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Peters, Criswell, Bailin

Peters, Criswell, Bailin

September 3, 2015

Vol 41 • No 52

Read the print version

Bailin. Criswell. Peters.

Three men. Thirty years. The story.

Look who's talking about fairness

Arkansas Business reported recently that because of bankers' objections, the Arkansas Federal Credit Union has not been allowed to participate in a lender consortium financing $17 million in initial property acquisition and development for the Little Rock Technology Park.

#Katrina10

This week marked 10 years since all of us who have reached a certain vintage watched an American city drown on live TV. Time sure does fly when you're trying to forget images of unspeakable desperation and horror.

Hogs ready for kickoff

The University of Texas at El Paso's recent football history is largely notable for two things: (1) it gave disgraced itinerant, would-be Alabama coach Mike Price a soft landing zone when he had to rebuild his career after the "It's rollin', baby" incident that forced the Crimson Tide to hire Mike Shula way back in 2003, and (2) its home stadium has a picturesque hillside where fans can watch goings-on from afar, and an ESPN game a few years back featured a shot of a couple engaging in some pretty tawdry behavior on that gorgeous bluff while taking in a Miners game against the University of Texas.

Trump and political correctness

So I see where candidate Donald Trump and former Gov. Sarah Palin are complaining about "political correctness," the supposedly liberal sin of being too polite to tell the unvarnished truth. Me too. I've always laughed at the follies of self-styled "radical" left-wing professors.

William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal face off (again) in 'Best of Enemies'

The whole world was watching

Dumas: Trump holds the cards

The day is approaching — and Sept. 17 is probably it — when the nabobs of the Republican Party must come to grips with the reality they thought was farcical back when the last rains of spring fell: Either Donald J. Trump will be their nominee for president or he will have the biggest say about who it will be.

Confrontation vs. innovation

Arkansas took a great step in the right direction last week. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the Public Service Commission announced the state would move forward to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. This decision gives Arkansas a unique opportunity to lead the way in the switch to clean power

"Lou Tells a Bog One" debuts at The Joint

Also, the Travs take on the Naturals.

The LRSD and Baker Kurrus

Your article about Baker Kurrus ("Walking the tightrope," Aug. 20) was well written, informative and enlightening to readers. Thanks!

More injustice for Tim Howard

Department of Correction delays parole hearing due after conclusion of new trial.

Crust of the issue

Capeo gets pizza toppings right, but not the dough.

Inquizator: Tommy Farrell

Furniture designer Tommy Farrell, 60, has been working with wood since he was a teenager growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he made some of his first pieces out of barrel staves salvaged from the docks of Goya Foods. A graduate of the furniture design program at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., he moved to Little Rock in 1983 after meeting his former wife, an Arkansas native, on a cruise.

Philander opens African art collection

Optometrists' gift valued at nearly $1 million

No dice on Lockheed

Also, the pride of the gullible and naive, plenty of hope not much action, a doctored dissertation, no more hog farms on the Buffalo and more.

Kelly Clarkson comes to Verizon

Also, Anat Cohen at South on Main, MacBeth: Behind the Theme at The Rep, Pedro Fernandez at the Walmart AMP and Que at Club Elevations.

Hutchinson plans trip to Cuba

Gov. Asa Hutchinson plans a late September trip to Cuba to promote Arkansas agricultural products. Surely Sen. Tom Cotton would disapprove of such appeasement of the dictators in Cuba.

Scott Walker plans Fayetteville stop

Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker plans a fund-raiser in Fayetteville next week.

Another reason to praise Arkansas governor, attorney general

These are dark times for even moderates on the political spectrum in Arkansas, but the hubbub over the Kentucky clerk who refuses to perform her job of issuing marriage licenses does give all reason to appreciate Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on one point.

Arkansas prison officials fight release of Tim Howard

Be sure to read Mara Leveritt's account in the Arkansas Times of the state of Arkansas's machinations to keep Tim Howard in prison though he's long past the time others in his situation would have been paroled.

Silver Jews' David Berman reads Frank Stanford

This year's revival of the legendary Arkansas poet Frank Stanford continues with the release of Third Man Books' "Hidden Water: From the Frank Stanford Archives," the second Stanford collection to arrive in 2015, this one compiling "unpublished poems, drafts, never before seen photos, and correspondences between Stanford, Allen Ginsberg, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Alan Dugan, and more." To promote the book, here's David Berman — the great poet and front man of the now-defunct band Silver Jews — reading an untitled Stanford poem.

Iowa poll shows Trump gaining strength, debunking 'fad' theory

New Iowa polling shows a rising approval rating for Donald Trump and some clear support for him on at least one policy specific — rounding up all immigrants and shipping them home. These factors should worry those who think Trump a passing fad.

Judge refuses to halt Fayetteville civil rights ordinance election

40/29 reports that Circuit Judge Doug Martin has denied a request for an injunction to stop the special election Tuesday on a city civil rights ordinance for Fayetteville.

'Scars: An Anthology' release tonight, features Little Rock authors

A new book, "Scars: An Anthology," which aims to "examine the range and nuance of experience related to scars of the body," features five writers from Little Rock, including Erin Wood (also the book's editor), Jason Wiest, Phillip Martin, Andrea Zekis and Lea Clyburn.

UPDATE: Judge orders Kentucky clerk Kim Davis to jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses

A federal judge has ordered a Kentucky county clerk to jail until she's willing to comply with a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Ethics commission opens formal investigation into Treasurer Dennis Milligan

The Arkansas Ethics Commission has opened an investigation into state Treasurer Dennis Milligan regarding most of the allegations of impropriety made against Milligan by blogger Matt Campbell in his recently filed complaint.

At Justus: Robyn Horn, Rebecca Thompson, Donnie Copeland, Beverly Buys

Justus Fine Art and other galleries along Central Avenue in Hot Springs will be open 5-9 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) for the monthly gallery walk. Justus sends words of its lineup: Paintings by Robyn Horn, known for her wood sculpture and adept in two dimensions as well, Rebecca Thompson and Donnie Copeland, and cyanotypes by Beverly Buys.

Guns: Saline sheriff endorses open carry; attorney general argues for high-capacity weapons

With backing from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's recent opinion, Saline County Sheriff Rodney Wright says he will not assume criminality on the part of people openly carrying weapons and will not "confront" them absent reasonable suspicion of criminal intent.

Price cuts announced on Razorback concessions

The University of Arkansas is cutting some concession prices at Razorback football games this fall.

UCA reports enrollment increase and rise in ACT scores

The University of Central Arkansas says its enrollment rose again this fall along with ACT scores of entering students.

Thursday's open line and today's headlines

The open line and today's headline roundup.

Attorney general rejects amendment on guns, self-defense

Citing numerous ambiguities, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected the form of a constitutional amendment proposed by David Brennan of Searcy to declare "self-defense" a "natural right," to legalize open carry of weapons and, among others, prevent the banning of weapons on publicly accessible private property except residences.

The evolution of a building: Heritage dumped mid-Century for columns

Earlier this summer, folks contacted the Times to ask why the Department of Arkansas Heritage, which is building a new office on four acres at 1100 North St., chose to remove the 1950s facade of the Muswick building, which is being renovated and incorporated into the design. Their concern was whether a heritage agency should be altering a design that, while deeply ugly, was historic. The agency explained its reasons and provided the latest design in response: a facade incorporating Georgian columns.

Going to the courthouse, going to get married UPDATE

The ACLU expects marriage licenses to be issued today in Rowan County, Ky., to all couples, same-sex or otherwise, now that Clerk Kim Davis no longer is using her religion to block others in the office from carrying out the office's legal duties.

Yes, highway construction will require a tax increase

Of course a tax increase is necessary to restore highway construction to levels desired by the Highway and Transportation Department and the construction industry.

Catholic bishop calls for repeal of the death penalty

Catholic Bishop Anthony Taylor urges Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the legislature to end the death penalty and set no executions for those currently on Death Row. Violence begets violence, he writes in Arkansas Catholic.

Help fund a new, Little Rock-set feature film, 'Marjoun and the Flying Headscarf'

Filmmaker Susan Youssef, whose first film "Habibi" won best film at the Dubai International Film Festival and earned her a spot in Filmmaker Magazine's "25 New Faces" list, is currently raising money on Kickstarter for a new feature to be set in Little Rock. "Marjoun and the Flying Headscarf" is a coming-of-age story about a Muslim teenager in Arkansas.

Appeal planned by anti-gay Fayetteville group

The group opposing a proposed Fayetteville ordinance to discourage discrimination against LGBT people says it will appeal a circuit judge's order dismissing their request for an order to stop the election Tuesday.

Cluttering up the Capitol: The New York Times takes note

A New York Times article takes note of the competition for statuary on the Arkansas Capitol grounds since the legislature decreed that the Ten Commandments should be memorialized there for — wink, wink — their "historical" significance.

Decision pending on hit-and-run death

Police are still working to complete the investigative file on a hit-and-run accident that left a pedestrian dead last Friday at Old Forge and Rodney Parham.

Group says new hog farm environmental review flawed

A new environmental assessment of the C and H factory hog farm in the Buffalo River watershed is "significantly flawed." So says the Buffalo River Coalition, which is fighting the waste-producing operation in the pollution susceptible territory.

Let the weekend begin

The Friday open line for the Labor Day weekend, plus the daily video roundup.

Former Tyson manager pleads to $550,000 fraud

A former benefits plans manager for Tyson Foods from Gentry has pleaded guilty to defrauding the company of about $510,000 over a nine-year period. She entered a plea today in federal court.

The Cautiously Optimistic for Fayetteville Edition

Next week’s election in Fayetteville on an anti-discrimination ordinance, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis and her defenders, former Little Rock Superintendent Dexter Suggs, the death penalty in Arkansas, Courtney Goodson’s Supreme Court run, UALR chancellor Joel Anderson’s retirement announcement and more — all covered on this week's podcast.

Will Mike Huckabee stand with Muslim flight attendant?

A Muslim flight attendant has filed an EEOC complaint because she was suspended from her job for refusing to serve alcohol to passengers. Against her religion.

Washington court rules charter schools in that state unconstitutional

A huge court decision in the state of Washington: Its Supreme Court has ruled that charter schools there are unconstitutional. The case may hold no legal meaning in Arkansas, but it's rooted in principles with many parallels in Arkansas.

City board to help Dassault Falcon expansion

The Little Rock Board of Directors agenda for next week includes an item for the city to contribute $500,000 from a fund created by a sales tax increase to go with a $1.5 million state contribution to help finance expansion of the Dassault Falcon Jet aircraft finishing facility at the Clinton National Airport.

Saturday night thoughts?

The Saturday night open line on a hot day for football.

Help for working Arkansans

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families sends a Labor Day weekend plug for its report on the state of working Arkansans.

Kim Davis: A tweet goes viral, deservedly

Kim Davis, real and unreal, is all over social media, but we like one succinct Tweet that says it all about the Kentucky clerk's refusal to obey the U.S. Supreme Court.

Beware: Sen. Jason Rapert is armed (if not with good judgment)

What would a weekend be without Sen. Jason Rapert going off half-cocked on social media. He's waving a gun around this weekend, at least figuratively.

The tyrants' open line

Here's an open line and, if you can stand it, a link to demagogue Mike Huckabee, trying to save a failing presidential campaign on the unlawful back of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who'd rather go to jail that to be prevented from imposing her religion on all who do business in her public office.

Jason Rapert again plays the victim card

Jason Rapert's intemperate remark on Twitter about being prepared to use a gun against someone who "harassed" him on a parking lot went viral yesterday. Naturally, Rapert said his enemies, such as the Arkansas Times, were to blame, not his own big mouth.

Georgia child dies after being left in car by grandparents

A report from Georgia says an 11-month-old child died after being left in a hot car by grandparents for two hours. A TV report indicates confusion on the part of grandparents on which had responsibility for the child. It was said to be the 19th such death in the U.S. this year, including a case still under investigation in Hot Springs.

Open carry: Prosecutor Jegley gets it right

Pulaski Prosecutor Larry Jegley gets it right on open carry of weapons. If it is to be the law of Arkansas, the legislature should make it clear.

The Labor Day open line

The Labor Day open line.

Vote today on For Fayetteville's civil rights ordinance

It's election day in Fayetteville on a city civil rights ordinance that includes — to the displeasure of some — protections for LGBT people against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation.

Satanists petition Arkansas for a place at the Capitol

A news release says the Satanic Temple has formally petitioned the Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission for permission to place a "Baphomet" monument next to the planned Ten Commandments monument decreed by the last legislature.

Huckabee demagoguery closes schools in Kentucky

Mike Huckabee, hoping to breathe life into his moribund presidential campaign by holding a rally in Kentucky today for jailed Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, has caused a school holiday for 1,000 school kids. Five schools in Ashland, Ky., will be closed for fear of traffic congestion for Huckabee's jailhouse rally.

Another local election with civil rights implication

Civil rights issue simmer in more than Fayetteville today. Bentonville School District voters begin early voting today on School Board seats. An ongoing dispute on civil rights in the district is a key issue in one race.

Education Department begins review of math and literacy standards (but don't say 'Common Core')

The Arkansas Department of Education announced this morning that it has begun its process of reviewing and possibly revising math and literacy standards used in K-12 education, as set forth in statute.

President Obama has votes to filibuster opposition to Iran deal

Democrats in the Senate say they have the 41 votes necessary to filibuster a Republican effort to have a vote on nuclear agreement with Iran.

Kim Davis to be released, but must not interfere with marriage licenses. Huckabee horns in.

A federal judge has ordered the release of Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis from jail, but he made it clear she must not stand in the way of issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. From CBS news:

UPDATE: Main Street Bridge reopens, potential jumper safe

The Main Street Bridge has been closed for more than two hours as police talk to a man who's reportedly threatening to jump from the bridge.

ForwARd Arkansas releases recommendations for school system. It's a compromise document.

ForwARd Arkansas, ForwARd Arkansas — a collaborative effort between the Walton Family Foundation, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the state Board of Education — released a long-awaited set of recommendations for the future of Arkansas education this morning.

Watch the trailer for David Gordon Green's 'Our Brand Is Crisis'

I'm still waiting to see Little Rock native David Gordon Green's last film, "Manglehorn," starring Al Pacino — coming to Amazon Sept. 15 — but in the meantime, here's the trailer for his forthcoming political comedy "Our Brand Is Crisis." Produced by George Clooney's Smoke House Pictures and based on the 2005 documentary directed by Rachel Boynton, the film stars Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Zooey Kazan, Ann Dowd and more.

The open line. Plus,Lockheed protest; clean air; an amendment on amendments, and a call for volunteers.

The open line, a news video and news on the Lockheed Martin vehicle contract; a proposed constitutional amendment, and a reading program.

Jason Rapert contradicts himself in Channel 7 interview. Surprise.

Sen. Jason Rapert hung his own story out to dry on Channel 7 tonight, essentially confirming that his threatening remark on Twitter was prompted by the man who'd first reported it, though Rapert denied that multiple times. And it was prompted by a question about denial of a license at the DMV. Not anything that could remotely be seen as a threat to Rapert — just something he didn't like politically.

Fayetteville adopts civil rights ordinance 53-47

UPDATE: Fayetteville voters have ratified a city civil rights ordinance by a 53-47 vote. The results were announced about 10:15.

Little Rock Central leads National Merit semi-finalists

The list of semi-finalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship competition were released today and Little Rock Central High again produced the most in the state, 16.

Jessieville coach suspended for game over player's Confederate flag waving

KARK reports that Jessieville High School football coach Don Phillips was suspended from participation in the school's first football game because one of his player waved a Confederate flag at a pre-game pep rally.

Hillary is sorry, but ....

Hillary Clinton went on TV yesterday to she had made a mistake and was sorry for setting up a private server to handle e-mail as secretary of state.

Huck aide boxes out Cruz at Kim Davis revival meeting

Funny. Mike Huckabee turned the jail release of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis into an old-fashioned revival meeting, with prayer, hymns, a little unauthorized use of pop music and some nifty footwork by Huckabee aides in keeping Sen. Ted Cruz out of the limelight.

The cost of being Rapert; State Police say they'd do same for anyone

Would the State Police do for anyone who complained of threatening Internet communications the investigative work they did for Sen. Jason Rapert? They say yes.

FOI lawsuit filed for State Police firing records on ABC enforcement boss Boyce Hamlet

Russell Racop has filed, as promised, his lawsuit over the State Police's refusal — under guidance from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge — to release records that provide information that led to the firing of current Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet as a state trooper.

Conner Eldridge announces plans to run for U.S. Senate

With little advance fanfare, former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge distributed a release this morning saying that he will make a Democratic race for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican John Boozman.

Slain cop's widow: Mike Huckabee unfit to be president

Kim Renninger, widow of a police officer in Washington state slain by an Arkansas parolee whose early release from prison was helped by Gov. Mike Huckabee, isn't  impressed by presidential candidate Huckabee's media stunt yesterday with Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk jailed for refusing to allow same-sex couples their constitutional right to obtain marriage licenses. She criticizes Huckabee for silence over police deaths, but "fawning" over Davis.

Planned Parenthood to petition governor on Medicaid funding

Planned Parenthood supporters will deliver petitions to Gov. Asa Hutchinson at noon Friday asking him to reconsider his order to end state Medicaid payments to the organization for family planning services because its unreimbursed services include abortion.

ASU reports fall enrollment rise

Arkansas State University said today it recorded a 2 percent enrollment increase this fall to 13,410, despite a small drop in entering freshmen.

Vote in round 2 of Toast of the Town

There's just a little less than a week to go in the second and final round of voting in Toast of the Town, our annual survey of bars and booze. No worries if you didn't vote in Round 1. You're still free to vote in Round 2. It's easier, too: You've got five or fewer finalists to choose from.

The open line. Plus, if we can't laugh at Kim Davis ....

The open line, daily video and an amusing Tweet on the Kim Davis matter.

Gov. Hutchinson sets eight execution dates

As requested by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has resumed setting execution dates with the hope a new Arkansas law and source of drugs for lethal injections will be cleared by federal courts. He calls for four double-header executions over the next four months.

Bailin on Bailin, Criswell and Peters

If you missed David Bailin's talk "SUUM QUIQUE VENENUM (To Each His Own Poison)" at the Darragh Center a week ago Wednesday, and know you missed a terrific presentation on the work of Bailin, Sammy Peters and Warren Criswell, take heart. Bailin has provided me a link to the videos he showed and notes from the talk.

Federal court again sets back Rutledge attack on clean power plan

The Sierra Club happily announces that the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia has again turned back a challenge by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to the EPA's plan to clean up power plant emissions.

Installation artist Dan Steinhilber at UCA

If you went to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art's "State of the Art" show last year, which featured emerging contemporary artists from around the country, you may have stepped into Dan Steinhilber's Mylar "Reflecting Room." Steinhilber is the artist in residence at UCA this fall; his show in the Baum Gallery opens Thursday.

'Cheerleader of possibility' Gilliam to speak tonight

Alex Gilliam, the founder of Philadelphia's Public Workshop, which gets youth involved in design of public spaces, will give a talk at 6 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) at the Arkansas Arts Center. Gilliam, recently named by Philadelphia magazine as one of the city's Smartest People, calls himself the "cheerleader of possibility."

New music from Gold, St. Jermaine, Liquid Skulls, Solo Jaxon and more

I talked to Liquid Skulls for the paper a couple of weeks ago, and he explained that the recording project "was formed out of cobwebs, boredom, sloppiness, euphoria, joblessness, fleeting moments, liquid curses and lost responsibilities." All of this comes through in his new track "Rituals," which sounds like a computer projection of a pop song wrapped in bubble-wrap and stomped on.
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