Bulldog 100

I managed to elbow my way through the flatbellies (a derogatory term here in southwest Arkansas) to get third place in my age division in this morning's 5K over at the college. We're headed back later this morning for the main event, which is the mini-car cup race through a winding course in the heart of the college campus.

Above, the KTBS Channel 3 car prepares for the Stilwell Cup race this morning.

Automatic GED proposal

Sen. Denny Altes (R-Fort Smith) has filed a draft bill with the Legislative Council that would require the Department of Workforce Education to award a GED to all honorably discharged, Arkansas veterans who have served at least 18 months or have suffered a military-service disability. What say you?

Read the proposal here.

Governor's weekly radio address

Science video contest
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Arkansas: 44th in children's healthcare

The Commonwealth Fund ranks us 44th in terms of children's healthcare, the rankings of which are based on 13 performance indicators of healthcare access, quality, costs, equity and children's potential to lead healthy lives. In terms of individual categories, Arkansas ranked best in the nation in most affordable healthcare for children, 27th in access to healthcare, 42nd in quality, 46th in equity and 48th in potential to lead long, healthy lives. The map above shows that New England and the "Big Ten" states generally provide the best children's healthcare according to the indicators used in this study.

It's impossible to move from the bottom to the top of these rankings in short periods of time, but I think it's inherently our obligation as elected officials to get us out of the 40s in rankings such as this. One thing that helps put Kentucky in the top 10, for instance, is the high percentage of personal physicians who refer children to specialty care then follow up on the patient after they receive that care. Kentucky also ranks 13th in access. Here's more from the Arkansas News Bureau, and here's an interactive map provided by the Commonwealth Fund:

Weekly radio address from Congressman Ross

Creating “Green Collar” jobs/providing tax relief
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Friday in Arkansas

Time	Committee	Room	Agenda
9:00a.m.	Public Health, Welfare & Labor	130	Click here

Time	Event	Place
9:45 a.m.	Ribbon-cutting: New Arkansas State Hospital	Little Rock

Time	Place	Event
8:30 a.m.	400 W. 7th, LR	Mapping Arkansas Communities Workshop

Time	Place	Event
12:00 p.m.	TaMolly's	Speak to Texarkana Young Lawyers Association

Arkansas festivals this weekend:
- Texarkana: Bulldog 100
- Nashville: 17th Annual Dinosaur Festival
- Marshall: 19th North Arkansas Ancestor Fair
- Eureka Springs: Eureka Springs Blues Weekend

Veterans' forum with Senator Lincoln

Sen. Lincoln made a stop in Texarkana yesterday as part of her statewide "Veterans and Citizen Soldiers" Tour. She touted Sen. Webb's 21st Century GI Bill and fielded questions on an array of issues such as "Categaory 8" veterans who aren't served by the VA, PTSD, and Medicare coverage at VA facilities in addition to some local issues associated with our VA clinic. Here's the Texarkana Gazette article.

Thursday in Arkansas

Time	Committee	Place	Agenda
1:30p.m.	House Transportation Rail Subcommittee	NLR	Click here

Court	Oral Arguments	Today's Opinions
Supreme Court	General Motors v. Bryant	Click here (after 11:00 a.m.)
Ct of Appeals	No hearings today	No opinions released today

Time	Place	Event
5:30 p.m.	Little Rock	The Oxford American House Party Fundraiser

Time	Place	Event
9:00 a.m.	Central Mall	Bulldog 100 Parade
4:30 p.m.	Ark. Blue Cross Blue Shield	Chamber Business After Hours
5:30 p.m.	LaCrosse Hotel	Red River Valley Assoc. Annual Conference

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Stuttgart’s damaged businesses on road back
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: State approves student loans line of credit
Ark. News Bureau: Former Dillard's HQ could ease space crunch in Capitol complex
Ark. News Bureau: Schools honored for high performance
Ark. News Bureau: Five towns get development grants
Associated Press: Forecast: Ark. faces $1B college financial aid shortfall
Associated Press: Recounts for disputed White County races delayed
Associated Press: University cleanup of former radioactive site nearly done

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: T-town troubleshooters
John Brummett: Spotlight on Faulkner County
Benton Courier: Playing with 'big dogs' proves to be bad idea for state
Brenda Blagg: Analyzing Election Turnout
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Be glad and grateful
Vic Harville cartoon

Tonight at the Clinton School: The story of Vada Sheid

Governor Beebe will among those in the audience tonight when the Clinton School presents the very first reading of the new autobiography of the late Vada Sheid, of Mountain Home, Ark., the first woman in her own right elected to the Arkansas House and the Arkansas Senate. The event will take place in Sturgis Hall at 6:00 p.m. Click here for the AP article

A legitimate trip to Harrah's -- Update

I'll be in depositions tomorrow at Harrah's Casino in Bossier City, the preparation of which has kept me from the blog today -- sorry. Here's a related and timely, at least as to the lottery, graphic showing different forms of gambling among the states from stateline.org (click the forms of gambling above the map):

Update (12:30 p.m.): A press release from Lt. Governor Bill Halter's office lists the following mayors and county judges as endorsing the proposed Scholarship Lottery Amendment:

Mayors in Arkansas endorsing the scholarship lottery amendment are:
· Augusta Mayor Jimmy Rhodes
· Brinkley Mayor Barbara Skouras
· Charleston Mayor Sherman Hiatt
· Farmington Mayor Ernie Penn
· Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody
· Fordyce Mayor William C. Lyon
· Forrest City Mayor Gordon McCoy
· Harrison Mayor Pat Moles
· Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley
· Lonoke Mayor Wayne McGee
· Madison Mayor Bobby Hardrick
· Marked Tree Mayor Dixon Chandler
· Mena Mayor George McKee
· Mountain View Mayor Jim Cash
· Siloam Springs Mayor M.L. Van Poucke Jr.
· Springdale Mayor Jerre Van Hoose
· Stuttgart Mayor Marianne Maynard
· White Hall Mayor James “Jitters” Morgan

County judges endorsing the scholarship lottery amendment:
· Benton County Judge Gary Black
· Carroll County Judge Richard Williams
· Columbia County Judge Larry Atkinson
· Desha County Judge Mark McElroy
· Fulton County Judge Charles Willett
· Lonoke County Judge Charlie Troutman
· Perry County Judge True Robinson
· Phillips County Judge Don Gentry
· Poinsett County Judge Doyle Hillis
· Randolph County Judge David Jansen
· Sevier County Judge Dick Tallman
· Van Buren County Judge Robert Bramlett
· Union County Judge Bobby Edmonds

Wednesday in Arkansas

Time	Committee	Room	Agenda
10:00a.m.	Substance Abuse Treatment T.F.	130	Click here
1:00 p.m.	Substance Abuse Prevention T.F.	130	Click here

Time	Event	Place
11:30 a.m.	Best Practice High School Recognition Ceremony	Governor's Mansion
12:00 p.m.	Arkansas Community Action Agencies Luncheon	Wyndham, NLR
6:00 p.m.	Tribute to Vada Sheid	Clinton School

Court	Oral Arguments	Today's Opinions
Supreme Court	No hearings today	No opinions released today
Court of Appeals	Wilma Lee v. Mark Martindale, M.D Williamson v. Williamson	Click here (after 11:00 a.m.)

Time	Place	Event
6:00 p.m.	Clinton School	The story of Vada Sheid

Time	Place	Event
2:30 p.m.	American Legion	Sen. Blanche Lincoln: Veterans’ Issues Meeting
5:30 p.m.	LaCrosse Hotel	Red River Valley Assoc. Annual Conference

Governor announces 27 appointments

Here's the list.

Updating the family photo album

At some point over the weekend, we undertook the job to scan in all of our family pictures. I didn't realize how big of a task it was until I got in the middle of it. Here's my grandfather speaking in the well of the Arkansas House Chamber in 1937 or 1939 during his time there. He was 25 when elected to his first term. The 2nd pic is from a rally during his 1952 run for governor. This, of course, was during a time without tv when political rallies were the entertainment of the day.




Here I am with fellow blogger Blake Rutherford (Blake's Think Tank) at some point during the Clinton presidency.

Working holiday for presidential candidates

Here's a picture from the mailbag showing the Clinton HQ in Puerto Rico, where a reader is campaigning alongside candidate Clinton in San Juan today. The PR primary is scheduled for June 1. "Fabulous place."

Memorial Day

Thank you dad, and all other veterans. Here are a few pictures of our local services from earlier today:

Commander Art Candelaria speaks at the Miller County Courthouse
Memorial Walk to the Korean/Vietnam Memorial
Gregory Beck speaks at the Korean/Vietnam Memorial

Recount

What a movie. If you have HBO and didn't catch the premier tonight, it'll air again tomorrow night at 8:00 CDT.

Democrat-Gazette looks at the fall election lineup

Here's an article by Seth Blomeley in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that previews the fall legislative elections and ballot initiatives.

Easy Saturday

The telephone service man just left after repairing our DSL line here at the lake. Apparently, it had been struck by lightning. We're going to spend a little time at the Diamond Festival in Murfreesboro late this afternoon, then it's hamburgers on the other side of the lake at Daisy tonight.

Andrew DeMillo's weekly column looks at the Griffen-Gruber judicial race. Regionally, the Oklahoma Legislature adjourned its annual session late last night after approving a $475 million bond package. Here's a session summary by the Tulsa World.

Sunday: Trying to win a stuffed animal at the Diamond Festival:

More on Tuesday's turnout

It's a record low, according to Charlie Daniels.

Fire up the grill

Work here is complete for the week. Our Memorial Day service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Monday on the lawn of the Miller County Courthouse. At the same time, the annual event will take place at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.

Did you know?

Here's a pretty good Friday afternoon video on global change, connectivity, education, technology, and governments keeping up with all of it. It's been around for a few months but is still an amazing message.

Recount makes Linda Tyler the winner in House District 45 -- Update

A recount was held today in House District 45, where the initial count showed Terry Fiddler as the winner over Linda Tyler Tuesday night by a vote of 794-770. Today's recount makes Linda Tyler the victor by 30. The difference apparently comes from a couple of flash cards in the electronic touchscreen that weren't included in Tuesday's count. Thanks to Rep. Robbie Wills for the info.

Update (Saturday): There were some apparent troubling complexities in the HD45 vote that included votes for this race being included in an election for Faulkner County Constable. ESS iVotronic voting machine critic Lisa Burks sends along this Log Cabin Democrat report of the recount.

House District 45 (D)	% reporting (Recount)	Terry Fiddler	Linda Tyler
Totals	100%	768	792

Governor's weekly radio address

Taking care of our troops
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Political "do not call" list for robo-calls?

Political calls are currently exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, but if a new nonpartisan nonprofit organization gets its way, automated robo-calls and other political "phone spam" will be outlawed. A dozen states already have laws banning or limiting robo-calls (or at least restricting when or how often they can be made). I'm sure most people think that when they signed up for the Do Not Call Registry, then they wouldn't receive any solicitations. Here's a link to the group's site.

Illegal immigration debate picking up steam

The Supreme Court Committee on Court Security adjourned before noon yesterday, so I had time to run over to the Clinton School over lunch to hear the point of view of Jim Miranda, founding member of the Arkansas Friendship Coalition (here's an AP recap). I'd be interested in attending an event that includes opposing views to discuss the specifics of the local debate here in Arkansas.

The issue of the week appears to be in-state tuition rates offered to residents regardless of a student's immigration status. A letter sent by ADHE Director Joe Purcell yesterday directs all Arkansas two-year and four-year colleges and universities to ask potential students if they legally live in the country, according to this Associated Press article and this Democrat-Gazette article.

Speaking of the Clinton School, they've released a video promoting the school and its Master of Public Service (MPS) degree. They have world class speakers on a weekly basis. Here's the video:

Weekly radio address from Congressman Ross

New Proposed G.I. Bill
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Reconsidering the split primaries in Arkansas

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published an article yesterday on the possibility of moving the presidential primary back to May to be held with the other primaries. Here's another article by the Associated Press that follows up on the issue. I think there's support to consolidate the primaries, but according to the article, there may not be a consensus to keep them both in May.

Halter interview on the Scholarship Lottery Amendment

Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter addressed the Texarkana Rotary Club here yesterday to discuss the Scholarship Lottery Amendment. I was in Little Rock, but Steve Mitchell with KTXK has an interview. Click here for the full interview, which will also air locally on KTXK/NPR (91.5 FM) during the Diane Rheem show around 9:20:

Remember this sign?

I took a picture of this sign on April 19 as I drove through Caddo Valley on my way home from Little Rock. Here's the same sign yesterday, just 33 days later:



I purchased gas in southwest Little Rock at $3.85/gallon (regular unleaded). Even if the state instituted a temporary gas tax holiday on our state motor fuel tax (not a good idea in my estimation since it's dedicated to road maintenance, etc.), it would take about two weeks to be replaced by the "normal" increase in the cost of gas.

Another sudden spring storm

This one brought high winds and hail late yesterday afternoon and knocked out the electricity for more than 8 hours. Here are a few pictures taken around Texarkana shortly after the storm:

Three legislative runoffs to take place June 10

Candidates in three House districts will forego rest over Memorial Day weekend in order to prepare for a runoff election to take place in less than three weeks. There will also be runoffs to decide party nominees in several county races, including the Republican nominee for Benton County Judge between Bill Adams and Dave Bisbee.

In the legislative runoffs (all Democratic primary runoffs), Garry Smith (D-Camden) will face Yancey Kyle (D-Smackover) in House District 7. Smith needed another 75 votes to avoid the runoff. In House District 16, James Word will face Delton Wright in the runoff, and in House District 58, LJ Bryant will face Jody Dickinson on June 10. There is no filed Republican opposition in any of these three districts.

Thursday in Arkansas

The annual Arkansas Rural Development Conference begins today in Eureka Springs, and legislative committees will meet there today and tomorrow.

Time	Committee	Room	Agenda
10:30a.m.	Agriculture, Forestry & Econ. Dev.	Eureka Springs	Click here

Time	Place	Event
8:00 a.m.	Eureka Springs	2008 Ark Rural Development Conference
8:00 a.m.	Pine Bluff C.C.	"Clearing the Air in Communities of Color" Conference
10:00 a.m.	Justice Bldg., LR	Sup. Ct. Committee on Court Security
12:00 p.m.	Clinton School	Jim Miranda, Ark. Friendship Coalition

Time	Place	Event
12:00 p.m.	Txk. Country Club	Lt. Gov. Halter discusses the proposed lottery

New York Times: Many Florida Jews Express Doubts on Obama
Wall Street Journal: IEA to Slash Oil-Supply Estimate
Washington Post: House GOP Moves to Right the Campaign Ship
Los Angeles Times: Quake toll in China tops 51,000
Houston Chronicle: Mayor will target state permits in clean-air fight
Chicago Tribune: McCain hosts potential VPs?
Reuters: Before the Bell: Oil remains key
Reuters: Clinton campaigns as attention wanders elsewhere

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Turnout raises talk of moving vote again
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Spouses lose House seats’ primary bids
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Pension investments for state fall in value
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Statewide contested races
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Dem primary, Ark House of Representatives
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Rep primary, Ark House of Representatives
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Even split leads to constable runoff
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: 1 more Ark. biodiesel plant up, running
Ark. News Bureau: Daniels: Primary turnout may have been lowest in state history
Ark. News Bureau: Ken Hatfield goes from coaching to health care
Ark. News Bureau: AG rejects group's severance tax ballot proposal
Stephens DC Bureau: Arkansas lawmakers seek better pharmacist reimbursements
Stephens DC Bureau: Federal loan program good for Arkansas, official says
Associated Press: Beebe's stance on illegal immigration measure has holes
Associated Press: Ark. candidates find family ties don't lead to ballot wins
Associated Press: KAT Manufacturing locates aircraft materials plant in Paris
Benton Courier: Clemmer avoids runoff
KATV: Primary Winners Look Ahead to November

John Brummett: A cheerleader's over-exposure
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: The state of ethics
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Charges dropped
Benton County Daily Record: Respect the law (Secure Arkansas)
Lucas Roebuck: Could Pryor be a McCain defector?
Vic Harville cartoon

The statewide trauma system

The 86th General Assembly was unable to agree on a funding mechanism for a statewide trauma system. Driving through east Texas yesterday, you can see the benefits of the Texas trauma system, which was established by the Texas Legislature in 1989. The Texas Legislature recognized that trauma is now recognized as the number one killer of children and young adults, and that the effects of trauma morbidity and mortality also contribute to its being the most expensive disease for all people of all ages in terms of hospitalization and disability. Their legislation divided the state into 22 Trauma Service Areas that account for the 254 counties in Texas. The levels of care are divided into four types of facilities:

• Level I: Comprehensive Trauma Facility
• Level II: Major Trauma Facility
• Level III: General Trauma Facility
• Level IV: Basic Trauma Facility

As you can see above, communities like Gilmer (about the size of Nashville or Ashdown) have facilities and personnel that participate in the system. If the level of trauma is such that the patient requires additional trauma resources, a patient in this facility can be transported 40 miles to the region's Level I trauma center in Tyler.

On the road

I'm the speaker at a transportation conference over in Mineola, Texas today, so I'll be away from the site until tonight. A couple of late night developments:

• In House District 58, the late boxes favored LJ Bryant, who'll face Jody Dickinson in a June 10 runoff.

• The results for House District 49 weren't vailable until after 2:00 a.m., and Keith Williams won that primary and will face Jonathan Dismang in the fall. The other late returns were from ther 17th Judicial District, where Mark Derrick won the circuit judge position over Tom Hughes.

• Two legislative incumbents were defeated: Barbara Nix defeated Lamont Cornwell in House District 28, and Joyce Elliott defeated Irma Hunter Brown in Senate District 33. The last incumbents to be defeated in the Legislature that I can remember were in 2002 (David Rackley defeated by Jeff Wood and Terry McMellon defeated by Shirley Walters). Court of Appeals Judge Wendell Griffen was also defeated last night by 6th Judicial District Circuit Judge Rita Gruber. All runoffs will take place on June 10, except for the judicial runoffs, which will be decided on the November ballot.

• The final results from the Benton County precincts in the Courtney Henry/Ron Williams judicial race came in after 2:00, and Henry maintained a 2-1 margin with 100% reporting. She might be as strong a statewide candidate an anyone in Arkansas after that showing.

There were several other interesting and close races -- scroll down for all the results. Here are today's front pages:

Election night open line

Put your comments here on today's developments and tonight's results.

Arkansas Senate Election Results

Here are the three races being held across the state for the Arkansas Senate today. All are taking place in the Democratic primary, and there are no filed Republican candidates in any of these races.

Senate District 17 (D)	% reporting	Jim Luker	Denny Sumpter
Totals	100%	7,233 (64%)	4,147 (36%)

Senate District 20 (D)	% reporting	Scott Sullivan	Larry Teague
Totals	100%	4,190 (43%)	5,490 (57%)

Senate District 33 (D)	% reporting	Irma Hunter Brown	Joyce Elliott
Totals	100%	2,186 (42%)	3,080 (58%)