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Sunset at Riverside Park

THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867

www.iolaregister.com

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Revenue shortfall puts state in a quandary $73 million deficit likely to affect Medicaid, higher ed

By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators wrangled on the final day of their annual session Wednesday over whether to comply with a court-ordered increase in aid to poor school districts amid fresh evidence of the state’s deteriorating financial condition. Leaders of the Legislature’s GOP supermajorities considered whether to debate a school finance bill before lawmakers formally adjourned their annual session Wednesday. But they backed off after a meeting of Republican senators showed there was no consensus on what to do. The state Supreme Court on Friday rejected some education funding changes enact-

By ANDY MARSO KHI News Service

ed earlier this year by Republican legislators. The justices said the school finance system remains unfair to poor school districts and warned lawmakers that public schools will be unable to open after June 30 if lawmakers don’t act by then. A few GOP senators wanted to pass a bill Wednesday to boost aid to poor school districts. Oth-

ers wanted more time to draft a response, something that would require Republican Gov. Sam Brownback to call a special session later this month. Another group wanted to defy the justices and test whether the court really would declare that schools must remain closed. See QUANDARY | Page A5

Kansas tax collections for May fell short of projections by about $74 million, and legislators said Wednesday they fear that will mean more cuts to Medicaid. The May shortfall comes despite the state’s revenue estimating group revising projections downward for the third consecutive time about six weeks ago. It wipes out the meager savings Gov. Sam Brownback created when he made cuts two weeks ago after the

Legislature sent him a budget that didn’t balance. Brownback now must find millions more to get the state through the current fiscal year that ends June 30 — and his options are limited. “It’s higher education and Medicaid, realistically,” said Rep. Steven Johnson, a Republican from Assaria. “We’ve got very few places to go.” The governor’s spokeswoman, Eileen Hawley, said his office does not expect See MEDICAID | Page A5

Thuston files for county attorney A challenger has emerged for Jerry Hathaway for the position of Allen County attorney. N e o s h o County Attorney Linus T h u s t o n Linus Thuston filed before Wednesday’s deadline to face off against Hathaway in the Aug. 2 Republican primary. This marks the second time in recent years the two have squared off at the ballot box. Hathaway defeated Thuston in the 2008 GOP primary en route to his reelection. Hathaway left the area in 2011, but returned in 2014 upon former county attorney Wade Bowie’s resignation. WEDNESDAY’S deadline

means Allen County Republicans will have three contested races to decide on in August. In addition to Hathaway and Thuston, residents in the county’s Second Commission District — essentially the north half of the county — will pick between Allen County Commissioner Tom Williams and challenger Ron Ballard. The district includes the north part of Iola, LaHarpe, Gas, Mildred, Carlyle and Deer Creek, Elm, Geneva and Osage townships. SHERIFF Bryan Murphy faces two challengers in his re-election bid, Jared Froggatte and Kelley Zellner. A FULL list of candidates for individual townships will be provided later, said Allen County Clerk Sherry Riebel.

Americare is looking to donate the old Iola Nursing Center building at 1336 N. Walnut St.

Old nursing home available By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

Free: One slightly used nursing home/residential care facility. Americare Senior Living, owner of the former Iola Nursing and Rehab building at 1336 N. Walnut St., recently announced it is looking to donate the building to an agency or non-profit entity.

Americare acquired the facility after the former owners, Walnut Creek Management, closed its doors in November. Americare relocated the 35 residents to other long-term care facilities in the area. Jim Reiker, Americare’s chief financial officer, said in a press release the company has donated a number of buildings in other communities as a result of acquisitions.

Buildings have been donated to churches, school districts and transitional housing agencies, he said. “Our only stipulation is that the building not be used for any senior living or senior healthcare services,” he said. Organizations seeking additional information are asked to contact Reiker at jreiker@americareusa.net, or by calling (573) 471-1113.

Allen County Relay For Life Friday More than 200 participants are expected Friday and Saturday at Allen County’s annual Relay For Life. The overnight relay — a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society — will feature members from 13 teams (so far). As in years past, participants will camp out on the courthouse lawn, while members of their teams will walk the square’s perimeter. Each team will have at least one representative walking during all 12 hours of the relay; some hearty walkers will do the full excursion themselves. In addition, food, games and other activities are designed to provide entertainment and build camarade-

at about 9:15, to remember loved ones lost to cancer, support those still afflicted and honor those who fought the disease in the past. THE

rie. The opening ceremony will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, followed immediately by the survivors’ and caregivers’ lap to start the relay. Survivors will don special shirts for the occasion. Luminaries will line the sidewalk and be lighted

Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 153

RELAY

For Life got its origins in Tacoma, Wash., in 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a local track as an ACS fundraiser. A year later, hundreds of supporters joined him. Since then, the Relay For Life movement has raised nearly $5 billion, according to an ACS press release.

Iola Municipal Band — Since 1871 —

At the bandstand Jake Ard, director Thursday, June 2, 2016 8 p.m. PROGRAM

Star Spangled Banner...................................Francis Scott Key On the Square......................................................Frank Panella Ballad For Peace............................................... Frank Erickson You Made Me Love You......................................... Joe McCarty Iowa Band Law........................................................... K.L. Lang Send In the Clowns......................................Stephen Sondheim In My Merry Oldsmobile..................................... Gus Edwards Americans We.................................................. Henry Fillmore El Capitan....................................................John Phillip Sousa Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for Friday evening.

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” — Ferdinand Foch, French soldier 75 Cents

Hi: 77 Lo: 62 Iola, KS


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