Happy Halloween. What the hell are they smoking over at the Fayetteville Animal Shelter? "Satanic rituals" apparently have them worried. We think they've been watching too much cable tv this week. Here's your spooky news...

JUDGE SAYS HE'LL STAY ON BIG CASES

THE BENTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR WANTS TWO HIGH-PROFILE CASES TO GO TO TRIAL, OR WANTS THE JUDGE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. PROSECUTOR ROBIN GREEN ASKED CIRCUIT JUDGE TOM KEITH TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM BOTH CASES. GREEN WANTS THE CASES TO GO TO COURT QUICKLY, WHILE A DEFENSE ATTORNEY WANTS MORE TIME. ONCE ASE INVOLVES CURRENT BENTON COUNTY CORONER KIMBERLY SCOTT WHO FACES DRUG AND THEFT CHARGES. THE OTHER CASE INVOLVES FORMER STATE STROOPER LARRY NORMAN, CHARGED WITH NEGLIGETN HOMICIDE IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF ERIN HAMLEY.

DON'T PARK IN THE YARD, PUHLEEESSSE!

IF YOU LIKE TO PARK IN YOUR OWN FRONT YARD – GET READY FOR A CHANGE OF PLANS IF YOU LIVE IN SPRINGDALE. THE CITY COUNCIL THERE WILL MOST LIKELY VOTE ON A PROPOSED NEW ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT PARKING IN YEARS. THE ORDINANCE WOULD ALSO LIMIT PAVING FRONT YARDS AND PARKING FOR TRUCKS, RVS BOATS AND TRAILERS IN FRONT OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THE COUNCIL WORKED ON THE PLAN MONDAY NIGHT.

PD OFFICER FROM ROGERS HURT IN IRAQ

A POLICE OFFICER FROM ROGERS WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES IN IRAQ, WHILE ON DUTY WITH THE MARINE RESERVES, FACES A LONG RECOVERY. LANCE CPL. CHRIS TRAXSON GOT HURT LAST WEEK WHEN HIS VEHICLE CAME UNDER ATTACK. TRAXSON SUSTAINED BURNS OVER MORE THAN HALF OF HIS BODY. HE’D ONLY BEEN IN IRAQ SINCE SEPTEMBER 23RD.

SNAKE SHUTS DOWN POWER

IF YOU LIVE IN FAYETTEVILLE, YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED A POWER BLACK OUT LAST NIGHT SHORTLY BEFORE 6 P.M. ABOUT 750 OZARKS ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE DARK AFTER A SNAKE SLITHERED INTO A SPACE NEAR SOME UNDERGROUND TRANSFORMERS AND SHORTED OUT ONE OF THE COMPANY’S MAIN SERVICE WIRES NEAR A ZION ROAD SUBSTATION.

ANIMAL SHELTER FEARS SATANISTS

THE FAYETTEVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER HAS SOME SERIOUS RESERVATIONS ABOUT TODAY’S HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY, CLAIMING IT HAS PROHIBITED ADOPTION OF BLACK, WHITE OR BLACK AND WHITE CATS AND DOGS BECAUSE OF FEARS ABOUT SATANIC RITUALS. JILL HATFIELD, DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES SAYS “SATANIC THINGS” GO ON, ANIMAL SACRIFICES BY SATANIC CULTS. THE SHELTER ALSO WORRIES ABOUT PRANKS ON ANIMALS DURING THE HOLIDAY.

THE REALLY BOGUS BILL

FINALLY, A CASE OF A “BOBUS BILL.” A ONE-HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL BEARING THE NAME OF BILL CLINTON THAT A MAN IN BATESVILLE TRIED TO USE TO BUY CIGARETTES. THE FUNNY MONEY DIDN’T HAVE CLINTON’S PICTURE ON IT, JUST HIS NAME SCRAWLED ON THE FRONT. POLICE CALL THE COUNTERFEIT BILL ONE OF THE WORST THEY’VE SEEN, WITH THE INK STILL RUNNING. THE MAN ENDED UP IN JAIL, NO WORD ON WHAT KIND OF BILLS HE’LL USE TO POST BAIL.

Seriously, satanic rituals? Sure, we've heard of some unpleasant hijinks with M80s and the like, but "satanic" rituals? Calling Harry Potter...

Sometimes when the President opens his mouth, what comes out makes him sound like a bit of a weenie, if you'll excuse the observation.

We're sorry, and we mean no disrespect to the office, but the guy says things most kids would get scolded over, and he's supposed to be an example...Mr. Bush campaigned in Texas and told his loyal followers that if Democrats win...

"terrorists win and America loses"

You gotta be kidding, right?

This is so far over the edge that the fake campaign ads just under this post wouldn't surprise us if he really decided to run them on national television.

Ever feel like you're living in a freakin' cartoon?

As long-time fans of campaign advertising, we couldn't help but include this SNL look at the ads you might see from the RNC in the coming week before the election. We are particularly fond of the Hillary monster. We'd like to see a Mike Beebe ad with Hill jumping out of his chest. And Asa already has a way with ads, so we think he could jump on the animated bandwagon with a few days left. This is just for fun, and we hope it makes partisans on both sides laugh a little.

OK, this article, courtesy of the Baxter Bulletin, has a little about a moron in Batesville who tried to use the bogus $100 bill you see in the picture (From the Batesville Guardian)to buy cigarettes. It has Pres. Clinton's name on it. Wonder what demonination, and what he might try to buy if it had GW's name on it. Pepto-bismol?

Very weird stuff.

Here ya go, just another reason why the entire Iraq withdrawl thing is fraught with problems. Think we're going home anytime soon? Guess again.

Courtesy of the Washington Post.

The papers have made their endorsements and they have chosen Mike Beebe in the Governor's race. Again, we'll talk with Republican Asa Hutchinson Wednesday morning, and post audio/video of that here. Here's your morning news...

BASKETABLL PLAYER SHOT

AN 18 YEAR OLD BASKETBALL PLAYER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, FORT SMITH REMAINED IN CRITICAL CONDITION LAST NIGHT AFTER A SHOOTING AT A HALLOWEEN PARTY THIS WEEKEND. POLICE SAY TERRIST PARRAMORE CONFRONTED A MAN WHO HARRASSED WOMAN AT THE PARTY. POLICE ARRESTED TWO PEOPLE IN THE CASE. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY FOUND PARRAMORE LYING ON THE FLOOR OF A BANQUET ROOM AT THE RAMADA INN – SOMEONE SHOT HIT IN THE HEAD AND CHEST.

NEWSPAPERS ENDORSE BEEBE

AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, THE STATE’S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS HAVE STARTED MAKING THEIR REGULAR ENDORSEMENTS. BOTH THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT GAZETTE AND THE MORNING NEWS THIS WEEKEND ENDORSED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE MIKE BEEBE IN THE GOVERNOR’S RACE. BEEBE FACES ASA REPUBLICAN ASA HUTCINSON IN THE RACE – HUTCHINSON WILL JOIN US IN THE STUDIO WEDNESDAY MORNING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE RACE AND HIS CHANCES AT THE POLLS.

HUCKABEE OPENS MOUTH, INSERTS FOOT

AS GOVERNOR HUCKABEE CONTINUES TO TEST THE WATERS, CONSIDERING A RUN AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2008, HIS VISITS TO NATIONALLY SYDICATED TALK SHOW HOST DON IMUS’ SHOWS CONTINUE TO CAUSE HIM TROUBLE. SIX YEARS AGO ON THE IMUS PROGRAM, MR. HUCKABEE REFERRED TO ARKANSAS AS A “BANANA REPUBLIC.” THIS MONTH, ON THE SAME PROGRAM, HUCKABEE TALKED ABOUT HIS WEIGHT LOSS – THIS TIME SAYING HE’D LOST THE WEIGHT AT A “DEMOCRATIC CONCENTRATION CAMP.” A NATIONAL JEWISH DEMOCRATIC GROUP TOOK ISSUE WITH THE COMMENT, AND HAS ASKED FOR AN APOLOGY. HUCKBEE DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT, SAYING HE NEVER INTENDED TO INSULT JEWISH PEOPLE.

RECORD SPENDING IN SPRINGDALE

THE CITY OF SPRINGDALE MAY HAVE SET A RECORD THIS PAST WEEK – FOR SPENDING DONE DURING A SINGLE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL APPROVED SPENDING NEARLY 30 MILLION DOLLARS ON CITY PROJECTS TUESDAY. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO MAYOR JERRY VAN HOOSE, LESS THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT MONEY WILL ACTUALLY COME FROM THE CITY – THE REST WILL COME FROM BOND ISSUES APPROVED BY VOTERS. THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROJECT? BUILDING A TRAFFIC CORRIDOR ALONG HUNTSVILLE AVENUE – TOTAL COST – MORE THAN 18 MILLION DOLLARS.

EMERGENCY PLANE LANDING IN WEST FORK

A BUSINESSMAN FROM OKLAHOMA FOUND HIMSELF LANDING HIS PRIVATE PLANE IN A PASTURE OUTSIDE WEST FORK SATURDAY AFTERNOON. MAT GOODMAN SAYS THE OIL PRESSURE IN HIS PLANE DROPPED, SO HE HAD TO SET DOWN IN A FIELD OFF ACTON ROAD. IT HAPPENED AS GOODMAN RETURNED TO BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA FROM FLORIDA.

WAL-MART FACES ANTI-GAY PROTESTS

NEXT MONTH, RELIGIOUS PROTESTORS SAY THEY’LL TRY TO PROTEST AT EVERY WAL-MART IN AMERICA. THE PEOPLE BEHIND SAVEWALMART-DOT-COM SAY THEY WILL ALSO BOYCOTT WAL-MART AFTER THE COMPANY JOINED THE NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN AUGUST. THE COMPANY MADE A 25-THOUSAND DOLLAR GIFT TO JOIN THE GROUP, SAYING IT SUPPORTS DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE. PROTESTORS BELIEVE THAT CONTRAVENES CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS. >

Now, isn't that a lot of fun? Poor Wal-Mart can't catch a break -- I actually feel sorry for them. Wonder if the so-called protestors have any idea they sound just like Fred Phelps from Kansas.

On the show this week

We'll have Republican Gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson in for a call-in session during "Liveline 'til 9" and also have U of A Chancellor John White in the studio for the second half hour. The news release is the link in the title. Click, and be happy.

AP/Baxter Bulletin

Illinois Senator visits LR, raises money for Dems, says his party has regained its identity. From the report...

I think we're going to be able to talk about issues in terms of values in a way that will resonate in the South

Do Republicans care?

This doesn't have much to do with partisan politics -- it's simply an expression of concern for someone I like, someone I consider a person with a lot of potential, but whose behavior concerns me nonetheless

David Koon at the Arkansas Times wrote a piece this past week on the Lt. Governor's race, and yours truly makes a comment or two on the character of Springdale Senator Jim Holt. First, Jim Holt and I are not golfing buddies, we don't spend quality time together, and we don't know each other too much outside the political sphere. However, in the time I've known him, I can say good things about him -- I just can't say I agree with his politics or philosphical views on a number of issues. Oddly enough though, I think we do share some values and some views on other things -- we just express those ideas with different language.

Mr. Holt has always seemed honest in his dealings with me, and he's always seemed like he truly believes WHAT he believes. I'm not Solomon, but a number of years in the media business does tend to finely attune one's attenae for bullshit. I've heard some of that from Jim, but most of the time he doesn't set off my warning bells. Occasionally, I find that reason to get worried. I have called him on the carpet for referring to certain members of my profession as either "communists" or "socialists" -- as if either name meant anything. We're not running for office, are we? He claims to be taken out of context, and he's even gone so far as to call me and try to explain comments like that before I've even tripped across them in the paper.

Mr. Holt and I have also had the occasion to have a heartfelt talk about faith and the entire good-v.-evil thing. Based on that conversation, I've always thought his heart was in the right place, even if his campaign rhetoric seems a million miles off that. Perhaps he just tells me nice things, but again, I've never had a reason to doubt his sincerity. Here's some of what David Koon and I discussed in the Arkansas Times...

Don Elkins is the anchor of KNWA news in Fayetteville. He moderated the Holt-Halter debate at the Clinton School for Public Service in September. He has known Holt for six years, with the two striking up a jovial friendship. Elkins said he’s seen Holt evolve during his time in office, ramping up the religious, anti-immigrant and anti-gay rhetoric. Because Holt has been largely frozen out by his own party for being too radical, Elkins said the Republican has changed from a “self-destructively honest” John Q. Public-type into someone who actively seeks to stimulate a base that some might describe as xenophobic or even racist, along with those who vote based mostly on their own religious convictions.

“He’s not a dumb guy, he’s a smart guy,” Elkins said. “But I don’t know why he mutated from what I’m pretty sure he was to what he is now. I get the feeling that he realizes that he’s not going to get any support from his own party, financial or otherwise. They don’t like him. He’s got this hardcore base that’s Constitutional Party and Jim Dobson followers, and they don’t watch TV anyway. He’s really found a way to motivate them and stir them up.”

David, I enjoyed the article, but a couple of corrections. I haven't worked at KNWA TV since early summer -- it was an amicable divorce. Perhaps "jovial" wouldn't be the word I'd use to describe my relationship with Sen. Holt -- perhaps "intellectual" or "conversational" would be more accurate.

Yes, I have seen the rhetoric David mentions ramped up. Mr. Holt is running campaigns and trying to motivate base voters without a lot of cash - as I said, Mr. Holt is a very smart person. If you can find a way to make your opponent, like Senator Blanche Lincoln, dump millions of dollars to win a close statewide race, but you dump only a few bucks into it -- you're a smart person who has come up with a great strategy. I always felt Jim's "self-destructively honest" behavior (and I know some will debate that point) with exactly that -- "self destructive" -- but it has helped him with claims he's an independent, or so he seems to hope.

Doug Thompson, writing a couple of weeks ago in the Morning News pretty aptly described Holt's campaign by citing the "Clinton Rule of 12" -- give me 12 good people in each county, and I'll win the race. Although one may argue with Holt on the issues, it's hard to argue with him on strategy.

My only request of Mr. Holt has been that he take a good, hard look in his heart -- if he's still honest -- to ask himself whether what he's doing is the right thing. For a man so obsessed with doing the said "right thing" I often wonder why he says and does some things. It would seem to me to be an investment in the future to cater to some of the area's future voters -- the local Hispanic population, which continues to grow, and which will eventually become an organized and possibly powerful voting block, much like it has in other metro areas. Instead of trying to block benefits and healthcare for the youngest of these, he should be working to welcome many of these people to the area, trying to integrate them into the culture, trying to help them become home and business owners, helping them to become legal citizens, supporting programs like a guest worker path to citizenship -- something Mr. Bush has attempted to create, but which Mr. Holt rejects.

All one need do to see the future is to look both north and south to the larger cities and larger states to see that many of the immigrants who've come here have come to stay. He also does himself no favors with Latinos who have either become naturalized citizens or who were born in America. I've wondered where he considered the immigration laws we have in America to be fair, just and racially unbiased. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but my impression was that he agreed with that asessment, but thought the laws ought to be upheld. I wanted to know why he couldn't use his influence, his knowledge and his "bully pulpit" of elected office to help change things. The real sin is to pander to our darker natures and simply let injustice stand by screaming about supporting the letter of the law if the letter is wrong, or the spirit faulty. Slavery and misegnation were laws of the land once, and they weren't just either. Would he have supported those too? I also fault him for failing to find more verbal common ground with non-evangelical Arkansans. I think many of those people would be greatly surprised that they share many of the same professed ideals. It's just hard to hear them with the "God bless you" at the end of every phone call and some of the code language meant to press buttons with certain people.

I want him to stick to his principles, but at the same time realize all of us have to elect him now. I think if he becomes further straight-jacketed in his ideology, he'll become only that -- an idealogue, and not a legislator, not someone capable of seeing beyond the end of his own nose for solutions he may not have considered. He'll alienate a large number of voters who may have supported him, if they could only have had a chance to know him before being turned-off by some of the things he says.

Again, I think Jim is a complex guy. His nerves before debates and on election night? Endearing -- the guy is a human being after all, and sometimes it's hard to say that about people in the political arena. It's the genuine response of an amateur politician, one who hasn't become totally jaded yet He has a fantastic wife and some of the nicest children you'd ever meet, and I know he cares greatly about them, like most of us care about our own children and families. He has too much going for him to take the road of using hatred or "latent racial bias" as Jim Lendall called it or hatred of those with different beliefs as motivating factors for voters. Sometimes, if you win -- you lose. Win the wrong way, you could lose your soul.

I like Jim, and hope he's taken a long hard look at some of the things for which he's standing in this election. I don't preach and he's more into citing scripture than I. However, I'd say he needs to take some time to contemplate what he's doing -- he needs to ask if he's squandering talent and heart just to win, if he's making bargains politically that will cost him support in the future, if he's really buying short-term gain at the loss of longevitiy and a chance to serve his fellow citizens. I don't want him to become another Barack Obama (a suggestion I'm sure would bring him to giggles, or maybe tears) but I think he could take a lesson from the junior Senator from Illinois about campaigning in such a way that he gives all of us hope -- all colors, creeds and political persuasions. If he does that, he'll gain quite a few more converts who will stick by him in the long-run.] And that's what I think. I can't ask a friend to change his politics, but I can ask a politician to change his views on issues. Maybe he and I need to talk some more about things, but I worry that someone with potential to bring everyone together and make the world a better place to live also shows great potential to do the opposite as well.

I wish both candidates in the Lt. Gov's race the best of luck in the next week.

Things can get complicated when you have the largest anything. Wal-Mart knows that, and knows no matter what the company does, it'll irritate some people. The company has taken steps to become more diverse, more environmentally friendly and a host of other measures intended to bring the company into the 21st century. But some people just don't want things to change. Some of the same people who most loudly defended the company have turned on it, saying they'll no longer shop at the neighborhood Supercenter because of a partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce reported in August.

Now, here's a website that should truly bring a chill to your spine. This group says it plans to "proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ" in as many Wal-Mart stores as possible next month, on November 24th -- part of a plan to get the company to stop selling the Plan B contraceptive and perhaps to get the company to take back the $25,000 membership fee it paid to join the Gay and Lesbian Chamber.

We think all Wal-Marts should spend that day playing the greatest hits of Judy Garland in all stores, for 24 hours straight (no pun there, sorry.)

Also, TWLR ("The World's Largest Retailer) has decided it may change the standard uniform for employees...

Wal-Mart will adopt a new dress code of blue polo shirts and khakis in about 1,400 stores in the South and Northeast. Nationally, it has more than 3,600 discount stores and Supercenters, which combine a discount store with a full grocery section.

This is just a test run, but could become the de-riquer outfit if customers say they like it.

Wow, what a contentious Friday rundown. Looks like Rogers Mayor Steve Womack has had it with illegal immigrants. Who knows what he'll do, but he'll sure get flack for it. Also, interesting piece about whether the state's attempt at regulating abortions in based on faulty information. Let the gnashing of teeth begin...here's your Friday news...

FETAL PAIN LAW FLAWED?

A STATE LAW HAS COME UNDER FIRE, ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON SCIENTIFICALLY FAULTY INFORMATION. THE NON-PROFIT ALAN GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE ISSUED A REPORT CRITICAL OF SO-CALLED “FETAL” PAIN LAWS IN SEVERAL STATES, INCLUDING ARKANSAS. STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE LAW IN 2005 – IT REQUIRES DOCTORS TO TELL WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS THAT THE FETUS MAY FEEL PAIN. AN ARKANSAS RESEARCHER DISAGREES, AND SAYS THE LAW MAY REFLECT REALITY.

TASK FORCE: WATCH OUT FOR RACE PROFILING

A STATE TASK FORCE SAYS A RISING HISPANIC POPULATION IN ARKANSAS MEANS POLICE NEED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION NOT TO “RACIALLY PROFILE” PEOPLE. THE TASK FORCE REPORTED TO LAWMAKERS THURSDAY, SAYING THE STATE NEEDS TO DO MORE TO PREPARE POLICE TO COPE WITH – AND NOT TARGET – A GROWING MINORITY POPULATION.

STATE NEEDS MORE TROOPERS

AND, STATE POLICE SAY THEY NEED TO HIRE 100 MORE TROOPERS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO KEEP UP WITH DEMANDS. THE STATE POLICE PRESENTED IT’S BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO STATE LAWMAKERS, ASKING FOR 151-MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR, AND FOR ANOTHER 155 MILLION IN 2008-2009. THE AGENCY ALSO WANTS 6-POINT-8 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEW HIRES.

ROGERS MAYOR GOES AFTER ILLEGALS

ROGERS MAYOR STEVE WOMACK HAS ASKED HIS CITY ATTORNEY TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF NEW CITY ORDINANCES TO ADDRESS PERCEIVED PROBLEMS WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. WOMACK BELIEVES MORE THAN HALF THE CASES INVOLVING ILLEGAL DRUGS IN ROGERS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT HE BELIEVES SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE “LIFESTYLE QUALITY” OF HIS CITY CHANGES. REPORTEDLY, THE MAYOR BECAME ANGRY AFTER LEARNING ABOUT A SHOOTING LAST FRIDAY IN WHICH A CITY DETECTIVE GOT HURT – A SHOOTING HE THINKS INVOLVED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

SCHOOL BOARD GIVES RAISES

FAYETTEVILLE’S SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT APPROVED IT’S LARGEST BONUSES EVER FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS. THE DISRICT WILL PAY 4 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO SOME 12-HUNDRED EMPLOYEES, PERHAPS AS SOON AS NOVEMBER 3RD. CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE OR MORE WILL GET 45-HUNDRED DOLLARS BONUSES – THOSE WITH FEWER YEARS WILL GET 4-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

ELECTRONIC BALLOT PROBLEMS

WASHINGTON COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY SOFTWARE PROGRAMMERS HAVE MADE A MISTAKE – A MISTAKE CAUGHT BY A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE CASTING AN EARLY BALLOT. HE NOTICED HIS DISTRICT LISTED INCORRECTLY. COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE SENT THE IMPROPERLY PROGRAMMED VOTING MACHINES BACK FOR CORRECTIONS. THE PROBLEM WILL NOT SHUT DOWN EARLY VOTING, WHICH CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER 6TH.

Ah, and our old friend, election problems...here we go again.

Interesting piece in the New York Observer today. Writer Nicholas Van Hoffman asks the question “who cares about kids” in terms of Wal-Mart’s recent change in employment policy. Here’s an excerpt…

In addition, the giant retail chain is ordering its workers to be available for duty anytime, day or night, at its nearly 2,000 24-hour-a-day stores. The company wants to have people on tap for the evenings and weekends, when shopping is heaviest, but in the interest of complete manpower flexibility doesn’t want to provide its employees with a set work schedule. They are to be available whenever the phone rings. Since Wal-Mart has more than a million and a quarter workers, what it does has ramifications.

The havoc this must cause in families with children needs no elaboration. How do you arrange for childcare or after-school supervision if you must wait to be told when you’re going to be working? This is not a problem that Sam Walton’s five heirs are likely to face. One is safe in assuming that they can get a baby-sitter on short notice since, even after being decimated by the death tax, they have managed to salvage $75 billion for their very own, according to Forbes magazine’s latest listing of the 400 wealthiest Americans.

The domestic arrangements of the Walton family aside, this last announcement by the company is a reminder of the enormous power of business in shaping family life. Wal-Mart claims that its new work rules and pay scales are the same as that of other, though smaller, retailers, such as Sears and Target—which, if true, makes the effects all the worse.

Again, Wal-Mart is not a simple problem, nor are the effects the company has had on the nation and the world’s economy. One could discuss the social effects of the company for an endless amount of time. Does it hurt? Does it help? The company is like the industrial revolution with a smiley face.

Big story today is the annual Arkansas Poll, which, if you believe it, spells the end of the campaign this year for a number of Republican campaign efforts. It also has some interesting things to say about gay foster parents...here's the news...

ARKANSAS POLL NUMBERS OUT

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL “ARKANSAS POLL.” THE NUMBERS, FROM THE SCHOOLS POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, TAKE THE TEMPERATURS OF VOTERS STATEWIDE ON ELECTIONS AND ISSUES. THIS YEAR, THE POLL SHOWS 51 PERCENT OF LIKELY VOTERS SAY THEY’LL CAST BALLOTS FOR DEMOCRAT MIKE BEEBE IN THE GOVERNOR’S RACE, VERSUS 38 PERCENT WHO SAY THEY’LL VOTE FOR REPUBLICAN ASA HUTCHINSON. THE NUMBERS SHOW A SIZEABLE IMPROVMENT FOR BEEBE SINCE THE LAST POLL WAS CONDUCTED.

MORE POLL RESULTS SAY...

ON OTHER ISSUES, THAT POLL SHOWS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR A PROPOSAL TO ALLOW CHARITABLE BINGO IN ARKANSAS AND FOR A 250 MILLION DOLLAR BOND PROPOSAL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. HOWEVER, NUMBERS SHOW ARKANSANS HAVEN’T CHANGEED THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT ABORTION AND GUN CONTROL. SURPRISINGLY, VOTERS ASKED ABOUT GAY FOSTER PARENTS SAY THE OPPOSED THE IDEA OF THAT, BUT ALSO DID NOT SUPPORT AN ACTUAL LAW BANNING GAYS AS FOSTER PARENTS.

WAL-MART EXTENDS DRUG PROGRAM

WAL-MART WILL TODAY EXTEND ITS 4-DOLLAR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM TO 12 MORE STATES, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STATES WITH THE PROGRAM TO 27. THE PROGRAM ROLLED OUT IN FLORIDA THREE WEEKS AGO. THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS EXPANDED THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF CUSTOMER DEMAND. UNION CRITICS OF THE COMPANY SAY WAL-MART HAS SIMPLY EXTENDED THE PROGRAM AS A WAY OF DIVERTING ATTENTION FROM POOR INSURANCE IT PROVIDES EMPLOYEES.

VOTERS WANT PAPER BALLOTS

EARLY VOTING FOR THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTION STARTED MONDAY, AND VOTERS SEEM TO HAVE EXPRESSED A PREFERENCE FOR CASTING PAPER BALLOTS RATHER THAN USING VOTING MACHINES. SOME COUNTY CLERKS SAY THEY HAVEN’T PUSHED PEOPLE INTO USING THE MACHINES, BUT DO MAKE SUGGESTIONS. HOWEVER, ONE CLERK TELLS REPORTERS A LOT OF PEOPLE WON’T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT, AND INSIST ON PAPER BALLOTS.

STRANGE COINCIDENCE IN SHOOTING?

A DETECTIVE FROM ROGERS INJURED FRIDAY WHILE SERVING A DRUG WARRANT APPARENTLY GOT HURT AT THE SAME HOME IN THE YEAR 2000. BRIAN CULPEPPER ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL FRIDAY AFTER A SCUFFLE BETWEEN A MAN AND A DEPUTY – THE DEPUTY’S GUN WENT OFF, HITTING CULPEPPER IN THE LEG. SIX YEARS AGO, CULPEPPER WENT TO THE SAME HOME BECAUSE OF A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, DURING WHICH SOMEONE HIT HIM IN THE FACE.

SOME IN BELLA VISTA WILL GET SHUT OUT

HUNDREDS OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN BELLA VISTA WON’T HAVE A CHANCE TO CAST VOTES ON A PROPOSAL TO INCORPORATE THE VILLAGE, MAKING IT A TOWN. THEY’LL MISS THAT CHANCE BECAUSE THEY LIVE ON LAND NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE AREA GOVERNED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION – OR BECAUSE THEY LIVE ON LAND CONSIDERED OUTSIDE THE INCORPORATION AREA. AGAIN, THE ISSUE WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 7TH.

POLICE I-D MURDERED CHILD

SPRINGDALE POLICE WEDNESDAY IDENTIFIED A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL STRANGLED TO DEATH AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. DETECTIVES SAY THEY STILL DON’T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE POINTING TO ANY SUSPECTS IN THE MRUDER OF EMITI FREDDY. POLICE SAY THEY CAN’T GET ANY FORENSIC EVIDENCE BACK FROM THE STATE CRIME LAB FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. HOWEVER, POLICE SAY THEY DO HAVE A MAN THEY DESCRIBE AS A WITNESS.

That's it -- Thursday has officially started. Let the fight of the Arkansas Poll numbers beging...

Not that we agree with the ArkFam blog about the "kids" ad Asa put on the airwaves (we still think it's a reach) but they did link to this cartoon today, which we greatly enjoy and which brought much laughter.

It may be sooooo serious, but this one kind of lessened the tension today. The image is priceless.

OK, we know they're reactionary, and have become a straight-up campaign blog, we'll start reading ArkFam more often.

This grabbed the attention of my radio audience this morning after they learned that the political consultant to Fox News dinged the hell out of Rush Limbaugh who originally accused Michael J. Fox of acting, or failing to use medication in order to make a political point. The feedback (no surprise) was in support of Limbaugh. We still don't buy it, and what makes it worse now is the ad that has come from the other side. Yes, they have a perfect right to campaign for their point of view in the Missouri elections, and they have the perfect right to do the same thing they constantly criticize the other side for doing -- using celebrities to make a point.

However, we consider it telling that none of the celebrities we saw in the "counter-ad" suffers personal debilitation like Fox does as a result of Parkinson's disease. Does it make them any less truthful? Not in the least, but it does lessen the impact of the ad to some extent, and having Jesus (Jim C. from "Passion of the Christ") acting overly dramatic makes the whole thing seem a little out-of-kilter.

We won't debate the truth of the actual issue, but do think this particular ad probably won't have the impact it's creators hoped -- not only that, some of the people picked to star in the ad were picked for their well-known conservative political views. We aren't aware that Mr. Fox has reached too-too far into the political realm, unless it has something to do with working to find a cure for Parkinson's. We've included both ads for your perusal. However, we find more impact on Fox's ad then from the preaching by baseball players and actors who seem (except mentally) perfectly fit with an axe to grind against cloning. Fox has the disease -- what veracity should we assign to the baseball players? Are they affected by the disease? Afraid someone might clone them? What gives?



Did JC there start the whole thing speaking in Aramaic? The NY Times says he did. That's even worse...



Here, Imus rips the heck out of Limbaugh for the commentary - this includes a response from Mr. Fox on the attention from Rush as well...



Aramaic? We ARE getting nasty, and completely out of hand now. Enjoy.

After inviting Green Party AG candidate Rebekah Kennedy to write about immigration, she graciously accepted our invitation. With much pleasure (although without any endorsement) we offer our first candidate-penned editorial on what has become a central issue in this year's general election....

Rebekah Kennedy
Green Party

In the late 1950s, my grandparents, like a lot of people in Arkansas got part of their living each year from seasonal work in cotton fields. Like most parents in those days, they took their children with them to the fields, including my mother, who later described to me a strange event she witnessed there. These were segregated cotton fields. On one side of the field were White workers, which included Latinos. On the other side were Black workers. Black and White children played together in the cotton fields, but adults remained separate, never speaking to one another. Black workers were paid less than White workers and resented it. White workers feared that their jobs were not secure because employers could get the same work done for lower wages.

One day the children looked up from their play to see their parents, Black and White, standing together, whispering together. The eyes of the hushed children followed the eyes of their parents, who stared up a road to the first of several buses being unloaded. The employers had brought in a crew of Asian farm workers from out West. In whispers everyone wondered what these newcomers were to be paid and whether anyone's job were safe.

Why am I telling you this story now? On the most recent episode of AETN's Arkansas Week several journalists and political scientists from around the state were discussing comments Jim Lendall had made to the effect that several candidates for Constitutional office in this year's elections were using the issue of immigration to tap into reserves of latent racism. Some thought there was truth to the idea, while others insisted that the anti-immigrant attitudes to which major party candidates had been so shamelessly pandering were "economic" and therefore, "not racial." Yet when the fear of fewer jobs and lower wages is so pointedly directed towards one ethnic group, economic fears mask and mingle with racial and cultural bias.

Every politician riding the anti-immigration bandwagon is quick to tell you that they are talking exclusively about illegal immigration. It goes without saying that they are also talking exclusively about Latino immigration. The racial component of this "economic" issue is made all too clear by the fact that all of the discussion of immigration has centered around the idea of keeping immigrants out of "our state" and away from "our jobs." No one discusses eliminating the wage discrimination and exploitation that undocumented workers are subject to because their status insures they are effectively denied the protection of the law. No one discusses the contribution of immigration to population growth in our state, or what the positive economic impact of that growth might be. Gunner DeLay demands that the State be reimbursed for any of "our tax dollars" that have been spent on services for immigrants without once stopping to remember that sales tax, the primary source of those state dollars, is paid by everyone in Arkansas, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

The competition between Democrats and Republicans to take the toughest stand against immigration is not about rational feelings of economic insecurity. The most recent Department of Labor unemployment number for Arkansas is 5.2%, which is about what it has been, give or take half a percentage point, for years. Latino populations are highest in booming parts of the state, like Northwest Arkansas, and much lower in areas with widespread economic problems, like the Delta. Springdale, for example, is nearly 20% Latino and has an average household income of over $36,000 a year. In West Helena, where only 1% of the population is Latino, the average family makes only about $21,000 per year. I have no doubt that voters who respond to anti-immigration rhetoric honestly fear that they will be economically harmed by immigration. But the conditions that create that fear have at least as much to do with race as with economics. In such a circumstance, it is incumbent upon responsible statesmen to try to help voters overcome their fears, not to stoke and feed upon those fears in order to get votes.

The fact is, immigration is growth, pure and simple. It is good for the economy and good for Arkansas. Illegal immigration creates problems only because it is illegal. The solution to these problems is to encourage a federal policy of allowing more people to immigrate lawfully each year and creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who are already here. These are solutions which can only be implemented at the federal level. No one in state government has the power to change either the rate of immigration or the legal status of immigrants. All we can do is try to minimize the effects of unwise federal immigration policy on our state. We should not make our state police the enforcers of immigration law. We should not cut off essential services to children and families. We should not drive immigrants away from Arkansas schools and hospitals. We should not let our fears turn us against the newest wave of American immigration. Instead, let us unite in favor of the better education, health care and jobs for all Arkansans which will come from embracing growth and change, including immigration.

Again, Ms. Kennedy is running for AG on November 7th. If you are a candidate or party member and wish to express you editorial views on the issues in play during this campaign, we welcome your writing here. Simply let us know, and you can have the space.

WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Moderately slow morning. Who knows...maybe things will pick up in a bit. We lead our news this morning with a less-than-fantastic month for Wal-Mart. Here's the news...

WAL-MART: "WE WILL SURVIVE"

WAL-MART HAD A TOUGH MONTH IN OCTOBER, BUT YESTERDAY TOLD ANALYSTS ON WALL STREET IT EXPECTS SALES TO PICK UP DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. CEO H. LEE SCOTT SAID HE EXPECTS LOWER GAS PRICES TO HELP IMPROVE THE COMPANY’S BOTTOM LINE THIS WINTER. SAME STORE SALES FIGURES FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST RETAILER ONLY REACHED ABOUT ONE PERCENT, VERSUS A PROJECTED RANGE BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PERCENT – ONE OF THE SLOWEST MONTHS IN RECENT MEMORY FOR THE COMPANY.

FBI STARTS SNITCH HOTLINE

THE FBI IN LITTLE ROCK SAYS IT NOW HAS A HOTLINE – AND A WEBSITE – DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO WANT TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION. AGENTS SAY THEY DON’T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEMS WITH PUBLIC CORRUPTION AT THIS POINT, BUT DO HAVE SOME OPEN CASES, AND COULD USE THE HELP. TIPSTERS CAN STAY ANONYMOUS, EVEN THOUGH AGENTS WISH THEY WOULDN’T.

LINCOLN MAYOR HAS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

LINCOLN MAYOR HENRY BUCHANAN HAS SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER. POLICE IN THE TOWN SAY HE ASKED A POLICE OFFICER TO GIVE A WOMAN “A BREAK” DURING A DWI STOP IN MAY. POLICE SAY THEY PULLED THE WOMAN OVER, AND FOUND THE MAYOR RIDING WITH HER. THE OFFICER WHO MADE THE STOP SAID THE MAYOR APPEARED TO HAVE ALSO BEEN DRINKING. THE MAYOR HAD NO COMMENT ON THE STORY YESTERDAY.

LOW PAY FOR WASHCO. EMPLOYEES

WASHINGTON COUNTY EMPLOYEES MAKE LESS PAY THAN OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THE COUNTY HAS BALANCED ITS BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT FIGURES SHOW MOST EMPLOYEE SALARIES FALL BELOW A MID-POINT OF AVERAGE PAY. THE QUORUM COURT HAS APPROVED 3-POINT-5 PERCENT PAY RAISES, BUT A SALARY CONSULTANT SAYS THAT WILL ONLY MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. EMPLOYEES IN BOTH BENTON AND SEBASTIAN COUNTY APPARENTLY MAKE MORE MONEY.

FEDERAL FUNDING SHORTFALL COULD AFFECT STATE KIDS

SHORTFALLS IN FUNDING FOR A FEDERAL CHILD HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN COULD HURT A PROGRAM FOR KIDS IN ARKANSAS. THE NATION’S GOVERNORS YESTERDAY ASKED CONGRESS TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THE PROGRAM. RIGHT NOW, LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE WOULD TAKE MONEY FROM SIXTEEN STATES, INCLUDING ARKANSAS, WHICH HAVE MANAGED TO BUILD UP A SURPLUS IN FEDERAL CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS – AND GIVE IT TO STATES WITH MORE NEED FOR THE CASH. AMONG CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES – SENATOR BLANCHE LINCOLN HAS SAID THE STATE NEEDS THE MONEY, WHICH PROVIDES A “THREE YEAR CUSHION” FOR THE PROGRAM.

ROCK, PAPER -- HOT SPRINGS

HOT SPRINGS IS ABOUT TO BECOME HOST TO AN UNUSUAL SPORTING EVENT – A “ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS” TOURNAMENT. THE STATE’S FIRST U-S-A ROCK PAPER SCISSORS LEAGUE SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT WILL TAKE PLACE MARCH 31ST IN ARKANSAS. THE WINNER WILL ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN LAS VEGAS. LAST YEAR, THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT GOT TELEVISION COVERAGE.

What about that cup stacking game? Couldn't we get that in NWA? You know, something to go along with the WNBA team and the semi-pro baseball thing?

NEW LOOK FOR HALLOWEEN

On the suggestion of an old friend, we've changed up (just a bit) the look of our masthead. I've taken down my pic, and in my place is actor Peter Finch as "Howard Beale" the mad prophet of the airwaves. Hope it suits you.

BAD MOVE WITH THE KIDS IN THE ADS...

We agree with George Sand over at ArkansasPolitics about the newest Asa ad, and think, by George, the venerable writer has a point about honesty in the papers. Here's a touch of what GS has to say...

The problem with being a newspaperman in NWA is that you have to understand where you live. Today an Editorial entitled “An Innocent ad” starts out talking about hypothetical Candidates A and B - now the piece basically takes off on the Hutchinson (Candidate A) camp for the repulsive use of children to attack Mike Beebe (Candidate B). The author does a dandy job of straddling the picket fence. First, no name candidates, then the good cop, bad cop back and forth on the good bad and slightly ugly (maybe) of the ad. There’s no doubt the kiddies ad is over the top. There’s no doubt it is a sizeable blunder by the campaign, who are outsiders, and obviously don’t have a clue what an Arkansan voter finds acceptable. There’s no doubt that this will cost Hutchinson swing votes that he desperately needs. To the newspaperman; although you are in NWA, calling a spade a spade even if they are Republican would be refreshing and lend some credibility to your newspaper to the “other half”.

Nail on the head here. At least all the kids didn't belong to the Duggar family -- that we could understand.

CYBERMOUTH HERE'S YOUR SIGN

Do politicians and pundits really think the people of Arkansas are just brain-dead stupid? I mean, I know a lot of people up north think that, just because they bought in to the whole “Arkansas Traveller” thing and they’ve never been here themselves. But these guys are supposed to be natives.

Take Lt. Governor candidate Jim Holt, for example. His sophomoric campaign signs had to be designed to appeal to the absolute lowest common denominator. For starters, he’s got the little fish symbol up in the corner, announcing that he’s a Christian – AS IF our great state electing, say, a Jewish LG would result in making Yiddish the official state language (rather than Spanish), and forced circumcision of every newborn male child.

Silly? Of course. That would never happen. Lt. Governors don’t have anything to do with what happens to babies or what language we speak. Or do they?

Holt also has boldly printed signs displaying things like “Stop Illegal Immigration” and “Pro-Life” – implying that if he were elected there was one iota of anything he could do about either issue. Then there’s “End the Food Tax”, and “Pro Gun”.

Yippee! All folks that subscribe to those philosophies have to do to get things to go their way is to vote for this guy for Lt. Governor. If you believe that, I’ve got a sign for you.

Sometimes, it isn’t what a candidate has on his own sign, but what the opposition doesn’t have on his. That’s why it’s so important to grab the stuff you think people will like before the other guy gets it. Holt’s opponent, Bill Halter, doesn’t add those little tidbits to his campaign signs. So, by implication, that must mean that Halter is an atheist who would double the taxes on food and confiscate our guns so we won’t be able to shoot those Mexicans swarming over our borders, or stop the doctors Halter will have performing mandatory abortions on all our women. Or, better yet, maybe Halter will just perform those operations himself. Because he could do that, you know. Lt. Governors have that kind of power.

A blogger on a northwest Arkansas site insists that, because Asa! has more signs alongside our roadways than Mike Beebe, that means he’s going to be our next governor. Simple solution to a complex issue. Why should we spend all the money to hold an election when all we really need to do is hire a handful of guys to drive all the roads in Arkansas and take a tally of the campaign signs? We could probably make a deal with the Post Office to let these guys ride along with them. So, we made a bet. If, after November 7, you drive by my house and see a bunch of Asa! signs in my front yard, you’ll know I lost.

I actually got into a bit of a spat (imagine!) with another blogger who expressed outrage that Mike Beebe stole a word from Asa! Hutchinson. Yep. A word. Seems Beebe said something to the effect that drugs were a “scourge” on south Arkansas. The blogger was really chapped, because Asa! had already used the word “scourge” when referring to the drug problem, and felt that Beebe should have used another one. “Blessing”, perhaps. My suggestion to that guy was that his candidate should immediately call a press conference and read the dictionary, aloud. That way, there wouldn’t be any words left for the “bad guy” to use. People surely wouldn’t vote for somebody who couldn’t pronounce any word in the English language. Like “nuclear” for example.

Then there are the TV and radio commercials. Geez, the commercials. For a while there, Asa! and Beebe were trying to “out hick” each other. Born six miles down a dirt road in a tarpaper shack with no running water or electricity. Had to walk twenty miles every day to school, in the snow, barefooted, up hill, both ways, carrying their sack lunch consisting of lard on a three-day old biscuit. Then they had to come home and milk the chickens and shoot a rat for supper before getting two hours sleep in the box the rich neighbor’s 13” black and white TV came in. You know, qualifications for the office of Governor.

In the end, all the campaign signs and media commercials in the world aren’t going to make any difference among people who consider themselves either Republicans or Democrats; or that elite group of folks ( I don’t know any of them personally.) who actually keep up with what’s going on. Those things are designed for the “undecided”, who will, apparently, fall for anything. I would suggest to those people that they look around and ask themselves if they and their state are better or worse for having one party or another in charge in recent years, and then vote according to that. But, then again, if they’re as dumb as the politicians apparently think they are, they probably don’t know who’s been in charge. In that case, they should be pointed to a pinball machine somewhere and told it costs a quarter to vote.

TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

First story today is shocking, to say the least. We just wish the lead story this morning had something, anything to do with "stay the course" -- you know, the thing the President (now) has never said? Here's the news...

10 YEAR OLD GIRL STRANGLED

AN AUTOPSY SHOWS THAT SOMEONE STRANGLED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO DIED THIS WEEKEND IN SPRINGDALE. POLICE GOT A CALL ABOUT A CHILD HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING – WHEN EMERGENCY CREWS ARRIVED AT THE HOME, THEY COULDN’T REVIVE THE GIRL. RIGHT NOW, DETECTIVES SAY THEY DON’T HAVE ANY SUSPECTS IN THE MURDER. HOWEVER, THEY DID ARREST THE GIRL’S GUARDIAN FOR ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR.

PRICE TAG FOR UAMS IN NWA

IT’LL COST 11 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES TO EXPAND IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. UAMS PLANS TO PRESENT A PLAN TO LAWMAKERS TO DO THAT, WITH A GOAL OF EDUCATING MORE THAN 250 EXTRA STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE SCHOOL SAYS HAVING A SATELITTE PROGRAM IN THE REGION WOULD ALLOW MORE STUDENTS TO STAY IN ARKANSAS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AT LOCAL HOSPITALS…

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE

LAST NIGHT IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS, ON STATEWIDE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION, CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOOZMAN DEBATED HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT WOODROW ANDERSON. THE WAR IN IRAQ BECAME A CENTRAL TOPIC, WITH MR. ANDERSON CALLED FOR A TIMETALBE FOR WITHDRAWL OF US TROOPS, AND MR. BOOZMAN SAYING POLITICIANS SHOULDN’T RUN THE WAR FROM WASHINGTON.

WAL-MART TO SLOW THINGS DOWN

WAL-MART YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NEW STORESIT’LL OPEN NEXT YEAR. THE COMPANY ALSO SAID IT WOULD FOCUS ON INCREASING SLOW SALES. SOME BELIEVE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS AIMED AT WALL STREET ANALYSTS. THE COMPANY ALSO SAYS IT’LL REDUCE THE RISE IN CAPITAL SPENDING NEXT YEAR.

GAS FACILITY WILL CLEAN UP SPILL

IN ROGERS, WORKERS WILL START DIGGING UP TONS OF GAS-SOAKED DIRT NEAR A GAS STORAGE AND PIPELINE FACILITY, WHERE MORE THAN 70-THOUSAND GALLONS OF GASOLINE LEAKED IN EARLY OCTOBER. TRANSMONTAINGNE PARTNERS FILED A PLAN TO CLEAR UP THE SITE – IT HAD TO CREATE A PLAN AS A RESULT OF AN EMERGENCY ORDER FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THE COMPANY FIRED TWO PEOPLE, CALLING THE LEAK A RESULT OF HUMAN ERROR.

FED EX TO OPEN LOWELL FACILITY

FED-EX PLANS TO OPEN A GROUND DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN LOWELL. THE SITE WILL STAND ON 9 ACRES OF LAND IN LOWELL’S COMMERCE PARK. DEVELOPERS SAY THE LOCATION SITS SQUARELY IN THE CENTER OF THE COMPANY’S MARKET. NO WORD ON HOW SOON THE CENTER WILL OPEN, OR JUST HOW MUCH IT’LL COST TO CREATE.

NAKED MAN CAUGHT IN WINDOW

SOME BAD LUCK FOR A MAN IN FORREST CITY, ARKANSAS. POLICE BELIEVE HE INTENDED TO ROB A LOCAL HOME, BUT ENDED UP WEARING HANDCUFFS WHEN HE GOT STUCK, NAKED, IN A WINDOW. POLICE SAY THEY FOUND 19 YEAR OLD DENNIS REED, JR. STUCK BETWEEN AN AIR CONDITIONER AND A WINDOW FRAME. REED SAYS SOMEONE FORCED HIM, AT GUNPOINT, TO ENTER THE HOME.

...likely story, boy genius.

MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Early voting starts today, so you've officially entered the combat zone. Here's the news...

EARLY BALLOTING STARTS TODAY

YOU CAN START CASTING EARLY BALLOTS IN THE NOVEMBER 7TH GENERAL ELECTION TODAY. IF YOU WONDER WHERE TO DO THAT, YOU CAN USUALLY CAST BALLOTS AT YOUR COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE – GOOD IDEA TO CONTACT THE COUNTY FIRST AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHERE TO CAST THOSE BALLOTS. ON THE BALLOT THIS TIME – THE GOVERNOR’S RACE BETWEEN DEMOCRAT MIKE BEEBE AND REPUBLICAN ASA HUTCHINSON – YOU’LL ALSO SEE THE NAMES OF GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE JIM LENDALL AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE ROD BRYAN. VOTERS WILL ALSO HAVE TO DECIDE ON WHETHER CHARITIES CAN HOLD BINGO GAMES TO RAISE MONEY, AND WHETHER THE STATE CAN SELL BONDS TO BENEFIT PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

REPUBLICAN HOT-BUTTON STRATEGY

AND, AS WE GET CLOSER TO NOVEMBER 7TH, YOU’LL NOTICE THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE. TWO CANDIDATES FROM THE PARTY WENT ON A STATEWIDE TOUR TO WARN VOTERS ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. DIRECT MAIL PICES LAST WEEK CRITICIZED DEMOCRATS OVER GAY MARRIAGE AS WELL – ALL PART OF A HOME STRETCH STATEGY TO GET VOTERS ACTIVE AS THE CAMPAIGN CYCLE ENDS. SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN MAIL PIECES GOING OUT FEATURE PICTURES OF HILLARY RODHMA CLINTON, MICHAEL MOORE, JANE FONDA AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN HOWARD DEAN.

ROGERS DETECTIVE RECOVERS

A ROGERS POLICE DETECTIVE SHOT ON FRIDAY CONTINUES TO RECOVER THIS MORNING IN THE HOSPITAL. POLICE SAY DETECTIVE BRIAN CULPEPPER GOT HURT DURING A STRUGGLE AS POLICE TRIED TO SERVE A DRUG –RELATED SEARCH WARRANT. POLICE ARRESTED ONE WOMAN IN CONNECTION WITH WHAT HAPPENED. THE DETECTIVE WENT THROUGH ABOUT THREE HOURS OF SURGERY OVER THE WEEKEND.

ANOTHER BIG DIAMOND FOUND IN ARK.

A MAN FROM WISCONSIN DISCOVERED A NEARLY 5 AND A HALF CARAT DIAMOND AT THE “CRATER OF DIAMONDS” STATE PARK IN MURFREESBORO. BOB WEHLE FOUND THE DIAMOND OCTOBER 14TH – THE SECOND LARGEST DIAMOND FOUND AT THE PARK THIS YEAR. A TEXAS COUPLE FOUND THE LARGETST DIAMOND – A 6-POINT-35 CARAT MONSTER – IN SEPTEMBER AT THE PARK.

FAYETTEVILLE HOTEL GETS MAKEOVER

THE RADISSON HOTEL IN FAYETTEVILLE WILL GO THROUGH AN “EXTREME MAKEOVER” IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE HOTEL WAS PURCHASED BY A PARTNERSHIP FORMED BY RICHARD ALEXANDER AND JOHN NOCK, LOCAL DEVELOPERS. THEY SAY THEY’LL HAVE DESIGNS DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND WILL NOT SHUT DOWN THE BUILDING AS THE RE-HAB WORK CONTINUES. NOCK DESCRIBES THE NEW DESIGN AS BOTH “CHIC AND MODERN” SOMETHING YOU MIGHT SEE IN A METROPOLITAN AREA.

Hey, we broadcast at the Radisson...uh-oh, wonder what that'll mean for the studios...

MORE POLL NUMBERS...

Our friend Roby Brock checks in this morning with his final polling figures on the statewide races, without too many suprises. We start early balloting today (Monday) in the general election, so head out to your county clerk's office when you have some time and cast a ballot in the race. Here are polling results...

Our third and final Constituent Dynamics poll indicates solid leads for Democrats Mike Beebe and Dustin McDaniel, but the biggest movement shows Democrat Bill Halter opening up a lead on Republican Jim Holt.

In our two previous polls, Halter led Holt by four points. Today, Halter has extended that lead to 50%-39% with 11% undecided.

Our final Constituent Dynamics poll surveyed 999 likely Arkansas voters. The poll was conducted on October 16-18 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

Democrat Mike Beebe leads Republican Asa Hutchinson 52%-39%. Green Party candidate Jim Lendall and Independent Rod Bryan are polling 2% each. 5% remain undecided. These numbers are largely unchanged from our last Constituent Dynamics poll despite weeks of paid media and the last of three debates between the two major party candidates.

Democrat Dustin McDaniel continues his advantage over Republican Gunner DeLay 56% to 35% with 9% undecided.

Ballot Question #1, which would allow for $250 million in bonds for Arkansas colleges and universities to invest in technology and facilities, appears poised to pass. 52% would vote yes today; 26% would vote no. 22% say they are undecided.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment #1, which would allow for charity bingo and raffles, is also enjoying solid support. 60% say they would vote for the amendment today, 24% say they oppose the measure. 16% are undecided.

59 to 39% for Beebe? It sounds like Katherine Harris' numbers in Florida look better that than. What gives? I know Zogby has the race much tighter, but taken together, the polls show a consensus.

FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING

Ah, today, we have more ballot problems, this time in Benton County, courtesy of repeat offender ES&S Software of Nebraska. Problem? No ballots with early voting starting Monday -- not printed yet. OK, here's the news...

JOHNNY CAN READ, BUT CAN HE WRITE?

A WASHINGTON, D.C. BASED GROUPS SAYS ONLY 18 PERCENT OF THE STATE’S 8TH GRADERS CAN WRITE AT OR ABOVE A PROFICIENT LEVEL. THE “ALLIANCE FOR EXCELLENT EDUCATION’S” REPORT WARNS THAT FEW HIGH SCHOOL KIDS IN AMERICA CAN WRITE WELL ENOUGH TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF WORK OR COLLEGE. THE REPORT ALSO MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW ARKANSAS AND OTHER STATES COULD IMPROVE STUDENTS ABILITIES AT WRITING, AND STRESSED THAT READING PROFICIENCY ONLY PROVIDES HALF THE NATION’S “LITERACY PICTURE.”

CANDIDATE SMACKDOWN: LT. GOV RACE

THE LT. GOVERNOR’S CANDIDATES HAVE DONE IT AGAIN – THIS TIME, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BILL HALTER CRITICIZED REPUBLICAN JIM HOLT FOR VOTING AGAINST MORE MONEY FOR BATTERED WOMEN’S SHELTERS. HOLT’S CAMPAIGN PUBLICLY RESPONDED BY SAYING HALTER HAD USED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR POLITICAL GAIN. HOLT VOTED AGAINST LEGISLATION IN 2003 THAT WOULD HAVE PAID MORE MONEY TO BATTERED WOMENS’ SHELTERS BY INCREASING THE FEE FOR MARRIAGE LICENSES.

BENCO. BALLOT TROUBLE

BENTON COUNTY HAS BALLOT PROBLEMS. THE ELECTION COMMISSION THERE SAYS IT HASN’T RECEIVED ANY OF THE 80-THOUSAND BALLOTS ORDERED FOR THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION. ABSENTEE BALLOTS SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT IN THE MAIL OCTOBER 13TH. COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY’VE ASKED THE PRINTING COMPANY IN OMAHA TO EXPLAIN THE DELAY. THAT COMPANY? E-S-AND-S SOFTWARE, THE SAME COMPANY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MESS WE SAW DURING THE PRIMARIES THIS YEAR. THE COMPANY SAYS A PARTIAL SHIPMENT OF BALLOTS SHOULD ARRIVE THIS WEEK. EARLY VOTING STARTS MONDAY.

SPORTS ARENA MOVES TO ROGERS

A SPORTS ARENA PLANNED FOR BENTONVILLE HAS A NEW NAME – AND A NEW HOME. THE PROPOSED NORTHWEST ARKANSAS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ARENA, PLANNED FOR SOUTHWEST BENTONVILLE NEAR XNA WILL NOW MOVE TO ROGERS’ PLEASANT CROSSING. THAT NEWS COMES FROM THE DEVELOPER. CHRIS TALLEY ALSO SAYS THE ARENA HAS INVESTORS AND FINANCING IN PLACE, AND SHOULD OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2008. THE ARENA MAY HOST A NEW WNBA TEAM.

SOCIAL SECY CHECK STOLEN AT HOMELESS SHELTER

A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF FAYETTEVILLE’S SEVEN HILLS HOMELESS SHELTER FACES CHARGES AFTER POLICE ARRESTED HER MID-WEEK FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS FROM SHELTER RESIDENTS. 44 YEAR OLD CIM LISA SMITH FACES SIX FELONY COUNTS OF FORGERY AND A COUNT OF THEFT OF PROPERTY. A MAN AT A SHELTER REPORTED THE THEFTS AFTER FINDING OUT FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT THAT SOMEONE HAD DEPOSITED ONE OF HIS CHECKS AT A LOCAL BANK. POLICE DISCOVERED CHECKS FROM SIX DIFFERENT PEOPLE DEPOSITED IN THE SAME ACCOUNT, WHICH BEARS MS. SMITH’S NAME. SHE WORKED AT THE SHELTER UNTIL THIS PAST MONDAY.

GREGG ST. CONSTRUCTION TO START

IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE ON GREGG AVENUE IN FAYETTEVILLE, GET READY FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK NEXT WEEK. THE CITY SAYS WORK WILL START TO WIDEN THE ROAD INTO A FOUR LANE STREET BETWEEN TOWNSHIP AND I-540. THE PROJECT WILL RECEIVE 800-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE CITY – MANAGED BY THE STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORATION DEPARTMENT. OVERALL, THE PROJECT COST ABOUT 6 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH INCLUDES STATE FUNDING.

Wonder how long this will take. After all, Gregg is kind of the alternate route...

NEW MOVIE ON THE WAY...WHAT IS IT?

Not sure what type of beast this is. Is it a documentary? Is a mock-u-mentary? I'd watch it just for the background scenes shot at the RNC. I'm a big fan of films like "The War Room" which I just watched again last week. Here's a clip, and here's a blurb from the company making "Conventioneers"...

Shooting entirely in New York, director Mora Stephens and producer Joel Viertel utilizes the 2004 Republican National Convention by incorporating events of the RNC into the storyline of the film. The film blends actors with real events and real activists from both sides of the aisle, and features breaK through performances by actors Mathew Mabe and Woodwvn Koons as the two star-crossed lovers and Alex Friedman as the interpreter, all of whom must choose between their political ideas and their personal desires during the tumultuous days of the convention.

Again, interested, but not sure. My call for "the movie" to watch would be "The Death of a President" -- a creepy flick, but I gotta see it.

Here's the creepy, and highly controversial scene where the President (you-know-who) is killed outside a Chicago Hotel in October, 2007. The rest of the flick pretends to interview Secret Service agents on-duty that day. Shades of frickin' JFK. OK, maybe not, but I find this pretty creepy and weird, along the lines of "Dr. Strangelove" in some ways...here's the clip...



The flick is from Britain, and has received mixed reviews, with a number of major movie distributors refusing to show it in the U.S.

CANDIDATE EDITORIALS (AND AIRTIME) -- AN INVITATION

Ms. R. Kennedy's pic -- she's the Green AG candidate, and the reason for this post.

OK, I think Green Party AG candidate Rebekah Kennedy sparked this thought with me. After I listened to her speak about the various issues the other night at a sparsely attended candidate forum at the U of A, she took issue with a headline I wrote in the morning news briefing. She said it could mislead the public as to her party's stance on immigration issues. Fair enough, but I haven't changed it yet -- I'm kind of short on space. Read down to the story in the Thursday morning briefing, and send me notes if you think the headline is misleading.

That said, I extended an invitation to her to write an editorial for us here -- and yes, I think we'll extend that to our friends on a couple of other blogs, like the one we do on the Arktimes.com site, "Up North." If you're running for statewide office, and you'd like to pen a standard editorial, no more than 1000 words, I'll run it here, as is. Offer goes for Dems, Repubs, Greens, Independents, and write-in's. Pick your topic, but we appreciate anything to do with immigration, education, gambling, gay foster parents, gay marriage, state budget, gun control, abortion, the War, the Administration, your opponents, etc. You write it, we'll run it.

I'll go even further -- if you haven't appeared on one of my radio programs on Newstalk 1030 KFAY-AM, I'm extending an invitation to do so before the November 7th election. Sorry to Mr. Holt and Mr. Beebe, they've had a shot on-air, but I'd love to read what you have to write. Ms. Kennedy may kick things off for us on immigration.

By the way, not that I'm registering with any party, but she sounded pretty smart the other night. We'd love to have you here -- and may even do video of your interview for posting here. We know we have a couple of readers, and we post at several other sites. Your material will travel to them all. Accept our invitation...just drop us a note at don.elkins@arkansastonight.com or click the "contact!" link in the left hand column.

Ms. Kennedy, the floor is yours...

WHOLE LOTTA HOLT GOIN' ON

The major party candidates for the Lt. Gov's office have been slapping each other around again. Ready for a round of "he said - he said?" Let's start. First, Bill Halter abuses Holt for voting against stopping abusers...

Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Bill Halter on Thursday criticized opponent Jim Holt for voting against increased funding for battered women's shelters, a criticism that Holt's campaign dismissed as using domestic violence for political gain.

Halter's campaign criticized Holt, a state senator from Springdale, for voting against legislation in 2003 that would have increased funding for battered women's shelters by increasing the marriage license fee.

"Jim Holt's legislative record shows a disregard for the most vulnerable Arkansans," Halter campaign manager Michael Cook said.

Holt spokesman Dan Noble said Holt's mother was a battered wife from one of her ex-husbands and said Holt has counseled abused women through his church in Springdale.

"The Halter campaign is at an absolute low," Noble said. "Halter should be ashamed for using this delicate issue in an attempt to garner votes."

Point to the Halter campaign on this one. Holt, penality for making the issue a personal one and not one of policy. Naughty, naughty, naughty. Stop that and talk about the issue, unless you don't have anything constructive to say. This just makes you sound overly sensitive.

Next round? Anyone? It's Holt's turn to slap Halter around. This time, more about where Big Bill actually lives or lived. Is it Arkansas or is it D.C.? Holt's campaign claims that last week, Halter's folks jacked them on the van issue, i.e., who gave Jim a van, was that unethical, etc., etc. The Holties say the media jumped all over that (really, are you suprised? Jim is the king of free media, he should be happy -- he's an old pro at getting the most amazing headlines in the state) but may not show the same apetite to cover a housing exemption claimed each year (allegedly) by Halter. "The Homestead Exemption" seems to require someone to declare their state of residence, perhaps D.C. in Mr. Halter's case. Holties ask where Halter lived in 2003, '04 and '05. They say Halter has been "going around the state claiming he has always been an Arkansan." Not sure what we think of this yet, but it's at least worth putting on the table. (actually this article courtesy of the Morning News has a lot more on the story...read it, understand it...it may change your view of this story)We're not certain Halter has actually said he has always LIVED in the state -- actually, he hasn't. He has said he grew up in Conway and makes his home here now. This may be splitting hairs, but why not check it out?

Holt's campaign has even gone so far as to include soundbites from the candidate, something we actually like a lot -- Mr. Halter should respond in-kind with his own soundbites. In fact, unless that means they won't talk to reporters, there's a goldmine for anyone who can gin these up and send them to radio stations statewide. If both candidates do it, they'll both have an increased chance of short-circuiting the campaign finance and fundraising system and they'll get shoo-in stories on-air and on-line. Take it a step further -- do video releases, both of you, and you'll get more tv exposure.

Take a listen...

Holt Speaks, Part One



Holt Speaks, Part Two

Der ya go. Gloves 'er off now.

UPDATE: We're not sure where we read or heard this, but it seems the print media says the State Republican Party has accepted the explanation of officials in DC that the tax thing was a problem that happened to a lot of people, without their participation. So, why is the Holt campaign still reaching on this one?