JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 914

Phoenix this week marked the halfway point of construction on the Cave Creek advanced water purification plant, while the Southwest Florida Water Management District announced irrigation restrictions beginning April 3 and Fort Collins utilities said they are awaiting Colorado–Big Thompson quota decisions before setting local limits.

The Phoenix facility will complete construction next year and enter a one-year demonstration to meet ADEQ standards; Florida's restrictions run through July 1 and limit watering to one day weekly; Global Water Resources declared a monthly dividend payable April 30 for shareholders recorded April 16.

Olympia — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6346 on March 30, enacting a 9.9% income tax on households earning more than $1 million; the law schedules collections to begin in 2029 and is projected to raise roughly $3 billion annually from approximately 21,000 filers.

The signing prompted immediate legal and political responses this week: the Citizen Action Defense Fund announced litigation citing a 1933 state precedent, opponents are organizing a November ballot referendum, and officials say the revenue will fund schools and targeted tax relief for lower-income residents and small businesses.

Bulverde, Texas. A 15-year-old student shot a teacher during morning classes at Hill Country College Preparatory High School on March 30, 2026, and then fatally shot himself on campus, Comal County Sheriff's Office officials said; the teacher was taken to a San Antonio hospital for treatment.

Local, state and federal agencies secured the campus, placed the school on lockdown and transported students to Bulverde Middle School for reunification; investigators executed a search warrant at the student’s home, seized electronic devices and recovered a .357 revolver as part of an ongoing inquiry.

Washington — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that backchannel talks between the United States and Iran are ongoing despite Tehran's public denials, and President Donald Trump announced a ten-day suspension of strikes as he seeks a deal by April 6.

Leavitt said this week the administration is sustaining military pressure with a four-to-six-week operational horizon and has discussed asking Gulf allies to help cover costs; the Pentagon reported more than $11.3 billion spent in the campaign's first six days, intensifying fiscal and diplomatic considerations.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, a crewed 10-day lunar flyby, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen aboard Orion from Kennedy Space Center as early as Wednesday, April 1, with backup windows through April 6 and an additional window April 30.

Launch teams completed RS-25 engine health checks and staged SLS verifications this week while Space Launch Delta 45 and NASA monitor weather, currently 80 percent favorable for April 1. If liftoff proceeds, the mission will test Orion life-support systems with crewed passengers and inform plans for future Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars.

Caracas — The United States formally reopened its embassy in Caracas on Monday, restoring full diplomatic relations after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was ousted in early January and an interim government assumed power; a small U.S. diplomatic team had been operating from neighboring Colombia for over a month.

The State Department said the reopening marks a key milestone in the administration’s three-phase plan for Venezuela and will strengthen direct engagement with the interim government, civil society and the private sector; U.S. staff had held a March 14 flag-raising and addressed building repairs including mold remediation.

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State announced Monday that it has agreed to hire Ben Jacobson, the longtime Northern Iowa head coach, on a five-year contract after multiple reports surfaced March 30 that Jacobson would leave Northern Iowa following a 20-year tenure to lead the Aggies.

The hire succeeds Jerrod Calhoun, who left for Cincinnati, and aims to bring continuity as Utah State prepares to join the Pac-12 on July 1; Jacobson’s record and five NCAA Tournament appearances were cited by university officials and his staff during the announcement this week.

United States President Donald Trump on March 30 publicly warned Iran that U.S. strikes could target Kharg Island and Iranian energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, and he told The Post a formal response would arrive "shortly."

The warnings coincided with U.S. force movements this week, including arrival of USS Tripoli and elements of the 31st MEU and deployment activity by the 82nd Airborne; officials and outlets said privately the administration aims to degrade Iran's navy and missile stocks while pressing allies to help restore shipping.

United States. President Donald Trump on March 30 posted a social-media warning that the United States would "completely obliterate" Iran's electric-generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island if a ceasefire deal is not reached shortly and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, according to multiple news reports.

Washington's statement followed reported U.S. troop deployments to the region and references to a temporary pause on strikes until April 6; outlets cited Iranian defiance, concerns about oil-flow disruptions and inflationary effects, and ongoing diplomatic discussions this week aimed at resolving hostilities.

Washington — The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments over President Trump's executive order seeking to end automatic birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents lacking permanent status, a legal test of whether the order violates the Citizenship Clause and related federal statutes.

This week, advocates and opponents presented constitutional and statutory arguments; federal courts previously blocked the order and a decision from the high court is expected by the end of June or early July, which could determine the administration's ability to implement the policy.