WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will “finish the job” in Iran soon as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” offering a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago.

Trump got a wide audience and a chance to articulate clear objectives for the war after weeks of changing goals and often contradictory messages about whether he’s winding down or ready to escalate military operations — even as Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbors and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-01-2026">airstrikes pounded Tehran</a>.

But he spent much of his time repeating some of the same things he said in recent weeks, while also suggesting that the U.S. was close to meeting its major military objectives in Iran and his estimated timeline for concluding operations within two to three weeks. He promised U.S. forces would continue to hit Iran very hard.

“For years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But in the end, those are just words if you’re not willing to take action when the time comes,” Trump said.

The president said, “In these past four weeks our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield” and slammed previous decades of U.S. policy, saying previous presidents “made mistakes and I am correcting them.”

“The situation has been going on for 47 years and should’ve been handled long before I arrived in office,” he said.

Trump also acknowledged rising oil prices and volatile financial markets, but insisted those would be temporary.

Polling, meanwhile, show many Americans feel the U.S. military has gone too far in Iran — even as more American troops move into the region for a possible ground offensive. Trump opted not to deliver such an address closer to when the U.S. and Israel first launched attacks, and questions now remain about whether it is now too late for what he says to break through.

Iranian missile fire targeted Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Israel just before Trump’s speech.

Trump says ‘we could just take the oil’ as Iran leader addresses the US public

The president, in comments during a Easter lunch on Wednesday afternoon, said of Iran: “We could just take their oil. But you know, I’m not sure that the people in our country have the patience to do that, which is unfortunate.”

“Yeah, they want to see it end. If we stayed there, I prefer just to take the oil,” Trump said. “We could do it so easily. I would prefer that. But people in the country sort of say: ‘Just win. You’re winning so big. Just win. Come home.’ And I’m OK with that, too, because we have a lot of oil between Venezuela and our oil.”

The media was not permitted to watch the president’s remarks at the lunch, but the White House uploaded video of the speech online before taking it down. The White House did not return requests for comment from The Associated Press on the video and why it was taken down.

In a social media post earlier Wednesday, Trump maintained a belligerent tone, demanding that Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-trump-pete-hegseth-centcom-airstrikes-missiles-drones-7b94d5de628bf8df2de6b728efff2285">stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;— the waterway vital to global oil supplies — or the U.S. would bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages.” The president has also said the U.S. “will not have anything to do with” ensuring the security of ships passing through Hormuz, an apparent backtrack from a previous threat to attack Iran’s power grid if it didn’t open the strait by April 6.

In the same Easter lunch, the president reiterated some of his complaints about NATO allies for their reluctance to get involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz while suggesting that China, Japan and South Korea could also step up to reopen the waterway.

“Let South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there, right next to a nuclear force -- let South Korea do it,” Trump said of efforts to reopen the strait. “Let Japan do it. They get 90% of their oil from the strait. Let China do it.”

In another morning social media post, Trump wrote that “Iran’s New Regime President” wanted a ceasefire. It wasn’t clear to whom the U.S. president was referring since Iran still has the same president. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, called Trump’s claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.

Speaking earlier to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled Tehran’s willingness to keep fighting. “You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” he said. “We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves.”

Hours before Trump’s address, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a lengthy letter in English on his X account appealing to U.S. citizens and stressing that his country had pursued negotiations before the U.S. withdrew from that path. “Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war?” he wrote.

No signs of Iran relinquishing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz

Since the war began on Feb. 28, Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-objectives-one-month-1a32141f5ca2104af78625b3aa277421">offered shifting objectives</a>&nbsp;and repeatedly has said it could be over soon while also threatening to widen the conflict. Thousands of additional U.S. troops&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-troops-deployment-aircraft-carrier-7c015aa5156525fcc95c42897de52e0f">are currently heading to the Middle East</a>, and speculation abounds about why.

Trump has also threatened to attack Iran’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kharg-island-seize-ground-troops-oil-iran-4244166c19dd33689f8a59e96e1d7d5b">Kharg Island</a>&nbsp;oil export hub. And the U.S. could decide to send in military forces to secure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran’s uranium stockpile</a>&nbsp;— a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-uranium-enriched-trump-war-1fd6de24bd1e6c3a4945d58d3f777462">complex and risky operation</a>, fraught with radiation and chemical dangers, experts and former government officials say.

Adding to the confusion is what role Israel — which has been bombing Iran alongside the U.S. — might play in any of these scenarios.

Trump has been under growing pressure to end the war that has been pushing up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-4-gallon-iran-war-de8b7ccea254a1585cab86f336db57a6">the cost of gasoline</a>, food and other goods. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, is up more than 40% since the start of the war.

It’s unclear where diplomatic efforts stand

The U.S. has presented Iran with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-talks-trump-israel-767a154363f4aed9c8af36966c4f701a">15-point plan</a>&nbsp;aimed at bringing about a ceasefire, including a demand for the strait to be reopened and for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-25-2026-be07c54139bcc70672bb33f0773ede6a">nuclear program to be rolled back</a>.

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. And in a report last week by Iranian state TV's English-language broadcaster, an anonymous official was quoted as saying Iran had its own demands to end the fighting, including retaining sovereignty over the strait.

In the interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi acknowledged receiving direct messages from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. He insisted, however, that there were no direct negotiations and said Iran has no faith that talks with the U.S. could yield any results, saying “the trust level is at zero.”

He warned against any U.S. attempt to launch a ground offensive, saying “we are waiting for them.”

In a deal ostensibly to give diplomacy a chance, U.S. officials have given “clear assurances” that Araghchi and Iran's Parliamentary Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammad-bagher-qalibaf-us-israel-war-a5fdb9d743c3325155da0bc91458077d">Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf</a>&nbsp;won't be targeted, according to three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Iran hits tanker off Qatar's coast and attacks other Gulf states

A cruise missile slammed into an oil tanker off Qatar’s coast Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said. The crew was evacuated and no casualties were reported. A Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai the day before, one of more than 20 ships attacked by Iran during the war.

In the United Arab Emirates, a person was killed when he was hit by debris from an intercepted drone in Fujairah, one of the country’s seven emirates.

In Kuwait, the state-run KUNA news agency said a drone hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a large fire.

Very early Thursday, Israel’s military said Iran had launched missiles at the country.

In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, while 13 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-american-casualties-wounded-troops-ea713e7850053d8670b062e6b11a6e39">service members</a>&nbsp;have been killed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will “finish the job” in Iran soon as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” offering a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Delivers an Address to the Nation, Apr. 1, 2026 <a href="https://t.co/QgofMPWtzW">https://t.co/QgofMPWtzW</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2039508709374636457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump got a wide audience and a chance to articulate clear objectives for the war after weeks of changing goals and often contradictory messages about whether he’s winding down or ready to escalate military operations — even as Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbors and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-01-2026">airstrikes pounded Tehran</a>.But he spent much of his time repeating some of the same things he said in recent weeks, while also suggesting that the U.S. was close to meeting its major military objectives in Iran and his estimated timeline for concluding operations within two to three weeks. He promised U.S. forces would continue to hit Iran very hard.“For years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But in the end, those are just words if you’re not willing to take action when the time comes,” Trump said.The president said, “In these past four weeks our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield” and slammed previous decades of U.S. policy, saying previous presidents “made mistakes and I am correcting them.”“The situation has been going on for 47 years and should’ve been handled long before I arrived in office,” he said.Trump also acknowledged rising oil prices and volatile financial markets, but insisted those would be temporary.Polling, meanwhile, show many Americans feel the U.S. military has gone too far in Iran — even as more American troops move into the region for a possible ground offensive. Trump opted not to deliver such an address closer to when the U.S. and Israel first launched attacks, and questions now remain about whether it is now too late for what he says to break through.Iranian missile fire targeted Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Israel just before Trump’s speech.<h2>Trump says ‘we could just take the oil’ as Iran leader addresses the US public</h2>The president, in comments during a Easter lunch on Wednesday afternoon, said of Iran: “We could just take their oil. But you know, I’m not sure that the people in our country have the patience to do that, which is unfortunate.”“Yeah, they want to see it end. If we stayed there, I prefer just to take the oil,” Trump said. “We could do it so easily. I would prefer that. But people in the country sort of say: ‘Just win. You’re winning so big. Just win. Come home.’ And I’m OK with that, too, because we have a lot of oil between Venezuela and our oil.”The media was not permitted to watch the president’s remarks at the lunch, but the White House uploaded video of the speech online before taking it down. The White House did not return requests for comment from The Associated Press on the video and why it was taken down.In a social media post earlier Wednesday, Trump maintained a belligerent tone, demanding that Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-trump-pete-hegseth-centcom-airstrikes-missiles-drones-7b94d5de628bf8df2de6b728efff2285">stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;— the waterway vital to global oil supplies — or the U.S. would bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages.” The president has also said the U.S. “will not have anything to do with” ensuring the security of ships passing through Hormuz, an apparent backtrack from a previous threat to attack Iran’s power grid if it didn’t open the strait by April 6.In the same Easter lunch, the president reiterated some of his complaints about NATO allies for their reluctance to get involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz while suggesting that China, Japan and South Korea could also step up to reopen the waterway.“Let South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there, right next to a nuclear force -- let South Korea do it,” Trump said of efforts to reopen the strait. “Let Japan do it. They get 90% of their oil from the strait. Let China do it.”In another morning social media post, Trump wrote that “Iran’s New Regime President” wanted a ceasefire. It wasn’t clear to whom the U.S. president was referring since Iran still has the same president. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, called Trump’s claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.Speaking earlier to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled Tehran’s willingness to keep fighting. “You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” he said. “We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves.”Hours before Trump’s address, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a lengthy letter in English on his X account appealing to U.S. citizens and stressing that his country had pursued negotiations before the U.S. withdrew from that path. “Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war?” he wrote.<h2>No signs of Iran relinquishing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz</h2>Since the war began on Feb. 28, Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-objectives-one-month-1a32141f5ca2104af78625b3aa277421">offered shifting objectives</a>&nbsp;and repeatedly has said it could be over soon while also threatening to widen the conflict. Thousands of additional U.S. troops&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-troops-deployment-aircraft-carrier-7c015aa5156525fcc95c42897de52e0f">are currently heading to the Middle East</a>, and speculation abounds about why.Trump has also threatened to attack Iran’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kharg-island-seize-ground-troops-oil-iran-4244166c19dd33689f8a59e96e1d7d5b">Kharg Island</a>&nbsp;oil export hub. And the U.S. could decide to send in military forces to secure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran’s uranium stockpile</a>&nbsp;— a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-uranium-enriched-trump-war-1fd6de24bd1e6c3a4945d58d3f777462">complex and risky operation</a>, fraught with radiation and chemical dangers, experts and former government officials say.Adding to the confusion is what role Israel — which has been bombing Iran alongside the U.S. — might play in any of these scenarios.Trump has been under growing pressure to end the war that has been pushing up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-4-gallon-iran-war-de8b7ccea254a1585cab86f336db57a6">the cost of gasoline</a>, food and other goods. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, is up more than 40% since the start of the war.<h2>It’s unclear where diplomatic efforts stand</h2>The U.S. has presented Iran with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-talks-trump-israel-767a154363f4aed9c8af36966c4f701a">15-point plan</a>&nbsp;aimed at bringing about a ceasefire, including a demand for the strait to be reopened and for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-25-2026-be07c54139bcc70672bb33f0773ede6a">nuclear program to be rolled back</a>.Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. And in a report last week by Iranian state TV's English-language broadcaster, an anonymous official was quoted as saying Iran had its own demands to end the fighting, including retaining sovereignty over the strait.In the interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi acknowledged receiving direct messages from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. He insisted, however, that there were no direct negotiations and said Iran has no faith that talks with the U.S. could yield any results, saying “the trust level is at zero.”He warned against any U.S. attempt to launch a ground offensive, saying “we are waiting for them.”In a deal ostensibly to give diplomacy a chance, U.S. officials have given “clear assurances” that Araghchi and Iran's Parliamentary Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammad-bagher-qalibaf-us-israel-war-a5fdb9d743c3325155da0bc91458077d">Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf</a>&nbsp;won't be targeted, according to three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.<h2>Iran hits tanker off Qatar's coast and attacks other Gulf states</h2>A cruise missile slammed into an oil tanker off Qatar’s coast Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said. The crew was evacuated and no casualties were reported. A Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai the day before, one of more than 20 ships attacked by Iran during the war.In the United Arab Emirates, a person was killed when he was hit by debris from an intercepted drone in Fujairah, one of the country’s seven emirates.In Kuwait, the state-run KUNA news agency said a drone hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a large fire.Very early Thursday, Israel’s military said Iran had launched missiles at the country.In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, while 13 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-american-casualties-wounded-troops-ea713e7850053d8670b062e6b11a6e39">service members</a>&nbsp;have been killed.___

🎥 President Trump address to the nation on Iran war

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Two suspects in the case of the Jan. 12, 2025, death of a 17-year-old Plainville teen signed plea agreements in Rooks County District Court on Wednesday.

Walter V. Lowry II, 40, pleaded no contest to aggravated endangerment of a child, a felony. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

According to court documents, Lowry allegedly left the teen, who was allegedly intoxicated, on a county road in the middle of the night. The documents said the temperatures were between 32 and 24 degrees, and the teen was wearing minimal clothing.

The child died as a result of hypothermia, according to court records.

Judge Curtis Brown said Wednesday he believed Lowry will have a criminal history of A, the highest on the sentencing grid.

Lowry's plea deal includes the maximum sentence for aggravated endangerment of a child, 46 months in prison with credit for time served.

Bailey Jo Lepper, 24, was originally also charged with aggravated endangerment of a child. Rooks County Attorney Danielle Muir filed an amended complaint of interference with law enforcement, a non-person felony, in exchange for Lepper's guilty plea.

According to the amended complaint, Muir said Lepper allegedly made false statements to law enforcement on Jan. 12 regarding this case.

Lepper could face between five months of probation and 17 months in prison, depending on her criminal history score.

Lepper is also facing drug charges in Ellis County. She has signed a plea agreement to plead guilty or no contest to one count of possession of methamphetamine in exchange for charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and possession of psilocybin being dismissed.

The plea agreement in the Ellis County case would result in Lepper serving probation.

Lepper was released on bond in the Rooks County case. As a condition of her release in both cases, Lepper was ordered to be a resident of an Oxford House for substance abuse recovery and attend outpatient substance abuse counseling.

Sentencing dates have not been set for either Lowry or Lepper in the Rooks County case.

A third defendant,&nbsp;Serena Marie Barnhill, 41, Natoma, has also been charged with one count of felony aggravated endangerment of a child in the Plainville teen's death.

She was arrested on Nov. 25 and posted a $20,000 bond, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing for Barnhill's case has been set for 1:30 p.m. May 15.&nbsp;

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostTwo suspects in the case of the Jan. 12, 2025, death of a 17-year-old Plainville teen signed plea agreements in Rooks County District Court on Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775075105817.png" alt="Walter V. Lowry II" />
 <figcaption>Walter V. Lowry II</figcaption>
 </figure>Walter V. Lowry II, 40, pleaded no contest to aggravated endangerment of a child, a felony. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing.According to court documents, Lowry allegedly left the teen, who was allegedly intoxicated, on a county road in the middle of the night. The documents said the temperatures were between 32 and 24 degrees, and the teen was wearing minimal clothing.The child died as a result of hypothermia, according to court records.Judge Curtis Brown said Wednesday he believed Lowry will have a criminal history of A, the highest on the sentencing grid.Lowry's plea deal includes the maximum sentence for aggravated endangerment of a child, 46 months in prison with credit for time served.Bailey Jo Lepper, 24, was originally also charged with aggravated endangerment of a child. Rooks County Attorney Danielle Muir filed an amended complaint of interference with law enforcement, a non-person felony, in exchange for Lepper's guilty plea.According to the amended complaint, Muir said Lepper allegedly made false statements to law enforcement on Jan. 12 regarding this case.Lepper could face between five months of probation and 17 months in prison, depending on her criminal history score.Lepper is also facing drug charges in Ellis County. She has signed a plea agreement to plead guilty or no contest to one count of possession of methamphetamine in exchange for charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and possession of psilocybin being dismissed.The plea agreement in the Ellis County case would result in Lepper serving probation.Lepper was released on bond in the Rooks County case. As a condition of her release in both cases, Lepper was ordered to be a resident of an Oxford House for substance abuse recovery and attend outpatient substance abuse counseling.Sentencing dates have not been set for either Lowry or Lepper in the Rooks County case.A third defendant,&nbsp;Serena Marie Barnhill, 41, Natoma, has also been charged with one count of felony aggravated endangerment of a child in the Plainville teen's death.She was arrested on Nov. 25 and posted a $20,000 bond, according to court records.A preliminary hearing for Barnhill's case has been set for 1:30 p.m. May 15.&nbsp;

2 defendants take pleas in death of Plainville teen

Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.

NASA's launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket early Wednesday, setting the stage for blast off in the evening at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronauts-nasa-moon-crew-91ea388ce81ebbefbb80d24b0ddb79a2">Artemis astronauts</a>&nbsp;Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are on board. They’ll hurtle several thousand miles beyond the moon, hang a U-turn and then come straight back. No circling around the moon, no stopping for a moonwalk — just a quick out-and-back lasting less than 10 days. NASA promises more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-83132fc4f86c3491984844fc309e25d2">boot prints in the gray lunar dust</a>, but not before a couple practice missions.

Unlike the Apollo missions that sent astronauts to the moon from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">1968 through 1972</a>, Artemis’ debut crew includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-crew-3a47786c3757f7d79154d96933aa5bd9">a woman, a person of color and a Canadian citizen</a>.

Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA’s grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.

Astronauts troubleshoot issues with toilet system

Koch ran into trouble with the toilet, seconds after starting it up.

“The toilet shut down on its own, and I have a blinking amber fault light,” she told Mission Control. She was advised to use a handheld bag-and-funnel system for now — CCU, short for Collapsible Contingency Urinal — while flight controllers pondered how best to deal with the so-called lunar loo.

The toilet is located in the “floor” of the capsule, with a door and curtain for privacy. It’s an upgraded version of an experimental toilet that launched to the International Space Station in 2020. That station toilet is currently out of order; two others are working fine.

Mission Control’s communication link with the orbiting capsule cut out after switching from one tracking and data relay satellite to another. But the problem was quickly resolved by resetting ground equipment.

An hour into the flight, the upper stage boosted the Orion capsule, Integrity, and its crew into a higher orbit around Earth.

“The sun is rising on Integrity,” Wiseman radioed. Koch, meanwhile, had an extremely important job: Getting the toilet working.

The four astronauts will be sticking close to home for the next day or so, checking out the capsule in orbit around Earth.

Later tonight the upper stage of the rocket will separate, and the crew will manually fly the Orion capsule toward it to practice docking, preparing for future missions to the moon’s surface.

Tomorrow night they will fire Orion’s main engine to escape Earth’s gravity and head for the moon, 248,000 miles away.

The four astronauts headed to the moon have reached orbit. They will circle the Earth for about 25 hours before catapulting toward the moon.

Five minutes into humanity’s first flight to the moon in 53 years, Commander Reid Wiseman saw the team’s target: “We have a beautiful moonrise, we’re headed right at it,” he said from the capsule.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.

Artemis II blasted off from same site as Apollo explorers

Artemis II set sail from the same Florida launch site that sent Apollo’s explorers to the moon so long ago. The handful still alive cheered this next generation’s grand adventure as the Space Launch System rocket thundered into the early evening sky, a nearly full moon beckoning some 248,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) away.

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman led the charge into space with “Let’s go to the moon!” accompanied by pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen. It was the most diverse lunar crew ever with the first woman, person of color and non-U.S. citizen riding in NASA’s new Orion capsule.

Artemis II astronauts bound for moon after rocketing away on NASA’s first lunar voyage in decades

The four astronauts have embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than 53 years and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.

The 32-story rocket rose from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center where tens of thousands gathered to witness the dawn of this new era. Crowds also jammed the surrounding roads and beaches, reminiscent of the Apollo moonshots in the 1960s and ’70s. It is NASA’s biggest step yet toward establishing a permanent lunar presence.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts strapped into NASA's new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-apollo-artemis-astronauts-c3bb9888b75e67574a1b66e643b87621">moon rocket</a>&nbsp;and awaited liftoff Wednesday on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-f3f49214618099a98338835715e4562a">humanity’s first lunar trip</a>&nbsp;in more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">half a century</a>.

The three Americans and one Canadian waved and shaped their hands into hearts as they emerged from crew quarters to cheers and said goodbye to their families. The crowd applauded and cheered again as the astronauts boarded their astrovan for the nine mile (14-kilometer) ride to the launch pad.

Commander Reid Wiseman thanked the throngs who gathered to see them off.

“It's a great day for us. It's a great day for this team,” Wiseman called out.

Tensions were high earlier in the day as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket. Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.

To NASA's relief, no significant hydrogen leaks occurred. The launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel (2.6 million liters) into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad, a smooth operation that set the stage for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-crew-3a47786c3757f7d79154d96933aa5bd9">Artemis II crew</a>&nbsp;to board.

A problem cropped up with the rocket's flight-termination system with only two hours remaining in the countdown. Commands weren't getting through to the system, which is needed to send a self-destruct signal in case the rocket veers off course and threatens populated areas. But the issue was quickly resolved, according to NASA.

“It is time to fly,” Wiseman declared on the eve of launch via X. Favorable weather was forecast.

The four will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth as they zoom some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.

Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.

Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.

“The next era of exploration begins,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.

Best wishes already have started to pour in, including from England's King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Hansen will become the first non-U. S. citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.

“In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations,” the king wrote in a letter to Hansen, “and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold.”

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA fueled its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-apollo-artemis-astronauts-c3bb9888b75e67574a1b66e643b87621">moon rocket</a>&nbsp;Wednesday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-f3f49214618099a98338835715e4562a">humanity’s first lunar trip</a>&nbsp;in more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">half a century</a>, aiming for an evening liftoff with four astronauts.

Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Liftoff. The Artemis II mission launched from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a> at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon. Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. <a href="https://t.co/ENQA4RTqAc">pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/2039473910987534599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>NASA's launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket early Wednesday, setting the stage for blast off in the evening at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronauts-nasa-moon-crew-91ea388ce81ebbefbb80d24b0ddb79a2">Artemis astronauts</a>&nbsp;Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are on board. They’ll hurtle several thousand miles beyond the moon, hang a U-turn and then come straight back. No circling around the moon, no stopping for a moonwalk — just a quick out-and-back lasting less than 10 days. NASA promises more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-83132fc4f86c3491984844fc309e25d2">boot prints in the gray lunar dust</a>, but not before a couple practice missions.Unlike the Apollo missions that sent astronauts to the moon from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">1968 through 1972</a>, Artemis’ debut crew includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-crew-3a47786c3757f7d79154d96933aa5bd9">a woman, a person of color and a Canadian citizen</a>.Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA’s grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.<h2>Astronauts troubleshoot issues with toilet system</h2>Koch ran into trouble with the toilet, seconds after starting it up.“The toilet shut down on its own, and I have a blinking amber fault light,” she told Mission Control. She was advised to use a handheld bag-and-funnel system for now — CCU, short for Collapsible Contingency Urinal — while flight controllers pondered how best to deal with the so-called lunar loo.The toilet is located in the “floor” of the capsule, with a door and curtain for privacy. It’s an upgraded version of an experimental toilet that launched to the International Space Station in 2020. That station toilet is currently out of order; two others are working fine.<h2>Communication issue quickly resolved</h2>Mission Control’s communication link with the orbiting capsule cut out after switching from one tracking and data relay satellite to another. But the problem was quickly resolved by resetting ground equipment.<h2>Into higher orbit</h2>An hour into the flight, the upper stage boosted the Orion capsule, Integrity, and its crew into a higher orbit around Earth.“The sun is rising on Integrity,” Wiseman radioed. Koch, meanwhile, had an extremely important job: Getting the toilet working.<h2>The to-do list for the Artemis II crew</h2>The four astronauts will be sticking close to home for the next day or so, checking out the capsule in orbit around Earth.Later tonight the upper stage of the rocket will separate, and the crew will manually fly the Orion capsule toward it to practice docking, preparing for future missions to the moon’s surface.Tomorrow night they will fire Orion’s main engine to escape Earth’s gravity and head for the moon, 248,000 miles away.<h2>Artemis II crew reaches orbit</h2>The four astronauts headed to the moon have reached orbit. They will circle the Earth for about 25 hours before catapulting toward the moon.<h2>‘A beautiful moonrise’</h2>Five minutes into humanity’s first flight to the moon in 53 years, Commander Reid Wiseman saw the team’s target: “We have a beautiful moonrise, we’re headed right at it,” he said from the capsule.------------------CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;re going around the Moon. Come watch with us. Artemis II&#39;s four-astronaut crew is lifting off from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a> on an approximately 10-day mission that will bring us closer to living on the Moon and Mars. The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET (2224 UTC). <a href="https://t.co/X27QJejNDt">https://t.co/X27QJejNDt</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/2039387543544758736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>NASA's launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket early Wednesday, setting the stage for blast off in the evening at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronauts-nasa-moon-crew-91ea388ce81ebbefbb80d24b0ddb79a2">Artemis astronauts</a>&nbsp;Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are on board. They’ll hurtle several thousand miles beyond the moon, hang a U-turn and then come straight back. No circling around the moon, no stopping for a moonwalk — just a quick out-and-back lasting less than 10 days. NASA promises more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-83132fc4f86c3491984844fc309e25d2">boot prints in the gray lunar dust</a>, but not before a couple practice missions.Unlike the Apollo missions that sent astronauts to the moon from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">1968 through 1972</a>, Artemis’ debut crew includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-crew-3a47786c3757f7d79154d96933aa5bd9">a woman, a person of color and a Canadian citizen</a>.Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA’s grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.The Latest:<h2>Artemis II blasted off from same site as Apollo explorers</h2>Artemis II set sail from the same Florida launch site that sent Apollo’s explorers to the moon so long ago. The handful still alive cheered this next generation’s grand adventure as the Space Launch System rocket thundered into the early evening sky, a nearly full moon beckoning some 248,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) away.Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman led the charge into space with “Let’s go to the moon!” accompanied by pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen. It was the most diverse lunar crew ever with the first woman, person of color and non-U.S. citizen riding in NASA’s new Orion capsule.<h2>Artemis II astronauts bound for moon after rocketing away on NASA’s first lunar voyage in decades</h2>The four astronauts have embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than 53 years and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years.The 32-story rocket rose from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center where tens of thousands gathered to witness the dawn of this new era. Crowds also jammed the surrounding roads and beaches, reminiscent of the Apollo moonshots in the 1960s and ’70s. It is NASA’s biggest step yet toward establishing a permanent lunar presence.--------------CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts strapped into NASA's new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-apollo-artemis-astronauts-c3bb9888b75e67574a1b66e643b87621">moon rocket</a>&nbsp;and awaited liftoff Wednesday on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-f3f49214618099a98338835715e4562a">humanity’s first lunar trip</a>&nbsp;in more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">half a century</a>.The three Americans and one Canadian waved and shaped their hands into hearts as they emerged from crew quarters to cheers and said goodbye to their families. The crowd applauded and cheered again as the astronauts boarded their astrovan for the nine mile (14-kilometer) ride to the launch pad.Commander Reid Wiseman thanked the throngs who gathered to see them off.“It's a great day for us. It's a great day for this team,” Wiseman called out.Tensions were high earlier in the day as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket. Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.To NASA's relief, no significant hydrogen leaks occurred. The launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel (2.6 million liters) into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad, a smooth operation that set the stage for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-crew-3a47786c3757f7d79154d96933aa5bd9">Artemis II crew</a>&nbsp;to board.A problem cropped up with the rocket's flight-termination system with only two hours remaining in the countdown. Commands weren't getting through to the system, which is needed to send a self-destruct signal in case the rocket veers off course and threatens populated areas. But the issue was quickly resolved, according to NASA.“It is time to fly,” Wiseman declared on the eve of launch via X. Favorable weather was forecast.The four will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth as they zoom some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.“The next era of exploration begins,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.Best wishes already have started to pour in, including from England's King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.Hansen will become the first non-U. S. citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.“In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations,” the king wrote in a letter to Hansen, “and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold.”___CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA fueled its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-apollo-artemis-astronauts-c3bb9888b75e67574a1b66e643b87621">moon rocket</a>&nbsp;Wednesday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-f3f49214618099a98338835715e4562a">humanity’s first lunar trip</a>&nbsp;in more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">half a century</a>, aiming for an evening liftoff with four astronauts.The three Americans and one Canadian waved and shaped their hands into hearts as they emerged from crew quarters to cheers and said goodbye to their families. The crowd applauded and cheered again as the astronauts boarded their astrovan for the nine mile (14-kilometer) ride to the launch pad.Commander Reid Wiseman thanked the throngs who gathered to see them off.“It's a great day for us. It's a great day for this team,” Wiseman called out.Tensions were high earlier in the day as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket. Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.To NASA's relief, no significant hydrogen leaks occurred. The launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel (2.6 million liters) into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad, a smooth operation that set the stage for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-crew-3a47786c3757f7d79154d96933aa5bd9">Artemis II crew</a>&nbsp;to board.“It is time to fly,” Wiseman declared on the eve of launch via X. Favorable weather was forecast.The four will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth as they zoom some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.“The next era of exploration begins,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.Best wishes already have started to pour in, including from England's King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.Hansen will become the first non-U. S. citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.“In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations,” the king wrote in a letter to Hansen, “and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold.”

🎥Artemis II astronauts reach orbit; troubleshoot issues with toilet system

The TMP-Marian Monarchs are ranked atop the 2-1A Kansas
Association of Baseball Coaches rankings released Wednesday (April 1).

The Monarchs opened the season Monday with a pair of blowout
wins over Ellinwood.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685535233177.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsThe TMP-Marian Monarchs are ranked atop the 2-1A Kansas
Association of Baseball Coaches rankings released Wednesday (April 1).The Monarchs opened the season Monday with a pair of blowout
wins over Ellinwood.Ellinwood is ranked No. 7 in 2-1A.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775080136815.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

⚾ Monarchs 1st in 2-1A coaches rankings

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rushed higher worldwide, and oil prices eased Wednesday as hopes built that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-1-2026-19cf516c2d2c614eb182dbad7a6592ef">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;could end soon. That’s even though some of the signals investors saw as hopeful are already under dispute, and several earlier bouts of optimism in financial markets quickly got undercut by continued, fierce fighting in the war.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.7% and added to its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-war-oil-trump-iran-84a7c46b51b3583f743c8da6a40d36ac">leap from the day before</a>, which was its best since last spring. That followed even bigger gains for stock markets across Europe and Asia, including an 8.4% surge in South Korea, which were catching up to Wall Street’s rally from Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 224 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.2%.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-gasoline-prices-rising-economy-sanctions-cbb0d63ed7242b15a0e16586719a4aa1">Oil prices</a>&nbsp;also fell back toward $100 per barrel after President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-31-2026-07fcd5216ceae44965de79a60a4623da">U.S. military could end its offensive in two to three weeks</a>.

That added to optimism following a couple tenuous signals of hope from earlier Tuesday that Wall Street latched onto, including a news report quoting Iran’s president as saying that it has “the necessary will to end the war” as long as certain requirements are met, including “guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression.”

The worry on Wall Street has been that the war may last a long time and keep&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/energy-eu-oil-gas-iran-supply-65e520c30d94e7b6184e69d37a7cc09a">oil and natural gas</a>&nbsp;from the Persian Gulf out of global markets, which could create a brutal blast of inflation.

But hope has been quick to reverse to doubt on Wall Street, triggering manic swings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-oil-bonds-iran-war-gasoline-72cc1c65d842ded41d20f3be48a2acd3">back and forth</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-oil-bonds-iran-war-gasoline-72cc1c65d842ded41d20f3be48a2acd3">financial markets</a>&nbsp;since the war with Iran began. Trump has also made statements that lifted markets, only to see the gains quickly disappear after increasing his military threats.

Shortly before Wall Street began trading on Wednesday, Trump claimed in a post on his social media network that Iran “has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!”

“We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

But Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, quickly called that claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.

Oil prices also remain high, even if they’ve eased recently. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, was sitting around $101 following its declines, which is still up from roughly $70 before the war began.

U.S. gasoline prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-4-gallon-iran-war-de8b7ccea254a1585cab86f336db57a6">rose again</a>&nbsp;overnight to a national average of $4.06 per gallon, according to the auto club AAA.

Iran, meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-1-2026-19cf516c2d2c614eb182dbad7a6592ef">hit an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar</a>&nbsp;and Kuwait’s airport on Wednesday while airstrikes battered Tehran as the fighting continued. Iran also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hormuz-shipping-tolls-china-de5159966cde7de7b964b3c2c67eec07">continues to hold a grip</a>&nbsp;on the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes during peacetime.

“De-escalation hopes have given markets a lift, but we think the effects of the war would, in many cases, persist even if the war did end soon,” Thomas Mathews, head of markets, Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, said in a research note Wednesday.

“It’s worth thinking through how markets might fare if the war were to end ‘very soon,’” he wrote. “Do markets have further to recover if sentiment continues to improve? The answer is almost certainly yes.”

The White House said Trump will deliver a public address Wednesday evening on the Iran war.

On Wall Street, three out of every five stocks within the S&amp;P 500 rose as Big Tech powered the move higher. Gains of 3.4% for Alphabet and 0.8% for Nvidia were two of the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500.

Eli Lilly rallied 3.8% after U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eli-lilly-orforglipron-glp1-weight-loss-obesity-ac23734a63e8354b5d9f0c93718ef2ff">regulators approved its GLP-1 pill</a>&nbsp;for weight loss.

Such gains have pulled the S&amp;P 500, which sits at the heart of many 401(k) accounts, back to within 5.8% of its all-time high set early this year. Just on Monday, the index briefly neared a 10% drop from its record, a steep-enough fall that professional investors have a name for it: a “correction.”

Nike sank 15.5% even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. Analysts said it gave some lackluster financial forecasts.

Oil companies also fell with the price of crude. Exxon Mobil slumped 5.2%, and Chevron dropped 4.6%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 46.80 points to 6,575.32. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 224.23 to 46,565.74, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 250.32 to 21,840.95.

In stock markets abroad, indexes leaped more than 2% in France and Germany. Asian markets had even bigger gains.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jumped 5.2% after a survey showed business sentiment for major Japanese manufacturers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-economy-boj-inflation-rates-trump-0160ffb35fe09b8229ceafdcbe6b2c6d">improved</a>&nbsp;despite worries about the Iran war.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-iran-war-gas-prices-183c11b2e6fbd659df9f49ebf336e7bc">U.S. retailers made more money</a>&nbsp;in February than economists expected. A separate report said U.S. manufacturing growth last month was slightly faster than economists expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755116533012.jpg" alt="Image Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rushed higher worldwide, and oil prices eased Wednesday as hopes built that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-1-2026-19cf516c2d2c614eb182dbad7a6592ef">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;could end soon. That’s even though some of the signals investors saw as hopeful are already under dispute, and several earlier bouts of optimism in financial markets quickly got undercut by continued, fierce fighting in the war.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.7% and added to its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-war-oil-trump-iran-84a7c46b51b3583f743c8da6a40d36ac">leap from the day before</a>, which was its best since last spring. That followed even bigger gains for stock markets across Europe and Asia, including an 8.4% surge in South Korea, which were catching up to Wall Street’s rally from Tuesday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 224 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.2%.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-gasoline-prices-rising-economy-sanctions-cbb0d63ed7242b15a0e16586719a4aa1">Oil prices</a>&nbsp;also fell back toward $100 per barrel after President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-31-2026-07fcd5216ceae44965de79a60a4623da">U.S. military could end its offensive in two to three weeks</a>.That added to optimism following a couple tenuous signals of hope from earlier Tuesday that Wall Street latched onto, including a news report quoting Iran’s president as saying that it has “the necessary will to end the war” as long as certain requirements are met, including “guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression.”The worry on Wall Street has been that the war may last a long time and keep&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/energy-eu-oil-gas-iran-supply-65e520c30d94e7b6184e69d37a7cc09a">oil and natural gas</a>&nbsp;from the Persian Gulf out of global markets, which could create a brutal blast of inflation.But hope has been quick to reverse to doubt on Wall Street, triggering manic swings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-oil-bonds-iran-war-gasoline-72cc1c65d842ded41d20f3be48a2acd3">back and forth</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-oil-bonds-iran-war-gasoline-72cc1c65d842ded41d20f3be48a2acd3">financial markets</a>&nbsp;since the war with Iran began. Trump has also made statements that lifted markets, only to see the gains quickly disappear after increasing his military threats.Shortly before Wall Street began trading on Wednesday, Trump claimed in a post on his social media network that Iran “has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!”“We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”But Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, quickly called that claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.Oil prices also remain high, even if they’ve eased recently. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, was sitting around $101 following its declines, which is still up from roughly $70 before the war began.U.S. gasoline prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-4-gallon-iran-war-de8b7ccea254a1585cab86f336db57a6">rose again</a>&nbsp;overnight to a national average of $4.06 per gallon, according to the auto club AAA.Iran, meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-1-2026-19cf516c2d2c614eb182dbad7a6592ef">hit an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar</a>&nbsp;and Kuwait’s airport on Wednesday while airstrikes battered Tehran as the fighting continued. Iran also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hormuz-shipping-tolls-china-de5159966cde7de7b964b3c2c67eec07">continues to hold a grip</a>&nbsp;on the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes during peacetime.“De-escalation hopes have given markets a lift, but we think the effects of the war would, in many cases, persist even if the war did end soon,” Thomas Mathews, head of markets, Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, said in a research note Wednesday.“It’s worth thinking through how markets might fare if the war were to end ‘very soon,’” he wrote. “Do markets have further to recover if sentiment continues to improve? The answer is almost certainly yes.”The White House said Trump will deliver a public address Wednesday evening on the Iran war.On Wall Street, three out of every five stocks within the S&amp;P 500 rose as Big Tech powered the move higher. Gains of 3.4% for Alphabet and 0.8% for Nvidia were two of the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500.Eli Lilly rallied 3.8% after U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eli-lilly-orforglipron-glp1-weight-loss-obesity-ac23734a63e8354b5d9f0c93718ef2ff">regulators approved its GLP-1 pill</a>&nbsp;for weight loss.Such gains have pulled the S&amp;P 500, which sits at the heart of many 401(k) accounts, back to within 5.8% of its all-time high set early this year. Just on Monday, the index briefly neared a 10% drop from its record, a steep-enough fall that professional investors have a name for it: a “correction.”Nike sank 15.5% even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. Analysts said it gave some lackluster financial forecasts.Oil companies also fell with the price of crude. Exxon Mobil slumped 5.2%, and Chevron dropped 4.6%.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 46.80 points to 6,575.32. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 224.23 to 46,565.74, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 250.32 to 21,840.95.In stock markets abroad, indexes leaped more than 2% in France and Germany. Asian markets had even bigger gains.Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jumped 5.2% after a survey showed business sentiment for major Japanese manufacturers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-economy-boj-inflation-rates-trump-0160ffb35fe09b8229ceafdcbe6b2c6d">improved</a>&nbsp;despite worries about the Iran war.In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-iran-war-gas-prices-183c11b2e6fbd659df9f49ebf336e7bc">U.S. retailers made more money</a>&nbsp;in February than economists expected. A separate report said U.S. manufacturing growth last month was slightly faster than economists expected.

Stocks rally worldwide, oil prices ease on hopes for end to the Iran war

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A man was arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching two minor individuals.

According to court records, Henry Junior Montiel allegedly engaged in lewd fondling or touching of a minor around the age of 15 on or about March 19.

Court records said Montiel also allegedly touched another individual, around the age of 17, without consent that same day.

Montiel was arrested on requested charges of an alleged aggravated incident involving liberties with a child and sexual battery. Both incidents occurred in Ellis County, according to court records.

Montiel was booked into the Ellis County Jail on March 20. His first appearance in court is set for April 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA man was arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching two minor individuals.According to court records, Henry Junior Montiel allegedly engaged in lewd fondling or touching of a minor around the age of 15 on or about March 19.Court records said Montiel also allegedly touched another individual, around the age of 17, without consent that same day.Montiel was arrested on requested charges of an alleged aggravated incident involving liberties with a child and sexual battery. Both incidents occurred in Ellis County, according to court records.Montiel was booked into the Ellis County Jail on March 20. His first appearance in court is set for April 21.

Man arrested for alleged sexual contact involving minor

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods said Tuesday he is stepping away to seek treatment, four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He will miss the Masters for the second straight year.

“This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” Woods said&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TigerWoods/status/2039110644255891907">in social media posts</a>.

Woods pleaded not guilty in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-crash-dui-arrest-masters-9c5ec2a699599289d263d553e309928e">his driving under the influence case</a>&nbsp;in Florida on Tuesday, hours after a sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled over on its side.

<a href="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/27928864-tiger-woods-arrest-affidavit?embed=true&amp;responsive=false&amp;sidebar=false">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;full police report on Woods' accident.

The online court docket for Martin County showed Woods entered a written plea of not guilty and planned to waive his April 23 arraignment hearing.

It's the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, he took a leave of absence to work on being a better person. That lasted four months and he returned at the Masters.

Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had opioid pills — identified as hydrocodone — on him when interviewed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-car-crash-florida-10be5faefb91c86ce5da36a3590e86a1">at the scene of the crash</a>, according to the arrest report released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Woods’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-golf-tiger-woods-dui-dcec962e03e2bae3c8940c104d2575c1">movements were slow and lethargic</a>, he was sweating as he talked to deputies in the back seat of an air-conditioned car and he told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the report.

Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio moments before he hit the trailer, the report said.

Woods has not played an official event since the 2024 British Open. He was recovering from a seventh back surgery in October and was trying to return at the Masters, where he is a five-time champion.

“I'm committed to take the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally,” Woods said in his statement.

Woods will not be in Augusta, Georgia, where he was to appear with Masters chairman Fred Ridley to celebrate the opening of a refurbished municipal course that involved Woods, or for the prestigious Masters Club dinner for champions.

“Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being. Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta,” Ridley said in a statement.

He is taking a break from the PGA Tour board

That means a break from more than just golf. He serves a key role on the PGA Tour board by leading its Future Competition Committee reshaping the schedule. A tour spokesman said Woods did not take part in Tuesday's meeting, and the work would continue in his absence.

“Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry,” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, who started last summer. “My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”

Woods’ defense attorney, Douglas Duncan, didn’t respond to an email and phone call after the plea was entered Tuesday.

Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside, residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) when the accident occurred. The truck had $5,000 in damage, according to the report.

The truck driver and another person helped Woods out of his vehicle through the passenger window. Neither Woods nor the truck driver were injured.

During a field sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had a compression sock over his right knee. Woods explained he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, and that his ankle seizes up while walking.

Woods, who was hiccupping during questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests and deputies had to tell him several times to keep his head straight, the report said.

“Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” the deputy wrote after the tests.

Woods, 50, is the most influential figure in golf and has become as recognizable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken.

But his injuries have kept him from accomplishing more, including those suffered in the 2021 car crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation.

At this latest crash, Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, authorities said. He was arrested and released on bail eight hours later.

Woods, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-driving-80-mph-crash-suv-los-angeles-fc7405d255d84faa036614c566899086">involved in four crashes</a>&nbsp;over the years, is charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Under a change to Florida law last year, refusing a law enforcement officer’s request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a misdemeanor, even for a first offense.

AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774665090684.png" alt="Photo of the Friday crash in Florida by Eric Pasquarelli courtesy WPTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the Friday crash in Florida by Eric Pasquarelli courtesy WPTV</figcaption>
 </figure>ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods said Tuesday he is stepping away to seek treatment, four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He will miss the Masters for the second straight year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/T70784akfW">pic.twitter.com/T70784akfW</a>&mdash; Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/2039110644255891907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” Woods said&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TigerWoods/status/2039110644255891907">in social media posts</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775047673235.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Woods pleaded not guilty in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-crash-dui-arrest-masters-9c5ec2a699599289d263d553e309928e">his driving under the influence case</a>&nbsp;in Florida on Tuesday, hours after a sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled over on its side.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774698682058.png" alt="Woods Booking photo Martin County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Woods Booking photo Martin County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/27928864-tiger-woods-arrest-affidavit?embed=true&amp;responsive=false&amp;sidebar=false">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;full police report on Woods' accident.The online court docket for Martin County showed Woods entered a written plea of not guilty and planned to waive his April 23 arraignment hearing.It's the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, he took a leave of absence to work on being a better person. That lasted four months and he returned at the Masters.<h2>Woods showed signs of impairment</h2>Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had opioid pills — identified as hydrocodone — on him when interviewed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-car-crash-florida-10be5faefb91c86ce5da36a3590e86a1">at the scene of the crash</a>, according to the arrest report released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.Woods’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-golf-tiger-woods-dui-dcec962e03e2bae3c8940c104d2575c1">movements were slow and lethargic</a>, he was sweating as he talked to deputies in the back seat of an air-conditioned car and he told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the report.Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio moments before he hit the trailer, the report said.Woods has not played an official event since the 2024 British Open. He was recovering from a seventh back surgery in October and was trying to return at the Masters, where he is a five-time champion.“I'm committed to take the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally,” Woods said in his statement.Woods will not be in Augusta, Georgia, where he was to appear with Masters chairman Fred Ridley to celebrate the opening of a refurbished municipal course that involved Woods, or for the prestigious Masters Club dinner for champions.“Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being. Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta,” Ridley said in a statement.<h2>He is taking a break from the PGA Tour board</h2>That means a break from more than just golf. He serves a key role on the PGA Tour board by leading its Future Competition Committee reshaping the schedule. A tour spokesman said Woods did not take part in Tuesday's meeting, and the work would continue in his absence.“Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry,” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, who started last summer. “My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”Woods’ defense attorney, Douglas Duncan, didn’t respond to an email and phone call after the plea was entered Tuesday.Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside, residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) when the accident occurred. The truck had $5,000 in damage, according to the report.The truck driver and another person helped Woods out of his vehicle through the passenger window. Neither Woods nor the truck driver were injured.<h2>The failed sobriety test</h2>During a field sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had a compression sock over his right knee. Woods explained he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, and that his ankle seizes up while walking.Woods, who was hiccupping during questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests and deputies had to tell him several times to keep his head straight, the report said.“Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” the deputy wrote after the tests.Woods, 50, is the most influential figure in golf and has become as recognizable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken.But his injuries have kept him from accomplishing more, including those suffered in the 2021 car crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation.At this latest crash, Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, authorities said. He was arrested and released on bail eight hours later.Woods, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-driving-80-mph-crash-suv-los-angeles-fc7405d255d84faa036614c566899086">involved in four crashes</a>&nbsp;over the years, is charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.Under a change to Florida law last year, refusing a law enforcement officer’s request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a misdemeanor, even for a first offense.___AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report.___

What Tiger Woods, Augusta National said about his DUI arrest

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

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com and include your phone number.&nbsp;

Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1561995642681.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post</h2>Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com and include your phone number.&nbsp;Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

Wednesday, April 1 Ellis: Ellis High School Students-Only Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt, 8:30 p.m., Ellis K-18 Baseball Field.&nbsp;Bring your own flashlight. Free.&nbsp;

Thursday, April 2 Hays: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities-Easter Eggstravaganza, Hays Recreation Commission Leisure Center, 1105 Canterbury Drive. $1 per entry with an <a href="https://haysrecweb.org/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&amp;FMID=35244353">April 1 deadline</a>.

Friday, April 3 Plainville: Plainville Recreation Commission Easter Egg Hunts, 8:30 p.m., April 3 for junior high and high school students and April 4 for adults, Max Maline Ballpark. Flashlights and glow sticks available while supplies last. $5 fee and signed waiver required.

Saturday, April 4 Hays: 52nd-Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, 9 to 9:15 a.m., Fort Hays State University Quad, 700 College Drive. Free.

Gorham: Gorham Community Development Association Easter Egg Hunt, 11 a.m., Gorham City Park, 113 Chicago St. Preschool through fifth grades invited.

Russell: Russell Community Easter Egg Hunt, 1 to 2 p.m., Bickerdyke Park, 300 N. Lincoln St. Children up to sixth grade and all special-needs children invited.

Hays: Easter Eggstravaganza at the Sternberg Museum, 6:30 to 8 p.m., 3000 Sternberg Drive. Cost for adults and kids who are members is $10. Admission is $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Children 2 and younger are free.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773776540892.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Wednesday, April 1 Ellis: Ellis High School Students-Only Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt, 8:30 p.m., Ellis K-18 Baseball Field.&nbsp;Bring your own flashlight. Free.&nbsp;Thursday, April 2 Hays: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities-Easter Eggstravaganza, Hays Recreation Commission Leisure Center, 1105 Canterbury Drive. $1 per entry with an <a href="https://haysrecweb.org/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&amp;FMID=35244353">April 1 deadline</a>.Friday, April 3 Plainville: Plainville Recreation Commission Easter Egg Hunts, 8:30 p.m., April 3 for junior high and high school students and April 4 for adults, Max Maline Ballpark. Flashlights and glow sticks available while supplies last. $5 fee and signed waiver required.Saturday, April 4 Hays: 52nd-Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, 9 to 9:15 a.m., Fort Hays State University Quad, 700 College Drive. Free.Gorham: Gorham Community Development Association Easter Egg Hunt, 11 a.m., Gorham City Park, 113 Chicago St. Preschool through fifth grades invited.Russell: Russell Community Easter Egg Hunt, 1 to 2 p.m., Bickerdyke Park, 300 N. Lincoln St. Children up to sixth grade and all special-needs children invited.Hays: Easter Eggstravaganza at the Sternberg Museum, 6:30 to 8 p.m., 3000 Sternberg Drive. Cost for adults and kids who are members is $10. Admission is $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Children 2 and younger are free.

2026 area Easter events to offer egg hunts, photos, family fun

The Hays Area Children Center celebrated its 60th anniversary with a Chamber in Hays ribbon-cutting on Friday.

The non-profit child care center cares for more than 80 children, from infants through school age.

The center was founded in 1966 by a group of Ellis County families seeking care for children with disabilities.

The center was originally affiliated with what is now the Arc of the Central Plains. However, the Hays Area Children's Center, 94 Lewis Drive, now serves children of all abilities.

It is the longest-running child care facility in Hays.

Becky Rogowski, the center director, said her children, now adults, attended the center as toddlers. One of those children is now on staff.

"For me, it came full circle to come back and be the director here," she said.

Andrew Cutright, president of the Hays Area Children's Center's board, addressed the crowd gathered for the ribbon-cutting.

"It has always been about change," he said. "It has always been about serving the community and what the community needs.

"As those things have changed, we have been forced or had the pleasure of changing with them."

He said changes in funding have challenged the center.

"Child care seems really expensive for parents, but it is really expensive to provide," Cutright said. "When funding goes away, you're left with some tough choices."

Those choices can include transferring cost to parents or seeking outside funding, but those funding sources continue to narrow, he said.

"Even though it is great to watch kids, [child care workers] still want to be paid," he said.

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the Patterson Foundation have both given grants to the center. The center also received federal funds through the CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774990168498.jpeg" alt="On Friday, the staff and guests cut a ribbon to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Hays Area Children Center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>On Friday, the staff and guests cut a ribbon to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Hays Area Children Center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Area Children Center celebrated its 60th anniversary with a Chamber in Hays ribbon-cutting on Friday.The non-profit child care center cares for more than 80 children, from infants through school age.The center was founded in 1966 by a group of Ellis County families seeking care for children with disabilities.The center was originally affiliated with what is now the Arc of the Central Plains. However, the Hays Area Children's Center, 94 Lewis Drive, now serves children of all abilities.It is the longest-running child care facility in Hays.Becky Rogowski, the center director, said her children, now adults, attended the center as toddlers. One of those children is now on staff."For me, it came full circle to come back and be the director here," she said.Andrew Cutright, president of the Hays Area Children's Center's board, addressed the crowd gathered for the ribbon-cutting."It has always been about change," he said. "It has always been about serving the community and what the community needs."As those things have changed, we have been forced or had the pleasure of changing with them."He said changes in funding have challenged the center."Child care seems really expensive for parents, but it is really expensive to provide," Cutright said. "When funding goes away, you're left with some tough choices."Those choices can include transferring cost to parents or seeking outside funding, but those funding sources continue to narrow, he said."Even though it is great to watch kids, [child care workers] still want to be paid," he said.The Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the Patterson Foundation have both given grants to the center. The center also received federal funds through the CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.During the pandemic, the center undertook renovations. This included new floors, painting and lighting.Cutright said the goal was to make the center more inviting."I think it is more representative of kids," he said. "They're bright. They're excited, and we brought in some bright colors and spruced it up."He said the board is willing to listen to the community to determine its needs and to decide on the center's next project."We have a great building, great space and passionate families," Cutright said. "I think we can do a lot of great things."Cutright's term on the board is almost up. The center is seeking three people to fill vacancies on the board."It takes people with a passion to do it because it's hard," he said.He encouraged anyone with a passion for children and child care to apply for the board, saying, "You can make a difference, but it takes work. It's not something you show up to and talk."He said someone with a financial background or community connections would be particularly valuable.If you are interested in a board position, you can apply at haccboard@gmail.com.The center is also accepting applications for part-time summer jobs. This includes high school students who might want to gain experience in child care, Rogowski said.The center will participate in the upcoming high school part-time job fair sponsored by the Chamber, which will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. April 8 at the Hays High School commons.The center still has openings for its summer school-age program. That includes children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade.&nbsp;Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.The children will take trips to the pool, the Hays Public Library, mini-golf and the ARC Park.The center is also enrolling for fall. The center has openings in its preschool classroom and limited space in other classrooms.Rogowski suggested parents who are interested in enrolling their children tour the facility.You can learn more by emailing becky@hacc.info. You can also find more on the web at<a href="https://www.hacc.info/"> hacc.info</a>, call the center at 785-625-3257 or follow the center on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysAreaChildrensCenter">Facebook</a>.