Correction & Open Line
CORRECTION:Our item on 3/6 misidentified the fiddle-playing lawmaker who has made national waves for his effort to get attention with SB 134. He is not in fact a Senator, but God. We regret the error....
View ArticleFayetteville’s Sarah Marsh: Huntsville Road’s Mexican Original Plant as...
Hardly anyone back in the Olden Days thought they’d be at Mexican Original longer than a few weeks or months . . . until a better job came along. Many of us stayed considerably longer than that,...
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Ballinger: Feds can't regulate Arkansas guns
In the race to file the most unconstitutional bill of the General Assembly that most were ready to concede to Sen. Jason Rapert, Rep. Bob Ballinger, Republican of Hindsville, has emerged as a late...
View ArticleMaybe the Medicaid expansion "private option" is legal but it sure looks fishy
When you ask state officials and lawmakers about the legality of the “private option” alternative to Medicaid, you always hear the same thing. Whether it’s the governor, legislators, DHS or the Surgeon...
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"Private option" is good fiscal deal for state — just like Medicaid expansion...
The new “private option” approach is going to cost a lot more money. I’ve explained at length why it’s still going to be a good deal for the state.But here’s a very simple look, one that circles back...
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Elliott files bill to close tuition gap for undocumented students
As promised, Sen. Joyce Elliott (D-Little Rock) has filed a bill that would allow undocumented students — many of whom, as David Koon described in a recent cover story, were brought here as small...
View ArticleProcastinators' day at the Legislature OPEN LINE
Today is the last day to file bills at the Ledge, which means we can expect to see THE GOOD, THE BAD, and the THE WEIRD. We'll update throughout the day as bills of note are filed. We need your help in...
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'UK Dub Break' at Revolution
Also, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at Robinson, Cody Belew at Beebe High School, Se7en Sharp at Cornerston, Bernie Worrell Orchestra at Revolution, the First Ever 10th Annual World's Shortest St....
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Ark. representative expects bipartisan support for his 'tech privacy' package
State Rep. Nate Steel (D-Nashville) is concerned about the potential abuse of electronic intelligence gathering. by David KoonIf you haven't noticed, the future is now, and for privacy advocates, it...
View ArticlePro-real-life
During the summer of 2005 I taught a religion and politics seminar at our regional camp for Jewish youth. In my class were nine teen-agers from across the South. by Eugene LevyDuring the summer of...
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In with the new
Big, poppy Broadway fare highlights the spring theater season. by Lindsey MillarThis spring theater calendar, unlike previous seasons, is full up with new-ish productions. In this market, where...
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Hogs on the verge of 20 wins
This edition of Pearls will have scarcely nestled into newstands when the Arkansas Razorbacks try to pull off a minor miracle in the SEC tournament, starting with a game against Vanderbilt Thursday...
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Main Street Caribbean
Montego Cafe offers winning Jamaican fare.A Jamaican restaurant? Really? Is that what Little Rock has been collectively clamoring for?That was our reaction when news broke last November that Montego...
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Arkansas lawmaker tries to ban tattoo-shop practices
Though Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View) is a staunch advocate of small government, she has sponsored a bill banning certain body modification practices, leading some artists and consumers to...
View ArticleSilhouettes
It seems early in the election cycle for scary political ads, but the reckless rich love the smell of money in the morning — or any other time — and nobody's richer and more reckless than the members...
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Rembrandt himself, in Arkansas
The Arts Center lands "Treasures of Kenwood House." by Leslie Newell PeacockA self-portrait by Rembrandt that recently traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Portraits by Gainsborough...
View ArticleWillie Nelson in El Dorado
And Gwendlyn Kay at Denton's.THURSDAY 3/14The great Willie Nelson & Family perform at El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., $30-$100. Atlanta multi-instrumental rockers Gringo Star return to...
View ArticleMore madness: ledge's gun bills
What do you call it when political leaders respond to what the public perceives as a crisis, like rising magnitudes of gun slaughter, by taking steps that fly in the face of reason, law and history?...
View ArticleAll boots on deck
"True, the turbulent nomination has wounded Hagel ... But he will eventually emerge stronger than ever. He already has authority with soldiers, having himself had his 'boots on the ground.'" by Doug...
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