Welcome to March! Our wicked weather month of February was a short one, thankfully. Our quick survey of what folks are talking about this Monday turns first to politics:
Lt. Governor Bill Halter says he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Blanche Lincoln. Halter is the only Democrat to officially announce a challenge to Lincoln. Recent polls indicate she’ll face the toughest fight of her political career. In a prepared statement, Halter said "Washington is broken. It's working for the special interests, not Arkansas families."
The Pulaski County sheriff’s department has reinstated a drug-dog unit for the first time since 2005. Budget cuts killed the program, but Sheriff Doc Holladay says it was an easy decision to start it up again since the new dog and the training were free. Research has shown that a dog’s sense of smell is as much as 100 times more sensitive than a human’s. Holladay says his department has had to call other law enforcement agencies to borrow their dogs dozens of times in recent years.
The race is on for tickets and rooms for the Apple Blossom Invitational next month in Hot Springs. The $5 million race features two world-class thoroughbreds, meeting face-to-face for the first time. The race has already filled many hotels and the FAA has brought in a temporary control tower for the airport to handle the expected influx of private jets. Oaklawn Racetrack expects the event will break all track attendance records.
Surveying the area blogs today, there’s a lot of chatter about the Bill Halter/Blanche Lincoln race, including this roundup of coverage:
Halter reaction UPDATE
UPDATE: Statement from U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln reiterates her talking point about her […]
KUAR’s Ron Breeding notes an upcoming TV appearance by Roger Ebert that should prove interesting:
Ebert does Oprah... and talks!
If you didn't read my earlier entry about Roger Ebert's struggle with severe health problems, let me again recommend the Esquire profile of the Pulitzer-winning movie critic. Ebert has had a series of surgeries that have left him without a lower jaw, and without the ability to eat, drink or speak. Until now. The Esquire article talks about Ebert's effort to speak again using a computer voice fashioned from the hours of his voice recorded for movie commentaries. Now, […]
And Roby Brock has a bit of a business success story from Little Rock-based Dillard’s Department Stores:
BELT-TIGHTENING LEADS DILLARD'S TO PROFITABILITY
Dillard’s recorded quite a turnaround despite lower sales with a fourth quarter profit of $79.5 million. One year ago, Dillard’s lost $149.3 million.
For the fourth quarter, which is the mall retailer’s most active sales period, revenue […]
Say “hello” to March and let the thoughts of springtime commence! Of course, you can Click Here for the video version of today's talk and more links to comments on the U.S. Senate race.
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