Speaking of Arkansas

Benton County proposes an expansion of its jail to deal with crowding. Benton County Judge Barry Moehring, Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway and Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith are advocating for voters to approve a temporary sales tax for construction and a permanent sales tax for operation.

Voters in Benton and Washington counties will be asked on Nov. 8 to support new taxes to pay for jail expansions. This episode of the Speaking of Arkansas podcast features Sarah Moore, executive director of the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, and Mac Mayfield, a board member of the coalition and a leader of a new group called Neighbors Against New Taxation. They oppose jail expansions in both counties, advocating instead for judicial system reforms they say can hold people accountable while also addressing the root causes of their involvement in the judicial system. To listen to an argument for the Washington County jail expansion, visit: nwaonline.com/105forjail/ Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/ Support your local news by subscribing at: nwaonline.com/email/

Voters in Benton and Washington counties will be asked on Nov. 8 to support new taxes to pay for jail expansions.In this episode of the Speaking of Arkansas podcast, Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder and Chief Deputy Jay Cantrell, who becomes the sheriff in January, discuss the expansion proposal in Washington County. To listen to an argument against jail expansion in Washington and Benton Counties, visit: https://www.nwaonline.com/105againstjail/ Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/ Support your local news by subscribing at: nwaonline.com/subscribe

On this episode of Speaking of Arkansas, Joanna Bell discusses her new role as the city of Fayetteville's arts and culture director as well as The Ramble, the city's voter-approved cultural arts corridor project. Join host Greg Harton, editorial page editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, as they discuss charting a path for promoting and producing the arts in Fayetteville.

Bill Clinton's presidency ended more than 20 years ago, but he remains the first and only Arkansan to have made it to the political Mount Everest, the White House. Well before he and Hillary Clinton were residents at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., they got married inside a small brick house at 930 California Drive in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Today, the house is the Clinton House Museum, a local effort to preserve and commemorate the place where the couple joined friends and supporters to plot out the early days of Bill Clinton's political journey. A house in Hope, Arkansas, is where William Jefferson Blythe was born, but it could be said this house in Fayetteville became the birthplace of his political success, the setting for his first successful run for public office to become Arkansas' attorney general. The house is owned by the University of Arkansas, which also owns a number of other older houses in the area adjacent to the UA campus. The university leases the home to the board of directors of the Clinton House Museum, which is working to ensure the property's future as a stop on the so-called "Billgramage" is preserved. In this episode of Speaking of Arkansas, that board's president, former UA professor Stephen Smith, discusses the museum's future, the house's place in political history and the efforts to build an endowment to fund operation of the small museum.For additional information, visit clintonhousemuseum.org. The museum at 930 W. Clinton Drive is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

On this episode of the "Speaking of Arkansas" podcast, Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks about: • Sarah Huckabee Sanders, viewed as his likely replacement in 2023, and her qualities as a potential governor. • Issues he plans to work on during his remaining months in office. • Jail and prison overcrowding and whether Arkansas over-incarcerates its population. • His advice on how to approach Ukraine and Russia. • Mobile sports betting's entry into Arkansas. • His nephew Jim Hendren's Common Ground Arkansas organization. • Whether anti-intellectualism is an problem in Arkansas. • Arkansas' positioning to be heavily involved in the future of transportation. Join hosts Greg Harton and Rusty Turner of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as the governor covers a multitude of topics, including his post-gubernatorial plans (can you say "New Hampshire?).

Will climate change adversely affect Northwest Arkansas so much that cities need specific plans for the meteorological, environmental and ecological effects? Fayetteville City Council member Teresa Turk believes so, and now isn't necessarily too soon to map out a strategy. The City Council recently adopted a resolution she offered to build "climate resilience" into the city's future. It will set aside $100,000 next year for the city staff or a consultant to draft a new chapter of city code to inform future city actions that impact environmental and ecosystem issues; to expand the footprint of lands of high ecological value; and to create a permanent capital improvement project budget for the purchase of lands with high environmental or ecological value. To read a copy of Turk's resolutions, click here. Turk was our recent guest on the "Speaking of Arkansas" podcast to discuss the resolution, the plan she hopes it produces and whether anything about it might complicate new development within the city.

As more people and businesses make Northwest Arkansas their home, regional planners and decision-makers ponder what role public transit will play. Can it become a true alternative that inspires automobile owners to leave their cars parked for the ease of letting someone else do the driving? Can a robust bus system diminish the number of vehicles on the region's crowded highways? In this episode of "Speaking of Arkansas," host Greg Harton speaks with Joel Gardner, executive director of the Ozark Regional Transit Authority, which serves as the bus system in urban and rural areas of Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison counties. Jeff Hatley, the authority's public information officer, also sat in on the discussion about today's mass transit system, its shortcomings and the opportunities that exist to address transportation challenges as the region grows. Ozark Regional Transit Authority - https://www.ozark.org/ Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission 10-year transit development plan —https://www.nwarpc.org/transit/connect-northwest-arkansas/

What will it take to reduce the number of police traffic stops that devolve into a use of force, sometimes with deadly consequences? Is there a way to overcome concerns of how race and other biases affect who gets pull over by law enforcement officers? Is there a better way to serve the public's needs for enforcement of traffic laws? In this episode of "Speaking of Arkansas," Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial editor Greg Harton visits with Dr. Jordan Blair Woods, a law professor and criminologist at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Dr. Woods proposes creating local and state agencies focused solely on enforcement of traffic by unarmed "traffic monitors," eliminating the traffic stop as either a tool or an excuse for larger investigatory purposes. Doing so, he says, would at least reduce traffic stops of over-policed populations, such as racial minorities and poorer people. If you'd like to read his full 70-plus page research article, titled "Traffic Without the Police," visit http://ssrn.com/author=946203. Woods' full bio on the University of Arkansas School of Law faculty site can be found at https://law.uark.edu/directory/directory-faculty/uid/jbwoods/name/Jordan+Blair+Woods/ Questions or show suggestions for "Speaking of Arkansas" can be directed to Greg Harton at gharton@nwadg.com. Follow "Speaking of Arkansas" on Twitter @SpeakingofArka1

William Harris, who lists a variety of past jobs before moving to Fayetteville and working as an author, is running for the mayor of Fayetteville. In 2016, he ran for Washington County constable in District 2. The mayor’s race also includes candidates Ron Baucom, Lioneld Jordan and Tom Terminella. Baucom did not respond to requests for an interview.

Tom Terminella is a real estate developer making his second run for the office of mayor. The mayor’s race also includes candidates Ron Baucom, William Harris and Lioneld Jordan. Interviews with Harris and Jordan can be found here [insert hotlink to mayor interviews landing page]. Baucom did not respond to requests for an interview.

Lioneld Jordan is running for a fourth consecutive term as mayor of Fayetteville, a position he’s held since he first took office in 2009. Prior to that, Jordan served as a member of the City Council, beginning with his first term in 2001. The mayor’s race also includes candidates Ron Baucom, William Harris and Tom Terminella.

Hawley Woods of Johnson is a Democrat running in District 88 for the Arkansas House of Representatives in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. Woods is a small business owner who operates a pet-sitting and personal assistance service. Woods is challenging Republican incumbent Clint Penzo of Springdale in the District 88 race. Penzo did not respond to our requests for a recorded interview.

John Carr of Rogers is a Republican candidate in District 94 for the Arkansas House of Representatives in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. Carr is an independent information technology consultant. Carr faces Democrat Jené Huffman-Gilreath for the District 94 House seat.

Jené Huffman-Gilreath of Rogers is a Democratic candidate in District 94 for the Arkansas House of Representatives in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. Huffman-Gilreath is shared services manager for Rogers Water Utilities. Huffman-Gilreath faces Republican John Carr for the District 94 House seat.

Josh Bryant of Rogers is a Republican candidate for District 96 of the Arkansas House of Representatives in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. Bryant has served since 2014 as the elected justice of the peace serving District 2 on the Benton County Quorum Court. He’s a former U.S. Marine and is a partner in a Northwest Arkansas construction company. District 96 was formerly served by Rep. Grant Hodges, who stepped down earlier this year and did not seek re-election. Brant faces Democrat Jon Comstock for the District 96 post.

Jon Comstock of Rogers is a Democratic candidate for District 96 of the Arkansas House of Representatives in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. Comstock is an attorney and mediator who previously served as legal counsel to Walmart Stores Inc. He served an appointed term as a circuit court judge in the 19th Judicial District West. District 96 was formerly served by Rep. Grant Hodges, who stepped down earlier this year and did not seek re-election. Comstock faces Republican Josh Bryant for the District 96 post.

Daisy Bonilla of Bentonville is a Democrat candidate for District 93 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. A map of District 93 can be found here. Bonilla is a licensed social worker in the mental health field. She faces Republican Jim Dotson of Bentonville. Dotson declined to be interviewed.

Michael Bennett-Spears of Siloam Springs is a Democratic candidate for District 87 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Bennett-Spears is a marketing and events director at a restaurant. Bennett-Spears faces Republican Robin Lundstrum of Elm Springs.

Robin Lundstrum of Elm Springs is a Republic candidate for District 87 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Lundstrum is a former teacher who now operates residential and commercial rentals. She first took office in 2015 and is seeking her fourth term. Lundstrum faces Democrat Michael Bennett-Spears of Siloam Springs.

David Whitaker of Fayetteville is a Democratic candidate for District 85 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Whitaker is an attorney and veteran of the Air Force. He was first elected to the House in 2013. Whitaker faces Republican Brian Hester of Farmington. Hester declined to participate in an interview.

Charlene Fite of Van Buren is a Republican candidate for District 80 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. A map of District 80 can be found here. Fite is a retired school psychology specialist who has served in the House since 2013. Fite faces Democrat Lou Reed Sharp of Washington County near Tontitown.

Lou Reed Sharp of Washington County near Tontitown is a Democratic candidate for District 80 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Sharp is a retired nurse who co-founded the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. Sharp faces Republican incumbent Charlene Fite of Van Buren.

Delia Haak of Benton County near Gentry is a Republican candidate for District 91 in the Arkansas House of Representative. A map of District 91 can be found here. Haak is former director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership and an appointed member of the state’s Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. Haak faces Democrat Nick Jones of Centerton. Jones did not respond to repeated request for an interview.

Kelly Ross Krout of Lowell is a Democratic candidate for District 90 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. A map of District 90 can be found here. Krout is an author of children’s books and a graduate student in social work. Krout faces Republican Kendon Underwood of Cave Springs. Underwood declined to participate in an interview.

Clowney hopes for re-election to District 86 House seat Nicole Clowney of Fayetteville is a Democratic candidate for District 86 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. A map of District 86 can be found here. Clowney is educated as an attorney and educator. She was first elected to the House in 2018. Clowney faces Republican John La Tour of Springdale. La Tour declined to participate in an interview.

Megan Godfrey of Springdale is a Democratic candidate for District 89 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. A map of District 89 can be found here. Godfrey is an educator and English language specialist. She first took office in the House in 2019. Godfrey faces Republican Jed Duggar of Springdale. Duggar did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.

Jim Hendren of Gravette is a Republican candidate in District 2 for the Arkansas Senate in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. A map of District 2 can be found here. Hendren is owner of a plastics company and is a military veteran. Prior elective office includes the Gravette School Board and the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. He’s been in the state Senate since 2013 and currently serves as the Senate’s president pro tempore. Hendren faces Democrat Ryan Craig of Prairie Grove. Craig has not responded to repeated emails and phone calls.