Sports: Humboldt sweeps past Yates Center See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Kansas falls deeper in red $400 million in ‘adjustments’ needed By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas must fill a $400 million hole in its next budget after officials cut projections for tax collections from now through
June 2016, a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback said Monday. Budget Director Shawn Sullivan said the governor plans to outline proposals this week for the GOP-dominated Legislature that would trim up to
$90 million in spending during the fiscal year that begins July 1. Sullivan said much of the savings would come from lower-than-expected social services costs, and the governor expects to spare public schools and higher education.
But the remaining gap still would be far larger than the $150 million in general tax increases that Republican legislators anticipated needing to balance the budget. The state’s budget problems arose after Brownback successfully pushed lawmakers to cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 in an effort
Giving second nature for blood donors By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
Iolan Jeanne Cloud is among the regular donors who give blood at every opportunity. The Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City will be in Iola from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday for its next bloodmobile. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY
K.C. bishop resigns for not reporting abuse By NICOLE WINFIELD The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis today accepted the resignation of a U.S. bishop who pleaded guilty to failing to report a suspected child abuser, answering calls by victims to take action against bishops who cover up for pedophile priests. The Vatican said today that Bishop Robert Finn had offered his resignation under the code of canon law that allows bishops to resign early for illness or some “grave” reason that makes them unfit for office. It didn’t provide a reason; Finn is 62, some 13 years shy of the normal retirement age of 75. Finn, who leads the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri, waited six months before notifying police about the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, whose computer contained hundreds of lewd photos of young girls taken in and around churches where he worked. Ratigan was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to child pornography charges. Finn pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failure to report suspected abuse and was sentenced to two years’ probation in 2012. Ever since, though, he has faced pressure from local Ro-
Community Blood Center’s spring blood drive returns to Iola on Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. at Bass Hall, formerly the North Community Building. According to April Van Becelaere, a CBC representative, the Kansas City-based not-for-profit requires a daily average of 580 dedicated donors — spread out across their various blood donation sites — to meet the needs of the 70 hospitals in their service area, which includes Allen County Regional Hospital. Of course, there are dedicated blood donors — and then there is Jeanne Cloud. Cloud has been voluntarily relinquishing pints of her own sap for 35 years. “I’m right at 14 galSee DONORS | Page A6
to stimulate the economy. The governor wants to preserve those cuts as much as possible. “We will work with the Legislature to structurally balance the budget and hopefully continue the trend toward lower income taxes,” Sullivan said during a news conference See BUDGET | Page A6
Reorganized Farm-City Days group meets tonight The newly reorganized Farm-City Days Committee will meet at 6:30 tonight at the Community National Bank meeting room for its first meeting since several new members joined the group. Organizers hope to treat the meeting as a brainstorming session to develop new attractions for the annual fall festival, while retaining old standards such as the car show, artisan demonstrations, arts and craft booths and parade. The meeting room is in the bank basement. Enter the east side of the building. The public is invited.
Food and Field Olympics
Robert Finn man Catholics to step down, with some parishioners petitioning Francis to remove him from the diocese. No U.S. bishop has been forcibly removed for covering up for guilty clergy. And technically speaking, Finn wasn’t removed, he offered to resign, in the same way that Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law offered to resign in 2002 after the clergy sex abuse scandal exploded in his archdiocese. Law hadn’t been convicted of a crime, as Finn was, and the failure of the Vatican to forcibly remove Finn for three years after he pleaded guilty fueled victims’ complaints that bishops were continuing to enjoy protections even under the “zero tolerance” pledge of Francis. In a statement, Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the online abuse resource
Allen County second-grade students have learned about nutrition and wellness throughout the school year with Terri Kretzmeier from the Southwind Extension District. Each school participated in the Food and Field Olympics, a year-end activity to test their knowledge. Photographed are Jefferson Elementary students on their Olympic day Thursday. Above, Kyser Nemeck crawls through a tunnel as part of an obstacle course. Below at left, Kale Godrey tosses a ball to his partner with a milk jug. At bottom right, Ryun Cole jumps through the hopscotch obstacle. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
See BISHOP | Page A6
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 119
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. “ — Mignon McLaughlin, humorist 75 Cents
Hi: 72 Lo: 44 Iola, KS