Kansas
USDA mandates raw milk be tested for avian flu, Kansas reports new cases
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Kan. — The USDA is mandating that raw milk products be submitted for testing. Scripps News reported that officials believe it will help the USDA better understand the transmission and mutation of avian flu.
“This April it [HPAI] did show that it was able to move into other species, meaning dairy cattle,” explained Dr. Justin Smith, Kansas Animal Health Commissioner, “We were concerned that it actually was the same virus, which you’ll sometimes hear called H5N1 influenza as well.”
Ryan Gamboa/KSHB
The Kansas Department of Agriculture told KSHB 41 that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the strain commonly referred to in bird species. Following the virus’s indication, it can spread through dairy cattle, it is commonly referred to as H5N1.
“It is basically this the same virus. We’re dealing with it now in two different species right now across the states,” added Dr. Smith.
Chip Somodevilla
Original photo: A group of Canada Geese fly over the Ellipse near the White House December 18, 2006 in Washington, DC.
The presence of HPAI is nothing new, it has been on wildlife biologists’ minds since the early 2000s. In 2022, HPAI’s impact culled nearly 100 million birds, affecting egg prices across the United States.
“Right now we’re seeing an influx of particularly Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese in the state of Kansas. They seem to be one of the primary vectors for avian influenza,” explained Tom Bidrowski, Migratory Game Bird Manager at the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. “When we do see new birds arriving, we start seeing a few outbreaks in our wild populations.”
Ryan Gamboa/KSHB
KDWP said the recent spike in avian flu numbers is not having an overall impact on migratory waterfowl populations. It has impacted isolated avian flu cases in Douglas County, Kansas.
As of Dec. 6, 2024, Douglas County sits in red on an avian flu tracking map issued by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
“That map represents our ‘avian’ version, HPAI. We did have a positive backyard flock recently in Douglas County,” said Smith. “It was this relatively small flock of mixed birds. We went out and tested those birds and they did have it. It [Douglas] is considered a positive county now.”
Kansas Department of Agriculture
KDA reports that the location housing the backyard flock of birds is under certain disinfection requirements.
“There’s no indication right now that any of our dairies are being impacted with this virus in the dairy world,” Smith added.
At the end of November, KSHB 41 met Rachel Moser, the co-owner of Be Whole Again Farm. She runs a raw milk operation in Ray County, Missouri.
KSHB 41 News staff
“Raw milk is just one of those things that is really easy to digest,” Moser said. “It comes straight out of the cow, straight into a paper filter, kind of like a coffee filter, and into a cooling tank. It’s just milk.”
Moser’s business journey in raw milk was to get people back to the old way. Be Whole Again Farm believes in safe food practices of the 21st century.
“Raw milk was what humans drank for forever until the industrial revolution,” she explained. “In today’s day and age with refrigeration and cleaning chemicals… raw milk is not more dangerous than any other raw food.”
Caroline Hogan
Moser utilizes various processes to determine milk quality and consistently checks on the welfare of her animals.
“I see my cows. If I see that she looks depressed or off… we’re checking for fevers and things like that,” Moser added. “You can come and inspect my facilities and see with your own eyes we are being clean.”
Be Whole Again Farm told KSHB 41 that a large part of the raw milk industry is to know your farmer.
California Dept. of Health
The Kansas Department of Agriculture said raw milk consumers and dairy farm workers are the most susceptible to infection of avian flu in milk.
“If you’re buying pasteurized processed milk. That is not the milk we are looking at,” Smith explained. “I would highly encourage folks that elect to consume raw milk, that they do their due diligence. They need to make sure the dairy providing that raw milk, their cows are not suffering from this disease.”
To be clear, milk that’s been pasteurized and purchased in a grocery store will not need to be submitted for avian flu testing. KDA told KSHB 41 that pasteurization is safe and raw products will be submitted for testing moving forward.
Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/AP
“There are some concerns about raw milk that does have the virus in it. If it’s being harvested from a cow that has the virus, there is a concern there and what the consumption of that virus is, we don’t know yet,” said Smith. “There’s no indication that it’s been a problem if those folks that have consumed it again from the pasteurization.”
The Kansas Department of Agriculture last reported a case of HPAI in April 2024. New mandates are creating additional strain and responsibility in farmers’ stewardship.
“The risk of getting someone sick,” Moser added. “I could lose everything.”
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George Kittle says he’s feeling great during recovery process
George Kittle shared an encouraging update on his recovery, saying the process is going great as he prepares for the upcoming 2026 NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2025 NFL season hoping to become the first team to earn a Super Bowl three-peat.
Instead, they sputtered to their worst-ever finish during Andy Reid’s 13 seasons in Kansas City.
The Chiefs posted just a 6-11 record in a season that was marred by a bevy offensive issues that led to the team struggle badly in one-score contests. Kansas City lost starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee in the game during which it was eliminated from playoff contention, adding injury to what was already an insulting season.
As such, Kansas City entered the offseason hoping for two things: get healthy and reshape its roster to better support Mahomes, especially with him returning from a significant injury.
Were the Chiefs able to accomplish those goals? Here’s a complete breakdown of Kansas City’s offseason and whether the team has the talent and pathway needed to be a contender in 2026.
Kansas City Chiefs offseason report card
Free agency: C
Free agency was a mixed bag for the Chiefs. On the one hand, they made a notable upgrade to their running game by signing Kenneth Walker to replace Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. The Super Bowl 60 MVP should help take pressure off Mahomes, which could prove critical as the 31-year-old quarterback returns from his significant knee injury.
However, the Chiefs also lost a lot of talent, particularly on defense. Notably, they lost three starters from their secondary, as cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook signed with the Rams and Bengals in free agency while star cornerback Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams.
That overhaul, along with the loss of linebacker Leo Chenal, could prove a lot for the Chiefs to overcome on defense even after adding some solid veteran depth in the form of defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, safety Alohi Gilman and CB L’Jarius Sneed.
NFL draft: B+
The good news for the Chiefs? They had a rock-solid 2026 NFL Draft that helped shore up their defense. Kansas City spent its first three picks on that side of the ball, landing the draft’s top cornerback, Mansoor Delane, a potential-packed defensive tackle in Peter Woods and an explosive, high-motor edge rusher in R Mason Thomas.
The Chiefs also spent a seventh-round selection on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier – viewed by many as a Day 2 talent – after he slid due to injury. Having him to develop behind Mahomes and free-agent signee Justin Fields will be nice for Reid.
State of the roster: B-
This version of the Chiefs has more concerns than previous iterations. The cornerback group is particularly suspect, though Delane’s presence raises that unit’s ceiling. Elsewhere, the team is thinner than most would like at receiver while right tackle remains a question mark.
Still, Mahomes remains one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks even with the questions facing him in his return. Kansas City’s interior offensive line remains strong thanks to the Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith pairing while Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy could be a strong receiver duo, if all goes well.
Defensively, the Chiefs still look strong up the middle thanks to Chris Jones and the team’s newly-acquired interior depth as well as the Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill partnership at linebacker. It’s just a matter of whether they will be able to hold up in coverage with their new-look secondary.
All that’s to say that while the Chiefs still have an above-average roster, it has far more holes than many of its recent Super Bowl-winning units have.
Chance of contending in 2026: B
There are some factors working against the Chiefs this season. They play in the AFC West, which figures to once again be one of the toughest divisions in football, and will need to stay afloat early in the season either without Mahomes or with him still getting his injured left leg under him.
Kansas City is also undergoing a lot of changes on defense, so it may take a while before Steve Spagnuolo’s unit is playing at its peak.
Still, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Reid and Co. will be able to turn this team into a playoff contender once again. He and Mahomes have three rings together, after all.
Long-term outlook and team direction: A-
The Chiefs still have a rosy outlook long-term. Realistically, that will remain as long as the Reid-Mahomes partnership is in effect. Sure, the team will have to get creative with its finances considering the quarterback’s record-breaking contract, but GM Brett Veach has shown an ability to navigate the cap well across his tenure.
This offseason is a great example of that. Veach had to play “Moneyball” with some portion of the team’s roster as expenses mounted, and he chose the secondary for that. That was an astute move considering Spagnuolo’s penchant for developing defensive back talent, and giving him a top prospect like Delane via a trade up was a sensible maneuver.
The biggest questions with which Kansas City will soon reckon are about how to replace Travis Kelce and whether to extend Rashee Rice. As long as they find suitable answers to those and fill any holes that develop during the 2026 season, the Chiefs should remain a contender.
Aura and vibes: B
Vibes around the Chiefs are generally good. Mahomes’ recovery from his late-season injury has inspired optimism, as he and the team has posted videos of him working out and throwing, while the antics surrounding Kelce’s wedding to Taylor Swift showed off the team’s strong-looking bond.
The lone negative? Rice has had a trying offseason during which he spent time in jail for a probation violation. Questions about his ability to stay on the field continue to persist, and he remains one of the team’s biggest short- and long-term question marks because of it.
Nonetheless, there seems to be a lot of belief that the Chiefs can re-establish themselves as a playoff contender during the 2026 NFL season. That’s great news for a team that endured a disappointing and shocking 6-11 campaign last year after back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
Overall offseason grade: B-
It’s hard to fault the Chiefs too much for the approach they took during the offseason. They suffered some key losses in free agency, but that was to be expected given how much they are paying to Mahomes and other stars on the roster.
Kansas City should still be a playoff contender, but questions remain whether this year’s iteration of the team can reach the Super Bowl ceiling of previous squads. It’s hard to categorically count out Mahomes and Reid, but given the holes Kansas City has, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it have to scratch and claw its way into the playoff race.
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As cases climb in the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Sedgwick County provided clarity on the “explosive” diarrheal illness’s impact at the state and local levels.
Data from KDHE shows 22 cases in Kansas. Further localizing cyclosporiasis cases, there are five confirmed cases in Sedgwick County. The county clarified that all five local cases are Sedgwick County residents.
Regarding whether any of the local cases resulted in hospitalization, Sedgwick County said that for privacy reasons it couldn’t provide that information, “due to the small number of cases.”
While questions continue surrounding the outbreak, Health experts announced on Tuesday that lettuce and other salad greens are a potential source.
To protect yourself from cyclosporiasis and bacterial illnesses connected with produce, Sedgwick County offered the following guidance:
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or preparing them.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Avoid bagged lettuce or salad mixes. When eating a whole head of lettuce, remove the first two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
- Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
- Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should follow food and water precautions, including avoiding foods and beverages that may be contaminated.
- Be aware that Cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods.
- If you develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially persistent watery diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment recommendations.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – One creator has written an anthem for Kansas City to reflect the metro’s historic summer for years to come.
An Omaha-based Afrobeat artist, Kusher Snazzy, released a World Cup song, ‘KC to the World,’ celebrating the tournament’s culture and diversity.
The song features soccer players and dancers representing multiple nations that played in the World Cup, including Germany, Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Italy. It was filmed locally in multiple locations, including a metro studio and rooftop.
READ MORE: Kansas City eyes 2031 Women’s World Cup bid after hosting FIFA tournament
Kusher Snazzy’s goal with the song was to depict the once-in-a-lifetime summer. His passion for soccer and the Midwest inspired the lyrics.
“We don’t know when FIFA is going to choose KC again,” said Kusher.
Joseph Termini is the mastermind behind the project. He took a vision and made it come to life. As a Kansas City native, he knew the importance of showcasing his city positively through a music video.
“Kansas City has been under the radar, and I feel like this is the first time we’re being put on a pedestal, and that pedestal is allowing other people to realize that this is more than just a small-town city,” said Termini.
Listeners can find the hit song on YouTube.
ALSO READ: Heart structure may stay in Kansas City after Fan Festival ends
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