LINDSBORG— Five new exhibitions comprise the 128th annual Midwest Art Exhibition, which opens at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on January 25 and continues through April 19, 2026. The shows include paintings by Tim Stone and prints by Marco Hernandez, both of Wichita; woodcarvings by Glenn Knak of Salina; mixed media pieces by Genevieve Waller of Denver; and selections by Gretchen Elliott’s art students at Smoky Valley High School. The opening reception for the exhibitions will be on Sunday, January 25, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m., with exhibition talks beginning at 2:30.

The Midwest Art Exhibition was founded in 1899 by three local Lindsborg artists – Birger Sandzén, Carl Lotave, and G. N. Malm – as a complement to the annual Messiah Festival held at Bethany College. Today, it represents the longest running annual art exhibition in Kansas and features works by artists invited by the Sandzén Gallery or from the Gallery's permanent collection.

Tim Stone is a native of Hutchinson who now lives in Wichita. He graduated from Wichita State University in 2012 with a BFA degree and in 2022 with an MFA. He is currently instructing drawing, painting and design courses as an adjunct lecturer at WSU, as well as instructing at the Lawrence Arts Center. His exhibition, Din of Silence, will feature paintings that point to disturbances, unease, and alarming problems. There is tension between the ordinary and the superlative, between what is natural and artificial. He writes, “I am examining how bemusedly liminal our physical and digital spaces have become. In an era where the boundaries between fantasy and reality blur, we recognize ourselves witnessing and engaging with the overwhelming noise—sometimes in person, often through the screens of our phones.”

Marco Hernandez is a Mexican artist/printmaker from Wichita. He received his MFA from Kansas State University in 2015. After receiving his MFA degree, he taught there for year before being hired as a professor at Wichita State University. For his exhibition Origen (the Spanish word for origin) he writes, “My current body of work explores themes associated with contemporary Mexican and Mexican American cultures. I am inspired by my personal experiences growing up as a Mexican immigrant in California and the Midwest. Mexican and Mexican American symbols play a large role in my prints. The symbols span from ancient Mesoamerican imagery to contemporary popular cultural objects. Life experiences and a traditional Mexican upbringing have influenced my thoughts and beliefs; and ultimately have been inspirational to the imagery and meaning in my art.”

Carvings from the Heart features selections in wood by Salina artist Glenn Knak. He started carving in 1979 when, “I learned how to sharpen a knife and a pointy wood stick I was working on started to look more like a person than a pointy stick. I then tried and completed three more carvings of people ranging in height from 4 to 8 inches tall and surprised myself with the results. I am a self-taught woodcarver and have spent 20 years carving caricatures, realistic humans, and experimenting with different carvings to see what worked best for me. Over the years I developed my own style of carving people and setting them in a scene to “tell a story.” I also found that when I developed a scene or carving that had a special meaning to me, it often brought out an emotional response from the people viewing it.”

Denver artist Genevieve Waller works primarily with camera-less photography, installation, and sculpture—investigating the connections between abstraction, decoration, kitsch, and LGBTQ+ culture. For her photograms, she focuses on how they function as trace images (like footprints) and their tendency to abstract reality. 

In her installation and sculptural works, she’s concerned with the porous boundary between interior decoration and fine art, the legacy of Surrealism, and dethroning the seriousness of high art. Waller is from Wichita and holds a BA in art history from Wichita State University, an MFA in photography and art history from Ohio University in Athens, and an MA in visual and cultural studies from the University of Rochester in New York.

Art by students from Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg round out the exhibitions. They will be showing works selected by instructor Gretchen Elliott in a multitude of mediums from paintings and prints to sculpture and ceramics.

The Sandzén Gallery is located at 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Docent tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment. 

For more information about Birger Sandzén, the Gallery, and these exhibitions visit the website <a href="http://www.sandzen.org">www.sandzen.org</a> or phone (785) 227-2220.

The 128th annual Midwest Art Exhibition opens Jan. 26 at the Sandzén Gallery in Lindsborg

Following is recent booking activity for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/Sheriff-Office/Online-search/Booking-Activities">Saline County Jail</a>, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; Speeding; maximum limits

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Battery; Knowing/recklessly causing bodily harm; Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption

NAME:&nbsp;Garcia,Alexandro Fernando

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Speeding; maximum limits; Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor

*No image available for&nbsp;Picking,Shanon Leigh (43)*

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

*No image available for&nbsp;Pritchard,Jasmine Leann (19)*

NAME:&nbsp;Pritchard,Jasmine Leann

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Battery; Knowing/recklessly causing bodily harm; Criminal Damage to Property; Misdemeanor; Robbery

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Aggravated burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, domestic violence, or sexually motivated crime; Criminal Damage to Property; Misdemeanor; Domestic Battery: rude physical contact; Intimidation of witness/victim; Prevent reporting; Robbery; Stalking; After served a protection order prohibiting contact; Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500; Viol protection order; Abuse order

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 18

"Lines from Life” will be the next exhibit at The Gallery in Sams Hall of Fine Arts on the Kansas Wesleyan campus. 

The figurative work by the Central Kansas Artists will open January 21 and run through February 25. A reception will be from 5-6:30 pm February 5, with remarks at 5:30 pm.

Central Kansas Artists have met since 2008 to draw live models. They use a variety of media and techniques, producing a range of art styles, from quick line sketches to finished pieces. Twelve to 14 artists, most from Salina but also from Miltonvale, Minneapolis, McPherson and Lindsborg, are expected to participate in the exhibit.

Models have included dancers, children, seniors, nudes and people in costumes. The group now meets weekly at The Temple. The sessions are open to the public, with artists contributing a small fee to pay the models.

The Gallery is free and open to the public.

KWU to open new art exhibit in Same Hall featuring several talented central Kansas artists 

OCCK transportation services closed Monday in observance of MLK Day

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrant

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Aggravated burglary; Locked dwelling for felony, theft, domestic violence, sexually motivated; Aggravated kidnapping; Burglary; Locked dwelling to commit felony, theft, domestic violence or sexually motivated crime; Failure to appear; Flee or attempt to elude; reckless driving; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrant; Theft of prop/services;Value $1,500 to $25,000; Criminal trespass; Unknown circumstance; Stalking; After served a protection order prohibiting contact; 2nd or subs

NAME:&nbsp;Lynn,Katherine Elizabeth

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circ; felony; Criminal trespass; Unknown circumstance; Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Theft of prop/serv;&lt;$1500 3 business in 72 hrs

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+Poss of marijuana; Traffic contraband in corr/care facility; Intro item on grounds

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; Improper driving on laned roadway

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 17

Join the Salina Symphony as they celebrate 70 remarkable years with “Platinum Jubilee” Gala Saturday, February 21, at the Salina Country Club.

This unforgettable evening will feature signature cocktails, exquisite cuisine, and festive performances by the Salina Symphony Chamber Orchestra and guest vocalists Jacob Corman, Michelle Cardinal Dolan, and Matthew Schwan.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktail hour and silent auction bidding. Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m., followed by the live auction and concert. Tuxes and gowns are welcome, and so are suits and cocktail dresses. 

Dress to impress with black, silver or sparkle!

Tickets are $85 per person and may be purchased through Feb. 6 at the Symphony Office or by calling 785-823-8309.

Proceeds will benefit the Symphony and Youth Education Program.

The Salina Symphony is dedicated to enriching lives through artistic music performance and education. For more information, contact Adrienne Allen at (785) 823-8309 or visit <a href="http://salinasymphony.org">salinasymphony.org</a>.

Salina Symphony to present 70th anniversary “Platinum Jubilee” Gala at Salina Country Club

The Salina Area United Way is pleased to announce the return of its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for the 2026 tax season, offering free, IRS-certified tax preparation assistance to qualifying individuals and families in the Salina area. 

The VITA program is part of Salina Area United Way’s ongoing efforts to strengthen financial security and support local households by helping community members keep more of what they earn.

VITA intake will run from February 2 through April 8, 2026, at The McKenzie Center (308 W Elm St., Salina, KS).

Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and no appointments are made by phone — clients must come in person during intake hours.

“Tax season can be stressful, and our goal with VITA is to ease that burden for those who qualify,” said Christina Small, Executive Director, Salina Area United Way. “Our IRS-certified volunteers provide reliable, free assistance so local families can receive the refunds and credits they are eligible for — dollars that stay in the community.”

Intake hours are as followed:&nbsp;

- Monday &amp; Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Clients should bring a photo ID, Social Security cards, income documents (W-2s, 1099s), bank information for direct deposit, and last year’s tax return.

During the 2025 tax season, the VITA program made a meaningful impact in the community:

· Around 830 tax returns were prepared for local individuals and families — all at no cost.

· Brought in over $1 million in returns to our community (EITC &amp; CTC)

· The program was powered by 34 IRS-certified volunteers, including 25 students from Kansas Wesleyan University and nine recurring community volunteers, who together contributed around 1,488 volunteer hours.

These services help hardworking households avoid costly tax preparation fees and maximize credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, putting money back into local rent, groceries, utilities, childcare, and savings.

Program Support &amp; Community Partnership

Salina Area United Way extends sincere thanks to the Greater Salina Community Foundation for awarding a grant to support the VITA program. This investment helps ensure the continuation of free, reliable tax assistance for local families and strengthens United Way’s ability to promote financial stability across the community.

For more information, to volunteer, or to support the VITA program click <a href="https://unitedwaysalina.org/vita">here</a>&nbsp;or call (785) 827-1312.

Salina Area United Way announces 2026 VITA program: Free tax preparation services for local families

All of our LIVE sports streams are FREE to watch for everybody!!!

High School Sports LIVE STREAMS

Here is the lineup for the Saturday Morning Show with Dave Foor &amp; Nicolas Fierro on&nbsp;910 AM/107.5 FM KINA for&nbsp;January 10, 2026:

Paul Forrester - CAPS of Salina, recent local tragedies/PSA

Michelle Weis - Saline County Emergency Management, "Storm Fury on the Plains"

Zach Gilig - Salina Family YMCA, updates &amp; news from the Y

Kelly Mobray - Salina Adult Education Center, "A Peace of My Mind" exhibit

All episodes are recorded and uploaded on the&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?CFID=05fb1ecb-7d68-4542-adb3-9b7c11d9b5e5&amp;CFTOKEN=0&amp;stationCallSign=KINA&amp;onDemandAutoStart=true&amp;p92136680=true&amp;relocateURL=true">910 AM and 107.5 FM KINA website</a>, under the 'KINA Saturday Mornings'&nbsp;tab.

Saturday Morning Show lineup with Dave Foor & Nicolas Fierro, January 17, 2026

In an effort to protect patients, visitors and employees due to increased prevalence of respiratory illness across the region, Salina Regional Health Center and Memorial Hospital in Abilene implemented new visitor guidance at the hospitals effective January 16, until further notice.

“We’ve been seeing high numbers of patients with influenza, COVID and other respiratory illnesses across our health system and across the state, which necessitates we start communicating our visitor guidance,” said Bethanie McDowell, VP Patient Care/Chief Nursing Officer at Salina Regional Health Center. “These changes are aimed at protecting patients, visitors and staff.”

“The health and safety of our patients, staff and community is always our top priority,” said Kim Haverly, Memorial Health System Administrator. “These temporary visitor guidelines are just a proactive step to reduce the spread of illness and ensure that we continue to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients. We appreciate the understanding while we work together to protect one another.”

The updated guidance and safety precautions apply:

· DO NOT visit if you are ill or have any signs and symptoms of respiratory illness including cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, muscle aches or fatigue.

· Children age 12 and under should not visit inpatients.

· People with compromised immune systems or pulmonary complications should visit only if absolutely necessary.

• Masks are available at hospital entrances for all who wish to wear one.

• Visitors should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to entering a patient room and prior to leaving the facility.

· Compassionate exceptions to these restrictions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Visitor guidance updated at Salina, Abilene hospitals due to increasing respiratory illnesses

<a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 16 - January 18

High wind gusts are expected to make its way through Salina and central Kansas on Friday.

According to the US National Weather Service, gusty&nbsp;northwest winds are forecasted during the day on Friday. Wind gusts are expected to range from 40-50 mph.

This is also paired with dry conditions, which there will be a very high grassland fire danger in the afternoon.

Russell is expected to have the highest speed of wind gusts with the range being 45-50 mph.

High temperatures for Salina is 41 degrees.

Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.

High wind gusts and grassland fire danger expected throughout central Kansas, Salina on Friday

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 14 - January 16

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 12 - January 14

A chance of light rain Friday afternoon is expected to gradually transition into light snow towards the evening.

According to the US National Weather Service, a chance of rain is expected after 1:00 pm with a 50% chance to mix with snow after 4:00 pm.

Portions of central and south-central Kansas could see light snow accumulations up to 1 inch, and slick spots on bridges and overpasses are possible tonight.&nbsp;

A little after 7:00 pm, the mix will likely become all snow.

Higher accumulations are expected across southwest Kansas.

Light snow up to 1 inch expected late Friday afternoon and into the evening in central Kansas

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 9 - January 11

After an activity of showers and thunderstorms to occur late Wednesday night through Thursday, a storm system is expected follow that with light to modest snow accumulations across the region Friday afternoon through night.

The greatest potential for at least a half inch of rain is primarily along and east of I-135.

This is according to the US National Weather Service, but there remains some uncertainty as the weather agency will refine forecast details the next few days.

Chance of snow to occur Friday after upcoming showers and thunderstorms 

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 7 - January 9

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 5 - January 7

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 2 - January 4

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education, for now, is backtracking on plans to garnish wages and seize tax refunds of student loan borrowers in default, the department announced Friday.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-garnish-wages-defaulted-student-loans" target="_blank">Less than a month</a>&nbsp;after the agency said it would begin garnishing wages by sending notices to roughly 1,000 borrowers in default the first full week of January, the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-delays-involuntary-collections-amid-ongoing-student-loan-repayment-improvements" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the temporary delay would allow it to implement “major student loan repayment reforms” under Republicans’ tax and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law in 2025.

The delay would “give borrowers more options to repay their loans,” the department said.&nbsp;

It was not immediately clear from the announcement how long the pause would last.&nbsp;

Education Secretary Linda McMahon signaled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/AsuO9zf7WxY?t=685s" target="_blank">earlier this week</a>&nbsp;during the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/us-education-secretary-promotes-returning-school-autonomy-to-states/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;portion of her Returning Education to the States Tour that wage garnishment has been “put on pause for a bit.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The agency resumed collections for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-restart-defaulted-student-loan-collections" target="_blank">defaulted federal student loans</a>&nbsp;in May after a pause that began during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A borrower can have their wages garnished as a consequence of defaulting on their loans, and a loanholder can order an employer to withhold up to 15% of their disposable pay to collect defaulted debt without being taken to court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-is-wage-garnishment" target="_blank">Federal Student Aid</a>, an office of the Education Department.

The delay also applies to the Treasury Offset Program, which “allows the federal government to collect income tax refunds and certain government benefits (for example, Social Security benefits) from individuals who owe debts to the federal government,” per&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/offset" target="_blank">FSA</a>.&nbsp;

Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director for the advocacy group Protect Borrowers, said in a Friday statement that “after months of pressure and countless horror stories from borrowers, the Trump Administration says it has abandoned plans to snatch working people’s hard-earned money directly from their paychecks and tax refunds simply for falling behind on their student loans.”&nbsp;

“Amidst the growing affordability crisis, the Administration’s plans would have been economically reckless and would have risked pushing nearly 9 million defaulted borrowers even further into debt,” she added, while pointing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectborrowers.org/new-analysis-finds-that-a-student-loan-borrower-defaulted-every-nine-seconds-in-2025-as-trump-restarts-wage-garnishment/" target="_blank">Jan. 7 letter</a>&nbsp;from Protect Borrowers and other organizations calling on McMahon to “immediately halt its plan to resume garnishment of millions of struggling borrowers’ wages.”

US Education Dept. delays plan to garnish wages of student borrowers in default

KANSAS CITY—One person was injured in a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, Kansas City Fire Department&nbsp;companies were dispatched to a reported fire in the 7800 block of 48th Terrace, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

On arrival, crews reported the 1-story home was fully involved in fire. All residents were reported to be out of the house, and after performing searches, crews confirmed it was all clear

One occupant was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for burns sustained in the fire.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD and Bomb and Arson. &nbsp;City Planning and Dangerous Buildings have been requested to the scene.&nbsp;

One hospitalized after fire at home in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Thursday announced the outlines of a health care plan he wants Congress to take up as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-obamacare-affordable-care-act-616758c58942125f34552913e24832ef">Republicans have faced increasing pressure to address rising health costs</a>&nbsp;after lawmakers let&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-35060610e82ca3257821c53f2a34ecf6">subsidies expire</a>.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/The-Great-Healthcare-Plan.pdf">Click here to read </a>additional details on the plan

The cornerstone is his proposal to send money directly to Americans for health savings accounts so they can handle insurance and health costs as they see fit. Democrats have rejected the idea as a paltry substitute for the tax credits that had helped lower monthly premiums for many people.

“The government is going to pay the money directly to you,” Trump said in a taped video the White House released to announce the plan. “It goes to you and then you take the money and buy your own health care.”

Trump’s plan also focuses on lowering drug prices and requiring insurers to be more upfront with the public about costs, revenues, rejected claims and wait times for care.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-2d9fad3c8132ae49a2b9bc27a7ac8531">has long been dogged by his lack of a comprehensive health care plan</a>&nbsp;as he and Republicans have sought to unwind former President Barack Obama’s signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act. Trump was thwarted during his first term in trying to repeal and replace the law.

When he ran for president in 2024, Trump said he had only “concepts of a plan” to address health care. His new proposal, short on many specifics, appeared to be the concepts of a plan.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oz-hhs-cms-kennedy-health-medicare-medicaid-ef02cafd3100a4794d8e882fdf2ad7b0">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a>, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, described it to reporters on a telephone briefing as a “framework that we believe will help Congress create legislation.”

A White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and described some details on condition of anonymity said the administration had been discussing the proposal with allies in Congress, but was unable to name any lawmakers who were working to address the plan.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the Republican chair of the Senate health committee, said in a social media post praising Trump’s plan that his committee “has and will take action on the President’s affordability agenda.”

The White House did not offer any details about how much money it envisioned being sent to consumers to shop for insurance, or whether the money would be available to all “Obamacare” enrollees or just those with lower-tier bronze and catastrophic plans.

The idea mirrors one floated among Republican senators last year. Democrats largely rejected it, saying the accounts would not be enough to cover costs for most consumers. Currently, such accounts are used disproportionately by the wealthiest Americans, who have more income to fund them and a bigger incentive to lower their tax rate.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Thursday whether the president could guarantee that under his plan, people would be able to cover their health costs. She did not directly answer, but said, “If this plan is put in place, every single American who has health care in the United States will see lower costs as a result.”

Enhanced tax credits that helped reduce the cost of insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired at the end of 2025 even though Democrats had forced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day government shutdown</a>&nbsp;over the issue.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has been leading a bipartisan group of 12 senators trying to devise a compromise that would extend those subsidies for two years while adding new limits on who can receive them. That proposal would create the option, in the second year, of a health savings account that Trump and Republicans prefer.

The White House official denied that Trump was closing the door completely on those bipartisan negotiations, and said the White House preferred to send money directly to consumers.

Plan follows massive cuts to health programs

Trump’s plan comes months after the Republicans’ big tax and spending bill last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-bill-medicaid-cuts-snap-ed0d2c7c20b43c54265dbc9cb215b647">cut more than $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;over a decade in federal health care and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and shifting certain federal costs to the states.

Democrats have blasted those cuts as devastating for vulnerable people who rely on programs such as Medicaid for their health care. The GOP bill included an infusion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rural-hospitals-fund-medicaid-cuts-48fb63019a6e73504eb13411abc6bc1e">$50 billion over five years</a>&nbsp;for rural health programs, an amount experts have said is inadequate to fill the gap in funding.

The White House said Trump’s new proposal will seek to bring down premiums by fully funding cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs, a type of financial help that insurers give to low-income ACA enrollees on silver-level, or mid-tier plans.

From 2014 until 2017, the federal government reimbursed insurance companies for CSRs. In 2017, the first Trump administration stopped making those payments. To make up for the lost money, insurance companies raised premiums for silver-level plans. That ended up increasing the financial assistance many enrollees got to help them pay for premiums.

As a result, health analysts say that while restoring money for CSRs would likely bring down silver-level premiums, as Trump says, it could have the unwelcome ripple effect of increasing many people’s net premiums on bronze and gold plans.

Oz said Trump’s plans also seeks to have certain medications made available over the counter instead of by prescription if they are deemed safe enough. He mentioned higher-dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and peptic ulcer drugs as two examples.

It was unclear whether the White House is asking Congress to take steps to make more prescription drugs available over the counter. For decades, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-food-and-drug-administration">Food and Drug Administration</a>&nbsp;has had the ability to do that.

The heartburn drug Prilosec, as well as numerous allergy medications, are among those the FDA has approved for over-the-counter sales. The FDA only approves such changes if studies show patients can safely take the drug after reading the package labeling. Companies must apply for the switch.

The White House said Trump’s plan would also codify his efforts to lower drug prices by tying prices to the lowest price paid by other countries.

Trump has already struck deals with a number of drugmakers to get them to lower the prices. As part of that, the drugmakers have agreed to sell pharmacy-ready medicines directly to consumers who can shop online at the White House’s website for selling drugs directly to consumers, TrumpRx.gov.

TrumpRx did not yet have any drugs listed on Thursday. Oz said drugs will be available on the website at the end of the month.

AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.

More details on the Great Health Care Plan Trump wants Congress to consider

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. overdose deaths fell through most of last year, suggesting a lasting improvement in an epidemic that had been worsening for decades.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm">Federal data</a>&nbsp;released last week showed that overdose deaths have been falling for more than two years — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-overdose-deaths-opioids-1561a9f189255ad60c533462f10490a2">longest drop in decades</a>&nbsp;— but also that the decline was slowing.

And the monthly death toll is still not back to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, let alone where it was before the current overdose epidemic struck decades ago, said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends.

“Overall I think this continues to be encouraging, especially since we're seeing declines almost across the nation,” he said.

Overdose deaths began steadily climbing in the 1990s with overdoses involving opioid painkillers, followed by waves of deaths from heroin and — more recently — illicit fentanyl. Deaths peaked nearly 110,000 in 2022, fell a little in 2023 and then plummeted 27% in 2024, to around 80,000. That was the largest one-year decline ever recorded.

The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data runs through August 2025 and represents the first update of monthly provisional drug overdose deaths since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">federal government shutdown</a>.

An estimated 73,000 people died from overdoses in the 12-month period that ended August 2025, down about 21% from the 92,000 in the previous 12-month period.

CDC officials reported that deaths were down in all states except Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico and North Dakota. But they noted it's likely that not all overdose deaths have been reported yet in every state, and additional data in the future might affect that state count.

Researchers cannot yet say with confidence why deaths have gone down. Experts have offered multiple possible explanations: increased availability of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/narcan-naloxone-overdose-opioids-9ad693795ce31e3a867a4dd4b65dbde8">overdose-reversing drug naloxone</a>, expanded addiction&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/methadone-opioids-addiction-treatment-6dc1634de4cdac06410149e6a1372e18">treatment</a>, shifts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smoking-injection-overdoses-fentanyl-cbaf9c258b4fdbcc93ac164902629c35">how people use</a>&nbsp;drugs, and the growing impact of billions of dollars in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opioids-settlement-money-recovery-addiction-d186d72250f35056892bc9d70b5ab2c3">opioid lawsuit settlement money</a>.

Some also point to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2841441">research</a>&nbsp;that suggests the number of people likely to overdose has been shrinking, as fewer teens take up drugs and many illicit drug users have died.

Two other theories recently joined the list.

China regulation changes may be having an impact

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea6130?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D436067792935069%5B%E2%80%A6%5DGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1767899004">a paper</a>&nbsp;published last week in the journal Science, University of Maryland researchers point to the drug supply. They say regulatory changes in China a few years ago appear to have diminished the availability of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.

Their argument is based partly on information from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which last year reported that the purity — and dangerous potency — of fentanyl rose early in the COVID-19 pandemic but fell after 2022. It suggests it became harder to make fentanyl and its potency was diluted.

One piece of evidence for that: More U.S.-based Reddit users reported a fentanyl “drought” in 2023.

The authors connect that to signs that the Chinese government — at the urging of U.S. officials — took steps in 2023 to clamp down on the selling of substances used to make drugs. Information is limited on exactly what the Chinese government did, and the paper is a bit speculative, but “we thought we could make a case,” said Peter Reuter, one of the authors.

The recent deceleration of overdose deaths could be because producers in Canada and Mexico found alternative sources, Reuter and his colleagues think.

Their paper drew inspiration from a team of University of Pittsburgh researchers, who earlier concluded that regulatory changes in China concerning the drug carfentanil were an important explanation for a dip in U.S. overdose deaths in 2018.

Did pandemic stimulus payments play a role?

Those same Pittsburgh researchers — Dr. Donald Burke and Dr. Hawre Jalal — are now focused on another theory for what's happened to overdose deaths. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925003937?dgcid=raven_sd_aip_email">a paper</a>&nbsp;published last week in the International Journal of Drug Policy, they say overdose trends may be at least partly tied to federal stimulus checks sent out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researchers tracked the three rounds of pandemic stimulus payments to U.S. households in 2020 and 2021, and saw surges in overdose deaths after each one.

That money alleviated economic hardship for many families, but some of it also helped people pay for illicit drugs, the Pittsburgh researchers say. And the end of those payments helps explain why overdoses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/overdose-deaths-us-drugs-epidemic-cdc-e0dfd9d1ae140004af64186aa21774da">stabilized in 2022</a>&nbsp;and began falling afterward, they say.

Both arguments seem to have merit, though they do not prove causation, said Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a drug policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

“I personally think it's more complicated,” with those partial explanations layering on other trends, he said.

The Maryland and Pittsburgh researchers raised questions about whether Trump administration policies could slow momentum.

They noted relations between the U.S. and China strained last year when Trump placed sharply higher tariffs on imports from China, and speculated China might ease efforts to police fentanyl precursors.

They also noted Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariff-dividends-election-supreme-court-21ee2da1ab7966fa6566b81bc91b11d4">promised a $2,000 check</a>&nbsp;to Americans to help offset the rising prices resulting from tariffs placed on China. Those checks could cause some drug users to splurge and overdose, said Burke, who urged federal officials to think through how the money is disbursed.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/samhsa-grants-mental-health-substance-abuse-trump-32a9766ff2d2ed02721b5ee2dde9c2cc">canceled some 2,000 grants</a>&nbsp;in a move expected to jeopardize programs that provide mental health and drug treatment and prevention services.

Report: US overdose deaths down in 45 states; not in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — A third round of retaliatory strikes by the U.S. in Syria resulted in the death of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, who officials say had a direct tie to the Islamic State member responsible for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-us-military-attack-palmyra-is-22f67e54c1a15fcc643de2672b83aacb">last month’s ambush</a>&nbsp;that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country.

U.S. Central Command announced that the strike in northwest Syria on Friday killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who they claim was “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected” to the Dec. 13 attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.

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