<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/" target="_blank">BUSINESS WIRE</a>

KANSAS CITY—-EPR Properties announced Thursday that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a portfolio of seven regional parks from Six Flags Entertainment Corporation for a gross transactional value of $342 million, of which the Company provided approximately $315 million and our operating tenants provided the balance, including funds for working capital and capital improvements. This transaction significantly expands the Company's attractions portfolio and represents its largest acquisition since 2017.

<a href="https://www.sixflags.com/blog/looking-forward-a-new-chapter-for-six-flags?fbclid=IwY2xjawQWihBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsYzZtakF3WTVuRkxQZXZac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkaAETJ4zMV0das0yoP6MkXkVMOgW3h5bzqF6ejIleo_FtIJzLiF41qZtpNt_aem_so5pEBI0IvQUgjNyUMGUwA">Click here for more detail</a>s on what the sale means for park guests

The seven parks comprise over 1,600 acres, featuring 418 attractions across five states and Canada, and drawing approximately 4.5 million annual attendees. The six regional parks that are located throughout the U.S. will be leased to and operated by Enchanted Parks (formerly Innovative Attraction Management) pursuant to a long-term master lease, and the one park located in Canada will be leased to and operated by La Ronde Operations, Inc. following the completion of the transaction. Both entities are proven operators with which the Company has an existing relationship.

"This strategic acquisition represents a compelling opportunity to expand our attractions portfolio with high-quality experiential real estate assets in established regional markets," said Gregory K. Silvers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EPR Properties. "These properties embody the essential characteristics we seek: delivering stable, long-term cash flows, strong drive-to accessibility, multi-generational appeal, and significant underlying land value. This transaction aligns with our disciplined investment criteria and accelerates our strategic expansion into experiential properties that create enduring value for our shareholders.”

Properties Included In Transaction

The company has acquired the non-Six Flags branded property names as part of the transaction and acquired rights to the Six Flags brand through 2026. The transaction is expected to close toward the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and third-party approvals. No significant impact on guests is expected during this transition. The parks will continue their regular operating schedules, and all season passes sold will be recognized through the 2026 operating season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1698950143386.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.businesswire.com/" target="_blank">BUSINESS WIRE</a>KANSAS CITY—-EPR Properties announced Thursday that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a portfolio of seven regional parks from Six Flags Entertainment Corporation for a gross transactional value of $342 million, of which the Company provided approximately $315 million and our operating tenants provided the balance, including funds for working capital and capital improvements. This transaction significantly expands the Company's attractions portfolio and represents its largest acquisition since 2017.<a href="https://www.sixflags.com/blog/looking-forward-a-new-chapter-for-six-flags?fbclid=IwY2xjawQWihBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsYzZtakF3WTVuRkxQZXZac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkaAETJ4zMV0das0yoP6MkXkVMOgW3h5bzqF6ejIleo_FtIJzLiF41qZtpNt_aem_so5pEBI0IvQUgjNyUMGUwA">Click here for more detail</a>s on what the sale means for park guestsThe seven parks comprise over 1,600 acres, featuring 418 attractions across five states and Canada, and drawing approximately 4.5 million annual attendees. The six regional parks that are located throughout the U.S. will be leased to and operated by Enchanted Parks (formerly Innovative Attraction Management) pursuant to a long-term master lease, and the one park located in Canada will be leased to and operated by La Ronde Operations, Inc. following the completion of the transaction. Both entities are proven operators with which the Company has an existing relationship."This strategic acquisition represents a compelling opportunity to expand our attractions portfolio with high-quality experiential real estate assets in established regional markets," said Gregory K. Silvers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EPR Properties. "These properties embody the essential characteristics we seek: delivering stable, long-term cash flows, strong drive-to accessibility, multi-generational appeal, and significant underlying land value. This transaction aligns with our disciplined investment criteria and accelerates our strategic expansion into experiential properties that create enduring value for our shareholders.”Properties Included In TransactionU.S. Parks – Enchanted Parks<ul>
 <li>Worlds of Fun – Amusement &amp; Waterpark – Kansas City, MO</li><li>Valleyfair – Amusement &amp; Waterpark – Minneapolis, MN</li><li>Six Flags St. Louis – Amusement &amp; Waterpark – St. Louis, MO</li><li>Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston – Waterpark – Galveston TX</li><li>Michigan’s Adventure – Amusement &amp; Waterpark – Grand Rapids, MI</li><li>Six Flags Great Escape – Amusement &amp; Waterpark - Queensbury, NY</li>
 </ul>Canadian Park<ul>
 <li>Six Flags La Ronde – Amusement Park - Montreal, QC</li>
 </ul>Investment Highlights<ul>
 <li>Properties Underwritten at a 2.0x Coverage</li><li>Compelling Valuation</li><li>New Focused Operators with Capital Infusion</li><li>High Quality Real Estate</li><li>Strong Master Lease</li>
 </ul>The company has acquired the non-Six Flags branded property names as part of the transaction and acquired rights to the Six Flags brand through 2026. The transaction is expected to close toward the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and third-party approvals. No significant impact on guests is expected during this transition. The parks will continue their regular operating schedules, and all season passes sold will be recognized through the 2026 operating season.

Worlds of Fun sold as part of $342 million deal

SHAWNEE COUNTY– The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office recently assisted authorities in Trinity County, California, after receiving information related to a possible homicide involving two family members in Weaverville, California.

On Tuesday, a Shawnee County resident contacted the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office to report information regarding a possible homicide involving relatives who were reportedly living in Weaverville, California. Investigators with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division met with the reporting party and gathered information regarding the report.

Investigators relayed the information to the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, which then initiated its investigation.

Based in part on the information received, investigators with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant at a residence in the 3100 block of Bear Creek Road in Weaverville. During the search, investigators located the deceased body of Darren Jackson, 58, in a compost pile on the property. Multiple deceased puppies were also located.

Kevin Jackson, 54, the victim’s brother, was taken into custody in connection with the investigation and arrested on requested charges of&nbsp;First degree murder, Felon in possession of a firearm,&nbsp;Felon in possession of ammunition and animal cruelty.

SHAWNEE COUNTY– The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office recently assisted authorities in Trinity County, California, after receiving information related to a possible homicide involving two family members in Weaverville, California.On Tuesday, a Shawnee County resident contacted the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office to report information regarding a possible homicide involving relatives who were reportedly living in Weaverville, California. Investigators with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division met with the reporting party and gathered information regarding the report.Investigators relayed the information to the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, which then initiated its investigation.Based in part on the information received, investigators with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant at a residence in the 3100 block of Bear Creek Road in Weaverville. During the search, investigators located the deceased body of Darren Jackson, 58, in a compost pile on the property. Multiple deceased puppies were also located.Kevin Jackson, 54, the victim’s brother, was taken into custody in connection with the investigation and arrested on requested charges of&nbsp;First degree murder, Felon in possession of a firearm,&nbsp;Felon in possession of ammunition and animal cruelty.

Tip to Kan. sheriff helps in arrest of Calif. man for killing his brother

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Israel, American bases and countries around the region Thursday, while warning the U.S. would “bitterly regret”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">torpedoing an Iranian warship</a>&nbsp;and calling for “Trump’s blood.” Tehran’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">expanding retaliatory strikes</a>&nbsp;and increasing shows of defiance came even as Israel hammered it for a sixth day.

The war has escalated each day, expanding well beyond the Gulf. On Thursday, Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones — though Tehran denied launching them. A day earlier, the U.S. said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">it sank an Iranian frigate</a>&nbsp;in the waters off Sri Lanka.

All the while, Israel and the U.S. have battered Iran with nationwide strikes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">targeting their military capabilities and security forces</a>. Iran’s attacks have targeted their Arab neighbors, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel.

In launching the war Saturday, the U.S. and Israel targeted Iran’s leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear program. Leaders have also suggested that toppling the government is a goal — and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of strikes. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, and the conflict increasingly appeared to be open-ended.

The war has killed more than 1,200 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. It has disrupted the supply of the world’s oil and gas, snarled international shipping and stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

Israel announced multiple incoming missile attacks and air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and Gulf countries also reported coming under fire.

In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a drone was shot down near the Al Dhafra Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces, and shrapnel fell to the ground, authorities said. Six people were wounded.

Qatar evacuated residents near the U.S. Embassy in Doha as a temporary precaution and later reported a missile attack on the city. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed a drone in its province bordering Jordan.

The Israeli military said it launched attacks in Lebanon on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group — which attacked Israel in the opening days of the war — and that a wave of strikes on Iran had hit long-range ballistic missile launch sites and other targets.

A drone crashed Thursday near the airport in Nakhchivan, a region of Azerbaijan bordering the north of Iran that is separated from the rest of the country by Armenia. Another drone fell near a school and two civilians were injured, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Azerbaijan called it an attack, but Iran’s general staff of the armed forces denied it had launched a drone toward the country. The denial comes as Iran has repeatedly denied targeting oil infrastructure and other civilian targets during the war, despite its drone and missile fire hitting those sites.

A tanker apparently came under attack off the coast of Kuwait early Thursday, expanding the area where commercial shipping was in danger, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center run by the British military. It said there was an explosion but did not offer a cause.

Since the war began Saturday, ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Oman and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped. That&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-supply-chain-disruption-8f262bb210710b7509221a3dccf787c9">has caused oil prices to soar</a>&nbsp;— though they briefly came down Wednesday, before resuming their climb Thursday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 Iranian sailors.

“Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set,” he said on social media.

Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli later called on state television for the shedding of both Israeli and “Trump’s blood.”

The statement represented a rare call for violence by an ayatollah, which is one of the highest ranks within the clergy of Shiite Islam. There are dozens in Iran.

Iranian warship was sunk on way home from multinational exercises

The Iranian ship sunk by the U.S. Navy was returning from participating in an exercise hosted by the Indian navy that the U.S. also participated in.

Sri Lankan authorities said 32 crew members were rescued, while its navy recovered at least 87 bodies.

Araghchi said it had been carrying “almost 130” crew.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday that an American submarine had sunk the ship with a torpedo.

Sri Lanka’s media minister and government spokesman, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament Thursday that another Iranian ship had arrived in its waters. Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board.

Israel says it hits more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

Among the 80 targets in Lebanon that the Israel military said it hit over the past 24 hours were “several command centers” used by Hezbollah in Beirut. It showed video footage of a building being hit, but provided no further details.

Another eight people were killed in Lebanon, including two in a building struck by the Israeli military in the Beddawi refugee camp in the coastal city of Tripoli on Thursday and three on a coastal highway, authorities said. The Israeli military did not immediately say who it targeted in the strikes.

U.S. and Israeli military officials say launches from Iran have declined as their attacks have taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. Israel’s Homefront Command announced it was easing restrictions that closed workplaces nationwide, which could reopen Thursday if there is a shelter nearby. Schools would remain closed.

At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, the country’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Thursday. Eleven people have died in Israel.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;have been killed, including a major whose identity was released Wednesday.

Rising reported from Bangkok, Becatoros from Athens, Greece, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, Lebanon, Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, Aida Sultanova in Baku, Azerbaijan, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Miami contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772717000656.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Israel, American bases and countries around the region Thursday, while warning the U.S. would “bitterly regret”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">torpedoing an Iranian warship</a>&nbsp;and calling for “Trump’s blood.” Tehran’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">expanding retaliatory strikes</a>&nbsp;and increasing shows of defiance came even as Israel hammered it for a sixth day.The war has escalated each day, expanding well beyond the Gulf. On Thursday, Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones — though Tehran denied launching them. A day earlier, the U.S. said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748">it sank an Iranian frigate</a>&nbsp;in the waters off Sri Lanka.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/J4grAgoqxc">https://t.co/J4grAgoqxc</a> <a href="https://t.co/szOofLkh9W">pic.twitter.com/szOofLkh9W</a>&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2029203986314919960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>All the while, Israel and the U.S. have battered Iran with nationwide strikes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">targeting their military capabilities and security forces</a>. Iran’s attacks have targeted their Arab neighbors, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel.In launching the war Saturday, the U.S. and Israel targeted Iran’s leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear program. Leaders have also suggested that toppling the government is a goal — and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of strikes. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, and the conflict increasingly appeared to be open-ended.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Iranian regime&#39;s ability to impact U.S. forces and regional partners is rapidly declining, while American combat power continues to build. <a href="https://t.co/21TXHbWwFi">pic.twitter.com/21TXHbWwFi</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2029543711407837528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The war has killed more than 1,200 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. It has disrupted the supply of the world’s oil and gas, snarled international shipping and stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.<h2>The war keeps expanding</h2>Israel announced multiple incoming missile attacks and air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and Gulf countries also reported coming under fire.In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a drone was shot down near the Al Dhafra Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces, and shrapnel fell to the ground, authorities said. Six people were wounded.Qatar evacuated residents near the U.S. Embassy in Doha as a temporary precaution and later reported a missile attack on the city. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed a drone in its province bordering Jordan.The Israeli military said it launched attacks in Lebanon on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group — which attacked Israel in the opening days of the war — and that a wave of strikes on Iran had hit long-range ballistic missile launch sites and other targets.A drone crashed Thursday near the airport in Nakhchivan, a region of Azerbaijan bordering the north of Iran that is separated from the rest of the country by Armenia. Another drone fell near a school and two civilians were injured, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said.Azerbaijan called it an attack, but Iran’s general staff of the armed forces denied it had launched a drone toward the country. The denial comes as Iran has repeatedly denied targeting oil infrastructure and other civilian targets during the war, despite its drone and missile fire hitting those sites.A tanker apparently came under attack off the coast of Kuwait early Thursday, expanding the area where commercial shipping was in danger, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center run by the British military. It said there was an explosion but did not offer a cause.Since the war began Saturday, ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Oman and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped. That&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-supply-chain-disruption-8f262bb210710b7509221a3dccf787c9">has caused oil prices to soar</a>&nbsp;— though they briefly came down Wednesday, before resuming their climb Thursday.<h2>Iran remains defiant</h2>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 Iranian sailors.“Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set,” he said on social media.Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli later called on state television for the shedding of both Israeli and “Trump’s blood.”The statement represented a rare call for violence by an ayatollah, which is one of the highest ranks within the clergy of Shiite Islam. There are dozens in Iran.<h2>Iranian warship was sunk on way home from multinational exercises</h2>The Iranian ship sunk by the U.S. Navy was returning from participating in an exercise hosted by the Indian navy that the U.S. also participated in.Sri Lankan authorities said 32 crew members were rescued, while its navy recovered at least 87 bodies.Araghchi said it had been carrying “almost 130” crew.U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday that an American submarine had sunk the ship with a torpedo.Sri Lanka’s media minister and government spokesman, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament Thursday that another Iranian ship had arrived in its waters. Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board.<h2>Israel says it hits more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon</h2>Among the 80 targets in Lebanon that the Israel military said it hit over the past 24 hours were “several command centers” used by Hezbollah in Beirut. It showed video footage of a building being hit, but provided no further details.Another eight people were killed in Lebanon, including two in a building struck by the Israeli military in the Beddawi refugee camp in the coastal city of Tripoli on Thursday and three on a coastal highway, authorities said. The Israeli military did not immediately say who it targeted in the strikes.U.S. and Israeli military officials say launches from Iran have declined as their attacks have taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. Israel’s Homefront Command announced it was easing restrictions that closed workplaces nationwide, which could reopen Thursday if there is a shelter nearby. Schools would remain closed.At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, the country’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Thursday. Eleven people have died in Israel.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;have been killed, including a major whose identity was released Wednesday.___Rising reported from Bangkok, Becatoros from Athens, Greece, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, Lebanon, Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, Aida Sultanova in Baku, Azerbaijan, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Miami contributed to this report.

Iran launches new attacks and calls for ‘Trump's blood’

SHAWNEE COUNTY– One person died in an apartment fire in&nbsp; Topeka.

Just after 9p.m. Wednesday, crews&nbsp;responded to an apartment fire located at 715 SW Western Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

 Crews reported on arrival that there was heavy smoke coming from the multi-family apartment complex. Firefighters began an aggressive interior attack on the fire from within the structure. Firefighters rescued several residents from the structure. Four people were transported to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries.

One individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. 9 apartment units are displaced by the fire.

&nbsp;The preliminary cause of the fire was determined to be an accidental electrical fire.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details early Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772710114626.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– One person died in an apartment fire in&nbsp; Topeka.Just after 9p.m. Wednesday, crews&nbsp;responded to an apartment fire located at 715 SW Western Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp; Crews reported on arrival that there was heavy smoke coming from the multi-family apartment complex. Firefighters began an aggressive interior attack on the fire from within the structure. Firefighters rescued several residents from the structure. Four people were transported to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries.One individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. 9 apartment units are displaced by the fire.&nbsp;The preliminary cause of the fire was determined to be an accidental electrical fire.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details early Thursday.

One dead, 4 hospitalized after Kansas apartment fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Textron Aviation team is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Russell W. “Russ” Meyer Jr., the longtime chairman and CEO, and Chairman Emeritus, of Cessna Aircraft Company.

Mr. Meyer was an aviation legend, leading Cessna for nearly 30 years and overseeing the development and launch of Citation business jets. He played a key role in stabilizing the industry through the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, and earned top aviation awards including two Collier Trophies, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy and induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

He believed in using aviation to help others, founding the&nbsp;<a href="https://airlift.txtav.com/">Special Olympics Airlift</a>&nbsp;— which has transported athletes to the Games for forty years — and supporting workforce development by starting Wichita's 21st Street Training Program to create career opportunities for underserved residents. His passion for youth development extended to many important charitable organizations and causes.

“Russ was a remarkable human being and one of the most respected leaders I have ever known. I held Russ in the highest regard, not only for his extraordinary business acumen, but for the integrity, humility and genuine care he showed for people at every stage of his life. He led with conviction, compassion and an unwavering belief that leadership carries a responsibility to serve something greater than oneself,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “On behalf of the entire Textron Aviation team, I extend my deepest condolences to Russ’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. I was truly privileged to know Russ as a colleague, a mentor and a friend.”

Russ leaves an enduring legacy of innovation, advocacy and service. He shaped our company, our industry and the Wichita, Kansas, community in ways that will be felt for generations to come.&nbsp; For more on the li

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772709208520.png" alt="Russ Meyer and Arnold Palmer" />
 <figcaption>Russ Meyer and Arnold Palmer</figcaption>
 </figure>Textron AviationSEDGWICK COUNTY —The Textron Aviation team is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Russell W. “Russ” Meyer Jr., the longtime chairman and CEO, and Chairman Emeritus, of Cessna Aircraft Company.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772709096554.png" alt="Russ Meyer" />
 <figcaption>Russ Meyer</figcaption>
 </figure>Mr. Meyer was an aviation legend, leading Cessna for nearly 30 years and overseeing the development and launch of Citation business jets. He played a key role in stabilizing the industry through the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, and earned top aviation awards including two Collier Trophies, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy and induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.He believed in using aviation to help others, founding the&nbsp;<a href="https://airlift.txtav.com/">Special Olympics Airlift</a>&nbsp;— which has transported athletes to the Games for forty years — and supporting workforce development by starting Wichita's 21st Street Training Program to create career opportunities for underserved residents. His passion for youth development extended to many important charitable organizations and causes.“Russ was a remarkable human being and one of the most respected leaders I have ever known. I held Russ in the highest regard, not only for his extraordinary business acumen, but for the integrity, humility and genuine care he showed for people at every stage of his life. He led with conviction, compassion and an unwavering belief that leadership carries a responsibility to serve something greater than oneself,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “On behalf of the entire Textron Aviation team, I extend my deepest condolences to Russ’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. I was truly privileged to know Russ as a colleague, a mentor and a friend.”Russ leaves an enduring legacy of innovation, advocacy and service. He shaped our company, our industry and the Wichita, Kansas, community in ways that will be felt for generations to come.&nbsp; For more on the li

Aviation legend, former Cessna CEO has died

SEDGWICK COUNTY -&nbsp;A 33-year-old man died after a shooting Tuesday afternoon at an apartment building in Wichita.

Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a reported shooting at 916 N. Broadway. Officers arrived and found 33-year-old Lee Banks inside the apartment building with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. 

Officers performed life-saving measures until EMS arrived. EMS transported Banks to a local hospital in serious condition.

Officers detained a 37-year-old man at the scene.

Preliminary investigation indicates the men got into a physical altercation prior to the shooting. Banks later died from his injuries.

Investigators interviewed the 37-year-old man and later released him. Investigators will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.

SEDGWICK COUNTY -&nbsp;A 33-year-old man died after a shooting Tuesday afternoon at an apartment building in Wichita.Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a reported shooting at 916 N. Broadway. Officers arrived and found 33-year-old Lee Banks inside the apartment building with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. Officers performed life-saving measures until EMS arrived. EMS transported Banks to a local hospital in serious condition.Officers detained a 37-year-old man at the scene.Preliminary investigation indicates the men got into a physical altercation prior to the shooting. Banks later died from his injuries.Investigators interviewed the 37-year-old man and later released him. Investigators will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.

Police release Kansas suspect after deadly fight at apartment 

By&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matthew-lee">MATTHEW LEE</a> Associated Press

The State Department says that charter flights for American citizens stranded in the Middle East since the start of military operations against Iran have begun.

The department said Wednesday that one plane has left the Middle East to bring Americans home.

It did not say where the flight originated from or where it was going, although the department has said it is arranging charter aircraft from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

It has said Americans wanting to leave those countries should register online at mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake or contact the State Department’s 24/7 Task Force at +1-202-501-4444.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matthew-lee">MATTHEW LEE</a> Associated PressThe State Department says that charter flights for American citizens stranded in the Middle East since the start of military operations against Iran have begun.The department said Wednesday that one plane has left the Middle East to bring Americans home.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, a Department of State charter flight of American citizens departed the Middle East in route to the United States, as part of our ongoing efforts to assist Americans return home. Additional flights will be surged across the region and American citizens in UAE, Qatar, Saudi… <a href="https://t.co/4egntuuWy3">pic.twitter.com/4egntuuWy3</a>&mdash; Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/2029354917471678936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It did not say where the flight originated from or where it was going, although the department has said it is arranging charter aircraft from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.It has said Americans wanting to leave those countries should register online at mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake or contact the State Department’s 24/7 Task Force at +1-202-501-4444.

US begins charter flights for stranded Americans wanting to leave the Middle East

KIOWA COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office detention officer Monday afternoon for child sex crimes.

On Monday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m., KBI agents arrested Dustin Dean Chartier, 36, of Greensburg, at the Kiowa County Courthouse, according to a media release from the KBI.

 Chartier was arrested on requested charges of rape, aggravated sexual battery, indecent liberties with a child, lewd and lascivious behavior, and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child.

In December 2025, the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office requested the KBI investigate allegations of sex abuse of a minor by a detention officer in 2021. Chartier was placed on administrative leave during the KBI investigation. While investigating the initial allegation, a second victim disclosed another sex abuse incident, prompting the KBI to open an additional investigation. The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office was fully cooperative with the investigation.

Following his arrest Chartier was booked into the Reno County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772649725973.png" alt="Chartier-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Chartier-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>KIOWA COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office detention officer Monday afternoon for child sex crimes.On Monday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m., KBI agents arrested Dustin Dean Chartier, 36, of Greensburg, at the Kiowa County Courthouse, according to a media release from the KBI. Chartier was arrested on requested charges of rape, aggravated sexual battery, indecent liberties with a child, lewd and lascivious behavior, and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child.In December 2025, the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office requested the KBI investigate allegations of sex abuse of a minor by a detention officer in 2021. Chartier was placed on administrative leave during the KBI investigation. While investigating the initial allegation, a second victim disclosed another sex abuse incident, prompting the KBI to open an additional investigation. The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office was fully cooperative with the investigation.Following his arrest Chartier was booked into the Reno County Correctional Facility.Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

KBI: Two child victims report sex abuse involving Kan. jail deputy 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone">REBECCA BOONE</a>

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The last two names of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Kuwait attack</a>&nbsp;were released Wednesday by the Pentagon, and they are from California and Iowa.

The soldiers identified Wednesday were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

The Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when a drone strike hit the command center in Kuwait and is “believed to be the individual who perished at the scene,” according to the statement. A medical examiner will confirm identification, the Pentagon said.

Four soldiers were previously identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

They died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">military campaign against Iran</a>. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

O’Brien was promoted to major in August 2024, according to a Facebook post, which shows him alongside two young children.

The signal officer and information systems engineer in the Army Reserve was a manager of defensive cyber operations at an Iowa-based cybersecurity company, according to his LinkedIn. He had a career spanning two decades in information and cybersecurity.

The other four soldiers identified were: Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa,; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of the deaths. Trump will attend the dignified transfers of the soldiers when they arrive in the U.S., the White House said Wednesday. The ritual honors service members killed in action.

Coady had been checking in with his family from Kuwait every hour or two after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">U.S. and Israel launched</a>&nbsp;their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">military campaign against Iran</a>, even as Iran launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-03-2026">retaliatory strikes</a>.

When he didn’t respond to messages Sunday, “most of us started to wonder,” Coady’s father, Andrew, told The Associated Press. “Your gut starts to get a feeling.”

Amor was just days away from returning to her husband and children.

“She was almost home,” her husband, Joey Amor, said Tuesday. “You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first — it hurts.”

Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes she grew with her son, a high school senior. She enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.

A week before the drone attack, Amor was moved off-base to a shipping container-style building that had no defenses, her husband said.

“They were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,” he said.

Childhood friend Natalie Caruso wrote on Facebook that she was “absolutely heartbroken” about Amor’s death.

“Nicole was always up for an adventure and she had such a contagious laugh!” Caruso wrote Wednesday.

Coady recently told his father he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously.

He was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, Andrew Coady said Tuesday.

“He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier,” Coady said. “He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone.”

Coady, an Eagle Scout, was close to his family and often called, even if for only a few minutes. He was studying cybersecurity at Drake University in Des Moines, and he wanted to become an officer.

“I still don’t fully think it’s real,” his sister Keira Coady said. “I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back.”

Khork was very patriotic and wanted to serve in the military from childhood, his family said in a statement Tuesday.

He enlisted in the Army Reserve and joined Florida Southern College’s ROTC program.

“That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was,” his mother, Donna Burhans; father, James Khork; and stepmother, Stacey Khork; said in a statement.

Khork, who loved history, had a degree in political science.

His family described him as “the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.”

Abbas Jaffer posted Monday on Facebook about his friend of 16 years.

“My best friend, best man, and brother gave his life defending our country overseas,” Jaffer said.

Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local church’s gym.

“I thought he was going to be the last person in, because he hates all this (hoopla),” his wife, Michelle Tietjens, told the Lincoln Journal Star at the time.

Tietjens’ cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens’ 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate “unimaginable loss.”

“We lost a brave soldier this weekend and many hearts are broken,” Golike wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

Tietjens earned a black belt in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo and was “an instructor who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others,” the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance said on Facebook.

Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Coleman said Tietjens was his mentor.

“You could call him day or night,” Coleman told KETV. “He always took the time, you know, he made you feel important.”

Boone contributed from Boise, Idaho, and Toropin from Washington. Associated Press reporters Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Josh Funk and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; and David Fischer in Miami contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772674192553.png" alt="Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan -photo U.S. Army Reserve" />
 <figcaption>Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan -photo U.S. Army Reserve</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone">REBECCA BOONE</a>WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The last two names of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Kuwait attack</a>&nbsp;were released Wednesday by the Pentagon, and they are from California and Iowa.The soldiers identified Wednesday were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.The Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when a drone strike hit the command center in Kuwait and is “believed to be the individual who perished at the scene,” according to the statement. A medical examiner will confirm identification, the Pentagon said.Four soldiers were previously identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772674257970.png" alt="Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien&nbsp;-photo U.S. Army Reserve" />
 <figcaption>Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien&nbsp;-photo U.S. Army Reserve</figcaption>
 </figure>They died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">military campaign against Iran</a>. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.O’Brien was promoted to major in August 2024, according to a Facebook post, which shows him alongside two young children.The signal officer and information systems engineer in the Army Reserve was a manager of defensive cyber operations at an Iowa-based cybersecurity company, according to his LinkedIn. He had a career spanning two decades in information and cybersecurity.The other four soldiers identified were: Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa,; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska.“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of the deaths. Trump will attend the dignified transfers of the soldiers when they arrive in the U.S., the White House said Wednesday. The ritual honors service members killed in action.<h2>‘Most of us started to wonder’</h2>Coady had been checking in with his family from Kuwait every hour or two after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">U.S. and Israel launched</a>&nbsp;their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">military campaign against Iran</a>, even as Iran launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-03-2026">retaliatory strikes</a>.When he didn’t respond to messages Sunday, “most of us started to wonder,” Coady’s father, Andrew, told The Associated Press. “Your gut starts to get a feeling.”<h2>A mother of two who loved gardening</h2>Amor was just days away from returning to her husband and children.“She was almost home,” her husband, Joey Amor, said Tuesday. “You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first — it hurts.”Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes she grew with her son, a high school senior. She enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.A week before the drone attack, Amor was moved off-base to a shipping container-style building that had no defenses, her husband said.“They were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,” he said.Childhood friend Natalie Caruso wrote on Facebook that she was “absolutely heartbroken” about Amor’s death.“Nicole was always up for an adventure and she had such a contagious laugh!” Caruso wrote Wednesday.<h2>‘He loved being a soldier’</h2>Coady recently told his father he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously.He was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, Andrew Coady said Tuesday.“He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier,” Coady said. “He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone.”Coady, an Eagle Scout, was close to his family and often called, even if for only a few minutes. He was studying cybersecurity at Drake University in Des Moines, and he wanted to become an officer.“I still don’t fully think it’s real,” his sister Keira Coady said. “I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back.”<h2>A calling to serve his country</h2>Khork was very patriotic and wanted to serve in the military from childhood, his family said in a statement Tuesday.He enlisted in the Army Reserve and joined Florida Southern College’s ROTC program.“That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was,” his mother, Donna Burhans; father, James Khork; and stepmother, Stacey Khork; said in a statement.Khork, who loved history, had a degree in political science.His family described him as “the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.”Abbas Jaffer posted Monday on Facebook about his friend of 16 years.“My best friend, best man, and brother gave his life defending our country overseas,” Jaffer said.<h2>A loving father and husband</h2>Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local church’s gym.“I thought he was going to be the last person in, because he hates all this (hoopla),” his wife, Michelle Tietjens, told the Lincoln Journal Star at the time.Tietjens’ cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens’ 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate “unimaginable loss.”“We lost a brave soldier this weekend and many hearts are broken,” Golike wrote on Facebook Tuesday.Tietjens earned a black belt in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo and was “an instructor who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others,” the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance said on Facebook.Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Coleman said Tietjens was his mentor.“You could call him day or night,” Coleman told KETV. “He always took the time, you know, he made you feel important.”___Boone contributed from Boise, Idaho, and Toropin from Washington. Associated Press reporters Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Josh Funk and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; and David Fischer in Miami contributed.

Pentagon releases names of 2 more U.S. soldiers killed in Iran conflict

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sean-murphy">SEAN MURPHY</a> Associated Press

An Arkansas man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-father-sheriff-candidate-daughter-shooting-9daf9a7b2b1947cfd3de81c4439c8cf0">accused of killing</a>&nbsp;his teenage daughter’s alleged abuser won the Republican nomination for local sheriff while waiting to stand trial for murder in his rural county, where he ran on a message of seeing the failures of law enforcement.

Aaron Spencer defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in Tuesday’s primary elections, according to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas secretary of state. He would not be able to serve if he is convicted of killing Michael Fosler, 67, who at the time was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.

Spencer’s attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer won more than 53% of the vote with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Staley, whose department arrested Spencer in 2024, conceded the loss.

“Congratulations to Mr. Spencer. Tonight the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision,” Staley said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Spencer said in a statement that his message of accountability resonated with voters.

“Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability,” Spencer said. “This wasn’t a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.”

He is now set to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the heavily Republican county in November.

Spencer has pleaded not guilty and is out on bond while awaiting trial, which was originally scheduled to start in January. The trial was delayed after the presiding judge was removed from the case. A new date has not been set.

Court documents show that on the night of the October 2024 shooting, Spencer woke up to find his daughter missing from her bedroom and went searching for her in his truck. He found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer eventually forced Fosler’s truck off the highway and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man, records show.

Prosecutors argue Spencer had planned to kill Fosler even before that night and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler.

Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the election results have no bearing on the facts of the case.

“Aaron Spencer did exactly what the law allows and exactly what any father would do: he protected his daughter and himself from harm,” Cassinelli said. “At some point, those responsible for this prosecution will have to reckon with that.”

Spencer pledged in a Facebook post last month that if elected he would establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772659048041.png" alt="Aaron Spencer" />
 <figcaption>Aaron Spencer</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sean-murphy">SEAN MURPHY</a> Associated PressAn Arkansas man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-father-sheriff-candidate-daughter-shooting-9daf9a7b2b1947cfd3de81c4439c8cf0">accused of killing</a>&nbsp;his teenage daughter’s alleged abuser won the Republican nomination for local sheriff while waiting to stand trial for murder in his rural county, where he ran on a message of seeing the failures of law enforcement.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Lonoke County sent a clear message last night, and we&#39;re just getting started. I&#39;m running to restore accountability and integrity to the Sheriff&#39;s Office, and the people of this county just showed they want the same thing. Help us deliver a safer and stronger Lonoke below ⬇️&mdash; Aaron Spencer (@Spencer4Sheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spencer4Sheriff/status/2029291381445853649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Aaron Spencer defeated Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in Tuesday’s primary elections, according to unofficial results posted by the Arkansas secretary of state. He would not be able to serve if he is convicted of killing Michael Fosler, 67, who at the time was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.Spencer’s attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator.Spencer won more than 53% of the vote with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Staley, whose department arrested Spencer in 2024, conceded the loss.“Congratulations to Mr. Spencer. Tonight the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision,” Staley said in a statement posted on Facebook.Spencer said in a statement that his message of accountability resonated with voters.“Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability,” Spencer said. “This wasn’t a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.”He is now set to face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the heavily Republican county in November.Spencer has pleaded not guilty and is out on bond while awaiting trial, which was originally scheduled to start in January. The trial was delayed after the presiding judge was removed from the case. A new date has not been set.Court documents show that on the night of the October 2024 shooting, Spencer woke up to find his daughter missing from her bedroom and went searching for her in his truck. He found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer eventually forced Fosler’s truck off the highway and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man, records show.Prosecutors argue Spencer had planned to kill Fosler even before that night and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler.Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the election results have no bearing on the facts of the case.“Aaron Spencer did exactly what the law allows and exactly what any father would do: he protected his daughter and himself from harm,” Cassinelli said. “At some point, those responsible for this prosecution will have to reckon with that.”Spencer pledged in a Facebook post last month that if elected he would establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

Man accused of killing daughter's alleged abuser wins GOP sheriff's nomination

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-constitution-37ec6685d9ded1d467a719f91e537487">war powers resolution</a>, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the resolution.

The vote gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave.

“Today every senator — every single one — will pick a side," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?”

Sen. John Barrasso, second in Senate Republican leadership, said during the debate that GOP senators would send a message that Democrats are wrong for forcing a vote on the war powers resolution.

“Democrats would rather obstruct Donald Trump than obliterate Iran’s national nuclear program,” he added.

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support

After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-trump-iran-israel-nuclear-41f4f308683c2ee10420225e1380cf21">already wary of entering</a>. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the war could extend eight weeks, a longer time frame than has previously been floated by the Trump administration. He also acknowledged that Iran is still able to carry out missile attacks even as the U.S. tries to control the country's airspace.

U.S. service members “remain in harm’s way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same press conference.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. military members were killed</a>&nbsp;over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa acknowledged the human costs of the war in her floor speech.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">One of the soldiers killed</a>&nbsp;Sunday was from Iowa and a National Guard unit from her state was also attacked in Syria in December, resulting in the deaths of two other soldiers.

“But now is our opportunity to bring an end to the decades of chaos,” said Ernst, who herself served as an officer in the Iowa National Guard for two decades.

Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-02-2026-cb42936de1d8c261be8f30f11c6665fa">hoping to end the bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.

The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-68d78b2215cc6c021937859ce852e1f2">where lawmakers stand on the war</a>&nbsp;as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.

“Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. “Everybody's got to declare whether they're for this war or against it.”

Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, was different.

Unlike Trump's military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">ricocheting across the region</a>. For Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-mideast-america-first-23737d6fee8ae5aaf5a06627fd85a076">promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements</a>, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.

“War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we're taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long pushed Trump to engage overseas, argued that the widening conflict represented an opportunity for Arab and European countries to join in the fight against Iran and the militant groups it supports.

“I don’t mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea,” he told reporters, but also argued that too much power over the military was ceded to Congress in the War Powers Act, which mandates that presidents must withdraw troops from a conflict within 90 days if there is no congressional authorization.

On the other side of the Capitol, an intense debate over the war unfolded before a vote Thursday. The House first debated a resolution presented by GOP leadership affirming that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.

Rep. Brian Mast, the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Trump for taking action against Iran, saying the president is using his own constitutional authority to defend the U.S. against the “imminent threat” of Iran.

Mast, an Army veteran who worked as a bomb disposal expert in Afghanistan, said the Democratic resolution was effectively asking “that the president do nothing.”

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, said before the debate that the hardest votes he has taken in Congress have been to decide whether to send U.S. troops to war. “Our young men and women’s lives are on the line,” he said, his voice showing emotion as he emerged from a closed-door briefing late Tuesday with Trump officials.

At a news conference Wednesday, several Democratic members who are also veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spoke about the heavy costs of those conflicts.

One of them was Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war and act tough, they're not talking about them doing it, they're not talking about their kids,” Crow said. “They're talking about working class kids like us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772661453181.png" alt="Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave." />
 <figcaption>Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.The legislation, known as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-constitution-37ec6685d9ded1d467a719f91e537487">war powers resolution</a>, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the resolution.The vote gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Capitol Police were attempting to remove an unhinged protestor from the Armed Services hearing. He was fighting back. I decided to help out and deescalate the situation. This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one. I hope he gets the help he… <a href="https://t.co/MU1THo8fKA">https://t.co/MU1THo8fKA</a>&mdash; Tim Sheehy (@TimSheehyMT) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimSheehyMT/status/2029308818933596356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave.“Today every senator — every single one — will pick a side," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?”Sen. John Barrasso, second in Senate Republican leadership, said during the debate that GOP senators would send a message that Democrats are wrong for forcing a vote on the war powers resolution.“Democrats would rather obstruct Donald Trump than obliterate Iran’s national nuclear program,” he added.<h2>Trump administration scrambles for congressional support</h2>After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-trump-iran-israel-nuclear-41f4f308683c2ee10420225e1380cf21">already wary of entering</a>. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the war could extend eight weeks, a longer time frame than has previously been floated by the Trump administration. He also acknowledged that Iran is still able to carry out missile attacks even as the U.S. tries to control the country's airspace.U.S. service members “remain in harm’s way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same press conference.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. military members were killed</a>&nbsp;over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait.Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa acknowledged the human costs of the war in her floor speech.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">One of the soldiers killed</a>&nbsp;Sunday was from Iowa and a National Guard unit from her state was also attacked in Syria in December, resulting in the deaths of two other soldiers.“But now is our opportunity to bring an end to the decades of chaos,” said Ernst, who herself served as an officer in the Iowa National Guard for two decades.“The sooner the better,” she added.Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-02-2026-cb42936de1d8c261be8f30f11c6665fa">hoping to end the bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.<h2>Lawmakers go on record</h2>The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-trump-iran-68d78b2215cc6c021937859ce852e1f2">where lawmakers stand on the war</a>&nbsp;as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.“Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. “Everybody's got to declare whether they're for this war or against it.”Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, was different.Unlike Trump's military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-strait-or-hormuz-deaths-f1619c6bfbbd5fe10857ff0af073aa0e">ricocheting across the region</a>. For Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-mideast-america-first-23737d6fee8ae5aaf5a06627fd85a076">promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements</a>, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.“War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we're taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long pushed Trump to engage overseas, argued that the widening conflict represented an opportunity for Arab and European countries to join in the fight against Iran and the militant groups it supports.“I don’t mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea,” he told reporters, but also argued that too much power over the military was ceded to Congress in the War Powers Act, which mandates that presidents must withdraw troops from a conflict within 90 days if there is no congressional authorization.<h2>House vote looms</h2>On the other side of the Capitol, an intense debate over the war unfolded before a vote Thursday. The House first debated a resolution presented by GOP leadership affirming that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.Rep. Brian Mast, the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Trump for taking action against Iran, saying the president is using his own constitutional authority to defend the U.S. against the “imminent threat” of Iran.Mast, an Army veteran who worked as a bomb disposal expert in Afghanistan, said the Democratic resolution was effectively asking “that the president do nothing.”Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, said before the debate that the hardest votes he has taken in Congress have been to decide whether to send U.S. troops to war. “Our young men and women’s lives are on the line,” he said, his voice showing emotion as he emerged from a closed-door briefing late Tuesday with Trump officials.At a news conference Wednesday, several Democratic members who are also veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spoke about the heavy costs of those conflicts.One of them was Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war and act tough, they're not talking about them doing it, they're not talking about their kids,” Crow said. “They're talking about working class kids like us.”

Moran, Marshall help Senate reject effort to block war with Iran 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-olson">ERIC OLSON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;TOM COYNE Associated Press

Lou Holtz, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">College Football</a>&nbsp;Hall of Fame coach who led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/notre-dame-fighting-irish-football">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six schools, has died. He was 89.

Notre Dame announced on Wednesday that Holtz died in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. Spokeswoman Katy Lonergan said a cause of death was not provided by the family.

Holtz became the first and so far only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games during a career in which he compiled a record of 249-132-7. He still ranks 10th all-time in career victories by a Football Bowl Subdivision coach, eighth all-time with 388 games coached.

At Notre Dame, he went 100-30-2 in 11 seasons producing both the third-highest win total in school history and the second-highest loss total.

Holtz won at every stop — except for a brief stint in the NFL.

He didn’t just win games, either. The diminutive coach captivated fans with his occasionally fiery sideline demeanor, his self-deprecating wit and folksy phrases all while demanding excellence, on and off the field, from his much larger players.

Holtz became such a popular personality that after coaching his last game, in 2004 with South Carolina, he parlayed that into a broadcasting career and motivational speaking.

On their social media page the University of Notre Dame&nbsp; President Rev. Robert A. Dowd wrote, “Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather."

"Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”

- University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772661637315.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-olson">ERIC OLSON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;TOM COYNE Associated PressLou Holtz, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">College Football</a>&nbsp;Hall of Fame coach who led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/notre-dame-fighting-irish-football">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six schools, has died. He was 89.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather. Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very… <a href="https://t.co/dM53csuvJ0">https://t.co/dM53csuvJ0</a>&mdash; University of Notre Dame (@NotreDame) <a href="https://twitter.com/NotreDame/status/2029313919567946016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Notre Dame announced on Wednesday that Holtz died in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. Spokeswoman Katy Lonergan said a cause of death was not provided by the family.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">From the family of Lou Holtz <a href="https://t.co/aYWiXYVnLq">pic.twitter.com/aYWiXYVnLq</a>&mdash; The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/FightingIrish/status/2029308530398724260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Holtz became the first and so far only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games during a career in which he compiled a record of 249-132-7. He still ranks 10th all-time in career victories by a Football Bowl Subdivision coach, eighth all-time with 388 games coached.At Notre Dame, he went 100-30-2 in 11 seasons producing both the third-highest win total in school history and the second-highest loss total.Holtz won at every stop — except for a brief stint in the NFL.He didn’t just win games, either. The diminutive coach captivated fans with his occasionally fiery sideline demeanor, his self-deprecating wit and folksy phrases all while demanding excellence, on and off the field, from his much larger players.Holtz became such a popular personality that after coaching his last game, in 2004 with South Carolina, he parlayed that into a broadcasting career and motivational speaking.___Football coach Lou Holtz has died.On their social media page the University of Notre Dame&nbsp; President Rev. Robert A. Dowd wrote, “Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather.""Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”- University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz dead at 89

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rebounded Wednesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-iran-energy-oil-trump-75edbda5b8fa3038b47f143cc16855f0">two days</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">punishing swings</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-oil-gas-gallon-aaa-e2daee318b8e3e6a1124713909a410e4">oil prices</a>&nbsp;stopped spiking and reports gave encouraging updates on the economy.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.8% and made back most of its losses since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;began. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 238 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%.

The strength followed a scary start to Wednesday, when South Korea’s Kospi stock index plunged 12.1% for its worst loss in history. Uncertainty about the war has sent prices in financial markets careening up and down this week, with most taking their cues from what the price of oil is doing.

Oil prices moderated as trading moved westward from Asia to Europe and across the Atlantic. After briefly topping $84 per barrel, the price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, settled at $81.40, back to where it was a day earlier. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.1% to $74.66.

Stocks also got a boost from signs of strength for the U.S. economy.

One report said growth for U.S. businesses in the real estate, finance and other services industries accelerated last month at the fastest pace since the summer of 2022. Encouragingly for inflation, it also said prices for such businesses are increasing at a slower rate, at least before the war with Iran began.

A second report suggested U.S. employers outside of the government picked up their hiring last month. That could be a hopeful signal for the more comprehensive report coming Friday from the U.S. government about the overall job market.

In financial markets, worries are centered on how long the war with Iran could last, how high inflation will go because of more expensive oil and how much corporate profits will sink because of it.

The U.S. stock market has a history of shaking off military conflicts in the Middle East relatively quickly, though that comes with the caveat that oil prices don’t jump too high. That has some professional investors suggesting patience through the volatility, at least when it comes to financial markets.

“I think the Iran situation is getting out of hand, and I think that U.S. President Donald Trump miscalculated enormously,” said Francis Lun, CEO of Venturesmart Asia. “The situation is very grim.”

On Wall Street, a mix of companies helped drive Wednesday’s rise.

Stocks enmeshed in the crypto industry climbed as bitcoin’s price rebounded back above $73,000. Coinbase Global jumped 14.6%, and Robinhood Markets rallied 8.1%.

Retailers and travel companies strengthened with hopes that a solid economy and an easing for jumps in gasoline prices will mean their customers may have more to spend.

Ross Stores climbed 8% after reporting better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected and saying it’s entering 2026 with “solid momentum.” Expedia Group rose 3.1%.

Big Tech stocks, meanwhile, were the strongest forces lifting the market. Amazon rose 3.9%, and Nvidia added 1.7%. Because they’re among the biggest stocks in the U.S. market in terms of total value, their movements carry more weight on the S&amp;P 500.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rebounded Wednesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-iran-energy-oil-trump-75edbda5b8fa3038b47f143cc16855f0">two days</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">punishing swings</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-oil-gas-gallon-aaa-e2daee318b8e3e6a1124713909a410e4">oil prices</a>&nbsp;stopped spiking and reports gave encouraging updates on the economy.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.8% and made back most of its losses since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;began. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 238 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%.The strength followed a scary start to Wednesday, when South Korea’s Kospi stock index plunged 12.1% for its worst loss in history. Uncertainty about the war has sent prices in financial markets careening up and down this week, with most taking their cues from what the price of oil is doing.Oil prices moderated as trading moved westward from Asia to Europe and across the Atlantic. After briefly topping $84 per barrel, the price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, settled at $81.40, back to where it was a day earlier. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.1% to $74.66.Stocks also got a boost from signs of strength for the U.S. economy.One report said growth for U.S. businesses in the real estate, finance and other services industries accelerated last month at the fastest pace since the summer of 2022. Encouragingly for inflation, it also said prices for such businesses are increasing at a slower rate, at least before the war with Iran began.A second report suggested U.S. employers outside of the government picked up their hiring last month. That could be a hopeful signal for the more comprehensive report coming Friday from the U.S. government about the overall job market.In financial markets, worries are centered on how long the war with Iran could last, how high inflation will go because of more expensive oil and how much corporate profits will sink because of it.The U.S. stock market has a history of shaking off military conflicts in the Middle East relatively quickly, though that comes with the caveat that oil prices don’t jump too high. That has some professional investors suggesting patience through the volatility, at least when it comes to financial markets.Not everyone is optimistic.“I think the Iran situation is getting out of hand, and I think that U.S. President Donald Trump miscalculated enormously,” said Francis Lun, CEO of Venturesmart Asia. “The situation is very grim.”On Wall Street, a mix of companies helped drive Wednesday’s rise.Stocks enmeshed in the crypto industry climbed as bitcoin’s price rebounded back above $73,000. Coinbase Global jumped 14.6%, and Robinhood Markets rallied 8.1%.Retailers and travel companies strengthened with hopes that a solid economy and an easing for jumps in gasoline prices will mean their customers may have more to spend.Ross Stores climbed 8% after reporting better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected and saying it’s entering 2026 with “solid momentum.” Expedia Group rose 3.1%.Big Tech stocks, meanwhile, were the strongest forces lifting the market. Amazon rose 3.9%, and Nvidia added 1.7%. Because they’re among the biggest stocks in the U.S. market in terms of total value, their movements carry more weight on the S&amp;P 500.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 52.87 points to 6,869.50. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 238.14 to 48,739.41, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 290.79 to 22,807.48.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose in Europe following sharp drops in Asia. France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.8%, and Germany’s DAX returned 1.7%. That came after losses of 2% for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and 3.6% for Japan’s Nikkei 225, along with Seoul’s historic plunge.In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher after jumping early in the week with worries about worsening inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.09% from 4.06% late Tuesday.Wednesday’s strong reports on the economy were welcome news for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-inflation-c13913c9e007981f075fb3b22d4a4cec">the Federal Reserve</a>, whose job it is to keep the U.S. job market healthy and inflation low. The Fed’s job has become more difficult because of the jump in oil prices, which is pushing upward on already high inflation.The Fed could keep interest rates high to keep a lid on inflation. But high interest rates would also keep it more expensive for U.S. households and companies to borrow money, grinding down on the economy.The central bank had indicated it planned to resume its cuts to interest rates later this year, in hopes of giving a boost to the job market and economy. Because of the war and higher oil prices, traders have pushed their forecasts further into the summer for when the Fed could begin cutting rates again.___