By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Astra Bank relocated from downtown Hays to a newly built location to better serve its customers.&nbsp;

The Chamber in Hays held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday to celebrate the opening with Jason Kennedy, Astra Bank market president, and the CEO of Astra Bank, Kyle Campbell.

"We truly believe as a family-owned community bank that we should invest in the community because we're never going to be more successful than the communities we serve," Campbell said.&nbsp;

Astra Bank’s new location, 2605 Main St., features better accessibility, wider drive-through lanes and increased personal interaction with customers. Kennedy said the relocation idea began during a casual conversation with Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays, and the city.

"It was kind of off-handed when the city was looking at the police station. I said 'Why don't you guys buy my building? Let's do a swap and we'll develop on that lot," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the relocation arrangement saved the city taxpayers' money. The former Astra Bank building at 1100 Fort will be repurposed as a new police and municipal court facility.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/382c7a91-48de-48d8-97cc-fae13f56bf8b">SEE RELATED STORY: City commission approves $5.9 million contract for Hays police/court facility</a>

Kennedy emphasized that the bank serves as a commercial and community bank, supporting agriculture, local businesses and civic projects.

"Anything you can find at any other bank, we do here as well. We just do it better," Kennedy said.

The bank opened its new location on Aug. 18. To celebrate, Astra Bank is offering a 10% three-month CD, limited to one per household, available from Sept. 12 to 19 for the first 100 households.

Kennedy said Astra Bank kept operations running without interruption during the move, continuing to serve customers.

"My staff was not just patient. They were phenomenal," he said.

The bank lobby is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the drive-through is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You can follow Astra Bank on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AstraBank">Facebook </a>and visit their website <a href="https://www.astra.bank/Home/fbclid/IwY2xjawMxIxRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNUW9LNUhuRU1veTBJNVN4AR5BULMlltVbsHhFDqBczlDpCiSt2t7n_jOUQGR6jwhNR-gRh3J4an5214bNkw_aem_zpuBd6fMkmiZN02miUk9Ng">here</a>.

Astra Bank celebrates new home in Hays, saving taxpayer dollars

Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Eaton as manager of supply chain. In this role, Eaton will oversee the strategic direction and daily operations of Sunflower’s purchasing and warehousing functions, ensuring these critical areas align with the company’s long-term goals and objectives.

Eaton will spearhead continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance cost efficiency, streamline operations, and boost overall performance. He will also address complex supply chain challenges, providing actionable solutions to improve visibility, service, and coordination across all divisions.

“Josh brings a strong blend of experience, deep knowledge, and a proven ability to execute strategy,” said Will Wylie, vice president of safety and supply chain. “His people-first leadership style aligns seamlessly with our culture of treating one another exceptionally well and working together to deliver world-class service.”

With extensive experience managing profit and loss, budgeting, and developing effective policies and procedures, Eaton has a proven record of delivering measurable results. His focus on operational excellence and continuous improvement will play a vital role in enhancing Sunflower’s financial performance and supporting its long-term strategic execution.

Eaton earned a bachelor of arts in business and communications from Mid-America Nazarene University. He and his wife, Tiffany, reside in Palco with their children, Joseph and Andrew.

Sunflower Electric hires new manager of supply chain

Katharinenstadt's Essenfest is Oct. 12; Registration open now

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Controlling volunteer wheat this summer and now into early fall has been challenging. While we are always thankful for the needed moisture, it has caused several flushes of volunteer wheat now. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but continuing to control all volunteer wheat is still important.

A late flush of volunteer wheat likely is harboring fewer wheat curl mites the vector of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) complex than volunteer wheat that has been established for a while. There is still time to go out and control those late flushes of volunteer wheat before planting begins.

The general target date for planting wheat for optimum grain yields in Kansas is within a week of the best pest management planting date, or BPMP (formerly known as the “Hessian fly-free”) date (Figure 1). Planting after these dates not only benefits grain yield, but may help reduce the risk of serious pests and diseases that can damage the wheat crop in Kansas. 

If forage production is the primary goal, earlier planting (mid-September) can increase forage yield. However, if grain yield is the primary goal, then waiting until the BPMP date to start planting is the best approach. Planting in mid-September is ideal for dual-purpose wheat systems where forage yields need to be maximized while reducing the effects of early planting on reduced grain yields.

Figure 1. These dates were established several years ago. Although fields may still be infested with Hessian fly when planted after these dates if the weather is mild, later planting dates generally reduce problems from Hessian fly, aphids, wheat curl mites, and many diseases.

For growers considering planting early, a good management consideration would be to select wheat varieties with resistance to the wheat streak mosaic virus and/or with tolerance to the wheat curl mite, especially in the western portions of the state. Updated disease and insect ratings for wheat varieties can be found with an internet search for K-State Extension Wheat Variety Guide 2025.

Armyworms Armyworms and other lepidopteran larvae may also still pose a serious problem to early planted wheat. They may feed on the green wheat plants until the first cold front comes through (temperatures in the mid-20-degree F range for a couple of hours). Insecticide seed treatments do not work well against lepidoptera larvae.

Fall Armyworm/Armyworm Considerations in Volunteer Wheat

Because of the large armyworm and fall armyworm populations this year and in years past, some producers are considering adding insecticide to volunteer wheat herbicide applications to save on costs. However, this is not recommended. First, destroying volunteer wheat will starve larvae, push them into pupation, or expose them to predators. Second, insecticides should only be used when pests are at a vulnerable stage and above treatment thresholds. Finally, any insecticide applied now will lose activity long before planted wheat emerges. Control the volunteer wheat, but resist the urge to tank-mix insecticide.

Early planting of wheat can increase risks that affect stand establishment and yield:

· Disease risk: Greater chance of insect- or mite-transmitted viral diseases.

· Emergence challenges: High temperatures can reduce germination and shorten coleoptile length in some varieties.

· Optimal planting: Aim for the recommended planting window whenever possible.

· Variety selection: If planting early (due to moisture or dual-purpose systems), choose varieties tolerant to major regional yield-limiting factors.

· Seed treatments: Strongly consider fungicide and insecticide seed treatments when planting early in Kansas.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Control volunteer wheat before planting begins

<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

Schoenchen Community Center&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-7 p.m.

Sauerkraut Soup, Green Bean Dumpling Soup Noodles, Ham &amp; Beans, German Sausage Homemade Bread Pies, Kuchens &amp; Cakes Tea or Coffee

&nbsp; $15.00 8 and under Free&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sponsored by the St. Anthony Altar Society&nbsp;

Fundraiser for the St Anthony Park and Playground

50/50 RAFFLE (Need not be present to win)

🏈🎥 TMP travels to Norton for MCL showdown

Hays High (1-0, 0-0 WAC) vs Choctaw, Ok. (1-0) Friday, Sept. 12 - 7 p.m. Hays, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/2551462">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The Hays High Indians host their home opener Friday night against Choctaw, Oklahoma.&nbsp;

Kickoff is at 7
p.m. with the Hertz Renta Car Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. on MIX 103.

🏈🎥 Hays opens the season at Derby

At 11:47 p.m. on Sept. 2, an Ellis Police Officer was dispatched to Love's, 200 Washington for a possible disturbance. Love's employees stated that a female was inside the store, causing a disturbance, and had a disagreement about paying for items.

Throughout the officer's investigation, it was discovered that the female, identified as Janet McCoy, 24, Wichita KS, was in possession of a vehicle that was reported stolen out of Riley County, KS. Officers also located suspected Methamphetamine and drug-related paraphernalia.

Janet was arrested and booked into the Ellis County Jail without incident. The theft offense is being prosecuted by the Riley County Attorney's Office and the following charges were requested through the Ellis County District Court:

-Possession of Opiates, Opium, Narcotics, or a Certain Stimulant -Possession of Drug Paraphernalia -Criminal Use of a Financial Card

Wichita woman arrested in Ellis for alleged car theft, drug possession

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kelly Modlin of the Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum in Augusta.

🎤 Forward Ever: Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum 

Schoenchen Community Center&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-7 p.m.

Sauerkraut Soup, Green Bean Dumpling Soup Noodles, Ham &amp; Beans, German Sausage Homemade Bread Pies, Kuchens &amp; Cakes Tea or Coffee

&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

OAKLEY — Oakley will host its annual Gun, Coin, and Knife Show Sat., Sept. 20 and Sun., Sept. 21 at Western Vista Complex, 306 Sunrise.

See the many vendors with guns, rare coins, knives and collectibles.&nbsp;

The show is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is one of the larges and most well attended shows in the region.

Oakley's annual Gun, Coin, Knife & Collectible Show is Sept. 20, 21

Community Shred Day Saturday at Bank of Hays

&nbsp;Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Hays Police Department will partner with the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau to present “Pedal Patrol in the Park,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, in Aubel Bickle Optimist Park at 30th&nbsp;and Sherman Ave.

The goal of the event is to promote bike and scooter safety among young riders, with emphasis on learning correct helmet use and rules of the road for bicycles and scooters.

Events will include rides around the park with the HPD Bike Patrol and Hays Area Bicyclists, along with parent/toddler rides and bicycle seat safety checks for those who ride with a grown-up.&nbsp;

Children aged 0-13 will be encouraged to bring their scooters, bikes, trikes, Little Tikes cars, skateboards – whatever wheels they ride – to the event. Parents are also encouraged to bring their bikes.&nbsp;

A limited number of bicycle helmets will be given away, thanks to a grant from the Ellis County Legacy Fund and the Heartland Healthy Living Fund of the Heartland Community Foundation.

“This will help us further our goal of improving public safety,” said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler. “A helmet will help a child form a lifelong healthy habit of being safe every time they ride.”

Attendees can enjoy food trucks, music, games, and bike safety activities. Pfonz’s Smokehaus, The Local, Frozen Frog, and Suck It Up Bubble Cup are scheduled to be at the event.

Story times with the HPD and the Hays Public Library Bookmobile will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Other activities include safety obstacle courses, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/76c208bb-a6aa-4e68-9115-5092bb6f74a1">safety sessions with HPD Bike Patrol officers</a>, the Fort Hays State University MakerVan, yard games, volleyball, basketball, and bicycle safety checks with Precision Valley Golf and Bike Center.

There will be various giveaways and a raffle for three bicycles and one scooter courtesy of Hays Walmart.&nbsp;Raffle tickets can be earned by participating in the safety events throughout the day.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and coolers to the event, but no glass bottles are allowed.&nbsp;Pets on leashes are allowed but owners must clean up after their pets.

For details and updates on this event, check the Community Events calendar at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.visithays.com/">www.VisitHays.com</a>&nbsp;or search Facebook for the event “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=pedal%20patrol%20in%20the%20park">Pedal Patrol in the Park.</a>”

Pedal Patrol event focuses on bike, scooter safety

DOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest. 

Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.

The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tonganoxieartscouncil.org/copy-of-story-telling-festival">Art Events &amp; Workshops | Arts Council</a> Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.

The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.

The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.

A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are.&nbsp; A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. 

Professional storytellers cannot compete. 

Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">kansasstorytellingfestival.com</a>&nbsp;

Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>&nbsp;or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival">https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival</a>.

Storytelling festival's Tall Tale preliminaries begin Saturday

Go Truck Go, a free family event, will be on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Early Childhood Connections, 2501 E. 13th across from Hays High School.

Children will get to experience vehicles they see daily. Go Truck Go features an ambulance, fire truck, police car, implements and construction vehicles.

Free food and drinks and free informational booths from area resources.

Go Truck Go to be Sept. 11 at Early Childhood Connections

The Bricks is wrapping up its Brick-by-Brick Campaign. Community members and businesses have one last opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in Downtown Hays before the September 30 deadline to purchase an engraved brick or limestone block for the new Shed Project.

The Shed Project will be a new storage and service facility adjacent to the Downtown Hays Pavilion. This addition is designed to secure event equipment, serve concessions, and host the Downtown Hays Market Manager’s station during community favorites such as the Downtown Hays Market, Christmas Magic on Main Street, and Wines &amp; Steins. Once complete, the Shed will provide much-needed support for year-round events that bring vibrancy and connection to The Bricks.

“We are very excited about this enhancement to Union Pacific Park, one of our most visible and well utilized contributions to Downtown. While events are just part of what we do, last year they brought over 15,000 people to the heart of our community. This project meets an immediate need for those initiatives and the functionality of the pavilion, while staying true to the beautiful architecture of the original railroad depot. None of this progress is possible without the support of our community!,” said Andrew Taylor, board chair of The Bricks (operating as the Downtown Hays Development Corporation, or DHDC).

To participate, visit The Bricks office at 1200 Main Street, Suite 102 in Downtown Hays, or reach out online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.downtownhays.com/">www.DowntownHays.com</a>/pavilion-shed-project. For logo submissions (limestone block donors only), email your file and contact details to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:thebricks@downtownhays.com">thebricks@downtownhays.com</a>.

“This campaign is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Lee Ann June, Executive Director at The Bricks. “It’s about the community who believes in Downtown Hays and wants to see it thrive for generations to come.”

The Brick by Brick Campaign officially closes on September 30, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to engrave your name, your business, or your family into the story of The Bricks.

 Brick-by-Brick campaign ends Sept. 30 for Downtown Hays shed project

By MELISSA GOLDIN &nbsp;Associated Press

A flood of false and misleading claims filled social media in the two days it took officials to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooter-search-utah-governor-21ba12bbf01579fd2fbcdbe1da03dae5">arrest and publicly identify</a>&nbsp;22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Wednesday's assassination</a>&nbsp;of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

The reaction followed a well-worn pattern of misinformation and conspiracy theories that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/subway-burning-misinformation-amelia-carter-c566897a3abc073c0a587188e17a7688">often come after</a>&nbsp;breaking news events when facts can be fluid. Those kinds of posts appeared within hours of the shooting, with some of the earliest incorrectly identifying the gunman before officials had released any information about a suspect. More claims spawned on Thursday and Friday, presenting old videos and photos as recent footage of the shooter and erroneously reporting on Robinson's background.

CLAIM: Robinson is a registered Republican.

THE FACTS: This is false.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/charlie-kirk-shooting-news#00000199-3e68-d49f-a99f-3fef75fe0000">Utah records</a>&nbsp;say Robinson was registered as a voter, but not affiliated with either political party. His voter status is inactive, meaning&nbsp;<a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter2/20A-2-S505.html?v=C20A-2-S505_2025050720250507">he did not vote</a>&nbsp;in two regular general elections after receiving a notice from his county clerk. According to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Robinson's family said he had become “more political in recent years” and had criticized Kirk, mentioning that he was due to appear at an event in Utah and saying “Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.” Cox stated that ammunition found at the scene was engraved with taunting, anti-fascist and meme culture messaging.

CLAIM: Robinson is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

THE FACTS: This is false. Priscilla Yeverino, spokesperson for the group, confirmed that “we have no members in DSA named Tyler Robinson anywhere in the country.” A photo of a person who bears a resemblance to Robinson wearing a Salt Lake City DSA shirt with the slogan “bee the change” has been used to support this claim. Yeverino declined to confirm that person's identity “for this person's privacy and safety.” Prior to Robinson’s arrest, many on social media were quick to assume the shooter was a Democrat and prominent conservative figures, including President Donald Trump, blamed liberal politics for Kirk’s death.

CLAIM: A video of a man running toward a parking lot shows the shooter escaping.

THE FACTS: This is false.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BurVXG-9aCs">The video</a>&nbsp;was filmed on July 28, more than a month before Kirk was shot and began spreading before Robinson was arrested. It shows Dakota Hawver, the suspected gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/reno-nevada-grand-sierra-resort-shooting-e8892d51ec4dd2d61b507012773a8c4d">killed three people</a>&nbsp;and injured three others at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, running from the front of the resort in the direction of its front parking lot. Multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kolotv.com/2025/07/29/newly-released-video-shows-gsr-gunman-moments-after-shooting/">local news networks</a>&nbsp;published the footage after the Reno shooting. Hawver was shot by police and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/reno-nevada-casino-shooting-d5f6cf374a331373b27c3496405dffa3">died in the hospital</a>&nbsp;days later. A version of the misrepresented video included a caption falsely stating: “video shows Charlie Kirk's real shooter escaping.”

CLAIM: Democrats opposed a moment of prayer for Kirk in the House.

THE FACTS: This is misleading. On Wednesday, the House observed a “moment of prayer for Charlie Kirk and his family” at the request of Speaker Mike Johnson. A subsequent request for a “moment of prayer out loud” elicited vocal objections and chaos on the House floor.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/us-house-of-representatives/house-observes-moment-of-silence-for-charlie-kirk/665499">Footage shows</a>&nbsp;members standing silently for about 30 seconds. Johnson then bangs his gavel and Rep. Lauren Boebert says that “silent prayers get silent results” before requesting that someone lead a spoken prayer as well. An audible “no” can be heard in response, among other protests. Shouting continues for about a minute, requiring Johnson to bang his gavel and state, “the House will be in order” several times. In the commotion, Johnson also says: “We will join for prayer right after this, OK?” Many posts claiming that Democrats had opposed a moment of prayer for Kirk shared clips that omitted Johnson's initial request and the ensuing silence.

CLAIM: The shooter was identified as Michael Mallinson or George Zinn.

THE FACTS: This is false. Robinson was named as the suspected shooter on Friday. Others, including Mallinson and Zinn, were misidentified as the shooter as authorities searched for a suspect. Mallinson is a 77-year-old Toronto resident who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-retiree-falsely-accused-of-charlie-kirk-shooting-1.7631799">told the CBC</a>&nbsp;that he found out he had been wrongly accused after waking up from a nap and receiving a panicked call from his daughter telling him to delete his social media accounts. He said that before the shooting he had “never heard of Charlie Kirk.” Mallinson bears a resemblance to a man named George Zinn, who was filmed being dragged away handcuffed by two officers. The video spread widely on social media after the shooting. The Utah Public Safety Department&nbsp;<a href="https://mailchi.mp/utah/for-immediate-release-updates-on-charlie-kirk-shooting-at-uvu?e=98970b8875">said in a statement</a>&nbsp;that it “initially took in George Zinn as a suspect,” but that he was later released and charged with obstruction. The statement said Zinn, as well as a second person who was taken into custody and released after interrogation, has “no current ties to the shooting.”

Assassination of Charlie Kirk prompts flood of false and misleading claims online

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration announced sweeping reforms to rein in misleading direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisements.

The FDA is sending thousands of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/188616/download?attachment">letters</a>&nbsp;warning pharmaceutical companies to remove misleading ads and issuing approximately 100 cease-and-desist letters to companies with deceptive ads.&nbsp;In addition to enforcing existing law, the FDA is initiating rulemaking to close the “adequate provision” loophole created in 1997, which drug companies have used to conceal critical safety risks in broadcast and digital ads, fueling inappropriate drug use and eroding public trust.&nbsp;“Pharmaceutical ads hooked this country on prescription drugs,”&nbsp;

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said.&nbsp;“We will shut down that pipeline of deception and require drug companies to disclose all critical safety facts in their advertising. Only radical transparency will break the cycle of overmedicalization that drives America’s chronic disease epidemic.”The FDA is concerned patients are not seeing a fair balance of information about drug products. This concern is magnified when serious risks are not clearly presented, or the information is too difficult for seniors to read or hear.&nbsp;

“For far too long, the FDA has permitted misleading drug advertisements, distorting the doctor-patient relationship and creating increased demand for medications regardless of clinical appropriateness,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H.&nbsp;“Drug companies spend up to 25% of their budget on advertising. Those billions of dollars would be better spent on lowering drug prices for everyday Americans.”

Americans also live in a new era of social media. An increasing reliance on digital and social media channels, including undisclosed paid influencer promotion, has blurred the lines among editorial content, user-generated media and pharmaceutical advertising, making it increasingly difficult for patients to distinguish between evidence-based information and promotional material.&nbsp;

A 2024 review in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research reveals that while 100% of pharmaceutical social media posts highlight drug benefits, only 33% mention potential harms. Moreover, 88% of advertisements for top-selling drugs are posted by individuals and organizations that fail to adhere to the FDA fair balance guidelines.

The stakes surrounding prescription drug ads are high. While these ads can raise awareness of disease states and beneficial therapies, they must also disclose important risks and limitations. Current law requires that advertisements present a fair balance between a product’s risks and benefits; avoid exaggerating benefits; not create a misleading overall impression; properly disclose financial relationships; and include information regarding major side effects and contraindications.&nbsp;

Despite widespread violations, the FDA has been increasingly lax and reactive in its enforcement approach over the last few decades. The FDA used to send more than a hundred warning letters each year, and misleading ads were rare. But over time, enforcement waned and the number of warning letters sent to pharmaceutical companies dropped to one in 2023 and zero in 2024.

The FDA will no longer tolerate such deceptive practices. Going forward, the agency will aggressively deploy its available enforcement tools. The FDA is already implementing AI and other tech-enabled tools to proactively surveil and review drug ads.

The Trump Administration and HHS Secretary Kennedy are committed to restoring transparency, accountability, and trust in health care. By closing loopholes and stepping up enforcement, the FDA will protect patients, safeguard public health and hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable.

Read the warning letter FDA sent drugmakers on deceptive TV ads

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it had improved and expanded its Farm to School Grant program and would invest up to $18 million to connect locally grown food to child nutrition programs.&nbsp;

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants program was initiated in 2013, but according to a news release, the fiscal year 2026 investment represents the “largest total amount” the department has offered in a given year.&nbsp;

The Farm to School Grant announcement was made alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/09/repub/rfk-jr-lists-100-recommendations-to-make-america-healthy-again/" target="_blank">Make America Healthy Again report</a>, which called for more whole, unprocessed foods in children’s diets.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the grants are “one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture.”&nbsp;

“These grants will open new doors for small family farms, expand access to healthy food in schools, and inspire the next generation of Great American Farmers,” Rollins said in the news release.&nbsp;

State agencies, tribal organizations, child nutrition programs, nonprofits, agricultural producers and groups of producers can apply for grants from $100,000 to $500,000 to support new and existing farm to school projects, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/grant/f2s/fy26?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">grant website</a>.&nbsp;

Eligible projects are those that: incorporate more unprocessed and locally produced foods in school meals, encourage the consumption of fresh foods, train producers on food safety and procurement requirements or educate students on agriculture and nutrition.

The release from USDA said updates to the program will also streamline the application process, remove barriers to innovation and emphasize partnerships.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation,” Rollins said in the release. “Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first.”

According to USDA’s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/census-results/states/ia" target="_blank">Farm to School Census</a>, more than 440 Iowa school food authorities, the entities that manage school food service, have participated in the program.

The grants can also be used to support agriculture education at schools through things like ag and nutrition classes, or school gardening programs. According to the census, nearly 50% of Iowa school food authorities had classroom programs and slightly more than 15% of Iowa school food authorities had edible gardens.&nbsp;

According to USDA, Farm to School Grant awards totaled $100 million since 2013.&nbsp;

The millions in Farm to School Grant dollars are significantly less than the billions of dollars that schools and food banks used under a pandemic-era program to support local food purchases.&nbsp;

These programs, Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance, were&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/03/11/usda-cuts-programs-bringing-local-food-into-schools-food-banks/" target="_blank">canceled in March</a>&nbsp;after USDA announced in October 2024 over a $1 billion in funds to continue the programs across the country.&nbsp;

Tommy Hexter, the policy director for Iowa Farmers Union, said the new investment from USDA is positive, but said it doesn’t make up for the loss of programs that provided “vital government support” to food farmers and players in the local food system.

Hexter said the canceled programs created relationships between farmers, food hubs, the state department of agriculture, schools and community, that are “fundamental to our food system in Iowa.”

“The first and foremost thing with this announcement is like, yes, let’s see how we can take advantage of this new announcement and make these programs come to Iowa,” Hexter said. “But we also are acknowledging that this investment does not replace the major loss of funding that happened earlier this year.”

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/11/usda-to-invest-up-to-18-m-in-farm-to-school-grants/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

USDA to invest up to $18 million in farm to school grants

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated Press

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell this week to its lowest level in nearly a year, reflecting a pullback in Treasury yields ahead of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">expected interest rate</a>&nbsp;cut from the Federal Reserve next week.

The long-term rate eased to 6.35% from 6.5% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.2%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate slipped to 5.5% from 5.6% last week. A year ago, it was 5.27%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-miran-independence-powell-4b1e7a52e6f943de392a32b1ae10a5d7">interest rate policy</a>&nbsp;decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.

Rates have been mostly declining since late July amid growing expectations that the Fed will cut its benchmark short-term interest rate for the first time this year at the central bank’s meeting of policymakers next week.

While the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions can influence bond investors’ appetite for long-term U.S. government bonds, like 10-year Treasury notes. Lenders use the yield on 10-year Treasurys as a guide to pricing home loans. The yield was at 4% Thursday afternoon.

The Fed has kept its main interest rate on hold this year because it’s been more worried about inflation potentially worsening because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs than about the job market.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">But in a high-profile speech last month</a>, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the central bank may cut rates in coming months amid concerns about weaker job gains following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-trump-federal-reserve-68a15f89d68793a6cf88a522ff33246c">grim July jobs report,</a>&nbsp;which included massive downward revisions for June and May.

More recent job market data have fueled speculation that the central bank could be preparing to lower rates.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">The Labor Department said last week</a>&nbsp;that the economy added just 22,000 jobs in August. And on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">revised jobs data</a>&nbsp;from the government showed the U.S. job market had been much weaker last year and this year than earlier data suggested.

Meanwhile, the latest weekly snapshot of unemployment benefit claims shows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-a69fc3afbbebe731c29824b855e3c83f">more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;last week, an indication that the number of layoffs could be rising.

The housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-64769d50ce9c16dee9ffb90c01735071">Sales have remained sluggish so far this year</a>&nbsp;as the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has mostly hovered above 6.5%.

The average rate is now at its lowest level since Oct. 10, when it was 6.32%.

A similar pullback in rates happened last year in the weeks leading up to the Fed’s interest rate policy meeting in September. That’s when the Fed cut its key interest rate for the first time since March 2020, in the early days of the pandemic. Back then, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage got down to a 2-year low of 6.08%, but soon after climbed again, reaching above 7% by mid-January.

Mortgage rates could follow a similar trajectory this time, given that expectations of a Fed rate cut have already brought mortgage rates lower.

“We should not expect rates to drop much further, and in fact, there is a possibility that mortgage rates could actually increase after the Fed cut,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.

For now, the recent pullback in mortgage rates has been encouraging to many prospective homebuyers and homeowners eager to refinance.

Mortgage applications, which include loans to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage, jumped to a three-year high last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Applications for mortgage refinancing loans made up nearly 50% of all applications last week, as homeowners who bought in recent years when mortgage rates surged seized the opportunity to lower their monthly home loan payment.

If mortgage rates continue to ease, home shoppers will benefit from more affordable financing. But lower mortgage rates could also bring in more buyers, making the market more competitive, at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-estate-housing-market-home-prices-6a2ae673d0c93e98b69d3c6b99925124">sellers across the country are having a tougher time driving a hard bargain.</a>

Average rate on a 30-year mortgage falls to lowest level in nearly a year

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;says it was “recklessness” for Democrats to leave it to President Joe Biden to decide whether to continue seeking another term last year, but she defends his ability to do the job, according to an excerpt of her new book.

Harris, in an excerpt of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-memoir-107-days-presidential-campaign-88b2b68dc8b9f191d79fc6b582a7828a">“107 Days”</a>&nbsp;published Wednesday in The Atlantic, writes that as questions swirled about whether the then-81-year-old Biden should seek reelection, she and others left the decision to him and first lady Jill Biden.

“Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness,” Harris said.

The remarks are the first time Harris has been publicly critical of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">Biden’s decision to run again</a>&nbsp;— an ill-fated decision that saw him&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/biden-drops-out-of-2024-race-after-disastrous-debate-inflamed-age-concerns-vp-harris-gets-his-nod/" target="_blank">drop out</a>&nbsp;in July 2024 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">a disastrous debate performance</a>, leaving her to head up the Democratic ticket and ultimately&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">lose to Republican Donald Trump</a>.

“The stakes were simply too high,” Harris writes in the book. “This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.”

Biden’s office did not immediately have a comment Wednesday.

Throughout the campaign and in its wake, Harris had avoided much criticism of the president she served beside and defended him amid questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-age-democrats-midterms-2028-6738bf46f73c06c70015e4b1abe43df7">his mental acuity</a>.

In the book excerpt, Harris continues to defend Biden’s ability to do the job but describes him in 2024 and especially at the time of his “debate debacle” as “tired.”

“On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best. But at 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles,” Harris writes. “I don’t think it’s any surprise that the debate debacle happened right after two back-to-back trips to Europe and a flight to the West Coast for a Hollywood fundraiser. I don’t believe it was incapacity.”

She adds that if she believed Biden were incapacitated, she would have said so out of loyalty to the country.

Harris also blames those close to Biden for unflattering media coverage throughout the time she served as vice president and throwing her under the bus to boost Biden’s public standing.

She writes about receiving a high level of scrutiny as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-legacy-6d8fcb857029295107662c760aaf6b8f">the first female vice president</a>&nbsp;but says “when the stories were unfair or inaccurate, the president’s inner circle seemed fine with it. Indeed, it seemed as if they decided I should be knocked down a little bit more.”

Harris writes that she often learned that Biden’s staff was “adding fuel to negative narratives” that surrounded her, such as stories about her vice presidential office being in disarray and having high turnover.

The former vice president also accuses Biden’s staff of being afraid of her upstaging him, describing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bloody-sunday-march-selma-alabama-civil-rights-dd03b6cc8e68e42ac89e1c9d641c12b9">a speech</a>&nbsp;she gave in Selma, Alabama, in March of last year in which she called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and more humanitarian aid to be delivered to people there.

“It went viral, and the West Wing was displeased,” Harris says, “I was castigated for, apparently, delivering it too well.”

She suggests that diminishing her also diminished Biden, especially “given the concerns about his age.”

Harris’ success, she writes, would be a marker of Biden’s good judgment and a reassurance to the public that if something happened to the president she could step in.

“My success was important for him,” she writes. “His team didn’t get it.”

Harris’ book, whose title is a nod to the length of her abbreviated presidential campaign, is set to be published by Simon &amp; Schuster on Sept. 23.

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