The Iola Register, May 6, 2020

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

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Courthouse finds ‘new normal’

By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register

Armed with a thermometer and hand sanitizer, deputy Joe Stotler screens visitors to the Allen County Courthouse. REGISTER/ TREVOR HOAG

Following the lifting of Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive stay-at-home order, visitors are now permitted inside the courthouse, though they should expect to encounter a number of COVID-19 related changes.

Currently, entry into the courthouse is only permitted via the north doors; hence commissioners asked that county employees be courteous and save that area’s parking spots for residents in orSee COURTHOUSE | Page A6

Protecting voters could be costly

By DANIEL CAUDILL Kansas News Service

WICHITA — Thousands of Reno County voters usually cast their ballots at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, a central location with a high capacity.

Deputy Election Officer Jenna Fager said it’ll look dif-

ferent for this year’s August primary and November general election to avoid spreading the coronavirus. How different, though, she’s not sure.

“We’d have to consult emergency management and our health department and just, kind of, do the best we can,” she said.

Fager is one of dozens of

county election officials in Kansas preparing for two possibly unusual elections — and an expected surge in voting by mail. Kansas law requires polling places to be open on election days, so counties are looking to stock up on disinfectants and protective gear.

See VOTERS | Page A3

County attorney seeks re-election

By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway is seeking another four-year term in office.

Hathaway filed for re-election this week.

He has an lengthy history as the county’s chief prosecutor.

Hathaway originally came to Allen County in 2002 as assistant county attorney under Nan Weber before being elect-

ed county attorney in 2004.

He subsequently was re-elected in 2008 before resigning in January 2011 to move to Springfield, Jerry Hathaway Mo. There, Hathaway became a senior assistant prosecuting attorney in the major crimes unit for Green County for

about two years.

He was reappointed to the Allen County post in 2014 following the resignation of his successor, Wade Bowie, and successfully ran for re-election in 2016. Hathaway’s nomination was endorsed by Allen County Republicans before his formal appointment by former Gov. Sam Brownback.

The filing deadline for those seeking county offices is at noon June 1.

A banner year Andrew Covey, a USD 258 custodian, assists with hanging banners in downtown Humboldt depicting members of the Humboldt High School graduating class of 2020. The banners are in honor of the students who were deprived of several year-end activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG

LaHarpe Day a no-go LAHARPE — The annual LaHarpe Day celebration has been canceled for 2020.

Organizing committee members agreed to call off the festivities because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

While the governor has eased restrictions regarding crowd sizes, there was no guarantee social distanc-

ing requirements would be appropriate for a parade, games and other activities

by June 27, the planned date of the celebration.

LaHarpe Day returned in 2019 following a seven-year hiatus.

Organizers are considering a smaller activity of some sort later this summer.

Mask-maker, mask-maker, make me a mask

American Legion seasons on track

By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register

Billie Collins planned to sew sports-themed quilts to give to family members for next Christmas. She cut 9-inch strips from fabric emblazoned with Kansas City Chiefs, Royals and KU logos for her husband, son and sons-in-law.

But as she learned of the need for protective face masks amidst the coronavirus crisis, those fabric strips were trimmed and sewn for a very different purpose.

“I thought I could get 10 or 20 masks done in a day,” Collins said. “Then 10 turned into 100, then 1,100.

“I told the men they weren’t getting quilts.”

Collins and her two adult daughters, Darci Collins and Courtney Andres, have turned into prolific mask-makers, churning out the protective gear every day since about March 18, the day after Gov. Laura Kelly announced school buildings would be closed for the rest of the year. Collins is a

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USO-style tour features local

PAGE A2

COVID-19 numbers rise in KS prisons

PAGE A3 Billie Collins and her two daughters have sewn more than 1,000 face masks for those who need protective gear during the coronavirus crisis. She started using fabric scraps, and others have donated material along the way. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS substitute teacher who also works as a home health aide and assists her husband, Roger, with the family business, Central Publishing, Inc. With schools closed, she

had time on her hands. So when some friends who work as nurses mentioned a need for masks, she set to work.

Collins started with leftover fabric — those not-quite-

a-quilt pieces. Each mask takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.

It didn’t take long before See MASKS | Page A6

US government denies link to jailed pair in Venezuela

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Iola Register

USO-style show star has local ties

Scientist says administration ignored virus warnings WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration failed to prepare for the onslaught of the coronavirus, then sought a quick fix by trying to rush an unproven drug to patients, a senior government scientist alleged in a whistleblower complaint.

Dr. Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, alleges he was reassigned to a lesser role because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug pushed

by President Donald Trump. He said the administration wanted to “flood� hot spots in New York and New Jersey with the drug. “I witnessed government leadership rushing blindly into a potentially dangerous situation by bringing in a non-FDA approved chloroquine from Pakistan and India, from facilities that had nev-

Today

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Temperature High yesterday Low last night High a year ago Low a year ago

Marah Melvin-McFadden is a social media director, song and dance performer, and master of ceremonies for the national touring company Pin-Ups on Tour.

The company performs World War II USO-style variety and burlesque shows at venues nationwide. Pin-Ups on Tour supports hospitalized veterans as well as active duty military service members. Some of the proceeds from the shows go toward supporting Operation Welcome Home.

The touring company has donated over $50,000 to non-profit veteran agencies.

Just before the touring company’s performance schedule was halted due to the pandemic, Pin-Ups

er been approved by the FDA,� Bright said Tuesday on a call with reporters. “Their eagerness to push blindly forward without sufficient data to put this drug into the hands of Americans was alarming to me and my fellow scientists.�

Bright filed the complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, a government agency that investigates retaliation against federal employees who uncover problems. He wants his job back and a full investigation.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a terse statement saying that Bright was transferred to the National Institutes of Health to work on coronavirus testing, a crucial assignment. “We are deeply disappointed that he has not shown up to work on behalf of the American people and lead on this critical endeavor,� HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley said.

Thursday

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Pedestrian struck Iola police officers said Christopher Cooper, Iola, was struck by a black sport utility vehicle Friday in the 1400 block of East Street, near Coronado’s Restaurant.

The driver left the scene, officers said.

Cooper refused medical treatment at the scene, but was taken later to Allen County Regional Hospital for treatment.

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Precipitation 24 hours ending 8 a.m. Trace This month to date 1.04 Total year to date 12.66 Excess since Jan. 1 2.26

Sunrise 6:20 a.m.

on Tour performed in Morgantown, W.V. where Marah was Master of Ceremonies and was featured on the Channel 12 NBC Nightly News.

Prior to all of the cancellations, Marah has kept busy performing in shows at the Secret Room NYC on Times Square in New York City, singing with the Robert Rucker Project Band and performing a cabaret show at the West End Lounge in NYC. She was recently asked to perform in a two-person tribute at Emporia State University honoring teachers Jim Bartruff and his wife, Lindy, who are retiring as heads of the theatre and dance departments at ESU.

Arrests reported Stacy Splechter was arrested for suspicion of driving while suspended Friday evening in the 200 block of South State Street.

Sunset 8:17 p.m.

WISH YOUR MOM A

Happy Mother’s Day Honor your mom with a special tribute on our

MOTHER’S DAY

Allen County sheriff ’s deputies arrested Harvey L. Burris, 48, Madison, for suspicion of domestic battery Thursday.

Deputies arrested Sheri L. Gagne, 34, rural Iola, for suspicion of domestic battery Thursday.

Ashley D. Rose, 36, Bronson, was arrested by deputies April 29 for suspicion of theft and possessing drug paraphernalia.

Deputies arrested Donald F. Nichols, 31, Iola, for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and transporting an open container of alcohol April 26.

David C. Ramsey, 39,

Marah is the daughter of Mick and Mona Melvin of Iola. She is mar-

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Moran, was arrested April 26 by deputies on a warrant out of Labette County.

Deputies arrested Temujin A. Gibson, 19, Wichita, for suspicion of driving under the influence and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana April 26.

Iola officers arrested Levi K. Martin, 33, Iola, April 25 for suspicion of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

Leonard L. Ladd, 64, Muskogee, Okla., was arrested by IPD April 24 for suspicion of disorderly conduct.

Driver cited Scott Smail, 31, Iola,

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counselors, Joy Miller and Tara Solomon-Smith with K-State Research and Extension and Melanie Smith with Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging will present, via Zoom, a two-part series about Medicare eligibility, enrollment periods,

The Iola Register, P.O. Box 767, Iola, KS 66749. Or stop by the Iola Register office at 302 S. Washington from 8-6 Mon-Fri. You can also email your info, photo and message to advertise@iolaregister.com.

Keeping with “Social Distancing� the Prairie Dell 4-H Club met via Zoom on May 4.

It was Parent’s Night.

The parents held the offices of

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was cited for suspicion of driving while suspended, improper brake or turn signal and no proof of liability insurance April 28 in the 1000 block of East Carpenter Street.

Check stolen Betty Hendricks told Iola police officers a check was stolen from the 300 block of South Third Street.

Money, wallet taken Chloe Sell reported somebody stole an undisclosed amount of cash and a billfold from the 800 block of North Street.

how parts A,B,C and D work, Medigap and advantage plans. The first session will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The second session is at 5:30 p.m. May 14.

Registration is available at https:// bit.ly/New2Medicare.

The last day to register is Monday.

Prairie Dell 4-H meets on Zoom

CLIP AND MAIL WITH PAYMENT AND PHOTO TO:

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ried to Wesley McFadden.

They make their home in New Brunswick, N.J.

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Edition on Saturday, May 9!

Just stop by or send us a copy of a favorite photo of your mom along with the coupon below and payment for $10 to The Iola Register.

We'll place it in a color ad complete with a Mother’s Day sticker!

Marah Melvin-McFadden

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their 4-H member.

At this time there will be no face to face 4-H activities through July 4.

During new business the members voted to have an exchange meeting with Square B 4-H club.

For the program Lisa Wicoff gave a talk about the free plays and ballet that are available online.

Some of the plays she has watched are Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein. Misty Hobbs gave a talk on stitchery and cross stitch.

She has been working on 3 different projects that she shared via Zoom.

The next Prairie Dell 4-H Club meeting is scheduled for June 1 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. It is wear a hat night. A talk will be given by Luke Wicoff.

iolaregister.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Iola Register

A3

Report: Kansas prisons seeing rise in COVID-19 infections MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The number of inmates infected with the coronavirus at Kansas’ largest prison has grown to more than 550 amid widespread testing at the facility, with most showing no symptoms.

The Kansas Department of Corrections plans to finish testing all the more than 1,700 inmates at the state’s largest prison in Lansing this week. As the test results trickle in,

Leavenworth County, where the prison is located, reported a 13.8% increase in positive cases Monday.

Most are tied to the prison, where 551 inmates and 88 staff members are infected. Rebecca Witte, the corrections department spokeswoman, said three inmates have died, four are hospitalized and 469 aren’t showing symptoms.

Sarah LaFrenz, president of the Kansas

Organization of State Employees, which represents Lansing workers, said staff also are anxious for widespread testing. She said guards are currently being told they can go to work while not outwardly sick.

“From a scientific standpoint that doesn’t seem very wise,” she said.

Gov. Laura Kelly has been facing pressure and a lawsuit demand-

ing that she free some inmates to allow for better social distancing.

But amid the growing number of positive cases, she halted an effort l ast week to release some inmates who were close to finishing their sentences after just six of them — none of whom were from Lansing — went home.

A letter Monday from officials with the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the

Kansas Board of Indigents’ Defense Services, the Federal Public Defender’s Kansas District and the Midwest Innocence Project condemned her action, saying she has “increased the severity of incarceration for those who pose no public safety risk.”

Another seven staff and six inmates also are infected at six other correctional facilities.

To deal with the risk of infections, movement

within the state’s prisons is restricted and in-person visitors aren’t permitted.

Statewide, confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas rose Tuesday by 213, up to 5,458 total, though the actual number is thought to be higher because of limited testing and because people can be infected without showing symptoms.

Reported COVID-19-related deaths increased by one to 137.

Voters: Process could be costly if more seek mail-in ballots Continued from A1

And unlike neighboring Missouri, voters in Kansas don’t have to have a specific excuse to request a mail-in ballot.

Though mail-in voting might be a safe and convenient option for voters, it also comes with its own costs and challenges.

“The cost of envelopes, paper ballots, and postage will likely be significantly more than we budgeted for those purposes,” said Marion County Clerk Tina Spencer, who oversees elections for the county’s more than 7,500 voters and eight polling places.

Spencer said the county election board will also likely have to meet once or twice per week in the weeks leading up to election day to process the additional advance ballots.

Johnson County officials are shipping voteby-mail applications directly to all registered voters. Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt said she hopes that will help prevent overcrowding or long lines at polling places.

“We won’t be able to have as many voting machines in some of the locations as we’ve had in the past,” she told The Kansas City Star. “They will have to be spread out. That’s another reason why we’re encouraging people to vote by mail this time.”

It’s difficult to estimate what it would take for the entire state to run elections by mail.

“Elections in Kansas are conducted at the county level, and depending on the election, the ballot length, ballot weight and a number of other factors,” said Joanna Dolan, principal research analyst at the Kansas Legislative Research Department, “costs could vary from county to county and election to election.”

Sending applications to its more than 400,000 registered voters will cost Johnson County an estimated $120,000.

They’re hoping they’ll be reimbursed with federal funds, which were made available through the CARES Act. Of the $400 million nationally, Kansas will receive just under $4 million, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said.

That money will help cover safety measures for polling places, like hand sanitizer, disinfectants and protective gear, as well as the additional postage and processing that’s expected with extra mail-in ballots.

Costs, approaches vary by county

The funds will also reimburse counties who

A Kansas polling place in November 2018. KANSAS NEWS SERVICE FILE PHOTO/KCUR.ORG have already incurred some of those expenses.

Fager said Reno County secured protective gear and other materials for its polling places through local resources.

“We’re just kind of doing that on our own right now,” she said, “instead of depending on the state.”

With only two polling places and about 10,000 registered voters, preparations in western Kansas’ Seward County won’t be quite as cumbersome as others. The county is also fortunate that a 2002 resolution allows county employees to work polls, all but guaranteeing ample workers.

“We have sever-

al county employees who volunteer to assist during elections, which makes recruiting experienced workers much easier,” Seward County Clerk Stacia Long said.

For counties needing help, Kansas is launching a statewide campaign to recruit poll workers, especially young ones.

“You can be 16, 17 years old and still volunteer as a poll board worker,” Schwab said. “My son doesn’t know it yet, but my 16-year-olds will be working at the poll in the primary this year.”

Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman said that after multiple asks,

only 228 of nearly 2,000 current and former poll workers have agreed to work the elections.

Sedgwick and Johnson counties are the state’s two most populous, representing nearly 40% of registered voters. Lehman said they’re forming similar contingency plans, like moving election-worker training online. And Sedgwick County will follow Johnson County’s lead in sending applications to active registered voters.

“We believe it is crucial that we work together to provide the best options to our voters moving forward,” she said.

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presidential primary in June, state election officials mailed almost 7 million mail-in voting applications to registered voters. Like what’s currently expected to happen in Kansas, polls will still be open, but officials want to limit how many people vote in person.

Schwab said his office is not currently planning to mail anything to voters statewide, and would rather leave the decision up to each county.

“If the state did one and the county did one, you’re going to have some duplication and you’re going to increase

confusion,” he said.

He said it’s unclear at this point how many Kansans will vote by mail in the upcoming elections, but that will become apparent as applications start to come in this summer.

Schwab said the state is also looking at drive-thru voting, which Missouri hopes to implement for its municipal elections in June.

“I’m a believer of (having) every opportunity and every way possible to vote that you can,” he said, “as opposed to a unilateral — you can only vote this way and no other way.”

Financial Focus How Should Millennials Respond to Market Decline?

The coronavirus crisis has unsettled every age group, as we are all worried about our health and that of our families and communities. And if you’re in the millennial generation, generally defined as anyone born between 1981 and 1996, you might also be concerned about your financial future, given the sharp decline in investment prices. How should you respond to what’s been happening?

Your view of the current situation will depend somewhat on your age. If you’re an older millennial, you had probably been investing for a few years when we went through the financial crisis in 2007-2008. And you then experienced 11 years of a record bull market, so you’ve seen both the extremes and the resilience of the investment world. But if you’re a younger millennial, you might not have really started investing until the past few years, if you’ve started at all, so you’ve only seen a steadily climbing market. Consequently, you may find the current situation particularly discouraging, but this is also a lesson in the reality of investing: Markets go down as well as up.

But no matter where you are within the millennial age cohort, you might help yourself by taking these steps: Enjoy the benefit of having time on your side. If you’re one of the younger millennials, you’ve got about four decades left until you’re close to retiring. Even if you’re in the older millennial group, you’ve probably got at least 25 years until you stop working. With so many years ahead, you have the opportunity to overcome the periodic drops in investment prices, and your investments have time to grow. And, of course, you’ll be able to add more money into those investments, too.

Invest systematically. The value of your investments will always fluctuate. You can’t control these price movements, but you may be able to take advantage of them through what’s known as systematic investing. By putting the same amount of money at regular intervals into the same investments, you’ll buy more shares when the share price is lower – in other words, you’ll be “buying low,” which is one of the first rules of investing – and you’ll buy fewer shares when the price rises. Over time, this strategy can help you reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio, although it can’t ensure a profit or protect against loss. Plus, systematic investing can give you a sense of discipline, though you’ll need to consider the ability to keep investing when share prices are declining.

Focus on the future. You’re never really investing for today – you’re doing it to reach goals in the future, sometimes just a few years away, but usually much further out. That’s why it’s so important not to panic when you view those scary headlines announcing big drops in the financial markets, or even when you see negative results in your investment statements. By creating an investment strategy that’s appropriate for your risk tolerance and time horizon, and by focusing on your long-term goals, you can develop the discipline to avoid making hasty, ill-advised decisions during times of stress.

As a millennial, you’ve got a long road ahead of you as you navigate the financial markets. But by following the suggestions above, you may find that journey a little less stressful.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

A4

Opinion The Iola Register

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

~ Journalism that makes a difference

Data be darned, Missouri in a rush to open concert venues Missouri Gov. Mike Parson ry to reopen the state, data be made national news for all the darned. And he apparently wrong reasons when the state has little use for CDC recombecame the first in the nation mendations for containing to allow concerts and live the spread of the coronavirus events to resume this week.

— Parson “chose not to” wear Inexplicably, the governor’s a mask when he toured busi“Show Me Strong” economic nesses in southwest Missouri recovery plan included a woe- this week. fully premature green light for For now, we can only hope socially distanced concerts. that local venues will stay the What, exactly, a distanced con- course and make prudent decert looks like is still unclear cisions to protect the health and why anyone would attend and safety of Missourians. a live event during a pandemThe Sprint Center has ic remains an postponed or unanswered rescheduled 25 question. since On Monday, the events Fortunately, mid-March. The state reported its sinmost concert Truman concert organizers and gle-highest one-day venue has had venue operators total of new COVID-19 nearly 35 shows so far are ex- cases. and events afercising better fected by the judgment than outbreak. the governor.

The Truman’s Most venues Live Stream in Kansas City remain close from the Quarantine concert for the foreseeable future. series has been a hit. The And most artists and promot- shows support industry workers have announced plans to ers with local ties and The delay or cancel shows for the Truman’s part-time staff. remainder of the year.

The livestreams will con“From an industry stand- tinue until the venue is repoint, we appreciate what opened, said Brianna Lowden, the governor was trying to manager of The Truman. convey,” said Shani Tate, vice The state’s recovery plan president of sales and market- doesn’t limit social gathering for Kansas City’s Sprint ings at concerts or live shows, Center. “But it doesn’t apply but organizers must enforce to us. We don’t have the clear- social distancing guidelines ance to have folks together at and space out seating accordthis time.” ing to those requirements.

In Kansas City, venues such The standard applies to as the Sprint Center, The Tru- events and destinations such man, Riot Room and the Up- as amusement parks and othtown Theater are abiding by er attractions, concerts, drivethe city’s stay-at-home order, in movie theaters, funerals, which expires May 15. museums, school graduations None of the sites is sched- and weddings. uled to reopen this month.

While Missouri is rushing Some won’t host shows until to resume even completely at least July. Others will wait optional activities, plenty of until the fall. people are rightly taking a Venues in St. Louis and more cautious approach. A Springfield were also operat- recent poll conducted by Reing under extended stay-at- uters/Ipsos found that more home orders. than half of Americans plan The numbers tell us Mis- to avoid large-scale public souri is not quite ready to ful- events until there is a proven ly reopen. coronavirus vaccine.

On Monday, the state reWith new coronavirus casported its single-highest one- es still spiking, no one in Misday total of new COVID-19 souri should book, promote or cases. As of Tuesday, 8,916 attend a live event in the near people in Missouri had tested future — regardless of what positive for the coronavirus, the state recovery plan allows. and 377 had died, according to For now, music fans should the Missouri Department of be patient — the show will go Health and Senior Services. on when concerts can make a Parson has made no secret comeback safely. of the fact that he’s in a hur— The Kansas City Star

A look back in t me.

60 Years Ago May 1960

Lowell Baumunk, rural mail carrier at LaHarpe, has ended 44 years of postal employment and is retiring at age of 65. Lowell began his career at age 16 as a clerk in Humboldt before coming to LaHarpe at 19. He become a rural route carrier in 1915, using a team of horses. He changed to a Model T Ford in 1917. ***** In the celebration of its 100th birthday yesterday, the First Methodist Church of Iola was described as “a church only beginning.” The church was filled by a congregation of about 600. The Rev. Paul Pentz is pastor. Three choirs performed. Penny Ball, pianist, assisted the organist, Mrs. Burney Miller, in a prelude. The Rev. Charles E. Funk, a former Iolan and now of Houston, delivered the centennial sermon. He is the

son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Funk who are among 19 who have been members for over 50 years. Those present included Mrs. J.E. Powell, the oldest member present, who was baptized in 1894. Judge Spencer A. Gard, chairman of the church board, presided. ***** Jerry Ulrich, IHS essayist, and Miss Marguerite Hackney, his teacher, are winging their way to Washington, D.C. to attend a meeting of the President’s Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped. The trip is one of Ulrich’s rewards for winning the essay contest sponsored by the governor. He and essay winners from other states will meet with the national committee on hiring the handicapped. The meeting will be addressed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, they will also spend some time with Kansas Sen. Frank Carlson.

Toto, is this Kansas?

While I recently ran through the top Senate races of 2020 and the parties’ prospects, I did not include Kansas on the list.

That omission — an intentional one — brought plenty of reaction, so I thought I’d explain why Kansas is not now on my list of general election contests to watch and what would need to happen before it is.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

The last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Kansas was Lyndon Johnson (against Barry Goldwater) in 1964. The last Democrat to win a Senate race in Kansas was George McGill, who squeezed out a win in a 1930 special election and was narrowly elected to a full term two years later.

Since the end of World War II, the state has had only one very tight Senate race, in the Watergate election year of 1974, when Republican incumbent Bob Dole Bob Dole eked out a 50.9% to 49.1% victory over Democratic Rep. William Roy. Six years ago, Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who is not seeking reelection this year, was in a surprisingly tight race with businessman Greg Orman, an independent.

National GOP strate gists were wor- Pat Roberts ried about Roberts’ campaign and prospects, but they dragged him across the finish line with what turned out to be a comfortable 10.6-point victory margin.

Kansas, then, is reliably Republican in statewide federal races, except in the most unusual circumstances. But it can be competitive in gubernatorial contests.

The sitting governor, Laura Kelly, is a Democrat, Kathleen as were Sebelius Govs. Kathleen Sebelius (2003-2009), Joan Finney (1991-1995), John Carlin (1979-1987) and Robert Docking (1967-1975).

This tendency to be a one-party state in statewide federal races but electorally competitive in races for governor is not unique to Kansas. We have seen it recently in Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Hawaii.

Voters will send someone from the state’s minority party to Annapolis, Providence, Oklahoma City or Cheyenne to work on local problems, but not to Washington, D.C., where hot-button, ideological issues often define national politics and where it’s difficult to keep an eye on the state’s elected officials.

GOP CIVIL WAR

The Kansas Republican Party has included both m o d e rates, such as Sens.

J a m e s Pearson and NanNancy cy Landon Kassebaum K a s s e baum, and conservatives for many de-

Stuart

Rothenburg CQ-Roll Call

cades. But a full-scale war between social conservatives and moderates erupted in the mid-1990s.

In May 1996, after Dole resigned his seat to run for president, moderate GOP Gov. Bill Graves appointed his lieutenant governor, Sheila Frahm, an abortion rights supporter, to fill the seat. She immediately drew an August primary challenge from Rep. Sam Brownback, an uncompromising social conservative who quickly attracted the backing Sam of national Brownback “movement conservatives.” Kassebaum and Graves endorsed Frahm.

Meanwhile in Brownback’s open 2nd District seat based in Topeka, Christian conservative and Olympian runner Jim Ryun faced two moderates who backed abortion rights, one of whom was the mayor of Topeka.

All three hopefuls portrayed the Republican primary as a fundamental choice for GOP voters.

In the neighboring 3rd District based in Kansas City, pragmatic Rep. Jan Meyers’ retirement produced a primary bloodbath between conservative state legislator Vince Snowbarger and the moderate, abortion rights-supporting mayor of Overland Park, Ed Eilert, who was endorsed by both Meyers and Kassebaum.

KANSAS TURNED to the right during the August 1996 primary, and in November elected Brownback, Ryun and Snowbarger. The war was on.

Two years later, Graves turned back a conservative primary challenger and won reelection, and Democrat Dennis Moore ousted Snowbarger in his suburban district. Ryun hung on to his seat until 2006, when he was upset by Democrat Nancy Boyda.

Kansas, like every other state, has been affected by partisan polarization. Donald Trump carried the state by more than 20 points. But Brownback’s controversial tenure as governor and Trump’s alienation of moderates in the suburbs have given Democrats an opening.

In addition to Kelly winning the governorship in 2018, Hillary Clinton narrowly carried the state’s 3rd District in 2016, and two years later the district elected a Democrat to the House, Sharice Davids.

In addition, some moderate Republicans have switched parties over the past couple of years. Barbara In late 2018, Bollier two GOP state senators — Barbara Bollier and Dinah Sykes — and state Rep. Stephanie Clayton left the GOP and joined the Democrats.

But before Democrats get too giddy about the GOP’s vulnerabilities in Kansas, they might want to consider the most recent party registration numbers in the state.

All this history and all these numbers demonstrate how difficult it would be for a Democrat to win a Senate race in Kansas in 2020. But ‘difficult’ is not ‘impossible.’

According to the Kansas secretary of state’s office, as of Oct. 1, 2018, the state had 812,009 registered Republicans (44.7%), 457,493 registered Democrats (25.2%) and 532,009 unaffiliated (29.3%).

That’s only a minimal change from registration figures on Feb. 1, 2008.

All this history and all these numbers demonstrate how difficult it would be for a Democrat to win a Senate race in Kansas in 2020. But “difficult” is not “impossible.”

Until we know the two nominees, there is simply no need to waste time handicapping a hypothetical contest.

THE BIG ‘BUT’

But the Kansas Senate race could bear watching if the state GOP nominates former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. With an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a law degree from Yale and a doctorate from Oxford, you might think the ambitious Kobach w o u l d have the perfect resume. But Kris Kobach he is one of the most polarizing people in politics today, both in Kansas and nationally.

Kobach, who has become a leading anti-immigration voice and a strong defender of the president, won the 2018 GOP gubernatorial nomination by a few hundred votes.

He defeated the sitting governor, Republican Jeff Colyer, who succeeded to the office following Brownback’s resignation.

But Kobach went on to lose the general election by 5 points to Kelly, who was Laura Kelly endorsed by Kassebaum, Graves, Frahm and other moderate Republicans.

If Kobach wins his party’s Senate nomination in August, Democrats should have a chance to pull an upset in the fall. Rep. Roger Marshall, state Senate President Susan Wagle and businessman Bob Hamilton are also in the Republican race, and any of them would be a clear favorite if nominated.

Democrats have united around party-switcher Bollier, a physician from Johnson County. The video launching her campaign was good. In it, she identified herself in the state Senate as a “moderate Republican” who became a “pragmatic Democrat” after Brownback as governor “tore our state apart” and the GOP “turned its back on Kansas values.”

Bollier would be a perfect contrast to Kobach. But Kansas is still Kansas. Without knowing the GOP nominee, I’m not sure where the race is or will be. Because of that, I’ll just sit back and watch the fisticuffs until the Republican contest is clearer.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

A5

Trump drops ‘game-changer’ drug

By ANNA EDNEY Bloomberg News

WA S H I N G T O N — President Donald Trump has stopped talking about the decades-old antimalarial drug he once touted as a “game changer” for COVID-19, but it won’t be as simple for the rest of the health system to just move on.

When Trump first began touting the drug in mid-March, a frenzy ensued as hospitals, patients and doctors raced to secure supplies.

Many believed even if the drug didn’t turn out to be an effective coronavirus treatment, it might be able to ward off infection.

But as quickly as pharmacies were drained of the pills, the tide has now turned against hydroxychloroquine and its chemical cousin, chloroquine.

Regulators and scientists have raised concerns about potentially serious side effects, while Gilead Sciences Inc.’s antiviral therapy remdesivir was cleared for U.S. use. Some hospitals, including Mount Sinai Health System in New York, no longer include the drug in their treatment regimen for COVID-19.

The surge resulted in shortages that left patients who’d long taken the medication to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis hunting for

U.S. cases, recoveries, deaths As of 11 a.m., ET, May 5

1,181,885+ Total confirmed cases

187,180

Total recovered

69,079+ Deaths

Source: Johns Hopkins CSSE Graphic: Staff, TNS

alternatives. To help get more drugs to market, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed overseas manufacturing facilities that were previously sanctioned for quality violations to begin producing it for U.S. patients.

Hydroxychloroquine prescriptions jumped to 298,660 during the week of March 20, more than doubling from a week earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

But prescriptions have now plummeted back to nearly normal levels, and there are signs a speed-up in manufacturing is slowing.

Demand for bottles of chemicals made by United States Pharmacopeia that are used as reference standards in pharmaceutical manufacturing skyrocketed 1,733% from mid-March to mid-April compared with the year before, but has since dropped 52%

in the week of April 24 to April 30 compared to the week prior, according to USP data.

The swift embrace and rapid abandonment of hydroxychloroquine underlines how publicity of evolving science can have unpredictable consequences on the behavior of physicians and patients.

The episode also shows how supply chains and government agencies struggle to keep up with such changes, especially when one perspective is amplified by the president.

THE FUROR over the drugs has been costly for patients with chronic autoimmune diseases.

They struggled to get access to treatment as Trump’s daily endorsements caused prescriptions to surge, though some of the strain has shown signs of receding.

“Within the last few days we have seen a drop in calls and emails expressing concern and challenges accessing hydroxychloroquine,” Mike Donnelly, a spokesman for the Lupus Foundation of America, said.

“We have also heard that people who had trouble getting their refill at first are now able to.”

Some lupus patients are still struggling to access their medication or are being told they can only get 14-day refills, he said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during the daily briefing of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. (Alex Wong/Getty Images/TNS)

What we’ve known all along: Dr. Fauci’s a brainy Romeo

By BRIAN NIEMIETZ New York Daily News

Who needs Fabio when you’ve got Fauci?

Pandemic expert Dr. Anthony Fauci was the inspiration for the top-selling 1991 romance novel “Happy Endings,” according to the book’s author, Sally Quinn.

Quinn reportedly told the Washingtonian that the brainy and sexy male character in her 500-plus page tome, whom she called Michael Lanzer, was modeled after Fauci, who blew her mind during a dinner meeting in Washington, D.C., nearly 30 years ago.

Obama to address 2020 high school grads

By SONAIYA KELLY Los Angeles Times

Former President Barack Obama will deliver a commencement message to the 3 million high school seniors graduating this month in a televised primetime special.

Announced last week, “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020” will also feature appearances from LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai, the Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, Bad Bunny, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe and H.E.R., among others. It will air simul-

taneously across all the major n e t works and so- Barack Obama cial media platforms.

“This high school graduation season will be anything but ordinary, but that’s all the more reason why the class of 2020 deserves extraordinary advice, heartfelt encouragement and hard-won wisdom about facing new challenges in an uncertain world,” said Russlyn Ali, chief executive and co-founder of XQ Institute, which is co-hosting the event

with the LeBron James Family Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

The one-hour multimedia event is one of a handful of special events saluting this year’s graduating class.

The former president will also join wife Michelle Obama for a virtual ceremony on YouTube called “Dear Class of 2020” alongside BTS and Lady Gaga on June 6. Oprah Winfrey, Miley Cyrus and Awkwafina will participate in a commencement streaming event for Facebook and Instagram on May 15.

And earlier this week, John Krasinski

“I just fell in love with him,” Quinn said.

The 79-year-old Brooklyn native has been the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, where he served under President Ronald Reagan.

If it’s true that life imitates art, President Donald Trump may want to keep his top doc away from Melania Trump. The story revolves around a first lady who has a fling with a National Institute of Heath scientist during the HIV pandemic. Quinn had already decided on the book’s female lead, but was

trying to decide who her love interest would be when she met Fauci.

The Cornell grad fit the bill of being “really brilliant, and compassionate, and kind, and decent, and honest. All of those things — and sexy.”

Sadie Grey, the book’s fictional first lady, meets the dashing doctor on a Bahamian beach after her husband dies.

Sparks fly between the pair, according to the Washingtonian’s account of the story.

According to Quinn, Fauci knows he’s the inspiration behind her brainy Romeo.

“I think he was a little embarrassed,” she said.

What’s with the tp?

tapped Yousafzai, Winfrey, Jon Stewart and Steven Spielberg for a graduation-themed segment of his hit weekly web series, “Some Good News.”

“Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020” will air the evening of May 16 on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

The Associated Press

Why has toilet paper run out?

Blame the empty shelves on hoarders who stockpiled the plush paper goods.

During a two-day period in March, online and in-store sales shot up a whopping 845% as states announced stayat-home orders.

Since toilet paper is

bulky and not profitable, retailers don’t typically keep a lot of inventory on hand. That makes it hard for them to keep up when demand suddenly surges.

Americans are also using more toilet paper at home now, instead of at places like offices and schools. With time, and limited purchases, the demand is softening.

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Trump: US government had ‘nothing to do’ with incursion in Venezuela CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States had nothing to do with an alleged incursion into Venezuela that landed two U.S. citizens behind bars in the crisis-stricken South American nation.

Trump said he had just learned of the detention of the pair, ac-

cused by Venezuela of being mercenaries.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said they were part of an operation to kill him that was backed by neighboring Colombia and the United States.

“Whatever it is, we’ll let you know,” Trump told reporters in Washington before departing from the White House

to Arizona. “But it has nothing to do with our government.”

Authorities in Venezuela identified the two men as Luke Denman and Airan Berry, both former U.S. special forces soldiers associated with the Florida-based private security firm Silvercorp USA. Military records show both decorated soldiers served in Iraq.

A third U.S. ex-Green Beret and Silvercorp founder, Jordan Goudreau, claimed responsibility for leading “Operation Gideon,” which was launched with an attempted beach landing before dawn on Sunday. Officials said Tuesday that six suspected attackers were killed, giving a revised figure from the eight previous-

ly reported.

The State Department reiterated Trump’s comments that the U.S. wasn’t involved, accusing Maduro of launching a “disinformation campaign” to distract the world from recent events, citing a prison riot that left more than 40 dead and dozens badly injured.

“Nothing should be

taken at face value when we see the distorting of facts,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

U.S. officials said they are trying to learn more about the events, including the activities of two U.S. citizens as well as Goudreau. Answers will only come out when Maduro’s “regime” has ended, the statement said.

Courthouse: Access still restricted, but offices are reopened Continued from A1

der to improve accessibility.

At the north doors, Sheriff ’s deputies are taking temperatures of all-comers with a contactless thermometer.

Although the number of visitors allowed inside the courthouse has been capped at 10, waittimes have not been an issue, according to multiple county employees.

Inside the building, social distancing measures have also been put in place: only two visitors are permitted in the public areas of department offices, and caution tape and other physical barriers have been installed.

For now, this is the “new normal.”

In relation to the stayat-home order having been lifted, as well as Gov. Kelly’s three-phase plan to “reopen” Kan-

sas, commissioners suggested they’d been involved in conversations to enact the governor’s policies at a local level, though at this time a plan has not been drawn up in any formal manner.

IN OTHER news, a resident was accidentally locked inside the courthouse last week (which did not make them very happy), which in turn led to a discussion of purchasing “push-bars,” so that doors locked on the outside can still be opened from the inside.

Due to fire codes, if push-bars are to be installed, they must be installed at all nine primary doors; hence provisional bids were sought to investigate how much this project would cost.

According to Public

Works director Mitch Garner, despite the severity of weekend storms, no major damage was done to any county property beyond a few vehicles getting dinged by hail.

County employees are also continuing cleanup after the storm, and continue combing the area for debris.

Regarding the EMS barns currently being constructed by the county, the facility in Humboldt is estimated to be finished some time in May, though the facility in Moran will require at least another couple months of work.

Prompted by questions from concerned residents prior the meeting, commissioner Bill King encouraged discussion on a few key questions, for which here are the answers provided by undersher-

iff Roy Smith: — The number of persons incarcerated at the county jail is down.

— Prisoners are not being accepted from outside the county.

— The Health Department nurse is currently in contact with the Sheriff ’s Office regarding the health of prisoners.

Regarding the proposed communications tower that will serve the southeast corner of the county, according to county counselor Bob Johnson, six out of the seven parties approached are interested in making bids.

Commissioner King also prompted discussion on the county’s revenue, budget, and cash-flow, pointing out that regular spending may not be possible at this time, unless there’s a pressing need for an

item (such as vehicle tires).

Another example of an essential item are “sneeze” or “splash” guards, which commissioners approved purchasing another round for the courthouse (24 in total).

Beyond that, “we might want to slow-roll things a little bit,” emphasized King, and said that purchasing something like storm shel-

ters in places like Mildred and Carlyle may have to wait.

Commissioner Bruce Symes agreed, saying there’s a good chance the county will ultimately have to “tighten [its] belt.”

Following a brief discussion between County Clerk Sherrie Riebel and commissioners, the county’s senior centers will likely remain closed until at least June 1.

Some of the masks created by Iolan Billie Collins.

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Masks: Donations Continued from A1

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the trio started to run out of supplies. First, they ran out of metal strips used to bend the mask so it fits snugly around the nose.

Friends suggested they use metal bread ties, but Roger had a better solution by cutting strips from thin metal printing plates used at Central Publishing.

Next, they ran out of elastic to wrap around the ears. With mask-making now a popular hobby, such items have sold out.

Collins ordered two 100foot spools, but while waiting for their arrival discovered that the material for leggings was a good substitute.

“It’s so soft, like butter. It feels so much better on people’s ears,” she said.

She ended up donating the elastic to other sewers in need. In re-

turn, someone sent her a roll of Royals fabric — always a favorite.

Collins said many who want a mask donate fabric. At times, Collins has come home to find spools of thread on her porch. Or a bottle of wine. Even a roast.

“We’ve had a lot of donations. A lot of bartering,” Collins said.

She sells her masks for $4 apiece but also gives them to those in need. The family intended to donate one mask for each one they sold, but upped the ratio to 2-to-1.

They’ve donated many to those in health care as well as to restaurants and retail businesses.

“I think it’s very important that you find your reason to smile.

And right now, sewing and giving people a little sense of security is my way,” she said.

Give The Iola Register to your favorite graduate.

Area high school graduates receive digital access to The Iola Register for 50% off, for as long as they’re a student.

Visit iolaregister.com/student or call us at 365-2111 for info.

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MLB:

Stars shined in 1981’s short season

B

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

American Legion Baseball: Iola Indians

By NOAH TRISTER The Associated Press

The season began with Fernandomania and ended with a classic World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees.

Mike Schmidt slugged his way to a second consecutive MVP, and Nolan Ryan pitched another no-hitter.

But perhaps the best way to describe baseball in 1981 is by recounting Pete Rose’s pursuit of the National League’s career hits record. He tied the mark in June, then had to wait until August to break it — because a strike shut down the sport for about two months.

All Rose could do was make regular visits to the batting cage while he waited.

“I went there every freaking day,” Rose said.

If baseball is able to come back at all this year, fans should be prepared for a significantly shortened season, and that 1981 campaign may be the most relevant comparison available. The season was split in two by a labor dispute, but when the sport finally returned, its stars still had an abbreviated chance to shine.

“The chaos, the change, the uniqueness, the intensity — all of those elements absolutely factor into how memorable that entire time is,” said Steve Rogers, the right-hander whose Montreal Expos made their first postseason appearance in 1981.

The early days of the ‘81 season were dominated by Fernando Valenzuela. The Mexican rookie took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first eight starts for the Dodgers and throwing shutouts in five of them.

By the time the strike began, Rose was in the spotlight. He was with the defending champion Phillies then, and on June 10, he entered Philadelphia’s last game before the strike needing one hit to tie Stan Musial’s NL mark of 3,630.

See MLB | Page B6

Derek Bycroft throws a pitch for the AA Iola Indians against Rose Hill in the zone tournament championship game in 2019.

REGISTER/ERICK MITCHELL

Indians prep for Legion season

By ERICK MITCHELL The Iola Register

The high school baseball season may have been wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, but area sluggers will still have the American Legion Baseball season to look forward to.

Both the AA and A teams have begun organizing their schedules for the summer, anticipating that Gov. Laura Kelly’s three-phase plan will follow through. Phase 3 would allow gatherings of 80-plus beginning June 1.

The AA Indians have their first tournament scheduled for June 5-8 in Emporia. The only other tournament on the schedule is set for June 25-27 in Wichita. Coaches Jason Bauer and Troy Smith highlight that it has been difficult creating a schedule with so much uncertainty surrounding when Kansas would relax its guidelines.

Neither the roster or the schedule is yet finalized, but Smith says that’s not unusual for this time of year.

“With the coronavirus, we didn’t even know if we were

even going to have a season,” Smith said. “That has been our biggest issue.”

Still, both coaches have a solid idea of what talent will be at their disposal. Bauer served as the AA head coach during last season’s state semifinals run, and expects to have Iola High graduating seniors Cal Leonard, Zane Whitney, and potentially Brady Wiggin. Also joining will be Humboldt’s Conor Haviland along with Jackson Aikens and Crest’s Zach Beckmon.

Last year’s group will be joined by AA newcomers Bra-

dyn Cole, Nathan Louk, Ryker Curry, Eli Smith and Dillon Bycroft who all played at the A level last year.

“I think it will take them a little time to mesh,” Bauer said. “The last three years, it has been the same kids. So now you have some of the younger kids coming up, so it may take awhile, but not long.”

Smith served as the A head coach for the 2019 season, and has a good grasp of his team’s talents. He says the underSee INDIANS | Page B5

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs

NFL tight ends due for increased pay

By ROB MAADDI The Associated Press

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts late in the game against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship on Jan. 19 at Arrowhead Stadium. TOM PENNINGTON/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

Several tight ends in the NFL are centerpieces of the offense.

Now, it’s time they get paid like it.

Guys such as George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz and Rob Gronkowski — before he sat out a year — are more productive than many wide receivers but make far less money.

The franchise tag for tight ends is $10.6 million. By comparison, it’s $17.9 million for wide receivers. Only running backs, at $10.3 million, have a lower number among non-specialists.

According to overthecap. com, 24 wide receivers have an average annual salary above $10 million while only two tight ends — Hunter Hen-

ry and Austin Hooper — make that much.

Kittle, Kelce, Ertz, Darren Waller and Mark Andrews led their teams in catches and yards receiving last season.

They also play a position that requires them to block in pass protection and on running plays. Some, like Kittle, excel at it.

“In many cases, the tight end is much more critical to the offense than the wide receivers and in the case of Ertz, Kelce, Kittle and Gronk, those are franchise-type players who are arguably one of the best three players on the team,” agent Leigh Steinberg told The Associated Press.

The Los Angeles Chargers gave Henry the franchise tag in March. Hooper left Atlanta for Cleveland, signing a fouryear contract worth $42 million with $23 million guaran-

teed.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys gave wide receiver Amari Cooper a five-year, $100 million contract with $40 million guaranteed.

Cooper caught 79 passes for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns last season. But he was on the sideline, subbed out for Tavon Austin, on a fourthdown play with the NFC East title on the line in a loss at Philadelphia in December.

Kittle, Kelce, Ertz and Gronkowski, when he played in New England, would be goto guys in a critical spot such as that.

Kittle had 85 catches for 1,053 yards and five TDs in 2019. He played more than 90 percent of San Francisco’s offensive snaps in 14 games, See TIGHT ENDS | Page B6

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Iola Register

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Astronomers find closest black hole to Earth, more

By SETH BORNSTEIN The Associated Press

objects in the Milky Way. The trouble is we can’t see them. Nothing, not even light, escapes a black hole’s gravity.

Usually, scientists can only spot them when they’re gobbling up sections of a partner star or something else falling into them. Astronomers think most black holes, including this newly discovered one, don’t have anything close enough to swallow. So they go undetected.

Astronomers found this one because of the unusual orbit of a star.

The new black hole is part of what used to be a three-star dance in a system called HR6819.

The two remaining super-hot stars aren’t close enough to be sucked in, but the inner star’s orbit is warped.

Using a telescope in Chile, they confirmed that there was something about four or five times the mass of our sun pulling on the inner star. It could only be a black hole, they concluded.

Outside astronomers said that makes sense.

“It will motivate additional searches among bright, relatively nearby stars,” said Ohio State University astronomer Todd Thompson, who wasn’t part of the research.

Meet your new but shy galactic neighbor: A black hole left over from the death of a fleeting young star.

European astronomers have found the closest black hole to Earth yet, so near that the two stars dancing with it can be seen by the naked eye.

Of course, close is relative on the galactic scale. This black hole is about 1,000 light-years away and each light-year is 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion kilometers). But in terms of the cosmos and even the galaxy, it is in our neighborhood, said European Southern Observatory astronomer Thomas Rivinius, who led the study published Wednesday in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

The previous closest black hole is probably about three times further, about 3,200 lightyears, he said.

The discovery of a closer black hole, which is in the constellation Telescopium in the Southern Hemisphere, hints that there are more of these out there.

Astronomers theorize there are between 100 million to 1 billion of these small but dense

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Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell testifies during a hearing before House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 11. ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

U.S. deals with record federal spending WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has opened the spigots and let loose nearly $3 trillion to try to rescue the economy from the coronavirus outbreak — a river of debt that would have been unthinkable even a few months ago.

And yet the response, even from people who built careers as skeptics of federal debt, speaks to the gravity of the crisis: Almost no one has blinked.

With the U.S. economy in a frightening free-fall, they say, the government has no choice but to pour trillions into an emergency operation. Doing less would risk a catastrophe — a recession that could devolve into a full-fledged depression.

And if that were to happen, the government’s fiscal health would end up far worse.

What’s more, the lessons of World War II and the 2008 financial crisis suggest to many that a combination of ultra-low interest rates and eventual economic growth can keep government debts manageable and prevent a budget crisis.

In a sign that investors worry more about a deep recession than about whether the government might eventually struggle to repay its escalating debt, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note remains well below 1%.

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Many analysts say that while soaring federal debt may end up slowing an eventual recovery, there won’t be any recovery if the government doesn’t borrow and spend aggressively now.

“Like most folks, I’m not especially concerned about deficit and debt now,” said Donald Marron, director of the Tax Policy Center, a Washington think tank.

“Interest rates remain low. Immediate health and economic concerns must take precedence.’’

Nonetheless, the numbers are shocking. After Congress passed four programs to sustain the economy through the COVID-19 crisis, the budget deficit — the gap between what the government spends and what it collects in taxes — will hit a record $3.7 trillion this year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

On Monday, the Treasury Department announced that it will borrow $2.99 trillion in the April-June quarter, blowing away the previous quarterly record of $569 billion, set in the recession year of 2008, and eclipsing the $1.28 trillion it borrowed in the bond market in all of 2019. By the time the budget year ends in September, the government’s debt — its accumulated annual deficits — will equal 101% of the U.S. gross domestic product, according to the CBO. Policymakers are trying to fend off catastrophe. The lockdowns and travel curbs meant to contain the virus are battering the economy.

GDP is expected to fall at a 40% annual rate from

April through June.

That would be the worst quarter on record dating to 1947. Thirty million Americans have sought unemployment benefits since the virus struck.

Even before the health crisis, the government’s debt to the public, swollen by President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, amounted to more than 80% of GDP, highest level since 1950.

The nation has been here before. In 1946, the year after World War II ended, federal debt peaked at nearly 109% of GDP. By 1962, the debt burden had dropped below the 1940 level of 44% of GDP. The surging postwar economy poured tax revenue into government coffers.

In some ways, things are different now. The economy doesn’t grow as fast. From 1947 through 1962, the economy averaged a robust, debt-erasing 3.5% annual growth.

It’s unlikely to achieve anything that impressive anytime soon. Since 2010, GDP growth has averaged just 2.3% annually.

Economists have long worried about the consequences of big government debts. When the government takes on debt, the argument goes, it competes with private borrowers for loans. It “crowds out’’ private investment, heightens borrowing rates and threatens growth.

But after the financial crisis, economists began to rethink their approach to debt. The recovery from the Great Recession, in the United States and especially in Europe, was sluggish in part because poli-

cymakers declined to juice growth with more debt. The 19 European countries that share the euro currency slid back into recession in 2011. As their economies slumped, their debt problems worsened.

In the United States, rates didn’t rise much even as the economy gradually strengthened.

It turns out investors have a near-insatiable appetite for U.S. Treasurys, given their status as the world’s safest investment. Their rush to buy Treasuries helped lower the government’s borrowing costs. So did persistently low inflation.

In such a low-rate, low-inflation environment, the risk of piling on debt seems more manageable, at least for countries like the United States and Japan that borrow in their own currencies.

“We can worry much less about the amount of debt than most economists guessed,” said Douglas Elmendorf, a former CBO director and now dean of the Harvard Kennedy School who for years has been a critic of runaway federal debt.

Today’s U.S. policymakers enjoy the support of the Federal Reserve, which has been flooding the market with cash and keeping borrowing costs ultra-low.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell took the unusual step at a news conference last week of imploring Congress not to worry right now about the risk that its aggressive rescue programs will produce excessive debt.

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20 million jobs vanish in April BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. businesses cut an unprecedented 20.2 million jobs in April, an epic collapse as the coronavirus outbreak closed of offices, factories, schools, construction sites and stores that propel the U.S. economy.

Today’s report from payroll company ADP showed the tragic depth and scale of job losses that left no part of the world’s largest economy unscathed. The leisure and hospitality sector shed 8.6 million workers last month. Trade, transportation and utilities let 3.4 million people go. Construction firms cut nearly 2.5 million, while manufacturers let go of roughly 1.7 million employees.

This private industry report comes two days ahead of the official monthly figures from the U.S. Labor Department.

B4

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Iola Register

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His pressure to cheat quarantine reveals selfishness Dear Carolyn: I’m a middle-aged, longtimedivorced, peaceful, content woman. I was pressured into dating a recently divorced man in his 60s; I wanted friendship, he wanted romance. We’ve been dating a few years, but had repeated issues with his constant push/ desire for sexual intimacy, it’s never enough, while I keep telling him we need a friendship first.

We were fine visiting each other weekly, in neighboring counties, even when covid social distancing began, and we have both worked from home.

Recently his boss said he had to go into his office 20 hours a week, and he said yes. I was upset because a co-worker his age died of covid and another co-worker tested positive.

He is retired with a nice pension but likes the lifestyle he can afford with the second job.

I finally got very angry with him today because he keeps telling me we

Tell Me About It Carolyn Hax

are symptom-free so I can come over and stay with him on weekends or more.

It made me furious that he thinks he is an exception and, even more so, doesn’t seem to care that it exposes me to extra risk. I am not willing to take on extra covid risks just because he can’t cope with being alone.

I am emotionally attached. I have been fine with our romance, but really don’t want to lose our friendship. I heard in bad times you see the worst and best in people, so am I overreacting by seeing my overly generous, kind-acting, intelligent boyfriend as a completely selfish man on the inside?

— Overreacting?

Overreacting?: The bodice-ripper I’m writing

now has a title: “Fine With Our Romance.”

You aren’t overreacting, you’re belatedly reacting — belated by a few years.

It’s a form of underreacting.

Seriously underreacting.

Since the pandemic is currently months old and your relationship years old, you can do the math: You’re underreacting to selfishness and manipulation he has displayed for you, right there on the outside, since the very beginning.

You didn’t even want to date him! But he pressured you into it.

You are not interested in a sexual relationship with him! But he pressures you into it. This pressure is, in your word, “constant.”

You aren’t comfortable closing the social distance with someone risking workplace exposure to the virus — but he’s pressuring you into it.

This “overly generous, kind-acting, intelligent boyfriend” has carried

himself as if he’s above the rules from the moment you’ve met him.

NOBODY is above the rule that no means no.

Yes, I’m yelling.

And please don’t treat anyone as if they’re above the rule that, in a relationship, each person’s emotional needs are of equal value.

And, most important, next time you write your story and attribute your decisions to somebody else, rewrite it on the spot without the passive voice.

“I was pressured”? No: “I gave in to pressure.” Own it.

Then stop it. Recognize pressure as reason unto itself for a hard “no.” Hard and final.

Maybe the truism here is that in bad times, we don’t have the usual ways to lie to ourselves. Finally, the lens of life and death has allowed you to see him clearly: He’s not looking out for you, he’s looking out for himself; he is not your friend. Don’t let him blur your lines again.

Is there danger lurking in your turkey on wheat?

Dear Dr. Roach: Recently, a well-respected consumer organization ran an article asserting that hundreds of thousands of people die every year just from eating deli meat! The problem is supposedly that the nitrates and/or nitrites in the meat combine to make nitrosamines, which are supposedly carcinogenic.

Just what evidence is there that nitrosamines cause cancer in humans?

Is the case based on enormous doses given to animals? I don’t have to worry about stuff like hot dogs, bologna and salami. I hate these meats and never eat them. But deli turkey is a great food.

Low in calories, almost no fat, a great source of protein. It can be a little high in salt, but if you watch your salt intake the rest of the day, it’s OK. Most of us don’t have time to roast a turkey breast and slice it up.

Are these low-fat turkey sandwiches really life threatening? Or is this ad-

Dr. Keith Roach To Your Good Health vice like everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day or everyone over 50 should take a baby aspirin — both thoroughly debunked. What is the truth please, Dr. Roach?

— R.E. Answer: The truth is that there is pretty solid evidence that some types of processed foods, especially those made with nitrites, increase the risk of colon and stomach cancers. These data come from human studies, not animal studies, from the World Health Organization. They were confident enough in the data in 2015 to label processed meats as “carcinogenic.”

The magnitude of the risk is small. It’s estimated that eating a moderate amount of processed

meat (about 2 ounces a day) will increase the lifetime risk of bowel cancer from 4.8% to 5.6%. That’s enough for me to recommend against making processed meats a regular part of your diet.

However, not all deli meats are processed using nitrites, and it’s not 100% clear that the nitrites are the sole or even the main cause of the increase in risk. Some of the foods you mention are made minimally processed, with very little if any ingredients that might increase the risk of bowel cancer. It takes some perseverance, but you can find out what your deli is serving and check to see how it is made.

Occasional amounts of these kinds of products are not very dangerous. A mostly plant-based diet has many benefits, including lower cancer risk. Having bacon every day is not a good idea for health, but adding in an occasional deli lunch is not a big risk.

The “hundreds of thousands” number seems more hyperbole than science to me.

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The Iola Register

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

B5

Favre may have received welfare money for no-show speeches in Mississippi

Bradyn Cole takes a swing at a pitch last season for the A Iola Indians. REGISTER/ERICK MITCHELL

Indians: A, AA teams gear up for summer Continued from B1

classmen will have no issue adjusting to the stepup in competition.

“They have all played at such high levels — and as a matter a fact — I think they could have played AA last year,” Smith said. “I do not think that they will have any issue whatsoever, I really don’t.”

With Smith bumping up with his son Eli on the AA team, last year’s A-team manager John Taylor will take over the head coaching role for the A Indians. Taylor will be accompanied by John Wrestler and Bob Johnson Jr. “I like to lean on other people, so I try to surround myself with the best people I can,” Tay-

lor said. “The guys we have are going to work well together, and just because I am the head coach, doesn’t mean I am making all the decisions.”

The A Iola Indians will be filled with many firsttime Legion players.

Iola’s TJ Taylor, Cooper Riley, Drake DeLaTorre, and Crest’s Trevor Church are the only returners from a season ago. In fact, Church and Taylor will be the only pitchers to have thrown the full 60-foot distance from the mound to home plate prior to this season.

Taylor has already organized a complete schedule for the summer.

The A Indians will start its season with two dou-

bleheaders against Chanute on June 1 and 3, and travel to a tournament in Ottawa on June 5-7.

The optimism couldn't be any higher for Taylor, who is eager to get the kids back on the ball field.

“If everything goes by the step-by-step process, we should be OK,” Taylor said. “I’m scared for the kids to lose a whole year of baseball, because it sets everyone back.

Missing out on the high school season, I’d hate to lose this, too.”

“A lot of these kids are still at the age where they are still growing, and developing physically. So when you have a year that you are not playing, it is totally different than if you were

older and not playing.

With the year off, they won’t be able to develop their skills into their bodies.”

Last year, the A Indians fell short in the semifinals of the Kansas American Legion A State Tournament. And despite losing a hefty crew from last year, Taylor feels there is no reason the new faces mixed with the handful of veterans can’t make a run for state.

“I told all the parents at the beginning of the year that my goal is to win a state title,” Taylor said. “I think that in our area, because baseball is so popular around here, we are always going to have the kids to achieve that.”

Injured Simmons ‘close or ready’ to NBA return PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons is closer to getting cleared to play, should the NBA season resume.

The league leader in steals was sidelined with nerve issues in his lower back when the season was suspended on March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He is allowed to rehabilitate at the 76ers’ practice facility in Camden, New Jersey, but there seemed to be no guarantee he would have been cleared to play in time for a playoff run.

“We’ve took our time, we’ve been methodical and thoughtful about his recovery and rehab, just to make sure, because we weren’t in a rush,” 76ers GM Elton Brand said Tuesday. “It’s hard

to speculate. He’s been working hard and I know he’d be close or ready.”

Simmons had missed his eighth straight game and was receiving daily treatment for his nerve impingement at the time the season stopped.

Brand, speaking to media for the first time since, said he would not speculate on Simmons’ availability had the Sixers still been playing in the postseason. Simmons had yet to play 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 during his rehab.

“When I FaceTime him during his workouts and his treatments and I see him, I’d be highly encouraged,” Brand said.

“His ramp-up would be different.”

The 23-year-old Simmons averaged 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and

8.2 assists in 54 games.

He and other players undergoing rehab, including All-Star center Joel Embiid, have permission to use the 76ers’ practice facility. Embiid was recovering from surgery on his left hand and had just returned after missing five games with a sprained left shoulder at the time of the shutdown.

The Sixers have a skeleton staff on hand at the facility when players need rehab, usually a physical trainer or a strength coach, and never more than about six people at a time.

Entering a season with NBA championship expectations, the Sixers (39-26) were a disappointing sixth in the Eastern Conference and coach Brett Brown’s job

status was a hot topic in Philly. Brown, whose contract runs through 2021-22, may have gained some more time to fix the Sixers because of the shutdown.

Al Horford was a freeagent bust coming over from Boston and had lost his starting job. The questions raised during the season may not be answered for months, though a healthy Simmons and Embiid could serve as a course correction, if the NBA resumes its season.

JACKSON, Miss.

(AP) — A nonprofit group caught up in an embezzlement scheme in Mississippi used federal welfare money to pay former NFL quarterback Brett Favre $1.1 million for multiple speaking engagements but Favre did not show up for the events, the state auditor said Monday.

Details about payments to Favre are included in an audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. State Auditor Shad White said his employees identified $94 million in questionable spending by the agency, including payments for sports activities with no clear connection to helping needy people in one of the poorest states of the U.S. The audit was released months after a former Human Services director and five other people were indicted on state charges of embezzling about $4 million. They have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial in what White has called one of Mississippi’s largest public corruption cases in decades.

“If there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it,” White said Monday.

White said the Human Services audit “shows the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers.”

Payments to Favre were made by Mississippi Community Education Center, a group that had contracts with the Department of Human Services to spend money through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The audit says Favre Enterprises was paid $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018, and he was supposed to make speeches for at least three events. The auditor’s report says that “upon a cursory review of those dates, auditors were able to determine

that the individual contracted did not speak nor was he present for those events.”

Favre, who lives in Mississippi, faces no criminal charges. The audit report lists the payments to him as “questioned” costs, which White said means “auditors either saw clear misspending or could not verify the money had been lawfully spent.” The Associated Press on Monday sent questions to Favre by text message and left a message for him with his longtime agent Bus Cook, and Favre did not immediately respond.

John Davis was director of the Department of Human Services from January 2016 until July 2019, appointed by then-Gov. Phil Bryant — a Republican who also appointed White to office when a previous auditor stepped down. Davis was one of the people indicted; another was Nancy New, who was director of the Mississippi Community Education Center. Davis, New and the others indicted have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

The auditor’s report said that Department of Human Services leaders, particularly Davis, “participated in a widespread and pervasive conspiracy to circumvent internal controls, state law, and federal regulations” to direct grant money to certain people and groups. Davis instructed two groups that received grants, the Mississippi Community Education Center and Family Resource Center of North Mississippi, to spend money with certain other people or groups, the auditor’s report said.

White said the those two nonprofit groups received more than $98 million in Department of Human Services grants during the three years that ended June 30. Most of the money came from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

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B6

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Iola Register

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MLB: Pros starred in 1981 season Continued from B1

Ryan was on the mound against the Phillies, and Rose tied the record with a first-inning single off him. Then Rose struck out in his next three chances against the Houston right-hander. He finally broke the record Aug. 10 against St. Louis, in his team’s first game back.

Baseball’s first big event after the stoppage was the All-Star Game in Cleveland on Aug. 9.

Schmidt homered in the eighth inning to give the NL a 5-4 win.

“That would have been my overall best year had we played a full season,” Schmidt said in an email. “I was in the midst of my prime, especially following 1980.

It really had nothing to do with a unique thing I did during the strike, actually I worked for CBS as a sports anchor. I did some working out with (Phillies reliever) Tug McGraw.”

Schmidt hit .316 with 31 home runs in 102 games. Baseball-Reference.com credits him with 7.7 wins above replacement that year. In 2019 — with a full season — only two NL players reached that WAR total.

If baseball’s return went smoothly for position players like Rose and Schmidt, pitchers faced more of a challenge. And Rogers had the added responsibility of being on the union’s negotiating committee during the strike.

“My ability to stay in shape had been curtailed pretty signifi-

cantly,” Rogers said. “I really did not have the capability of throwing that much.”

It would nonetheless turn into a memorable year for Rogers and the Expos. Baseball expanded its postseason, allowing the four division leaders from before the strike to qualify — and also taking the teams with the best post-strike records in each division.

That led to some unusual results. Cincinnati went 66-42 for the best overall record in the game, but the Reds finished second in both halves and missed the playoffs. Kansas City went 50-53 but won the second half in the AL West and played on.

Teams played an unequal number of games.

The Expos (30-23) edged the Cardinals (29-23) atop the NL East in the second half, securing what would be their lone postseason berth in Montreal.

The Milwaukee Brewers made their first playoff appearance, as well.

Houston made the postseason with the help of Ryan’s fifth no-hitter, Sept. 26 against the Dodgers.

The Expos fired manager Dick Williams late in the season, then went 16-11 under Jim Fanning to make the playoffs. Rogers threw a twohit shutout against the Mets in his final start of the regular season — and he was just getting started.

In the first round of the playoffs, Rogers beat Steve Carlton twice, in-

cluding in the winnertake-all fifth game at Philadelphia. He went the distance in that 3-0 victory and even drove in two runs.

In the NL Championship Series against Los Angeles, Rogers threw another complete game in a Game 3 win, but when he came on in relief in Game 5, Rick Monday homered in the top of the ninth to give the Dodgers the pennant. The ending was disappointing, but it had been a remarkable run for the Expos.

By the time the World Series ended — with the Dodgers winning in six games — it was fair to say the 1981 season, while far from ideal, had avoided becoming a farce.

That’s the challenge the sport faces this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has put the entire season in jeopardy. If baseball does resume, it may be in front of empty stadiums, and if the start is delayed well into the summer, the season could be so short the results seem tarnished.

“Is it really going to be a true champion?”

Rose wondered. “The commissioner — boy, he’s got his work cut out for him. … You can’t make everybody happy.”

Ultimately, though, the format of baseball’s retuarn may be a secondary concern. If the sport can be played safely, that would be a victory in itself. Whether that’s really possible is still very much in doubt.

SALUTING THOSE ON THE

Everyone is adjusting, both at home and at work. Balancing work and family with schools closed presents a new realm of challenges. Across the CHC/SEK system, staff have taken on new and different responsibilities, working in new jobs, working different hours, and in different ways. We’re using Zoom to attend lots of meetings and to stay connected. Some staff are working from home for the first time, and health care providers are learning new techniques and software to “see” and treat people remotely through phone calls, tele video and curbside visits. Wearing PPE has become the new normal.

Every staff member has responded in extraordinary ways. From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, our staff quickly began bringing ideas to the table and creating new ways to make it easier and safer for our patients to access care. While “Stay at Home” is vitally important to stop the spread of this disease, for some patients there are medical circumstances that simply can’t wait until this pandemic ends.

In less than 30 days, They reimagined how to see patients in this time of social distancing and implemented virtual and curbside visits. They deliver essential medications to our patients doorsteps. They are doing a majority of the COVID-19 testing in many counties we serve. Our staff created round the clock nursing and behavioral health call lines. These services are confidential and at no cost to the caller. They are on the front lines of this crisis.

CHC/SEK was created with a mission to provide healthcare to all individuals in a regionsuffering from poverty and poor health for more than 100 years. Our staff bring their talents, hearts, and hands to their patients and tasks before them.

Overcoming adversity, innovation, and reimagining a better way to deliver patient-focused healthcare is in our DNA. They are compassionate, caring, responsive and innovative. They are transforming health care, the way it should be.

Pete Rose on the Fox Sports set at Game 6 of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on Nov. 1, 2016. Rose set his National League record for most career hits in the 1981 season. FRANK MICELOTTA/FOX SPORTS/PICTURE GROUP/DIPA USA/TNS

Tight ends: Can expect more Continued from B1

and 97 percent in the playoffs when the 49ers lost to Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Kelce (97 catches, 1,229 yards, five touchdowns) played a whopping 92.5 percent of offensive snaps.

Ertz (88 catches, 916 yards and six TDs) played 80.5 percent of offensive snaps while missing one game for the NFC East champion Eagles.

Waller (90 catches 1,145 yards, three touchdowns) played 90.6 percent of offensive snaps for the Raiders.

Agent Jack Bechta, who represents Kittle, pointed to three reasons tight ends were left behind while other positions saw significant salary increases.

“One, none of the top tight ends rarely ever make it to free agency because teams won’t them let go and, thus, as a position group, they lost the chance of resetting the market with their true value,” Bechta said.

“Two, the premium tight ends did contract extensions with anywhere from a year or two years left on their rookie deals. Because of that, they were forced to take steep discounts to their true value. Three,

they used to be valued as a safety valve or a third option in the passing game but they’re not an accessory or complements to the playbook anymore.

Kittle, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has one year remaining on his rookie deal. Bechta declined to comment on contract discussions with San Francisco but all eyes will be on Kittle’s next deal.

“We are watching the George Kittle negotiations very closely because I think that will reset the bar for tight ends when his deal comes in,” said Drew Rosenhaus, who represents several tight ends, including Gronkowski, Greg Olsen and Jonnu Smith.

Considering his value to San Francisco’s offense, Kittle’s asking price could be close to Cooper’s deal. Even when he’s not catching passes, Kittle improves the offense. The Niners averaged 5.1 yards per rush on 458 run plays when Kittle was on the field last year vs. 3.4 when he wasn’t on for 129 run plays.

Kelce has two years remaining on a fiveyear, $46.8 million extension that he signed in 2016.

Ertz has two years left on a five-year, $42.5

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million deal that he’s already restructured.

He turned down an extension last season that would’ve made him the highest-paid player at his position but didn’t offer sufficient guarantees.

Gronkowski, who joined Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, is entering the final year of the deal he signed with the Patriots. Olsen signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Seattle. Smith has one year left on his rookie deal with Tennessee and Rosenhaus anticipates he’ll become a breakout player.

Waller signed a fouryear, $29.8 million extension last October.

Jimmy Graham got a two-year, $16 million deal from Chicago in free agency. Minnesota gave Kyle Rudolph a four-year, $36 million extension last June. Dallas signed Blake Jarwin to a four-year, $24.25 million deal in March.

“You saw the market start to change with Hooper,” said Justin Schulman, who represents Andrews, a Pro Bowl pick in his second season with the Ravens.

“Tight ends have been behind and now they’re going to start catching up. This position is probably the next to explode with guys like Andrews, Kittle, Kelce, Ertz.”

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