The American Psychological Association has done quite a bit of research on what extreme heat does to us and how we respond to extreme heat. Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, says the findings show that extreme heat puts mental health at risk. She says prolonged extreme heat can have a cumulative effect – anxiety, less sleep and less balance in our diet and daily routines, which can then lead to becoming aggressive or argumentative.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

An abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables make summer the perfect time to add something we rarely get enough of in our daily diet. We can also fight the summer heat by using alternative ways to prepare meals that reduce the heat in the kitchen. And, we can combat the boredom that’s setting in for kids by getting them involved in preparing healthy meals and making snacks. According to K-State Research and Extension northwest regional family and consumer sciences specialist, Ashley Svaty, (swat-ee) families can also use summer as an opportunity to make eating healthy a habit.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

When summer boredom starts to set in and kids are getting restless, it’s time to find something new for them to do – but what? K-State Research and Extension has some ideas. In a series of publications called, Suddenly in Charge, Extension family and consumer science agents created a resource that parents and caregivers can turn to for quick recipes and activities. Tristen Cope, the family and consumer science agent in the Chisholm Trail District, discusses the publications, as well as other ideas, such as backyard camping, DIY sidewalk chalk and making healthy summertime drinks and snacks.When summer boredom starts to set in and kids are getting restless, it’s time to find something new for them to do – but what? K-State Research and Extension has some ideas. In a series of publications called, Suddenly in Charge, Extension family and consumer science agents created a resource that parents and caregivers can turn to for quick recipes and activities. Tristen Cope, the family and consumer science agent in the Chisholm Trail District, discusses the publications, as well as other ideas, such as backyard camping, DIY sidewalk chalk and making healthy summertime drinks and snacks.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Estate planning is defined as the process of arranging your affairs to meet your objectives regarding the use, conservation, and disposal of your property. However, a K-State Research and Extension family resource management and wellness agent says it’s also a gift that you can give your family. Renae Riedy is working on new Extension publications to make the estate planning process easier to understand and get set up. She discusses the keys to estate planning and what she’s learned while working on these publications.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

According to a 2023 annual report by the March of Dimes, Kansas received a low grade in care before, during and after birth. The report found that 45.7% of Kansas counties are defined as maternity care deserts – indicating a lack of obstetric providers, and lack of hospitals and birth centers with obstetric care. Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, serves on a KDHE committee that’s working to address the concern about access to maternal care – not only in rural areas of Kansas but also urban areas where there’s a lack of obstetric providers.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

The goal of Walk Kansas is to keep moving – and that’s what the coordinator of the K-State Research and Extension health initiative is doing. Walk Kansas 2024 wrapped up May 25th and Sharolyn Jackson is already looking ahead to programs for 2025 – the program’s 25th year. During this year’s eight-week program, participants logged enough minutes to cover more than 600,000 miles – roughly the equivalent of traveling around planet earth 24 times. Jackson discusses this year’s program and what’s being planned for 2025.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men, accounting for one in every four deaths. After that, according to the CDC, are lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. The good news is that these health threats men face are largely preventable. However, a K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences agent says early detection is key to detecting and preventing these types of cancers. Holly Miner, who focuses on nutrition, food safety and health programs for the Wildcat Extension District, has authored a Men’s Health Guide Fact Sheet that provides practical advice to help men defend against three types of cancer: prostate, colorectal and testicular.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

After receiving a lot of questions about what hospice care is, K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences developed a four-page Fact Sheet, Understanding Hospice. K-State Extension specialist in adult development and aging, Erin Martinez, one of the authors of the Fact Sheet, says it helps answer the questions people have about how hospice care works. This includes how to qualify for end-of-life care, finding a provider, common myths about hospice and how to talk to family about hospice care.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.