def METHOD_NAME(release_str, token, notes):
    headers = {
        'Authorization': f'token {token}',
        'Accept': 'application/vnd.github+json'
    }
    data = {
        'tag_name': release_str,
        'name': release_str,
        'body': notes
    }
    url = 'https://api.github.com/repos/rqlite/rqlite/releases'
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data)
    if response.status_code != 201:
        response.raise_for_status()
    return response.json()['id']