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ISTANBUL — President Trump says that the U.S. will not allow Iranian ships to move through the Strait of Hormuz. "We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving," he said in a post online. Trump said other countries will be able to move through the waterway, but that the U.S. would charge a 20% toll on cargo.

TOPEKA — Trade tariffs cost the United States about $15 billion in losses in the Chinese market alone, agriculture policy experts said Friday. Sandro Steinbach and Shawn Arita, associate professors at North Dakota State University's Agricultural Risk Policy Center, spoke about international policies affecting agriculture during an episode of Kansas State University's podcast Clearing the Air. Steinbach said the policy center studied market disruption in the United States and China relationship.

Updated July 13, 2026 at 10:12 AM CDT BANGKOK — A huge fire tore through a music bar in Bangkok overnight, killing at least 27 people and leaving 25 hospitalized in critical condition on Monday as investigations began into the Thai capital's deadliest blaze in 17 years. Bangkok city officials said the fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in a northern part of the Thai capital broke out shortly before midnight Sunday, and it took about half an hour for firefighters to bring it under control.

Stay up to date with our Up First newsletter, sent every weekday morning. A dozen states, led by California, are suing to block Paramount from buying Warner Bros. Discovery in a Hollywood mega-merger that would unite some of the nation's largest movie studios, television newsrooms, and other entertainment properties.

TOPEKA — The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and League of Women Voters of Kansas put the secretary of state on notice of a potential lawsuit alleging a new election-related state statute conflicts with federal election law. A notice letter sent by the ACLU, on behalf of the LWV, to Secretary of State Scott Schwab asserted provisions of House Bill 2437 were potentially not compliant with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

TOPEKA — The number of virtual and non-public school students taking part in public school activities across Kansas jumped 154% in the past three years after a 2023 law forced school districts to allow participation, an audit found. The law requires school districts to let middle and high school students who attend school virtually or are home-schooled participate in all activities overseen by the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

LAWRENCE, Kansas – Lawrence saw the 2026 World Cup as an opportunity to welcome international visitors. The outpouring of enthusiasm for the city's embrace of Algeria and its fans has put the University of Kansas on a global stage. When the Algerian men's national soccer team toured Allen Fieldhouse last month, KU Athletics posted an Instagram video captioned "thanks for stopping by, Team Algeria!" The post received 44,600 likes.

Stay up to date with our Up First newsletter, sent every weekday morning. On a sweltering morning in early July, Thomas Andrade, the co-owner of Everett Auto Parts in Massachusetts, supervises as a team of workers carefully straps two Chevy Volt hybrid batteries to a pallet, ready to ship out for recycling. Selling off valuable bits and pieces of a vehicle is, fundamentally, how a salvage yard makes money.

On July 13, 1951, the Black Friday Flood poured millions of gallons of toxic stew through neighborhoods and into the heart of the region’s industrial area. The flood 75 years ago was a major turning point. Thousands of residents lost their homes, their jobs, and almost all their possessions. The city lost much of its most iconic industry.

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST: Last week, some retired judges took a bus tour through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan to stress the importance of independent courts. Ohio Public Media's Sarah Donaldson tagged along for a morning. SARAH DONALDSON, BYLINE: The brown and black coach with the Justice in Motion decal on its side, kicked into drive Tuesday in the Greater Pittsburgh region. By Wednesday, it's idling on a main street in Ohio's capital city, Columbus.