The Riley County Police Department will launch their new Citizen’s Academy. This eight-week program is designed to build understanding, strengthen relationships and create meaningful conversations between RCPD and the community.

You’ ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how the RCPD works to keep Manhattan and Riley County safe.

RCPD will start a Citizen's Academy

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC) on Friday announced the results of a multi-county enforcement operation targeting the unlawful sale of alcoholic products disguised as kratom extract “shots” in retail stores across the state.

The action underscores ABC’s commitment to protecting public health and safety, educating consumers, and ensuring businesses comply with Kansas law.

The investigation began in September 2025 following a formal complaint alleging that O.P.M.S. Kratom Extract liquid products—commonly marketed as “shots”—contained alcohol and were being sold without proper licensing.

These products were available in small bottles intended for human consumption and were sold in stores not authorized to sell alcoholic beverages.

ABC enforcement agents initiated a comprehensive investigation, locating the products in multiple Kansas retail locations and purchasing samples of O.P.M.S Black Kratom Extract liquid and O.P.M.S. Gold Kratom Extract liquid.

The products underwent field testing and were submitted to a federal forensic laboratory for chemical analysis. Laboratory results confirmed that the products contained between 15.7% and 16.1% ethanol alcohol, classifying them as alcoholic beverages under Kansas law.

The investigation determined that these unlicensed alcoholic products were being sold primarily in vape shops and similar businesses lacking the required alcoholic beverage licenses.

Working in coordination with county attorneys, ABC agents obtained search warrants for 12 business locations across Kansas, including:

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, ABC agents simultaneously executed the search warrants. A total of 1,006 bottles of the illegal alcoholic products were seized. All 12 businesses were found to be in possession of the unlawful beverages.

Criminal charges will be submitted to the respective county attorney’s offices for review and prosecution.

“Sales of unlawful alcoholic beverages by unlicensed businesses pose a clear risk to consumers and undermine the integrity of Kansas’ regulated marketplace,” said ABC Director Debbi Beavers. “This operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the public and ensuring that all businesses follow state law.”

ABC encourages consumers to report suspected violations to help protect Kansas communities from unsafe or unlawfully sold products.

Potential violations can be reported at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.ksrevenue.gov%2Fabcindex.html/1/0101019ce810fdb4-112e0dca-5e76-43b1-940f-c0425d56b406-000000/sIURXLVdwlF0RwPX-J-C7D8sOKRnlw_s1mSSr1tnmJY=448">www.ksrevenue.gov/abcindex.html</a>

State announces action against unlicensed businesses selling alcohol

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kathleen Cook, Fort Hays State University Director of Academic Success about the Schmidt Foundation Scholarships.

🎥  Forward Ever: FHSU director of Academic Success

ABILENE, KAN. — Kansas Trails Inc. hosted Trail Appreciation Day at the Kansas State Capitol on March 5 to celebrate trail development, stewardship, and the individuals whose volunteer leadership has made lasting contributions to communities across the state.

During the event, Joe Minick of Abilene, Kansas received the Kansas Trailblazer Award&nbsp;from Lt. Governor David Toland in recognition of his extraordinary volunteer leadership and decades of service advancing heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, and historic preservation.

Minick played an instrumental role in the development of the Iron Horse Trail, Kansas’ only rails with trails project. His lifelong commitment to community service helped transform a local vision into a project with a statewide impact. In addition to the Trailblazer recognition, Minick was also honored with the 2026 Kansas Recreation and Parks Association Distinguished Volunteer Award.

Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed March 5, 2026, as Trail Appreciation Day in the State of Kansas, encouraging Kansans to recognize the importance of trails and the volunteers who help make them possible. In the proclamation, the governor recognized Minick for his exemplary volunteer service and lasting contributions to trails, recreation, and historic preservation in Kansas.

The five-mile Iron Horse Trail, which opened in fall 2025, connects the communities of Abilene and Enterprise along the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad, Kansas’ official state heritage railroad. The trail offers residents and visitors the opportunity to walk, run, or bike while enjoying the scenic beauty of Dickinson County.

Minick’s leadership and dedication helped bring the project to life, creating a new outdoor asset that supports tourism, encourages healthy lifestyles, and celebrates the region’s rail heritage.

For more information about the Iron Horse Trail visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/IronHorseTrailKS">www.Facebook.com/IronHorseTrailKS</a>.

Abilene’s Joe Minick Receives Kansas Trailblazer Award

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investing alleged fraud in Riley County.

Just after noon Thursday, officers filed a report of fraud in the 1000 block of S. Seth Child Road, according to the Riley County Police Department acivity report. A 38-year-old man reported a known 39-year-old woman removed money from banking accounts without his permission. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $6,000.&nbsp;

RCPD: Man lost $6,000 in alleged bank fraud

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Riley County Arrest Report March 13

On Thursday night at 8:29 p.m.,&nbsp; Deputies from the Geary County Sheriff's Office responded to the K-18 Bypass mile marker 177 for a multiple vehicle accident. Trisha Kiser of Delphos, KS was traveling east in a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox when she struck Jenee Martin of Manhattan, KS in a 2022 Buick Encore. The collision caused Martin to strike Rodney Young of Junction City in a 2014 Ford F-150. Martin and Young were stopped awaiting a vehicle turning left onto I-70. 

Minor injuries were reported. Kiser and a juvenile were transported to Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus in Junction City for medical treatment. The Buick and Chevrolet were removed by Bud’s Wrecker.

Only Minor injuries reported in Multi-Vehicle accident Thursday night

Riley County Police Department Victim Advocate Melissa Mosher and Corporal Pate spoke with the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority earlier this month about victim services, general safety, and local laws and ordinances as part of RCPD's Operation Greek. 

The RCPD said Operation Greek is an opportunity for students to interact with police for a casual question-and-answer meeting. Though this program was named after its original audience, it has expanded past just the Greek community at Kansas State. Sports teams, academic societies, large study groups, and any other gathering of 20 or more college-aged community members are encouraged to participate. W

. More information can be found on the RCPD website: <a href="https://loom.ly/bDdXnus?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExUGU5Rnk5OG96VmFKQkJkWXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4LHQQQrdhm3Qz80QR5uGPje6eFbi9XXcJ30OhtlB1NSc-p_HmMUfdCZmQ9cQ_aem_fNpA37B465SxDoETGwFuhw" target="_blank">https://loom.ly/bDdXnus</a>

Operation Greek

Abilene, Kan.&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Eisenhower Presidential Library will host the Lunch &amp; Learn program, "Alaska, Hawaii, and the Politics of Statehood," on March 26, 2026, at 12 p.m. CDT. The hybrid program will take place in the Library building indoor courtyard and will be available online via<a target="_blank" href="https://hcmbltcab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001NpFK6tpivE1mZW7ZENd0_mN9EPDWC-a-kB0MejCvzKQQeOYQjzd9iOsDl0gaurqm6plh62GIC7zBxVMKARLnw3HMc2f2E98UBCN8G3CkOIrRO47qLlK9p1fh4Yt9Navh51err5db8oVpKXeqIyu-14iCxfV0krCcdGoTWi_jHOsKWIvmws-g7V7hsj_1mBcT&amp;c=7GmztVcsyeKXy1zuY58FtJRoOHdbnEfOhu70Y4cIZxHwt9mxcy8hfA==&amp;ch=6eDcvz5UuBW6yK-mWFuYs3GYMVwwZc_Hw6V0yqZBDKGGunkZPpaPdQ==">&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://hcmbltcab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001NpFK6tpivE1mZW7ZENd0_mN9EPDWC-a-kB0MejCvzKQQeOYQjzd9iOsDl0gaurqm6plh62GIC7zBxVMKARLnw3HMc2f2E98UBCN8G3CkOIrRO47qLlK9p1fh4Yt9Navh51err5db8oVpKXeqIyu-14iCxfV0krCcdGoTWi_jHOsgsa0QbF30YvT0dxka7ixw&amp;c=7GmztVcsyeKXy1zuY58FtJRoOHdbnEfOhu70Y4cIZxHwt9mxcy8hfA==&amp;ch=6eDcvz5UuBW6yK-mWFuYs3GYMVwwZc_Hw6V0yqZBDKGGunkZPpaPdQ==">YouTube Livestream</a>. Guests attending in person should arrive by 11:45 a.m. The library will provide a light box-lunch on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dr. C. Lawrence Evans, the Newton Family Professor of Government at William &amp; Mary, will join the program virtually to discuss the political debate surrounding the admission of Alaska and Hawaii as states.

"The granting of statehood to Alaska and Hawaii constituted one of the definitive political disputes of the immediate post World War II era," Evans notes. The presentation will clarify why admission took nearly 15 years after strong public support emerged and will highlight President Eisenhower's pivotal role. Evans will also examine the implications for current statehood discussions regarding the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Alaska, Hawaii, and the Politics of Statehood﻿ ﻿Celebrating America 250! Lunch & Learn Series

Riley County Arrest Report March 12

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=7570934572&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Make It! Workshop</a>&nbsp;series is an opportunity for youth and adults to work together to build a unique take-home project. This program is designed for one youth and one adult to work together, learn new skills, and have fun in the process!&nbsp;

Cost is&nbsp;$20 for Flint Hills Discovery Center members, $25 for non-members&nbsp;and is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=c200f137c0&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">scholarship eligible</a>. Discounts applied at check out.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=a18a8c24e8&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Pre-registration is required online</a>, by phone at 785-587-2726, or in person at the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d95c311e2c&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Flint Hills Discovery Center.</a>&nbsp;Spots are limited.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Make It! Workshop

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pro-Iranian hackers are targeting sites in the Middle East and starting to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stryker-cyberattack-iran-medical-equipment-products-8dd418618a3bd4fa4c97caf7978c11ee">stretch into the United States</a>&nbsp;during the war, raising the risk of American defense contractors, power stations and water plants being swept into a wave of digital chaos that could expand if Tehran’s allies join the fray.

Hackers supporting Iran claimed responsibility for a significant cyberattack Wednesday against U.S. medical device company Stryker. Since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-12-2026-oil-prices-90e17dbf7354d1e9428994ab2a036506">the war began Feb. 28</a>, they also have tried to penetrate cameras in Middle Eastern countries to improve Iran’s missile targeting. They have targeted data centers in the region, as well as industrial facilities in Israel, a school in Saudi Arabia and an airport in Kuwait.

Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-russia-china-election-disinformation-hacking-ee65e29b866852b146e75c9f3312a1ae">invested heavily</a>&nbsp;in its offensive cyber capabilities while cultivating ties to hacking groups. In recent years, groups working for Tehran have infiltrated the email system of President Donald Trump’s campaign,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/water-utilities-hackers-cybersecurity-1c475f5d2ef3b5d52410c93bdeab3aad">targeted U.S. water plants</a>&nbsp;and tried to breach the networks used by the military and defense contractors.

The goal is to wear down the American war effort, drive up the costs of energy, strain cyber resources and cause as much pain as possible for American companies that depend on the defense industry.

“Something is going to happen because the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cybersecurity-trump-china-russia-iran-north-korea-9eceaf30ddc984ed482f067db5dee405">gloves are off</a>,” said Kevin Mandia, founder of the cybersecurity companies Mandiant and Armadin.

Pro-Iranian, pro-Palestinian hackers claimed credit for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stryker-cyberattack-iran-medical-equipment-products-8dd418618a3bd4fa4c97caf7978c11ee">disrupting systems at Stryker</a>, a Michigan-based medical technology company. A group known as Handala said the attack was in retaliation for suspected U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-school-hegseth-trump-2ffff06808f7a584b0a03831897ab0b8">strikes that killed Iranian schoolchildren</a>.

Like other ideologically motivated hackers, profit is not Handala’s goal, according to Ismael Valenzuela, vice president of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity company Arctic Wolf.

“What distinguishes this group is its clear focus on data destruction rather than financial extortion,” he said in an email.

Polish authorities are investigating a recent cyberattack — on a nuclear research facility — that may have ties to Iran, though they acknowledge that another group could be behind the attack and using the Iran war to mask its identity.

Going forward, U.S. defense contractors, government vendors and businesses that work with Israel are likely targets, as is critical infrastructure such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/mississippi-hospital-system-closes-all-clinics-after-ransomware-attack-92cf61cdedaa47889a5928fd913108b2">hospitals</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-security-cyber-attack-e3da323aebc80c553663e43b77d430e2">ports</a>, water plants,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c8d531ec05e0403a90e9d3ec0b8f83c2">power stations</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-railway-stations-wifi-cyberattack-euston-manchester-678c9fa9d164a3a1ec323be1a7070697">railways</a>.

Pro-Iranian hackers openly discuss their plans in Telegram and other online message boards.

“The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-aws-data-center-uae-iran-bahrain-71066b0a822c4cfd88b61e3fe79af917">datacenters</a>&nbsp;need to be taken out,” wrote one user, as uncovered by researchers at U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group. “They host the brains of USAs military communication and targeting systems.”

Cyber operations also gather intelligence — for example, Iran’s effort to hack into cameras in neighboring countries to aid its missile targeting. Infiltrating U.S. networks, meanwhile, would offer view into military planning or supply chains.

The strikes on Iran’s military as well as internet outages may have limited Iran’s cyberattacks in the short term. But experts say Iranian hackers and their allies will aim for quick victories by targeting the weakest links in American cybersecurity.

Often, local&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/water-utilities-cyberattack-epa-russia-1435b3e6a569aa046e05c7947f0a0f3d">water plants</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cyberattack-hospital-system-ambulances-diverted-ascension-728ab2a0e5afaf7c344e46a5ce5ca42c">health care facilities</a>&nbsp;lack the funds and know-how to install the latest software patches or take other security steps. That has made them a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-muleshoe-water-systems-cyberattacks-russia-5f388bf0d581fc8eb94b1190a7f29c3a">favorite target,</a>&nbsp;both because of the relative ease of penetrating them and because of the panic these disruptions can cause.

This can include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-atlanta-680cf93f7eb0300127448c35299ad66e">denial-of-service attacks</a>, in which hackers try to jam a network so legitimate users cannot use it, and website defacements, which can prevent a company from communicating with customers. Hack-and-leak operations, where hackers threaten to release sensitive stolen material, are another possibility.

The attacks are not that sophisticated, according to Shaun Williams, a former FBI and CIA officer who is now a senior director at the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. But if a business or government agency has failed to keep up with its cybersecurity, it could pay a steep price, he said.

“Patch your systems. Ensure your firewalls and security solutions are up to date,” Williams said. “Remove your stale accounts. All the cyber hygiene that you should be doing, it’s more critical now than ever. Prepare for disruption.”

When it comes to cyber, Iran is considered a chaos agent

Russia and China present the greatest cyber threats to the U.S., while North Korea is a growing concern. But what Iran has lacked in resources it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-iran-cybersecurity-trump-14dce06ff797563bd6b431a7d04e105f">made up for in ingenuity</a>, experts say.

In recent years, Tehran’s digital warriors have impersonated American activists online to covertly encourage&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">protests against Israel</a>&nbsp;on college campuses. They have set up fake news websites and social media accounts primed to spread false and exaggerated claims before big U.S. elections.

In 2024, Iranian hackers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-campaign-hack-iran-phishing-b77458428a25e694a738a8c82219f271">infiltrated the email system</a>&nbsp;of the Trump campaign and later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fbi-election-interference-dni-ae96f57f438772dac08e076be7aa4904">tried to disseminate files</a>&nbsp;that the hackers said they stole. Hackers linked to Iran also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-meta-hacking-campaign-f237bb755a2ad8a9d0939e29d6aba6d1">tried to hack into the WhatsApp accounts</a>&nbsp;of both Trump and his then-Democratic opponent, President Joe Biden.

The activity prompted the Department of Homeland Security to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-june-22-2025?mod=djemCybersecruityPro&amp;tpl=cs" target="_blank">issue a public warning</a>&nbsp;last year about Iranian cyber threats.

“Iran and especially the proxies don’t care how big or smart you are. This is about making an impact, about creating chaos,” said James Turgal, a cybersecurity expert who spent 22 years as an FBI agent and is now a vice president at Optiv, a Denver-based information security firm.

Experts are watching closely to see if Russia, China or hacking groups allied with either country provide hacking assistance to Iran, mounting attacks intended to undermine American operations in Iran and make it harder for the U.S. to sustain its fight.

While China has so far taken a cautious approach, there is evidence that pro-Iranian hackers in Russia are already at work. Researchers at the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike detected a surge of activity from Russian hackers in support of Tehran since the war began.

One group known as Z-Pentest claimed responsibility for disrupting several U.S. networks, including some involved in closed-circuit video cameras.

The timing of the attack suggests the hackers were targeting U.S. interests because of the war in Iran, according to Adam Meyers, head of counter adversary operations at CrowdStrike.

Iran-linked hackers take aim at US, raising risk of cyberattacks during war

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman accused of sex crimes is due back in court Friday

Savana King, 31, is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing&nbsp;in Judge Kathleen Watson's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The judge will determine if there was enough evidence to send the case to trial.&nbsp;

On January 29, an 18-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by her former softball coach Savanah King over several years, between 2021 and 2024, before she reached the age of consent, according to Wichita Police Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Police arrested King on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child; fondling, criminal sodomy with a child under the age of 14 and unlawful sexual relations, according to Sedgwick County arrest records. After spending a weekend in jail, King met the requirement of a $250,00 bond and was released from jail.

<a href="https://friendsathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savana-king/2824">King played softball for</a>&nbsp;Friends University, according to the school's website.

Former coach accused of sex assault of player is due back in court

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — All six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran are dead, the U.S. military said Friday, after their plane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aircraft-down-loss-iraq-6d182239315cf9d2a20c669c5ac8418d">crashed in western Iraq</a>.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/">U.S. Central Command</a>, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely.

The crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, seven of whom were killed in combat. About 140 U.S. service members have been injured, including eight severely, the Pentagon said earlier this week.

Here’s what is known so far about the tanker, which is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft to crash during the war against Iran:

The U.S. Central Command said all six crew members on board the crashed KC-135 have been confirmed dead. It said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

A U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the developing situation, said the other plane involved was also a KC-135. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., wrote on X that the other plane landed safely in Israel.

Yang said it would be rare for a refueling tanker to be downed by enemy fire because such operations are usually conducted in the rear of combat zones.

The crash came after three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly downed last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc">by friendly Kuwaiti fire</a>.

The KC-135 is a long-serving tanker plane

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a U.S. Air Force aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair, allowing them to travel longer distances and maintain operations longer without landing. The plane is also used to transport wounded personnel during medical evacuations or conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

Based on the same design as the Boeing 707 passenger plane, the tanker has been in service for more than 60 years, supporting the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as allied aircraft, according to an Air Force description. The aging plane is set to be gradually phased out as more of the next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers enter service.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s’ age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

A basic KC-135 crew has three people: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Nurses and medical technicians are added in aeromedical evacuation missions.

Refueling typically happens at the back of the plane, where the boom operator is located. A fuel boom is lowered to connect with fighters, bombers or other aircraft. On many of the planes, the boom operator works lying face down while looking out of a window on the underside of the plane.

Some KC-135s can also refuel planes from pods on their wings. The tankers also have room to carry cargo or passengers if needed.

Refueling tankers could play an increasingly important role if the Iran war drags on, as U.S. aircraft may need to fly longer missions to pursue Iranian forces retreating deeper into the country, said Yang.

KC-135s have previously been involved in several fatal accidents. The most recent occurred on May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R crashed after takeoff south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan, while supporting the war in Afghanistan.

In that crash, the crew experienced problems with the plane’s rudder, according to a U.S. Air Force investigation. While they struggled to stabilize the plane, the tail section broke away and the plane exploded midair, killing all three crewmembers onboard.

The most serious mid-air collision involving the plane happened in 1966, when a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs struck a tanker near Palomares, Spain.

The accident caused the tanker to crash, killing four onboard. The disaster led to an extensive decontamination effort to clean up nuclear material dispersed when conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated after hitting the ground.

Schreck reported from Bangkok. AP writers Ben Finley and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aircraft-down-loss-iraq-6d182239315cf9d2a20c669c5ac8418d">crashed in western Iraq</a>, killing four of its six crew members.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s' age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

Cause of crash and condition of crew not immediately known

The U.S. Central Command said four of the six crewmembers on board the crashed KC-135 have been confirmed dead and that rescue efforts are continuing. It said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

🎥New details: 6 aboard US military refueling plane killed in crash

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</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 Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.

The bipartisan messages from House Majority Leader Chris Croft and Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, and their willingness to endorse two key amendments to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2798/" target="_blank">House Bill 2798</a>, were sufficient to convince the chairman of Kansas Board of Regents to offer qualified support for the legislation.

All three urged removal from the bill of a provision limiting the Board of Regents’ role in administering the University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University to use of state-appropriated dollars. In addition, they agreed regulatory relief in the bill should be extended to Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University. The House Higher Education Budget Committee took the recommendations under advisement, and the committee’s chairman indicated the panel would start work on amending the bill on Monday.

“With the two changes you heard about today, the Board of Regents would be supportive of HB 2798 and its goal of improving university processes and operational efficiency,” said Blake Benson, chair of the state Board of Regents. “Our goal is to preserve accountability for public assets while thoughtfully addressing operational issues across all state universities.”

On Wednesday, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/12/kansas-house-studies-bill-granting-unprecedented-administrative-autonomy-to-ku-k-state-and-wsu/">oppose the current version of the bill</a>&nbsp;because of concerns it significantly eroded the nine-member board’s authority over the three largest public universities in Kansas.

The legislation emerged from behind-the-scenes meetings that began last fall among House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Senate President Ty Masterson, Kelly, Croft and Lawrence that eventually were broadened to include other legislators, university administrators and the Board of Regents. Initially, the idea was to expand the conversation to include the three smaller state universities, but there wasn’t time to engage with those institutions.

“The goal was, how do we enable our research universities to operate at the speed of innovation and to drive that speed of innovation,” said Croft, an Overland Park Republican. “That’s the underlying thing in everything we were trying to do. It relieves the R1s (doctoral research universities) of costly, bureaucratic entanglements while applying the appropriate oversight. We recognize this wasn’t an end-all, be-all. This is a good-faith effort.”

Lawrence, the chief of staff to the governor and chair of the closed-door planning sessions for the bill, said the ad hoc group didn’t have time to bring ESU, PSU and FHSU into conversations about regulatory change. So, he said, the decision was made not to include those universities in the bill.

“Didn’t want to put them in the bill, have them learn about it from the bill, freak out, not know what this is. So, we kept it to the three research universities,” he said.

Lawrence said the Board of Regents and Kansas Legislature would maintain oversight of the university system. Changes contained in the bill would fall primarily on redundant business policies under jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Administration. He said there was no effort made to modify the Legislature’s influence on the universities. He said some concerns expressed about the bill were “a little bit overblown.”

Skeptics challenged the wisdom of lowering guardrails on state university contracting, procurement, construction, capital planning, property management and other business functions. There were questions about the bill’s impact on student tuition, faculty tenure, bans on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, private equity firms in athletics, control over hiring university CEOs and taxpayer accountability. There were questions about universities selling cherished campus landmarks in context of putting KU’s Allen Fieldhouse up for sale.

“I’d just like assurance that this isn’t the beginning of the end for the Kansas Board of Regents,” said Rep. Kirk Haskins, D-Topeka.

“I think we have our work cut out for us,” said Rep. Adam Turk, a Shawnee Republican who chairs the House higher education committee. “This is a bill that requires work.”

Advocates for the bill said economic pressures on higher education institutions, including a decline in the college-age population and limitations of public funding for universities, required exploration of new avenues for efficiencies while continuing to meet high academic standards.

Doug Girod, chancellor at the University of Kansas, said the legislation would leave KU as a state-owned entity, a state agency and a state asset.

He said the nation’s higher education system was facing tremendous headwinds in terms of student enrollment, loss of federal research funding, the trend of declining state funding as a percentage of overall costs and wariness about substantial tuition increases. He said the House bill would benefit KU without destroying what Kansas taxpayers had spent more than a century building.

KU cut 140 jobs and $30 million from the budget, and since 2017, the university had found $145 million in efficiencies, Girod said. He said KU’s top goal was to find more resources to invest in faculty and staff salaries.

“It doesn’t matter if we have pretty buildings if there’s nobody in them and we can’t serve students,” Girod said.

Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff at a rural Kansas home.

Just after 7p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;deputies with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in rural Burlingame regarding a report of a possible barricaded subject who was reportedly involved in a verbal domestic disturbance where shots had been fired, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

Deputies responded to the scene and began working to safely resolve the situation. After approximately four hours of attempting to make contact with the individual inside the residence, Christopher Vales, 41, of Burlingame was safely taken into custody without further incident.

Vales was transported to the Osage County Law Enforcement Center where he was booked on requested charges Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Interference with Law Enforcement.

Suspect arrested after 4-hour standoff at rural Kansas home

PAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas boy died in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Pawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda CRF 150 driven by Gabriel Mull, 12, Larned, was southbound on 210th Avenue at Kansas 156.&nbsp; The dirt bike traveled into the path of an eastbound 2001 Ford F250 driven by Robert L. Seder, 55, Great Bend. The passenger side of the pickup struck the dirt bike.&nbsp;

Mull was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Beckwith Mortuary. Seder was properly restrained and not injured. Mull was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

12-year-old Kansas boy dies in pickup, dirt bike crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man was injured and later arrested after an incident at the law enforcement center in Topeka.

Just after 10 a.m. Thursday, Topeka Police Department officers responded to a medical call in the lobby of the Law Enforcement Center at 320 South Kansas Avenue, according to a media release.

 A man, later identified as 31-year-old Casey Eastman of Topeka, set his clothing on fire. The Topeka Fire Department, American Medical Response and Topeka Police Behavioral Health Unit also responded to the scene.

AMR transported Eastman to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;Eastman was treated and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm and Criminal Damage to Property; Misdemeanor

Kan. man set his clothes on fire inside police headquarters

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just afater 7p.m. March 6, Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Charles Weston Alford, 40, of Topeka, on a Jackson County District Court Warrant in the 3400 block of NE Happy Hollow Road, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

Alford was arrested in connection with illegal methamphetamine sales, which allegedly took place during a multi-month drug investigation earlier this year in collaboration with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations.

Alford was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of Distribute methamphetamine, no drug tax stamp for controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of selling meth

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court has rejected a legal challenge to new U.S. House districts backed by President Donald Trump that are aimed at helping Republicans win an additional seat in the midterm elections.

Opponents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-trump-missouri-936e8daecadb32556fcfbd2eb9f7457b">the new districts</a>&nbsp;claimed they violated a state constitutional provision requiring districts to be compact. But Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine rejected that in a ruling Thursday.

Although the decision marked a victory for Republicans, a separate legal challenge remains pending at the Missouri Supreme Court alleging that mid-decade redistricting is unconstitutional. Opponents also have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-redistricting-referendum-trump-gerrymandering-utah-14312a112b6e32d15e5ef36b83cdc6a7">submitted over 300,000 petition signatures</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to force a statewide vote on the new congressional map.

Missouri is one of several states targeted for congressional redistricting by Trump, who has been angling for an edge in the November elections as Republicans try to hold their narrow House majority. After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-house-republicans-texas-redistricting-d18e8280a32872d9eefcbb26f66a0331">Trump called on Texas Republicans</a>&nbsp;to redistrict, Democrats countered with new districts in California, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-house-trump-gerrymander-2e5948055064f6e335170977bc4247f0">a redistricting battle</a>&nbsp;soon spread to other states.

Missouri currently is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats under a map passed in 2022 based on the most recent census. At the time, Republican lawmakers turned back an attempt by some in the party to push a map giving Republicans a shot at winning seven seats. They cited concerns that it could spread Republicans too thin and backfire in losses if Democrats enjoyed a favorable election year.

But Republicans set aside those concerns last year under pressure from the White House to revise the districts for partisan advantage.

A new map passed during a September special legislative session is intended to help Republicans win a Kansas City-area seat currently held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-e5b75246cbee8eb674dfdb27381cc8ac">Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver</a>. It reassigns portions of Kansas City to two neighboring districts represented by Republicans and stretches the remainder of his 5th Congressional District eastward into Republican-heavy rural areas.

Court filings on behalf of suing voters asserted that the new map “radically departs” from historical norms by splitting apart and stretching out the 5th District, which previously had been more concentrated in Kansas City.

But attorneys for Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway countered that the new map actually is an improvement. Although the 5th District may be less compact, the state asserted that the map overall is more compact and splits fewer local governments among multiple districts. Caine agreed with that in his ruling.

The judge said the implicit argument of those suing is that rural voters don't belong in the same district as urban voters in Kansas City. But the judge cited other instances where rural and urban voters have been combined in congressional districts, including under a map used from from the 2012 through 2020 elections that merged Kansas City's central business district with rural areas to the east.

“The decision of what municipalities to split is a political and policy determination that is properly left in the hands of the General Assembly and Missouri’s political processes,” Caine wrote.

Groups representing the voters who sued criticized the court ruling but did not say whether they will appeal.

“If allowed to stand, it would represent a significant setback for fair representation in Missouri,” the American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center said in a joint statement.

Judge rules Missouri's new congressional map is constitutional

WASHINGTON —Two U.S. sailors are recovering after a fire on board an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces, according to a statement fro&nbsp;U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet.

The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained.

There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational.

Two Sailors are currently receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition. The U.S. Navy reported no additional details

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury.

2 injured after fire aboard aircraft carrier in support of Operation Epic Fury

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State has hired Belmont coach Casey Alexander as its next men's basketball coach, the school announced Friday.

Alexander, 53, agreed to a five-year contract approved by the K-State Athletics, Inc., Board of Directors and university president Richard Linton. He will make $3.3 million in 2026-27, with annual raises of $50,000 that increase the deal to $3.5 million by 2030-31.

Alexander becomes the 27th head coach in program history after leading Belmont to 166 wins and four conference titles in seven seasons, including the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference championship.

"I’m incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can’t wait to get the journey started," Alexander said in a statement. "K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base and I’m grateful for the opportunity provided by Gene Taylor to be a part of it."

A date and time for Alexander’s introductory news conference have not yet been announced. The event will be streamed on ESPN+ and K-State’s Facebook Live page and carried on the K-State Sports Network.

Alexander has compiled a 303-180 record in 15 seasons as a head coach, with stops at Stetson, Lipscomb and Belmont. His teams have won six conference championships and reached the postseason three times, including an NCAA Tournament appearance with Lipscomb in 2018 and NIT appearances in 2019 and 2022.

His 2019-20 Belmont team also earned an automatic NCAA Tournament berth before the event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This season’s Belmont team secured another postseason berth after winning the Missouri Valley regular-season title.

"We couldn’t be more excited to announce Casey Alexander as the next head men’s basketball coach at K-State," athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement. "He is known nationally as a tremendous evaluator of talent and one of the best offensive minds in the college game."

Alexander has posted 10 straight 20-win seasons and has guided Belmont to a 166-60 overall record since taking over for longtime coach Rick Byrd in 2019. The Bruins went 102-33 in conference play during his tenure.

Before becoming a head coach, Alexander spent 16 seasons as an assistant at Belmont under Byrd after playing point guard for the Bruins from 1991-95. He later revived the program at Lipscomb, leading the Bison to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.

K-State is coming off a 12-20 season in 2025-26, including a 3-15 record in Big 12 play.

🏀 K-State announces Casey Alexander as men’s basketball coach

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Darryn Peterson scored 24 points in a season-high 37 minutes and No. 14 Kansas beat TCU 78-73 in the last quarterfinal of the Big 12 tournament Thursday night at T-Mobile Center.

The Jayhawks will face No. 5 Houston, which defeated BYU 73-66 in the quarterfinals, in the second semifinal Friday night.

Peterson struggled from the floor, missing 12 of his 17 shots, including a breakaway two-handed dunk with the Jayhawks leading 68-63 with just over four minutes left. But he made up for it from the line, going 13 for 16.

Flory Bidunga added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Kansas (23-9), while Bryson Tiller and Elmarko Jackson also had 13 points.

David Punch scored 24 points for TCU (22-11). Liutauras Lelevicius had 14 and Jayden Pierre added 11.

The Jayhawks are 13-7 this season with Peterson in the lineup. They were 10-2 without him.

Bidunga was in foul trouble most of the night. He picked up two fouls in the first half, and picked up his fourth with 6:29 left in the game.

Kansas opened the second half with an 8-0 run after trailing by three. TCU answered with runs of 8-1 and 13-2 to retake the lead.

The score was tied at 61-all when Trey White hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 5:34 left. The Jayhawks never trailed again, but neither team led by more than six points until Tiller threw down a dunk to make the score 70-63 with 3:22 left.

The first half was filled with spurts. TCU grabbed its largest lead at 23-16 thanks to an 8-0 run, but Kansas responded with a 12-0 surge to regain the lead. The teams traded the lead back and forth before the Horned Frogs took a 34-31 lead into the locker room.

The No. 3-seeded Jayhawks face the second-seeded Cougars.

🏀 Peterson scores 24 to lead KU past TCU in the Big 12 quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — AJ Dybantsa had 40 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and No. 10 seed BYU use a big second-half run to break open a close game with No. 15 seed Kansas State and roll to a 105-91 victory in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday night.

Robert Wright III added 14 points and six assists, and Kennard Davis Jr. had 15 points for the Cougars (22-10), who set a single-game tournament scoring record while advancing to play seventh-seeded West Virginia on Wednesday night.

P.J. Haggerty matched Dybantsa into the second half and finished with 27 points for the Wildcats (12-20), who played their final game for interim coach Matthew Driscoll, who had taken control of the program after the firing of Jerome Tang last month.

Nate Johnson had 19 points for Kansas State. Khamari McGriff finished with 13.

The fact that BYU was playing at all Tuesday night was somewhat surprising.

Dybantsa could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft this year. Wright has been a star in his own right. At one point early in the season, the Cougars were ranked seventh in the AP Top 25 and living up to the lofty expectations of their expensive lineup.

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