K-State in the news

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Read some of today's top stories mentioning Kansas State University. Download an Excel file (xlsx) with all of the day's news stories.

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Friday, July 17, 2026

National/International

These ‘dopamine sites’ deliver the thrill of shopping without the cost
7/16/26 The Washington Post
Anticipation is only one part of the story, though. According to Megan McCoy, assistant professor of personal financial planning at Kansas State University, retail therapy also provides the illusion of agency. The low-stakes decisions involved when choosing between two colors, or even the act of comparing prices, can give you a sense of control. That, in turn, can also temporarily relieve negative emotions such as anxiety, depression and stress, research suggests.

State/Regional

Agricultural dust poses hidden health risks for farmers
7/16/26 American Ag Network
Mitch Ricketts, professor of agricultural safety and health at Kansas State University, said agricultural dust is much more than just soil and plant material. “Agricultural dust has a lot of different components in it,” Ricketts said. “Besides the soil and the plant material that we think about being in the dust, there’s also mold, bacteria, dust mites and a lot of other organisms. And when we breathe the dust that contains those organisms, it can cause allergic or toxic reactions.”