The Iola Register, March 5, 2025

Locally owned since 1867

Tariff tiffs hit high gear as US launches trade war

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump launched a trade war Tuesday against America’s three biggest trading partners, drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada and China and sending financial markets into a tailspin as the U.S. faced the threat of rekindled inflation and paralyzing uncertainty for business.

Just after midnight, Trump imposed 25% taxes, or tariffs,

on Mexican and Canadian imports, though he limited the levy to 10% on Canadian energy. Trump also doubled the tariff he slapped last month on Chinese products to 20%.

Beijing retaliated with tar-

iffs of up to 15% on a wide array of U.S. farm exports. It also expanded the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two doz-

en. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would plaster tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days.

“Today the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. At the same, they are talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vlad-

imir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense,” Trudeau said. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico will respond to the new taxes with its own retaliatory tariffs. Sheinbaum said she will announce the products Mexico will target on Sunday in a public event in Mexico City’s central plaza, perhaps with the delay indicating Mexico still hopes to de-escalate the

Clock Tower celebrates

Iola Area Chamber of Commerce supporters and staff braved foul weather Tuesday morning to celebrate Clock Tower Mercantile’s new location at 3 N. Jefferson, Iola. Owner Angie Rourk and business partner Starla Shields, both holding the scissors, will host an open house on Saturday, March 15. Featuring new, used and refurbished items, the store has something for everyone. REGISTER/TIM STAUFFER

Karan Bailey, AKA Charlotte Lewis, will be at the Iola Public Library Saturday. COURTESY

Iola library set to host local author

Charlotte Lewis (nom de plume of Karan Bailey) will be at the Iola Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday for a meet-andgreet and book signing. She has a whole string of mysteries and novels behind her, as well as newspaper experience.

Bailey moved to Iola three years ago from Vancouver, Wash., to be near family.

At 87 she’s still writing. Her first post-retirement

See AUTHOR | Page A8

Leavenworth eyes prison cells for deportation plan

By MARY SANCHEZ The Kansas Beacon

The immigrant detainee, a client of Rekha Sharma-Crawford, would have to be moved. Chase County Detention Center was full. Located in Cottonwood Falls, it’s the largest detainee holding center in the region contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Sharma-Crawford, a longtime immigration attorney, saw something more foreboding when she heard the recent news about her client: The Trump administration’s rhetoric promising mass deportations was taking shape.

“I think sweeps are increasing,” she said. “Clearly, more people are being detained.”

A database of ICE records lists the Chase County jail as having an average immigration-related census of about 79 people, as of Feb. 8, 2025. As of Feb. 26, about 115 people were being held there with immigration-related issues. The vast majority were Latino men listed as “deportable.” Mexican, Honduran, Gua-

trade war set off by Trump. As he promised voters, the U.S. president is abandoning the free trade policies the United States pursued for decades after World War II. Trump argues that open trade cost America millions of factory jobs and that tariffs are the path to national prosperity. He rejects mainstream economists who contend

temalan, Venezuelan and Colombian were common nationalities. But people from a wide range of other nations were also detained and listed as deportable or being in the country without legal status, including India, Congo, China, Rwanda and Sudan.

County jails like Chase have long been where ICE holds people the agency plans to remove from the U.S.

Sharma-Crawford’s client was relocated to the Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri, which also is holding detainees for ICE.

President Donald Trump’s campaign promises of deporting all of the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, coupled with a lack of space for detainees, represents financial opportunity to privately operated prison companies.

CORECIVIC, an owner/operator of prisons, is attempting to reopen a shuttered federal prison in Leavenworth as a detention center capable of holding about 1,000 immi-

See LEAVENWORTH | Page A7

By SARAH HANEY

Allen County Commissioners continued conversations Tuesday morning about the creation of a Road and Bridge Committee, as well as starting once-amonth evening meetings.

At the Feb. 11 meeting, Commissioner David Lee recommended creating a citizen-led committee to

assess which roads were in need of attention. He added that the group could be comprised of a couple people from each of the three districts in the county. Since then, each of the commissioners have heard from interested constituents. The commission decided Tuesday that they will pass along these individuals’ in-

Road and Bridge Director Jeremy Hopkins discusses creating a Road nd Bridge Committee with commissioners Tuesday morning. REGISTER/SARAH HANEY

The Iola Register

Obituary

Walter Kuykendall

Walter Glenn Kuykendall passed away surrounded by his wife and children on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

Walter, known as Walt to his friends and family, was born Dec. 23, 1948, in Iola, Kansas. He was the son of Raymond Glenn Kuykendall and Doris Mae Pearce.

Walter Kuykendall

He grew up on the farm and attended school in the Iola area, graduating from Iola High School in 1966. He found a passion for running and participating in cross-country.

In 1970 he joined the U.S. Navy serving aboard the USS Hepburn. As a Yeoman and Petty Officer, he received an honorable discharge and the National Defense Medal.

Walter dedicated his life to his community as a law enforcement officer starting in 1972. During his lifelong career he served as an Officer, Master Police Officer, Detective, Lieutenant, and Police Chief. He served the Wichita, Valley Center, Kechi and Iola Police Departments. He retired as the interim Police Chief for the City of Kechi in 2012.

He married the love of his life Cynthia D. Jones (nee Pennington) on Oct. 12, 1996, in Wichita. His children (all surviving) are Karen (Steven) Zawicki, Tim (Delynn) Kuykendall, and Jenni Kuykendall-Hanson (Brandon Manville). He was the cherished grandfather to Zachary (Jessica) Kuykendall, Skyler (Gaby) Spoonemore, Desiree (Lancer) Barnes, Taylor (McKay) Phillips, Spencer (K’Lea) Kuykendall, Catherine Zawicki, Chris Zawicki, Lea (Collin) Agne, Cynthia Zawicki and Carolynne Zawicki; and beloved great-grandfather of eight beautiful great-grandchildren.

Walt had a love of woodcarving which began in the fall of 1998. For years he watched the guest woodcarvers at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Walt most often carved 3D realistic carvings of animals. Walt would later (2007) become a guest carver himself serving the guests of Silver Dollar City until his death.

Walt and his wife are loving volunteers at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Walt was honored a few years ago for having dedicated 25 years to volunteering. His favorite event to support was Zoobilee.

In May 1981, he was one of the original six runners of the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run which started in Wichita. He is one of the only runners to have run every year from 1981 until his death. He was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2022.

Walt also loved the outdoors and was a passionate fisherman. He competed and participated in many fishing competitions in the Kansas and Missouri areas. He has a special fondness for the Branson area where he was often found camping at the Castle View Estates Campground.

Walt was a man of many passions and was always on the run (both figuratively and literally!). He was a member of the Albert Pike Masonic Lodge in Wichita. His Catholic faith was very important to him and whether he was in town or on vacation he never missed mass. He also served the Retired Police Officers of Wichita association in various capacities including President and Treasurer. He also served the Great Plains Wood Carvers Association in Wichita.

Above all his passions, commitments and service he was most proud of being a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He once stated his most proud moment was the birth of his children.

Walter Glenn Kuykendall will be laid to rest in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Schulte, Kansas. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at Culbertson-Smith Funeral Home in Wichita. Rosary and mass services followed by graveside will be 10:30 a.m.-noon Friday, March 7 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Schulte.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Special Olympics in honor of the Law Enforcement Torch Run or the Retired Police Officers Association of Wichita.

‘Storm Fury’ Monday

Learn about how to keep you and your family safe during extreme weather at Monday’s “Storm Fury on the Plains,” at 6:30 p.m. in the Creitz Recital Hall in the Bowlus Center. The program is free and appropriate for all ages. The event is open to the public.

Area news

Pittsburg OKs new water treatment plant

PITTSBURG — Pittsburg commissioners bit the bullet last week to invest in a new water treatment plant for an estimated $61 million, according to the Pittsburg Morning Sun.

The plant will be financed by a loan from Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Crossland Construction of Columbus will be the contractor.

The cost of construction has almost doubled from when commissioners first addressed the need for a new plant four years ago. Then, the estimated cost was $35 million.

In the interim, costs have increased and some features were added, the Sun reported.

Four years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic

greatly increased the cost of construction.

Today, other factors are of concern.

“We are trying to get our team moving quickly because we want to get some of the items we need to purchase before all of the tariffs kick in,” said City Manager Daron Hall.

Construction time is an estimated two years. The loan is for 30 years.

Pittsburg to get low-income housing project

PITTSBURG — A new low-income housing development is in the works in Pittsburg, according to the Pittsburg Morning Sun.

City commissioners approved plans presented by The Vecino Group in conjunction with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

The town’s Economic Development Advisory Council will provide $170,000 to go toward the project which includes 42 units of which 12 will be dedicated to assist those exiting homelessness, according to The Sun.

Preliminary renderings show that the complex will consist of two separate two-story buildings connected by a breezeway and sky walk.

Units should be available by late 2027.

The project is designed to be its own neighborhood and community surrounded by nature to blend in more easily with surrounding neighborhoods and will include a community garden, fitness rooms, office space, and access to walking and biking trails.

It is also near the CHCSEK clinic and

will be connected by a sidewalk, the Sun reported.

Commissioners approved the loan on the condition that Vecino secure grants the grants it has already been pre-approved for.

Chanute to complete water plant upgrades

CHANUTE — The final phase of improvements to Chanute’s water plant improvement project was approved at last week’s commission meeting, according to The Chanute Tribune.

The project is expected to cost about $26 million. Crossland Construction is the contractor, according to The Tribune.

Commissioners approved issuing $7 million in bonds to fund the fourth and final phase of the project.

Iola Police report Group helps prepare for tick season

Tobacco stolen Officers were told Sunday that an unknown male left Pump N. Pete’s at 205 S. State St., without paying for tobacco products.

Sign hit Stephanie A. Vest was eastbound on Miller Road the evening of Feb. 22 when her vehicle ran off the road and struck a street sign just west of North State Street. West was not in-

jured, officers said.

Arrest reported Iola police officers arrested Derek Tate Friday in the 300 block of North Second Street for suspicion of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, criminal use of a weapon, interference with law enforcement and felony possession of drug paraphernalia.

VFW Auxiliary busy helping veterans

LaHarpe VFW Auxiliary members have been busy letting veterans know they are loved. At the Auxiliary’s Feb. 10 meeting it was reported they sent 80 Valentine’s Day cards to the Winfield VA hospital, eight cards to veterans at Moran Manor and Medicalodge, 27 cards to the VA clinic, and 80 cards to local veterans.

Members also sent donations to the VFW National Home and Children’s Home.

On March 22, mem bers will be support ing local Boy Scouts in a flag retirement ceremony at 4 p.m. at the LaHarpe VFW. At the March 10 meeting, members will be signing up delegates to attend April’s District meeting in Parsons.

The semi-monthly meeting of the Alpha-Gal Syndrome group will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 2401 S. State St. in Iola.

The public is invited for snacks and drinks.

The presentation will include new and reviewed information on the tick-borne illness, which has increased in southeast Kansas.

With spring coming, new farm babies, planting of fields and gardens and more,

this means an increase in insects, especially ticks.

The emphasis should be on prevention.

This group shares personal experiences with coping with dietary changes and advice on getting help from health professionals. There is no charge for this community outreach event of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Contact Debbie Goff

Iola High forensics team enjoying a stellar season

Iola High School’s forensics team has had an active season with several earning top places in their respective competitive speaking and acting pieces. Saturday’s competition was the team’s most successful venture yet, with Iola taking first place in the team sweeps, buoyed by seven individual champions. Max Andersen was a two-time champion. He was winner in the oral interpretation of prose, followed by Madelyn Ashworth in fifth and Stephanie Fees in sixth. Andersen also claimed gold in program of oral interpretation, followed by Bella Rahming in third and Ben Heiman in fifth

Meanwhile, Demarco Ross and Kaeden Vega took first place in duet acting, followed by Everett Glaze and Cole Moyer in second.

Moyer also teamed up with Vega to win the improvised duet acting competition, followed by Lily Lohman and Rahming in sixth.

Demarco Ross was tops in oral interpretation of poetry, as was Bethany Miller in informative speaking. Miller also took second in impromptu speaking.

Others with top-six finishes:

— Glaze, second, serious solo acting

— Sarah Ross and Heiman in third and Fees and Marlee Westhoff sixth in duo interpretation

ON FEB. 22, Iola split its forces, and still managed to take second as a team in both Independence and Paola.

At Independence, Rahming took first in a program of oral interpretation, as did Layla Newkirk and Alyssa Williams in duet acting.

Other top finishes:

— Newkirk, third in oral interpretation of prose

— Sarah Ross, fourth in oral interpretation of

poetry

— Glaze, second in humorous solo acting

— Newkirk fourth and Glaze fifth in serious solo acting

— Williams and Franklin Kerr fourth and Lohman and Rahming fifth in improvised duet acting

— Miller, fifth in impromptu speaking

— Miller, second in informative speaking

IN PAOLA, Andersen and Rahming finished 1-2 in program of oral interpretation.

Williams and Newkirk were the winners in duet acting,

Israel warns Hamas on cease-fire

By DAN WILLIAMS Bloomberg News/TNS

Israel is giving Hamas “several days” to rethink terms for a new Gaza ceasefire, raising the prospect of further pressure tactics or a resumption of war.

A six-week truce expired on Sunday with the sides divided over core conditions to enable an open-ended cessation of hostilities.

During the first phase, Israel recovered 33 hostages held by Hamas in return for hundreds of Palestinians prisoners.

Israel cut humanitarian aid to Gaza for the first time in more than a year, on Sunday, signaling a renewed zero-tolerance stance.

Israel accuses the Iranian-backed militant group of appropriating aid supplies to fund rearmament and recruitment. The move incensed Arab leaders, who are meeting in Cairo on Tuesday to find ways of staving off

Public notice

(Published in The Iola Register March 5, 2025)

NOTICE OF HEARING ALLEN COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD

NOTICE is hereby given that the Allen County Planning and Zoning Board will meet on Thursday, March 27th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room at the Allen County Courthouse, 1 N. Washington, Iola, Kansas, at which time the Board will consider criteria for Battery Energy Storage System Projects in Allen County. For further information, contact the Allen County Zoning Administrator at 1 N. Washington, (620) 228-1621. (3) 5

a crisis that has shaken the region.

“We are giving Hamas several days in which to try to agree to some kind of bridging proposal,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson Omer Dostri said Tuesday. “If not, we shall convene - the security Cabinet, the premier and the ministers - to make a decision,” he told Israel’s Army Radio.

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy overseeing the Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated talks, proposed another short truce and further hostage-for-prisoner swaps spanning the Ramadan fasting

month being observed by Muslims. Hamas rejected it and has maintained that Israel must withdraw from Gaza.

The pause in fighting has broadly persisted despite the lapse of the ceasefire.

Briefing reporters separately, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said restarting the offensive against Hamas is an option. “If we will have to do it, we will do it,” he said without being drawn on the potential timing.

Israel, with U.S. support, has made any long-term deal to end the war in Gaza contingent on Hamas being disarmed and removed from governance.

Public notice

(First published in The Iola Register Feb. 26, 2025) IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF ALLEN COUNTY, KANSAS CIVIL COURT DEPARTMENT DARRYL CHADWICK, Judgment Creditor, v. DONALD WAYNE EMERSON, JR.(a/ k/a DON EMERSON) d/b/a DOUBLE E CONSTRUCTION, Defendant. AL-2024-MV00008 NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY By virtue of an Order of Sale out of said District Court in the above-entitled action, I will, on the 19th day of March, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the South Door entrance of the Allen County Courthouse, 1 N. Washington Ave., Iola, Kansas, offer for sale at a public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand, all of the right, title, and interest of the defendant , in and to the following described real property, located in Allen County, Kansas, to-wit: Lot One (1), Durning Place, being a Re-Survey of part of Hoss’ Addition to the City of Humboldt, in Allen County, Kansas,

commonly known as 901 S. Tenth, Humboldt, Kansas 66748 (the “Durning Place Property”); and Lots One and Two (1 and 2), Block Two (2), of Wakefield’s First Addition to the City of Humboldt, Allen County, Kansas, commonly known as 1423 Charles St., Humboldt, Kansas 66748 (the “Wakefield’s Property,” and together with the Durning Place Property, the “Real Properties”), subject to a one (1) year redemption period. Said Real Properties are levied on as properties of the defendant and judgment debtor, and are directed by said Order of Sale to be sold, and will be sold according to law, without appraisement. The plaintiff will be permitted to offset bid the judgment rendered in its favor herein.

s/Anthony Maness ANTHONY MANESS SHERIFF OF ALLEN COUNTY, KANSAS

Shannon D. Wead, #18301

FOULSTON SIEFKIN LLP 1551 N. Waterfront Parkway, Ste. 100 Wichita, KS 67206-4466

316.291.9518 Telephone swead@foulston.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff (2) 26 (3) 5, 12

followed by Demarco Ross and Vega in third and Glaze and Moyer in fourth.

Others:

— Shaughn McLaughlin fourth and Newkirk fifth in oral interpretation of prose

— Glaze, fifth humorous solo acting

— Glaze sixth and Fees seventh in serious solo acting.

— Moyer and Vega second, Williams and Sarah Ross fourth and Lohman and Rahming fifth in improvised duet acting.

— McLaughlin sixth and Tessa Brutchin seventh in informative

speaking

— Jeffrey Ashwortgh, seventh in tabloid extemp

— Moyer and Vega, second in real improvised duet acting.

ON FEB. 8, Iola took third in the team sweepstakes at Parsons. Glaze earned gold in two events, humorous solo acting, and as a scene partner with Cole Moyer in duet acting. Newkirk and Williams were just behind in duet acting, placing second.

Others: — Newkirk second and Ashworth fourth in oral interpretation of

prose

— Heiman, fifth in program of oral interpretation

— Newkirk, second in serious solo acting — Moyer and Vega, fifth in improvised duet acting.

THE IHS team members took second as a squad in Neodesha Jan. 25. — Demarco Ross took first in oral interpretation of poetry, followed by Sarah Ross in fifth. Rahming won the program in the oral interpretation category, followed by Heiman in fourth and Taegan Noyes in fifth.

Others: — Newkirk second, Lohman fourth and Ashworth sixth in oral interpretation of prose — Evie Schooler second and Rahming third in humorous solo acting — Newkirk second, Fees third and Noyes fifth in serious solo acting — Newkirk and Williams, second in duet acting — Lohman and Rahming in second, Williams and Kerr fourth and Sarah Ross and Heiman fifth in improvised duet acting — Miller third and McLaughlin sixth in informative speaking — Ari Ramirez, third in impromptu speaking

ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR 2025-2026 ARE NOW AVAILABLE

To apply, an applicant must be a graduate of an Allen County, Kansas high school including those students who will graduate in the spring of 2025, and A student in one of these three areas:

(1) Teaching — in the fall of 2025 must be at least a junior in a four-year university located in the State of Kansas AND (1) be currently admitted or will have been admitted to the university’s School of Education (or its equivalent title) or (2) is in a teacher education program as defined by the university.

(2) Bookkeeping — in a post-secondary Kansas educational institution.

(3) Carpentry — in a post-secondary Kansas educational institution. See scholarship application and instructions for definitions and conditions of each of these scholarships.

Each scholarship for the fall semester of 2025-2026 will be a minimum amount of $2,000.00; the amount for subsequent semesters will be in the minimum amount of $1,000.00.

For a copy of the application and of the rules and conditions of these scholarships, contact: Clyde W. Toland Trustee of the Adams Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 404, Iola, KS 66749 (620) 365-6649 Application deadline is April 25, 2025.

Iola High forensics team members who won the team sweepstakes Saturday in Pittsburg are, front row from left, Briley Prather, Demarco Ross, Cole Moyer, Stephanie Fees, Marlee Westhoff, Elizabeth Chriestenson, Bella Rahming, Ari Ramirez and Everett Glaze; second row, Ben Heiman, Max Andersen, Sarah Ross, Madelyn Ashworth, Shaun McLaughlin, Lily Lohman, Jeffrey Ashworth and Kaeden Vega. COURTESY PHOTO

Iola High School forensics team members that took second at a competitive speaking and acting competition in Neodesha are, front row from left, Demarco Ross, Jeffrey Ashworth, Shaun McLaughlin, Lily Lohman, Madelyn Ashworth, Ari Ramirez, Brecken Bycroft, Bethany Miller; second row, Layla Newkirk, Alyssa Williams, Stephanie Fees, Marlee Westhoff, Taegan Noyes, Bella Rahming and Evie Schooler; and third row, Ben Heiman, Franklin Kerr and Sarah Ross. In front of the group is Elizabeth Chriestenson. COURTESY PHOTO

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have to wait until their replacements arrive at the International Space Station next week before they can check out later this month.

They’ll be joined on their SpaceX ride home by two astronauts who launched by themselves in September alongside

two empty seats. Speaking from the space station on Tuesday, Williams said the hardest part about the unexpected extended stay was the wait by their families back home.

“It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little more so than for us,” she said.

Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched last June aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, making its crew

debut after years of delay. The Starliner had so many problems getting to the space station that NASA ruled it too dangerous to carry anyone and it flew back empty. Their homecoming was further delayed by extra completion time needed for the brand new SpaceX capsule that was supposed to deliver their replacements.

Last month, NASA announced the next crew would launch in a used capsule instead, pushing up liftoff to March

12. The two crews will spend about a week together aboard the space station before Wilmore and Williams depart with NASA’s Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency’s Alexander Gorbunov.

Wilmore and Williams — retired Navy captains and repeat space fliers — have insisted over the months that they are healthy and committed to the mission as long as it takes. They took a spacewalk together in January.

Unemployed

Carolyn Hax is away.

The following first appeared Nov. 21, 2010.

Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend wants to get married. Is it fair to ask what’s in it for me? He has been unemployed for the three years we have been dating.

He doesn’t bring much to the table, and besides giving up my freedom, I’d be stuck dining out alone or footing the bill, giving up plays, concerts, weekend getaways, having football on TV all the time, dragging him along to events with my friends that he’d be bored at, having a messy kitchen, extra laundry, etc.

We mostly enjoy each other’s company, and he does the heavy lifting around our homes. But I like the idea that I can be home alone behind a locked door, eat pizza and watch HGTV all day.

Based on this, you’d say, “You’re not ready, honey, and so you

boyfriend ‘doesn’t bring much to table’

should be honest with him.” So … but … can I ask him what’s in it for me?

— Washington

Washington: No, I don’t really call people “honey.”

And while I agree with your projected answer otherwise — yes, not wanting him around every day means you are not ready — I feel the need to make a case for this guy who apparently loves you.

You say you’d pay for everything, he’d do the heavy lifting at home, you’d enjoy each other’s company. Right? Messy kitchen and extra laundry aside (theoretically), your vision of your life together bears an uncanny resemblance to the mid-20th-century

American marriage template, just with the genders reversed. Didn’t men marry women for their love and good company, with the understanding that she’d do the heavy lifting at home and he’d pay the family expenses unquestioningly, if not unflinchingly?

And when that model began to lose ground to the “We’ll take what comes and do what works best for us” model, didn’t the role of love and good company become even more prominent?

This is by no means an argument for marrying your boyfriend (See: “you are not ready”). I’m merely pointing out that your what’s-in-itfor-me musings grant almost zero value to his love or companionship — when those arguably represent the sole distinction between a marriage and a business deal. Seems like a sign. “What’s in it for me” is a fair and practical

University funding in jeopardy

By CAYLA BAMBERGER NY Daily News/TNS

The Trump administration is threatening to yank $50 million in Columbia University’s federal funding, accusing the school of failing to address claims of antisemitism amid proPalestinian protests.

On Monday night, the U.S. Education Department, Department of Health and Human Services, and General Services Administration announced a federal re-

CRYPTOQUOTES

view of more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments at the Morningside Heights university.

AS PART OF the probe, a federal task force on antisemitism will consider stop-work orders for $51.4 million in current federal contracts at Columbia, according to a press release. No contracts had been canceled at the time of the announcement.

“Institutions that receive federal funds have a responsibility to protect all students from discrimination,” read a statement Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, who was confirmed Monday. “Columbia’s apparent failure to uphold their

end of this basic agreement raises very serious questions about the institution’s fitness to continue doing business with the United States government.”

Last week, the task force announced it would visit 10 college campuses, including Columbia and New York University, as part of its antisemitism probe.

Columbia became the epicenter for proPalestinian protests last spring when a campus encampment supporting Gaza inspired copycat tent cities across the country. The demonstration came to a head in April when protesters occupied an academic building, Hamilton Hall.

question all of us should ask ourselves, privately, when we’re faced with a heavy decision. In your case, though, it’s a rhetorical question; you already know you’ve got as much of your boyfriend as you care to have, at least in his present form. It’s not fair to keep that from him. The question you might want to ask yourself before you say anything: Do you have any reason to believe his circumstances are changing, and that your feelings might change with them? The honest answer to “What’s in it for me” might be in that. This is anecdotal, but I bet science would back it up: I’d say the amount of time that football is on the TV, dishes are in the sink and glaze is on spousal eyes at your boring events goes up with a couple’s number of years together, not down.

iolaregister.com/archives

ZITS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

BEETLE BAILEY by Mort Walker

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne

MARVIN by Tom Armstrong

HI AND LOIS by Chance Browne

BLONDIE by Young and Drake

MUTTS by Patrick McDonell

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

The Iola Register

~ Journalism that makes a difference

US needs to beef up its mineral diplomacy

By GRACELIN BASKARAN Guest opinion for The New York Times

For many years, while China strategically secured minerals from around the world, the United States rarely used foreign policy to obtain the minerals it needs. That has finally changed — and dramatically so.

Within the first 40 days of President Trump’s term, he has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland for its rare earths; annexing Canada, with its vast reserves of uranium and copper; and securing control over Ukraine’s rare earths and titanium in exchange for continued U.S. support.

After the blowup between Mr. Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday in the Oval Office, the fate of the Ukraine minerals deal is uncertain. Mr. Zelensky said he is still “ready” to sign a deal; on Monday, Mr. Trump said he did not believe the deal was dead.

Whether the Ukraine deal is eventually signed or not, incorporating minerals into foreign policy is crucial for U.S. national security. However, without dedicating government investment and diplomatic resources — as China has done — this initiative remains a hollow effort and may fail to deliver any results.

With less than 2 percent of the world’s reserves of rare earths, graphite, cobalt and nickel, the United States must work closely with resource-rich nations to make sure American companies can get the minerals they need to build, among other things, phones, batteries for electric vehicles and semiconductors.

China has similar challenges and has made minerals diplomacy central to its foreign policy. Despite accounting for only 1 percent to 10 percent of global lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper production, China imports enough to process more than 65 percent of some of these metals and 90 percent of rare earths.

This level of control is the outcome of years of strategic industrial planning and foreign policy efforts by Beijing.

Mr. Trump appears to be taking a page from China’s playbook of active minerals diplomacy. The draft agreement with Ukraine would reportedly create a fund controlled by the United States and Ukraine to receive future revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. But if it is

A view of an ilmenite open pit mine in Ukraine. With less than 2 percent of the world’s reserves of rare earths, graphite, cobalt and nickel, the United States must work closely with resource-rich nations to make sure American companies can produce phones, batteries and semi-conductors. Friday’s contentious meeting between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump jeopardizes a proposed deal between the two countries to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. (AP

signed, it is not clear whether such an agreement will actually enhance U.S. mineral security. In fact, it will be decades before we see the impact of this agreement, if at all.

The United States has seemingly minimal knowledge of Ukraine’s underground resources. There is no modern mapping of the country’s rare earth deposits; the most recent surveys are believed to have been conducted 30 to 60 years ago by what was then the Soviet Union. Without up-to-date geological data, it is impossible to determine whether these resources are economically viable for extraction. If the ore grade is too low, the deposits are too small or the byproducts aren’t valuable enough, private companies are unlikely to invest the $500 million to $1 billion needed to develop a mine and separation plant.

production is approximately 18 years, it will take at least that long — four more U.S. presidential election cycles — before the United States can begin sourcing minerals from Ukraine.

There are ways to make minerals diplomacy more

to build a competitive minerals diplomacy strategy?

First, the United States should increase the capacity of the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct geological mapping and reduce exploration risks in key regions.

Mining is one of the most energy-intensive sectors in the world. Any government-to-government cooperation agreement is useful only if it stimulates investment by private mining companies, which develop those minerals into a form that companies like Apple and Tesla can use.

effective, but it will require a willingness by the U.S. government not just to strike deals but also to spend and invest, over a long period, in countries that have the mineral resources we need.

Many resource-rich countries remain unmapped or reliant on outdated surveys. The U.S. Geological Survey could also place their attachés in embassies, to work alongside geological surveys and mining ministries in host countries, promoting resource development strategies that are favorable to Western investors.

Any government-to-government cooperation agreement is useful only if it stimulates investment by private mining companies, which develop those minerals into a form that companies like Apple and Tesla can use.

But the world’s most resource-rich nations, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, are not easy places for businesses to operate.

The U.S. government can help mitigate those risks by supporting mining project negotiations and dispute resolution, and providing financing at below-market rates and political risk insurance.

China has long aligned its infrastructure investments to mineral investments. The 2007 Sino-Congolais des Mines agreement is a key example of a resource-for-infrastructure deal. Under this arrangement, Chinese companies gained access to cobalt, copper and other minerals in exchange for the development of infrastructure, such as roads and hospitals.

The Chinese consortium pledged more than $6.5 billion for infrastructure projects, securing mining rights to deposits near Kolwezi in the southeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which were estimated to be worth $93 billion. As a result, China now owns or has stakes in 15 of Congo’s biggest copper and cobalt mines.

The United States needs to come up with a blueprint for how minerals diplomacy can play out in other parts of the world, not just Ukraine.

Moreover, under the draft agreement, Ukraine would be required to pay a percentage of proceeds from newly developed mineral assets into a reconstruction investment fund with joint U.S. and Ukraine ownership; existing mineral, oil and gas operations are to remain exempt. Given that the average time to develop a mine from resource discovery to

That may be a tough sell at a time of fiscal austerity and budget cuts to the federal government. But China did not build the significant competitive advantage it holds in electric vehicle manufacturing by reducing spending. One analysis found that between 2009 and 2023, the Chinese government allocated at least $230.9 billion in subsidies to help develop the nascent industry. The fruits of that effort are apparent in the domination of BYD’s electric vehicles worldwide.

SO HOW SHOULD the American government spend the resources needed

Second, the United States needs to help build roads, bridges and other infrastructure in mineral-rich places.

Mining is one of the most energy-intensive sectors in the world. Globally, it accounts for 38 percent of industrial energy use.

One of the challenges with mining in Ukraine, for example, is the fact that missile and drone strikes have damaged about half of that country’s power substations.

To ease the way for Western mining companies in Ukraine, the United States should increase funding to institutions like the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which can help rebuild some of those assets.

The Democratic Republic of Congo recently proposed that it could offer the United States and Europe access to its mineral reserves in return for military assistance, amid its ongoing conflict with neighboring Rwanda. Such an agreement is well worth considering and, if it is pursued, should be backed up with real investment.

Mining is a long and costly process. If America is to be a global leader in the minerals it needs for national, economic and energy security, it will have to go beyond signing agreements.

In Ukraine and elsewhere, strategic diplomacy and substantive investment will determine whether such deals actually deliver the mineral security the United States is looking for.

About the author: Dr. Baskaran, a mining economist, is director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

PHOTO/EFREM LUKATSKY)

Leavenworth: Cells for deportations

Continued from A1

grants for an average stay of 51 days. The organization hosted an invitation-only luncheon and information session Saturday for stakeholders.

The special-use permit must be considered by the Leavenworth Planning Commission and then the City Commission. The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the special-use permit in a public hearing on April 7.

Leavenworth’s next City Commission meeting is March 11 and people are welcome to offer comments, limited to three minutes, said City Manager Scott Peterson. He noted that the City Commission is scheduled to begin formal consideration of the special-use permit on May 13.

The commission does need to give city staff approval to negotiate on any agreements that would be necessary between CoreCivic, the city and ICE, in the case that the special-use permit is approved.

Limited detention space might have kept the Trump administration from posting higher numbers of immigrants being held for deportation, according to a report by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

That report found little evidence that immigration arrests and removals have increased over the Biden administration’s recent record, despite Trump’s heavy media campaign touting his intentions to deport record numbers.

During the first week of February, detainees were released when the government reached 109% of capacity, which is 38,521 beds. But the numbers could rapidly escalate.

Sharma-Crawford noted that the U.S. Senate has approved $350 billion for immigration enforcement.

“If what they are waiting on is more capacity, then opening up Leavenworth is like turning the tap on,” she said.

‘We will hunt you down’ for deportation

CoreCivic’s application for a special-use permit immediately sent off alarm bells.

Immigrant rights advocates question if a rush to fill the space will unfairly sweep immigrants up, undercut their rights and deny

Mice grown with mammoth hair

WASHINGTON (AP)

— Extinction is still forever, but scientists at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences are trying what they say is the next best thing to restoring ancient beasts — genetically engineering living animals with qualities to resemble extinct species like the woolly mammoth.

Woolly mammoths roamed the frozen tundras of Europe, Asia and North America until they went extinct around 4,000 years ago.

into living animals,” said CEO Ben Lamm.

Outside scientists have mixed views about whether this strategy will be helpful for conservation.

“You’re not actually resurrecting anything — you’re not bringing back the ancient past,” said Christopher Preston, a wildlife and environment expert at the University of Montana, who was not involved in the research.

them adequate legal representation.

Gustin, in an email, defended the Nashville-based company’s record, saying allegations of past problems of CoreCivic are used to “score political points.”

“The fact is we operate with significant oversight and accountability from our government partners and always have,” Gustin wrote.

CoreCivic describes its agreements with ICE as “A valued but limited role in America’s immigration system.”

In February, the publicly traded company’s CEO told investors that it was spending $40 million to upgrade some of its prisons in anticipation of new contracts with ICE as deportations increase.

The Intercept also reported that CoreCivic was looking at detaining immigrant families.

And it quoted CEO Damon Hininger saying that during his 32 years with the company, this “is truly one of the most exciting periods.”

Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas are among those monitoring CoreCivic’s efforts to repurpose the Leavenworth site, efforts that began during the Biden administration.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, called out CoreCivic’s history as a prison operator, saying that it was notorious for violence and violations of human rights.

A 2017 audit was critical of the U.S. Marshals Service and its oversight of CoreCivic as

the firm operated the Leavenworth Detention Center. The report, by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, cited issues with understaffing, triple bunking inmates in cells meant for two and other issues that raised safety concerns.

“The executive orders that we’ve seen from the president the last couple of weeks are ones that are callous, chaotic, cruel, and that will absolutely translate into what they’re doing at this facility,” Kubic told KCUR’s “Up To Date.”

TRUMP TOOK office in January and immediately began issuing executive orders on immigration. Those orders included halting the arrival of refugees, people who had already been approved and vetted for resettlement in the U.S., and ending the protected status of others, making them eligible for deportation, despite dangerous conditions in their home countries.

Federal judges have issued injunctions to at least temporarily halt many of the Trump initiatives.

An estimated 3.3 % of the U.S. population are undocumented immigrants.

Pew Research Center estimates that about one in 100 people in Missouri and nearly three in 100 in Kansas are undocumented.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced a plan to expect undocumented immigrants who are 14 and older to register with the federal government.

Failing to comply, which includes being fingerprinted and providing an address, would be punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has emphasized that many of the administration’s efforts are in the hope that people will simply choose to leave the U.S., also known as self-deporting.

Noem filmed two advertisements. One focused on immigrants already in the U.S. and the other on those considering entering the country without the proper documents.

“If you come to our country and you break our laws, we will hunt you down,” Noem says in the video.

CoreCivic’s plans for a detention center, which it calls the Midwest Regional Reception Center, and concern about immigrant families being targeted were top of mind for many who attended a rally Feb. 23 in Kansas City.

The group represented a wide range of people — immigrants, people who were first and second generation, elected officials and others.

Speakers emphasized that diligence would be necessary to counter efforts to demonize and target immigrants.

Ivan Ramirez took the mic and encouraged continued engagement with community leaders and elected officials who identify as allies of the immigrant community.

“Our power comes when we come together,” Ramirez said.

Colossal made a splash in 2021 when it unveiled an ambitious plan to revive the woolly mammoth and later the dodo bird.

Since then, the company has focused on identifying key traits of extinct animals by studying ancient DNA, with a goal to genetically “engineer them

Financial Focus

On Tuesday, Colossal announced that its scientists have simultaneously edited seven genes in mice embryos to create mice with long, thick, woolly hair. They nicknamed the extra-furry rodents as the “Colossal woolly mouse.”

Results were posted online, but they have not yet been published in a journal or vetted by independent scientists.

Five Moves for Young Investors

If you’re just beginning your career, what are your financial priorities?

You might have student loans to deal with. And you may even be thinking about saving for a down payment on a house.These are certainly significant issues, and yet, you shouldn’t ignore your long-term goals, such as retirement — which is why you may want to get started as an investor.

And as you invest, consider these suggestions:

1. Take advantage of your opportunities. Even while addressing your other concerns, such as loan payments, you may well have space in your life to invest — if you take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. For example, if you work for a business that offers a 401(k) or other retirement plan, try to put in as much as you can afford, or at least enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. And you may find that contributing to a traditional 401(k) or similar plan is more affordable than you think, as your contributions may be deductible, lowering your taxable income.

2. Think long-term. Some people make the mistake of seeking short-term gains by trying to “time” the market — that is, they try to “buy low and sell high.” While this is a great strategy in theory, it’s almost impossible to follow, as no one can really predict market highs and lows. The most successful investors follow a longterm strategy and don’t jump in and out of the market.

3. Know your risk tolerance. Your investment choices should be based partially on your risk tolerance. Typically, the more investment risk you take on, the greater the potential reward, but it works the other way, too — riskier investments can result in greater losses, at least in the short term. You need to find a risk level with which you are comfortable. Also, your risk tolerance can change over time — when you get close to retirement, for instance, you might want to invest more conservatively than you did when you still had decades ahead of you in the working world.

4. Diversify your investments. The financial markets affect different investments in different ways, which means that, at any given time, some investments will perform better than others. But if you only owned one type of investment or asset class, your portfolio could suffer if a market downturn had a particularly strong effect on that investment or asset. By spreading your investment dollars among a range of investments, you’ll have more opportunities for success, and you can help reduce the effects of market volatility on your holdings. Keep in mind, though, that diversification, by itself, can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses.

5. Prepare for the unexpected. You don’t always know when you’ll face a large expense, such as a medical bill or a major home repair. If you’re not prepared, you could be forced to dip into your longterm investments, such as your 401(k), to pay for these costs. To help avoid this problem, you may want to take steps such as keeping a cushion of cash in your portfolio and building an emergency fund containing several months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account. By putting these moves to work, you can help yourself make progress on an investment journey that could last a lifetime.

Deanna Munoz and Ivan Ramirez speak at a rally in support of the immigrant and LGBTQ communities on Feb. 23 in Kansas City. CoreCivic, a publicly traded operator of private prisons, wants to open a facility in Leavenworth to assist President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan. THE BEACON/MARY SANCHEZ

Tariffs: Trading partners announce relatiatory measures

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that such protectionism is costly and inefficient. Import taxes are “a very powerful weapon that politicians haven’t used because they were either dishonest, stupid or paid off in some other form,” Trump said Monday at the White House. “And now we’re using them.”

Dartmouth College economist Douglas Irwin, author of a 2017 history of U.S. tariff policy, has calculated that Tuesday’s hikes will lift America’s average tariff from 2.4% to 10.5%, the highest level since the 1940s. “We’re in a new era for sure.”

U.S. markets dropped sharply Monday after Trump said there was “no room left” for negotiations that could lower the tariffs. Shares were mostly lower Tuesday after they took effect.

According to estimates by the Yale Uni-

versity Budget Lab, Trump’s tariffs amount to a tax hike of roughly $1.4 trillion to $1.5 trillion over 10 years, a massive increase that would disproportionately hit lower-income households.

The Canada and Mexico tariffs were supposed to begin in Feb-

ruary, but Trump agreed to a 30-day suspension to negotiate further with the two largest U.S. trading partners. The stated reason for the tariffs is to address drug trafficking and illegal immigration, and both countries say they have made progress on those issues. But Trump

County: Road group eyed

Continued from A1

formation to Road and Bridge Director Jeremy Hopkins. “We can send the names and numbers to Jeremy and he can organize a meeting,” said Commissioner Jerry Daniels. Brocker added that he would also attend the committee meeting once it is scheduled.

The “big push” for the committee will be at the beginning of each year, said Lee. “That is so they can help outline the projects for the year,” he explained. “Because, after that, you’re in the road season and it’s more about executing the projects.”

LEE REMINDED those in attendance that the March 25 commission meeting will be held in the evening, at 6 p.m. Brocker pointed out that this gives people time to get home from work and then come to the meeting.

Commissioners have yet to decide what recurring day each month will be reserved for the evening meeting going forward. “I

Continued from A1

book, “Chris,” was a mystery. Her most recent titles are “Lunch at the Library” and “Stuart’s Bungalow.”

Copies of all three are available for checkout.

Bailey began writing at an early age. When she was 9, her father bought her a Royal Silent Writer portable typewriter.

As she recalls, it weighed at least 25 pounds but did have a carrying case so she could take it with her. Her first published work was a letter to “Jack & Jill”, the children’s magazine. At age 12 she took a summer job as a dishwasher in a local cafe to earn money to buy typewriter ribbons, 35 cents each.

would like to see us do at least one a month and see how it works,” said Lee. He suggested scheduling it for the first or second Tuesday of the month. Daniels pointed out that the second Tuesday of the month is also the same evening of the Allen Community College Board of Trustees meeting. Scheduling conflicts with other meetings have been the main hiccup in determining what day will work best.

Commissioners left the conversation open-ended and noted they will decide at a future meeting what day they will designate for the evening meetings.

The March 25 evening meeting will still continue as planned.

IN OTHER NEWS, Allen County 911 director Chelsie Decker reminded commissioners of the statewide tornado drill that will take place Wednesday, at 10 a.m.

She added that three Excellence in Dispatch certification classes were recently hosted Feb. 24-27 at Allen Community College. “The instructor was from Chicago and we had about 18 people in each class,”

she said. “It’s three different classes to help you get one track of your certification done.” The certification is for emergency dispatchers who want to advance their skills and is sponsored by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

Decker noted that Allen County has two employees who need one more class to get their certification, and two employees who need two more classes.

“We were excited to bring students in from other areas,” she said. “We had one from Colorado, two from Nebraska, and a lot of our local agencies took advantage of having that training here locally.”

Commissioners approved spending $227,699 for an ambulance. EMS Director Michael Burnett noted that the ambulance is a Ford with a van-style chassis and a square box. He added that it could be used for some transfers and help keep some wear and tear off of the other ambulances they currently have. The money for the purchase comes from the ambulance fund which currently sits at $900,000.

has also said the tariffs will only come down if the U.S. trade imbalance closes, a process unlikely to be settled on a political timeline.

The tariffs may be short-lived if the U.S. economy suffers. But Trump could also impose more tariffs on the European Union, India, computer chips, autos and pharmaceutical drugs. The American president has injected a disorienting volatility into the world economy, leaving it off balance as people wonder what he will do next.

“It’s chaotic, especially compared to the way we saw tariffs rolled out in the first (Trump) administration,” said Michael House, co-chair of the international trade practice at the Perkins Coie law firm. “It’s unpredict-

able. We don’t know, in fact, what the president will do.’’

Democratic lawmakers were quick to criticize the tariffs, and even some Republican senators raised alarms.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she’s “very concerned” about the tariffs going into effect because of her state’s proximity to Canada.

“Maine and Canada’s economy are integrated,” Collins said, explaining that much of the state’s lobsters and blueberries are processed in Canada and then sent back to the U.S.

The world economy is now caught in the fog of what appears to be a trade war.

Trudeau said Canada would impose 25% tariffs on $155 billion Canadian ($107 billion U.S.) worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion Canadian ($21 billion U.S.) worth of goods immediately and on the remaining amount on American products in three weeks.

“Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures,” Trudeau said.

THE TRUMP administration has suggest-

ed inflation will not be as bad as economists claim, saying tariffs can motivate foreign companies to open factories in the United States.

On Monday, Trump announced that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the computer chipmaker, would be investing $100 billion in domestic production.

Still, it can take time to relocate factories spread across the world and to train workers.

Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of the Toy Association, said the 20% tariffs on Chinese goods will be “crippling” for the toy industry, as nearly 80% of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China.

“There’s a sophistication of manufacturing, of the tooling,” he said. “There’s a lot of handcrafting that is part of these toys that a lot of people don’t understand … the face painting, the face masks, the hair weaving, the hair braiding, the cut and sew for plush to get it to look just so.” All of that killed labor “has been passed through generations in the supply chain that exists with China.”

For a president who has promised quick results, Ahearn added a note of caution about how quickly U.S. factories could match their Chinese rivals.

“That can’t be replicated overnight,” he said.

Trucks line up to drive into Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, on the U.S.-Mexico border on Feb. 1, 2025, in San Diego. GETTY IMAGES/APU GOMES/TNS

Sports Daily B

Rally eliminates Larks

By JIMMY POTTS

After routing Hesston College 81-64 last month, the Allen Community College Red Devils’ received an unexpected challenge Monday, escaping their postseason opener with an 84-81 victory.

With the Larks jumping out to a 21-4 lead early in the first half, the Red Devils clawed their way back into contention until taking the lead late in the second half on a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Tyler Pinder, who had a team-leading 32 points.

“It’s hard to beat a team three times, and Hesston played a great game. Our defense wasn’t up to the normal standards but we showed toughness and grit to hang in that game,” said Allen coach Patrick Nee.

While Pinder’s heroics took center stage in the second half, freshman guard Mike Smith provided Allen with an early push to get back into contention. As the defense solidified in preventing second-chance opportunities

Little River roars past Crest, 48-39

COLONY — Little River’s defense made for some big trouble for Crest High’s Lancers Monday.

A 15-5 Little River run spanning the second quarter allowed the visiting Redskins to take the lead for good in the Class 1A-II Substate Tournament semifinals.

Crest rallied down the stretch, but could draw no closer than seven in a 48-39 setback.

The loss ends Crest’s season at 15-5. Little River (146) advances to Saturday’s championship game to take on Oxford, a 55-37 winner over Sedan.

“That’s a physical, athletic team,” Crest head coach Dakotah Sporing said of Little River. “I told our guys, if we could handle that, I like our chances.

“There were times we handled it, and it looked good,” he continued. “Whether the ball went in or not, we executed and got good looks. We gave ourselves a chance. But there were times when we got sped up, and they hurt us with it.”

Crest freshman Kole

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

The Allen Community College Red Devils head into Friday’s regional semifinal with a full head of steam after routing Hesston 80-28 in Monday’s postseason opener. The Red Devils bested the Larks in every statistical category as they doubled Hesston’s firsthalf production to put the game away early.

“We did some good things. We did a lot of good things,” Allen coach

Leslie Crane said. “Sure, we scored quite a bit, but what I like about it is we held them to 28 points and single digits in the second, third and fourth quarter. When you do that with your defense, you do it with rebounding. And, we were able to do it very well.”

Despite blowing out Hesston, Allen did not have a true standout performer Monday. Sophomore forward Aaliyah Brown’s team-leading 15

Moustakas retires from Royals

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Moustakas is going to retire with Kansas City after spending 13 years in the majors and winning the World Series with the Royals in 2015.

The Royals announced Moustakas’ retirement on Monday. The 36-year-old infielder will sign a one-day contract with his first big league team on May 31, and he will be honored before Kansas City’s home game against Detroit that day.

Moustakas hit .247 with 215 homers and 683 RBIs in 1,427 games, also playing for Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Colorado and the Los Ange-

les Angels. The three-time All-Star appeared in his last major league game with the Angels on Sept. 30, 2023.

Moustakas was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft. He broke into the majors with Kansas City in 2011.

He became a key performer for the Royals during a memorable stretch for the franchise. He hit .284 with 22 homers and 82 RBIs in 147 games in 2015, helping the team win the AL Central. Then he drove in eight runs in the postseason as the Royals won the World Series for the first time since 1985.

Moustakas bashed a career-high 38 homers for Kansas City in 2017.

Mike

Allen County sophomore guard Tyler Pinder (10) pushes past Hesston freshman guard Terryon Stebbins (15) during the second half of Monday’s regional tournament opener in the recently renamed Neil Crane Court. REGISTER/JIMMY POTTS

The Iola Register

Allen Community College sophomore forward Aaliyah Brown (22) scores two of her team-leading 15 points in the third quarter of Monday’s regional tournament opener against Hesston, at Neil Crane Court. REGISTER/JIMMY POTTS

By JIMMY POTTS The Iola Register

By RICHARD LUKEN

The Iola Register

By Staff report The Associated Press

Playoff: JCCC Cavaliers up next for Allen

on one side of the court, Smith found the net on three of the Red Devils’ next four possessions.

Just before the buzzer, freshman guard Malachi Schilreff drove to the basket to put Allen in a much more manageable 4635 deficit going into halftime.

While Pinder had a team-leading 32 points, and rebounds with eight to Smith’s five, Monday seemed a team effort. Nearly four players reached double-digits in scoring. Each Red Devil had to play a unique role with fouls mounting for both squads, requiring Coach Nee to go to his bench. Midway through the second half, Allen went on a 10-2 run with Pinder’s 3-pointer giving the Red Devils their first lead of the evening 61-60.

The game devolved into a dogfight with numerous lead changes. After having success in the first half, Hesston went back to

its full-court press. Allen broke through, lofting a pass to Schilreff for an easy bucket to put the Red Devils up 81-78.

Moments later, Hesston made a crucial mistake in fouling Schilreff, who had been perfect at the free-throw line and remained perfect as he gave Allen an 84-81 lead with 2.4 seconds

left on the clock. Schilreff ended the night third in scoring with 19 points, behind Smith’s 21-point performance and Pinder’s 32. With the win, the Red Devils head to Overland Park for the next leg of the regional tournament. They will take on the Johnson County Community College Cavaliers at 3 p.m. Friday.

Sophomore forward Tyonn Scott and sophomore guard LJ Hill also were key contributors. “They gave us great minutes,” Nee said. “We’re excited for the challenge to play Johnson again. I’m really proud of our guys. That’s my first playoff win as head coach here

at Allen, and I’m looking for more to come.” With the win, the Red Devils improve to 14-15 while the Larks end their season 11-18. Overcoming the Cavaliers (28-3) will not be easy. Similar to how Hesston approached Allen on Monday, the Red Devils will face a JCCC team that has defeated them twice this season. Most recently Allen fell to the Cavaliers 78-53, but as Coach Nee said earlier, it’s never easy beating a team three times.

If Allen wins Friday, they’ll face the winner of the Highland and Kansas City Kansas Community College semifinals game at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Ovechkin fast approaching Gretzky record

By Stephen Whyno The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Va.

(AP) — Wayne Gretzky was so able to control hockey games from behind the net that the area became known as “Gretzky’s office,” as he put up more assists than anyone else in NHL history has points.

Alex Ovechkin has scored so many goals with his patented one-timer from the left faceoff circle on the power play that it became known as his spot. Retired goaltender Eddie Lack referred to it as the “Ovizoid.”

Just like with Gretzky, whose record of 894 goals he is closing in on breaking, Ovechkin’s brilliance comes not from one shot but rather the variety with which he has scored over his two-decade-long career. He has the most career power-play goals and the most empty-netters and soon will pass Gretzky for tops on the overall list thanks to an evolution of his game that has seen him score from more places on the ice in his 20th season than previous years.

“Everyone talks about his spot, but he scores goals from everywhere,” said St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery, who played against Gretzky in North America and then briefly faced a young Ovechkin in Russia. “The

true test to his intelligence and creativity is the fact that he’s done it for so many years as the league has continued to change.”

According to NHL Edge puck and player tracking data, Ovechkin has put a shot on net from 15 of the 16 quadrants in the offensive zone and scored from 11 of them.

That is a testament to Ovechkin, now 39 and scoring at a rate almost never seen at this age, adjusting to how opponents defend him and fooling goaltenders in different ways. He has scored on a league-record 181 goalies, adding six new ones to that list this season.

“He shoots hard, he can shoot through you, so it makes it more difficult, especially when it’s coming from a bunch of different angles,” said Logan Thompson, in his first season as a teammate of Ovechkin’s with the Washington Capitals after being the 160th netminder he beat along the way. “He’s always finding a way to get it through and he makes it really tricky on goalies. There’s really no method on how to stop him.”

For the defenders tasked with trying to contain Ovechkin, the approach changes with the situation. From his spot, every

See RECORD| Page B3

Allen freshman guard Malachi Schilreff looks for an opening in Hesston’s defense.

POTTS

Allen guard Mike Smith puts in a contest shot in the first half Monday. REGISTER/JIMMY POTTS

Allen Community College students storm the court to celebrate with players Monday. REGISTER/JIMMY POTTS

Opener: Fort Scott upsets Neosho

Continued from B1

points was only one better than freshman guard Audrey Peek and four ahead of freshman guard Juana Rojas’ 11. Rebounds also had a strange statistical similarity with Brown’s 12 to Rojas’ 10.

The only area Hesston surpassed the Red Devils was turnovers.

“We held them down with their shooting, and how many second and third shots they had,” Crane said. “We forced 23 turnovers. I have to be happy with that.”

Sophomore guard Mafalda Chambel got into foul trouble early.

Even so, “she had two steals and four assists. All the girls were in passing lanes at different times and able to get their hands on a lot of balls.”

With her team well ahead by the end of the third quarter, Crane opted to her bench to keep her starters fresh ahead of Friday’s regional semifinal. With the win, Allen improves to 21-4 and next faces Fort Scott (12-16), who also comes into Friday’s game after upsetting Allen arch-rival Neosho (19-8) Monday in a 72-57 blowout.

“Going into this next game, it’s good we rested some folks. We had a lot of kids contribute tonight, which is good,” Crane said. “It’s what you want to have. We’ll see what happens down the road, but we’re going to take the next three days to prepare and get ready for the weekend.”

Despite twice de-

Above, Allen freshman forward Ja’Mya Garland snatches the ball away from an opponent during the first half of Monday’s regional playoff game. At right, Allen freshman guard Juana Rojas drives to the basket. REGISTER/JIMMY POTTS

feating the Fort Scott Greyhounds 56-30 and more recently 59-21, Crane is not planning ahead for the winner of the other semifinal game featuring the Johnson County Community College Cavaliers (30-0) and the Highland College Scots (25-4).

“We’ll see what we can do. We have to get through our second game first before we start thinking about that,” Crane said. “We got past Hesston, and now we’re going to focus on the next game. We’re going to enjoy this tonight.”

Tip off for Friday’s game is at 5:30 p.m.

Cowboys make free-agency splash with $80 million DT

By Staff report

The Associated Press

The Dallas Cowboys and defensive tackle

Osa Odighizuwa agreed Tuesday on an $80 million, four-year contract with $58 million guaranteed, his agent said.

The agreement came a few hours before the deadline for clubs to apply the franchise tag on one player. Odighizuwa was a consideration for the $25 million tag for defensive tackles. Agent Sam Leaf Ireifej confirmed the deal to The Associated Press. It includes a $20 million signing bonus.

The Cowboys also agreed to a one-year deal with special teams

ace C.J. Goodwin and restructured star receiver CeeDee Lamb’s contract to create $20 million in salary cap space. Lamb signed a $136 million, four-year deal last year.

Odighizuwa was a 2021 third-round pick who blossomed into one of Dallas’ best defensive linemen. He tied star pass rusher Micah Parsons for the club lead with 23 quarterback hits last season. The return of Odighizuwa comes

with Matt Eberflus taking over as defensive coordinator.

Record: Gretzky

Continued from B2

one knows what is coming because he has scored 320 times on the power play — 46 more than the next closest.

At even strength, where Ovechkin has scored 495 of his 884 goals and counting, the challenge is keeping an eye on him knowing he has what Blues goalie Jordan Binnington called an “on-off release” and can fling the puck at the net unexpectedly at times.

“I’m not really sure where he shoots it from, and it just finds a way to go in the net,” said Ottawa defenseman Nick Jensen, who played parts of six seasons with Ovechkin on the Capitals. “He’s been doing it for so long that I can’t really explain it. It’s kind of a phenomenon a little bit — or an anomaly. But he’s been doing it for so long, and he continues to do this year.”

Ovechkin reached the 30-goal mark again this season, the record 19th time he has done that, one of the biggest reasons the Capitals are among the top teams in the league. He has thrived alongside 20-something linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, who have embraced the role of getting Ovechkin the puck as much as reasonably possible.

“He can pretty much get his shot off anywhere,” said Strome, who assisted on 17 of Ovechkin’s first 31 goals. “He’s been scoring in front of the net or even some wrist shots from the other side. I think the more shot volume the better. It’s good when you come out of a game and see like 12 or 13 shot attempts and seven or eight on net.

Usually good things happen when there’s that many chances.”

Ovechkin has put

more shots on net than any player in league history, and the only reason he’s not again in the top 10 this season is that he missed 16 games with a broken left leg. Quality over quantity, perhaps, as he is scoring at a career-best shooting rate of 18.1 percent.

According to NHL statistics, Ovechkin has gotten seven different types of shots on net: 62 snap, 50 wrist, 36 slap, 10 backhand, 10 tips, two deflections and one between the legs. Fourteen goals have come on snap shots, eight on wrist shots, five on slap shots, three on backhanders and one on a tip.

“Any time there’s unpredictability, it makes it hard,” said retired defenseman Karl Alzner, who played nine seasons with Ovechkin and three more against him with Montreal.

“As long as he continues to be unpredictable and do things a little bit different than we’ve seen from his whatever it is 18 years of resume, it’s going to be hard for teams to shut him down.”

Ovechkin is tied for the league lead with seven empty-netters and has the most all time with 64. Gretzky scored 56 of them, too, and coach Spencer Carbery is quick to point out that it’s not as easy as it looks.

“There’s a lot of skilled players that play around the league 5 on 6 that aren’t your quote-unquote defensive specialists or your penalty-kill guys that have a ton of value playing 5 on 6 because they are so intelligent with what the offensive players want to do,” Carbery said. “They know where the next play is and where the puck’s going, and that’s what you see from ‘O’ constantly is he’s reading where the next puck is going.”

Crest: Little River outpaces Lancers

Continued from B1

Walter was the Lancers’ early catalyst. He connected on three 3-pointers in the first quarter as Crest held leads of 11-6 and 14-10.

But Little River rattled off a 13-0 run to take the lead for good.

Crest’s Jacob Zimmerman ended Crest’s 3 ½-minute scoring drought before Walter hit from downtown once again to pull the Lancers within 24-19.

Gentry McGhee gave the Lancers a lift to start the second half with a free throw and field goal, keeping it a five-point game at 2924. But the Redskins ended the period with an 11-2 run to stretch the lead to double digits.

The Lancers didn’t go away quietly, although a pair of early misses inside in the fourth quarter, and an 0-4 stretch from the free throw line stalled the rally a bit.

Zimmerman hit a jumper bedford Prasko’s steal and layup pulled the Lancers to within 44-33. Denton Ramsey followed with a 3-pointer, and McGhee’s layup with just over a minute left kept Crest within 46-38.

“A little bit of desperation kicked in,” Sporing said. “We started making some plays, putting in extra effort inside. That

helped.”

But Little River still effectively moved the ball around to milk the clock, hitting 4 of 6 free throws to seal the win.

Walter led the way with 16 points, while McGhee and Zimmerman wound up with seven each.

McGhee, Zimmerman and fellow senior Denton Ramsey were each given a rousing sendoff from an appreciative Lancer crowd in the waning seconds of the game. Sporing greeted each with a hug as they exited the court for the last time.

“They’re good players, but more than that, they’re good kids,” Sporing said. “We definitely have guys who have the potential to step up, but

they’re gonna be tough to replace, with their effort, leadership and ability.”

Their never-say-die attitude infected the

rest of the Lancer roster, Sporing added.

“Sure, we might miss a layup, but these guys left everything out there.”

Jets releasing wide receiver Davante Adams

By Dennis Waszak Jr. The Associated Press

Davante Adams’ reunion with Aaron Rodgers lasted just 11 games with the New York Jets.

The team is releasing the veteran wide receiver ahead of the start of the NFL’s new league year next week, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The move, which was expected, will save the Jets $29.9 million in salary cap space. It follows the team’s announcement on Feb. 13 that they’re also moving on this offseason from Rodgers, Adams’ longtime teammate and friend.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team didn’t announce the move. NFL Network and ESPN first reported the Jets’ decision to

release Adams. Releasing Adams will cost the Jets $8.3 million in dead-cap money, according to overthecap.com.

Adams was acquired by the Jets from Las Vegas last October for a third-round pick in this year’s draft. The 32-year-old three-time All-Pro was scheduled to make a non-guaranteed $35.64 million in each of the next two years. That hefty price tag made him a likely salary cap cut this offseason, especially after the Jets’ new regime — general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn — decided to go in another direction at quarterback.

Adams caught 67 passes for 854 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games with the Jets. He also had 18 catches for 209 yards and a TD in three games with the Raiders last year.

Attorneys in college sports lawsuit point to ‘intergalactic paradigm shift’ for NCAA

By Eddie Pells

Associated Press

Attorneys seeking approval of the $2.8 billion legal settlement for college sports pointed to nearly 102,000 athletes who signed up to receive damages from the action, while batting down objections to what they described as the “intergalactic paradigm shift” the settlement will create across the NCAA.

In a motion filed in federal court Monday, plaintiff attorneys in the House settlement also noted that only 343 of nearly 390,000 people covered by the class-action lawsuit had opted out, while only 73 had submitted objections to the court.

Meanwhile, 101,935 had either filed a claim form or updated their payment information, which gives them a chance to receive a portion of the nearly $2.8 billion to be divvied among those who played before the NCAA approved name, image and likeness deals in 2021.

Judge Claudia Wilken is set to rule April 7 on whether to finalize terms of the settlement of the lawsuit filed against the NCAA and five conferences.

In addition to the $2.8 billion in backpay, the lawsuit also gives schools permission to pay up to $20.5 million in NIL cash directly to the players, beginning next school year. Currently, those NIL payments come from third parties, which would still be allowed under terms

of the settlement.

In their 60-page brief, lead attorneys Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler referenced a 2015 appellate court ruling that called potential $5,000 payments to players — which the court rejected — a “quantum leap” from what had previously been permissible.

“If those rejected $5,000 payments would have been a quantum leap, this settlement represents an intergalactic paradigm shift,” the attorneys wrote. They went on to argue why the judge should reject the dozens of objections filed in the case, saying:

— Any losses imposed because of new roster limits, which will increase the number of scholarships but trim overall roster spots, are “outweighed by the $20 billion worth of direct compensation and benefits that the settlement will yield for class members over the next ten years.”

— That because the House settlement is, at

its core, an antitrust matter, it should not be used to resolve concerns about Title IX. But if Title IX is determined to apply to revenue sharing — a position the Trump Administration has rejected — “there is nothing in the settlement that prevents schools from allocating additional funds to women athletes.”

— There is no merit to objections that not all athletes were fairly represented in the lawsuit and that walk-ons who produced big results were entitled to more than they were receiving in damages.

— That the fact there have been no objections to the plaintiff attorneys’ request for around $475 million in fees “indicates the strength of the settlement obtained.”

The motion was filed the evening before Tuesday’s U.S. House committee hearing on NIL. There, Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman, who is chair of the NCAA Division I Council, and South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer tes-

tified favorably about the settlement while also urging Congressional action on a law that would standardize rules across the country.

“There’s a role Congress can play to create a level playing field and prevent schools from choosing whether to comply with a federal court order or abide by state law,” Whitman said.

The attorneys noted that Wilken had rejected most of the previous objections when they were filed in advance of her preliminary approval in October.

The judge will have a chance to hear from some of those objectors at the hearing in April, but also from the plaintiff attorneys, who wrote about the idea that ‘by its nature, any settlement is a compromise.”

“This is why the courts have recognized that class member objections to a settlement based on an argument that even more or different benefits might be achieved are not a basis for withholding approval,” they wrote.

Crest High’s Denton Ramsey, foreground, leaps for the ball in front of Little River’s Lincoln Raleigh Monday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN

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