Arkansas Times' Week in Review Podcast Arkansas Times

This week: We say a bittersweet farewell to Arkansas Times city reporter extraordinaire Mary Hennigan, but not before one last update on Little Rock news. And, Matt Campbell answers everything you want to know about the #lecterngate audit and the governor's response.

Stories discussed in this edition:
Little Rock city manager hopefuls include Sen. Fred Love, acting manager Emily Cox
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/12/little-rock-city-manager-job-attracts-out-of-state-prospects
U.S. senators say ATF agents weren’t wearing body cameras in fatal Malinowski raid
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/19/u-s-senators-say-atf-agents-werent-wearing-body-cameras-in-fatal-malinowski-raid
Activists call on Little Rock officials to support ceasefire in the Middle East
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/16/activists-call-on-little-rock-officials-to-support-ceasefire-in-the-middle-east
City officials OK financial plan for Little Rock solar array
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/17/city-officials-ok-financial-plan-for-little-rock-solar-array
Arkansas lawmakers call on ATF to release footage of Malinowski raid
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/19/arkansas-lawmakers-call-on-atf-to-release-footage-of-malinowski-raid
Lawmakers question governor’s staff over lectern audit
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/16/lawmakers-question-governors-staff-over-lectern-audit
State auditors refer lecterngate findings to prosecutor’s office
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/15/state-auditors-refer-lecterngate-findings-to-prosecutors-office

Arkansas Times listeners, we need your feedback! What do you like about the podcast? What do you hate? What can we improve? Email us with your thoughts, please, at podcasts@arktimes.com.

This week, Dave Ramsey and Benji preview the fiscal session, the governor's meager budget and the legislative fight over crypto mining; and, Omaya talks with Rhett Brinkley about John Calipari's arrival at the University of Arkansas and what it means for Razorback basketball.

Stories discussed this week:
Austerity Sarah: Governor’s budget is generous to private school families, stingy for everyone else
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/austerity-sarah-governors-budget-is-generous-to-private-school-families-stingy-for-everyone-else
State budget leaves only crumbs for rural schools and the poor, advocates say
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/state-budget-leaves-only-crumbs-for-rural-schools-and-the-poor-advocates-say
Thousands pack Bud Walton Arena to welcome new Razorbacks coach John Calipari
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/thousands-pack-into-bud-walton-arena-to-welcome-new-razorbacks-coach-john-calipari
Crypto at the Capitol: Legislature revisiting Bitcoin mining after complaints from local residents
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/crypto-at-the-capitol-legislature-revisiting-bitcoin-mining-after-complaints-from-local-residents
“It’s bad for everything”: Citizens group from Arkansas County ready to fight back against crypto mines
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/its-bad-for-everything-citizens-group-from-arkansas-county-ready-to-fight-back-against-crypto-mines

This week, Benji and Mary Hennigan discuss the latest in the case of Bryan Malinowski, who was posthumously awarded a $24,000 bonus by the Little Rock airport commission, as well as several actions taken by the city board of directors at a Tuesday meeting. Then, Benji and Austin Gelder talk about the latest in a new lawsuit over a provision in Arkansas LEARNS. Finally, Benji talks to Rhett Brinkley, Daniel Grear, and Stephanie Smittle about Monday's endlessly anticipated solar eclipse.

Little Rock officials approve new recycling contract, glass is back
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/03/little-rock-officials-approve-new-recycling-contract-glass-is-back
$4.3 million Little Rock port expansion up for a vote tonight
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/02/4-3-million-little-rock-port-expansion-up-for-a-vote-tonight
Airport commission gives $24K bonus to director Malinowski after death
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/02/airport-commission-gives-24k-bonus-to-director-malinowski-after-death
Central High plaintiffs sue Sanders, Oliva over targeting of AP African American Studies
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/25/central-high-plaintiffs-sue-sanders-oliva-over-targeting-of-ap-african-american-studies
Federal judge in LEARNS lawsuit plans to apply for LEARNS vouchers, won’t recuse
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/01/federal-judge-in-learns-lawsuit-plans-to-apply-for-learns-vouchers-wont-recuse
LEARNS lawsuit over ‘indoctrination’ reassigned to Judge Rudofsky
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/28/learns-lawsuit-over-indoctrination-reassigned-to-judge-rudofsky
Partly cloudy skies expected in Arkansas for Monday’s eclipse
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/03/partly-cloudy-skies-expected-in-arkansas-for-mondays-eclipse
Mulberry Mountain welcomes eclipse watchers with one-day music festival
https://arktimes.com/entertainment/2024/04/02/mulberry-mountain-welcomes-eclipse-watchers-with-one-day-music-festival
Mass eclipse wedding ceremony to bring hundreds of couples to Russellville
https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2024/03/22/mass-eclipse-wedding-ceremony-to-bring-hundreds-of-couples-to-russellville
9 stellar ways to celebrate the solar eclipse in Central Arkansas
https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2024/03/04/9-stellar-ways-to-celebrate-the-solar-eclipse-in-central-arkansas

All our eclipse-related coverage:
https://arktimes.com/tag/2024-solar-ecli

This week, Benji and Matt Campbell discuss Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins' reality show TV (coming soon to Netflix!), the latest on the long-awaited #lecterngate audit and why you shouldn't accept Arkansas's projections for April 8 eclipse tourism at face value. Plus, Austin fills us in on a GOP primary runoff in Hope that's turning some southwest Arkansas Republican legislators against the governor's office.

Show Notes:
Pulaski County weighing options for handling sheriff’s seemingly illegal contract with TV producers
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/27/pulaski-county-weighing-options-for-handling-sheriffs-seemingly-illegal-contract-with-tv-producers
Republican infighting over south Arkansas legislative runoff continues, pitting Sanders against old-guard GOP
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/27/republican-infighting-over-south-arkansas-legislative-runoff-continues-pitting-sanders-against-old-guard-gop
‘Lecterngate’ audit is ready, but the public release date is still unknown
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/27/lecterngate-audit-is-ready-but-a-public-release-date-still-unknown
State’s estimates of 1.5 million eclipse tourists next month are shady at best
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/05/despite-states-claims-1-5-million-eclipse-tourists-unlikely-to-come-to-arkansas-next-month

This week, Benji and Mary review the big news of the week — the shooting of Little Rock airport director Bryan Malinowski on Tuesday by federal agents as they attempted to execute a search warrant related to illegal gun sales. Then, reporter Debra Hale-Shelton discusses two stories she's reported this week: an ominous new effort to intimidate public libraries and Asa Hutchinson's interest in a job atop the University of Arkansas System.

Show Notes:
Illegal guns sales led to fatal ATF raid on airport director Malinowski’s home, affidavit says:
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/21/judge-unseals-documents-in-malinowski-case
Policing libraries, aka book banning, moves a step further in Arkansas:
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/19/policing-libraries-aka-book-banning-moves-a-step-further-in-arkansas
Is Asa Hutchinson interested in becoming the next UA System president? Apparently.
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/21/is-asa-hutchinson-interested-in-becoming-the-next-ua-system-president-apparently

Show Notes:
The queen’s gambit: Gov. Sanders and Co play political games with overcrowded prisons
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/02/28/the-queens-gambit-gov-sanders-and-co-play-political-games-with-overcrowded-prisons?fbclid=IwAR2FFU6Gw9ldB0JxOij_e81FprTrW3fL2QwkzkHeI_i8aFYkRFzBh-LFB9c
Legislature OKs ’emergency’ rule limiting gender options on state IDs, dodges public comment
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/15/legislature-oks-emergency-rule-restricting-gender-options-on-state-ids-dodging-public-comment
Bill Whitworth, legendary editor at The New Yorker and The Atlantic, dies at 87
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/08/bill-whitworth-legendary-editor-at-the-new-yorker-and-the-atlantic-dies-at-87
I remember his sweetness: Bill Whitworth and Dizzy Gillespie
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/12/i-remember-his-sweetness-bill-whitworth-and-dizzy-gillespie
The Women by Kristin Hannah
https://kristinhannah.com/books/the-women/
The Arkansas Times Film Series Presents Kundun (1997)
https://www.riverdale10.com/movie/Kundun