Average gas prices are $2.92 in Kansas and $2.98 in Missouri. California tops the nation at $5.20 per gallon.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/">Missouri Independent</a> By Ashley Murray

WASHINGTON — Americans are paying more for gas as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran chokes off a significant route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum products.

Global prices for Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed over $100 a barrel. Prices were just above $70 a barrel in the days before the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise Feb. 28 attack on Iran, killing the regime’s top leader and other powerful government figures.

The spike, which peaked at $119.50 per barrel early Monday, caused ricochets throughout markets, with major stock indexes falling worldwide. Oil prices have not reached costs above $100 per barrel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55079#:~:text=Crude%20oil%20prices%20increased%20in%20the%20first,2022%20price%2C%20at%20$75/b%2C%20on%20December%208." target="_blank">since mid-2022</a>&nbsp;after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

Following the Feb. 28 strikes, Iranian officials effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, threatening and reportedly attacking vessels attempting to cross the narrow passage.

Iran’s top security official,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/who-is-ali-larijani-the-unofficial-strongman-in-iran/a-76202526" target="_blank">Ali Larijani</a>, reinforced on the social media platform X on Monday that vessels trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz are not guaranteed safety as the conflict continues.

“It is unlikely that any security will be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires of the war ignited by the United States and Israel in the region,” Larijani&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/alilarijani_ir/status/2031017694468747369?s=20" target="_blank">wrote</a>.

President Donald Trump defended the price spike late Sunday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116196014942465383" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;on his online platform, Truth Social.

“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY! President DJT,” he wrote.

The national average for gasoline in the U.S. rose to $3.48 per gallon Monday, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/" target="_blank">AAA gasoline price survey</a>. That’s up from $3.25 per gallon on March 5, according to the survey.

AAA data shows consumers in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois experienced the highest prices in the Midwest and eastern U.S., with average retail prices ranging from $3.52 to nearly $3.60 for a gallon of regular gas.

Western states, which tend to pay higher gas prices already, saw an average gallon of regular surpass $4. California topped the nation’s list at $5.20 per gallon.

The price to fill up in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma remained the lowest, hovering between $2.92 to $2.99. That’s up from a week ago when prices averaged $2.47 in Oklahoma, $2.57 in Kansas and $2.61 in Arkansas.

GasBuddy, a platform that helps users find the cheapest gas prices in their area, put the national average Monday of regular at $3.45, and diesel at just over $4.59.

“In just a week, consumers have seen gasoline prices surge at one of the fastest rates in years after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said.

De Haan added in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2030994428605640833?s=20" target="_blank">blog post</a>&nbsp;Monday that the reason behind oil prices pushing past $100 a barrel for the first time in years is “fuel markets are now rapidly recalibrating to the risk of prolonged disruption to global supply flows.”

“As a result, gasoline prices in many states could climb another 20 to 50 cents per gallon this week, with price-cycling markets potentially seeing increases as early as today,” De Haan said.

Prior to the war, average U.S. gas prices sat just under $3, with expectations for seasonal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/iran-war-drives-gas-price-uncertainty-ahead-busy-summer-season" target="_blank">increases</a>&nbsp;as warmer weather triggers more demand and refineries produce pricier summer blends.

This story was first published by States Newsroom and the Missouri Independent.

Gas prices in Kansas, Missouri are among nation's lowest as they spike amid Iran war

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A high wind watch for Ellis County has been issued from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Other affected counties include&nbsp;Trego, Scott, Lane, Ness, Rush, Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Hodgeman, Pawnee, Stafford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Gray, Ford, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, Clark, Comanche and Barber.

North winds are expected to be 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph possible.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, according to the National Weather Service.

  Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult,  especially for high-profile vehicles.

High Wind Watch in effect for Ellis County Sunday

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks with Tamara Robertson, the 4-H Youth Development agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.

Upcoming 4-H events and activities include World Water Day, Super Fantastic Judging Day, and day camps for home-schooled 4-H members.

🎙 Post Podcast: 4-H members prepare for Super Fantastic Judging Day 

The Cancer Council of Ellis County would like to thank the Hays Lions Club for the $750 grant. This grant will be used for travel expenses for mileage, hotel and food for approved clients. 

We appreciate the continued support of the Hays Lions Club.

The mission of the Cancer Council of Ellis County is to provide services to individuals and families affected by cancer and to provide education about cancer to the general public. Individuals from Ellis County, Kansas can complete the application for financial services, with board approval, the individual can be reimbursed for cancer expenses up to $2,300 per calendar year.

Cancer Council of Ellis County receives grant from Hays Lions Club

FHSU University Communications

GREAT BEND — Cheyenne Bottoms, located on the Central Flyway, a bird migration route that connects Canada to South America, is an ideal place to witness the spring migration of many bird species. 

Seventy percent of all the different shorebird species in North America have been recorded at Cheyenne Bottoms, and late March through early May is prime time to view the birds using the local wetlands for rest and fuel.

This spring, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering 2-hour birdwatching van tours through the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands.&nbsp;Bird communities can change quickly from day to day during the spring, but the migration usually peaks around the last two weeks of April through the first two weeks of May.&nbsp;

Birdwatchers will get the chance to see a variety of wetland birds during the tours, including ducks, such as Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, and Gadwall; shorebirds, such as Long-billed dowitchers, Least sandpipers, Willets, Black-necked stilts, and American avocets; wading birds, such as Great blue herons, Black-crowned night herons, and Snowy Egrets; and other wetland specialist birds, such as American white pelicans, Double-crested cormorants, and Pied-billed grebes.

Saturday, March 21 Saturday, March 28 Saturday, April 18 Monday, April 27 Wednesday, April 29 Saturday, May 9 Saturday, March 28

Time:&nbsp;9–11 a.m. Cost:&nbsp;$5 per person Ages:&nbsp;12 and older Registration:&nbsp;Pre-registration required Capacity:&nbsp;Limited to 11 participants Pre-register for the tours by calling KWEC at 877-243-9268.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. 

More information can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqiohrCVEzT-2Bu22yVklcaqOvmZGt05-2BeOL3r-2Flc3NH2OVG0lv_jsop8PIMT7gxIIR3VBIav8lOuFYBpuHbZjyafuuURjtbMxTr6o-2BCULFYMWFiG8W3FriW2HKWCsmar-2F80lP7v1vq52wJw6YLOXDmCmHbeaROFack9jVp1Qhk-2F6TWh58l5uHAgwtF6DnCPaQD6CREfcGUfXb8G-2B2IKrjxz8DhEkrVoG6hDQrGzuLgkxopxqTdHAsIbYS4XpEeihm3izgkPb4ysmOZp6ovBxyz-2BwbMGrJJx0kHMMYLQcsm2VmElT4vAHWMPF8BMT6iqGiERauIQy5XsHZeUasZu8y4xg10KV0DZDhwutrPCuGeaPq2V-2BTkIqpwEQf0wvorT08R3kYnKhZ7RfvzgWzAWd98eAJOjAZqUd8JDrsQ-2F22u-2Bg3jNbpY0">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center to host spring Bird Migration Tours

CAMPBELL: Alfalfa weevils now active in Kansas

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

If you would like to get in on the action of this year’s online auction, click on the link below.&nbsp;

Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>

The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible. The Invisalign program includes office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, whitening program and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today! www.lifetimedentalcare.com. THIS OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER. Current Bid: $600 Retail Price: $6,000

Preserving family memories on tape, film, slides or photos

Photos Phorever in Hays can convert your video tapes, slides, film reels, and more to digital! Plus, Photo scanning your family photos to flash drive, allowing you to preserve them for yourself and future generations. Photos Phorever 785-222-3476. Visit them online @ www.photosphorever.com Certificate value $150 and valid for one year.

Get a great deal on this complete bedroom set from Olliff-Boeve Furniture and Appliance in Phillipsburg. The manufacturer is Jofran, Inc. The style is "Madison County Vintage White." The set includes a headboard, a footboard, rails, a dresser, a mirror, a chest of drawers, and a nightstand. The nightstand has an enclosed power port with USB ports. The bed is queen size and mattress is not included. There is a slight crack on the bottom base of the bed and one or two other slight nicks, but otherwise it looks great and is in very good condition. The drawers on the chest and dresser are glides and pullouts. Item must be picked up....Olliff-Boeve will not deliver. You may want to bring multiple pickups or a trailer - this is a big bedroom set.

Current Bid: $408 Retail Price: $4,085

Check out these Eagle Radio Auction items through Sunday, including Invisalign

<a href="https://www.nordichottubs.com/damour-se/">Check out more details and a video HERE!</a>

It’s love at first sight with the D’Amour SE™! Ease into the deep-seated captain’s chairs and let the Nordic Star™ jets massage your entire body so you emerge, refreshed, and invigorated. Picture yourself enveloped in swirling hot water, letting the stress of the day drift off. Your muscles relax, your mind calms, and a sense of well-being takes over. This is a 2-person hut tub. Includes cover, chemical kit, and steps. DELIVERY NOT INCLUDED. (Available for extra charge per location.) Love your life in a D’Amour SE™! Pools Plus 1609 Main, Hays. It’s love at first sight with the D’Amour SE™! Ease into the deep-seated captain’s chairs and let the Nordic Star™ jets massage your entire body so you emerge, refreshed, and invigorated. Picture yourself enveloped in swirling hot water, letting the stress of the day drift off. Your muscles relax, your mind calms, and a sense of well-being takes over. This is a 2-person hut tub. Includes cover, chemical kit, and steps. DELIVERY NOT INCLUDED. ( Available for extra charge per location. ) Love your life in a D’Amour SE™! Pools Plus 1609 Main, Hays. See more online about this great item by going to: <a href="https://www.nordichottubs.com/damour-se/">https://www.nordichottubs.com/damour-se/</a>

Current Bid: $998 Retail Price: $6,699

Give your child a summer that builds confidence, strengthens skills, and sparks curiosity. The Learning Academy is offering a12-week Summer Care Program, running May 26–August 14, 2026, and this sought?after spot could be yours! Designed for students entering 1st–5th grade, this program blends structured learning with meaningful experiences that prepare children for a strong start to the next school year. What’s Included: Daily structured environment focused on reading, math repetition, and skill refresh / Educational field trips that bring learning to life / Weekly life skills lessons to build independence and confidence / Nutritious meals and snacks provided each day / Weekly pool day for fun and physical activity / Arts, crafts, and creative projects / Intergenerational interaction with community partners / Operation Community Service projects that teach responsibility and kindness / Limited screen time to keep kids engaged and active / Optional in?house tutoring for additional academic support / Convenient hours: Drop off as early as 7:30 AM and pick up as late as 5:30 PM. This program offers structure, enrichment, and real?world learning in a safe, nurturing environment. Secure this item and set your child up for success all summer long.Current Bid: There is no current bid on this item. Retail Price: $3,000 Opening Bid: $300

Your website is your digital storefront. It's so important to have a nice and effective site. This item is for a new website build from The Grace Group, with local service and a vast majority of customers from Hays and Western Kansas. The Grace Group, Inc. is a full-service marketing and consulting agency helping small businesses grow with creative, customized strategies. From social media management to branding, consulting, and website development, The Grace Group is committed to giving businesses the tools they need to succeed. For this radio auction, The Grace Group is offering a complete website build, which includes: Up to 7 custom pages (content, creation, and design included); SEO optimization to help your business get found online; Mobile &amp; tablet optimization for a seamless experience across devices; 2 months of maintenance, support, and training after launch to ensure your success; Please note: this package covers the website build itself but does not include any fees associated with obtaining a domain name or hosting services. This is the perfect opportunity to elevate your business presence with a professional, functional, and beautifully designed website from The Grace Group.Current Bid: There is no current bid on this item.

Retail Price: $1,500 Opening Bid: $150

Check out these Eagle Radio Auction items through Sunday, including a hot tub

Hays High vs Shawnee Heights Friday, Mar. 13 - 3:30 - The games in Wichita are running behind. Wichita, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network &nbsp; WATCH HERE - <a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3818726">CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE</a> &nbsp;

The Hays High girls make their third ever trip to the state semifinals on Friday as they face Shawnee Heights.

Hays' (24-1) win on Wednesday was just their fifth state tournament win in program history. Shawnee Heights (22-4) trailed after three quarters in their victory over Bonners Springs.&nbsp;

Winner of this game plays for a state title at 4:30 in Koch Arena at Wichita State University. The third place game will be played at 9:30 a.m.&nbsp;

Tip-off for this afternoon is set for 3:30. The Hertz Pregame Show will begin at 3:10 on 96.9 KFIX.&nbsp;

🏀📺 Hays High girls from 5A State semifinals

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation (KDA–DOC) is pleased to announce the availability of cost-share funds to assist landowners affected by the wildfires that burned land in many regions of Kansas in February 2026. 

Wildfires included in this initiative are the recent Ranger Road, Stevens, Tennis, Andrew Lane, and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d70e5ead-1f84-4d90-a7c0-1e32ffa64b6d">Rawlins County</a> wildfires.

On March 6, the State Conservation Commission recommended approval of the Wildfire Recovery Initiative, to provide $151,000 of KDA–DOC financial assistance to landowners in eight counties (Barber, Clark, Comanche, Finney, Meade, Rawlins, Seward and Stevens) for cover crops, temporary watering facilities and temporary electric fence. Landowners can receive up to $5,000 in cost share funding through this initiative.

The signup period for these funds is open now and will end on April 3, 2026. Applications for this wildfire recovery cost share funding must be made through local Conservation Districts. 

Go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2FConservationDistricts%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019cdd53adf6-c5e51a21-df19-4968-8b21-b14cdf607550-000000/10pzfr5sHBgj55NnuaPNyMpwte7cDKXkSW15VykxCNE=448">www.agriculture.ks.gov/ConservationDistricts</a>&nbsp;to find contact information. Eligible applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis until all initiative funds have been allocated.

Projects that have been started but not completed prior to the landowners making application will be eligible for cost share assistance provided they keep receipts and follow KDA–DOC specifications (if necessary). Project eligibility does not guarantee approval by the KDA–DOC.

If you have questions on the Kansas Wildfire Cost Share Initiative, contact KDA–DOC staff: Dave Jones,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:David.Jones@ks.gov">David.Jones@ks.gov</a>, 785-564-6623; or Madison Loder,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Madison.Loder@ks.gov">Madison.Loder@ks.gov</a>, 785-477-2788. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Rawlins County landowners eligible for funds following February wildfires

WICHITA — Harsh winter weather&nbsp;impacted&nbsp;many communities in February, disrupting blood drive collections&nbsp;and scheduled&nbsp;donation routines.&nbsp;With spring just around the corner, all who are eligible are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood&nbsp;or platelets&nbsp;during&nbsp;Red Cross Month&nbsp;this March.&nbsp;

The Red Cross will perform free A1C testing on successful blood, platelet and plasma donations made March 1-31 (one result per calendar year).&nbsp;Plus, those who come to give&nbsp;March 1-31, will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email.&nbsp;Details can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy7Gu4yAQheGngQ4LxhjGBcVt_BrRAOPYWghZsBLt268S3fY7588BMFntJAfj_Wy8dxrkEXbImpZ1txw1Z2cJd4JoZ9Jk3OKiPINbo0baZ1pd5Jsx2WhtAJfEwupxZv5z_lWVzsJ9KL96XNa4e6_6jo8yfQZZwnFdzyHmHwGbgO39fk-dc-ptjFhay1PrdwFbaYmKOlrlJ91ZwMYvflxDwFapp2M6rlpk5XyS6lyYBqszhy_cfkHMP2BnbVD2cNC_8WzjElYz3Qt_j1NqVY6rM9dPjIgL-QWUWzEpq6NTq0VQs-Xsl-Q9YpKvAP8DAAD__-3MZHg">RedCrossBlood.org/March</a>.&nbsp;

March is Red Cross Month; blood donations needed

VICTORIA — The Victoria Knights of Columbus will hold their second Lenten fish fry on Friday, March 13,&nbsp; beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Victoria VFW Hall.

Victoria Lenten Fish Friday is Friday in Knights of Columbus Hall

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

TMP-Marian Sports Booster Club presents 'Dueling Pianos' fundraiser March 28

The Thursday, May 12 Hays City Commission meeting has been canceled

Hays City Commission meeting this week is canceled

WICHITA — The American Red Cross urges donors to help the national blood&nbsp;supply recover from a severe blood shortage and empower their health by making an appointment&nbsp;to give blood or platelets in March.

 As a thank-you for helping save lives, successful donations will&nbsp;receive free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes, in March (one result per&nbsp;calendar year).

New Red Cross data reveals 1 in 5 blood donors have elevated A1C levels — a sign that prediabetes&nbsp;and diabetes are prevalent among adults in generally good health.&nbsp;

The findings are based on the first year of free A1C screening offered by the Red Cross, which provided results to more than 920,000 blood&nbsp;donors nationwide over three testing periods in 2025.

&nbsp;Among donors with elevated A1C&nbsp;levels, 80% had readings indicating prediabetes — a condition that can often be reversed through lifestyle&nbsp;changes such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.

“Too many people still face gaps in access to preventive care, and the Red Cross is proud to help close&nbsp;them by giving our 2.5 million blood and platelet donors easy access to essential health information, like&nbsp;their blood sugar levels,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, Red Cross medical director. “By giving blood and&nbsp;downloading our Blood Donor App, individuals can be informed and empowered to better&nbsp;manage and advocate for their health.”

The A1C test does not require fasting and provides an average blood sugar level over the past&nbsp;three months.

&nbsp;Visit <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/">RedCrossBlood.org</a>, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED&nbsp;CROSS to schedule your March donation appointment.

&nbsp;All who come to give blood, platelets or&nbsp;plasma March 1-31, 2026, will also receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email.&nbsp;See <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/events/march.html">RedCrossBlood.org/March</a> for details.

Donating blood in March is part of Red Cross Month, a national campaign that encourages people to&nbsp;deliver support when help can’t wait by also making a financial donation, volunteering or taking a&nbsp;lifesaving skills class.

Millions of U.S. adults are living with undiagnosed prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, which are often&nbsp;preventable and in many cases, reversible. These conditions often develop silently, though if untreated,&nbsp;they can lead to serious health complications such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.

Early detection isn’t just good for long-term health — it’s also a warning for people’s wallets.

An American Diabetes Association study found that, while people with prediabetes typically incur a few&nbsp;hundred dollars in additional medical costs each year, those with blood sugar levels that have progressed&nbsp;to the diabetic range could face several thousand dollars more in annual expenses — as much as 25&nbsp;times higher.

How to Find Out Your A1C from the Red Cross

After making a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation in March, donors can access their&nbsp;A1C result within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal&nbsp;at RedCrossBlood.org. Anyone with an elevated A1C level is encouraged to consult their health care&nbsp;provider.

In addition, donors can access and track their blood pressure, hemoglobin, pulse and body temperature,&nbsp;which are taken during each donation’s mini-physical to ensure they’re healthy enough to give.

How Blood Donation Can Help Bridge Health Care Gaps

As the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to help bridge existing health&nbsp;care gaps by providing blood donors with critical health insights. Through the Red Cross Blood Donor&nbsp;App and online donor portal, donors can track their results and share them with their health care&nbsp;provider.

These efforts are part of the broader Red Cross mission, which has supported the health of communities&nbsp;for 145 years. 

Today in Kansas, this work includes installing free smoke alarms in neighborhoods at high&nbsp;risk for home fires, providing basic health and mental health services to disaster survivors, and supporting the well-being of military families, veterans and their caregivers.

Q: Why is the Red Cross testing blood, platelet and plasma donors’ A1C levels?

A: The Red Cross values the health and well-being of blood donors. By providing this vital health insight,&nbsp;the Red Cross is helping to bridge existing care gaps and empower donors to take an important&nbsp;step toward preventative care and lifesaving intervention.

Q: Should I fast to receive the A1C test on my blood donation?

A: No, the A1C test does not require individuals to fast. This is noteworthy because eating a nutritious&nbsp;meal prior to blood donation is important.

Q: Can I donate blood if I have prediabetes or diabetes?

A: People with prediabetes or diabetes are generally eligible to donate blood, platelets and plasma if they&nbsp;are feeling well on the day of their donation. In most situations, the type of medication donors take to&nbsp;manage their diabetes does not disqualify them from donating blood.

Q: Can I donate blood while taking GLP-1 medication?

A: In most situations, the type of medication you take to manage your diabetes or insulin&nbsp;resistance won't disqualify you from donating blood. Whether you take insulin injections like Apidra or&nbsp;Humalog, an injected diabetes medication like Ozempic or Mounjaro, or oral medications like metformin,&nbsp;you are still eligible to donate if you are feeling well on the day of your donation.

Red Cross offers free A1C testing; 1 in 5 donors prediabetic, diabetic 

Tree removal demonstration set for March 18

The City of Hays will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in the distribution system from chloramine to free chlorine. The conversion will begin on March 9th and continue through May 11th. During this period, you may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion. 

Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for longer periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants. Prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can impact water quality, such as high temperatures or reduced usage of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual.

The Hays Fire Department is conducting their annual testing of hydrants at the same time to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the quality of your water overall.

Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly.If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Water Resources Department at 785-628-7380.

City of Hays chlorine conversion begins today

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach launched a statewide public awareness campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis that is taking a devastating toll on our communities.

More than 1,500 Kansans have already lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses, and the threat continues to rise. This deadly drug is not only consumed by those who seek it out, but is increasingly laced into other substances, a social event, with friends, online, or unknowingly consuming pills that contain fentanyl. Since an overdose can happen anywhere at any time, it’s critical to have easy access to Naloxone to save a life.

Each distribution box contains naloxone -&nbsp;2 doses per box.

To maximize access, we have collaborated with 40 colleges and universities across Kansas to place these boxes in visible, public, temperature-controlled locations where community members could easily find and use them.

Every host site receives ongoing support, including box refills and assistance asneeded,&nbsp;from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and DCCA. Throughout the program, Emily’s Hope tracks distribution data toevaluate impact and guide future efforts.

<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/reports-resources/emily-s-hope-naloxone-distribution-program?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdBilleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCZGtWNnBXaHREREJCdmZhc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmrKcrsqrxJ1He_Glz-i0Gt229RZ6DnW96Wtt3oIlyUu_BDZtLwS4cgBKoZB_aem_gsRusthn-mjqRIEqfF55HA">Click here to</a> find a box near you.

Kansas AG's statewide campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis

KANSAS CITY – A Missouri man has been indicted with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information.&nbsp; The indictment was returned by a grand jury under seal and was made public this week after the arrest and initial appearance of the defendant, according to the United State's Attorney.

Seth Chambers, 35, a former United States Marine Corps. Intelligence Analyst, was employed as a civilian contractor and stationed in Iraq during the time frame alleged in the indictment.&nbsp;The indictment states that, as part of his duties, he held a security clearance that authorized him to view classified material up to a TOP SECRET level and therefore had access to national defense and classified information.

According to court documents, on two separate occasions, the defendant willfully transmitted SECRET level documents to two separate individuals who were not entitled or authorized to receive it.&nbsp; 

The first transmission occurred on Dec. 10, 2022, when the defendant transmitted a white paper containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents and was sent to an individual in Maryland.&nbsp; The second transmission of a document containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents occurred on April 20, 2023, and was sent to an individual believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.

If convicted, under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher and Trial Attorneys Nicolas Hunter and Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by FBI Kansas City Field Office.&nbsp;

Former U.S. intelligence analyst accused of sending classified info to China

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jaimie-ding">JAIMIE DING</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Math nerds and dessert enthusiasts unite to celebrate Pi Day every March 14, the date that represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi.

Representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, pi is approximately equal to 3.14159 — but its digits go on forever. In school, you might have used it to calculate the area of a circle or the volume of a cylinder. But the applications of pi are endless and part of every corner of our world.

The holiday was created in 1988 by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.

“He had a very open and expansive view of the world and saw an opportunity with this number, mathematical concept, to invite people into the joy of mathematical learning,” said Sam Sharkland, program director of public programs at the museum, who worked with Shaw before he died in 2017.

While it began as a small staff celebration featuring pie, it soon turned into a grand procession where hundreds of visitors marched around the pi shrine, each carrying a digit. Attendees often show up early to claim their favorite digit for the parade. One woman who has the symbol tattooed on her neck comes every year and marches near the front with a pi flag, Sharkland said.

The celebration begins at 1:59 p.m., signifying the next three digits of pi.

Here are a few ways pi is being used on the cutting edge of science.

In Artur Davoyan’s field of mechanical and aerospace engineering, pi is so fundamental that it would be hard to pinpoint one use case for it, he said.

Pi is part of “literally every single formula that you would use to do any calculation, like for spacecraft motion, for materials and how they work, or propulsion systems,” said Davoyan, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Anything that is round or has cyclical or repeating properties — such as radio waves — involves pi. Even squares or irregular blobs can be broken down into a series of progressively smaller circles and calculated using pi, Davoyan said.

Davoyan’s research looks at how to create new propulsion systems to send spacecrafts more quickly to the far reaches of the solar system to gather and send back information to Earth. He pointed to NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2, which launched in 1977 but didn’t reach interstellar space until 2012 and 2018.

To send a signal to those space probes, NASA must calculate Earth’s exact position in orbit around the sun and design antennas for communication using pi. Then scientists use pi once more when receiving and breaking down complex signals that are being beamed back to Earth.

“Say aliens send something to us, something that we don’t know how to deal with,” Davoyan said. “So the very first thing that you would do, you would try to split it into simple functions... and turns out that when you do this operation, you will naturally have pis in it.”

Pi also comes up frequently when studying small amounts of fluids.

Dino Di Carlo, chair of the bioengineering department at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, conducts research that involves creating little particles out of polymers that act as tiny test tubes for cells. This is used as an important tool to examine cells closely and learn about their functions and what’s inside them.

The pi constant is used in calculating how to form those droplets, surface tension calculations that define how droplets can break up, and how researchers can control the size of those volumes, Di Carlo said.

Di Carlo is using this technique to find antibodies — small proteins that fight diseases in your body — that could block signals put out by cancer cells.

Pi is also an important part of calculations when looking at how liquids flow through tubes and barriers. One example is when the fluid sample slowly flows sideways in a take-home COVID-19 test.

Di Carlo used these properties to devise a new test for Lyme disease that can be completed in 20 minutes, rather than days or weeks like previously.

“As an engineer and scientist, (pi) is just a part of life,” Di Carlo said. “Maybe I’ve taken it for granted.”

Pi Day 2026: How the number pi is embedded in our lives

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp;Advocates, medical providers and recipients of public assistance programs rallied Thursday at the Statehouse with a clear message: restricting access to these programs would hurt Kansans.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb363/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 363</a>&nbsp;imposes a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/10/kansas-senate-bill-may-add-17m-to-oversight-of-health-and-welfare-programs/">sweeping set of steps</a>&nbsp;to verify Kansans’ eligibility for the state’s medical and food assistance programs. April Holman, executive director for Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, said opponents disapprove of the whole bill, but have stronger concerns for two elements.&nbsp;

The first is eliminating self-attestation. That means applicants no longer could self-attest their income, residency, age, household composition, caretaker relative status or other coverage. State agencies would have to verify those claims.

Income and residency are already verified by state agencies, but Holman said the bill would ask the agencies to verify things like household size, which she said are difficult to identify.&nbsp;

“The first is the self-attestation, the prohibition,” Holman said. “The second tends to be the thing that we are most concerned about.”&nbsp;

The second thing is the quarterly redetermination process, a switch-up from the current one-year reapplication.&nbsp;

“We know that all of the people who are in the Medicaid program in Kansas, because we don’t have expansion, tend to be very vulnerable,” Holman said. “They are people who have a disability that’s been determined by the Social Security Administration. So it’s very difficult to get determination.”

Amendments to the bill would exempt pregnant people, seniors, those younger than 19 years old, and those on home and community-based service waivers from the quarterly redetermination.&nbsp;

The bill still applies to people with mental illness.&nbsp;

Angela Watson, a mental health provider from Wichita who spoke at the rally, said she is a Medicaid success story. She was on Medicaid for 13 years.

“This proposal to move Medicaid eligibility checks to quarterly redeterminations may sound like a single administrative change,” Watson said. “For people living with serious mental illness, it has the potential to create very harmful consequences.”&nbsp;

She said the red tape of managing paperwork can be difficult for people with severe depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis or delusions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Changing this process to every three months means quadrupling the chances that someone will lose coverage simply because a form was missed, a letter arrived late, or a document wasn’t submitted in time,” Watson said.&nbsp;

“This doesn’t mean they’re no longer eligible. It means they got lost in the system,” she added. “And when people lose Medicaid coverage, even temporarily, the consequences are immediate. Mental health treatment depends on continuity of care.”

Kari Rinker, who represents the American Heart Association, said she has a masters degree and has spent years navigating paperwork. She helped her son fill out the public assistance programs’ paperwork after he suffered a life-altering car crash.&nbsp;

“I found myself overwhelmed,” Rinker said. “It is complex. We would receive paperwork well past deadlines and feel abject panic.”

Her son would be subject to the quarterly redeterminations.&nbsp;

After the rally, opponents of the bill flooded Thursday’s House Welfare Reform Committee.&nbsp;

Along with ending self-attestation and implementing quarterly redeterminations, the bill would:&nbsp;

The process would cost the state an estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb363_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">$17 million</a>. Republicans in both the Senate and House raised their eyebrows at that.&nbsp;

The Florida-based FGA Action, the lobbying arm of the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability, which is dedicated to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5387527/fga-foundation-for-government-accountability-states-snap-work-requirements" target="_blank">limiting government benefits</a>, brought forward the sole two proponents of the bill — who said it would eventually pay for itself. They also said it would bring Kansas in step with President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“That’s not the case,” Holman said.&nbsp;

Holman said federal law would control what happens in Kansas regardless of if it is codified in Kansas law. But she said there are two elements of the bill that go beyond federal law that would hurt both Kansans on public assistance programs and the departments that administer those.&nbsp;

In an interview, vice chair of the House committee Rep. Dale Helwig, a Republican from Columbus, said he believes the bill brings Kansas into compliance with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is also called H.R. 1.&nbsp;

“There are some things that probably are a little more restrictive than H.R. 1, which we need to work through, but I think we will. We do need to get rid of the self attestation on some of this stuff,” Helwig said.&nbsp;

He pointed to the recent state audit that estimated Kansas subsidized&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/20/kansas-house-studies-free-lunch-enrollment-audit-implications-of-at-risk-overpayment-to-schools/">a jarring amount</a>&nbsp;of free-and-reduced lunches that shouldn’t have been.&nbsp;

Rep. Clarke Sanders, a Republican from Salina also on the House Welfare Reform Committee, said he isn’t a fan of self-attestation either.&nbsp;

“The problem, of course, is that’s gonna take more people to get that done. And we probably don’t have enough as it is now,” Sanders said in an interview.&nbsp;

Both are apprehensive about the quarterly redetermination process for different reasons. Helwig said it could be more efficient — there was a five-minute long conversation during the committee about state agencies’ use of fax machines.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sanders thinks redetermination once a year is enough. He thinks there will be amendments proposed when the committee works the bill.&nbsp;

“I think once those get on, I’ll be able to support it,” Sanders said.&nbsp;

Kansans rally against restrictions to public assistance programs 

KANSAS CITY —Three people were injured in an accident involving a car crash into a building.

Just before noon Thursday, Kansas City Fire Department crews responded to a reported car into a building in the 4200 block of 31 Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders found two vehicles had been involved in a motor vehicle accident with one of the vehicles crashing into the building located on the corner. 

Three patients were transported to local hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The building houses an automotive shop nad sustained significant damage, according to Hopkins.

Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. No other injuries were reported at this incident other than the three occupants of the vehicles.&nbsp;

Three hospitalized after car crash into a building in Kansas City

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a violent incident in Great Bend.

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