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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Technology offers opportunity for identity thieves
AN OPEN INVITATION
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Data and identity thefts are downsides of technology embraced almost universally by Americans. But, Karen Culver told Iola Rotarians Thursday, there are a number of ways to prevent either from occurring. Culver deals often with such issues in marketing and promotion for H&R Block in Iola. A number of security systems are available, including virus protection software and firewalls, she said. Also, Culver recommended being careful with passwords by using longer ones — involving more than letters and numbers — and avoiding ones that are predictable, such as family names and birthdays. Also, it is wise to change pass-
Car thefts reported in area By BOB JOHNSON and RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Two vehicles were stolen in Humboldt over the weekend. One remains missing. Chief of Police Bryan Dillow told the Register this morning a 2012 Ford Tau-
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Monday, January 11, 2016
rus belonging to Joyce Hudson, 204 S. Seventh St., was found wrecked in Kincaid Saturday morning, “before she knew it had been stolen.” Sunday morning Stephen Reed, 702 Mulberry St., awoke to find his 2002 Chevy Tahoe gone from a carport outside his home. In both cases the vehicles were unlocked and had igni-
tion keys inside. “We also had several cars entered,” Dillow added. “Nothing (apparently) was taken, but the owners could tell the doors had been opened.” In each case the vehicles were unlocked. The burglaries and thefts all occurred within a few See CARS | Page A2
words frequently and always restrict access to them. Don’t write one down and then leave it where easily found, she said. Businesses, in particular, should always be careful to protect access to emails, texts and telephone calls, Culver said. Crooks use fraudulent methods to gain access to personal information and financial resources, she noted, and assured that the IRS never calls cold and asks for information — a letter precedes any inquiry — and eBay’s PayPal and bank account information should be used in a manner so it can’t be compromised. When reviewing email messages having attachSee ID THEFT | Page A4
Democrats, Republicans find common ground in one area — hype By MICHAEL A. MEMOLI and CHRISTI PARSONS Tribune News Service
WASHINGTON (TNS) — After considering a proposal to impose sweeping gun control by executive order, President Barack Obama last week instead shelved the idea and settled for a few memos warning firearms sellers to run more background checks. But after months of anticipation that Obama was poised to take strong action, gun-control opponents in Washington were cranked up for a furious fight over what they considered impending tyranny. “Obama wants your guns,”
declared Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s website in a headline over a picture of the president dressed as a SWAT commando. It also featured a button to direct readers to donate to the Cruz campaign. The hue and cry was notable given the relatively minor amount of federal government power that Obama exercised. But it was only the latest example of how Washington’s chief export these days isn’t laws, it’s outrage. The ever-deepening partisan divide has for years fueled fundraising for both sides: Don’t like what the opposition is doing? Donate to us, and we’ll stop them!
I’m a professional hyperbolist. I enjoy and encourage ridiculous overstatement and participate in it every day. Even for me, this is beyond the pale. — Paul Begala, noted Democratic commentator
No event is too small anymore to gear up the hype machine, particularly in an election year and with such an emotionally fraught policy issue as guns. Obama is no bystander in all of this, of course. The White House generated its own buzz for the president’s new gun-control program, leaking word that he was
looking at issuing an executive order and doing little to tamp down the rising tide of concern over the last three months. In the end, he didn’t issue an order, but instead had his administration write a few letters and promised to crack down on people selling multiple guns, regardless of where sales occur, includ-
ing flea markets, gun shows and the Internet. Even if vendors claim to be “hobbyists” exempt from licensure, Obama said, if they are acting like gun dealers, they will have to apply for licenses and start conducting background checks on buyers. Still, the response has been so hyperpartisan that even the hyperpartisans were shocked. “I’m a professional hyperbolist. I enjoy and encourage ridiculous overstatement and participate in it every day,” said Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and commentator. “Even for me, this is beSee HYPE | Page A4
Democrats: Expect school funding law to be extended
David Bowie
Music legend Bowie dies NEW YORK (AP) — David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with his creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-spanning persona he christened Ziggy Stardust, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69 and had just released a new album. Bowie, whose hits included “Fame,” ‘’Heroes” and See BOWIE | Page A4
By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
2016 session opens today
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Legislature’s top Democrats predicted Sunday that Republican lawmakers will try to extend a new law for funding the state’s public schools that has been criticized by many educators, though two GOP Senate leaders said they knew of no such plan. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, and House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs, of Kansas City, said they doubt the Legislature’s GOP majorities will pass another school funding law this year to replace a short-term one enacted last year. Democratic lawmakers met for policy briefings a day before today’s opening of the Legislature’s annual session. Republican leaders have acknowledged that they’re not sure how far legisla-
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators faced closing a projected $190 million shortfall in the budget for the state’s next fiscal year as they opened their annual session. The Republican-dominated House and Senate were convening this afternoon for the session’s first day. GOP leaders were hoping Republicans could avoid the infighting that made last year’s session the longest ever at 114 days. Sessions are typically scheduled for
90 days, but top Republicans hope this year’s will be 80 or even fewer days. The projected deficit is the gap between anticipated revenues and spending already approved under the $15.8 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Republican legislators last year closed a bigger shortfall by raising sales and cigarette taxes. GOP Gov. Sam Brownback has ruled out further tax increases this year.
Hensley and Burroughs said they think Republicans will attempt to extend the current law until July 2018, so that much of the work of drafting a new formula can be postponed until after this year’s elections. All legisla-
tive seats will be on the ballot in November. “At the end of the day, I think they’ll just punt,” Hensley told fellow Democrats.
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 51
INSIDE: State of the State, Union addresses Tuesday See A4 tors will get in writing a new formula for distributing more than $4 billion a year in aid to the state’s 286 school districts. The current law — which junked a perpupil formula in favor of set “block grants” — is set to expire in July 2017 because the GOP lawmakers who wrote it meant it to be temporary.
“Procrastination is the thief of time.” — Edward Young, English poet 75 Cents
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