YES, IT'S TRUE

A mention tonight on the Arkansas TV Blog -- someone actually noticed I've departed from KNWA News. Yep, it's true. My last night on-air was the 24th. We couldn't agree on a contract terms, so we're parting. I'm considering my options right now, and hope to return to the air before too much more time passes. I appreciate the kind words since yesterday. Thanks again.

MORNING NEWS BRIEFING, NWA

From my desk here at KFAY, a look at the morning headlines up and down I-540.

THE NEW CEO OF TYSON FOODS, RICHARD BOND, TOLD HIS COMPANY HE EXPECTS MANAGERS TO FIND WAYS TO CUT 110-MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE COMPANY'S BOTTOM LINE. DURING THE LAST QUARTER, THE COMPANY LOST 127 MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS -- INCLUDING AN OVERSUPPLY OF BEEF AND CHICKEN. BOND PRESENTED HIS PLAN AS PART OF A PRESENTATION TO EMPLOYEES BOND TOOK OVER LAST WEEK WHEN CEO JOHN TYSON STEPPED DOWN.

YESTERDAY IN WASHINGTON. BOTH SENATORS BLANCHE LINCOLN AND MARK PRYOR VOTED IN FAVOR OF A SENATE BILL INTENDED TO GIVE SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AN EVENTUAL CHANCE AT LEGAL U.S. CITIZENSHIP. THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE MORE MONEY FOR BORDER SECURITY AND CREATE A "GUEST WORKER" PROGRAM -- POINTS PUSHED BY THE PRESIDENT IN HIS RECENT SPEECH ON IMMIGRATION. THE BILL NOW GOES TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WHERE CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO RECONCILE THIS WEEK'S SENATE BILL WITH A MORE "GET TOUGH" APPROACH APPROVED BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

ANOTHER RAZORBACK BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RING FROM THE 1994 SEASON HAS TURNED UP ON E-BAY. THE SELLER REMAINS ANONYMOUS, BUT ONE OF THE RINGS WENT UP FOR SALE LAST MONTH, AND SOLD FOR MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE SELLER SAYS THE RING BELONGS TO A STARTER WHO PLAYED BETWEEN 1993 AND 1995, THEN WENT ON TO PLAY IN THE NBA AND EUROPE.

FORMER WAL-MART VICE CHAIR TOM COUGHLINE FACES A SENTENCING HEARING IN FEDERAL COURT AUGUST 11TH. AS PART OF A PLEA BARGAIN, COUGHLIN PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF FRAUD AND TAX EVASION AFTER WAL-MART FIRED HIM, ALLEGING HE MISAPPROPRIATED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF COMPANY MONEY FOR PERSONAL USE. COUGHLIN COULD FACE AS LONG AS 28 YEARS IN PRISON AND MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES.

POLICE ARRESTED A TEENAGE GIRL AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PEA RIDGE FOR ALLEGEDLY BRINING METHADONE PILLS TO SCHOOL, AND GIVING ONE TO ANOTHER STUDENT. DOCTORS OFTEN USE THE DRUG TO TREAT HEROIN ADDICTION, AND IT REMAINS ON A FEDERAL LIST OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. THE GIRL WHO PROVIDED THE DRUG ENDED UP AT THE BENTON COUNTY JUVENILE FACILITY. IN ALL, THE SCHOOL EXPELLED SIX STUDENTS IN CONNECTON WITH THE CASE.

QUITE SOMETHING TO SEE AT THE ROGERS CITY AIRPORT YESTERDAY. A FREIGHT TRAIN CUT A SEMI IN HALF. THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI HAD JUST PICKED UP A LOAD OF RECYCLED CARDBOARD, AND APPARENTLY DIDN’T STOP AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING. THE TRAIN STOPPED ABOUT 175 YEARS FROM THE TRUCK AFTER IMPACT, WITH PARTS OF THE TRAILER WRAPPED AROUND IT’S FRONT. NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT POLICE GAVE THE TRUCK DRIVER A TICKET FOR FAILING TO YIELD TO A TRAIN.

FAYETTEVILLES SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT CAME UP WITH A NAME FOR THE DISTRICT’S NEW SCHOOL ON RUPPLE ROAD. THE OWL CREEK SCHOOL WILL SERVE KIDS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 7TH GRADE.

HELLO AGAIN

Been on sabbatical for awhile, and my thanks to Mr. Seligman for filling in for awhile -- but I have returned. Let the fist-fighting resume. Glad to return my face and name to this site. We'll be updating the design of this over the next week, making it a faster-loading site. We also have plans for a 5-day a week nightly video-blog, which will simply pop-up when you visit. Also on the agenda, a new way to listen the program live and online, and a new way to reference archive material (our past programs.)

Been nice to have some time back, but the it's time again to get back to work. Y'all come back now, y'hear?

ARKANSAS PRIMARY UPDATE - WEDS. AM.

Talk about a messed-up election! Something mandated by federal law to make voting easier, something that state paid 15 million dollars for has created one of the most disorderly and problematic primary elections in the state's history -- an election that hasn't ended yet, and may not end until sometime later in the week. Problems with the new electronic voting machines turned up in Washington, Benton, Pulaski and Phillips County...the total count has not yet concluded, and that's leaving some candidates in the lurch.

A little more about the proble -- at least in Phllips County, "ESS" the company which makes the machines, apparently failed to provide a microchip for the machine's tabulator...the Secretary of State's office says the Nebraska based company plans to re-program and chip and drive it back to the county today or tomorrow.

So, in the tops races, less than 100 percent of the vote tallied means we'll have to wait on possible candidates for a June 16th runoff election.

Let's take a look...

A resounding night of success for Republican Lt. Governor's candidate Jim Holt, who pulled down 56 percent of the vote, or 24,031 ballots with only 85 percent of the precincts reporting. He essentially defeats both Chuck Banks and Doug Matayo with no chance of a runoff.

On the Democrat side, a little different situation -- as per the polls, the winner would appear to be Bill Halter with 47 percent of the vote and 88,064 ballots. Because that falls under 50 percent, we could see a runoff -- but right now, the race between State Senator Tim Woolridge and Mike Hathorn remains very close for second place, 26-25 percent of the ballot in favor of Woolridge, only a difference of 800 ballots with only 87 percent of all state precincts having reported...

Same problem in the Arkansas Attorney General's race among Democrats - with 87 percent of precincts reporting, we see Jonesboro attorney Dustin McDaniel leading with 37 percent of the vote, North Little Rock city attorney Paul Suskie with 32 percent and Saline County Prosecutor Robert Herzfeld with 30 percent...still very much up in the air. The eventual winner will face Republican Gunnar Delay in November.

Some more certain numbers now -- in the State Senate District 35 race, it appears Republican Bill Pritchard has defeated Jim Bob Duggar 2,104 votes to 1,850.

In Springdale, in the House District 93 race, Jon Woods has defeated Kathy McFetridge 1,155 votes to 881. Woods will essentially go on to take the seat with no opposition.

In House District 89, Jim House has defeated Diana Gonzalez Worthen 1,113 votes to 589. House will face Republican Doug Kuntz in the November.

In Rogers, in House District 95, It appears businessman Aaron Burkes has defeated Shawn McGrew and Robert Vinson -- however, we only have 53 percent of precincts reporting this morning but Burkes has 56 percent of the total ballot -- the situation could change -- the winner will face Democrat Robbyn Tumey in November.

In the Benton County Judge's race, incumbent Republican Gary Black has defeated Justice of the Peace Bill Adams -- Black faces Democrat Joe Chapelle in November.

And, in the Benton County Sheriff's race, incumbent Sheriff Keith Ferguson has retained his seat, defeating former Sheriff Andy Lee 9,693 votes to 4,554 votes -- with no challengers from the Democratic Party.

We'll have more as we get updates. Peace.

GOODBYE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

This was just too ridiculous to ignore. From "This Week," the man referred to by Malloy as "Torquemada" (as in "hey Torquemada, whaddaya say? Just got back from the Auto de Fe -- Auto de Fe? What's the Auto de Fe? It's what you oughttent to do, but you do anyway" - Mel Brooks) decides the First Amendment no longer applies to the media, and the state can now slap the cuffs on reporters who write about "secret things."

This is one reason people ought to perk up their ears and worry about what's happening to America. After all, journalists don't have any rights that ordinary citizens don't have -- so that means Mr. Gonzalez feels he could arrest any of you if you wrote about something the government decides is a "secret." Goodbye civil rights, goodbye consitution, adios America.

MORNING BRIEFING - THE STATE

OK, so we've been out for a couple of weeks -- fatigue set in, and we took some time off. After all, we can -- this isn't a newspaper. We're back, and all bristling for news. Here's the statewide roundup for Monday morning from Pat Lynch at the Priority Radio Network.

Advocates for the elderly predict that today will bring a surge of people out to beat the deadline to sign up for drug coverage. Medicare officials say they are confident their employees and computer system will be able to handle the load.

State auditors released a report on administrative costs of running Arkansas’ 250 school districts for the 2004-05 fiscal year, detailing the outlay for administrative staff and leading some lawmakers to say the state should have more control over the districts. Some of the information suggests that districts may be breaking state laws concerning reporting benefits as taxable income and underreporting superintendent’s salaries. The Bentonville District reportedly has not notified the state of $233 thousand paid to superintendent Gary Compton to purchase a retirement annuity.

Roby Brock reports in the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas that Natural gas development in the Fayetteville Shale could potentially generate $5.5 billion for Arkansas' economy through 2008, along with nearly 10,000 jobs and $358 million in state and local tax revenue, a highly anticipated University of Arkansas study released Wednesday projected. The six-month study was funded by Southwestern Energy.

Patrons of tiny Paron High School filed a lawsuit Friday in Pulaski County Circuit Court in an effort to keep the school from closing. The group of 14 Paron supporters claimed closure of the 75-student school and subsequent busing of Paron students to Bryant would violate the students' constitutional right to an equal educational opportunity.

The Arkansas Supreme Court will expedite consideration of an appeal of a circuit judge’s ruling that the name of Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Bill Halter of North Little Rock can remain on the May 23 primary election ballot.

Former Pine Bluff alderman Billy Freeman Sr. was released from a federal prison Friday and was immediately set free after a Jefferson County circuit court judge prohibited the state Department of Correction from taking custody of him. reeman began serving a 13-month federal prison sentence on June 6, 2005, after pleading guilty to attempted extortion on May 5, 2005. He received credit for more than a month of “good time” and will be placed on supervised federal probation for three years.

Prosecutors charged convicted killer Ronald James Ward with first-degree murder, saying he raped and stabbed 25-year-old Kristin Laurite to death as she exercised her dogs at a rest stop in Morrilton on an August afternoon six years ago.

Barling police violated an Ozark woman’s rights when they searched her purse without obtaining her consent. Circuit Judge Michael Fitzhugh granted a motion to suppress evidence that Barling police seized when they searched the purse of Danielle Elise Ingram following a traffic stop on Arkansas 59.

A Harding University professor has received a grant to study the effect of caffeine on children. Ken Turley, associate professor of kinesiology and director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the Searcy liberal arts college, received $18 thousand from the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence at UAMS.

According to the Democrat-Gazette, some Asian immigrant farmers who moved to Arkansas and bordering states with dreams of turning birds into dollars are filing for bankruptcy protection. Fayetteville lawyer Mark Henry is handling eight personal or business bankruptcy involving Hmong poultry farmers, part of a tribal Southeast Asian group who fled to the United States as refugees in the Vietnam War era. Henry is also handling six fraud claims that allege the Hmong farmers paid inflated prices for their properties, causing financial struggles.