Tuesday in Arkansas

Legislature: No scheduled meetings today.
Governor Beebe: No official events scheduled.
Lt. Gov. Halter: No official events scheduled.

National night out (block parties city-wide).

New York Times: Bridge disaster revives questions about spending
Minneapolis Star Tribune: Hard-to-see spots in bridge had most risks
Boston Globe: Clinton, Obama go easy on school reform talk
Washington Post: Fundraisers tap those who can't say no
Los Angeles Times: Judge bans Navy from using sonar off S. Cal coast
Houston Chronicle: Sparks fly over Houston smoking ban

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Beebe weighs move on state history rule
Associated Press: 8/9 mediation in LR deseg case canceled
Ark. News Bureau: Judge: Add defendants to suit challenging bidding law
Ark. News Bureau: AEDC names Goodman as business director
Ark. Democrat-Gazette: Oldest deck-truss bridge in state gets a going-over
Arkansas Business: Mark Pryor to speak at UAMS nano roundtable

The Miller County Quorum Court voted 10-1 Monday to file a lawsuit against the City of Texarkana, Ark. over the operation of the Lantz Lurry Juvenile Justice Detention Center. [Texarkana Gazette]

I am writing to allay concerns expressed recently about the future well-being of wildlife in the vicinity of the proposed John W. Turk Power Plant in Hempstead County. [Texarkana Gazette (letter to the editor from Martha McCellon-Allen, Swepco CEO)]

More than 500 full-time jobs could come to Texarkana if a customer service call center locates here, said Jerry Sparks with the Txk. Chamber. A job fair for the company will be held Aug. 15. [Texarkana Gazette]

A week before this Thursday's hearing before the Arkansas PSC on the proposed Swepco power plant near Fulton, the panel has denied Swepco's requested change in the process and ordered the company to provide site selection information to intervenors. [Hope Star]

The list of agencies who will be operating bingo and raffle establishments in southeast Arkansas has grown in the past week. Four more entities — two in Pine Bluff and two in Monticello — have obtained licenses from the state Department of Finance and Administration. [Pine Bluff Commercial]

Seven north Pulaski bingo halls opened their door during the first week of legalized charity bingo in the state, with four more planning to open by September. Sherwood’s Moose Lodge opened Tuesday night with 170 players and increased to 200 on Thursday. [Arkansas Leader]

Three Texarkana Ark. School District seats will be contested in September’s school board election. Jimmy Hickey will face off against Sarah Sealy and Laney Harris. Incumbent Shelby Brown of Zone 2 is opposed by Valecia Pumphrey. Dorothy Jackson is running against Donald Nelson of Zone 5. [Texarkana Gazette]

At the center of much controversy, Bubba Sullivan, owner of Bubba's Blues Corner and member of The Sonny Boy Blues Society, which puts on the annual Blues Festival, has been nominated to continue to hold his position on the Helena-West Helena Advertising & Promotions Commission. [Helena Daily World]

An Arkansas attorney general's opinion won't be enough to discourage the residents of a subdivision from trying to fight their way out of Bella Vista. [NWA Morning News]

A Texarkana environmental consulting firm is expected to begin an asbestos survey of the Hempstead County Courthouse this week as a result of a complaint to the Arkansas Department of Enviromental Quality. [Hope Star]

There will be a L’Anguille River Watershed Project Tour Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Terry McGraw farm in the Palestine area. After the tour, Congressman Marion Berry will speak at a dinner at the Forrest City Civic Center. [Forrest City Times-Herald]

The issues landowners face as play continues in the Fayetteville Shale was the topic of a Saturday meeting of members of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) at Harding University. [Searcy Daily Citizen]

Texarkana Gazette: Take it to the people (super city manager)
John Brummett: Christian soldiers march onward to Ames
Arkansas Leader: A law we don't need
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: For law and order
Arkansas Leader: Judges ruling rescues FOI
Northwest Arkansas Times: Lots to do