October 12, 1968 ~ August 30, 2022

An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.

Click <a href="https://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/obituary/Jeffrey-Riedesel">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662123875617.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>October 12, 1968 ~ August 30, 2022An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.Click <a href="https://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com/obituary/Jeffrey-Riedesel">HERE</a> for service details.

Jeffrey John Riedesel

Democratic governor invites independent Pyle to participate in each

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/01/kelly-schmidt-agree-to-take-part-in-two-debates-one-forum-in-governors-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura 
Kelly and Republican challenger Derek Schmidt plan to take part in two 
campaign debates and a question-and-answer forum over the next five 
weeks.

The first on the calendar would be the election forum hosted by the 
Kansas Chamber Sept. 7 in Olathe, in which the candidates appear alone 
with a moderator on a stage to answer a series of questions.

The next would be the colorful debate Sept. 10 hosted by WIBW Radio 
and Kansas Radio Networks at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

The other appearance would be the debate broadcast by Kansas City PBS
 television and organized by the Johnson County Bar Association on Oct. 
5.

Kelly, who was elected in 2018 and seeks reelection to another 
four-year term, said she would welcome participation by independent 
gubernatorial candidate Dennis Pyle, but it wasn’t clear if the 
conservative state senator from Hiawatha could be part of those three 
events.

Pyle, who has urged Kansans not to vote for Kelly or Schmidt, was 
expected to draw more support from the GOP nominee than the governor. 
Exclusion from the prominent campaign events would limit his ability to 
gain traction ahead of the November election.

“Debates are vital&nbsp;to the 
democratic process and every voter deserves to go to the polls knowing 
where the candidates stand on the issues,” said Lauren Fitzgerald, a 
spokeswoman for Kelly’s campaign.

She said Kelly looked forward to opportunities to speak to Kansans 
about funding of K-12 public schools, work on the state’s transportation
 infrastructure and “growing the Kansas economy and strengthening our 
workforce.”

C.J. Grover, spokesperson for Schmidt’s campaign, said the attorney 
general’s preference would be to engage in more one-on-one debates. He 
indicated the Schmidt campaign would propose dates for joint appearances
 with Kelly, but didn’t mention potential of including Pyle.

“We challenge her to do more real&nbsp;debates 
where she will have to give an account for the policies that have made 
the lives of Kansans more difficult every single day,” Grover said. 
“Laura Kelly cannot run from Kansas voters’ questions.”

Schmidt, who has served Kansas as attorney general since 2011, previously was a member of the Kansas Senate with Kelly and Pyle.

Kelly’s campaign referred to the Kansas Chamber event as a debate, 
but it takes the form of stand alone interview with Alan Cobb, president
 and chief executive officer of the state business lobbying 
organization. In those gatherings, candidates are given a series of 
questions about 10 minutes before taking the stage.

The Johnson County Bar Association and Kansas State Fair events would be conducted in debate formats.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662042953338.png" alt="Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt agreed to participate in campaign debates, one in September and the other in October. Both also will take part in the Kansas Chamber’s question-and-answer forum in September. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt agreed to participate in campaign debates, one in September and the other in October. Both also will take part in the Kansas Chamber’s question-and-answer forum in September. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Democratic governor invites independent Pyle to participate in each</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/01/kelly-schmidt-agree-to-take-part-in-two-debates-one-forum-in-governors-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura 
Kelly and Republican challenger Derek Schmidt plan to take part in two 
campaign debates and a question-and-answer forum over the next five 
weeks.The first on the calendar would be the election forum hosted by the 
Kansas Chamber Sept. 7 in Olathe, in which the candidates appear alone 
with a moderator on a stage to answer a series of questions.The next would be the colorful debate Sept. 10 hosted by WIBW Radio 
and Kansas Radio Networks at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.The other appearance would be the debate broadcast by Kansas City PBS
 television and organized by the Johnson County Bar Association on Oct. 
5.Kelly, who was elected in 2018 and seeks reelection to another 
four-year term, said she would welcome participation by independent 
gubernatorial candidate Dennis Pyle, but it wasn’t clear if the 
conservative state senator from Hiawatha could be part of those three 
events.Pyle, who has urged Kansans not to vote for Kelly or Schmidt, was 
expected to draw more support from the GOP nominee than the governor. 
Exclusion from the prominent campaign events would limit his ability to 
gain traction ahead of the November election.“Debates are vital&nbsp;to the 
democratic process and every voter deserves to go to the polls knowing 
where the candidates stand on the issues,” said Lauren Fitzgerald, a 
spokeswoman for Kelly’s campaign.She said Kelly looked forward to opportunities to speak to Kansans 
about funding of K-12 public schools, work on the state’s transportation
 infrastructure and “growing the Kansas economy and strengthening our 
workforce.”C.J. Grover, spokesperson for Schmidt’s campaign, said the attorney 
general’s preference would be to engage in more one-on-one debates. He 
indicated the Schmidt campaign would propose dates for joint appearances
 with Kelly, but didn’t mention potential of including Pyle.“We challenge her to do more real&nbsp;debates 
where she will have to give an account for the policies that have made 
the lives of Kansans more difficult every single day,” Grover said. 
“Laura Kelly cannot run from Kansas voters’ questions.”Schmidt, who has served Kansas as attorney general since 2011, previously was a member of the Kansas Senate with Kelly and Pyle.Kelly’s campaign referred to the Kansas Chamber event as a debate, 
but it takes the form of stand alone interview with Alan Cobb, president
 and chief executive officer of the state business lobbying 
organization. In those gatherings, candidates are given a series of 
questions about 10 minutes before taking the stage.The Johnson County Bar Association and Kansas State Fair events would be conducted in debate formats.

Kelly, Schmidt agree to take part in two debates, one forum

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Higher food costs as well as other essentials, such as gas, are driving more people to use area food banks.

Theresa Hill, director of the Community Assistance Center food bank, said she has seen a significant increase in demand for food.

"I just spent $700 last month at Walmart. ... It's already gone," she said. "We have hardly anything in here. Our next food drive won't be until October.

"Just bring in food," she said. "We need it bad."

Hill said food costs are so high that even families who receive food stamps can't get all the food they need, so they come to the food bank.

Hill said she thought the increase in food needs was based on rising food costs due to inflation. Inflation on food had surged 10.9 percent as of July. 

During the pandemic, Hill said the food pantry saw a decrease in demand. She said she thought families were making ends meet with the help of stimulus checks.

Linda Mills, director of First Call for Help, also lamented that her agency's food pantry shelves were almost empty.

First Call for Help operates a smaller pantry and did receive a donation of spaghetti sauce and hamburger in addition to other canned goods from two local churches after putting out a call for assistance online and it the agency's newsletter.

"Anybody who has been to the grocery store knows its gone up quite a bit," she said. 

Families are being hit by a variety of factors, Mills said. Families with children in school are also dealing with back-to-school expenses right now.

"I think it's the price of gas, the price of food and August just being a really hard month for families," Mills said.

For the last two years, all students were provided free meals at school through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Although free and reduced-cost lunches are still available, Mills said families are having to adjust to paying those meal expenses again.

Renee Michaud, St. Joseph Food Pantry coordinator, said she is just now seeing an increase in demand for food.

So far, Michaud said the pantry has been able to keep up with the need, but the pantry always accepts donations.

The Ellis Food pantry has also seen an increase in food requests. The demand for food rose steadily in 2022, hitting a peak in April. During the summer, the demand dipped slightly, said Althea Cross, coordinator.

In April, the pantry served 178 people in 76 homes. The pantry serves families within the Ellis USD 388 school district.

Cross said the pantry always welcomes donations, but pantry has been well stocked from the Kansas Food Bank.

Brandon Nimz, who coordinates food commodity distributions in Hays, said he had seen a recent decrease in demand for commodities. Recipients must show proof of income to receive the commodities.

However, Nimz's Unite Ministries also offers a free store food pantry at the Gamers Guild that allows people to leave or take food as they need with no questions asked. That small pantry was almost empty. 

"Whenever food comes in, it disappears pretty fast," Nimz said. "I think it depends on the nature of it. If people have to show proof of income or feel like its formal or governmental ...

"I don't think people are pushed to the point of needing that type of assistance yet. I do think it's getting a little tighter out there because of the uptick in easy-access food."

A line of people was waiting for commodities at the most recent distribution on Friday. Joy Springer, commodities recipient, said increasing prices of food and other goods was making it more difficult to make ends meet.

Nimz said there also may be working poor who may be making too much to qualify for commodities, but not enough to make ends meet financially.

Mills said the food pantries were an essential resource in Ellis County.

"The thought of going hungry, for me anyway, doesn't sound very pleasant. I know we can always, as middle income, tighten our belts, but if you are low income or extremely low income, there's no place else you can cut."

Even those who are low income and working are stretched very thin with the increased cost, Mills said.

"It comes down to decisions whether they buy gas or buy food, pay their electric bill or fill their car up with gas so they can go back and forth to work. It's a hardship if you are earning a low income," Mills said.

"We wouldn't ask for it if we didn't need it," she said.

Below is a list of the major food charities in Ellis County. A new website —&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasfoodsource.org/" target="_blank">www.kansasfoodsource.org</a>&nbsp;— is also designed to help people in need of food assistance find pantry locations&nbsp;in their areas, including smaller pantries in Ellis County.

Community Assistance Center, 1108 Oak, 785-625-9110 To qualify • Proof of residence required (lease or Midwest Energy or water bill) • Proof of household income • If you have children, the school enrollment form When is food available? 8:30 to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays

First Call for Help, 607 E. 13th, 785-623-2800 To qualify • No income qualifications • Must be from Ellis County. Will serve homeless. • Can receive food once a month When is food available? 8 to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays

Ellis Food Pantry Call Ellis Alliance for food distribution dates at 785-726-2660. Must live in the Ellis USD 388. Food is distributed once a month. No proof of income is required. If someone has an emergency need for food, they can call and leave a message for the food bank with the Alliance.

St. Joseph Food Pantry, 215 W. 13th, 785-625-7356 Do not need to meet income guidelines Serves anyone who lives in Ellis County When is food available? Open the first and third Saturdays

Commodities, The Gamers Guild, 200 E. Eighth, 785-259-2539 Must meet income guidelines See income guidelines and watch for updates on distribution dates on <a href="https://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/">Unite Ministry</a> or the Hays Post

Community Assistance Center 8:30 to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Needs Monetary donations Baking mix Spaghetti sauce in a can Instant potatoes Corn Diced tomatoes in a can Canned meat (tuna or salmon) Soups

First Call for Help 8 to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Needs Peanut Butter Jelly Crackers Vegetable, chicken noodle, potato, chunky meat-Soups (pop-tops if you can) Pasta sauces Ready to eat meals Rice Beans Canned meats Instant potatoes Pancakes and syrup Canned vegetables and fruit Tuna and hamburger helper Ramen packets Cereal

Ellis Food Pantry Food can be dropped off at the Ellis Alliance Office, 820 Washington

St. Joseph Food Pantry Food can be dropped off at the pantry on the first and third Saturdays of the month or dropped off 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in food barrels just inside of the Kennedy gym doors. The pantry will accept garden produce from 8:30 and 9 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays during distribution hours as well. Needs Canned soups Canned beans (pinto or refried beans) Canned fruits

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661789548154.jpeg" alt="Brandon Nimz of Unite Ministries readies to distribute commodities Friday at the Gamers Guild in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Brandon Nimz of Unite Ministries readies to distribute commodities Friday at the Gamers Guild in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHigher food costs as well as other essentials, such as gas, are driving more people to use area food banks.Theresa Hill, director of the Community Assistance Center food bank, said she has seen a significant increase in demand for food. "I just spent $700 last month at Walmart. ... It's already gone," she said. "We have hardly anything in here. Our next food drive won't be until October."Just bring in food," she said. "We need it bad."Hill said food costs are so high that even families who receive food stamps can't get all the food they need, so they come to the food bank.Hill said she thought the increase in food needs was based on rising food costs due to inflation. Inflation on food had surged 10.9 percent as of July. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661789756054.jpeg" alt="Joy Springer signs for commodities Friday as Brandon Nimz of Unite Ministries looks on. Springer said increasing food costs are making it more difficult for her to make ends meet. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Joy Springer signs for commodities Friday as Brandon Nimz of Unite Ministries looks on. Springer said increasing food costs are making it more difficult for her to make ends meet. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>During the pandemic, Hill said the food pantry saw a decrease in demand. She said she thought families were making ends meet with the help of stimulus checks.Linda Mills, director of First Call for Help, also lamented that her agency's food pantry shelves were almost empty.First Call for Help operates a smaller pantry and did receive a donation of spaghetti sauce and hamburger in addition to other canned goods from two local churches after putting out a call for assistance online and it the agency's newsletter."Anybody who has been to the grocery store knows its gone up quite a bit," she said. Families are being hit by a variety of factors, Mills said. Families with children in school are also dealing with back-to-school expenses right now."I think it's the price of gas, the price of food and August just being a really hard month for families," Mills said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661789942954.jpeg" alt="These shelves were even more bare last week, but a couple of churches brought in food donations after First Call for Help issued a plea for food donations. Director Linda Mills said more food is needed to meet increased demand. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>These shelves were even more bare last week, but a couple of churches brought in food donations after First Call for Help issued a plea for food donations. Director Linda Mills said more food is needed to meet increased demand. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>For the last two years, all students were provided free meals at school through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Although free and reduced-cost lunches are still available, Mills said families are having to adjust to paying those meal expenses again.Renee Michaud, St. Joseph Food Pantry coordinator, said she is just now seeing an increase in demand for food.So far, Michaud said the pantry has been able to keep up with the need, but the pantry always accepts donations.The Ellis Food pantry has also seen an increase in food requests. The demand for food rose steadily in 2022, hitting a peak in April. During the summer, the demand dipped slightly, said Althea Cross, coordinator.In April, the pantry served 178 people in 76 homes. The pantry serves families within the Ellis USD 388 school district.Cross said the pantry always welcomes donations, but pantry has been well stocked from the Kansas Food Bank.Brandon Nimz, who coordinates food commodity distributions in Hays, said he had seen a recent decrease in demand for commodities. Recipients must show proof of income to receive the commodities.However, Nimz's Unite Ministries also offers a free store food pantry at the Gamers Guild that allows people to leave or take food as they need with no questions asked. That small pantry was almost empty. "Whenever food comes in, it disappears pretty fast," Nimz said. "I think it depends on the nature of it. If people have to show proof of income or feel like its formal or governmental ... "I don't think people are pushed to the point of needing that type of assistance yet. I do think it's getting a little tighter out there because of the uptick in easy-access food."A line of people was waiting for commodities at the most recent distribution on Friday. Joy Springer, commodities recipient, said increasing prices of food and other goods was making it more difficult to make ends meet. Nimz said there also may be working poor who may be making too much to qualify for commodities, but not enough to make ends meet financially. Mills said the food pantries were an essential resource in Ellis County."The thought of going hungry, for me anyway, doesn't sound very pleasant. I know we can always, as middle income, tighten our belts, but if you are low income or extremely low income, there's no place else you can cut."Even those who are low income and working are stretched very thin with the increased cost, Mills said."It comes down to decisions whether they buy gas or buy food, pay their electric bill or fill their car up with gas so they can go back and forth to work. It's a hardship if you are earning a low income," Mills said.Mills urged donations for the pantry."We wouldn't ask for it if we didn't need it," she said.Below is a list of the major food charities in Ellis County. A new website —&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasfoodsource.org/" target="_blank">www.kansasfoodsource.org</a>&nbsp;— is also designed to help people in need of food assistance find pantry locations&nbsp;in their areas, including smaller pantries in Ellis County. <h2>How to get food</h2>Community Assistance Center, 1108 Oak, 785-625-9110 To qualify • Proof of residence required (lease or Midwest Energy or water bill) • Proof of household income • If you have children, the school enrollment form When is food available? 8:30 to 1 p.m. Mondays through FridaysFirst Call for Help, 607 E. 13th, 785-623-2800 To qualify • No income qualifications • Must be from Ellis County. Will serve homeless. • Can receive food once a month When is food available? 8 to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through FridaysEllis Food Pantry Call Ellis Alliance for food distribution dates at 785-726-2660. Must live in the Ellis USD 388. Food is distributed once a month. No proof of income is required. If someone has an emergency need for food, they can call and leave a message for the food bank with the Alliance.St. Joseph Food Pantry, 215 W. 13th, 785-625-7356 Do not need to meet income guidelines Serves anyone who lives in Ellis County When is food available? Open the first and third SaturdaysCommodities, The Gamers Guild, 200 E. Eighth, 785-259-2539 Must meet income guidelines See income guidelines and watch for updates on distribution dates on <a href="https://unitehays.com/index.php/hays-commodity-distribution/">Unite Ministry</a> or the Hays Post <h2>How to donate food</h2>Community Assistance Center 8:30 to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Needs Monetary donations Baking mix Spaghetti sauce in a can Instant potatoes Corn Diced tomatoes in a can Canned meat (tuna or salmon) Soups First Call for Help 8 to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Needs Peanut Butter Jelly Crackers Vegetable, chicken noodle, potato, chunky meat-Soups (pop-tops if you can) Pasta sauces Ready to eat meals Rice Beans Canned meats Instant potatoes Pancakes and syrup Canned vegetables and fruit Tuna and hamburger helper Ramen packets CerealEllis Food Pantry Food can be dropped off at the Ellis Alliance Office, 820 Washington St. Joseph Food Pantry Food can be dropped off at the pantry on the first and third Saturdays of the month or dropped off 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in food barrels just inside of the Kennedy gym doors. The pantry will accept garden produce from 8:30 and 9 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays during distribution hours as well. Needs Canned soups Canned beans (pinto or refried beans) Canned fruits

Hays-area food banks' shelves bare; inflation likely to blame

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday authorized its first update to COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Shots could begin within days.

The move by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna that already have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-england-54d29ae3af5c700f15d704c14ee224b5">saved millions</a>&nbsp;of lives. The hope is that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-cd39872e31c490cb92c7678a8de83499">modified boosters</a>&nbsp;will blunt yet another winter surge.

“You’ll see me at the front of the line,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press shortly before his agency cleared the new doses.

Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, that are considered the most contagious yet.

The combination aims to increase cross-protection against multiple variants.

“It really provides the broadest opportunity for protection,” Pfizer vaccine chief Annaliesa Anderson told the AP.

The updated boosters are only for people who have already had their primary vaccinations, using the original vaccines. Doses made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are for anyone 12 and older while Moderna's updated shots are for adults — if it has been at least two months since their last primary vaccination or their latest booster. They're not to be used for initial vaccinations.

There’s one more step before a fall booster campaign begins: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend who should get the additional shot. An influential CDC advisory panel will debate the evidence Thursday — including whether people at high risk from COVID-19 should go first.

“As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a statement.

The U.S. has purchased more than 170 million doses from the two companies. Pfizer said it could ship up to 15 million of those doses by the end of next week.

The big question is whether people weary of vaccinations will roll up their sleeves again. Just half of vaccinated Americans got the first recommended booster dose, and only a third of those 50 and older who were urged to get a second booster did so.

It’s time for U.S. authorities to better explain that the public should expect an updated COVID-19 vaccination every so often, just like getting a fall flu shot or a tetanus booster after stepping on a rusty nail, said University of Pennsylvania immunologist E. John Wherry.

“We need to rebrand it in a societally normal-looking way,” rather than a panicked response to new mutants, Wherry said. “Give a clear, forward-looking set of expectations.”

Here’s the rub: The original vaccines still offer strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19 for most generally healthy people, especially if they got that important first booster dose. It’s not clear just how much more benefit an updated booster will bring — beyond a temporary jump in antibodies capable of fending off an omicron infection.

One reason: The FDA cleared the modifications ahead of studies in people, a step toward eventually handling COVID-19 vaccine updates more like yearly flu shots.

First, FDA checked human studies of earlier Pfizer and Moderna attempts to update their vaccines — shots matching the omicron strain that struck last winter. That recipe change was safe, and substantially boosted antibodies targeting the earlier variant — better than another dose of the original vaccine — while adding a little protection against today's genetically distinct BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions.

But FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-3742cacfc9c102e9748cd8ff17036db6">ordered the companies</a>&nbsp;to brew even more up-to-date doses that target those newest omicron mutants instead, sparking a race to roll out shots in less than three months. Rather than waiting a few more months for additional human studies of that recipe tweak, Marks said animal tests showed the latest update spurs “a very good immune response.”

The hope, he said, is that a vaccine matched to currently spreading variants might do a better job fighting infection, not just serious illness, at least for a while.

What's next? Even as modified shots roll out, Moderna and Pfizer are conducting human studies to help assess their value, including how they hold up if a new mutant comes along.

And for children, Pfizer plans to ask FDA to allow updated boosters for 5- to 11-year-olds in early October.

It’s the first U.S. update to the COVID-19 vaccine recipe, an important but expected next step -- like how flu vaccines get updated every year.

And the U.S. isn’t alone.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-bbda6ba6107b3c839e42925136007fed">Britain</a>&nbsp;recently decided to offer adults over 50 a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain. European regulators are considering whether to authorize one or both of the updated formulas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday authorized its first update to COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Shots could begin within days.The move by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna that already have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-england-54d29ae3af5c700f15d704c14ee224b5">saved millions</a>&nbsp;of lives. The hope is that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-cd39872e31c490cb92c7678a8de83499">modified boosters</a>&nbsp;will blunt yet another winter surge.“You’ll see me at the front of the line,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press shortly before his agency cleared the new doses.Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, that are considered the most contagious yet.The combination aims to increase cross-protection against multiple variants.“It really provides the broadest opportunity for protection,” Pfizer vaccine chief Annaliesa Anderson told the AP.The updated boosters are only for people who have already had their primary vaccinations, using the original vaccines. Doses made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are for anyone 12 and older while Moderna's updated shots are for adults — if it has been at least two months since their last primary vaccination or their latest booster. They're not to be used for initial vaccinations.There’s one more step before a fall booster campaign begins: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend who should get the additional shot. An influential CDC advisory panel will debate the evidence Thursday — including whether people at high risk from COVID-19 should go first.“As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a statement.The U.S. has purchased more than 170 million doses from the two companies. Pfizer said it could ship up to 15 million of those doses by the end of next week.The big question is whether people weary of vaccinations will roll up their sleeves again. Just half of vaccinated Americans got the first recommended booster dose, and only a third of those 50 and older who were urged to get a second booster did so.It’s time for U.S. authorities to better explain that the public should expect an updated COVID-19 vaccination every so often, just like getting a fall flu shot or a tetanus booster after stepping on a rusty nail, said University of Pennsylvania immunologist E. John Wherry.“We need to rebrand it in a societally normal-looking way,” rather than a panicked response to new mutants, Wherry said. “Give a clear, forward-looking set of expectations.”Here’s the rub: The original vaccines still offer strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19 for most generally healthy people, especially if they got that important first booster dose. It’s not clear just how much more benefit an updated booster will bring — beyond a temporary jump in antibodies capable of fending off an omicron infection.One reason: The FDA cleared the modifications ahead of studies in people, a step toward eventually handling COVID-19 vaccine updates more like yearly flu shots.First, FDA checked human studies of earlier Pfizer and Moderna attempts to update their vaccines — shots matching the omicron strain that struck last winter. That recipe change was safe, and substantially boosted antibodies targeting the earlier variant — better than another dose of the original vaccine — while adding a little protection against today's genetically distinct BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions.But FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-3742cacfc9c102e9748cd8ff17036db6">ordered the companies</a>&nbsp;to brew even more up-to-date doses that target those newest omicron mutants instead, sparking a race to roll out shots in less than three months. Rather than waiting a few more months for additional human studies of that recipe tweak, Marks said animal tests showed the latest update spurs “a very good immune response.”The hope, he said, is that a vaccine matched to currently spreading variants might do a better job fighting infection, not just serious illness, at least for a while.What's next? Even as modified shots roll out, Moderna and Pfizer are conducting human studies to help assess their value, including how they hold up if a new mutant comes along.And for children, Pfizer plans to ask FDA to allow updated boosters for 5- to 11-year-olds in early October.It’s the first U.S. update to the COVID-19 vaccine recipe, an important but expected next step -- like how flu vaccines get updated every year.And the U.S. isn’t alone.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-bbda6ba6107b3c839e42925136007fed">Britain</a>&nbsp;recently decided to offer adults over 50 a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain. European regulators are considering whether to authorize one or both of the updated formulas.___

US clears updated boosters targeting newest COVID variants

Charles Tom “Cactus” Hirst, 88, of Russell, died August 28, 2022, at 
Good Samaritan Society, Hutchinson. He was born July 28, 1934, in 
Hutchinson, to Bert and Juanita (Buckhannan) Hirst.

Tom graduated from Partridge High School in 1952. He worked in the 
telephone industry most of his life: 31 years as a technician for 
Western Electric, which later became Southwestern Bell, and 15 years as a
 sub-contractor. Tom loved to head to the woods for shooting rifles, 
fishing, and camping. He enjoyed using his ham and CB radios and 
watching NASCAR races. In 1972, Tom began attending AA and did so 
faithfully for nearly 50 years, allowing him to form many great 
friendships.

On October 22, 1969, he married Joan Ruth Davis. They shared 42 years before her passing on February 15, 2015.

Tom is survived by: sons, Theodore “Ted” Hirst, Hays, William “Bill” 
Hirst, Hutchinson, Ronald “Ron” Hirst (Tracy), Ark City; step-daughter, 
Marsha Harrington, Seattle, Washington; ten grandchildren; and four 
great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by: his parents, Bert and Nita Hirst; wife, Joan Hirst; and brothers, Bill, Eugene, and James Hirst.

Memorial service will be 10:30 am Saturday, September 3, 2022, at 
Elliott Mortuary. A private burial will take place in Partridge 
Cemetery. Friends may sign the book from 9 am to 5 pm Thursday and 
Friday at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Charles Tom Hirst 
Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS
 67501.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661953861438.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Charles Tom “Cactus” Hirst, 88, of Russell, died August 28, 2022, at 
Good Samaritan Society, Hutchinson. He was born July 28, 1934, in 
Hutchinson, to Bert and Juanita (Buckhannan) Hirst.Tom graduated from Partridge High School in 1952. He worked in the 
telephone industry most of his life: 31 years as a technician for 
Western Electric, which later became Southwestern Bell, and 15 years as a
 sub-contractor. Tom loved to head to the woods for shooting rifles, 
fishing, and camping. He enjoyed using his ham and CB radios and 
watching NASCAR races. In 1972, Tom began attending AA and did so 
faithfully for nearly 50 years, allowing him to form many great 
friendships.On October 22, 1969, he married Joan Ruth Davis. They shared 42 years before her passing on February 15, 2015.Tom is survived by: sons, Theodore “Ted” Hirst, Hays, William “Bill” 
Hirst, Hutchinson, Ronald “Ron” Hirst (Tracy), Ark City; step-daughter, 
Marsha Harrington, Seattle, Washington; ten grandchildren; and four 
great-grandchildren.He is preceded in death by: his parents, Bert and Nita Hirst; wife, Joan Hirst; and brothers, Bill, Eugene, and James Hirst.Memorial service will be 10:30 am Saturday, September 3, 2022, at 
Elliott Mortuary. A private burial will take place in Partridge 
Cemetery. Friends may sign the book from 9 am to 5 pm Thursday and 
Friday at Elliott Mortuary.In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Charles Tom Hirst 
Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS
 67501.

Charles Tom 'Cactus' Hirst

An obituary and services are pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.

October 12, 1968 ~ August 30, 2022An obituary and services are pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22The%20Associated%20Press%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By The Associated Press</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Charlbi Dean, the South African actor and model who had a breakout role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-entertainment-france-woody-harrelson-4f7cff5cc84170c8d81dae0c0153de23">“Triangle of Sadness,”</a>&nbsp;which won this year's top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has died at age 32.

Dean died Monday at a hospital in New York from a sudden unexpected illness, her representatives said Tuesday.

Dean also had a recurring role as the assassin Syonide on the DC Comics television series “Black Lightning,” which aired on the CW from 2018 to 2021.

She was born Charlbi Dean Kriek in Cape Town, where she was also raised.

Dean began modeling as a child, making frequent appearances on fashion runways and magazine covers in the decades that followed.

She survived a near-fatal car accident in 2009.

She made her acting debut in the 2010 film “Spud,” an adaptation of a popular South African novel about a boys' boarding school starring Troye Sivan and John Cleese. She reprised her role in a 2013 sequel.

In “Triangle of Sadness,” the first English-language film from Swedish “Force Majeure” director Ruben Östlund, Dean and Harris Dickinson play a celebrity fashion-model couple on a cruise for the ultra-rich that descends into chaos. It also stars Woody Harrelson as the ship's captain.

The film won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in May and opens in the U.S. and most of Europe in October.

At the festival before the film won the award, Dean told The Associated Press, “For me, I’m like, I’ve already won. I’m already at Cannes with the movie. That’s so unbelievable. Anything is just a cherry on top at this point for me, you know?”

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22The%20Associated%20Press%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By The Associated Press</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Charlbi Dean, the South African actor and model who had a breakout role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-entertainment-france-woody-harrelson-4f7cff5cc84170c8d81dae0c0153de23">“Triangle of Sadness,”</a>&nbsp;which won this year's top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has died at age 32.Dean died Monday at a hospital in New York from a sudden unexpected illness, her representatives said Tuesday.Dean also had a recurring role as the assassin Syonide on the DC Comics television series “Black Lightning,” which aired on the CW from 2018 to 2021.She was born Charlbi Dean Kriek in Cape Town, where she was also raised.Dean began modeling as a child, making frequent appearances on fashion runways and magazine covers in the decades that followed.She survived a near-fatal car accident in 2009.She made her acting debut in the 2010 film “Spud,” an adaptation of a popular South African novel about a boys' boarding school starring Troye Sivan and John Cleese. She reprised her role in a 2013 sequel.In “Triangle of Sadness,” the first English-language film from Swedish “Force Majeure” director Ruben Östlund, Dean and Harris Dickinson play a celebrity fashion-model couple on a cruise for the ultra-rich that descends into chaos. It also stars Woody Harrelson as the ship's captain.The film won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in May and opens in the U.S. and most of Europe in October.At the festival before the film won the award, Dean told The Associated Press, “For me, I’m like, I’ve already won. I’m already at Cannes with the movie. That’s so unbelievable. Anything is just a cherry on top at this point for me, you know?”

'Triangle of Sadness' actor, model Charlbi Dean dies at 32

BAGHDAD (AP) — Supporters of an influential Iraqi Shiite cleric fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns into Iraq's Green Zone and security forces returned fire Tuesday, a serious escalation of a months-long political crisis gripping the nation.

Biden&nbsp;administration official John Kirby on Monday expressed concern about the violence unfolding in Iraq but denied that personnel were being evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

<a href="https://iq.usembassy.gov/demonstration-alert-u-s-embassy-baghdad-iraq-august-29-2022/">Click here to read </a>the alert from the U.S. Embassy

The death toll rose to at least 30 people after two days of unrest, officials said.

After cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced Monday he would resign from politics, his supporters stormed the Green Zone, once the stronghold of the U.S. military that's now home to Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. At least one country evacuated its embassy amid the chaos.

Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government — unleashing months of infighting between different Shiite factions. Al-Sadr refused to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals, and his withdrawal Monday catapulted Iraq into political uncertainty and volatility with no clear path out.

Iran closed its borders to Iraq on Tuesday — a sign of Tehran’s concern that the chaos could spread, though streets beyond the capital's government quarter largely remained calm. The country's vital oil continued to flow, with global benchmark Brent crude trading slightly down at $103 a barrel.

A day after the stormed the Green Zone, supporters of al-Sadr could be seen on live television firing both heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades into the heavily area through a section of pulled-down concrete walls. Security forces armed with machine guns inside the zone sporadically returned fire.

Some bystanders filmed the gunfight with their mobile phones, though most hid behind still-standing segments of wall, wincing when rounds cracked nearby. As al-Sadr's forces fired, a line of armored tanks stood on the other side of the barriers that surround the Green Zone, though they did not use their heavy guns.

At least one wounded man from al-Sadr's forces was taken away in a three-wheel rickshaw, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry visible in the background. Heavy black smoke at one point rose over the area, visible from kilometers (miles) away.

At least 30 people have been killed and over 400 wounded, two Iraqi medical officials said. The toll included both al-Sadr loyalists killed in protests the day before and clashes overnight. Those figures are expected to rise, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information to journalists.

Members of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim population were oppressed when Saddam Hussein ruled the country for decades. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, a Sunni, reversed the political order. Just under two-thirds of Iraq is Shiite, with a third Sunni.

Now, the Shiites are fighting among themselves after the Americans largely withdrew from the nation, with Iranian-backed Shiites and Iraqi-nationalist Shiites jockeying for power, influence and state resources.

It’s an explosive rivalry in a country where many remain way of the Iranian government’s influence even though trade and ties remain strong between its peoples. Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war in the 1980s that saw a million people killed.

Al-Sadr’s nationalist rhetoric and reform agenda resonates powerfully with his supporters, who largely hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and were historically shut out of the political system under Saddam.

Al-Sadr's announcement that he is leaving politics has implicitly given his supporters the freedom to act as they see fit.

Iranian state television cited unrest and a military-imposed curfew in Iraqi cities for the reason for the border closures. It urged Iranians avoid any travel to the neighboring country. The decision came as millions were preparing to visit Iraq for an annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites, and Tehran encouraged any Iranian pilgrims already in Iraq to avoid further travel between cities.

Kuwait, meanwhile, called on its citizens to leave Iraq. The state-run KUNA news agency also encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans.

The tiny Gulf Arab sheikhdom of Kuwait shares a 254-kilometer- (158-mile-) long border with Iraq.

The Netherlands evacuated its embassy in the Green Zone, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted early Tuesday.

“There are firefights around the embassy in Baghdad. Our staff are now working at the German embassy elsewhere in the city,” Hoekstra wrote.

Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates stopped flights to Baghdad on Tuesday over the ongoing unrest. The carrier said that it was “monitoring the situation closely.” It did not say when flights would resume.

On Monday, protesters loyal to al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence.

BAGHDAD (AP) — An influential Shiite cleric announced Monday that he would resign from Iraqi politics, prompting hundreds of his angry followers to storm the government palace and sparking clashes with security forces. At least 15 protesters were killed.

Protesters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence. Medical officials said dozens of protesters were wounded by gunfire and tear gas and physical altercations with riot police.

As night fell, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr clashed with the Popular Mobilization Forces security group. A small force from the special forces division and Iraqi Army's 9th Division also joined to contain the militants as the clashes continued for hours inside the Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government.

At least one soldier from the special forces division, which is responsible for security in the Green Zone, was killed. Many others, including a civilian woman, were wounded, two security officials said. Several mortar rounds were heard.

The crackle of machine gun fire echoed throughout central Baghdad.

The PMF is an umbrella group composed of state-sanctioned paramilitary groups, the most powerful of which are aligned with al-Sadr's rivals in the Iran-backed political camp.

Security officials said mortars and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the clashes, a culmination of intractable political impasse between the rival camps.

Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government. His refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals and subsequent exit from the talks has catapulted the country into political uncertainty and volatility amid intensifying intra-Shiite wrangling.

Iraq's majority Muslim population is split into two sects, Shiites and Sunnis. Under Saddam Hussein, the Shiites were oppressed until the U.S.-led invasion reversed the political order. Now the Shiites are fighting among themselves, with the dispute centering around power and state resources but also influence over the Shiite street.

To further his political interests, al-Sadr has wrapped his rhetoric with a nationalist and reform agenda that resonates powerfully among his broad grassroots base of supporters who hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and have historically been shut out from the political system.

Many were first followers of his father, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. They are calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections without the participation of Iran-backed Shiite groups, which they see as responsible for the status quo.

During Monday's clashes, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr gathered in the capital’s Tahrir Square to “protect” protesters, one of its commanders said.

A senior medical official confirmed at least 15 protesters were killed by gunfire.

Iraq’s caretaker premier said he would open an investigation into the shootings and said the use of live ammunition against protesters was forbidden.

Protests also broke out in the Shiite-majority southern provinces, with al-Sadr’s supporters burning tires and blocking roads in the oil-rich province of Basra and hundreds demonstrating outside the governorate building in Missan.

Iran considers intra-Shiite disharmony as a threat to its influence in Iraq and has repeatedly attempted to broker dialogue with al-Sadr.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-iraq-0a7cb71ade4896ea393bedee0f7b86d7">July, Al-Sadr's supporters broke into the parliament</a>&nbsp;to deter his rivals in the Coordination Framework, an alliance of mostly Iran-aligned Shiite parties, from forming a government. Hundreds have been staging a sit-in outside the building for over four weeks. His bloc has also resigned from parliament. The Framework is led by al-Sadr's chief nemesis, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

This is not the first time al-Sadr, who has called for early elections and the dissolution of parliament, has announced his retirement from politics — and many dismissed Monday's move as another bluff to gain greater leverage against his rivals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-iran-elections-legislature-middle-east-235ad514977355cb1d7cad31d31fc901">amid a worsening stalemate</a>. The cleric has used the tactic on previous occasions when political developments did not go his way.

But many are concerned that it's a risky gambit and are worried how it will affect Iraq’s fragile political climate. By stepping out of the political process, al-Sadr is giving his followers, most disenfranchised from the political system, the green light to act as they see fit.

Al-Sadr also commands a militia and maintains a great degree of influence within Iraq's state institutions through the appointments of key civil servant positions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-saudi-arabia-iraq-d8e8b5fca9a92022e1249381892860ca">His Iran-backed rivals also have militia groups.</a>

Iraq’s military swiftly called on the cleric's supporters to withdraw immediately from the heavily fortified government zone and to practice self-restraint “to prevent clashes or the spilling of Iraqi blood,” according to a statement.

“The security forces affirm their responsibility to protect government institutions, international missions, public and private properties,” the statement said.

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also demanded that al-Sadr call on his followers to withdraw from government institutions.

The U.N. mission in Iraq said Monday’s protests were an “extremely dangerous escalation” and called on demonstrators to vacate all government buildings to allow the caretaker government to continue running the state.

It urged all to remain peaceful and “refrain from acts that could lead to an unstoppable chain of events.”

“The very survival of the state is at stake,” the statement said.

Al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from politics in a tweet, and ordered the closure of his party offices. Religious and cultural institutions will remain open, it said.

The true motivations behind al-Sadr’s announcement appeared to be a reaction to the retirement of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri, who counts many of al-Sadr’s supporters as followers.

In a surprise announcement Sunday, al-Haeri said he would be stepping down as a religious authority for health reasons and called on his followers to throw their allegiance behind Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rather than the Shiite spiritual center in Iraq's holy city of Najaf.

The move was a blow to al-Sadr, who despite harboring ambitions to be a religious authority lacks the scholarly credentials to be an ayatollah. Al-Haeri, who resides in the Iranian holy city of Qom, once provided him with the legitimacy he lacked by designating al-Sadr as his representative in Iraq. He cut ties shortly after with the cleric, but continued to enjoy the support of his followers.

By calling on his followers to side with Khamenei, al-Haeri brought on a crisis of legitimacy for al-Sadr.

In his tweet, al-Sadr said al-Haeri's stepping down “was not out of his own volition.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661809188063.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BAGHDAD (AP) — Supporters of an influential Iraqi Shiite cleric fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns into Iraq's Green Zone and security forces returned fire Tuesday, a serious escalation of a months-long political crisis gripping the nation.Biden&nbsp;administration official John Kirby on Monday expressed concern about the violence unfolding in Iraq but denied that personnel were being evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.<a href="https://iq.usembassy.gov/demonstration-alert-u-s-embassy-baghdad-iraq-august-29-2022/">Click here to read </a>the alert from the U.S. EmbassyThe death toll rose to at least 30 people after two days of unrest, officials said.After cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced Monday he would resign from politics, his supporters stormed the Green Zone, once the stronghold of the U.S. military that's now home to Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. At least one country evacuated its embassy amid the chaos.Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government — unleashing months of infighting between different Shiite factions. Al-Sadr refused to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals, and his withdrawal Monday catapulted Iraq into political uncertainty and volatility with no clear path out.Iran closed its borders to Iraq on Tuesday — a sign of Tehran’s concern that the chaos could spread, though streets beyond the capital's government quarter largely remained calm. The country's vital oil continued to flow, with global benchmark Brent crude trading slightly down at $103 a barrel.A day after the stormed the Green Zone, supporters of al-Sadr could be seen on live television firing both heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades into the heavily area through a section of pulled-down concrete walls. Security forces armed with machine guns inside the zone sporadically returned fire.Some bystanders filmed the gunfight with their mobile phones, though most hid behind still-standing segments of wall, wincing when rounds cracked nearby. As al-Sadr's forces fired, a line of armored tanks stood on the other side of the barriers that surround the Green Zone, though they did not use their heavy guns.At least one wounded man from al-Sadr's forces was taken away in a three-wheel rickshaw, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry visible in the background. Heavy black smoke at one point rose over the area, visible from kilometers (miles) away.At least 30 people have been killed and over 400 wounded, two Iraqi medical officials said. The toll included both al-Sadr loyalists killed in protests the day before and clashes overnight. Those figures are expected to rise, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information to journalists.Members of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim population were oppressed when Saddam Hussein ruled the country for decades. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, a Sunni, reversed the political order. Just under two-thirds of Iraq is Shiite, with a third Sunni.Now, the Shiites are fighting among themselves after the Americans largely withdrew from the nation, with Iranian-backed Shiites and Iraqi-nationalist Shiites jockeying for power, influence and state resources.It’s an explosive rivalry in a country where many remain way of the Iranian government’s influence even though trade and ties remain strong between its peoples. Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war in the 1980s that saw a million people killed.Al-Sadr’s nationalist rhetoric and reform agenda resonates powerfully with his supporters, who largely hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and were historically shut out of the political system under Saddam.Al-Sadr's announcement that he is leaving politics has implicitly given his supporters the freedom to act as they see fit.Iranian state television cited unrest and a military-imposed curfew in Iraqi cities for the reason for the border closures. It urged Iranians avoid any travel to the neighboring country. The decision came as millions were preparing to visit Iraq for an annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites, and Tehran encouraged any Iranian pilgrims already in Iraq to avoid further travel between cities.Kuwait, meanwhile, called on its citizens to leave Iraq. The state-run KUNA news agency also encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans.The tiny Gulf Arab sheikhdom of Kuwait shares a 254-kilometer- (158-mile-) long border with Iraq.The Netherlands evacuated its embassy in the Green Zone, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted early Tuesday.“There are firefights around the embassy in Baghdad. Our staff are now working at the German embassy elsewhere in the city,” Hoekstra wrote.Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates stopped flights to Baghdad on Tuesday over the ongoing unrest. The carrier said that it was “monitoring the situation closely.” It did not say when flights would resume.On Monday, protesters loyal to al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence.-----------BAGHDAD (AP) — An influential Shiite cleric announced Monday that he would resign from Iraqi politics, prompting hundreds of his angry followers to storm the government palace and sparking clashes with security forces. At least 15 protesters were killed.Protesters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence. Medical officials said dozens of protesters were wounded by gunfire and tear gas and physical altercations with riot police.As night fell, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr clashed with the Popular Mobilization Forces security group. A small force from the special forces division and Iraqi Army's 9th Division also joined to contain the militants as the clashes continued for hours inside the Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government.At least one soldier from the special forces division, which is responsible for security in the Green Zone, was killed. Many others, including a civilian woman, were wounded, two security officials said. Several mortar rounds were heard.The crackle of machine gun fire echoed throughout central Baghdad.The PMF is an umbrella group composed of state-sanctioned paramilitary groups, the most powerful of which are aligned with al-Sadr's rivals in the Iran-backed political camp.Security officials said mortars and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the clashes, a culmination of intractable political impasse between the rival camps.Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government. His refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals and subsequent exit from the talks has catapulted the country into political uncertainty and volatility amid intensifying intra-Shiite wrangling.Iraq's majority Muslim population is split into two sects, Shiites and Sunnis. Under Saddam Hussein, the Shiites were oppressed until the U.S.-led invasion reversed the political order. Now the Shiites are fighting among themselves, with the dispute centering around power and state resources but also influence over the Shiite street.To further his political interests, al-Sadr has wrapped his rhetoric with a nationalist and reform agenda that resonates powerfully among his broad grassroots base of supporters who hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and have historically been shut out from the political system.Many were first followers of his father, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. They are calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections without the participation of Iran-backed Shiite groups, which they see as responsible for the status quo.During Monday's clashes, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr gathered in the capital’s Tahrir Square to “protect” protesters, one of its commanders said.A senior medical official confirmed at least 15 protesters were killed by gunfire.Iraq’s caretaker premier said he would open an investigation into the shootings and said the use of live ammunition against protesters was forbidden.Protests also broke out in the Shiite-majority southern provinces, with al-Sadr’s supporters burning tires and blocking roads in the oil-rich province of Basra and hundreds demonstrating outside the governorate building in Missan.Iran considers intra-Shiite disharmony as a threat to its influence in Iraq and has repeatedly attempted to broker dialogue with al-Sadr.In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-iraq-0a7cb71ade4896ea393bedee0f7b86d7">July, Al-Sadr's supporters broke into the parliament</a>&nbsp;to deter his rivals in the Coordination Framework, an alliance of mostly Iran-aligned Shiite parties, from forming a government. Hundreds have been staging a sit-in outside the building for over four weeks. His bloc has also resigned from parliament. The Framework is led by al-Sadr's chief nemesis, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.This is not the first time al-Sadr, who has called for early elections and the dissolution of parliament, has announced his retirement from politics — and many dismissed Monday's move as another bluff to gain greater leverage against his rivals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-iran-elections-legislature-middle-east-235ad514977355cb1d7cad31d31fc901">amid a worsening stalemate</a>. The cleric has used the tactic on previous occasions when political developments did not go his way.But many are concerned that it's a risky gambit and are worried how it will affect Iraq’s fragile political climate. By stepping out of the political process, al-Sadr is giving his followers, most disenfranchised from the political system, the green light to act as they see fit.Al-Sadr also commands a militia and maintains a great degree of influence within Iraq's state institutions through the appointments of key civil servant positions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-saudi-arabia-iraq-d8e8b5fca9a92022e1249381892860ca">His Iran-backed rivals also have militia groups.</a>Iraq’s military swiftly called on the cleric's supporters to withdraw immediately from the heavily fortified government zone and to practice self-restraint “to prevent clashes or the spilling of Iraqi blood,” according to a statement.“The security forces affirm their responsibility to protect government institutions, international missions, public and private properties,” the statement said.Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also demanded that al-Sadr call on his followers to withdraw from government institutions.The U.N. mission in Iraq said Monday’s protests were an “extremely dangerous escalation” and called on demonstrators to vacate all government buildings to allow the caretaker government to continue running the state.It urged all to remain peaceful and “refrain from acts that could lead to an unstoppable chain of events.”“The very survival of the state is at stake,” the statement said.Al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from politics in a tweet, and ordered the closure of his party offices. Religious and cultural institutions will remain open, it said.The true motivations behind al-Sadr’s announcement appeared to be a reaction to the retirement of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri, who counts many of al-Sadr’s supporters as followers.In a surprise announcement Sunday, al-Haeri said he would be stepping down as a religious authority for health reasons and called on his followers to throw their allegiance behind Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rather than the Shiite spiritual center in Iraq's holy city of Najaf.The move was a blow to al-Sadr, who despite harboring ambitions to be a religious authority lacks the scholarly credentials to be an ayatollah. Al-Haeri, who resides in the Iranian holy city of Qom, once provided him with the legitimacy he lacked by designating al-Sadr as his representative in Iraq. He cut ties shortly after with the cleric, but continued to enjoy the support of his followers.By calling on his followers to side with Khamenei, al-Haeri brought on a crisis of legitimacy for al-Sadr.In his tweet, al-Sadr said al-Haeri's stepping down “was not out of his own volition.”

White House: Violence in Iraq disturbing; embassy not being evacuated

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Fuel leaks have forced NASA to scrub the launch of its new moon rocket on a no-crew test flight.

The next launch attempt will not take place until Friday at the earliest.

The 322-foot Space Launch System rocket was set to lift off Monday morning with three test dummies aboard on its first flight, a mission to propel a capsule into orbit around the moon.

The shakedown flight, when it happens, will be a big step forward in America’s quest to put astronauts back on the moon for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago.

NASA hopes to send four astronauts around the moon in 2024 and land humans there as early as 2025.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Fuel leaks and a possible crack discovered during final liftoff preparations threatened to delay the launch of NASA’s mighty new moon rocket Monday morning on its shakedown flight with three test dummies aboard.

As precious minutes ticked away, NASA repeatedly stopped and started the fueling of the Space Launch System rocket with nearly 1 millions gallons of super-cold hydrogen and oxygen because of a leak. The fueling already was running nearly an hour late because of thunderstorms offs Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

The leak appeared in the same place that saw seepage during a dress rehearsal back in the spring.

Then a second apparent leak in a valve turned up, officials said.

Later in the morning, a crack or some other defect was spotted on the core stage — the big orange fuel tank with four main engines on it — with frost appearing around the suspect area, NASA officials said. Engineers began studying the buildup.

The rocket was set to lift off on a mission to put a crew capsule into orbit around the moon. The launch represents a major milestone in America's quest to put astronauts back on the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended 50 years ago.

NASA’s assistant launch director, Jeremy Graeber, said after the repeated struggles with the first leak that the space agency would have to decide whether to go forward with the Monday morning launch.

"We have a lot of work to get to that point," Graeber cautioned.

If Monday’s launch can’t go forward, the next launch attempt wouldn’t be until Friday at the earliest.

The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is the most powerful ever built by NASA, out-muscling even the Saturn V that took the Apollo astronauts to the moon.

No astronauts were inside the rocket's Orion capsule. Instead, three test dummies were strapped for the six-week mission, scheduled to end with the capsule's splashdown in the Pacific in October.

Even though no one was on board, thousands of people jammed the coast to see the rocket soar. Vice President Kamala Harris was expected among the VIPs.

The launch is the first flight in NASA’s 21st-century moon-exploration program, named Artemis after Apollo’s mythological twin sister.

Assuming the test goes well, astronauts would climb aboard for the second flight and fly around the moon and back as soon as 2024. A two-person lunar landing could follow by the end of 2025.

The problems seen Monday were reminiscent of NASA's space shuttle era, when hydrogen fuel leaks disrupted countdowns and delayed a string of launches back in 1990.

Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and her team also had to deal with a communication problem involving the Orion capsule.

Engineers scrambled to understand an 11-minute delay in the communication lines between Launch Control and Orion that cropped up late Sunday. Although the problem had cleared by Monday morning, NASA needed to know why it occurred before committing to a launch.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA pressed toward the launch of a new moon rocket Monday to put a crew capsule into lunar orbit for the first time in 50 years, after a leak reappeared in the same place that saw seepage during a dress rehearsal back in the spring.

As precious minutes in the countdown ticked away, launch controllers repeatedly halted the fueling operation, which already was running nearly an hour late because of thunderstorms offshore of Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

NASA’s assistant launch director, Jeremy Graeber, said controllers finally managed to get the leak down to a safe and acceptable level, where it held steady as nearly 1 million gallons of super-cold fuel filled the tanks of the rocket’s core stage.

Graeber said NASA still has a shot at launching Monday morning, but won’t target a new liftoff time until the 10-minute hold in the countdown when managers conduct the “go-no go” poll.

The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is the most powerful ever built by NASA, out-muscling even the Saturn V used by the Apollo program that carried astronauts to the moon a half-century ago.

No astronauts were inside the Orion capsule. Instead, three test dummies were strapped in for the lunar-orbiting mission, expected to last six weeks.

Even though no one was on board, thousands of people jammed the coast to see the Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket soar. Vice President Kamala Harris flew into Orlando with her husband, but had yet to make the hourlong drive to Cape Canaveral for the planned liftoff.

If Monday's launch can't go forward, the next launch attempt wouldn’t be until Friday at the earliest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661739689721.png" alt="Artemis&nbsp; 1 on the launch pad Sunday -photo courtesy NASA" />
 <figcaption>Artemis&nbsp; 1 on the launch pad Sunday -photo courtesy NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Fuel leaks have forced NASA to scrub the launch of its new moon rocket on a no-crew test flight.(Click below to watch the launch)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/21X5lGlDOfg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The next launch attempt will not take place until Friday at the earliest.The 322-foot Space Launch System rocket was set to lift off Monday morning with three test dummies aboard on its first flight, a mission to propel a capsule into orbit around the moon.The shakedown flight, when it happens, will be a big step forward in America’s quest to put astronauts back on the moon for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago.NASA hopes to send four astronauts around the moon in 2024 and land humans there as early as 2025.----------CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Fuel leaks and a possible crack discovered during final liftoff preparations threatened to delay the launch of NASA’s mighty new moon rocket Monday morning on its shakedown flight with three test dummies aboard.As precious minutes ticked away, NASA repeatedly stopped and started the fueling of the Space Launch System rocket with nearly 1 millions gallons of super-cold hydrogen and oxygen because of a leak. The fueling already was running nearly an hour late because of thunderstorms offs Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.The leak appeared in the same place that saw seepage during a dress rehearsal back in the spring.Then a second apparent leak in a valve turned up, officials said.Later in the morning, a crack or some other defect was spotted on the core stage — the big orange fuel tank with four main engines on it — with frost appearing around the suspect area, NASA officials said. Engineers began studying the buildup.The rocket was set to lift off on a mission to put a crew capsule into orbit around the moon. The launch represents a major milestone in America's quest to put astronauts back on the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended 50 years ago.NASA’s assistant launch director, Jeremy Graeber, said after the repeated struggles with the first leak that the space agency would have to decide whether to go forward with the Monday morning launch."We have a lot of work to get to that point," Graeber cautioned.If Monday’s launch can’t go forward, the next launch attempt wouldn’t be until Friday at the earliest.The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is the most powerful ever built by NASA, out-muscling even the Saturn V that took the Apollo astronauts to the moon.No astronauts were inside the rocket's Orion capsule. Instead, three test dummies were strapped for the six-week mission, scheduled to end with the capsule's splashdown in the Pacific in October.Even though no one was on board, thousands of people jammed the coast to see the rocket soar. Vice President Kamala Harris was expected among the VIPs.The launch is the first flight in NASA’s 21st-century moon-exploration program, named Artemis after Apollo’s mythological twin sister.Assuming the test goes well, astronauts would climb aboard for the second flight and fly around the moon and back as soon as 2024. A two-person lunar landing could follow by the end of 2025.The problems seen Monday were reminiscent of NASA's space shuttle era, when hydrogen fuel leaks disrupted countdowns and delayed a string of launches back in 1990.Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and her team also had to deal with a communication problem involving the Orion capsule.Engineers scrambled to understand an 11-minute delay in the communication lines between Launch Control and Orion that cropped up late Sunday. Although the problem had cleared by Monday morning, NASA needed to know why it occurred before committing to a launch.---------CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA pressed toward the launch of a new moon rocket Monday to put a crew capsule into lunar orbit for the first time in 50 years, after a leak reappeared in the same place that saw seepage during a dress rehearsal back in the spring.As precious minutes in the countdown ticked away, launch controllers repeatedly halted the fueling operation, which already was running nearly an hour late because of thunderstorms offshore of Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.NASA’s assistant launch director, Jeremy Graeber, said controllers finally managed to get the leak down to a safe and acceptable level, where it held steady as nearly 1 million gallons of super-cold fuel filled the tanks of the rocket’s core stage.Graeber said NASA still has a shot at launching Monday morning, but won’t target a new liftoff time until the 10-minute hold in the countdown when managers conduct the “go-no go” poll."We have a lot of work to get to that point," Graeber cautioned.The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is the most powerful ever built by NASA, out-muscling even the Saturn V used by the Apollo program that carried astronauts to the moon a half-century ago.No astronauts were inside the Orion capsule. Instead, three test dummies were strapped in for the lunar-orbiting mission, expected to last six weeks.Even though no one was on board, thousands of people jammed the coast to see the Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket soar. Vice President Kamala Harris flew into Orlando with her husband, but had yet to make the hourlong drive to Cape Canaveral for the planned liftoff.If Monday's launch can't go forward, the next launch attempt wouldn’t be until Friday at the earliest.A hazardous hydrogen fuel leak marred NASA's countdown test back in April, prompting a slew of repairs. The demo was repeated with more success in June, but that, too, experienced some leakage. Managers had said they would not know for certain whether the fixes were good until attempting to load the rocket's tanks Monday.The problem was reminiscent of NASA's space shuttle era, when hydrogen fuel leaks disrupted countdowns and delayed a string of launches back in 1990.Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and her team also had to deal with a communication issue involving the Orion capsule.Engineers scrambled to understand an 11-minute delay in the communication lines between Launch Control and Orion that cropped up late Sunday. Although the problem had cleared by Monday morning, NASA needed to know why it occurred before committing to a launch.This first flight of NASA's 21st-century moon-exploration program, named Artemis after Apollo's mythological twin sister, is years overdue. Repeated delays have led to billions in budget overruns; this demo alone costs $4.1 billion.Assuming the test goes well, astronauts would climb aboard for the second flight and fly around the moon and back as soon as 2024. A two-person lunar landing could follow by the end of 2025. NASA is targeting the moon's south pole.During Apollo, 12 astronauts landed on the moon from 1969 through 1972, with stays of no more than a few days. NASA is looking to establish a lunar base during Artemis, with astronauts rotating in and out for weeks at a time. The next step would be Mars, possibly in the late 2030s or early 2040s.___CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A fuel leak interrupted NASA's launch countdown for its new moon rocket early Monday, reappearing in the same place that saw seepage during a dress rehearsal back in the spring.Launch controllers halted the tanking operation, which already was running an hour late because of thunderstorms offshore. They slowly resumed the process to confirm that it was, indeed, a hydrogen fuel leak and not faulty sensors, but alarms forced another temporary pause as precious minutes in the countdown ticked away.The 322-foot rocket is the most powerful ever built my NASA, out-muscling even the Saturn V that carried astronauts to the moon a half-century ago.This test flight, if successful, would put a crew capsule into lunar orbit for the first time in 50 years.No astronauts were inside the Orion capsule atop the rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Instead, three test dummies were strapped in for the lunar-orbiting mission, expected to last six weeks.Even with no one on board, thousands of people jammed the coast to see the Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket soar. Vice President Kamala Harris flew into Orlando with her husband, but had yet to make the hourlong drive to Cape Canaveral for the planned liftoff.The next launch attempt wouldn’t be until Friday at the earliest.Hydrogen fuel leaks marred NASA's countdown test back in April, prompting a slew of repairs. The demo was repeated with more success in June, but that, too, experienced some leakage. Managers said they would not know for certain whether the fixes were good until attempting to load the rocket's tanks with nearly 1 million gallons of super-cold fuel on Monday.Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and her team also had to deal with a communication issue involving the Orion capsule.Engineers scrambled to understand an 11-minute delay in the communication lines between Launch Control and Orion that cropped up late Sunday. Although the problem had cleared by Monday morning, NASA needed to know why it occurred before committing to launch.This first flight of NASA's 21st-century moon-exploration program, named Artemis after Apollo's mythological twin sister, is years overdue. Repeated delays have led to billions in budget overruns; this demo alone costs $4.1 billion.Assuming the test goes well, astronauts would climb aboard for the second flight and fly around the moon and back as soon as 2024. A two-person lunar landing could follow by the end of 2025. NASA is targeting the moon's south pole.During Apollo, 12 astronauts landed on the moon from 1969 through 1972, with stays of no more than a few days. NASA is looking to establish a lunar base during Artemis, with astronauts rotating in and out for weeks at a time. The next step would be Mars, possibly in the late 2030s or early 2040s.___