NEW YORK (AP) — And back up goes Wall Street. U.S. stocks rallied Monday after President Donald Trump said ”&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115362196088273474">it will all be fine</a>,” just days after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401">sent the market reeling</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-cc47e258cfc6336dfddcc20fa67a3642">threatening much higher tariffs on China</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.6% in its best day since May and recovered just over half its drop from Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%.

“Don’t worry about China,” Trump said on his social media platform Sunday. He also said that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!”

It was a sharp turnaround from the anger Trump displayed on Friday, when the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to its worst drop since April after he accused China of “&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115351840469973590">a moral disgrace</a>&nbsp;in dealing with other Nations.”

Trump pointed to “an extremely hostile letter” from China describing curbs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">exports of rare earths</a>, which are materials used in the manufacturing of everything from personal electronics to jet engines. Trump said at the time that he may place an additional 100% tax on imports from China starting on Nov. 1.

For its part,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-trump-tariff-threat-trade-talks-cc4bd30c3b1bcf2eb2676bc0e66efba0">China urged the United States</a>&nbsp;to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted online.

Hours later, Trump posted his less confrontational talk about China on Truth Social. The backtrack in anger, which also came before trading began on Wall Street, raised hopes that the world’s two largest economies could find a way to allow global trade to continue smoothly.

The down-and-up moves for the market echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158">its manic swings</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">April</a>. That’s when Trump shocked investors with his “Liberation Day” announcement of worldwide tariffs, only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">eventually relent on many</a>&nbsp;to give time to negotiate trade deals with other countries.

If this time ends up similarly, potentially even after a sharp drop for stock prices, subsiding trade tensions and uncertainty could allow for a rolling recovery to continue into 2026, according to Morgan Stanley strategists led by Michael Wilson.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market may have been primed for a drop. It was already facing criticism that prices had shot too high following a torrid 35% run for the S&amp;P 500 from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-ai-yen-3b5d8a978d326c59cbf484a14868ce66">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set last week.

Not only did Trump’s backdown from tariffs help stocks soar since April, so did expectations for several cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve to help the economy.

Critics say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-records-shutdown-earnings-ai-251fefd075ac658ce498c9d1953efc70">the market looks too expensive</a>&nbsp;now after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry</a>, where pessimists hear echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.

Broadcom jumped 9.9% for one of Monday’s biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 after announcing a collaboration with OpenAI. Broadcom will help develop and deploy custom AI accelerators that the maker of ChatGPT will design.

For stocks broadly to look less expensive, either prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise.

That’s raising the stakes for the upcoming earnings reporting season, with big U.S. companies lined up to say how much profit they made during the summer. JPMorgan Chase, Johnson &amp; Johnson and United Airlines are some of the big names on the calendar this coming week.

Fastenal tumbled 7.5% for the largest loss in the S&amp;P 500 after the maker of fasteners and safety supplies reported a profit for the latest quarter that was slightly weaker than analysts expected.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 102.21 points to 6,654.72. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587.98 to 46,067.68, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 490.18 to 22,694.61.

At Bank of America, strategist Savita Subramanian is optimistic that S&amp;P 500 companies can deliver a bigger overall profit than analysts expected. Besides reports showing a resilient U.S. economy, she also pointed in a BofA Global Research report to how the U.S. dollar’s weakening against other currencies boosts the value of big U.S. companies’ sales made overseas.

In stock markets abroad, indexes edged higher in Europe following losses in Asia, which had their first opportunity to react to Trump’s threat from Friday of additional tariffs on China.

Stocks fell 1.5% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-trump-tariffs-exports-4d65b77167ed9193244942923f0eef8d">China reported</a>&nbsp;its global exports rose 8.3% in September from a year earlier, the strongest growth in six months and further evidence that its manufacturers are shifting sales from the United States to other markets.

NEW YORK (AP) — And back up goes Wall Street. U.S. stocks rallied Monday after President Donald Trump said ”&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115362196088273474">it will all be fine</a>,” just days after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401">sent the market reeling</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-cc47e258cfc6336dfddcc20fa67a3642">threatening much higher tariffs on China</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760386599438.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.6% in its best day since May and recovered just over half its drop from Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%.“Don’t worry about China,” Trump said on his social media platform Sunday. He also said that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!”It was a sharp turnaround from the anger Trump displayed on Friday, when the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to its worst drop since April after he accused China of “&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115351840469973590">a moral disgrace</a>&nbsp;in dealing with other Nations.”Trump pointed to “an extremely hostile letter” from China describing curbs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">exports of rare earths</a>, which are materials used in the manufacturing of everything from personal electronics to jet engines. Trump said at the time that he may place an additional 100% tax on imports from China starting on Nov. 1.For its part,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-trump-tariff-threat-trade-talks-cc4bd30c3b1bcf2eb2676bc0e66efba0">China urged the United States</a>&nbsp;to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted online.Hours later, Trump posted his less confrontational talk about China on Truth Social. The backtrack in anger, which also came before trading began on Wall Street, raised hopes that the world’s two largest economies could find a way to allow global trade to continue smoothly.The down-and-up moves for the market echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158">its manic swings</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">April</a>. That’s when Trump shocked investors with his “Liberation Day” announcement of worldwide tariffs, only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">eventually relent on many</a>&nbsp;to give time to negotiate trade deals with other countries.If this time ends up similarly, potentially even after a sharp drop for stock prices, subsiding trade tensions and uncertainty could allow for a rolling recovery to continue into 2026, according to Morgan Stanley strategists led by Michael Wilson.To be sure, the U.S. stock market may have been primed for a drop. It was already facing criticism that prices had shot too high following a torrid 35% run for the S&amp;P 500 from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-ai-yen-3b5d8a978d326c59cbf484a14868ce66">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set last week.Not only did Trump’s backdown from tariffs help stocks soar since April, so did expectations for several cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve to help the economy.Critics say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-records-shutdown-earnings-ai-251fefd075ac658ce498c9d1953efc70">the market looks too expensive</a>&nbsp;now after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry</a>, where pessimists hear echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.Broadcom jumped 9.9% for one of Monday’s biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 after announcing a collaboration with OpenAI. Broadcom will help develop and deploy custom AI accelerators that the maker of ChatGPT will design.For stocks broadly to look less expensive, either prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise.That’s raising the stakes for the upcoming earnings reporting season, with big U.S. companies lined up to say how much profit they made during the summer. JPMorgan Chase, Johnson &amp; Johnson and United Airlines are some of the big names on the calendar this coming week.Fastenal tumbled 7.5% for the largest loss in the S&amp;P 500 after the maker of fasteners and safety supplies reported a profit for the latest quarter that was slightly weaker than analysts expected.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 102.21 points to 6,654.72. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587.98 to 46,067.68, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 490.18 to 22,694.61.At Bank of America, strategist Savita Subramanian is optimistic that S&amp;P 500 companies can deliver a bigger overall profit than analysts expected. Besides reports showing a resilient U.S. economy, she also pointed in a BofA Global Research report to how the U.S. dollar’s weakening against other currencies boosts the value of big U.S. companies’ sales made overseas.In stock markets abroad, indexes edged higher in Europe following losses in Asia, which had their first opportunity to react to Trump’s threat from Friday of additional tariffs on China.Stocks fell 1.5% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-trump-tariffs-exports-4d65b77167ed9193244942923f0eef8d">China reported</a>&nbsp;its global exports rose 8.3% in September from a year earlier, the strongest growth in six months and further evidence that its manufacturers are shifting sales from the United States to other markets.

Wall Street back up big after Trump softens his criticism of China

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission approved an agreement for replacing a bridge over the Saline River on 125th Avenue during its meeting on Tuesday.

The design agreement is with Penco Engineering for a county bridge about 12 miles north and half a mile east of the city of Ellis.

The project is funded through a program that awarded the county’s Public Works Department about $4.36 million for construction and inspection. The grant also includes plans for replacing another bridge on Saline River Road and one on County Line Road.

The financial impact to the county is $110,000 for design and preliminary engineering.

The commission approved an agreement granting AMP Rentals access to a county-owned water well in the northern part of the county, allowing for the well's use until a rural water meter is obtained from the Trego County Rural Water District.

Darin Myers, county administrator, emphasized the agreement does not tap into Trego County rural water and will give Adam Pray, with Platinum Builders, temporary access for an undetermined amount of time.

Commissioner Neal Younger asked for clarification on the duration of AMP Rentals' access. Pray said it could be years, but usage will be less than that of an average household.&nbsp;

"It should be a minimal amount of water," Pray said.

Pray is number 31 on the waiting list to get a water meter from the district. The property is on the north side of the land purchased for the new public works facility and yard.

The water will be used for limited business and personal purposes, with all expenses and compliance obligations covered by Pray or the future landowner.

Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling provided the oath of office to re-elected County Treasurer Vern Ruder, officially swearing him in for his next term. Ruder was re-elected in November 2024.

Commissioners approved a request to allow trailer, RV, and boat storage on a property along Toulon Avenue. The permit was recommended for approval by the Ellis County Planning and Zoning Commission.

High Plains Mental Health Executive Director Craig Poe provided an update to the commission on the status of construction of the Crisis Intervention Center project, which remains on schedule.

Ellis County Historical Society Director Amanda Rupp provided an update on the organization’s ongoing projects, including progress on its buildings in Hays and Victoria, and preparations for the 150th anniversary of Volga German settlement in the county.

Monique Koerner and Karissa Frasier with the Cottonwood Extension District also updated the commission on recent and upcoming health and wellness programs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission approved an agreement for replacing a bridge over the Saline River on 125th Avenue during its meeting on Tuesday.The design agreement is with Penco Engineering for a county bridge about 12 miles north and half a mile east of the city of Ellis.The project is funded through a program that awarded the county’s Public Works Department about $4.36 million for construction and inspection. The grant also includes plans for replacing another bridge on Saline River Road and one on County Line Road.The financial impact to the county is $110,000 for design and preliminary engineering.<h2>Water well agreement</h2>The commission approved an agreement granting AMP Rentals access to a county-owned water well in the northern part of the county, allowing for the well's use until a rural water meter is obtained from the Trego County Rural Water District.Darin Myers, county administrator, emphasized the agreement does not tap into Trego County rural water and will give Adam Pray, with Platinum Builders, temporary access for an undetermined amount of time.Commissioner Neal Younger asked for clarification on the duration of AMP Rentals' access. Pray said it could be years, but usage will be less than that of an average household.&nbsp;"It should be a minimal amount of water," Pray said.Pray is number 31 on the waiting list to get a water meter from the district. The property is on the north side of the land purchased for the new public works facility and yard.The water will be used for limited business and personal purposes, with all expenses and compliance obligations covered by Pray or the future landowner.<h2>Other business</h2>Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling provided the oath of office to re-elected County Treasurer Vern Ruder, officially swearing him in for his next term. Ruder was re-elected in November 2024.Commissioners approved a request to allow trailer, RV, and boat storage on a property along Toulon Avenue. The permit was recommended for approval by the Ellis County Planning and Zoning Commission.High Plains Mental Health Executive Director Craig Poe provided an update to the commission on the status of construction of the Crisis Intervention Center project, which remains on schedule.Ellis County Historical Society Director Amanda Rupp provided an update on the organization’s ongoing projects, including progress on its buildings in Hays and Victoria, and preparations for the 150th anniversary of Volga German settlement in the county.Monique Koerner and Karissa Frasier with the Cottonwood Extension District also updated the commission on recent and upcoming health and wellness programs.

Ellis County Commission approves bridge replacement agreement

Hays Post Sports
 The TMP-Marian volleyball team earned the No. four seed in the 2A Regional 4 and
will host a regional tournament next Monday at Hays High School.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association released
the 3, 2 and 1A regional assignments on Monday.

TMP finished the regular season with a record of 23-13. That
is the fourth-best record among the 16 teams in 2A Regional No. 4.

There are four regionals in class 2A and they are broken
into four quads.

Ellinwood (35-0), Oakley (31-2), Medicine Lodge (29-4) and
TMP-Marian (23-13) are the four host schools.

Joining TMP in quad D is the No. 5 seed Syracause, No. 12
Brookeville-Ell-Saline and No. 13 Plainville.

The Monarchs will host the regional at Hays High School.

Hoxie is the 10th overall seed and are in quad B
with Oakley. Oakley is hosting their regional at the Colby Event Center.

Smith Center is the No. 6 seed and Trego is the 14th
seed. They are in quad C at Medicine Lodge.

Regional play begins on Monday, Oct. 20th. 

Hays Post Sports
 The TMP-Marian volleyball team earned the No. four seed in the 2A Regional 4 and
will host a regional tournament next Monday at Hays High School.The Kansas State High School Activities Association released
the 3, 2 and 1A regional assignments on Monday.TMP finished the regular season with a record of 23-13. That
is the fourth-best record among the 16 teams in 2A Regional No. 4.There are four regionals in class 2A and they are broken
into four quads.Ellinwood (35-0), Oakley (31-2), Medicine Lodge (29-4) and
TMP-Marian (23-13) are the four host schools.Joining TMP in quad D is the No. 5 seed Syracause, No. 12
Brookeville-Ell-Saline and No. 13 Plainville.The Monarchs will host the regional at Hays High School.Hoxie is the 10th overall seed and are in quad B
with Oakley. Oakley is hosting their regional at the Colby Event Center.Smith Center is the No. 6 seed and Trego is the 14th
seed. They are in quad C at Medicine Lodge.Regional play begins on Monday, Oct. 20th.

🏐TMP earns the No. 4 seed; hosts 2A regional next Monday

HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls volleyball team earned
a third-place finish over the weekend at the annual Mid-Continent League volleyball
tournament in Hays at TMP.

The Monarchs finished 3-0 in pool play to earn a place in
bracket play, picking up wins over Phillipsburg (25-15, 25-15), Trego (25-8,
25-12) and Norton (28-26, 27-25).

In the semifinals, TMP lost to Smith Center (28-30, 16-25).

They bounced back in the third-place match, handing Oakley only
their second loss of the season (25-16 and 26-24).

Norton claimed the tournament title by beating Smith Center
in three sets (16-25, 25-21 and 25-19).

The 2A regional assignments will be released on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760366461715.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsHAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls volleyball team earned
a third-place finish over the weekend at the annual Mid-Continent League volleyball
tournament in Hays at TMP.The Monarchs finished 3-0 in pool play to earn a place in
bracket play, picking up wins over Phillipsburg (25-15, 25-15), Trego (25-8,
25-12) and Norton (28-26, 27-25).In the semifinals, TMP lost to Smith Center (28-30, 16-25).They bounced back in the third-place match, handing Oakley only
their second loss of the season (25-16 and 26-24).Norton claimed the tournament title by beating Smith Center
in three sets (16-25, 25-21 and 25-19).The 2A regional assignments will be released on Monday.

🏐 Monarchs claim 3rd place, Norton MCL team tournament title 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an ammonia leak Saturday at CVR Energy, 400 North Linden Street in Coffeyille.

At approximately 4 p.m. an ammonia release occurred at the fertilizer facility,&nbsp; according to a statement from Brandee Stephens,&nbsp;Senior Director, Corporate &amp; Governmental Affairs for CVR Partners based in Sugar Land Texas.

Several individuals were transported offsite for evaluation. The Company responded to the incident and and is investigating what occurred.&nbsp; The company on Sunday did not release the number of those transported for evaluation or additional details.

On Saturday night, the city of Coffeyville issue a statement, "The city is aware of the refinery situation. At this time, there are no threats to the public."

Check the Post for additional details expected on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760351340029.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an ammonia leak Saturday at CVR Energy, 400 North Linden Street in Coffeyille.At approximately 4 p.m. an ammonia release occurred at the fertilizer facility,&nbsp; according to a statement from Brandee Stephens,&nbsp;Senior Director, Corporate &amp; Governmental Affairs for CVR Partners based in Sugar Land Texas.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid0TobdfrXFjL6qM1SFUGkTvruVF1LYeMr4skpCvyMBCk7dvP2jA3ERmEN32yoWiaTel%26id%3D100064393825253&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="258" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Several individuals were transported offsite for evaluation. The Company responded to the incident and and is investigating what occurred.&nbsp; The company on Sunday did not release the number of those transported for evaluation or additional details.On Saturday night, the city of Coffeyville issue a statement, "The city is aware of the refinery situation. At this time, there are no threats to the public."Check the Post for additional details expected on Monday.

Several hospitalized after ammonia leak at Kansas nitrogen plant

Fort Hays State University came alive with Latin traditions and flavors on Thursday as it celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hosted by FHSU Hispanic American Leadership Organization, the evening showcased Latin culture through food, music and activities.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the United States to recognize the contributions and impact of Hispanic Americans.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Mexico and Chile are the Latin American countries celebrating their independence during the month.

The FHSU Government Association handed out candy and shared information on the rich history of Latino presence in America. According to their booth, Latino roots in the U.S. date back centuries, long before Spain colonized what is now part of the United States.

Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the subsequent Treaty of Paris, which followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 60 million Latinos reside in the United States, accounting for 18.9% of the nation’s population.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760108305191.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University Hispanic American Leadership Organization's&nbsp; 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University Hispanic American Leadership Organization's&nbsp; 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostFort Hays State University came alive with Latin traditions and flavors on Thursday as it celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.Hosted by FHSU Hispanic American Leadership Organization, the evening showcased Latin culture through food, music and activities.National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the United States to recognize the contributions and impact of Hispanic Americans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760108359478.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University Hispanic American Leadership Organization student officers. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University Hispanic American Leadership Organization student officers. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Mexico and Chile are the Latin American countries celebrating their independence during the month.The FHSU Government Association handed out candy and shared information on the rich history of Latino presence in America. According to their booth, Latino roots in the U.S. date back centuries, long before Spain colonized what is now part of the United States.Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the subsequent Treaty of Paris, which followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 60 million Latinos reside in the United States, accounting for 18.9% of the nation’s population.<figure>
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📷 Photo gallery: FHSU Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration 2025

The five candidates for Hays USD 489 were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Kelly Ancar, Ken Brooks, Craig Pallister and Curt Vajnar.

Three seats are available on the board. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Age: 46 Occupation:&nbsp;Director of Client Services at Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

What do you think qualifies you to run for the school board?

I have four years of experience on the school board. Before that, though, I was a librarian, before I was a public librarian here in Hays, I was a system librarian at the Northwest Kansas Library System.

In doing that work, I would frequently provide training to governing boards and library boards. The way the statute works in Kansas, they're very similar in structure, in power and in how they operate. Knowing how the function of that governance works for the school, which is something I value immensely, I felt I would do a good job.

Do you have a child or grandchild currently attending Hays USD 489 schools or did any of your children attend in the past?

My son just graduated in May. I took him on a tour of the new Hays High. We just drove around it right before we opened it, and he was mad at me because he didn't like going to school and wanted to go learn there.

Why are you running for reelection?

I think we're doing great things in this district. I think we're getting better and better statistically, our star ratings, our scoring, our teacher retention rates, all of these things, teacher satisfaction rates.

There's work to do, and I think we can do it, and I think we can do it well. I think that my belief in the value of public education means that I'm going to work to make things better, and that means using our strategic plan and vision and values to really drive decisions. I really like that direction we've decided on as a team in the strategic plan. 

I like the boring stuff like really parsing out, 'OK, is that a good policy?' The negotiations, the budgetary explanations, I like the nerdy, nitty-gritty&nbsp;stuff. It's really satisfying for me as a volunteer to be able to really give back to my community in this way that a lot of people don't like.

Do you support the district's five-year capital improvement plan? If not, is there anything that you would change about it?

It is a working document. As things become priorities or we discover that there will be a significant price hike in four years when we're planning to do them, we might move that up because it's easier or better to do it earlier than later. 

I support the five-year capital outlay plan. It is something that we take advice on from the administration and work on together. If board consensus says, 'That's not important,' or 'What's the value there?' the plan is a working document, so it should change. It does change.

The capital outlay plan is a plan to maintain our physical spaces for the future. Before we passed the bond, almost all of the criticism that I heard from the community was about how Hays USD 489 did not take care of its buildings, and that's why we were in this mess. That's why we needed so much money for the bond. 

It's a big bond. It's huge, and we're very, very grateful to taxpayers for it. It is a beautiful gift we're giving to the future by doing this. If we don't take care of these buildings, this gift that we've been given by these taxpayers, we are, once again, not being effective managers of our resources. 

We are being careless and disrespectful to this investment, and I feel like that is what the&nbsp;capital outlay plan is meant to do, is to make sure that we are always in a position to maintain the safety and function of our facilities.

Do you support the plans for the remaining bond projects? If not, is there anything that you would change about those projects?

Yes, I support the plans for the remaining projects. The middle school should be done by December. We will be working on Felton [Elementary School] shortly thereafter. 

The costs for these projects are laid out in the bond project tracking that we're looking at regularly and updating.&nbsp;&nbsp;The overall cost hasn't changed very much as we make more money off the bond [interest], which is not the same as raising taxes.

As the bond earns more funds,&nbsp;we're able to reprioritize or adjust expectations. We passed the bond, and then we experienced an enormous spike in construction costs. This was going to be different from what we had all pictured, right? 

But the space allocated to the bodies in the schools was always the goal. We were cramming children and high school students into a too small band room. We're not going to be doing that now. 

We're going to be putting middle schoolers in an appropriately sized band room, and middle schoolers in an appropriately sized choir room. It's all going to be useful for the students. It's going to work for them and the teachers, too.

How would you view your role as a school board member, oversight with administrators and teachers handling day-to-day operations, or the board manages all aspects of operations?

The governing board governs through policy and supervision of one employee. That is the official statute. It's the policy of the board that, together, all seven of us share a duty of oversight over the superintendent, who is in charge of operations.

We govern through policy, and we are allowed to make recommendations and ask for details where we need them in order to approve spending.

For example, there are certain expenditures that we are required to approve, and overall bills we are meant to watch. We are powered to trust but verify, and that is our role. Individually, we have no power. 

So I don't know how we would oversee the minute details of day-to-day operations, because we would obviously never be able to see all of the details—seven of us, all at once.

Do you think the district is adequately managing its budget? If not, what would you change or cut?

Most of our funds are going toward staff. I can't tell you how many times I've heard about it; even when we're discussing issues with parents, they're often talking about staff. There aren't enough staff, or there should be more staff in this kind of role, or there aren't enough paraprofessionals, special education paraprofessionals or custodial staff. 

So much of our budget, the majority of our budget, is humans. I would like to increase the para pay to more than the starting wages are now, which is, I think, in the $13 range.

These people are responsible day to day for our children and keeping&nbsp;them safe and helping them grow. They also need to integrate time for teachers to communicate and engage parents, and that means we need to have enough [paras] so that they're not just struggling to meet the day-to-day [requirements].

We are working to reduce other costs and some staff-associated costs. The [teacher's] union and the board have been talking, and we've presented on the health insurance problem.

We have a number of people who have health insurance available elsewhere, but they take our insurance, take our fully covered plan. That's something that we're working on. We could reduce costs in that way, and that savings will allow employees to have a better take-home [pay]. It might also help with the increases in benefit costs.

Of course, when you have enough staff and well-qualified staff, then you also have less turnover, which costs less overall. I support effective management of those resources.

We cut a building [Lincoln Elementary School]. We're going to cut another building. [Rockwell Administration Center will be closed, and administrative offices will move to Wilson Elementary School, which will close as an elementary school.] That will be another building that will not be a drain on resources.

Combining the middle school and high school campuses means that you can be a much more effective management of secondary education resources. You can have a couple of shared teachers. You can introduce some subjects earlier. Perhaps there's room to have a librarian [shared between those two buildings]. 

Each elementary school will now have its own librarian, and that is an incredibly effective resource management when you add a librarian to a building.

When we cut staff, we aren't supporting children. When we cut things like transportation, we're not supporting families.&nbsp;

Are there any policies that you think should be changed? How would you change those policies if you had the ability?

Our policy book is about 300 pages long. I've read it, but we write things down so we don't have to memorize them. If somebody came to me with a policy that they felt needed to be challenged, I would talk about it.

I don't think that we should keep doing things just because that's the way we've always done them. I also think that if a policy is already vetted by, for example, the [Kansas Association of School Boards] and the past administrators and past boards, then I would have to have a really good reason to change it. 

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

I really enjoy serving on the school board. I enjoy being a part of the community in that way, being invited into classrooms and being able to watch the children grow.

I met a lot of the kids who graduated last year. It was really cool to watch them walk across the stage. And there are a few more kids that I've known that long in this district. 

I've been serving on the policy council for the Early Childhood Center. This will be my third year. I love the foundation that it sets for the kids who are entering our district.

They're entering our district at zero, and their parents are asked to make decisions about what's happening for Head Start. It's a beautiful thing when the parents have the time and can give that of themselves.

I love being involved in the creation of an environment where we can foster every student's academic wishes and needs so they can look back and see how they were valued in this community. I want every kid who leaves Hays to know how well they were valued, and I want them to want to come back.

As told to Cristina Janney/Hays Post

The five candidates for Hays USD 489 were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Kelly Ancar, Ken Brooks, Craig Pallister and Curt Vajnar.Three seats are available on the board. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633100159398.jpeg" alt="Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp" />
 <figcaption>Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp</figcaption>
 </figure>Age: 46 Occupation:&nbsp;Director of Client Services at Options Domestic and Sexual Violence ServicesWhat do you think qualifies you to run for the school board? I have four years of experience on the school board. Before that, though, I was a librarian, before I was a public librarian here in Hays, I was a system librarian at the Northwest Kansas Library System.In doing that work, I would frequently provide training to governing boards and library boards. The way the statute works in Kansas, they're very similar in structure, in power and in how they operate. Knowing how the function of that governance works for the school, which is something I value immensely, I felt I would do a good job.Do you have a child or grandchild currently attending Hays USD 489 schools or did any of your children attend in the past?My son just graduated in May. I took him on a tour of the new Hays High. We just drove around it right before we opened it, and he was mad at me because he didn't like going to school and wanted to go learn there.Why are you running for reelection?I think we're doing great things in this district. I think we're getting better and better statistically, our star ratings, our scoring, our teacher retention rates, all of these things, teacher satisfaction rates. There's work to do, and I think we can do it, and I think we can do it well. I think that my belief in the value of public education means that I'm going to work to make things better, and that means using our strategic plan and vision and values to really drive decisions. I really like that direction we've decided on as a team in the strategic plan. I like the boring stuff like really parsing out, 'OK, is that a good policy?' The negotiations, the budgetary explanations, I like the nerdy, nitty-gritty&nbsp;stuff. It's really satisfying for me as a volunteer to be able to really give back to my community in this way that a lot of people don't like.Do you support the district's five-year capital improvement plan? If not, is there anything that you would change about it?It is a working document. As things become priorities or we discover that there will be a significant price hike in four years when we're planning to do them, we might move that up because it's easier or better to do it earlier than later. I support the five-year capital outlay plan. It is something that we take advice on from the administration and work on together. If board consensus says, 'That's not important,' or 'What's the value there?' the plan is a working document, so it should change. It does change.The capital outlay plan is a plan to maintain our physical spaces for the future. Before we passed the bond, almost all of the criticism that I heard from the community was about how Hays USD 489 did not take care of its buildings, and that's why we were in this mess. That's why we needed so much money for the bond. It's a big bond. It's huge, and we're very, very grateful to taxpayers for it. It is a beautiful gift we're giving to the future by doing this. If we don't take care of these buildings, this gift that we've been given by these taxpayers, we are, once again, not being effective managers of our resources. We are being careless and disrespectful to this investment, and I feel like that is what the&nbsp;capital outlay plan is meant to do, is to make sure that we are always in a position to maintain the safety and function of our facilities.Do you support the plans for the remaining bond projects? If not, is there anything that you would change about those projects?Yes, I support the plans for the remaining projects. The middle school should be done by December. We will be working on Felton [Elementary School] shortly thereafter. The costs for these projects are laid out in the bond project tracking that we're looking at regularly and updating.&nbsp;&nbsp;The overall cost hasn't changed very much as we make more money off the bond [interest], which is not the same as raising taxes.As the bond earns more funds,&nbsp;we're able to reprioritize or adjust expectations. We passed the bond, and then we experienced an enormous spike in construction costs. This was going to be different from what we had all pictured, right? But the space allocated to the bodies in the schools was always the goal. We were cramming children and high school students into a too small band room. We're not going to be doing that now. We're going to be putting middle schoolers in an appropriately sized band room, and middle schoolers in an appropriately sized choir room. It's all going to be useful for the students. It's going to work for them and the teachers, too.How would you view your role as a school board member, oversight with administrators and teachers handling day-to-day operations, or the board manages all aspects of operations?The governing board governs through policy and supervision of one employee. That is the official statute. It's the policy of the board that, together, all seven of us share a duty of oversight over the superintendent, who is in charge of operations.We govern through policy, and we are allowed to make recommendations and ask for details where we need them in order to approve spending.For example, there are certain expenditures that we are required to approve, and overall bills we are meant to watch. We are powered to trust but verify, and that is our role. Individually, we have no power. So I don't know how we would oversee the minute details of day-to-day operations, because we would obviously never be able to see all of the details—seven of us, all at once.Do you think the district is adequately managing its budget? If not, what would you change or cut?I think so.&nbsp;Most of our funds are going toward staff. I can't tell you how many times I've heard about it; even when we're discussing issues with parents, they're often talking about staff. There aren't enough staff, or there should be more staff in this kind of role, or there aren't enough paraprofessionals, special education paraprofessionals or custodial staff. So much of our budget, the majority of our budget, is humans. I would like to increase the para pay to more than the starting wages are now, which is, I think, in the $13 range.These people are responsible day to day for our children and keeping&nbsp;them safe and helping them grow. They also need to integrate time for teachers to communicate and engage parents, and that means we need to have enough [paras] so that they're not just struggling to meet the day-to-day [requirements].We are working to reduce other costs and some staff-associated costs. The [teacher's] union and the board have been talking, and we've presented on the health insurance problem.We have a number of people who have health insurance available elsewhere, but they take our insurance, take our fully covered plan. That's something that we're working on. We could reduce costs in that way, and that savings will allow employees to have a better take-home [pay]. It might also help with the increases in benefit costs.Of course, when you have enough staff and well-qualified staff, then you also have less turnover, which costs less overall. I support effective management of those resources.We cut a building [Lincoln Elementary School]. We're going to cut another building. [Rockwell Administration Center will be closed, and administrative offices will move to Wilson Elementary School, which will close as an elementary school.] That will be another building that will not be a drain on resources.Combining the middle school and high school campuses means that you can be a much more effective management of secondary education resources. You can have a couple of shared teachers. You can introduce some subjects earlier. Perhaps there's room to have a librarian [shared between those two buildings]. Each elementary school will now have its own librarian, and that is an incredibly effective resource management when you add a librarian to a building.When we cut staff, we aren't supporting children. When we cut things like transportation, we're not supporting families.&nbsp;Are there any policies that you think should be changed? How would you change those policies if you had the ability?Our policy book is about 300 pages long. I've read it, but we write things down so we don't have to memorize them. If somebody came to me with a policy that they felt needed to be challenged, I would talk about it.I don't think that we should keep doing things just because that's the way we've always done them. I also think that if a policy is already vetted by, for example, the [Kansas Association of School Boards] and the past administrators and past boards, then I would have to have a really good reason to change it. Is there anything else that you would like to add?I really enjoy serving on the school board. I enjoy being a part of the community in that way, being invited into classrooms and being able to watch the children grow.I met a lot of the kids who graduated last year. It was really cool to watch them walk across the stage. And there are a few more kids that I've known that long in this district. I've been serving on the policy council for the Early Childhood Center. This will be my third year. I love the foundation that it sets for the kids who are entering our district.They're entering our district at zero, and their parents are asked to make decisions about what's happening for Head Start. It's a beautiful thing when the parents have the time and can give that of themselves.I love being involved in the creation of an environment where we can foster every student's academic wishes and needs so they can look back and see how they were valued in this community. I want every kid who leaves Hays to know how well they were valued, and I want them to want to come back.As told to Cristina Janney/Hays Post

USD 489 candidate Q&A: Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible.

 There’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways.

1. Improve Circulation - Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

2. Shore Up Your Bones - Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.

3. Enjoy a Longer Life&nbsp;- Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.

4. Lighten Your Mood -&nbsp;Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were.

5. Lose Weight - A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.

6. Strengthen Muscles&nbsp;- Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.

7. Improve Sleep -&nbsp;Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.

8. Support Your Joints -The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area.

9. Improve Your Breath - When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.

10. Slow Down Mental Decline - A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.

11. Lower Alzheimer's Risk&nbsp;- A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.

12. Do More for Longer - Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.

I’m going to add another benefit that I have found over the years. 

Sometimes we think we are too tired to take a walk, but guess what? Our bodies usually reward us in a positive way by giving us more energy if we just get up and move our bodies. In our exercise classes we always comment on how much better we feel after we move our bodies. It’s so true. I hope that is motivation for you to get up move your body today. Try it!

Source: Arthritis Foundation

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758636212424.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictWhat’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways.1. Improve Circulation - Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.2. Shore Up Your Bones - Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.3. Enjoy a Longer Life&nbsp;- Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.4. Lighten Your Mood -&nbsp;Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were.5. Lose Weight - A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.6. Strengthen Muscles&nbsp;- Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.7. Improve Sleep -&nbsp;Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.8. Support Your Joints -The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area.9. Improve Your Breath - When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.10. Slow Down Mental Decline - A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.11. Lower Alzheimer's Risk&nbsp;- A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.12. Do More for Longer - Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.I’m going to add another benefit that I have found over the years. Sometimes we think we are too tired to take a walk, but guess what? Our bodies usually reward us in a positive way by giving us more energy if we just get up and move our bodies. In our exercise classes we always comment on how much better we feel after we move our bodies. It’s so true. I hope that is motivation for you to get up move your body today. Try it!Source: Arthritis FoundationMonique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: 12 benefits of walking

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs knew they were going to have a fight on their hands when the Detroit Lions, riding a four-game winning streak and a whole bunch of momentum, rolled into Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night.

They probably didn't expect their dominant performance to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lions-chiefs-fight-brian-branch-e1f8f03a80052ad16856673846b2791c">end with an actual fistfight</a>.

Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, scrambled for another score, and led Kansas City to a 30-17 victory that was so comprehensive that Lions safety Brian Branch boiled over at its conclusion. Branch delivered a right hook to Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as the teams were coming together at midfield, touching off a brief melee among players.

“It is what it is,” Mahomes said. “You just kind of move on. We won the football game.”

Marquise Brown had two touchdown receptions and Xavier Worthy had another for the Chiefs (3-3), who played a near-flawless game — no penalties, no turnovers — one week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-analysis-1bf025fe0f083690f71bc75f47417202">a mistake-strewn, last-second loss</a>&nbsp;at Jacksonville.

Kansas City also managed to hold in check the NFL's highest-scoring offense to snap Detroit's winning streak.

“We just didn't make the plays we needed to make,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell, who began his postgame briefing by saying that Branch's cheap shot was “inexcusable and not going to be accepted here," and that he had apologized to the Chiefs for it.

“We were able to do some good things in phases at times but not enough for a team like that with the pedigrees they have,” Campbell continued. “We were not able to compliment each other and we were not able to make it a game, really. We weren't.”

Jared Goff finished with 203 yards passing for the Lions (4-2), though he did connect with Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta for scores. Amon-Ra St. Brown was held to 45 yards receiving and Jahmyr Gibbs needed 17 carries to gain just 65 yards.

Detroit was intent on trying to grind down the Chiefs' defense and keep their potent offense off the field.

The Lions did a good job on the opening drive, too. They ran 15 plays over a 9:39 span, chewing up so much clock that Mahomes looked downright bored on the sideline. And it looked as if it would pay off when David Montgomery took a direct snap and threw to Goff, who powered into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown.

But the officials came together to discuss the play, and even though nobody had thrown a flag, they eventually said Goff was not set — an illegal motion penalty. After a delay of game, the Lions had to settle for Jake Bates' chip-shot field goal.

“I've got to do a little research on exactly what went wrong,” Goff said.

Kansas City wasted no time answering, marching 70 yards in eight plays. Mahomes hit three receivers on the drive, and Worthy hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to give the Chiefs the lead.

The back-and-forth continued throughout the first half: The Lions went the other way with Williams grabbing a 22-yard pass to give them the lead back, and the Chiefs answered with Mahomes scoring on a keeper for a 13-10 edge at halftime.

“It was important to get that lead back and get the momentum and get the crowd going,” Mahomes said.

The banged-up Lions defense, missing cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox, couldn't slow down the Chiefs, who are finding their offensive mojo again just in time to get suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice back next week.

They roared downfield on the opening drive of the second half, this time with Marquise Brown hauling in the touchdown catch to extend the lead. And when the Lions finally answered behind a flurry of passes to St. Brown and a nifty toss to LaPorta in the end zone, Kansas City rolled right back downfield as Marquise Brown pulled in another touchdown reception for a 27-17 lead.

Detroit proceeded to go three-and-out, and the Chiefs put the game away from there.

“I'm disappointing, you know? I'm disappointed, because it's been a long time ago since you were watching someone kneel it three times in front of you, and it's not even close,” Campbell said. “We got worked pretty good. So yeah, it's disappointing.”

The Chiefs played&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-detroit-lions-e5f1f4336f1f82195304345e8a892b7b">without left tackle Josh Simmons,</a>&nbsp;their first-round pick, who had a personal issue that kept him from making it back to Kansas City for the game. Jaylon Moore played well in his place against Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit pass rush.

Mahomes has 302 career touchdown passes, including the postseason, becoming the quickest player in NFL history to reach the 300 mark. He accomplished the feat in 139 games, eight faster than Aaron Rodgers, to the delight of a crowd that included Taylor Swift — the fiancee of tight end Travis Kelce — and WNBA star Caitlin Clark.

Lions: CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) were inactive.

Chiefs: CB Nohl Williams was evaluated for a concussion and cleared in the first half.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760320332355.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs knew they were going to have a fight on their hands when the Detroit Lions, riding a four-game winning streak and a whole bunch of momentum, rolled into Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night.They probably didn't expect their dominant performance to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lions-chiefs-fight-brian-branch-e1f8f03a80052ad16856673846b2791c">end with an actual fistfight</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A little post game hands never hurt nobody!<a href="https://t.co/W0A0tal25f">pic.twitter.com/W0A0tal25f</a>&mdash; Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1977572824664715455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, scrambled for another score, and led Kansas City to a 30-17 victory that was so comprehensive that Lions safety Brian Branch boiled over at its conclusion. Branch delivered a right hook to Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as the teams were coming together at midfield, touching off a brief melee among players.“It is what it is,” Mahomes said. “You just kind of move on. We won the football game.”Did they ever.Marquise Brown had two touchdown receptions and Xavier Worthy had another for the Chiefs (3-3), who played a near-flawless game — no penalties, no turnovers — one week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-analysis-1bf025fe0f083690f71bc75f47417202">a mistake-strewn, last-second loss</a>&nbsp;at Jacksonville.Kansas City also managed to hold in check the NFL's highest-scoring offense to snap Detroit's winning streak.“We just didn't make the plays we needed to make,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell, who began his postgame briefing by saying that Branch's cheap shot was “inexcusable and not going to be accepted here," and that he had apologized to the Chiefs for it.“We were able to do some good things in phases at times but not enough for a team like that with the pedigrees they have,” Campbell continued. “We were not able to compliment each other and we were not able to make it a game, really. We weren't.”Jared Goff finished with 203 yards passing for the Lions (4-2), though he did connect with Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta for scores. Amon-Ra St. Brown was held to 45 yards receiving and Jahmyr Gibbs needed 17 carries to gain just 65 yards.Detroit was intent on trying to grind down the Chiefs' defense and keep their potent offense off the field.The Lions did a good job on the opening drive, too. They ran 15 plays over a 9:39 span, chewing up so much clock that Mahomes looked downright bored on the sideline. And it looked as if it would pay off when David Montgomery took a direct snap and threw to Goff, who powered into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown.But the officials came together to discuss the play, and even though nobody had thrown a flag, they eventually said Goff was not set — an illegal motion penalty. After a delay of game, the Lions had to settle for Jake Bates' chip-shot field goal.“I've got to do a little research on exactly what went wrong,” Goff said.Kansas City wasted no time answering, marching 70 yards in eight plays. Mahomes hit three receivers on the drive, and Worthy hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to give the Chiefs the lead.The back-and-forth continued throughout the first half: The Lions went the other way with Williams grabbing a 22-yard pass to give them the lead back, and the Chiefs answered with Mahomes scoring on a keeper for a 13-10 edge at halftime.“It was important to get that lead back and get the momentum and get the crowd going,” Mahomes said.The banged-up Lions defense, missing cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox, couldn't slow down the Chiefs, who are finding their offensive mojo again just in time to get suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice back next week.They roared downfield on the opening drive of the second half, this time with Marquise Brown hauling in the touchdown catch to extend the lead. And when the Lions finally answered behind a flurry of passes to St. Brown and a nifty toss to LaPorta in the end zone, Kansas City rolled right back downfield as Marquise Brown pulled in another touchdown reception for a 27-17 lead.Detroit proceeded to go three-and-out, and the Chiefs put the game away from there.“I'm disappointing, you know? I'm disappointed, because it's been a long time ago since you were watching someone kneel it three times in front of you, and it's not even close,” Campbell said. “We got worked pretty good. So yeah, it's disappointing.”<h2>Missing Simmons</h2>The Chiefs played&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-detroit-lions-e5f1f4336f1f82195304345e8a892b7b">without left tackle Josh Simmons,</a>&nbsp;their first-round pick, who had a personal issue that kept him from making it back to Kansas City for the game. Jaylon Moore played well in his place against Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit pass rush.<h2>More on Mahomes</h2>Mahomes has 302 career touchdown passes, including the postseason, becoming the quickest player in NFL history to reach the 300 mark. He accomplished the feat in 139 games, eight faster than Aaron Rodgers, to the delight of a crowd that included Taylor Swift — the fiancee of tight end Travis Kelce — and WNBA star Caitlin Clark.<h2>Injuries</h2>Lions: CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) were inactive.Chiefs: CB Nohl Williams was evaluated for a concussion and cleared in the first half.<h2>Up next</h2>Lions: Host Tampa Bay next Monday night.Chiefs: Host Las Vegas next Sunday.

🏈 Mahomes leads the Chiefs to victory over Lions, and a fistfight erupts at the finish

Jon
F. Kisner, age 83 of Hays, Kansas passed away on Thursday, September 25,
2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was born on September 27, 1941, in Abilene, Kansas to Fred 'Fritz' and Angela (Dreiling) Kisner.&nbsp;&nbsp;He married Barbara Kay
(VonFeldt) on September 4, 1970, at Victoria, Kansas. She preceded him in death
on September 21, 2020.


&nbsp;Jon was a social and adventurous youngster.&nbsp; As a toddler, he took
numerous solo train rides from Abilene to visit family in other Kansas towns,
like Chapman. He would ride his tricycle off the barn onto the haystacks below.
According to a newspaper article, Jonny (3.5yrs old) &amp; Frankie (6yrs old)
were rough playing that landed them in the hospital with severe cuts from a
glass sliding door, requiring 18 stitches to his arm. It was also rumored Jon
and his buddies would throw farm eggs at his girl cousins (some who went on to
become Nuns). Fun fact, his babysitter in Abilene was Ida; President Ike
Eisenhower’s mother.&nbsp;Then, when Jon was about five years old, his family
moved to Hays.&nbsp; Here he performed as a member in an acrobat trio at the Strand.&nbsp;
The Kisner family lived in the Guard Block House at Old Fort Hays.&nbsp; While
his father was the grounds caretaker, Jon would swim the watering holes
recovering golf balls for his mom to resell in the clubhouse. They were the
last family to live on Old Fort Hays.

Through some high school years, Jon managed the Hays Municipal swimming pool,
where he taught many how to swim. In 1959, he graduated from Saint Joseph
Military Academy, now Thomas Moore Prep High School.&nbsp; A veteran of the US
Army, Jon was an SP4 in 25th&nbsp;Infantry Division, mostly
stationed in Thailand and Hawaii.&nbsp; He was briefly stationed at Fort Leslie
J McNair in Washington as a member of the Presidential Honor Guard where he
earned both the opportunity to attend the US Military Academy Preparatory School
for West Point and to honorably walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.&nbsp;
Although he declined both prestigious offers, he was honorably discharged in
1963 and awarded a Good Conduct Medal.

Ready to explore his new bachelor life, Jon bought a cabin in Estes Park,
Colorado and soon purchased his first horse, Lady. Much manual labor was
invested in his new retreat including building a Pot Belly stove for
heat.&nbsp; Family and friends all came to stay, where they would be
wholesomely entertained with Jons’ musical talents.&nbsp; During this time, Jon
periodically visited his parents back in Hays.&nbsp; He would escort his mother
to frequent live music events.&nbsp; As his entertaining bug grew stronger, Jon
discovered his passion for Polka music. For the next 40 years, Jon was
identified as a member of Eddie Basgall and His Jolly Dutchmen, he was
described on an album cover as 'A triple talent entertainer with his singing,
banjo playing and a&nbsp;flair for showmanship. Ballads and&nbsp;happy songs
were Jon’s specialty. His rich baritone vocals enhanced the romantic mood of
the group.' He also returned to work part time at the Hays swimming pool.&nbsp;
While selling beach towels to a local liquor store, he came across his future
wife (Barbara) who he married nine months later in Saint Fidelis Catholic
Church, Victoria, Kansas 'The Cathedral of the Plains'.

Although Jon and Barbara began their future in Colorado, they soon moved to
Victoria, Kansas for a number of years and began raising their three children.
In 1980, Jon graduated from Fort Hays State University with a BA in General
Studies. He also began his&nbsp;36 year&nbsp;career as a lineman and foreman
for Central Kansas Power, now Midwest Energy. In 1985, Jon secured their
growing Kisner family 80 acres of land just north of Toulon where the family
joined labor forces to build their settlement.&nbsp; Always an avid horse
lover, Jon was eventually equipped to open the property to board and train
horses including his own team of Belgians (Duke &amp; Dolly).&nbsp; He loved to
share this majestic team with the community by entering parades, hosting
hayrack rides, chauffeuring wedding parties and sponsoring Christmas light
tours through the Hays Country Club.&nbsp; His added craftsmanship was
showcased thru repairing and building a number of harnesses, trailers, buggies
and wagons.

&nbsp;Once the grandkids were born in Texas, Jon &amp; Barbara moved to be
closer to them for a few years, only to return to their roots in Hays in
2016.&nbsp; After 50 years of marriage, his wife Barbara passed and was
reunited with her parents at St Fidelis Cemetery in Victoria. Jon remained in
his Hays home and stayed active including meeting with his retired Midwest
Energy coworkers for donuts, Military Academy classmates at McDonalds and horse
boarding members sporadically. Jon was a member of the Victoria V.F.W. Post #
1751, and a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas.

Jon is survived by his children, Curtis Kisner and wife, Michelle, Fort Worth,
TX; Tonya Kisner, Belton, MO; Simone Anderson, Fort Worth, TX; his
grandchildren, Aubrianna Kisner; Cadence Anderson; Carmyn Anderson; his sister,
Janell Newton and husband, Gary, Wichita, KS.

Jon is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Angela Kisner; his wife,
Barbara; his sister, Cynthia Karlin and her husband, Jerry.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, October 18, 2025, at
The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Ave, Victoria, Kansas, with
Celebrant, Father Curtis Carlson O.F.M. Cap.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at the
church.&nbsp;Inurnment with Military Honor Guard Rites by the Victoria&nbsp;V.F.W.
Post #1751 will be in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials payable to&nbsp;The
Sunflower Clydesdales&nbsp;in care of Cline’s-Keithley
Mortuary of Hays,&nbsp;1919
East 22nd&nbsp;Street, Hays, Kansas. Condolences
can be emailed to&nbsp;clineschapels@gmail.com&nbsp;or
left by guest book at&nbsp;www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758922623541.jpeg" alt="Jon F. Kisner" />
 <figcaption>Jon F. Kisner</figcaption>
 </figure>Jon
F. Kisner, age 83 of Hays, Kansas passed away on Thursday, September 25,
2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was born on September 27, 1941, in Abilene, Kansas to Fred 'Fritz' and Angela (Dreiling) Kisner.&nbsp;&nbsp;He married Barbara Kay
(VonFeldt) on September 4, 1970, at Victoria, Kansas. She preceded him in death
on September 21, 2020.
&nbsp;Jon was a social and adventurous youngster.&nbsp; As a toddler, he took
numerous solo train rides from Abilene to visit family in other Kansas towns,
like Chapman. He would ride his tricycle off the barn onto the haystacks below.
According to a newspaper article, Jonny (3.5yrs old) &amp; Frankie (6yrs old)
were rough playing that landed them in the hospital with severe cuts from a
glass sliding door, requiring 18 stitches to his arm. It was also rumored Jon
and his buddies would throw farm eggs at his girl cousins (some who went on to
become Nuns). Fun fact, his babysitter in Abilene was Ida; President Ike
Eisenhower’s mother.&nbsp;Then, when Jon was about five years old, his family
moved to Hays.&nbsp; Here he performed as a member in an acrobat trio at the Strand.&nbsp;
The Kisner family lived in the Guard Block House at Old Fort Hays.&nbsp; While
his father was the grounds caretaker, Jon would swim the watering holes
recovering golf balls for his mom to resell in the clubhouse. They were the
last family to live on Old Fort Hays.Through some high school years, Jon managed the Hays Municipal swimming pool,
where he taught many how to swim. In 1959, he graduated from Saint Joseph
Military Academy, now Thomas Moore Prep High School.&nbsp; A veteran of the US
Army, Jon was an SP4 in 25th&nbsp;Infantry Division, mostly
stationed in Thailand and Hawaii.&nbsp; He was briefly stationed at Fort Leslie
J McNair in Washington as a member of the Presidential Honor Guard where he
earned both the opportunity to attend the US Military Academy Preparatory School
for West Point and to honorably walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.&nbsp;
Although he declined both prestigious offers, he was honorably discharged in
1963 and awarded a Good Conduct Medal.Ready to explore his new bachelor life, Jon bought a cabin in Estes Park,
Colorado and soon purchased his first horse, Lady. Much manual labor was
invested in his new retreat including building a Pot Belly stove for
heat.&nbsp; Family and friends all came to stay, where they would be
wholesomely entertained with Jons’ musical talents.&nbsp; During this time, Jon
periodically visited his parents back in Hays.&nbsp; He would escort his mother
to frequent live music events.&nbsp; As his entertaining bug grew stronger, Jon
discovered his passion for Polka music. For the next 40 years, Jon was
identified as a member of Eddie Basgall and His Jolly Dutchmen, he was
described on an album cover as 'A triple talent entertainer with his singing,
banjo playing and a&nbsp;flair for showmanship. Ballads and&nbsp;happy songs
were Jon’s specialty. His rich baritone vocals enhanced the romantic mood of
the group.' He also returned to work part time at the Hays swimming pool.&nbsp;
While selling beach towels to a local liquor store, he came across his future
wife (Barbara) who he married nine months later in Saint Fidelis Catholic
Church, Victoria, Kansas 'The Cathedral of the Plains'.Although Jon and Barbara began their future in Colorado, they soon moved to
Victoria, Kansas for a number of years and began raising their three children.
In 1980, Jon graduated from Fort Hays State University with a BA in General
Studies. He also began his&nbsp;36 year&nbsp;career as a lineman and foreman
for Central Kansas Power, now Midwest Energy. In 1985, Jon secured their
growing Kisner family 80 acres of land just north of Toulon where the family
joined labor forces to build their settlement.&nbsp; Always an avid horse
lover, Jon was eventually equipped to open the property to board and train
horses including his own team of Belgians (Duke &amp; Dolly).&nbsp; He loved to
share this majestic team with the community by entering parades, hosting
hayrack rides, chauffeuring wedding parties and sponsoring Christmas light
tours through the Hays Country Club.&nbsp; His added craftsmanship was
showcased thru repairing and building a number of harnesses, trailers, buggies
and wagons.&nbsp;Once the grandkids were born in Texas, Jon &amp; Barbara moved to be
closer to them for a few years, only to return to their roots in Hays in
2016.&nbsp; After 50 years of marriage, his wife Barbara passed and was
reunited with her parents at St Fidelis Cemetery in Victoria. Jon remained in
his Hays home and stayed active including meeting with his retired Midwest
Energy coworkers for donuts, Military Academy classmates at McDonalds and horse
boarding members sporadically. Jon was a member of the Victoria V.F.W. Post #
1751, and a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas.Jon is survived by his children, Curtis Kisner and wife, Michelle, Fort Worth,
TX; Tonya Kisner, Belton, MO; Simone Anderson, Fort Worth, TX; his
grandchildren, Aubrianna Kisner; Cadence Anderson; Carmyn Anderson; his sister,
Janell Newton and husband, Gary, Wichita, KS.Jon is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Angela Kisner; his wife,
Barbara; his sister, Cynthia Karlin and her husband, Jerry.A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, October 18, 2025, at
The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Ave, Victoria, Kansas, with
Celebrant, Father Curtis Carlson O.F.M. Cap.The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at the
church.&nbsp;Inurnment with Military Honor Guard Rites by the Victoria&nbsp;V.F.W.
Post #1751 will be in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials payable to&nbsp;The
Sunflower Clydesdales&nbsp;in care of Cline’s-Keithley
Mortuary of Hays,&nbsp;1919
East 22nd&nbsp;Street, Hays, Kansas. Condolences
can be emailed to&nbsp;clineschapels@gmail.com&nbsp;or
left by guest book at&nbsp;www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.

Jon F. Kisner

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a> Associated Press

Fewer choices may be on the menu again as Medicare patients shop for prescription coverage this fall.

The number of available, stand-alone drug plans has fallen for a few years, and that trend will continue for 2026. Most markets will still have several choices, but some options are becoming particularly sparse for shoppers with low-income subsidies. And help may be harder to find because some insurers no longer pay brokers commissions for new business.

Shoppers have from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 to find new coverage that starts in January.

Here’s who needs a Medicare Part D plan

Regular Medicare, which most people qualify for after turning 65, does not come with prescription coverage, known as Part D. People must choose that separately.

About 23 million people with regular Medicare have this standalone coverage, according to the non-profit KFF, which studies health care.

Another roughly 34 million people have Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of Medicare that often come with prescription coverage.

A typical shopper will be able to choose a standalone drug plan from among eight to 12 options for 2026, according to KFF Medicare expert Juliette Cubanski. That’s down from 12 to 16 options in 2025.

Shoppers had nearly 30 choices as recently as 2021, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s Gretchen Jacobson.

Depending on the state, a range of one to four plans will be available at no premium to people who qualify for low-income subsidies, according to KFF. Eight were available in 2021.

Some insurers are reducing their presence in standalone Part D plans, while the Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Elevance is leaving the market entirely. Insurers and analysts who follow the industry note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">the Inflation Reduction Act</a>, which will cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 in 2026, puts more financial pressure on insurers. The same law now allows patients to spread the cost of prescriptions over the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760272024204.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a> Associated PressFewer choices may be on the menu again as Medicare patients shop for prescription coverage this fall.The number of available, stand-alone drug plans has fallen for a few years, and that trend will continue for 2026. Most markets will still have several choices, but some options are becoming particularly sparse for shoppers with low-income subsidies. And help may be harder to find because some insurers no longer pay brokers commissions for new business.Shoppers have from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 to find new coverage that starts in January.Some things to consider:<h2>Here’s who needs a Medicare Part D plan</h2>Regular Medicare, which most people qualify for after turning 65, does not come with prescription coverage, known as Part D. People must choose that separately.About 23 million people with regular Medicare have this standalone coverage, according to the non-profit KFF, which studies health care.Another roughly 34 million people have Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of Medicare that often come with prescription coverage.<h2>How Medicare Part D plans are changing</h2>A typical shopper will be able to choose a standalone drug plan from among eight to 12 options for 2026, according to KFF Medicare expert Juliette Cubanski. That’s down from 12 to 16 options in 2025.Shoppers had nearly 30 choices as recently as 2021, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s Gretchen Jacobson.Depending on the state, a range of one to four plans will be available at no premium to people who qualify for low-income subsidies, according to KFF. Eight were available in 2021.Some insurers are reducing their presence in standalone Part D plans, while the Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Elevance is leaving the market entirely. Insurers and analysts who follow the industry note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">the Inflation Reduction Act</a>, which will cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 in 2026, puts more financial pressure on insurers. The same law now allows patients to spread the cost of prescriptions over the year.<h2>There are still many Medicare Part D options</h2>Most markets will have several choices. But experts say Medicare Part D customers don’t like to shop, especially if they already have a plan that covers their medications. Finding affordable coverage for multiple prescriptions can be tricky.“I think there’s a lot of inertia and, frankly, people may be concerned that if they switch, they’re going to end up worse off,” Cubanski said.More people are being pushed to shop. Nearly 11% of those with standalone prescription drug coverage lost their plan in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2834155?guestaccesskey=945ba919-ae7d-4e09-9372-d5c7ba67e606&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=postup_jn&amp;utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&amp;utm_content=etoc-tfl_&amp;utm_term=072225" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Before 2023, that figure was often under 1%, said Dr. Christopher Cai, one of the researchers involved in the study.<h2>Here’s how Medicare Part D prices are changing</h2>Monthly premiums, or coverage prices, will fall nearly 10% on average to $34.50, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2026" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;last month.At least one option with a premium of under $20 exists in almost every region of the country, according to the consulting firm Oliver Wyman.Individual prices will range widely, with premiums for the same plan varying by state, Cubanski noted.But while plans may provide lower coverage prices, they could also raise deductibles or offer more limited lists of covered drugs, which are called formularies. Shoppers should check these details.Insurers will be allowed to raise premiums by as much as $50 a month for 2026, up from a $35 increase allowed this year. But Cubanski said only some plans will hit that higher limit and not necessarily in all states.<h2>Where to get help shopping for Medicare Part D plans</h2>Shoppers can use a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2025&amp;lang=en" target="_blank">federal government website</a>&nbsp;to compare plan prices and coverage.States also have a State Health Insurance Program created specifically to help people on Medicare find coverage.Consumers can help themselves by checking their coverage for changes and comparing it with other plans.Shoppers also should consider whether their pharmacy is in the network covered by any plan they are considering, said Jacobson, Commonwealth’s vice president of Medicare.Some might also consider switching to Medicare Advantage plans with prescription coverage. But those plans can have more limited networks of covered doctors, which can pose a problem for people with fewer care choices in rural areas.<h2>Why delaying may not be wise</h2>The enrollment window spans several weeks, but brokers say many people wait until that first week in December to make decisions, often after talking with family during holiday dinners.That can create a deadline crunch that makes it harder to find help in early December.___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.