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February 29, 2012

Vol 38 • No 26

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Malzahn's moment

Or so ASU fans hope.

Cinco thumbs up for Cinco Entrees

The new kid at the River Market is a keeper.

It's time for the finals of the Musicians Showcase

Laundry for the Apocalypse takes Round 5.

Anti-college rant could play well here

The Republican presidential race turns to the South next week and Rick Santorum has found an issue that ought to gain him some traction in Dixie.

Shut up and pray

As we write, the Republican presidential primary is so fiercely contested that one of the candidates has resorted to telling the truth, long considered the "third rail" of Republican politics. Nobody ever caught George W. Bush being truthful, or Richard Nixon.

One-hole protest

The restoration of Johnny Cash's boyhood home

Dyess project underway.

The Boxing Lesson to Downtown Music

Plus Super Water Sympathy at Maxine's.

Lee Richardson again up for Beard Award

Plus, Buffett at Lulav.

Big money reward in WM3 case

An anonymous donor has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction for those responsible for the 1993 murders of Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore.

Legislative Auditor stands mostly mute

Legislative Auditor Roger Norman may be fine with figures but he's wary of words. Norman declined to discuss detailed complaints that were made against him in an anonymous letter to the Arkansas Times.

Short story conference to North Little Rock

'Paradise Lost 3' coming to Arkansas Literary Festival, too.

'Bad Intentions' in Spa City?

Promoters are at work trying to arrange a Jermain Taylor prize fight for the Summit Arena in Hot Springs on Arkansas Derby day, April 14.

Pastoral

The first of March I always start getting my sodbusting equipment together, rent me a mule, and prepare myself to put in another crop and see it through to fruition.

Occupy Chamber of Commerce

I read in the Democrat-Gazette that City Director Gene Fortson wants the city of Little Rock to evict the Occupy Little Rock people camping in the unused parking lot at Capitol and Ferry.

A commune comedy

'Wanderlust' finds the comedy sweet spot.

No pills for women at St. Vincent

Hospital claims it's exempt from state law.

Lizzie Borden took an ax ...

Our Feb. 15 discussion of out of whack prompted a note from Dr. Jim Robnolt of Sherwood.

Review: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's 'Ode to Joy'

Last weekend's Arkansas Symphony concerts, featuring Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, was extraordinary in that the mandatory "other work" on the program was Schoenberg's "A Survivor from Warsaw," with actor George Takei narrating and the River City Men's Chorus singing the Jewish Shema Israel.

Sold! American government

With the general election eight months away, it's not too early to say that the electoral process has been purchased by the highest bidders.

In the moment

Last week, your Old Pal had to hoof it down to Sixth and Louisiana for an interview. Just as momma taught us, we got there a bit early. It was the day that Mother Nature had chosen to finally peek out from behind her frosty skirts, beautiful, blue sky, the flowering trees just itching to burst forth in a spray of color. Even better, it was a Friday.

GOP wars

The road to recovery

You can hardly characterize an unsteady six-point win over a .500 team as a season saver, but when Arkansas dutifully clawed its way out of a 17-point first-half hole against Auburn over the weekend, it was sufficiently cathartic nonetheless.

Ask the Times: What was the first alternative 'media' in Arkansas?

Well, it depends on what you mean by "alternative."

A new controversy erupts

Jimmy Buffett comes to Verizon

Plus 'Doubt' at UCA, Joe Buck at White Water, Big Smith at Revolution, This Holy House at Stickyz and 'Young Frankenstein' at Robinson.

It was a good week truckers

Also for a Welspun. It was a bad week for Rep. Jon Hubbard and Medicaid projections.

Romney: Arkansas Dems' Best Hope?

Arkansas Republicans have banked on another wave of anti-Obama vitriol among Arkansas voters to ensure them control of both houses of the state legislature come 2013. Unfortunately for Arkansas's traditional outsider party, their probable nominee for president may be about to put a kink on that plan.

Lyons: Lord Romney

If he weren't so smug, it would almost be possible to feel sorry for Mitt Romney. Beyond the flip-flopping, has any worse actor ever attempted the role of presidential candidate?

The Hudson file: a rare look inside a police officer's internal file

A survey of the citizen complaints lodged at LRPD lieutenant involved in Ferneau beating.

Little Rock's government at work — sigh

Two things about last night's City Board meeting: * BID PREFERENCES: It does questionable benefit to the city to pay 3 percent more on city contracts to a company headquartered in the city if most or all of that company's employees go home to Bryant, Cabot, Sheridan and Lonoke every night.

Grades mean more than college test scores, study finds

This is a story about a study in New York, but I think it has relevance here.

Bailing out the big banks

I continue to receive mail from lawyers in disbelief that a fiscal session of the Arkansas legislature will be used to bail out big banks (HB 1147) that failed to register to do business in Arkansas and now, on account of a bankruptcy judge's ruling, can't get title insurance on non-judicially foreclosed property.

Who owns Arkansas congressmen? A: The usual suspects

MapLight is a nonprofit research organization that tracks the influence of money in politics. That's heavy lifting.

Democrats aim again for a piece of Northwest Arkansas

Yessie Hernandez, a Democrat, will file for state House of Representatives today for District 89, around Springdale.

Obama's stimulus worked

Recommended reading in New York Times. The evidence mounts that the Obama stimulus package helped the U.S. economy.

Thursday To-Do: Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band play Verizon Arena Thursday.

Thursday To-Do: 'Doubt'

The Montana Repertory Theatre's production of "Doubt" comes to UCA Thursday night.

Jay Martin out, Herb Rule in for Dems in 2nd District

Jay Martin has just told me he will NOT seek the Democratic nomination for 2nd District Congress.

UPDATE: Effort to revive truck tax repeal fails in Senate

The entry of the city and county lobbies into the fray over the moribund legislation to repeal a $4 million sales tax break for truckers has changed dynamics of the debate.

Prosecutor Ellington plans 1st District race

This just in from Mariah Hatta, a political consultant and former director of the Arkansas Democratic Party.

UPDATE: The foreclosure legislation

Sen. Michael Lamoureux tells me that the legislation that was written to bail out out-of-state mortgage lenders and service companies doing business in Arkansas without proper registration is going back to Joint Budget for possible amendments.

Thursday: The Boxing Lesson, Joe Krown Trio and more

The Boxing Lesson plays Downtown Music Hall Thursday night.

Final shot planned at halting unearned truck tax break

Does anybody but insiders care about the truck sales tax break and efforts to repeal it since the truck lobby didn't earn it? If so, here's the last ditch effort to do it.

4 Arkansans make OA A list

In its "100 Under 100" list of Southern superstar artists.

Pipe bomb found at Family Services Agency

KTHV reports that a pipe bomb was found at the Family Services Agency office on Broadway in North Little Rock.

The midweek line

Lobbyists invite me to a fund-raiser for Sen. Missy Irvin.

Pryor will split with Boozman on contraception vote

Three cheers for U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor. He apparently will not be spooked by the Republican claque into voting for a terrible bill to give employers leeway to deny any sort of medical service they find objectionable.

The morning roundup

Some odds and ends: * WEDGE ISSUES: It's all about wedge issues for Republicans. Always has been.

Grades predict Arkansas college success better than test scores

Yesterday, I mentioned a New York study that raised questions about the merit of remedial courses in college.

Will Bond won't run for 2nd District Congress

Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Will Bond tells me he won't be filing today for 2nd District Congress.

After hours at Gallery 26: Cefalo

It's March 1, the first Thursday of the month, and that means Hillcrest merchants and restaurants will make merry tonight.

Rapert's amendment gets cartoon attention

GoAnimate.com: Jason Rapert and the Constitution by centralarkLike it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com.

Who audits the auditor?

Doug Smith checked up for The Insider this week on tips about extraordinary pay raises given to legislative auditor Roger Norman (10 percent each of the last three years when other state employees were getting much less, or nothing); a sharp increase in the auditor's cost of office space, and, in the bargain, a memo of Norman's encouraging use of Biblical principles in the division.

Pallbearer's 'Sorrow and Extinction' earning serious critical props

Pallbearers Sorrow and Extinction has gotten great reviews.

PHE Picassos Saturday

Biannual fund-raiser supports arts programs.

Bad Boy Mowers to expand in Batesville

Bad Boy Mowers has announced a 150-job expansion at its Batesville plant, the Arkansas Economic Development Commmission says.

Conway teacher wins national honors

Kathy Powers, an intermediate school literacy teacher in Conway and the 2011 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, has been named one of 35 winners of a national teaching award.

Senate defeats anti-birth control measure

The U.S. Senate today tabled Sen. Roy Blunt's sweeping amendment aimed at allowing employers to strip health insurance coverage of contraception.A huge coalition of health providers opposed the bill because of both the ill effects of stripping preventive care from women as well as the broad unintended consequences of letting employers dictate what was morally acceptable health insurance coverage.

At the Capitol — politicians and bill passing

Headlines so far, with 20 minutes left in political filing: * POLITICIANS: Scott Ellington has filed as a Democrat for 1st District Congress.

Friday To-Do: Joe Buck

Joe Buck plays White Water Tavern Friday night.

Win a pair of tickets to 'Young Frankenstein'

Here's a chance to win a pair of tickets to "Young Frankenstein" on March 6.

Ark. filmmaker gets 'Contracted.'

The horror film website Bloody Disgusting reports that the next flick for Arkansas-born indie horror director Eric England will be a body-terror film called "Contracted" about a girl who catches a bizarre STD after a one night stand.

Intruder arrested on Governor's Mansion grounds

KARK reports an arrest early Tuesday morning of a man who'd penetrated the grounds of the Governor's Mansion.

School board member files for legislature

Final day filings at the legislature included the Democratic candidacy of Charles Armstrong of Little Rock, a member of the Little Rock School Board, for state House of Representatives, District 30, an open seat.

Weekend: The 1 Oz. Jig, Conway Symphony Orchestra, T.Chikn and more

The 1 Oz. Jig plays Midtown Friday night.

UPDATE: Legislature dickers on truck tax, foreclosure

The truck tax break repeal and the foreclosure law fix are still alive. Each had been contained as special language in appropriation bills.

Thursday night line

No great partisan divide emerged as filing closed for Arkansas political office. Democrats and Republicans are guaranteed wins in about an equal number of House and Senate seats.

Jimmy Buffett pleases 16,000 at Verizon Arena

Jimmy Buffett and band capped a warm day of tailgating by his fans in North Little Rock yesterday with a sellout Verizon Arean crowd of more than 16,000.

How low will Mitt Romney go?

We already know Mitt Romney will say or do just about anything to be elected president.

Women's rights to The Pill — a 55-year-fight

A poignant op-ed in the New York Times today by a woman who was one of the pioneering plaintiffs 55 years ago — FIFTY-FIVE — whose lawsuits gave rise to the ruling that states could not make it illegal to obtain contraception.

Gone to Texas

I'm traveling to the Hill Country today, so posting will be light. Where it was left last night, it appeared the legislature was set to go home without deals on three non-budget items — 1) repealing the truckers' unearned $4 million tax break windfall (Senate Republicans simply won't take back the coming gift, that was supposed to be premised on a diesel tax increase); 2) changing foreclosure law to the benefit of out-of-state banks (a Republican-sponsored bailout that is being held up by the Republican support for the trucker windfall); and 3) a tightening of parole law against one category of sex offender (a bipartisan measure, reactive to a single recent case and best dealt with systemically in a regular session, but, though not particularly controversial now, also caught in the tax break logjam).

Saturday To-Do: Big Smith

Big Smith plays its final show ever in Little Rock Saturday.

Saturday To-Do: This Holy House

This Holy House plays a record release show at Stickyz Saturday night.

Arkansan corners niche fish market in U.S.

Arkansas foodies may take pride in knowing their state is home to one of the largest importers of maatjes haring in the United States. Gary McCoy of College Station began importing the little fish from Europe two years ago and now he has practically taken over the niche market.

Parrotheads descend on North Little Rock for Buffett concert

Video and pictures from Thursday's Buffett concert pre-party.

Review: Jimmy Buffett at Verizon Arena

Buffett and his extraordinary 12-piece backing band — including Arkie-deluxe Mike Utley, his band leader and keyboard player for 30 years or so — were absolutely the toasts of the town, if not the state, Thursday night as they thrilled 16,161 Parrotheads.

State revenue down in February

Net available revenues were down last month 11.2 percent below last year and 10.6 below forecast, according to the monthly Arkansas revenue report.

Arkansan Chad Griffin tapped to head Human Rights Campaign

Hope native Chad Griffin, the strategist behind the successful lawsuit to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban, has been selected as president of the Human Rights Campaign.

Reward for information on attack on disabled man in Hot Springs

Hot Springs National Park Rangers are offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the three men who attacked a physically disabled 22-year-old Pearcy man on Feb. 16 on the Grand Promenade in Hot Springs.

ASU-Jonesboro names Tim Hudson chancellor

Arkansas State University-Jonesboro officially announced today Dr. Tim Hudson as its new chancellor.

Hein, Libby at Justus

Gallery Walk starts at 5 p.m.

Shinseki supports VA clinic: Update

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik Shinseki believes the VA here followed the letter of the law in its purchase of property at 10th and Main for a new drop-in veterans clinic.

Boyz II Men, Third Eye Blind, Gov't Mule, more to Riverfest

Boyz II Men, Third Eye Blind, Chevell, Gov't Mule and Mute Math are all coming to Riverfest, according to the festival's Facebook page.

The showcase finals are tonight at Revolution

The 2012 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase finals are tonight at Revolution.

Have at it

Open line.

Talk among yourselves

I'm off the web grid this morning outside Johnson City, Texas with only an iPhone for blogging.

BP settles spill case

Details emerging of BP's settlement of the Gulf oil disaster case. Almost $8 billion to be paid.

Limbaugh's a ripe target for Obama

Republican orthodoxy — rigid adherence to a narrow agenda and never admit a mistake — has never been on better display in the reflexive defense of Rush Limbaugh by his Arkansas disciplines on Twitter.

Stop the presses — Limbaugh 'apologizes'

Here's your Saturday night line, with a piece of news apology: * LIMBAUGH APOLOGIZES: Yes, the Republican message master miscalled this one.

Sunday lifeline

I am phone dependent again on another perfect cool morning in the Hill Country. Let the marathon open line begin.

Holy Shakes win 2012 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase

The Holy Shakes won the 2012 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase.

Jason Baldwin, Hollywood producer

Jason Baldwin and his girlfriend, Holly Ballard, are executive producers for "Devil's Knot," the movie about the West Memphis Three case to star Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon.

Virginia GOP call police to break up peaceful protest

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/west-memphis-3-defendant-jason-baldwin-executive-produce-devils-knot-exclusive-35950 This is 11 minutes of video worth watching to see the logical conclusion of the Republican war on women in Virginia.

Ethics initiative filed for review

Regnat Populus 2012, a ballot question committee I've written about before, has submitted its ethics reform proposal to the attorney general's office for review.

Tuesday To-Do: 'Young Frankenstein'

The musical version of "Young Frankenstein" comes to Robinson Center Music Hall March 6-8.

Elie Wiesel to lecture at Walton Arts Center

Elie Wiesel will lecture at the Walton Arts Center Wednesday.

Republican talking point in peril

Because of the split between the 'baggers and the marginally sane in the Republican Party, there's now some question whether House Republicans can come together to pass a budget.

A vote for Occupy Little Rock

A letter posted on the Downtown Neighborhood Association internet page: My house is the closest residence to Occupy Little Rock.

Huckabee hungers for action against Iran

The guns of March. Mike Huckabee joins the Republican cadre seemingly anxious to flex some military muscle against Iran.

Fishin' for bucks

While it's been a few years since we wet a hook, the thought of fried fish with a side of cold, hard cash is enough to get us thinking about going to Wally World for a new Zebco and a box of crickets.

Bill Clinton joins Children's Hospital's 100th

Arkansas Children's Hospital, marking its 100th birthday today with an event including former President Bill Clinton among the speakers, said it had raised $100 million already toward a $160 milion goal to apply to pediatric care, research, education and prevention.

Little Rock dog nominated for valor award

I don't know about you, but I'm voting for Trixie for the Humane Society of the U.S.'s dog of valor award.

Arkansas home sales dip slightly in January

Arkansas home sales in January dipped a bit more than 1 percent against the same month a year earlier, according to a report from the Arkansas Realtors Association.

South Carolina GOP ballot — a sex litmus test

OK. Any effort to top South Carolina in the political hall of shame will fall to this one.

Times 'does it right,' according to Editor & Publisher

A little horn tooting: Editor & Publisher, the country's oldest journal covering the newspaper business, includes the Arkansas Times in a feature called "Newspapers That Do It Right" in its March edition.

Vegging out at The House

Good veggie food, terrible service at The House in Hillcrest.

Vet Center fight heads to Tuesday showdown

The Little Rock City Board will consider Tuesday night a new ordinance drafted at Mayor Mark Stodola's insistence to prevent the VA from placing a better facility for veterans at 10th and Main in an abandoned car dealership.

Monday, Monday

The first open line of the new week. Final words: * GOT YOUR BACK: Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's office has rolled out a new webpage, gotyourbackarkansas.org, to provide answers to consumer complaints.

Mark Darr: Hypocrite of the day

I mentioned yesterday Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's new website on consumer issues and advertising campaign for that effort supported by money he won in a lawsuit settlement.

Sex and the Republican Party - a loser

When the Moonie Washington Times says Republicans are losing the fight on President Obama's policy to cover women's preventive care, including birth control, you know Republicans are losing the fight.

Black students receive harsher discipline

New data from the U.S. Education Department shows that black students, particularly boys, face harsher discipline in school than other students.

Glendell Jones to be named Henderson president

The Henderson State University Board of Trustees will announce its pick to be the Arkadelphia university's new president today and it will make a bit of Arkansas history.

Hot Springs: From bathhouse to brauhaus

I mentioned yesterday that the National Park Service has a news conference scheduled today in Hot Springs about two leases in historic buildings on Bathhouse Row.

Saline joins counties with free court records access

Saline Circuit Clerk Dennis Milligan announced today that Saline County has joined eight others with free access to court records through the Arkansas Supreme Court's project to make court records accessible on the web.

Support builds for veterans center on Main

A number of people are organizing in support of the VA's attempt to improve its facilities for veteran services by moving a clinic from an inadequate space at 2nd and Ringo to a long-abandoned car dealership at 10th and Main.

Herman: "The Art of Venice"

Today's the last day to reserve your seat for "The Art of Venice" lecture on Sunday.

Rep unveils 2012-2013 season

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre's 2012-2013 season will conclude with "Avenue Q."

Time for Boozman to speed up judicial nominee

Coincidence. I wrote Glenn Sugamelli this morning.

UALR gets grant to restore Jones mural

NEH will help preserve Joe Jones' painting made for Commonwealth College.

Missing Mike Huckabee

Gov. Mike Beebe's office sent out a round of pardons today and they fit the pattern of his tenure — only six granted among 59 applications and then only for relatively minor offenses.

City promises crackdown on yard parking

An ordinance meant to discourage people from parking in yards in Little Rock didn't produce much.

News updates: The felon candidate and new dumpsters

Updates on two items I mentioned earlier: * FELON CANDIDATE: I mentioned earlier that the Democratic Party had rejected the filing of Fred Smith, a convicted felon, to run for state representative.
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