The 52nd Kansas Shrine Bowl was played on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City. Junction City’s Petren Bartolome played offensive line (left tackle) for the West team. Bartolome wore number 55 in green for the West team.

Junction City head football coach Randall Zimmerman along with a few assistant coaches were in attendance for the game.

The West team won the game 26-8.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bartolome will play college football this upcoming season at Dodge City Community College.&nbsp;

Junction City’s Petren Bartolome played in Kansas Shrine Bowl

On Saturday at 6:26 p.m. Geary County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a single vehicle injury accident on K57 HWY near mile marker 24. The Sheriff's Office said that Jeffrey Lopez Herrera of Ft. Riley, KS was traveling north bound on K57 HWY near mile marker 24 when he lost control of his 2016 Suzuki GSX and left the roadway. Jeffrey was transported to Stormont Vail Topeka.&nbsp;

Authorities report an injury accident

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two cases of alleged arson.

Just before 6p.m. Friday, officers filed a report for arson near the intersection of Walsburg Road and Madison Creek Road in Leonardville, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 40-year-old man and a 41-year-old man reported a 30-year-old suspect when it was reported the suspect started a fire that damaged a wheat field and equipment. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,250.&nbsp;

At approximately the same time on Friday officers filed a report for arson in the 14400 block of Senn Road in Leonardville. A 72-year-old man reported a 30-year-old man started a fire which damaged a wheat field, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $5,000.&nbsp;

RCPD: Suspect accused of starting wheat field fires

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent crime and have made an arrest.

Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a woman who was run over in the 20000 block of Pauling Run Road, rural Wamego, Pottawatomie County, according to a media release.

 Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the location and were able to determine that a female suspect, identified as Dana Blume, 43, of Onaga, had intentionally run over the victim, identified as Kara Murray, 52, of Wamego with a vehicle following an argument. 

The victim sustained serious injuries and was flown by helicopter to an area hospital, where she is being treated. Blume was arrested and is currently confined at the Pottawatomie County Jail awaiting bond to be set on charges of Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Woman drove over Kan. woman during argument

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is warning about a new scam circulating via text message. The texts falsely claim to be from KDOT and demand payment for outstanding traffic tickets.

KDOT does not collect money for traffic tickets and will never request or collect payments through text messages. These messages are not legitimate.

Do not click or open any links within these scam texts. Clicking on these links could expose your personal and financial information to scammers. Never share sensitive personal or financial details via text message or by clicking unknown links.

If you’ve received a scam message, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Freportfraud.ftc.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010101978edd0328-ac280523-998e-453e-bd87-84ebe722107a-000000/ojVRfdSPll27YSKnGVVisUXat8AAgZtqVKeHYmJiOr0=410">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>&nbsp;and/or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.ic3.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010101978edd0328-ac280523-998e-453e-bd87-84ebe722107a-000000/-4I0uhTUkhNsi-scOR_3owGeiKZAv09juo-UihmD1ck=410">https://www.ic3.gov/</a>.&nbsp;Delete the text and report it as junk. If you’ve provided payment information at a fraudulent web site, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.

New text scam alert: Don't fall for fake KDOT traffic ticket demands

<a href="https://eagle-media-sports-hutch.mixlr.com/events/4218822">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE</a>

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The 52nd Kansas Shrine Bowl will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, featuring 88 of the state’s top high school football players in one final showcase.

Eagle Media is the official radio broadcast partner for the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m., with Gerard Wellbrock on play-by-play, Dustin Armbruster as analyst, and Sean Boston and Anthony Gorges reporting from the West and East sidelines, respectively.

Click station to listen to live stream

The Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to producing annual events that benefit Shriners Children’s. Since its inception in 1974, the organization has raised nearly $4 million for the healthcare network, which provides pediatric specialty care regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

In addition to the East vs. West all-star football game, Kansas Shrine All-Star Events include the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp, the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Cheer Camp, the KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals, and a variety of other game week activities. Shriners Children’s, formerly known as Shriners Hospitals for Children, operates facilities and outreach programs worldwide, offering innovative research, teaching programs, and family-centered care to children up to age 18.

<a href="https://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/uploads/1/0/2/8/10280235/2025_kansas_shrine_bowl_rosters_-_updated_6-16-25.pdf">Click here</a> for complete rosters for the Kansas Shrine Bowl game.

🎧 LISTEN: 52nd Kansas Shrine Bowl

The Geary County Sherif's Office says Deputies responded to MM 148 US-77 for a single vehicle accident. Tyler Specht of FT Riley was heading north bound on his 2024 Kawasaki when a wind gust made him lose control and lose control of the motorcycle. Tyler and his passenger were transported to IACH.

Motorcycle accident reported on US 77

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in May. This is unchanged from 3.8% in April and an increase from 3.5% in May 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas decreased to 67.0% in May, according to a media release from the KDOL.

The unemployment rate in Geary County is up slightly from 4.4 percent in. April to 4.6 percent in May. The rate in Riley County is down from  3.4 percent in March to 3.1 percent in April to 3 percent in May. The rate is steady in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,800 from April. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 1,900 over the month, while government decreased by 100. The largest job gains in the private sector were in manufacturing (+1,600 jobs). The largest decrease was in&nbsp;professional and business services&nbsp;(-700 jobs).

Since May 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 12,500. This change is due to an increase of 2,200 private sector jobs and an increase of 10,300 government jobs.

Jobless rate up slightly in Geary County

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Friday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp;Musil, Nathan&nbsp;Musil, 43, Marysville, was southbound on Kansas 63 two&nbsp; miles north of Havensville. The vehicle traveled off the west edge of the highway. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle rolled into the east ditch.

EMS transported&nbsp;Musil to Stormont Vail. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after semi rollover accident

KDOT issues a scam alert

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with James Bowden on the new Kernza wheat variety that was developed in Kansas.

🎤 Forward Ever: James Bowden on new wheat variety

The Junction City Brigade played games at Rathert Field this past Friday and Saturday.&nbsp;

Friday - The Brigade beat the Hutchinson Monarchs 14-10

Saturday - The Brigade beat the KC Knights 9-8.

Junction City has won six of their last seven games and improve to 10-7 on the season.&nbsp;

Next up is a road game on Tuesday, June 24 at the Wichita Wildcats. Then the Wednesday the 25th, the Brigade will host the Wildcats at Rathert Field in Junction City.&nbsp;

Brigade win both weekend games at Rathert Field

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jose Iglesias tied the game with two-run, two-out, bases-loaded pinch-hit single in the seventh inning and then&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1936916158826864995">drove in the winning run</a>&nbsp;with a grounder in the ninth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Sunday to take two of three.

Iglesias hit a soft bouncer to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who fielded it, spun around and threw home too late to get Luis Arraez.

Arraez started the decisive rally with a single off Daniel Lynch IV (3-2) and took third on Xander Bogaerts' double. John Schreiber came on and allowed Iglesias' grounder.

Robert Suarez (2-3) worked the ninth. He is appealing his three-game suspension for hitting Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday night.

Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer for the Royals and phenom Jac Caglianone leaped and got his glove over the right-field wall to rob Jackson Merrill of a two-run home run in the eighth.

Seth Lugo, who pitched for the Padres in 2023, was brilliant in retiring 18 straight batters after allowing Fernando Tatis’ leadoff single.

The Padres finally broke through when Merrill, who returned from the seven-day concussion injured list, doubled into the right-field corner leading off the seventh. Lugo retired Manny Machado and made way for Angel Zerpa, who issued consecutive two-out walks.

Iglesias, pinch-hitting for left-hander Jake Cronenworth, hit an opposite-field single to right, and he tripped and fell breaking out of the box.

Perez lined a 1-0 pitch from Randy Vásquez 412 feet into the left-field stands to break a scoreless tie in the sixth.

Kansas City's Drew Waters was thrown out trying to score from first on Freddy Fermin’s double to center in the ninth.

It was Iglesias' fifth career walk-off and first since July 2, 2019, with Cincinnati.

⚾Iglesias drives in the tying and winning runs as the Padres beat the Royals 

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. launched a three-run homer to end his long power drought and Dylan Cease pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning as the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday.

Luis Arraez gave San Diego a 2-1 lead with an RBI single in the third, and the Padres won for the third time in 10 games.

The loss halted Kansas City’s four-game winning streak.

With the Padres ahead by one in the seventh, Jose Iglesias and Bryce Johnson hit consecutive singles. Tatis followed by smashing a 96 mph sinker from reliever Taylor Clarke into the left-field bleachers for his 14th homer this season and first since May 27.

Cease (3-6) effectively mixed his four-seam fastball and slider to keep the Royals from mounting much offense. He gave up one run and struck out four in 6 2/3 innings.

Adrian Morejon retired all five batters he faced to seal it for San Diego.

Royals starter Noah Cameron (2-3) permitted two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Jake Cronenworth had an RBI groundout for the Padres in the second. John Rave tied it 1-all with a run-scoring double in the third.

With a runner on second in the eighth and the Royals trying to mount a comeback, Iglesias made a spectacular play at third base to rob Vinnie Pasquantino of a hit.

Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts continued his torrid hitting with two more singles. He has hits in 10 of his last 13 at-bats spanning three-plus games. During that stretch, Bogaerts has a home run, two doubles and seven singles.

Royals RHP Seth Lugo (4-5, 3.05 ERA) starts the finale of the three-game series Sunday against RHP Randy Vasquez (3-4, 3.70).

⚾Fernando Tatis Jr. hits 3-run homer to lead Padres past Royals

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Salvador Perez singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the Kansas City Royals, who got home runs from Jonathan India and Bobby Witt Jr. to beat the San Diego Padres 6-5 on Friday night for their fourth straight win.

The Royals started this trip with a three-game sweep at Texas. The Padres have lost eight of 11.

San Diego’s Manny Machado hit his 12th homer leading off the ninth off Carlos Estévez, who then retired the side for his big league-leading 22nd save.

Padres manager Mike Shildt served his one-game suspension handed down by MLB after a brouhaha in Los Angeles on Thursday night after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit on the right wrist by a pitch in San Diego’s 5-3 win, which prevented a four-game sweep. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also was suspended for one game. Padres closer Robert Suarez was suspended for three games for hitting Shohei Ohtani with a pitch in the ninth inning. He is appealing.

Tatis started Friday night after imaging showed no damage.

Padres reliever Jason Adam (5-3) opened the eighth by allowing a single and a walk before the 35-year-old Perez singled to left to bring in Maikel Garcia with the go-ahead run. Drew Waters added an RBI single with two outs.

Witt homered to left with one out in the first, his 11th, off Nick Pivetta. Pivetta opened the fifth with consecutive walks to Freddy Fermin and Nick Loftin and then allowed India’s shot to left with one out for a 4-0 lead. It was his fourth.

The Padres chased starter Matt Lorenzen in the sixth as they closed to 4-2. Gavin Sheets tied it with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh off Lucas Erceg (2-2).

Jake Cronenworth worked a full count against Estévez before popping up to end it.

Xander Bogaerts, who has struggled this year, tied the Padres' franchise record by hitting safely in eight straight at-bats before popping up in the ninth.

Royals LHP Noah Cameron (2-2, 1.91 ERA) and Padres RHP Dylan Cease (2-6, 4.69) are scheduled to start Saturday night.

⚾ Perez hits go-ahead single as the Royals beat the Padres

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Top prospect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-caglianone-b777242d68ce78c9f85b19d1e4464317">Jac Caglianone went deep twice</a>&nbsp;for his first two homers in the majors, and the Kansas City Royals finished their first three-game sweep at Texas since 2003 with a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Thursday.

Vinnie Pasquantino added a two-run shot, and Michael Wacha held the Rangers hitless until Wyatt Langford's one-out single in the sixth. The right-hander allowed two hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings.

Wacha (4-6) was the third Kansas City starter to win for the first time in June as part of the sweep, with the Royals coming off a 0-6 homestand that matched their longest losing streak of the season. Kansas City already had clinched its first series win in Arlington in 11 years.

Carlos Estévez pitched a perfect ninth for his AL-leading 21st save and second of the series.

Pasquantino's team-leading 11th homer opened the scoring in the first off right-hander Shawn Armstrong, the starter in a bullpen game for Texas. A run of 11 consecutive scoreless appearances ended for Armstrong (2-2).

Caglianone greeted Jacob Latz with his first big league homer leading off the second. The 22-year-old won a lefty-lefty matchup with a 387-foot drive into the Texas bullpen in right-center field.

The 6-foot-5 Caglianone mastered the lefty-lefty thing again to start the ninth, sending Robert Garcia's first pitch 439 feet over the Texas bullpen.

Latz went a career-high 5 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and a run.

Adolis García was the potential tying run when Wacha got him on a popout to finish his outing in the sixth.

Marcus Semien extended the longest hitting streak for the Rangers this season to 11 games with an RBI double in the sixth.

Both teams open road series Friday. RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-7, 4.91 ERA) is set to go for Kansas City against San Diego. Texas RHP Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.19) is set to face Pittsburgh a day after his 37th birthday.

⚾🎥 Jac Caglianone goes deep twice as Royals beat Rangers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former NFL defensive back is suing the Kansas City Chiefs for wrongful termination from his job as director of player engagement after accusing the franchise of discriminating against him because he is Black.

Ramzee Robinson, who spent nine years with the Chiefs, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on Sunday.

In the lawsuit, Robinson claims that he was called into a meeting in February and accused of attacking a female co-worker, and that Chiefs refused to show him security video of the encounter. Robinson ultimately was fired from his position, which involved locker room management, mentorship and other responsibilities within the team.

The lawsuit claims that Robinson was paid a salary of $125,000 by the Chiefs, but that his research found other NFL teams paid comparable positions an average salary of $171,932, not including other benefits. It also claims that "the Chiefs paid African-American business employees less than their white counterparts.”

Chiefs spokesman Brad Gee told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while he could not comment on pending legal matters, “to be clear, the Chiefs do not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

“We look forward to the facts of this case coming to light,” Gee said.

The 41-year-old Robinson was the final player chosen in the 2007 draft by Detroit. He played in 19 games over two seasons for the Lions, then appeared in three games for Philadelphia and four for Cleveland in 2009. He never played for the Chiefs.

Ex-NFL player sues Chiefs for wrongful termination, racial discrimination

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Maikel Garcia homered and drove in four runs, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Garcia capped Kansas City's four-run third inning with a three-run drive for his career-best eighth homer. He also tripled in Bobby Witt Jr. in the eighth.

Garcia's three hits matched a season high, and his four RBIs equaled a career best.

The Royals have taken the first two in their three-game set at Texas following an 0-6 homestand that matched their longest losing streak of the season.

Kris Bubic (6-4) earned his first win since May 19. He allowed nine hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings, throwing a season-high 101 pitches.

Carlos Estévez pitched a perfect ninth inning for his AL-best 20th save.

Patrick Corbin (4-6) allowed four runs over five innings for the Rangers, who have dropped two straight following a four-game win streak.

Texas opened a 2-0 lead in the first on Wyatt Langford’s RBI double and Adolis García’s run-scoring single. It closed 4-3 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Josh Jung and Jake Burger.

Sam Haggerty had three hits for the Rangers, matching a career high.

Texas played its second consecutive game without infielder Josh Smith, who is sidelined with a minor hamstring issue.

Lucas Erceg, the second of four Kansas City relievers, got Adolis García to ground into a double play with runners on the corners to end the seventh inning.

Texas was 5 for 13 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine on base.

Kansas City goes for the sweep Thursday with RHP Michael Wacha (3-6, 3.38 ERA). Texas will go with a bullpen game, starting with RHP Shawn Armstrong (2-1, 2.90).

⚾ Maikel Garcia homers to help the Royals beat the Rangers

DODGE CITY, Kan. — Eagle Media will serve as the official radio broadcast partner of the 52nd Kansas Shrine Bowl, set for Saturday, June 21, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City.

The broadcast team features Gerard Wellbrock as play-by-play, Dustin Armbruster as analyst, and Sean Boston and Anthony Gorges reporting from the West and East sidelines, respectively. Glen Grunwald will serve as the producer.

The game will air live across five Eagle Media markets:

Additional coverage will be available on affiliate stations in Beloit (1190 AM, 102.9 FM, 105.5 FM) and Coffeyville (690 AM/104.1 FM).

Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with a 30-minute show featuring interviews and more.

Eagle Media to serve as official radio home of Kansas Shrine Bowl

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/bobby-witt-jr-homers-9-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-field?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share">Bobby Witt Jr. went deep</a>&nbsp;in his hometown team's ballpark for the first time and the Kansas City Royals stopped a six-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

Seth Lugo struck out a season-high nine for his first win since May 1 as all three active Kansas City All-Stars from last year's Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field returned to Texas and had a hand in ending the team's five-game skid against the Rangers.

Lugo (4-5), who threw a scoreless inning in the American League's 5-3 victory last July, gave up three hits and a run over six innings in his return to Arlington.

With the Royals coming off an 0-6 homestand that matched their longest losing streak of the season, Perez hit a two-run shot for a 3-0 lead in the first inning. After adding an RBI double in the fourth, Perez connected for his eighth homer of the year, a solo shot that made it 6-1 in the sixth.

Witt also homered off Jack Leiter in a matchup between sons of former major league pitchers. Witt grew up in the Dallas area, where Bobby Witt settled after spending 11 of his 16 big league seasons with the Rangers.

Leiter (4-4) is the son of Al Leiter, who had a 19-year major league career. The rookie right-hander gave up eight hits and six runs — both matching season highs — in 5 2/3 innings.

The Rangers equaled their season high by striking out 14 times.

Texas rookie Alejandro Osuna had his first career RBI in the fourth.

Perez had his 18th multihomer game, breaking George Brett's franchise record.

Kansas City's Kris Bubic (5-4, 1.92 ERA) faces Patrick Corbin (4-5, 3.66) in a matchup of lefties Wednesday.

⚾ Perez homers twice as Royals beat the Rangers 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched a missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.

Witnesses reported seeing missiles in the skies, followed by explosions, but it wasn’t clear if there was any damage.

(President Trump visited the base in May.)

Iran announced on state television that it attacked American forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base. A caption on screen called it “a mighty and successful response" to "America’s aggression” as martial music played.

The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.

Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”

In the past, Iran has threatened American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command. Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, maintains diplomatic relations with Iran and shares a massive offshore natural gas field with Tehran.

Earlier in the day, Israel expanded its war against Iran to include targets associated with the country's struggling theocracy, striking the gate of a Tehran prison notorious for holding political activists and hitting the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests.

As plumes of thick smoke rose over Tehran, Israel was attacked with yet another barrage of Iranian missiles and drones. The persistent fire has become a reality for civilians in both countries since Israel started the war to target Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.

On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel said it attacked “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” but Israeli officials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran's government, their archenemy since the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Israeli military warned Iranians that it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran over “the coming days” as its focuses has shifted to symbolic targets as well. The military issued the warning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world as an internet shutdown has crippled the country.

The latest strikes unfolded only hours after President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility himself after just a day earlier inserting America into the war with its unprecedented stealth-bomber strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.

“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he asked on his Truth Social website.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later described Trump as “simply raising a question.” However, suggestions of overthrowing the Iranian government drew new anger from Tehran, which insists it will not negotiate at this time and is threatening to retaliate directly against either American troops or interests in a Mideast already inflamed by the still-raging Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

In the Tehran strikes, Israel blew open a gate at Evin prison. Iranian state television shared black-and-white surveillance footage of the strike at the facility known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners run by the paramilitary, all-volunteer Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S. and European Union sanctions.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in Iran or significant damage, though the semiofficial Tasnim news agency said there had been a power cut reported outside of Tehran following the Israeli strikes.

Iranian state television also aired footage it described as being shot inside Evin, with prisoners under control inside the facility. However, the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran expressed worry about the condition of prisoners there.

“Many families of current detainees have expressed deep concern about the safety and condition of their loved ones held inside the prison,” it said.

Earlier Monday, Iranian Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of joint staff of armed forces, warned Washington that its strikes had given Iranian forces a “free hand “ to “act against U.S. interests and its army.”

Tens of thousands of American troops are based in the Middle East, many in locations within range of short-range Iranian missiles.

The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site. The underground site was one of those hit in Sunday’s attack by the United States on three nuclear facilities. The Israeli military did not elaborate.

“The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front,” Israel's Defense Ministry said.

According to an Israeli official familiar with the government’s strategy, Israel is targeting these sites to put pressure on the Iranian administration but is not actively seeking to topple it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal government deliberations.

In Vienna, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he expected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility following Sunday's U.S. airstrike there with sophisticated bunker-buster bombs.

With the strikes Sunday on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">Iranian nuclear sites</a>, the United States inserted itself into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-missile-attacks-nuclear-news-tehran-trump-06-17-2025-3f08988b5e8fd375645967b6e22916f3">Israel’s war</a>, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran said the U.S. had crossed “a very big red line” with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nuclear-fordo-ef530114e5297884b1c3b76a04a3b1de">risky gambit</a>&nbsp;to strike the three sites with missiles and 30,000-pound&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bunker-buster-bomb-israel-iran-fordo-fordow-b2-nuclear-8a612cbf16aa0f99bd9992334ffc93d7">bunker-buster bombs</a>.

Several Iranian officials, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, have claimed Iran removed nuclear material from targeted sites ahead of time.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the agency's board of governors Monday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed him on June 13 that Iran would “adopt special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials.”

“I indicated that any transfer of nuclear material from a safeguarded facility to another location in Iran must be declared,” Grossi said, without saying whether Iran had responded.

Iran launches retaliatory strike on US airbase in Qatar

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Wichita have a suspect in custody.

A 26-year-old male has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon in the 4100 block of West Pine.

Just before 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a report of a disturbance involving gunshot in the 4100 Block of West Pine in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a male victim had been shot and was transported to a local hospital by private vehicle.

The victim has been identified as Sauhni Stallings, 23, of Wichita. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Following the investigation, officers arrested a 26-year-old Michael Dixon as identified in booking records. He is being held on a requested charge of second-degree murder, according to Ford.

Suspect accused in fatal Kansas shooting 

RUSSELL COUNTY —A man drowned on Saturday at Wilson Lake.

Just after noon Saturday,&nbsp;&nbsp;Russell County Communications received a 911 call about a possible drowning at Lucas Swim Beach, Wilson Lake, in Russell County, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Russell County EMS, Lucas Fire, Army Corp of Engineers, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Russell County Emergency Management, and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

After a thorough search of the area, a body was located by boat sonar under the water. Divers were deployed and just after 2:30p.m. 43-year-old Lee Andrew Williams of Kansas City Missouri was recovered.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Sheriff: Body of drowning victim recovered at Kansas lake

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The next hurdle for Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate and the “big, beautiful bill”: Democrats — and possibly a few of their own members — in a marathon voting session will make last-ditch attempts to change the tax and spending cut measure.

The vote-a-rama, as it’s known, is expected to begin sometime during the last full week of June as Congress heads toward the Fourth of July recess. It will likely begin in the afternoon and&nbsp; last overnight into the next morning. Senators will debate and vote on dozens of amendments attempting to revise the massive legislation that could have an effect on nearly every American.

Democrats, who have 47 votes in the Senate compared to 53 for Republicans, plan to zero in on Medicaid, taxes, corruption, policies that could raise energy costs and proposals that would increase the deficit, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the committee chairs tasked with drafting pieces of the package have spent weeks combing through the House-passed bill to figure out what needs to be altered to avoid divisive floor votes.&nbsp;

They’ve rewritten numerous policy proposals to comply with the strict rules that go along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/five-questions-and-answers-about-reconciliation-us-senate" target="_blank">the complex reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;and are now trying to work out disagreements among GOP senators that could doom or complicate a final deal.

The goal is to avoid a protracted debate over core GOP provisions in full public view once the vote-a-rama begins, though some senators are already predicting votes on GOP amendments.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-senators-warn-mega-bills-new-medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">who has raised concerns about the bill’s impact on rural hospitals</a>, said he hopes GOP leaders reach a consensus before vote-a-rama but didn’t rule out offering his own amendments if they don’t settle their disputes.

“Amending it on the floor, that’s a potentially messy process,” Hawley said. “I would hope that we could get to a good place before that. But we have to fix the rural hospital issue.”

Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will likely propose amendments during floor debate, though he declined to say what specific policies he’d seek to change or eliminate from the package.

“Yeah, we’ll have some,” Tuberville said. “And we’ve got them all, we just haven’t turned them in yet.”

Thune said he and other negotiators are making “headway” toward consensus on the more significant provisions in the package, which in many respects is far from its final form.

“The meetings right now are on the major provisions in tax and health. We have sort of pre-litigated a lot of that,” Thune said. “But there are a lot of the other provisions in the bill, chapters in the bill that are still subject to going through the Byrd bath, and we’re in the process of doing that. But hopefully that’ll be done by early next week.”

Republicans are using the reconciliation process to pass their sweeping tax and spending cuts package through the Senate with just a simple majority vote, requiring them to comply with the Byrd rules.

That includes the Byrd bath — going before the Senate parliamentarian to explain how each provision has an impact on federal revenue or spending that is not “merely incidental.” Democrats then usually debate before the parliamentarian the various changes that don’t meet that threshold. The process is named after the late Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat.

Once the parliamentarian rules what elements comply and which need to be removed, the bill can go to the floor and senators can trudge through vote-a-rama. Eventually, all 100 lawmakers will vote to approve or disapprove of the legislation.

GOP senators passing their version of the package would send it back to the House, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">passed its version</a>&nbsp;on a slim 215-214 vote earlier this year — and could make yet more changes in the Senate bill.

Democrats are hoping to highlight policy divisions among Republicans during the vote-a-rama. And even if they don’t succeed in getting any of their amendments adopted, several votes could serve as fodder for campaign ads during next year’s midterm elections.

Schumer said Wednesday during a press conference it would be “difficult” for Democrats to peel off at least four GOP senators from the rest of the party in order to get an amendment adopted, but said he’s hopeful Republicans will “vote with us on some things they’ve all said they’ve agreed with.”

Democratic senators, he said, have created a task force to reach out to Republicans on major issues in the package, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/medicaid-cuts-rippling-through-rural-america-could-bring-hospital-closures-job-losses" target="_blank">how it would impact rural hospitals</a>.

“Many of these hospital administrators and employees are Republican,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. “In many of the rural hospitals, they are the largest employer in the county, and in most they’re the only supplier of health care. It infuriates the rural counties, and they tend to be Republican.”

‘It’s just a show, it’s a charade’

Local

Region

Sports