Lynch at Large

Paul Barton reports in today’s Democrat-Gazette that Gov. Mike Huckabee has told reporters in Washington, D. C. that he believes he knows what’s behind the anti-immigration feelings of some Americans. “If I were to say some of it is driven by just sheer racism, I think I would be telling you the truth,” Huckabee said as he shared sandwiches and salad with close to 20 national and regional political reporters.

Governor Mike Huckabee has refused to release either the letter of resignation or the final report of an investigation into allegations of “professional misconduct” by former Parole Board member Larry Zeno.

Arkansas’ Sen. Blanche Lincoln joined two other Democratic senators Tuesday to promote an Internet petition calling for disaster-relief money for farmers hit by drought or higher fuel costs.

Workers at a Kansas Tyson Foods meatpacking plant have sued the company, alleging it violated federal and state labor laws by not paying them for time spent putting on and taking off protective equipment and walking to and from their work stations. The lawsuit lists 262 current and former workers as plaintiffs. Most of the plaintiffs are Hispanic immigrants.

The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, will become the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., a diocese six times larger than the Little Rock diocese and one troubled by sex abuse scandals.

Paron High School may not be closed after all, a development that Bryant School Board members believe could cause the school district to be placed on probation for a third straight year. Dr. Richard Abernathy, Bryant superintendent says that, if the school remained open, the district could be placed on probation for violations such as not providing all 38 state-mandated courses and for not having enough certified teachers at Paron.

The Little Rock Nine will be honored tonight in Topeka, Kan., as part of the 52nd anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which declared racially segregated schools to be unconstitutional.

Replacing the main passenger terminal at Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field, will be no more expensive than renovating it, will require less time to build and will eliminate the hassle factor for airline passengers who would have to negotiate the construction in the existing terminal, according to a team of consultants. Total cost is set at around $185 million.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Waldron Mayor and Scott County judge candidate Troy Anderson on complaints of abuse of public trust and patronizing a prostitute. Over a span of several years, the 72 year old Anderson allegedly offered a woman who had a delinquent water bill money for sex, ultimately met with her while she was wearing a hidden transmitter. Another woman reportedly told State Police investigators that she has been having sex with Anderson in exchange for money and water service over the past eight years.

A Sebastian County judge has granted a motion by prosecutors for the destruction of an adult female pit bull dog and her six puppies. The adult dog has attacked and bitten at least three people, and it was trained to be aggressive,

The Pine Bluff City Council has voted unanimously to set a new effective date for an ordinance restricting ownership of pit bull dog breed dogs in the city limits. The new date will be June 16.

The Democrat-Gazette reports that ashtrays, tainted by their cigarette association, will be banished when the statewide anti-smoking law takes effect July 1. The new law, Act 8 of 2006, calls for the removal of all ashtrays from areas where smoking is prohibited — virtually all workplaces.