WHY NOT A TRAIL? Book inspires legislation. It will take some new fiction writing to accomplish.

Legislative bill filing continues. Make them stop. Items today so far include:

* HIGH SPEED TRAVEL: Unhappy with the Highway Commission’s reluctance to use its discretion, apparently, Rep. Deann Vaught wants to mandate a 75 mph speed limit on freeways outside urban areas. Also 65 on urban freeways.

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* BIBLE: Law already allows school courses about the Bible in non-sectarian ways. Sen. Ballinger and Reps. Cloud  and Dotson want to REQUIRE it if 15 students request it. How about the Koran, too?

* TRUE GRIT: Rep. Mary Bentley wants to create a True Grit trail from Dardanelle to Fort Smith to somehow capitalize on Charles Portis’ novel. Portis is in poor health and unable to comment now. Or to write a story incorporating Mary Bentley and a few other legislators, which could be amusing.

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(PS: This “trail” will be hard to make much of without some modern fiction writing. In the novel, Mattie Ross takes a train to Fort Smith. From where isn’t clear. Maybe from Russellville. Dardanelle isn’t mentioned. Her father might have gone overland, but the book doesn’t say specifically. He left on horseback. At least the Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway, one of the state’s earlier trail creations, for sure had some bucket-of-blood ‘tonks back in the day.)

* SECRECY FOR COPS: Rep. Robin Lundstrum wants to allow law officers — active AND retired — to be able to close public records about their property, taxes and personal contact information.

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