Lynch at Large

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

Friday morning summary

Arkansas’ 39th Infantry Brigade on Thursday shipped its first soldiers to Camp Shelby, Miss., the last stop before the state’s largest unit heads to Iraq in March to begin a second deployment. In an interview with Pat Lynch, Congressman Vic Snyder says he believes the 39th. will have the supplies and weapons it needs in Iraq.

An autopsy Thursday didn’t reveal what killed 17-year-old Little Rock Parkview basketball player Antony Hobbs, who died after collapsing during the first quarter of a game against Lake Hamilton on Wednesday night.

The president of the Phillips County NAACP lambasted black elected officials for supporting a 2008 county budget proposal that he said doesn’t do enough to help black residents of the impoverished region. Black members of the Quorum Court are “bowing down” toCounty Judge Don Gentry’s current budget proposal, said Jimmie Wilson. Gentry is white.

Fueled by stronger-than-expected individual income tax collections, state general revenue in December 2007 jumped by $50.5 million over December 2006.

A legislative panel signed off on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s request for a $2.4 million increase in a cash-fund appropriation for a statewide education program to promote energy efficiency.

A legislative committee decided to postpone its review of proposed changes to the state’s building code, citing concerns about the cost of provisions aimed at making structures better able to withstand earthquakes.

The Arkansas Racing Commission on Thursday approved a nine race per week increase Southland Greyhound Park, extra races that track officials say will cater to an after-work crowd.

Fort Smith lawyer Oscar Stilley has been placed on interim suspension while disbarment proceedings are pending against him, the state Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct announced Thursday.

Former police Maj. Jeff Barrows has filed suit in federal court against the city of Fort Smith and the police chief demanding redress for his termination and claiming violation of his constitutional rights.

The driver of a commercial bus in a Nov. 25 crash on Interstate 40 near Forrest City that killed four was under the influence of amphetamines at the time of the accident and is now charged with four counts of negligent homicide. A Department of Transportation investigation found that Tornado Bus Co. often let drivers operate buses for longer than the continuous 10-hour maximum allowed by federal law. The company also falsified its records, saying it listed a co-driver for the Nov. 25 trip, but the person named co-driver was actually off duty in El Paso, Texas, that day.

Less than two weeks before he was to face a federal jury, Searcy neurosurgeon Patrick Chan pleaded guilty to one of four charges accusing him of taking kickbacks for agreeing to use specific products during spinal surgeries. Chan faces up to five years in prison. Chan also agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit filed by a whistle-blower – a former medical-device sales representative – on behalf of himself and the government.

An 8-month investigation into a major dogfighting ring by the Saline County Sherriff’s Office and The Humane Society of the United States resulted in the raid of two properties. Officers seized 36 dogs. Animal fighting experts assisted in identifying dog fighting equipment and paraphernalia including treadmills, medicines and break sticks taken from the Hensley and Mabelvale sites.

A Brookland High School band director who police say dressed as Santa Claus and threatened to shoot the school’s superintendent last week had bail set at $250,000 in Craighead County District Court. Steven Craig Vaughn underwent a preliminary psychological exam at MidSouth Health Systems in Jonesboro and was ordered by District Judge Keith Blackman to report daily to a psychiatrist and a probation officer if Vaughn is released on bond.

Re-enactors and Confederate groups will gather at Mount Holly Cemetery on Saturday and at MacArthur Museum on Jan. 12 to mark the 144th anniversary of the hanging of a 17-year-old boy by Union forces occupying Little Rock.

Filed under: Arkansas

Congressman Vic Snyder interview

My chat this morning with Congressman Snyder is now posted in the free “on demand” audio section of my home page, lyncho.com.

We had a lengthy discussion of the Iraq war, presidential politics, and the congress under Democratic control. It is aq  fine segment. available for free download as an mp3 file.

Filed under: Arkansas, National politics

Special Friday morning Wake UP on KARK TV 4

Join Bill Vickery and me for a wrap-up of Iowa caucus results sometime after 6:30.

Filed under: National politics, Promotion

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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