WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-strike-venezuela-drug-cartels-congress-4163da47013db5d188944f7d29e68b56">strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel</a>&nbsp;this month.

Trump in a social media posting said the strike killed three and was carried out against a vessel “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He did not provide more precise details about the location of the strike.

The Pentagon deferred questions about the strike to the White House, which did not respond to a request for clarity about the origins of the vessel.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” Trump said in the post.

Trump also posted a video of the latest strike that shows a vessel speeding through waters before it appears to be struck by a pair of missiles from overhead and sink in a fiery explosion.

“It was at this moment, the narcoterrorists knew they screwed up,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said on X in a posting with the video.

Trump on Monday announced the U.S. military had carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-drug-cartels-05c5b0de282178419d46a3e93fbd2521">a strike on a boat</a>&nbsp;allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. That strike also killed three on board.

That followed a Sept. 2&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">military strike</a>&nbsp;on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat that killed 11. Trump claimed the boat was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was listed by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.

The Trump administration has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

But several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, as well as human rights groups have questioned the legality of Trump’s action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes.

The Trump administration has yet to explain how the military assessed the boat’s cargo and determined the passengers’ alleged gang affiliation before the attacks on the vessels. National security officials told members of Congress that the first boat taken out was fired on multiple times after it had changed course and appeared headed back to shore.

The strikes follow a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean.

It marks a dramatic shift in how the U.S. is willing to combat drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

In Venezuela,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">some are speculating</a>&nbsp;whether the strikes are part of a plan to try to topple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">President Nicolás Maduro</a>, a notion that the Venezuelan leader has echoed.

Maduro claimed after the first strike that a U.S. video released by Trump was created with artificial intelligence and that a boat of that size cannot venture into the high seas.

But earlier this week Maduro lashed out at the U.S., accusing the Trump administration of using drug trafficking accusations as an excuse for a military operation whose intentions are “to intimidate and seek regime change” in the South American country.

AP writers Regina Garcia Cano in Güiria, Venezuela, and Konstatin Toropin contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-strike-venezuela-drug-cartels-congress-4163da47013db5d188944f7d29e68b56">strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel</a>&nbsp;this month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/HqmUByvzgD">pic.twitter.com/HqmUByvzgD</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969184320288878719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>🎥🎥</div>Trump in a social media posting said the strike killed three and was carried out against a vessel “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He did not provide more precise details about the location of the strike.The Pentagon deferred questions about the strike to the White House, which did not respond to a request for clarity about the origins of the vessel.“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” Trump said in the post.Trump also posted a video of the latest strike that shows a vessel speeding through waters before it appears to be struck by a pair of missiles from overhead and sink in a fiery explosion.“It was at this moment, the narcoterrorists knew they screwed up,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said on X in a posting with the video.Trump on Monday announced the U.S. military had carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-drug-cartels-05c5b0de282178419d46a3e93fbd2521">a strike on a boat</a>&nbsp;allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. That strike also killed three on board.That followed a Sept. 2&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">military strike</a>&nbsp;on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat that killed 11. Trump claimed the boat was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was listed by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.The Trump administration has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.But several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, as well as human rights groups have questioned the legality of Trump’s action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes.The Trump administration has yet to explain how the military assessed the boat’s cargo and determined the passengers’ alleged gang affiliation before the attacks on the vessels. National security officials told members of Congress that the first boat taken out was fired on multiple times after it had changed course and appeared headed back to shore.The strikes follow a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean.It marks a dramatic shift in how the U.S. is willing to combat drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.In Venezuela,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">some are speculating</a>&nbsp;whether the strikes are part of a plan to try to topple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">President Nicolás Maduro</a>, a notion that the Venezuelan leader has echoed.Maduro claimed after the first strike that a U.S. video released by Trump was created with artificial intelligence and that a boat of that size cannot venture into the high seas.But earlier this week Maduro lashed out at the U.S., accusing the Trump administration of using drug trafficking accusations as an excuse for a military operation whose intentions are “to intimidate and seek regime change” in the South American country.—AP writers Regina Garcia Cano in Güiria, Venezuela, and Konstatin Toropin contributed reporting.

🎥US carries out another fatal strike targeting alleged drug-smuggling boat

WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives in conjunction with Senator Rick Scott, who filed a similar resolution in the U.S. Senate, to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.

 The resolution supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk” on Oct. 14 and recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service.&nbsp;The House adopted H. Res. 719 by a vote of 310-58, with 38 voting present. Kansas Democrat Congresswoman Sharice Davids voted with the majority along with Kansas GOP Representatives.

Original Co-Sponsors include Representatives Greg Steube, Mark Alford, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Gus Bilirakis, Barry Moore, Maria Salazar, Aaron Bean, Mike Collins, Carlos Gimenez, Austin Scott, and Derrick Van Orden.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis&nbsp;said, “Charlie Kirk was more than a conservative thought leader. He was a fearless warrior of free speech, faith, and the principles that make America the greatest country in the world. He empowered young people to find their voice, defend their values, and embrace their role in shaping the future of our nation. Charlie willingly braved the public square of colleges and universities to remind us all what makes free speech so important and how best we can come together as a nation: through the peaceful and respectful sharing of ideas. By honoring is life with a National Day of Remembrance, we ensure that Charlie’s legacy lives on, inspiring future generations to stand boldly for freedom and the Constitution.”

Senator Rick Scott&nbsp;said, “Charlie was a magnetic leader, a loving father and husband, and a friend and inspiration to so many. His loss is devastating, I’ll always cherish the friendship I had with him. Charlie loved our nation and its founding principles, and believed deeply in his faith, in his family, and in beauty of ideas and discussion. He lived with purpose and conviction, never shying away from hard truths and hard conversations, and always believing that the strength of our ideas and our faith could bring people together. Charlie worked to make our nation a better place in his 31 years before he was lost in an evil act of political violence, and will leave a lasting legacy on our nation. We know what Charlie would want us to do: he’d want us to stand strong by the ideas we believe in, have discussions, carry on with hope, strength and courage, and look to God for guidance. I am proud to lead a resolution honoring Charlie’s legacy as an American patriot by designating October 14th, what would have been his 32nd birthday, as National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk – a day to come together, pray, and celebrate Charlie’s impact on the nation.”

Expressing support of the House of Representatives that October 14, 2025, be designated as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”&nbsp;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was a champion of free speech, civil dialogue, and faith;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk consistently promoted the values of individual liberty, open debate, the importance of civic engagement, and the defense of constitutional principles;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was recognized as one of the leading voices among young leaders in the United States, creating opportunities for civic education, fostering youth leadership, and promoting principles of liberty and democracy across the United States;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization of thousands of chapters across the United States dedicated to educating students about the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk authored multiple national bestselling books, that engage readers in critical conversations about civics, culture, and the future of the United States;&nbsp;

WHEREAS, through Mr. Kirk’s writing, public speaking, and media presence, Charlie Kirk reached millions of United States citizens, inspiring the next generation to become active participants in civic life;&nbsp;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work has contributed to strengthening public discourse, defending constitutional principles, and fostering active citizenship; and

WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work, especially his efforts to bring these American ideals to life on our college campuses, cost him his life by means of an assassin’s bullet on September 10, 2025: Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives—&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541376269.png" alt="Charlie Kirk photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Charlie Kirk photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives in conjunction with Senator Rick Scott, who filed a similar resolution in the U.S. Senate, to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. The resolution supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk” on Oct. 14 and recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service.&nbsp;The House adopted H. Res. 719 by a vote of 310-58, with 38 voting present. Kansas Democrat Congresswoman Sharice Davids voted with the majority along with Kansas GOP Representatives.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">BREAKING: AOC just took to the House floor to defend her No vote on the Resolution honoring the life of Charlie Kirk. This is going to make your blood boil. AOC: &quot;We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was... His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to… <a href="https://t.co/MMjecCmyk5">pic.twitter.com/MMjecCmyk5</a>&mdash; Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1969061502624653528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepAOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAOC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> on House-passed resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk: &quot;Instead of uniting Congress in this tragedy with one of the many bipartisan options to condemn political violence and Kirk&#39;s murder, as we did with the late Melissa Hortman, instead the… <a href="https://t.co/lkx3JGO1gN">pic.twitter.com/lkx3JGO1gN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1969067634399629430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;House Democrats voted against condemning the political assassination of Charlie Kirk. Who could vote against that? All they&#39;re saying is please condemn the assassination of a human being and they said, &#39;No, we&#39;re not going to do that.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LqqwdqlkFA">pic.twitter.com/LqqwdqlkFA</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969142783022632972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Original Co-Sponsors include Representatives Greg Steube, Mark Alford, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Gus Bilirakis, Barry Moore, Maria Salazar, Aaron Bean, Mike Collins, Carlos Gimenez, Austin Scott, and Derrick Van Orden.Congressman Jimmy Patronis&nbsp;said, “Charlie Kirk was more than a conservative thought leader. He was a fearless warrior of free speech, faith, and the principles that make America the greatest country in the world. He empowered young people to find their voice, defend their values, and embrace their role in shaping the future of our nation. Charlie willingly braved the public square of colleges and universities to remind us all what makes free speech so important and how best we can come together as a nation: through the peaceful and respectful sharing of ideas. By honoring is life with a National Day of Remembrance, we ensure that Charlie’s legacy lives on, inspiring future generations to stand boldly for freedom and the Constitution.”Senator Rick Scott&nbsp;said, “Charlie was a magnetic leader, a loving father and husband, and a friend and inspiration to so many. His loss is devastating, I’ll always cherish the friendship I had with him. Charlie loved our nation and its founding principles, and believed deeply in his faith, in his family, and in beauty of ideas and discussion. He lived with purpose and conviction, never shying away from hard truths and hard conversations, and always believing that the strength of our ideas and our faith could bring people together. Charlie worked to make our nation a better place in his 31 years before he was lost in an evil act of political violence, and will leave a lasting legacy on our nation. We know what Charlie would want us to do: he’d want us to stand strong by the ideas we believe in, have discussions, carry on with hope, strength and courage, and look to God for guidance. I am proud to lead a resolution honoring Charlie’s legacy as an American patriot by designating October 14th, what would have been his 32nd birthday, as National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk – a day to come together, pray, and celebrate Charlie’s impact on the nation.”RESOLUTIONExpressing support of the House of Representatives that October 14, 2025, be designated as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”&nbsp;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was a champion of free speech, civil dialogue, and faith;WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk consistently promoted the values of individual liberty, open debate, the importance of civic engagement, and the defense of constitutional principles;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was recognized as one of the leading voices among young leaders in the United States, creating opportunities for civic education, fostering youth leadership, and promoting principles of liberty and democracy across the United States;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization of thousands of chapters across the United States dedicated to educating students about the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk authored multiple national bestselling books, that engage readers in critical conversations about civics, culture, and the future of the United States;&nbsp;WHEREAS, through Mr. Kirk’s writing, public speaking, and media presence, Charlie Kirk reached millions of United States citizens, inspiring the next generation to become active participants in civic life;&nbsp;WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work has contributed to strengthening public discourse, defending constitutional principles, and fostering active citizenship; andWHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work, especially his efforts to bring these American ideals to life on our college campuses, cost him his life by means of an assassin’s bullet on September 10, 2025: Now, therefore, be itRESOLVED, That the House of Representatives—&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk”;</li><li>recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service; and</li><li>encourages educational institutions, civic organizations, and citizens across the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, activities, prayers, and ceremonies that promote civic engagement and the principles of faith, liberty, and democracy that Charlie Kirk championed.</li>
 </ol>

Charlie Kirk Day: All 4 Kan. Reps vote to approve U.S. House resolution 

Graham Klemme of StartUp Hutch stopped by to provide an update of new opportunities for entrepreneurs.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747769794823.jpeg" alt="Graham Klemme - photo courtesy Start Up Hutch" />
 <figcaption>Graham Klemme - photo courtesy Start Up Hutch</figcaption>
 </figure>Graham Klemme of StartUp Hutch stopped by to provide an update of new opportunities for entrepreneurs.&nbsp;<div><iframe title="Graham Klemme - StartUp Hutch" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=46q3k-196d88a-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Graham Klemme, Executive Director of StartUp Hutch 

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that Kansas Tourism has earned the Gold Award in the State Bridging Communities category for the popular Sunflower Summer program. Announced at the 2025 Educational Seminar for Tourism Organization (ESTO) Conference, ESTO awards recognize state and territory tourism offices for standout initiatives that strengthen communities and inspire travel.

“The Sunflower Summer program has been a shining example of how Kansas is investing in families, education and community connections,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By opening the doors to cultural, history and recreational experiences, we’re not only building memories – we’re strengthening our local economies by driving more visitation to the many unique attractions that Kansas has to offer.”

The Bridging Communities category honors campaigns that foster meaningful connections across diverse populations and regions by bringing bold ideas, data-driven creativity and deep community impact.

The award, presented by the U.S. Travel Association, was announced during the annual ESTO Conference held August 17-19 in Phoenix.

“This award underscores our goal to grow the tourism industry by connecting Kansas families with our state’s cultural and educational treasures found in their own backyard,”&nbsp;Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “Sunflower Summer sparks new journeys, fosters state pride, and fuels the entire tourism economy.”

This recognition builds on previous honors given to the Sunflower Summer program, including Best Local Impact Campaign at the 2025 Etsy Awards, where Kansas Tourism was recognized for its efforts during the eTourism Summit in April.

The 2024 Sunflower Summer program delivered remarkable results, with more than 705,000 Kansas residents visiting the 223 participating attractions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750777555254.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that Kansas Tourism has earned the Gold Award in the State Bridging Communities category for the popular Sunflower Summer program. Announced at the 2025 Educational Seminar for Tourism Organization (ESTO) Conference, ESTO awards recognize state and territory tourism offices for standout initiatives that strengthen communities and inspire travel.“The Sunflower Summer program has been a shining example of how Kansas is investing in families, education and community connections,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By opening the doors to cultural, history and recreational experiences, we’re not only building memories – we’re strengthening our local economies by driving more visitation to the many unique attractions that Kansas has to offer.”The Bridging Communities category honors campaigns that foster meaningful connections across diverse populations and regions by bringing bold ideas, data-driven creativity and deep community impact.The award, presented by the U.S. Travel Association, was announced during the annual ESTO Conference held August 17-19 in Phoenix.“This award underscores our goal to grow the tourism industry by connecting Kansas families with our state’s cultural and educational treasures found in their own backyard,”&nbsp;Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “Sunflower Summer sparks new journeys, fosters state pride, and fuels the entire tourism economy.”This recognition builds on previous honors given to the Sunflower Summer program, including Best Local Impact Campaign at the 2025 Etsy Awards, where Kansas Tourism was recognized for its efforts during the eTourism Summit in April.The 2024 Sunflower Summer program delivered remarkable results, with more than 705,000 Kansas residents visiting the 223 participating attractions.

Kansas Tourism wins second national award for Sunflower Summer program

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas sheriff’s deputy was charged Thursday with murder in the death of a jail inmate who sustained broken ribs after his back was kneeled on after he was wheeled from the infirmary to his cell, according to an autopsy report.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said deputy Richard Fatherley has been charged with second-degree murder and an alternative count of involuntary manslaughter in the July 5 death of 50-year-old Charles Adair at the county's detention center in Kansas City, Kansas. Adair had been arrested one day earlier on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.

Dupree provided no details on how the man died, but the autopsy said Adair was being removed from his wheelchair when he got into an altercation with jail staff. According to the autopsy, the altercation ended with one officer kneeling on Adair's back. In addition to the rib fractures, Adair also sustained a sternal fracture, the autopsy report said.

While Dupree declined to say whether Fatherley was the one who knelt, he also said no one else would be charged.

The autopsy listed Adair’s manner of death as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jail-death-homicide-kansas-11eb41bc670e83577c0f4f8c9afef3dc">homicide</a>&nbsp;and his cause of death as complications from “mechanical asphyxia,” a condition in which breathing is obstructed. Also contributing to Adair’s death was cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis, the autopsy found.

“Our family is still heartbroken over the loss of my brother,” the man’s brother, Anthony Adair, said in a statement released through the group Justice for Wyandotte. “While we are grateful to see that charges have been filed, it is important for us to be able to see the camera footage of Charles’ final moment.”

The sheriff’s office declined a records request from The Associated Press seeking video of what happened. Asked about video during a news conference, Dupree said that all information in the case would be reviewed by a judge at the preliminary hearing and then would be made available in court.

Fatherley, who was assigned to the detention center but was not a certified law enforcement officer, is on paid administrative leave. He received a summons on Thursday afternoon calling for him to appear in court, but has not been booked into jail. Dupree said that's customary for officers in the county facing charges.

“He was not a flight risk,” Dupree said. “He was, in fact, cooperative with the investigation” and is expected to continue cooperating.

Dupree added that he would file a request for an out-of-county judge to oversee the case “due to the potential conflict of interest.”

Fatherley’s attorney, James Spies, said the second-degree murder charge requires the state to prove that the defendant showed an extreme indifference to life, and, “This case simply does not meet the elements of this crime.”

He noted that the prosecutor’s alternative charge is involuntary manslaughter, which requires proof that a defendant acted with “typical” recklessness.

“We’re going to be pursuing an acquittal in this case,” Spies said. “My client acted reasonably within the scope his employment.”

No charges were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-a51f619b8b196987e74b046ac399680c">filed</a>&nbsp;after a similar autopsy finding in the 2021 death of Cedric Lofton, a 17-year-old who became unresponsive while restrained at a Wichita juvenile intake center. In that case, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said the state’s “stand-your-ground” law prevented him from bringing any charges because staff members were protecting themselves.

Spies said Adair's death was “a tragic accident” but was not a result of Fatherley’s actions.

Nikki Richardson, executive director of Justice for Wyandotte, countered that the autopsy report suggested that pressure had been applied to Adair using something called the shoulder pin maneuver.

“It is only supposed to be used when an officer feels their life is in danger,” Richardson said. “It is hard at this point in time with the facts to see where a jail staff or sheriff or officer would feel endangered when a person is leaving the infirmary and they’re in a wheelchair.”

Any conviction on a second-degree murder charge carries a sentence of up to 41 years in prison while a manslaughter conviction carries up to 11 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751825756436.png" alt="Inmate Charles Adair died July 5-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Inmate Charles Adair died July 5-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas sheriff’s deputy was charged Thursday with murder in the death of a jail inmate who sustained broken ribs after his back was kneeled on after he was wheeled from the infirmary to his cell, according to an autopsy report.Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said deputy Richard Fatherley has been charged with second-degree murder and an alternative count of involuntary manslaughter in the July 5 death of 50-year-old Charles Adair at the county's detention center in Kansas City, Kansas. Adair had been arrested one day earlier on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.Dupree provided no details on how the man died, but the autopsy said Adair was being removed from his wheelchair when he got into an altercation with jail staff. According to the autopsy, the altercation ended with one officer kneeling on Adair's back. In addition to the rib fractures, Adair also sustained a sternal fracture, the autopsy report said.While Dupree declined to say whether Fatherley was the one who knelt, he also said no one else would be charged.The autopsy listed Adair’s manner of death as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jail-death-homicide-kansas-11eb41bc670e83577c0f4f8c9afef3dc">homicide</a>&nbsp;and his cause of death as complications from “mechanical asphyxia,” a condition in which breathing is obstructed. Also contributing to Adair’s death was cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis, the autopsy found.“Our family is still heartbroken over the loss of my brother,” the man’s brother, Anthony Adair, said in a statement released through the group Justice for Wyandotte. “While we are grateful to see that charges have been filed, it is important for us to be able to see the camera footage of Charles’ final moment.”The sheriff’s office declined a records request from The Associated Press seeking video of what happened. Asked about video during a news conference, Dupree said that all information in the case would be reviewed by a judge at the preliminary hearing and then would be made available in court.Fatherley, who was assigned to the detention center but was not a certified law enforcement officer, is on paid administrative leave. He received a summons on Thursday afternoon calling for him to appear in court, but has not been booked into jail. Dupree said that's customary for officers in the county facing charges.“He was not a flight risk,” Dupree said. “He was, in fact, cooperative with the investigation” and is expected to continue cooperating.Dupree added that he would file a request for an out-of-county judge to oversee the case “due to the potential conflict of interest.”Fatherley’s attorney, James Spies, said the second-degree murder charge requires the state to prove that the defendant showed an extreme indifference to life, and, “This case simply does not meet the elements of this crime.”He noted that the prosecutor’s alternative charge is involuntary manslaughter, which requires proof that a defendant acted with “typical” recklessness.“We’re going to be pursuing an acquittal in this case,” Spies said. “My client acted reasonably within the scope his employment.”No charges were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-a51f619b8b196987e74b046ac399680c">filed</a>&nbsp;after a similar autopsy finding in the 2021 death of Cedric Lofton, a 17-year-old who became unresponsive while restrained at a Wichita juvenile intake center. In that case, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said the state’s “stand-your-ground” law prevented him from bringing any charges because staff members were protecting themselves.Spies said Adair's death was “a tragic accident” but was not a result of Fatherley’s actions.Nikki Richardson, executive director of Justice for Wyandotte, countered that the autopsy report suggested that pressure had been applied to Adair using something called the shoulder pin maneuver.“It is only supposed to be used when an officer feels their life is in danger,” Richardson said. “It is hard at this point in time with the facts to see where a jail staff or sheriff or officer would feel endangered when a person is leaving the infirmary and they’re in a wheelchair.”Any conviction on a second-degree murder charge carries a sentence of up to 41 years in prison while a manslaughter conviction carries up to 11 years.

Kansas deputy charged with murder in the death of a man in custody

ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hand-picked vaccine advisory committee on Thursday recommended the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopt new restrictions on a combination shot that protects against chickenpox as well as measles, mumps and rubella.

The panel advised that the vaccine known as MMRV not be given before age 4 and that children in this age group instead get separate vaccines — one against MMR and another for varicella, or chickenpox. The vote was 8-3, with one member abstaining.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices put off an expected vote on hepatitis B shots given to infants on the day they are born. On Friday, it’s expected to decide whether to recommend that some babies can wait a month for those shots, and to also take up COVID-19 shots.

The committee makes recommendations to the CDC director on how already-approved vaccines should be used. CDC directors have almost always accepted those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and guide vaccination programs. Committee Chairman Martin Kulldorff said committee members aim to reassure the public and remove unnecessary risks and harms.

But many doctors and public health experts say the committee is creating fear and mistrust around vaccines at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f">U.S. vaccination rates are already falling</a>. Kennedy, a leading antivaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official, has made or proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-rfk-kennedy-trump-covid-fda-novavax-b50f4d6fbcca378eb89b059bc8a91477">numerous changes</a>&nbsp;to the nation’s vaccine system, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">firing the entire 17-member panel</a>&nbsp;earlier this year and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">replacing it</a>&nbsp;with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices.

Thursday's meeting “promoted false claims and misguided information about vaccines as part of an unprecedented effort to limit access to routine childhood immunizations and sow fear and mistrust in vaccines,” Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement. “Instead of emerging with clear guidance about vaccines that we know protect against serious illnesses, families are left with confusion, chaos and false information.”

Experts are also concerned the panel's actions could narrow access to the vaccines. The group voted 8-1, with three abstentions, to keep MMRV covered for kids as young as 12 months under the Vaccines for Children program, which pays for about half the shots given to kids in the U.S.

Several committee members expressed confusion during that follow-up vote on whether to align payments under the program with the more restrictive vaccine guidance they had just passed. Another federal official noted that there are other government insurance programs, including Medicaid, that will need to stop paying for that early combo dose because they have to follow CDC recommendations.

Discussions on the MMRV vaccine focused largely on rare instances of feverish seizures associated with the first dose, given to kids between ages 1 and 2.

Committee member Dr. Cody Meissner said such seizures may be “a very frightening experience” for families, but medical experts agree they're not linked to brain function or school problems.

The panel last dealt with the issue in 2009, when it said either the combination shot or separate MMR and chickenpox shots&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5903a1.htm">were acceptable for the first dose</a>, but that separate doses were generally preferred. Today, 85% of kids receive separate doses for the first round, according to information presented at the meeting.

Some doctors and public health experts say they are not aware of any new safety data that would explain the revisiting of those vaccination recommendations — and, in fact, many of the studies discussed Thursday were more than a decade old.

Dr. Richard Haupt, a vice president at Merck, which makes the MMRV vaccine ProQuad, said it’s been evaluated through clinical trials and post-approval studies, and the slight increase in feverish seizures after the first dose led to current CDC recommendations. Combination vaccines improve completion and on-time vaccination at a time when the nation is seeing a troubling decline in vaccination coverage, he said.

Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases, said he doesn't see the need for a new recommendation.

“It’s solution looking for a problem,” he said in an interview. “We have managed the MMRV vaccine situation for a number of years without any issues in terms of safety. It is a situation where it also allows a parent to have that discussion with their healthcare provider."

The vaccine panel also discussed the hepatitis B shot

As many as 2.4 million people in U.S. are estimated to have hepatitis B, which can cause serious liver infections, and half are unaware of infection, a CDC presenter told the panel.

In adults, the virus is spread through sex or through sharing needles during injection-drug use. But it can also be passed to a baby from an infected mother, and as many as 90% of infected infants go on to have chronic infections. The virus can also live on surfaces for more then seven days at room temperature, and unvaccinated children living with anyone with a chronic infection are at risk.

A hepatitis B vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. in 1981. In 2005, the ACIP recommended a dose within 24 hours of birth for all medically stable infants who weigh at least 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms). The infant shots are 85% to 95% effective in preventing chronic hepatitis B infections, studies have shown.

Following the 2005 recommendation, hepatitis B cases among infants fell from 5,494 cases per year in 2005 to 2,214 cases in 2023.

During Thursday’s discussion, some committee members questioned whether babies born to moms who test positive for hepatitis B are the only ones who truly need a vaccine in the first day of life.

By giving virtually all babies the hepatitis B right after birth, “Are we asking our babies to solve an adult problem?” asked committee member Dr. Evelyn Griffin.

But Meissner expressed bewilderment at some of this discussion.

“This an absolutely safe vaccine,” he said. “I’m not sure what we’re gaining by avoiding that first dose within 12 to 24 hours after birth.”

Several outside medical experts asked why the committee was debating the issue at all.

“The signal that is prompting this is not one of safety," committee member Dr. Robert Malone responded. "It’s one of trust. And it’s one of parents uncomfortable with this medical procedure being performed at birth in a rather unilateral fashion without significant informed consent.”

Osterholm said there will be consequences.

“As more doubt is sown in the safety of vaccines by this committee and political leaders in our health department, we’re going to see fewer people getting vaccinated and the return of the diseases we largely conquered," he said. "It will make us less safe and less healthy as a nation.”

Ungar reported from Louisville, Kentucky. AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this story.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671049425198.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hand-picked vaccine advisory committee on Thursday recommended the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopt new restrictions on a combination shot that protects against chickenpox as well as measles, mumps and rubella.The panel advised that the vaccine known as MMRV not be given before age 4 and that children in this age group instead get separate vaccines — one against MMR and another for varicella, or chickenpox. The vote was 8-3, with one member abstaining.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices put off an expected vote on hepatitis B shots given to infants on the day they are born. On Friday, it’s expected to decide whether to recommend that some babies can wait a month for those shots, and to also take up COVID-19 shots.The committee makes recommendations to the CDC director on how already-approved vaccines should be used. CDC directors have almost always accepted those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and guide vaccination programs. Committee Chairman Martin Kulldorff said committee members aim to reassure the public and remove unnecessary risks and harms.But many doctors and public health experts say the committee is creating fear and mistrust around vaccines at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f">U.S. vaccination rates are already falling</a>. Kennedy, a leading antivaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official, has made or proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-rfk-kennedy-trump-covid-fda-novavax-b50f4d6fbcca378eb89b059bc8a91477">numerous changes</a>&nbsp;to the nation’s vaccine system, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">firing the entire 17-member panel</a>&nbsp;earlier this year and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">replacing it</a>&nbsp;with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices.Thursday's meeting “promoted false claims and misguided information about vaccines as part of an unprecedented effort to limit access to routine childhood immunizations and sow fear and mistrust in vaccines,” Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement. “Instead of emerging with clear guidance about vaccines that we know protect against serious illnesses, families are left with confusion, chaos and false information.”Experts are also concerned the panel's actions could narrow access to the vaccines. The group voted 8-1, with three abstentions, to keep MMRV covered for kids as young as 12 months under the Vaccines for Children program, which pays for about half the shots given to kids in the U.S.Several committee members expressed confusion during that follow-up vote on whether to align payments under the program with the more restrictive vaccine guidance they had just passed. Another federal official noted that there are other government insurance programs, including Medicaid, that will need to stop paying for that early combo dose because they have to follow CDC recommendations.<h2>Panelists focus on rare seizures</h2>Discussions on the MMRV vaccine focused largely on rare instances of feverish seizures associated with the first dose, given to kids between ages 1 and 2.Committee member Dr. Cody Meissner said such seizures may be “a very frightening experience” for families, but medical experts agree they're not linked to brain function or school problems.The panel last dealt with the issue in 2009, when it said either the combination shot or separate MMR and chickenpox shots&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5903a1.htm">were acceptable for the first dose</a>, but that separate doses were generally preferred. Today, 85% of kids receive separate doses for the first round, according to information presented at the meeting.Some doctors and public health experts say they are not aware of any new safety data that would explain the revisiting of those vaccination recommendations — and, in fact, many of the studies discussed Thursday were more than a decade old.Dr. Richard Haupt, a vice president at Merck, which makes the MMRV vaccine ProQuad, said it’s been evaluated through clinical trials and post-approval studies, and the slight increase in feverish seizures after the first dose led to current CDC recommendations. Combination vaccines improve completion and on-time vaccination at a time when the nation is seeing a troubling decline in vaccination coverage, he said.Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases, said he doesn't see the need for a new recommendation.“It’s solution looking for a problem,” he said in an interview. “We have managed the MMRV vaccine situation for a number of years without any issues in terms of safety. It is a situation where it also allows a parent to have that discussion with their healthcare provider."<h2>The vaccine panel also discussed the hepatitis B shot</h2>As many as 2.4 million people in U.S. are estimated to have hepatitis B, which can cause serious liver infections, and half are unaware of infection, a CDC presenter told the panel.In adults, the virus is spread through sex or through sharing needles during injection-drug use. But it can also be passed to a baby from an infected mother, and as many as 90% of infected infants go on to have chronic infections. The virus can also live on surfaces for more then seven days at room temperature, and unvaccinated children living with anyone with a chronic infection are at risk.A hepatitis B vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. in 1981. In 2005, the ACIP recommended a dose within 24 hours of birth for all medically stable infants who weigh at least 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms). The infant shots are 85% to 95% effective in preventing chronic hepatitis B infections, studies have shown.Following the 2005 recommendation, hepatitis B cases among infants fell from 5,494 cases per year in 2005 to 2,214 cases in 2023.During Thursday’s discussion, some committee members questioned whether babies born to moms who test positive for hepatitis B are the only ones who truly need a vaccine in the first day of life.By giving virtually all babies the hepatitis B right after birth, “Are we asking our babies to solve an adult problem?” asked committee member Dr. Evelyn Griffin.But Meissner expressed bewilderment at some of this discussion.“This an absolutely safe vaccine,” he said. “I’m not sure what we’re gaining by avoiding that first dose within 12 to 24 hours after birth.”Several outside medical experts asked why the committee was debating the issue at all.“The signal that is prompting this is not one of safety," committee member Dr. Robert Malone responded. "It’s one of trust. And it’s one of parents uncomfortable with this medical procedure being performed at birth in a rather unilateral fashion without significant informed consent.”Osterholm said there will be consequences.“As more doubt is sown in the safety of vaccines by this committee and political leaders in our health department, we’re going to see fewer people getting vaccinated and the return of the diseases we largely conquered," he said. "It will make us less safe and less healthy as a nation.”___Ungar reported from Louisville, Kentucky. AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this story.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Advisory panel recommends new restrictions on MMRV vaccines

&nbsp;The Hutchinson YMCA has received a major boost for its new facility, thanks to a generous donation from Lowen Corporation. The contribution will help advance the development of the 75,000-square-foot branch currently under construction, which promises to bring expanded programs and improved facilities to the community.

David Foster, Executive Director of the Hutchinson YMCA, said the donation marks a significant milestone in the project’s fundraising efforts.
“The donation from Lowen Corporation is a tremendous help in meeting our fundraising goals,” Foster said. “We are grateful for their support which will play a crucial role in ensuring the successful completion of this much-needed facility.”

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/76c9ad7d-ce3b-429f-af39-f629edcb15df">LINK:&nbsp;Hutchinson YMCA invites community to beam signing event Sept. 25</a>

Lowen Corporation President Tracy Metzger emphasized the company’s longstanding connection to the YMCA and its broader mission of community wellness.
“On behalf of Lowen Corporation, our employees and the Lowen family, we are proud to support the Hutchinson YMCA and its mission to enhance community wellness,” Metzger said. “This donation reflects our company’s commitment to fostering positive change and providing resources that empower families and individuals in our community.”

Metzger added that Lowen has a history of supporting YMCA initiatives, with many of the company’s employees also YMCA members. As part of its wellness initiatives, Lowen provides employees with discounted YMCA memberships to encourage healthy lifestyles at work and at home.

The new Hutchinson YMCA branch, backed by community partners like Lowen Corporation, is expected to play a key role in promoting fitness, family activities, and youth development across the region.

For more information on how to support the YMCA’s capital campaign, visit <a href="http://www.ymcawichita.org/hutchcampaign">www.ymcawichita.org/hutchcampaign</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742855180411.jpeg" alt="(Photo courtesy of Lowen Corporation)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>(Photo courtesy of Lowen Corporation)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;The Hutchinson YMCA has received a major boost for its new facility, thanks to a generous donation from Lowen Corporation. The contribution will help advance the development of the 75,000-square-foot branch currently under construction, which promises to bring expanded programs and improved facilities to the community.David Foster, Executive Director of the Hutchinson YMCA, said the donation marks a significant milestone in the project’s fundraising efforts.
“The donation from Lowen Corporation is a tremendous help in meeting our fundraising goals,” Foster said. “We are grateful for their support which will play a crucial role in ensuring the successful completion of this much-needed facility.”<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/76c9ad7d-ce3b-429f-af39-f629edcb15df">LINK:&nbsp;Hutchinson YMCA invites community to beam signing event Sept. 25</a>Lowen Corporation President Tracy Metzger emphasized the company’s longstanding connection to the YMCA and its broader mission of community wellness.
“On behalf of Lowen Corporation, our employees and the Lowen family, we are proud to support the Hutchinson YMCA and its mission to enhance community wellness,” Metzger said. “This donation reflects our company’s commitment to fostering positive change and providing resources that empower families and individuals in our community.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750892109230.jpeg" alt="Ongoing construction work at the new Hutchinson YMCA branch located at 20th &amp; Lorraine, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>Ongoing construction work at the new Hutchinson YMCA branch located at 20th &amp; Lorraine, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>Metzger added that Lowen has a history of supporting YMCA initiatives, with many of the company’s employees also YMCA members. As part of its wellness initiatives, Lowen provides employees with discounted YMCA memberships to encourage healthy lifestyles at work and at home.The new Hutchinson YMCA branch, backed by community partners like Lowen Corporation, is expected to play a key role in promoting fitness, family activities, and youth development across the region.For more information on how to support the YMCA’s capital campaign, visit <a href="http://www.ymcawichita.org/hutchcampaign">www.ymcawichita.org/hutchcampaign</a>.

Lowen Corporation donates to support new YMCA facility 

McDonald’s said Monday it plans to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote&nbsp;regenerative agriculture practices&nbsp;on cattle ranches.&nbsp;

The Chicago burger giant said the investment was its largest to date in support of regenerative agriculture in the U.S. The company has also funded regenerative projects on potato farms in Canada and Europe.&nbsp;

“As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said in a statement.&nbsp;

Regenerative techniques&nbsp;aim to conserve water, enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.&nbsp;Other big companies, including General Mills, Nestle, Walmart and PepsiCo, have also been investing in regenerative farming projects in recent years.&nbsp;

On cattle ranches, ranchers practicing regenerative agriculture move cattle frequently and let the land recover for weeks or months. That helps produce more grass with deeper roots, which take more carbon from the air to help improve soil.&nbsp;

McDonald’s said its investment will help accelerate regenerative grazing and water and wildlife conservation on ranches spanning 4 million acres in up to 38 states.&nbsp;

McDonald’s is working with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which will independently award competitive grants to organizations that will assist participating ranchers. The company said some of its suppliers, including Cargill, Golden State Foods and Coca-Cola, are also providing funding to the foundation.&nbsp;

Jeff Trandahl, the executive director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, said regenerative practices can ultimately improve the productivity of grasslands and increase ranches’ profitability. The foundation expects the first round of awards will be announced in January.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729632360389.png" alt="(File photo)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>(File photo)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>AP&nbsp;McDonald’s said Monday it plans to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote&nbsp;regenerative agriculture practices&nbsp;on cattle ranches.&nbsp;The Chicago burger giant said the investment was its largest to date in support of regenerative agriculture in the U.S. The company has also funded regenerative projects on potato farms in Canada and Europe.&nbsp;“As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said in a statement.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600284821318.jpeg" alt="<a href="https://www.dieselfuelinjectionrepair.com/diesel-fuel-injector-rebuilds?useYB=2,4&amp;cam=ppc-m-m178243-c851458-g-">Click here to visit Diesel Control Technicians website</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.dieselfuelinjectionrepair.com/diesel-fuel-injector-rebuilds?useYB=2,4&amp;cam=ppc-m-m178243-c851458-g-">Click here to visit Diesel Control Technicians website</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Regenerative techniques&nbsp;aim to conserve water, enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.&nbsp;Other big companies, including General Mills, Nestle, Walmart and PepsiCo, have also been investing in regenerative farming projects in recent years.&nbsp;On cattle ranches, ranchers practicing regenerative agriculture move cattle frequently and let the land recover for weeks or months. That helps produce more grass with deeper roots, which take more carbon from the air to help improve soil.&nbsp;McDonald’s said its investment will help accelerate regenerative grazing and water and wildlife conservation on ranches spanning 4 million acres in up to 38 states.&nbsp;McDonald’s is working with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which will independently award competitive grants to organizations that will assist participating ranchers. The company said some of its suppliers, including Cargill, Golden State Foods and Coca-Cola, are also providing funding to the foundation.&nbsp;Jeff Trandahl, the executive director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, said regenerative practices can ultimately improve the productivity of grasslands and increase ranches’ profitability. The foundation expects the first round of awards will be announced in January.&nbsp;

McDonald’s plans $200 million investment to promote regenerative practices

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday.

Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation's health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Monarez, who was fired after just 29 days on the job following disagreements with Kennedy, told senators deadly diseases like polio and whooping cough, long contained, are poised to make a comeback in the U.S.

“I believe preventable diseases will return, and I believe we will have our children harmed by things they don’t need to be harmed by,” Monarez said before the Senate health committee.

Monarez said she was ordered by Kennedy to resign if she did not sign off on new vaccine recommendations, which are expected to be released later this week by an advisory panel that Kennedy has stocked with medical experts and vaccine skeptics. She said that when she asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change the childhood vaccination schedule, he offered none.

She added that Kennedy told her “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccination schedule.”

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the powerful health committee, listened intently as Monarez and Houry described conversations with Kennedy and his advisers.

“To be clear, he said there was not science or data, but he still expected you to change schedule?” Cassidy asked.

Cassidy carefully praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to promoting health policies but made it clear he was concerned about the circumstances surrounding Monarez's removal.

Houry, meanwhile, described similar exchanges with Kennedy's political advisers, who took an unprecedented role in preparing materials for meetings of the CDC's advisory vaccine panel.

Ahead of this week's meeting of the panel, Houry offered to include data around the hepatitis B shot that is administered to newborns to prevent spread of the deadly disease from the mother. She said a Kennedy adviser dismissed the data as biased because it might support keeping the shots on the schedule.

"You’re suggesting that they wanted to move away from the birth dose, but they were afraid that your data would say that they should retain it?" Cassidy asked.

During the Senate hearing, Democrats, all of whom opposed Monarez's nomination, also questioned Kennedy's motives for firing Monarez, who was approved for the job unanimously by Republicans.

“Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and for that reason she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats.

Monarez said it was both her refusal to sign off on new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence and her unwillingness to fire high-ranking career CDC officials without cause that led to her ousting.

Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-senate-cdc-3a5a090fc9d9f547377203fe5c61ffa2">has denied</a>&nbsp;Monarez’s accusations that he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations but has acknowledged he demanded firings. He has described Monarez as admitting to him that she is “untrustworthy,” a claim Monarez has denied through her attorney.

While Senate Republicans have been mostly loath to challenge Trump or even Kennedy, many of them have expressed concerns about the lack of availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the health department’s decisions to scale back some childhood vaccines.

Others have backed up Kennedy’s distrust of the nation’s health agencies.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a doctor, aggressively questioned Monarez about her “philosophy” on vaccines as she explained that her decisions were based on science. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump was elected to make change and suggested Monarez's job was to be loyal to Kennedy.

“America needs better than this,” Tuberville said.

The Senate hearing was taking place just a day before the vaccine panel starts its two-day session in Atlanta to discuss shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s unclear how the panel might vote on the recommendations, though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID-19 recommendations should be more restricted.

The CDC director must endorse those recommendations before they become official. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-oneill-cdc-kennedy-trump-vaccines-58fd24f678bf46ea6ec96a2b09f85ff4">Jim O’Neill</a>, now serving as the CDC’s acting director, will be responsible for that.

“I'm very nervous about it,” Monarez said of the meeting.

Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758119416377.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> admonishes Susan Monarez: “You are the problem.” <a href="https://t.co/4ow5WxO992">pic.twitter.com/4ow5WxO992</a>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1968340321500311721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former CDC Director Susan Monarez delivers her opening statement: &quot;Today should not be about me. Today should be about the future of trust in public health.&quot; Ms. Monarez details her time at the CDC and her firing from the agency. <a href="https://t.co/a45ZiXGZ0n">pic.twitter.com/a45ZiXGZ0n</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968328090288881978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation's health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry opening statement. <a href="https://t.co/5bK99PFZQY">pic.twitter.com/5bK99PFZQY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968328629521105280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Monarez, who was fired after just 29 days on the job following disagreements with Kennedy, told senators deadly diseases like polio and whooping cough, long contained, are poised to make a comeback in the U.S.“I believe preventable diseases will return, and I believe we will have our children harmed by things they don’t need to be harmed by,” Monarez said before the Senate health committee.<h2>Monarez describes her firing by RFK</h2>Monarez said she was ordered by Kennedy to resign if she did not sign off on new vaccine recommendations, which are expected to be released later this week by an advisory panel that Kennedy has stocked with medical experts and vaccine skeptics. She said that when she asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change the childhood vaccination schedule, he offered none.She added that Kennedy told her “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccination schedule.”Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the powerful health committee, listened intently as Monarez and Houry described conversations with Kennedy and his advisers.“To be clear, he said there was not science or data, but he still expected you to change schedule?” Cassidy asked.Cassidy carefully praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to promoting health policies but made it clear he was concerned about the circumstances surrounding Monarez's removal.Houry, meanwhile, described similar exchanges with Kennedy's political advisers, who took an unprecedented role in preparing materials for meetings of the CDC's advisory vaccine panel.Ahead of this week's meeting of the panel, Houry offered to include data around the hepatitis B shot that is administered to newborns to prevent spread of the deadly disease from the mother. She said a Kennedy adviser dismissed the data as biased because it might support keeping the shots on the schedule."You’re suggesting that they wanted to move away from the birth dose, but they were afraid that your data would say that they should retain it?" Cassidy asked.<h2>Critical vaccine decisions are ahead</h2>During the Senate hearing, Democrats, all of whom opposed Monarez's nomination, also questioned Kennedy's motives for firing Monarez, who was approved for the job unanimously by Republicans.“Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and for that reason she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats.Monarez said it was both her refusal to sign off on new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence and her unwillingness to fire high-ranking career CDC officials without cause that led to her ousting.Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-senate-cdc-3a5a090fc9d9f547377203fe5c61ffa2">has denied</a>&nbsp;Monarez’s accusations that he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations but has acknowledged he demanded firings. He has described Monarez as admitting to him that she is “untrustworthy,” a claim Monarez has denied through her attorney.While Senate Republicans have been mostly loath to challenge Trump or even Kennedy, many of them have expressed concerns about the lack of availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the health department’s decisions to scale back some childhood vaccines.Others have backed up Kennedy’s distrust of the nation’s health agencies.Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a doctor, aggressively questioned Monarez about her “philosophy” on vaccines as she explained that her decisions were based on science. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump was elected to make change and suggested Monarez's job was to be loyal to Kennedy.“America needs better than this,” Tuberville said.The Senate hearing was taking place just a day before the vaccine panel starts its two-day session in Atlanta to discuss shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s unclear how the panel might vote on the recommendations, though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID-19 recommendations should be more restricted.The CDC director must endorse those recommendations before they become official. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-oneill-cdc-kennedy-trump-vaccines-58fd24f678bf46ea6ec96a2b09f85ff4">Jim O’Neill</a>, now serving as the CDC’s acting director, will be responsible for that.“I'm very nervous about it,” Monarez said of the meeting.——Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.

🎥 Kan. U.S. Senator admonished fired CDC Chief: “You are the problem.”

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisory committee meets this week, with votes expected on whether to change recommendations on shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox.

The exact questions to be voted on Thursday and Friday in Atlanta are unclear. Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to questions seeking details to a newly posted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/acip/downloads/agendas/draft-posted-2025-09-12-508.pdf" target="_blank">agenda</a>, although the department announced five additional appointments to the committee Monday.

Some public health experts are worried that the votes will — at a minimum — raise unwarranted new questions about vaccines in the minds of parents.

Perhaps even more consequential would be a vote that restricts a government program from paying for vaccines for low-income families.

“I’m tightening my seat belt,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccines expert.

The panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, makes recommendations to the director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-susan-monarez-50dfbec849b53b4593755d2e6e616687">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;on how already-approved vaccines should be used. CDC directors have almost always accepted those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and guide vaccination programs.

Kennedy, a leading antivaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">fired</a>&nbsp;the entire 17-member panel earlier this year and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">replaced it</a>&nbsp;with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices.

Here’s a look at the three vaccines being discussed:

Before Kennedy was health secretary, ACIP would typically vote in June to reaffirm recommendations for shots against respiratory viruses that sicken millions of Americans each fall and winter.

This past June, Kennedy’s ACIP voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">recommend flu shots</a>&nbsp;for Americans but was silent on COVID-19 shots.

Before that meeting, Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-70c358cad726e57d680234c3ecdec926">announced</a>&nbsp;he was removing COVID-19 shots from the CDC’s recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. The move was heavily criticized by doctors’ groups and public health organizations, and prompted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuit-vaccines-kennedy-95a1aa23c3f015f7a35a570f5ef8da36">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups.

Days after Kennedy’s announcement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">CDC officials said</a>&nbsp;families could still get the 2024-2025 version of COVID-19 shots for their kids in consultation with their doctors. That clarification meant shots would still be covered by the federal government’s Vaccines For Children program, which pays for shots for families who lack money or adequate health insurance coverage. It’s now responsible for roughly half of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. each year.

As with flu shots, however, there are new COVID-19 formulations each fall, to account for changes in which strains are circulating. The committee has not yet voted on whether to recommend this season’s COVID-19 shots or whether those shots should be covered by the VFC program.

Further complicating the picture: When the FDA last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-covid-shots-fda-kennedy-pfizer-children-9ce19908ae7afb354732aa162fd28532">licensed</a>&nbsp;this fall’s COVID-19 shots, the agency took the unusual step of narrowing their use for healthy younger adults and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-kids-what-to-know-5ddb5e3e92b12a6f5044dc229e19590d">children</a>.

If the ACIP simply follows that, and if there is no additional clarifying language from the CDC, then “that would take away access for roughly half of America’s kids,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The pediatricians group urges that vaccinations continue for all children ages 6 months to 2 years.

Hepatitis B can cause serious liver infections. In adults, the virus is spread through sex or through sharing needles during use injection-drug use.

But the virus also can be passed to a baby from an infected mother, and as many as 90% of infected infants go on to have chronic infections.

A hepatitis B vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. in 1981. In 2005, the ACIP recommended a dose within 24 hours of birth for all medically stable infants who weigh at least 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms).

Infant vaccinations are stressed for women who have hepatitis B or, crucially, who have not been tested for it. The infant shots are 85% to 95% effective in preventing chronic hepatitis B infections, studies have shown.

Newborn hepatitis B vaccinations are considered a success, and no recent peer-reviewed research shows any safety problem with giving kids the shots on their first day of life, Schaffner said.

But Kennedy’s ACIP members suggested in June they wanted to revisit the guidance.

Schaffner noted that health officials used to rely on screening mothers before birth but that many cases were missed.

“There were lots of failures,” he said. “And so there were continuing transmissions from mother to child.”

Chickenpox was once a common childhood annoyance, causing an itchy skin rash and fever.

But the highly contagious virus can also lead to complications such as skin infections, swelling of the brain and pneumonia. Severe cases are more common among teens and adults who get it for the first time. The virus — called varicella — also can reactivate later in life and cause the painful illness called shingles.

The government first recommended that all children get a chickenpox vaccine in 1995, leading to a dramatic drop in cases and deaths.

In 2005, a combination MMRV shot — measles, mumps, rubella and varicella — was licensed. The CDC initially recommended that doctors and parents use the combo shot over separate MMR and varicella injections.

But within a few years, studies showed children who got the combo shot more often developed a rash, fever and — in rare instances — seizures after vaccination compared with children who got separate shots.

In 2009, the ACIP&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5903a1.htm" target="_blank">changed its recommendation</a>, removing the preferential language and saying either the combination shot or separate shots were acceptable for the first dose.

Today, most pediatricians suggest separate doses for the first shot, but give the combined shot for the second dose, pediatrics experts say.

Again, there’s no new evidence about harms from MMRV shots, said O’Leary, of AAP.

“This version of the ACIP is an orchestrated effort to sow distrust in vaccines,” O’Leary said.

Meanwhile, HHS officials on Monday announced five new committee members — bringing the roster to 12.

— Hillary Blackburn, a pharmacist and podcaster who HHS officials said is director of medication access and affordability for AscensionRx.

— Dr. Evelyn Griffin, an obstetrician and gynecologist based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

— Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who with his wife operates a medical missionary organization called For Hearts and Souls. He appeared at a 2024 congressional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-p0kFdcVkA" target="_blank">hearing</a>&nbsp;at which he said an increase in cardiovascular disease in older teens and young adults should be attributed to vaccines.

— Dr. Raymond Pollak, a transplant specialist based in Skokie, Illinois.

— Catherine Stein, a Case Western Reserve University disease researcher. During the COVID-19 pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/20484834-stein-hb-624-testimony" target="_blank">she worked with</a>&nbsp;an Ohio anti-vaccine group and argued that case counts were inaccurate and that the coronavirus was not as dangerous as health officials portrayed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756320895304.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisory committee meets this week, with votes expected on whether to change recommendations on shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox.The exact questions to be voted on Thursday and Friday in Atlanta are unclear. Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to questions seeking details to a newly posted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/acip/downloads/agendas/draft-posted-2025-09-12-508.pdf" target="_blank">agenda</a>, although the department announced five additional appointments to the committee Monday.Some public health experts are worried that the votes will — at a minimum — raise unwarranted new questions about vaccines in the minds of parents.Perhaps even more consequential would be a vote that restricts a government program from paying for vaccines for low-income families.“I’m tightening my seat belt,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccines expert.The panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, makes recommendations to the director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-susan-monarez-50dfbec849b53b4593755d2e6e616687">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;on how already-approved vaccines should be used. CDC directors have almost always accepted those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and guide vaccination programs.Kennedy, a leading antivaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">fired</a>&nbsp;the entire 17-member panel earlier this year and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">replaced it</a>&nbsp;with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices.Here’s a look at the three vaccines being discussed:<h2>COVID-19</h2>Before Kennedy was health secretary, ACIP would typically vote in June to reaffirm recommendations for shots against respiratory viruses that sicken millions of Americans each fall and winter.This past June, Kennedy’s ACIP voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">recommend flu shots</a>&nbsp;for Americans but was silent on COVID-19 shots.Before that meeting, Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-70c358cad726e57d680234c3ecdec926">announced</a>&nbsp;he was removing COVID-19 shots from the CDC’s recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. The move was heavily criticized by doctors’ groups and public health organizations, and prompted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuit-vaccines-kennedy-95a1aa23c3f015f7a35a570f5ef8da36">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups.Days after Kennedy’s announcement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">CDC officials said</a>&nbsp;families could still get the 2024-2025 version of COVID-19 shots for their kids in consultation with their doctors. That clarification meant shots would still be covered by the federal government’s Vaccines For Children program, which pays for shots for families who lack money or adequate health insurance coverage. It’s now responsible for roughly half of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. each year.As with flu shots, however, there are new COVID-19 formulations each fall, to account for changes in which strains are circulating. The committee has not yet voted on whether to recommend this season’s COVID-19 shots or whether those shots should be covered by the VFC program.Further complicating the picture: When the FDA last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-covid-shots-fda-kennedy-pfizer-children-9ce19908ae7afb354732aa162fd28532">licensed</a>&nbsp;this fall’s COVID-19 shots, the agency took the unusual step of narrowing their use for healthy younger adults and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-kids-what-to-know-5ddb5e3e92b12a6f5044dc229e19590d">children</a>.If the ACIP simply follows that, and if there is no additional clarifying language from the CDC, then “that would take away access for roughly half of America’s kids,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.The pediatricians group urges that vaccinations continue for all children ages 6 months to 2 years.<h2>Hepatitis B</h2>Hepatitis B can cause serious liver infections. In adults, the virus is spread through sex or through sharing needles during use injection-drug use.But the virus also can be passed to a baby from an infected mother, and as many as 90% of infected infants go on to have chronic infections.A hepatitis B vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. in 1981. In 2005, the ACIP recommended a dose within 24 hours of birth for all medically stable infants who weigh at least 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms).Infant vaccinations are stressed for women who have hepatitis B or, crucially, who have not been tested for it. The infant shots are 85% to 95% effective in preventing chronic hepatitis B infections, studies have shown.Newborn hepatitis B vaccinations are considered a success, and no recent peer-reviewed research shows any safety problem with giving kids the shots on their first day of life, Schaffner said.But Kennedy’s ACIP members suggested in June they wanted to revisit the guidance.Schaffner noted that health officials used to rely on screening mothers before birth but that many cases were missed.“There were lots of failures,” he said. “And so there were continuing transmissions from mother to child.”<h2>MMRV</h2>Chickenpox was once a common childhood annoyance, causing an itchy skin rash and fever.But the highly contagious virus can also lead to complications such as skin infections, swelling of the brain and pneumonia. Severe cases are more common among teens and adults who get it for the first time. The virus — called varicella — also can reactivate later in life and cause the painful illness called shingles.The government first recommended that all children get a chickenpox vaccine in 1995, leading to a dramatic drop in cases and deaths.In 2005, a combination MMRV shot — measles, mumps, rubella and varicella — was licensed. The CDC initially recommended that doctors and parents use the combo shot over separate MMR and varicella injections.But within a few years, studies showed children who got the combo shot more often developed a rash, fever and — in rare instances — seizures after vaccination compared with children who got separate shots.In 2009, the ACIP&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5903a1.htm" target="_blank">changed its recommendation</a>, removing the preferential language and saying either the combination shot or separate shots were acceptable for the first dose.Today, most pediatricians suggest separate doses for the first shot, but give the combined shot for the second dose, pediatrics experts say.Again, there’s no new evidence about harms from MMRV shots, said O’Leary, of AAP.Why revisit it now?“This version of the ACIP is an orchestrated effort to sow distrust in vaccines,” O’Leary said.<h2>HHS announces new committee members</h2>Meanwhile, HHS officials on Monday announced five new committee members — bringing the roster to 12.The new members are:— Hillary Blackburn, a pharmacist and podcaster who HHS officials said is director of medication access and affordability for AscensionRx.— Dr. Evelyn Griffin, an obstetrician and gynecologist based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.— Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who with his wife operates a medical missionary organization called For Hearts and Souls. He appeared at a 2024 congressional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-p0kFdcVkA" target="_blank">hearing</a>&nbsp;at which he said an increase in cardiovascular disease in older teens and young adults should be attributed to vaccines.— Dr. Raymond Pollak, a transplant specialist based in Skokie, Illinois.— Catherine Stein, a Case Western Reserve University disease researcher. During the COVID-19 pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/20484834-stein-hb-624-testimony" target="_blank">she worked with</a>&nbsp;an Ohio anti-vaccine group and argued that case counts were inaccurate and that the coronavirus was not as dangerous as health officials portrayed.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Kennedy's vaccine committee to vote on COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox shots

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-obrien">MATT O’BRIEN</a>

Parents whose teenagers killed themselves after interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots testified to Congress on Tuesday about the dangers of the technology.

“What began as a homework helper gradually turned itself into a confidant and then a suicide coach,” said Matthew Raine, whose 16-year-old son Adam died in April.

“Within a few months, ChatGPT became Adam’s closest companion,” the father told senators. “Always available. Always validating and insisting that it knew Adam better than anyone else, including his own brother.”

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbots-selfharm-chatgpt-claude-gemini-da00880b1e1577ac332ab1752e41225b">Raine’s family sued OpenAI</a>&nbsp;and its CEO Sam Altman last month alleging that ChatGPT coached the boy in planning to take his own life.

Megan Garcia, the mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III of Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatbot-ai-lawsuit-suicide-teen-artificial-intelligence-9d48adc572100822fdbc3c90d1456bd0">sued another</a>&nbsp;AI company, Character Technologies, for wrongful death last year, arguing that before his suicide, Sewell had become increasingly isolated from his real life as he engaged in highly sexualized conversations with the chatbot.

“Instead of preparing for high school milestones, Sewell spent the last months of his life being exploited and sexually groomed by chatbots, designed by an AI company to seem human, to gain his trust, to keep him and other children endlessly engaged,” Garcia told the Senate hearing.

Also testifying was a Texas mother who sued Character last year and was in tears describing how her son’s behavior changed after lengthy interactions with its chatbots. She spoke anonymously, with a placard that introduced her as Ms. Jane Doe, and said the boy is now in a residential treatment facility.

Character said in a statement after the hearing: “Our hearts go out to the families who spoke at the hearing today. We are saddened by their losses and send our deepest sympathies to the families.”

Hours before the Senate hearing, OpenAI pledged to roll out new safeguards for teens, including efforts to detect whether ChatGPT users are under 18 and controls that enable parents to set “blackout hours” when a teen can’t use ChatGPT. Child advocacy groups criticized the announcement as not enough.

“This is a fairly common tactic — it’s one that Meta uses all the time — which is to make a big, splashy announcement right on the eve of a hearing which promises to be damaging to the company,” said Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a group advocating for children’s online safety.

“What they should be doing is not targeting ChatGPT to minors until they can prove that it’s safe for them,” Golin said. “We shouldn’t allow companies, just because they have tremendous resources, to perform uncontrolled experiments on kids when the implications for their development can be so vast and far-reaching.”

The Federal Trade Commission said last week it had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftc-chatbot-ai-e78fcc72520f56a4eff90df7ad6220c0">launched an inquiry</a>&nbsp;into several companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-obrien">MATT O’BRIEN</a>Parents whose teenagers killed themselves after interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots testified to Congress on Tuesday about the dangers of the technology.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After its chatbot introduced a teenage boy to self-mutilation, <a href="https://twitter.com/character_ai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@character_ai</a> offered his mother $100 in damages See that? Zero regard for human life by these Big Tech companies. Another kid destroyed = just another casualty on the way to their next payout <a href="https://t.co/eSXMRvHfyS">pic.twitter.com/eSXMRvHfyS</a>&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1968062910825107752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This mother - whose son was coached to commit suicide by an AI chatbot - just revealed that Character AI REFUSES to hand over her son&#39;s last words to its chatbot Why? Because the company is using that conversation to train its models &amp; shield itself from accountability <a href="https://t.co/QyhLuQmt3N">pic.twitter.com/QyhLuQmt3N</a>&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1968059493494952318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OpenAI</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/character_ai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@character_ai</a>, and the rest of Big Tech— Stop exploiting our kids. If your products are so great and so safe, then come defend your chatbots under oath. Right now, it’s an open invitation. But it can be a subpoena <a href="https://t.co/Gz6En2ikFu">pic.twitter.com/Gz6En2ikFu</a>&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1968061663380443550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“What began as a homework helper gradually turned itself into a confidant and then a suicide coach,” said Matthew Raine, whose 16-year-old son Adam died in April.“Within a few months, ChatGPT became Adam’s closest companion,” the father told senators. “Always available. Always validating and insisting that it knew Adam better than anyone else, including his own brother.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Happening Now: Sen. Josh Hawley&#39;s opening remarks at the Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing examining the harm of AI chatbots for children. <a href="https://t.co/p4aFWWgfON">pic.twitter.com/p4aFWWgfON</a>&mdash; The Alliance for Secure AI (@secureainow) <a href="https://twitter.com/secureainow/status/1968029849010008280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>___EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.___<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbots-selfharm-chatgpt-claude-gemini-da00880b1e1577ac332ab1752e41225b">Raine’s family sued OpenAI</a>&nbsp;and its CEO Sam Altman last month alleging that ChatGPT coached the boy in planning to take his own life.Megan Garcia, the mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III of Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatbot-ai-lawsuit-suicide-teen-artificial-intelligence-9d48adc572100822fdbc3c90d1456bd0">sued another</a>&nbsp;AI company, Character Technologies, for wrongful death last year, arguing that before his suicide, Sewell had become increasingly isolated from his real life as he engaged in highly sexualized conversations with the chatbot.“Instead of preparing for high school milestones, Sewell spent the last months of his life being exploited and sexually groomed by chatbots, designed by an AI company to seem human, to gain his trust, to keep him and other children endlessly engaged,” Garcia told the Senate hearing.Also testifying was a Texas mother who sued Character last year and was in tears describing how her son’s behavior changed after lengthy interactions with its chatbots. She spoke anonymously, with a placard that introduced her as Ms. Jane Doe, and said the boy is now in a residential treatment facility.Character said in a statement after the hearing: “Our hearts go out to the families who spoke at the hearing today. We are saddened by their losses and send our deepest sympathies to the families.”Hours before the Senate hearing, OpenAI pledged to roll out new safeguards for teens, including efforts to detect whether ChatGPT users are under 18 and controls that enable parents to set “blackout hours” when a teen can’t use ChatGPT. Child advocacy groups criticized the announcement as not enough.“This is a fairly common tactic — it’s one that Meta uses all the time — which is to make a big, splashy announcement right on the eve of a hearing which promises to be damaging to the company,” said Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a group advocating for children’s online safety.“What they should be doing is not targeting ChatGPT to minors until they can prove that it’s safe for them,” Golin said. “We shouldn’t allow companies, just because they have tremendous resources, to perform uncontrolled experiments on kids when the implications for their development can be so vast and far-reaching.”The Federal Trade Commission said last week it had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftc-chatbot-ai-e78fcc72520f56a4eff90df7ad6220c0">launched an inquiry</a>&nbsp;into several companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions.The agency sent letters to Character, Meta and OpenAI, as well as to Google, Snap and xAI.In the U.S., more than 70% of teens have used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-companion-generative-teens-mental-health-9ce59a2b250f3bd0187a717ffa2ad21f">AI chatbots for companionship</a>&nbsp;and half use them regularly, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/talk-trust-and-trade-offs_2025_web.pdf" target="_blank">a recent study</a>&nbsp;from Common Sense Media, a group that studies and advocates for using digital media sensibly.Robbie Torney, the group’s director of AI programs, was also set to testify Tuesday, as was an expert with the American Psychological Association.The association issued a health advisory in June on adolescents’ use of AI that urged technology companies to “prioritize features that prevent exploitation, manipulation, and the erosion of real-world relationships, including those with parents and caregivers.”