EDITORIAL >> Refighting old battles

It is comforting to live in a state where the elected leaders, or some of them, do not chase the latest political chimera or lose their wits when the mob is pounding on the door. Gov. Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said they were not going to accede to the demands of 33 Republican lawmakers and have the state […]

TOP STORY >> Rice farmers seek millions

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerA multi-million dollar lawsuit by more than a dozen Lonoke County rice farmers against Bayer CropScience began last week and could continue for about a month, according to observers.In February, a St. Louis District Court jury ruled against Bayer in a similar case, awarding other growers about $1.5 million in actual losses.Named Lonoke County plaintiffs […]

TOP STORY >> Fletcher sees progress in his first year

By JEFFREY SMITHLeader staff writerJacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher is at the mid-point of his first term as head of the city. Fletcher reflected on the past nine months as mayor and discussed the future at the Jacksonville Rotary Club meeting on Monday.Fletcher, who is running for re-election in November, took a look back since being elected mayor last year to […]

TOP STORY >> Lincoln makes local stop

By JONATHAN FELDMANLeader staff writerSen. Blanche Lincoln, facing a tough primary battle in May and re-election in November, says she finds inspiration from another woman senator from Arkansas.Speaking to the U.S. Department of Agriculture women’s history program at Sherwood Forest on Monday, Lincoln repeated the words of former Sen. Hattie Caraway of Arkansas, who in 1932 became the first woman […]

TOP STORY >> Huckabee in top form at banquet

By RICK KRONLeader staff writerJust before former Gov. Mike Huckabee careened down a mile-long bobsled course in 2001, a 16-year-old junior Olympic told him, “Keep your eyes on the curve ahead.”“It was a profound lesson I’ve never forgotten,” the former presidential candidate told the crowd of about 200 at the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce dinner Monday night.It was the advice […]