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Tax Stance Trumps Experience

YOUNGER CANDIDATES WIN STATE SENATE

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Both contested primaries for state Senate in Northwest Arkansas were won by younger candidates who made a firm anti-tax stance the keystone for their campaigns. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 24, 2012 at 5:28 a.m.

Shake Hands With A Voter Sometime

PEOPLE RUNNING TO REPRESENT VOTERS SHOULD TALK TO PEOPLE, EVEN IF MONEY IS NOT INVOLVED

Subscriber onlyWhen people who want to get elected don’t ask for your vote, something’s wrong. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 20, 2012 at 4:42 a.m.

Democrats, GOP Battle For County

REGION CRUCIAL TO STATE PARTIES

Subscriber onlyRepublicans will win 11 of 16 justice of the peace seats this year in Washington County and make similar gains in legislative seats, the county party chairman predicts. Democrats disagree, but the prospect has their attention. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 13, 2012 at 5:16 a.m.

Ex-Senator Speaker At Event

OBAMA’S MARRIAGE STANCE ‘WEAPON’ FOR ROMNEY, SANTORUM SAYS

Subscriber onlyROGERS — President Barack Obama handed Republican challenger Mitt Romney a “potent weapon” when the president expressed personal support for allowing same-sex marriage, recent presidential contender Rick Santorum said Friday. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 12, 2012 at 5:10 a.m.

District 7 Leads In Money Race

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — The Republicans running in Springdale’s state Senate race have more than $100,000 to spend between them, according to state campaign finance reports. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 8, 2012 at 5:23 a.m.

Candidates See Change Ahead For District 85

Subscriber onlyFAYETTEVILLE — Both Democratic contenders in the state House District 85 race see a mixed constituency containing a largely rural area west of Fayetteville that is becoming more urbanized. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 7, 2012 at 5:39 a.m.

Slinkard, Parsons Face Off In Primary

Subscriber onlyBELLA VISTA — Their different views of the relationship between the city of Bella Vista, the area’s property owners association and state government comprises the starkest contrast between the two candidates in the District 92 race for the state House of Representatives. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 6, 2012 at 5:27 a.m.

Experience Versus Change in Senate 7 Race

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — The state Senate District 7 race is between a young man who wants to rock the boat and the most experienced lawmaker aboard it. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 6, 2012 at 5:24 a.m.

Opponents Promise Conservative Stance

Subscriber onlyBENTONVILLE — Bentonville’s race for state representative, District 93 is a contest between two men experienced in local government, one with Benton County and one with the city. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: May 6, 2012 at 5:20 a.m.

Republican Opponents Vie For Senate Race

Subscriber onlyBENTONVILLE — One candidate in the state Senate District 1 race is running on experience. The other is running on commitment. The district primarily consists of Bentonville with a section of Washington County west of Springdale. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 29, 2012 at 5:56 a.m.

Experience, Commitment Cited In Senate Race

Subscriber onlyBENTONVILLE — One candidate in the state Senate District 1 race is running on experience. The other is running on commitment. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 29, 2012 at 5:44 a.m.

Candidate Supports Appointing Judges

DEMOCRATIC WOMEN HOST ELECTION FORUM

Subscriber onlyFAYETTEVILLE — A candidate for state Supreme Court justice is a longtime advocate of appointing judges and has not changed his mind, he said at a forum in Fayetteville Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 25, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Students Speak Out

UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS DISCUSS STATUS AT FORUM

Subscriber onlyFAYETTEVILLE — Young men and women, who could be deported for admitting to anyone they are undocumented residents of the United States, spoke at a public forum on their status Monday before a capacity crowd of at least 650 people at the Fayetteville Town Center. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 24, 2012 at 5:32 a.m.

Property Taxes Rise, Values Fall

INCREASES HIT AT BAD TIME, COUNTY ASSESSOR SAYS

Subscriber onlySome property tax bills on Northwest Arkansas houses will increase in 2012 — four years after the homes’ values crashed. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 15, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Panel Alters Strategy

TOURISM OFFICIALS LEERY OF HIGH FUEL PRICES

Subscriber onlyROGERS — High gasoline prices and the risk of higher ones changed the state’s Tourism Commission’s advertising strategy on Wednesday. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 12, 2012 at 5:31 a.m.

Which Way Is The Bus Traveling?

MONEY FOR THE OZARK TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULD GO UP FROM ABOUT $2.9 MILLION TO $3.3 MILLION

Subscriber onlyThere’s a sales tax election coming up in Washington County. Want to know if the existing system’s facing a cut if we don’t pass the tax? Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 8, 2012 at 4:01 a.m.

Clinton to visit UA, honor Bumpers

Former President Bill Clinton will speak at an event honoring former Sen. Dale Bumpers and his wife, Betty, at the University of Arkansas on April 15, the University confirmed Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 3, 2012 at 11:49 a.m.

A Very Big Federal Lawsuit Indeed

HEALTH CARE REFORM ISN’T ALL THAT’S AT STAKE BEFORE THE COUNTRY’S HIGHEST COURT

Subscriber onlyHealth care reform isn’t all that’s at stake in this lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Apr 1, 2012 at 4:56 a.m.

Legislative Majority May Shift

BURRIS SAYS CHANGE WON’T CAUSE MAJOR UPHEAVAL

Subscriber onlyArkansas voters are poised to change the majority party in the state Legislature for the first time in more than 100 years in a clear sign they want to end the status quo, state House Minority Leader John Burris, R-Harrison, told a Fayetteville audience on Friday. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 31, 2012 at 5:24 a.m.

Santorum To Visit Rogers

Subscriber onlyROGERS — GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum will arrive in Arkansas on May 4 to speak at the Benton County Lincoln Day Dinner, an annual fundraiser for the county’s Republican Party, the state Republican Party confirmed Monday. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 27, 2012 at 5:09 a.m.

Tolls, Taxes Don’t Intersect, Really

COMMISSION DISAPPOINTED LAWMAKERS DIDN’T REPEAL $4 MILLION-A-YEAR SALES TAX EXEMPTION

Subscriber onlySo the state Highway Commission will take a look at putting tolls on one of the busiest stretches of interstate in Arkansas — in the same year a temporary highway tax increase is on the November ballot. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 25, 2012 at 4:23 a.m.

Democrats See Tough Fights

MORE REPUBLICANS FILING FOR COUNTY OFFICE

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Washington County residents want services from county government and are willing to pay for them, Democratic candidates for county office said Tuesday at a campaign for all of them. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 21, 2012 at 5:31 a.m.

Huckabee Could Heal GOP Wounds

Subscriber onlyThe Republican presidential primary will be over long before it gets to Arkansas’ vote in May, I confidently told a group in Bentonville a few weeks ago. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 18, 2012 at 3:49 a.m.

COMMENTARY: Friday’s Speaker Election A Watershed

BUT WILL HOUSE KEEP WILLIAMS IN JANUARY?

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — The Republican-vs.-Democrat aspect of Friday’s House speaker’s election got the attention. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 11, 2012 at 3:46 a.m.

Voter Forms Available In Spanish

Subscriber onlyFAYETTEVILLE — Voter registration forms in Spanish are now available to Arkansans because of a Fayetteville resident’s insistence. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 8, 2012 at 5:24 a.m.

A Change Needed For Rough Children

YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM WORTH SURPLUS FROM STATE

Subscriber onlyNo good news ever came out of the Alexander Youth Services Center way back when I covered Saline County. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Mar 4, 2012 at 4:57 a.m.

Inexorable Logic Wins Out With LSU

MOVING IMPORTANT GAME TO FAYETTEVILLE FAILS TO IGNITE FIRESTORM SIMILAR TO 1999-2000 DEBACLE

Subscriber onlyI’m ignorant of and disinterested in sports. I do know a thing or two about politics, however. The reaction - or rather the lack of it - to moving the University of Arkansas’ game against Louisiana State University to Fayetteville is quite revealing. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Feb 26, 2012 at 5:29 a.m.

Democrats Still Write The State’s Checks

REPUBLICAN PARTY MUST LEARN BUDGETING PROCESS IF IT WANTS POWER IN ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE

Subscriber onlyDemocrats will run state government until Republicans can draft a state budget. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Feb 19, 2012 at 5:23 a.m.

Living In A Safe Zone In Class Warfare

WE HAVEN’T GONE AS WHOLE-HOG FOR THE ‘LEAVE THE RICH ALONE’ ATTITUDE THE GOP SEEMS STUCK WITH

Subscriber onlyIn Northwest Arkansas, the 1 percent and everybody else get along at least as well as anywhere else in the country. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Feb 12, 2012 at 5:33 a.m.

Drive-By Shooting Reported

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Police are investigating a drive-by shooting reported on Braxton Drive on Friday night. Continue reading...

By STAFF REPORT Posted: Feb 5, 2012 at 5:49 a.m.

Who’s On The Dark Side Of Video Games?

THE BEST PARENTING ADVICE I EVER GOT: ‘KIDS DON’T CARE WHAT YOU DO AS LONG AS YOU DO IT WITH THEM’

Subscriber onlyIn a new “Star Wars” game, the biggest threat to the empire may be homosexual activists!” proclaimed Tony Perkins on Tuesday. He’s president of the Family Research Council. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Feb 5, 2012 at 4:50 a.m.

Tree Falls Down, But There Is No Sound

SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE WONDERED HOW THE COMMISSION KEPT GOING AFTER TIMBER SALES FELL FLAT

Subscriber onlyI would have written about the finances of the state Forestry Commission earlier if anybody up here had noticed. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Jan 29, 2012 at 5:27 a.m.

Facing Consequences For Abandoning Ship

THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR REFUSING TO BUDGE

Subscriber onlyWhat’s the difference between a cruise ship skipper and a Wall Street banker? Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Jan 22, 2012 at 5:31 a.m.

Paying For 1957 Until Hearing Requested

FACT WE HAVEN’T DEALT WITH AFTERSHOCKS OF CENTRAL HIGH CRISIS IS A STATEWIDE EMBARRASSMENT

Subscriber onlyState taxpayers can stop shelling out millions a year to three central Arkansas school districts, it seems. At least there’s a very good chance. All we have to do is ask. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Jan 8, 2012 at 5:26 a.m.

Reform: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

REDISTRIBUTING INADEQUATE HIGHWAY MONEY WE HAVE WON’T FIX MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS

Subscriber onlyThe state Highway Commission stopped pretending to reform its district lines as soon as the heat of a proposed constitutional amendment cooled off . Members dropped their reform plans in a unanimous vote earlier this month. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Jan 1, 2012 at 5:01 a.m.

Jackasses And Engineers

Subscriber onlyBob Caudle couldn’t get his “Jackasses of the Year” award column ready in time for this week, much to my regret. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Dec 31, 2011 at 5:16 a.m.

Holiday Brings Back Many Fond Memories

IT’S WHAT YOU DO, NOT WHAT GIFTS YOU GET OR GIVE, THAT MAKES A CHRISTMAS WORTH REMEMBERING

Subscriber onlyI’ve written a lot of Christmas columns. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Dec 25, 2011 at 5:24 a.m.

Merry Xmas Whether You Like It Or Not

U.S. CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES YOUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION, RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE

Subscriber onlySome scold on NPR blathered about how our “consumerism” ruins everything. Christmas is the worst, he said. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Dec 18, 2011 at 5:20 a.m.

Courage Triumphed Politics

Subscriber onlyEditor’s note: Brenda Blagg’s column will return Sunday. Brenda is taking a day off. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Dec 16, 2011 at 5:34 a.m.

A Small Piece Of A Much Bigger Picture

WHY IS CONGRESS GIVING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THE POWER NECESSARY TO DETAIN PEOPLE?

Subscriber onlyPlease tell people about the horrible new power in the latest defense bill that allows people to be locked up, the email from a subscriber asked. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Dec 11, 2011 at 5:18 a.m.

Should Voters Reward ‘We Know Best’?

SCHOOL BOARD WENT ABOUT NINTH-GRADE CENTER THE WRONG WAY, EVEN IF IT’S THE RIGHT ANSWER

Subscriber onlyThe rollout of the proposed Bentonville ninthgrade center has been just awful. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Dec 4, 2011 at 5:11 a.m.

Another Foolish Gamble On Commodities

RISKY MARKETS SET RAW MATERIAL PRICES FOR MILK, GRAIN, COPPER DESPITE QUESTIONABLE DEMAND

Subscriber onlyWhat’s the difference between what you do and gambling? I asked that of a commodities trader many years ago. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Nov 27, 2011 at 5:30 a.m.

Cook States Blunt Political Facts

BIPARTISAN ANALYST SAYS PRESIDENTS DON’T GET RE-ELECTED DURING TIMES OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS

Subscriber onlyPresident Barack Obama was certainly dealt a bad hand, but he played it poorly. That’s what one of the best political analysts in the business said in Fayetteville recently. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Nov 20, 2011 at 5:28 a.m.

Cutting The Wires For A Week

SOUJOURN OF PRIVACY YIELDS ANSWERS TO STAYING INFORMED WITHOUT CONSTANT COMMUNICATION

Subscriber onlyLITTLE ROCK — Ispent a few hours last week under anesthesia. I spent even more of it avoiding the TV, the news and so forth. The idea was to get a fair, fresh view of things while being forced to take a break. “Rip Van Winkle” lite was the theme. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Nov 13, 2011 at 4:31 a.m.

COMMENTARY: Our Recent Visitor

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Out of politeness, I didn’t write about Herman Cain before his triumphant appearance in Springdale last week. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Nov 1, 2011 at 3:34 a.m.

Beebe Leads With Steady Hand On Wheel

ECONOMY IS NO. 1 ISSUE FACING STATE, ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY’S LATEST ARKANSAS POLL

Subscriber onlyThe least surprising thing in the last Arkansas Poll is the thing that matters most. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Oct 30, 2011 at 5:33 a.m.

COMMENTARY: A Fine Time To Leave Me, John

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — John Brummett’s gone and I miss him already, even though he only moved next door. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Oct 25, 2011 at 3:33 a.m.

Monsters Do Walk Among Us

TRAINING CENTER AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE HELPS PREPARE VAMPIRE, WEREWOLF HUNTERS

Subscriber onlyThe monster came through the window. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Oct 23, 2011 at 5:30 a.m.

Be Careful What You Ask For

FOUNDING FATHERS OVERTHREW GOVERNMENT TWICE; FOLLOWING IN THEIR STEPS COULD LEAD TO SAME

Subscriber onlyIt’s a long trip from “Occupy Wall Street” to someplace serious. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Oct 9, 2011 at 5:37 a.m.

No Decision Not The Safe Decision

ACTING WITH CAUTION DOES NOT MEAN LEAVING OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PLANNING TO D.C. ‘EXPERTS’

Subscriber onlySomebody’s got to make a decision, and it’s not us.” Rep. John Burris of Harrison, Arkansas House GOP leader, said that. He offers more insight than he should. Continue reading...

By Doug Thompson Posted: Oct 2, 2011 at 5:10 a.m.

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