unrelenting attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf pushed oil back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stocks-markets-iran-crude-trump-45f78a8cfe9a5c7e1a2279150a2f90f1">above $100 a barrel</a>&nbsp;on Thursday, as American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war</a>&nbsp;in sight.

Iran is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-attrition-analysis-5d7e50c3a6da57414bbf4a5e255e4a7e">inflict enough global economic pain</a>&nbsp;to pressure the United States and Israel to halt their bombardment, which started the war on Feb. 28. Iran's president said its attacks would continue until Iran gets security guarantees against another assault, indicating that even a ceasefire or U.S. declaration of victory might not halt the conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump has meanwhile promised to “finish the job,” even though he claimed Iran is “virtually destroyed.”

Iran-backed Hezbollah militants meanwhile launched some 200 rockets from Lebanon at northern Israel while sirens rang out and loud booms from the interception of Iranian missiles could be heard in other areas. Israel launched another wave of attacks on Tehran and in Lebanon, where 11 people were killed.

The U.N. refugee agency said up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been displaced by the ongoing war. It said most have fled from Tehran and other major cities toward the north of the country or rural areas. It says at least 759,000 people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/lebanon-shelter-hezbollah-israel-war-487792d7f62cfc2c5d9d20a2fd62fea1">internally displaced in Lebanon</a>.

Iranian officials dismiss any notion of backing down

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested online Thursday that for the war to end, the world would need to recognize Iran’s “legitimate rights,” pay reparations and offer guarantees against future attacks.

In addition to attacking energy infrastructure around the region, Iran has a stranglehold on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, the waterway leading from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.

Amid speculation that the U.S. might target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s main oil terminal, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf threatened in a social media post that any attempt to take Iranian islands would “make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders.”

With traffic in the strait effectively stopped, the price of Brent crude oil, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">international standard</a>, rose another 9% to more than $100 a barrel, up some 38% over what it cost when the war started. Prices have swung back and forth in recent days, at one point surging to around $120 a barrel.

Iran and Hezbollah launch multiple attacks on Israel

It was a sleepless night for many Israelis as Hezbollah launched some 200 rockets at the country’s north and deeper into Israel, according to the Israeli military.

“The noise was extraordinary, it was really scary,” said Naama Porat, a resident of the rural community of Klil, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Lebanese border. As the sound of explosions and interceptions rang out, she dashed with her son to a shelter and spent the night there.

No serious injuries were reported, but the extent of the fire shook residents of the north, who have repeatedly been told by their leaders that Hezbollah was dealt a devastating blow in 2024 during its last war with Israel.

“They have stocks of weapons and it just doesn’t end. We don’t know how much and what to expect,” Porat said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that if its government does not prevent Hezbollah from attacking, Israel “will take the territory and do it ourselves.”

More than 20 killed in strikes on Lebanon and Iran

Israel, meantime, hit a car in a seaside area of Lebanon's capital where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering, killing eight and wounding 31, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it was “not aware” of a strike at that location.

The Israeli military said it struck a nuclear facility in Iran in recent days. Israel had destroyed the “Taleghan 2” site in an airstrike in October 2024. Earlier this year satellite photos raised concerns that Iran was working to restore the facility.

The U.S. and Israel say that destroying whatever remains of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c">Iran's nuclear program</a>&nbsp;is one of the central aims of the war. They have long suspected Iran seeks nuclear weapons, while the Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is peaceful.

In Tehran, security force checkpoints came under attack for the first time on Wednesday night, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported. At least 10 people were killed in the suspected drone assaults.

Israel and the U.S. military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over whether they were behind the attacks.

Iran fires at Gulf Arab countries and hits ship in Persian Gulf

Iran’s latest attacks on its Gulf neighbors flouted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-11-2026-oil-prices-24243b5c1e1f32ea8ff52b9a02822396">a U.N. Security Council resolution</a>&nbsp;approved Wednesday.

Early Thursday, a container ship was hit with a projectile off the coast of Dubai, sparking a small fire, according to British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center. It said the crew were safe.

An Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Muharraq Island, home to Bahrain's international airport. Kuwait authorities said an Iranian drone smashed into a residential building, wounding two people, and that a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport had caused damage but no casualties.

The UAE said it had activated air defenses twice to protect the futuristic city of Dubai from attacks, and firefighters extinguished a blaze at a tower after a drone hit.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said it shot down a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter in its capital, Riyadh, and other drones in the east, including at least one trying to target its Shaybah oil field.

Following an attack on Iraq's Basra port Wednesday that killed at least one person, officials said Thursday that operations were halted at all the country's oil terminals.

In the UAE, Citibank said it would close all but one of its branches due to an Iranian threat — not yet realized — to target financial institutions in the region.

Melzer reported from Mitzpe Hila, Israel and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773309566054.png" alt="Image from video. provided by Bahrain Interior Ministry via Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image from video. provided by Bahrain Interior Ministry via Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's unrelenting attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf pushed oil back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stocks-markets-iran-crude-trump-45f78a8cfe9a5c7e1a2279150a2f90f1">above $100 a barrel</a>&nbsp;on Thursday, as American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war</a>&nbsp;in sight.Iran is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-attrition-analysis-5d7e50c3a6da57414bbf4a5e255e4a7e">inflict enough global economic pain</a>&nbsp;to pressure the United States and Israel to halt their bombardment, which started the war on Feb. 28. Iran's president said its attacks would continue until Iran gets security guarantees against another assault, indicating that even a ceasefire or U.S. declaration of victory might not halt the conflict.U.S. President Donald Trump has meanwhile promised to “finish the job,” even though he claimed Iran is “virtually destroyed.”Iran-backed Hezbollah militants meanwhile launched some 200 rockets from Lebanon at northern Israel while sirens rang out and loud booms from the interception of Iranian missiles could be heard in other areas. Israel launched another wave of attacks on Tehran and in Lebanon, where 11 people were killed.The U.N. refugee agency said up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been displaced by the ongoing war. It said most have fled from Tehran and other major cities toward the north of the country or rural areas. It says at least 759,000 people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/lebanon-shelter-hezbollah-israel-war-487792d7f62cfc2c5d9d20a2fd62fea1">internally displaced in Lebanon</a>.<h2>Iranian officials dismiss any notion of backing down</h2>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested online Thursday that for the war to end, the world would need to recognize Iran’s “legitimate rights,” pay reparations and offer guarantees against future attacks.In addition to attacking energy infrastructure around the region, Iran has a stranglehold on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, the waterway leading from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.Amid speculation that the U.S. might target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s main oil terminal, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf threatened in a social media post that any attempt to take Iranian islands would “make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders.”With traffic in the strait effectively stopped, the price of Brent crude oil, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">international standard</a>, rose another 9% to more than $100 a barrel, up some 38% over what it cost when the war started. Prices have swung back and forth in recent days, at one point surging to around $120 a barrel.<h2>Iran and Hezbollah launch multiple attacks on Israel</h2>It was a sleepless night for many Israelis as Hezbollah launched some 200 rockets at the country’s north and deeper into Israel, according to the Israeli military.“The noise was extraordinary, it was really scary,” said Naama Porat, a resident of the rural community of Klil, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Lebanese border. As the sound of explosions and interceptions rang out, she dashed with her son to a shelter and spent the night there.No serious injuries were reported, but the extent of the fire shook residents of the north, who have repeatedly been told by their leaders that Hezbollah was dealt a devastating blow in 2024 during its last war with Israel.“They have stocks of weapons and it just doesn’t end. We don’t know how much and what to expect,” Porat said.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that if its government does not prevent Hezbollah from attacking, Israel “will take the territory and do it ourselves.”<h2>More than 20 killed in strikes on Lebanon and Iran</h2>Israel, meantime, hit a car in a seaside area of Lebanon's capital where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering, killing eight and wounding 31, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it was “not aware” of a strike at that location.The Israeli military said it struck a nuclear facility in Iran in recent days. Israel had destroyed the “Taleghan 2” site in an airstrike in October 2024. Earlier this year satellite photos raised concerns that Iran was working to restore the facility.The U.S. and Israel say that destroying whatever remains of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c">Iran's nuclear program</a>&nbsp;is one of the central aims of the war. They have long suspected Iran seeks nuclear weapons, while the Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is peaceful.In Tehran, security force checkpoints came under attack for the first time on Wednesday night, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported. At least 10 people were killed in the suspected drone assaults.Israel and the U.S. military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over whether they were behind the attacks.<h2>Iran fires at Gulf Arab countries and hits ship in Persian Gulf</h2>Iran’s latest attacks on its Gulf neighbors flouted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-11-2026-oil-prices-24243b5c1e1f32ea8ff52b9a02822396">a U.N. Security Council resolution</a>&nbsp;approved Wednesday.Early Thursday, a container ship was hit with a projectile off the coast of Dubai, sparking a small fire, according to British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center. It said the crew were safe.An Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Muharraq Island, home to Bahrain's international airport. Kuwait authorities said an Iranian drone smashed into a residential building, wounding two people, and that a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport had caused damage but no casualties.The UAE said it had activated air defenses twice to protect the futuristic city of Dubai from attacks, and firefighters extinguished a blaze at a tower after a drone hit.Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said it shot down a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter in its capital, Riyadh, and other drones in the east, including at least one trying to target its Shaybah oil field.Following an attack on Iraq's Basra port Wednesday that killed at least one person, officials said Thursday that operations were halted at all the country's oil terminals.In the UAE, Citibank said it would close all but one of its branches due to an Iranian threat — not yet realized — to target financial institutions in the region.___Melzer reported from Mitzpe Hila, Israel and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

Iran not backing down as oil prices soar again

The Salina Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that 75-year-old Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter has been located safe in WaKeeney, according to a statement from the KBI.

SALINE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Salina Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Salina woman.

The whereabouts of 75-year-old Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter, of Salina, are unknown and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her, according to a media release from the KBI.

Pereirra-Mcwhorter is likely driving a blue 2025 Nissan Pathfinder bearing Texas tag 6YGPZ. She was last spotted north of Norton, Kan., on Thursday morning, March 12.

Pereirra-Mcwhorter is a female who is around 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes, and is known to wear a medical ID bracelet. She is wearing a splint on her right hand.

If you see Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773320203843.png" alt="Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Salina Police Department reported to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) that 75-year-old Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter has been located safe in WaKeeney, according to a statement from the KBI.The statewide Silver Alert is canceled.-----------------SALINE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Salina Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Salina woman.The whereabouts of 75-year-old Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter, of Salina, are unknown and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her, according to a media release from the KBI.Pereirra-Mcwhorter is likely driving a blue 2025 Nissan Pathfinder bearing Texas tag 6YGPZ. She was last spotted north of Norton, Kan., on Thursday morning, March 12.Pereirra-Mcwhorter is a female who is around 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes, and is known to wear a medical ID bracelet. She is wearing a splint on her right hand.If you see Yvonne Pereirra-Mcwhorter, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210.

 Silver Alert canceled, missing Kansas woman found

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating animal cruelty in Northeast Kansas have identified a suspect.

Tips from members of the community helped Bonner Springs Police and Animal Control Officers ID the suspect, according to a media release on Wednesday.&nbsp;The suspect, whose name has not been released, is facing animal abandonment charges.

On March 6, Bonner Springs Animal Control shared photos of a plastic storage tote left near the animal care center at 104 Forest Ave. The tote had been taped shut and left outside during a storm. Inside the tote was a puppy who required immediate medical attention.

In addition to the puppy in the tote, two additional puppies were surrendered to animal control officers. All three animals are now receiving veterinary evaluation and care.

  This pup appears to have a rectal prolapse which will be addressed ASAP by our veterinary partner.If you have any information, please call 913-422-7800 extension 1579 (please leave a message), or 913-596-3000

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773279271917.png" alt="Photos Bonner Springs Animal Control" />
 <figcaption>Photos Bonner Springs Animal Control</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating animal cruelty in Northeast Kansas have identified a suspect.Tips from members of the community helped Bonner Springs Police and Animal Control Officers ID the suspect, according to a media release on Wednesday.&nbsp;The suspect, whose name has not been released, is facing animal abandonment charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773278569648.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On March 6, Bonner Springs Animal Control shared photos of a plastic storage tote left near the animal care center at 104 Forest Ave. The tote had been taped shut and left outside during a storm. Inside the tote was a puppy who required immediate medical attention.In addition to the puppy in the tote, two additional puppies were surrendered to animal control officers. All three animals are now receiving veterinary evaluation and care. This pup appears to have a rectal prolapse which will be addressed ASAP by our veterinary partner.If you have any information, please call 913-422-7800 extension 1579 (please leave a message), or 913-596-3000

Police ID Kan. suspect accused of abandoning puppy in storage tote

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 21-year-old&nbsp;Richaud Conley.

Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the area of 55th and Chestnut Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

When officers arrived, they located Conley lying in a grassy area, unresponsive, and suffering from gunshot trauma. He was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officers on scene were updated later Conley was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Detectives continue working to determine what led up to the shooting. Police have not reported an arrest and did not release the name of the victim.

&nbsp;This incident is being investigated as a homicide at this time and is ongoing.&nbsp;

If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 21-year-old&nbsp;Richaud Conley.Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the area of 55th and Chestnut Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.When officers arrived, they located Conley lying in a grassy area, unresponsive, and suffering from gunshot trauma. He was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officers on scene were updated later Conley was pronounced deceased at the hospital.Detectives continue working to determine what led up to the shooting. Police have not reported an arrest and did not release the name of the victim.&nbsp;This incident is being investigated as a homicide at this time and is ongoing.&nbsp;If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

Police: Latest Kansas City homicide victim was 21-year-old

&nbsp;By Lisa Mascaro Associated Press

The first week of the war with Iran const the US $11.3 billion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773277622966.png" alt="Image from U.S. Central Command video" />
 <figcaption>Image from U.S. Central Command video</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By Lisa Mascaro Associated PressThe first week of the war with Iran const the US $11.3 billion.The Pentagon provided the estimate to Congress in a briefing earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the situation who was granted anonymity to discuss the private meeting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773277525588.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>That comes after it reported spending $5 billion on munitions alone over the first weekend of the war.The Trump administration had previously indicated it would be sending Congress a request for supplemental funding for the war, but that appears to have cooled, for now.Sen. Roger Wicker, the GOP chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday that he was not expecting the supplemental request this month.___