It was a good week for …

FOOTBALL. Too bad the visiting team was LSU, which broke Arkansas hearts with a 31-26 win over the Hogs at War Memorial Stadium. It was still a beautiful day and a heckuva tailgate party.

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SHOPPING. Retailers (notable exception Wal-Mart) reported big sales increases on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when retailers traditionally change their ink from red to black.

LIGHT SHOWS. The county announced that a computer-controlled LED light display will soon be adding to the allure of the Big Dam Bridge. A Christmas light show is set for Dec. 9.

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LECTURES. Little Rock’s Kumpuris family made a $500,000 matching gift to endow a lecture series at the Clinton School of Public Service.

It was a bad week for …

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The UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. A national report says the university is doing a poor job attracting minority and low-income students.

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK. Now, Mayor Pat Hays says, the promised salvation of a new coal-fired generating plant may be delayed, if it arrives at all. Meanwhile, residents may see a 38 percent rate increase in January.

The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The IRS stupidly gave former Sen. Nick Wilson a $128,676 refund after he claimed a $373,089 tax deduction for the restitution he was required to make on a public racketeering conviction. Now it’s having to sue to try to get the refund back. Wilson is fighting, though no evidence has been offered so far that he paid taxes on his original ill-gotten gains.

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THE HUCKSTER WATCH

He planned to jet off to Florida for a lame-duck governors’ confab and made plans for an “annual governor’s gala” intended to raise money for his future political career. Six weeks to go.

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