A quick explanation -- we've got a correction as our first story today, so you may also know we didn't have news yesterday morning on this site. OK, we had some major problems, and the news never made it online. There, now you have an explanation...here's your morning news...

RUNOFF UPDATES - CORRECTIONS AND CHANGES

IN THE INTEREST OF ACCURACY, WE NEED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF CORRECTIONS TO OUR COVERAGE OF RUNOFF ELECTION RESULTS. FIRST, WE MISTAKENLY REPORTED THAT LOWELL MAYOR PHIL BIGGERS RETAINED HIS SEAT – IN FACT, HE DID NOT, AND PERRY LONG WON THAT ELECTION, AND WILL TAKE OVER AT CITY HALL. IN THE OTHER STORY – WE SAW SOME CHANGES IN THE BALLOT COUNT IN ONE OF THE RACES FOR THE FAYETTEVILLE CITY COUNCIL. IT LOOKED AS IF RICHARD OSBORNE HAD WON HIS RACE BY THE SLIM MARGIN OF TWO BALLOTS – NOW, WE’VE LEARNED THAT IT LOOKS LIKE ADELLA GRAY HAS WON BY 4 VOTES. THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ELECTION COMISSION APOLOGIZED TO BOTH CANDIDATES, AND SAYS IT APPEARS ELECTION WORKERS MAY HAVE COUNTED SOME BALLOTS TWICE. MR. OSBORNE WILL PAY FOR A RECOUNT, SO AS OF THIS MORNING, NOTHING IS OFFICIAL.

WASHCO SAYS "NO WAY" TO ES&S

AND, MORE ABOUT THE TROUBLES WITH THE VOTE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS REFUSED TO SIGN A CERTIFICATE SAYING THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH SERVICE FROM ES&S SOFTWARE, THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING IN ARKANSAS. ES&S HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE – PART OF WHICH INCLUDES THE REQUIREMENT THE COMPANY GET THOSE CERTIFICATES OF SATISFACTION FROM EACH COUNTY. COMMISSION CHAIR JOHN BURROWS SAYS THE COMPANY FAILED TO PROVIDE A TECHNICIAN ON ELECTION TONIGHT – SERVICE HE DOES NOT CONSIDER “ADEQUATE.” NO WORD FROM ES&S ABOUT THE NEWS.

CAUSE OF MISSOURI FATAL FIRE

INVESTIGATORS IN MISSOURI NOW BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHAT STARTED A DEADLY FIRE AT A HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND MENTALLY INCAPACITATED EARLIER THIS WEEK. THAT FIRE KILLED 10 PEOPLE. FIRE OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE FIRE STARTED IN THE BUILDING’S ATTIC, THE RESULT OF A NATURAL GAS LEAK OR A FAULTY FURNACE. THEY HAVEN’T COMPLETELY RULED OUT THE CHANCE OF ARSON IN THE CASE.

WILL THEY KEEP THEIR JOBS?

THREE PEOPLE MAY HAVE – FOR NOW – JOBS AT WAL-MART. HOWEVER, THEIR PARTICIPATION IN TELEVISION ADS PUT TOGETHER BY WAKEUPWALMART-DOT-COM MAY COST THEM THOSE JOBS. THE UNION-BACKED ORGANIZATION HAS STARTED A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE COMPANY. IN THE ADS, THE THREE EMPLOYEES URGE WAL-MART TO “PUT FAMILIES FIRST” THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. THEY ALSO COMPLAIN ABOUT INSURANCE AND ABOUT WAGES.

WILL FARMERS SUPPORT ENDING GROCERY TAX?

THE STATE’S NEXT GOVERNOR SAYS CHANGES IN TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR FARM PRODUCTS WON’T END UP USED TO MAKE UP FOR MONEY LOST WHEN THE STATE GETS RIDE OF THE SALES TAX ON FOOD. MIKE BEEBE ALSO ASKED FARMERS YESTERDAY TO SUPPORT REVOKING THE GROCERY TAX. BEEBE SPOKE AT THE FARM BUREAU’S CONVENTION. STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON WAYS TO GET RID OF THE SIX-CENT TAX OVER TIME.

STUDENTS NOT READY FOR COLLEGE?

THE STATE’S HIGH SCHOOLS APPARENTLY DON’T DO ENOUGH TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE. THAT OPINION COMES FROM NEARLY HALF OF PROFESSORS SURVEYED STATEWIDE. THE STATE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKE WITH 315 PROFESSORS AT STATE UNIVERSITIES. ONE IN TEN PROFESSORS GAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AN “F” GRADE FOR GETTING THE KIDS READY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. 50 PERCENT GAVE THE SCHOOLS A “D” GRADE. THESTATE’S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER, KEN JAMES, SAID THE RESULTS DIDN’T SURPRISE HIM.

OK, back to work now.

Cybermouth

So, what about this Kramer (Michael Richards) thing? If you’ve been living in a cave somewhere, playing Yahtzee with Osama bin Laden, you might not have heard about the little comedy stage overkill retaliation fit he opened up on a couple of African American hecklers in his audience. During the heretofore unexplained rant, Richards made some unfortunate and ill-advised verbalizations of the old “N” word, and media hell opened up and swallowed him. Since then, he has humbly apologized to everyone from Jesse Jackson to God, but apparently that’s not enough. A transgression as monumental as this can be rectified by only one thing. Money.

The two victims of this verbal holocaust have retained the services of a high profile LA attorney. “Why”, you may ask, “would these young men need an attorney?” They haven’t been charged with any crime. Heckling isn’t against the law. Perhaps Richards’ words carried with them some invisible daggers that twirled stealthily above the rest of the crowd, striking these innocent hecklers, slicing open their jugulars, allowing their blood to spill out in buckets. As we all know, there’s only one thing that can heal one from such massive wounds. Money.

Maybe these young men, having grown up in such a gentle and enlightened age, have never heard the “N” word used before – and it created in them such psychological trauma that only a big stack of G-notes will come close to paying the bills for all the psychiatric treatment they’ll surely have to endure for the remainders of their suddenly worthless lives. Apologies can’t do that. Apologies are only words.

One thing is for sure. Fifty years from now, those of us still walking this previously gentle and enlightened earth will be able to tell our grandchildren exactly where we were and what we were doing at the moment Michael Richards, on a comedy club stage where nothing profane had ever been said, uttered those fateful words. It was an end of the innocence, my friends – when the global peace and harmony we had so enjoyed for centuries was shattered like so many Molotov cocktails against some forgotten American Embassy wall. In the blink of an eye, white folk began to fear and look down upon black folk. Blacks began to distrust and resent whites. Muslims declared war on Christians. Genocide occurred in Africa. Conservatives blamed Liberals. Liberals got high. And people began to cheat on their taxes. And turmoil and anarchy was born in the world. Even rap music took on an anti-social and violent tone. If only Michael Richards had possessed the foresight, grace, and wisdom to walk up to those innocent hecklers, kiss them on the lips, and hand them each a thousand dollars, instead of succumbing to the Klansman within, we’d all still be living in the Garden of Eden. After all, none of us had ever before used a racial epithet

But he didn’t do it that way. So now we must live in the world Kramer made for us.

© 2006 Rick Baber

Tuesday, and I'm still wiped from spending most of yesterday on the road to LR, and then a good deal of time taping an interview with Senators Shane Broadway, Jim Argue and Brummett. If I recall correctly, none of them said they'd bought anything for the Huckcabees on that "wedding registry" to help furnish the outgoing governor's new private home. Maybe they just wanted to keep it a secret...here's the news.

DEADLY FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION IN MISSOURI

MISSOURI GOVERNOR MATT BLUNT SAYS POLICE IN HIS STATE WILL TREAT A DEADLY FIRE AT A GROUP HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND MENTALLY ILL AS A POSSIBLE CRIME. TEN PEOPLE DIED AT THE PRIVATELY RUN ANDERSON GUEST HOUSE SOUTH OF JOPLIN. TWO DOZEN OTHER PEOPLE ALSO GOT HURT. THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED ABOUT 1 A.M. INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT A FIRE THAT STARTED AT THE HOME EARLIER IN THE WEEKEND. THE FIRE STARTED WITH 32 RESIDENTS AND TWO EMPLOYEES IN THE BUILDING.

WILL LAKEVIEW CONTINUE?

ARKANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE BEEBE SAYS THE STATE SUPREME COURT WOULD VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL SEPARATION BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT IF IT EXTENDS THE LAKE VIEW SCHOOL FUNDING CASE. LAST YEAR, THE JUSTICES GAVE THE STATE UNTIL FRIDAY TO FIX INEQUITIES IN SCHOOL FUNDING. IN APRIL, DURING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LAWMAKERS WORKED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION PROBLEMS. A SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ASKED THE HIGH COURT TO CONTINUE THE CASE.

ALLEN CANNING EXPANDS

ALLEN CANNING OF SILOAM SPRINGS SAYS IT PLANS TO BUY FIVE PLANTS FROM NEW YORK BAED BIRDS EYE FOODS. THE SALE WOULD RESULT IN THE LARGEST EXPANSION IN THE COMPANY’S 80 YEARS IN BUSINESS. ALLEN CANNING WILL TAKE OVER THE PLANS LOCATED IN NEW YORK, WISCONSIN AND GEORGIA. THE PLANTS PROCESS STORE BRAND FROZEN VEGETABLES. THE DEAL WILL AFFECT ABOUT 700 EMPLOYEES AT THE FACTORIES.

FARMINGTON OFFERS WATER PLAN

FARMINGTON’S CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD UPGRADE WASTEWATER LINES BETWEEN THAT CITY AND THE WEST SIDE OF FAYETTEVILLE. THE PLAN WOULD SPLIT THE BILL BETWEEN THE TOWNS FOR ENGINEERING WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS. FAYETTEVILLE’S CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HAVE TO APPROVE THE PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT WORK TO BEGIN. THE PLAN WOULD ALSO RESULT IN FARMINGTON PAYING AT LEAST 480-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FAYETTEVILLE FOR PORTIONS OF THE WORK.

ELECTRONIC VOTING NEEDS MORE MONEY

IF THE STATE DOESN’T SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, IT COULD LOSE EMPLOYEES NEEDED TO HELP MAKE THE TRANSITION TO STATEWIDE ELECTRONIC VOTING. THAT NEWS CAME YESTERDAY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE, WHICH SAYS THE MONEY WOULD REPLACE FEDERAL START-UP MONEY INTENDED TO GET ELECTRONIC VOTING “IN PLACE.”

STATE RUNOFFS TODAY

RUNOFF ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE STATEWIDE TODAY, WITH POLLS OPENING AT 7:30 AND CLOSING TONIGHT AT 7:30. VOTERS WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THE MAYOR’S RACE IN GRAVETTE, OF CITY COUNCIL RACES IN SPRINGDALE, FAYETTEVILLE, BELLA VISTA AND PEA RIDGE.

Vote early, vote often.

OK, it hurts to be back at the studio, but back we are today. Not much in the way of news this morning. Headed to LR this morning for a meeting with John Brummett (sp?) and Senate laders to talk about (of course) education. More later...here's the news.

BAD GRADE FOR U OF A?

A GROUP BASED IN WASHINGTON DC SAYS THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS HAS A POOR RECORD RECRUITING MINORITIES AND STUDENTS FROM POOR FAMILIES. THE “EDUCATION TRUST, INC.” GIVES THE U OF A’S FAYETTEVILLE CAMPUS A GRADE OF “C” FOR GRADUTING MINORITY STUDENTS, BUT A GRADE OF “F” FOR RECRUTING THOSE STUDENTS. SIX OTHER MAJOR UNIVERSITIES ALSO GOT FAILING GRADES ON THE GROUPS REPORT.

RUNOFFS TOMORROW

READY FOR ANOTHER ELECTION? THE RUNOFF ELECTIONS TAKES PLACE TOMORROW. EARLY VOTING ALSO CONTINUES. THE ELECTIONS WILL FEATURE THE MAYOR’S RACE IN GREENLAND, AND CITY COUNCIL RACES IN FAYETTEVILLE, JUST TO NAME A FEW RACES.

WAL-MART ENTERS INDIA MARKET

WAL-MART HAS REPORTEDLY INKED A DEAL WITH AN INDIAN TELECOM COMPANY. REPRESENTATIVES OF BHARTI AIRTEL WOULDN’T CONFIRM THE REPORT, BUT DO SAY THEY’LL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE DEAL LATER TODAY. THE DEAL WOULD REPORTEDLY ALLOW WAL-MART TO OPEN A CHAIN OF RETAIL STORES ACROSS INDIA.

POLICE INVESTIGATE RESTAURANT SHOOTING

FAYETTEVILLE POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED EARLY SUNDAY AT CASA TORRES RESTAURANT. THE SHOOTING LEFT TWO PEOPLE HURT. POLICE HAVEN’T RELEASED THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GOT SHOT, AND SAY THEY HAVEN’T FOUND THE SHOOTER YET. FOUR DIFFERENT CALLS TO 911 CAME IN, AND ONE CALLER DESCRIBED A BIG FIGHT INSIDE THE RESTAURANT. POLICE SAY NEITHER PERSON WHO GOT HURT SUFFERED LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

DON'T RUN THE LIGHT...

YOU MAY WANT TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS THIS WEEK. POLICE IN FAYETTEVILLE ALONG WITH STATE POLICE SAY THEY’LL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON INTERSECTIONS, LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO RUN RED LIGHTS. POLICE HAVE A THEME FOR THE EFFORT – THEY CALL IT “AVOID THE BLUES, STOP FOR RED.” AMONG THE AREAS UNDER OBSERVATION? THE INTERSECTION OF COLLEGE AND JOYCE, ONE OF THE CITIES BUSIEST TRAFFIC SPOTS.

Sorry, short but sweet this morning.

Been a little slow on the blog lately. Yours truly has been galivanting around the globe. Here's a pic (yeah, not great, I know) of me in the back of a Bell Longranger departing for a trip across the Eastern shore near Washington, D.C. last week.

All part of the fun of a life wasted in the media. However, today, I'll stay home with my family to break bread and get a little rest before returning to work. I'll be in LR on Monday afternoon spending time talking education with Senator Shane Broadway and other members of the legislature trying to find out just what the hell will happen when the Arkansas Supreme Court decides if it wants to continue to exercise authority in the Lakeview case. It'll be for an episode of FPS: In Focus set to air the first week of December on cable in Northwest Arkansas.

Until then, have a great and very long weekend. I'll post a little between now and then, so drop by occasionally. I'll also return to posting our regular morning news updates as well.

Happy Turkey Day!

Whoa, has it been an entire week since I posted? My bad...been out on the road on the eastern seaboard eating fish and enjoying the weather. I'm back, and we still have some tech problems we're trying to overcome. You may have encountered our little interstitial ads as you came to visit. Let us know if they irritate you too much...it's something different. Here's the news...

AMP TO MOVE?

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT VERY BIG TENT AT THE NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MALL – THE ARKANSAS MUSIC PAVILION, OR "AMP." IT MAY MOVE SOON TO A NEW PERMANENT STRUCTURE. HOWEVER, AMP OWNERS DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE…THEY’VE STARTED TALKS WITH BOTH BENTONVILLE AND FAYETTEVILLE. AMP ORGANIZERS SAY THEY WANT TO SERVE AS A REGIONAL FACILITY. THE IDEA? DRAW IN VISITORS FROM BOTH FORT SMITH AND MISSOURI.

SPRINGDALE STUDENT SHAKE-UP

AN INCREASING NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN SPRINGDALE MEANS MANY KIDS WILL HAVE TO ATTEND DIFFERENT SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR. THE DISTRICT MAY HAVE TO RE-DRAW SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES FOR THE SCHOOLS, EXCEPT FOR HAR-BER AND SPRINGDALE HIGH SCHOOLS. THE LAST RE-DRAW TOOK PLACE IN 2004 AND SENT MORE THAN 2-THOUSAND KIDS TO NEW SCHOOLS. THE DISTRICT WILL GET TWO NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN AUGUST AND THAT WILL ALSO REQUIRE A CHANGE IN BOUNDARIES.

ONE LAKE, READY TO MOVE...

WHAT DOES ONE DO IF ONE WANTS TO EXTEND A RUNWAY AT THE CITY AIRPORT, BUT A LAKE STANDS IN THE WAY? BENTONVILLE MAY DECIDE TO MOVE JUST SUCH A LAKE. BACK IN 1964, THE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION BUILT AN 11 ACRE PUBLIC FISHING ARE NEAR THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. NOW, BOTH THE CITY AND THE COMMISSION HAVE STARTED LOOKING FOR LAND TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE AREA TO RELOCATE THE LAKE. THE AIRPORT ITSELF HAD AN IMPACT OF 2-POINT-2 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY LAST YEAR, SERVING LOCAL COMPANIES INCLUDING WAL-MART. AIRPORT PLANS CALL FOR A LONGER RUNWAY TO HANDLE LARGER COMMERCIAL JETS.

AG FILES SUIT IN NO-CALL LIST VIOLATIONS

THE STATE’S ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST A SERIES OF COMPANIES WHO USED NUMBERS FROM THE NATIONAL DO-NOT-CALL LIST TO TRY AND SELL TIME-SHARE PROPERTIES TO ARKANSANS. THE SUIT TARGETS BERKSHIRE GETAWAYS, DATA KING CORPORATION AND RICHARD KING OF LENOX, MASSACHUSSETTS. THE SUIT CLAIMS THE COMPANIES HAVE CALLED AT LEAST 100-THOUSAND ARKANSANS SINCE 2005, AND ALSO CLAIMS AT LEAST 500 OF THOSE PEOPLE HAD THEIR NAMES ON THE DO-NOT-CALL LIST AT THE TIME.

KNEE SURGERY FOR JAN HUCKABEE

FIRST LADY JANET HUCKABEE WILL SPEND SOME TIME "ON-THE-MEND" AFTER HAVING KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY MONDAY. DOCTORS PERFORMED THE SURGERY ON BOTH OF MS. HUCKABEE’S LEGS. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SAYS THE FIRST LADY SUFFERED FROM DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS.

U OF A -- ITALIAN STYLE

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WILL OPEN A NEW STUDY CENTER IN A 12-HUNDRED YEAR OLD ITALIAN VILLAGE. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSORS SAY THEY HOPE TO REVITALIZE THE VILLAGE OF CERVARA DI ROMA, ABOUT 40 MILES EAST OF ROME. THE CENTER WILL FOCUS ON ECOTOURISM, TRAILS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE VILLAGE.

There's your rundown for the day. Enjoy.

Wal-Mart did better this morning in quarterly earnings, but someone who works as a buyer is in hot water today after this Nazi T-shirt thing, which has been making the rounds of the internet the past week or so. Finally made it into the MSM. Here's the morning news...

NAZI SHIRTS TO DISAPPEAR FROM WAL-MART

WAL-MART HAS PULLED T-SHIRTS BEARING A NAZI EMBLEM OFF THE RACKS AFTER A BLOGGER FROM MARYLAND NOTICED THEM, AND POSTED STORIES ABOUT THE SHIRTS ONLINE. THE T-SHIRTS BEAR A SKULL SYMBOLUSED BY THE 3RD DIVISION OF HITLER’S WAFFEN SS DURING THE WAR. THE COMPANY SAID YESTERDAY IT WASN’T AWARE OF THE ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOL, AND HAS STARTED WORKING TO GET RID OF THE SHIRTS. THE COMPANY ALSO ISSUED AN APOLOGY SAYING IF IT HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE SYMBOL, IT WOULD NEVER HAVE CARRIED THE SHIRTS.

TYSON SAYS MEAT TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE

AFTER POSTING A THIRD STRAIGHT QUARTERLY LOSS, TYSON FOODS HAD SOME BAD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS. THE COMPANY SAYS ALL-TIME HIGH PRICES FOR CORN MEAN EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR CHICKEN, BEEF AND PORK NEXT YEAR. TYSON CEO RICHARD BOND SAYS CORN PRICES HAVE GONE UP BECAUSE OF DEMAND FOR THE CROP FROM ETHANOL PLANTS WHICH USE IT FOR FUEL. THE CATTLE INDUSTRY USES CORN AS FEED.

MILITIA MEMBER FACES TOUGH RESTRICTIONS

LAST WEEK, FEDERAL AGENTS ARRESTED A MEMBER OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MILITIA. HOLLIS FINCHER FACES CHARGES OF HAVING ILLEGAL WEAPONS AT HIS HOUSE. YESTERDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE SET BOND IN THE CASE AT A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS. THE JUDGE ALSO SET A SERIES OF CONDITIONS FOR LETTING MR. FINCHER OUT OF JAIL – FINCHER WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP ANY WEAPONS, POST THE DEED TO HIS PROPERTY TO THE COURT, SUBMIT TO ELECTRONIC MONITORING, STOP ATTENDING MILITIA MEETINGS AND HE’D ALSO HAVE TO MOVE INTO HIS DAUGHTER’S HOUSE UNTIL THE TRIAL ENDS. NO WORD ON WHETHER MR. FINCHER WILL ACCEPT THE TERMS.

FINAL BALLOT RECOUNT IN BENCO?

AFTER A WEEK OF RECOUNTING THE BALLOT, BENTON COUNTY MAY HAVE FINAL RESULTS OF LAST WEEK’S MID-TERM ELECTIONS. AFTER HIRING A PRIVATE CONSULTANT AND RECOUNTING ALL THE PAPER BALLOTS AND DATA FROM ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES, THE ELECTION COMMISSION NOW SAYS A LITTLE MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS CAST BALLOTS – NOT THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED 83 PERCENT. THE RE-COUNT CHANGED A SERIES OF RUN-OFF RACES.

FAYETTEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FEEDBACK

PEOPLE LIVING IN FAYETTEVILLE HAD A CHANCE TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HIGH SCHOOL MONDAY NIGHT. THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE PUBLIC MEETING FACED QUESTIONS FROM A COMMITTEE WHICH WANTED TO KNOW IF THEY THOUGHT THE DISTRICT NEEDS A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL. OF SIX POSSIBLE DESIGNS, THE CROWD DIDN’T CLEARLY FAVOR ANY PARTICULAR ONE.

HOMESCHOOL TRUANTS?

JUST HOW MANY HOMESCHOOLED KIDS DIDN’T TAKE THE IOWA TEST OF BASIC SKILLS? STATE LAW REQUIRES THEM TO DO SO. HOWEVER, AT LEAST 2-THOUSAND HOMESCHOOLED KIDS FAILED TO TAKE THE EXAM. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HEARD ABOUT THAT PROBLEM YESTERDAY. STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE OVERSIGHT OF HOME SCHOOLS, AND ALSO SAY THEY PLAN TO ADD STAFF MEMBERS TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM.

Round up those youngsters! No home left behind!

(apologies for the site layout today -- we're doing a little rebuilding, and things might be messy for a few days) Of course, the really big story this morning is the AP's decision to elevate the Razorbacks to number 5 in the national polls. The team has an undefeated conference season. Pretty good game this weekend against the Vols as well...here's the news.

CHURCH IN HOT WATER OVER ASA

THE GOVERNOR’S RACE HAS ENDED, BUT A CHURCH NOW FACES THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE IRS BECAUSE IT HAD REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ASA HUTCHINSON VISIT AND GIVE A SPEECH ON OCTOBER 15TH. AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE IRS OVER THE LAKEVIEW ASSEMBLY OF GOD. CHURCHES FACE THE POSSIBLITY OF LOSING THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS IF THEY GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS. THE CHURCH CLAIMS IT ALSO INVITED DEMOCRAT MIKE BEEBE, AND CLAIMS HUTCHINSON CALLED AND ASKED IF HE COULD COME AND SPEAK.

ANTI-WAL-MART ACTIVISTS JOIN FORCES

ACTIVISTS IN BOTH THE U.S. AND MEXCIO JOINED FORCES THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THE EXPANSION OF WAL-MART IN MEXICO. SEVERAL AMERICAN GROUPS ALONG WITH 10 MEXICAN LABOR, COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL GROUPS WRAPPED UP A TWO DAY MEETING THEY CALLED THE “FIRST BI-NATIONAL US-MEXIO MEETING AGAINST WAL-MART.” THE ACTIVISTS FEAR THAT WAL-MART THREATENS MEXICO’S NATIONAL CULTURE AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

CRYSTAL BRIDGES SPENDS BIG

THE CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART IN ROGERS TEAMED UP WITH THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF AMERICAN ART TO BUY AND 1875 PAINTING BY THE ARTIST THOMAS EAKINS, ENTITLED “THE GROSS CLINIC.” THE SALE – FOR A REPORTED 68 MILLION DOLLARS – SETS A RECORD FOR AN AMERICAN WORK OF ART CREATED BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR. BOTH MUSEUMS BOUGHT THE PAINTING FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY IN PHILADELPHIA.

UNITED WAY "WEIGHS" MERGER

THE TWO LARGEST CHAPTERS OF THE UNITED WAY IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MAY DECIDE TO MERGE IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. UNITED WAY OF BENTON COUNTY AND THE CHAPTER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY COULD COMBINE THEIR 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATIONS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. BOTH GROUPS SAY THE DIVISION BETWEEN COUNTIES DOESN’T REALLY EXIST IN TERMS OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND LARGE DONORS AND POPULATION GROWTH COULD MAKE THE MERGER A POSITIVE MOVE.

EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY, OR DOES IT?

EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTIONS. IF YOU NEED TO, YOU CAN CAST YOUR EARLY BALLOTS AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE. NO WORD YET ON WHETHER EARLY BALLOTING WILL START TODAY IN BENTON COUNTY BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH ADDING OF THE BALLOT FROM LAST TUESDAYS MID-TERMS. ON THE BALLOT? THE MAYOR’S RACE IN GREENLAND, AND ALDERMANIC RACES IN BOTH SPRINGDALE AND FAYETTEVILLE.

A VERY LONG WEEK...

IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE FAYETETVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, GET READY FOR A LONGER –THAN- EVER THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE ENTIRE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 20TH THROUGH THE 24TH OFF FOR THANKSGIVING. NOT EVERY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AGREED ON THAT MATTER – AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD DISAPPROVED, WORRIED ABOUT PARENTS WHO STILL NEED TO WORK PART OF THAT WEEK, AND WHETHER THEY’LL BE ABLE TO FIND CHILD CARE FOR THE EXTRA TIME-OFF.

HUCK NEEDS GIFTS!

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE AND HIS WIFE JANET WILL SOON LEAVE THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION – BUT THEY’D LIKE TO TAKE SOME GIFTS WITH THEM. SO, THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY HAVE SET UP “WEDDING” REGISTRIES AT TWO DEPARTMENT STORES – DILLARDS AND TARGET. THE IDEA? THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SAYS THE GIFTS WILL HELP THE HUCKABEE’S MAKE THE TRANSITION TO PRIVATE LIFE AT THEIR NEW 7-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT HOME IN LITTLE ROCK. SOME PEOPLE HAVE WORRIED WHETHER MOVE ACTUALLY BREAKS STATE ETHICS LAWS.

Huck needs something besides gifts...a 7-thousand square foot home? Jeez...wish my life was that tough.

Welcome to Friday, thank the powers that be the week has ended. Yours truly will be speaking this morning at a Veterans' Day event at the VA hospital in Fayetteville...we'll have a live program Saturday night. Here's the news...

BEEBE NEWS CONFERENCE ON GROCERY TAX

MIKE BEEBE HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, HIS FIRST SINCE WINNING THE GOVERNOR’S RACE THIS WEEK. DURING THE MEETING WITH REPORTERS, BEEBE TALKED ABOUT THE 6 CENT GROCERY TAX, AND HOW HE PLANS TO GET RID OF IT – AN ISSUE THAT BECAME CENTRAL TO THE CAMPAIGN. MR. BEEBE SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONSIDER HOW TO PHASE-OUT THE TAX – WHETHER TO DO IT QUICKLY, OR CREATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PHASE THE TAX OUT IN SPEFICI AMOUNTS TIED TO STATE REVENUE GROWTH.

BIGGER BUDGET SURPLUS

STATE LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE AN EVEN LARGER SURPLUS THE NEXT TWO YEARS. LEGISLATORS GOT A LOOK AT A NEW BUDGET YESTERDAY, AND SAW A PROJECTED 843-MILLION DOLLARS SURPLUS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE PROJECTED SURPLUS SAT AT 721 MILLION. THE BUDGET ALSO CALLS FOR 9-POINT-1 BILLION DOLLARS SPENDING.

HUCKABEE LOSES WEIGHT -- ON CANVAS

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE YESTERDAY GOT A CHANCE TO REVISE HISTORY – IN THE FORM OF A PAINTING. THE GOVERNOR UNVEILED A NEW PAINTING OF HIMSELF THAT HANGS IN THE STATE CAPITOL. THE NEW PAINTING SHOWS A THIN, TRIM GOVERNOR, A GOVERNOR WHO LOST 110 POONDS. THE TRADITION OF THE PORTRAIT STARTED IN 1819.

NEW SCHOOL TESTING PLAN

FEDERAL OFFICIALS HAVE GIVEN ARKANSAS THE THUMBS UP TO START A NEW PROGRAM AS PART OF THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT. THE PLAN WILL GIVE SCHOOLS CREDIT FOR STUDENTS WHO IMPROVE MATH AND READING SCORES ON STATEWIDE TESTS – EVEN IF THE KIDS DON’T POST PROFICIENT SCORES.

PRYOR TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION

SENATOR MARK PRYOR SAYS HE’LL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2008. PRYOR DIDN’T MAKE HIS CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL, BUT DID SAY HE’S MAKING PLANS. HE WON HIS OFFICE IN 2002 IN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST NOW FORMER SENATOR TIM HUTCHINSON. AS OF YET, NO REPUBLICANS HAVE ANNOUNCED ANY INTENTIONS OF RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE.

ZONING ORDINANCE PASSES WASHCO. QUORUM CT.

WASHINGTON COUNTY’S QUORUM COURT LAST NIGHT PASSED AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE THAT PUTS PARTS OF THE COUNTY OFF-LIMITS TO DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO CREATE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES. THE VOTE CAME LATER IN THE EVENING AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DEBATE AND COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC. THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE DREW A LARGE CROWD.

VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN?

IT DOESN’T HAPPEN OFTEN IN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY – THAT WE KNOW OF, BUT A MAN NOW FACES CHARGES FOR HAVING VOTED EARLY – AND APPARENTLY OFTEN. BILL WALTMAN OF FAYETTEVILLE SAYS HE DIDN’T INTEND TO DO ANYTHING WRONG. WALTMAN APPARENTLY CAST AN EARLY BALLOT, BUT WORRIED HE HADN’T SEEN THE STATEWIDE RACES ON IT. HE ASKED FOR A PROVISIONAL BALLOT NOVEMBER 7TH, AND CAST THAT ONE AS WELL. THE COUNTY ELECTION COMISSION HAS FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST WALTMAN WITH THE PROSECUTORS’ OFFICE.

And I thought I'd left Chicago!

The elections may have ended (except in Benton County) but now partisans will have to deal with the fall-out over the expressed will of the voters. That makes up a lot of our news this morning...

WILL PARTIES WORK TOGETHER?

WITH THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS MOSTLY OVER, AND DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, ARKANSAS’ FOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVES ALL WON THEIR RE-ELECTION RACES AND WILL RETURN TO THE NATION’S CAPITOL. ALL SAY THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

BENTON COUNTY RE-COUNT

HOWEVER, IN BENTON COUNTY, PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES TUESDAY MEAN ELECTION WORKERS MAY HAVE TO START A COMPLETE RECOUNT OF EVERY BALLOT CAST BY VOTERS. ELECTION COORDINATORS JIM MCCARTHY SAYS ES&S SOFTWARE, THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MACHINES, WILL WORK TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE RE-COUNT MAY HAVE TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. MCCARTHY SAYS HE HAS NO INTENTION OF TAKING PART IN ANYTHING “WRONG” SO HE’LL GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT EVERY BALLOT.

BUT WHAT DOES WAL-MART THINK?

A NEW DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN WASHINGTON COULD MEAN BOTH GOOD AND BAD THINGS FOR WAL-MART. THE WORLD’S LARGEST RETAILER COULD BENEFIT FROM A HIKE TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IF THAT MEANS SHOPPERS HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND. HOWEVER, CONGRESS MAY ALSO START HEARINGS FOCUSING ON LABOR CONDITIONS AT THE STORE. THAT NEWS CAME FROM WALL STREET ANALYSTS WEDNESDAY.

BEEBE APPOINTS TRANSITION TEAM

MIKE BEEBE HAS SPENT 20 YEARS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT HE’LL RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL IN JANUARY AS GOVERNOR. WEDNESDAY, BEEBE MET WITH LAWMAKERS AND STARTED GETTING READY FOR HIS MOVE INTO THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION. BEEBE HAS CHOSEN HIS TRANSITION TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES FORMER STATE SENATOR MORIL HARRIMAN. HARRIMAN HAS MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS A LOBBYIST FOR THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. HE’LL NOW RUN THE TRANSITION TEAM AND SERVE AS THE GOVERNOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF. MR. BEEBE PLANS TO HOLD HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE AS GOVERNOR-ELECT TODAY.

BOOZMAN CALLS RUMMY RESIGNATION "GOOD THING"

ARKANSAS’ ONLY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SAYS DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD’S RESIGNATION WAS “PROBABLY A GOOD THING.” REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOOZMAN SAYS HE THINKS THE MOVE WILL LET PRESIDENT BUSH PICK A NEW LEADER FOR THE PENTAGON, AND MAYBE MAKE HEADWAY ON AN ISSUE AMERICANS WORRY ABOUT – THE WAR IN IRAQ. MR. BUSH HAS NOMINATED FOR CIA DIRECTOR BOB GATES TO TAKE OVER FROM RUMSFELD, WHO RESIGNED YESTERDAY.

HUCKABEE WEIGHS IN ON ELECTIONS

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE SAYS REPUBLICANS IN ARKANSAS, AND ACROSS AMERICA GOT WHAT HE CALLS “A GOOD WHOOPING” IN THE ELECTIONS. HOWEVER, HE DOESN’T THINK THE RESULTS SERVE AS ANY KIND OF COMMENT ON HIS TEN YEARS AS THE STATE’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE. IN ARKANSAS, DEMOCRATS SWEPT ALL THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES. MR. HUCKABEE LEAVES OFFIDCE IN JANUARY BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS – HE BLAMED THE RESULTS ON WHAT HE CALLED NATIONAL DISSATISFACTION WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

FED RAID NETS FAYETTEVILLE MAN

FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES CONDUCTED A RAID WEDNESDAY IN A SWEEP OF THOSE THOUGHT INVOLVED IN MAKING AND SELLING MACHINES GUNS. WARRANTS WERE SERVED IN FAYETTEVILLE AND FORT SMITH AS PART OF AN EIGHT MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION. AS A RESULT, A MAN FROM FAYETTEVILLE FOUND HIMSELF IN HANDCUFFS. OFFICERS ARRESTED HOLLIS FINCHER AF

Bang-bang.

Ah, the first bloodletting from the Bush White House comes in the form of a less-than-contrite Donald Rumsfeld getting his walking papers today. Unfortunately, as some in the GOP have said, this should have happened a week ago. Here's the statement released today by Senator Blanche Lincoln. She'll appear on our LiveLine 'til 9 segment in the morning to talk about the election results, and about belonging to the majority party in the Senate...

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) released the following statement upon the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld:

"The civilian mismanagement at the Pentagon in regards to the war in Iraq has cost us dearly in the lives of brave men and women as well as influence around the world. President Bush has finally heeded the advice of several respected generals and heard the voice of the American people that we need a new direction in Iraq and the global war on terror. The nomination of Robert Gates gives the United States Senate a good opportunity to ask the necessary questions about our plan in Iraq. As we move forward, we must focus our energy and attention on a new strategy and a change in course to stabilize Iraq so our troops can return home safely and as soon as possible."

We also have to make a quick note about all the people in DC crying so loudly about the need for bi-partisanship. Where the hell were they the last 12 years? Perhaps now isn't the time for Congress to cooperate with the White House -- we've seen far too much of that during the course of the administration, and far too little oversight happening. Let's get the house in order first, and then everyone can talk about cooperation.

We think most of us agree that this letter sets the proper tone for the new administration in Little Rock. This is a note sent to Beebe supporters today...

I am honored by the trust that the people of Arkansas have bestowed in me as our next governor. Over the past 18 months, I’ve traveled to every part of our state, working with people of every background and every political stripe, to craft a positive vision to move Arkansas forward. In January, we will begin the long process of making that vision a reality.

In January, the son of a single mother, raised on the tips she made as a waitress, will be sworn in as governor. That doesn’t happen without a lot of help. I want to thank my family, the staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly for our campaign and most of all, the voters who have entrusted me to serve our state for the next four years.

Mr. Hutchinson ran a hard and strong campaign and he should be commended for his passion. Like in any campaign, there were tough exchanges and fierce debates between the candidates.

But now, we must put politics behind us as we look to the duties of leadership: economic development and job creation, affordable and accessible health care and excellence in education for every child.

With my deepest gratitude, I thank the people of our state. I will never betray the trust they have placed in me.

Thank you,

Mike Beebe

That's the way to go.

It's been an interesting day for the state's Republican faithful. We'd say the best way to take the temperature of those individuals is to visit the ArkFam website and read the comments. Quite a bit of recrimination going on this day-after-the-election in which we saw the Democrats sweep the state constitutional offices and also saw the Democrats seize control of both the House and the Senate (late breaking tonight gives the Virginia Senate race to Jim Webb.) Now, party members are starting to ask themselves who will lead the party in Arkansas. Clint Reed, the man at the top, faces tough questions, and we tend to think he's about to join the vast unemployed in America. His job is about to be outsourced by the party faithful. You can bet he knows that too, judging by this email that went out to Republican supporters today...read on...

November 8, 2006

Re: GOP - Leadership in Times of Change

Dear GOP Supporters:

Voters sent a convincing message Tuesday evening. Furthermore, the people of Arkansas spoke clearly about the future leaders of Arkansas. These facts are indisputable.

Today, I received several phone calls concerning the future of the Arkansas GOP. Let me say without hesitation, our party is "bent, but not broken." This election cycle we recruited a record number of candidates, built a solid statewide organization, made 1 million volunteer voter contacts, and mailed 1 million pieces of literature. We did many good things while maintaining the integrity of our organization.

In summary, the institutional programs of our party are solid. Over the next several weeks, our party has some very difficult decisions to make. However, as a party, we must move forward with caution and hesitancy. We must ask ourselves some tough questions. Were Tuesday's elections a referendum on the Republican Party of Arkansas organization? or, was it part of a bigger political shift?

We all may disagree on the answers to those questions. In my humble opinion, the future direction of our party must be considered with caution and togetherness - not divisiveness. Most importantly, we must adhere to the message that voters sent Tuesday evening. We must refocus our conservative principles of less government, lower taxes, less regulation, strong national defense, judicial restraint, and fiscal conservatism.

The Republican Party of Arkansas has a strong foundation and a philosophy that works. We just have to recommit ourselves to better serving the Arkansas people. We need to listen to the voters and hold ourselves and our party to the highest principles. Undoubtedly, there was a tidal wave of support for Democrats last evening at the national, state, and local levels. As Republicans, we should listen to the voters and re-commit ourselves to reform within our party, especially at the state and local level.

What is the future of the Republican Party of Arkansas? I believe the answer is three-fold. One, it is imperative that we maintain financial viability. We must continue to institutionalize those things that were effective (i.e., voter registration and voter identification) during this election cycle. Furthermore, there are elections every two years. Two, again, we must listen to the message that the voters sent and provide real reform within our party. We must be an inclusive party that is not relegated to fractional or regional ideologues. Three, and maybe the most important - politics is cyclical.

Therefore, we must continue to improve our political tactics and institutionalize the things that worked and be better prepared for a much more favorable political environment. The worst days of the Arkansas GOP are behind us, and the best days of the Arkansas GOP are ahead of us.

However, we must all re-commit to serving that cause which is far greater than ourselves.

If I can be of assistance to anyone during this time, please do not hesitate to contact me at 501-372-7301.

With kind regards,

Clint Reed
Executive Director Republican Party of Arkansas

You'll notice Mr. Reed skirted the issue of social issues in this. Could be he's thinking that was a problem with the campaigns. Earlier today, Dr. Janine Parry with the U of A and the Arkansas Poll told me on-air that she believes those issues just never clicked with anyone. Her poll showed less than 10 percent of voters actually cared about immigration and gay "anything" this cycle. There was some mis-reading of the tea leaves by the party this time around. We'll watch as the story develops.

You, the voters have spoken. As one of my callers this morning, David, who identified himself as an independent, said -- you sent a message that you were tired of hubris, of smugness and of those who claim to have a "mandate" to do certain things in government. Actually, we're still trying to figure out what message the voters were sending. Here's the news....

DEM SWEEP AT STATE LEVEL

IN A HEAVY TURNOUT, VOTERS SWEPT DEMOCRATS INTO ALL THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES LAST NIGHT. MIKE BEEBE BECOMES THE GOVERNOR, DEMOCRAT BILL HALTER BECOMES LT. GOVERNOR, DUSTIN MCDANIEL BECOMES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MARTHA SHOFFNER BECOMES TREASURER, JIM WOOD RETAINS HIS JOB AS STATE AUDITOR…ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RETAINED THEIR SEATS AS WELL, GIVING REPUBLICANS THEIR TOP WIN OF THE NIGHT, WITH CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOOZMAN WINNING RE-ELECTION. BOOZMAN DEFEATED DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER WOODY ANDERSON WITH 61 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

LOCAL RACES, NWA

IN OTHER RACES, REPUBLICAN BILL PRITCHARD DEFEATED LYNN CARVER TO BECOME THE NEW STATE SENATOR FROM DISTRICT 35. IN THE HOUSE DISTRICT 89 RACE, DEMOCRAT JIM HOUSE HAS DEFEATED REPUBLICAN DOUG KUNTZ, TAKING MR. PRITCHARD’S OLD SEAT. DEMOCRATE LINDSLEY SMITH RETAINS HER SEAT IN HOUSE DISTRICT 92. REPBULICAN MIKE KENNEY RETAINS HIS SEAT IN HOUSE DISTRICT 97 AND REPUBLICAN MARK MARTIN WON THE HOUSE DISTRICT 97 RACE.

BALLOT ISSUES AND BELLA VISTA

VOTERS ALSO OVERWHELMINGLY CAST BALLOTS IN FAVOR OF ISSUING 250 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BONDS TO BENEFIT HIGHER EDUCATION. THEY ALSO GAVE THUMBS UP TO AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW CHARITABLE BINGO. AND, IN BELLA VISTA, VOTERS APPROVED INCORPORATING THEIR TOWN, WHICH CREATES A NEW CITY AND A NEW CITY COUNCIL, WITH 66 PERCENT OF VOTERS APPROVING THAT MOVE.

BALANCE OF POWER

OVERALL LAST NIGHT, REPUBLICANS LOST THREE SEATS IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THAT REALLY DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING, AS IT MEANS DEMOCRATS RETAIN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE BREAKDOWN IN THE SENATE REMAINS THE SAME AS WELL, WITH 27 DEMOCRATS AND 8 REPUBLICANS.

NEW MAYOR FOR BENTONVILLE

BENTONVILLE HAS A NEW MAYOR THIS MORNING. ALDERMAN BOB MCCASLIN LAST NIGHT UNSEATED THREE TERM MAYOR TERRY COBERLY. MCCASLIN RECEIVED 55 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, COMPARED TO 45 PERCENT FOR COBERLY. THE RESULTS REMAIN UNOFFICIAL. MCCASLIN WILL TAKE OFFICE JANUARY FIRST.

TYSON SETTLES RACIAL SUIT

TYSON FOODS HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT FILED BY 13 BLACK WORKERS AT A COMPANY PLANT OUT-OF-COURT. THOSE WORKERS ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION AT A TYSON PLANT, SAYING WHITE WORKERS POSTED A “WHITES ONLY” SIGN ON A BATHROOM AT THE PLANT, AND ONLY ALLOWED WHITE WORKERS TO USE THE FACILITY. THE WORKERS ALSO SAID THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SITUATION, AND RECEIVED REPRIMANDS AND PUNISHMENT AS A RESULT. TYSON ADMITTED NO WRONGDOING IN THE CASE, BUT WILL TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FILED THE SUIT ON BEHALF OF THE WORKERS IN 2005.

DALY GETS ANOTHER DIVORCE

ANOTHER DIVORCE FOR ARKANSAS GOLFING SUPERSTART JOHN DALEY. SHERRIE MILLER DALY FINISHED SERVING A FEDERAL SENTENCE FOR HER INVOLVEMENT A DRUG AND GAMLBING RING. BOTH DALYS FILED FOR DIVORCE IN TENNESSEE, WITH ONE SOURCE CLOSE THE STORY CALLING IT A “RACE TO THE COURTHOUSE”.

Poor John. Double-bogey.

IN FOCUS COLUMN
-- Don Elkins
-- Wednesday, November 8, 2006

(FAYETTEVILLE)- I’ll “eat my hat” later if things change, but as I write this, it looks like we’ve wrapped up most of the local elections this campaign cycle. Nationally, the Democrats reclaimed control of the House of Representatives, and we remain wondering if they’ll do the same in the Senate, with the outcomes of the Senate races in Missouri, Virginia, Montana and to a lesser extent Tennessee still undetermined.

However, we did hear a resounding message from most of the voters in Arkansas. Across the board in the constitutional races, Democrats took control and retained control of the legislature as well. We voters thought it OK to approve $250-million worth of bonds for higher education and also gave sizeable nod to legalized bingo (at least in Church or at the fire station) after a long fight – State Rep. Shirley Borhauer’s last hurrah as she faced a race for an aldermanic seat in the new town of Bella Vista, another decision made last night by voters there.

What does it all mean? Apparently, we don’t want a grocery tax, but perhaps feel a little iffy about simply jettisoning it out-of-hand. Illegal immigration worries us, but not so much that we feel the state police should get involved. But we think it means more than that -- national issues also played a role. Washington County’s election commission reported running out of ballots this past evening, and we saw near record turnout for early balloting that started October 23rd. Some might say that means we’ve become more polarized, the usual reason for a big turnout, but the voters nationwide and locally seem to have said it loudest – they were sick and tired of the business-as-usual approach taking place across America from what had become a single-party government. As one pundit on cable television last night explained, perhaps the conservative-slash-evangelical revolution just went too far for a nation still firmly sitting in the middle of the ideological road.

A day or so back, we learned on the national front that a court in Baghdad had sentenced Saddam Hussein to death by hanging. Most smart pols and smart pundits said publicly that the news shouldn’t play a role in the voting. However, the White House overplayed its hand once again – and even did so at a widely attended, though overly controlled appearance by the President in Northwest Arkansas on the eve of the election.

While in NWA Monday afternoon, Mr. Bush said, “On Sunday we witnessed a landmark event in the history of Iraq: Saddam Hussein was convicted on heinous crimes on his people. This is a country which is going from the rule of a tyrant to rule of law, and we congratulate the Iraqi people. And as we do, we remember that this never would have happened without the sacrifices of the United States military. And Iraq is the central front in this war to protect you. Oh, I've heard them in Washington. I know you have, as well. They say, well, Iraq is just a distraction; Iraq is not a part of the war. Well, I don't believe that, our troops don't believe that, and Osama bin Laden doesn't believe that. He has called the fight in Iraq the third world war. He has said that victory for the terrorists in Iraq will mean America's defeat and disgrace forever. We need to take his words seriously. It doesn't matter what party you're in, you need to listen to the enemy.“

That was perhaps the most off-the-point thing the President could have said during his final campaign sweep, and the results most assuredly prove it. I will never forget something a woman said to me the night this nation went to war. She speculated on why the President was so committed to a military mission that his father had wisely decided to forgo. She believed our current president simply wanted revenge because Saddam Hussein had once tried to assassinate another president Bush – our current chief executive’s father. That made as much sense as anything else, including that we were going to war over oil, something the President finally made abundantly clear on the campaign trail this week, citing that as another good reason we went to war overseas.

Now, with Saddam facing the hangman’s noose – the President finally has what he wants, at a cost of thousands of lives, including those of American servicemen and women. Now, the other party has taken control of the House, and perhaps the Senate. Answers will have to be given to the American people about the events of the past six years, and you can bet Congressional subpoenas will be forthcoming in an earnest if overdue effort to get some straight talk out of the White House and Pentagon.

Perhaps civil rights can make a comeback. Perhaps the press will no longer fear reprisals for speaking out against insane administrative plans and things like the trashing of habeas corpus. Perhaps those who value a more diverse, freer America can breathe easier this morning.

Perhaps we’ve started to make it out of the nightmare that began with the Florida recount, got worse with 9-11 and has become more bizarre the more time has passed. In all, the voters have spoken. It’s “morning in Arkansas.” Now, let’s see where it takes us.

# # #

We have a couple of updates as of 11:29 p.m.

New winners declared tonight:

Bill Halter (D), Lt. Gov.,

Dustin McDaniel (D), AG,

Charlie Daniels (D), Secy. State,

Rep. Mike Ross (D), 4th District Congress

More as we get them.

OK, it was a "spirited" campaign, and pretty nasty toward the end. Asa Hutchinson conceded tonight, and Mike Beebe is the new G-O-V.

Our buddy Baber, who writes on these pages from time to time, has a digital arts business, and has started vending these snappy little bumper stickers. He's asked us to put one of them up, so we will "concede" to him and place an order.

Tough loss, and we haven't seen much posting in the state's conservative blogosphere tonight, but we expect more tomorrow.

Time to get back to the cable...

You know, after getting labelled as "sore losers" for the past 10-odd years, perhaps the Dems have a reason to be "sore winners" now.

CNN and NBC both call the House for the Dems, meaning Rep. Nancy Pelosi (we stole this pic from the Freepers, but thought it looked so good here, we couldn't resist...as they say, put that in the ol' pipe and smoke it) will become the first female House Speaker in American History.

The Dems have swept all the races in NY State.

Lieberman wins in Connecticut but will caucus with Dems in the Senate.

Get ready for the subpeonas to fly and hearings to start on the war as soon as we arrive in January.

In Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson concedes defeat to Mike Beebe, the new Governor-elect.

Dems within 3 seats of taking control of the Senate at this point, with something like 4 races too close to call, and a possible recount in the Virginia Senate race between Macacca and Jim Webb.

Get ready for some big changes, America.

UPDATE 10:45 P.M. Asa Hutchinson just conceded the Gov's race to Mike Beebe. The Democrats continue to post strong results statewide, but Woody Anderson has fallen behind a couple of thousand votes with about half the precincts reporting so far. Both ballot issues have a nearly overwhelming lead, and in the Lt. Gov's race, Bill Halter has a strong lead as well over State Sen. Jim Holt. Not many suprises so far, but we'll continue to watch the 3rd District Congressional race for any unexpected outcome.

You didn't think we'd ignore election night, did you? Traffic is very busy right now on the websites tracking things, so we'll give you a quick couple of links to sites that update -- KFSM's site is pretty up-to-date as of now. That site shows the Dems -- yes, including Woody Anderson, winning their races with still a small portion of the night's returns reported. It looks as if both ballot issues -- the education bond and the charitable bingo -- have strong early support. We haven't heard of any major problems so far at the polls, but you can report them to us here throughout the evening.

Feel free to give us results or give us updates as the night continues -- we now return to Matthews and Olbermann on MSNBC for continuing coverage of the national results, which seem to be swaying toward a Dem victory as well.

Time for you to exercise your franchise and make a decision about the direction of both the state and federal governments. Do you want to "stay the course" or do you think it's "time for a change?" Yeah, we know it sounds a little stale at this point, but here ya go...here's your election morning news...

VOTE, YOU JERK

WELCOME TO ELECTION DAY 2006 – IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO ALREADY, YOU’LL HAVE A CHANCE TO CAST YOUR BALLOTS TODAY IN A SERIES OF STATEWIDE AND LOCAL POLITICAL RACES. YESTERDAY, THE LAST ACTUAL DAY OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE CANDIDATES MADE A FINAL SWING ACROSS THE STATE TRYING TO GET OUT THE VOTE AND CONVINCE UNDECIDED VOTERS TO MAKE A CHOICE.

GOTV TIME

THE GOVERNOR’S CANDIDATES, DEMOCRAT MIKE BEEBE AND REPUBLICAN ASA HUTCHINSON CROSSED THE STATE VISITING HIGHFILL, JONESBORO, LITTLE ROCK, PINE BLUFF AND TEXARKANA. PRESIDENT BUSH FLEW INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT TO STUMP FOR HUTCHINSON AND CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOOZMAN – THREE DAYS AGO, FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON CAMPAIGNED FOR MR. BEEBE AND DEMOCRATS IN JONESBORO.

WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT?

AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT TODAY, YOU’LL FIND THE GOVERNOR’S RACE, WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1976 DOESN’T HAVE AN INCUMBENT IN THE RACE. YOU’LL ALSO NOTICE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THAT OFFICE – GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE JIM LENDALL AND INDEPDENDENT ROD BRYAN. ALSO ON THE BALLOT, SIX OTHER STATEWIDE RACES, AND EVERY VOTER WILL CAST A BALLOT IN A CONGRESSIONAL RACE, ALONG WITH DECISIONS ON A PROPOSED 250 MILLION DOLLAR BOND ISSUE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW CHARITABLE BINGO GAMES.

VOTING MACHINE PRECAUTIONS

AND, SOME WORRY ABOUT HOW THOSE PROBLEM-PLAGUED ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES WILL PERFORM TODAY. THE THREE COMPANIES THAT SUPPLY MOST OF THOSE MACHINES NATIONWIDE SAY THEY’LL SEND OUT THOUSANDS OF TECHNICIANS TO HANDLE PROBLEMS – LIKE THE ONES WE EXPERIENCED DURING THE SPRING PRIMARY ELECTIONS. IN SOME STATES, WE’VE HEARD ABOUT MISSING EQUIPMENT, PROGRAMMING ERRORS AND TOO FEW MACHINES – IN OTHER PLACES, POLL WORKERS AND VOTERS DIDN’T FEEL LIKE USING THE MACHINES.

HIGH EARLY VOTE TURNOUT

AND, WE’VE ALREADY SEEN RECORD EARLY VOTING NUMBERS IN ARKANSAS. IN BENTON COUNTY, MORE THAN 14-THOUSAND VOTERS CAST EARLY BALLOTS. IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MORE THAN 8-THOUSAND DID THE SAME. THOSE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2002. EARLY VOTINHG STARTED OCTOBER 23RD – BENTON COUNTY CLERK MARY LOU SLINKARD SAYS SHE SAW LINES START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, BUT DOESN’T KNOW WHY SO MANY PEOPLE TURNED OUT.

WHITHER THOSE ROGERS IMMIGRATION LAWS?

AS THE CITY OF ROGERS CONSIDERS CREATING LAWS TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, THE CITY GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON PENNSYLVANIA CITY WHICH DRAFTED SIMILAR LAWS. HAZELTON, PENNLSYVANIA TOOK UP THE MATTER – BUT A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE IMMIGRATION RULES THERE. THE IDEA BEHIND THE LAWS? TO DECLARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A PUBLIC NUISANCE, ALLOWING POLICE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE STARTS WORK

A SPECIAL COMMITTEE IN FAYETTEVILLE YESTERDAY STARTED TAKING PUBLIC SUGGESTIONS ON WHETHER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE CITY SHOULD BUILD A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL. THE MEETING MARKED THE FIRST COMMUNITY SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE. FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THE COMMITTEE HAS DRAFTED QUESTIONS TO ASK THE PUBLIC, WITH THE HELP OF THE STATE SCHOOL BOARDS COMMITTEE.

We bet Rogers won't make any anti-immigration laws anytimes soon...

So, I have returned from the Great White North, and I'm glad to be back home where the trees actually have some color this time of year. I had a pretty good trip, but it's time to get back to politics.

GENERAL ELECTION TOMORROW

TODAY MARKS THE FINAL CHANCE YOU’LL HAVE TO CAST AN EARLY BALLOT, MOST LIKELY AT YOUR COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE GENERAL ELECTION TAKES PLACE TOMORROW, WITH MOST STATEWIDE OFFICES UP FOR GRABS. VOTERS WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THE GOVERNORS, LT. GOVERNORS, ATTORNEY GENERAL AND AUDITOR RACES JUST TO MENTION A FEW. VOTERS IN THE THIRD DISTRICT ALSO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM IN CONGRESS. VOTERS ALSO HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY’D LIKE TO APPROVE A 250-MILLION DOLLAR BOND ISSUE TO BENEFIT HIGHER EDUCATION, AND VOTERS WILL SEE A PROPOSED STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LEGALIZE CHARITABLE BINGO.

BUSH TO NWA TODAY

THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TODAY, WITH NORTHWEST AKRANSAS BRIEFLY BECOMING THE CENTER OF THE POLITICAL UNIVERSE. PRESIDENT BUSH WILL STOP AT XNA THIS AFTERNOON TO CAMPAIGN FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, INCLUDING GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ASA HUTCHINSON. THE PRESIDENT WILL MAKE HIS APPEARANCE ABOUT 1:30 TODAY, WITH ATTENDANCE LIMITED TO THOSE WHO GOT TICKETS FROM LOCAL REPUBLICAN PARTY HEADQUARTERS. PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITED ARKANSAS LAST WEEK TO HELP DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGN.

VOTER TURNOUT PREDICTIONS

AND, WHAT KIND OF VOTER TURNOUT CAN WE EXPECT AT THE POLLS TOMORROW? THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE HAS PREDICTED A 55 PERCENT TURNOUT AMONG THE STATE’S MORE THAN ONE AND HALF MILLION VOTERS, OR SOME 913-THOUSAND BALLOTS CAST DURING THIS YEAR’S MID-TERM ELECTIONS.

REZONE CHANGES MEAN DENIED TRANSFERS

SOME STUDENTS IN THE FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FIND THEMSELVES DISSAPPOINTED THIS YEAR AFTER THE DISTRICT CHANGED ATTENDANCE ZONES. MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS FIND THEMSELVES IN NEW SCHOOLS THIS YEAR. THE DISTRICT SAYS 472 STUDENTS ASKED TO STAY IN THEIR OLD SCHOOLS, BUT THE DISTRICT TURNED DOWN MOST OF THOSE REQUESTS. THE SCHOOL WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF REQUESTS? WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY, WHICH SAW THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN ITS ATTENDANCE ZONES.

HUCKABEE RUNS NYC MARATHON

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T HEAR IT ALREADY, GOVERNOR HUCKABEE MANAGED TO RUN IN, AND ACTUALLY FINISH, THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, DESPITE HAVING AN INJURED KNEE. THE GOVERNOR FINISHED THE RACE IN A LITTLE MORE THAN FIVE AND HALF HOURS – A SLOWER TIME THAN HE SAYS HE EXPECTED. MR. HUCKABEE’S CAREER BEST TIME IS ABOUT 4 AND HALF HOURS, WHICH HE SET IN THE LITTLE ROCK MARATHON LAST MARCH.

CHANGE IN WAL-MART POLICY

WAL-MART THIS PAST WEEK ANNOUNCED A CHANGE IN COMPANY POLICY. THE WORLD’S LARGEST RETAILER SAYS IT WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT SNOWY WEATHER AS AN EXCUSE FROM EMPLOYEES LATE TO CLOCK IN. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL STILL, HOWEVER, ACCEPT HURRICANES AND BIG BLIZZARDS AS AN EXCUSE. THE COMPANY ALSO SAYS BEING 10 MINUTES LATE THREE TIMES WILL EARN AN EMPLOYEE A DEMERIT, AND MANY MORE THAN THAT WILL MEAN A LOST JOB. CRITICS CLAIM THE COMPANY ONLY WANTS TO WEED OUT UNHEALTHY AND LONG-TERM WORKERS IN AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN ON LABOR COSTS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT’S ONLY FOLLOWING INDUSTRY WIDE CHANGES…

Blizzards? Hurricanes?

We hate to even bring this up, but the Republican Party has a problem with sexual identity. The whole "self-loathing" aspect of it is what seems so seedy. They may have a big tent, but a large part of it is apparently hidden in a corner or something. This was an interesting story from ABC News about a gay-porn producer who's contributed to the RNC...

The president of Marina Pacific, Nicholas Boyias, has personally contributed to the Republican party several times over the last few years, six times to the Republican National Committee. The donations range from $200 to $500 and total around $2,000, according to a search of federal election records.

The RNC would not comment on the donations from Boyias or from the porn industry in general.

A Marina Pacific spokesman said Boyias is a moderate Republican who supports candidates and causes on both sides of the aisle, though no contributions to Democrats were found in a search of federal election records. The company continues to sell Active Duty's films, which include "Fire in the Hole," "Platoon Party" and "Thrill Sergeant."

Yes, once again, those who scream in such a shrill manner about something most of us could care less about (like who you choose to sleep with) often seem to have something to worry about, or some unresolved issues...for instance, Rev. Ted Haggard in Colorado who has stepped down from his mega-church because a male escort says the Rev. enjoys male company and also a little meth from time to time.

So, what are Connecticut voters to think about this tidbit about Joe Lieberman and Joe's proud announcement of support from a new group of people?

A group of New Haven Latino clergy known for virulently opposing gay rights measures threw their support behind U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman's reelection campaign Thursday in a speech that focused on family values and faith. The group said the senator’s opposition to gay marriage contributed to their endorsing him: "We will not support a candidate that will go against the values of the traditional family as we know it and the Bible teaches us."

We're mighty suspicious of that, given Rev. Haggard's recent tribulations. What's going on here? Those who enjoy the "divide and conquer" style of politics often come to a bad end. Just ask Ted, and maybe read a little about Julius Caesar.

Can anyone say "Gannon?"

It's not too often that one falls in love with a place in day. Last place I was this impressed with was the isle of Capri off the coast of Italy. Anchorage is simply one of the most majestic places I've seen on earth, and I've been around the block a couple of times. The Norwegian fjords are pretty impressive as well.

However, the three hour time difference (it's really about 9 a.m. here as I post) along with the switch back to standard time last week have me feeling a little lost. I've got the day to explore the area, not sure where to start or exactly what to do.

John A. asked whether this was business or pleasure - actually, JA, it's a little of both. Jeez, you guys would love the politics up here. They don't have a lot of sports - their minor league hockey team is the big ticket in town - so politics is the default, and these folks are campaigning like made. The Gov's race between Knowles and Palin is pretty hot. Imagine Mike Beebe v. Jim Holt. That's what this race is like.

Another reason to like this place? No taxes - no sales taxes, no personal income taxes, and the oil industry provides a little something for every person in the state each year -- a check, low end $900 high end $1600 - the "pdf" or something like that, dividends from a public trust fund from the oil industry, I gather as a result of the pipeline and drilling. Taxes are very unpopular here. They do have a property tax, which just got cut by something like 15 percent. Oh, no grocery tax here, and the schools are supposed to be fantastic, though they have nothing like the U of A system. They also have an independent gubernatorial candidate, a guy named Halcro, who has some pretty good campaign ads. I'm told he polls about 7 percent, which is a little better then our Green and Independent candidates. Anyway, back in the saddle in the Ozarks on Monday. Looking forward to joining the "Drinking Liberally" folks to watch election returns on Tuesday night, will blog about it here.

Howdy, all. Sorry for not posting for a couple of days. Right now I'm sitting in a room at the Sheraton in Anchorage, Alaska. It's about ten degrees outside on a very busy Friday night. The city is quite active, and a bit of a big place. Reminds me of an upscale Little Rock. I'm told it is moose mating season, and the bull moose become quite dangerous here. Spent some time today learning about the candidates who'd like to replace Governor Frank Murckowski (sp?).

Got a good look at the bay and at the mountains and mountain sheep climbing sheer rock walls. This place reminds me of the Rockies in Utah and Colorado, on steroids. In Utah, you don't have mountains rising straight out of the sea without beaches. I'm told there is a volcano nearby that occasionally acts up. It looks a lot like the picture I've included here -- my phone doesn't want to send the pics I took today, so I'll wait till later to do some of that. The hugeness, the overwhelming size of this is amazing. Wonder if I should pay a visit to Anchorage Mayor Begich tomorrow, ask him how he's doing.

Mike Beebe's fundraising numbers are spectacular. If anything, he'll win just by sucking the financial oxygen out of the race. Quite a few observers say that actually happened as early as the primaries. First, though, a man who had a stand-off with police, but managed to pass-out...here's the news...

POLICE STANDOFF ENDS WHEN MAN PASSES OUT

A STANDOFF TUESDAY NIGHT BETWEEN BENTONVILLE POLICE AND A MAN WITH RIFLES, NIGHT VISION SCOPES AND A HANDMADE SILENCER ENDED WHEN THE MAN PASSED OUT. 31 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPER MICHAEL MINCHES FACES A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AS A RESULT OF THE FIVE HOUR CONFRONTATION, IN WHICH POLICE SAY HE SHOT AN OFFICER’S CAR. INVESTIGATORS CALL WHAT HAPPENED ATTEMPTED “SUICIDE BY COP” AND SAY MINCHEW HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK BEFORE THAT STANDOFF STARTED.

CLINTON COMING BACK TO ARK.

FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE’LL RETURN TO ARKANSAS TO HELP DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGN BEFORE NOVEMBER 7TH’S BALLOT. MR. CLINTON HASN’T SAID EXACTLY WHEN HE’LL STOP IN THE NATURAL STATE. HE CAME IN SEPTEMBER AND HELPED DEMOCRATS RAISE MORE THAN 600-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

NWA GAS BILL REDUCTION

ARKANSAS WESTERN GAS SAYS IT’LL REDUCE YOUR BILL BY MORE THAN 22 PERCENT ON YOUR NEXT BILL. THE COMPANY FILED THE RATE ADJUSTEMENT WITH THE STATE FRIDAY. THE REDUCTION COMES BECAUSE THE COMPANY ENDED UP PAYING LESS TO GAS SUPPLIERS THAN IT DID LAST WINTER. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY DOES WARN THAT THE RATE COULD GO UP AGAIN THE FURTHER INTO THE SEASON WE GET.

BINGO QUESTIONS

POLLS SHOW MOST VOTERS APPROVE OF A PROPOSAL ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT THAT WOULD LEGALIZE CHARITABLE BINGO. EVEN THOSE OPPOSED THE BINGO BILL SAY THEY HAVE NO WORRIES ABOUT THE BILL’S INTENT. THEY DO, HOWEVER, WORRY THE BINGO PROPOSAL COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR PROPONENTS OF MORE LEGALIZED GAMBLING TO FORWARD THEIR CAUSE. CRITICS THINK CORPORATE INTERESTS WILL FIND LOOPHOLES IN THE LAW.

SPRINGDALE HUNTER FOUND DEAD

POLICE SAY IT ONLY TOOK A SHORT WHILE, BUT THEY FOUND THE BODY OF A MISSING MAN FROM SPRINGDALE, AND BELIEVE HE DIED OVER THE WEEKEND OF NATURAL CAUSES WHILE HUNTING FOR SQUIRRELS. A FRIEND HUNTING WITH 65 YEAR OLD KENNETH GREEN OF SPRINGDALE CALLED POLICE AFTER BEING UNABLE TO FIND GREEN. POLICE FOUND GREEN’S BODY NORTH OF PEA RIDGE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK.

TROOPS COME HOME

A VERY BIG HOMECOMING YESTERAY – B BATTERY, 1ST BATTALION, 142ND FIRES BRIGADE RETURNED HOME TO ARKANSAS AFTER A YEAR IN IRAQ. THAT BATTERY IS THE FIRST OF THE GUARD UNITS BASED IN THE REGION TO RETURN FROM DEPLOYMENT. THE TROOPS LEFT AUGUST 2005 AND SPENT A YEAR IN IRAQ, HELPING TO CLOSE DOWN THE INFAMOUS ABU GHRAIB PRISON, AMONG OTHER DUTIES.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE STARTS WORK

TRAINING TIME HAS STARTED FOR THE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL LOOK INTO WHETHER THE FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS A NEW HIGH SCHOOL. THE COMMITTEE SPENT ABOUT 4 HOURS THIS WEEK LEARNING HOW TO LEAD PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS BEFORE A NOVEMBER 13TH FORUM AT FAYETTEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. THE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE DISTRICT SHOULD BUILD A NEW FACILITY, OR EXPAND THE CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL.

SMOOTH SAILING, EARLY VOTING

EARLY VOTING CONTINUES, AND MOST COUNTIES STATEWIDE SAY THE PROCESS HAS GONE SMOOTHLY. HOWEVER, AT LEAST ONE COUNTY HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES. ELECTION OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE TURNOUT AS ABOUT THE SAME OR MAYBE HEAVIER THAN IT WAS AT THIS TIME DURING THE LAST MID-TERM ELECTION.

BEEBE BREAKS FUNDRAISING RECORD

DEMOCRAT MIKE BEEBE AGAIN RAISED MORE MONEY THAN HIS OPPONENT, ASA HUTCHING, LAST MONTH. HE ALSO OUTSPENT HUTCHINSON. SO FAR, BEEBE HAS RAISED 6-POINT-3 MILLION DOLLARS, BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 2-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLARS SET BY MIKE HUCKABEE IN 2002. MR. HUTCHINSON HAS RAISED NEARLY 3-POINT-3 MILLION DOLLARS DURING THE CAMPAIGN CYCLE.

HIDING IN THE CEILING, MAN STEALS DRUGS

POLICE SAY A MAN STOLE SOME 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF NARCOTICS AND CIGARETTES FROM A HARPS FOOD STORE PHARMACY IN BENTONVILLE MONDAY. THEY SAY HE HID IN THE STORES CEILING OVERNIGHT. POLICE ARRESTED 26 YEAR OLD NICKY NICHOLAS TUESDAY AFTER GETTING AN ANONYMOUS TIP. SECURITY VIDEO SHOWED A MAN WALKING OUT OF THE STORE AFTER IT OPENED MONDAY – EMPLOYEES SAY NOBODY NOTICED THE MAN WALKING OUT.

Hiding in the ceiling, huh? Sneaky bastard!