Opinion

Where is the wave?

I first started hearing about “the wave” back in 2007. It had been widely discussed and written about years before it hit my radar, though. The wave comes with an…

A real government program for small business

The Small Business Administration announced that the most recent fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2016 was a very robust year for SBA loans. The Trump Administration has proposed a small decrease…

Riff Raff: Observations, complete honesty, shifting politics, and independence stuff

On the weekend we celebrate our freedom, law enforcement agencies around the country proudly boast of having more DUI checkpoints. Happy 4th of Jul-Irony. When’s that medical marijuana become available?…

Arkansas sees results with Medicaid innovation

When it comes to government programs, often the first question many of us ask is “Are we getting what we’re paying for?” Given the significant federal and state tax burden…

Ending the cycle of devastating wildfires

On Tuesday (June 20), I introduced the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017. The bill, originally introduced in 2015, has one overriding goal – to make our federal forests healthy…

Riff Raff: Observations, Boss Kean’s ditch, commie weed, and the ‘High Road’

Was told the language in this Riff Raff stuff sometimes gets too blue. The first thought was to respond with something Richard Pryor might say. Second thought was something I…

Can mindfulness improve performance at work?

Have you noticed lately that mindfulness is everywhere? Our inboxes are overflowing with articles about the benefits of mindfulness at work, school and in our community. But even though mindfulness…

A life-saving device created by two Arkansas teenagers

I want to share a computer-coding news scoop about a pair of 13-year-old football playing Arkansans who built a device that has the potential to save the life of dozens…

Survive or thrive

Only the strong survive. We’ve all heard this before, so I don’t need to convince you of this truth. This axiom has carried many determined souls over the finish line…

It’s time for a different approach with Cuba

Anyone who paid attention to the 2016 Presidential election, or follows the President on Twitter, knows he prides himself on his ability to make “good deals.” And it’s clear at…

Elder Law and why it is important to you

Elder law involves planning for long-term care and other issues facing elderly and disabled individuals and their families. Although needs of specific clients will differ, elder law attorneys generally assist…

Arkansas legislators remain busy in the ‘interim’

With the conclusion of the regular session of the 91st General Assembly, and a subsequent 3-day special session designed to address Medicaid issues, we are now officially in the “interim.”…

Riff Raff: Observations, non-berries, and stuff that doesn’t make America great again

It’s been brought to my attention that strawberries are not berries, but bananas and pumpkins are. Anything that can be mixed in a blender with vodka and rum and other…

Cash flow critical in commercial construction

A steady workflow in the commercial construction industry can be, at times, unpredictable. Sales professionals and estimators may secure bids on projects that can keep a company busy for years,…

A win for wet communities in Arkansas

November 2012 was an important time for Benton County. Thanks to the financial generosity of a small number of individuals interested in moving our county forward, we successfully obtained the…

Riff Raff: Observations, curly mustaches and lost causes

Tried to get this essay approved through Russian back channels. Turns out, that’s not a good idea. But the essay contains good words, some of the best words. Some of…

Computer coding enthusiasm

If everything about my job was as easy and as much fun as encouraging students to learn to program a computer, I wouldn’t call it work at all. My granddaughter…

Ending poverty one judgment at a time

While making final remarks during the recent debate on changes to Arkansas Works – Arkansas’s version of Medicaid expansion that provides affordable coverage to adults earning very low incomes –…

15 skills to build

In 1997, a fascinating read hit the bookstore shelves titled “The Future Ain’t What It Use To Be” (Abrahamson, Meehan, Samuel). It examined not only the cultural trends that were…

Riff Raff: Camel backs and last straws

A friend wanted to know if the fiasco with Fort Smith’s recycling program is the result of fraud or stupidity. Yes. In spades. And then some. Let’s consider why the…