Manhattan

• Riley County declared a local disaster after intense grass fires exhausted volunteer resources and required mutual aid from neighboring counties and the Kansas Forest Service. →
• Riley County police are investigating a series of vehicle thefts and attempted break-ins that primarily targeted Kia and Hyundai models over several days. While multiple stolen vehicles have been recovered, authorities are seeking public assistance to identify the suspects responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in total damages. →
• Commissioners expressed frustration that joint meetings with the City of Manhattan have become unproductive and dominated by city-centric agendas, leading to a potential pause in attendance. →
• Public Works officials proposed $25,000 for urgent playground equipment replacement and a new weather shelter at the county dog park. →
• A formal request for proposals for the redevelopment or use of the former First Christian Church property failed to attract any interested bidders. →
• Teens aged 14 to 17 have until March 31 to apply for the year-long Junior Zookeeper volunteer program at Sunset Zoo. →
• ☀️ Clouds clearing to sunshine in the Little Apple today with a high near 73.

🌾 Kansas

• Legislative negotiators proposed capping local property tax increases at 3% above the prior year's levy, with exceptions for new construction and requiring 80% approval from governing bodies to exceed the cap. →

• The House Taxation Committee advanced a plan to cut school district property taxes while offsetting lost revenue through a 2% tax on sports wagers and sales tax on lottery tickets. →

• The Kansas House voted 101-21 to approve portable benefit plans allowing independent contractors to maintain continuous benefits across gig and freelance jobs, sending the bill to Gov. Kelly's desk. →

• Gov. Laura Kelly announced more than $19 million for 44 water infrastructure projects and a $7.5 million investment by Indra to build a radar manufacturing facility in Olathe creating 140 jobs. →

• Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce signed a three-year, $54.735 million contract that functions as a one-year deal spreading his cap hit across multiple seasons as he returns for his 14th NFL season. →

🇺🇸 US

• President Trump extended his 48-hour deadline to strike Iranian power plants until Friday, citing "productive conversations" with Iranian officials, though Tehran publicly denied any negotiations were underway. →

• Open-source intelligence analysts identified at least 35 C-17 military transport flights from U.S. bases to the Middle East since March 12, with 11 more en route, suggesting a significant buildup of forces across multiple branches timed to arrive before Trump's Friday strike deadline. →

• An Air Canada Express jet struck a firefighting vehicle on a LaGuardia Airport runway late Sunday, killing two pilots and injuring 41 others including passengers, crew and two rescue officers. →

• Up to 150 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were deployed to airports across the United States on Monday as TSA agents work without pay during the partial government shutdown. →

• A survey of roughly 750 chief financial officers found that artificial intelligence had essentially no employment effect in 2025 and is expected to reduce overall head counts by only about 0.4% this year. →

Weather

March 24 1946: Soviets Pull Troops from Iran, Early Cold War Showdown Averted

The Soviet Union agreed to withdraw its forces from Iran within six weeks, ending one of the first major postwar confrontations with the United States. Although Truman claimed tough U.S. pressure forced the move, the withdrawal actually followed a secret oil concession deal with Iran, and the episode deepened mutual suspicion that helped set the tone for the emerging Cold War. Control over Iran’s oil resources loomed large throughout the standoff, driving competing Soviet, British, and American efforts to secure concessions and shaping the U.S. decision to back Tehran.

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