NO GAYS FOR THE GOV.

Seems the Governor does indeed drink a different kind of "Jesus juice" as he once said. He doesn't agree with the unanimous decision of the state high court on letting gays become foster parents, and thinks, along with the Family Council that legislators can change that.

"I'm very disappointed that the court seems more interested in what's good for gay couples than what's good for children needing foster care," Huckabee said through his spokeswoman Alice Stewart.

The smart money in this is still on Rita Sklar and the ACLU, who say the way the ruling was written, it'll be next to impossible to legislate anything. You can read the .pdf ruling of the court further down on this page.

WAL-MART PAYS ON CHILD VIOLATIONS

This came across a litle while back...

BENTONVILLE, Ark.-- The U.S. Labor Department announced today that Wal-Mart Stores Inc., headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., has paid $31,680 in civil money penalties for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) youth employment provisions. The violations of Hazardous Occupation Order No. 12 occurred at stores located in Hanover, Pa., and Pewaukee, Wis. The civil money penalties assessed by the department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) were the maximum allowable under the department’s guidelines for the nature of violations found.

WHD investigators found that two minors, ages 16 and 17, illegally loaded a scrap paper baler and a paper box compactor in the Pewaukee store. In the Hanover store, eight minors, also ages 16 and 17, loaded a scrap paper baler machine in violation of the law and one minor operated the paper baler. All the violations at the Pewaukee store and most of the violations at the Hanover store occurred in late summer and fall 2005. One violation at Hanover occurred while a minor was employed during the December 2003 holiday period.

The FLSA establishes the rules governing the employment of youth under the age of 18. These youth employment provisions, also known as the child labor laws, are designed to ensure that early work experiences are safe and do not jeopardize the health, well-being or educational opportunities of young workers.

The FLSA prohibits the employment of minors under the age of 18 years in any nonagricultural occupations that the department has declared hazardous. There are currently 17 hazardous occupation orders identifying the hazardous occupations. Hazardous Occupation Order No. 12 generally prohibits minors under the age of 18 from loading, operating, and unloading certain power-driven paper-product machines, including scrap paper balers and paper box compactors.

We haven't heard a response from either EDELMAN or the company yet...PR folks, care to comment? We'll post it here.

FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Sorry, running a little late this morning. Gas prices have started to grab attention again. Interesting because a recent survey of Americans' views of the economy, which showed some very pessimistic views -- cited those gas prices as a very big problem in the opinion of most. Here's the news...

HI AND LOW GAS PRICES

GET READY FOR ONE OF THE BUSIEST DRIVING TIMES OF THE YEAR AS WE GET READY FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 4TH. JUST AHEAD OF THAT – WE’VE SEEN MORE BIG JUMPS AT THE GAS PUMP…ARKANSAS GAS PRICES DOT-COM LISTS THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR A GALLON OF UNLEADED REGULAR AS 2-89 IN THE CLIFTY AREA…ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, THE LOW PRICE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS SITS AT 2-83 AT THE FUEL EXPRESS ON COLLEGE AVENUE – THAT PRICE, THE LOWEST IN THE PAST 48 HOURS.

GAY FOSTER PARENTS LEGAL

A BIG RULING HANDED DOWN YESTERDAY BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT MEANS GAY FOSTER PARENTS CAN CARE FOR KIDS IN ARKANSAS – THE DECISION AND RULING UPHELD AN EARLIER DECISION IN PULASKI COUNTY COURTS THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT CREATED THE “BAN” TRIED TO LEGISLATE PUBLIC MORALITY BASED ON PERSONAL FEELINGS AND BIASES.

GAY FOSTER LEGISLATION ON THE WAY?

THAT DECISION HAS SPARKED QUITE A BIT OF REACTION, MUCH OF IT NEGATIVE. THE DIRECTOR OF THE CONSERVATIVE ARKANSAS FAMILY COUNCIL SAYS HIS GROUP WILL PUSH FOR LEGISLATION TO GET THE BAN PUT BACK INTO EFFECT. JERRY COX SAYS HIS GROUP MAY ALSO START A CAMPAIGN AIMED AT CREATING A STATE CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENT MAKING THE BAN PERMANENT. HOWEVER, RITA SKLAR, DIRECTOR OF THE STATE’S ACLU SAYS LANGUAGE IN THE RULING WILL MAKE IT TOUGH TO PASS ANY SUCH LAW.

NEW U OF A FOUNDATION CHAIR

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION – WHICH MANAGES MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM – WILL GET A NEW CHAIR OF IT’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FRANK W. OLDHAM, JR. OF JONESBORO WILL TAKE THE POST FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. OLDHAM CURRENTLY WORKS AS THE NORTHEAST ARKANSAS REGIONAL PRESIDENT FOR BANCORP SOUTH IN JONESBORO…HE’LL TAKE OVER FROM LEWIS EPLEY OF FAYETTEVILLE.

HUTCHINSON BUSINESS PLAN

YESTERDAY, REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ASA HUTCHINSON UNVEILED A PLAN HE HOPES COULD HELP SMALL BUSINESS IN ARKANSAS. HUTCHINSON PRPOPOSED ALLOWING SOME BUSINESSES TO WRITE OFF MORE EXPENSES UNDER STATE CORPORATE INCOME TAX RULES. ALSO IN THE PLAN – SOME IDEAS ABOUT PROMOTING HEALTH INSURANCE POOLS AMONG THOSE BUSINESSES. A SPOKESPERSON FOR DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE MIKE BEEBEE CALLED THE PLAN “A THINLY VEILED ATTACK ON MIKE BEEBE.”

FAYETTEVILLE MASTER PLAN GOES TO COUNCIL

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF FAYETTEVILLE’S DOWNTOWN WILL NOW COME OFF THE DRAWING BOARD – AND MOVE INTO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THE CITY’S ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE AGREED YESTERDAY NIGHT TO SEND THE NEW DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN TO THE COUNCIL – EXPECTING THE COUNCIL TO HAVE TO DO MORE WORK ON THE PLAN, WORK THAT INCLUDES SOME LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS. IN AUGUST – THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES FOUR NEW ZONING DISTRICTS IN THE AREA.

FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL LAND DONATION

MEMBERS OF THE FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL BOARD TRAVELLED TO GOSHEN YESTERDAY MORING TO LOOK AT 20 ACRES OF LAND THE HISSOM FAMILY PLANS TO DONATE FOR USE AS A THE SITE OF A FUTURE SCHOOL. THE LAND, LOCATED ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF ARKANSAS HIGHWAY 45 IN GOSHEN, WILL BECOME A GIFT FROM THE CHILDREN OF RONNY J. HISSOM, WHO DIED IN MARCH 2005. HIS CHILDREN SAY HE ALWAYS WANTED TO DONATE THE PROPERTY TO THE DISTRICT. STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS SAY THE THEY NEED MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE TO IMPROVE THE ROADS. THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY AT A PUBLIC EVENT COMMEMORATING THE HISTORY OF THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM. COMMISSIONERS SAID THEY SEE MONEY FROM THE GAS SALES TAX AS “FLAT” AND FAILING TO GIN UP ENOUGH FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE ONGOING HIGHWAY REPAIR PROGRAM – THE COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY SEE PROMISE IN A GROWING STATE BUDGET SURPLUS WHICH MIGHT HELP FUND THE PROJECT.

AMERICA LOVES WAL-MART

SURVEY SAYS – MOST AMERICANS LIKE WAL-MART, AND SO DO MOST OF THE COMPANY’S EMPLOYESS – ALMOST 80 PERCENT. THE POLL, FROM NEW JERSEY BASED RASMUSSEN REPORTS SHOWED 69 PERCENT OF AMERICANS HAVE A FAVORABLE OPINION OF THE COMPANY. THE SURVEY POLLED 1000 ADULTS – AND SHOWED 29 PERCENT HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW – THE SAME AMOUNT HAS A “HIGHLY FAVORABLE” VIEW. WAL-MART CRITICS DISPUTED THE RESULTS, DESCRIBING THEM AS THE RESULT OF A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR AD CAMPAIGN FROM THE COMPANY.

TRANSFER DEADLINE FOR KIDS

IF YOU HAVE KIDS THAT NEED TO TRANSFER FROM ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ANOTHER – TODAY MARKS THE DEADLINE FOR MAKING THAT REQUEST. STATE LAW MAKES THE OFFICIAL DEADLINE SATURDAY, BUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON’T DO BUSINESS THAT DAY. THE LAW ALSO ALLOWS DISTRICTS TO SET CAPACITY LIMITS – ONE DISTRICT OFFICIAL SAYS BY AND LARGE, MOST DISTRICTS REJECT TRANSFER REQUESTS.

Get ready for more fun on the way.

LET'S SHACKLE THE PRESS AND ABOLISH THE FIRST AMENDMENT!

This came across yesterday. Seems the majority party in Congress has decided to try and strangle the free press in America. Wouldn't that just leave us with the partisan press and blogs (they never lie, never screw up the facts, never disobey direct orders)? You've seen what kind of mistakes they make...

WASHINGTON The House on Thursday approved a Republican-crafted resolution condemning news organizations for revealing a covert government program to track terrorist financing, saying the disclosure had "placed the lives of Americans in danger."

The resolution, passed 227-183 on a largely party-line vote, did not specifically name the news organizations, but it was aimed at the New York Times and other news media that last week reported on a secret CIA-Treasury program to track millions of financial records in search of terrorists.

One member of the House got it right...

"This is a clear, bald-faced attempt to strangle criticism of this administration,'' said Michigan Democratic Rep. John Dingell.

We sure hope none of our reps voted in favor of this -- surely Rep. JB wouldn't do this to the local media. Yeah, they ran the story too. And while we're at it, why doesn't Congress take a look at the White House and itself for leaking information to begin with? They yell about their own leakers all the time, but never do anything about it. Rove still has a job, doesn't he? It's just too easy to turn on the media that you don't control -- again, very Nixonian. Doesn't matter -- this still won't stop any journalists from following the money and reporting the truth, shining a light on what your elected officials are doing to you in DC. Jeez, are we starting to sound like Reagan folks from the early 80s? We think so.

Oh, yeah, former television sportscaster turned big-mouth Congressman from Arizona has decided to really clamp down...

In a separate effort, Arizona Republican Rep. J.D. Hayworth has gathered 70 signatures on a letter calling for Times reporters' media credentials to be revoked.

Why does he have a jones for teh NY Times? The LAT and WSJ also both reported it. He should go after them too. Wonder if he agrees with what that female talk show host from the West Coast said about wishing someone would convict then execute NYT Editor Bill Kellar?

This is what Congress has come to?

(quick update Rep. Boozman voted Yes, Ross voted Yes, Snyder No, Berry No)

The media and supporters of the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights know which ones are friends of freedom -- keep your eyes and ears on the other ones.

DIRTY TRICKS, TAKE FIVE

A little bit more for you on the less-than-honest way Republicans have taken after State House candidate Tumey -- a little research tonight on the Asa blog shows that in at least three places, the Hutchinson campaign has repeated what is a falsehood and unproven/uncharged allegations in the MSI story. We've gone through and systematically shown that some local blogs have twisted fact and headline for political reasons in the MSI story, and have heretofore refused to recant or correct the story in the face of direct statements from representatives from the Department of Justice, corroborated by a reading of the indictment and the press statement in the case.

Mr. Hutchinson needs to put a handle on his people who run the blog to make sure they get their facts straight, or it will be hard to believe him on anything else that happens in the campaign. We're certain he wouldn't approve of rumor, innuendo and straight-out lies in this situation, anymore than he'd approve of someone doing the same thing toward his campaign. If he knows something about this, he should get in touch with us and tell us his sources or share his information and we could break some news and get the facts straight -- but a blog that purports to help voters "get informed" with misinformation does the voter a disservice.

We understand campaign "helpers" often get pretty zealous, but this is a legitimate news story, handled wrongly.

It's one thing to make an allegation -- another thing to back that up with evidence and some sort of proof other than a mistaken news headline written by some anonymous person.

Note to the politicians -- get it straight, fellas - don't play fast and loose with the facts.

DIRTY TRICKS, TAKE FOUR

A local media source tells us this afternoon that the whole "illegal immigration" thing on the MSI story is what we called it...pretty much BS that someone someplace cooked up -- unless someone comes forward with a source or other citation. Here's a quick word from those in the MSM...

Don Leadford - Public Affairs for the OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI According to him - there were NO federal indictments filed against MSI or its employees regarding hiring of undocumented workers.

Any retractions out there? Anything? You can verify it yourself. By all means, let the witch-hunt continue, but at least let's call it what it really is.

"PLEDGE AMENDMENT" FAILS IN CONGRESS

Seems like the so-called "American Values Agenda" isn't doing too well on the Hill. However, that is probably the plan as the majority party gets ready for the mid-terms. They can't lose -- if they pass any of this, they can claim victory. If they don't -- they can point at the the other party and make acusations about patriotism and "faith." So, here's the latest...

House Republicans failed Wednesday to advance a bill protecting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Only a day earlier, the GOP had placed the measure on its "American Values Agenda" in hopes of bolstering the party's prospects in the fall election.

But Republicans could not muster a simple majority on the issue in a committee where they outnumber Democrats by six.

The legislation tries to strip federal courts of jurisdiction over cases challenging the pledge. It responds to a federal appeals court ruling in 2002 that the pledge is unconstitutional because it contains the words "under God." A district court judge made a similar ruling last fall, citing the appeals court precedent.

Ok, so, if you're keeping score, the Flag Burning thing failed, the Gay Marriage things failed, this failed, what else will we see as Congress trudges onward?

MORE MONEY FOR ROGERS SCHOOLS

The Rogers School District will get state funding from a $256 million appropriation for capital improvements green-lighted today by the Leg. Other local districts also get a piece of the pie...

The state approved $6.2 million to replace the campus for Southside High School in Batesville and $8.9 million to remodel and rebuild an old campus for a second high school in Rogers. Other approved projects involve elementary schools in Gentry, Dover, Springdale, Farmington, Cabot, Bergman, Berryville, Danville and Clarksville.

The money goes out over the next three years.

ARK. SUPREME COURT -- GAY FOSTER PARENTS OK

(a little, very little, bit of editorial cartoon humor from the state of Texas to the left on the same issue, gay foster parents) This comes as a shock to some who've tried to fight it to the top. More interesting than the ruling itself, which most likely didn't have anybody in doubt, is what the ruling means in terms of the state's gay marriage ban. Will it put that in danger, or just shoot down the state's attempt to bring the ban into the legal argument against these parents? Here's a .pdf file of the ruling, and a little more on the story for you.

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday said that gays can qualify as foster parents and that barring them from parenting foster children was based on one group's view of morality.

In a unanimous ruling upholding a lower court decision that a state ban was unconstitutional, the high court said that no connection exists between a foster child's well-being and the sexual orientation of that child's foster parents. Justices agreed with Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox's ruling that the ban seeks to regulate "public morality" - something the board was not given the authority to do. And the high court said the state Child Welfare Agency Review Board in adopting the ban violated the separation of powers doctrine.

"There is no correlation between the health, welfare and safety of foster children and the blanket exclusion of any individual who is a homosexual or who resides in a household with a homosexual," Associate Justice Donald Corbin wrote in the opinion.

We found interesting the section under findings of fact that the High Court upheld the ruling of the lower courts -- what comes out (no pun intended) is that essentially board members who created the regulation showed little or any regard for either the concept of equal justice under law, and flagrantly used their own biases to make the rules, without regard to past experience and past research. A head scratcher.

The Arkansas Times has an excellent rundown of the political response today to the ruling.

BEGINNING OF THE END...

Cris, we'll take a break from the he-said-she-said thing for a moment...this came over the wire not too long ago. SCOTUS voted against allowing the Administration to conduct military trials at Guantanamo Bay. The story is in the NY Times...

The ruling, a rebuke to the administration and its aggressive anti-terror policies, was written by Justice John Paul Stevens, who said the proposed trials were illegal under U.S. law and international Geneva conventions.

Huh? Do the Geneva Conventions still exist? I thought we'd thrown those out.

DIRTY TRICKS, PART THREE

OK, both Matt and Don have essentially dinged me about the "illegal aliens" thing. I've re-read the indictment, and no where does it contain anything about immigration charges. However, I tracked down the DOJ press release here, and perhaps reporters (or someone else) has decided to (wrongly) glean something about the company hiring illegal immigrants because of this passage...

Count Fifty-One of the federal indictment alleges that between Nov. 11, 2002, and July 6, 2003, Rodriguez represented a Social Security number to be his own number, when he knew it had not been assigned to him.

Count Fifty-Two of the federal indictment alleges that MSI failed to provide workers’ compensation coverage to its employees.

Schlozman cautioned that the charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard E. Monroe. It was investigated by the Department of Labor, the Department of Defense Inspector General, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Perhaps the conclusion comes from the inclusion of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs, or from something said "off-record" by sources -- if so, no one has indicated it, or the source. The indictment itself says nothing about "hiring illegal aliens." Again, there would seem to be a factual problem with this story, but not one I saw in any of the original AP accounts of what happened, or in the account in the Kansas Star, which I listed earlier. Perhaps someone can send me a story besides the one in the MN that has an AP deadline on it, that mentions this. So far, I haven't seen it, nor have I read it substantiated, so it still appears to be a red herring thing being used by political opponents. Again, the candidate wasn't indicted, nor does the indictment include anything about illegal immigrants. I'm calling BS on this one.

DIRTY TRICKS, TAKE TWO

(this post in honor of big-time liar H.R. Haldeman, who would have immensely enjoyed this whole story)Interesting if you picked up the Morning News today, and read the account of the federal indictment of Rogers-based MSI, the company headed-up by State House candidate Robbyn Tumey. We noticed the Morning News didn’t put any kind of “flashing police lights” over the story like one local blog.

As to accusations that have anything to do with illegal aliens, again, we’ve provided the indictment here, and it doesn’t look like the mainstream media folks over there found any evidence of it – if they had, you can bet they’d have said something about it. Here’s a little bit from the article…

“We’ll do everything we can to provide any informaiton and records. We’re 100 percent compliant, and always have been,” Tumey said.

No one from her company was called to testify before the grand jury, she said.

“I found out the grand jury was looking into this when reporters called me after a press release was issued,” she said.”

Again, we find that kind of thing a little smelly, especially when local political operatives jump on it and start to spin it as part of a perceived wedge-issue. Point scored by MSM in this one, point lost by blogs. Check the facts, or cite some sort of source next time.

THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Here's what we see from the newsdesk this morning. Wanna buy a house? Gov. Huckabee has a steal at $380,000 downstate...

TEENS KILLED TRYING TO HELP

TWO TEENAGERS FROM SILOAM SPRINGS DIED YESTERDAY ON HIGHWAY 412 EAST OF SILOAM SPRINGS AFTER STOPPING TO HELP A DRIVER WHO NEEDED HELP. THE TWO DIED WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK HIT THEM AS THEY TRIED TO HELP A STRANDED DRIVER CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. STATE POLICE IDENTIFY THE TEENAGERS AS 17 YEAR OLD KIMBERLY NICOLE BENCK AND 17 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER WELCH – BOTH OF SILOAM SPRINGS. STATE POLICE IDENTIFIED THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK AS 64 YEAR OLD DAVID ORMAN OF WEST FORK. THEY SAY AFTER HE HIT THE TEENS, HIS CAR HIT A MINIVAN. NO WORD YET ON ANY CHARGES IN THE CASE.

LIQUOR PUSH IN BENCO DEAD?

THE EFFORT TO CHANGE LIQUOR LAWS IN BENTON COUNTY MAY HAVE ENDED, AT LEAST FOR NOW – BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS VALIDATING SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS THAT CALL FOR A VOTE ON ALLOWING PACKAGE LIQUOR SALES IN THE COUNTY. ONE GROUP SAYS THE PROBLEMS EFFECTIVELY END THE PUSH TO CHANGE THE LAW. HOWEVER, A MEMBER OF THE GROUP WHICH ORGINALLY STARTED THE PUSH TO CHANGE THINGS HAS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE COLLECTING SIGNATURES. PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHEN PEOPLE SIGNED THE PETITIONS WITHOUT A WITNESS TO VALIDATE THE PAPERWORK. THE COUNTY CLERK SAYS THAT MEANS OPPONENTS CAN CHALLENGE THE PETITIONS IN CIRCUIT COURT.

WAL-MART SUPPORTS HIKING MINIMUM WAGE -- OR DOES IT?

WAL-MART CEO H. LEE SCOTT SAYS HIS COMPANY STILL SUPPORTS AN INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE – A MOVE THAT FAILED IN CONGRESS THIS WEEK. SCOTT DOES NOT, HOWEVER, ENDORSE ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSAL TO HIKE WAGES. THE COMMENTS CAME AFTER A LOBBYIST FOR THE COMPANY IN WASHINGTON TOLD REPORTERS THE COMPANY REMAINS “NEUTRAL” ON THE WAGE HIKE. SCOTT CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF INCREASES LAST OCTOBER. THE COMPANY’S CRITICS SAY THEY DON’T BELIEVE SCOTT ACTUALLY SUPPORTS MOVES TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

CANDIDATES TALK HEALTH CARE

THE CANDIDATES FOR THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE YESTERDAY. ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE BEEBE, DEMOCRATIC CANIDATE FOR THE OFFICE, STOPPED IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TO UNVEIL A PLAN THAT WOULD EXTEND COVERAGE TO UNINSURED WORKERS BY USING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. BEEBE’S REPUBLICAN RIVAL, ASA HUTCHINSON, DISMISSED THE PLAN AS “VAGUE AND GENERAL.”

FORT SMITH BUSINESS TO CLOSE

ANOTHER LONG-TIME EMPLOYER IN FORT SMITH SAYS IT WILL CLOSE. FLANDERS INDUSTRIES, A FURNITURE MANUFACTURER IN THE AREA SINCE 1970 WILL CLOSE, LAYING OFF SOME 40 WORKERS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT PLANS TO CONSOLIDATE OPERATIONS WITH IT’S FACTORY IN MICHIGAN. THE SHUT DOWN WILL BEGIN IN AUGUST.

RIGHTEOUS REAL ESTATE?

NEED A SUMMER HOUSE? GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE WILL SELL YOU HIS FOR A MERE 380-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE GOVERNOR PLANS TO SELL HIS HOME IN PIKE COUNTY – WITH A DEAL EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. A LOCAL REAL ESTATE FIRM STOPS SHORT OF CALLING THE SALE A “DONE DEAL” – SO, GET YOUR BIDS IN NOW.

DOG BITES MAN, SORT OF...

NO SURPRISES WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE ROBBING A CONVENIENCE STORE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBBING A CUSTOMER? SEEMS THAT A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA CAUGHT 18 YEAR OLD SAMANTHA JO WHEELER OF MARIANNA RED-HANDED. A WOMAN SAYS SHE CAME INTO THE STORE SUNDAY, AND LEFT HER PURSE ON THE COUNTER. WHEN SHE CALLED ABOUT IT, SHE SAYS WHEELER CLAIMED NOT TO HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. EVENTUALLY, WHEELER ADMITTED GOING THROUGH THE PURSE, TAKING A SET OF ID TAGS, AND THROWING THE PURSE AWAY. SHE REMAINS BEHIND BARS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY FACING 25-HUNDRED DOLLARS BAIL.

NURSING HOME ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

POLICE IN FAYETTEVILLE SAY THEY ARRESTED A CARETAKER AT THE FAYETTEVILLE HEALTH AND REHAB CENTER FOR ALLEGEDLY ABUSING A 77 YEAR YEAR OLD NURSING HOME PATIENT WITH ALZHEIMERS. 41 YEAR OLD DISON KALIO FACES A FELONY CHARGE OF SECOND DEGREE BATTERY FOR REPORTEDLY GRABBING AND SHOVING THE PATIENT AFTER THE PATIENT TRIED TO STRIKE HIM. THE ELDERLY MAN FELL OVER A BED AND SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND ARMS. POLICE SAY A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING KALIO SAYING “I GUESS HE LEARNED HIS LESSON” ABOUT THE PATIENT. POLICE SAY THEY’VE HAD TO GO TO THE CENTER 13 TIMES SINCE JANUARY 2005 TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

And, we're off to the races...

WAL-MART AND THE WAGE FIGHT

Seems critics have taken umbrage at Wal-Mart's public stance over minimum wage increases. Even when the company says, "OK, perhaps raising minimum wage wouldn't hurt after all," critics still continue to bang-on about it...take this for instance. WakeUpWalMart.com still doesn't buy it...

"Wal-Mart will say anything, even lie about its position on the minimum wage, in order to try and salvage its declining public image," said Paul Blank, director of the campaign group WakeUpWalMart.com, which is trying to pressure Wal-Mart to improve pay and benefits for its workers.

But Scott said Wal-Mart's position was unchanged.

"In October, I said that the federal minimum wage of $5.15 was out of date with the times. I still believe that today," he said.

"We see this firsthand at Wal-Mart with many of our customers struggling to get by. This is especially true in light of today's high gas prices," he added.

Not to be naive, but Wal-Mart seems genuine in it's desire to change certain things. Maybe that's the result of half of the board of directors being people who publicly support higher wages and better treatment of the working class. Maybe not, but all we have to go on is a) what they say, and then b) what they do. As for Congress, we're not so sure. Neither is author Barbara Ehrenreich, who recently wrote about Congress and the minimum wage at her blog...

...members of the US Congress who voted themselves a “cost of living adjustment” raise of $3300 while refusing to raise the minimum wage from a pathetic $5.15 an hour. As economic commentator Holly Sklar notes, Congressional pay will have increased by $34,900 between 1997 and 2007—an amount that it would take three minimum wage workers one year to earn (or one minimum wage worker three years) – to $171,800 a year, plus luxurious benefits.

From a Congress that has consistently cut taxes for the wealthy, themselves included, while cutting programs that serve the poor and the middle class, the minimum wage vote is not entirely surprising. What merits special notice in this instance is the unctuous rhetoric that arose from the sties as Republicans rushed to explain that by holding down the minimum wage they were actually helping the poor. If we don’t keep wages down, they said, grease dripping from the corners of their mouths, the Predators might find their prey less tasty, and unemployment will rise!

Never mind that there is no empirical evidence for this prediction. Employment didn’t plunge the last time the minimum wage was increased, in 1997, nor has this happened in any of the states – Massachusetts for example – that have raised their own minimum wages in the last few years. I grant you that there might be trouble if the minimum wage were to rise at the same rate as CEO pay. As the Institute for Policy Studies reported in 2005, “If the minimum wage had risen as fast as CEO pay since 1990, the lowest paid workers in the US would be earning $23.03 an hour today, not $5.15 an hour.”

Nor is it true, incidentally, that the minimum wage is paid mostly to teenagers working to support their Abercrombie and Fitch habits. According to economist Heather Boushey at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, fewer than one in five minimum wage workers is under the age of 20. In my experience, many of those youthful minimum wage workers are in fact making important contributions, however tiny, to their families’ inadequate incomes.

Hmmmmmm....sounds like a lot of Wal-Mart employees and customers in this case. Ehrenreich also goes on to give kudos to Arkansas and a couple of other states for raising the minimum wage all by themselves.

DEPT. OF DIRTY TRICKS -- DID CONSERVATIVE BLOG JUMP THE GUN?

We consider this of interest today on the political front. It also may be an example of why the mainstream media find it so hard to grant a lot of credit to the blogosphere, especially the Arkansas version thereof.

The unabashadly partisan blog ArkFam (they recently ranked all the state's columnists as either liberals or conservatives) has a blaring headline on a recent post, but the headline is deceiving. "Proud Conservative" (also proudly anonymous) leads with "Robbyn Tumey - The Benton County Democrat Party Chairman and candidate for St. Rep indicted for trafficking illegal aliens." PC doesn't post sources, nor does PC post any documentation for the direct accusation.

We've done a little more homework. Click here to read the indictment in the case (.pdf file). We can't seem to find candidate Tumey's name on the indictment, unless she goes by another, more ethnic name (even though she owns the company). More interesting, you'll notice the indictment says absolutely nothing about "illegal aliens" or any other kind of alien. The AP story about what happened doesn't seem to mention that either -- perhaps the accusing bloggers would care to share their sources?

Sources tell us the company subcontracted the job (at Ft. Leonard) to another company -- a company responsible for paying workers on the job. A company that ought to either figure into the indictment, or be the sole defendant. Officials at Tumey's company say the prosecutor never called or consulted with them about the case, and they find it highly questionable that the prosecutor issued a news release before doing so -- a decision some suspect has overtly political intent behind it.

You can expect to see more about the story in the state and local papers in the morning. Commentary on the ArfFam blog has run mixed...we've grabbed some of the less complimentary ones to illustrate the suspicions expressed by some readers...

Yeah, I bet this is political - obviously, the US Attorney in Kansas City is doing this to help Aaron Burkes win a state legislative seat - PLEEEEEASSSE

and this -- which follows the admonition by the the blogger in question for Mr. Beebe to give any campaign monies received from Ms. Tumey or MSI back to the donors.

Beebe should return any MSI contributions immediately, but he will likely wait until John Boozman returns the money he took from Tom DeLay's PAC. Maybe they could do a duet refund of the ill-gotten lucre. Or make it a quartet with McDaniel returning the $13,00 from Bruce Burrow's companies and the RPA returning all the money to Suhl and the Lord's Ranch fronts.

Then let's pass legislation banning all corporate contributions in state campaigns.

Sorry, didn't mean to bum you out.

Aside from the factual problems with the story and the headline, the overt partisan nature of the blog makes the allegation look overwhelmingly political in nature -- like a feat of mudslinging on the part of operatives who have already played fast and loose with facts, and who will now try to take those factual mistakes and turn them into some sort of campaign mantra -- what some call the "smear" tactic. What's more interesting is the convenient nature of the story -- one connected to an issue most Republican strategists see as perhaps the only viable "wedge" issue in the upcoming campaign -- immigration. ArkFam then tries to stretch things by linking the nonspecified immigration dig to the Beebe campaign -- something suspect in the current political climate.

If one were to follow the logic displayed in the article, then it would appear the "other side" of speculation about the same story would have to involve unbased speculation about some sort of conspiracy involving a politcally motivated prosecutor trying to give a troubled Republican campaign a boost.

Might work if you go in for conspiracy theories, like some local blogs. We'll have more for you as the story develops. Again, get ready for an interesting campaign season.

WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

OK, some interesting stuff this morning. What did Judge Tom Keith actually do in the Dara Barritt case? Why did he meet with lawyers for Barritt, a juror, fail to include prosecutors and then cut three years from the sentence? Also, Gov. Huckabee is on a business roll today...here's the world from the newsdesk...

ARSON AND/OR SUICIDE?

PROSECUTORS SAY IN DECEMBER, SHE PLANNED TO SET HER FAMILY ON FIRE – POURING GASOLINE AROUND A BED WHERE HER DAUGHTER SLEPT…BUT YESTERDAY, A FAYETTEVILLE WOMAN SET FIRE TO HER HOUSE AND THEN COMMITTED SUICIDE. A COURT HAD FOUND 37 YEAR OLD JOLIET JERMANON NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL. SHE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP AT A STATE HOSPITAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. FIREFIGHTERS FOUND JERMANON’S BODY IN A BACK BEDROOM.

MONKEY BUSINESS IN COURT

THE ACTIONS OF BENTON COUNTY JUDGE TOM KEITH HAVE SOME PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS TODAY. KEITH REFUSED TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE CASE OF DARA BARRITT – A WOMAN CONVICTED BY A JURY FOR SHAKING AND ABUSING HER BABY. BARRITT WILL GO TO PRISON FOR 12 YEARS RATHER THAN 15 AS SUGGESTED BY JURORS. PROSECUTORS ASKED KEITH TO STEP DOWN FROM THE TRIAL LAST WEEK – THEY SAY HE MET WITH A “DISSATISIFED JUROR” AFTER THE CASE, THEN LATER WITH BARRITT’S ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS THE CASE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF PROSECUTORS, WHO SAY THEY MAY FILE AN APPEAL.

HE WORE DIAPERS -- WILL GO TO PRISON

A FAYETTEVILLE MAN WILL GO TO PRISON FOR 18 YEARS ON A CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION. CALVIN ALVAREZ MADE A DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS, WHO ORGINALLY CHARGED HIM WITH 14 COUNTS OF HAVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON A COMPUTER. POLICE ARRESTED ALVAREZ AFTER GETTING A CALL ABOUT A FIGHT AT HIS APARTMENT – ALVAREZ’ ROOMATE SAYS THE TWO STARTED FIGHTING BECAUSE ALVAREZ WORE A DIAPER AND LOOKED AT CHILD PORN AT A COMPUTER IN THE HOME. POLICE ALSO SUSPECTED ALVAREZ IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A 2 AND A HALF YEAR OLD CHILD.

HIT AND RUN SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

A FORMER UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS STUDENT SOUGHT BY POLICE IN CONNECTION WITH A FATAL HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT THAT KILLED ANOTHER STUDENT LAST JULY – TURNED HIMSELF IN TO POLICE IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. 21 YEAR OLD JOHN STANLEY SECREST TURNED HIMSELF IN AT THE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. POLICE IN FAYETTEVILLE BELIEVE SECREST KILLED KARTHIK SENNEMALI LAST YEAR.

REZONING DEAD IN TONTITOWN

TONTITOWN’S CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO RESCIND THE PLAN THAT REZONED THE ENTIRE CITY. THE COUNCIL ENACTED THAT PLAN ON DECEMBER 6TH – BUT IN TWO DAYS, FACED A TRIAL IN A LAWSUIT OVER THE REZONING BROUGHT BY A GROUP OF CITIZENS. THE TONTITOWN CITY ATTORNEY SAID THE MOVE MAKES THE REZONING PLAN “NULL AND VOID” AND GIVES THE CITY A CHANCE TOT START OVER.

MORE ON DIVINITY PROJECT

FAYETTEVILLE’S CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AN APPEAL OF A DECISION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION NOT TO APPROVE OR RECOMMEND THE PROPOSED DIVINITY PROJECT. HOWEVER, FAYETTEVILLE CITY ATTORNEY KIT WILLIAMS SAYS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL NOT CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF THE PROJECT WHEN REVIEWING THE MATTER. THAT NEWS CAME AS WILLIAMS GAVE THE COUNCIL DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO REVIEW THE MATTER. MONDAY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION REJECTED THE PROPOSED 9 STORY BUILDING, WHICH CONTAINED PARKING, A HOTEL, CONDOMINIUMS AND A RESTAURANT.

HUCK MEETS WITH TOYOTA

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE WILL MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION TODAY IN ASIA AS PART OF A TWO WEEK LONG TRIP TO JAPAN, KOREA AND TAIWAN. THE GOVERNOR HOPES TO ATTRACT MORE BUSIENSS TO THE STATE, AND HOPES TO CONVINCE TOYOTA TO BUILD AN AUTO FACTORY HERE. MR. HUCKABEE SAYS THE TOYOTA HAS PLACED ARKANSAS ON A SHORT LIST OF POSSIBLE PLACES TO PUT AN EIGHTH NORTH AMERICAN PLANT.

HUCK MAKES MONEY

AND, SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE GOVERNOR – ALSO BUSINESS RELATED. MR. HUCKABEE HAS A SPOT ON THE BOARD OF A NEWLY FORMED HEALTH COMPANY – A COMPANY THAT WILL GO THROUGH A RESERVSE STOCK SPLIT – A 125 TO 1 SPLIT -- THAT WILL ALSO RESULT IN THE COMPANY GOING PUBLIC. THE MOVE COULD BENEFIT THE GOVERNOR FINANCIALLY.

Let the games begin...

WAL-MART: THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES

A big tip o' the hat to Greg and Andy at thefiveforty.com for bringing our attention to an interesting articla about Wal-Mart's place in the world economy -- an article that takes a less than positive view of Wal-Mart's corporate responsibility. Remember, we've said before Wal-Mart is the proverbial "horse of a different color" -- an original, not truly seen before and having some unexpected effects on both the national and international economy...we're not saying this is the solution, but it's at least some talk we haven't heard before...

As we make our case, we should be sure to call one expert witness in particular. Last year, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott called on the British government to take antitrust action against the U.K. grocery chain Tesco. Whenever a firm nears a 30 percent share of any market, Scott said, “there is a point where the government is compelled to intervene.” Now, Wal-Mart has never been shy about using antitrust for its own purposes. In addition to the Toys R Us case, the firm was also the instigator of a Sherman Act suit against Visa and MasterCard. And so such a statement, by the CEO of a firm that already controls upward of 30 percent of many markets and has announced plans to more than double its sales, sets a new standard for hubris. It also sets a simple goal for us – elect representatives who will take Citizen Scott at his word.

Read thefiveforty.com for the complete set of links. Good story.

NO BAD WORDS!

In honor of the Springdale School District, which has its collective panties in a tangle over profanity in some "slam poetry" and may discipline an English teacher over the "F-word" as the newspapers described it, here's a little comedy rountine from the since-deceased MTV program "The State." You have to watch this through to the end for the full effect. Just remember, if your kids say nasty language is starting to make it tough to go to public schools, tell them they need to "hum like rabbits!"



Outstanding...this had me laughing for about half and hour last night.

TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

The Barber Group must be pretty darned unhappy today after last night's decision to shoot down the Divinity project set for Block and College. Should be something to watch during tonight's regular city council meeting...

DIVINITY SHOT DOWN

DOESN’T LOOK GOOD NOW FOR A PLANNED HOTEL-CONDO-RESTAURANT PRJOECT PROPOSED FOR DICKSON STREET IN FAYETTEVILLE. ON MONDAY, WE HEARD THE CITY’S PLANNING COMMISSION LIKE A REVISED SET OF PLANS FOR THE DIVINITY PROJECT – ONCE PLANNED FOR 15 STORIES, NOW REDUCED TO 9. HOWEVER, BY A VOTE OF 5-4 AGAINST, THE COMMISSION HAS DECIDED NOT TO RECOMMEND THE PROJECT TO THE CITY COUNCIL – WHICH MAY VOTE ON IT TONIGHT. MANAGEMENT OF THE BARBER GROUP, THE COMPANY WHICH WANTS TO BUILD THE FACILITY, SAYS IT PLANS TO APPREAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CONTINUE THE DEBATE.

HIT-AND-RUN ARREST WARRANT

POLICE SAY A TIP HAS GIVEN THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO CATCH A MAN THEY BELIEVE RESPONSIBLE FOR A FATAL HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS GRAD STUDENT LAST JULY. THE COURTS HAVE ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR 21 YEAR OLD JOHN STANLEY SECREST OF FAYETTEVILLE. THEY BELIEVE SECREST HIT AND KILLED KARTHIK SENNIMALI. THE PERSON WHO PROVIDED THE TIP WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. POLICE SAY THEY BELIEVE MR. SECREST LEFT FAYETTEVILLE TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS IN LITTLE ROCK OR MEMPHIS. POLICE SAY THEY’VE TRIED TO CONTACT HIM, BUT HAVEN’T HAD ANY SUCCESS.

NATO VISIT

MEMBERS OF A NATO GROUP VISITED NORTHWEST ARKANSAS YESTERDAY. MEMBERS OF NATO’S INTER PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION TOURED THE AREA, VISITING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. THE GROUP REPRESENTS THE 26 MEMBERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZAITON AND 22 ASSOCIATED COUNTRIES.

SPRINGDALE ROAD SLOW-DOWN

PART OF A 105 MILLION DOLLARS ROADS PROJECT IN SPRINGDALE HAS FALLEN SOME FOUR MONTHS BEHIND SCHEDULE. PROJECT MANAGERS WORKING TO EXPAND ONE OF THREE EAST-WEST CORRIDORS SAY THEY WON’T GET STARTED UNTIL AUGUST. THE ORGINAL SCHEDULE CALLED FOR WORK ON HUNTSVILLE ROAD TO START IN MARCH. IN 2003, CITY VOTERS APPROVED A 1 PERCENT SALES TAX TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT. THE SPRINGDALE CITY COUNCIL’S STREET COMMITTEE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE DELAYS LAST NIGHT.

END OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN ARKANSAS?

A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ISSUED A STAY OF EXECUTION FOR A MAN SCHEDULED TO DIE FOR MURDERING A ROGERS WOMAN IN 1990. FEDERAL JUDGE SUSAN SEBER WRIGHT SAYS DON DAVIS COULD EXPERIENCE PAIN DURING LETHAL INJECTION IN ARKANSAS. THE COURT ALSO SAID THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE AGAINST CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT. IF THE STATE EVENTUALLY CAN CONFIRM NO ONE “WAKES UP” DURING LETHAL INJECTION, OR THAT IF THAT HAPPENS IT DOESN’T CAUSE PAIN – AN ONGOING NATIONAL DEBATE AT THIS POINT – THE STATE CAN GO AHEAD AND CARRY OUT THE DEATH SENTENCE.

DESEGREGATION ORDER CONTINUES

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT AGREES WITH A LOWER COURT RULING ORDERING THE LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REMAINS UNDER A FEDERAL DESEGREGATION ORDER. THAT CONTINUES A 2004 FEDERAL RULING THAT THE DISTRICT, ALONG WITH THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK DISTRICT AND THE PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICT COULDN’T SHOW HOW WELL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS HELPED BLACK STUDENTS. THE DISTRICTS HAVE REMAINED UNDER “DESEGREGATION MONITORING” SINCE 1965.

JAIL LOG FORGED?

AFTER SIX INMATES ESCAPED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY JAIL, THE COUNTY HAS UPPED SECURITY, INSTALLING VIDEO CAMERAS AND REINFORCING THE ROOF OF THE JAIL. POLICE EVENTUALLY RECAPTURED ALL THE INMATES, INCLUDING A MAN FACING MURDER CHARGES. THE SHERIFF ALSO SAYS HE FIRED A JAILER WHO MAY HAVE FALSIFIED A LOG. THE SHERIFF SAYS STAFF SHOULD HAVE CONDUCTED A HEAD COUNT EACH HOUR, AND THE LOG SHOWED THAT HAPPENED, BUT IT APPARENTLY DID NOT. THE ESCAPE WENT UNDETECTED FOR FOUR HOURS.

ANTI-ABORTION PLATES STAY

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WON’T LISTEN TO A CASE CHALLENGING STATES THAT ALLOW ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS TO HAVE LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE MESSAGE “CHOOSE LIFE.” HOWEVER, ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THEY HAVE NOT PLANS TO PUSH FOR A PRO-CHOICE PLATE. LOUSIANA, TENNESSE, AND ARKANSAS HAVE THE “CHOOSE LIFE” PLATES. GROUPS INCLUDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAYS THE PLATES OVERSIMPLIFY THE ISSUE, AND PROVIDE AN INAPPROPRIATE FORUM FOR A PUBLIC DEBATE OVER IT.

Ah, much better this morning in terms of stories.

MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Oh my, we're straining this morning for stories. Pretty thin this weekend and this morning. However, we have a few "positive" pieces for you.

DISASTER PLAN

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A DISASTER LIKE HURRICANE KATRINA, OR A TERRORIST ATTACK HIT ARKANSAS? STATE EMERGENCY OFFICIALS DON’T KNOW – BUT DON’T THINK WE’D BE READY. IN A SELF-CRITICAL REPORT MADE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, STATE OFFICIALS BELIEVE ARKANSANS WOULDN’T DO WELL WITH MASS EVACUATIONS AND SHELTERS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAYS IT’LL WORK ON DRAFTING A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY PLAN USING WHAT HAPPENED DURING KATRINA AS A YARDSTICK OF SORTS.

U OF A HEATING BILLS TOO HIGH?

SOME CREATIVE BOOKKEEPING TAKING PLACE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. SEEMS THE COST OF ENERGY WENT UP SO MUCH AT THE FAYETTEVILLE CAMPUS, THE SCHOOL WILL SHIFT ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BILLS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET – IN THE FUTURE. THE SCHOOL SAYS THE MOVE WILL SHOW LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR – AND PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR THE SCHOOL TO PAY THE BILLS. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE SCHOOL PAID MORE THAN 11 MILLION DOLLARS FOR AIR CONDITIONING AND HEAT AT MORE THAN 50 BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS.

SPRINGDALE TO BUY LAND

TOMORROW, SPRINGDALE’S CITY COUNCIL WILL DECIDE ON A 1-POINT-8 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT TO BUY THE ALLEN CANNING COMPANY PROPERTY BEHIND CITY HALL. HOWEVER, THE CITY APPARENTLY DOESN’T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THE WAREHOUSE BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS – SPACE WHICH MIGHT PROVIDE MORE ROOM FOR CITY GOVERNMENT. THE CITY COUNCIL MAY ALSO DECIDE TO DONATE 12 ACRES OF THE PROPERTY TO THE CHILDREN’S HOUSE, A PROGRAM OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AGENCY.

OFFENSIVE POETRY IN LOCAL SCHOOL?

DID A TEACHER IN THE SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT GO TOO FAR LETTING HER STUDENTS LISTEN TO A RECORDED POEM THAT CONTAINED PROFANITY? THE BOARD WILL EXAMINE THAT ISSUE, AND CONSIDER PUNISHING SOUTWEST ENGLISH TEACHER REAGAN MAUK. THE POEM – A FORM OF WHAT’S KNOWN AS SLAM POETRY – OFFENDED A STUDENT, WHO TOLD HER PARENT ABOUT IT. ADMINISTRATORS SAY THE TEACHER MAY HAVE VIOLATED SCHOOL POLICIES BY APPROVING USE OF SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL NOT APPROVED BY THE STATE – THAT DIDN’T GET THE THUMBS UP FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CONSIDERS THE LANGUAGE INAPPROPRIATE FOR KIDS – AS DOES THE GIRLS MOTHER, WHO SAYS SHE FOUND NO EDUCATIONAL VALUE IN THE POEM.

LIBRARY SCOFFLAWS

OWE THE FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY MORE THAN 100-DOLLARS IN FINES? ABOUT 900 PEOPLE DO. APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE LIBRARY MANAGEMENT, THAT ADDS UP TO MORE THAN 85-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FINES. AND YES, THE LIBRARY WOULD LIKE ITS MONEY – SAYING THE CASH HELPS BUILD THE FACILITIES COLLECTION. THE LIBRARY ALSO SAYS – LOOKING THROUGH THE FINES – ONE PERSON ACTUALLY LOST 44 ITEMS CHECKED OUT – THE MOST LOST BY A SINGLE PATRON. OTHERS SIMPLY KEPT A SINGLE ITEM CHECKED OUT WAY TOO LONG.

U OF A SOLAR BOAT WINNERS

STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WON THE SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE “SOLAR SPLASH BOAT RACES” YESTERDAY IN FAYETTEVILLE. THAT VICTORY MARKS THE FIRST FOR THE SCHOOL IN THE EVENT’S 13 YEARS. STUDENTS BUILT AND DROVE BOATS POWERED BY ELECTRICITY AND SOLAR POWER. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE AT LAKE FAYETTEVILLE AND ON BEAVER LAKE. IN THE PAST, THE SCHOOL’S ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO PAY TO SEND A TEAM TO THE EVENT IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AT LEAST FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

NEW MISS ARKANSAS

A NEW MISS ARKANSAS TOOK HER CROWN THIS SATURDAY. MISS CENTRAL ARKANSAS, 22 YEAR OLD AMBER ELIZABETH BENNETT WON THE TITLE. SHE BECOMES WOMAN TO HAVE WON THE MISS TEEN ARKANSAS AMERICA AND MISS AKRANSAS PAGEANTS.

Now, let's pray for rain (or at least news...)

ODDS & ENDS -- POLITICAL SATIRE

OK, so I'm not all that fond of posting anything from YouTube, but I love watching it. We've been so serious all week, thought I'd put these up, because they actually made me laugh a little. The first one is SNL's "X-Presidents" cartoon - this time, SpongeBob decides he doesn't want to do a propaganda cartoon (yes, IMHO one of the better editions of this) -- the second bit I'm unfamiliar with, but I enjoyed the segement on "Terrorism!" and the things one can accidentally do to help it.

On another note, I just discovered Asa Hutchinson graduated from Bob Jones University -- did any of you know that? Sparked an hour long investigation into that school, it's background and recent/historical posts about the interracial dating thing and the school's run-in with Starbucks over a quote from Armistead Maupin on a cup a few years ago...Here's the video (warning -- content may be objectionable to some kiddies)





Up next -- your Monday morning news update after the 7 a.m. CDT hour. Nighty-night.

ON-AIR TONIGHT

Join us tonight 6-8 p.m. CDT for "Arkansas Tonight" -- a progressive radio news-talk program. If you'd like to listen, simply visit http://www.kfayam.com for the live stream, or if you are in the area, dial up Newstalk 1030 KFAY-AM.

To call the show (and we have open-line the entire program) dial us up at (479) 521-5329...sorry, the toll free is down tonight.

We'll talk about: terrorists in Florida, immigration, Wal-Mart and a host of other topics this evening. Next week, we'll have musical guests for a live half-hour show in the studio. Tonight is a free-for-all.

I haven't forgotten about the podcast. I've got half a dozen of them, and I should get last week's up tonight. See you on the radio.

MORE ON THE BAPTIST "SEA CHANGE"

My thanks to the kind folks over at DailyKos who tipped me to this column from the Washington Post's EJ Dione. EJ writes a little more about what the Rev. Floyd's loss at the SBC convention this month might mean for politics and religion in America...

The election, he said, indicates that "the leadership of the denomination that pushed it hard to the right on theological and social issues is aging or passing from the scene and is unable to rally the troops as they once did."

"Some people," Leonard added, "are tired of just fighting liberals. You need a reason to be a Southern Baptist other than just fighting liberals in the culture or in the church."

One other force was at work in this year's Baptist voting: the rise of the blogosphere.

Over the past several years, an active network of Baptist bloggers has opened up discussion in the convention and given reformers and moderates avenues around what Parham called "the Baptist establishment papers" and other means of communication controlled by the convention's leadership. Thus may some of our oldest and most traditional institutions be transformed by new technologies.

Religious movements stay vibrant thanks to the complicated interaction of fidelity, reflection and reform. The evangelical world is going through a quiet evolution as believers reflect on the perils of partisanship and ideology and their reasons for being Christian. This will probably affect the nation's political life, but it will certainly affect the country's spiritual direction. My hunch is that not only moderates and liberals but also many solid conservatives welcome the departure.

This kind of echoes the thoughts of one of our female callers on the program last week. It's interesting because of the organized nature of SBC member congregations, and the active role they've played (both now and historically) in the American system. It would be interesting to think perhaps a local leader had become one of the most notable examples of a change in direction taking place in the body politic.

CONENTRATION CAMP FOR IMMIGRANTS?

Here's a question for both Asa and Jim (maybe specifically for Jim.) Do either of you support the proposition made by this candidate in Arizona? Would you do the same thing in Arkansas, and would you ask for business support for it?

A Republican gubernatorial candidate's call for creation of a forced labor camp for illegal immigrants drew rebukes Friday from two GOP lawmakers, who labeled it a low point in the immigration debate.

Don Goldwater, nephew of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, caused an international stir this week when EFE, a Mexican news service, quoted him as saying he wanted to hold undocumented immigrants in camps to use them "as labor in the construction of a wall and to clean the areas of the Arizona desert that they're polluting."

The article described Goldwater's plan as a "concentration camp" for migrants.

Anyone care to reply? Would any of you out there support this kind of thing? We think the answer could tell us a lot...

LET 'EM STEAL!

Interesting little story about shoplifters and Wal-Mart. Seems Wal-Mart wants to reduce the number of police calls, and has adopted a "smarter" way of handling the problem...however, what that consists of remains a matter of conjecture...here's a couple of takes...

Weber denied allegations by union-backed critics that Wal-Mart is laying off store detectives for two reasons, to save labor costs and to reduce criticism from some local police departments about a high number of shoplifting calls.

Union-backed WakeUpWalMart.com said it has been told about the changes by disgruntled employees, or associates, in several states including Florida, Illinois and New Mexico,

"Rather than improve store security, Wal-Mart's crazy new strategy for reducing police calls is to let shoplifters simply shoplift, and fire the very workers whose job was to protect the store and customers," said WakeUpWalMart.com spokesman Chris Kofinis.

But Weber said any changes in staffing in individual stores are a result of adjustments, not job cuts. Some stores with less crime have lost staff, while others in higher-crime areas have gained some.

Weber says the company will still catch and "prosecute" shoplifters, but also has to keep an eye on protecting customers and associates.

The company worries more about organized rings of shoplifters making a dent in retail than individual acts of petty theft, probably good business sense.

BAD TIME TO SELL A HOUSE

We heard yesterday about three NWA cities leading the state's growth in the past decade. Today, we also learned that fewer people have been buying homes in the area as well...

In the state's most populous counties, home sales decreased more drastically, the group's figures released Thursday show. Pulaski County saw a 9 percent drop; Benton County decreased 16 percent, and Washington County fell 22 percent since May 2005.

22 percent? Think those prices may decline anytime soon?

WAL-MART, PART 2 -- MARYLAND COURTS

Seems we've returned to court in Maryland. Wal-Mart wants out of that state law that created so much of an uproar. Rather than explain it myself, I'll give you bits and pieces of the article...

Maryland's law requiring large employers to spend at least 8 percent of payroll on health care or pay the difference in taxes is worded so that only Wal-Mart Stores Inc. would be affected. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which includes Wal-Mart, argued that the law unfairly targets the world's largest retailer. Barring court intervention, the law takes effect in January.

"This law is highly discriminatory," said Eugene Scalia, lawyer for the retailers. Scalia is a former Labor Department solicitor and son of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. "This was intended and crafted to affect just one company."

Lawyers defending the state argued the Wal-Mart law isn't an illegal mandate. They said Wal-Mart is free to pay the penalty instead of providing better benefits - an estimated $6 million a year by state estimates. Or the retailer could set up health clinics for its employees.

It doesn't mandate benefits," argued Gary Kuc, assistant attorney general.

U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz seemed a little skeptical of that line, saying it didn't pass his "silliness test" to argue that Wal-Mart would pay penalties or set up first aid clinics instead of change its worker benefits.

"Isn't it a little silly to suggest that Wal-Mart is going to meet its health care funding requirements by setting up first aid clinics?" Motz asked.

Motz was tough on the Wal-Mart side, too, asking whether throwing out Maryland's law would be a signal to states that they can't experiment on ways to control spiraling health care costs. He cited Massachusetts, where state lawmakers this year instituted expanded health coverage for the uninsured.

"States can be laboratories for experiments," Motz said.

Scalia? You gotta be kidding me. That's scary. Judge Mott has a very good point about "silliness" in this case. Scalia can do better. Here's another point of view, courtesy columnist George Will who looks at the (original) story in a purely political fashion...

Maryland's grasping for Wal-Mart's revenue opens a new chapter in the degeneracy of state governments that are eager to spend more money than they have the nerve to collect straightforwardly in taxes. Fortunately, as labor unions and allied rent-seekers in 30 or so other states contemplate mimicking Maryland, Wal-Mart can contemplate an advantage of federalism.

Ah, George, eloquent as always. Good talking points in all this.

WAL-MART, PART ONE - FORMER VP SENTENCE

Ok, we've got a lot of Wal-Mart related news today. This one is part of the larger story about former Vice Chair Tom Coughlin's siphoning-off of something like half a million dollars from the company. Of course, prosecutors had help in getting Coughlin to 'fess up and cut a deal. This is how much it cost...

A former Wal-Mart executive was sentenced Friday to one day in prison and six months of supervised release and fined $3,000 for wire fraud convictions. Robert E. Hey Jr., who was vice president of merchandising systems for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., pleaded guilty in November to three counts. Prosecutors say Hey manipulated invoices to embezzle money for his superior, former Wal-Mart vice chairman Thomas Coughlin.

I believe we're still waiting for Coughlin to get his sentence -- which could mean he's working with prosecutors as well (or not, just speculation there.)

GIVE 'EM HELL, HELEN!

Here's just another reason Helen Thomas remains a hero to journalists of all ages and backgrounds. She's a bulldog, who won't let go and won't go easy on a source. Hey, she actually does her job in representing thousands of readers who want answers. She'll always be a luminary in the world of journalism. No, I won't give you her desk phone number, but I will say that when I called her (many moons ago) she answers her own phone, and she'll talk to you. Outstanding! This little tape, tip of the hat to CrooksandLiars.com, the world's greatest blog.

LOCAL BIZ FRIDAY

Not too much going on this morning – futures markets up, investors waiting for Fed meeting. Today, Durable Goods orders out. Here’s the rundown of the local stocks.

Wal-Mart (WMT) -0.42 $48.48
Tyson (TSN) +0.12 $14.88
JB Hunt (JBHT) -0.01 $24.47
Acxiom (ACXM) -0.54 $23.01
AllTel (AT) +0.96 $62.68

Major markets…

Dow -60.35 11,019
NASDAQ -18.22 2,122.98
S&P -6.60 1,245

FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Here's what seems like a slow Friday morning from my vantage point at the newsdesk at KFAY-AM (hey, you can listen online right now!)...here's the news...

ESTATE TAX VOTE

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES YESTERDAY APPROVED A PLAN TO CUT THE ESTATE TAX. EVERY MEMBER OF THE AKRANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION – WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VIC SNYDER – VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURE. NOW, THE PLAN GOES TO THE U.S. SENATE, WHERE IT FACES A MUCH LESS CERTAIN OUTCOME. DEMOCRATS OPPOSED TO THE PLAN HAVE GREATER NUMBERS, AND SENATORS IN BOTH PARTIES WORRY CUTTING THAT TAX COULD STRAIN THE ECONOMY AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

DIVINITY APPROVED?

THE CITY PLANNING STAFF IN FAYETTEVILLE SAYS IT NOW PLANS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RE-DESIGNED DIVINITY PROJECT. THE BARBER GROUP, WHICH ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BUILDING A 15 STORY BUILDING, HAS REVISED THE PLANS, MAKING THE BUIDLING 9 STORIES, INCLUDING A HOTEL, RESTATURANT AND CONDOS. THE COMPANY SUBMITTED PLANS MONDAY. PLANNERS SAID THEY PLANNED TO REJECT THE PROJECT, BUT CHANGED THEIR MINDS BECAUSE OF THE RE-DESIGN.

ASA TALKS IMMIGRATION

REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ASA HUTCHINSON VISITED THE SPRINGDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION. HUTCHINSON SAYS HE CONSIDERS THAT A STATE ISSUE. MR. HUTCHINSON ADDED THAT HE BELIEVES THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED ATTENTION TO A PROBLEM IN NEED OF A SOLUTION. HOWEVER, HUTCHINSON DID NOT GO AS FAR AS HIS RUNNING MATE, LT. GOVERNOR CANDIDATE JIM HOLT, WHO HAS PROPOSED CUTTING ALL STATE BENEFITS FROM UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.

ROGERS ISSUES "CHICKEN RULE"

THE ROGERS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A NEW ORDINANCE THIS WEEK. AS OF JULY 13TH, THE CITY’S RESIDENT’S CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN FOUR CHICKENS PER HOME – AND THE CITY HAS PROHIBITED ROOSTERS. COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE PROMPTED THE ACTION. ONE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL SAID THE 8-0 VOTE AND THE NEW RULE RELECT THE CHANGING AND EXPANDING NATURE OF THE CITY’S POPULATION.

WALTON CRASH INVESTIGATION

FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE CRASH OF A HOME-MADE PLANE LAST YEAR THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF WAL-MART HEIR JOHN WALTON IN WYOMING. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY FOUND NO PHYSICAL PROBLEMS WITH MR. WALTON AND HAVE STARTED TO CONCENTRATE ON POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE PLANES CONTROLS. THEY SAY WALTON EXPERIENCED A “HARD LANDING” IN THE PLANE BEFORE THE CRASH HAPPENED. FORBES MAGAZINE LISTED JOHN WALTON AS THE WORLD’S 11TH RICHEST MAN.

WAL-MART JOINS GAME RATING PROGRAM

WAL-MART AND OTHER RETAILERS HAVE AGREED TO JOIN A PROGRAM AIMED AT PREVENTING KIDS FROM BUYING CERTAIN VIDEO GAMES. THE “ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE RATING BOARD” SAYS WAL-MART WILL PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM THAT RATES VIDEO GAMES – “M” MEANS MATURE, “AO” MEANS ADULTS ONLY – THE PROGRAM SPELLS OUT VIOLENT CONTENT, STRONG LANGUAGE OR SEXUAL CONTENT. RETAILERS IN THE PROGRAM AGREED TO DISPLAY SIGNS IN STORES EXPLAINING THE RATING SYSTEM, AND HAVE ALSO AGREED NOT TO SELL “MATURE” RATED GAMES TO KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 17.