« June 2009 | Main | August 2009 »
Friday, July 31, 2009 - 19:14:31
Ad agencies seek lottery work
I guess we missed a callback from the state Lottery Commission on the details, but I'm told six advertising agencies expressed interest in the big advertising contract by the 4 p.m. deadline today. The Communications Group, the Ramey Agency, GWL Advertising and Craig Douglass Communications had sent questions about the RFP during the runup to the deadline. Anybody else got the names of others that turned up to bid, presuming those four were in for sure?
UPDATE: An offshoot of the ad agency headed by state Sen. Tracy Steele's brother Michael was one of the six. Also, the Natural Brand Co. of Little Rock, a name unfamiliar to me.
I presume this will work as other major RFP proposals have. They'll be evaluated first for compliance with the RFP and then discussed later by the Commission. No details released for the time being. This could be a $4 million deal, or more.
Tributes and traveling music
I'm slipping out early and leaving you with an OPEN LINE.
On my way out the door, some reading recommendations:
Chris Bahn at Arkansas Sports 360.com has written a nice tribute to the late novelist E. Lynn Harris, who died last week. It talks about Harris' devotion to the UA cheerleading squad, on which Harris was the first black to serve. In case you missed it , former Arkansan Rashod Ollison, a Baltimore journalist, also reviewed Harris' life in this week's Times.
RETIRED: B.J. Sams with Alyson Courtney and Tom Brannon.
Kat Robinson, our tireless Eat Arkansas blogger and Eat Arkansas Twitterer reports a fond farewell was held today for her former co-worker B.J. Sams, who retired today at KTHV after 56 years in the business, most recently as popular morning show host. (Did they have TV 56 years ago?)
Finally, newly minted PR man Rex Nelson is spinning a Southern Fried yarn every day at his new blog and he thinks this one might be worth a debate and continuing discussion: He says it's vital that the University of Arkansas continue to play football games at War Memorial Stadium. (Does anybody besides me and Frank Broyles think a college ought to play its home games where the players go to class? Yes, I know what happened to Frank Broyles.)
Bill to abolish lottery
The interim report of the Arkansas Legislative Digest has a nice little scoop today.
Sen. Sue Madison of Fayetteville has drawn up legislation to effectively abolish the state lottery. Lotteries would still be constitutionally possible, but she'd repeal the enabling legislation.
Realistically, it's hard to believe the legislature will step back from something overwhelmingly approved by voters, particularly since Madison isn't a legislative power broker. But the controversy over lottery pay and other issues has taken some of the shine off the idea, recent polling indicates
Madison insists it's more the public policy questions than the cronyism and fat pay that move her, though she was a co-sponsor of the lottery legislation. I do think it's true, with scratch-off tickets and Powerball perhaps less than 60 days away, that a few people of conscience have been giving more thought to who is about to begin paying for college scholarships in Arkansas. Poor people not going to college, is, disproportionately, who.
Cuba, si
WOULD YOU DRINK A MOJITO WITH THESE GUYS?: A briefing by the Cuba trade team -- Rep. Robert Moore, Morril Harriman, Gov. Beebe, Sen. Jim Luker, Tyson's Archie Schaffer. (Photos by Bill Reed)
Gov. Mike Beebe returned from a three-day trade trip to Cuba last night. He's optimistic about trade possibilties. The macroeconomic analysis from the governor:
"The policies are they need more money to buy more stuff and we got the stuff. We produce the food that they need for their people."
Below, the governor inspects some Cuban grocery offerings.
About those Blue Dogs UPDATE
Washington Post explores an important angle on U.S. Rep. Mike Ross and fellow Blue Dogs. You know, the supposed "fiscal conservatives"? Health industry bitches is more like it.
On June 19, Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas made clear that he and a group of other conservative Democrats known as the Blue Dogs were increasingly unhappy with the direction that health-care legislation was taking in the House.
"The committees' draft falls short," the former pharmacy owner said in a statement that day, citing, among other things, provisions that major health-care companies also strongly oppose.
Five days later, Ross was the guest of honor at a special "health-care industry reception," one of at least seven fundraisers for the Arkansas lawmaker held by health-care companies or their lobbyists this year, according to publicly available invitations.
The roiling debate about health-care reform has been a boon to the political fortunes of Ross and 51 other members of the Blue Dog Coalition, who have become key brokers in shaping legislation in the House.
... Ross has received nearly $1 million in contributions from the health-care sector and insurance industry during his five terms in Congress, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign contributions. The lawmaker founded Ross Pharmacy of Prescott, Ark., which he and his wife sold in 2007. The couple received $100,000 to $1 million in dividends last year from the sale, according to House financial disclosure forms
UPDATE: Read on for more details from Paul Barton in Washington on contributions to Ross from the health industrial complex.
Two scoops in Pine Bluff
How about this. Pine Bluff School Superintendent Frank Anthony retired June 30. Thursday, the Pine Bluff School Board hired him to serve another two years, beginning Aug. 1.
I believe this is the key portion of the Pine Bluff Commercial article:
The education retirement law was changed after Anthony notified the board early this year that he planned to retire. The General Assembly changed the requirement so Anthony and other educators can retire and not sustain any reduction in pension benefits if they accepted another job in education.
What Jim Bunning stands for
Tom Schaller, writing on Nate Silver's fivethirtyeight.com, finds deeper meaning in the coming retirement of U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, the less-than-zero Republican from Kentucky. I liked the sound of it so much, I thought I'd repeat some of it.
What I am saying is that in so many ways, Bunning’s political career and pending retirement is symptomatic of the larger problems presently facing conservatism and the Republican Party nationally: a grumpy, searching, direction-less, leadership-deficient, infighting band of naysayers offering few new ideas, too much feigned outrage, and opposition largely for opposition’s sake—all as they steadily lose their grasp on the attentions and imaginations of the American public.
And there's this:
Of course, the country has changed a lot since [Bunning was elected in] 1986, and even since 1998. By 2009, those changes reduced Bunning to an old, white southern man in a party that the national media today has finally recognized--despite early warning signals from some, including yours truly--is slowly yet avoidably retrenched into an older, whiter, southern and male-dominated rump party.
I'd like to believe the tired old rants about baby killers, queers, taxes, guns and Negro presidents truly are marginalizing the likes of Bunning. But you can't prove it by what's coming out of the mouths of Democrats, as well as Republicans, in these parts.
What's wrong with the South?
Soldier shooting suspect in court
Pass Employee Free Choice Act
The morning Huck UPDATE
Govt. health care
Suspend cash for clunkers?
The line is open
Country dog in the city
Prison bosses on carpet
Ex-gov Tucker in legal claim
Hog bulletin
Arkansas angle
How rainy is it?
Rove's work for Tim Griffin
Candidate Baker emerges?
Take this job...
Hillary is debt-free
Put out that cigarette ....
Ark. employment: Could be worse
The dog's day
Bring back the bouncing balls
Double-dip redux
The line is open
More political gossip
Meanwhile, back at the lottery commission
Happy days are here again
Latest phony rap on Obamacare: UPDATE
Here's an original idea
Feel that? ....
We can dream, can't we? UPDATE
Family values senator
Open line
Speaking of cops
Fayetteville cops cleared
Smashed, grabbed, nabbed
Lottery adding staff
Soon: Justice Sotomayor
Arkansas kids' lot declines
Rumor o' the day
Pressly suspect in court
Double-dip watch
Boondoggle anyone?
Huckabee: GOP's Rodney Dangerfield?
NLR zoning delay
Mark Pryor: 'Family' man
The line is open
On the dog (town) watch
The price of fame ...
State Fair to Cabot?
Pulaski taxes heading up
The Parole Board double-dip
Mayor has Ray Winder plan UPDATE
Taking aim on the nation
Pity the poor Blue Dogs
Sunday comments?
Deaths in the family
Time to read?
Double-dip watch
Highway grumbling
Kris Allen comes home
Open line
Saturday special: Double dippers
Why does Mike Ross hate poor people?
LRSD Board member: Go after state
Pryor and the Family
Judge opens Prempro evidence
Open line and preview
Obama: Poor choice of words
A letter to Ernie P.
Conway crime scene
Beebe will go to Cuba
Cash for clunkers
Alamo guilty on all charges
Double-talking Mike Ross
Obama: Drag on Dems?
Who's on first? Huck or Romney
E. Lynn Harris is dead
Governor's School bailout
Double-dip watch
Waiting for Alamo verdict
Your turn
Dum da dum dum
Pryor, Lincoln, health care
One bid for lottery contract -- UPDATE
Cambridge cop apologize? No way
Airport access to reopen
Alamo trial UPDATE
Pryor on guns: Both ways
Thank goodness for Arkansas
Citizen Hussman
What's wrong with Mike Ross?
More on double dipping
Leaders of tomorrow
The county official rooky-doo
Woo, Pig, go blog
Charter schools and resegregation
The line is open
Chicken bleepin' technicality
Huck PAC 'restructuring'
Tall talking Tony UPDATE
Meanwhile, back at the lottery
The next big story: Double dipping
Gun nuts lose one
Where do you get your news?
Who is Mike Ross?
Rethinking Ernie P.
Follow the bouncing TIF ball
Bang for your collegiate buck
Finish the job on smoking
Man of the hour, Mike Ross
Fghting over the homeless
Storm chaser
Exit strategy
Speaking of gubernatorial ethics
The root of Mike Huckabee
Diplomat Huckabee
Bring on the diesels
Woo, Ernie P., sooie!
Professor Gates a free man
Beautiful Disfarmer
Mark Pryor, 'Family' man UPDATE
This could be interesting
Dogging Mayor Hays
Cell phone safety coverup
The Ross conundrum UPDATE
Cronyism or coincidence
Open line
Dangerous: Entering your home while black
Boozman to face primary opponent?
Pleas entered in Pressly case
Beer burglary suspect caught
Another Lincoln challenger
Examining teaching grants
The mighty wind
Speaking of polls
The lottery's poll numbers
The attack on gay marriage bans
Mid-summer's day dream
There she is; here you are
His wonders to behold
Lottery at work
You are known by your friends
Hang up the d*** phone
Arkansas goes to India
What the TV guys wouldn't do ...
On second thought
What a wonderful day
Ernie P. where are you?
Wills pays dividends
Web: Looking for love in wrong place?
Why print is dying
Mike Ross defends slowdown
The weekend has begun
Three-way race for court
Did biz take union head fake?
What's wrong with downtown LR?
Patients? Right.
Did she or didn't she?
Politics before patients
Tony's world
If you've got the money honey ....
Unemployment edges up
Better than a shoot-out
A C Street trifecta
Card check compromise
Show and tell
Now he's concerned
Rationing health care
UALR focuses on honors students
Even the bad times are good ...
The line is open
Springdale booze monopoly broken
For education/LRSD wonks
Now Beebe goes to meddling
McDaniel for the defense
Mike Ross sez ...
I-430: Center of town UPDATE
The straw that stirs the crime
What Sotomayor is about
Sustainability and Wal-Mart
It's open
Booze comes to Clinton
The first roundup
Tony Alamo is a perv ....
Rename Third St.
Lottery commission hears the howls
The lapdog 'press'
Wal-Mart goes green
Beebe speaks on lottery pay
The Democratic wing of the party
Technical difficulties
LR: Not so mean to homeless
Letter from Tucker Max
UALR raises the bar
Sympathy for the Huckster
Arkies stand with Ron Paul
Those nasty Young Repubs
Another new media lesson
The line is open
There he goes again
Boss sez: Move these kittens
Better late than never
Rex Nelson joins the blogosphere
Who they representing?
Artful stimulus
Speaking of gambling machines
UAMS awarded $20 million
Gaming numbers dip
Philander's outreach to black men
Pundit Palin
Another Ark. lottery jackpot
The House health roadblock
Monday line
Sotomayor by the minute
River Market loses retailer
High on the Hornets
Death said 'not suspicious'
O'Brien reports money haul
School scores looking up
At the bear feeder
Pressly's house a teardown
The battle for the court
Palinography
ASU football player shot
Sunday's mic is open
Today's horror story
President Huckabee
No more free D-G access
Bedside view of health care plan
Candidates of the future
The line is open
Same old song -- Audra Shay wins YR post
Dick!
On the march
What's the matter with New Haven?
Rep. Carter: unimpressed
Random thought
Washington Post's black eye
Look for the union marchers
Your comments here
Sex trafficker pleads
The hypocrite firefighter
School shooter's conviction upheld
Guilty plea in cross burning
Revision in account of shooting
Courier shot in robbery
Union objects to TV ad
Lottery numbers
Ensign's religious intervention
Green cleared for UA play
Fugitive, pregnant hostage killed
LR School Board's signal
Learning from the lottery
'Gridiron U,' starring ....
Open line
Ensign pulverized
McDaniel for the defense
Fayetteville judge to step down
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
The Arkie criminal mind
Pressly suspect fit for trial
Housing report: Mixed
Follow the Wal-Mart lawyers' money
Huck pens another
Highway money discrimination
Missing video
Bruno returns to Fort Smith
What's that boom?
LR school board oversight
Pressly suspect is lawyering
Plunge in
Sympathy for Sarah
Elusive thief
Is Blanche moving left?
Lottery news
PSC wants Turk plant review
Fewer smokers
In the name of transparency
Battle for the GOP
Route of the Rockets
KIPP school expansion
Screw clean air
Hardin news travels
The whole world was watching
The line is open
Body found near Jacksonville
Saving money is expensive
Commission disputes Proctor
It's all happening at the zoo UPDATES
Land of opportunity
King of the Hill
Equal pay for equal work
Candidate for Pulaski clerk
Suspected burglar shot
Thriller at noon
Sometimes free isn't cheap UPDATE
Palin: Words and deeds UPDATE
Fairness in highway funding
Fresh slate
Tracking a serial killer
Tracking criminals
Morrilton lawyer to Ethics Commission
A Cloar for Crystal Bridges?
Hired hands
Huckabee: Gun nut of the day
R.I.P. Socks
Death at the prison
Young Repub flap goes national
Palin: Day 4
Obama's dilemma
Downpours in LR
The line is open
Palin: Day 3
The modified hangout route
When up is down
Look out Mike Ross
Finale on the Fourth
Leroy Donald dies at 73
Blame the media game
Slow day open line
Palin: Day 2
Church and state
Light up Friday night ...
Barracuda jumps to another ocean
The case of the missing mayor
Huck and the law in Iowa
More stimulus needed
Socks: In the garden
Let the holiday begin
Murder suspect's momma tried
Wilbur objects
Huckabee: A GOP Jesse Jackson?
We're lookin' for a phone
Race and Young Repubs -- LOL
Rush Harding feeds UCA trolls
Lottery fast track
Washington Post screws up
State income drops
Jobless rate climbs
Imprisoned
Judge Roaf dies at 68
Open line
Desperate times
Powerball watch
Fayetteville officers cleared
A word from our sponsors
Broken by health debts
UA rebrands
Roadblock in Bentonville's fast lane
Welcome to Game and Fish
Somebody's gotta lose UPDATE
King's legacy
Lu's new home
-
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
RSS Feed |
  |
| © 2004 - 07 Arkansas Times. All Rights Reserved. |  |
