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Stretched Thin

Stretched Thin

January 29, 2015

Vol 41 • No 21

Read the print version

Arkansas public defenders stretched thin

The public defender system in Arkansas is stretched to the point of breaking. Will it take a federal lawsuit to get the state to pony up for more attorneys?

Shovels and Rope at Revolution

Also, Maxwell Blade at The Joint, Romero Lubambo and Peter Martin at South on Main, Alvin Youngblood Hart at White Water Tavern, the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi at the Albert Pike Memorial Temple and Randall Goosby and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at the Maumelle Performing Arts Center.

In the middle with Mike

Yes, yes, tacking a "Blame Mike Anderson" headline on last week's Pearls was incendiary but don't read too much into it. There wasn't any shameless advocacy for firing the guy. I don't want that, but calling his methods into question isn't out of bounds.

Introducing AsaCare

The new GOP governor proposes saving the private option, with an eye toward future reforms.

Graham Wilkinson at White Water Tavern

The Main Thing does "Frost Bite Me."

Arkansas Fresh makes Bryant a destination

Bakery Cafe a standout.

Blowing up the Super Bowl

Finally, a reason to pay attention to the Super Bowl, America's most stultifying TV sporting event.

Landlord-tenant laws need change

Overshadowed by the "AsaCare" speech was a decision by a circuit court judge in Little Rock that also promotes fundamental fairness. Judge Herb Wright shot down the 1901 Arkansas statute criminalizing a tenant's "failure to vacate" a landlord's property without paying rent.

Peace

Colorado sculptor Lori Alcott's bronze sculpture at Second and Main was donated to the city by the Sculpture at the River Market Committee, which paid $60,000 for the edition of Alcott's "Peace" series.

The 2015 Musicians Showcase begins

Secondhand Cannons, Open Fields, Redefined Reflection and Consumers battle in round one.

Against drone legislation

Arkansas Rep. Justin Harris is sponsoring HB1079, a bill that criminalizes the use of drones to capture "images" by anyone other than law enforcement agencies.

The secret museum

The Observer loves museums, so full as they are of time and history and the residue of the far-distant past. The offspring of a pair of history buffs, Yours Truly was dragged past every velvet rope in nine or 10 states as a lad, where we learned to love yesterday, along with the two rules of most museums: See with your eyes, not your hands, and — while we're on the subject of hands — keep your sticky paws off the glass cases, lest the museum guides scowl at you while fetching the Windex and a rag.

A strange failure

'Mortdecai' flops.

Hear Asa clearly

Also, Tim Griffin and the message machine, the travails of Jermain Taylor, Leslie Rutledge escaping Ethics violation, Nate Bell vs. R.E. Lee and more.

Like Huckabee, Hutchinson pro-health

One fine day in 1999, Gov. Mike Huckabee, with his earnest but sometimes zany public health director at his side, announced that before he left office he intended to see that everyone in Arkansas had health insurance.

AsaCare and more good news

The best part so far of the Republican takeover of Arkansas government is Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Thirty-four years of Readers Choice

The winners of the Best and New categories since 1981.

Feds arrest Perry county pharmacist on drug charge

The U.S. attorney's office in Little Rock has announced the arrest of Christopher Watson, a pharmacist in Perryville, for distributing controlled narcotics without a legal prescription.

The Little Rock School District's new day: What of the union? And a legal challenge?

The state takes over the Little Rock School District today because it was judged a failure. It will be led by the same man who's led the failed district for two years. Among the questions today is the future of the teachers union and whether a legal challenge will be mounted.

The Big Swill: It includes unpublicized dining with lobbyists

Details emerge of how lobbyists are continuing to buy fancy dinners for legislators under a loophole they believe they've found in the state's brand new ethics amendment.

The two Little Rocks: A letter to the Chamber of Commerce

A letter to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and the members of the state Board of Education captures historic bitterness in the black community toward control of decision-making by major business interests.

Supreme Court still silent on marriage case

The Arkansas Supreme Court weekly opinions again contains no guidance on what's to come in the appeal of the ruling striking down Arkansas's same-sex marriage ban.

UCA studying an optometry school

The University of Central Arkansas will study the possibility of opening a school of optometry. It has hired a consulting firm for a feasibility study.

Bill to hamper telemedicine abortions passes committee

Rep. Julie Mayberry's bill to ban use of telemedicine for doctors who give women pills that induce miscarriages easily cleared a House committee this morning, with a bare scattering of nays on the voice vote.

UAMS venture gets $14.5 million to study drug to combat meth addiction

InterveXion Therapeutics, a UAMS bioventures startup, has received $14.5 million in federal grants to develop drugs to help people break addictions to methamphetamine.

New music from Lo Thraxx, The Uh Huhs, Rodney CoLe, Sea Nanners and more

Lo Thraxx has a new mixtape called "Sharkansas" coming out someday. I'm sure it's only a matter of time. On the other hand, maybe not — he's been advertising this thing forever. He's released other whole mixtapes in the interim. It's becoming the Little Rock "Detox." As long he keeps making singles like this one, though, I doubt anybody minds.

Boulevard Bistro nearing completion

A first look inside the new Boulevard Bistro, along with a sneak peek at the Heights restaurant's fresh new dinner menu.

John Walker: Not ready to talk lawsuits

State Rep. John Walker of Little Rock said he had no comment for now about the possibility of suing over the state takeover of the Little Rock School District, a move the veteran civil rights lawyer opposed. He also expressed skepticism the state could deliver on promised improvements for minority children, because it never has before.

Senator Boozman joins bill to lift Cuba travel ban

U.S. Sen. John Boozman has joined with a bipartisan list of sponsors to a bill to restrictions on U.S. citizens' travel to Cuba.

When cops cross the line with prostitutes

Sam Eifling has a new article in The New Republic about cops engaging in sex with prostitutes to make arrests. It revisits Fort Smith, where questions have been raised before about vice cop acitivities.

AsaCare and tax cuts fly high at Arkansas legislature

The Senate easily passed today what devout Republican foes once called Obamacare and the outlook in the House is also rosy. Also today, the House approved Gov. Asa Hutchinson's tax cut plan.

Suggs: Change coming to district post takeover, but no details until after ADE meeting

Superintendent Dexter Suggs held a press conference today in the wake of yesterday's historic vote by the State Board of Education to take over the Little Rock School District and dissolve the local LRSD board. With the school board gone, Suggs is the man solely in charge of running the district, although he'll get his marching orders from the head of the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), commissioner Tony Wood.

Psych of the South: Calvin Leavy's 'Cummins Prison Farm'

I interviewed Billy Cole in 2011 while researching a song of his titled “Fouke Monster,” a wacky hard rock tune about the Bigfoot sightings in Fouke, Ark. in the early 70s. During the interview, Cole spoke about “Cummins Prison Farm” by Calvin Leavy, which became a Top 40 r&b hit in 1970. Although there's been a lot of misleading and contradictory information surrounding the song, including the approximately 17 people who have tried taking credit for writing and producing it, Cole is listed as the principal songwriter and wanted to reveal the story behind it from his perspective.

Today's bill hopper: A rollback of retirement benefits

Pension benefits, annual legislative sessions and the education commissioner's credentials are topics of bill introduced today.

Behind the scenes peek: What state officials were thinking before Gov. Hutchinson's meeting with the feds on health care reform

Officials from the Department of Human Services provided notes on suggested areas of discussion to Gov. Asa Hutchinson prior to his meeting with the feds on the private option and the future of health care reform in Arkansas. Here's what DHS officials were thinking.

OBU official recommended for Higher Education post

A search committee has recommended Brett Powell, vice president for administrative services at Ouachita Baptist University, to succeed Shane Broadway as director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

Thursday open line and Arkansas headlines: Plus judicial pay raises

Thursday's open line and video news roundup.

State Police arrest two in Arkadelphia store slaying

Two arrests have been made a third suspect is being sought in the Sunday morning robbery and slaying of an Arkadelphia convenience store clerk.

Arkansas Ethics: When an election ad is not an election ad

The formal analysis of an Ethics Commission decision exonerating $300,000 in unreported TV ad contributions to Leslie Rutledge's attorney general campaign does little to inspire confidence in the decision.

Annals of regulation: Jeremy Hutchinson's anticompetitive booze bill

The legislature is away, but they still get paid. Also: More anticompetitive legislation in the booze business from small government Republican Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson.

Open Fields wins Round 1 of the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase

Congrats to Little Rock's Open Fields, who won the first round of the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase last night with an awesome set of sunshine pop, jagged psych-rock and all-around good vibes. Their singer at one point paused to thank "God and the devil and 'My Dog Skip' and 'That Darn Cat' and all manner of highs and lows," and for a moment there it was as though we all understood and also didn't understand, and either way it was good.

Commission finalizing politician pay proposals

The politicians pay commission is backing a sharp increase for legislative pay in return for end of a home expense account. It also approved substantial pay raises for other elected officials and judges.

Adios Mitt. Is Huck next?

Mitt Romney's out of the presidential race after barely getting in. Might Mike Huckabee, drawing flak even from his side of the political spectrum, soon follow Romney back to private life?

Little Rock Zoo introduces new maned wolves

The Little Rock Zoo said today that two maned wolves born Dec. 21 are moving around and soon will be ready for visitor viewing.

Top 5 Food and Farm blog posts

Your Friday open line, farm talk edition.

Losing GOP candidate gets $108,000 state job

Losing congressional candidate Ann Clemmer has landed a $108,000-a-year job in the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

Walton Foundation sets meeting in Little Rock schools

The Walton Family Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation, with a consulting group known for recommending school privatization, are already arranging meetings in the former democratically governed Little Rock School District. They remain public schools — nominally — but information so far has been hard to come by about this new initiative.

Thank goodness. A Friday open line and video

Here's today's news video and an open line.

Staff Picks: Moody Brews, Frank Ocean, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tokyo true crime and more

Three or four different times I've been out at a bar or restaurant and happened upon a beer from Moody Brews, the Little Rock brewery started by Josiah Moody, formerly of Vino's. Every time: outstanding. From my days writing blurbs for the Arkansas Times Craft Beer Festival, I've used up every clever adjective or way of talking about how beer is tasty so let me just say that all of their beer is fucking tasty.

The Money Wins Edition

The state takeover of the Little Rock School District, the independent pay commission’s recommendations for salaries for state elected officials, the private option (AsaCare’s) easy path to renewal and the failure in committee of a bill that would end inclusion of Robert E. Lee in the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday — all covered on this week's podcast.

Digging into Little Rock school adviser, Boston Consulting Group

The arrival of the Boston Consulting Group, thanks to Walton Family Foundation backing, in the Little Rock School District encourages a look at the group's work in education elsewhere in the U.S. Privatization of schools often follows.

Robert E. Lee's defenders promote secession on Harrison billboard

If you think the Lee Holiday debate is about honoring a fine gentleman, think again. It's what it's always been about — Lost Cause defenders, some of whom think the South should secede again.

Open line and a Popeye's catchup

A Saturday open line and Popeye's catchup: The fast chicken chain won't be coming to a proposed location on West Markham for at least a year if then.

Baxter County worker thinks free speech, including comments on Nativity scene, sparked firing

Did a Baxter County worker's wife contribute to his firing by posting Facebook contrary to the county judge about the controversial Nativity scene erected each year on the courthouse lawn?

Gun bills: Legislators reluctant on their own premises

In the spate of gun legislation filed ad contemplated, legislators apparently have indicated a reluctance to be expansive on gun rights close to where they sit.

Third suspect arrest in Arkadelphia convenience store slaying

The State Police said today that a third suspect had been arrested in the robbery and slaying last Sunday of Christopher Brown, 24, a clerk at the Kwick Stop Shell. Two Pine Bluff men had been arrested earlier.

Mike Huckabee's daily knee-slapper: Compares being gay with drinking, cussing

Mike Huckabee does it again He goes viral with a national TV interview comparing being gay to drinking and liking ballet.

The Super Sunday open line

The Super Sunday open line.

The New Orleans charter school 'miracle'? Not in ACT numbers

When school choice advocates talk about the miracle of the New Orleans schools' conversion to charter schools, be sure to check the numbers. They don't reflect a miracle, based on the latest ACT test scores.

Criticism continues of state takeover of Little Rock schools

Criticism continues of the state decision to take over the school district, particularly keeping the man who led the failed district in charge.

The Big Swill: Meals resume, with taxpayer help

Free food and drinks continue for Arkansas legislators — some of it subsidized by tax money — despite the new Amendment 94 and its ban on freebies for legislators. A gaping loophole has been declared.

House bill seals its audio/video record for campaign, commercial use

House legislation raises a 1st Amendment question in banning use of publicly financed recordings of legislative proceedings in campaign ads or commercial use.

Huckabee becomes pitch man for 'diabetes solution'

Mike Huckabee has become a paid radio pitch man for a purported "solution" to diabetes. The product has had its critics.

Todd Rundgren is coming to Little Rock

Whatever you thought you were doing on the night on April 19, drop it: Todd Rundgren has added a Little Rock stop to his "Global Tour 2015," and is playing at the Rev Room. Didn't know Rundgren was still making music? Never liked his music in the first place? Doesn't matter — this is too important to be left up to issues of musical taste.

State politician pay commission sticks with initial recommendations

The independent citizens commission is sticking with pay levels it reached Friday for legislators, judges and statewide elected officials. It will take public comment and finalize the pay in March.

Former Acxiom boss Charles Morgan publishes a tells-a-lot memoir

Former Acxiom CEO Charles Morgan has a new memoir out and he doesn't shy away from telling stories of womanizing and a bitter divorce.

Today's animal photo: Maned wolf mom and pup at Little Rock Zoo

No news here. Just a nice shot from the Little Rock Zoo of a maned wolf mom toting one of her pups, born late last yer.

Obama backs Social Security benefits for same-sex couples in all states

President Obama's budget provides Social Security benefits for all married couples, including same-sex married couples who live in the 14 states, including Arkansas, where same-sex marriage has not been legalized.

Nate Bell appeals to Black Caucus on Lee holiday bill

Reporting from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says Rep. Nate Bell told the Black Legislative Caucus that he'd try again on his bill to separate a commemoration of Robert E. Lee's birthday from the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Failing that, he said he'd co-sponsor a similar bill by Rep. Fred Love, a Democrat.

Hutchinson enlists former Democrats on his lobbying team

Asa Hutchinson has put three former legislators on his lobbying team on a short-term basis, including former Democratic legislator Tracy Steele, who endorsed Hutchinson over Mike Ross.

Fresco Cafe off the Fayetteville square is a total package

Fayetteville's new Fresco Cafe lives up to its name with fresh, delicious food.

U.S. v. Britain in health care

A writer who divides his time between the U.S. and Britain compares medical care in the two countries — our generally privatized system versus the national health service in Britain. Brits win.

Hester files promised pro-gay-discrimination bill UPDATE

Sen. Bart Hester filed his promised legislation today to be sure that cities don't pass laws that would prohibit discrimination against gay people.

Life and death in the House

The House today approved legislation to restrict chemical abortions and to allow more people to see executions.

Come watch 'Killer of Sheep' with us at Ron Robinson on Feb. 21

This month in the Arkansas Times Film Series (co-sponsored by the Little Rock Film Festival), we're showing Charles Burnett's legendary 1978 independent film "Killer of Sheep." Filmed in L.A.'s Watts neighborhood in the early `70s, it's a gorgeous and powerful and deeply mysterious document of its time and place, set to music by Dinah Washington and Louis Armstrong and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Religion 'protection' bill filed

Rep. Bob Ballinger and a host of other like-minded legislators today filed an act nominally intended to protect religious freedom. They call it the Conscience Protection Act. It's a can of worms.

Monday's open line and video report

Here's today's open line and news roundup.

The Little Rock School District takeover: Is transparency in peril?

It took three years to pierce secrecy about a privately funded effort to reshape the Philadelphia schools. The same consultant that led Philadelphia planning is now at work in Little Rock. Will they be as resistant to disclosure here?

Under study: $100M arts center in North Little Rock, built with tax and Stephens gift

Since word leaked in late January of telephone polling of North Little Rock residents about a 1-cent sales tax, rumors have grown about the nature of the project it might support. Mayor Joe Smith isn't telling all, but he says it could be a $100 million arts center of national stature. Does that mean a new location for the Arkansas Arts Center? Nobody's saying.

Graham Gordy's 'Quarry' picked up by Cinemax

Deadline Hollywood reports today that Cinemax has picked up "Quarry," a 1970s-set drama created and produced by Little Rock's Graham Gordy and Michael D. Fuller, as an eight episode series. According to Deadline:

The rich are not like you and me: Walmart edition

Being married to a Walton heiress apparently means you need about $250,000 a month to maintain the lifestyle to which you've become accustomed. TMZ has the tabloid details and, hey, why not repeat them.

Daily Show rips Huckabee on marriage comment

Jon Stewart and the Daily Show are popping Mike Huckabee again, this time for "nonsense" remarks about gay marriage and an ill-chosen religious metaphor about Jews eating shrimp wrapped in bacon.

More criticism of bill to protect discrimination against gay people

The Stonewall Democrats have issued a statement criticizing Sen. Bart Hester's bill to protect discrimination against gay people. They're likely to be lonely in finding supporters in the Arkansas legislature.

Dumas: More praise for the Republican governor

Ernest Dumas joins others, like me, who've had kind things to say about the approach Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson took toward income taxes — cuts for middle income taxpayers and a rollback of capital gains cuts, which benefit the wealthiest.

Report: Gay man denied church use for funeral in Mountain Home

The Dallas Voice, a publication focusing on LGBT issues, published a brief article yesterday about the death of James Stone, 32, a gay married man and native Arkansan, whose family was reportedly denied use of a church for his funeral in Mountain Home.

Prediction: Stacy Hurst to Airport Commission UPDATED

The Little Rock City Board soon will go into executive session to consider Mayor Mark Stodola's recommendations for appointments to city commissions and will emerge with consensus votes that, according to multiple sources, will install former Director Stacy Hurst as a member of the Little Rock Airport Commission

Yes there is a free lunch for legislators

Lots of free food and drinks on tap for legislators today despite Amendment 94's ban on gifts to legislators.

Faulkner deputy shot in Conway search

The Log Cabin Democrat in Conway reports that a Faulkner County deputy was shot in the abdomen about 6 a.m. this morning while serving a search warrant in Conway.

Record number of presidential scholar nominees at Central High

Little Rock Central High School has a record number of nominees to be a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Somebody is getting an education in the school district, despite it being declared a "failure" by many.

Q&A on moving the Arkansas Arts Center to North Little Rock

As details emerge about the idea to move the Arkansas Arts Center to North Little Rock, some interesting points of discussion also emerge. Such as — will Little Rock elites patronize a museum in ..... North Little Rock?

State revenue jumps up in January

Hopes among supportive legislators for a revenue flow sufficient to pay for Gov. Asa Hutchinson's income tax cut got a boost from the state's report on state tax take in January.

The private option speeds out of House committee

The bill to preserve the private option expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare for two years but to appoint a task force to study restructuring of health care in Arkansas was approved in the House Public Health Committee this morning on a voice vote.

Another problem for MacArthur Park: Canada geese

Little Rock, already worried about the potential lost of MacArthur Park tenant the Arkansas Arts Center, has a park tenant that isn't nearly so welcome.

Cocoa Rouge and Colonial Wine to hold tasting event

Artisan chocolates paired with great wines — there's just not much better we can imagine right before Valentine's Day.

Feel-good story of the day; a car for James Robertson

Detroit newspaper writes story about factory worker James Robertson who walks 21 miles a day through the snow to get to and from a factory job paying $10.55 an hour. Story just about makes you cry at his work ethic. Good news should make you cry more.

Young Mike Huckabee, as columnist, counseled against dancing

Buzzfeed unearth columns written by a young Mike Huckabee for a Missionary Baptist newsletter for youths. Among his warnings: On dancing and soap operas.

Arkansas wins $21.5 million in suit against Standard and Poors

Arkansas will received $21.5 million as part of a $1.375 billion settlement of a suit against Standard and Poors Financial Services by 19 states, the federal government and the District of Columbia.

Now in the picture, Little Rock leadership anxious about Arts Center

Mayor Mark Stodola today said he would not be in favor of moving the Arts Center north of the river, since Little Rock "has spent millions" on the Arts Center since its founding by the Fine Arts Club in 1937 (read the history of the Arts Center here).

May 11 hearing set on Arkansas gay marriage appeal to federal appeals court

The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals today granted a motion for an expedited hearing in a state appeal of a same-sex marriage ruling from South Dakota and to combine the case with pending appeals from Missouri and Arkansas.

A new proposal for statewide alcohol sales gets initial approval

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has approved the form of another try at legalizing retail alcohol sales in all 75 Arkansas counties.

Arkansas in middle of the pack on football recruiting expenses

A new study by USA Today shows that Arkansas spent $615,252 on football recruiting in 2012-13, fifth in the 13-team SEC, with Auburn and Tennessee topping the list at $1.38 million and $1.29 million, respectively.

Duck! The legislature is meeting

Guns and accountability and lobbying are among the topics of new legislation filed today.

Tuesday: An open line and video news roundup

Tuesday's open line with a video news roundup.

Arts Center Foundation: No 'current plans' for move

The Arkansas Arts Center Foundation has issued a statement about our report on talks of moving the Arts Center to North Little Rock. There are no such "current plans," but the Foundation says it has indeed talked with city leaders about the museum's condition and need for renovation and more space.

Is Arkansas planning to withdraw from PARCC, the Common Core testing consortium?

Rep. Mark Lowery, a Republican from Maumelle, has introduced a bill that would put the brakes on Arkansas's implementation of standardized testing based on Common Core State Standards. Lowery says the bill is motivated in part because legislators have been told by ADE officials, unofficially, that "the PARCC contract will not be renewed" beyond the current academic year.

Living like a Walmart heir hard to give up

The only Arkansas connection here is the wellspring of Walton money from which the foundation of this tabloid divorce epic flows. But, for a taste of how the rich live, courtesy of TMZ:

TV program focuses on Buffalo River hog farm

The TV series "This American Land" has a new segment on the factory hog farm in the Buffalo River watershed and the concerns neighbors have about potential pollution of the national river.

Fine dining tonight at the legislature

The free legislative feeds today include a couple of high-dollar steakhouse soirees and a "country caucus" get-together, plus breakfast, lunch and multiple cocktail hours.

'Sympathy card' at gay man's Baxter County funeral includes anti-gay material

Did people in rural Baxter County refuse normal funeral courtesies to the family of James Stone because he was gay? Some accounts conflict, but there's no dispute that the family was given a "sympathy card" at the funeral packed with anti-gay messages.

K.J. Hill heading to Ohio State; his football coach targeted for firing

K.J. Hill, the star receiver for North Little Rock High School who'd initially said he planned to play football for the Razorbacks, announced today that he'd be going to Ohio State, Fox 16 reports.

Luna Bella elevates Spa City dining

Fans of Italian food should head to Luna Bella, one of Hot Springs' destination restaurants.

North Little Rock mayor confirms talks about Arkansas Arts Center

With news now trickling out about an idea to move the Arkansas Arts Center to North Little Rock as part of a downtown arts development, North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith has now issued his first specific confirmation of the idea in a prepared statement:

Arkansas Brewers Guild set to takeover the Arkansas Alehouse

The Arkansas Brewers Guild is taking over the Arkansas Alehouse. It's a great chance to try some of the best brews Arkansas has to offer.

HHS: Almost 57,000 Arkansans now enrolled in Health Insurance Marketplace

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, which oversees implementation of the Affordable Care Act (aka, Obamacare), says that 56,970 people in the state are signed up for coverage through the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace as of Jan. 30. Nationally, the figure is 7.5 million. The deadline to sign up for an individual insurance plan this year is Feb. 15.

Vaccine exemptions in Arkansas: A CLARIFICATION

In 2003, the Arkansas legislature decided to add to existing exemptions for religious and medical reasons another exemption to immunization: philosophical grounds. That means if you don't want to immunize your child before sending him off to school, you don't have to. You do have to be granted an exemption from the state Department of Health.

Wednesday's eerily quiet open line

A late open line and video news roundup.

Details begin to emerge on firing of NLR football coach Brad Bolding

NLR high school football coach Brad Bolding received notice from his employers at the district last Friday (Jan. 30th) that he'd be terminated under the Fair Dismissal Act regarding four allegations, one of which concerns interdistrict transfer of a student athlete. The coach plans to request a hearing and contest the firing.

UPDATE: 'Campus carry' bill narrowly fails in committee

Arkansas colleges and universities are opposing HB 1077, which would undo a compromise 2013 law which allowed institutions to create their own gun policies limiting so-called "campus carry." Every two- and four-year school in the state adopted such a policy. Now, Rep. Charlie Collins wants to make it mandatory for state schools to allow concealed carry license holders to tote their guns on campus (private colleges could still opt out).

Kehinde Wiley, from Bentonville to New York: UPDATE from the Arts Center

Back in October, I wrote about an exhibition at 21c Hotel in Bentonville of work by Kehinde Wiley. Delita Martin, in Bentonville to give a talk about her work in Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art's exhibition "State of the Art," posted about the show on her Facebook page, and I made sure to see it when I visited the museum and the hotel in November with the Arkansas Times' Art Bus. Like Martin, I was really taken with these huge paintings of African American subjects placed against floral backgrounds.

Africa Tour Diary: Big Piph and Tomorrow Maybe, Part 1

My name is Lucas Murray, and I have the incredible honor and opportunity to be traveling to Africa with fellow Little Rock musicians Corey Harris, Dre Franklin, Paul Campbell and Epiphany Morrow. Last winter our band Big Piph and Tomorrow Maybe applied and auditioned for a state department grant program called American Music Abroad.
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