Leonne's Daily Post
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Tuesday, March 17
Israel says 2 top Iranian officials killed in airstrikes in blow to Tehran leadership

Israel reports the deaths of two senior Iranian officials in airstrikes, marking another significant blow to Tehran's leadership structure during the escalating conflict.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Trump seeks to delay meeting with Xi in China

Trump is reportedly delaying a planned meeting with China's Xi Jinping as the escalating Iran war reshapes U.S. foreign policy priorities.

Continue reading at BBC News
Top Iranian security official and head of country’s Basij force killed, Israel says

Israel has announced the killing of two more top Iranian officials—the security chief and Basij commander—in what appears to be a systematic decapitation of Tehran's leadership.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Israel steps up campaign in Lebanon, as Iran keeps stranglehold on shipping

Israel is intensifying its military campaign in Lebanon while Iran maintains pressure on regional shipping, escalating the multi-front conflict.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Live updates: Israel-Hezbollah fighting drives over 1 million Lebanese from their homes

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced over 1 million Lebanese from their homes, creating a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Dozens killed in air strike on Kabul rehab centre blamed on Pakistan

A suspected Pakistani airstrike on a Kabul rehabilitation center has killed dozens, with observers noting the strike's devastating civilian toll.

Continue reading at BBC News
Why France is bolstering military presence in the Middle East, as Macron prepares for postwar talks

France is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East as President Macron prepares diplomatic efforts for postwar discussions following the Iran conflict.

Continue reading at Associated Press
What to know about the Jones Act as Trump considers a waiver during the Iran war

An explanation of the Jones Act—which restricts shipping between U.S. ports—and why Trump is considering a waiver amid the Iran war's economic disruptions.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Lindsey Graham got a war with Iran. What will it cost the country and his party?

Senator Lindsey Graham has gotten his long-desired war with Iran—but the human and financial costs to the country and his party may prove steep.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Millions without electricity as Cuba's power grid collapses

Cuba's electricity grid has collapsed, leaving millions without power as the country grapples with chronic fuel shortages worsened by U.S. trade restrictions.

Continue reading at BBC News
Suspected suicide attacks kill at least 23 in north-east Nigeria

At least 23 people were killed in suspected suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Nigeria, striking busy public spaces in a troubling escalation of violence.

Continue reading at BBC News
One War, Two Mistakes

An Atlantic essay argues that emotional reactions to the Iran war are clouding judgment for both supporters and critics, preventing clear analysis of the conflict's trajectory.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
A Failed Test of Leadership

An Atlantic essay argues that Trump's responsibility for civilian deaths in the Iran war demands humility and acknowledgment of tragic mistakes rather than defensiveness.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Trump Is Learning That His Bullying Has Consequences

Trump's aggressive bullying tactics—from annexation threats to trade wars—are fracturing the post-World War II alliance system that the U.S. built to prevent future conflicts.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Iran’s War Is Not Only With the West

A Syrian surgeon's perspective reveals that while Western discourse treats the Iran war as geopolitics, Iranians and their neighbors experience it as direct, lived suffering.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Can’t Stop It, So Lead It

An Atlantic strategist argues that Democrats should lead on Iran policy rather than simply oppose it, as military escalation threatens to become an indefinite occupation.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
J. D. Vance Learns What Mike Pence Already Knows

J. D. Vance is learning what Mike Pence already discovered: joining a Trump ticket requires the wholesale abandonment of one's previous convictions and public identity.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
The Border Wall Is Back

Trump's border wall construction has resumed with dramatic effect—demolition crews are blowing up mountains at Coronado National Memorial to clear a path for the barrier.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Afghan man who worked with US military dies after taken into ICE custody

An Afghan man who worked with U.S. military forces has died while in ICE custody, raising troubling questions about the care and treatment of vulnerable immigrants.

Continue reading at Associated Press
ICE replaces contractor at largest detention camp after scrutiny of living conditions

ICE has replaced the contractor operating the nation's largest detention facility following public scrutiny over dangerous living conditions for detainees.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Last protester in immigration detention after Trump’s campus crackdown has been released

The last protester detained during Trump's campus crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism has been released after months in immigration custody.

Continue reading at Associated Press
El Salvador has arbitrarily detained nationals deported from the US, Human Rights Watch says

Human Rights Watch reports that El Salvador has arbitrarily detained nationals who were deported from the U.S., violating their rights upon return.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Accused DC pipe bomber tells court Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon should apply to him

The alleged D.C. pipe bomber argues that Trump's January 6 pardons should shield him from prosecution, testing the scope and intent of the presidential clemencies.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Trump and his FCC chair demand more positive news coverage of Iran war

Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr are demanding more positive media coverage of the Iran war, raising concerns about press freedom and government censorship.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine changes to CDC vaccine guidance blocked by judge

A federal judge has temporarily blocked most of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s changes to CDC vaccine guidance, including the removal of his anti-vaccine appointees.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
Elon Musk's xAI sued for turning three girls' real photos into AI CSAM

Elon Musk's xAI faces a lawsuit after allegedly using Grok to generate child sexual abuse material from real girls' photographs, a damning indictment of the company's safety measures.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
National Academies of Sciences says no to demands it remove climate info

The National Academies of Sciences has rejected demands to remove climate information from its judicial reference manual, standing firm on scientific accuracy.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
OpenAI’s own mental health experts unanimously opposed “naughty” ChatGPT launch

OpenAI's own mental health advisors unanimously opposed the company's "adult mode" for ChatGPT, warning of potential psychological harms that the company dismissed.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
AI firm Anthropic seeks weapons expert to stop users from 'misuse'

AI firm Anthropic is hiring weapons experts to prevent "catastrophic misuse" of its systems, acknowledging that powerful AI tools require dedicated safety oversight.

Continue reading at BBC News
Donations to science often avoid scrutiny. Jeffrey Epstein used this to his advantage

Jeffrey Epstein's philanthropic donations to scientists illustrate how large, unscrutinized gifts can serve as tools for reputation laundering in the research community.

Continue reading at NPR Science
How wealthy tech entrepreneurs seek to shape politics, culture and the future — and why we must resist

A Nature essay warns that wealthy tech entrepreneurs have become ideological provocateurs reshaping public discourse and culture at an alarming scale.

Continue reading at Nature
BBC asks US court to dismiss Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit

The BBC has asked a U.S. court to dismiss Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit, arguing the suit lacks legal merit and chills press freedom.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Thiel brings his Antichrist lectures to the Vatican’s doorstep, and Catholic institutions back away

Billionaire Peter Thiel's antichrist-themed lectures have prompted Catholic institutions near the Vatican to distance themselves from his ideological project.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Trump says presidents 'should not have learning disabilities' as he mocks Newsom's dyslexia

Trump mocked California Governor Gavin Newsom's dyslexia, prompting immediate criticism from disability advocacy organizations over the president's dismissal of learning differences.

Continue reading at BBC News
Utah bereavement author found guilty of fatally poisoning her husband

A Utah author has been convicted of poisoning her husband with fentanyl, a grim conclusion to a case that upended the image she'd carefully constructed as a bereavement expert.

Continue reading at BBC News
Kennedy Center votes to shut down operations for 2 years and names a new president

The Kennedy Center has voted to shut down for two years and announced a new president, signaling major structural changes for the performing arts institution.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Judge blocks US government from slimming down vaccine recommendations

A federal judge has blocked efforts by the Trump administration to reduce vaccine recommendations, preserving established public health guidance for now.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Water Shortage May Hit Corpus Christi Within Weeks

Corpus Christi, Texas, faces a severe water shortage within weeks as contract terms mandate a 10 percent reduction from its largest remaining reservoir.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
Unauthorized Distribution of HathiTrust Data

The pirate site Anna's Archive is illicitly hosting and distributing HathiTrust data, with offers of bounties for additional materials—a serious threat to digital library collections.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Consortium data shows which open access paths are safe: Now researchers can see it too

Library consortia data on open access publishing is now visible to researchers through the Open Journal Finder, democratizing information about which journals are safe paths to publication.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Charleston Library Society is live on Koha and Aspen Discovery with ByWater support

The Charleston Library Society has successfully migrated its collections to the open-source Koha system with ByWater support, expanding access to its resources.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Monday, March 16
Europeans seek clarity about Trump’s Iran war aims before agreeing to his warship demands

European allies are cautiously asking Trump to clarify his Iran war objectives before committing military resources, reflecting deep uncertainty about U.S. strategy.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Cuban officials report an island-wide blackout

Cuba has experienced an island-wide blackout affecting all 11 million residents as its energy and economic crises reach a critical point.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Glimpsing Victory in Iran

An Atlantic essay argues that two weeks into the Iran war, the outlines of a potential victory are emerging as the U.S. and Israel degrade Iran's military and create openings for political change.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Supreme Court to hear arguments over push to end legal protections for migrants from Haiti, Syria

The Supreme Court will hear arguments over the Trump administration's efforts to end legal protections for refugees fleeing war and natural disasters from countries worldwide.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Trump’s mass deportation agenda is at a crossroads with the Homeland Security shake-up

Trump's mass deportation operation is intensifying despite a recent Homeland Security shakeup, with billions being allocated for ICE hiring and detention infrastructure.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Bank of America settles over Epstein claims

Bank of America settles a lawsuit accusing it of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operations, adding another institutional reckoning to the Epstein legacy.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Poland is now among the world’s 20 largest economies. How it happened

Poland has climbed into the world's 20 largest economies in just 35 years, a historic leap from post-Communist poverty that economists say offers lessons in inclusive growth.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Flu vaccines didn’t work that well in the US, officials find

U.S. flu vaccine effectiveness fell short this season, officials report, raising questions about strain matching and public health preparedness.

Continue reading at Associated Press