Wednesday in Arkansas

Legislature: There are two meetings on tap at the Capitol today:

Time	Committee	Room	Agenda
10:00 a.m.	Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee	149	Click here
1:30 p.m.	Review Committee of Legislative Council	171	Click here

Governor Beebe: The governor will be in central Arkansas today:

9:00 a.m.: Beebe speaks at the World Scouting 100th Ann. Celebration (MacArthur Military Museum, Little Rock)
10:00 a.m.: Beebe gives welcoming remarks at the “No Child Left Inside” event (4-H Center, Ferndale)
12:00 p.m.: Beebe addresses the Conway Kiwanis Club (Ryan’s Steak House, Conway)

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel: McDaniel will be in Crossett late this afternoon to visit with local businesses and to take part in the Crossett rodeo parade after hours.

No events scheduled today. I'm in LR until mid-afternoon.

Washington Post: House votes 411-8 to pass ethics overhaul
New York Times: Voting officials face new rules to bar conflicts
New York Times: Brownback complains about Catholic slur
Boston Globe: 3 Senators call for regional primaries for 2012 election
Here's a previous blog post discussing regional primaries
Stephens D.C. Bureau: Snyder-led panel explores Iraq options
Stephens D.C. Bureau: Sen. Pryor urges extension of steel tariffs

Ark. News Bureau: New law expands access to background checks
Associated Press: State Police expand online criminal records access
Associated Press: Beebe's first execution on the horizon
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Casino fans told: Win Beebe
Ark. News Bureau: Officials disagree on definition of check casher
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Jimmie Lou Fisher joins AG's staff
Associated Press: Legalized bingo, raffles come to Arkansas
Ark. News Bureau: State helps pay for gasoline storage tank cleanup
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: UAPB targets Delta illiteracy rate
Arkansas Business: ADEQ cancels water storage permit

Governor Mike Beebe met with local officials Tuesday at the River Road Restaurant on Cherry St. Tuesday afternoon to discuss the ArHealthNet system. According to the governor, the system will help lower the cost of medical expenses by providing insurance to more people [Helena Daily World]

A domino effect may be triggered if State Sen. Shawn Womack, R-Mountain Home, announces he is running for a judgeship in the 14th District of Arkansas's Circuit Court. After online reports that Womack told friends he will seek a gavel in the state's 14th Judicial District, Womack said he is considering the move [Baxter Bulletin]

A small but dedicated group of local residents gave their input Tuesday evening to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program about the state agency’s statewide conservation plan. [Texarkana Gazette]

Two telecommunications companies are competing for the contract to supply Trice Elementary School with a new phone system, and the Texarkana, Ark., School Board may make a decision on the matter during a special called meeting Thursday evening. [Texarkana Gazette]

Sen. Womack and several Arkansas associations affiliated with county and city governments weigh in on the Baxter County sheriff's request for cities to pay for city prisoners in the county jail. [Baxter Bulletin]

Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody wants more conservation from citizens [Northwest Arkansas Times]

Quitman Board: ‘No’ to tranfers [Heber Springs Sun-Times]

The Holiday Island Elks Lodge took a gamble even before the first state-sanctioned bingo cards were full Tuesday. [Springdale Morning News]

A new Arkansas law effective yesterday makes it a crime to change lanes without using a turn signal. [Springdale Morning News]

Act 461 of 2007, enacted this year by the Arkansas General Assembly, could help the previously blogged group of Winslow children go to West Fork when school starts later this month, Rep. Mark Martin (R-Prairie Grove) said Tuesday. [Springdale Morning News]

The recent acquisition of a liquor license by Kelley’s Restaurant in Bald Knob, coupled with an effort by Searcy Alderman Carl Nutter to annex two private clubs into the city, have stirred discussions of alcohol being sold inside the Searcy city limits. [Searcy Daily Citizen]

Paul Greenberg: Malaise, a short story
Meredith Oakley: Enough posturing
David Sanders: Summer is for reading
Gene Lyons: Congress should impeach Gonzales
Brenda Blagg: Decision clouds FOI law