Friday in Arkansas

Legislature: There is one legislative meeting at the Capitol today:

Time	Committee	Room	Agenda
9:00 a.m.	Legislative Joint Auditing	171	Click here

Governor Beebe:

9:00 a.m.: Beebe hosts the monthly "Ask the Governor" radio show on KARN;
6:00 p.m.: Governor Beebe addresses the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame Induction Banquet (Statehouse Convention Center, LR)

Senator Lincoln makes three more stops throughout the state today to discuss the reauthorization of S-CHIP:

8:30 a.m.: St. Edwards/Mercy Hospital (Hennessy Room) (Ft. Smith)
12:00 p.m.: Catfish Inn (Hamburg)
3:00 p.m.: Crittenden Regional Hospital/Schoettle Medical Education Center (West Memphis)

Elsewhere:
Eureka Springs: Feat Fest
Mena: 19th Annual Mountainfest
Maynard: 27th Annual Pioneer Days

- The Van Buren, Benton, Baxter, Crawford, Pope, and White County Fairs are underway.

- 63rd Annual Four States Fair & Rodeo
- 3rd Annual Bluegrass Festival (Txk RV Park)
- 6:00 p.m.: Final monthly "cruise-in" downtown at the Wellworth five & dime
- 7:00 p.m.: Little Rock Central vs. Arkansas High
- Early voting has begun for the at-large school board position in Texarkana.

Washington Post: Bush tells nation he will begin to roll back 'surge'
Washington Post: Facing tough reelections, GOP moderates react w/ concern
New York Times: Bush: Success allows gradual troop cuts
Associated Press: Ark. senator, congressman view president's speech differently

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Teen pair denied license sue over murky law
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Clock ticking on plan to refinance ARKids B
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Pension decides on ING fund
Associated Press: Economist: SWEPCO plant would raise rates, cut competition
Associated Press: Lawsuit filed over "not" mistakenly included in marriage law
Ark. News Bureau: Panel Lawsuit filed to challenge marriage age
Ark. News Bureau: Sup Ct hears arguments in challenge to expanded gambling
Ark. News Bureau: Children's health insurance discussed at town hall meeting
Ark. News Bureau: Arkansas part of multi-state settlement with United Healthcare

Texarkana Gazette: Harrelson named Lawyer of the Year by legal association
Texarkana Gazette: Regional airport gets $1M funding for rescue station
Texarkana Gazette: Main Street receives funding
Texarkana Gazette: Economist: Plant would drive up costs, cut competition
Heber Springs Sun Times: Hwy 16 safety pricetag: $6 million
Northwest Arkansas Times: Sam’s opening brings hope of tax upswing
Benton County Daily Record: Lawsuit filed over marriage law
Benton County Daily Record: Insurance commissioner to visit Benton Co.

Benton County Daily Record: Not. Again.
Max Brantley: Momentous events
Steve Barnes: Feeling sorry for Britney Spears
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Payment due
Meredith Oakley: Recovery stumbles
Texarkana Gazette: Dangerous driving
Vic Harville cartoon