U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.

In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.

From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades.

They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: <a href="https://t.co/LimJmpLkgZ">pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027654336138924410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here’s Trump’s address in full:A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades.They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

Read President Trump’s statement on Iran in full

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;urged the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

Some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026">the first strikes</a>&nbsp;on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. Smoke rose from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive “as far as I know,” and called the attack “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.”

In a video announcing the “major combat operations," Trump told Iranians that “when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that goal, called for “the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."

The strikes during the holy fasting month of Ramadan opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, and marked the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic during talks over its nuclear program. Weeks earlier, a U.S. military operation captured Venezuela’s president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">Nicolás Maduro</a>.

The targets included members of Iran's leadership, according to a U.S. official and another person briefed on the attacks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. There was no immediate information on whether top officials were killed.

Even if Iran's top leaders are killed, regime change is not guaranteed. Neither the U.S. nor Israel have articulated a vision for what new leadership might look like.

Democrats decried that Trump had taken action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance of the attack.

The U.N. Security Council said it would meet Saturday afternoon. In a letter to the council, Araghchi said “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives.”

Iran also requested an urgent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors about “these threats to safeguarded nuclear facilities,” according to a letter posted by the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog said on X it was closely monitoring developments and had seen “no evidence of radiological impact.”

Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region. Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program at a moment when the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-economy-prices-aa1c14906b39f79b88cdf47616a4a755">struggling at home</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-protests-students-nuclear-khamenei-096e7ede9bc9c1e7b889878af9d6e750">growing dissent</a>&nbsp;following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-memorials-chehelom-71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb">nationwide protests</a>.

The immediate trigger for Saturday’s strikes appeared to be the unsuccessful latest round of nuclear talks. But they also reflected dramatic changes that have left Iran’s leadership in its weakest position since the Islamic Revolution nearly half a century ago.

Israeli and American strikes last June greatly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. A regionwide war, sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has left Iran’s network of proxies across the Middle East greatly weakened. U.S. sanctions and global isolation, meanwhile, have decimated Iran’s economy.

Iran responded to the latest strikes by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and strikes targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Israel’s military said Iran fired “dozens” of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted and no serious injuries reported. Barrages continued after sundown.

In southern Iran, at least 57 people were reported killed after a girls’ school was struck, and dozens more were wounded, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The White House and Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flights across the Middle East were disrupted and air defense fire thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' commercial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the UAE capital killed one person, state media said.

Attack was coordinated between Israel and US

The U.S. military has for weeks amassed forces in the region, even as U.S. and Iranian envoys held talks in Switzerland and Oman.

“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,” Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, key mediator, said on X. “Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this," he said.

Israel said the operation has been planned for months with the U.S. “Air Force pilots are striking hundreds of targets across Iran, at significant personal risk and in coordination with U.S. strikes,” Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Trump, in seeking to justify the military action, claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, despite asserting last year the program had been “obliterated” by an earlier round of strikes. He acknowledged Saturday that there could be American casualties, saying “that often happens in war.”

It was a notable call from a U.S. leader who swept into office on an “America First” platform and vowed to keep out of “forever wars.”

Trump’s statement listed grievances beyond the nuclear program, stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic, following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from an American ally into a fierce foe.

The U.S. president said he was aiming to “annihilate” the Iranian navy and destroy regional proxies supported by Tehran. He called on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms, pledging members would be given immunity, while warning they would face “certain death” if they didn’t.

Trump had threatened military action, but held off, following Iran's recent crackdown on protests spurred by economic grievances that evolved into a nationwide, anti-government push against the ruling clerics.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency says it confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-campus-protests-crackdown-54149e9d49fe022d840f71eb5f5be106">more than 7,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;in the crackdown and is investigating thousands more. The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 killed.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">Iran has said it hasn’t enriched uranium since June</a>, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-nuclear-enrichment-satellite-d5c78b5fe974ec2fc338b8ad6d6a7d68">shown new activity at two of those sites</a>, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.

Iran said it hoped to avert a war, but maintained its right to enrich uranium. Its leaders did not want to discuss other issues, such as its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

The strikes could rattle global markets, particularly if Iran is able to make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic. A third of total worldwide oil exports transported by sea passed through the strait in 2025.

Saudi Arabia said in an announcement on state-run media that Iran had targeted its capital and its eastern region in an attack that was repelled.

Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said a drone targeted the main international airport, injuring several employees. Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Explosions could also be heard in Qatar. Jordan said it “dealt with” 49 drones and ballistic missiles.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.

U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel said staffers were told to shelter in place and recommended all Americans “do the same until further notice.”

Toropin and Madhani reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Samy Magdy in Cairo, and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772280778680.png" alt="People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)" />
 <figcaption>People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;urged the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: <a href="https://t.co/LimJmpLkgZ">pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027654336138924410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar a Lago alongside members of his national security team. The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone. Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional…&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2027777973319766251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026">the first strikes</a>&nbsp;on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. Smoke rose from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive “as far as I know,” and called the attack “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.”In a video announcing the “major combat operations," Trump told Iranians that “when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that goal, called for “the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."The strikes during the holy fasting month of Ramadan opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, and marked the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic during talks over its nuclear program. Weeks earlier, a U.S. military operation captured Venezuela’s president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">Nicolás Maduro</a>.The targets included members of Iran's leadership, according to a U.S. official and another person briefed on the attacks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. There was no immediate information on whether top officials were killed.Even if Iran's top leaders are killed, regime change is not guaranteed. Neither the U.S. nor Israel have articulated a vision for what new leadership might look like.Democrats decried that Trump had taken action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance of the attack.The U.N. Security Council said it would meet Saturday afternoon. In a letter to the council, Araghchi said “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives.”Iran also requested an urgent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors about “these threats to safeguarded nuclear facilities,” according to a letter posted by the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog said on X it was closely monitoring developments and had seen “no evidence of radiological impact.”<h2>Rising tensions</h2>Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region. Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program at a moment when the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-economy-prices-aa1c14906b39f79b88cdf47616a4a755">struggling at home</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-protests-students-nuclear-khamenei-096e7ede9bc9c1e7b889878af9d6e750">growing dissent</a>&nbsp;following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-memorials-chehelom-71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb">nationwide protests</a>.The immediate trigger for Saturday’s strikes appeared to be the unsuccessful latest round of nuclear talks. But they also reflected dramatic changes that have left Iran’s leadership in its weakest position since the Islamic Revolution nearly half a century ago.Israeli and American strikes last June greatly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. A regionwide war, sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has left Iran’s network of proxies across the Middle East greatly weakened. U.S. sanctions and global isolation, meanwhile, have decimated Iran’s economy.Iran responded to the latest strikes by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and strikes targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.Israel’s military said Iran fired “dozens” of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted and no serious injuries reported. Barrages continued after sundown.In southern Iran, at least 57 people were reported killed after a girls’ school was struck, and dozens more were wounded, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The White House and Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Flights across the Middle East were disrupted and air defense fire thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' commercial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the UAE capital killed one person, state media said.<h2>Attack was coordinated between Israel and US</h2>The U.S. military has for weeks amassed forces in the region, even as U.S. and Iranian envoys held talks in Switzerland and Oman.“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,” Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, key mediator, said on X. “Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this," he said.Israel said the operation has been planned for months with the U.S. “Air Force pilots are striking hundreds of targets across Iran, at significant personal risk and in coordination with U.S. strikes,” Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.Trump, in seeking to justify the military action, claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, despite asserting last year the program had been “obliterated” by an earlier round of strikes. He acknowledged Saturday that there could be American casualties, saying “that often happens in war.”It was a notable call from a U.S. leader who swept into office on an “America First” platform and vowed to keep out of “forever wars.”Trump’s statement listed grievances beyond the nuclear program, stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic, following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from an American ally into a fierce foe.The U.S. president said he was aiming to “annihilate” the Iranian navy and destroy regional proxies supported by Tehran. He called on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms, pledging members would be given immunity, while warning they would face “certain death” if they didn’t.Trump had threatened military action, but held off, following Iran's recent crackdown on protests spurred by economic grievances that evolved into a nationwide, anti-government push against the ruling clerics.The Human Rights Activists News Agency says it confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-campus-protests-crackdown-54149e9d49fe022d840f71eb5f5be106">more than 7,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;in the crackdown and is investigating thousands more. The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 killed.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">Iran has said it hasn’t enriched uranium since June</a>, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-nuclear-enrichment-satellite-d5c78b5fe974ec2fc338b8ad6d6a7d68">shown new activity at two of those sites</a>, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.Iran said it hoped to avert a war, but maintained its right to enrich uranium. Its leaders did not want to discuss other issues, such as its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.<h2>Regional effects</h2>The strikes could rattle global markets, particularly if Iran is able to make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic. A third of total worldwide oil exports transported by sea passed through the strait in 2025.Saudi Arabia said in an announcement on state-run media that Iran had targeted its capital and its eastern region in an attack that was repelled.Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said a drone targeted the main international airport, injuring several employees. Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Explosions could also be heard in Qatar. Jordan said it “dealt with” 49 drones and ballistic missiles.The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel said staffers were told to shelter in place and recommended all Americans “do the same until further notice.”___Toropin and Madhani reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Samy Magdy in Cairo, and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.

US and Israel launch major attack on Iran; Tehran hits American bases

KANSAS CITY —Four people including a police officer were injured in a drive-by shooting into a church during a funeral in Kansas City on Friday.

Just after 11a.m. officers were working in an off-duty capacity at New Beginning Apostolic Church  in the 200 block of North Bales, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.&nbsp; Officers were inside the church when shots were fired from the outside.&nbsp; Those gun shots came inside of the church.

As a result of the shots being fired an officer was injured. Late Friday it was unknown if the wound is a result of shattered glass, or a bullet graze.&nbsp; The officer was treated and released at the scene.

During the incident members of the congregation were gathered for a funeral.&nbsp; Two additional victims were struck by gunfire.&nbsp; An adult female and an adult male victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and responded to local hospitals for treatment.&nbsp; A third adult male victim was injured by unknown means with what are also considered non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

This is being investigated as an aggravated assault, according to DiMartino. Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772248493421.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Four people including a police officer were injured in a drive-by shooting into a church during a funeral in Kansas City on Friday.Just after 11a.m. officers were working in an off-duty capacity at New Beginning Apostolic Church in the 200 block of North Bales, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.&nbsp; Officers were inside the church when shots were fired from the outside.&nbsp; Those gun shots came inside of the church.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772248466870.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>As a result of the shots being fired an officer was injured. Late Friday it was unknown if the wound is a result of shattered glass, or a bullet graze.&nbsp; The officer was treated and released at the scene.During the incident members of the congregation were gathered for a funeral.&nbsp; Two additional victims were struck by gunfire.&nbsp; An adult female and an adult male victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and responded to local hospitals for treatment.&nbsp; A third adult male victim was injured by unknown means with what are also considered non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;This is being investigated as an aggravated assault, according to DiMartino. Police have not reported an arrest.

KCPD: 4 injured including police officer after shooting at funeral

COWLEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Friday in Cowley County.

The Cowley County Sheriff reported a 2008 Volvo XC70 driven by Candice Bergeson, 43, Winfield was involved in a rollover accident in the 2000 block of US 160 Highway.&nbsp;The driver was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.

Witnesses who observed the accident immediately stopped and rendered aid until emergency personnel arrived.&nbsp;

EMS transported Candice Bergeson to William Newton Memorial Hospital for treatment and she was pronounced deceased.

COWLEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Friday in Cowley County.The Cowley County Sheriff reported a 2008 Volvo XC70 driven by Candice Bergeson, 43, Winfield was involved in a rollover accident in the 2000 block of US 160 Highway.&nbsp;The driver was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.Witnesses who observed the accident immediately stopped and rendered aid until emergency personnel arrived.&nbsp;EMS transported Candice Bergeson to William Newton Memorial Hospital for treatment and she was pronounced deceased.

Kansas woman dies after ejected in rollover accident

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;told members of Congress on Friday that he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of Epstein's sexual abuse as he faced hours of grilling from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago.

“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” the former Democratic president said in an opening statement he shared on social media. The closed-door deposition ended after more than six hours of questioning from lawmakers who said he answered every question posed to him.

The deposition in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York, marked the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. It came a day after Clinton's wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-hillary-bill-clinton-deposition-house-investigation-299d82e8549f4d994dcb081c3876585c">sat with lawmakers</a>&nbsp;for her own deposition.

Bill Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing, and Republican members of the House Oversight Committee did not immediately level any accusations against the Clintons as they departed Chappaqua. They planned to review the depositions but said their attention was mostly shifting to other individuals.

Lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from their high-powered posts for maintaining their connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.

“We have questions about anyone who spent time with Epstein post-conviction,” said Republican Rep. James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee. “Once you knew Jeffrey Epstein was a sex offender, why did you continue a relationship?”

Bill Clinton, in his opening statement, said that he had long stopped associating with Epstein by the time of his 2008 guilty plea. He also said it would be difficult to recall the specifics of events from more than 20 years ago, but expressed certainty that he had not witnessed signs of Epstein’s abuse.

Republican Rep. John McGuire accused Bill Clinton of having “selective memory” during the questioning, but other GOP members departed acknowledging that he had handled the deposition with skill and candor. Comer called Bill Clinton “charming” during the questioning.

“Clinton was quite candid, perhaps more candid than his attorneys were comfortable,” said Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy.

Republicans finally get a chance to question Bill Clinton

Republicans have wanted to question Bill Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">Epstein's 2019 suicide</a>&nbsp;in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges.

Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-justice-department-jeffrey-epstein-4a55e83b62b5a037c431e36cfa87f0dc">several photos of the former president</a>&nbsp;surfaced in the Department of Justice's first release of case files on Epstein and Maxwell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-ghislaine-maxwell-fa2c504a6dfe30ce1686b857a4123b7b">a British socialite</a>&nbsp;who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-convicted-jeffrey-epstein-trial-verdict-63a71a2825eab41184a79e37bb967e90">convicted of sex trafficking</a>&nbsp;in December 2021 but maintains she's innocent. Bill Clinton was photographed on a plane seated alongside a woman, whose face is redacted, with his arm around her. Another photo showed Clinton and Maxwell in a pool with another person whose face was redacted.

Epstein also visited the White House several times during Clinton's presidency, and the pair later made several international trips together for their humanitarian work. Comer claimed the committee has collected evidence that Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's airplane 27 times.

Democratic lawmakers said they also posed tough questions to Bill Clinton about his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.

“We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,” Bill Clinton said in his opening statement. “And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.”

Bill Clinton also went after Comer for calling his wife before the committee, telling him that “including her was simply not right.”

Comer said the committee was working to quickly publish a transcript and video recording of both days of depositions.

Democrats, who have supported the push to get answers from Bill Clinton, are arguing that it sets a precedent that should also apply to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein.

“I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, on Friday.

Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. Republicans also said they have not come across any evidence that Trump did anything wrong in his relationship with Epstein.

Trump on Friday expressed remorse at Bill Clinton being forced to testify. “I like Bill Clinton, and I don’t like seeing him deposed,” he told reporters as he departed the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-texas-cornyn-paxton-hunt-gop-primary-cd31dbec10c54ce230ae915e51cbccf0">en route to Corpus Christi, Texas</a>.

Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Trump's Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-howard-lutnick-2ead9f281ba2491e0581aced50a0533d">Howard Lutnick</a>. Lutnick was a longtime neighbor of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epstein’s home that disturbed Lutnick and his wife.

The public release of case files showed that Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epstein's home, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island.

“He should be removed from office and, at a minimum, should come before the committee,” Garcia said of Lutnick.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnick's relationship to Epstein during the deposition on Thursday. On Friday morning, Mace joined in calling for the commerce secretary to come before the committee.

“I believe we will have the votes to subpoena him,” Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766198004020.png" alt="Bill Clinton photo in the Epstein files release from the US Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Bill Clinton photo in the Epstein files release from the US Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;told members of Congress on Friday that he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of Epstein's sexual abuse as he faced hours of grilling from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on today’s deposition. <a href="https://t.co/1Yu6lBa5pS">pic.twitter.com/1Yu6lBa5pS</a>&mdash; Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillClinton/status/2027582699251048660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doing—I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals. <a href="https://t.co/0rX8cat5Pu">pic.twitter.com/0rX8cat5Pu</a>&mdash; Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillClinton/status/2027424128559452573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” the former Democratic president said in an opening statement he shared on social media. The closed-door deposition ended after more than six hours of questioning from lawmakers who said he answered every question posed to him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a> and other <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> members speak to media after conclusion of deposition of former President Bill Clinton. <a href="https://t.co/lPrRGpMjQA">pic.twitter.com/lPrRGpMjQA</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2027541900102701301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepRoKhanna</a>: &quot;President Clinton, in his opening, made the most important statement, &#39;No one is above the law.&#39; He made it clear that it was perfectly appropriate for the committee to call him and ask him tough questions about what happened. He also made it clear that it was… <a href="https://t.co/6vL1Jbr42j">pic.twitter.com/6vL1Jbr42j</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2027465349969387869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The deposition in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York, marked the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. It came a day after Clinton's wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-hillary-bill-clinton-deposition-house-investigation-299d82e8549f4d994dcb081c3876585c">sat with lawmakers</a>&nbsp;for her own deposition.Bill Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing, and Republican members of the House Oversight Committee did not immediately level any accusations against the Clintons as they departed Chappaqua. They planned to review the depositions but said their attention was mostly shifting to other individuals.Lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from their high-powered posts for maintaining their connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.“We have questions about anyone who spent time with Epstein post-conviction,” said Republican Rep. James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee. “Once you knew Jeffrey Epstein was a sex offender, why did you continue a relationship?”Bill Clinton, in his opening statement, said that he had long stopped associating with Epstein by the time of his 2008 guilty plea. He also said it would be difficult to recall the specifics of events from more than 20 years ago, but expressed certainty that he had not witnessed signs of Epstein’s abuse.Republican Rep. John McGuire accused Bill Clinton of having “selective memory” during the questioning, but other GOP members departed acknowledging that he had handled the deposition with skill and candor. Comer called Bill Clinton “charming” during the questioning.“Clinton was quite candid, perhaps more candid than his attorneys were comfortable,” said Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy.<h2>Republicans finally get a chance to question Bill Clinton</h2>Republicans have wanted to question Bill Clinton about Epstein for years, especially as conspiracy theories arose following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">Epstein's 2019 suicide</a>&nbsp;in a New York jail cell while he faced sex trafficking charges.Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-justice-department-jeffrey-epstein-4a55e83b62b5a037c431e36cfa87f0dc">several photos of the former president</a>&nbsp;surfaced in the Department of Justice's first release of case files on Epstein and Maxwell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-ghislaine-maxwell-fa2c504a6dfe30ce1686b857a4123b7b">a British socialite</a>&nbsp;who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-convicted-jeffrey-epstein-trial-verdict-63a71a2825eab41184a79e37bb967e90">convicted of sex trafficking</a>&nbsp;in December 2021 but maintains she's innocent. Bill Clinton was photographed on a plane seated alongside a woman, whose face is redacted, with his arm around her. Another photo showed Clinton and Maxwell in a pool with another person whose face was redacted.Epstein also visited the White House several times during Clinton's presidency, and the pair later made several international trips together for their humanitarian work. Comer claimed the committee has collected evidence that Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's airplane 27 times.Democratic lawmakers said they also posed tough questions to Bill Clinton about his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.“We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,” Bill Clinton said in his opening statement. “And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.”Bill Clinton also went after Comer for calling his wife before the committee, telling him that “including her was simply not right.”Comer said the committee was working to quickly publish a transcript and video recording of both days of depositions.<h2>Has a precedent been set?</h2>Democrats, who have supported the push to get answers from Bill Clinton, are arguing that it sets a precedent that should also apply to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein.“I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, on Friday.Comer has pushed back on that idea, saying that Trump has answered questions on Epstein from the press. Republicans also said they have not come across any evidence that Trump did anything wrong in his relationship with Epstein.Trump on Friday expressed remorse at Bill Clinton being forced to testify. “I like Bill Clinton, and I don’t like seeing him deposed,” he told reporters as he departed the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-texas-cornyn-paxton-hunt-gop-primary-cd31dbec10c54ce230ae915e51cbccf0">en route to Corpus Christi, Texas</a>.Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Trump's Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-howard-lutnick-2ead9f281ba2491e0581aced50a0533d">Howard Lutnick</a>. Lutnick was a longtime neighbor of Epstein in New York City but said on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epstein’s home that disturbed Lutnick and his wife.The public release of case files showed that Lutnick actually had two engagements with Epstein years later. He attended a 2011 event at Epstein's home, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island.“He should be removed from office and, at a minimum, should come before the committee,” Garcia said of Lutnick.Republican Rep. Nancy Mace questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnick's relationship to Epstein during the deposition on Thursday. On Friday morning, Mace joined in calling for the commerce secretary to come before the committee.“I believe we will have the votes to subpoena him,” Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said.___

🎥What former President told members of Congress about Jeffrey Epstein

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it would pay up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests or convictions of two brothers identified as leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel in the state of Baja California, which includes Tijuana.

The reward offer came the same day that authorities announced a new indictment against Rene Arzate Garcia, 42, known as “La Rana” (“The Frog”). He was initially charged with drug crimes in San Diego. The superseding indictment includes charges of conspiracy, narcoterrorism and material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The U. S. is offering $5 million each for information on Rene Arzate Garcia and Alfonso Arzate Garcia, 52, known as “Aquiles” (“Achilles”). Their whereabouts are unknown.

“As controllers of a critical trafficking node in Tijuana at the U.S. border, the Arzate-Garcia brothers have become key essential components of the cartel’s command-and-control structure,” the State Department said. “Their control of the Tijuana Plaza offers the Sinaloa Cartel a tactical advantage in maintaining dominance over rival organizations, ensuring no interruption to the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.”

California’s border with Mexico has been a battleground between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.

The rewards were announced four days after the Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” decapitating what had become Mexico’s most powerful cartel. The drug lord was the Mexican government’s biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration in its efforts to crack down on the cartels.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772206701839.png" alt="Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it would pay up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests or convictions of two brothers identified as leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel in the state of Baja California, which includes Tijuana.The reward offer came the same day that authorities announced a new indictment against Rene Arzate Garcia, 42, known as “La Rana” (“The Frog”). He was initially charged with drug crimes in San Diego. The superseding indictment includes charges of conspiracy, narcoterrorism and material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772206803627.png" alt="Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>The U. S. is offering $5 million each for information on Rene Arzate Garcia and Alfonso Arzate Garcia, 52, known as “Aquiles” (“Achilles”). Their whereabouts are unknown.“As controllers of a critical trafficking node in Tijuana at the U.S. border, the Arzate-Garcia brothers have become key essential components of the cartel’s command-and-control structure,” the State Department said. “Their control of the Tijuana Plaza offers the Sinaloa Cartel a tactical advantage in maintaining dominance over rival organizations, ensuring no interruption to the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.”California’s border with Mexico has been a battleground between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.The rewards were announced four days after the Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” decapitating what had become Mexico’s most powerful cartel. The drug lord was the Mexican government’s biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration in its efforts to crack down on the cartels.

US offers reward for capture of brothers said to lead Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged criminal damage to property in Manhattan.

Just after 11:30a.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of criminal damage to property in the 700 block of Griffith Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; A 63-year-old man reported a known 46-year-old female suspect damaged the inside of an apartment. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $2,000. 

Virginia Beneux, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. in the 700 block of Griffith. She is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of criminal damage to property.&nbsp;

Anyone with information about a crime can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged criminal damage to property in Manhattan.Just after 11:30a.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of criminal damage to property in the 700 block of Griffith Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; A 63-year-old man reported a known 46-year-old female suspect damaged the inside of an apartment. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $2,000. Virginia Beneux, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. in the 700 block of Griffith. She is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of criminal damage to property.&nbsp;Anyone with information about a crime can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Kansas woman held on $100,000 bond for damage to an apartment

NEW YORK --&nbsp;Neil Sedaka, the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock 'n' roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died.

Sedaka, whose hits included "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Laughter in the Rain," died Friday at age 86.

"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed."

No other details of his death were immediately available.

A key member of the Brill Building songwriting factory, Sedaka teamed with lyricist and boyhood neighbor Howard Greenfield on songs that reflected the teen innocence of the post-Elvis/pre-Beatles era of the late 1950s-early 1960s, including "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," "Calendar Girl" and "Oh! Carol," a lament for his high school sweetheart, Carole King.

After a long dry spell, he reemerged with such smashes as "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood." The Captain&nbsp;&amp; Tennille's cover of his "Love Will Keep Us Together" was a chart-topper in 1975.

Short and dark-haired, with a big smile and high-pitched voice, he was a Juilliard-trained, Brooklyn-born son of a Jewish taxi driver who began performing as a teen and kept at it for decades.

Sedaka still played dozens of concerts a year well into his 80s. He retained the enthusiasm and broad vocal range of his youth and never tired of the standards he had sung hundreds of times.

"Past 70, Pavarotti told me the vocal cords are not what they used to be. I'm very fortunate that my voice has held," he told The Associated Press in 2012. "It's nice to be a legend, but it's better to be a working legend."

Sedaka's songs sold millions worldwide and have been covered by a range of performers, from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to The 5th Dimension and Nickelback. Sedaka helped propel the career of Connie Francis with "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are," the latter for the soundtrack of the movie with the same name. The Captain&nbsp;&amp; Tennille received a best-album Grammy thanks largely to "Love Will Keep Us Together" and included a nod to Sedaka at the end of the song, when Toni Tennille exclaimed "Sedaka's back!"

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772234604163.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK --&nbsp;Neil Sedaka, the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock 'n' roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died.Sedaka, whose hits included "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Laughter in the Rain," died Friday at age 86."Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed."No other details of his death were immediately available.A key member of the Brill Building songwriting factory, Sedaka teamed with lyricist and boyhood neighbor Howard Greenfield on songs that reflected the teen innocence of the post-Elvis/pre-Beatles era of the late 1950s-early 1960s, including "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," "Calendar Girl" and "Oh! Carol," a lament for his high school sweetheart, Carole King.After a long dry spell, he reemerged with such smashes as "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood." The Captain&nbsp;&amp; Tennille's cover of his "Love Will Keep Us Together" was a chart-topper in 1975.Short and dark-haired, with a big smile and high-pitched voice, he was a Juilliard-trained, Brooklyn-born son of a Jewish taxi driver who began performing as a teen and kept at it for decades.Sedaka still played dozens of concerts a year well into his 80s. He retained the enthusiasm and broad vocal range of his youth and never tired of the standards he had sung hundreds of times."Past 70, Pavarotti told me the vocal cords are not what they used to be. I'm very fortunate that my voice has held," he told The Associated Press in 2012. "It's nice to be a legend, but it's better to be a working legend."Sedaka's songs sold millions worldwide and have been covered by a range of performers, from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to The 5th Dimension and Nickelback. Sedaka helped propel the career of Connie Francis with "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are," the latter for the soundtrack of the movie with the same name. The Captain&nbsp;&amp; Tennille received a best-album Grammy thanks largely to "Love Will Keep Us Together" and included a nod to Sedaka at the end of the song, when Toni Tennille exclaimed "Sedaka's back!"

Neil Sedaka, singer-songwriter behind dozens of hits, has died

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it’s misleading for members of the House to say their package of aviation safety reforms would address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-c2ebc159a163068b782dd4824097b00b">the recommendations</a>&nbsp;that her agency made in January to prevent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">another midair collision</a>&nbsp;like the one last year near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the House bill’s “watered-down” requirements wouldn’t do enough to prevent a future tragedy, and wouldn’t be nearly as effective as a Senate bill that came up just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-midair-collision-congress-reforms-ntsb-134f26d812dc9796fcf3033c42543cc2">one vote short</a>&nbsp;of passing in the House earlier this week. The full NTSB followed up Thursday afternoon with a formal letter to two key House committees, saying that they can't support the bill right now

“We can have disagreements over policy all day. But when something is sold as these are the NTSB recommendations and that is not factually accurate, we have a problem with that. Because now you’re using the NTSB and you’re using people who lost loved ones in terrible tragedies,” Homendy said. “You’re using their pain to move your agenda forward.”

The key concern of Homendy and the families of the people who died in the crash on Jan. 29, 2005, is that they believe all aircraft should be required to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-hawk-crash-night-faa-helicopter-286319ac01bee91e4992c95e7946063e">key locator systems</a>&nbsp;that the NTSB has been recommending since 2008, which would allow the pilots to know more precisely where the traffic around them is flying. The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out systems that broadcast an aircraft's location are already required around busy airports. It's the ADS-B In systems that can receive data about the locations of other aircraft that isn't yet standard.

The House bill would ask the Federal Aviation Administration to draft a rule to require the best locator technology instead of just requiring ADS-B In, and even when it does suggest that technology should be required, the bill exempts business jets and small planes in certain parts of the airspace. Homendy said the bill is also weak in other areas, such as limits on when the military will be able to turn those locator systems off and the steps they must take to ensure those systems are working.

The leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee declined to respond to Homendy's criticism Thursday, but Reps. Sam Graves and Rick Larsen have said they believe the ALERT bill they crafted effectively addresses the 50 recommendations that NTSB made at the conclusion of their investigation into the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

They defended their bill and pledged to work with the families, the Senate and the industry to develop the best solution as soon as possible. The committee will likely markup the bill within the next few weeks.

“From the beginning, we have stressed the importance of getting this right, and we are confident that we will achieve that goal,” Larsen and Graves said. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said he is committed to getting the bill done.

Victims' families say they can't support the bill as written

The NTSB released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Documents/NTSB%20Analysis%20of%20ALERT%20Act.pdf">side-by-side comparison</a>&nbsp;of its recommendations and the House bill to highlight all the ways the bill falls short of fully addressing the needed changes.

Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son in the crash, and many of the other victims' families said the House bill “is not really a serious attempt to address the NTSB recommendations.” He said the introduction of this bill just a few days before the vote on the ROTOR Act, which the Senate unanimously approved, seemed designed to “scuttle” that bill and send the ADS-B In recommendation into limbo to be considered in a lengthy rulemaking process.

Matt Collins, who lost his younger brother Chris in the disaster, said that the bill must require ADS-B In to be acceptable to the families.

“As far as the ALERT act — the way it’s written now, I can’t endorse the way its written now. It needs to include ADS-B In,” Collins said. “It’s non-negotiable for us as family members, extremely non-negotiable.”

The NTSB cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ntsb-dc-plane-crash-midair-collision-helicopter-a08cded88e1d7582fb8d242204d6aeff">systemic weaknesses</a>&nbsp;and years of ignored warnings as the main causes of the crash, but Homendy has said that if both the plane and the Black Hawk had been equipped with ADS-B In and the systems had been turned on, the collision would have been prevented. The Army's policy at the time of the crash mandated that its helicopters fly without that system on to conceal their locations, although the helicopter involved in this crash was on a training flight, not a sensitive mission.

But Homendy said the House seemed to pick and choose what they wanted to include from the NTSB recommendations.

“We were very explicit of what needed to occur,” Homendy said. “When we issue a recommendation, those recommendations are aimed at preventing a tragedy from happening again. And if you’re just going to give us half a loaf, it’s not going to do it. We’re not gonna save lives.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738328227489.png" alt="FILE-In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)" />
 <figcaption>FILE-In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation WriterThe head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it’s misleading for members of the House to say their package of aviation safety reforms would address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-c2ebc159a163068b782dd4824097b00b">the recommendations</a>&nbsp;that her agency made in January to prevent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">another midair collision</a>&nbsp;like the one last year near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the House bill’s “watered-down” requirements wouldn’t do enough to prevent a future tragedy, and wouldn’t be nearly as effective as a Senate bill that came up just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-midair-collision-congress-reforms-ntsb-134f26d812dc9796fcf3033c42543cc2">one vote short</a>&nbsp;of passing in the House earlier this week. The full NTSB followed up Thursday afternoon with a formal letter to two key House committees, saying that they can't support the bill right now“We can have disagreements over policy all day. But when something is sold as these are the NTSB recommendations and that is not factually accurate, we have a problem with that. Because now you’re using the NTSB and you’re using people who lost loved ones in terrible tragedies,” Homendy said. “You’re using their pain to move your agenda forward.”The key concern of Homendy and the families of the people who died in the crash on Jan. 29, 2005, is that they believe all aircraft should be required to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-hawk-crash-night-faa-helicopter-286319ac01bee91e4992c95e7946063e">key locator systems</a>&nbsp;that the NTSB has been recommending since 2008, which would allow the pilots to know more precisely where the traffic around them is flying. The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out systems that broadcast an aircraft's location are already required around busy airports. It's the ADS-B In systems that can receive data about the locations of other aircraft that isn't yet standard.The House bill would ask the Federal Aviation Administration to draft a rule to require the best locator technology instead of just requiring ADS-B In, and even when it does suggest that technology should be required, the bill exempts business jets and small planes in certain parts of the airspace. Homendy said the bill is also weak in other areas, such as limits on when the military will be able to turn those locator systems off and the steps they must take to ensure those systems are working.<h2>House leaders defend their bill</h2>The leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee declined to respond to Homendy's criticism Thursday, but Reps. Sam Graves and Rick Larsen have said they believe the ALERT bill they crafted effectively addresses the 50 recommendations that NTSB made at the conclusion of their investigation into the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.They defended their bill and pledged to work with the families, the Senate and the industry to develop the best solution as soon as possible. The committee will likely markup the bill within the next few weeks.“From the beginning, we have stressed the importance of getting this right, and we are confident that we will achieve that goal,” Larsen and Graves said. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said he is committed to getting the bill done.<h2>Victims' families say they can't support the bill as written</h2>The NTSB released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Documents/NTSB%20Analysis%20of%20ALERT%20Act.pdf">side-by-side comparison</a>&nbsp;of its recommendations and the House bill to highlight all the ways the bill falls short of fully addressing the needed changes.Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son in the crash, and many of the other victims' families said the House bill “is not really a serious attempt to address the NTSB recommendations.” He said the introduction of this bill just a few days before the vote on the ROTOR Act, which the Senate unanimously approved, seemed designed to “scuttle” that bill and send the ADS-B In recommendation into limbo to be considered in a lengthy rulemaking process.Matt Collins, who lost his younger brother Chris in the disaster, said that the bill must require ADS-B In to be acceptable to the families.“As far as the ALERT act — the way it’s written now, I can’t endorse the way its written now. It needs to include ADS-B In,” Collins said. “It’s non-negotiable for us as family members, extremely non-negotiable.”<h2>Missed warnings led to the crash</h2>The NTSB cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ntsb-dc-plane-crash-midair-collision-helicopter-a08cded88e1d7582fb8d242204d6aeff">systemic weaknesses</a>&nbsp;and years of ignored warnings as the main causes of the crash, but Homendy has said that if both the plane and the Black Hawk had been equipped with ADS-B In and the systems had been turned on, the collision would have been prevented. The Army's policy at the time of the crash mandated that its helicopters fly without that system on to conceal their locations, although the helicopter involved in this crash was on a training flight, not a sensitive mission.But Homendy said the House seemed to pick and choose what they wanted to include from the NTSB recommendations.“We were very explicit of what needed to occur,” Homendy said. “When we issue a recommendation, those recommendations are aimed at preventing a tragedy from happening again. And if you’re just going to give us half a loaf, it’s not going to do it. We’re not gonna save lives.”

NTSB chair slams House aviation bill after fatal crash involving Kan. jet

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Friday that her administration has secured an agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that protects Kansans’ personal private data from being shared with foreign governments and complies with state and federal privacy laws related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a media release from Kelly's office.&nbsp;

 The agreement also ensures that after the data is shared, USDA will cancel its disallowance letter, ending USDA’s efforts to disallow Kansas’ SNAP funds. &nbsp;

“The USDA’s decision to adhere to the DCF’s terms ensures that Kansans’ private, personal information, including full social security numbers, will not be shared with foreign governments,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Kansas has complied with federal and state laws throughout this entire process and all we have wanted is for the USDA to do the same. In reaching this agreement, we have successfully preserved Kansans’ privacy against the threat posed by the USDA’s initial request that amounted to federal overreach and violation of data protection laws.”

From the onset of the USDA’s far-reaching data request, Governor Kelly and her administration have remained consistent that until concerns about data protection were addressed, Kansas could not legally turn over the data. Now that these concerns have been addressed, data sharing is possible. &nbsp;

The USDA initially demanded that DCF turn over the private, legally protected, personal information of all Kansans and members of their households who have received, or applied for, SNAP benefits in the last 5 years. The USDA’s request included provisions allowing for Kansans’ personal information—which includes full Social Security numbers and dates of birth—to be shared with foreign governments.

After the USDA rejected DCF’s Corrective Action Proposal in response to the data request in September 2025, DCF swiftly filed an appeal with the USDA. The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding $10.4 million in administrative funding for SNAP. The State of Kansas has not lost any SNAP administrative funding, and the program continues to operate as usual.

DCF has complied with state and federal law at every stage of this process and has maintained the confidentiality of thousands of Kansans whose personal information would be at risk. Protection of this personally identifiable information is legally required by both the Food Nutrition Act (FNA) and the Kansas Cybersecurity Act (KCA).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761944916334.png" alt="Photo photo" />
 <figcaption>Photo photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Friday that her administration has secured an agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that protects Kansans’ personal private data from being shared with foreign governments and complies with state and federal privacy laws related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a media release from Kelly's office.&nbsp; The agreement also ensures that after the data is shared, USDA will cancel its disallowance letter, ending USDA’s efforts to disallow Kansas’ SNAP funds. &nbsp;“The USDA’s decision to adhere to the DCF’s terms ensures that Kansans’ private, personal information, including full social security numbers, will not be shared with foreign governments,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Kansas has complied with federal and state laws throughout this entire process and all we have wanted is for the USDA to do the same. In reaching this agreement, we have successfully preserved Kansans’ privacy against the threat posed by the USDA’s initial request that amounted to federal overreach and violation of data protection laws.”From the onset of the USDA’s far-reaching data request, Governor Kelly and her administration have remained consistent that until concerns about data protection were addressed, Kansas could not legally turn over the data. Now that these concerns have been addressed, data sharing is possible. &nbsp;The USDA initially demanded that DCF turn over the private, legally protected, personal information of all Kansans and members of their households who have received, or applied for, SNAP benefits in the last 5 years. The USDA’s request included provisions allowing for Kansans’ personal information—which includes full Social Security numbers and dates of birth—to be shared with foreign governments.After the USDA rejected DCF’s Corrective Action Proposal in response to the data request in September 2025, DCF swiftly filed an appeal with the USDA. The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding $10.4 million in administrative funding for SNAP. The State of Kansas has not lost any SNAP administrative funding, and the program continues to operate as usual.DCF has complied with state and federal law at every stage of this process and has maintained the confidentiality of thousands of Kansans whose personal information would be at risk. Protection of this personally identifiable information is legally required by both the Food Nutrition Act (FNA) and the Kansas Cybersecurity Act (KCA).

Governor: Agreement ends USDA withholding SNAP funds from Kansas

Former President&nbsp;Bill Clinton&nbsp;is testifying Friday before members of Congress who are investigating convicted sex offender&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein. Below is his opening statement.

Watch below, the first minutes of President Bill Clinton testifying under oath, via videotape, before a Federal Grand Jury about his relationship with former White House Intern Monica Lewinsky - before the Independent Counsel, held at White House, beginning at 1:03 pm., Monday, August 17, 1998.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772215538027.png" alt="From his 1998 testimony courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>From his 1998 testimony courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Former President&nbsp;Bill Clinton&nbsp;is testifying Friday before members of Congress who are investigating convicted sex offender&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein. Below is his opening statement.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doing—I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals. <a href="https://t.co/0rX8cat5Pu">pic.twitter.com/0rX8cat5Pu</a>&mdash; Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillClinton/status/2027424128559452573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Watch below, the first minutes of President Bill Clinton testifying under oath, via videotape, before a Federal Grand Jury about his relationship with former White House Intern Monica Lewinsky - before the Independent Counsel, held at White House, beginning at 1:03 pm., Monday, August 17, 1998.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">First 2 minutes of President Bill Clinton testifying under oath, via videotape, before a Federal Grand Jury about his relationship with former White House Intern Monica Lewinsky - before the Independent Counsel, held at White House, beginning at 1:03 pm., Monday, August 17, 1998 <a href="https://t.co/S3qGTo8S5i">pic.twitter.com/S3qGTo8S5i</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/2027437955472601577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Former President Bill Clinton's opening statement to House Oversight Committee

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged armed carjacking in Manhattan and have made arrests.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of robbery near Beck Street and Casement Road, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 28-year-old man reported a known 67-year-old male suspect stole his 2013 Dodge Ram truck at gunpoint. The truck was later recovered. Michael Ivy, 67, of Wamego, was arrested at 7:41 p.m. in the 1000 block of S. Seth Child Road for aggravated robbery.&nbsp; Ivy is being held on a $125,000 bond&nbsp;

&nbsp;Two other arrests were made as a result of the initial report, including Otto Tisdale, 40, of St. George, who was arrested at 5:29 p.m. in the 300 block of Allen Road. He is being held in the Riley County Jail on requested charges of violating the offender registration act, possession of opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant, and for the use/possession of with intent to use drug paraphernalia in the human body.&nbsp;

Bailey Collier, 23, of Louisville (Kan.), was arrested at 1:46 p.m. in the 300 block of Allen Road for parole violation. Collier is being held without bond, according to the RCPD.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged armed carjacking in Manhattan and have made arrests.Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of robbery near Beck Street and Casement Road, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 28-year-old man reported a known 67-year-old male suspect stole his 2013 Dodge Ram truck at gunpoint. The truck was later recovered. Michael Ivy, 67, of Wamego, was arrested at 7:41 p.m. in the 1000 block of S. Seth Child Road for aggravated robbery.&nbsp; Ivy is being held on a $125,000 bond&nbsp;&nbsp;Two other arrests were made as a result of the initial report, including Otto Tisdale, 40, of St. George, who was arrested at 5:29 p.m. in the 300 block of Allen Road. He is being held in the Riley County Jail on requested charges of violating the offender registration act, possession of opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant, and for the use/possession of with intent to use drug paraphernalia in the human body.&nbsp;Bailey Collier, 23, of Louisville (Kan.), was arrested at 1:46 p.m. in the 300 block of Allen Road for parole violation. Collier is being held without bond, according to the RCPD.&nbsp;&nbsp;

67-year-old Kansas man accused of armed carjacking 

WASHINGTON (AP) —Joe Biden’s appearance in a boarding area awaiting a flight to South Carolina drew a crowd Friday morning at the the airport near downtown Washington.

The former president is spending Friday evening with Democrats in South Carolina who have organized a thank you event to commemorate his thunderous victory in the state’s 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

Other passengers were primarily deterred by the dozen Secret Service agents who surrounded Biden as he sat at the gate. But Biden took selfies with American Airlines employees, and dozens of passengers in the area filmed him on their cellphones.

Once on board awaiting takeoff, passengers passed by to shake Biden’s hand. “God bless you, sir,” one woman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772207561358.png" alt="Photos by Meg Kinnard Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photos by Meg Kinnard Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Joe Biden’s appearance in a boarding area awaiting a flight to South Carolina drew a crowd Friday morning at the the airport near downtown Washington.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Headed home today after a week in DC so I can cover former President Joe Biden as he attends a <a href="https://twitter.com/scdp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@scdp</a> event in Columbia SC tonight. Apparently I picked a popular flight this morning! <a href="https://t.co/8iYUrHY7oQ">pic.twitter.com/8iYUrHY7oQ</a>&mdash; Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP/status/2027394704954830990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The former president is spending Friday evening with Democrats in South Carolina who have organized a thank you event to commemorate his thunderous victory in the state’s 2020 Democratic presidential primary.Other passengers were primarily deterred by the dozen Secret Service agents who surrounded Biden as he sat at the gate. But Biden took selfies with American Airlines employees, and dozens of passengers in the area filmed him on their cellphones.Once on board awaiting takeoff, passengers passed by to shake Biden’s hand. “God bless you, sir,” one woman said.

Former President draws attention at airport en route to South Carolina

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to cap property valuation increases at 3%, the first step toward achieving a constitutional change that would need to be approved by voters.&nbsp;

An amendment to the constitution must be approved by a majority of voters after passing both legislative chambers by a two-thirds majority.&nbsp;

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1616/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616</a>, which passed the Senate 30-10, stops assessed values of real property from increasing more than 3% per year except in certain situations, such as new construction or if improvements occurred on the property.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If approved by voters, the cap would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. Values of current homes would be set at 3% above 2022 valuations.&nbsp;

Opponents to the resolution argued that addressing one factor — in this case, the assessed valuation —- may or may not lower a homeowner’s property taxes. They expressed concern the issue may confuse taxpayers, who may vote in favor of the resolution and expect to see their property taxes decrease.&nbsp;

Sen. Pat Pettey, a Democrat who was a former commissioner in Kansas City, Kansas, said the resolution wouldn’t lower property taxes.&nbsp;

“Only mill levies can do that,” she said.

Mill levies are the assessment of $1 of tax per $1,000 of the property valuation. Local governments set mill levies based on their total valuations and the dollars needed to fund their budgets.&nbsp;

Local governments wishing to continue to provide their current level of services will immediately consider raising the mill levies, which determine property tax, Pettey said.&nbsp;

She said numerous opponents testified against the bill in committee, including the city of Mission, the city of Overland Park, the Kansas Realtors Association, the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Building Industry Association and the Kansas Farm Bureau.

“So a vast, diverse group of organizations came out in opposition because they believe, and I do, that this does not reduce or limit property tax increases and could more than likely result in a shift of property tax burden across taxpayers,” Pettey said.&nbsp;

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat who is running for governor, said her concern with the resolution is that property taxes are the primary funding for local governments.

“Essentially, we have to take into consideration that services for local police departments, local roads, those costs aren’t going to decrease or disappear,” Holscher said. “The funds have to come from somewhere else.”

Holscher also raised concerns that capping property valuations would, over time, cause automobile taxes to rise because local governments would need to replace funding.&nbsp;

“Sixty-four percent of adults typically own homes. In Kansas, 74% own vehicles,” she said. “We’re effectively switching and removing the tax burden from property owners to car owners, some of whom don’t own property. We’re squeezing the balloons, so to speak, because again, the money has to come from somewhere to pay for these services.”

Proponents of the resolution said Kansas must provide property tax relief, especially for older Kansans on fixed incomes who see their property taxes jump higher every year.&nbsp;

“Property taxes are not just numbers on a statement,” said Sen. Craig Bowser, R-Holton. “They’re grocery money. They’re car payments. They’re retirement savings, and they’re the difference between potentially staying in your home or being forced to sell.”

He said Kansans have seen their property valuations “rise sharply,” financially straining people on fixed incomes, young families and farmers and ranchers.&nbsp;

“It does not eliminate property taxes. It does not strip local governments of funding,” Bowser said. “What it does is provide stability, predictability and protection against sudden spikes in tax bills. This is about fairness. When market values surge 10, 15, even 20% in a single year, taxpayers are hit with increases they cannot control.”

SCR 1616 will move to the House for consideration. If it passes there, it would be placed on a special election ballot on Aug. 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In local governments, each entity, such as police and fire departments and the county commissioners, create a budget. Officials take the total assessed value of the jurisdiction — the total assessment of all property values — and determine what the mill levy needs to be to raise the dollars to meet the budget.&nbsp;

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. For example, if a house has assessed value of $150,000, the homeowner would pay $15 in property tax per mill levied by the county. In the city of Shawee, for instance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cityofshawnee.org/departments/finance/tax_structure" target="_blank">the mill levy&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;includes funding needs for several taxing authorities, such as school districts and the local library.&nbsp;

Excluding school districts, which vary based on the resident’s location, the mill levy was 56.998. On the $150,000 assessed value, the homeowner would pay $854.97 annually in property taxes. (Remember, this doesn’t include mill levies for schools, which ranged from 51 mills to 63 mills.)

Capping property valuations only makes a difference if mill levies don’t change.&nbsp;

If the local government doesn’t have other revenue options — such as sales tax or bed tax income —&nbsp; they may decide to increase the mill levy to meet budget demands. States with significant tourism, for instance, often have lower property tax values because they can rely on other revenue streams.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772200133782.png" alt=" Sen. Pat Pettey. shown here in a file photo, is concerned a 3% cap on property valuations won’t lower property taxes as most Kansans will expect. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Pat Pettey. shown here in a file photo, is concerned a 3% cap on property valuations won’t lower property taxes as most Kansans will expect. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to cap property valuation increases at 3%, the first step toward achieving a constitutional change that would need to be approved by voters.&nbsp;An amendment to the constitution must be approved by a majority of voters after passing both legislative chambers by a two-thirds majority.&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1616/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616</a>, which passed the Senate 30-10, stops assessed values of real property from increasing more than 3% per year except in certain situations, such as new construction or if improvements occurred on the property.&nbsp;&nbsp;If approved by voters, the cap would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. Values of current homes would be set at 3% above 2022 valuations.&nbsp;Opponents to the resolution argued that addressing one factor — in this case, the assessed valuation —- may or may not lower a homeowner’s property taxes. They expressed concern the issue may confuse taxpayers, who may vote in favor of the resolution and expect to see their property taxes decrease.&nbsp;Sen. Pat Pettey, a Democrat who was a former commissioner in Kansas City, Kansas, said the resolution wouldn’t lower property taxes.&nbsp;“Only mill levies can do that,” she said.Mill levies are the assessment of $1 of tax per $1,000 of the property valuation. Local governments set mill levies based on their total valuations and the dollars needed to fund their budgets.&nbsp;Local governments wishing to continue to provide their current level of services will immediately consider raising the mill levies, which determine property tax, Pettey said.&nbsp;She said numerous opponents testified against the bill in committee, including the city of Mission, the city of Overland Park, the Kansas Realtors Association, the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Building Industry Association and the Kansas Farm Bureau.“So a vast, diverse group of organizations came out in opposition because they believe, and I do, that this does not reduce or limit property tax increases and could more than likely result in a shift of property tax burden across taxpayers,” Pettey said.&nbsp;Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat who is running for governor, said her concern with the resolution is that property taxes are the primary funding for local governments.“Essentially, we have to take into consideration that services for local police departments, local roads, those costs aren’t going to decrease or disappear,” Holscher said. “The funds have to come from somewhere else.”Holscher also raised concerns that capping property valuations would, over time, cause automobile taxes to rise because local governments would need to replace funding.&nbsp;“Sixty-four percent of adults typically own homes. In Kansas, 74% own vehicles,” she said. “We’re effectively switching and removing the tax burden from property owners to car owners, some of whom don’t own property. We’re squeezing the balloons, so to speak, because again, the money has to come from somewhere to pay for these services.”Proponents of the resolution said Kansas must provide property tax relief, especially for older Kansans on fixed incomes who see their property taxes jump higher every year.&nbsp;“Property taxes are not just numbers on a statement,” said Sen. Craig Bowser, R-Holton. “They’re grocery money. They’re car payments. They’re retirement savings, and they’re the difference between potentially staying in your home or being forced to sell.”He said Kansans have seen their property valuations “rise sharply,” financially straining people on fixed incomes, young families and farmers and ranchers.&nbsp;“It does not eliminate property taxes. It does not strip local governments of funding,” Bowser said. “What it does is provide stability, predictability and protection against sudden spikes in tax bills. This is about fairness. When market values surge 10, 15, even 20% in a single year, taxpayers are hit with increases they cannot control.”SCR 1616 will move to the House for consideration. If it passes there, it would be placed on a special election ballot on Aug. 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>How property taxes and mill levies work</h2>In local governments, each entity, such as police and fire departments and the county commissioners, create a budget. Officials take the total assessed value of the jurisdiction — the total assessment of all property values — and determine what the mill levy needs to be to raise the dollars to meet the budget.&nbsp;A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. For example, if a house has assessed value of $150,000, the homeowner would pay $15 in property tax per mill levied by the county. In the city of Shawee, for instance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cityofshawnee.org/departments/finance/tax_structure" target="_blank">the mill levy&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;includes funding needs for several taxing authorities, such as school districts and the local library.&nbsp;Excluding school districts, which vary based on the resident’s location, the mill levy was 56.998. On the $150,000 assessed value, the homeowner would pay $854.97 annually in property taxes. (Remember, this doesn’t include mill levies for schools, which ranged from 51 mills to 63 mills.)Capping property valuations only makes a difference if mill levies don’t change.&nbsp;If the local government doesn’t have other revenue options — such as sales tax or bed tax income —&nbsp; they may decide to increase the mill levy to meet budget demands. States with significant tourism, for instance, often have lower property tax values because they can rely on other revenue streams.&nbsp;

Kansas Senate approves cap on property valuations, despite questions on real tax savings

On February 27, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.

Country Summary:&nbsp;Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. The security environment is complex and can change quickly, and violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning. Increased regional tensions can cause airlines to cancel and/or curtail flights into and out of Israel.

Some areas have increased risk. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Ftravel.state.gov%25252Fcontent%25252Ftravel%25252Fen%25252Finternational-travel%25252FInternational-Travel-Country-Information-Pages%25252FIsraeltheWestBankandGaza.html%252F1%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FAh2FYzHTLzqz7nPsda0poqOfEdN6BpRzR5XGiLnZW3c%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170603338%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3Dyx1o17QzmpCQFyVTI%252FRkC2M6JBm7WumzEwrlhONt4NA%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">country information page&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for additional information on travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Visit the CDC page for the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Fwwwnc.cdc.gov%25252Ftravel%25252Fdestinations%25252Ftraveler%25252Fnone%25252Fisrael%25253Fs_cid%253Dncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001%252F1%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FZkzxZMKzbhGrklHD4F4l6vPBvgKxOnBxzqtS8v-moDQ%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170615806%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DVCXcsKAmRUhojPQaQuN8wkY3Bnn4mor3Saxy93WPsBw%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">Travel Health Information&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;related to your travel.

If you decide to travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza:

Israel – Reconsider Travel (see below for additional information regarding areas near the Lebanese and Syrian borders)