AltWeeklies Wire
Blue Dog Bites Districtnew
During a mega-sized conference call with more than 6,000 of his constituents last month, Fourth Congressional District Rep. Mike Ross had to assure one nervous woman, "I'll never vote for any bill to kill old people."
Arkansas Times |
Paul Barton |
09-04-2009 |
Science
It Looks Like Big Pharma and the Health Insurers Will Win on Health Care ... Againnew
For the past 35 years, whenever Congress has ventured into health-care reform in response to public demand the big winners have almost always been the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and it will almost certainly be that way again. The massive spending against health reform legislation in every media market the past month, on top of the relentless tide of lobbying and campaign expenditures over the decade, guaranteed it.
Arkansas Times |
Ernest Dumas |
08-20-2009 |
Commentary
Follow the Bouncing Lotto Ball in Arkansasnew
In all the haste, headlines and hubbub about what has become the biggest political story of the year, something sometimes gets overlooked. What will the lottery really mean for Arkansas' citizens and higher education system? Here, even big backers hedge their bets.
Arkansas Times |
Gerard Matthews |
07-23-2009 |
Policy Issues
'The Room' Takes Up Residence in Little Rocknew
If Levi Agee has his way, the melodrama-turned-cult-hit The Room will screen indefinitely in Little Rock.
Arkansas Times |
Lindsey Millar |
06-25-2009 |
Movies
Race for the Cure Critic Incurs Pink Wrathnew
Little Rock attorney Scott Strauss, as a man, wasn't able to officially enter the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure and walk with his mother. He's protesting, and the result has been like a wave of Pepto-Bismol-colored napalm.
Arkansas Times |
David Koon |
06-25-2009 |
Policy Issues
'Sin Nombre' Gets an Under-Told Story Rightnew
Its utter lack of romanticism about riding the rails doesn't preclude Sin Nombre from finding heart in the land it traverses or between its characters.
Arkansas Times |
Sam Eifling |
06-25-2009 |
Reviews
Blanche Lincoln Celebrates 10 Years in Congress, Looks to Tough Election in 2010new
The year 2010 doesn't hold promise for stress reduction for this mother and U.S. Senator. She's up for re-election and poll numbers that put her below 50 percent seem to beg for a Republican opponent, if you believe the GOP's frequent posturing on the subject.
Arkansas Times |
Paul Barton |
06-18-2009 |
Politics
What Do We See Five Months into the Obama Presidency?new
I can't accuse Obama of a lack of grit, but what I won't accept is the argument that larger issues are too pressing for Obama to divert his attention to so-called small stuff. He can walk and chew on more than one issue at a time. Human rights -- of women, gays, detainees, religious minorities -- are not small things. To borrow from his own words, if all aren't equal, none are.
Arkansas Times |
Max Brantley |
06-18-2009 |
Commentary
Centennial Church Is Falling Downnew
Stories out of Helena-West Helena in Arkansas always seem to be about conflict, often conflict with a racial angle. Even stories about historic preservation tend in that direction.
Arkansas Times |
Doug Smith |
04-16-2009 |
Housing & Development
Public Library Takes the Reins of the Arkansas Literary Festivalnew
For book geeks, spring in Little Rock has gained a whole new appeal in the last few years. That's because of the Arkansas Literary Festival.
Arkansas Times |
David Koon |
04-16-2009 |
Books
Be a Hero on Your Own Timenew
“Victim's heroics rouse judge,” read a headline in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, but Nigel Haskett's heroics apparently didn't rouse his employer, McDonald's. The hamburger kingpin has denied Haskett's claim for workers compensation benefits.
Arkansas Times |
Doug Smith |
02-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Justice Proceeds Delicately When the Accused Is a Judgenew
The most serious charges that Pulaski County Circuit Judge Willard Proctor now faces concern exactly what his staff members reportedly warned him about.
Arkansas Times |
Mara Leveritt |
02-12-2009 |
Crime & Justice
North Little Rock Rep Is America’s Highest-Ranking Greennew
With his silver hair, sunglasses, and crisp black suit, Richard Carroll certainly looks the part of a state legislator. Currently, he's the highest-ranking Green in the United States.
Arkansas Times |
David Koon |
01-29-2009 |
Politics
Arkansas Still Awaits the Biodiesel Boomnew
While production of biodiesel has exploded nationally -- largely because of federal subsidies -- the industry is off to a slow start in Arkansas: the Natural State remains a top 10 producer of soybeans, but it ranks only 20th in biodiesel production capacity.
Arkansas Times |
Paul Barton |
01-29-2009 |
Environment
Pain -- and Possibility -- Arise as the Language of Race Decaysnew
The way out of this -- past notions of racial purity and beyond words like "multi-racial" and "other" -- need not be difficult. It will require us to recognize the faulted language we've inherited and consciously opt to ditch it.
Arkansas Times |
Mara Leveritt |
12-11-2008 |
Race & Class
