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A Killing in Pocahontas

A Killing in Pocahontas

April 16, 2015

Vol 41 • No 32

Read the print version

A killing in Pocahontas

A witness murdered, a drug ring exposed, a snake in a box.

Ralph Stanley comes to Juanita's

Also, Travs' opening night, Fleetwood Mac come to Verizon, Todd Rundgren comes to Revolution and Chen Guangcheng comes to the Clinton School.

Future shock

A Deputy Observer sent along the following tale of technology, an all-too-familiar song in this day and age, when tech that's supposed to be bringing us together and making our lives easier so often does the opposite.

'Your reader and witness'

An interview with Nickole Brown and Jessica Jacobs.

New anti-choice laws in Arkansas pose danger to women

Thanks to junk science, risky prescriptions.

Mindless cattle

Why only two choices at the polls in this country? I'll tell you why. Because the real power structures within the Republicans and Democrats are engaged in an operation designed to keep us mindless cattle at each other's throats while they rob us blind.

Thirty for America

Art of the new world at the Arts Center.

Art and justice

'Woman in Gold' too schmaltzy, but reaffirming nonetheless.

Miles to go on equal rights

A couple of disparate events prompt me to reflect on progress toward equality.

Not bad for a failed district

Also, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Paul Danielson speaks truth, a Little Rock School District reconfiguration with no warning and Huck versus the machine.

The Obama doctrine

If he accomplished nothing else during his presidency, Barack Obama has surely earned a place in the Bad Political Analogies Hall of Fame.

Great Gourmasian

Asian-fusion concept makes successful transition from food truck to brick and mortar restaurant.

Ringing the bell

Denise Ennett rings the bell in Mount Holly Cemetery on Tuesday, April 14, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Arkansas's ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawing slavery.

An Arkansas legislative session full of misplaced priorities

Communities like Gould, where I am chief of police, need help from lawmakers. But lawmakers delivered very little of what Gould needs: namely jobs, opportunity and meaningful education improvements. Our families and our neighbors are still wondering when they will be the priority of lawmakers.

Amy DuBois Barnett to Philander Smith

Also, the Springtime of Youth Music Festival at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

Ask the Times: How much does a bill cost?

Q: I am not passing judgment on any particular legislation or legislator, but I am curious as to how much it costs for each bill that is introduced while the legislature is in session. This is all taxpayer money, and some bills that have been introduced seem to be doomed to failure, and all they accomplish is a bit (or a lot) of free publicity for the sponsoring individuals, even if they never make it out of committee. Can anyone put a price tag on these efforts?

State Education Department shows its bias; and 'report card' shows its flaws

An article in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette illustrated again the bias in the state Education Department toward charter schools (and against the Little Rock School District.) It raises the question of whether Dexter Suggs, as the education commissioner's chosen gofer, will continue to survive ineptitude and, now, an allegation of plagiarism.

No need to wait for city attorney opinion about Little Rock civil rights ordinance

I have the answer to City Director Joan Adcock's question of whether a proposed Little Rock civil rights ordinance is in conflict with a coming state law.

And you thought the Pulaski desegregation lawsuit was over

Federal Judge Price Marshall is to hold a hearing at 10 a.m. Friday, requested by civil rights lawyer John Walker, about progress in bringing the Pulaski County Special School District to "unitary," or fully desegregated, status.

Pig ears, galloping horses, quesadillas, 'shrooms and bratzels: start your meal right

Meal starters? We think they deserve more love. Southern Gourmasian, Juanita's, Tusk and Trotter, The Flying Saucer and Damgoode Pies get a big thumbs up for their appetizers—and that's just scratching the surface.

In this Arkansas Times: Crime, punishment of women and civil rights progress

Check out this week's print Arkansas Times (also on-line) for stories about a sensational murder case; all the thigns wrong about the legislature's anti-abortion legislation, and Max Brantley's column about progress — and lack of same — for gay people and women in Arkansas.

Raimondo Winery woos, wins at Arkansas Capital Corp. event

Last Friday night at the Arkansas Capital Corp., I got to drink Chardonnay and eat goodies that Margie Raimondo of Raimondo Winery will be selling when her storefront opens at 615 Main St., and I can heartily recommend her products. She'll have wine tastings and other culinary events and will sell her special products, like the fabulous onion jam and olives I had the other night. She also sells balsamic vinegars, extra virgin olive oils, more jams and other gourmet foods of her own making.

Prosecutors make case for 22 percent pay raise

The independent citizens commission established by Amendment 94 to set pay of elected officails heard today from prosecutors seeking a 22 percent pay raise.

Supreme Court accepts surrender of Mike Maggio's law license

The Arkansas Supreme Court today formally accepted the surrender of Mike Maggio's law license. He's the former judge implicated in a bribery case.

Help Knox Hamilton replace their stolen gear

Over the weekend, Little Rock indie pop band Knox Hamilton played a show in Portland, and on their way out town, while they'd stopped to "take in the sights" at Multinomah Falls, the band's van was robbed. They lost four guitars, a bass, and various other equipment and valuables (including cash, phone chargers, passports and a guitar strap hand-made by one of the band member's mothers!) that they'll undoubtedly need to continue their tour — their next show is scheduled for April 25. The band has a GoFundMe campaign set up for fans to help out.

Suggs denies plagiarism; critics stick by their accounts

Dexter Suggs, the Little Rock school superintendent, denies Blue Hog's report that he plagiarized his doctoral dissertation. Blue Hog and another lawyer who's researched Suggs record say it will be interesting to watch him defend his position.

Purple Hearts awarded in shooting at Little Rock recruiting center

Members of Congress from Arkansas announced today that William Long of Conway, who was killed, and Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville, who was wounded, will be awarded Purple Hearts in an attack at a Little Rock recruiting center in 2009.

Judicial Discipline begins review of Supreme Court ethics complaint

Tippi McCullough, who's filed a judicial ethics complaint over the Arkansas Supreme Court's handling of the same-sex marriage case, says regulators have confirmed the receipt of the complaint and begun a review.

This is NOT plagiarism, says Dexter Suggs. But .....

Here are some side-by-side passages to compare School Superintendent Dexter Suggs' doctoral dissertation with an earlier paper written by another academic.

Silverpoint artist Susan Schwalb at UALR tonight, April 18

Susan Schwalb, who is credited with a renaissance in silverpoint and who was an inspiration to Arkansas silverpoint artist Marjorie Williams-Smith, will give a talk tonight at 6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building (Room 161) of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The open line and video news headlines; plus where the buffalo roam

Today's open line and video news roundup.

Suggs: Pre-K program at Forest Park will continue after all

Dexter Suggs, the interim superintendent for the Little Rock School District, told a gathering of about 50 parents at Forest Park elementary today that the school's preschool program will not be ending after all, as was indicated in a letter mistakenly given to children to take home to their parents yesterday.

IBM objects to Louisiana's 'religious freedom' bill

Major corporate opposition continues to states — like Arkansas — where legislators are pushing so-called "religious freedom" bills that are intended to preserve legal discrimination against gay people.

Suggs gets good spin from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette coverage of Little Rock School Superintendent Dexter Suggs' meeting with school parents took a milder approach than I would have taken.

Root Cafe to host home cookin' pie contest

Traditional pie bakers, amateur pie bakers to square off at the Root Cafe on April 26 for a panel of judges—including Simon Majumdar of Food Network fame.

The arc of the universe moves toward LGBT equality — except in Arkansas

A new Bloomberg Politics poll says that 74 percent of Americans "believe that sexual orientation deserves the same constitutional protection from discrimination as race." Only 18 percent think sexual minorities should remain second-class citizens legally.

A crazed shark. Women's prison. Arkansas. Blockbuster, right?

A slow day demands the posting of a trailer from "Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre."

Selfies, 'Eluvium and Formation': What's up Friday night in Argenta: UPDATE

Mugs Cafe — sounds like a place to see mugs, right? You will this Friday night, when you head to the cafe, 515 Main St. in Argenta, where "The Original Selfies — Artists Self Portraits" is on exhibit. Mugs is just one of nine venues that will be open for Argenta ArtWalk, 5-8 p.m., this month.

The quiet court assault on Arkansas's unfair landlord-tenant law

An article in The Marshall Project reports on the quiet legal battle to defeat the state's punitive criminal eviction status as a way around the legislature's refusal to improve the country's worst landlord-tenant law.

Annals of Whitewater: Larry Nichols endorses Hillary

Whitewater alert: Larry Nichols endorses Hillary Clinton for president. Mother Jones mines some comedy gold in looking for overlooked opposition research in Arkansas on the 2016 presidential candidate.

The Huckster in the Fox house: May 5, the second Man from Hope

A nation turns its lonely eyes to Fox News tonight at 5 p.m. for the Bret Baier program and news from Mike Huckabee, who once lived off taxpayers here, but took himself in more prosperous times to income tax-free Florida.

Friday and video: PLUS: report from Pulaski school hearing in federal court

Open line and video roundup. Plus a report from federal court on the Pulaski County and Jacksonville school districts separation and desegregation issues.

Little Rock Film Festival announces 2015 lineup

The Little Rock Film Festival announced the lineups to its World Shorts, Cinematic Nonfiction and Golden Rock Narrative and Documentary competitions this afternoon. The list includes Bob Byington's "7 Chinese Brothers" (starring Jason Schwartzman), Kornél Mundruczó's Cannes Film Festival award-winning "White God," Sundance award winning documentaries "Cartel Land," "(T)ERROR" and "How to Save the World," National Lampoon documentary "Drunk Stoned Brilliant and Dead," and many more.

KATV: Author of dissertation says Suggs used her work

I believe I'll check KATV tonight. The Education Department continued its silence today on what Education Commissioner Johnny Key intends to do, if anything about Dexter Suggs, kept on as interim school superintendent of the Little Rock District after the state booted the school board and took over the district.

The Dexter Suggs' No Good, Very Bad Week Edition

Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s appointment of two special justices to hear an offshoot of the same-sex marriage case who have obvious conflicts, Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy, Dexter Suggs’ no good, very bad week, the Little Rock Board of Directors and a nondiscrimination ordinance and the Pulaski County school desegregation case — all covered on this week's edition.

Poll: U.S. support for death penalty on steady decline

Thanks to Talking Points Memo for the chart that illustrates recent Pew polling. It illustrates sharply the downward trend of support for the death penalty.

The new ethics 'mulligan' is no joke; it's the end of ethics reform

You heard it here first and the state Ethics Commission heard it in an explanation Friday: the laughingly described "ethics reform" legislation of the 2015 session merely all but guarantees that taking a free gift and filling out an erroneous campaign report will be just about impossible to punish.

Still nothing from Democrat-Gazette on Suggs allegations

Still no reporting in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on allegations of plagiarism against Little Rock School Superintendent Dexter Suggs. Maybe tomorrow.

Must-try Fayetteville club: The Cork and Keg. Haters not welcome.

The Cork and Keg, a new Fayetteville club, draws a rave review from Upworthy for a political statement that puts them at the top of my must-try list. No haters allowed.

Open line: Plus, more Huckabunk, Republicans surrender on Obamacare

Mike Huckabee's religious pandering and Republicans ending resistance to Obamacare, are on tonight's open line.

Little Rock School District cancels two meetings Monday with superintendent

The Little Rock School District announced Saturday night cancellation of two scheduled meetings Monday — a brown bag lunch and a town hall meeting — in which Interim Superintendent Dexter Suggs was expected to participate. Might it be related to simmering controversy about the superintendent?

Dexter Suggs: 'Book author'. Blogger fact-checks search firm's work.

The plagiarism allegation against Dexter Suggs, the interim Little Rock school superintendent, has drawn interest from education bloggers around the country and they've added to the overdue scrutiny his resume didn't receive when the Little Rock School Board relied on a search firm's representation in hiring him.

A stand for public schools includes pushback of Huckabee/ Duggar connection

A fine column by Rekha Basu in the Des Moines Register rises in defense of public education in the face of pandering by Republican presidential candidate, including Mike Huckabee, to home-school parents in Iowa, where the Religious Right dominates the GOP primary.

Here's the Sunday, strawberry time open line

Have at it. First strawberries of the year tonight. A little puny, but you have to start somewhere. Even at $7 a quart at the Hillcrest Famers Market.

City attorney says LR civil rights ordinance doesn't conflict with state law

Little Rock City Attorney Tom Carpenter completed a legal opinion Sunday evening that says a proposed Little Rock civil rights ordinance, intended to extend some specific new protect for LGBT people, does not conflict with a new state law.

Attorney general still working on campaign debt, but help includes Democratic dollars

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is still raising money to pay off a $116,000 campaign deficit. Contributors to the cause have included a prominent Democrat and former foe.

The two faces of Eureka: Gay rights ordinance draws national attention

As Eureka Springs nears a vote on its one-of-a-kind-in-Arkansas gay rights ordinance on May 12, the national press is taking notice.

Indiana Wesleyan University 'aware' of plagiarism allegation against Dexter Suggs

Indiana Wesleyan University says it is "aware" of plagiarism allegation against Little Rock School Superintendent Dexter Suggs and takes it "seriously." Does that mean an investigation is underway? They won't say.

The Pantry celebrates 6th anniversary in style this Saturday

Roast suckling pig, paella, and a pile of fun—it's all going down Saturday, April 25 at the Pantry West in honor of their 6th anniversary.

Rep. Ballinger isn't impressed by city opinion on civil rights ordinance

As I expected, Rep. Bob Ballinger, sponsor of several pieces of anti-gay legislation including Act 137 to limit legal protectios for gays by cities and counties, isn't impressed by Little Rock City Attorney Tom Carpenter's opinion on a pending city civil rights ordinance.

Airport Commission chair Wesley Clark backs Little Rock civil rights ordinance

Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander who's now chair of the Little Rock Airport Commission, has added his support for the proposed Little Rock civil rights ordinance, on the City Board agenda Tuesday evening.

Mike Huckabee: Living and dying with the Religious Right

The New York Times Upshot blog says Mike Huckabee deserves a bit more attention than he's been getting as a Republican presidential primary candidate on account of his pull with the Religious Right voting bloc, still the largest single element of GOP primary voters.

Review: "The Incorruptibles" by John Hornor Jacobs

John Hornor Jacobs doesn’t have much time to sip wine from plastic cups, mingle with the literati, or ponder the state of literary affairs, because his agent sold eight books in a single year last year, and he’s been hustling to get those contracts fulfilled ever since. Jacobs, a Little Rock native and Central High graduate, will return to the Arkansas Literary Festival this month to make up for it, his first time back at the event since 2011.

Looking for work? Arkansas Food Jobs April "industry night" is here

Food industry job seekers are urged to check out 109 & Co. this Wednesday for the arfoodjobs.com April industry night.

House sold to satisfy bond company obligation

A house was sold at auction in Baxter County to satisfy $75,000 owed by a bail bond company after a criminal suspect skipped bail.

UALR improves contract for women's basketball coach Joe Foley

UALR's successful women's basketball coach Joe Foley apparently didn't land a new job at Kansas, which was interested, but his winning ways and outside interest have not gone unrewarded. He's getting a big pay raise and extended contract.

The open line and video headlines

Here's Monday's open line and our daily news video.

Eureka Springs pastor in Repeal 2223 video is a convicted serial rapist

The Arkansas Times has confirmed that a Baptist preacher in Eureka Springs who features prominently in a new video urging repeal of the city's Ordinance 2223, which protects LGBT people from discrimination, was convicted of a series of rapes in Oklahoma in 1977.

The Great Park Avenue BBQ Cook-off returns to Hot Springs

The people of Park Avenue in beautiful, historic uptown Hot Springs, have started a series of festivals to show what Park Avenue has to offer to locals, as well as tourists.

Renaud brothers win Peabody for 'Last Chance High'

Little Rock filmmakers Brent and Craig Renaud have won a Peabody Award for "Last Chance High," their eight-part series for Vice News online.

'Van Gogh to Rothko': It's got 'star power'

The "Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworks from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery" exhibition (which the Denver Art Museum dubbed "Modern Masters: 20th Century Icons From the Albright-Knox Art Gallery") at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art "shines with star power," says Westword arts writer Michael Paglia.

UPDATE: The Suggs saga: Mum is the word. An ominous silence?

KATV and Matt Campbell seem to have encountered the same thing I've encountered today at local and state school offices related to Interim Little Rock Superintendent Dexter Suggs — silence. This has naturally prompted speculation that change is in the offing.

Hate group goes bonkers over Bentonville school non-discrimination policy

The American Family Association, a leading gay hate group, has gone totally nutso because the Bentonville School District is apparently considering whether to emulate Walmart (a little family-owned business based in Bentonville) and the University of Arkansas by specifically including sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy.

The Kochs want Scott Walker as 2016 GOP nominee

Hmmm. Talking Points Memo says the Kochs want Scott Walker as the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

Prosecutorial misconduct alleged in murder case retrial

Mara Leveritt is following events in Ashdown where a retrial is to begin Thursday of Tim Howard in a 1999 double slaying overturned in 2013 while he was on Death Row.

Dexter Suggs resigns as Little Rock school superintendent

This just in from state Education Department: Today, Commissioner Johnny Key reached an agreement with Dr. Dexter Suggs that resulted in Dr. Suggs’ immediate resignation as superintendent of the Little Rock School District.

Arkansas unemployment rate steady at 5.6 percent in March

The unemployment rate held steady in Arkansas in March at 5.6 percent, the same as the adjusted figure for February.

Community Organization: Give us back our Little Rock School Board

Arkansas Community Organizations has issued a statement calling on the state Board of Education to give Little Rock back its school board. It said the removal of the School Board, while keeping Dexter Suggs in charge, has proved a bad idea — as action recommended by the chamber of commerce often is.

Heights Taco and Tamale is a fantastic throwback

Heights Taco & Tamale holds soft opening, makes reviewer realize he's been missing out on something special.

Mike Huckabee: He was for the Common Core curriculum before he was against it

Bretibart goes into great detail in showing the evolution of Mike Huckabee from a strong supporter of Common Core curriculum standards, when they were popular, to an ardent foe now that the Republican base, particularly, has gotten heated up on the topic.

Thursday night: Fill those Empty Bowls for the Foodbank

The hunger-relief organization Arkansas Foodbank holds its "Empty Bowls 2015" fund-raising art auction Thursday at Next Level Events in the Union Station to benefit its work. Artwork in all media — including bowls created specially for the event — will be auctioned, starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $75. "Full Glasses" follows at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $35.

Illustrator Bryan Collier at Hearne Fine Art

Bryan Collier, an illustrator, three-time Caldecott Medal Winner and six-time Coretta Scott King Award winner, is showing originals and prints of his work at Hearne Fine Art through June 13. Along with the show, "Page Turners," Collier will sign books at 5:30 p.m. April 23 at the gallery, as part of the Arkansas Literary Festival.

The Tuesday open line and mid-afternoon video roundup — and a photo for a friend

Here's an open line plus a headline roundup by video. More to come tonight from City Board as it considers the civil rights ordinance that includes sexual orientation non-discrimination.

Duffer alert: Golfer painting by Wood new to CBMA

An email about a new acquisition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art went astray in my mailbox, so I am late in reporting that Grant Wood's "The American Golfer" (1940) has been added to the collection.

More legal headaches for Dexter Suggs

Dexter Suggs may have cleared out his office before the workday began today, but he still has lingering legal matters as defendant in lawsuits against him and the state.

Bill Clinton : Not sure HE could win Arkansas

Politico quotes Bill Clinton as saying Arkansas has moved so far into the Republican column he's not sure he could win the state again. Hell, he only got 53 percent in 1992 and 54 percent in the 1996 landslide.

Little Rock City Board adopts civil rights ordinance to protect sexual orientation

The Little Rock City Board dispensed with debate tonight and went straight to a vote on its ordinance to extend civil rights protection to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Eighth Little Rock homicide reported on Shackleford Road

Little Rock police say a man found shot in the 2500 block of South Shackleford Road about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday has died of his wounds. it's the eighth homicide of the year in Little Rock.

Jonesboro mayor cold to civil rights ordinance

Though Little Rock made progress on equal rights Tuesday, Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin reportedly indicated that he isn't interested in bringing the guarantee of equal treatment to Jonesboro city employees.

ExxonMobil to pay $5 million to settle claims in feds' complaint on Mayflower oil spill

A consent decree will be filed this morning in federal court in which ExxonMobil agrees to pay civil penalties, fund an environmental project and take other corrective steps in response to alleged violations of environmental laws in the 2013 rupture of the Pegasus pipeline that produced a damaging spill in Mayflower.

Q: Is there a way to get taxpayers' $250,000 Suggs payout back? A: Probably not.

Readers say: Surely there's a way to stop a payment of up to $250,000 in severance pay to Dexter Suggs, constructively fired Monday as interim superintendent of the Little Rock School District. I'm afraid not, insulting as it is to charge Little Rock taxpayers for the state's initial mistake in keeping him employed.

Politico: Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin to work in Mike Huckabee presidential campaign

Politico reports on campaign staffers for Mike Huckabee's coming 2016 presidential campaign and it says they include Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin as a "senior political adviser."

Tommy Wren: Another legislator turned political 'consultant'

Three months after leaving the legislature, Tommy Wren of Melbourne, a Democrat defeated in a re-election bid in 2014, has gone to work for the Mullenix and Associates lobbying firm. Just don't call him a lobbyist. When he's at legislative committee meetings, he'll be "consulting."

Arkansas Food Bank to host fundraiser

The Arkansas Food Bank is hosting one heck of a dinner tonight. Fight hunger and enjoy local food!

Today's media seminar: Labels

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette coverage today of Little Rock's passage of a non-discrimination ordinance identified the sponsor, Director Kathy Webb, as "gay." Does it matter?

Gov. Hutchinson Google-izes his website

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has rolled out a new website. In addition to, naturally, touting himself it adds a geographic location feature that tailors the page to place of residence.

Good news for working poor: The legislature has adjourned

The legislature is over. Nothing happened today to change the essential narrative. Legislators got richer. The working poor got poorer.

Beast Food Truck receives national recognition

Paleo-based food truck Beast receives national recognition and a delightful video produced in their honor.

Arkansas's lenient adoption laws exact price from Marshallese family

Kathryn Joyce, writing in The New Republic, has produced a piece of long form journalism worth reading by all interested in the ongoing story of how Arkansas cares for its children.

Education commissioner set to do town hall for LR takeover lobbyist

Education Commissioner Johnny Key schedules a "telephone town hall" appearance for a lobbyist for the Walton "school reform" agenda. Might he favor Little Rock School District residents with simlar time?

Midweek open line and video. Plus: Boston Globe visits Eureka; Huckabee waves his guns

The open line, video news roundup and some good quotes from a Boston Globe story on how real people in Eureka Springs and Berryville feel about civil rights.

Gov. Hutchinson favors continued moratorium on new hog farms in Buffalo watershed

Gov. Asa Hutchinson today said he supports reinstating a 180-day moratorium on new permits for medium and large-scale animal feeding operations in the Buffalo River watershed. H

More lawsuits to come on Mayflower oil spill, both public and private

Despite the settlement today, litigation related to the 2013 Mayflower oil spill is nowhere near its conclusion. ExxonMobil faces additional legal action from state and federal public agencies charged with protecting natural resources in Arkansas under what's called a Natural Resources Damages claim.
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