Other days

— 100 YEARS AGO Dec. 17, 1912

A vital blow at the convict lease system employed in Arkansas and other states will be struck here today, when Gov. Geo. W. Donaghey will pardon and free 360 convicts from the state penitentiary. This drastic action is the direct result of sentiments expressed by Governor Donaghey in a speech before the conference of governors at Richmond, Va., two weeks ago. Three convict camps in Arkansas will be wiped out by the wholesale granting of pardons.

50 YEARS AGO Dec. 17, 1962

FAYETTEVILLE - Some 15 University of Arkansas students marched quietly today in a picket line protesting segregated housing at the university. A crowd of some 250 students watched, mostly good-humoredly, and there were no incidents. The picketing students called themselves “Students for Freedom” and carried signs with such legends as “Fulbright slept here, why can’t we?”

25 YEARS AGO Dec. 17, 1987

Gov. Bill Clinton asked President Reagan on Wednesday to declare Crittenden County a “major disaster” area because of the “extensive damage and human suffering” caused by a tornado that ravaged West Memphis on Monday. “This incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capability of state and local government,” Clinton said in a letter to Reagan. Clinton was confident that Reagan would declare the stricken town a federal disaster area.

10 YEARS AGO Dec. 17, 2002

Arkansas scored worse than all but three other states on an economic development report card released today, and few experts expect to see the state’s grades improve in the midst of its current fiscal crisis. The 16th annual Development Report Card for the States, compiled by the Washington-based Center for Enterprise Development, showed Arkansas with two F’s and a D. Only Mississippi, Louisiana and West Virginia - with F’s across the board - had grades that would make a parent shudder even more. Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Virginia earned straight A’s, according to the report.

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/17/2012

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