Former Eighth Judicial District North Circuit Judge Keith Wood has been commissioned by the UN through the U.S. State Department as an investigator to pursue allegations of judicial misconduct in Serbian courts. The Eighth Judicial District North is made up of Hempstead and Nevada Counties. Wood was previously appointed to the circuit bench in 2004 by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to fill the unexpired term of Judge Jim Gunter, who's now on the Supreme Court. Since an appointment prevents running for "re-election," Wood has been considering his options since leaving the bench in December. Word had been that he would challenge incumbent Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper for that seat in the 8th North.
Wood served in the Arkansas General Assembly from 1979-83, and again from 1991-95. Here's the article from the Hope Star.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/31/2007 04:49:00 PM | Permalink |
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More reappraisals
I've previously blogged about the recent reappraisals here in Miller County and in Benton County. Here's an article from today's SW Times Record in Fort Smith about the increased assessed values in Sebastian County due to the reappraisals there.
I've received some calls about this, and here is some helpful information:
(1) Amendment 79 to the Arkansas Constitution dictates that the taxable assessed value of a property can’t increase more than 5% a year on a primary residence and 10% for other properties;
(2) Assessments are frozen at the former, lower taxable value for property owners 65 years of age or older (and for disabled property owners);
(3) Act 142 of 2007 increased the homestead property tax exemption, effective Jan. 1, 2008, from $300 to $350; and
(4) You can appeal the new valuation to the Board of Equalization with or without an informal review with the appraisers (Important: refer to the back of the Notice of Change in Assessment for the deadline to appeal; you can additionally appeal that decision to County Court then to Circuit Court with the high burden of proving the assessment as "clearly erroneous" considering a couple of factors: comparison with land similarly situated and whether the assessment is "manifestly excessive").
If you live in Miller County, you can find anything you want about your real estate records, values (both market and assessed value), millage rates, and transfers online here.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/31/2007 12:05:00 PM | Permalink |
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We're up on underthedome.com
Click www.underthedome.com then key in Ctrl + D to bookmark the new address to your favorites. You can also continue to access the blog at www.steveharrelson.com/blog.
Starting tomorrow, this site will be an underwriter and sponsor of KTXK and public radio here in Texarkana. Listen live here.
Here's the spot:
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/31/2007 08:50:00 AM | Permalink |
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Hopper announces for HD 81
Karen Hopper, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Distance Learning at ASU-Mountain Home, is announcing her intentions to run as a Republican for House District 81 today (well, announcing the formation of an exploratory committee). That seat is being vacated by House Minority Leader Johnny Key (R-Mountain Home) due to term limits. Click here for a list of all 2008 House races.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/31/2007 08:20:00 AM | Permalink |
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All 2007 session laws without an emergency clause or effective date take effect today
This is the subject of today's Texarkana Gazette editorial (FYI, as of today, much of the content at that site will be placed behind the wall).
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/31/2007 03:43:00 AM | Permalink |
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Tuesday in Arkansas
Legislature: No scheduled meetings today.
Governor Beebe: The governor will be in eastern Arkansas today touting ARHealthNet:
10:30 a.m.: ARHealthNet conference (Schoettle Center, W Memphis) 12:00 p.m.: Governor Beebe addresses the Memphis Rotary Club; 2:00 p.m.: ARHealthNet news conference (River Road Rest., Helena); 3:45 p.m.: Governor Beebe promotes ARHealthNet to local businesses (Cleo’s Restaurant, Marianna).
No events scheduled today.
New York Times: Texarkana Boy Scouts injured by lightning strike in NM New York Times: Energy Bill aids expansion of atomic power plants New York Times: States export their inmates as prisons fill Boston Globe: New fight over children's health aid to states Anchorage Daily News: Federal agents raid Sen. Stevens' home
Miller County inches closer to filing a lawsuit against the City of Texarkana, Ark. over the Juvenile Detention Center [Texarkana Gazette]
The Arkansas Municipal Auditorium Commission is continuing to works towards a restoration of the Texarkana, Arkansas Municipal Auditorium [Texarkana Gazette]
Baxter Co. Sheriff John Montgomery says some cities owe the county nearly $90K for the upkeep of city prisoners. Montgomery says the Ark. Sup. Ct. has held that all revenue collected from a person charged with a state offense go to the counties. In the 1970s, the legislature passed a law giving municipalities the ability to adopt the state code, he added, which allows cities to keep any fines and fees collected on municipal charges. [Baxter Bulletin]
Beebe (Edit: the city, not the governor) will ban pit bulls next month [Searcy Daily Citizen]
AEDC Exec. Dir. Maria Haley, along with Sen. Shane Broadway and First Lady Ginger Beebe, handed the city of Bryant its first recertification as an Arkansas Community of Excellence last week. [Benton Courier]
The environmental permitting process for the proposed John W. Turk, Jr., Power Plant near Fulton has produced a conflict in opinion between the general staff of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and a consultant for the PSC general staff which intervenors in the process have sought to spotlight. [Hope Star]
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/31/2007 03:25:00 AM | Permalink |
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Monday, July 30, 2007
Ark. Senate District 1
Blake Rutherford is reporting that Sen. Shawn Womack (R-Mountain Home) has made up his mind and will seek a circuit judgeship rather than seek re-election to the Senate in 2008. The last time I talked to Shawn (been a few weeks), he hadn't made up his mind. Such a move would open up another Senate seat and may affect a House seat should Rep. Monty Davenport (D-Yellville) make a run for the Senate. I just talked to Monty, and he says he'll look at it but won't give it much consideration until Shawn makes an official announcement. Look for an official announcement in September, possibly.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/30/2007 08:35:00 AM | Permalink |
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Expired 3¢ beer tax to be replaced with 1¢ tax tomorrow
The state's excise tax on retail beer returns tomorrow after its recent July 1 expiration. The previous 3% tax will be replaced with a 1% tax that is expected to raise about $3M annually for programs to help abused and neglected children. This excise tax is in addition to the 6% state sales tax (and any other local taxes). Here's the Associated Press article from Andrew DeMillo.
The article goes on to discuss some of the other laws that take effect tomorrow. Legislation with no specific effective date and no emergency clause that go into effect 90 days after the General Assembly adjourns. We formally adjourned May 1.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/30/2007 06:59:00 AM | Permalink |
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State traffic deaths rise slightly; US numbers at 5-yr low
Here's a statistic of note: Arkansas traffic fatalities increased 1.2% in 2006 while the number of such deaths nationwide fell 2% to the lowest level in five years. These statistics should bring recent legislative debates on a primary seat belt law and a statewide trauma care system back to the forefront. The latter should be a major legislative priority in 2009. Here's the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article from Noel Oman.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/30/2007 06:50:00 AM | Permalink |
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DHS Division of Children and Family Services undergoing review
It's being reported this morning that the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement is reviewing the structure and function of the central office of DCFS, which includes about 100 of the division’s nearly 1,000 employees. Here's the Democrat-Gazette article, and here is the DCFS website.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/30/2007 06:42:00 AM | Permalink |
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Sunday, July 29, 2007
Movin'
In addition to the new look, we'll be moving over to a newly-acquired domain this week: www.underthedome.com. It's in the process of being transferred over, so it probably won't be complete until Tuesday or Wednesday. No need to change your bookmarks -- www.steveharrelson.com/blog will also continue to point to the blog.
There shouldn't be a disruption of service, but if it looks like we have to go offline to make all the changes, I'll post something to let you know. I'll also be adding content to the new links on the banner above, so those links likely won't be functional for a few days. As referenced in the Arkansas Times this week, I'll be working to expand coverage here soon with additional contributors.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/29/2007 01:30:00 PM | Permalink |
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posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/29/2007 05:55:00 AM | Permalink |
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Saturday, July 28, 2007
Board of Health policy designed to address potential conflict
The Arkansas Board of Health implemented a new policy preventing Dept. of Health Director Paul Halverson from signing contracts with UAMS. Halverson doubles as a professor in the UAMS College of Public Heatlh, which has caused concern to some as a potential conflict of interest. From the Democrat-Gazette article:
“If he’s going to be the director of the Department of Health, I think the Department of Health ought to write his check and pay his salary, and he should quit working for UAMS,” said Rep. Chris Thyer, D-Jonesboro.
Thyer said his concerns are about transparency in government, not with the job Halverson has been doing since he was hired in 2005. He said Halverson has done an “excellent job” and is a “credit to state government.” But he worries about having a UAMS employee leading the agency that regulates hospitals, including the UAMS hospital.
Click here for Click here for Ark. Code Ann. § 19-11-1004, which sets out the restrictions on contracts between state agencies and institutions of higher education (see subsections c, d).
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/28/2007 01:00:00 PM | Permalink |
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Louisiana legislature may convene for "veto session"
Some leading Louisiana legislators are asking colleagues to vote against a "veto session" to consider overriding Gov. Kathleen Blanco's rejection of several bills from the recently ended legislative session (unlike us, they can call themselves into session). One in particular that was vetoed was the legislation that would've put that state's required minimum auto liability insurance limits in line with ours: 25/50. As it stands now, motorists in that state are only required to carry $10,000 in liability insurance. Here's the KSLA article on the potential special session.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/28/2007 09:41:00 AM | Permalink |
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Saturday in Arkansas
Here's what's going on around the state today. I'm dragging after riding 26.5 miles this morning to help a friend prepare for the aptly named Hotter than Hell 100 -- a 100-mile bike race in Wichita Falls, TX. We're headed over to the Wellness Fair this morning.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/28/2007 09:01:00 AM | Permalink |
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Crowded Feb. 5 primary
Doug Thompson posts his Saturday column on the Fat Tuesday primary from vacation in South Dakota. He concludes we'll be a small, irrelevant obscurity surrounded by bigger states garnering attention and thus larger campaign expenditures into those economies. Thompson notes that all other 2008 primary elections in Arkansas will be held in May.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/28/2007 06:59:00 AM | Permalink |
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Friday, July 27, 2007
Arkansas Week
It's Carol Griffee, Jay Barth, Jeff Hankins, and Ernie Dumas joining Steve Barnes tonight. Watch it here:
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 08:01:00 PM | Permalink |
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Let the games begin
Andrew DeMillo surveys gaming in Arkansas in his latest Associated Press article. The focus is on legalized bingo, which goes into effect on Tuesday (along with most other legislation enacted this session without an emergency clause). The article contains quotes from Rep. Will Bond, Governor Beebe, Jerry Cox and others.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 04:35:00 PM | Permalink |
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If Democrats win every contested race: 80 Democrats, 19 Republicans If Republicans win every contested race: 60 Democrats, 39 Republicans
Here's your 2008 House voters' guide. Click a district for info on that particular race.
Here is a list of the 2008 general election contests. Below this table is a recap of the contested primaries in the Arkansas House from May, 2008. Click the profile icon for info on that particular race. The third table is a list of all House incumbents and candidates without filed opposition. For a map of the current House makeup, click here.
2008 Arkansas General Election House Races (November 4)
District 1: Steve Harrelson (3rd) District 2: Larry Cowling (2nd) District 4: Bruce Maloch (3rd) District 5: Willie Hardy (3rd) District 6: John Lowery (3rd) District 8: Gregg Reep (3rd) District 9: Eddie Cheatham (2nd) District 10: Allen Maxwell (3rd) District 11: David Rainey (3rd) District 12: Robert Moore (2nd) District 13: Clark Hall (2nd) District 17: Stephanie Flowers (3rd) District 18: Toni Bradford (2nd) District 19: Bobby Pierce (2nd) District 20: Johnnie Roebuck (2nd) District 22: Bill Abernathy (3rd) District 23: Randy Stewart (2nd) District 24: Rick Saunders (3rd) District 25: Gene Shelby (2nd) District 26: Mike Burris (3rd) District 27: Dawn Creekmore (3rd) District 33: Fred Allen (2nd) District 35: Pam Adcock (3rd) District 37: Kathy Webb (2nd) District 39: Dwayne Dobbins (3rd) District 40: Barry Hyde (2nd) District 44: Mark Perry (1st) District 46: Robbie Wills (3rd) District 47: Eddie Hawkins (2nd) District 51: David Dunn (3rd) District 52: Nancy Blount (3rd) District 53: Keith Ingram (1st) District 54: Otis Davis (3rd) District 55: Tommy Baker (2nd) District 56: Buddy Lovell (2nd) District 57: Jerry Brown (2nd) District 59: Lance Reynolds (2nd) District 60: Johnny Hoyt (2nd) District 61: Nathan George (3rd) District 69: George Overbey (3rd) District 71: Eddie Cooper (3rd) District 75: Joan Cash (2nd) District 76: Ray Kidd (3rd) District 77: Charolette Wagner (2nd) District 78: Billy Gaskill( 2nd) District 79: Mike Patterson (2nd) District 80: David Cook (3rd) District 82: Curren Everett (3rd) District 84: John Paul Wells (3rd) District 86: Monty Davenport (3rd) District 88: Uvalde Lindsey (1st) District 92: Lindsley Smith (3rd)
District 30: Bill Sample (3rd) District 31: Dan Greenberg (2nd) District 30: Allen Kerr (1st) District 41: Ed Garner (2nd) District 63: Frank Glidewell (3rd) District 66: Rick Green (3rd) District 83: Beverly Pyle (3rd) District 90: Roy Ragland (3rd) District 93: Jon Woods (2nd) District 94: Les Carnine (1st) District 96: Debra Hobbs (1st) District 97: Jonathan Barnett (1st) District 98: Donna Hutchinson (2nd)
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 06:54:00 AM | Permalink |
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Ark. Board of Health approves add'l testing of food
Even though the rule clarification will go through public comment before final approval, the state Board of Health gave preliminary approval Thursday to new rules to clarify the state's power to investigate food -- specifically catfish. A couple of our neighbors (MS, AL) found antibiotics in Chinese catfish after testing, which prompted those states (and Louisiana) to ban imports of the fish. One test here in Arkansas did discover an anti-fungal agent in one 2,500 lb. batch of imported fish, which was quarantined and destroyed, according to Dr. Paul Halverson. Halverson also cited the need for additional tests by noting that while the USDA inspects eggs, meats and poultry, an overworked FDA handles fish and everything else. Here's the Associated Press article.
The catfish industry is serious bizness here in Arkansas -- that's why it's hard to imagine the need to import much of it (which I suppose is a testament to the sheer amount we consume). Arkansas is the 2nd largest catfish producer in the nation, and the industry in Chicot County alone is estimated to generate 2,665 jobs.
As an aside, many people don't realize that there is a law on the books regulating the sale and marketing of foreign fish here in Arkansas. Ark. Code Ann. §20-61-302 requires menus in restaurants to identify whether the catfish being sold is farm raised catfish, river or lake catfish, imported catfish, or ocean catfish. I've always thought that that law seems like an undue burden for the small Arkansas restaurateur, but these new testing results may make people thankful that it's there while they take a closer look at the menu.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 04:03:00 AM | Permalink |
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Group forms to explore biofuel operation in NE Arkansas
Natural Fuels LLC has hired FBA consulting out of Memphis to do a feasibility study of the region to help determine if Clay County can support biofuel operation, specifically a soybean processing plant. The company notes that the biodiesel plant in Batesville (the same one mentioned a couple of posts down the blog) is capable of producing 100 million gallons a year, but is currently only running about 25% capacity because their inability to acquire the oils to produce the biodiesel.
The company's board is made up of Ron Baker, State Rep. Mike Patterson, Gina Davis of Clay County Electric, David Smith of Clay County Electric, farmer Steve Potts of west Clay County, Steve Hardin of Corning Savings and Loan, Clay County Judge Gary Howell, farmer Andy Miller of west Clay County, farmer Sid Hollis of Piggott, farmer Johnny Smith of Greenway, Piggott Mayor Gerald Morris, Chad Watson of Corning, and David Luger is the chairman of the interim board. Here are articles from the Piggott Times and the Clay County Democrat.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 03:46:00 AM | Permalink |
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Governor's weekly radio address
Click play on the console below:
The governor focuses on the reauthorization of S-CHIP. S-CHIP (known as ARKids B in Arkansas) will expire on September 30 without intervention by Congress. We adopted a resolution in Arkansas during the 2007 session urging the reauthorization of S-CHIP (SCR4 - read it here). The president has proposed adding $5 billion to the program, but various analysts say states need up to $16 billion more just to keep covering the same number of families. The president also wants to freeze enrollment of adults in S-CHIP, another concern for some states who want to expand health insurance coverage.
Also from the governor's office, 20 appointments were made to the new Children’s Behavioral Health Care Commission. The appointments include two former legislators (Jay Bradford, Tommy Roebuck). Here's the governor's news release.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 03:29:00 AM | Permalink |
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Legislators visit Batesville
Here's coverage from the Batesville Daily Guard on the Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development meetings held there on Tuesday and Wednesday. The article largely focuses on the visit to the FutureFuel manufacturing facility located on a 2,200-acre site along the White River, which employs 489 people.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 03:02:00 AM | Permalink |
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Status of I-49 North from Texarkana
As mentioned a few posts below, grading and structure work for I-49 is underway north from Arkansas Boulevard that will eventually connect with Highway 71 just south of the Red River between County Road 55 and Ark. Hwy. 108. Most of this terrain is in the 100-yr flood plain (and is vulnerable -- see the 1990 Red River flood). As you can see from the cranes below, foundations are being constructed for the elevated roadway now. Here's a shot of the construction from the back porch:
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/27/2007 02:52:00 AM | Permalink |
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Thursday, July 26, 2007
NBC Nightly News tonight
Tonight, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams will feature the local fight against Giant Salvinia, an aquatic weed that will invade Arkansas lakes very soon. Tonight's coverage will focus on the infestation of Caddo Lake, a lake about 50 miles south of Texarkana along the Texas-Louisiana border. To learn more about this invasive plant, click these previous entries from the blog:
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 04:37:00 PM | Permalink |
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School choice law under the microscope
The Northwest Arkansas Times reports on West Fork School District's denial of most of the 75 transfer requests it received from Greenland School District students due to a race clause in the school choice regulations. Greenland closed the 90-student Winslow Elementary School after the 2006-2007 school year ended, prompting many parents to request a school choice transfer.
Under current law, a district cannot admit students under school choice if it has a higher percentage of students from that race than the students’ home district. However, Rep. Janet Johnson pushed through a revision to school choice this year (Act 552 of 2007) that would allow West Fork to admit the students, but it won't affect these specific requests until the following school year.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 02:30:00 PM | Permalink |
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Tim Massanelli: Man of the House The long time parliamentarian of the Arkansas House embodies a combination of political power, institutional memory, legendary status and public service. Whatever the nature of the interaction, you can be certain it involves the legislative process and the Arkansas House of Representatives, a body that Massanelli has served for 34 years. By the time Governor Bill Clinton won the re-election in 1982, Tim Massanelli was already on his way to becoming a House legend.
And a legend he is. It's one thing to study the rulebook and be familiar with parliamentary procedure. It's quite another to cite specific rules supported by decades of memories of parliamentary clashes on the floor of the House. The Boss was refereeing floor debates before I was born. He's one Capitol mainstay that will never be replaced.
Update (9/17/07): I found a free link to the story. Click here.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 12:32:00 PM | Permalink |
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Hold the phone
No decision has been made yet, says Governor Beebe, on delaying the new guidelines for teaching Arkansas history in public schools. Several educators and well-known Arkansas historians have asked for a moratorium on the guidelines, which would combine Arkansas history with social studies curriculum. The Arkansas History Education Coalition brought out one of the most influential Arkansans last week -- former U.S. Sen., Gov., Congressman, state rep, younameit David Pryor said the subjects should be taught separately. Here's today's article by John Lyon with the Arkansas News Bureau, and here's where I am on this issue.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 08:51:00 AM | Permalink |
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Motion filed with PSC regarding Swepco power plant
Little Rock attorney Charles Nestrud filed a motion yesterday to order the staff to make David Schissel available for deposition in regard to Swepco's application to construct its proposed power plant in Hempstead County. Nestrud filed the motion on behalf of area hunting clubs and Emon Mahony.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 07:39:00 AM | Permalink |
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Ross secures I-49 funding for FY2008
Congressman Mike Ross secured some federal funding for I-49 in the 2008 House Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that just passed the U.S. House. $350,000 would specifically go to completing the seven-mile stretch between Doddridge and the Louisiana line, which is the only area that remains two lanes between Texarkana and Ida, La. Louisiana lawmakers this year appropriated the necessary matching funds needed for the stretch between Shreveport and the Arkansas line.
With prices today, this short stretch of highway is anticipated to cost in the $50-$60 million range. Meanwhile, on the other end, grading and structure work is under way north from Arkansas Boulevard that will eventually connect with Highway 71 north of Texarkana.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 07:21:00 AM | Permalink |
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Four States Friends of NRA Banquet is tonight
The Four States Friends of the National Rifle Association Committee will hold its annual banquet tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Four States Fairgrounds. The banquet will include an auction to benefit local law enforcement agencies.
Also in Texarkana tonight, the Board of Adjustment will convene for its monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Board Room. Elsewhere, the Arkansas congressional delegation will hold a Medicare lien conference at Noon today at the Little Rock Public Library (Cox Building).
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/26/2007 07:09:00 AM | Permalink |
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Texas-side minimum wage workers get a raise
The federal minimum wage rose 70 cents Tuesday to $5.85/hr., the first of three annual 70 cent increases that will set the minimum wage at $7.25/hr. in July, 2009. This first raise won't affect Arkansas workers since we previously raised the state minimum wage to $6.25/hr. in the 2006 special session (effective Oct., 2006).
Whether the 2006 legislation has made any difference here in Texarkana is hard to determine. Most people agree that prior to the change, there were few positions still paying the federal minimum since it hadn't been raised in 9 years. Regardless, Arkansas-side minimum wage workers loved it, and it may have attracted some workers from Texas, where the minimum wage remained $5.15/hr -- there's just no way to tell. There were some grumblings by Arkansas-side employers, who made the argument that it hinders economic development on the Arkansas-side. Like everything else, this legislation affects us here in Texarkana more than anywhere else in the state. As of today, the minimum wage gap on opposite sides of the state line has been closed from $1.10 to 40 cents per hour.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/25/2007 06:42:00 AM | Permalink |
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Wednesday's calendar -- Updated
There is one legislative meeting today. At 9:00 a.m., the Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development will meet at the Ramada Inn in Batesville. Here's the Agenda.
The 2007 LP Gas Convention & Trade Show begins today at the NLR Wyndham. Yale University's School of the 21st Century program continues today at the LR Peabody, and Governor Beebe will address the conference at 8:00 a.m. After that, the governor will participate in an economic-development announcement and ground-breaking ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in Marmaduke.
Update: 300 jobs, $50M expansion for American Railcar Industries, Inc.'s new manufacturing facility in Marmaduke. Here's the AP article.
The governor then travels across the state to Mountain Home, where he will hold a news conference regarding ARHealthNet at 12:30 p.m. His last official stop of the day will be at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville at 2:30 p.m., where he will hold a news conference regarding ARHealthNet.
In Texarkana, the Txk Chamber will hold a ribbon cutting for Step In for the opening of its new Mobil location at 4526 W. 7th (4:30 p.m.). There will be a farewell reception tonight at TCC for Lietenant Colonels Betty and Steven Toft (6:30 p.m.).
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/25/2007 06:34:00 AM | Permalink |
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Annie E. Casey Foundation releases its 2007 Kids Count Data Book
It's not great news for Arkansas. For the 2nd year in a row, we're ranked 45th among all states in terms of the well-being of children. The states below us are South Carolina, New Mexico, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The report is based on data from 2004-05 and shows that improvement by Arkansas in a few areas, while small decreases were seen in infant mortality and teen death rates. Larger reductions were made in the teen birth rate, the percent of high school dropouts and the percent of teens not attending school and not working.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/25/2007 06:28:00 AM | Permalink |
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Forrest City Sanyo plant scheduled to end television production
Sanyo Manufacturing announced Tuesday they will end production at their plant in Forrest City, a plant where they've built televisions for 30 years. At its peak the plant employed over 750 people -- Sanyo will continue to house its warehousing and distribution facilities there, along with engineering, sales and customer service employees. According to KAIT, around 75 employees will stay in Forrest City.
"It's almost like you are losing a family member. You know it is possibly terminal, but you are waiting for a miracle," said Forrest City Chamber of Commerce Exec. Dir. and State Representative David Dunn.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/25/2007 06:22:00 AM | Permalink |
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DYS lockup education plan being developed
Rob Moritz provides coverage of yesterday's Aging, Children and Youth legislative committee meeting. A June report by the Arkansas Department of Education found that DHS is not in compliance with several state and federal regulations regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Act as it pertains to learning disabilities and special education.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/25/2007 06:12:00 AM | Permalink |
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Rocky Top goes smokeless
Two-a-days start in a week and a half, and things will be a little different at the SEC's largest venue this fall. Tennessee has followed Arkansas and has banned workplace smoking in that state, which includes sports arenas -- even places like Neyland that lack a dome. Last season, smoking was limited to designated areas at two main entrance gates to the stadium to reflect a 2006 ban on smoking in state buildings.
Vols favoring a skoal ring will be unaffected.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/25/2007 03:49:00 AM | Permalink |
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Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Voting Record
I'll work on this page this week in the coming weeks (it's more of a daunting task than it initially appeared to be). I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to link to every recorded vote I've made. I'll try and organize the votes by topic similar to the subjects used by the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (for an example, click here for the session summary published by the Arkanas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday, July 29, 2007). Unless there's a demand for it, I'll only include general legislation. I can probably add the meaningful appropriations/fiscal legislation as well fairly easy, but I'm afraid the thousands of individual routine votes to fund state agencies, etc, will clutter up this page and make it difficult to wade through. We'll see.
Abortion - Parental Notification (HB 1033 of 2005) - Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act (SB 74 of 2005) Aging and Senior Citizens - Adult Services - Alzheimer's Disease - Care Facilities - Long-Term Care - Nursing Homes - Prescription Drugs - Retirees Agriculture, Farming, and Ranching - Brucellosis - Cotton - Conservation - Equine Anemia - Fences - Herbicides - Gasohol - Livestock - Plant Board - Property Rights - Trespassing Alcoholic Beverages - Beer - DWI - Liquor - Retail Dealers - Wine Amusements, Games, and Sports - Bingo - Fishing - Hunting - Racing - Sporting Events - Video Games Business, Corporations, and Mfgrs - Employers - Enterprise Zones Business and Professional Licensing - Collection Agencies - HACVR - Nurses - Pharmacists - Physicians - Plumbers Cemeteries - Rights-of-Way Civil Matters - Collections - Divorce/Custody - Tort Reform Civil Rights, Women's Issues, and Privacy - Abortion - Illegal Immigrants - Women's Health Commendations & Memorials - Franklin, Ben - Smith, Bill Constitutional Amendments - Gaming - Property Tax - Term Limits Consumer Protection - Fraudulent Claims - Privacy Contractors, Construction and Purchasing - Bonding - Materialmen Liens Controlled Substances - Meth - Prescription Drugs - Schedule V Corrections - Community Punishment - Inmates - Parole Counties - Assessors - Election Commission - Jails - Sheriffs - Quorum Courts Courts - Appeals - Court Costs - Judges and Clerks Criminal Law - Arson - Hot Checks - Larceny - Murder Disabled Persons - Advocacy for the Blind - Wheelchair Access Ecology, Environment, and Waste Management - Air Quality - Hazardous Waste - Solid Waste - Water Quality Economic Development - Enterprise Zones - Industrial Development Education (See Schools and Teachers; See Also Higher Ed) Elections - Ballots - Candidates - Initiative/Referendum - Voting Machines Energy - Biodiesel - Wind Power Estates - Guardianship - Fiduciary - Trustees Families and Juveniles - Adoption - Custody - Divorce Financial Institutions - Banks - Bonds - Credit Unions - Loan Brokers Fire and Emergency Services - Ambulance Service - Emergency Technicians - Firefighters Firearms and Weapons - Concealed Carry License - Handguns Food Processing - Poultry Packaging Freedom of Information - Employee Evaluations - Pine Bluff, City of Gaming and Racing - Bingo - Casino Gambling - Horseracing Health Care and Providers - Accupuncture - ARKids First - Hospitals - Long Term Care Higher Education - Academic Challenge Scholarship - Curriculum - Henderson State University - Student Loans Highways, Roads, and Streets - Accident Location Survey - Right-of-Way - Scenic Highways - Toll Roads Housing (See Land and Real Estate) Human Services - Adoption - Adult Services - Food Stamps - Medicaid - Youth Services Immigration - Health Services - Illegal Immigrants Improvement Districts - Assessment of Dues - Eminent Domain Authority - St. Francis Levee District Insurance - Agent/Broker Licensing - Health Insurance - Mental Health Coverage - Workers' Compensation Labor, Employers, Employees - Electronic Monitoring - Employee Safety - Minimum Wage Land, Housing, and Real Estate - Annexations - Housing Authorities - Mortgages - Posting of Property - Trespassing Law Enforcement - Arrests - Crime Information Center - Crime Lab - Police - Prosecutors - Sheriffs Legislative Affairs - Annual Sessions - House of Representatives - Joint Rules - Efficiency Committee - Senate Lobbying, Ethics, Financial Reporting - Campaign Contributions - Conflict of Interest - Financial Disclosure - Gifts (to public officials) - Lobbyist Reports Military and Veterans Affairs - Leave of Absence - National Guard - Veteran's Home Municipalities - City Councils - Firemen - Mayors - Police Natural Resources - Mining - Oil and Gas - Severance Tax - Timber Nonproflts and Charities - Bingo - Fund Raising Parks, Tourism, and Wildlife - Crater of Diamonds State Park - Fishing License - Motorcoach Travel Promotion Privacy (See Civil Rights) Public Employees and Officials - Conflicts of Interest - Financial Disclosure - Political Freedom Act - Whistleblower Protection Public Health and Public Safety - Avian Flu - Drinking Water - Sex Offender Registration - Vaccination Retirement Systems - Highway Employees - Judicial - Police/Fire Pensions - Public Employees - Teachers Schools and Teachers - Curriculum - Finance - Students - Teachers State Agencies, Boards, and Commissions - Administrative Procedures - State Health Plan - State Employees - Workforce Education, Department of Taxation - Income Tax - Property Tax - Sales Tax - Severance Tax Telecommunications and Technology - Cable Television - Cell Phones - Internet - Telephone Service Tobacco Products - Cigarettes - Smokeless Tobacco - Tobacco Stamps Transportation - Boating - Drivers - Highway Safety - Motor Fuel - Motor Vehicles - Trains - Trucking Utilities - Electricity - Natural Gas - Telephone Service Waste Management (See Ecology, Environment, and Waste Management) Water - Ground Water - Lakes - Municipal Water Systems - Rivers Welfare - Food Stamps - Medicaid - Welfare-to-Work Wildlife (See Parks, Tourism and Wildlife) Worker's Compensation (Also, see Insurance) - Chiropractic Care - Repetitive Motion Injuries
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 08:35:00 PM | Permalink |
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Glass pockets
In an effort to advocate meaningful transparency in government, I'll post all income, contributions, gifts, and expenses that are related to my campaign and legislative office here. If you have specific questions, e-mail or call me.
(at the end of the year, I'm required to reconcile this item, which may require a payment from me to my campaign) 4/6/07 - L.E.A.D. Advertisement - Texarkana Gazette - $303.84 4/6/07 - Polling - ZATA3 - $500.00 4/12/07 - Advertisement - Young Democrats of Arkansas - $200.00 5/10/07 - President's Day Tickets - Young Democrats of Arkansas - $250.00
What I cost Arkansas taxpayers: I'll list all of my legislative income and other expenses to taxpayers here. 2007 Salary: $14,765.00 2007 Legislative Support Contract: $16,800.00 2007 Mileage/Per Diem to date: $12,134.30
The legislative support contract is designed for reimbursement of office expenses in my district office (long distance phone calls, postage, staff time devoted to legislative work, etc.); mileage is tied to the federal rate for meetings at the Capitol (292 miles round trip for me), and per diem is $130 per day for legislative meetings at the Capitol. Mileage/Per Diem will be higher in years in which a session is held.
2007 Gifts/Honorariums: - $500 Honorarium from Texarkana College for commencement address
- Round-trip flight, hotel room & meals in Taipei, Taiwan (pd. for by Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Dec. 6-8, 2007: Round-trip flight, hotel room & meals in Seattle for Legislative Roundtable on Information Technology - $1,478.20 (Microsoft Corp.)
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 04:53:00 PM | Permalink |
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2007 DLC National Conversation
The Democratic Leadership Council will convene in Nashville, TN this weekend for its annual meeting. Former President Bill Clinton will address the conference on Sunday. He'll join more than 350 elected officials from 45 states for the Conversation, including Governors Phil Bredesen (TN), Martin O'Malley (MD), Brian Schweitzer (MT) and Kathleen Sebelius (KS). Click the pic below if interested in attending:
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 04:23:00 PM | Permalink |
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Legislative committee meetings today
There are a few of them:
10:00 a.m. -- Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs (Rm. 130, Capitol) Agenda
2:30 p.m. -- Public School & School Motor Vehicle Insurance Advisory Committee (Ins. Dept. First Floor Hearing Room) Agenda
The governor's back in the state, and Lt. Gov. Halter leaves today for the National Lieutenant Governor's Association Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, VA. Yale University's School of the 21st Century program continues today at the LR Peabody.
Tonight at the Clinton School, Politico editor in chief John Harris and Time editor at large Mark Halperin will provide a lecture on their book: "The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008." It begins at 6:00 p.m. in Sturgis Hall.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 07:05:00 AM | Permalink |
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Tonight on AETN: Violence in Arkansas
Steve Barnes and Pamela Smith moderate a panel discussion of violent crime in the state. Panelists include North Little Rock youth-services administrator Steve Nawojczyk and Dwayne Yarbrough with the AG's office. 7:00 p.m.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 06:56:00 AM | Permalink |
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LJ Bryant announces for House District 58
L.J. Bryant has announced his intentions to run for House District 58, the seat being vacated by Rep. Tommy Dickinson (D-Newport) due to term limits. This reminds me that I need to get together a master list of all candidates that have announced to run for the legislature in 2008. There are already some primaries shaping up on the House side. I'll try to have that posted at some point this week.
House District 58
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 06:52:00 AM | Permalink |
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Michael Cook to become Halter's new chief of staff
Michael Cook will replace Ron Oliver as chief of staff for Lt. Goverrno Bill Halter beginning August 1. Oliver is leaving to become executive director of the Arkansas Racing Commission. Cook is the former executive director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas and served as Halter's campaign manager.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/24/2007 06:49:00 AM | Permalink |
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Monday, July 23, 2007
Monday's calendar -- Update
The governor's out of state, and there are no legislative meetings at the Capitol. I'll attend the dedication of the Prissy Hickerson Freeway here in Texarkana at 1:30. I don't expect to see Dan Greenberg there.
Update: Here's a pic from the event -- it's a little off-center, as I was trying to get Don Ruggles' helicopter in the picture:
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/23/2007 07:12:00 AM | Permalink |
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State's role in a settlement of the LR school deseg appeal
Pat Lynch believes the Lake View decision coupled with the Arkansas Constitution (specifically Article 14) requires the state to intervene in the Little Rock School Board's charge to negotiate a settlement with John Walker's appeal of the decision that the district has attained unitary status. As an example of a waste of state resources that aren't being spent on instruction, he notes that Arkansas taxpayers, including those of us far from Pulaski County, spend about $60 million annually for the Pulaski County desegregation settlement. In other terms, that's a cent and a half of the state's grocery tax and better than 1% of general revenue.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/23/2007 06:02:00 AM | Permalink |
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Sunday, July 22, 2007
None of the above
The Boston Globe reports on an intriguing bill being considered this week by the Massachusetts legislature. If it passes, voters in that state would have the option on the ballot of voting "none of the above; for a new election" on each race. If that option gets the most votes, a new election will be held within 60 to 80 days until a suitable candidate is elected. It would be binding to every race but a presidential election.
Pretty thought-provoking -- no more unopposed elections and a racheting-up of the accountability factor. How would this work in Arkansas? With a little discontent coupled with our small population base and term limits, we might run out of people to put on the ballot.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/22/2007 07:04:00 AM | Permalink |
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Sunday morning Ark-La-Tex roundup
I'm in Little Rock this morning -- Lori and I had a couple of events here last night, and I'm about to take a run through the River Market then down Main and see what looks good for breakfast before heading back home. Here's today's news -- the New York Times has an in-depth article on a Texarkana case that's garnered a lot of attention locally. See the Texas news below for a link.
Legislature: No scheduled meetings today.
No events scheduled today.
Miller County inches closer to filing a lawsuit against the City of Texarkana, Ark. over the Juvenile Detention Center [
