Thursday, January 16, 2020
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Kelly targets highways, Medicaid expansion By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday called for a new program to improve the state’s roads and bridges, urged state lawmakers to approve a bipartisan Medicaid expansion plan and warned she is likely to veto the income tax cuts that Republicans are pursuing. The Democratic governor provided the outlines of her agenda for the GOP-controlled Legislature’s annual 90-day session during her
State of the State address. But her second address since taking office a year ago was often a look back on her first year in office and a Republican predecessor’s tax-cutting experiment that was followed by persistent budget woes. Kelly promised her own tax cuts but signaled they would be modest initiatives to ease the burden of the state’s sales tax on groceries for low-income families and to provide state aid to cities and counties in hopes that they’ll decrease their property taxes. She also emphasized her support for a new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico approved
by the U.S. House, and she urged the U.S. Senate to pass it. Kelly spent much of her speech arguing that Kansas is starting to recover from nationally notorious income-tax cuts championed by former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Legislators reversed most of the cuts in 2017 and Kelly won the 2018 governor’s race largely by campaigning against Brownback’s policies. “We have so many reasons to be hopeful tonight,” Kelly said. “But make no mistake: One year of progress cannot See KELLY | Page A5
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning announce a Medicaid expansion compromise last week. On Wednesday, Kelly brought her argument for expanding Medicaid to her annual State of the State Address. KANSAS NEWS SERVICE/STPEHN KORANDA/KCUR.ORG
Sunflower drops coal plant bid
An art exhibit by Bronson native Sonia Reeder-Jones is admired by Jill Hartman of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce. The exhibit opens Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
Area artist strives for precision By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
When Sonia Reeder-Jones was growing up in Bronson, she was always struck by the artwork hiding behind the pulpit at the local Methodist Church. The painting was by a woman named Bessie Mattox, and left the young Sonia repeatedly wondering just how she had done it, how she had captured so much detail in the face of the figure. It seemed completely alive, pro-
Red Devils fall at Butler County
viding her the same sense of amazement one feels when viewing Reeder-Jones’ own work today. Much of Reeder-Jones’ art utilizes soft colors, sky-blue and graphite-gray, in order to create a portrait scene where eyes reach out to powerfully grasp the viewer. She is especially interested in highly technical images of women and girls that strive for incredible realism. “I just believe in young girls,” Reeder-Jones said. “I’m pas-
Crest schools list honor rolls PAGE A2 Ukrainian backs ‘quid pro quo’ claim
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sionate about them. I want to see them succeed.” Of the themes and subjects of her work, one of which to make special note is when Reeder-Jones depicts young girls inside cardboard boxes having to adjust their posture. As she put it, “sometimes you’re boxed in by your opportunities, your geography. I don’t want the girls in our area to have limitations.” Despite a concern for women and girls, Reeder-Jones is
Artist’s reception 5-7 p.m. Saturday Mary Martin Gallery Bowlus Center less interested in making a political statement or provoking certain feelings than in the development of skill and technique. Her drawings feature a classical approach
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Sunflower Electric Power Corp. on Wednesday abandoned its proposed coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas after nearly 15 years of pushing for the project, handing a big victory to environmentalists who opposed the plan from the beginning. The utility said in a news release that it will allow the air permit for the Holcomb expansion project to expire on March 27. Sunflower Electric already operates one plant near Holcomb and proposed building an adjacent $2.2 billion, 895-megawatt facility. Sunflower Electric and its largest development partner, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, together invested more than $100 million in the now-abandoned project. Proponents of the coal plant had argued the project would bring jobs to the area. Environmentalists objected to the facility, citing the potential for greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The battle over the plant eventually reached the Kansas Supreme Court, which cleared the way for construction in 2017. “Fifteen years ago, the See COAL | Page A5
See ARTIST | Page A5
Discarded bird carcasses discovered By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Allen County sheriff ’s deputies are investigating the discovery of dozens of dead game birds found dumped near Deer Creek north of Iola. Deputies said the fowl — primarily ducks and geese — were found near the intersection of 1600 Street and South Dakota Road, more common-
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ly known as Twin Trestles. Master Deputy Daren Kellerman said initial estimates of about 20 birds were inaccurate, because they were stacked three-deep in a waterfilled itch. Forty-eight birds in all were found. Most had the breast meat cut out and discarded. “We’re 100% certain this See BIRDS | Page A5
Dozens of discarded game bird carcasses were found north of Iola Wednesday. ACSD PHOTO
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