It was a good week for …

PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Burned before by a foot-dragging legislature, the Arkansas Supreme Court voted 5-2 to consider a report on school progress after the legislature meets in 2007, rather than dismiss the school finance case now.

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It was a bad week for …

The FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. A mill in Mountain Pine closed without notice, putting 340 Weyerhaeuser employees of out work. Then 300 lost jobs in a Georgia-Pacific plywood mill closure in Crossett.

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FORREST CITY. Some 300 workers lost jobs at the Sanyo TV plant there because of competition from flat-screen TVs. Remaining workers also are being asked to take a pay cut to make the plant more competitive with foreign producers.

The LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT. It suspended an apparent whistle-blower days before a court hearing on the subject of the whistle-blowing — programs to close the racial achievement gap. Not too subtle.

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The HOGS. Another tough loss to another good team, Florida, sent the football Razorbacks to the Capitol One Bowl.

WAL-MART and DILLARD’S. The Arkansas-based merchants had poor Novembers, though just about every other retailer reported sales gains for the month.

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THE HUCKSTER WATCH

News cropped up of his administration’s bungling at a couple of agencies — veterans affairs and information services — and there were hints that there may be more unflattering stories to come as he prepares to run for president. Five weeks to go.

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