Joint legislative committees meet at Cummins Unit

I'm leaving out at 6:30 in the morning and am picking up Rep. Bubba Powers in Hope and Rep. Randy Stewart at Exit 73 in Arkadelphia on the way to the Cummins Unit in Grady. The Joint Interim Committees on Judiciary, State Agencies, and Joint Performance Review will hear from Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness, ADC Director Larry Norris, Cummins Unit Warden Gaylon Lay, Sheriff Ken Jones, and Wendy Kelly about recent events and changes within the ADC before touring the Cummins Unit facility. I have to check my iPhone at the entrance, so I won't be able to post anything from the legislative meeting.

Elsewhere around the state, Lottery Director Ernie Passailaigue is speaking to the Political Animals Club of Northwest Arkansas in the morning. Governor Beebe will host a news conference regarding ARRA higher-education funds at 11:00 a.m. in the Governor's Conference Room at the Capitol.

Update: Phones are allowed here at the meeting. We're now hearing from Chairman Magness.