It was a good week for …
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS CHANCELLOR DAVID GEARHART. The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees approved a resolution in support of Gearhart. He was praised for acknowledging past mistakes — not enumerated, but obviously including advancement division budget shortfalls and public accountability lapses — and working to avoid them in the future. The university will do better, Chair Jane Rogers pledged.
FORT SMITH. The recently passed catch-all federal appropriations bill included $40 million that will go in part to pay for a transition of mission of the 188th Air National Guard fighter wing at Fort Smith to drone operation. That means jobs.
COLD. Yet another “polar vortex” swept through the state, dropping much of the state to temperatures in the teens. The Arkansas Forestry Commission classified the entire state as being at high risk for wildfires because of windy conditions and cold, dry air.
It was a bad week for …
UAMS. In the face of a $29 million deficit for the fiscal year, UAMS is planning in advance for cuts of $9 million over the second half of the fiscal year. Chancellor Dan Rahn said the university’s “goal is to avoid layoffs.” If the legislature doesn’t reauthorize money for the state’s private option, that’ll be impossible.
THRILL-SEEKING KIDS. Vandals torched the popular Burns Park rocket slide, leaving it heavily damaged.
MIKE HUCKABEE. He ignited the commentariat once again with his latest provocation. To a Republican group, he said, “Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That’s not a war on them, it’s a war for them. If the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control, because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it.”