Sports: Sanford earns 3rd at Burlington See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Monday, January 12, 2015
Coalition backs full-strength liquor sales
An Allen County rural volunteer firefighter works the scene Saturday at a hay bale fire near the intersection of Rhode Island Road and 2200 Street in north Allen County. The fire is being investigated as possible arson. PHOTO BY ALLEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Hay bales burn; authorities suspect arson The Allen County Sheriff ’s Department is investigating suspected arson that destroyed several hay bales Saturday along Rhode Island Road in northern Allen County. Members of the Allen
County Volunteer Fire Department also were called to the scene to ensure the fire didn’t spread beyond the hay bales. Due to the heavy smoke, Rhode Island, between 2000 Street and 2200 Street was
closed for several hours Saturday. The roadway reopened Saturday evening. Approximately 14 bales were burned, at a value of about $3,500, the Sheriff ’s Department reported. Officers are seeking help
from the public. Anybody who may have seen activity in the neighborhood early Saturday is urged to contact the Sheriff ’s Department, 365-1400. Jim Lewis, rural Iola, owned the hay bales.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A coalition of supermarket and convenience store chains want Kansas lawmakers to let them sell stronger alcohol. Similar legislation has faltered in the past, largely because of its potential to drive existing licensed liquor stores out of business, The Wichita Eagle reported. The coalition, called Uncork Kansas, attempts to address that concern in soon-to-be introduced legislation with a provision capping the number of liquor licenses. The group’s leader, David Dillon, said the cap would let owners of small liquor stores recoup their investment in the business by selling their license to a supermarket or convenience store. Those that want to stay in business would have See LIQUOR | Page A4
Budget to include proposals to boost tax revenue WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Proposals to raise tax revenue will be part of Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to plug a budget hole, but curbing spending will be the main focus, his chief of staff says. Jon Hummel, who previously served as Brownback’s acting budget director, also confirmed that education spending won’t remain untouched when the governor unveils his budget plans for the next two fiscal years, The Wichita Eagle reported Saturday. Education spending accounts for more than half of the state’s budget. “School finance will be part of our budget conversation,” Hummel said, adding that there are different approaches that could be taken. “You
could reform the current system or you go to a completely new system.” The governor’s spokeswoman, Eileen Hawley, didn’t return phone or email messages from The Associated Press on Saturday. She said in a statement Friday only that Brownback would present “structurally balanced” budget proposals. Brownback announced plans last month to fix a $279 million gap in this year’s budget mainly through transfers from other state funds. Legislative researchers projected that the approach would cause a shortfall for the 2016 budget year, which begins in July, to grow from $436 million to See BUDGET | Page A4
Marching on Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, attends a silent march in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, to honor those who died during three days of attacks in Paris. ABACA PRESS/OLIVIER DOULIERY
Kansas lawmakers open session amid budget shortfalls TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators open a critical annual session today that will require them to wade through massive budget shortfalls and deal with a court mandate to boost spending on public schools. The shortfalls, totaling more than $710 million in the current budget and the budget for the fiscal year beginning in July, arose after aggressive personal income tax cuts were enacted at Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging. The budget situation was further complicated when a Shawnee County District
Court panel declared last month that the current level of education funding is “inadequate from any rational perspective of the evidence.” The decision, which could lead to funding increases of more than $550 million a year, is expected to be appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court.
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 52
But even if the GOP-dominated Legislature isn’t forced to address education this session because of the appeals process, several Republican leaders said lawmakers must make significant spending cuts to shrink the shortfalls. Key senators said they want to avoid measures — such as reversing cuts in income tax rates or raising the sales tax rate — that clearly can be labeled as tax increases. House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, said in a written statement Friday that “Kansas families need to keep more of their
money.” Tax proposals from senators include delaying future promised cuts in personal income tax rates and accelerating the elimination of income tax deductions already set to be phased out as rates drop. “The concern I have is, how we are going to make up for this revenue shortfall without cutting K-12 and higher education and public safety and all the things the general fund is responsible for,” Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, from Topeka, said. “I don’t know how Sam Brownback is going to be able to pull that
“You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear.” — Sammy Davis, Jr. 75 Cents
off.” Jon Hummel, Brownback’s chief of staff, told The Wichita Eagle that proposals to raise tax revenue will be part of the governor’s plan to plug the budget hole and that education spending won’t remain untouched. No details were offered. Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said in a written statement Friday that the budget proposals for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 would be “structurally balanced.” The governor will deliver his State of the State address See SESSION | Page A4
Hi: 31 Lo: 11 Iola, KS