Sports: Iola track athletes compete at Fort Scott See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
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Thursday, April 30, 2015
Brownback, GOP at odds over tax plans By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators returned Wednesday from spring break with top Republican legislators at odds with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback over raising income taxes to balance the state budget. House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, said his chamber would focus on budget and tax issues — and would not debate a Senate-passed religious objections bill aimed at protecting faith-based groups on college campuses seeking to limit their membership. Top Republicans in the GOP-dominated Legislature believed they were close to settling the details of a proposed $15.5 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The state constitution prohibits a deficit, and legislative researchers have said lawmakers’ spending proposals would leave a $422 million shortfall. Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, and House Taxation Committee Chairman Marvin Kleeb, of Overland Park, said lawmakers will seriously consider revising an income tax break for business owners enacted three years ago. Brownback said he wants to preserve the policy, adding that the alternatives he’ll push include eliminating income tax deductions.
Antigone, played Alexandria King, addresses the city about her arrest in a scene from the Allen Community College Theatre Department’s production of “Antigone,” which runs tonight through Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Also in the scene is Jason Harris. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
College takes on Greek tragedy By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
It’s all about choices. The Allen Community College Theatre Department will perform the Greek tragedy “Antigone,” tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. The play takes place in the city of Thebes. “Antigone,” is part of a Greek trilogy. Anti-
gone’s father, Oedipus, was fated by prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother. Although he tries to avoid his fate it becomes true and has children four children; Polyneices, Eteocles, Antigone and Ismene. After Oedipus finds out the truth he is exiled from the city. Brothers Polyneices and Eteocles go to battle against each other to control the city
but end up they killing each other. Their uncle, Creon, played by Roy Anderson, then becomes the ruler and makes a decree that Polyneices cannot be buried with honors since he fought against Thebes. Antigone, played by Alexandria King, decides this decree is wrong and wants to See ACC | Page A5
“There’ll be 30 iterations before something that everybody looks at is something we can do,” Brownback told The Associated Press. Here’s a look at significant issues facing lawmakers: TAXES IN SPOTLIGHT
The state’s budget problems arose after lawmakers slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging, in an effort to stimulate the economy. The cuts included an exemption for 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers. “We have had nice job growth taking place,” Brownback said. “This has been helped by us not taxing small business. I don’t want to do something that hurts the employment growth that we’ve had.” But Wagle said legislators are facing questions about the fairness of the policy, relating a conversation between her husband and their insurance agent. “The agent said, ‘I guess I don’t understand how fair it is See STATE | Page A5
Grad job market makes gains By ROBERT GEBELHOFF Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE (TNS) — For Jack Lawinger, a senior studying engineering at Marquette University, the leap from graduation to his career will be an easy one. He already has a job lined up at Accenture, an international consulting and technology services company, where he will be doing technical work ranging from mechanical engineering to computer software. “It takes a little bit of the pressure off for senior year,” Lawinger said. “There’s a little bit of relief, but I’m mostly excited.” Lawinger and his friends in the engineering program are part of a group of college graduates expected to be in high demand leaving college, and they are also See JOBS | Page A5
Iola High School seniors who will graduate as National Honor Society members are, front from left, Lexie Long, Emery Driskel, Addie Haar, Emma Piazza, Emily Klubek, Jo Lohman, Kyra Moore, Baylea Thompson, Jonathan Tidd and Shane Walden; second from left, Alex Bauer, Colton Heffern, Travis Hermstein, Tyler Holloway, Drake Dieker, Kaden Macha, Adam Peterson, Garrett Prall and Andrew Waldman. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
Leadership, character stressed at NHS ceremony By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The four essentials of earning induction into the National Honor Society were on display Wednesday at Iola High School. Seven new NHS members were inducted while IHS prepares to bid adieu to 19 grad-
Quote of the day Vol. 117, No. 126
uating seniors — one of the largest such groups in recent memory. Keynote speaker and IHS math instructor Dianne Kauth spoke about the four NHS tenets — character, leadership, scholarship and service — and how it’s often impossible to exhibit one without the others.
Leadership, for example, requires both character and service to others, Kauth noted, while excelling in the classroom requires character and leadership. She lauded the program members for their service to community, particularly in light of instructor Amanda Thompson’s declaration that
“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” — George Orwell, British author 75 Cents
Iola National Honor Society students volunteered a cumulative 1,219 hours over the past year, more than triple 2014’s record. Bobbi Sinclair (192 hours), Tyler Holloway (186) and Joie Whitney (86.5) were singled out for their volunteer efforts. See NHS | Page A5
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