Thursday, August 24, 2006
Thursday thruway
Paul Barton of the Democrat-Gazette’s Washington Bureau reports that, prominent Democrats are pounding Wal-Mart for its wage and benefit policies and for sending jobs overseas, the Democrats in the Arkansas congressional delegation have come to the company’s defense. They argu that health care and wages are national problems, not those of one company. “Wal-Mart should not be a punching bag for every challenge facing America today,” Sen. Mark Pryor said in a statement.
Most Arkansans favor withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq immediately or according to a definite timetable, results of new poll show. The poll was commissioned by the Arkansas News Bureau-Stephens Media and conducted by Opinion Research Associates Inc. of Little Rock. Opinion Research surveyed 500 registered voters by telephone Aug. 15-19, and the poll's margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
A state law that makes it harder for third parties than for independent candidates to get on the ballot is unconstitutional. Federal Judge George Howard ruled that Jim Lendall and the entire slabe of Green Party candidates must be placed on the November General Election ballot.
AARP Arkansas plans to push an agenda for improved long-term care funding, better security for nursing home residents and payday lending reform in a statewide campaign this fall, the organization announced Wednesday.
AARP Arkansas President Billy Ann Myers and several volunteers showed off the organization's new AARP Voter Express van at a news conference outside the state Capitol. Myers says the group would use the vehicle to take its campaign on the road between now and the Nov. 7 general. election
An Arkansas House of Representatives committee approved a $260,000 contract Wednesday with a Virginia company to upgrade the voting equipment in the House.
Advocates of Riverbend Crossing in DeSoto County, Ms. estimate the proposed 4,500-acre development of housing, entertainment venues, hotels and golf courses near Tunica would create 3,500 jobs within its first three years. Mississippi lawmakers will meet today in special session to consider several incentives for the nearly $3 billion project including $23 million for roads and water and sewer lines, and a partial sales-tax rebate program capped at $150 million.
A pair of technology firms in Starkville, Ms. hope to boost their employment by 300 within the next five years and help make the area a key area for semiconductor production. SemiSouth Laboratories will open a new plant today that produces silicon carbide components that can run electrical and computer systems 10 times faster than traditional semiconductors.
Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus says he is “taken aback” by Parks and Recreation Director Angela Parker’s decision to log so many trees at Townsend Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Parker says the mayor asked her not to talk about the contract she signed with Hot Springs-based Jester Land and Timber. The document calls for the company to pay the parks department $16 per ton of pine cut and removed from the two sites.
Fayetteville reported a little more than 3 inches of rainfall in about four or five hours yesterday, according to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla. Battalion Chief Terry Lawson said that two cars, one crossing west and the other going east, attempting to go over a bridge covered with rushing water, were washed away. The drivers got out safely before helplessly watching the stream carry their autos away and turn them upside down.
Jessica Palmer, an employee of the Benton County Coroner fired Monday, is arguing her boss broke the law by terminating her for telling police she suspected the mishandling of prescription drugs gathered from death scenes.
Maumelle police are investigating the Tuesday night rape of two female joggers at Lake Willastein, but authorities say they don’t believe the assaults are the work of a serial rapist.
According to Cleveland, Ms. police, the suspect in the Guaranty Bank & Trust Co. robbery, which occurred on Monday morning, is still at large.
A complaint alleging Elkins police were operating a speed trap proved to be unfounded, according to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police.
A proposal to ban saggy pants in Dallas, Tx. gained steam Wednesday as City Council members discussed how to deal with the popular clothing trend. Several council members voiced support and asked the city attorney's office to research whether such a rule is enforceable.
Most Arkansans favor withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq immediately or according to a definite timetable, results of new poll show. The poll was commissioned by the Arkansas News Bureau-Stephens Media and conducted by Opinion Research Associates Inc. of Little Rock. Opinion Research surveyed 500 registered voters by telephone Aug. 15-19, and the poll's margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
A state law that makes it harder for third parties than for independent candidates to get on the ballot is unconstitutional. Federal Judge George Howard ruled that Jim Lendall and the entire slabe of Green Party candidates must be placed on the November General Election ballot.
AARP Arkansas plans to push an agenda for improved long-term care funding, better security for nursing home residents and payday lending reform in a statewide campaign this fall, the organization announced Wednesday.
AARP Arkansas President Billy Ann Myers and several volunteers showed off the organization's new AARP Voter Express van at a news conference outside the state Capitol. Myers says the group would use the vehicle to take its campaign on the road between now and the Nov. 7 general. election
An Arkansas House of Representatives committee approved a $260,000 contract Wednesday with a Virginia company to upgrade the voting equipment in the House.
Advocates of Riverbend Crossing in DeSoto County, Ms. estimate the proposed 4,500-acre development of housing, entertainment venues, hotels and golf courses near Tunica would create 3,500 jobs within its first three years. Mississippi lawmakers will meet today in special session to consider several incentives for the nearly $3 billion project including $23 million for roads and water and sewer lines, and a partial sales-tax rebate program capped at $150 million.
A pair of technology firms in Starkville, Ms. hope to boost their employment by 300 within the next five years and help make the area a key area for semiconductor production. SemiSouth Laboratories will open a new plant today that produces silicon carbide components that can run electrical and computer systems 10 times faster than traditional semiconductors.
Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus says he is “taken aback” by Parks and Recreation Director Angela Parker’s decision to log so many trees at Townsend Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Parker says the mayor asked her not to talk about the contract she signed with Hot Springs-based Jester Land and Timber. The document calls for the company to pay the parks department $16 per ton of pine cut and removed from the two sites.
Fayetteville reported a little more than 3 inches of rainfall in about four or five hours yesterday, according to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla. Battalion Chief Terry Lawson said that two cars, one crossing west and the other going east, attempting to go over a bridge covered with rushing water, were washed away. The drivers got out safely before helplessly watching the stream carry their autos away and turn them upside down.
Jessica Palmer, an employee of the Benton County Coroner fired Monday, is arguing her boss broke the law by terminating her for telling police she suspected the mishandling of prescription drugs gathered from death scenes.
Maumelle police are investigating the Tuesday night rape of two female joggers at Lake Willastein, but authorities say they don’t believe the assaults are the work of a serial rapist.
According to Cleveland, Ms. police, the suspect in the Guaranty Bank & Trust Co. robbery, which occurred on Monday morning, is still at large.
A complaint alleging Elkins police were operating a speed trap proved to be unfounded, according to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police.
A proposal to ban saggy pants in Dallas, Tx. gained steam Wednesday as City Council members discussed how to deal with the popular clothing trend. Several council members voiced support and asked the city attorney's office to research whether such a rule is enforceable.
