Fuzzy's Taco Shop's owner has announced its permanent closure.

The Hays Post has no other details at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645809249574.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostFuzzy's Taco Shop's owner has announced its permanent closure.The Hays Post has no other details at this time.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop closes in Hays

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned in a Truth Social post that more Iranian officials will be targets, saying, “Today Iran will be hit very hard!,” while noting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-7-2026-d347fd6a03185f51d670bf4e7cbf5373">an apology by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian</a>&nbsp;earlier in the day to neighboring nations over Tehran’s attacks.

Gulf countries say they have intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.

Saudi Arabia said it stopped four drones attacking the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours. Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were interrupted after passengers were ushered down into train tunnels as several blasts were heard and the alert sounded.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-russia-intelligence-35afae34198408d670941f971d383378">hammered Beirut and Tehran</a>. Death toll continued to rise Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;were reported killed.

&nbsp;President Trump’s administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026#0000019c-c378-d99c-af9e-e7799c500000">would not negotiate with Iran</a>&nbsp;without its “unconditional surrender.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772717000656.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned in a Truth Social post that more Iranian officials will be targets, saying, “Today Iran will be hit very hard!,” while noting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-7-2026-d347fd6a03185f51d670bf4e7cbf5373">an apology by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian</a>&nbsp;earlier in the day to neighboring nations over Tehran’s attacks.Gulf countries say they have intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/rg44XE2OvS">pic.twitter.com/rg44XE2OvS</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2030240153592094990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Saudi Arabia said it stopped four drones attacking the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours. Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were interrupted after passengers were ushered down into train tunnels as several blasts were heard and the alert sounded.Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-russia-intelligence-35afae34198408d670941f971d383378">hammered Beirut and Tehran</a>. Death toll continued to rise Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;were reported killed.&nbsp;President Trump’s administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026#0000019c-c378-d99c-af9e-e7799c500000">would not negotiate with Iran</a>&nbsp;without its “unconditional surrender.”

Read President Trump's new warning to officials in Iran

It's almost spring and that means the Downtown Hays Market opens soon.

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks with Lee Ann June, executive director of The Bricks, about how to become a vendor, and even apply for the market manager position.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Downtown Hays Market looking for manager, vendors; opens in May" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=pasfn-1a60816-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>It's almost spring and that means the Downtown Hays Market opens soon.On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks with Lee Ann June, executive director of The Bricks, about how to become a vendor, and even apply for the market manager position.

🎙 Post Podcast: Downtown Hays Market looking for manager, vendors; opens in May 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026">U.S. and Israel continue their bombardment</a>&nbsp;and Iran fires retaliatory salvos at American assets and allies in the Persian Gulf.

Still, it's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. Russia is in the rare club of countries that maintains friendly relations with Tehran, which has faced years of isolation over its nuclear program and its support of proxy groups that have wreaked havoc in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

The White House downplayed reports that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. targets in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday told reporters that “it clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a CBS' “60 Minutes” interview on Friday said the U.S. is “tracking everything” and factoring it into battle plans, when asked about the reports Russia was aiding Iran.

“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” he said. “And anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly.”

Leavitt declined to say if Trump had spoken to Russian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;about the reported intelligence sharing or whether he believed Russia should face repercussions, saying she would let the president speak to that himself.

Asked whether Russia would go beyond political support and offer military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been no such request from Tehran.

“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue,” he said Friday.

Pushed on whether Moscow has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the Iran war’s start, he refrained from comment.

Russia has tightened its relationship with Iran as it looked for badly needed missiles and drones to utilize in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">four-year war against Ukraine.</a>

The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.

The former U.S. administration also accused Iran of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-ukraine-ballistic-missiles-us-intelligence-1e637abe11396989c641fa5bf3f57b24">transferring short-range ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Russia for its war in Ukraine</a>.

Details about the U.S. intelligence were first reported by The Washington Post.

Asked whether the revelation had shaken Trump’s faith in Putin’s ability to cut any peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, Leavitt said, “I think the president would say that peace is still an achievable objective with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-iran-5cafbae5d360a44c4502b69647269037">seeking Ukraine’s expertise</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-gulf-war-drone-49c8ea76358e579447ff839485f394ac">countering Iran’s Shahed drones</a>. Tehran has been supplying Russia with Shaheds for its war on Ukraine and are now utilizing them in retaliatory attacks throughout the Gulf.

Zelenskyy says that he's spoken to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation.

“Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night," said Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. “When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help.”

Trump, who has struggled to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war, has had an up-and-down relationship with Zelenskyy. He's frequently pressured the Ukrainian leader to heed Russian demands, including that Kyiv concede Ukrainian territory still in its control.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755286154581.png" alt="Russian President Putin and President Trump during a meeting in Alaska last spring-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Russian President Putin and President Trump during a meeting in Alaska last spring-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In response to reports that Russia is providing intel to Iran on U.S. positions and movements, Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth told 60 Minutes, &quot;We&#39;re tracking everything. Our commanders are aware of everything… No one’s putting us in danger.&quot; CBS News&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/MajorCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MajorCBS</a> interviews Hegseth… <a href="https://t.co/FZVJZBdKh1">pic.twitter.com/FZVJZBdKh1</a>&mdash; 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes/status/2030054161123868786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026">U.S. and Israel continue their bombardment</a>&nbsp;and Iran fires retaliatory salvos at American assets and allies in the Persian Gulf.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="File image (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)" />
 <figcaption>File image (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>Still, it's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. Russia is in the rare club of countries that maintains friendly relations with Tehran, which has faced years of isolation over its nuclear program and its support of proxy groups that have wreaked havoc in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.The White House downplayed reports that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. targets in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday told reporters that “it clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.”Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a CBS' “60 Minutes” interview on Friday said the U.S. is “tracking everything” and factoring it into battle plans, when asked about the reports Russia was aiding Iran.“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” he said. “And anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly.”Leavitt declined to say if Trump had spoken to Russian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;about the reported intelligence sharing or whether he believed Russia should face repercussions, saying she would let the president speak to that himself.Asked whether Russia would go beyond political support and offer military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been no such request from Tehran.“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue,” he said Friday.Pushed on whether Moscow has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the Iran war’s start, he refrained from comment.Russia has tightened its relationship with Iran as it looked for badly needed missiles and drones to utilize in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">four-year war against Ukraine.</a>The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.The former U.S. administration also accused Iran of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-ukraine-ballistic-missiles-us-intelligence-1e637abe11396989c641fa5bf3f57b24">transferring short-range ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Russia for its war in Ukraine</a>.Details about the U.S. intelligence were first reported by The Washington Post.Asked whether the revelation had shaken Trump’s faith in Putin’s ability to cut any peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, Leavitt said, “I think the president would say that peace is still an achievable objective with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war."Meanwhile, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-iran-5cafbae5d360a44c4502b69647269037">seeking Ukraine’s expertise</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-gulf-war-drone-49c8ea76358e579447ff839485f394ac">countering Iran’s Shahed drones</a>. Tehran has been supplying Russia with Shaheds for its war on Ukraine and are now utilizing them in retaliatory attacks throughout the Gulf.Zelenskyy says that he's spoken to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation.“Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night," said Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. “When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help.”Trump, who has struggled to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war, has had an up-and-down relationship with Zelenskyy. He's frequently pressured the Ukrainian leader to heed Russian demands, including that Kyiv concede Ukrainian territory still in its control.

🎥Hegseth on report Russia is giving Iran intel on U.S. military targets

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Audoboun of Kansas recently celebrated five years of its annual Lek Treks event in Hays.

About 150 people from across the nation will be in Hays from April 9 to 12 for the event, which celebrates prairie-chickens.

Northwest Kansas is unique in that both lesser and greater prairie chickens nest here.

The birds are particularly popular with bird watchers because of their elaborate mating dances and booming calls.

However, Jackie Augustine, executive director of Audubon of Kansas, raised concerns last week when the federal government delisted the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered species.

"We wish we could tell you that lesser prairie-chickens are no longer on the Endangered Species list because permanent habitat protections were put in place, or that their abundance has rebounded throughout their range," Augustine said in a statement.

"Instead, lesser prairie-chickens became officially delisted due to multiple court cases filed by industrial oil, big agriculture, and the Attorneys General from Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. On Feb. 26, the delisting became official through publication in the Federal Register," Augustine said.

Augustine continued, "However, we still have a glimmer of hope to save this charismatic species. At the same time as the publication of the delisting, the US Fish and Wildlife Service also published a 'status review' for the lesser prairie-chicken.

"This is the first step in considering the species for relisting. They are specifically asking for new information since 2022. 

"Information on sightings of the birds outside their traditional historic range, population trends, including leks that have disappeared since 2022, and threats to prairie-chicken habitat, including plowing prairie or industrial energy development within their range, would be particularly useful."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/192f7103-1ca0-4e59-9e45-901190d51f50">Audubon of Kansas has also raised red flags about a solar project in the works in southwest Ellis County, which it says is proposed in prime prairie-chicken habitat.</a>

The developers of the project, ibV, said initial surveys of the property found no nesting prairie-chickens, but representatives told county officials they would do further surveys this spring.

On the national level, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, who is from Plainville, applauded the delisting of the lesser prairie-chickens.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ff80a947-04d7-4a3a-a224-67a56510bd30">Moran, in a statement, said the listing saddled farmers and ranchers with burdensome federal regulations.&nbsp;</a>

He said he would, "continue to support local efforts to promote voluntary solutions that will protect the bird’s habitat without placing unnecessary burdens on our agricultural community.”

The grasslands of northwest Kansas are an ideal habitat for prairie chickens, Augustine told a group gathered at the Sternberg Museum for a Chamber ribbon cutting for Lek Treks last month. A lek is another name for the bird's mating grounds.

Augustine said lesser prairie-chicken populations have been declining. There are about 25,000 left in the world, and three-quarters of them are in Kansas.

The prairie chicken festival used to be conducted in Oklahoma, but the lesser prairie-chickens have disappeared from that range.

The Kansas population is stable, Augustine said, but if the birds and their grassland habitat are not protected, the birds could be lost.

Grassland habitat is being lost at a larger rate than any other habitat in North America, Augustine said. The prairie is being developed and urbanized, taken over by trees, and developed for solar and wind farms.

Prairie-chickens avoid tall structures like trees because they can be homes to predators such as hawks or raccoons, Augustine said.

They prefer to mate in wide open grasslands.

Bird watchers enjoy keeping a life list of all the birds they have seen. The Lek Treks prairie chicken festival allows birders to go out in blinds or on van tours to see these rare birds, Augustine said.

"They are not displaying or obvious when other birds come through, like cranes. You really have to make a concerted effort to see these birds," she said.

She added, "[Festivalgoers] come out here just expecting to see the birds, and then they meet you—this community that is so welcoming. 

"They go to private land where we give our tours, and they see how the landowners and ranchers in this area are such great stewards of the grassland habitat ... and they leave Kansas really knowing that this is a special place because of these birds and the communities that support them."

Augustine said the Audubon of Kansas would like to expand the festival, but it needs more volunteers and more private landowners with leks to open land for viewing.

All of the prairie-chicken tours for this year's festival are full, but the festival has wait lists.

Kenn Kaufman, a Kansas native and renowned ornithologist and author, will speak Saturday, April 11, at the Sternberg Museum. His lecture is open to the public.

You can learn more about Lek Treks by <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/events/kansas-lek-treks#About">clicking here.</a>

Learn more about Audubon of Kansas at <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/">audubonofkansas.org</a> or follow them on Facebook.

Learn more about the local chapter, Sunflower Audubon, on its website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sunfloweraudubon.org/" target="_blank">sunfloweraudubon.org,</a>&nbsp;and join their discussion group on Facebook.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936745789.jpeg" alt="Prairie chicken. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Prairie chicken. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAudoboun of Kansas recently celebrated five years of its annual Lek Treks event in Hays.About 150 people from across the nation will be in Hays from April 9 to 12 for the event, which celebrates prairie-chickens.Northwest Kansas is unique in that both lesser and greater prairie chickens nest here.The birds are particularly popular with bird watchers because of their elaborate mating dances and booming calls.However, Jackie Augustine, executive director of Audubon of Kansas, raised concerns last week when the federal government delisted the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered species."We wish we could tell you that lesser prairie-chickens are no longer on the Endangered Species list because permanent habitat protections were put in place, or that their abundance has rebounded throughout their range," Augustine said in a statement."Instead, lesser prairie-chickens became officially delisted due to multiple court cases filed by industrial oil, big agriculture, and the Attorneys General from Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. On Feb. 26, the delisting became official through publication in the Federal Register," Augustine said.Augustine continued, "However, we still have a glimmer of hope to save this charismatic species. At the same time as the publication of the delisting, the US Fish and Wildlife Service also published a 'status review' for the lesser prairie-chicken."This is the first step in considering the species for relisting. They are specifically asking for new information since 2022. "Information on sightings of the birds outside their traditional historic range, population trends, including leks that have disappeared since 2022, and threats to prairie-chicken habitat, including plowing prairie or industrial energy development within their range, would be particularly useful."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/192f7103-1ca0-4e59-9e45-901190d51f50">Audubon of Kansas has also raised red flags about a solar project in the works in southwest Ellis County, which it says is proposed in prime prairie-chicken habitat.</a>The developers of the project, ibV, said initial surveys of the property found no nesting prairie-chickens, but representatives told county officials they would do further surveys this spring.On the national level, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, who is from Plainville, applauded the delisting of the lesser prairie-chickens.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ff80a947-04d7-4a3a-a224-67a56510bd30">Moran, in a statement, said the listing saddled farmers and ranchers with burdensome federal regulations.&nbsp;</a>He said he would, "continue to support local efforts to promote voluntary solutions that will protect the bird’s habitat without placing unnecessary burdens on our agricultural community.”The grasslands of northwest Kansas are an ideal habitat for prairie chickens, Augustine told a group gathered at the Sternberg Museum for a Chamber ribbon cutting for Lek Treks last month. A lek is another name for the bird's mating grounds.Augustine said lesser prairie-chicken populations have been declining. There are about 25,000 left in the world, and three-quarters of them are in Kansas.The prairie chicken festival used to be conducted in Oklahoma, but the lesser prairie-chickens have disappeared from that range.The Kansas population is stable, Augustine said, but if the birds and their grassland habitat are not protected, the birds could be lost.Grassland habitat is being lost at a larger rate than any other habitat in North America, Augustine said. The prairie is being developed and urbanized, taken over by trees, and developed for solar and wind farms.Prairie-chickens avoid tall structures like trees because they can be homes to predators such as hawks or raccoons, Augustine said.They prefer to mate in wide open grasslands.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772573487468.jpeg" alt="Jackie Augustine, executive director of the Audubon of Kansas, and Reese Barrick, executive director of the Sternberg Museum, cut the ribbon at a Chamber ribbon-cutting celebrating the fifth-annual Lek Trek prairie-chicken festival that will be April 9 to 12 in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Augustine, executive director of the Audubon of Kansas, and Reese Barrick, executive director of the Sternberg Museum, cut the ribbon at a Chamber ribbon-cutting celebrating the fifth-annual Lek Trek prairie-chicken festival that will be April 9 to 12 in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Bird watchers enjoy keeping a life list of all the birds they have seen. The Lek Treks prairie chicken festival allows birders to go out in blinds or on van tours to see these rare birds, Augustine said."They are not displaying or obvious when other birds come through, like cranes. You really have to make a concerted effort to see these birds," she said.She added, "[Festivalgoers] come out here just expecting to see the birds, and then they meet you—this community that is so welcoming. "They go to private land where we give our tours, and they see how the landowners and ranchers in this area are such great stewards of the grassland habitat ... and they leave Kansas really knowing that this is a special place because of these birds and the communities that support them."Augustine said the Audubon of Kansas would like to expand the festival, but it needs more volunteers and more private landowners with leks to open land for viewing.All of the prairie-chicken tours for this year's festival are full, but the festival has wait lists.Kenn Kaufman, a Kansas native and renowned ornithologist and author, will speak Saturday, April 11, at the Sternberg Museum. His lecture is open to the public.You can learn more about Lek Treks by <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/events/kansas-lek-treks#About">clicking here.</a>Learn more about Audubon of Kansas at <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/">audubonofkansas.org</a> or follow them on Facebook.Learn more about the local chapter, Sunflower Audubon, on its website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sunfloweraudubon.org/" target="_blank">sunfloweraudubon.org,</a>&nbsp;and join their discussion group on Facebook.

Hays to host prairie-chicken festival; lesser prairie-chickens no longer listed as endangered

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post Sports

The TMP Lady Monarchs could never fully overcome a slow Friday
night as their season ended with a loss to the top-seeded Ellinwood Eagles 46-44.

Both teams struggled to score offensively in the first quarter, combining to score just five points.

TMP missed their first eight field goals and didn’t break onto
the scoreboard until the second quarter.

The Eagles managed just five first-quarter points and led
5-0 after the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, TMP’s Reagan Allen got the
Monarchs on the board, making it 13-2.

Paige Koenigsman added a three-pointer, making it 16-5, but the
Eagles finished the first half up 22-7 at halftime.

The Eagles built their largest lead of the game at 27-10
early in the third quarter before TMP began to chip away at the lead.

TMP strung together a 15-3 run that covered the end of the third
quarter and the beginning of the fourth, making it 30-25.

During the run, Claire Schippers scored nine of her team-high  15
points.

In the final quarter, after Ellinwood built back up by as
many as nine with seven minutes to play in the game.

But TMP was able to close the gap, thanks to Hannah Rose, who
connected on a pair of three-pointers in the quarter. Bria Windholz pulled the
Monarchs within one, on an offensive rebound and putback, making it 39-38. 

But the Ealges were able to make enough free throws down the stretch, closing the game on a run
for the 46-44 victory.

Schippers, the Monarchs' lone senior, scored a team-high 15
points. Hannah Rose added eight points.

The Monarchs finished the season with a 16-8 record and were
8-2 in the MCL.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post SportsThe TMP Lady Monarchs could never fully overcome a slow Friday
night as their season ended with a loss to the top-seeded Ellinwood Eagles 46-44.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2279100572&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/03-06-26-tmp-wbkb-vs-ellinwood" title="03-06-26 TMP WBKB vs Ellinwood Coach Interview" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03-06-26 TMP WBKB vs Ellinwood Coach Interview</a></div></div>Both teams struggled to score offensively in the first quarter, combining to score just five points.TMP missed their first eight field goals and didn’t break onto
the scoreboard until the second quarter.The Eagles managed just five first-quarter points and led
5-0 after the first quarter.Midway through the second quarter, TMP’s Reagan Allen got the
Monarchs on the board, making it 13-2.Paige Koenigsman added a three-pointer, making it 16-5, but the
Eagles finished the first half up 22-7 at halftime.The Eagles built their largest lead of the game at 27-10
early in the third quarter before TMP began to chip away at the lead.TMP strung together a 15-3 run that covered the end of the third
quarter and the beginning of the fourth, making it 30-25.During the run, Claire Schippers scored nine of her team-high 15
points.In the final quarter, after Ellinwood built back up by as
many as nine with seven minutes to play in the game.But TMP was able to close the gap, thanks to Hannah Rose, who
connected on a pair of three-pointers in the quarter. Bria Windholz pulled the
Monarchs within one, on an offensive rebound and putback, making it 39-38. But the Ealges were able to make enough free throws down the stretch, closing the game on a run
for the 46-44 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2279100980&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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-814667509/03-06-26-tmp-wbkb-vs-1" title="03-06-26 TMP WBKB vs Ellinwood Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03-06-26 TMP WBKB vs Ellinwood Highlights</a></div></div>Schippers, the Monarchs' lone senior, scored a team-high 15
points. Hannah Rose added eight points.The Monarchs finished the season with a 16-8 record and were
8-2 in the MCL.

🏀Monarchs comeback falls short; ends season as sub-state runners-up

CORALVILLE, Iowa – Isabella Renfro of Fort Hays State guaranteed herself placement at the first-ever NCAA NC Women's Wrestling Championship on Friday by winning her first two matches of the tournament to reach the semifinals on Saturday. Nichole Moore, Alexis Burton, and Leiannah Landreth also competed for the Tigers, but were eliminated on day one of the competition. Overall, the Tigers had four wins on the day.

Renfro, the No. 3 seed in the 180 bracket, had a dominating day by not giving up a point. She posted an 11-0 tech fall in 2:12 against Isabella Gretzinger of Presbyterian in the round of 16, then secured placement in the tournament with a fall in 0:58 over Mia Gaetjens of Adrian College.

Renfro will be the first All-America performer in program history, and one of the first 80 NCAA All-Americans in women's wrestling history, but has her sights on a potential trip to the national championship match. She will meet Destiny Rodriguez of McKendree for the third time this season in the semifinals, looking to avenge her loss in the final to Rodriguez at the Region 6 Championship. Renfro defeated Rodriguez earlier in the season, so this will be the rubber match to determine who wrestles for a national championship.

Landreth (117), Moore (145), and Burton (160) all dropped their opening matches of the tournament. Landreth had a lead going into the second period, but her opponent Maddie Ripley of Western New England rallied to get the match tied and then scored a fall 47 seconds into the second period. Moore gave Reese Larramendy, the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 145 from Iowa, a good fight nearly lasting the entire match. Larramendy scored an 11-1 tech fall. Burton made a bit of a push in the second period against No. 3 seed Tiffany Baublitz of East Stroudsburg, scoring three points, but she couldn't quite find leverage to flip the match in her favor.

Nichole Moore and Alexis Burton each won a consolation match before coming up short in their second consolation contest. Moore defeated Cloe Charlesworth of Ursinus by tech fall 11-0 and Burton took a 3-3 decision against Presley McCandlish of Lock Haven on criteria. Unfortunately, Moore dropped a 5-1 decision to Liv Wieber of Simon Fraser and Burton lost by fall to May Cuyler of Presbyterian. Moore finished her season at 18-7, while Burton finished the year at 22-10. Landreth lost her consolation match to Jenna Anderson of Presbyterian by an 8-4 decision. She ended her season at 21-11 overall.

The semifinals and remaining consolation matches will take place starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday (Mar. 7). Championship matches will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772940663798.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Jordyn Bredenberg" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Jordyn Bredenberg</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsCORALVILLE, Iowa – Isabella Renfro of Fort Hays State guaranteed herself placement at the first-ever NCAA NC Women's Wrestling Championship on Friday by winning her first two matches of the tournament to reach the semifinals on Saturday. Nichole Moore, Alexis Burton, and Leiannah Landreth also competed for the Tigers, but were eliminated on day one of the competition. Overall, the Tigers had four wins on the day.Renfro, the No. 3 seed in the 180 bracket, had a dominating day by not giving up a point. She posted an 11-0 tech fall in 2:12 against Isabella Gretzinger of Presbyterian in the round of 16, then secured placement in the tournament with a fall in 0:58 over Mia Gaetjens of Adrian College.Renfro will be the first All-America performer in program history, and one of the first 80 NCAA All-Americans in women's wrestling history, but has her sights on a potential trip to the national championship match. She will meet Destiny Rodriguez of McKendree for the third time this season in the semifinals, looking to avenge her loss in the final to Rodriguez at the Region 6 Championship. Renfro defeated Rodriguez earlier in the season, so this will be the rubber match to determine who wrestles for a national championship.Landreth (117), Moore (145), and Burton (160) all dropped their opening matches of the tournament. Landreth had a lead going into the second period, but her opponent Maddie Ripley of Western New England rallied to get the match tied and then scored a fall 47 seconds into the second period. Moore gave Reese Larramendy, the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 145 from Iowa, a good fight nearly lasting the entire match. Larramendy scored an 11-1 tech fall. Burton made a bit of a push in the second period against No. 3 seed Tiffany Baublitz of East Stroudsburg, scoring three points, but she couldn't quite find leverage to flip the match in her favor.Nichole Moore and Alexis Burton each won a consolation match before coming up short in their second consolation contest. Moore defeated Cloe Charlesworth of Ursinus by tech fall 11-0 and Burton took a 3-3 decision against Presley McCandlish of Lock Haven on criteria. Unfortunately, Moore dropped a 5-1 decision to Liv Wieber of Simon Fraser and Burton lost by fall to May Cuyler of Presbyterian. Moore finished her season at 18-7, while Burton finished the year at 22-10. Landreth lost her consolation match to Jenna Anderson of Presbyterian by an 8-4 decision. She ended her season at 21-11 overall.The semifinals and remaining consolation matches will take place starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday (Mar. 7). Championship matches will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

🤼‍♀️ FHSU's Renfro advances to semifinals at NCAA NC Women’s Wrestling Championship

By Dustin Armbruster
 Hays Post Sports

TOPEKA – A long second half scoring drought cost Hays High
in a 52-46 loss in Topeka against Seaman High School on Friday evening.

Hays (19-5) led early 5-1 on a pair of Trey Oakley field
goals. The Vikings (21-4) scored seven quick points to take the lead back at 8-5.
Oakley scored the Indians’ first ten points of the game including their next
two field goals which tied the game at 8 and 10. Izaac Fox was the first player
not named Oakley to scored for Hays. His first three points of the game gave
the Indians a 13-10 lead they would take into the second quarter.

Fox scored the first four more points of the second quarter
to give Hays another lead at 17-14. Back-to-back threes and a free throw from Seaman
gave the Vikings the lead again at 21-17 with 1:51 left in the half.

Dawson Ruder scored his first points of the game on a pair
of free throws and was followed up by two from Foxx to tie the game at 21. The Vikings
grabbed two free makes of their own for a 23-21 halftime lead.

The teams traded the lead through the first six-plus minutes
of the third quarter. After falling behind by eight points, Oakley and Ruder combined
for eight straight points to tie the game at 32 with 1:25 left in the third.

That is when the lid was placed on the basket for Hays.
Trailing 38-32, Hays went 0-5 from the field and turned the ball over twice. Seaman
was unable to score as well until their was 3:45 left in the game when they hit
a three pointer for a 41-32 lead.

The Indians next three possession went dry as well. All told
it was a 7:40 field goal drought until Ruder hit a three with 1:45 left in the
game. During that long span, Hays made just one free throw. 

Seaman kept Hays at arm’s length for the balance of the game
and a 52-46 victory.

Oakley scored a career high 19 in his final game. He took
two charges and leaves with the second most charges in a career at 31. Ruder
scored 11 points and passed Brady Werth for most points in a career at 1,147.

By Dustin Armbruster
 Hays Post SportsTOPEKA – A long second half scoring drought cost Hays High
in a 52-46 loss in Topeka against Seaman High School on Friday evening.Hays (19-5) led early 5-1 on a pair of Trey Oakley field
goals. The Vikings (21-4) scored seven quick points to take the lead back at 8-5.
Oakley scored the Indians’ first ten points of the game including their next
two field goals which tied the game at 8 and 10. Izaac Fox was the first player
not named Oakley to scored for Hays. His first three points of the game gave
the Indians a 13-10 lead they would take into the second quarter.Fox scored the first four more points of the second quarter
to give Hays another lead at 17-14. Back-to-back threes and a free throw from Seaman
gave the Vikings the lead again at 21-17 with 1:51 left in the half.Dawson Ruder scored his first points of the game on a pair
of free throws and was followed up by two from Foxx to tie the game at 21. The Vikings
grabbed two free makes of their own for a 23-21 halftime lead.Highlights<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%253A2279057015&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-814667509/3-6-26-hhs-mbkb-highlights-v" title="3-6-26 HHS MBKB Highlights v. Topeka Seaman" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3-6-26 HHS MBKB Highlights v. Topeka Seaman</a></div></div>The teams traded the lead through the first six-plus minutes
of the third quarter. After falling behind by eight points, Oakley and Ruder combined
for eight straight points to tie the game at 32 with 1:25 left in the third.That is when the lid was placed on the basket for Hays.
Trailing 38-32, Hays went 0-5 from the field and turned the ball over twice. Seaman
was unable to score as well until their was 3:45 left in the game when they hit
a three pointer for a 41-32 lead.The Indians next three possession went dry as well. All told
it was a 7:40 field goal drought until Ruder hit a three with 1:45 left in the
game. During that long span, Hays made just one free throw. Seaman kept Hays at arm’s length for the balance of the game
and a 52-46 victory.Coach Sean Dreiling<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%253A2279056886&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-814667509/3-6-26-hhs-mbkb-coach" title="3-6-26 HHS MBKB Coach Interview v. Topeka Seaman" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3-6-26 HHS MBKB Coach Interview v. Topeka Seaman</a></div></div>Oakley scored a career high 19 in his final game. He took
two charges and leaves with the second most charges in a career at 31. Ruder
scored 11 points and passed Brady Werth for most points in a career at 1,147.

🏀 Hays boys' bid for state berth falls short

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alanna-durkin-richer">ALANNA DURKIN RICHER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday released additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-justice-department-trump-ed743598c320b94bd9d91631618678d9">Jeffrey Epstein files</a>&nbsp;involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump that the department said had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/doj-disclosures">Click here to view the files</a>

The department said last week that it was working to determine if any records were improperly withheld after several news organizations reported that the massive tranche of records that had been made public didn’t include some files documenting a series of interviews conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump.

The accuser was interviewed by the FBI four times as it sought to assess her account but a summary of only one of those interviews had been included in the publicly released files.

On Thursday, the department said those files had been “incorrectly coded as duplicative,” and therefore were inadvertently not published along with other investigative documents related to the disgraced financier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-department-of-justice-investigation-50c229b7953096f0301bfa1e7f0b7703">who killed himself</a>&nbsp;while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.Image from files released by the U.S. Department of Justic

“As we have consistently done, if any member of the public reported concerns with information in the library, the Department would review, make any corrections, and republish online,” the department said in a post on X.

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The department noted in January that some of the documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”

The new disclosures come as Attorney General Pam Bondi faces continued turmoil over the department’s handling of the files released under a law passed by Congress after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-e1fa3b7cb64b6c678073744c7744c4a9">months of public and political pressure</a>. Five Republicans on the House Oversight Committee joined Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bondi-subpoena-epstein-files-house-committee-b16a5ab68c4a37a3a533e5f2412d7a57">voting Wednesday to subpoena Bondi</a>, demanding that she answer questions under oath in a sign of mounting frustration among members of the president’s own party.

The Trump administration has faced constant political headaches since the rollout of the files began in December, with critics accusing the department of hiding certain documents or over-redacting files, or in some cases, not redacting enough. In some cases, the department inadvertently released nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.

Department officials have defended their handling of the files, saying they took pains to release the files as quickly as possible under the law while also protecting victims. Department officials have said errors were inevitable given the volume of the materials, the number of lawyers viewing the files and the speed at which the department had to release them. The department has said it’s entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicates or protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation.

Some of the new records published Thursday pertained to a woman who contacted the FBI shortly after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and claimed that a man named “Jeff” living in Hilton Head, South Carolina, had raped her there in the 1980s when she was around 13 years old. The woman told the agents she didn’t know the man’s identity at the time, but decades later concluded he was Jeffrey Epstein when a friend texted her his photo from a news story.

In a follow-up interview a month later, the woman added a host of other claims, including that Epstein had schemed to have her mother sent to prison, beaten her, arranged sexual encounters with other men and once flew her to either New Jersey or New York, where she claimed to have bitten Donald Trump after he tried to sexually assault her.

Agents spoke with the woman two more times, at one point asking her to provide more detail on her supposed interactions with Trump, but reported that she declined to answer additional questions and broke off contact. There’s no indication that Epstein ever lived in South Carolina and it was unclear whether Trump and Epstein knew each other during the time period involved.

The woman’s report was one of a number of uncorroborated, sometimes fantastical, reports that federal agents received from members of the public alleging misconduct by Trump and other famous people in the months and years after Epstein’s arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765560316012.png" alt="Image from files released by the U.S. Department of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image from files released by the U.S. Department of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alanna-durkin-richer">ALANNA DURKIN RICHER</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday released additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-justice-department-trump-ed743598c320b94bd9d91631618678d9">Jeffrey Epstein files</a>&nbsp;involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump that the department said had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/doj-disclosures">Click here to view the files</a>The department said last week that it was working to determine if any records were improperly withheld after several news organizations reported that the massive tranche of records that had been made public didn’t include some files documenting a series of interviews conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump.The accuser was interviewed by the FBI four times as it sought to assess her account but a summary of only one of those interviews had been included in the publicly released files.On Thursday, the department said those files had been “incorrectly coded as duplicative,” and therefore were inadvertently not published along with other investigative documents related to the disgraced financier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-department-of-justice-investigation-50c229b7953096f0301bfa1e7f0b7703">who killed himself</a>&nbsp;while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.Image from files released by the U.S. Department of Justic<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772831197325.png" alt="Image from files released by the U.S. Department of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image from files released by the U.S. Department of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>“As we have consistently done, if any member of the public reported concerns with information in the library, the Department would review, make any corrections, and republish online,” the department said in a post on X.Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The department noted in January that some of the documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”The new disclosures come as Attorney General Pam Bondi faces continued turmoil over the department’s handling of the files released under a law passed by Congress after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-e1fa3b7cb64b6c678073744c7744c4a9">months of public and political pressure</a>. Five Republicans on the House Oversight Committee joined Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bondi-subpoena-epstein-files-house-committee-b16a5ab68c4a37a3a533e5f2412d7a57">voting Wednesday to subpoena Bondi</a>, demanding that she answer questions under oath in a sign of mounting frustration among members of the president’s own party.The Trump administration has faced constant political headaches since the rollout of the files began in December, with critics accusing the department of hiding certain documents or over-redacting files, or in some cases, not redacting enough. In some cases, the department inadvertently released nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.Department officials have defended their handling of the files, saying they took pains to release the files as quickly as possible under the law while also protecting victims. Department officials have said errors were inevitable given the volume of the materials, the number of lawyers viewing the files and the speed at which the department had to release them. The department has said it’s entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicates or protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation.Some of the new records published Thursday pertained to a woman who contacted the FBI shortly after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and claimed that a man named “Jeff” living in Hilton Head, South Carolina, had raped her there in the 1980s when she was around 13 years old. The woman told the agents she didn’t know the man’s identity at the time, but decades later concluded he was Jeffrey Epstein when a friend texted her his photo from a news story.In a follow-up interview a month later, the woman added a host of other claims, including that Epstein had schemed to have her mother sent to prison, beaten her, arranged sexual encounters with other men and once flew her to either New Jersey or New York, where she claimed to have bitten Donald Trump after he tried to sexually assault her.Agents spoke with the woman two more times, at one point asking her to provide more detail on her supposed interactions with Trump, but reported that she declined to answer additional questions and broke off contact. There’s no indication that Epstein ever lived in South Carolina and it was unclear whether Trump and Epstein knew each other during the time period involved.The woman’s report was one of a number of uncorroborated, sometimes fantastical, reports that federal agents received from members of the public alleging misconduct by Trump and other famous people in the months and years after Epstein’s arrest.

DOJ publishes missing Epstein files involving uncorroborated claim about Trump

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil shot to its highest price since 2023 after surging again Friday because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-6-2026-6108249f19c4bc162eacd7847976c174">the Iran war</a>, and a weak update on the U.S. job market knocked stocks lower to cap Wall Street’s worst week since October.

The S&amp;P 500 dropped 1.3% after a report showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">U.S. employers cut more jobs</a>&nbsp;last month than they created and after oil prices spiked above $90 per barrel. The combination of a weak economy and high inflation is a worst-case scenario for investors because the Federal Reserve has no good tool to fix both problems at the same time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged as many as 945 points before finishing with a loss of 453, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%.

“You can’t sugarcoat this report,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management. “A negative payrolls number combined with a big jump in oil prices will have traders worrying about stagflation risks.”

Stagflation is what economists call the miserable mix of a stagnating economy with high inflation, and a separate report released Friday added to the sourness after showing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-spending-economy-75bf2d9c96a7650274bdb47fe97f9ac7">U.S. retailers made less money</a>&nbsp;in January than economists expected. It raised the disconcerting possibility that spending by U.S. households, the main engine of the economy, may be stretched near its maximum.

Usually when the economy is unsteady and the job market is weakening, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to give things a boost. Lower rates can make it easier for households to get mortgages and for companies to raise money to expand, while also lifting prices for stocks and other investments. The Fed cut its main interest rate several times last year and had indicated more were to come this year.

But lower interest rates can also make inflation worse. And the Fed’s hands may be increasingly tied because spiking oil prices are pushing inflation higher due to disruptions for the energy industry.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, leaped another 8.5% to settle at $92.69. It briefly rose above $94 to touch its highest level since September 2023.

A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude breached the $90 level for the first time since 2023 and jumped 12.2% to $90.90.

Oil prices have surged, with Brent up from near $70 late last week, as the war has expanded and included areas critical to the production and movement of oil and gas in the Middle East. Much will depend on what happens with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;off Iran’s coast, where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails.

The U.S. government gave details Friday about a plan President Donald Trump announced earlier to offer insurance to ships crossing the strait, but it had little effect on the market.

If oil prices spike further, like to $100 per barrel, and stay there, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a history of bouncing back relatively quickly following conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t jump too high for too long. Uncertainty about just how high oil prices will go this time around and for how long caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">frenetic</a>&nbsp;swings across&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">financial markets</a>&nbsp;this past week, sometimes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour by hour</a>.

On Monday, the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to an immediate 1.2% loss at the start of trading but made it all back and ended the day with a tiny gain.

Trump’s most recent signal on the war was that he wants an “unconditional surrender” of Iran, apparently ruling out negotiations.

In the bond market, Treasury yields wavered, with higher oil prices pushing upward on them and the discouraging updates on the U.S. economy pulling downward.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury initially rose toward 4.19% before pulling back to 4.14%. That’s up from 4.13% late Thursday and just 3.97% a week earlier.

Smaller companies often feel the bite of high borrowing costs more because many need to borrow to grow. Smaller companies can also be more dependent on the strength of the U.S. economy for their profits than big multinational rivals, and the smallest stocks on Wall Street took Friday’s sharpest dives.

The Russell 2000 index of small stocks fell a market-leading 2.3%.

Among the big companies in the S&amp;P 500, companies with high fuel bills helped lead the way lower. Old Dominion Freight Line sank 7.9%, cruise line Carnival fell 5% and Southwest Airlines lost 5.3%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 90.69 points to 6,740.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 453.19 to 47,501.55, and the Nasdaq composite sank 361.31 to 22,387.68.

In stock markets abroad, indexes slumped in Europe following a better finish in Asia. London's FTSE 100 fell 1.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.7%.

South Korea’s Kospi was nearly unchanged after plunging 12.1% Wednesday for its worst loss in history and then rebounding 9.6% Thursday.

AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771858682801.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Oil shot to its highest price since 2023 after surging again Friday because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-6-2026-6108249f19c4bc162eacd7847976c174">the Iran war</a>, and a weak update on the U.S. job market knocked stocks lower to cap Wall Street’s worst week since October.The S&amp;P 500 dropped 1.3% after a report showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">U.S. employers cut more jobs</a>&nbsp;last month than they created and after oil prices spiked above $90 per barrel. The combination of a weak economy and high inflation is a worst-case scenario for investors because the Federal Reserve has no good tool to fix both problems at the same time.The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged as many as 945 points before finishing with a loss of 453, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%.“You can’t sugarcoat this report,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management. “A negative payrolls number combined with a big jump in oil prices will have traders worrying about stagflation risks.”Stagflation is what economists call the miserable mix of a stagnating economy with high inflation, and a separate report released Friday added to the sourness after showing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-spending-economy-75bf2d9c96a7650274bdb47fe97f9ac7">U.S. retailers made less money</a>&nbsp;in January than economists expected. It raised the disconcerting possibility that spending by U.S. households, the main engine of the economy, may be stretched near its maximum.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="File(AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>File(AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure>Usually when the economy is unsteady and the job market is weakening, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to give things a boost. Lower rates can make it easier for households to get mortgages and for companies to raise money to expand, while also lifting prices for stocks and other investments. The Fed cut its main interest rate several times last year and had indicated more were to come this year.But lower interest rates can also make inflation worse. And the Fed’s hands may be increasingly tied because spiking oil prices are pushing inflation higher due to disruptions for the energy industry.The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, leaped another 8.5% to settle at $92.69. It briefly rose above $94 to touch its highest level since September 2023.A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude breached the $90 level for the first time since 2023 and jumped 12.2% to $90.90.Oil prices have surged, with Brent up from near $70 late last week, as the war has expanded and included areas critical to the production and movement of oil and gas in the Middle East. Much will depend on what happens with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;off Iran’s coast, where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails.The U.S. government gave details Friday about a plan President Donald Trump announced earlier to offer insurance to ships crossing the strait, but it had little effect on the market.If oil prices spike further, like to $100 per barrel, and stay there, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a history of bouncing back relatively quickly following conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t jump too high for too long. Uncertainty about just how high oil prices will go this time around and for how long caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">frenetic</a>&nbsp;swings across&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">financial markets</a>&nbsp;this past week, sometimes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour by hour</a>.On Monday, the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to an immediate 1.2% loss at the start of trading but made it all back and ended the day with a tiny gain.Trump’s most recent signal on the war was that he wants an “unconditional surrender” of Iran, apparently ruling out negotiations.In the bond market, Treasury yields wavered, with higher oil prices pushing upward on them and the discouraging updates on the U.S. economy pulling downward.The yield on the 10-year Treasury initially rose toward 4.19% before pulling back to 4.14%. That’s up from 4.13% late Thursday and just 3.97% a week earlier.Smaller companies often feel the bite of high borrowing costs more because many need to borrow to grow. Smaller companies can also be more dependent on the strength of the U.S. economy for their profits than big multinational rivals, and the smallest stocks on Wall Street took Friday’s sharpest dives.The Russell 2000 index of small stocks fell a market-leading 2.3%.Among the big companies in the S&amp;P 500, companies with high fuel bills helped lead the way lower. Old Dominion Freight Line sank 7.9%, cruise line Carnival fell 5% and Southwest Airlines lost 5.3%.All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 90.69 points to 6,740.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 453.19 to 47,501.55, and the Nasdaq composite sank 361.31 to 22,387.68.In stock markets abroad, indexes slumped in Europe following a better finish in Asia. London's FTSE 100 fell 1.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.7%.South Korea’s Kospi was nearly unchanged after plunging 12.1% Wednesday for its worst loss in history and then rebounding 9.6% Thursday.___AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed.

Oil surges to its highest price in almost three years

The Russell 407 $13.5 million bond failed during a special election on Tuesday.

According to unofficial election results, 1,000&nbsp; people (65%) voted against the bond issues, and 540 (35%) voted for it.&nbsp;Voter turnout was 40.36%

The bond funds would have been used to renovate Simpson and Bickerdyke elementary schools and Russell  Junior/Senior High School.

The bond called for $1.7 million to be used at Simpson Elementary for a new music room that will double as a storm shelter, structural repairs to flooring and improvements to make the school compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The bond would have paid for $7.7 million in improvements at Bickerdyke Elementary, including new commons that would double as a storm shelter, upgrading cooling, pumping, and electrical systems, accessibility improvements, and a remodel to provide a hallway to the new addition.

Bickerdyke does not have central air conditioning. The building is cooled with window units.

Neither of the elementary schools has storm shelters. The children have to shelter in the hallways.

At the high school, the bond funds would have been used for plumbing repairs, a controlled entrance remodel, air conditioning in the main gym and accessibility improvements.

The bond would have been repaid over 20 years, resulting in a 12-mill increase in the property tax levy. On a $100,000 home, that would have been about $138 per year or $11.50 per month. The median home price in Russell is $106,000.

Russell USD 407 Superintendent Jordan Perez said Friday at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, the board will review the results of the recent bond election.

"I anticipate there will be discussion about potential next steps moving forward. The board has recently developed a facilities priority list, and this document will need to be updated to reflect the needs that were outlined in the bond proposal," Perez said via email.

"One of the top priorities moving forward will be addressing the plumbing issues at Bickerdyke Elementary and Russell Junior-Senior High School. These needs remain and will require attention," he said.

"At this time, I do not know the Board of Education’s intent regarding any future bond proposals. Monday’s discussion should provide additional clarity regarding the direction and next steps for the district," Perez said.

Opponents of the bond said the community could not afford a property tax hike at this time. They urged the school district to make the repairs using existing funds and to seek grants or donations.

This is the fourth failed bond attempt for Russell USD 407 since 2019. It also had failed bond attempts in April and November 2019 and in November 2025.

The bond voted on Tuesday was the same package proposed in 2025.

Some voters were critical of bringing back the same bond issue to voters, saying the $10,000 cost of the special election was a waste of tax dollars.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754409171465.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Russell 407 $13.5 million bond failed during a special election on Tuesday.According to unofficial election results, 1,000&nbsp; people (65%) voted against the bond issues, and 540 (35%) voted for it.&nbsp;Voter turnout was 40.36%The bond funds would have been used to renovate Simpson and Bickerdyke elementary schools and Russell Junior/Senior High School.The bond called for $1.7 million to be used at Simpson Elementary for a new music room that will double as a storm shelter, structural repairs to flooring and improvements to make the school compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.The bond would have paid for $7.7 million in improvements at Bickerdyke Elementary, including new commons that would double as a storm shelter, upgrading cooling, pumping, and electrical systems, accessibility improvements, and a remodel to provide a hallway to the new addition.Bickerdyke does not have central air conditioning. The building is cooled with window units.Neither of the elementary schools has storm shelters. The children have to shelter in the hallways.At the high school, the bond funds would have been used for plumbing repairs, a controlled entrance remodel, air conditioning in the main gym and accessibility improvements.The bond would have been repaid over 20 years, resulting in a 12-mill increase in the property tax levy. On a $100,000 home, that would have been about $138 per year or $11.50 per month. The median home price in Russell is $106,000.Russell USD 407 Superintendent Jordan Perez said Friday at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, the board will review the results of the recent bond election."I anticipate there will be discussion about potential next steps moving forward. The board has recently developed a facilities priority list, and this document will need to be updated to reflect the needs that were outlined in the bond proposal," Perez said via email."One of the top priorities moving forward will be addressing the plumbing issues at Bickerdyke Elementary and Russell Junior-Senior High School. These needs remain and will require attention," he said."At this time, I do not know the Board of Education’s intent regarding any future bond proposals. Monday’s discussion should provide additional clarity regarding the direction and next steps for the district," Perez said.Opponents of the bond said the community could not afford a property tax hike at this time. They urged the school district to make the repairs using existing funds and to seek grants or donations.This is the fourth failed bond attempt for Russell USD 407 since 2019. It also had failed bond attempts in April and November 2019 and in November 2025.The bond voted on Tuesday was the same package proposed in 2025.Some voters were critical of bringing back the same bond issue to voters, saying the $10,000 cost of the special election was a waste of tax dollars.

UPDATE: Russell USD 407 school bond fails; board to review facility plans Monday

Washington (AP) — The State Department says more U.S. government chartered flights are bringing stranded Americans home from the Middle East daily, including one plane emblazoned with the New England Patriots’ logo.

The assistant secretary of state for public affairs posted a photo of Americans boarding the Patriots plane, at least the second such flight that landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Friday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a friend and supporter of Trump, but his football franchise did not arrange or pay for the flight, the social media post said.

“One of the companies the State Department contracted for charter flights also manages the New England Patriots team plane. This flight was entirely paid for by the State Department. The New England Patriots organization was not involved in this flight,” it said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772808451731.png" alt="Photo U.S. Dept. of State" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Dept. of State</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington (AP) — The State Department says more U.S. government chartered flights are bringing stranded Americans home from the Middle East daily, including one plane emblazoned with the New England Patriots’ logo.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans worldwide. Here is a summary of our Middle East security updates as of March 5, 9pm EST. Americans trying to get home from Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab… <a href="https://t.co/zTE5xQexXJ">pic.twitter.com/zTE5xQexXJ</a>&mdash; TravelGov (@TravelGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/2029739686453985648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The assistant secretary of state for public affairs posted a photo of Americans boarding the Patriots plane, at least the second such flight that landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Friday.Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a friend and supporter of Trump, but his football franchise did not arrange or pay for the flight, the social media post said.“One of the companies the State Department contracted for charter flights also manages the New England Patriots team plane. This flight was entirely paid for by the State Department. The New England Patriots organization was not involved in this flight,” it said.

Plane used by NFL team bringing Americans from Mideast

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">Iranian warship that was sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;had participated in naval exercises hosted by India before heading out into international waters in the Indian Ocean on its way home, New Delhi said.

The sinking underscored the scope of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-05-2026-6a76668997a43855cc37eff7f4829615">U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and its spread</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East and beyond. It also ignited a debate in India about maritime security in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/indian-ocean">Indian Ocean</a>&nbsp;— a region where New Delhi maintains a significant naval presence.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena, which sank in international waters off the coast of the island nation — a rare instance of a submarine torpedoing a ship since World War II.

Sri Lanka’s navy said it had responded to a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, but by the time it reached the location, there was no sign of the ship, just patches of oil and sailors floating in the water. The rescued mariners were taken to a hospital in the town of Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hegseth-caine-drones-israel-fa3999b365ad4c15c54c7c62940e34d3">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;said the sinking illustrates the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-march-05-2026">U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran</a>&nbsp;is stretching beyond its borders and described the IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.” U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran’s navy.

A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” in sinking the frigate and said on social media on Thursday that the United States “will come to bitterly regret” the attack.

Araghchi said the IRIS Dena had been carrying “almost 130” crew.

India’s navy and defense ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, organized by the Indian navy in the port of Visakhapatnam from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.

The Iranian warship was seen sailing at sea during the exercises in a Feb. 17 post on X by the Indian navy. Another image showed several of its crew members posing on deck with the Iranian flag in the background.

Araghchi stressed that the frigate had been “a guest” of India’s navy. The Indian government has not yet publicly commented on the incident.

Another Iranian ship enters a Sri Lankan maritime area

Sri Lanka’s media minister and government spokesperson, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament on Thursday that another Iranian ship has entered Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, an area beyond its immediate territorial waters where it has rights over natural resources.

Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board. He said the government was trying to “minimize the loss of lives and safeguard regional peace” but did not elaborate.

India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as central to its security, with its navy regularly conducting patrols and multinational exercises to safeguard key sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments. It has also traditionally sought to maintain a careful diplomatic balance in tensions between the U.S. and Iran while emphasizing on diplomacy and talks.

Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.

The opposition Indian National Congress party slammed what it called “silence” from Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/narendra-modi">Narendra Modi</a>&nbsp;‘s government.

“The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing,” opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Kanwal Sibal, a former diplomat who served as India’s foreign secretary from 2002 to 2003, wrote on X that India was “far from politically or militarily responsible for the U.S. attack,” but its “responsibility is at a moral and human plane.”

“The U.S. has ignored India’s sensitivities,” Sibal said. “The ship was in these waters because of India’s invitation.”

Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Associated Press journalist Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772638608880.png" alt="Periscope image of the torpedo attack- U.S. Dept. of War video" />
 <figcaption>Periscope image of the torpedo attack- U.S. Dept. of War video</figcaption>
 </figure>GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">Iranian warship that was sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;had participated in naval exercises hosted by India before heading out into international waters in the Indian Ocean on its way home, New Delhi said.The sinking underscored the scope of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-05-2026-6a76668997a43855cc37eff7f4829615">U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and its spread</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East and beyond. It also ignited a debate in India about maritime security in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/indian-ocean">Indian Ocean</a>&nbsp;— a region where New Delhi maintains a significant naval presence.On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena, which sank in international waters off the coast of the island nation — a rare instance of a submarine torpedoing a ship since World War II.Sri Lanka’s navy said it had responded to a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, but by the time it reached the location, there was no sign of the ship, just patches of oil and sailors floating in the water. The rescued mariners were taken to a hospital in the town of Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hegseth-caine-drones-israel-fa3999b365ad4c15c54c7c62940e34d3">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;said the sinking illustrates the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-march-05-2026">U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran</a>&nbsp;is stretching beyond its borders and described the IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.” U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran’s navy.A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” in sinking the frigate and said on social media on Thursday that the United States “will come to bitterly regret” the attack.Araghchi said the IRIS Dena had been carrying “almost 130” crew.India’s navy and defense ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, organized by the Indian navy in the port of Visakhapatnam from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.The Iranian warship was seen sailing at sea during the exercises in a Feb. 17 post on X by the Indian navy. Another image showed several of its crew members posing on deck with the Iranian flag in the background.Araghchi stressed that the frigate had been “a guest” of India’s navy. The Indian government has not yet publicly commented on the incident.<h2>Another Iranian ship enters a Sri Lankan maritime area</h2>Sri Lanka’s media minister and government spokesperson, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament on Thursday that another Iranian ship has entered Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, an area beyond its immediate territorial waters where it has rights over natural resources.Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board. He said the government was trying to “minimize the loss of lives and safeguard regional peace” but did not elaborate.<h2>Questions in India over the sinking</h2>India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as central to its security, with its navy regularly conducting patrols and multinational exercises to safeguard key sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments. It has also traditionally sought to maintain a careful diplomatic balance in tensions between the U.S. and Iran while emphasizing on diplomacy and talks.Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.The opposition Indian National Congress party slammed what it called “silence” from Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/narendra-modi">Narendra Modi</a>&nbsp;‘s government.“The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing,” opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.Kanwal Sibal, a former diplomat who served as India’s foreign secretary from 2002 to 2003, wrote on X that India was “far from politically or militarily responsible for the U.S. attack,” but its “responsibility is at a moral and human plane.”“The U.S. has ignored India’s sensitivities,” Sibal said. “The ship was in these waters because of India’s invitation.”___Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Associated Press journalist Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, contributed to this report.___

New details on Iranian warship sunk by the US 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon wounded by police following a domestic violence call to a home in Wichita is going to prison.

A judge sentenced 31-year-old Daniel James Gabor to 100 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Gabor will also serve 36 months of post-release supervision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750427350550.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation in June-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation in June-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon wounded by police following a domestic violence call to a home in Wichita is going to prison.A judge sentenced 31-year-old Daniel James Gabor to 100 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Gabor will also serve 36 months of post-release supervision.In June, Gabor&nbsp;pleaded no contest to aggravated robbery, aggravated domestic battery and violating a protection order, according to the district attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772732054778.png" alt="Gabor-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gabor-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 4:30 a.m., June 20, the Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call with a woman screaming in the background. The open-line call was traced to a moving location, and Wichita police officers were dispatched to what sounded like an active disturbance without a specific location.By 4:30 a.m., the phone’s signal stopped in the 4600 block of West 37th Street South, where officers responded.Officers found a vehicle stopped along the side of the street and saw a man later identified as 31-year-old Daniel James Gabor assaulting a woman in the front seat. During the encounter, an officer fired two rounds, striking&nbsp; Gabor in the upper arm. Gabor then drove off with the woman still inside the vehicle.He later crashed in a construction area near K-42 highway and West Street. Officers responded, provided medical aid, and Sedgwick County EMS transported Gaabor to a Wichita hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers also assisted the woman, who sustained minor injuries but declined transport to a medical facility by EMS.Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division investigated both the officer-involved shooting and the original disturbance. Investigators are treating the two incidents as separate but related cases.Detectives confirmed that Gabor and the woman were in a domestic relationship. Gabor has a 2024 conviction for two counts of domestic battery and one count of criminal restraint through Harvey County District Court.Following his release from the hospital, detectives booked Gabor into the Sedgwick County Jail where he is being held on a $300,000 in bonds, according to online jail records.