When public officials understand that the Freedom of Information Act in Arkansas is there to protect the public, not the news media, everyone will benefit.Non-news media requests under the FOIA far outnumber those by reporters. It’s not even close.The latest freedom of information conflict comes out of Fort Smith. It has to do with conducting [...]

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Looking at the week that was, there emerged a few winners in the world of politics, both nationally and here at home. Let’s review:John Kerry - The Democratic nominee made a concerted effort to keep his party’s convention from going down the path of name-calling and negative attacks. He achieved a miracle, proving that his [...]

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LITTLE ROCK – Anita Baker didn’t know it when she retired three years ago, but her stock as a math teacher would continue to rise. As Baker redecorated and landscaped her home, Foreman School District Superintendent Larry Lairmore struggled to find a permanent replacement. Lairmore, whose district is tucked in Arkansas’ southwestern corner, never found [...]

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LITTLE ROCK – Pole vaulter Jeff Hartwig was listening in on an interview with Earl Bell when the vault coach extaordinaire was asked about the criteria for women vaulters.The question came up because females vaulting in the Olympics was on the horizon.Same as for men, Bell said. Maybe a long jumper, a good sprinter – [...]

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He’s no longer His Eternal Huffiness. Now he’s the New Conciliator. He’s put aside stubbornness and replaced it with honorable introspection. He’s stopped preaching to the choir and started listening to the congregation.In addition to a hundred-plus pounds, Mike Huckabee seems to have lost the chip on his shoulder, at least for the moment.He has [...]

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My very best friend Dixie and I were sitting on the beach during our vacation a couple of weeks ago watching our children play in the ocean. We started to reminisce about old times, talking about beach trips from our younger years. We didn’t have husbands or children back then. We didn’t have demanding jobs [...]

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Only in Fayetteville: Washington County’s new Republican headquarters opened up in the former location of a new-age store that sold crystals, runes and yoga books.I guess Christian conservatives gained a little ground with that one.I’m not criticizing the decision to lease the former “Passages” store at all. It’s a very good location with a big, [...]

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LITTLE ROCK – A disciplined money manager, my horse-playing friend would do his homework at night and go to the track with a handful of plays on a single sheet of notebook paper.Anytime one of his key horses was a likely favorite, his notes would include a minimum price that he deemed acceptable for a [...]

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It’s expected there will be changes in four decades and especially when the setting is Arkansas hill country and wildlife.Y.D. Whitehurst said, “In the 1960s, people were still hunting to get food like they did in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.” Today, hunting and fishing are for sport, although many participants certainly make use of [...]

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LITTLE ROCK – More than 1,000 people stood in line for hours on a rainy and muggy Friday morning outside the Statehouse Convention Center to meet former President Clinton and get their copies of his book autographed.“It’s the president and I think it’s an historic event to get his booked signed by him,” said Myrna [...]

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