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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867

www.iolaregister.com

Thursday, January 26, 2017

GOP leaders hope for message of unity, focus By ERICA WERNER The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Congressional Republicans are hoping for a message of unity and focus from Donald Trump in his first appearance before them as president. Trump was to speak today to House and Senate GOP lawmakers at their annual policy retreat. Despite a

rocky start to his administration, many lawmakers are optimistic about delivering change in a new era of Paul Ryan GOP control over Washington. They would like to see a Trump committed to their

agenda and results, not a president who veers off course into conspiracy theories about voter fraud or who keeps litigating the size of his inaugural crowds. Before Trump’s appearance, House Speaker Paul Ryan sketched out an ambitious agenda to lawmakers that includes sending Trump a health care repeal bill by March and a rewrite of tax

laws by summer’s end. Also in the first 200 days Congress intends to confront paying for Trump’s newly announced border wall, which Ryan confirmed could cost $8 billion to $14 billion, and will work on a public works bill that Trump requested be added to a crowded agenda. “I’m just so excited we finally have a chance to do this because we have the House

and the Senate and a president who is with us,” Ryan told MSNBC on Wednesday about plans to overhaul the tax system, eliminating what critics say are loopholes and lowering corporate rates to 20 percent or even the 15 percent sought by Trump. “If you can clean up the cesspool of the tax code and See GOP | Page A5

DARE TO BE DRUG-FREE

Jenkins says she won’t run again WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a low-profile Kansas Re p u b l i c a n and five-term House veteran, said We d n e s d a y that she will retire from Congress in Lynn Jenkins two years. Jenkins, who represents Iola and Allen County as See JENKINS | Page A5

Evaluation ordered for Callahan

A festive atmosphere filled the Bowlus Fine Arts Center Wednesday with the annual fifth-grade Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) commencement ceremony. Above, K.C. Wolf takes a seat in front of student Briggs Michael as a special guest for the ceremony. Dan Mears, who has portrayed K.C. Wolf for the past 27 years, later spoke to the youngsters about the “ABC’s of Success,” by stressing a positive attitude, good behavior and strong character. Tony Leavitt, president of the USD 257 Board of Education, is at upper left. At lower left, Iola City Administrator Sid Fleming addresses the crowd about avoiding drugs to stay in control. At bottom right, fifth-graders, from left, Heidi Folk, Mac Leonard, Bryan Macias, Emily Atwell and Rebekah Coltrane dance to the Aretha Franklin standard “Respect.” While the ceremony is limited to fifth-graders, the D.A.R.E. program has been extended to include all elementary school levels, Officer Mike Ford of the Iola police Department said. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

A competency evaluation has been ordered for Brandon Callahan, accused of murdering his mother, Lucretia C a l l a h a n , Brandon in their Iola Callahan home Jan. 17. Magistrate Judge Tod Davis ordered the evaluation Wednesday during Callahan’s court hearing. Jay Witt of the Southeast Kansas Public Defenders Office, has been appointed to represent Callahan, 34. Davis said Callahan’s criminal proceedings will be stayed until the competency evaluation is complete.

Gun rights groups face pushback from campuses

New assistant county attorney brings experience By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register

Jacqie Spradling

It takes a certain personality trait to handle some of the toughest criminal cases of them all — cold-case homicides. “You have to be tenacious, you need to be meticulous, you need to dive in and look places where people have gone before,” Jacqie Spradling said. Spradling specialized in such cases as a deputy district attorney in Shawnee County. While there isn’t much of a demand for those types of

Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 63

cases in these parts, Spradling will bring that same desire for justice to the Allen County attorney’s office, where she was hired earlier this month. Spradling, who turns 57 next week, joined County Attorney Jerry Hathaway’s staff Jan. 9. She’ll handle misdemeanor, juvenile, traffic and forfeiture cases. While it’s not as high profile, say, as resolving a 15-yearold murder case, Spradling’s new caseload offers its unique See SPRADLING | Page A5

By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — With university communities pushing back and a political shift in the Le gislature, gun-rights advocates who’ve enjoyed a string of victories in Kansas are facing a new test of their clout as lawmakers consider repealing a law allowing concealed guns on campus-

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt 75 Cents

es starting in July. A state Senate committee was having a hearing Thursday on a bill that would give universities, colleges and public hospitals and clinics a per manent exemption from a 2013 law that allowed gun owners to carry concealed weapons into more public buildings. The See GUNS | Page A5

Hi: 38 Lo: 25 Iola, KS


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