Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. (U.S. Army)
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four of the six U.S. soldiers killed in the Iran war were identified Tuesday by the Pentagon as members of the Army Reserve from different states who worked in logistics and kept troops supplied with food and equipment.
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 military campaign against Iran. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.
Those killed were Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. No other names were released.
“These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.
All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.
“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of deaths.
Amor was just a few days away from returning home to her husband and two children when she was killed.
“You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first – it hurts,” Joey Amor, her husband, said Tuesday.
Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes in her garden with her son, a senior in high school. She also enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.
“If you needed anything she would just take care of it for you,” Joey Amor said. “She’s helped a lot of people through a lot of dark times, and brought a lot of light to this world.”
Andrew Coady and his daughter Keira, right, talk about his son, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, outside their home, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Coady’s LinkedIn page said he was a student at Drake University and an information technology specialist with the Army Reserve.
He said he had learned how to “interact with countless different kinds of people from all different backgrounds” through his service.
Coady became an Eagle Scout in 2020, according to a Facebook post from his West Des Moines troop. An Iowa organization that helps homeless children said he made 12 Adirondack chairs for the group.
Nebraska U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said he and his wife are mourning Tietjens’ death and praying for his family.
“May we always remember and honor the sacrifices made by Noah Tietjens and the Tietjens family,” Ricketts said.
Tietjens was married with a son, according to a Facebook page. A photo online shows the couple with their son wearing a martial arts uniform.
There are several family photos on Facebook pages belonging to Amor and her husband, Joey Amor, including some images with a teen son.
Last November, Joey wrote a post expressing his love for Nicole.
“Even while you are on the other side of the world you found a way to make my birthday special,” he said. “I love you!”
President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he “might have forced Israel’s hand” in launching the war on Iran that has already cost the lives of six American troops.
Trump’s statement came less than a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the United States joined the campaign to protect American troops after Israel’s planned strike.
“We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first,” Trump told reporters. “… and I didn’t want that to happen. So if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand, but Israel was ready, and we were ready, and we’ve had a very, very powerful impact, because virtually everything they have has been knocked out.”
Trump made the comments prior to a bilateral White House meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as lawmakers on Capitol Hill scrambled to understand the sudden war.
Merz said Germany is “on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away” — though administration officials have maintained the conflict is not about regime change, but rather about destroying Iran’s conventional missile stockpiles and production, and thwarting any nuclear ambitions.
Iran has launched numerous missiles and drones since the killing Saturday of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes have caused damage across the Middle East, including to the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.
During a previously scheduled hearing Tuesday to question Undersecretary of Defense Policy Elbridge Colby on the administration’s national defense strategy, Senate Democrats pressed for the justification for war with Iran.
Sen. Angus King, an independent of Maine who caucuses with Democrats, homed in on Rubio’s statements Monday that the U.S. joined the war to preempt retaliatory attacks on American troops in the region, following Israel’s planned strikes on Iran’s leadership compound. Earlier, administration officials said U.S. intelligence was heavily involved in planning Israel’s offensive.
“I find it very disturbing that we’re committing this nation to war based upon a decision by … a staunch ally, and I’m a supporter of Israel,” King said. “I don’t think anybody should drive our decision to go to war, but the interest of the United States.”
“The president made our decision,” Colby replied.
GOP falls in line
Congress, meanwhile, is poised to vote this week on a War Powers Act resolution that has drawn limited Republican support to stop Trump’s unilateral military actions in Iran without congressional authorization.
Lawmakers are largely split along party lines in their support for the military action, with Republicans falling in line behind Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters Monday the measure will likely fail in the House. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is the lone Republican sponsor of the House version of the legislation.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., defended the administration’s initiation of war in Iran and chastised “grandstanding” allegations that Trump broke the law in not first seeking congressional authorization.
“This is the first president in seven presidencies that actually did something about the thorn that constantly came after us. And now you criticize him, you say it’s illegal. It’s not,” Mullin said Tuesday during the Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing.
“How about we say, ‘thank you, Mr. President, for finally getting rid of this nuisance, this murderer, this sponsor of terror,’” Mullin said.
Virginia’s Kaine says GOP ‘nervous about voting for a war’
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., lead sponsor of the Senate’s War Powers Act bill, criticized Mullin for suggesting “that the angst on this side of the aisle is because we don’t like President Trump.”
“He has misstated that concern. I think I can speak for most of my colleagues who have concerns, and say our concern is this, have we learned nothing from 25 years of war in the Middle East?” Kaine said.
Kaine said during a brief interview that Republicans who support Trump’s war in Iran should put an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, or AUMF, on the floor to formally give it Congress’ stamp of approval.
“And the fact that there has been a reluctance to put AUMFs on the table tells me that while Republicans don’t want to be contrary to the president, they’re also nervous about voting for a war,” Kaine said. “If you’re nervous about voting for the war, well then, think what that says to the troops who are risking their lives. That anxiety should lead you to question whether it’s a good idea or not.”
Kaine said the 2001 AUMF, which Congress wrote somewhat broadly following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and is still in effect, doesn’t cover Trump’s military actions in Iran.
“The president has not cited that,” he said. “And we all agree that Iran was not covered by the ‘01 AUMF. It was meant to cover non-state terrorist groups, not sovereign nations.”
Lawmakers were set to receive closed-door briefings on the war from administration officials later Tuesday.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., criticizes Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee mounted unusually blunt criticisms of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a tense five-hour hearing Tuesday, with North Carolina’s Thom Tillis threatening to obstruct the chamber’s business if Noem did not answer questions from his office about immigration enforcement.
Tillis even revisited a book written by Noem in which she famously detailed shooting a pet dog as well as a goat, comparing her actions in that instance with drawing too-hasty conclusions in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis.
The oversight hearing was Noem’s first appearance on Capitol Hill since the months-long immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, during which agents of her department killed the two citizens and the surge was later scaled back amidst a national uproar.
Tillis, a Republican who is retiring rather than seeking reelection this year, focused his critique on Noem’s handling of immigration, while other GOP members raised separate concerns. At times, he raised his voice.
“We expect exceptional leadership and you’ve demonstrated anything but that,” Tillis said. “What we’ve seen is a disaster under your leadership. What we’ve seen is innocent people getting detained that turn out are American citizens.”
He castigated Noem for not admitting her mistake in labeling Renee Good, a poet and mother of three, and Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, as domestic terrorists. Good and Pretti both died in January from gunshots fired by federal immigration agents.
Tillis called for Noem’s resignation, and threatened that if she did not answer multiple questions submitted by his office, he would hold up en bloc nominations that come to the floor and deny quorum in Senate committees. Tillis’ absence from committee markups could grind those panels’ work to a halt, pausing nominations and party line bills.
Democrats on the panel questioned Noem about the Minneapolis operation, racial profiling by immigration officers that has led to the arrests of U.S. citizens, and whether immigration agents will be at polling locations in the midterm elections.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sworn in before she testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Noem largely stood by her decisions, and, when she was grilled by senators about the aggressive tactics by her immigration agent, she pivoted to the families behind her, known as angel families, who have had loved ones killed by an immigrant in the country without legal authorization.
“These poor angel families behind me will never have their children again, that’s one of my motivations every day,” Noem said.
Republicans John Kennedy of Louisiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri quizzed Noem on a $220 million advertising contract and the slow response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursements and disaster assistance.
The dog and the goat
Tillis did not ask Noem any questions. Instead, for his full 10 minutes allocated for questions, he said he was giving her a “performance review,” during which he expressed multiple frustrations.
He criticized her handling of the operation in Minnesota.
“The fact that you can’t admit to a mistake, which looks like, under investigation, is going to prove that Miss Good and Mr. Pretti probably should not have been shot in the face and in the back,” Tillis said.
After Pretti’s death, President Donald Trump instructed Tom Homan, the White House border czar who reports directly to the president and operates outside of DHS’ chain of command, to take over operations in Minneapolis.
Tillis told Noem that he read her book, in which she details how she shot and killed a 14-month-old dog named Cricket for bad behavior. She also revealed she killed a goat for similar reasons.
“You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time and training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it’s a leadership lesson about tough choices,” Tillis said.
He also took issue with the goat.
“If you don’t castrate a goat, they behave badly,” he said.
“My point is, those are bad decisions made in the heat of the moment, not unlike what happened up in Minneapolis,” he said, referring to how quick Noem was to label Pretti and Good as domestic terrorists.
Slow FEMA relief
Tillis pointed to how a policy Noem started at FEMA, in which she must personally approve any contract that is more than $100,000, has led to delay in his state that is still reeling from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
“This is what incompetent FEMA leadership looks like,” he said. “People are hurting in western North Carolina from the most significant storm they’ve ever experienced.”
Tillis said Noem had “failed at FEMA” and that he believes she is violating the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that he said “expressly prohibits the secretary of Homeland Security from restricting or diverting FEMA resources from the agency’s mission.”
Hawley also brought up an issue with FEMA.
He said following multiple deadly tornadoes in his state, FEMA was helping fund debris removal. Local officials have estimated roughly 10,000 homes qualify for the removal aid, but “some of the conditions that have been placed on the funds by FEMA mean that only (100) or 200 homes out of those 10,000 can actually get access to FEMA debris removal funds.”
Noem said she would work with his office to address that issue.
Advertising contract
Kennedy questioned Noem about her decision to award a no-bid contract for her ad campaign that costs $220 million. A ProPublica investigation found that Noem awarded the contract to the husband of former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
“Look, we all have friends who are qualified, I’m not quibbling with that,” Kennedy said. “It troubles me, … a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money when we’re scratching for every penny and we’re fighting over rescission packages, I just can’t agree with.”
Noem said she was not involved in approving the contract.
‘They should be alive today’
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar slammed Noem for the aggressive immigration enforcement operation in her state.
“Two of my constituents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed,” she said. “They should be alive today.”
Klobuchar asked Noem how many federal immigration officers are still in Minneapolis. The Trump administration sent more than 2,000 agents, dwarfing the city’s local police force that stands at roughly 600 officers.
Noem said about 650 immigration agents are still in the city.
Klobuchar told Noem that she spoke to the parents of Pretti.
“When I spoke to Alex’s parents, they told me that you calling him a domestic terrorist… (was) one of the most hurtful things they could ever imagine was said by you about their son,” Klobuchar said.
She asked Noem if she wanted to apologize to Pretti’s parents for calling him a domestic terrorist.
“I did not call him a domestic terrorist, I said it appeared to be an incident of domestic terrorism,” Noem said.
Shutdown and Iran questions
Tuesday was day 17 of a partial shutdown of DHS. Senate Democrats forced the shutdown after the shootings of Good and Pretti.
The department is also now dealing with additional cybersecurity and counterterrorism risks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran.
Though Congress has not passed a fiscal 2026 funding bill for DHS, the department has a separate funding stream, from the tax cuts and spending package Republicans passed last year, to continue immigration enforcement. Nearly all of the department is considered essential, so its employees are continuing to work, some without pay.
In the days following the Trump administration’s decision to launch an attack on Iran, senators pressed Noem on what security preparations the agency is taking amid the shutdown.
Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley of Iowa said he was concerned about potential terrorism due to the war in Iran. He asked Noem how she was vetting immigrants and intercepting potential acts of terrorism.
Noem blamed the Biden administration for concerns of terrorism and said the agency was re-vetting all refugees and Afghan allies who fled to the U.S. after the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“We are re-vetting some of the individuals and some of the programs that we may have concerns about, looking at social media, also going through those interviews that are necessary for some of our programs that the Biden administration abused and perverted under their time,” Noem said.
Republican of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham asked Noem if she thought the threat level to the U.S. was up or down when it came to terrorism from Iran.
Noem said it was up.
Graham has been vocal in his push for the ousting of the current Iranian government.
“We’re engaged in military action against the mothership of terrorism, Iran, which I hope will sink pretty soon,” Graham said.
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the top Republican on the appropriations panel that funds DHS, asked Noem what the implications of her agency being shut down are.
Britt raised concern about the shooting in Austin, Texas, over the weekend that is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
“We’re continuing to do that work and will every single day, but we need funding to make sure that all of our law enforcement agencies have the tools they (need) to bring them to justice,” Noem said.
Elections
Ahead of November’s midterm elections, Democrats have raised concerns the administration would send immigration officers to polling locations.
Noem said Tuesday that elections were up to the states to run, but was evasive when asked to rule out sending DHS agents to monitor polling places.
Sen. Chris Coons asked Noem if she would issue a directive telling ICE agents to not be at election sites.
Noem didn’t answer the Delaware Democrat’s question but asked, “Do you plan on illegal aliens voting in our elections?”
It’s already illegal for a noncitizen to vote in a federal election and has only rarely happened.
Trump is pushing for Congress to pass a law to require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — Republican lawmakers said Tuesday after classified briefings on Capitol Hill they don’t intend to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to continue the war in Iran, though some said sending in ground troops would be a step too far.
Democrats argued that military and administration officials shared no clear objectives or exit strategy for the war, making debate and a vote in Congress more important.
“When there is no set plan … you end up with an endless war, you end up with mission creep, you end up with all kinds of problems,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “What’s really needed is a public debate so the American people, who already are very much against this, can see what we have seen.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during an afternoon press conference before the briefing that he doesn’t believe Congress needs to declare or authorize the war.
“No, I think the president has the authority that he needs to conduct the activities and the operations that are currently underway there,” he said. “As you know, there’s a lot of controversy around, questions around the War Powers Act. But I think the president is acting in the best interest of the nation and our national security interests by ensuring that he’s protecting Americans and American bases and installations in that region, as well as those of our allies.”
Lawmakers received closed-door briefings from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe.
Tim Kaine, Rand Paul push war powers vote
The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a War Powers Resolution co-sponsored by Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul that would direct the administration “to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.”
The House will vote later this week, likely Thursday, on a similar proposal from Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said that effort doesn’t have the support to take effect.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said as he was walking out of the afternoon briefing that the Trump administration will not rule out boots on the ground.
Wicker said he doesn’t believe Congress would need to authorize U.S. troops in Iran, though he declined to answer a question about why he thinks the president holds the authority for a ground war not approved by lawmakers.
A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that while Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, that authority “has been heavily debated.”
“The Supreme Court has observed that only Congress has the power to declare war, but the implications of this exclusive assignment are not well-settled,” the report says. “In particular, the relationship between Congress’s power to declare war and the President’s war powers granted under Article II of the Constitution is the subject of significant disagreement.”
‘This is a massive operation and rapidly changing’
Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said he doesn’t “think the American people want to see troops on the ground. I don’t think that’s the case. And although they left open that possibility, it seems not to be something they’re emphasizing.”
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said he believes Congress would need to authorize U.S. troops on the ground in Iran, something he’s unlikely to support.
“I find it difficult to imagine a scenario where I would,” he said.
Hawley said the classified briefing left the impression the Trump administration’s war in Iran will continue for some time.
“I think there’ll be a lot more to come, because one of the things I took away from this is, this is a massive operation and rapidly changing,” he said.
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said it “was an important briefing that we had today and it is a situation that is clearly evolving rapidly.”
North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven declined to answer a question about whether he would support Trump sending U.S. troops into Iran.
“Well, again, that’s an option, and if and when it would occur, we could deal with it at that point,” he said. “But I think at this point, there’s no indication of that.”
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin said that Hegseth is “not going to limit any options to the president” when asked about the possibility of U.S. troops on the ground in Iran.
Mullin described the role Congress plays in authorizing the administration’s offensive in Iran as “debatable.”
“We’re not going to take away the authority of the president of the United States to be able to be the commander-in-chief. … We don’t need 535 commanders,” Mullin said.
Lindsey Graham ‘never felt better about how this ends’
Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, said the level of interceptor stockpiles is a “big concern.”
“We do not have an unlimited supply and the Iranians do have the ability to make a lot of Shahed drones, ballistic missiles, medium-range, short-range. And they’ve got a huge stockpile,” Kelly said. “So at some point, we’re probably already in this, this becomes a math problem. And how can we resupply air defense munitions? Where are they going to come from? How does that affect other theaters?”
The Trump administration pulling from the Indo-Pacific Command, for example, Kelly said, would leave troops in that region of the world “more vulnerable.”
“We don’t have an unlimited supply. They’re shooting a lot of stuff,” he said. “Certainly, the number has gone down somewhat over time. But the math on this currently seems to be an issue.”
Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the administration has yet to ask Congress to provide additional funding for the war.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., exited the briefing saying he “never felt better about how this ends.”
Graham said he spoke with Arab leaders by phone earlier in the day and “they’re going to get in the fight in a more direct way.”
Graham also spoke directly to the cameras, in case Trump was watching, he said, to encourage the president to join Israel in bombing Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.
“Not only take the mothership of Iran down, also take the proxy of Hezbollah. Settle the score,” Graham said.
Mike Johnson defends Trump constitutional authority
Johnson said Trump took advantage of “a narrow and unique opportunity” to attack Iran over the weekend, and that he was “well within his constitutional authority to do what he has done.”
“We had counsel from the (Department of Justice) here tonight, who said very well, very clearly — fell just short of citing the specific case law — but explained that this has been the tradition for decades.”
Johnson said the U.S. joint war with Israel in Iran has been “very effective thus far” and described the proposed War Powers Resolution as “dangerous.”
The U.S. mission in Iran “needs to be completed,” he said. “We don’t need Congress getting in the way of that.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said she is a “no for now” on the Wars Powers Resolution vote later this week.
“But if this thing goes beyond a few weeks, I’m going to have a lot more concerns,” Mace said, adding that boots on the ground “would be a very different conversation.”
“That’s not where we are today. That’s not what I heard in the briefing,” Mace said, declining to provide more details from the classified meeting. “I feel very good and very confident about where we are roughly just over 100 hours into the strikes in this conflict.”
Ben Garcia is the President of Magnolia Grove Consultants. (Photo/ Magnolia Grove Consultants)
In early February, Ben Garcia and his political consulting firm, Magnolia Grove Consultants, were caught in the middle of a political firestorm. Mayoral candidate Joanne Cogle hired his firm in August 2025. A few months later, negative comments surfaced regarding his identification with Christian nationalism, and Cogle was accused of not properly vetting Garcia. That resulted in his firm being fired.
Joanne Cogle kicks off campaign for mayor (Robbie Watson/NowGeorgia.com)
As Now Georgia’s Robbie Watson reported at the time, Cogle said she was taken aback by the controversy surrounding her former campaign manager and said she hires people based on their talent and not their political affiliations.
Several local media outlets reported that Garcia was a self-described Christian nationalist, based on his Instagram post. That description has since been removed, and he now uses “Follower of Christ.” He has also created a YouTube channel, entitled The Ben Garcia Show, with a tagline “A New Conservative Voice.”
During those early weeks of February, social media weighed in, and some assumed that those questioning responses and finger-pointing came from former Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and former City Manager and Mayoral candidate, Isaiah Hugley. Tomlinson’s husband, Trip, is the campaign manager for Hugley.
Mayoral candidate Isaiah Hugley hosts meet and greet (Robbie Watson/ Now Georgia.com)
This was Hugley’s response to those accusations surrounding Garcia in an interview with Now Georgia.
“Well, let me just say I don’t know him. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I had nothing to do with whether she fired him. I knew nothing about it until I read it in the news, and so that was the first knowledge I had of anything regarding where he stands with his religion or anything else.” Hugley said.
After researching all the media reports on the story, it seems no one contacted Ben Garcia.
“First, I’m a Christian, and second, I’m an American. My biggest issue with the controversy was that no one bothered to ask me any questions,” explained Garcia.
We also questioned him about the exact meaning of Christian nationalist. Many local voters we reached didn’t know what the term even meant.
What is Christian nationalism?
There is no clean and tidy definition of Christian nationalism since it is not a formal religious denomination or sect with a stated doctrine of beliefs; nor is there any single person or council leading Christian nationalism that oversees followers.
Generally, religious scholars, sociologists, and others who study Christian nationalism describe it as a belief that the United States is a country defined by Christianity.
Garcia believes it is not about the government telling people what to do or think.
“I believe it is about values and taking care of neighbors and loving one another.”
Ben Garcia, honoring Eagle Scout Kevin Green with Georgia State Representative Ed Harbison. (Photo courtesy Ben Garcia)
Ben Garcia was born and raised in Upatoi, Georgia. He was the youngest of eight children. His father, Dr. Paul Garcia, was an Army veteran and respected dentist for more than 40 years. Dr. Garcia taught all his children a strong work ethic, and all were raised with a strong faith.
He has been involved in the political campaign process, locally, statewide, and nationally, for eight years, including Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign.
Garcia’s firm has previously represented Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and John Anker, who is running for Columbus Council District 9 at large. His current clients include Georgia State Senator Matt Brass and State Senator District 29 Randy Robertson, who is Garcia’s brother-in-law.
Ben Garcia meets with US Senate candidate, Kari Lake, while working on the campaign for US House Representative Brian Jack in the 3rd Congressional District.
After the fallout with Cogle, Garcia’s firm has resumed business as usual.
“We have received an overwhelming amount of support. Political campaigns exist for specific amounts of time. Our firm is also expanding to become a full advertising agency for businesses and nonprofits,” said Garcia.
As far as the upcoming election is concerned, Garcia believes the main responsibility of the next Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, is making sure every family is guaranteed safety.
CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Last week at the Georgia State Capitol, lawmakers recognized Clarkesville Police Officer Terry “J” Palmer Jr. with resolutions adopted by both chambers honoring his bravery during a potentially deadly 2024 incident.
The Georgia House and Senate approved resolutions Feb. 26 commending Palmer for his actions Sept. 7, 2024, at the Cameron Circle Apartments in Clarkesville, where a welfare check escalated into an armed confrontation.
What began as a routine call quickly evolved when a man later described as an Army veteran experiencing mental health distress followed responding deputies with what appeared to be a rifle pointed in their direction. Palmer engaged the individual, ordered him to drop the weapon and was fired upon before deputies returned fire. Authorities later said his actions interrupted what could have been an ambush on law enforcement officers.
The House resolution (HR 1512) and Senate resolution (SR 856) commend Palmer for his “exceptional bravery and decisive actions” that day.
“Officer Palmer’s conduct on that evening exemplified the highest traditions of law enforcement: courage, selflessness, composure under fire, and a profound commitment to the safety of others,” Clarkesville Police Chief Daniel Clouatre said in recommending him for the Award of Valor. “His ability to assess the threat, take decisive action, and protect his fellow officers — at great personal risk — demonstrates valor in its purest form. It is my sincere belief that Officer Palmer’s actions directly saved lives and prevented what could have been a catastrophic outcome.”
Representative Kimberly New, Retired GA Department of Natural Resources Officer Al Crews, President of North Georgia Mountains Lodge 112 Fraternal Order of Police Michael Palmer, Chief Danny Cloutre, Representative Victor Anderson, Police Officer Terry Palmer Jr., Assistant Chief Ryan Ledford, Mayor Franklin Brown, Representative Clint Crowe. (photo submitted)
In July 2025, Palmer received the Heroic Action Award from the Georgia State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police during a Clarkesville City Council meeting. He has also been honored locally with the Award of Valor and the Award of Lifesaving Action through the Clarkesville Police Department and North Georgia Mountains Lodge 112 of the Fraternal Order of Police.
His recognition now extends beyond Georgia. On April 10, Palmer is scheduled to receive the Founders Award during the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas. He will become the first officer from Georgia to earn the distinction, which honors exceptional leadership, courage and dedication to the profession.
The series of honors highlights a moment that began on a Clarkesville apartment complex walkway and has since drawn recognition from the state Capitol to the national stage.
Gas prices rose Tuesday after the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. (NowGeorgia.com)
(States News) – The national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline topped $3 Tuesday for the first time this year, and is expected to keep going up.
The average price Tuesday was $3.11, up about 11 cents from Monday, according to AAA.
“The pump reaction is not only underway — it’s accelerating,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, which tracks prices.
Increases were already on tap even before Saturday’s U.S.-Israel strikes at Iran, as warmer weather usually means more demand and refiners start producing a summer-blend product.
But the attack adds new, powerful momentum to the price surge. The war makes it tough to forecast how long any increases will last or how big they could be. Recent experience does offer some hope that any big spike won’t last.
“While oil markets continue to react to potential tensions in the Middle East, history has shown that the price increases are temporary and quickly fall back,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist and principal at the consulting firm RSM US, on his Real Economy Blog.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, sought to justify the strikes and said any price hikes would be temporary.
“People felt it’s something that had to be done,” he said. “So if we have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before.”
Immediate market reaction
The market reaction to the Iran war so far has been swift.
Brent crude oil, considered the global standard, topped $80 a barrel early Monday, up from the low 70s last week.
Some analysts saw prices having the potential to go as high as $100 a barrel.
“The forecasts are wide-ranging from over $100/barrel to lower prices this week on new Iraqi oil hitting the market,” said Matt McCall, founder of NXT Wave Research, an investment and market analysis firm, in a tweet. “I see a spike to start the week…and then it depends on the longevity of the war. A quick war and oil does not stay elevated. What is almost certain is volatility.”
The surge in oil prices fueled an overall slide in U.S. stock markets Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down nearly 2% around midday.
The nation’s lowest gasoline prices tend to be in the South, from roughly Mississippi to Texas.
The price of a gallon of regular in Oklahoma, the least expensive of any state, was $2.62 Tuesday, up from about $2.47 Monday.
Other changes in the lowest price states:
Mississippi: $2.64 Tuesday, $2.55 Monday.
Kansas: $2.70 Tuesday, $2.57 Monday.
Arkansas: $2.70 Tuesday, $2.61 Monday.
Louisiana: $2.72 Tuesday, $2.58 Monday.
Tennessee: $2.72 Tuesday, $2.61 Monday.
Kentucky: $2.73 Tuesday, $2.63 Monday.
Texas: $2.74 Tuesday, $2.62 Monday.
The highest-priced gasoline tended to be in Western states. California has in recent years topped the price chart, and did again Tuesday at $4.67 per gallon, up about 1.7 cents a gallon from Monday.
California’s higher prices are the result of several special factors. It has tough environmental standards, and the state has more trouble compensating for refinery shutdown from interstate pipelines.
It’s more difficult for California to make up refinery shortages from interstate pipelines because of its location.
Other Western states have localized reasons prices stay high, and they tended to be less volatile because of the strikes. Some of the higher state averages Tuesday:
Hawaii: $4.40 Tuesday, $4.38 Monday.
Washington: $4.38 Tuesday, $4.37 Monday.
Oregon: $3.95 Tuesday, $3.92 Monday.
Nevada: $3.73 Tuesday, $3.70 Monday.
Future prices uncertain
The future path of prices depends on some huge unknowns. The biggest could involve the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, where the Iranians can exercise control. One-fifth of the world’s oil passed through there in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The strait is “one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints,” EIA said. Iranian officials said Tuesday the strait is closed, CNBC reported.
Most Iranian oil goes to China. Canada is the top importer of U.S. oil, followed by Mexico and Saudi Arabia, according to EIA. The U.S. sells more oil than it imports.
A prolonged change in Strait of Hormuz activity, or even the threat of change, is arguably already affecting oil prices.
“Even without a sustained blockade, the new risk of closure is already changing behavior,” De Haan said. He listed ship rerouting, war-risk insurance premiums going up and “freight markets bracing for significant cost increases.”
Bottom line, he said: “Most drivers should prepare for gradual increases this week.”
Candidates qualify for May 19th election (Robbie Watson/NowGeorgia.com)
Fifteen candidates submitted paperwork and fees to have their name on the ballot on the first day of qualifying in Columbus. Candidates have until noon Friday to become officially eligible to run for local office.
Of those who qualified early, four include candidates vying for the at large seat on City Council. Cathy Cook, John Van Doorn, Rocky Marsh and John Anker all qualified Monday to run in District 9.
Steve Kelly and Isaiah Hugley qualified Monday in the race for Mayor.
Three incumbents on the Muscogee County School Board also qualified. They include Mark Cantrell, Naomi Buckner and Kia Chambers.
Brian Barrett charged with abusing his wife (Lee County Sheriff's Office)
An East Alabama man is facing multiple charges after a criminal investigation revealed he was abusing his wife according to a press release from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
On February 17, 2026, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into a report of an individual sexually, physically and mentally abusing his wife. During the investigation, evidence was obtained that indicated this abuse had been on-going for several years. Warrants were obtained for Brian Scott Barrett (53) from Opelika, charging him with multiple offenses that took place on Lee Road 414 in the Beauregard community of Opelika.
On February 24, 2026, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators traveled to Lanett, Alabama, to Barrett’s place of employment and arrested him on:
One (1) count of Rape in the First Degree
One (1) count of Sodomy in the First Degree
One (1) count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree
One (1) count of Domestic Violence in the 3rd Degree
Other charges are expected as the investigation continues.
After an Aniah’s Law hearing, Barrett posted a $120,000 bond and was released from the Lee County Detention Center on February 26, 2026.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
Atlanta Braves Drake Baldwin is greeted by Jurickson Profar after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in North Port, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension by Major League Baseball for a possible second failed test for a performance-enhancing drug, a person familiar with the issue told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the process, first reported by ESPN, was ongoing.
Profar intends to ask the players’ association to file a grievance to appeal any discipline to baseball’s independent arbitrator, Martin F, Scheinman, a second person familiar with the process said, also on condition of anonymity, because no announcement had been made.
Because this would be Profar’s second infraction, an appeal would take place after a suspension was announced.
An All-Star in 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games last March 31 following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps production of testosterone. He issued a statement then saying: “I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”
His agent, Dan Lozano, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Profar homered in his return from suspension on July 2 and finished with a .245 average, 14 homers, 43 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 80 games. He batted .280 in 2024, when he set career highs with 24 homers, 85 RBIs and an .839 OPS.
Profar said at the start of spring training that he had sports hernia surgery in November, requiring a six-week recovery time. He has appeared in four spring training games this year, going 3 for 10 with three RBIs.
A native of Curaçao, Profar had been set to play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.
Under the suspension, he would be ineligible for the postseason.
Profar would lose his $15 million salary for this year as part of a $42 million, three-year contract through 2027. He lost half his $12 million salary in 2025 due to the initial suspension.
Four players have been suspended previously this year for positive tests, including free agent outfielder Max Kepler for 80 games under the major league program following a positive test for Epitrenbolone.
Following the offseason signing of left fielder Mike Yastrzemski to a $23 million, two-year deal, Profar had been targeted to be the Braves’ primary designated hitter.
When catcher Sean Murphy returns from a hip injury, perhaps in May, 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin could fill in at DH when not behind the plate.
With Yastrzemski, Michael Harris and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the outfield, Eli White could be a DH option. The Braves also are without projected starting shortstop Ha-seong Kim due to a finger injury. Mauricio Dubon, expected to serve a utility role, is scheduled to open the season as the starting shortstop.
The loss of Profar could create an opportunity for Dominic Smith, who signed a minor league deal on Feb. 17.
Parsa Robert Bojnordi was arrested Thursday on arson charges in connection to a South Hall residential fire. (Hall County Sheriff's Office)
HALL COUNTY, Ga. — An Atlanta man has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with a house fire Thursday evening in South Hall County that investigators say was intentionally set.
The fire occurred around 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at a residence in the 5600 block of Grand Reunion Drive. A neighbor reported flames on the home’s porch and attempted to contain the blaze with a fire extinguisher as deputies and Hall County Fire Rescue crews responded.
Firefighters extinguished the fire and determined no one was home at the time, according to Hall County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Derreck Booth.
A preliminary investigation found the fire was intentionally set using an accelerant, possibly gasoline. Investigators with the sheriff’s office and the Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene.
Following interviews and a review of evidence, authorities identified the suspect as Parsa Robert Bojnordi, 19, of Atlanta.
At approximately 10:50 p.m., patrol deputies spotted Bojnordi’s vehicle on Friendship Road approaching Deaton Creek Parkway. Deputies activated their blue lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, but Bojnordi accelerated instead of stopping, Booth said.
Deputies followed him to the 5700 block of Chateau Glen Drive, where he stopped. He was arrested without incident on a charge of fleeing or attempting to elude.
Investigators subsequently charged Bojnordi with first-degree arson and second-degree criminal damage to property, both felonies, in connection with the fire.
Bojnordi also had outstanding warrants for criminal trespass and theft by taking, both misdemeanors, stemming from incidents Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 24, involving one of the residents of the Grand Reunion Drive home.
In the theft case, investigators said Bojnordi took a box containing cosmetics from the victim’s residence. That same afternoon, he allegedly damaged the victim’s SUV by pouring flour, tuna fish and other cut-up pieces of fish inside the vehicle in the 6000 block of Maple Park Lane.
Bojnordi was booked into the Hall County Jail following his arrest. He posted $11,900 bond and was released Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28.
Steven Dewayne Holland, age 64, of Baldwin, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Born on July 7, 1961, in Franklin, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Doyle Holland and the late Marlene Cope Cantrell. Steve dedicated more than 40 years of faithful service to Solmax. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing. Most important in Steve’s life was his family, especially his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a member of Line Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 29 years, Denise Smith Holland; his brother, Curtis Holland; his stepfather, Marvin Cantrell; and his sisters-in-law, Sandra Barrett and Phyllis Smith.
Survivors include his children, Haleigh & Matt Mealor and Austin & Ashley Holland; grandchildren, Brody Mealor, Kason Mealor, Wyatt Mealor, and Clay Holland; brothers, Keith & Dorleen Holland, Andy & Keeley Holland, and Tim & Jennifer Cantrell; sister-in-law, Wanda Perry; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating. Interment will follow at Line Baptist Church Cemetery in Alto.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
