MILFORD, KS&nbsp;— The City of Milford, KS and Acorns Resort, in coordination with official data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Kansas City, MO, are excited to announce a landmark year for North Central Kansas tourism. In 2025, Milford Lake welcomed&nbsp;1,374,209 visitors, officially cementing its status as a top-tier destination in the Sunflower State.

This visitation surge places the state’s largest lake among the elite tier of Kansas outdoor attractions. Outpacing many of the state’s metropolitan cultural icons, Milford Lake’s 1.37 million visitors highlight a growing national trend of travelers seeking high-quality outdoor recreation and "lake life" experiences."

Welcoming 1.37 million people is a massive achievement that underscores the importance of Milford Lake to the local, regional, and state economy," said&nbsp;Mike Harris, Owner of Acorns Resort. "Whether they are here for our fishing, boating, hunting, or hiking the Flint Hills, it is clear that Milford Lake is the heavyweight champion of the Kansas outdoors."

The growth is translating into more than just weekend tourism; it is driving a shift in the regional housing market.

"The impact of Milford Lake’s growth is visible everywhere, even in our housing market," stated&nbsp;Brad Roether, Mayor of the City of Milford. "We are seeing growth across&nbsp;Geary and Clay County&nbsp;because our natural resources, especially the fishing—have turned us into a multi-state regional attraction. People are buying homes here just to be closer to our outdoors; I don’t know if that is good or bad, but it is certainly taking place."

The economic impact of this visitation level is a vital engine for the region, supporting local businesses, infrastructure, and job creation through a massive influx of tourism dollars into North Central Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Milford Lake Achieves "Heavyweight" Status with Over 1.3 Million Visitors in 2025

&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly,&nbsp;in accordance with&nbsp;Executive Order #20-30,&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;directed flags&nbsp;be flown at half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities&nbsp;effective&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;until sundown on the day of interment in honor of Kansas State Representative John Resman.

 He&nbsp;represented&nbsp;Kansas House District&nbsp;121&nbsp;since 2017.&nbsp;

“Representative Resman&nbsp;has a decorated history of serving&nbsp;his community, our state, and our country throughout his time in the Army, Kansas National Guard,&nbsp;the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Legislature,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends&nbsp;during this&nbsp;difficult time.&nbsp;

This flag order will be updated when the date of interment is&nbsp;determined.&nbsp;

Gov. Kelly orders flags to be flown at half-staff

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Sunday in Riley County.

A 2022 Toyota Camry driven by Pamela Martin, 59, of Blue Rapids, slid on ice and crashed on a bridge&nbsp;on Tuttle Creek Blvd near Randolph, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

EMS transported Martin to Via Christi Hospital. The RCPD released no additional details.

Kansas woman injured after car crash on icy bridge

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

Riley County Arrest Report March 2

The Geary County Sheriff's Office said that on Saturday afternoon Deputies responded to I70 W/B MM 308 for a single vehicle injury accident. Maricris M. Solano of Junction City was traveling westbound in a 2014 Infiniti Q Series when it went off the road, striking a tree. 

Solano was transported to Irwin Army Community Hospital due to her injuries.

Sheriff's authorities respond to injury accident

MARION COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Sunday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Mustang driven by Sheldon Edward Cook, 19, Wamego, was northbound on U.S. 77. two miles north of U.S. 50.

The driver lost control of the car while crossing the bridge. The vehicle crossed the center line, struck the west edge of the bridge barrier, bounced off and struck a southbound 2015 Ford Explorer driven by Logan Joseph&nbsp;Wakefield, 29, El Dorado.&nbsp;

EMS transported Cook to&nbsp;St Lukes Hospital. Wakefield and four passengers in the SUV were not injured. All were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas teen hospitalized after car, SUV crash on a bridge

Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Clay-Riley-Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-Wabaunsee-Shawnee

Including the cities of Maple Hill, Clay Center, Alma, Nortonville, Herington, Blue Rapids, Junction City, Horton, Manhattan, Harveyville, Sabetha, St. Marys, Seneca, Frankfort, Holton, Wamego, McLouth, McFarland, Abilene, Oskaloosa, Hiawatha, Alta Vista, Council Grove, Topeka, Paxico, Grantville, Eskridge, Valley Falls, Marysville, Meriden, and Perry

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations up  to one inch and ice accumulations around a light glaze. Portions of central, east central, north central, and  northeast Kansas.

* IMPACTS...Minor snow and ice accumulations could make travel  hazardous. These conditions could impact the Monday morning  commute.

Winter Weather Advisory

Riley County Arrest Report February 28, March 1

The City of Manhattan year end report offers a snapshot into how the City builds and adopts its budget, while highlighting progress on key priorities: financial stability, economic growth, telling Manhattan’s story, and improving quality of life—along with several other major projects and planning efforts.. Highlights include:

--Anderson Avenue Reconstruction: A major corridor project replacing aging water lines, repairing stormwater infrastructure, and improving nearby streets—with phased work through 2027.

Aggieville Improvements: Completion of the north phase of 12th Street (Moro to the alley) with new utilities and a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape. A new hotel is expected to finish in fall 2026, with more design work planned for Moro Street.

The Edge District: Final phase completed in fall 2025 at Kimball &amp; Denison, wrapping a decade-long, $45 million infrastructure investment with new streets, stormwater upgrades, sidewalks, lighting, and utilities.

Steel &amp; Pipe Supply Ballpark at CiCo Park: New turf and amenities supported by a 10-year naming rights partnership; first games expected April 2026, with a new eight-court tennis facility opening fall 2026.

East Manhattan Gateway Vision: Planning with county partners to guide future development and infrastructure along the U.S. Highway 24 corridor.

City releases 2025 Year-End Report

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

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Cowley County have released the name of the victim as Kasey Joe Barclay, 32, formerly of Ponca City, Oklahoma, according to Cowley County Undersheriff Christina McDonald.

Just before 7:30p.m. Saturday, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to an injury accident involving a vehicle versus a pedestrian on US 77 Highway at 242nd Road, according to Undersheriff Christina McDonald.

&nbsp;Deputies determined that a silver Nissan Rogue driven by&nbsp;Stacy Gisick, 62, of Wichita, was&nbsp;northbound on US 77 and struck Barclay who was walking in the roadway. Barclay sustained critical injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Gisick remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs woman who died after struck by SUV in Kansas

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The war in the Middle East spiraled further Monday as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-us-israel-hezbollah-strikes-03-02-2026">Israel and the United States pounded</a>&nbsp;Iran in a campaign that U.S. President Donald Trump said would likely take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-israel-war-where-things-stand-e3c003aef4479cd179967a63bb1236f4">several weeks</a>. Tehran and its allies hit back against Israel, Gulf states and targets critical to the world’s energy production.

The intensity of the attacks, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>, and the lack of any apparent exit plan set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-dubai-emirates-tourism-attack-b256f514b290c987b3004cc87744f038">Safe havens in the Mideast</a>&nbsp;like Dubai have seen incoming fire; hundreds of thousands of airline passengers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-travel-airlines-mideast-flights-93f2559eb57f05989fb1de8fda7f21ec">are stranded around the globe</a>; oil prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-prices-iran-us-hormuz-tanker-8a6d6fb35c89d9b0db4c4846f290c2c3">shot up</a>; and U.S. allies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-reactions-03-01-2026-961f288c645f6cbc7fa9d63e0502df36">pledged to help</a>&nbsp;stop Iranian missiles and drones.

With no sign of the conflict abating anytime soon, Trump said operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”

He said U.S. forces were determined to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, wipe out its naval capacity, stop the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensure that Iran cannot continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-proxies-us-israel-hezbollah-war-b0f919b657bb33c464f6d943d7142464">support allied groups</a>&nbsp;like Lebanon's Hezbollah, which fired missiles at Israel, drawing retaliatory airstrikes.

"This was our last, best chance to strike -- what we’re doing right now -- and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” Trump said.

The chaos of the conflict became apparent when the U.S. military said Kuwait had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc">“mistakenly shot down”</a>&nbsp;three American F-15E Strike Eagles while Iran was attacking with aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones. U.S. Central Command said all six pilots ejected safely and are in stable condition.

As several airstrikes hit Iran’s capital of Tehran, the top security official Ali Larijani vowed on X: “We will not negotiate with the United States.”

The death toll grew on all sides. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that the U.S.-Israeli operation has killed at least 555 people. In Israel, where several locations were hit by Iranian missiles, 11 people were killed. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group also targeted Israel, which responded with strikes on Lebanon, killing more than two dozen people. Meanwhile, four American troops have been killed, and three people were reported killed in the United Arab Emirates and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran expands attacks to regional oil infrastructure

With world markets already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">rattled by the fighting</a>, QatarEnergy said it would stop its production of liquefied natural gas, taking one of the world’s top suppliers off the market. It offered no timeline for restoring its production. European natural gas prices surged by 40% in response.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery came under attack from drones, with defenses downing the incoming aircraft, a military spokesman told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The refinery has a capacity of over half a million barrels of crude oil a day.

Several ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-strait-hormuz-us-protests-persian-gulf-db7159d715453977279ab9cfd918e6e4">a fifth of all oil trade passes</a>&nbsp;and where Iran has threatened attacks.

The Gulf state of Qatar said its air force had shot down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers.

“The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst at the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. “An extended period of uncertainty lies ahead.”

The region is also a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-travel-airlines-mideast-flights-93f2559eb57f05989fb1de8fda7f21ec">hub for air travel</a>, and passengers have been stranded around the world as carriers based in the Gulf grounded flights. Long-haul carriers Etihad and Emirates restarted limited flights Monday.

Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters that airstrikes targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment site on Sunday.

“Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” he said.

Israel and the U.S. have not acknowledged strikes at the site, which the U.S. bombed in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. Israel has said that it is targeting the “leadership and nuclear infrastructure.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June</a>, though it has maintained its right to do so while saying its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.

Hezbollah fires on Israel, prompting massive response

Hezbollah said it fired missiles on Israel early Monday in response to Khamenei’s killing and “repeated Israeli aggressions.” It was the first time in more than a year that the militant group has claimed an attack.

There were no reports of injuries or damage.

Israel retaliated with strikes on Lebanon, killing at least 31 people and wounding 149 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Associated Press journalists in Beirut were jolted awake by loud explosions that shook buildings and shattered windows.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Israeli army chief of staff, said the military would not end its offensive against Hezbollah “before the threat from Lebanon is eliminated.”

An Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital heavily damaged a building, as the military said it targeted a senior Hezbollah official.

In Iraq, the Iran-allied militia Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed a drone attack Monday targeting U.S. troops at the airport in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. It claimed another drone attack on Sunday against a U.S. air base in Iraq’s north.

No end in sight to the US-Israeli campaign

The U.S. military said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-b2-bombers-missouri-446725660815e45bb1b9a787a324e71f">B-2 stealth bombers</a>&nbsp;struck Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs. Trump said on social media on Sunday that nine Iranian warships had been sunk and that the Iranian navy’s headquarters was “largely destroyed.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that the U.S. is not engaged in a nation-building effort in Iran, and there is a clear mission. “This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said.

It’s not completely clear what the U.S. objectives are. In announcing the initial strikes, Trump referred to the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. But he also listed various grievances dating back to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and urged Iranians to “take over” their government.

There have been no signs yet of any such uprising.

Trump, however, has also signaled he would be open to dialogue with Iran's new leadership —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-war-khamenei-successor-supreme-leader-f7b8be4a356b449b591492ff9d57661c">which could be chosen soon</a>.

In an indication that the conflict could draw in other nations, Britain, France and Germany said Sunday they were ready to work with the U.S. to help stop Iran’s attacks.

Tehran’s streets have been largely deserted with people sheltering during airstrikes.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-middle-east-577c596775fb9a78d78107004d29d0f9">The paramilitary Basij</a>&nbsp;force, which has played a central role in crushing recent nationwide protests, set up checkpoints across the city, witnesses said.

In the northern Iranian city of Babol, a student, speaking anonymously over concerns of retribution, told the AP that armed riot police were on the streets Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday after the death of Khamenei.

“We don’t know whether to be happy about the elimination of the criminals who oppress us or to remain silent in the face of the U.S. and Israel’s war against the country and its interests and the terror that is taking place,” he said.

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

🎥President Trump updates timeline of Iran campaign 

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City, Missouri woman pleaded guilty to attempted bank fraud last week for altering and depositing stolen checks into her bank account. At the time of the fraud, she was employed by the United States Postal Service, according to the United State's Attorney.

Shawneasha L. Watson, 30, participated in a scheme to defraud a credit union by allowing the use of her account to deposit stolen checks. She provided both her debit card and her PIN to another individual to facilitate the deposit. In June 2023, the individual deposited checks that had been altered to show her name in the payee line and were endorsed with a signature bearing her name. The credit union flagged the deposits as fraudulent and froze the account before any withdrawals or transfers could be made. The victims all stated they had placed these checks into United States Postal Service blue collection boxes for mailing. The checks were originally intended to pay various bills including one intended for medical expenses and another for a monthly mortgage payment.

Investigators also discovered that Watson obtained a Pandemic Paycheck Protection loan under false pretenses in 2021 in the amount of $20,832.50. The loan application stated she was the sole proprietor of a men’s clothing business, and she needed the money to cover her payroll expenses. She later admitted that was false and she spent the money on herself. That loan was ultimately forgiven by the Small Business Administration.

Under federal statutes, Watson is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Former KC postal worker admits to stolen checks fraud scheme 

The Kansas State Fair announced rising country music star Russell Dickerson as the latest addition to its 2026 grandstand concert lineup.

Dickerson is scheduled to perform Friday, Sept. 18, at the Kansas Star Casino Grandstand in Hutchinson. Fair officials said they are still working to secure an opening act.

Dickerson, known for hits including “Yours,” “Every Little Thing,” “Love You Like I Used To” and “God Gave Me a Girl,” has emerged as one of country music’s fast-rising performers. He is preparing to launch a European tour this spring, with stops in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz said the booking reflects an effort to blend established favorites with newer artists gaining national and international attention.

Tickets for the Sept. 18 concert range from $35 for general admission grandstand seating to $110 for VIP deck standing room, which includes two beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Reserved VIP tables for six are available for $835. Track seating is priced at $85, and reserved grandstand seats are $55.

Presale access begins Thursday for customers who have signed up for the fair’s email list. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday morning at kansasstatefair.gov or through the fair’s ticket office at 2000 N. Poplar in Hutchinson.

Officials urged buyers to purchase tickets only through the fair’s official website or ticket office to avoid third-party resellers and potential scams. Gate admission is included in the ticket price.

Rising country music star to appear at Kansas State Fair

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The two online bookies who financed the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/opponents-of-missouri-sports-betting-amendment-pull-tv-ads-in-campaigns-homestretch/">campaign to legalize sports wagering</a>&nbsp;in Missouri have won $120 million from bets placed in the state but so far have not had to pay any tax on those profits.

FanDuel and DraftKings handled 73% of the $928 million wagered in Missouri during the first two months of legal sports wagering, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/SportsWagering/sw_financials/FY26_SWFinReport/01_Jan/SW%20Monthly%20Financials%200126.pdf" target="_blank">latest financial report</a>&nbsp;from the Missouri Gaming Commission. The two companies have 77% of the profits from those bets, but offset the entire amount won from players by deductions for promotional wagers and other costs.

Their winnings so far are about three times what it cost the companies in the 2024 election.

Missouri taxes the operator winnings of mobile platforms and casino-based retail sports at 10%, but the constitutional amendment passed in 2024 allows a write-off of all promotional costs, federal taxes and other business costs, from the taxable amount.

Sports wagering launched in Missouri on Dec. 1, and bettors&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/30/missouri-sports-betting-tops-543m-in-first-month-but-deductions-leave-state-with-only-521k/">placed $543 million in bets</a>. The total fell in January but in the two months combined, the eight mobile providers and the eight retail locations have netted $157.7 million from lost wagers, with 99% of the profits going to mobile platforms.

The state has received $659,196 in taxes over two months, or just less than one-half of 1% of the amount won by the online and retail bookmakers.

“The latest data shows more Missourians are ditching their bookies and illegal websites and enjoying the safeguards and convenience of placing sports bets legally,” Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the&nbsp;&nbsp;Sports Betting Alliance, said in a statement to The Independent. “This initial success is building a rock-solid foundation that will ensure Missouri receives the ongoing benefits of legal, regulated sports betting for decades to come, including millions in permanent, dedicated tax revenues.”

DraftKings and FanDuel are dominating the market.

The two companies are almost equal in their share so far. Players wagered $339.7 million on the DraftKings platform and $338.4 million on the FanDuel app. DraftKings reported it won $54.4 million over the first two months, while FanDuel won $65.6 million.

During the 2024 campaign, FanDuel and DraftKings each contributed $20 million for the $43 million effort. Major Missouri sports teams contributed the rest.

Other than licensing fees, neither company has paid the state any taxes.

DraftKings has $20.6 million in net write-offs it will carry forward before it has any tax due. FanDuel has $8.1 million.

The total amount of unrealized write-offs for all eight mobile bookmakers is $33.8 million.

FanDuel, DraftKings take Mo. profits nearly triple their cost for sports wagering campaign

U.S. embassies in the Middle East updated security advisories for Americans traveling and residing in these regions to exercise caution amid the ongoing Iran conflict, according to the&nbsp;Department of State Consular Affairs.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs provides detailed destination-specific travel and risk information to allow U.S. citizens to make informed international travel decisions. U.S. embassies and consulates across the globe provide services that support the welfare and protection of U.S. citizens abroad.

<a href="https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel.html">Click here</a> to get the latest updates and enroll to receive alerts directly at <a href="https://t.co/tn90vcSWRE" target="_blank">http://step.state.gov</a>. Americans who need consular help can reach help 24/7 by phone: +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada).

3 countries designated with a ‘Do Not Travel For Any Reason’ warning

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday spoke to widening concerns that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-03-02-2026-cb42936de1d8c261be8f30f11c6665fa">the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran</a>&nbsp;could spiral into a protracted regional conflict by declaring, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”

Hegseth, along with Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held the Trump administration's first news briefing since Saturday's strikes. President Donald Trump, while he’s conducted a few phone interviews with individual reporters, has not taken questions on camera and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-trump-address-f662a4f3378535d81197be699fb35a3e">only released two videos</a>&nbsp;since the operation began.

Hegseth said the operation had a “clear, devastating, decisive mission” to “destroy the missile threat” from Iran, destroy its navy and “no nukes.”

“No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives,” Hegseth said.

He also suggested the U.S. was not seeking to change the Iraninan regime with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>,

“This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it,” Hegseth said.

The briefing comes as the conflict has intensified into a wider war in the region. Iran and its allied armed groups have launched missiles at Israel, Arab states and U.S. military targets in the Middle East.

Four American troops have been killed in action. Trump on Sunday predicted there would be more U.S. casualties.

Caine on Monday said the U.S. expected to have additional losses.

“We grieve with you, and we will never forget you," he said of the family members of those killed.

The latest sign of the escalating upheaval came when U.S. ally Kuwait “mistakenly shot down”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc">three American fighter jets</a>&nbsp;during a combat mission as Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones were attacking. U.S. Central Command said all six pilots ejected safely from the American F-15E Strike Eagles and were in stable condition.

U.S. officials have not offered any exit plan or offered signs that the conflict would end anytime soon, and the Khamenei cast doubt on the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the Islamic Republic</a>&nbsp;and hurtled the region into broader instability.

In laying out a case for the strikes, Hegseth pointed to the Iranian regime as having started the conflict from its inception, declaring that for 47 years it has "waged a savage, one-sided war against America.”

“Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatolloah and his death cult,” he said.

He did not point to any threat of an imminent nuclear threat from Iran, and he said again that last summer’s strikes by the U.S. and Israel “obliterated their nuclear program to rubble.”

Instead, Hegseth pointed to threats from other weaponry such as ballistic missiles and drones that justified the operation.

“Iran was building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions,” Hegseth said.

He said that during negotiations with U.S. officials leading up to the attack, Iranian officials were “stalling."

“The former regime had every chance to make a peaceful and sensible deal. But Tehran was not negotiating," Hegseth said.

Trump, in an interview Sunday with The New York Times, said the assault could last “four to five weeks.”

Hegseth dismissed questions about the time frame and said, “President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. It could move up. It could move back.”

The Republican president said the U.S. and Israel had struck hundreds of targets already. That included Israel and the U.S. bombing Iranian missile sites and targeted its navy, claiming to have destroyed its headquarters and multiple warships.

Caine said that, as with the operation that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-trump-bomber-news-06-22-2025-c2baca52babe915e033ae175ce8b2687">dropped massive bunker-buster bombs</a>&nbsp;on Iranian nuclear facilities last year, Epic Fury also utilized B-2 stealth bombers, which the chairman said made a 37-hour round trip.

Caine several times referenced the use of cyber technologies in the strikes, which he said had “effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks,” leaving “the adversary without the ability to coordinate or respond effectively.”

Without giving specifics, Caine said the U.S. military “delivered synchronized and layered effects designed to disrupt, degrade, deny and destroy Iran’s ability to conduct and sustained combat operations on the U.S. side.”

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said at least 555 people have been killed in Iran so far by the U.S.-Israeli campaign. Eleven people have been killed in Israel and 31 in Lebanon, according to authorities there.

Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Charleston, S.C., David Klepper and Ben Finley in Washington and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.

🎥Pentagon officials answer questions on Iran strikes

WASHINGTON (AP) —A U.S. soldier has died during the war with Iran, the U.S. Central Command announced on Monday, bringing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-us-military-troops-casualties-793c3ea29a399c9a405e70b14c548595">official tota</a>&nbsp;l to four.

The soldier was wounded during the initial stage of Operation Epic Fury and died on Monday, it said.

A total of four U.S. soldiers have been killed since Israel and the U.S. launched strikes against Iran on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-says-there-will-likely-be-more-us-service-members-killed-in-iran-conflict-before-it-ends-a1dccc590afc4892b8c1becca337cbeb">said</a>&nbsp;in a video posted to his Truth Social platform on Sunday that “sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more, but we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case.”

Fourth US soldier dies in Operation Epic Fury

WASHINGTON —U.S. military officials are investigating a reported friendly fire incident in Operation Epic Fury.

At 11:03 p.m. ET, Sunday, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.

All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.The cause of the incident is under investigation.&nbsp;

The U.S. Central Command released no additional details early Monday.

US fighter jets shot down in friendly fire Incident in Kuwait

ELLSWORTH COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend crash and fire.

According to the Ellsworth County Sheriff, the late Saturday evening call about a vehicle on fire in the 2500 Block of Avenue T resulted in the arrest of a Kansas man for leaving the scene and failing to report a motor vehicle accident. Additional charges of illegal tag, no proof of liability insurance and Interference / Obstruction are pending.

As it turned out, the driver of the burning vehicle struck a concrete guardrail on a County bridge.&nbsp; The vehicle went flying for quite some  distance, and then landed on its wheels about 200 feet west of the point of impact and caught fire.

There was  significant damage to both the bridge and vehicle.  The driver was located about 1/2 mile west of the accident scene, watching emergency crews work to extinguish the blaze.

The sheriff office thanked the Marquette Fire and EMS crews, along with the McPherson Fire Department, who were sending additional resources out to the location to help us look for "possible" injured persons from this crash.

The sheriff's office reminded, "The Bottom Line here, if you crash your car....you call the Law.....because that is the law."

Sheriff: Kansas driver arrested after he left a crash and fire

MANHATTAN (AP) —Xavier Edmonds had 15 points, a career-high tying 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks on Saturday to help TCU beat Kansas State 77-68.

Tanner Toolson scored 14 points for TCU (19-10, 9-7 Big 12), David Punch added 13 and Liutauras Lelevicius 12.

Kansas State (11-18, 2-14) has lost three in a row and nine of 10.

PJ Haggerty had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Wildcats and Nate Johnson had 16 points, nine assists and three steals. The duo combined for 11 of Kansas State's 18 turnovers, which the Horned Frogs converted into 28 points.

There were five lead changes and nine ties before Edmonds made a layup with 6:43 left until halftime that gave TCU the lead for good at 27-25.

Kansas State twice in the second half trimmed its deficit to a point and David Castillo converted a three-point play that made it 67-65 with 4:44 left in the game. Edmonds scored the next six points to spark a 9-0 run that gave TCU an 11-point lead with two minutes to play.

The Horned Frogs have won five straight in the series and are 16-21 against Kansas State.

Haggerty scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the first half and Kansas State shot 57% (17 of 30) from the field, but the Horned Frogs took a 41-38 lead into the intermission. TCU scored 12 points off eight Wildcats turnovers before halftime.

Kansas State: Host West Virginia on Tuesday.

🏀 Edmonds has 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead TCU over K-State 

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Brayden Burries had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Motiejus Krivas added 13 points and No. 2 Arizona clinched a share of the Big 12 regular-season title with an 84-61 win over No. 14 Kansas on Saturday.

The Wildcats (27-2, 14-2 Big 12) used a 19-0 run to build an 18-point lead, allowed Kansas to whittle it to two midway through the second half, then pulled away with another big run to earn a share of the Big 12 title in their second season in the league.

Jaden Bradley scored eight straight points during the decisive 19-2 second-half run and Koa Peat had 12 points after missing the previous three games with a lower-leg injury.

The Jayhawks (21-8, 11-5) handed Arizona its first loss of the season on Feb. 9 and rallied behind star freshman Darryn Peterson after being overwhelmed early in the rematch.

Peterson finished with 24 points, but Kansas had no answer during the Wildcats' big run and lost for the third time in five games.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-kansas-t25-score-f9889466ae45491d08e069cb241100f3">Kansas won the first meeting 82-78</a>&nbsp;despite Peterson sitting out with flu-like symptoms.

The Jayhawks ran into early trouble in the rematch when Bryson Tiller, who had 18 points in the first go-round, picked up two early fouls.

Arizona took advantage of Kansas' smaller lineup with a 19-0 run that forced Jayhawks coach Bill Self to call two timeouts in a span of 1:12. Kansas missed nine straight shots during the run and the Wildcats kept pouring it on, stretching the lead to 37-19.

The Jayhawks tightened up defensively to close the half, holding Arizona without a field goal over the final 3:52 to pull within 39-28 at halftime.

Arizona: Hosts No. 4 Iowa State on Monday.

🏀 Arizona clinches share of Big 12 title with win over KU

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Isaiah Johnson scored 18 points, and Colorado scored the last six points to beat Kansas State 79-70 on Wednesday night.

P.J. Haggerty and Andrej Kostic each scored four points in an 8-0 surge to pull Kansas State to 73-70 with 2:13 to play, but Colorado shot 6 of 8 from the free-throw line to seal it. The Wildcats were down 22 points with about 13 minutes remaining.

Johnson shot 5 of 11 from the floor and had nine rebounds and seven assists for Colorado (16-12, 6-9 Big 12). Ian Inman made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Buffaloes. Barrington Hargress added 15 points, Sebastian Rancik scored 13 and Bangot Dak had 10.

Haggerty scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with four assists to lead K-State (11-17, 2-13). Kostic and Nate Johnson added 10 points apiece. The Wildcats have lost eight of their last nine games.

Colorado took the lead for good about eight minutes in and led 37-18 with 3:45 left before halftime. K-State closed on a 15-5 run to cut the deficit to 42-33 at the break. Hargress scored 10 points and Inman made three 3s for the Buffaloes in the half. Haggerty scored 11 first-half points and grabbed six rebounds to pace K-State.

The Wildcats pulled within five early in the second half, but the Buffaloes answered with a 17-0 run for a 59-37 lead.

Colorado is on the road Saturday against fifth-ranked Houston.

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