News
Split Arkansas Supreme Court alters school funding
But the jury is still out on whether it undermines the landmark Lake View case.
The case for cameras in court
Most trials are not on camera. Should they be?
Doorbusters
Part of the deposition of Little Rock Police Department Officer Donna Lesher, who after a brief struggle shot and killed 67-year-old Eugene Ellison in his apartment near Asher Ave. on Dec. 9, 2010, is now part of the public record as one of the filings in an ongoing federal civil rights lawsuit, and contains some doozies.
It was a good week for coaches coming and going
Also a good week for Tim Griffin and surprises at the legislature. It was a bad week for 'The Great Passion Play' and redistribution of school wealth.
Where in Arkansas, Dec.
Know where this slice of life in Arkansas is? Send along the answer to Times photographer Brian Chilson and win a prize. Once a month in this space, he'll post a shot from a relatively obscure spot in Arkansas for Times readers to identify. We also invite photographers to contribute submissions of both mystery and other pictures to our eyeonarkansas Flickr group. Write to brianchilson@arktimes.com to guess this week's photo or for more information. Last month's photo was taken on Hwy. 65 at St. Joe. The winner was Sandra Jackson.
A black hole of subsidized health coverage for Arkansas
The health-insurance exchange coming to Arkansas as part of the Affordable Care Act features subsidies to help folks making between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) buy insurance. There are no subsidies for folks making below 100 percent of the FPL because they were supposed to be covered by the Medicaid expansion. If the legislature says no to Medicaid expansion? Folks aged 19-64 making below 100 percent of FPL but above Arkansas's stingy income max for Medicaid will be left out in the cold.
This too shall pass
The Observer meets a lot of folks while tramping through the hills and hollers of Arkansas with a tape recorder and a reporter's notebook in our pocket.
On Whirlpool
Thanks for this article. The testimonials of the people left behind by capitalism should break anyone's heart. The fact that nearly half, and more than that in Fort Smith, sucked hook line and sinker the conservative tripe that capitalism and the free market, if only let loose from pesky regulations like a livable wage, or safe working conditions, or environmental protections, would restore America should scare the hell out of us all.
Columns
Native confusion
A public-library newsletter referred to a certain writer as a "native Arkansan." As this was a person I know is not a native Arkansan, the reference reminded me that native is much misused.
The era of big(ish) government is back
In 1978, the voters of California overwhelmingly ratified Proposition 13, the so-called "taxpayer revolt" measure that sharply limited property tax increases in that state. The ramifications of Prop 13 went well beyond property taxes and well beyond California.
Give us that old-time religious freedom
One is reluctant to write about Florida's proposed Amendment 8 for fear of stirring up the Arkansas Family Council, always eager to import bad ideas. But the defeat of Amendment 8 calls for recognition.
What the presidency's for
Twice in a year, the arts have given us rare insight into the use of political power that is both grand and dispiriting — grand in its purpose and dispiriting in its exercise.
If not fewer, better
I know you people mean well but really, honestly you need to get over this annual urge to shower Ol' Moi with Christmas presents as your way of saying thanks for the uplift that the weekly ruminations in this column have brought into your otherwise drab and dreary lives.
Lyons: The Susan Rice farce
Even in a news environment dominated by melodramatic, often bogus, group narratives, the Susan Rice affair stands out.
Howl
The Razorbacks' dreary season is finally over, they having managed to avoid a bowl game, which is difficult these days. Yet Arkansans still have reason to cheer.
Entertainment
What Bret Bielema means for Arkansas
Jeff Long has now gone against the grain both times he has had to fill the head coaching vacancy. Bobby Petrino was an NFL coach in his first year, with three games left, and Long willingly embraced Petrino's overtures to leave Atlanta. This time, Bielema's name had never been so much as whispered when likely candidates were being bandied about.
A toy show for grown-ups
The first hint I got that the Arts Center's 38th "Toys Designed by Artists" exhibit was a notch more mature this year was the fact that so many toys were protected behind boxes of Plexiglas. There was no guard with white gloves stationed in the gallery to turn cranks and pull knobs and so forth, as in yesteryear.
A gangster allegory with no soul
Brad Pitt's 'Killing' is bleak.
Pinkish Black to Downtown Music
Also, a Schlafly Pub Crawl, Eric Church and Justin Moore at Verizon, Eric Sommer at Midtown, the Alchemy Songwriting Contest at the Ford Theater in Conway, Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Verizon and the White Water Holiday Hangout.
Arkatext has designs on schools
Conway hip-hop crew expanding audience.
Joe Buck to White Water
Also, Battery at Revolution.
New Frontier Circus
Local rockers take on Nancy & Lee, Velvets, Cher, Glen Campbell on new EP.
Dining
Sold on Sweet Soul
River Market restaurant does right by the classics.
Cartoons
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