Lynch at Large

Pat Lynch: an Arkansas Icon (and very humble too)

Arkansas on the move

Economic development continues to be a hot topic around the capitol. Maria Haley, the new director of the State Economic Development Commission has been talking to lawmakers, as has Mike Maulden of Entergy.

Maulden? Where have we heard that name before?

Anyway, there is great promise and great risk in these discussions that often wind up spending rather substantial sums of your money to bring in plants that promise lots of jobs. It is not such a bad idea, but Alabama is going to get the short end of that billion-dollar gift to a German steel manufacturer to locate in lovely Mobile. What will they do if the jobs fail to materialize in the vast numbers predicted, or the plant closes in 20 years? At least, as things now stand, Arkansas is not on the hook for vast amounts if things go wrong. It is a gamble, after all.

Ms. Haley has said that industrial recruiters have not been considering Arkansas. I bet that comes to as a big surprise to former Governor Mike Huckabee who was sure Toyota was set to locate in Marion. They certainly considered it.

Remember that these big state handouts are in the utility company’s best interest. If they want more industrial development, why not lower electric rates?

Our improving public school system is still Arkansas’ most potent economic development tool.

(Broadcast June 12, 2007)

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Happy hurricane season!

It’s finally here and there was a festive spirit in the air when John Robinson from the National Weather Service stopped in this morning. We hashed over the tornado season and the spreading drought in northeast Arkansas.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 24 – 30.

It’s a great hour, which I have edited down to about 33 minutes. You can download and listen free from my home page, lyncho.com.

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Up with the chickens on KARK Channel 4


I have been in silent contemplation seeking insiration for the winners and losers. Find out my picks, and Bill Vickery’s as well Wednesday morning at around 6:45 on the WEDNESDAY WAKE-UP on KARK Channel 4!

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Bad news for Fayetteville, Jim Harris plans to be objective

He’s been nexting at Arkansas Times, home of Max and the famous blog, for quite a few years, but Jim Harris is now the sports guru at Arkansas Business. His blog is “The Playing Field.” Check it out.

We dis’ed John Daily. Jim reports on Daily’s exploits since Friday, when Jim personally saw him in Memphis. How will Channel 7 muscle Inman in as Voice of the Hogs? Who must be thrown under the bus? What other cool plans has Arkansas Business cooked up for sports fans? This segment (just over a half hour edited running time) is a must and it is posted on lyncho.com in the “on demand” audio section.

AND BY THE WAY, speaking of Max and the AT blog, there is bad news today for fans of great lunches. One of North Little Rock’s legendary establishments is closed, perhaps for good. Read all about it.

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Tuesday summary

Golfer John Daly scratched his own face last week to cover up his sexual assault of his wife and then falsely reported that she attacked him with a knife, Sherrie Daly states in court papers filed Monday. No criminal charges were filed, but John Daly is seeking a protective order and refiled an earlier petition for divorce. Sherrie Daly has filed for a restraining order, exclusive use and possession of the Southwind home, temporary custody of their child and continued financial support.

The death of a White County toddler in a dishwasher has been ruled an accident. However, police say a charge of endangering the welfare of a minor could be filed over the May 30 death of 18-month-old Clifton Kurck.

Two Searcy men arrested in separate weekend shootings were scheduled for initial court appearances at 1:15 p.m. today in Searcy District Court, according to Prosecuting Attorney Chris Raff.

Dr. James “Kurt” Dilday, a 1998 candidate for lieutenant governor accused of charging the Arkansas Medicaid program for procedures he didn’t perform, pleaded guilty instead to a misdemeanor charge of failure to maintain and supply medical records. He agreed to pay $20,000 and will serve no jail time. In 2004, Dilday’s medical practice, Biological Psychiatry Associates P.A., pleaded no contest to 30 counts of insurance fraud.

Arkansas’ two senators voted to move forward with a resolution of no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who they have repeatedly called on to resign because of last year’s U.S. attorney firings. The effort for a no-confidence resolution stalled 53-38 on a procedural vote to limit debate. Sixty votes were needed to proceed.

The state Board of Education placed Imboden Area Charter School on probation, stopping proceedings to revoke the school’s charter. At the same meeting in Little Rock, the state board renewed the charter of Haas Hall Academy in Farmington.

Arkansans have 30 days to let the state Department of Education know what they think about proposed changes to rules requiring the measurement of students’ body mass and mandating physical activity in schools.

Companies regulated by federal statute do not deserve special protection from lawsuits filed in state court, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case involving two women’s efforts to sue a cigarette manufacturer in Pulaski County.

A defense contractor that helped pollute and then led the cleanup of an industrial site in East Camden can sue the government to help recoup its costs, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

Plans to construct a new 100-room hotel in Jonesboro will move a step closer today when the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission considers a rezoning proposal.

As congressional debate on farm policy gathers momentum, the names of more than 33,000 people who have benefited from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop-subsidy programs in Arkansas were to be released today at 11 a.m. CDT by an environmental research and advocacy group. Apparently, they will not include the name of every human being in Arkansas which consumes food.

The Eureka City Council will ask voters’ permission to borrow more money to complete an over budget sewage treatment plant. The special election to refinance existing bonds will be held August 14.

New rules for how many cars can be parked in front of a house got a nod from the Fayetteville Planning Commission. Under the proposal, no more than 40 percent of a front yard can be used for parking.

The Arkansas Baseball Foundation wants to raise enough money to keep Ray Winder Field as a baseball stadium.

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The Huck makes us proud!

First of all, I swear that my column was written before reports of Mike Huckabee’s regrettable comments about prisoners at Guantanamo.

Here is what folks elsewhere have to say about our (thankfully) former governor.

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Wednesday Wake Up on KARK TV Channel 4

Join me and Bill Vickery for the WEDNESDAY WAKE-UP around 6:45 every Wednesday morning on KARK TV Channel 4. We pick winners and losers from the past week and comment on the day's top news. Sometimes we play rough, but it is always a million laughs.

Pat Lynch in the Democrat-Gazette

My column on politics and life in Arkansas sows up every Monday morning in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Look for it on the Voices page in the Arkansas section. It's also on the web for paid subscribers at the Arkansas Online site.
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