Guest Commentary

by The City Wire staff - February 19, 2015 3:00 pm

The open carry question

By now, a lot of Arkansans have heard about the “open carry” controversy stirred up by a billboard outside of Conway advising citizens that state law allows them to openly…

by The City Wire staff - February 16, 2015 1:14 pm

Avoiding ‘rage without focus’

The 90th General Assembly – thus far splendidly absent notable drama – is reaching its halfway point. Debates over taxes and healthcare are temporarily suspended, creating an opportunity for other…

by The City Wire staff - February 15, 2015 7:06 pm

Hutchinson’s honeymoon

It seems as if Asa Hutchinson is enjoying a honeymoon period at the helm of the Arkansas' state government. Given that a public official’s approval rating is usually rock solid…

by The City Wire staff - February 9, 2015 5:04 pm

Hand-wringing over guns on campus

I try to understand the perspective of others, specifically those with whom I disagree. If you can’t explain both sides of an issue, you don’t fully understand the issue. You’re…

by The City Wire staff - February 9, 2015 3:30 pm

Big pay raises for the elected class

The Independent Citizens Commission has set the proposed pay increases for state legislators, judges and constitutional officers. Everyone needs to take a big deep breath and read on. The pay…

by The City Wire staff - February 5, 2015 6:51 pm

A short note on eviction law

On Jan. 20, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herbert Wright, Jr. signed an order finding Arkansas’ criminal eviction statute unconstitutional. That’s been reported more than a few times over the past…

by The City Wire staff - February 2, 2015 4:54 pm

My ‘tax reform’ pet peeve

Any “tax reform” passed by Congress and signed by our President this year, next year, or in any future year will never change this one fact: by design, the sole…

by The City Wire staff - January 31, 2015 6:35 pm

Return to the political past

From the end of the Civil War until the 1970’s, the South was solidly Democratic, thus making it the so-called “Solid South.” It’s been said that it was Democratic because…

by The City Wire staff - January 29, 2015 8:23 pm

The speed trap app

A story the Associated Press ran about a popular smartphone app serves as yet another reminder that technological advances often raise legal issues that courts will have to struggle with…

by The City Wire staff - January 25, 2015 12:20 pm

A good man

The City Wire recently asked me to write something about the person who is the new Arkansas governor – my old boss, Asa Hutchinson. I was asked to write about him…

by The City Wire staff - January 25, 2015 12:17 pm

The politics of ‘AsaCare’

The long awaited speech by Gov. Asa Hutchinson on his health care plans for the state “surprised many people,” said state Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, one of the few surviving…

by The City Wire staff - January 20, 2015 1:17 pm

Reshaping the tax code

Last Saturday, news broke of President Obama’s intentions to reshape the tax code in favor of the middle class and working families, which would require raising taxes and fees on…

by The City Wire staff - January 18, 2015 7:42 pm

Make a legislative connection

While national political events capture the attention of the majority of our news media, Arkansas lawmakers are meeting in Little Rock writing, debating, and passing state laws that affect our…

by The City Wire staff - January 18, 2015 6:03 pm

Gearhart did go home again

A surprise announcement came about this past week when G. David Gearhart, the chancellor of the University of Arkansas, announced he would resign on July 31. A national search for…

by The City Wire staff - January 15, 2015 6:26 pm

Why would we want to do that?

Have you ever heard anyone say that it’s not easy to attract people to move to Fort Smith? Or maybe you’ve heard someone say we need more development along the…