<b>By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER</b><br><i>Hays Post Sports</i>

HAYS - Hays High hosted Rock Creek in their home&nbsp; opener for the 2026 season.

<b>Game 1:&nbsp;Rock Creek 6, Hays 2<br></b>A four run sixth inning for Rock Creek gave the Mustangs a lead that Hays could never recover from in a 6-2 final.

Each team scored a single run in the first inning. Kal Lonsdale scored for Hays in the bottom of the first after reaching on an error. Jace Dreher recorded his first career high and RBI with a single to shallow left field to tie the game at one.

Brett Rhoades found a groove on the mound for the next three innings. He struck out four of his career high eight in that stretch and sat down ten of the eleven batters he faced.&nbsp;

Hays took their first lead of the season in the bottom of the third. Kaleb Roe led off the inning with a walk and then stole two bases to end up on third. Rhoades drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field and a 2-1 lead.

Hays had an error in the field in each the fifth and sixth inning. The visiting Mustangs took advantage. A sacrifice fly in the fifth tied the game at two and then a four run sixth inning gave Rock Creek the lead for good.&nbsp;

The visitors sent ten to the plate in the four-run inning. A one-out error played a pivotal role. Rock Creek also recorded three hits, walked twice and was hit by a pitch in the inning.

Trailing 6-2 Hays couldn't scratch across any more runs. They did get runners to second and third in the sixth inning on a Paxton Shaw single and Beau Dreiling hit-by-pitch.

Rhoades (0-2) took the loss. He lasted 5.2 innings, striking out a career high eight, walking three, hitting three batters and giving up seven hits. Three of the five runs allowed with him pitching were earned. Paxton Shaw and Jakob Sloan each pitched in relief.

<b>Game 2: Rock Creek 10, Hays 7<br></b>The first five batters of the game scored for Rock Creek in a 10-7 victory over Hays in game two.

Hays (0-4) allowed the five runs on four hits, one hit batter and a walk. The Indians though didn't help their own cause with a pair of first inning errors in the 5-0 early deficit.

Hays got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first. Kal Lonsdale and Kaleb Roe led off the inning with back-to-back singles. A Paxton Shaw sacrifice fly to centerfield brought the score to 5-1.

Rock Creek (2-0) added single runs in the top half of the third and fourth innings for a 7-1 advantage. Hays scored the first of two, three run innings in the game in the bottom of the fourth.

Brett Rhoades led off with a single followed by a Shaw walk. The two stole a base to get into score position. Jace Dreher notched his second run scoring single of the day for a 7-2 game. Bennet Smith followed with his own RBI single and Cade Jennings lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score a run at 7-4.

Hays though gave back all of those runs in the top of the fifth inning to trail 10-4.

The Indians made one last push in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a pair of Mustang errors. Lonsdale, Roe and Shaw all scored in the final half inning but it wasn't enough in the 10-7 loss.

Cade Jennings (0-1) took the loss working four innings. He allowed nine hits and seven runs, just three of those were earned. Beau Dreiling made his varsity debut pitching and Paxton Shaw pitched for a second time on the day.

Hays returns to action next Tuesday when they begin Western Athletic Conference play with a single game in Great Bend.

<p><b>By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER</b><br><i>Hays Post Sports</i></p><p>HAYS - Hays High hosted Rock Creek in their home&nbsp; opener for the 2026 season.</p><p><b>Game 1:&nbsp;Rock Creek 6, Hays 2<br></b>A four run sixth inning for Rock Creek gave the Mustangs a lead that Hays could never recover from in a 6-2 final.</p><p>Each team scored a single run in the first inning. Kal Lonsdale scored for Hays in the bottom of the first after reaching on an error. Jace Dreher recorded his first career high and RBI with a single to shallow left field to tie the game at one.</p><p>Brett Rhoades found a groove on the mound for the next three innings. He struck out four of his career high eight in that stretch and sat down ten of the eleven batters he faced.&nbsp;</p><p>Hays took their first lead of the season in the bottom of the third. Kaleb Roe led off the inning with a walk and then stole two bases to end up on third. Rhoades drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field and a 2-1 lead.</p><p>Hays had an error in the field in each the fifth and sixth inning. The visiting Mustangs took advantage. A sacrifice fly in the fifth tied the game at two and then a four run sixth inning gave Rock Creek the lead for good.&nbsp;</p><p>The visitors sent ten to the plate in the four-run inning. A one-out error played a pivotal role. Rock Creek also recorded three hits, walked twice and was hit by a pitch in the inning.</p><p>Trailing 6-2 Hays couldn't scratch across any more runs. They did get runners to second and third in the sixth inning on a Paxton Shaw single and Beau Dreiling hit-by-pitch.</p><p>Rhoades (0-2) took the loss. He lasted 5.2 innings, striking out a career high eight, walking three, hitting three batters and giving up seven hits. Three of the five runs allowed with him pitching were earned. Paxton Shaw and Jakob Sloan each pitched in relief.</p><p><b>Highlights</b></p><div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2290087139&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/03-24-26-hays-high-bsb-vs-1" title="03-24-26 Hays High BSB vs Rock Center Game 1 Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03-24-26 Hays High BSB vs Rock Center Game 1 Highlights</a></div></div><p><b>Game 2: Rock Creek 10, Hays 7<br></b>The first five batters of the game scored for Rock Creek in a 10-7 victory over Hays in game two.</p><p>Hays (0-4) allowed the five runs on four hits, one hit batter and a walk. The Indians though didn't help their own cause with a pair of first inning errors in the 5-0 early deficit.</p><p>Hays got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first. Kal Lonsdale and Kaleb Roe led off the inning with back-to-back singles. A Paxton Shaw sacrifice fly to centerfield brought the score to 5-1.</p><p>Rock Creek (2-0) added single runs in the top half of the third and fourth innings for a 7-1 advantage. Hays scored the first of two, three run innings in the game in the bottom of the fourth.</p><p>Brett Rhoades led off with a single followed by a Shaw walk. The two stole a base to get into score position. Jace Dreher notched his second run scoring single of the day for a 7-2 game. Bennet Smith followed with his own RBI single and Cade Jennings lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score a run at 7-4.</p><p><b>Highlights</b></p><div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2290087229&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/03-24-26-hays-high-bsb-vs-2" title="03-24-26 Hays High BSB vs Rock Center Game 2 Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03-24-26 Hays High BSB vs Rock Center Game 2 Highlights</a></div></div><p>Hays though gave back all of those runs in the top of the fifth inning to trail 10-4.</p><p>The Indians made one last push in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a pair of Mustang errors. Lonsdale, Roe and Shaw all scored in the final half inning but it wasn't enough in the 10-7 loss.</p><p><b>Coach Dustin Dreher</b></p><div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2290086965&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/03-24-26-hays-high-bsb-vs-rock" title="03-24-26 Hays High BSB vs Rock Center Coach Interview" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03-24-26 Hays High BSB vs Rock Center Coach Interview</a></div></div><p>Cade Jennings (0-1) took the loss working four innings. He allowed nine hits and seven runs, just three of those were earned. Beau Dreiling made his varsity debut pitching and Paxton Shaw pitched for a second time on the day.</p><p>Hays returns to action next Tuesday when they begin Western Athletic Conference play with a single game in Great Bend.</p>

⚾ Hays falls twice in home opener against Rock Creek

HAYS - The Hays High girls' soccer team lost 2-1 to rival Great Bend in their season and conference opener Tuesday at Hays High School.

The Indians are 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the WAC. They begin play at the McPherson Tournament on Monday.

<p><i>Hays Post Sports</i></p><p>HAYS - The Hays High girls' soccer team lost 2-1 to rival Great Bend in their season and conference opener Tuesday at Hays High School.</p><p>The Indians are 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the WAC. They begin play at the McPherson Tournament on Monday.</p>

⚽ HHS girls drop season opener to Great Bend

MAYETTA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's golf team placed ninth out of 13 teams at the Firekeeper Open this week (March 23-24) at Firekeeper Golf Course, a par-72, 5,820-yard layout. The Tigers turned in three identical rounds of 37-over 325, finishing the week at 111-over.

The rounds of 37-over are tied for the team's best score to par in a round this season, while the three-round total of 975 was its lowest in a three-hole event since the start of the 2023 season.

Avery Blasi led the team at 23-over across three rounds, posting scores of 80, 79 and 80 to tie for 33rd place. Blasi only made one double-bogey across the 54-hole event, tied for third fewest in the field of 81 players.

Alexis Elliott finished in a tie for 44th place following rounds of 83, 82 and 79 to finish the week at 28-over. Elliott led the Tigers with seven birdies, tied for ninth most in the field.

Hayden York finished just one shot behind Elliott at 29-over, finishing in a tie for 46th place following rounds of 81, 82 and 82. Emma Walz placed 55th at 36-over thanks to rounds of 81, 82 and 89, while Kiley Maier finished 68th at 41-over following rounds of 86, 87 and 84. Maier's week included four birdies, second-most on the squad.

Competing as an individual, Brynn Ray finished in 72nd place at 44-over following rounds of 94, 87 and 79. Her final round score of 7-over was a career-best for the sophomore and was tied for the best round by any Tiger in the event.

Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn tied for the team title at 44-over, while Lanie Veenendall of Augustana won the individual race at 2-over after rounds of 74, 74 and 70.

The Tigers will wrap up the regular season April 5-7 at the Spring Regional Preview in Monkey Island, Mo. before entering postseason competition with the MIAA Championships April 20-22 in Warrensburg, Mo.

9th - Fort Hays State - 325 - 325 - 325 -- 975 - 111-over

T33rd - Avery Blasi - 80 - 79 - 80 -- 239 - 23-over

T44th - Alexis Elliott - 83 - 82 - 79 -- 244 - 28-over

T46th - Hayden York - 81 - 82 - 82 -- 245 - 29-over

55th - Emma Walz - 81 - 82 - 89 -- 252 - 36-over

68th - Kiley Maier - 86 - 87 - 84 -- 257 - 41-over

72nd - Brynn Ray * - 94 - 87 - 79 -- 260 - 44-over

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774399468959.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
                        <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>FHSU Athletics</i></p><p>MAYETTA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's golf team placed ninth out of 13 teams at the Firekeeper Open this week (March 23-24) at Firekeeper Golf Course, a par-72, 5,820-yard layout. The Tigers turned in three identical rounds of 37-over 325, finishing the week at 111-over.</p><p>The rounds of 37-over are tied for the team's best score to par in a round this season, while the three-round total of 975 was its lowest in a three-hole event since the start of the 2023 season.</p><p>Avery Blasi led the team at 23-over across three rounds, posting scores of 80, 79 and 80 to tie for 33rd place. Blasi only made one double-bogey across the 54-hole event, tied for third fewest in the field of 81 players.</p><p>Alexis Elliott finished in a tie for 44th place following rounds of 83, 82 and 79 to finish the week at 28-over. Elliott led the Tigers with seven birdies, tied for ninth most in the field.</p><p>Hayden York finished just one shot behind Elliott at 29-over, finishing in a tie for 46th place following rounds of 81, 82 and 82. Emma Walz placed 55th at 36-over thanks to rounds of 81, 82 and 89, while Kiley Maier finished 68th at 41-over following rounds of 86, 87 and 84. Maier's week included four birdies, second-most on the squad.</p><p>Competing as an individual, Brynn Ray finished in 72nd place at 44-over following rounds of 94, 87 and 79. Her final round score of 7-over was a career-best for the sophomore and was tied for the best round by any Tiger in the event.</p><p>Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn tied for the team title at 44-over, while Lanie Veenendall of Augustana won the individual race at 2-over after rounds of 74, 74 and 70.</p><p>The Tigers will wrap up the regular season April 5-7 at the Spring Regional Preview in Monkey Island, Mo. before entering postseason competition with the MIAA Championships April 20-22 in Warrensburg, Mo.</p><p>Full FHSU Results</p><p>9th - Fort Hays State - 325 - 325 - 325 -- 975 - 111-over</p><p>T33rd - Avery Blasi - 80 - 79 - 80 -- 239 - 23-over</p><p>T44th - Alexis Elliott - 83 - 82 - 79 -- 244 - 28-over</p><p>T46th - Hayden York - 81 - 82 - 82 -- 245 - 29-over</p><p>55th - Emma Walz - 81 - 82 - 89 -- 252 - 36-over</p><p>68th - Kiley Maier - 86 - 87 - 84 -- 257 - 41-over</p><p>72nd - Brynn Ray * - 94 - 87 - 79 -- 260 - 44-over</p><p>* competed as an individual</p>

⛳ Tiger women ninth at Firekeeper

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-24-2026-8bb5e79a98ea72fccc5c50b4931ad778">to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;in the coming days, according to three people with knowledge of the plans.

The unit is considered the Army’s emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice. The force would include a battalion of the 1st Brigade Combat Team as well as Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, the division’s commander, and division staff, according to the people, who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans or private conversations.

It’s the latest addition of American troops to the Iran war effort after U.S. officials recently said thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships will be heading to the region.

While the Marine units are trained in missions that include supporting U.S. embassies, evacuating civilians and disaster relief, the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne, based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, are trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.

When asked about the deployment, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly deferred to the Pentagon but noted that “President Trump always has all military options at his disposal.”

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are scheduled to receive a classified briefing from Pentagon officials Wednesday on Capitol Hill where the potential deployment is expected to be discussed, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The New York Times earlier reported the possible deployment of the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East.

U.S. officials previously have said the Japan-based USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had been ordered to the Middle East — shifting them from exercises near Taiwan.

They also confirmed that the Navy has rushed to deploy a set of ships carrying a rapid-response Marine force to the Middle East from their home post of San Diego.

The pair of Marine Expeditionary Units will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region, where the U.S. already has about 50,000 troops.

The troops are being added just as the Trump administration says it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-23-2026-93c6b3234a5e8917aaf599bf85a03044">begun negotiations with Iran</a>&nbsp;to end the war. Pakistan offered to host diplomatic talks, but Iran has denied that any negotiations are taking place.

While speaking Tuesday at the White House, Trump said the U.S. is “in negotiations right now” and his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are involved in the talks, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

“We have a number of people doing it,” Trump said. “And the other side, I can tell you, they’d like to make a deal.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s office said he has been discussing the war this week with several counterparts. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammad-bagher-qalibaf-us-israel-war-a5fdb9d743c3325155da0bc91458077d">Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf</a>, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, denied Trump’s claim of direct talks, and an Iranian military spokesman issued a newly defiant statement vowing to fight “until complete victory.”

Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price and Collin Binkley contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774395068641.png" alt="Image 82nd Airborne Division" />
                        <figcaption>Image 82nd Airborne Division</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-24-2026-8bb5e79a98ea72fccc5c50b4931ad778">to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;in the coming days, according to three people with knowledge of the plans.</p><p>The unit is considered the Army’s emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice. The force would include a battalion of the 1st Brigade Combat Team as well as Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, the division’s commander, and division staff, according to the people, who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans or private conversations.</p><p>It’s the latest addition of American troops to the Iran war effort after U.S. officials recently said thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships will be heading to the region.</p><p>While the Marine units are trained in missions that include supporting U.S. embassies, evacuating civilians and disaster relief, the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne, based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, are trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.</p><p>When asked about the deployment, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly deferred to the Pentagon but noted that “President Trump always has all military options at his disposal.”</p><p>Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are scheduled to receive a classified briefing from Pentagon officials Wednesday on Capitol Hill where the potential deployment is expected to be discussed, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.</p><p>The New York Times earlier reported the possible deployment of the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East.</p><p>U.S. officials previously have said the Japan-based USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had been ordered to the Middle East — shifting them from exercises near Taiwan.</p><p>They also confirmed that the Navy has rushed to deploy a set of ships carrying a rapid-response Marine force to the Middle East from their home post of San Diego.</p><p>The pair of Marine Expeditionary Units will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region, where the U.S. already has about 50,000 troops.</p><p>The troops are being added just as the Trump administration says it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-23-2026-93c6b3234a5e8917aaf599bf85a03044">begun negotiations with Iran</a>&nbsp;to end the war. Pakistan offered to host diplomatic talks, but Iran has denied that any negotiations are taking place.</p><p>While speaking Tuesday at the White House, Trump said the U.S. is “in negotiations right now” and his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are involved in the talks, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.</p><p>“We have a number of people doing it,” Trump said. “And the other side, I can tell you, they’d like to make a deal.”</p><p>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s office said he has been discussing the war this week with several counterparts. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammad-bagher-qalibaf-us-israel-war-a5fdb9d743c3325155da0bc91458077d">Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf</a>, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, denied Trump’s claim of direct talks, and an Iranian military spokesman issued a newly defiant statement vowing to fight “until complete victory.”</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price and Collin Binkley contributed to this report.</p>

US to send troops from 82nd Airborne Division to the Mideast

Paul Schmidtberger age 73, of Russell, Kansas, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Hays Medical Center. He was born July 17, 1952, in Hays, Kansas to Michael and Anna M. (Burgardt) Schmidtberger. He married Judy (Steinert) on December 1, 1979, at Victoria, Kansas.

Paul was a ready-mix driver for APAC for 15 years and retired in 2016. In his earlier years he worked in construction, was an oil field pumper, worked at Bella Vista Homes, and King of the Road.

Paul grew up in Victoria, was a 1970 graduate of Victoria High School, and has lived in the Russell area for over 45 years. He was a Veteran of the US Navy, a member of the Russell V.F.W. Post # 6240, a Past Post Commander, the Victoria Knights of Columbus, and the Basilica of Saint Fidelis.

He enjoyed reading, watching game shows, working on jigsaws puzzles, his family and grandkids, and always the family gatherings.

Paul is survived by his wife, Judy Schmidtberger, of the home; his children, Sara Vopat and husband, Ray, Abilene, KS; Kelly Myers and husband, Darin, Hays, KS; his grandchildren, Jade and R J Vopat; Jordin, Jace and Jentry Myers; his sisters, Dianne Carter and husband, Chuck, The Villages, FL; Janice Tholen and husband, Tom, Victoria, KS; Carol Dreiling and husband, John, Hays, KS; his sister-in-law, Tess Schmidtberger, Philippines; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Anna Schmidtberger; his brothers, Kenny, Ronnie, Karl and (Debbie); and his nephew, Blake Schmidtberger.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 26, 2026, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Ave., Victoria, Kansas 67671 with Celebrant, Father Fred Gatschent. Burial will be in the Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas with Military Rites by the Russell V.F.W. Post # 6240.

A Victoria Knights of Columbus Rosary, and Vigil Service will be at 6:30 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary Victoria, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s Keithley Mortuary Victoria, Kansas and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Thursday, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, Victoria, Kanas.

The family suggests memorials made payable to: the Wounded Warrior Project, in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main, Victoria, Kansas 67671. Condolences can be emailed to clineschapels@gmail.com or left at the guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774384929078.jpeg" alt="Paul Schmidtberger" />
                        <figcaption>Paul Schmidtberger</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Paul Schmidtberger age 73, of Russell, Kansas, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Hays Medical Center. He was born July 17, 1952, in Hays, Kansas to Michael and Anna M. (Burgardt) Schmidtberger. He married Judy (Steinert) on December 1, 1979, at Victoria, Kansas.</p><p>Paul was a ready-mix driver for APAC for 15 years and retired in 2016. In his earlier years he worked in construction, was an oil field pumper, worked at Bella Vista Homes, and King of the Road.</p><p>Paul grew up in Victoria, was a 1970 graduate of Victoria High School, and has lived in the Russell area for over 45 years. He was a Veteran of the US Navy, a member of the Russell V.F.W. Post # 6240, a Past Post Commander, the Victoria Knights of Columbus, and the Basilica of Saint Fidelis.</p><p>He enjoyed reading, watching game shows, working on jigsaws puzzles, his family and grandkids, and always the family gatherings.</p><p>Paul is survived by his wife, Judy Schmidtberger, of the home; his children, Sara Vopat and husband, Ray, Abilene, KS; Kelly Myers and husband, Darin, Hays, KS; his grandchildren, Jade and R J Vopat; Jordin, Jace and Jentry Myers; his sisters, Dianne Carter and husband, Chuck, The Villages, FL; Janice Tholen and husband, Tom, Victoria, KS; Carol Dreiling and husband, John, Hays, KS; his sister-in-law, Tess Schmidtberger, Philippines; and numerous nieces and nephews.</p><p>He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Anna Schmidtberger; his brothers, Kenny, Ronnie, Karl and (Debbie); and his nephew, Blake Schmidtberger.</p><p>Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 26, 2026, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Ave., Victoria, Kansas 67671 with Celebrant, Father Fred Gatschent. Burial will be in the Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas with Military Rites by the Russell V.F.W. Post # 6240.</p><p>A Victoria Knights of Columbus Rosary, and Vigil Service will be at 6:30 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary Victoria, Kansas.</p><p>Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Cline’s Keithley Mortuary Victoria, Kansas and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Thursday, at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, Victoria, Kanas.</p><p>The family suggests memorials made payable to: the Wounded Warrior Project, in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main, Victoria, Kansas 67671. Condolences can be emailed to clineschapels@gmail.com or left at the guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</p>

Paul Schmidtberger, 73

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;'s conservative majority on Monday sounded skeptical of state laws that allow the counting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mail-ballots-election-day-mississippi-2d83cde64284e9e06d19162a45065801">late-arriving mail ballots,</a>&nbsp;a persistent target of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-1260">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argument

A ruling, likely to come by late June, that bars counting ballots arriving after Election Day would send officials scrambling in 14 states and the District of Columbia, just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections to change their ballot rules.

An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be affected.

The legal challenge is part of Trump’s broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gop-save-bill-citizenship-id-filibuster-744071b0a3c86ef64aa19aeb3b552509">attack on most mail balloting</a>, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 resulted from fraud even though more than 60 court decisions and his own attorney general said that argument had no merit.

The court heard arguments in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-absentee-ballot-voting-d65b943c27e9e7c5247dc2c14d3dbb15">case from Mississippi</a>&nbsp;pitting the state against Trump's Republican administration and the Republican and Libertarian parties. At issue is whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials.

While there was no explicit reference to the 2020 election, several conservative justices gave voice to some of Trump's complaints. Justice Samuel Alito wondered about the appearance of fraud in situations where “a big stash of ballots” that arrive late “radically flipped” an election.

Defending the state law, Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart pointed out that the Trump administration and its allies in the case have yet to submit a single case of fraud due to late-arriving mail ballots.

The court's liberal justices indicated they would uphold state laws with post-Election Day deadlines.

“The people who should decide this issue are not the courts, but Congress, the states and Congress,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said.

Forcing states to change their practices just a few months before the election risks “confusion and disenfranchisement,” especially in places that have had relaxed deadlines for years, state and big-city election officials told the court in a written filing.

California, Texas, New York and Illinois are among the states with post-Election Day deadlines. Alaska, with its vast distances and often unpredictable weather, also counts late-arriving ballots.

Alaska elections officials said Monday they are preparing for the fall elections under existing law. "If a ruling requires operational changes, we will work through those in coordination with the appropriate state entities to ensure compliance and to provide clear information to voters,” the Alaska Division of Elections said in a statement.

Lawyers for the Republican and Libertarian parties, as well as Trump's administration, are asking the justices to affirm an appellate ruling that struck down a Mississippi law allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election and are postmarked by Election Day.

Paul Clement, representing the political parties, played on fears of fraud by invoking Democrat-dominated Chicago, infamous for election shenanigans. Voting ends at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Clement said, but state law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received later.

A voter paying close attention to the election returns could in theory try to swing the election by submitting a mailed ballot to the post office after the polls were closed, he said.

“I am not here to say there could ever be voting fraud in Chicago,” Clement said to laughter in the courtroom.

Sotomayor had earlier needled Clement that under the ruling he sought, the Bush v. Gore decision that decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush would have come out differently because military ballots that broke heavily for Bush in his 537-vote win wouldn't have been counted. Clement disputed the point.

The justices seem more concerned about the cascading problems that could arise no matter who wins the case.

Ballots could be received until the start of the next Congress, two months after the election, if a state wanted, Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested.

On the other side, Justice Elena Kagan said the logic of the challenge to late-arriving ballots also would be used to rule out early voting and absentee ballots.

Limits on early-voting also seemed to bother Chief Justice John Roberts, who seemed the conservative member of the court most likely to side with Mississippi, along with Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

The court also grappled with whether state laws allowing for late-arriving ballots from military and overseas ballots could survive.

Last year, Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-elections-voting-constitution-8908477167fd65dc9cd485e1fde5b804">an executive order on elections</a>&nbsp;that aims to require votes to be “cast and received” by Election Day. The order has been blocked in pending court challenges.

At the same time, four Republican-dominated states — Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — eliminated grace periods last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and Voting Rights Lab.

In striking down Mississippi's grace period, Judge Andrew Oldham of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the state law allowing the late-arriving ballots to be counted violated federal law.

Oldham and the other two judges who joined the unanimous ruling, James Ho and Stuart Kyle Duncan, all were appointed by Trump during his first term.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720316487639.png" alt="Post photo" />
                        <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;'s conservative majority on Monday sounded skeptical of state laws that allow the counting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mail-ballots-election-day-mississippi-2d83cde64284e9e06d19162a45065801">late-arriving mail ballots,</a>&nbsp;a persistent target of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-1260">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argument</p><p>A ruling, likely to come by late June, that bars counting ballots arriving after Election Day would send officials scrambling in 14 states and the District of Columbia, just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections to change their ballot rules.</p><p>An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be affected.</p><p>The legal challenge is part of Trump’s broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gop-save-bill-citizenship-id-filibuster-744071b0a3c86ef64aa19aeb3b552509">attack on most mail balloting</a>, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 resulted from fraud even though more than 60 court decisions and his own attorney general said that argument had no merit.</p><p>The court heard arguments in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-absentee-ballot-voting-d65b943c27e9e7c5247dc2c14d3dbb15">case from Mississippi</a>&nbsp;pitting the state against Trump's Republican administration and the Republican and Libertarian parties. At issue is whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials.</p><p>While there was no explicit reference to the 2020 election, several conservative justices gave voice to some of Trump's complaints. Justice Samuel Alito wondered about the appearance of fraud in situations where “a big stash of ballots” that arrive late “radically flipped” an election.</p><p>Defending the state law, Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart pointed out that the Trump administration and its allies in the case have yet to submit a single case of fraud due to late-arriving mail ballots.</p><p>The court's liberal justices indicated they would uphold state laws with post-Election Day deadlines.</p><p>“The people who should decide this issue are not the courts, but Congress, the states and Congress,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said.</p><p>Forcing states to change their practices just a few months before the election risks “confusion and disenfranchisement,” especially in places that have had relaxed deadlines for years, state and big-city election officials told the court in a written filing.</p><p>California, Texas, New York and Illinois are among the states with post-Election Day deadlines. Alaska, with its vast distances and often unpredictable weather, also counts late-arriving ballots.</p><p>Alaska elections officials said Monday they are preparing for the fall elections under existing law. "If a ruling requires operational changes, we will work through those in coordination with the appropriate state entities to ensure compliance and to provide clear information to voters,” the Alaska Division of Elections said in a statement.</p><p>Lawyers for the Republican and Libertarian parties, as well as Trump's administration, are asking the justices to affirm an appellate ruling that struck down a Mississippi law allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election and are postmarked by Election Day.</p><p>Paul Clement, representing the political parties, played on fears of fraud by invoking Democrat-dominated Chicago, infamous for election shenanigans. Voting ends at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Clement said, but state law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received later.</p><p>A voter paying close attention to the election returns could in theory try to swing the election by submitting a mailed ballot to the post office after the polls were closed, he said.</p><p>“I am not here to say there could ever be voting fraud in Chicago,” Clement said to laughter in the courtroom.</p><p>Sotomayor had earlier needled Clement that under the ruling he sought, the Bush v. Gore decision that decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush would have come out differently because military ballots that broke heavily for Bush in his 537-vote win wouldn't have been counted. Clement disputed the point.</p><p>The justices seem more concerned about the cascading problems that could arise no matter who wins the case.</p><p>Ballots could be received until the start of the next Congress, two months after the election, if a state wanted, Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested.</p><p>On the other side, Justice Elena Kagan said the logic of the challenge to late-arriving ballots also would be used to rule out early voting and absentee ballots.</p><p>Limits on early-voting also seemed to bother Chief Justice John Roberts, who seemed the conservative member of the court most likely to side with Mississippi, along with Justice Amy Coney Barrett.</p><p>The court also grappled with whether state laws allowing for late-arriving ballots from military and overseas ballots could survive.</p><p>Last year, Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-elections-voting-constitution-8908477167fd65dc9cd485e1fde5b804">an executive order on elections</a>&nbsp;that aims to require votes to be “cast and received” by Election Day. The order has been blocked in pending court challenges.</p><p>At the same time, four Republican-dominated states — Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — eliminated grace periods last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and Voting Rights Lab.</p><p>In striking down Mississippi's grace period, Judge Andrew Oldham of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the state law allowing the late-arriving ballots to be counted violated federal law.</p><p>Oldham and the other two judges who joined the unanimous ruling, James Ho and Stuart Kyle Duncan, all were appointed by Trump during his first term.</p>

🎧 Supreme Court skeptical whether states can keep counting late mail ballots

<b>By TONY GUERRERO<br></b><i>Hays Post</i>

A 24-year-old Hays woman was arrested on multiple charges following an alleged DUI crash in downtown Hays.

Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said Jennifer Alondra Martinez was arrested early Sunday following an alleged hit-and-run crash involving a parked vehicle and a power box.

He said officers were notified of the crash at about 2:30 a.m.

Greenwood said Martinez was at 10th and Ash streets after fleeing the scene and appeared heavily impaired. She was arrested for alleged DUI, battery on a law enforcement officer, no driver’s license, no insurance and reckless driving.

Greenwood said video footage showed Martinez traveling on Eighth Street and turning onto Fort Street at a high rate of speed. He said she struck an electrical box, continued southbound, became airborne while crossing an intersection and crashed into a parked truck in the 200 block of West Fourth Street.

Greenwood said the impact rolled the parked vehicle onto its top. The crash also knocked out power for streetlights and traffic signals at Eighth and Fort Street.

Martinez was the sole occupant of the vehicle. During the arrest, she allegedly kicked an officer, who was not injured.

She was transported to Hays Medical Center for clearance before being booked into the Ellis County Jail.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774379355788.png" alt="&nbsp;Jennifer Alondra Martinez-photo Ellis County Jail" />
                        <figcaption>&nbsp;Jennifer Alondra Martinez-photo Ellis County Jail</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By TONY GUERRERO<br></b><i>Hays Post</i></p><p>A 24-year-old Hays woman was arrested on multiple charges following an alleged DUI crash in downtown Hays.</p><p>Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said Jennifer Alondra Martinez was arrested early Sunday following an alleged hit-and-run crash involving a parked vehicle and a power box.</p><p>He said officers were notified of the crash at about 2:30 a.m.</p><p>Greenwood said Martinez was at 10th and Ash streets after fleeing the scene and appeared heavily impaired. She was arrested for alleged DUI, battery on a law enforcement officer, no driver’s license, no insurance and reckless driving.</p><p>Greenwood said video footage showed Martinez traveling on Eighth Street and turning onto Fort Street at a high rate of speed. He said she struck an electrical box, continued southbound, became airborne while crossing an intersection and crashed into a parked truck in the 200 block of West Fourth Street.</p><p>Greenwood said the impact rolled the parked vehicle onto its top. The crash also knocked out power for streetlights and traffic signals at Eighth and Fort Street.</p><p>Martinez was the sole occupant of the vehicle. During the arrest, she allegedly kicked an officer, who was not injured.</p><p>She was transported to Hays Medical Center for clearance before being booked into the Ellis County Jail.</p>

Hays woman arrested for alleged DUI crash; knocks out power in part of downtown

<b>By TONY GUERRERO</b><br><i>Hays Post</i>

A Hays man died in a motorcycle accident on March 15 near the U.S. Highway 183 bypass.

Ellis County Sheriff Lt. Garrett Brening said 36-year-old Jonathan J. “Jon Boy” Younger died after leaving the roadway and crashing on West Eighth Street.

Brening said the crash was not witnessed, and the exact time of the accident is unknown. It was reported at 8:14 p.m. by a passerby who saw lights from the motorcycle in a ditch.

Brening said Younger was traveling west when he failed to navigate a curve and went off the roadway near the bypass. He was partially found underneath his motorcycle.

Brening said CPR was performed and a heart rhythm was briefly restored. Younger was airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he died later that day.

Brening said Younger was not reported to be wearing a helmet. He said it is unknown how long Younger had been in the ditch before being found, due to the isolated location and the high embankment along Eighth Street.

Younger was an over-the-road truck driver for Tim Kroeger Trucking and enjoyed riding motorcycles. He was a member of the Free Tomorrow Motorcycle Club.

His obituary describes him as “one of a kind,” with a big heart, a willingness to help others and having every quality you could want in someone.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773780118668.jpeg" alt="Jonathan J. “Jon Boy” Younger" />
                        <figcaption>Jonathan J. “Jon Boy” Younger</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By TONY GUERRERO</b><br><i>Hays Post</i></p><p>A Hays man died in a motorcycle accident on March 15 near the U.S. Highway 183 bypass.</p><p>Ellis County Sheriff Lt. Garrett Brening said 36-year-old Jonathan J. “Jon Boy” Younger died after leaving the roadway and crashing on West Eighth Street.</p><p>Brening said the crash was not witnessed, and the exact time of the accident is unknown. It was reported at 8:14 p.m. by a passerby who saw lights from the motorcycle in a ditch.</p><p>Brening said Younger was traveling west when he failed to navigate a curve and went off the roadway near the bypass. He was partially found underneath his motorcycle.</p><p>Brening said CPR was performed and a heart rhythm was briefly restored. Younger was airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he died later that day.</p><p>Brening said Younger was not reported to be wearing a helmet. He said it is unknown how long Younger had been in the ditch before being found, due to the isolated location and the high embankment along Eighth Street.</p><p>Younger was an over-the-road truck driver for Tim Kroeger Trucking and enjoyed riding motorcycles. He was a member of the Free Tomorrow Motorcycle Club.</p><p>His obituary describes him as “one of a kind,” with a big heart, a willingness to help others and having every quality you could want in someone.</p>

Hays man killed in motorcycle accident 

HAYS - After one of the most decorated seasons in Fort Hays State women's basketball history, Talexa Weeter is entering the transfer portal.

The Goodland native was named the MIAA and Central Region Player of the Year and has one year of eligibility&nbsp; remaining.

Weeter finished the season with 852 points, setting the MIAA record and ranking 13th in a single season in Division II history. She led Division II and ranked second across all divisions of NCAA women's basketball with an average of 27.5 points per game, breaking the MIAA and FHSU school record for season scoring average.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767328256407.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Talexa Weeter (22) attempts a shot over Northwest MIssouri State's Sadie Maas (32) on Thursday, January 1, 2026 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmen)" />
                        <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Talexa Weeter (22) attempts a shot over Northwest MIssouri State's Sadie Maas (32) on Thursday, January 1, 2026 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmen)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>Hays Post Sports</i></p><p>HAYS - After one of the most decorated seasons in Fort Hays State women's basketball history, Talexa Weeter is entering the transfer portal.</p><p>The Goodland native was named the MIAA and Central Region Player of the Year and has one year of eligibility&nbsp; remaining.</p><p>Weeter finished the season with 852 points, setting the MIAA record and ranking 13th in a single season in Division II history. She led Division II and ranked second across all divisions of NCAA women's basketball with an average of 27.5 points per game, breaking the MIAA and FHSU school record for season scoring average.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fort Hays State (DII) junior 6&#39;0 guard Talexa Weeter has entered the transfer portal.<br><br>She averaged 27.5 PPG and 8.9 RPG per game last year &amp; was named the MIAA Player of the Year. <a href="https://t.co/VQqszYmIEC">pic.twitter.com/VQqszYmIEC</a></p>&mdash; Khalil Shakir 🏀 (@CoachKhalilS) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKhalilS/status/2036144947603161231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🏀 FHSU's Weeter enters transfer portal

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Savannah Guthrie is renewing pleas to neighbors, friends and residents of Tucson, Arizona, to jog their memories in the hopes of sparking new leads in the disappearance of her mother Nancy.

The “Today Show” co-host posted a new family statement on her Instagram account Sunday morning, hours after the show's Instagram account shared it.

After expressing gratitude to the community, the family said in its statement that it believes someone in Tucson or in southern Arizona may “hold the key to finding the resolution in this case.”

“Someone knows something. It's possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant."

The family urged people to go back over their memories between Jan. 31 — when Nancy Guthrie was last seen — and Feb. 1 as well as the evening of Jan. 11.

“Please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance. No detail is too small,” the statement said.

The family also acknowledged in the statement that their matriarch may no longer be alive.

“We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder."

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-nancy-guthrie-mom-missing-88e8731270d05e6e667730d2ed8633d3">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;was reported missing on Feb. 1. Authorities believe the 84-year-old was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-6c7b78d17d7b647c64f71f64ecaecf8b">kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken</a>&nbsp;against her will. The FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-b765fed6b9669441383b75860263ac99">released surveillance videos</a>&nbsp;of a masked man who was outside Guthrie’s front door on the night she vanished.

The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother.

Savannah Guthrie visited the NBC “Today Show” studio in New York City for the first time since her mother's disappearance on March 5. The show said she plans to return to the air at some point but “remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home.”

Tucson is a little over 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Phoenix and 70 miles (115 kilometers) north of the Arizona-Mexico border. The Catalina Foothills, the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives, is known as an affluent area with popular hiking trails.

Savannah Guthrie has been a co-anchor of the venerable NBC morning show since 2012. One of her former colleagues, Hoda Kotb, has returned to “Today” to fill in while Guthrie has concentrated on finding her mother.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770737956751.png" alt="Billboard in Texas -photo courtesy KVUE" />
                        <figcaption>Billboard in Texas -photo courtesy KVUE</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Savannah Guthrie is renewing pleas to neighbors, friends and residents of Tucson, Arizona, to jog their memories in the hopes of sparking new leads in the disappearance of her mother Nancy.</p><p>The “Today Show” co-host posted a new family statement on her Instagram account Sunday morning, hours after the show's Instagram account shared it.</p><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJKU2wADV3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJKU2wADV3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJKU2wADV3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Savannah Guthrie (@savannahguthrie)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>After expressing gratitude to the community, the family said in its statement that it believes someone in Tucson or in southern Arizona may “hold the key to finding the resolution in this case.”</p><p>“Someone knows something. It's possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant."</p><p>The family urged people to go back over their memories between Jan. 31 — when Nancy Guthrie was last seen — and Feb. 1 as well as the evening of Jan. 11.</p><p>“Please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance. No detail is too small,” the statement said.</p><p>The family also acknowledged in the statement that their matriarch may no longer be alive.</p><p>“We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder."</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-nancy-guthrie-mom-missing-88e8731270d05e6e667730d2ed8633d3">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;was reported missing on Feb. 1. Authorities believe the 84-year-old was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-6c7b78d17d7b647c64f71f64ecaecf8b">kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken</a>&nbsp;against her will. The FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-b765fed6b9669441383b75860263ac99">released surveillance videos</a>&nbsp;of a masked man who was outside Guthrie’s front door on the night she vanished.</p><p>The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother.</p><p>Savannah Guthrie visited the NBC “Today Show” studio in New York City for the first time since her mother's disappearance on March 5. The show said she plans to return to the air at some point but “remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home.”</p><p>Tucson is a little over 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Phoenix and 70 miles (115 kilometers) north of the Arizona-Mexico border. The Catalina Foothills, the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives, is known as an affluent area with popular hiking trails.</p><p>Savannah Guthrie has been a co-anchor of the venerable NBC morning show since 2012. One of her former colleagues, Hoda Kotb, has returned to “Today” to fill in while Guthrie has concentrated on finding her mother.</p>

🎥Family appeals for clues in ongoing disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

WASHINGTON (AP) —Hopes rose that the Iran war could begin winding down as U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said that his government was holding productive talks with Tehran, but fighting showed no signs of slowing and Iran denied there were talks.

Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, saying the U.S. will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-23-2026-93c6b3234a5e8917aaf599bf85a03044">hold off striking Iranian power plants</a>&nbsp;for five more days to allow U.S. envoys to hold talks with a “respected” Iranian leader.

Iranian officials said that Trump had backed down “following Iran’s firm warning.”

Relief ripped through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-trump-026e3ab83a6256e36001b85058f92b5d">financial markets</a>&nbsp;on Monday as oil prices eased following severe losses prior to Trump’s announcement. Markets have experienced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stock-markets-iran-war-458890210407eb0cba85c7e1a684c890">vicious swings</a>&nbsp;since the war began because of uncertainty about how long it may last.

The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military personnel, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.

Amazon says Bahrain data center operations disrupted by drone activity

Amazon says data center operations in Bahrain have been disrupted by drone activity, the second time that its cloud computing service in the Middle East has been affected since the Iran war erupted.

The company says Amazon Web Service in the Bahrain region “has been disrupted as a result of the ongoing conflict” early Tuesday, without providing further details.

“We continue to support affected customers, helping them to migrate to alternate AWS Regions, with a large number already successfully operating their applications from other parts of the world,” the company said.

Three AWS Middle East data centers, including two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-aws-data-center-uae-iran-bahrain-71066b0a822c4cfd88b61e3fe79af917">were damaged</a>&nbsp;by Iranian drone strikes days after the war began.

The company has been advising customers using servers in the Middle East to migrate shift their cloud computing workloads to other regions and to direct online traffic away from the UAE and Bahrain.

Palestinians in the West Bank inspect trunk of a massive missile that hit near village homes

The missile, which dwarfed its many onlookers, cratered the ground in the Palestinian village of Haris. It wasn’t clear whether it was an Iranian missile or an Israeli interceptor missile fired by Israeli air defense.

“We are caught between two fires, between Israeli missiles and Iranian missiles, so we do not know,” said Haris resident Hatem Dawood. “We have no shelters to protect our children, nothing at all.”

Dawood, who’s also a former member of the village’s governing council, said the missile had fallen Tuesday morning.

Palestinian paramedics haven’t reported any injuries or deaths from the impact. Israel’s military did not respond to requests for details from The Associated Press.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to France to sell the Iran war to skeptical G7 allies

He’ll attend a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting near Versailles outside of Paris on Friday “to advance key U.S. interests” and “discuss shared security concerns and opportunities for cooperation,” the State Department said.

“Areas of focus will include the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in the Middle East, and threats across the world to peace and stability,” it said.

Nearly all of the other G7 nations — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — have reacted coolly at best to the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran and have declined to participate.

Iran will fight ‘until complete victory’

The spokesman of Iran’s top military command says that its armed forces will fight “until complete victory.”

The comments by Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters appeared related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that there were negotiations ongoing between Tehran and Washington.

Iran has denied any talks are taking place, though its foreign minister has been talking to counterparts around the region.

Iranian state television quoted Aliabadi as saying: “Iran’s powerful armed forces are proud, victorious and steadfast in defending Iran’s integrity, and this path will continue until complete victory.”

The general didn’t say what “complete victory” would look like, but it appeared likely that Iran’s military was trying to warn against offering concessions in any possible negotiations with the United States.

An Associated Press journalist has heard a huge blast in the northern part of Iran’s capital, Tehran, that shook his home.

Another blast struck near central Tehran, another AP journalist says.

It wasn’t immediately clear what was being targeted, but Israel had said that it was embarking on airstrikes targeting locations in Iran.

Egypt and Jordan condemn Israeli practices in the West Bank

Egypt and Jordan say the Iran war shouldn’t distract the international community from the Israeli practices in the occupied West Bank.

Israel’s “illegitimate measures” in the West Bank “undermine all chances to achieve just peace,” the Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers said.

The ministers also condemned settler attacks in the West Bank as a “flagrant violation of international law.”

Lebanon orders Iran’s ambassador to leave

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry says Tehran’s diplomatic representative in Lebanon has to leave by Sunday, declaring him persona non grata.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Denise Rahme told The Associated Press that the Iranian Embassy will still have a charge d’affaires to head its diplomatic mission.

The removal of the ambassador marks a culmination in the deterioration of Lebanon’s relations with Iran since the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024.

Iran names new Supreme National Security Council secretary

Iran has named a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander as the new secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ali-larijani-dead-be5f46c171b2f9bf1dbd8325261a92a6">was killed in an airstrike</a>.

Iranian state television identified the new secretary as Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr.

Zolghadr reached the rank of brigadier general in the Guard. He had been serving as the secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council.

United Arab Emirates reports more missile and drone attacks

The Emirati Defense Ministry says air defense systems have responded to five ballistic missiles and 17 drones fired at the Gulf nation.

That has brought the number of projectiles fired at the UAE since the start of the war to 372 missiles and 1,806 drones.

Israel’s military says it has finished an extensive wave of strikes on Iranian “production sites,” without immediately providing more information.

It also said that it has detected a new wave of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.

Katz threatens Gaza-like destruction in southern Lebanon

Defense Minister Israel Katz says that the Israeli military will destroy homes in southern Lebanon, just as it did in Gaza, in what he says is a stepped-up effort to rid the area of Hezbollah militants.

Katz says that Israel will implement “the Rafah and Beit Hanoun models,” referring to two Gaza border towns that Israel flattened in its offensive in the Palestinian territory.

Katz says that the military is going beyond destroying Hezbollah infrastructure, and that it was also destroying houses in Lebanese villages near the border that he says “serve as terrorist outposts for all intents and purposes.”

6 killed in missile attack on Kurdish base in Iraq

The attack on a Peshmerga base in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil also wounded 30 others.

A statement from the Peshmerga forces blamed Iran for the strike and another attack, which caused no casualties.

Israeli defense officials discuss southern Lebanon

Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel’s military will control a “security zone” in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.

Katz says the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people who have evacuated north of the river — fleeing Israeli airstrikes — wouldn’t be able to return home until “security is guaranteed” for residents of Israel’s north.

He made the comments in a meeting with top Israeli defense officials, according to a statement released by his office.

Oman’s top diplomat engages in flurry of diplomacy

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi has engaged in a flurry of diplomacy amid regional efforts to stop the war in the Middle East.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774356054814.png" alt="Image from U.S. Central Command video released early Tuesday" />
                        <figcaption>Image from U.S. Central Command video released early Tuesday</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) —Hopes rose that the Iran war could begin winding down as U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said that his government was holding productive talks with Tehran, but fighting showed no signs of slowing and Iran denied there were talks.</p><p>Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, saying the U.S. will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-23-2026-93c6b3234a5e8917aaf599bf85a03044">hold off striking Iranian power plants</a>&nbsp;for five more days to allow U.S. envoys to hold talks with a “respected” Iranian leader.</p><p>Iranian officials said that Trump had backed down “following Iran’s firm warning.”</p><p>Relief ripped through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-trump-026e3ab83a6256e36001b85058f92b5d">financial markets</a>&nbsp;on Monday as oil prices eased following severe losses prior to Trump’s announcement. Markets have experienced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stock-markets-iran-war-458890210407eb0cba85c7e1a684c890">vicious swings</a>&nbsp;since the war began because of uncertainty about how long it may last.</p><p>The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military personnel, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.</p><p>Here is the latest:</p><h2>Amazon says Bahrain data center operations disrupted by drone activity</h2><p>Amazon says data center operations in Bahrain have been disrupted by drone activity, the second time that its cloud computing service in the Middle East has been affected since the Iran war erupted.</p><p>The company says Amazon Web Service in the Bahrain region “has been disrupted as a result of the ongoing conflict” early Tuesday, without providing further details.</p><p>“We continue to support affected customers, helping them to migrate to alternate AWS Regions, with a large number already successfully operating their applications from other parts of the world,” the company said.</p><p>Three AWS Middle East data centers, including two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-aws-data-center-uae-iran-bahrain-71066b0a822c4cfd88b61e3fe79af917">were damaged</a>&nbsp;by Iranian drone strikes days after the war began.</p><p>The company has been advising customers using servers in the Middle East to migrate shift their cloud computing workloads to other regions and to direct online traffic away from the UAE and Bahrain.</p><h2>Palestinians in the West Bank inspect trunk of a massive missile that hit near village homes</h2><p>The missile, which dwarfed its many onlookers, cratered the ground in the Palestinian village of Haris. It wasn’t clear whether it was an Iranian missile or an Israeli interceptor missile fired by Israeli air defense.</p><p>“We are caught between two fires, between Israeli missiles and Iranian missiles, so we do not know,” said Haris resident Hatem Dawood. “We have no shelters to protect our children, nothing at all.”</p><p>Dawood, who’s also a former member of the village’s governing council, said the missile had fallen Tuesday morning.</p><p>Palestinian paramedics haven’t reported any injuries or deaths from the impact. Israel’s military did not respond to requests for details from The Associated Press.</p><h2>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to France to sell the Iran war to skeptical G7 allies</h2><p>He’ll attend a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting near Versailles outside of Paris on Friday “to advance key U.S. interests” and “discuss shared security concerns and opportunities for cooperation,” the State Department said.</p><p>“Areas of focus will include the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in the Middle East, and threats across the world to peace and stability,” it said.</p><p>Nearly all of the other G7 nations — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — have reacted coolly at best to the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran and have declined to participate.</p><h2>Iran will fight ‘until complete victory’</h2><p>The spokesman of Iran’s top military command says that its armed forces will fight “until complete victory.”</p><p>The comments by Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters appeared related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that there were negotiations ongoing between Tehran and Washington.</p><p>Iran has denied any talks are taking place, though its foreign minister has been talking to counterparts around the region.</p><p>Iranian state television quoted Aliabadi as saying: “Iran’s powerful armed forces are proud, victorious and steadfast in defending Iran’s integrity, and this path will continue until complete victory.”</p><p>The general didn’t say what “complete victory” would look like, but it appeared likely that Iran’s military was trying to warn against offering concessions in any possible negotiations with the United States.</p><h2>Blasts heard in Tehran</h2><p>An Associated Press journalist has heard a huge blast in the northern part of Iran’s capital, Tehran, that shook his home.</p><p>Another blast struck near central Tehran, another AP journalist says.</p><p>It wasn’t immediately clear what was being targeted, but Israel had said that it was embarking on airstrikes targeting locations in Iran.</p><h2>Egypt and Jordan condemn Israeli practices in the West Bank</h2><p>Egypt and Jordan say the Iran war shouldn’t distract the international community from the Israeli practices in the occupied West Bank.</p><p>Israel’s “illegitimate measures” in the West Bank “undermine all chances to achieve just peace,” the Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers said.</p><p>The ministers also condemned settler attacks in the West Bank as a “flagrant violation of international law.”</p><h2>Lebanon orders Iran’s ambassador to leave</h2><p>The Lebanese Foreign Ministry says Tehran’s diplomatic representative in Lebanon has to leave by Sunday, declaring him persona non grata.</p><p>Foreign Ministry spokesperson Denise Rahme told The Associated Press that the Iranian Embassy will still have a charge d’affaires to head its diplomatic mission.</p><p>The removal of the ambassador marks a culmination in the deterioration of Lebanon’s relations with Iran since the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024.</p><h2>Iran names new Supreme National Security Council secretary</h2><p>Iran has named a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander as the new secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ali-larijani-dead-be5f46c171b2f9bf1dbd8325261a92a6">was killed in an airstrike</a>.</p><p>Iranian state television identified the new secretary as Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr.</p><p>Zolghadr reached the rank of brigadier general in the Guard. He had been serving as the secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council.</p><h2>United Arab Emirates reports more missile and drone attacks</h2><p>The Emirati Defense Ministry says air defense systems have responded to five ballistic missiles and 17 drones fired at the Gulf nation.</p><p>That has brought the number of projectiles fired at the UAE since the start of the war to 372 missiles and 1,806 drones.</p><h2>Israel gives update on Iran strikes</h2><p>Israel’s military says it has finished an extensive wave of strikes on Iranian “production sites,” without immediately providing more information.</p><p>It also said that it has detected a new wave of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.</p><h2>Katz threatens Gaza-like destruction in southern Lebanon</h2><p>Defense Minister Israel Katz says that the Israeli military will destroy homes in southern Lebanon, just as it did in Gaza, in what he says is a stepped-up effort to rid the area of Hezbollah militants.</p><p>Katz says that Israel will implement “the Rafah and Beit Hanoun models,” referring to two Gaza border towns that Israel flattened in its offensive in the Palestinian territory.</p><p>Katz says that the military is going beyond destroying Hezbollah infrastructure, and that it was also destroying houses in Lebanese villages near the border that he says “serve as terrorist outposts for all intents and purposes.”</p><h2>6 killed in missile attack on Kurdish base in Iraq</h2><p>The attack on a Peshmerga base in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil also wounded 30 others.</p><p>A statement from the Peshmerga forces blamed Iran for the strike and another attack, which caused no casualties.</p><h2>Israeli defense officials discuss southern Lebanon</h2><p>Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel’s military will control a “security zone” in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.</p><p>Katz says the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people who have evacuated north of the river — fleeing Israeli airstrikes — wouldn’t be able to return home until “security is guaranteed” for residents of Israel’s north.</p><p>He made the comments in a meeting with top Israeli defense officials, according to a statement released by his office.</p><h2>Oman’s top diplomat engages in flurry of diplomacy</h2><p>Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi has engaged in a flurry of diplomacy amid regional efforts to stop the war in the Middle East.</p><p>Oman's Foreign Ministry listed phone calls al-Busaidi made in recent days with 18 top diplomats from across the globe, including the foreign ministers of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and France.</p><p>The Omani ministry said that the calls aimed to “support efforts to contain the ongoing war in the region, and return to diplomacy to address outstanding issues.”</p><h2>Death toll in strike near Beirut increases</h2><p>Lebanon’s Health Ministry says that another person died after the Israeli airstrike on the town of Bchamoun southeast of Beirut, raising the death toll to three.</p><p>The ministry says the dead include a 3-year-old girl</p><h2>Iran-backed militiamen killed in Iraq airstrike</h2><p>Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of militias backed by Iran, says 15 militiamen were killed in an airstrike in western Iraq.</p><p>The dead included Saad Dawai al-Baiji, who commands the PMF operations in the province of Anbar, the PMF said in a statement.</p><p>The PMF blamed the United States for the strike, which hit the coalition’s command headquarters in Anbar.</p><p>The PMF was formed to fight the Islamic State group and is formally under the control of the Iraqi army, but in practice still operates with significant autonomy.</p><h2>Police say Tel Aviv blast caused by Iranian warhead</h2><p>Israeli Police Superintendent Fadida Yaniv confirmed damage to central Tel Aviv on Tuesday was caused by an Iranian warhead with about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of explosives.</p><p>Yaniv, who serves with the police unit investigating explosions, told the Associated Press at the scene that the missile damaged homes and cars on the residential street but there were no serious injuries reported.</p><h2>Asian markets rebound</h2><p>Asian markets mostly rebounded Tuesday, echoing cautious relief that swept through Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. has talked with Iran about ending the war.</p><p>U.S. crude and brent crude rose, reversing course after the easing overnight on Wall Street.</p><p>Global markets have been on a roller coaster over worries about the war in Iran.</p><p>Nations in Asia have been impacted by a lack of access to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.</p><h2>Rescue forces working in Tel Aviv</h2><p>Israel’s military said search and rescue forces were headed to several sites where missile impacts were reported in Tel Aviv.</p><p>Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service posted images to X of a damaged site in central Israel where rescue workers worked around charred cars.</p><p>First responders combed through rubble after a missile struck a street in central Tel Aviv.</p><p>An Associated Press reporter saw a crater next to a destroyed building façade and shards where glass lined the ground as rescue workers searched for wounded people.</p><p>Yaffa Folger, who was a few hundred meters from the blast, said her building shook and the windows of several other buildings were blown out.</p><h2>Egypt minister and US envoy discuss potential Iran negotiations</h2><p>Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed “potential negotiations” between the U.S. and Iran in a phone call Monday with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.</p><p>The ministry said that the call came during concerted efforts to revive the “diplomatic path .. as the sole way to avert a comprehensive chaos in the region.”</p><p>Abdelatty also spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France and Cyprus, the ministry said.</p><h2>Central Tel Aviv hit by missile strike</h2><p>After a recent warning about an incoming Iranian missile barrage, an explosion could be heard and smoke could be seen in central Tel Aviv.</p><p>Israel’s military said search and rescue forces were headed for several sites where impacts had been reported.</p><p>Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service posted images to X of a damaged site in central Israel where rescue workers thronged around cars that had been charred to ashes.</p><p>Israel’s police said Tel Aviv officers were headed to multiple sites where impacts were reported.</p><p>Yoel Moshe of Magen David Adom rescue service said four people had been lightly wounded but did not require treatment, adding that teams were searching for more injured.</p><h2>Iran's foreign minister holds talks</h2><p>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since Monday has been discussing the conflict with some of his counterparts.</p><p>Araghchi is speaking with officials from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Turkmenistan, his office confirmed.</p><h2>South Korea to increase nuclear and coal power generation</h2><p>South Korea says it will expand operations at nuclear and coal-fired power plants to reduce natural gas consumption.</p><p>Kim Sungwhan, the climate and energy minister, said Tuesday that 15 of the country’s 26 nuclear reactors are currently in operation and five of 11 reactors now undergoing maintenance will likely be back online by May.</p><p>Kim said officials also will temporarily ease emissions-related restrictions on coal-fired plants to allow them to increase output on clear days.</p><p>He said officials are considering extending the life of three coal plants that had been scheduled for decommissioning this year.</p><h2>Iran must ‘think wisely’ over Trump’s comments about talks</h2><p>A member of Iran’s Parliament has warned that his nation must “think wisely” about U.S. President Donald Trump saying talks were ongoing between Tehran and Washington.</p><p>The semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Esmail Kowsari, a member of parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, as making the comment.</p><p>“Trump, Netanyahu and the like are inherently liars and their nature is to create division,” he said. “We must think wisely. Their nature is to sow discord so that they can make people distrust officials and believe that such actions have taken place, whereas no such action has occurred.”</p><h2>Israel issues sixth missile warning Tuesday</h2><p>Israel issued another missile warning to the public for Iranian fire, the sixth warning since midnight on Tuesday.</p><h2>Israeli strikes near Beirut kill 2, hit targets in southern Lebanon</h2><p>An Israeli strike early Tuesday on a residential apartment in Bchamoun, around 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of Beirut, killed at least two people, according to an initial toll from the Lebanese Health Ministry.</p><p>The strike wounded five others, the ministry added.</p><p>The strike came without warning and hit an area outside Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the Israeli military had previously issued evacuation notices.</p><p>Footage circulating online showed at least one apartment in a building engulfed in flames.</p><p>Also early Tuesday, Israeli strikes hit several areas in southern Lebanon, including a gas station belonging to the Amana company in Rashidieh, near the port city of Tyre, sending a large plume of fire into the air.</p><p>There were no immediate reports of casualties.</p><p>Israel has repeatedly struck Amana fuel stations since the conflict with Hezbollah reignited on March 2, accusing them of being part of the group’s “economic infrastructure” that can support its military activities.</p>