Catching up on news

I'm back in the US at LAX waiting on a flight (just ran into Txk. Chamber Pres. Jeff Sandford here in Los Angeles) and thought I'd catch up on some of the items I've missed:

Gov. Beebe said Friday he hopes an insurance program offered for low-income workers doesn't meet the same fate as a discount drug program the state dropped because of a lack of interest [Associated Press]; He'll make a stop in Texarkana Wednesday morning to talk about the program.

CQPolitics examines the upcoming federal races -- Mark Pryor's reelection bid is mentioned (he has $3 million in the bank) [New York Times];

Baxter County has one of the district courts participating in a pilot program enacted by the Arkansas legislature [Baxter Bulletin]

Bubba Powers talks about the goings on in Hope on his blog;

At the Review Committee of the Legislative Council, which reviews grants, contracts and other state business during the interim, members raised concerns over several expenditures [Arkansas News Bureau/SW Times Record]

Recap of 4th of July celebrations from state weeklies: [Clay County Democrat, NE Ark Town Crier]

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced Wednesday that Arkansas will receive $165,000 as part of a $3 million nationwide settlement under which Internet service provider AOL has agreed to make it easier for customers to cancel service [Springdale Morning News]

Linda Bisbee, wife of state Sen. Dave Bisbee, R-Rogers, will run for the Republican nomination for the District 95 state representative seat being left by Rep. Aaron Burkes, R-Lowell [Springdale Morning News]