by - June 14, 2015 2:10 pm
A governor in Europe
A few weeks ago, I was in Silicon Valley in California. Last week, I was in Newport and Batesville. Saturday, I leave for Paris and Germany. The locations change but…
Opinion
by - June 8, 2015 6:57 pm
The clarity of ‘Open Carry’
The media in Arkansas is buzzing about how some public officials are claiming that “open carry” is legal in Arkansas, and that it has been since Act 746 passed in…
by - June 7, 2015 5:33 pm
Arkansans to the rescue
As I deliver today’s radio address, the floodwaters in our state’s rivers finally should be cresting. In the coming days, the weather forecast calls for no rain and sunny skies…
by - June 3, 2015 8:14 pm
As good as it gets
Imagine living in a place where you live within easy walking or bicycling distance to a university where you can take in first rate plays and musical performances; or a…
by - June 1, 2015 7:04 pm
The Mayor and the vision thing
The irrelevance of the office of mayor in Fort Smith is a structural deficiency that needs to be corrected. Under our current form of government the mayor’s function is designed…
by - May 31, 2015 2:48 pm
It’s time to let Iraq die
In a previous post, I outlined the tortured history of Iraq in which I noted Iraq is an artificial nation with deep divisions that was held together Saddam Hussein’s brutality….
by - May 29, 2015 8:30 am
Immigration and the 2016 election cycle
On Tuesday (May 26), a panel of judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled against the request to lift the hold on President Obama’s…
by - May 25, 2015 6:04 pm
The ties that bind software and social policy
Governor Asa Hutchinson successfully pushed a computer coding program for public schools during the recently concluded Legislative Session. Hutchinson seeks to crank out 6,000 computer coders each year. The program…
by - May 17, 2015 11:26 pm
Trust, transparency and trails
Funding for a 35-mile multi-use trail system in Fort Smith wasn’t rejected because voters don’t like trails. It wasn’t about the trails. Never was. It was about trust. It was…
by - May 17, 2015 10:05 am
Hillary: A problematic messenger
Despite all the advantages Hillary Clinton has going for her in the upcoming 2016 presidential elections cycle, she does have some vulnerabilities and challenges that could at best diminish the…
by - May 15, 2015 5:18 pm
A focus on heritage tourism
Not long ago, I was in Hot Springs as the Arkansas Arts Council named the 2015 Arkansas Living Treasure recipient. It’s a big deal. This year’s honoree was Lorrie Popow,…
by - May 11, 2015 4:03 pm
Vision and the mayoral platform
Where there is no vision, the people perish, at least that is one translation of Proverbs 29:18. Although I have no ecclesiastical or apostolic authority to change the Bible, I…
by - May 10, 2015 8:27 pm
No ‘team’ in Cotton (Updated)
Editor’s note: This essay has been edited to reflect that Sen. Cotton did indeed address the media following his lone “No” vote, and that Sen. Cotton called out the other…
by - May 10, 2015 7:44 pm
A different approach to education
One of the best-kept secrets in Fort Smith is a non-traditional approach to learning created by Italian physician, Dr. Maria Montessori, in the early 20th century. Educational goals for students…
by - May 7, 2015 4:11 pm
A fortunate son
A lot has changed in Mom’s world. The world in 1949, the year of her birth, was a crazy place. Europe was rebuilding its continental economy, the Soviets were rattling…
by - May 5, 2015 6:49 pm
Highway heartburn
Speaking recently at the Arkansas Trucking Association’s Annual Business meeting in Hot Springs, Gov. Asa Hutchinson dropped a few names or positions of names likely to be on the working…
by - May 4, 2015 11:03 pm
Vote FOR streets, and FOR trails
The City Wire encourages Fort Smith voters to renew the 1% street tax program for another 10 years, and to vote for using 5% of the street tax to fund…
by - May 3, 2015 4:10 pm
The argument for trail money
As you may be aware, Fort Smith voters will go to the polls on May 12. The ballot will include renewal of the 1% sales tax that for the last…
by - May 3, 2015 4:00 pm
A third political party can’t win
I want to address why we have had historically a two party dominant political system this country. Note that I wrote “dominant” here, as there have been and are today…
by - April 30, 2015 7:19 pm
Revising the ‘good place to die’ pitch
A recent commentary by me suggesting that we make Fort Smith a place that caters to the retirement crowd was not well received by all. My tagline, “Fort Smith is…