AGP Executive Report

Food Safety Alert: Sysco says it has stopped buying iceberg lettuce from Mexico and from Taylor Farms after cyclospora deaths linked to shredded lettuce, as the CDC reports 10,468 confirmed cases since May 1 and 47 states affected. Public Health Watch: A CDC update shows the outbreak has sickened thousands nationwide, with more than 517 hospitalizations and two deaths reported in Michigan, while officials continue tracking cases that may take weeks to show symptoms. Kansas Health Story: A Wichita-area mother, Britagne Miller, is recovering after suspected spider bites at Cheney Lake triggered surgery, serious infections, and doctors’ concern about end-stage liver failure. Healthcare Business Brief: Molina Healthcare of Nebraska is briefly postponing a planned DME Navigator launch, telling providers to keep current claim and authorization processes. Antimicrobial Resistance: CDC data finds the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris screenings reported in 23 states this year, including Kansas, with spread often tied to hospitals and long-term care.

Abortion Rights: A Kansas judge blocked multiple pro-life laws, including a 24-hour waiting period and requirements meant to deter patients, calling pregnancy an “intimate healthcare condition.” Public Health: The CDC says cyclosporiasis has surged to 47 states with 10,468 confirmed cases since May 1 and two deaths, linked to recalled iceberg lettuce. Cancer Care: KU Cancer Center researchers identified a blood biomarker (AMH) that may help some women with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. Local Health Funding: El Dorado voters approved a 1% sales tax to support Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, as rural hospital closures remain a major concern. Community Wellness: Manhattan’s street-tree research project invites residents to scan QR codes for tree info, aiming for healthier, more resilient urban forests. Health-Adjacent Science: Researchers report bioengineered chewing gum that targets HPV and oral microbes, cutting HPV levels in lab tests. Kansas Politics (Health Policy Context): Douglas County Democrats celebrated election wins, while the U.S. Senate race is set for Roger Marshall vs. Adam Hamilton.

Food Safety Alert: Michigan confirmed the first two deaths tied to the multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak, with officials saying both victims had serious underlying conditions and dehydration after severe diarrhea; the CDC says the illness is usually treatable and deaths are rare, while the outbreak has sickened thousands linked to recalled iceberg lettuce across multiple states, including Kansas. Local Health Story: A Kansas mother of four, Britagne Miller, remains in critical condition after multiple spider bites during a campfire near Wichita; doctors treated severe complications including surgery for blood clots and later infection, and her team suspects a brown recluse. Care Access in Kansas: Flint Hills Technical College highlighted a strong Practical Nursing program, reporting a 98% three-year average first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate. Health Systems Watch: U.S. News released its 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings, naming 20 hospitals to the honor roll and adding new regional specialty categories including cancer, rehab, cardiology/heart surgery, and orthopedics. Sports Injury Note (Kansas): Kansas defensive tackle Tre’von McAlpine will miss the 2026 season with an ACL injury, with the school pursuing a medical waiver for 2027.

Public Health Watch: Kansas is now in the national spotlight for the cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce, with CDC reporting thousands of confirmed cases and Michigan reporting two deaths as investigations expand beyond the initial lettuce link. Food Safety Alerts: A Franklin County boil-water advisory has been extended through August due to insufficient chlorine residual, with guidance to boil water before drinking and to flush lines if water looks dirty. Health & Community: A Kansas mother, Britagne Miller, is fighting for her life after suspected brown recluse spider bites during a campfire left her needing surgery and awaiting a liver transplant. Healthcare & Policy: Kansas and other states are also tracking major drug-price-fixing fallout, including a $400 million settlement in principle involving Sandoz that includes state shares earmarked for Medicaid and antitrust funds. Local Wellness Spotlight: Children at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City designed a wedding gown for Taylor Swift—an upbeat reminder of how care and creativity can meet.

School Meals in Kansas: Kansas families can check eligibility for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch for the 2026-2027 school year, with income cutoffs published by household size; some families may be enrolled automatically if they receive programs like Medicaid, WIC, or TAF. Back-to-School Vaccines: Sedgwick County is hosting vaccine clinics starting Aug. 8, with required immunizations listed and no cost for students with Medicaid or without insurance. Public Health—West Nile Risk: Kansas health officials are warning residents about high West Nile virus risk statewide. Drug Policy—Kratom Crackdown: North Dakota officials announced executive actions to curb access to unregulated kratom amid overdose and death concerns. Food Safety—Cyclospora Update: Kansas health reporting shows cyclosporiasis cases continuing to rise, with guidance urging careful produce handling. Health & Safety—Heat for Livestock: Kansas dairy farmers say extreme heat is stressing herds and can reduce milk output and quality. Rural Health Watch: A federal USDA relocation plan could risk staffing losses that may disrupt research, trade, and aid programs. Community Safety: A Sedgwick County in-custody death investigation is underway, and local police are also investigating shootings and crashes.

West Nile Warning: Kansas health officials say the whole state is at high risk for West Nile virus and urge residents to use EPA-registered repellent, wear long sleeves/pants, and drain standing water. Community Support: Kansas City, Kansas neighbors held a “Survival Revival” at Bethany Park with free food, hygiene items, back-to-school supplies, and basic medical checks. Food Security: The Kansas Food Bank’s “Filling the Gap” program will hand out free kid meals in Wichita Monday (no pre-registration; kids must be present). Rural Hospital Funding: Sens. Jerry Moran and Tina Smith reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve the Rural Emergency Hospital designation and help rural facilities stay open. Public Health Watch: KDHE is also tracking cyclosporiasis, with recent reporting noting hundreds of cases statewide as investigators continue to look for sources. Injury & Safety: A semi rollover near the I-470 interchange in south Topeka sent the truck driver to a hospital with minor injuries. Animal Welfare: Five severely malnourished greyhounds rescued from Oklahoma arrived in the Kansas City area to begin rehab.

Rural Hospital Push: U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Tina Smith unveiled the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act (REH 2.0) to expand and strengthen federal support for rural hospitals, including Kansas facilities facing closure risk. Kansas Supreme Court Vote: Kansas voters head to the polls Tuesday on a referendum that would shift Supreme Court selection from gubernatorial appointment to direct elections—an issue tied to judicial independence and the growing role of money in court races. Heart Health in Kansas: LMH Health cardiologists are urging Kansans to know key numbers like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol, and to consider coronary calcium scans for higher-risk adults to catch heart disease early. Food Safety Watch: Public health officials are tracking major outbreaks nationwide, including a Salmonella-linked egg recall and a Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce—both prompting new consumer warnings. Back-to-School Support: Kansas City Public Schools held a Back to School Fest with free backpacks, supplies, and on-site health screenings to reduce stress for families before classes start. Local Sports Note: The Royals and Rockies wrap up a series in Denver, with Colorado aiming to complete a sweep.

Heart Health Check: LMH Health cardiologists say prevention starts with knowing your numbers—blood pressure, cholesterol, weight—and ask eligible Kansans to consider a coronary calcium scan to spot coronary artery disease risk early. Back-to-School Wellness: Kansas City Public Schools and the Kansas City, Kansas School Foundation for Excellence hosted drive-through and on-site health fairs with free backpacks, immunizations, screenings, haircuts, and supplies to cut stress before students start class. Rare Tick-Borne Alert: Experts are watching for more cases of Bourbon virus after it was confirmed in New York; it’s tick-borne, can mimic Lyme, and has no vaccine or specific treatment. School Calendar + Health Access: Lawrence Public Schools shared 2026-27 start dates and supply info, plus a Kids Expo offering free supplies, haircuts, shoes, and health screenings. Community Pet Care: Great Plains SPCA reopened its Best In Show Pet Photo Contest, with winners earning a spot on a shelter mural and a big fall event tied to fundraising. Public Safety: A Merriam I-35 crash sent two people to the hospital after a cargo van struck a semi, and Kansas City police are investigating a fatal home shooting.

Rural Health Access: A new federal push aims to keep Kansas rural hospitals open, with U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran highlighting legislation to strengthen emergency hospital support and access. Public Health Watch: Kansas health officials report a growing cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora) outbreak, with KDHE numbers climbing again and guidance urging people to buy fresh produce and follow food-safety steps. Community Safety Tech: Western Cooperative Electric awarded a grant to fund the Hays Community Radar Project, adding a Doppler radar system to improve severe weather detection for multiple western Kansas counties. Healthcare Policy & Fraud: Kansas is part of a broader Medicaid fraud debate as lawmakers and advocates argue states should fully staff fraud-control units to better catch improper billing. Legal & Privacy: A Kansas lawsuit challenges Wichita’s license-plate camera surveillance, arguing warrantless tracking can amount to unconstitutional dragnet monitoring. Local Wellness & Care: Clara Barton Medical Center partners to expand mental health services for older adults, targeting gaps in behavioral care.

Rural Health Funding: U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Sen. Tina Smith unveiled the Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act (“REH 2.0”), aiming to help at-risk rural hospitals stay open and expand services like psychiatric and obstetric care—an issue that hits Kansas communities hard. Water Safety: KDHE issued a boil water advisory for Franklin County RWD 2 & 3 and the City of Princeton after chlorine levels dropped, urging residents to boil 1 minute before drinking or cooking and to discard ice. Substance Abuse Response: Sedgwick County and Wichita are seeking public proposals for opioid and substance-abuse projects, focusing on stigma reduction, integrated care, overdose prevention, and expanding treatment access. Mental Health for Kids: O’Connell Children’s Shelter opened Elsie’s Place in Lawrence, adding short-term beds for children facing mental and behavioral health crises. Health Research: A preliminary COSMOS trial analysis reports older adults taking a daily multivitamin for 3 years saw better functional health and daily independence. Animal Health: Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard reported a premature giraffe calf delivered by rare C-section is receiving around-the-clock care after the mother’s decline.

Health Policy for First Responders: Kansas is now accepting reimbursement requests for trauma-related mental health care under the HERO Act, with $1 million set aside for law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS. Nutrition & Heart Health: A Navajo Nation study found medically tailored traditional meals for heart failure patients cut hospital and ER use, pointing to culturally matched nutrition as real care. Supplements & Aging: A preliminary analysis of the COSMOS trial links a daily multivitamin to better day-to-day functional health in older adults. Food Safety Watch: Cyclosporiasis linked to lettuce has spread widely, with Kansas reporting rising cases as federal and state health teams track outbreaks. Local Food Lawsuits: A class action seeks damages tied to Taco Bell lettuce allegedly connected to the cyclospora outbreak. Tick-Borne Alert: New York researchers report a first confirmed Bourbon virus case; it has no vaccine or specific treatment and can mimic Lyme. Kansas Courts & Privacy: A lawsuit challenges Wichita’s license plate reader camera surveillance as warrantless “dragnet” monitoring. Public Health Access: Heartland Dermatology announced it will acquire Ricks Dermatology and Radiance Medical Spa, expanding services across Kansas.

Cyclospora Update: Kansas health officials say cyclosporiasis cases have surged to 461 statewide, up from 289 a week ago, with 20 hospitalizations and eight cases in Barton County—KDHE notes reporting can lag and urges people to follow guidance while investigators track exposures. Food Safety & Lettuce Fallout: The outbreak continues to be linked to shredded iceberg lettuce, with federal updates pointing to Taylor Farms; Taco Bell sales dipped 2% during the July-September period as customers reacted, though sales are starting to rebound after lettuce was removed and recalled. Local Health Access: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas is opening the next Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant cycle, offering two-year coordination grants of $100,000 to up to 20 community coalitions (with additional implementation funding), aimed at improving active living, healthy eating, behavioral health, and tobacco prevention. Community Wellness Programs: Kansas Leadership Center is renaming its Leadership Transformation Grant to “Common Good Partnerships” and taking applications for 2027, while Tonganoxie Public Library is hosting free Plant Bingo and restarting its after-school Chieftain Cafe food program. Health Care Oversight: The KU School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program has been placed on “accredited with probation” status by ACPE for multiple compliance issues, with a focused evaluation planned for spring 2027. Mental Health Support: A $1 million gift to Camber Mental Health Kansas City will expand access to residential treatment for youth in crisis, including upgrades to therapeutic programming.

Food Safety in Kansas: Kansas health officials report cyclosporiasis climbing fast, with KDHE saying cases nearly doubled to 461 over one week, tied to the national outbreak linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce; one Hutchinson patient was hospitalized and the CDC notes the illness is spreading across more states. Restaurant Impact: The outbreak is hitting lettuce-heavy chains hard—Taco Bell removed shredded lettuce, and Yum Brands says sales dipped as customers worried, with traffic still recovering. Mental Health Care Access: Clara Barton Medical Center in Central Kansas is partnering with Senior Life Solutions to expand outpatient mental health services for adults 65+ dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, and isolation. Court-Ordered Evaluation: In Virginia, the son of Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy is set for a competency evaluation after a judge granted a motion tied to alleged shooting of his mother. Community Health: A Hutchinson woman says she’s still recovering after cyclospora illness, underscoring lingering fatigue after hospitalization. Local Wellness & Education: Fort Hays State announced a new leadership team for the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science this fall.

Cyclospora Surge in Kansas: Kansas health officials say cyclosporiasis cases nearly doubled in a week, with at least one Hutchinson woman hospitalized after severe “explosive” diarrhea and dehydration. Public Health Alerts: KDHE rescinded a boil water advisory for Natoma after lab testing found no bacteriological contamination. Outpatient Diagnostics Expansion: Daxor launched an outpatient Blood Volume Analysis (ezBVA) program in eastern Kansas using a send-out lab model to support more precise decongestion care. Healthcare Access & Stability: Newman Regional Health highlighted rural partnerships, physician recruitment, and telehealth/data-sharing efforts to strengthen long-term financial sustainability. Privacy in Digital Health: The FTC alleges Hims & Hers shared customers’ health information with ad platforms like Meta, despite promises of privacy. Community Safety: Kansas City police seek help after a woman with an active warrant allegedly threatened residents on the Trolley Trail. Sports & Wellness Watch: Chiefs camp continues as Eric Bieniemy stays away after his wife’s shooting; meanwhile, a Kansas City Royals win featured strong pitching from Randy Dobnak.

Cyclospora Update (Kansas): Kansas health officials say cyclosporiasis cases jumped to 461 this year, up from 289 a week ago, with Shawnee County leading at 85 and several other counties reporting smaller clusters—officials warn reporting can lag as investigations continue. Mental Health Access: Crawford County Mental Health Center in Girard announced a new 16-bed psychiatric crisis intervention facility for adults 18+ with same-day access expected to start late 2026, aiming to cut delays for emergency psychiatric care. Nursing Home Safety: A new federal-record analysis finds resident-on-resident abuse is now the most cited nursing home abuse category in federal inspections, shifting attention to supervision and safety planning beyond staff behavior. Health Care Costs: Bipartisan federal momentum is building for hospital price transparency rules that would require clearer, standardized charge listings—an effort Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall is backing. Public Health & Food Safety: The broader U.S. outbreak continues to expand, keeping food and water safety top of mind for Kansans. Road Safety: Multiple serious Kansas crashes this week highlight ongoing risks for drivers and workers.

Food Safety Watch: The CDC says the Cyclospora outbreak has jumped to 6,707 lab-confirmed cases, with Kansas still tied to the multi-state illnesses linked to recalled Taylor Farms lettuce. Public Health Basics: Health experts note Cyclospora symptoms often hit about a week after exposure and can last weeks, so people should follow recall guidance and watch for persistent watery diarrhea. Local Water & Health: KC Water is moving forward with a 10-year plan to map unknown service lines, warning that lead exposure can harm children and adults. Community Care: Children’s Mercy Hospital patients helped create a decorated wedding dress for Taylor Swift, highlighting ongoing pediatric community programs. Safety on the Ground: A Saline County crash killed one and injured others after a truck hit five pedestrians near I-135. Homelessness & Health Access: A Douglas County commissioner raised concerns about progress toward “functional zero” homelessness by 2028, a goal tied to stability and health outcomes.