Stories by Doug Thompson
RSS‘Spy-In-Chief’ Gets A Pass This Time
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S FAN CLUB NEVER WANTS THEIR HERO TO GET BLAMED FOR ANYTHING
If George W. Bush’s administration had rifled The Associated Press’ phone records, Arkansas liberals would have burned the president in eff gy. Continue reading...
Lundstrum To Run For House
District 87 Seat Up For Grabs
Robin Lundstrum, an Elm Springs City Council member and veteran campaigner for other Republican candidates, announced her bid for the state House District 87 seat. Continue reading...
Private Option Sponsor: Conservatives Should Unite
Fighting old battles about the private option in health care will only benefit two Arkansas Democrats who helped create the dilemma in the first place, Rep. John Burris, R-Harrison, told conservatives Saturday. Continue reading...
Sweet Freedom In Cleveland
NEVER LOSING HOPE PAYS OFF
Nothing requires as much courage as never giving up. Continue reading...
Ross Faces Party Loyalists
'Brightest Blue' District Receives Former Lawmaker
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross went to the “brightest blue district in the state” Friday and acquitted himself well, lawmakers said. Continue reading...
Veterans Home Keeps Medicaid
Regulators Permit New Patients
Regulators will allow the state-run Fayetteville Veterans Home to accept Medicaid and Medicare residents for the first time in two months, administrators announced Friday. Continue reading...
Task Force Watching Veterans Homes
A newly formed task force should look into patient care at state-run veterans homes now that abuse and neglect have come to light, said a sponsor of the bill that created the group. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Davy Carter: The Buzz Just Won’t Stop
NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY DIDN’T RIP OPEN HUGE REGIONAL RIFT BETWEEN AREA, REST OF STATE
House Speaker Davy Carter keeps getting plenty of buzz in the political press as a governor’s prospect. Some of it’s getting good, but I’m still not sold. Continue reading...
Four Fired At Veterans Home
False Reports Lead To Dismissals At Fayetteville Facility
Four workers were fired for giving false statements after a patient’s arm was broken at the Fayetteville Veterans Home, the director of the state Veterans Affairs Department said Monday. Continue reading...
Lost Wages Can Come Back
Missing Pay a Problem for Many
The Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center in Springdale recovered more than $500,000 in back pay for low-wage workers in the last five years, according to its records. Then the calls for help from professionals and business owners started coming. Continue reading...
Ross, Carter And Other Prospects In Race
DEMOCRAT ROSS STUMBLES A BIT WHILE REPUBLICAN CARTER PONDERS MAKING GUBERNATORIAL BID
The secret of tapping into voter anger is to not get them mad at you, too. Continue reading...
Community College Gets One-Time Appropriation
NorthWest Arkansas Community College and Pulaski Technical College each received $750,000 in one-time appropriations out of the state General Improvement Fund, three times as much as other state two-year colleges, according to final budget legislation. Continue reading...
Benton County GOP Disavows Remarks
Responsible Parties Resign, Chairman Says
A man and his wife resigned their posts Monday on the Benton County Republican Committee after he expressed a desire to shoot legislators in a committee newsletter. Continue reading...
State Police Opens Investigation
Arkansas State Police are investigating comments posted Saturday in the Benton County Republican Party's online newsletter which say, in part: "The 2nd amendment means nothing unless those in power believe you would have no problem simply walking up and shooting them if they got too far out of line and stopped responding as representatives." Continue reading...
Region’s Caucus Still Cordial
Tough Health Care Vote Leaves Few Bruises
Northwest Arkansas legislators split 11 to 5 in their vote on health care reform, but will not leave the session with grudges, delegation members from both sides of that issue said. Continue reading...
Regional Switch Proves Crucial
Health Care Passes After Benton County Reversal
Three lawmakers from Benton County changed their votes and provided the winning margin in Tuesday’s second, successful effort at passing a health care package in the state House of Representatives. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: What We Knew Before The Big Vote
LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT ‘PRIVATE OPTION’ TO EXTEND HEALTH COVERAGE
Deadlines demand that I write before the most momentous vote in your state Legislature since the Lake View School reform session of 2003. This should frustrate me. It doesn’t. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: ‘Arkansas Plan’ Aimed At Bigger Targets
OTHER STATES ON WASHINGTON’S MIND IN DEBATE
Between them, Texas and Florida have almost as many uninsured people as Arkansas has people. Texas has 1.5 million uninsured and Florida 1 million. Arkansas’ whole population is about 3 million with 250,000 uninsured or not covered by government health benefits. Continue reading...
Pryor: Gay Friends Didn’t Choose Sexual Orientation
Gay and lesbian Arkansans have convinced U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor their sexual orientation is a characteristic, not a choice, the senator said Friday. Continue reading...
Veterans Home Expects More Trouble
‘Culture of Fear’ Cited In Error
Regulators will cite the Fayetteville Veterans Home again, this time in a complaint involving restraint of a patient on Dec. 8, the state Department of Veterans Affairs announced Friday. Continue reading...
Student Loans Proposed To Fix Tuition Impasse
A student loan and forgiveness program could defuse the political “hand grenade” of in-state tuition for students who cannot prove U.S. citizenship, a Northwest Arkansas senator said Saturday Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Winning The War, Losing The Victory
IRAQ VETERANS DESERVE SUPPORT
“For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph — a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.” — The last lines of the movie “Patton” Ten years ago last Tuesday, we invaded Iraq. The swift defeat of a major regional power followed. The country that had conquered Kuwait, however briefly, and fought Iran to a standstill was crushed by our armed forces. Baghdad fell 20 days after the invasion began. Continue reading...
Health Care, Budget Priorities
Falling Into Place, Lawmakers Say
Health care expansion discussion has come to a head, Northwest Arkansas lawmakers from both ends of the political spectrum said at a public forum Friday. Continue reading...
Veterans Care Questioned
Agency Track Record Still Falters
A death at the remaining state-run veterans home raises questions about whether the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs can manage nursing homes, lawmakers said Thursday. Continue reading...
Rolling The Dice
Gamers unite for two days of fun
There’s a game you’d love to play, but which one and with whom? Continue reading...
Veterans Home Cited in Death
Fayetteville Veterans Home administrators didn’t report a patient’s death from suspected neglect for three weeks in violation of state law, state regulators found. Continue reading...
Property Bill Sponsor Requests Hearing
State Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Gravette, will request a special legislative hearing for his controversial property rights bill, he said Wednesday. Continue reading...
Conservatives Won On Health Care, Speaker Says
ROGERS — Getting the option to subsidize private health care coverage rather than expand Medicaid is a major victory for conservatives that could help control the Medicaid program’s growth in the future, legislators told the group Conservative Arkansas on Saturday. Continue reading...
Doctors, Nurses Take Abuse Seriously
REGION’S MEDICAL COMMUNITY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR EFFORTS TO AID VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
My wife got herself an impressive, deep-purple shiner on her right eye. She fell from the back of a truck while we were helping a friend move. Fortunately she suffered no broken bones or other deeper, more serious injuries. Continue reading...
Alexander: Health Plan Chances No Longer ‘Zero’
FAYETTEVILLE — Passage of expanded health coverage is plausible for the first time, said a conservative state House member who is a former chairman of the Washington County Tea Party. Continue reading...
High Tide Reached For Social Agenda
REPUBLICANS NEED MORE TO RUN ON THAN GUNS, MOTHERHOOD, HATING OBAMA
The Republican social agenda peaked as a state political force at 1:56 p.m. Wednesday. Continue reading...
Winter Wonderland Makes Me Wonder
ICY, UNSAFE HIGHWAYS ODDLY INSPIRE DRIVERS TO ATTEMPT DANGEROUS, RECKLESS BEHAVIOR
LITTLE ROCK — People do stuff on icy roads they’d never consider doing on dry, safe ones. Continue reading...
Lawmakers Promise to Move Beyond Social Issues
FAYETTEVILLE — Lawmakers are getting pressure to move beyond social issues such as gun rights and abortion, legislators said at a forum hosted Friday by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Continue reading...
Immigrant Influence Discussed
Vote Doubled Since 2008, Group Says At Forum
SPRINGDALE — The number of immigrants voting in Arkansas has more than doubled since 2008, with an estimated 25,000 voting in the 2012 election, according to organizers of a forum Sunday in Springdale. Continue reading...
Campus Gun Bill Likely To Be Changed, Lawmakers Say
BENTONVILLE — A bill to allow some concealed carry permit holders to bring guns onto public college and university campuses will probably not pass in its current form, a House co-sponsor said Tuesday. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Money Or People: Definitions Matter
UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR, CRITICS SPLIT ON WHETHER DOCUMENT IS PERSONNEL REVIEW, FINANCIAL RECORD
I’m having a hard time working up a righteous lather about supposed stonewalling by the University of Arkansas’ chancellor. Continue reading...
Campus Safer Without Guns, Lawmakers Told
Professor: ‘If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It’
FAYETTEVILLE — An Arkansas college or university student is 72 times less likely to be criminally killed on campus than the U.S. average for college students, lawmakers were told Friday. Continue reading...
Advocates: Abused Child Policy Changes 'Risky'
Pitfalls Of Present System Cannot Be Fixed Without Change
There is no way to know if a new policy aimed at reducing the number of children in foster care will work until it is tried, said local and state child advocates. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Reader Asks A Good Question
SHEPPARD: STORY ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S DEFICIT NEEDS MORE INFORMATION
Reader Christine Sheppard of Fayetteville asked some good questions. Continue reading...
Hutchinson Stays Out of Medicaid Debate
Gubernatorial Candidate Declines To Make Expansion A 2014 Campaign Issue
FAYETTEVILLE — Governor’s candidate Asa Hutchinson stayed out of the debate over whether the state should expand Medicaid, saying that was for elected leaders to work out and expressing confidence in those leaders. Continue reading...
Asa Hutchinson demurs on Medicaid question
Governor's candidate Asa Hutchinson refused to interject himself in whether the state should expand Medicaid, saying that was for elected leaders to work out. Continue reading...
Prevailing Wage Repeal Will Pass, Senator Predicts
BENTONVILLE — A bill to do away with the state’s “prevailing wage” requirement on public works projects will pass, Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, assured the audience at a forum of local lawmakers Saturday. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Reduce Excessive, Oppressive Court Fees
MONEY FROM LEGAL FINES FLOWS IN TOO MANY DIRECTIONS; TOO LITTLE GOES TO JUSTICE FUND
Our excessive, oppressive court fees should be reduced. What we do charge should go to the courts, not for everything under the sun. Continue reading...
Official: Consider Vets Home
Fayetteville Site Can Open 17 Beds Immediately
FAYETTEVILLE — The state should look at available space in the Fayetteville Veterans Home before going to the expense of building an all-new facility in central Arkansas, lawmakers were told Friday. Continue reading...
Transit System To End Saturday Service
SPRINGDALE — Ozark Regional Transit will end Saturday service after Feb. 16, the public transportation system’s board decided Thursday. Continue reading...
Ozark Regional Transit ending Saturday service
Ozark Regional Transit will end Saturday service after Feb. 16, the ORT board decided Thursday. Continue reading...
Health Delays Lawmaker
Rep. Jonathan Barnett, R-Siloam Springs, will get to the just-opened legislative session “as soon as possible,” but is staying home for now on his doctor’s advice, he said Tuesday. Continue reading...
Region’s Priorities Reflect State’s
Northwest Arkansas legislators see a notable lack of regional issues when they convene in Little Rock on Monday for a session headlined by more than a billion dollars worth of statewide health care decisions. Continue reading...
McDaniel’s Stumble Helps Hutchinson
REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE MAY HAVE BEST SHOT DESPITE HAVING BIG POLITICAL ENEMIES
Asa Hutchinson’s chances of being our next governor just went up. That’s the big effect of Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s “inappropriate relationship” with a Hot Springs attorney. Continue reading...
Ballots, Citizenship And Repercussions
LAWMAKERS SHOULD TREAD CAREFULLY ON VOTER ID; PROBLEMS ARE FEW, COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANT
I expect a lot of antivoter-fraud legislation and antiillegal immigration bills in the upcoming General Assembly. I also expect severe political backlash to them. Continue reading...
