Sports: Iola Middle School wins on hardwood See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Monday, February 1, 2016
Ed leaders skeptical of plan to realign By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Kay Lewis, HumboldtUSD 258 superintendent of schools, expressed concern Friday over proposed legis- Kay Lewis lation that would pare the number of school districts — and correspondingly, school administrators — across the Jack Koehn state. Jack Koehn, her counterpart from Iola-USD 257, was even more blunt. See SCHOOLS | Page A4
Heavy lifting Humboldt High’s Tyler Korte prepares for his turn in the clean and jerk portion of the Tri-Valley League Powerlifting competition Saturday in Cherryvale. Humboldt’s newly started team took third in the league on the boys side. More information about the event are on Page B1. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
Lawmakers work to balance budget By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican leaders expect two Kansas legislative committees to approve plans next week for closing a projected $190 million deficit in the state’s next budget by using Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposals for juggling funds and capturing unanticipated savings as a starting point. Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce said the goal is for the Republican-dominat-
ed Legislature to finish work on a budget-balancing plan by the end of February. He and other GOP leaders said closing the budget shortfall quickly will allow lawmak-
ers to focus on finding and fixing long-term inefficiencies in state government. But legislators in both parties worry that budget work will be complicated by month-to-month revenue shortfalls. For 2014 and 2015, tax collections fell short of expectations for 17 of the 24 months; officials will learn today how the state fared in January. Both the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee plan to vote next week
on budget-balancing proposals. “The first part of our work is to clean up the budget,” said the House committee’s chairman, Republican Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr., of Olathe. “The majority of our work this year, out of the budget committees and Appropriations, will be looking at ways to make government run more efficiently and better.” The state has struggled to See BUDGET | Page A4
Proposal would allow same-day registration TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill in the Kansas Legislature would allow people to register to vote and cast a ballot the same day, a move supporters say would increase voter turnout but that opponents say raises concerns about fraud. Same-day registration is allowed in 10 states and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Under current Kansas law, voters have to be registered at least
Beauty at dusk The western sky over Iola was filled with a spectacular array of blues, oranges, pinks and yellows as the sun set Saturday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
21 days before an election. Rep. Gail Finney, a Wichita Democrat, is sponsoring the same-day voter registration bill, which would change that by allowing people to register to vote on Election Day. “We really believe everybody should have access to voting anytime, not just a few days out of the year. As long as they come with ID, why shouldn’t they be able to vote?” Finney told The LawSee VOTING | Page A4
Iowans ready to cast their votes WASHINGTON (AP) — At last, it’s caucus day in Iowa. A few things to watch for today as the nation gets its first glimpse of where the 2016 candidates really stand in the race for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations: WHO SHOWS UP TO CAUCUS
All that matters in the presidential race for the next 24 hours is who shows up to debate and discuss their choice for president with friends and neighbors in Iowa’s storied caucuses — and historically, only a small fraction bother. It’s why some of the biggest egos on the planet are begging their supporters to just go, please, to the school gyms, libraries and fire stations that host some of the state’s 1,681 caucus sites. Republican candidate
Marco Rubio said late Sunday that he’ll speak at three caucus sites today — an event center, a community shelter and a church — before the Iowans gathered cast their votes. A spokeswoman for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton said they had 2,000 volunteer getout-the-vote shifts filled on Saturday alone. Republican Donald Trump went with straightup guilt to inspire his legion of fans. “Wouldn’t that be terrible if I lost in Iowa, won everywhere else?” he recently told supporters. If the turnout numbers are on the high side, boosted by young and first-time caucus-goers, a good night could be in store for Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s main rival. A lower turnout would likely be a boon for Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Clinton,
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 66
who lost the Iowa caucuses in 2008 to Barack Obama. WILL IT SNOW, AND WHEN?
See: Turnout. A snowfall is expected to begin around the same time as the caucuses, and become heavy enough to become a major winter storm soon after people cast their votes. Trump, again, took his signature subtle approach when it came to the challenge posed by the weather: “You’re from Iowa, are you afraid of snow?” he asked of his supporters last weekend. The weather could also affect how soon the candidates can get out of Iowa for their next date with voters: New Hampshire. The National Weather Service forecast called for 6 inches of snow, or more, to start falling
NWTF event The First Uplands chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation hosted its annual banquet Saturday at Iola’s American Legion post. Above, NTWF organizer Neil Crane visits with Iolan Jack Franklin during the banquet. Several paintings were among the prizes sold. The banquet serves as a fundraiser to help replenish turkey habitats across the country. REGISTER/ RICHARD LUKEN
See IOWA | Page A4
“Who, being loved, is poor?”
— Oscar Wilde 75 Cents
Hi: 54 Lo: 44 Iola, KS