May 11-17
It was a good week for …
MIKE HUCKABEE After forcing viewers to watch him interview Mario Lopez, jam with Ted Nugent and pitch his execrable new cartoon “history” project on his Fox TV show Saturday night, he announced that he would not run for president. He was listening to his “heart,” he said. Those paychecks from Fox and Citadel Broadcasting may’ve had something to say about it, too.
MORRIS HOLMES The former Central High principal and New Orleans School District superintendent was selected to lead Little Rock School District through the 2012-13 school year after serving as interim superintendent since January.
COLLECTORS OF BASEBALL MEMORABILIA Last Saturday, hundreds waited in line at Ray Winder Field, the former home of the Arkansas Travelers, for a chance to take home a pair of the 500 wooden-and-iron bleacher seats. Some even camped out overnight.
It was a bad week for …
THE CITY OF MORRILTON Two downtown buildings collapsed, killing a 2-year-old girl and critically injuring several other people.
COLLEGE STUDENTS The University of Arkansas System said it plans to increase tuition and other fees between 5.9 percent and 7.1 percent at five of its four-year campuses in the 2011-2012 school year.
ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION A legislative audit revealed that the embattled commission had paid more than $800,000 beyond the limits of vendors’ contracts and to vendors without contracts. The commission’s fiscal chief retired in part because of the findings.
CIRCUIT JUDGE MARY GUNN The Fayetteville circuit judge, who’s made headlines in the past for televising her drug court, drew heat again over her apparent plan to start producing a national drug court reality show upon her retirement from the bench in June.
THE HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM INSTITUTE The non-profit responsible for putting on the annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival said that it was around $30,000 in debt. Nearly a month ago, the institute furloughed four employees. Only a part-time interim executive director remains on staff. More on page 26.