Thursday in Arkansas

Legislature: No meetings scheduled today.
Governor Beebe: 7:00 p.m.: Beebe speaks at the Arkansas Wildlife Federation Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet (Crown Plaza, LR).

Looking for something to do today?
It's Kid's day at Pine Mountain Village in Eureka Springs;
There's a business expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center; and
It's Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Night at McArthur Museum in LR.

8:00 a.m.: General session -- The American Presidents. Speakers:

Mara Liasson, National Political Correspondent
Andrew Card, Fmr. White House Chief of Staff
David Gergen, Harvard University Kennedy School of Gov't.

10:15 a.m.: Transparency in government;
12:30 p.m.: DLCC Annual Luncheon; and
3:00 p.m.: Online and distance education: Policy challenges to states.

Boston Globe: Chertoff laments failure of immigration reform
Washington Post: Primary season getting earlier
Washington Post: Bush may seek to cut corporate tax rates
New York Times: Potential flaw seen in design of fallen bridge
Los Angeles Times: 4.5-magnitude quake rattles Southern California
Salt Lake Tribune: Waiting for breakthrough
Stephens DC Bureau: Huckabee looks for momentum boost at straw poll

Associated Press: Proposed power plant near Fulton goes before PSC, public
Ark. Democrat-Gazette: Panel recommends dropping case against Griffen
Ark. News Bureau: Beebe: New Ark history guidelines to stand, for now
Associated Press: Miller County sues Texarkana over money for JDC
Associated Press: 'Clear' card speeds up security check at LR airport
Ark. News Bureau: Hochstetter resigns PSC post early
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: System's portfolio increases
Ark. Democrat-Gazette: Museum seeks items belonging to former governors
Ark. News Bureau: Gov approves $33M loan to wastewater project
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: State pays $4.3 million toward regional sewer

The recusal and resignation Tuesday of one of the three commissioners of the Arkansas PSC will delay the key testimony in the certificate of need application hearing starting Thursday before the PSC for the proposed power plant near Fulton. [Hope Star]

Legislative representatives have been invited to Hot Springs Village for a public forum on Sept. 12, Linda Mayhood told the Property Owners' Association's governmental affairs committee last week. State Sens. Shane Broadway and Terry Smith, and Reps. Dan Greenberg and Bill Sample will give their impressions of the last legislative session and answer questions. [Hot Springs Village Voice]

Texarkana, Ark., has more than $263,000 in repaid loans from the Community Development Block Grant program and is looking for the best way to use it. [Texarkana Gazette]

The Arkansas Board of Education meets Monday to consider leaving some Northwest Arkansas school districts on probation for allegedly not teaching all of the 38 courses state officials require. [NWA Morning News]

UACCH awarded $44,000 from Tobacco Settlement Commission [Texarkana Gazette]

More than 350 patrons of Bismarck schools came to hear Dr. Ken James, commissioner of education for the state, and other officials, speak Monday on the future of the Bismarck school district. [Arkadelphia Daily Siftings Herald]

Authorities discover suspect in high speed chase in Little River County illegally re-entered U.S. after deportation. [Texarkana Gazette]

Cleburne County government on Tuesday paid off a $1.7 million jail construction-renovation loan five months early. Judge Claude Dill on Monday arranged a note-burning ceremony for Tuesday afternoon at the jail to celebrate the good news. [Heber Springs Sun-Times]

Sales-tax holiday still a good idea, says Rep. Donna Hutchinson [Benton County Daily Record]

John Brummett: Hint of news from Beebe
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Secret trials?
Doug Smith: City-manager system loses shine
Russell McDermott: They don't want Bubba to join in any redneck games
Arkansas Times: Judicial Chutzpah
Texarkana Gazette: Prevent a tragedy