Struggles on the mat: Attrition hits Mustang wrestling squad See B1
The Weekender Saturday, January 14, 2017
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THE ICE STORM COMETH By TIM TALLEY The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A winter storm that brought heavy snow and rainfall to northern California is descending upon the southern Plains, packing crippling ice accumulations and heavy rain that could cause widespread power outages and flooding. The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for northwestern Oklahoma starting Friday morning, and a winter storm watch for much of the rest of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri along with parts of Illinois and Texas. Forecasters said the potential for a significant ice storm is increasing and the region could see up to
Official: Plan raises KPERS costs $6.5 billion TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s budgetbalancing proposals to reduce the state’s short-term spending on public pensions would increase the retirement system’s long-term costs by $6.5 billion over the next three decades, the system’s top administrator told legislators Thursday. Lawmakers also received a report showing that state-issued debt has increased significantly in recent years, and the House passed a bill rewriting the laws that govern special congressional elections. Here is a look at significant legislative developments Thursday.
1 inch of ice. Storms are also expected Saturday and Sunday. “We could see some fairly significant ice accumula-
Few fireworks (so far) with nominees By ERICA WERNER The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The lack of fireworks surrounding S e n a t e consideration of President-elect Rex Tillerson Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks may reflect a slew of statements his choices have made contradicting the billionaire businessman’s position on key issues. Trump acknowledged the differences early Friday, posting a message on his Twitter account saying: “All See HEARINGS | Page A6
tions,” said Kevin Brown, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma. “Enough ice accumulations to cause a lot of problems with trees and power lines and power interruptions.” In northwestern Oklahoma, where the forecast calls for up to an inch of accumulated ice, residents Thursday were snatching up flashlights, batteries and alternative energy sources in anticipation of power disruptions. “They’re grabbing generators, and I’m sold out,” said Raymond Bopp, assistant manager of the Woodward
Sheriff discourages travel As the region braces for Mother Nature’s wrath — an ice storm warning remains in effect here through Sunday morning — the Allen County Sheriff ’s Department has offered some nuggets of advice. “Plan on hunkering down so you don’t have to meet one of our deputies,” and forego any non-essen-
tial travel, the department wrote on its Facebook page Thursday. “It’s gonna get slick.” Motorists who have to be out on the icy roads can check ahead to see travel conditions by calling 511, or by going online to kandrive.org to see a real-time map showing which roads
Ace Hardware store in Woodward, Oklahoma, about 140 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. The last time the area experienced a significant ice
storm was in 2001, when electrical power was interrupted for three or four days, Bopp said. Residents who recall the
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Courts seek funding hike By JASON TIDD The Iola Register
After a study found Kansas Judicial Branch personnel are among the lowest-paid in the country, a $20 million request by the courts for raises is in the hands of the Legislature. The budget sent to the Legislature Wednesday by Governor Sam Brownback and budget director Shawn Sullivan includes the additional $20 million for salaries and wages for the Judiciary. State law requires the governor to submit the Judicial Branch’s portion of the larger state budget without changes or recommendations. If the additional funding is approved by the Legislature, the Judicial Branch’s budget would be $156 million for fiscal year 2018, which runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The $20 million increase would be 15 percent more
Judge Daniel Creitz than the current year’s $136 million budget. The funding request for raises comes after a 2016 compensation study by the National Center for State Courts found that every job classifi-
cation is paid below the market average. “We are the first state that they have studied that has every job in the judicial branch See COURTS | Page A3
PENSION PLAN REVIEWED
Alan Conroy, executive director of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, said that under Brownback’s pension proposals, the state would take longer to close a long-term gap in its funding for retirement benefits and spend more annually in future years to do it. Conroy briefed the Senate Ways and Means Committee on the effects of Brownback’s proposals. The governor wants to continue contribution rates for the fiscal year that ended in June 2016 through June 2019, rather than having them rise annually in line with a 2012 law. The 2012 law moved the state toward closing its long-term funding gap — now $8.5 billion — in 2033. Brownback’s plan is to extend the pay-off for See KPERS | Page A3
One injured The driver of a pickup was sent to the hospital late Thursday morning, the result of a two-vehicle accident just east of Iola on U.S. 54. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Jacob J. Thomas, 20, Iola, was northbound on 1800 Street in his Dodge Ram pickup, and failed to stop at the U.S. 54 stop sign. His pickup was struck in the driver’s side by an eastbound semitractor-trailer rig driven by Jimmy L. Skaggs, 42, Iola. Skaggs was driving a county truck. Thomas was taken via ambulance to Allen County Regional Hospital. A passenger in the pickup, Jessica C. Vanover, 20, Moran, suffered possible injuries, but did not require hospitalization, troopers said. A second passenger, Levi M. Seilonen, 17, Iola, was uninjured. Skaggs was unhurt, as was his passenger, Mark R. Henderson, 20, Elsmore. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 53
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson 75 Cents
Hi: 35 Lo: 27 Iola, KS