Latest news with #OverlandPark
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Royals confirm affiliate bought Aspiria campus mortgage in Overland Park
The Kansas City Royals confirmed Wednesday that an affiliate purchased the mortgage on the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. The news, first reported by The Kansas City Business Journal, was confirmed by the team in a statement Wednesday afternoon. However, the statement also says the team has not selected a stadium location.
National Post
3 days ago
- General
- National Post
DC Jewish museum shooting victim laid to rest in Kansas
At the funeral of Sarah Milgrim in Kansas on Tuesday, those who knew the slain Israeli Embassy employee remembered a woman deeply committed to unity and peace. Article content Article content Milgrim, 26, and fellow embassy staffer Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were gunned down on May 21 after attending an event centered on improving humanitarian aid to the Middle East. According to an FBI affidavit, the shooter claimed he 'did it for Gaza.' Article content At Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, Kansas, speakers shared heartfelt memories, from Milgrim's childhood love of animals and horseback riding to a moment when she used oven mittens to rescue a baby rabbit, The New York Times reported. Article content A rabbi who had known her since childhood spoke of her strong ties to the Jewish community through her school years in Prairie Village and at the University of Kansas. Article content Her supervisor at the embassy described her as a gifted liaison who approached her work 'with a natural brilliance and boldness.' Article content Article content Rabbi Doug Alpert of Kol Ami synagogue in Kansas City, Missouri, called her 'a good soul' and 'a pursuer of peace,' praising her 'innate sense of goodness' and belief that people should be 'loving caretakers' of the world, according to the Times. Article content Milgrim's upbringing in Kansas City's small Jewish community—about 20,000 people across two states—was shaped by resilience in the face of antisemitism, including swastikas at her high school in 2017, the report said. Article content Article content The shooting, which prosecutors are treating as a murder, happened days before Milgrim and Lischinsky were to fly to Israel, where he intended to propose, said Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Instead, their funerals were held a day apart—Milgrim's in Kansas and Lischinsky's in Israel. Article content Article content
New York Times
4 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Jewish Community in Kansas City Mourns a ‘Radiant Link' for Peace
Sarah Milgrim was known for bringing people together, at college, at temple and at the embassy where she worked. At a synagogue overflowing with mourners and with hundreds watching online, those who eulogized her on Tuesday in Overland Park, Kan. — days after she was killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington — found many ways to describe Ms. Milgrim as a bridge between people. 'Sarah was a link, a powerful, radiant link,' Rabbi Stephanie Kramer told the crowd as she stood near the casket covered by an Israeli flag. 'Through her, her family and friends felt more deeply connected to Israel, to Jewish life, and to each other.' Mourners on Tuesday recalled moments from Ms. Milgrim's childhood. She loved horseback riding and caring for animals, once using oven mitts to save a baby bunny. A rabbi who had known her since she was a young girl recalled her as a steadfast member of the Jewish community through high school and then at the University of Kansas. And her supervisor at the Israeli embassy praised her for serving as a liaison to progressive groups 'with a natural brilliance and boldness.' A gunman killed Ms. Milgrim, 26, and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, last week as they left an event focused on improving the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Middle East. The suspect claimed that he 'did it for Gaza,' according to an F.B.I. affidavit filed in federal court. One of the rabbis who participated in Ms. Milgrim's funeral service called the violence incomprehensible, something that people were not supposed to understand. Doug Alpert, the rabbi at the Kol Ami synagogue in Kansas City, Mo., called Ms. Milgrim 'a good soul' and 'a pursuer of peace.' He spoke of Ms. Milgrim's 'innate sense of goodness' toward people and the environment, saying she believed 'our place in the world was not to run roughshod over it, but to be its loving caretaker.' Ms. Milgrim grew up in the relatively small Jewish community of Kansas City — about 20,000 people spread across two states. Moments of antisemitism are seared in the community's memory, including the swastikas that were spray-painted at Ms. Milgrim's public high school in 2017, when she was a student there. In 2014, a white supremacist shot and killed three people outside a Jewish center and retirement community in Overland Park. None of the victims were Jewish, but during his trial, the killer, who was convicted of capital murder, said that he had wanted 'to kill Jews, not to kill people.' Last Wednesday in Washington, Ms. Milgrim and her boyfriend had been looking forward to big plans. On Sunday, they were supposed to fly to Israel, where Mr. Lischinsky had planned to introduce Ms. Milgrim to his family. He was going to propose to her there, said Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States. Instead, their funerals were held a day apart. Mr. Lischinsky was buried on Monday 6,000 miles away, near his childhood home in Israel. On Tuesday, most entrances to the synagogue in Kansas were blocked by cars or trucks, and a heavy police and security presence stood by. Several funeral speakers said Ms. Milgrim wanted peace and described how she had dedicated her life to promoting it, including at the Israeli embassy. Sawsan Hasson, her supervisor, said that although hate had taken her from them, 'Somehow, in your passing, you have created connection and meaning.' While earning a master's degree at American University, Ms. Milgrim spent time in Israel working for and studying an organization that brings together Israelis and Palestinians in their 20s for seminars to develop technical skills. The group gives them a chance to meet people on the other side of the long-running conflict. 'If you were really interested in creating solutions to this seemingly endless conflict that separates Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians, you could've asked Sarah,' Rabbi Alpert told the synagogue. Speakers pledged to follow her example. 'We will carry your torch, Sarah,' Rabbi Kramer said. 'We will continue your mission.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
JoCo remembers veterans who died for our freedom at Memorial Day ceremony
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — An annual community ceremony was held Monday, to honor those who died while serving the United States. Around 150 people packed into the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens, on Metcalf Avenue, in Overland Park for the event. 'Today less than 1% of Americans can claim to be a veteran,' one speaker shared. The event allowed many to remember and reflect on the price for our freedom. Trump marks Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery 'It's everything to have the veterans here for this ceremony. It's all about them, right? The reason that we are here and able to do this, is because of them,' General Manager of the Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens, Bridget Anaya shared Monday. 'The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, so we want to set aside at least a day to honor them and to honor their families.' Anaya says this event has taken place for the last 10-15 years. Debra Benson was a widow in attendance. Her husband was a World War II veteran and is buried at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens. 'Every Memorial Day, I come here,' Benson shared. 'He died in 2009.' During the service, there were speakers, a memorial roll call, a rifle salute and playing of Taps and even a chance for guests to honor their loved ones who served in the armed forces too. 'When you give your life, you're giving it all. There's no coming back. I saw an awful lot of guys who I worked with and that I soldiered with who didn't make it back and I have a hard time going through that… remembrance,' John Martin said. Martin is a World War II veteran. He uses this time to remember his former platoon leader, in the 84th Infantry Division of the United States Army, who he says, lost his life, while serving. 'He's the one that should be honored… people that don't come back,' referring to his former superior. 'It hurts because we honor all of these and we shake hands but we really gotta honor those that didn't make it back and think about them.' See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Martin will be 102-years-old this July. 'Oh yes, my secret is I pray to God. My savior kept me safe through all of my combat, not a scratch,' he shared. 'He protected me in every way that's why I'm here and a loving family.' Staff say, nearly 4,000 veterans rest within the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens. The event was also in conjunction with many area American Legion Posts and VFW posts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Medscape
5 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Don't Overlook First-Gen Anti-Obesity Medications
With the explosive popularity of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, physicians say a key avenue in treating obesity is being underutilized by many clinicians: First-generation anti-obesity medications (AOMs). 'First-generation medications don't get as much attention as the newer ones,' said Courtney Younglove, MD, an obesity specialist and founder of Heartland Weight Loss in Overland Park, Kansas. 'They're fantastic, too. They just get overlooked.' Older AOMs typically cost less than GPL-1s, are more accessible, and often have low risks, Younglove said. But patients frequently ask for the newer medications, and some doctors don't assess their full treatment toolbox before prescribing, she said. Currently, there are six AOMs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for chronic weight management: Orlistat, phentermine/topiramate extended release, bupropion sustained release/naltrexone, liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide. The first four medications are considered first-generation AOMs, according to a 2024 analysis in Diabetes Spectrum , a journal from the American Diabetes Association. 'The advent of new AOMs has transformed the treatment of obesity,' the study author Sarah R. Barenbaum, MD, wrote. 'For the first time, there are now second-generation medications whose outcomes can rival those of bariatric surgery. However, first-generation AOMs serve an equally important and enduring role in the treatment of obesity. Whether because of insurance or supply limitations, costs, patient preferences, tolerability, or safety, patients may require a first-generation AOM, and providers must feel comfortable prescribing them.' Courtney Younglove, MD Good Candidates for First-Generation AOMs One group that may benefit from first-generation AOMs are patients whose treatment goals include losing a moderate amount of weight, said Ethan Lazarus, MD, an obesity medicine and family physician and a past president of the Obesity Medicine Association. Older AOMs are generally appropriate for patients in whom about a 10% loss of body weight would be an adequate result, Lazarus said. If patients need to achieve 20% or more loss of body weight, physicians may want to jump straight to a GLP-1, like Wegovy or Zepbound, he said. For example, patients who are planning knee replacement surgery, or those with a higher body mass index (BMI) and are considering weight loss surgery, would be good candidates for the latter, he noted. 'If appropriate, we usually follow a stepped approach to treatment,' Lazarus said. 'For example, we might start a generic medication, like phentermine. If it is not tolerated, or we do not get the amount of weight loss needed to improve obesity complications, we would transition to a branded oral medication, [like] Contrave or Qsymia, or switch to or add a GLP-1, like Wegovy or Zepbound.' First-generation AOMs may also be good choices for patients with certain comorbidities, like chronic headaches, said Shagun Bindlish, MD, an internal medicine physician and diabetologist based in Dublin, California. Patients with a history of migraines, or those who have polycystic ovary syndrome, may benefit from topiramate, Bindlish said, while a phentermine-topiramate combination may help with appetite suppression and impulsivity modulating. The latter can be useful for patients with nighttime eating syndrome and binge eating disorder, she noted. Ethan Lazarus, MD In addition, bupropion/naltrexone can be beneficial for patients with depression and anxiety and may help with smoking cessation in patients with smoking habits. 'Obesity, as we all know, is not one-size-fits-all,' Bindlish said. 'It's not just about BMI. It's about tailoring the therapy depending on what other comorbidities they have. That's why I feel that it's always good to lay down all the tools and discuss with the patient what will benefit them in their certain circumstances.' The lower cost of first-generation AOMs also makes them good options for many patients, obesity physicians say. Even with pharmaceutical savings programs, GLP-1s are usually $499 per month or more, Lazarus said. By contrast, Contrave can be purchased for $99 a month directly through the savings program CurAccess, and Qsymia is generally available through for $98 a month. Shagun Bindlish, MD Bindlish said she recently treated a 45-year-old man with class II obesity and high blood pressure who was unable to access GLP-1s through his insurance, despite several prior authorization attempts. Bindlish started the patient on a phentermine-topiramate combination, which worked well, and led to weight loss of about 30 pounds. Since phentermine is a stimulant, Bindlish said they closely monitored the patient's blood pressure. Ultimately, the weight loss led to better management of the patient's hypertension, she said. Patients who are nonresponders to GLP-1s, or who have difficulty tolerating GLP-1–based therapies, may make promising candidates for first-generation AOMs, according to the Diabetes Spectrum analysis. These older medications may also be good choices for patients with lower BMIs and older patients in cases where second-generation AOMs may be too powerful and result in excessive weight loss. Age should also factor into the decision, Lazarus said. He noted that Wegovy, Saxenda, and Qsymia are approved for patients as young as age 12 years, while other medications are only indicated in adults aged 18 years or older. Risks of First-Generation AOMs It's important to know your patient and be sure there are no contraindications before prescribing older AOMs, Lazarus said. For example, physicians should consider avoiding prescribing phentermine in patients sensitive to stimulants (like caffeine), who suffer from severe insomnia, or who have complicated hypertension, he said. The three most common side effects of phentermine are dry mouth, constipation, and trouble sleeping, Younglove added. Patients can usually get around these problems by modifying their dosage, taking a stool softener, drinking more water, and not taking the medication in the evening, she said. Contrave, meanwhile, should be avoided in patients with a history of seizures or those on opioid pain medicine, Lazarus noted. Qsymia should not be prescribed in patients with a history of kidney stones or at risk for pregnancy because Qsymia can cause birth defects. 'If they do not have a contraindication or other concern, by all means we would consider a first-generation obesity medicine,' Lazarus said. Keep in mind that all these medications can cause gastrointestinal abnormalities and could lead to gastrointestinal side effects, Younglove said. Orlistat has really 'fallen out of favor' due to minimal weight loss and too many side effects, said Lazarus. Younglove also does not prescribe Orlistat because of the side effects, which include an oily discharge from the rectum, she said. The Diabetes Spectrum analysis includes a comprehensive list of clinical effects, mechanisms of action, and common side effects of all first-generation AOMs. Dispelling Fears About Older Obesity Meds Younglove emphasized the importance of dispelling misconceptions surrounding first-generation AOMs. Because the drugs are in the stimulant category (sympathomimetics), there has been concern — even among clinicians — that patients could become addicted to them, she said. There have also been worries about the medications raising patients' blood pressure. 'There's a lot of fear around those medications, which is ironic, because we'll give Adderall to a 6-year-old and not be worried about it at all,' she said. 'There is data on long-term use of these medications. There is data on side effects of these medications. They're not for everyone, but they certainly are fairly benign in terms of risks. They get a bad wrap, but they're really good medications for a lot of people, and a lot of people do really well with them.' Bindlish added that older AOMs have stood the test of time and proved their value, which is something the newer medications still must do. She said that medication choice should always be matched with patients' individual risk factors, goals, and access. 'It is also critical to set realistic expectations and incorporate these drugs within a broader framework where we consider behavioral, nutritional, and lifestyle interventions,' Bindlish said.
