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Review: Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans and Hunter Hayes

Bill Paddack — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:48:00 -0600

Brian Chilson
Rascal Flatts played Verizon Arena Saturday.

For anyone who might try to quibble and suggest that Saturday night’s country concert at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock wasn’t really all that country, that Rascal Flatts was great but more Elton John than Merle Haggard, that opening act Hunter Hayes was handsome and talented and all that, but in a black T-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes and red belt he, um, didn’t remind them of George Strait, we have two words: Sara Evans.

Sorely missed from the top of the country charts for a few years, Evans returned with a new album in 2011 with plenty of great tracks, but it was her 2004 up-tempo anthem to, as she puts it, “a rotten teenage girl who falls in love with a redneck boy” — that would be “Suds in the Bucket” — that guaranteed none of the 10,417 fans in attendance left without their minimum daily requirement of traditional country.

The girl, of course, runs off with her guy, the big voice in six-inch heels delights the crowd and the evening’s a success long before the headlining act comes out. Evans has a way with a country song — well, she ought to; she’s been on stage since she was four — and with her powerful voice, she doesn’t have to do much more than stroll around in those heels and skin-tight pants, smile, wave and sing her heart out.

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Open line: Barefoot and pregnant edition

Max Brantley — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:39:58 -0600

The line is open. Final shot:

* REPUBLICANS AND UNEQUAL RIGHTS: This looks like a loser to me, but Republican messaging has triumphed before over common sense. Sen. Mitch McConnell says Republicans will fight to the death to allow an opt-out for preventive health care for women (birth control pills and other contraceptive devices) from employer-provided insurance coverage. They will not fight to allow opt-outs on erectile dysfunction medicine, naturally. This is not a religious issue. It's a labor law issue. McConnell wants to let employers pick and choose what things to cover based on their whims, but beginning primarily with taking autonomy from women. He can't pass this legislation, of course. But he and Republicans can certainly demagogue the issue. The high irony is that it would guarantee higher health costs in difficult pregnancies and more abortions.

Time to speak up Rep. Tim Griffin. Do you believe any employer in the 2nd District of Arkansas should be able to deny preventive health coverage to women if they don't want it to include birth control pills (and even though the employer is NOT paying for it under the new Obama rule)? They should call this the Paul Van Dalsem Memorial Barefoot and Pregnant Health Insurance Act.

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FOIA: Oh, Marilyn Heifner, you know better than this

Richard Drake — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:15:11 -0600

I suppose that this is the part of the narrative where, if anyone still cares, they might point out that Marilyn Heifner (or Marilyn Johnson, as she was known once upon a time) was not only mayor of the New York City of the Ozarks, but she also helmed our city during part of the Great Incinerator War, which ended up costing the taxpayers of Fayetteville oodles and gobs of money.

True, Fayetteville was then under the yoke of the city manager form of government (just imagine city government run by managers unaccountable to the people to Fayetteville, and you might get an idea what it was like) but even then, I suspect she knew the the basics of the Freedom of the Information Act.

And now, as Executive Director of the Fayetteville Advertising snd Promotion Commission, I suspect that somewhere along the line, somebody may have talked to her about such things.

But . . . Ms. Heifner lied to a reporter. More than once.

She surely knew better than to even lie in the first place, no matter in what venue the conversation took place. As we all learned from Marvel Comics, with great power comes great responsibility, and even if your power doesn't rival that of a superhero, you still live by the same code.

Yeah, you should resign, Marilyn. Go to Coventry voluntarily, before you are banished there.

******

Hey, kids, remember your science/civics classes?

Anyone remember the Fayetteville mayor who once upon a time said that a certain pesticide the city was using was no more dangerous than taking aspirin?

*****

Quote of the Day

Every being cries out silently to be read differently. - Simone Weil

rsdrake@cox.net

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The weather freakout

Max Brantley — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:01:00 -0600

Nothing else to do, so I scanned the weather sources for the Little Rock forecast on Monday. As ever, Pulaski seems to sit on a dividing line that could go in many directions:

* Weather Channel — high 36, 1 to 2 inches of snow and ice.

* Weather Underground — high 32, ice pellets.

* AccuWeather — high 35, wintry mix in the afternoon.

* National Weather Service — Highs in the mid-30s, snow up to 1 inch. Details here. The key remark:

IT MUST BE EMPHASIZED THAT A DEGREE OR TWO DIFFERENCE IN THE TEMPERATURES...BOTH ON THE GROUND AND ALOFT...COULD DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE EXPECTED PRECIPITATION TYPES AND AMOUNTS.

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Gov. Beebe will go to China

Max Brantley — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:31:11 -0600

HEADING TO CHINA: Gov. Mike Beebe.

Nixon did. Why not Gov. Mike Beebe? Roby Brock reports on the governor's planned trade trip to Asia.

Everybody does them so they must be productive, right?

I notice the item mentions Beebe's trade trip to Europe and credits it with job creation, including at Dassault Falcon. Actually, there have been big layoffs at Dassault Falcon, no fault of the governor, but of the general economy. That drives a whole lot more decisions than gubernatorial trips — along with the usual baseline issues like access to markets, raw materials, labor force, cost of living, utility costs, etc. — I still tend to believe.

Haven't the Marks — Darr and Martin — already been to China? What else does Arkansas need?

One thing's sure: Cheap as labor is in anti-union Arkansas, it's still not cheap enough to relocate any of those Walmart goods manufacturing plants from China back here.

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The growing safety net

Max Brantley — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:26:26 -0600

There's something for just about everyone in a New York Times examination of the growing safety net cost in the federal government.

I naturally love the anecdote about the Tea Party sympathizer, with his disdain for government spending on the non-productive, who enjoys the earned income tax credit, free breakfasts and lunches for his children and the comfort of Medicare, which has paid for two hip surgeries for an elderly relative.

There's the fact that the poor are no longer the major beneficiaries of the safety net, that the growth comes increasingly in protecting the middle class (whatever that is, exactly).

But there's also the immutable fact of the rising cost, particularly thinks to exploding health care costs, relative to other elements of government.

A person of just about any political philosophy can get exercised. The nut grafs:

Dozens of benefits programs provided an average of $6,583 for each man, woman and child in the county in 2009, a 69 percent increase from 2000 after adjusting for inflation. In Chisago, and across the nation, the government now provides almost $1 in benefits for every $4 in other income.

Older people get most of the benefits, primarily through Social Security and Medicare, but aid for the rest of the population has increased about as quickly through programs for the disabled, the unemployed, veterans and children.

The government safety net was created to keep Americans from abject poverty, but the poorest households no longer receive a majority of government benefits. A secondary mission has gradually become primary: maintaining the middle class from childhood through retirement. The share of benefits flowing to the least affluent households, the bottom fifth, has declined from 54 percent in 1979 to 36 percent in 2007, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis published last year.

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Bishop Woosley chosen as Arkansas Lottery director

Max Brantley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:57:22 -0600

Today's THV
NEW LOTTERY DIRECTOR: Bishop Woosley

FLASH NEWS RELEASE:

The Arkansas Lottery Commission tonight at 7:45 p.m. named William Bishop Woosley as the new Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. Woosley, the Lottery’s Chief Legal Counsel since its startup in mid-2009, will be paid $165,000 annually.

The decision followed a day-long meeting of the Commissioners with all nine members present. Seven candidates were interviewed on Saturday prior to the Commissioners’ deliberations and decision.

The appointment is effective immediately.

Surprised? I am a little bit. But he doesn't lack experience in the field. He carries no political baggage.

The Commission vote to hire Woosley after almost 12 hours of closed meetings was 6-2. Commissioner Bruce Engstrom did not vote, as expected. Commissioners George Hammons and Raymond Frazier voted no. They joined in the unanimous vote setting Woosley's salary. He had been making about $115,000.

It is safe to assume several of the seven candidates had champions in the closed session (Hammons and Frazier apparently supported Bob Nash, for example). Woosley, a stabilizing influence on the lottery staff after the departure of startup leader Ernie Passailaigue, comes to the job with some general appreciation among staff for his leadership, along with Interim Director Julie Baldridge.

Before choosing Woosley, the Commission met briefly in executive session on a pay raise for Baldridge. She was increased from $109,000 to $130,000 in recognition of her work during the interim. She also willl continue as a high-level employee. The commission has two deputy commissioner slots that are open and may not be filled. They were held, at $225,000 each, by assistants Passailaigue had brought with him from South Carolina. All three departed in short order after a series of controversies over pay, leave policy and travel expenses.

The field of candidates included lottery officials from other states, a former race track executive and a couple with Arkansas political connections — Bob Nash, a former aide to Bill Clinton, and Bill Stovall, a House speaker and top House staff member now.

Woosley was in private practice for eight years, most of them in Stuttgart, before going to work in the attorney general's office in 2007 then joining the lottery in 2009. He's a 1996 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and a 1999 graduate of the UALR Law School

These were the candidates interviewed today.

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Miranda Lambert to Verizon April 13

Robert Bell — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:00:00 -0600

Miranda Lambert is schedule to play Verizon Arena April 13.

Miranda Lambert is scheduled to play Verizon Arena Friday, April 13. The country megastar comes to town on her On Fire 2012 Tour, with opening acts Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets, which are $37-$52, go on sale Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. You can get them at the Verizon Arena box office, through Ticketmaster or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

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Saturday night's alright for an open line

Max Brantley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:20:39 -0600

Your comments welcome. A few things:

* HOMELESS COALITION BACKS VETS CENTER ON MAIN: The Arkansas Homeless Coalition has voted to support location of a VA day center at 10th and Main Streets, a location opposed by Mayor Mark Stodola and U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin. In a letter to Stodola, the coalition said the VA center is a "nationally known center of excellence that has operated for 25 years in the downtown area. We encourage the City of Little Rock to welcome the Drop-In Center's move to larger and more accessible quarters." Here's a news release, which notes the coalition should not be confused with a Homeless Commission appointed by the Little Rock and North Little Rock mayors, which, according to the coalition, has not officially met in two years.

* PSST, MAYOR, A PLACE FOR IDEAS: Homeless advocate Robert Johnston notes that Little Rock's Downtown Partnership is featuring the former mayor of Austin, Texas, Will Wynn, at a coming annual meeting. Austin has a multi-purpose homeless center in the heart of its downtown, Johnston reports — 8 blocks from the state Capitol, four blocks from the convention center and a couple of blocks from a major entertainment area. (Whaddya bet you can find liquor close by?) Maybe Wynn could talk about that to Little Rock downtowners.

That photo above is of the homeless center in Austin, Texas. It includes a rooftop terrace with a panoramic view of Texas' capital. Someday, creek don't rise, Little Rock may deliver on its five-year-or-more promise to open a day-only homeless shelter. The city is slowly proceeding to bring up to code the 80-year-old rescue mission shown below, which is on the fringe of the city on Confederate Boulevard. The mayor thinks the VA should also join in the building, currently not accessible to the handicapped and still used by Union Rescue Mission, among other complications, including the VA's inability to spend its money on non-vets.

Speaking of the mayor, he had the city PR office issue a Saturday news release to say that homeless shelters will be open tonight to take in people seeking shelter from the sub-freezing cold and that you can call LRPD at 371-4829 to transport a homeless person to a shelter. From the release:

“As a community we need to reach out and help those less fortunate who find themselves on the streets without a shelter over their heads,” said Mayor Stodola. “It is a civic duty for all of us.”

* LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL: See an anti-union ad during the Super Bowl? Fellow with the soft hands and fancy watch claiming to be a non-union mechanic is a corporate lobbyist. Robert Greenwald has that story.

* SALINE SQUABBLES: Family Fest, a private promoter's July 4 event, will move next year to Benton from Bryant. Promoter says he wants out of ugly Bryant politics, Fox 16 reports. Question: Will Benton, also dry except in private clubs, allow the serving of beer to "VIPs" a practice that led to some controversy in Bryant?

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The Family Values Television Network

Richard Drake — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:29:31 -0600

I wrote this for Fayetteville’s alternative paper Grapevine in 1992, and republished it in the Ozark Gazette, and later in my book - just for fun - Ozark Mosaic.

Television networks change their names and ownership like human beings change socks, so most might be forgiven if they don’t remember that ABC Family was created in 1977 as an extension of televangelist Pat Robertson's Christian television ministry - thus ultimately inspiring this piece of lunacy. Though my fantasies of Heaven Trek never came about, there was a revisionist piece of Bonanza drivel offered - though no gospel singing, at least on the episodes I watched, being the Bonanza junkie that I am.

Like the later Star Wars movies, the less said about that series, the better. Maybe once Rick Santorum gets elected president, someone will come up will similar ideas for shows . . .

The Family Values Television Network

Space, the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Evangelist. Her eternal mission - to seek out new life, and new forms of corruption - to bring fire and brimstone to a liberal universe. To boldly go where no zealot has gone before! - Heaven Trek

A political war is waging across the country at this moment, with potential consequences that would rival any from the so-called Gulf War. It is a war for the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere.

While Bill Clinton courts the Hollywood “intellectuals” (those of dubious intellectual capacity, but with those all-important big bucks), George Bush is busily touting the old traditional “family values” that helped propel Ronald Reagan to the White House so many years ago. This despite the fact that no one seems able to exactly define those values, except that Beaver Cleaver would probably know them when he saw them.

The smart money at the moment is on Bill Clinton; George Bush, for all his protestations, is president of an America far removed from reality. Still, Truman did defeat Dewey, and so we should be prepared for anything, come election day. Thus it was that Booker Blish, whom I let copy from my exams back at Penn State, called me late one night last week, all excited about yet another of his doubtful brain storms.

After reaffirming my suspicions that he wasn’t calling to tell me that he had the money he still owed me, he launched into his latest plan, FVTV.

“What’s that?” I asked. “Some sort of all-terrain vehicle?”

“No,” he laughed. “It stands for Family Values Television. You see, right now the whole country is having a great laugh at Dan Quayle for attacking Murphy Brown the way he did, and then having to admit that he had never watched the program in the first place. But what happens come election day, and the Bush/Quayle ticket comes in with a resounding win?”

“I don’t know,” I had to admit. “Perhaps Rod Serling will pop out of the woodwork, and confirm what we’ve all suspected about the last ten years or so, that it has all been an episode of The Twilight Zone?”

“No, but you're not that far wrong. Remember the old Family Hour on television? Well, imagine an entire network with programming based on those old family values?”

“I seem to remember something called The Family Channel, the offshoot of the old Christian Broadcasting Network,” I said.”Why a new one? Surely their programming is wholesome enough?”

Booker laughed, the demented laugh of a frat rat who had somehow stolen someone else's idea without getting caught. “Wholesome, yes. Exciting, no. What I'm talking about is an entire network of new programs, each and every one touting the traditional values that we all grew up with.”

“Nobody really grew up with those,” I said. “They were a myth that parents used to frighten their children with.” Booker was not amused.

“Laugh if you will, but when Heaven Trek comes out, it will leave Captains Kirk and Picard in the space dust.”

“Heaven Trek? What's that?”

“Nothing but the most exciting science fiction series ever filmed. The adventures of the USS Evangelist, bringing fire and brimstone to a liberal universe. Captain James T. Falwell and his devout crew of Southern Baptists face death and temptation on a daily basis. Our pilot episode deals with a race patterned after the Klingons, who pillage the universe and leave elaborate welfare systems in their wake. After chasing them to their home planet, Captain Falwell discovers that they are nothing but a race of unwed mothers and peddlers of pornography. After blowing up the computer that runs their planetary daycare centers, he makes them all honorary Americans.”

“And at the end of the episode,” I mused, “the Federation signs a free trade pact with them, and transfers jobs from Earth to their Empire?”

Booker's tone became icy. “If you're going to make jokes, I won't tell you about Ben, Hoss, and Joe Blackwood, the gospel singing ranchers who run the largest silver mines in Nevada. They are always facing deadly challenges from organized labor and environmentalists.”

“Those scum,” I hissed.

“Exactly. Anyway, you see how it will run, I hope. I just called to let you in on the ground floor. We're planning to remake Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, with a modern, value oriented outlook. Like to take a stab at it?”

“I don't know, I’d hate to leave my thriving career here in Arkansas,” I said. “Besides, what if Clinton wins? There'll be no market for your shows.”

He laughed. “Oh, that’s all tight. With a little rewriting, we can always sell them all to the Playboy Channel.”

Grapevine, October 2, 1992

rsdrake@cox.net

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Using women's bodies to beat health care reform

Max Brantley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:18:53 -0600

I'm not sure I totally agree with Gail Collins of the New York Times — I do think a lot of the tempest over birth control was about birth control and some religionists' desire to cram their faith down the throats of those who don't share their opposition to birth control pills. But she makes a good point after President Obama's genius improvement of a policy to guarantee preventive health coverage for women.

It's about health care reform and that's why, even with no good reason, the usual suspects are still screaming about the Obama administration policy.

The bishops have made their point. Even if many of them had managed to avoid noticing the Catholic institutions in their own diocese that were already covering contraceptives to comply with state law, they are absolutely correct that Church doctrine holds that artificial methods of birth control are immoral. They’re not going to let the White House ignore that just because their own flocks do.

But Republican politicians have other fish to fry. They want to use the bishops and the birth control issue to get at health care reform. Right now in Congress, there are bills floating around that would allow employers to refuse to provide health care coverage for drugs or procedures they found immoral. You can’t have national health care coverage — even the patched-together system we’re working toward — with loopholes like that.

Which is the whole idea. National standards, national coverage — all of that offends the Tea Party ethos that wants to keep the federal government out of every aspect of American life that does not involve bombing another country.

Except, of course, when they want to get into your life, your prescription medicines, your bedroom.

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Dreams of riches

Max Brantley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:07:55 -0600

OK, why not help the poor Arkansas lottery and mention that April Burnside won $1 million by buying a $20 lottery ticket at a tobacco store in Hamburg. (She actually only got to keep about $680,000 after tax withholding.)

And why not mention that the Powerball jackpot to be drawn for today is up to $325 million, good for a lump sum payment of almost $200 million, which after taxes will leave you with $120 million or so. Probably enough.

I'm going to buy a ticket, though I think I once read you have about as much chance as finding a pre-marked blade of grass on a football field, or something like that. Lotteries don't make money without millions of chumps, after all.

First expenditure of my expected winnings: A $12 million tithe to a Super PAC for local political issues. Full disclosure, see?

How would you spend it? It's $2 worth of daydreaming anyway.

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Koch-head watch: beach retreat on education

Max Brantley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:49:51 -0600

I guess you noticed that Jason Rapert and Co., who propose to put state legislatures like Arkansas's in charge of the federal budget, brought in a hired hand from the Koch-financed American Legislative Exchange Council (a thinly disguised lobby for anti-tax, anti-regulation and other pet billionaire causes) for their publicity stunt this week.

More on ALEC's activities (Center for Media and Democracy). And I'd like to know if any worthy Arkansas legislators were in on this winter getaway to sunny Florida.

It's about a privacy-shrouded retreat for state legislators that began Feb. 2.

Today, hundreds of state legislators from across the nation will head out to an "island" resort on the coast of Florida to a unique "education academy" sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). There will be no students or teachers. Instead, legislators, representatives from right-wing think tanks and for-profit education corporations will meet behind closed doors to channel their inner Milton Friedman and promote the radical transformation of the American education system into a private, for-profit enterprise. (ALEC has claimed no corporate reps will be there but it has refused to let the press attend to see this claim for itself.)

The Koch-financed school "choice" movement — the choice eventually to be at institutions the billionaires either own or their management corporations are paid to run — is already on the ground in Arkansas with paid operatives and busy social media outlets. Surely an Arkansas legislator or three got a ticket to Florida for this confab.

The Goldwater Institute, a promoter of Rapert's wacky notion to put him in charge of the federal budget, also promoted this closed-door education meet. You've seen some of the results already.

ALEC's education bills encompass more than 20 years of effort to privatize public education through an ever-expanding network of school voucher systems, which divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools to private schools, or the creation of new private charter schools with public funds, and even with private online schools (who needs actual teachers when you can have a virtual one?). The bills also allow schools to loosen standards for teachers and administrators, exclude students with physical disabilities and special educational needs, escape the requirements of collective bargaining agreements and experiment with other pet causes like merit pay, single-sex education, school uniforms, and political and religious indoctrination of students.

States where students score well on tests but where ALEC's legislative agenda around school choice, charters, merit pay, de-unionization and alternative certification have not yet taken hold get low grades. States where elected officials are gung-ho for ALEC's agenda but the students are not faring so well are still graded generously.

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How Dustin McDaniel spends your money

Max Brantley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:46:24 -0600

YOUR MONEY: Questions on how Attorney General Dustin McDaniel chose to spend it.

Belatedly last night, I began thinking about the 49-state settlement of a legal action against five major banks over mortgage foreclosure practices. The proposed terms await approval by a federal judge. Specifically, I started thinking about Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's decision on how Arkansas's share of the settlement is to be spent.

Much attention has been focused in the past on McDaniel's unilateral control of money won in lawsuits brought on behalf of the state. Since he writes the terms of the distribution for the court orders, he effectively acts as legislature and governor for expenditure of money awarded to the state. His famous direction of a drug lawsuit settlement to build a classroom for the State Police (a use not related to the lawsuit nor even mentioned in the terms of the lawsuit settlement) caused controversy. This prompted him to establish a procedure for using lawsuit money, but it was mostly window dressing to put a gloss on continuation of existing practice.

McDaniel thinks he's clearly allowed to spend this money as he chooses by a 63-year-old court case pertaining to so-called cash funds. The Constitution seems to others to more clearly say that money can't be spent in Arkansas without a legislative appropriation. Some Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, have called for McDaniel to show more deference to the Constitution.

So back to mortgages. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has set off a commotion there by directing Wisconsin settlement money to cover state budget shortfalls. Arkansas has a few of these, too — Forestry Commission repayments; legal assistants; drug courts.

I wondered if the governor or legislative leaders had been consulted on spending this mortgage money. I wondered, first, however, why ALL the $39 million in benefits directed to Arkansas didn't go to victims of the banks' shoddy practices. About two-thirds of the $39 million, $26 million, went that direction, in the form of principal write-downs, mortgage refinance and direct payments to people who've been foreclosed. This will go directly from banks to consumers so there's no appropriation issue with that money. Even the full amount wouldn't begin to make bank victims whole, though they remain empowered to sue individually.

McDaniel personally plans to appropriate $13 million in direct spending for these purposes, subject to court approval:

* $9 million to the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. For what? Housing is mentioned. So is "economic development." Specifics are lacking. Slush fund comes to my mind, though McDaniel PR man Blake Rutherford says I'm all wet. Housing assistance would certainly seem to fit in the broad umbrella of the lawsuit. Some other ADFA "economic development" activities of years past — a dubious politically connected loan to a marginal food safety company or help for an ice cream maker on shaky footing — would not, at least in my opinion.

* $2 million to the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission. It's an organization that provides legal help for needy people by, among others, encouraging pro bono attorney work. Still, more details needed on spending of that money. Can they do foreclosure work now?

* $1 million to the state's two law schools for their legal aid clinics. Is this operating support? Or does it mean expansion of services?

* $1.4 million will go to the state treasury for costs and fees. In which state account it falls for what possible purposes are questions as yet unanswered.

I posed questions on this topic yesterday evening to the governor (was he consulted?) and attorney general. I hope eventually to hear more, first on McDaniel's authority to spend $13 million unilaterally. I also wanted more specifics on how that money is to be spent, beyond feel-good words like generalized promises of housing assistance and the most dangerous, if sacrosanct, of all public spending words — "economic development," aka corporate welfare. I got a partial response on that point from Rutherford later last night:

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The Celebrating the Two-Party System Edition

Lindsey Millar — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:43:00 -0600

The Obama administration and the furor over the contraception coverage issue, the state forestry commission (and whether anyone cares), the $26 billion settlement with mortgage lenders and Mayor Stodola's defeat at the Little Rock City Board meeting last week are all covered this week.

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Maduro Cigar Bar on Main opens tomorrow

David Koon — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:32 -0600

Downtown puffers, rejoice! The new Maduro Cigar Bar and Lounge opens to the public tomorrow at 109 Main Street, just south of the Statehouse Convention Center.

Owner Michael Peace said he's been thinking about opening a cigar bar for 12 years, but only began deciding on where the bar would be and what it would stock around two years ago. Maduro features over 200 boxes of cigars, a walk-in humidor, two 6 x 4 foot stand-up humidors, a state of the art air filtration system, free wi-fi and several big-screen TVs. In addition to stogies, customers will be able to select from a full bar featuring fine wine, port, scotch, bourbon, rum, tequila and more, including 30 cocktails with recipes unique to the bar. Those looking for something a little less potent can try Maduro's French press coffee or tea offerings.

Peace said the bar, which features a "Latin-inspired" decor with red walls and brown leather chairs, will have a "rolling soft opening" for a week before their grand opening next Friday night. The bar will have limited food offerings for now. "We're going to do some food, like smoked salmon and meat and cheese trays, but not a full restaurant menu," Peace said. "We might do more food later on, but for now it's very minimal." Visit their Facebook page for more info.

Maduro Cigar Bar and Lounge
109 Main Street
(501)374-3710
www.madurolounge.com

Hours:
Mon.-Thu.: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fri.-Sat.: 10:00 am - 12:00 am
Sun.: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

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Thank goodness, it's Friday

Max Brantley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:10:53 -0600

The line is open. Final notes:

* MARKY MARK: Secretary of State Mark Martin said it's too late to change Senate boundaries for this year's election. This in response to a federal voter rights lawsuit by Sen. Jack Crumbly and friends, who think his district, though majority black, isn't black enough. Martin says he didn't dilute the district. He hired an outside lawyer to say this for him at $200 an hour, when the attorney general could have said it for free.

* STATE HOSPITAL IMPROVING: Another report on the State Hospital's efforts to comply with federal Medicare and Medicaid rules reports some progress for a change.

* MITCH MUSTAIN TO TRY BASEBALL: The former quarterbacking man whose football career peaked at Springdale High, has signed a minor league contract with the White Sox. He hasn't pitched competitively since high school.

* ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF FIRED IN PINE BLUFF: That's the report from Channel 11, via the Pine Bluff Commercial, on Ivan Whitfield. Here's the background on a typically Pine Bluffian tale of official intrigue. Supposedly one of the assistant chief's guns was found on a criminal suspect. The police chief is supposedly unhappy because the assistant chief would not tell her his source of a tip on trouble her boyfriend got in at a bar. Whitfield is also a candidate for county judge. Fox 16 promising interview with Whitfield tonight.

* LATE THOUGHT: Mulling questions on Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's unilateral spending of $39 million from the mortgage lawsuit. Shouldn't the legislature decide those issues? Why didn't the money go all to banks' victims? What will ADFA use its $9 million slice for? Doesn't the state need money for forestry, court employees and drug courts, among others? Is an economic development slush fund really a better use?

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Fatal accident on West Markham

Max Brantley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:41:23 -0600

Lisa Bohannon, 52, of Little Rock died after a wreck that occurred about 10:45 a.m. today when she pulled out of the Chick-fil-A restaurant in the 6000 block of West Markham and into the path of car being driven eastbound on Markham by Pamela Broadston, 47, of Little Rock. Bohannon's car came to a stop on the lot of Park Plaza, across the street. A witness said she didn't appear to have life-threatening injuries, but the police received word she had died after being taken to UAMS.

Bohannon was driving a 1997 Ford Contour and Broadston was driving a 2001 Toyota. The road was wet and rain was falling at the time.

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State financial oversight strikes again

Max Brantley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:09:48 -0600

The Arkansas Human Services Department today formally announced that a new operator was taking over Head Start programs for some 1,700 kids that had been operated by a Russellville organization under two funding sources — state and federal. The operator turns out to have big financial problems. Deficit spending, paycheck withholding not forwarded to proper recipients. That sort of thing.

But I noticed this sentence in the state news release.

Prior to the financial issues that surfaced in January, the program had a history of compliance with state regulations, including licensing and ABC requirements, as well as a high-quality rating for the educational services it provided.

Yeah, and prior to the financial issues that surfaced in the fall, the Forestry Commission had a history of compliance.

And prior to letters written on paper that surfaced in the media few months ago, state Rep. Justin Harris and state Sen. Johnny Key had a record of compliance with state law in operation of their ABC-funded daycare centers. Only thing is, the record was wrong. They were flouting the law that prohibits religious instruction in the taxpayer-funded program. DHS just looked the other way.

Prior to surfacing issues, EVERYONE is in compliance.

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There will be winter

Max Brantley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:48:39 -0600

Coming this weekend, apparently. Here's the Weather Service's most recent forecast for snow and sleet over Little Rock and points north on Monday, but this forecast is in the iffy stage at the moment, I think.

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Michael Ian Black to University of Arkansas Feb. 16

Robert Bell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:36:14 -0600

Michael Ian Black comes to Fayetteville Feb. 16.

Dang, this is kinda short notice, but comedian, actor, author, commentator, provocateur, political gadfly, style icon, shaman, licensed hairstylist, classically trained opera singer, Olympian, Master Gardener, Certified Mystic Healer and all around Renaissance Man Michael Ian Black will be performing comedy at the University of Arkansas on Feb. 16.

According to the good folks at the Fayetteville Flyer, Black will take to the stage of the Verizon Ballroom in the Student Union long about 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 and it's free, but seating is first-come, first-served.

As far as we know, Black was last in Arkansas back in July with "Stupid for America" co-author Meghan McCain.

The UA has booked some pretty solid comedy acts in the last five years or so, including Maria Bamford, Zach Galifianakis, Donald Glover and Jay Pharaoh, among others.

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Last night's showcase: War Chief

Robert Bell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:36:00 -0600

Brian Chilson
War Chief

As has been noted previously, Round 3 was a very, very close call. War Chief won out over Se7en Sharp, but it was a photo finish.

Judge Sammy Williams called the War Chief's set "ridiculously tight and extremely professional." Clay Fitzpatrick thought "they played better together than any band I have seen during the showcase."

Tyrannosaurus Chicken's Rachel Ammons and Smilin' Bob Lewis noted the band's tight playing and harmonies, but would "like to see them reach outside the box a little more."

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Last night's showcase: Se7en Sharp

Robert Bell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:34:17 -0600

Brian Chilson
Se7en Sharp

With their back-lit band logo signs and smoke machine, Se7en Sharp definitely brought a level of theatricality to the showcase that hasn't been seen in a while.

Judge Sammy Williams wrote that the five-piece was the "most entertaining band I have seen yet. Vocalist brought it Scott Weiland-style, vocally and physically."

Epiphany's take: "Seamless. 'Nuff said."

The Tyrannosaurus Chicken contingent was impressed with Se7en Sharp's showmanship and musical chops, but found the set lacking in some regards. "Good showman. Tight group. Good musicians, but terrible tone. Great band, but nothing new and exciting. With that much talent, I need some originality."

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Last night's showcase: Tsar Bomba

Robert Bell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:31:27 -0600

Brian Chilson
Tsar Bomba

Tsar Bomba brought the sunshine-y jangle pop to Round 3 last night. Or as judge Epiphany summed them up: "Masters of the under 3-minute ditties."

Guest judges Rachel Ammons and Smilin' Bob Lewis — aka 2012 showcase winner Tyrannosaurus Chicken — saw "good interaction between guitarists. Great vocals, love the bass, very tight. Good save on the broken string. Good original songs. Those boys plow a groove a mile wide."

Judge Cheyenne Matthews wrote, "Let's go see Tsar Bomba on a date. A super-sexy date. Call me!" while judge Sammy Williams described the band's blend of harmonizing and occasional screaming as "Crosby, Stills, Nash and Johnny Rotten."

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Last night's showcase: Wes Patterson

Robert Bell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:27:22 -0600

Brian Chilson
Wes Patterson

Wes Patterson kicked off Round 3 last night with six sleek synth-funk numbers. Guest judges Tyrannosaurus Chicken — individually known as Rachel Ammons and Smilin' Bob Lewis — wrote that they loved Patterson's voice and noted his "knowledgeable use of his gear."

Judge Clay Fitzpatrick noted that if only he'd had a couple more drinks in him, he "would have been on all fours making my butt dance."

Judge Sammy Williams thought "Wes killed it on the one-handed keyboard solos. If I ever get married, I am hiring Wes for my reception."

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