Geary County Historical Society&nbsp; Executive Director

The Geary County Historical Society is preparing for a busy spring season starting this weekend with the debut of SMOOCH, a 1980s murder mystery which will be held the last weekend of February and the first weekend of March.&nbsp; Only five tickets remain for the March 6th&nbsp;show. All other shows are sold out.&nbsp; 

Tickets can be purchased at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://gchs1980murdermystery.eventbrite.com/">http://GCHS1980murdermystery.eventbrite.com</a>

<a target="_blank" href="http://gchs1980murdermystery.eventbrite.com/"></a>Other upcoming spring events at the Geary County Historical Society and their historic sites include:&nbsp;

March 21st, 1:00pm-3:30pm: Join the Geary County Historical Society for a history experience all about life on the homefront during World War II. Identify airplane shadows, test your rationing skills, taste war-ration cake, and interact with real World War I and World War II era artifacts. The On the Homefront history experience is sponsored by the United Way Junction City Geary Couty and is a free come-and-go style event.&nbsp;

March 28th, 3:00pm: Memories at the Museum is returning and the focus is all about family farms. The Historical Society invites anyone with memories of a Geary County family farm or ranch to join us for this round-table discussion. Conversations will be recorded so that important local history will be preserved for future generations. Your history is Geary County history.

April 1st, 10am—Hands on History Homeschool Class will focus on pioneer living. More information coming soon. RSVPS are required. Contact Kim at gearyhistoryprograms@gmail.com&nbsp; to RSVP.&nbsp;

April 17th&nbsp;&amp; April 18th: History Alive! is returning to Spring Valley Historic Site. Travel back in time, to experience life in the past and learn a skill lost to time with knowledgeable living historians from across the Midwest. History isn’t just taught here, it comes ALIVE here. History Alive! Reenactment Weekend is held each April at the Spring Valley Historic Site, located west of Junction City. 

Friday, April 17th is an all-schools day for Middle and High School students. Teachers interested in scheduling a field trip, should contact Kim at gearyhistoryprograms@gmail.com. 

Saturday, April 18th, Spring Valley Site will be open to visitors from 10am-4pm. More information to come. 

May 9th, 1:00-3:30pm: On May 8, 1886 (140 years ago), Coca Cola was invented. In 1916 (110 years ago), the Deppish family began to bottle the beverage in their Junction City bottling plant. Now the Historical Society is celebrating the history of Coca Cola with a 1950s themed day of drink samples, activities and historic fun.&nbsp;

The Geary County Historical Society museum, located at 530 N. Adams, will also maintain regular hours, open to the public from 1:00-4:00pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Visits to the museum are free to the public, but donations are accepted.&nbsp;

Geary County Historical Society prepares for spring season

The Emporia High Spartans swept the Junction City boys and girls basketball teams on Friday night at Junction City High School inside the Nest.

Girls recap Emporia 36, Junction City 26

In the girls matchup, Junction City senior Kalia Riley made a three-pointer to begin the game, and the Lady Jays jumped out to an early lead. JCHS sophomore Laniyah Warmack then scored the next two baskets, and the Lady Jays trailed 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

In second-quarter action, not much happened for either side. Junction City sophomore Isabel Pruitt made a three-pointer right before halftime, and the Lady Jays trailed 14-10 at the break.

In the second half, neither team could really get going. Defense was the story of the game. Emporia led 28-17 after the third period and held on to win the game. The final score was 36-26 in favor of the Spartans.

Junction City finished the year at 2-20 and 0-10 in Centennial League play.

All five seniors were honored after the game. They are: Breya Allen, Morgan Nabus, Nevaeh Rushing, Kalia Riley, and Ava Uhlman.

Boys recap - Emporia 71, Junction City 65

In boys action, this one was a stunner. Junction City led for most of the game, but the Spartans pulled through, ending the game on a remarkable run.

Emporia’s Harrison Trelc made the first basket of the game on a mid-range jumper, and the two teams then traded baskets back and forth throughout the rest of the quarter. It featured a game of runs, as Emporia went on a 10-2 run, and the Blue Jays countered with a 12-2 run. At the end of the first quarter, JCHS led 19-16.

In second-quarter action, it was very evenly matched, as neither team scored much and the defenses really settled in. The Blue Jays outscored the Spartans 8-6 in the quarter, and JCHS led 27-22 at halftime.

In third-quarter action, it certainly seemed as if Junction City were cruising. The Blue Jays started the half on a 15-5 run and led by 15 at 42-27. They then led 50-35 before Emporia hit a corner three at the buzzer to end the third period.

The Spartans certainly used the buzzer-beating three to spark them. EHS started the fourth quarter on an 11-4 run and trailed 54-49. Emporia cranked up their defensive press and gave Junction City fits. The Spartans tied the game at 58 with three minutes to go. The two teams went back and forth, neither able to get a stop down the stretch. The game was tied at 65 with one minute to go, and then Emporia hit a huge three to take the lead. EHS made their free throws down the stretch and won the game 71-65, sweeping Junction City on the season.

Emporia improves to 16-7 on the year, while Junction City falls to 12-10.

The Blue Jays honored all three seniors prior to the game: Lovell Autry, Jackson Hollie, and Jett Thompson.

Junction City is the #6 seed in 6A West and will host #11 seed Dodge City on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

Emporia Spartans sweep Junction City on Senior Night

14 Junction City School Wrestlers advanced to Day 2 of the 6A Kansas State High School Activities (KSHSAA) State Wrestling Tournament. (18 Wrestlers qualified for State.)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -- 100 lbs. Khishauna&nbsp; Williams (1-1)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 110 lbs. Isha Kagoni (1-1)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; --&nbsp;115 lbs. Juliana “Bre” Villanueva (3-0) - Will Wrestle in Championship Match

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 120 lbs. Kiera Lawton (1-1)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;--&nbsp;130 lbs. Elizabeth Edgerton-Diaz -&nbsp;(3-0) - Will Wrestle in Championship Match

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 135 lbs. Miracle Simon (1-1)&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 140 lbs. Elaina Twitty (1-1)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 170 lbs. Myrah Gutierrez (1-1)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 190 lbs. Shalina Hicks (2-1) - Will Wrestle in consolation semifinals.&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 235 lbs. Ka’Ori Herring (1-1)

Two Lady Jay wrestlers eliminated were (145 lbs) Kimaya Celestin, and&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;(155 lbs) Ameris Blackmon.

The Junction City High School Girls Head Wrestling Coach is Carl Laughlin.&nbsp;

&nbsp;-- 113 lbs. Riley Luckenbill (1-1)&nbsp;

-- 215 lbs. Chris Coy (2-1) -&nbsp;Will Wrestle in consolation semifinals. 

Two Blue Jay wrestlers eliminated were (126 lbs.) Jayden Melton, and               (165 lbs.) Cody Owens.

The Junction City High School Boys Head Wrestling Coach is Rick Bazan.

Wrestling begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Updates after each round can be heard on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio.&nbsp;

14 Blue Jay Wrestlers Advance to Day 2 at 6A State Wrestling

&nbsp; JUNCTION CITY, Kan.&nbsp;- It was a banner week for the H.D. Karns Alternative School and Junction City High School Jobs for America's Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K)&nbsp;programs at the Region 2 Career Development Conference They qualified a total of 14 students for the 2026 JAG-K State Career Development Conference in March.“While the awards and titles reflect excellence, I think the true victory lies in the students’ character and commitment. Students dedicated countless hours of preparation by arriving before school, staying late after classes, refining presentations, and sharpening their skills," said James Denton, JAG-K Specialist.

As a team, the two JCHS programs tied for first overall, which marked the first time in school history that both programs were able to claim championship honors at regionals. By winning the regional title, the Blue Jays have now won three-straight regional championships. In all, the high school had 11 students earn first-place accolades.

Other highlights included junior Alani Burks being named the Region 2 president, which marks the fourth consecutive year a Junction City JAG-K student has held the Region 2 presidency as Laila Horton (2023-24), Noah Maldonado (2024-25) and Jaden Exantus (2025-26) previously held the role.K program. By placing at regionals, students will now have a chance to qualify for nationals as the top two placers at the state conference in each division&nbsp;will represent USD 475 in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 30 through May 2.&nbsp;

JCHS JAG-K Captures Regional Title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – February 27, 2026 – Severe Weather Preparedness Week is March 2-6. The Evergy service area experiences a wide variety of severe weather during the spring and summer seasons including tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding.

Evergy’s ongoing work to upgrade and modernize the power grid helps reduce outages, which is especially important during severe weather events. Recent Evergy investments include:

Evergy prioritizes investments where they most effectively improve reliability and reduce long-term costs. In 2025, Evergy performed well during storms, with customers being out of power for shorter durations.

"We've been on a great trend for the last several years, and that trend includes having fewer outages that our customers actually experience, whether it's on a stormy day or a blue-sky day. And then we continue to get better and better at our response to outages when they occur," said Ryan Mulvany, Evergy vice president, power delivery.&nbsp;

Even with greater resiliency, extreme weather can result in power outages. Evergy encourages customers to be prepared and to prioritize safety during severe weather. Here are a few ways to be ready for spring storm season:

Find more preparation and safety tips on our&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCyMtA2QiHRr17rvibSwc-2BJuiOnpYz-2BmV-2FOXEX-2FNY-2BEPgbfTEU7pOJdAqI0RGuRhMtu7NkN56R-2Bxr3OsUxkhNKIFTkbvCvmfvoG-2BoagQ3Dard0q1S_6n4-2BiDMUzpddSZX1Wt-2FWUJw49AQHSmsMB-2FCEltLGfW-2FgxXViF68B5RuuPoTByQpAbUylFj0p0kZpAbY3WvQgwDzUXB7D3Y-2BBPYx-2FG6ERHgNP24ff5rVEHYtaMUEcAv0-2FggsZosUiHOaDhz8KEnapJyVHEIANrEWvTjKjgB8ShGCzd-2BPVt1svp3vgg6v1Wo9WBwU8pXnj9t7IM6WEUvNmhervGOw2Gw5yFBA4Cks-2BZZIYLqeutFzHB594NRAmQg-2FJ1T7KoF40Toldp7SjYTLvyZcaxvlp-2FYY66WdRP5fY31OfKXrHf6ky99xC3HlXwZjGiLTE-2FVjUutUdh-2BPLQf0bHDV1yaehl-2BqNV8ASFi4sWn0-3D">Preparing for Outages</a>&nbsp;page.

Evergy prepares for severe weather with year-round grid investments  

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.

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

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 accused of armed carjacking in Riley County

The State Wrestling tournament for Class 6A will take place on Friday and Saturday in Overland Park at The AdventHealth Sports Park. *18 Junction City wrestlers will compete for a state title. Wrestling begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday.&nbsp;

Junction City Girls State Qualifiers&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 100 lbs. Khishauna&nbsp; Williams&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 110 lbs. Isha Kagoni&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; --&nbsp;115 lbs. Juliana “Bre” Villanueva

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 120 lbs. Kiera Lawton&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;--&nbsp;130 lbs. Elizabeth Edgerton-Diaz&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 135 lbs. Miracle Simon&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 140 lbs. Elaina Twitty&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 145 lbs Kimaya Celestin&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 155 lbs. Ameris Blackmon&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 170 lbs. Myrah Gutierrez&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 190 lbs. Shalina Hicks&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-- 235 lbs. Ka’Ori Herring

Junction City Boys State Qualifiers

&nbsp;-- Riley Luckenbill&nbsp; 113 lbs.&nbsp;

18 Junction City Wrestlers will Compete at the State Wrestling Tournament 

City crews are actively working on a water main break at 14th Street and Dean Street. Residents from Eisenhower Dr to Johnson Sr may experience low to no water pressure and temporary water quality issues while repairs are underway.

The Junction City Public Works team is working as quickly as possible to restore service. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Junction City Public Works at (785) 238-7142

Junction City Water Main Break Alert

&nbsp;The JC 1st UWF (United Women in Faith) will host a community-wide Rummage Sale on Friday, February 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 28, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

The rummage sale is located at the First United Methodist Church 804 N. Jefferson St. in Junction City. For more information, call 785-238-2156 or visit the church’s Facebook page at @FUMCJunctionCityKs.

JC 1st UWF to Host Community Rummage Sale February 27–28

The Geary County Health Department supports community health. According to a County newsletter this is being done through clinical services, outreach and emergency preparedness efforts.

During the first quarter the staff conducted six influenza clinics in partnership with Jim Clark, Bicentennial Manor, Foot Locker Warehouse, Cloud County Community College and Dorothy Bramlage Public Library to increase vaccine access.

Through Safe Kids Geary County, families receive education on home safety car seat use, safe walking routes and injury prevention related to swimming, biking and sports, including free car seat installation checks.

Geary County Newsletter updates

Israeli officials told The Associated Press Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>&nbsp;is dead. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. or Iran on his status.

The assassination of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, would throw its future into doubt.

In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday.

Shortly after the address, two Israeli officials said Israel had confirmed his death. The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and gave no further details.

Iran's Supreme Leader is dead, Israeli officials tell AP

&nbsp;The U.S. and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran. As of 12 noon CST Saturday, several members of the Kansas Congressional delegation used their social media accounts to comment on the military action.

Kansas lawmakers comment on U.S. military attack on Iran

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

🎥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.

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