Arkansas Times

The Week That Was, July 28-August 3, 2010

Good week: sweltering, a wedding, clean air, nostalgia. Bad week: gas industry cheerleaders, Pulaski County school board, Governor Mike Beebe, Rick Crawford.

Assigned reading

It has not been my honor to drop you a few words in many moons and Graham Gordy has inspired these.

A 'whole new day' in psychiatry

If you can think it, Kilts says, he can image it.

• by Mara Leveritt

Union strife

A vigorous race is developing for a seat on the Little Rock School Board between incumbent Micheal Daugherty and Michael Nellums, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat three years ago.

Bill Halter: No political plans yet

A Q&A on his Senate race and his future.

• by Gerard Matthews

A deficit hawk's deficits

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported last week that Rick Crawford, the Republican candidate for First District Congress, had declared bankruptcy in 1994 to discharge more than $12,000 in personal debt, including credit card charges and medical bills.

Eye on Arkansas, Aug. 5

The Observer, Aug. 5

The Observer's Rich Uncle Alan, also known as El Jefe around the Arkansas Times, plants a big ol' garden every spring — a virtual Eden, chock full of heirloom tomatoes, peppers and other goodies. We're kind enough to take some of that off his hands every year, just so it doesn't go to waste, of course.

In the crosshairs

Pellet sniper at Parris Towers.

• by David Koon

'Because people are scared'

A Little Rock couple support psychiatry with money — and their names.

• by Mara Leveritt

The petition mystery

Anti-immigrant group still mum on signature shortage.

• by Gerard Matthews

KABF in trouble

Public station could be forced off air.

• by Gerard Matthews

Slow train stops

For those of you Seeing Arkansas First this summer, here are some of the don't-miss attractions, with notes.

• by Bob Lancaster

Words, Aug. 5

Wading in to "o-Beebe-besity."

• by Doug Smith

Good work

We've always thought of Dr. William F. Harrison as the Gary Cooper of Northwest Arkansas, but unlike Cooper, whose townspeople wouldn't come to his aid in "High Noon," Harrison had friends and patients standing with him against the villains.

Advice for Lincoln

Sen. Blanche Lincoln needs fresh political advice in the worst way, better advice in fact than she can get here, but there is little chance that she will get it or take it.

• by Ernest Dumas

The third-party threat

Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln faces an uphill re-election fight against Republican challenger John Boozman, but it's made tougher still by the presence of Green Party candidate John Gray.

• by Max Brantley

Speak freely and hide behind a big stick

I happen to have been in a rare position to witness up close the new political environment under this recently epic U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

• by John Brummett

3, 2, 1...Polo!

Bike polo catches on in Little Rock.

• by Bernard Reed

The Televisionist, Aug. 5

'Jersey Shore' and 'The Real Housewives of D.C."

• by John Tarpley and David Koon

To-Do List, Aug. 5-11

The Crystal Method, Lamanpalooza, Strongest Man National Championship, The Reds, Top of the Rock, The Rocketboys, Built to Spill, AA Bondy.

In Brief, Aug. 5-7

'Posh,' Boys Like Girls, Mammoth Grinder and more.

Love and parentage

'Kids' tells an old story in a new context.

• by Bernard Reed

Fame and food and new noir

North Little Rock natives Mark and Matt Jacobs have written a new book of food-related factoids that looks promising.

• by Lindsey Millar

Hidden gem

Tucked away in a nondescript hotel, Vesuvio delivers perhaps Little Rock's best Italian food.

• Tags: Dining Review, Vesuvio

What's Cookin', Aug. 5

Browning's is closed and Argenta Restaurant Week is ongoing.

This Modern World, Aug. 5

• by Tom Tomorrow

Orval, Aug. 5

• by Tommy Durham