Speaker of the House John Boehner gave a thumbs up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress Tuesday. President Obama gave it a thumbs down, but the prime minister gave it anyway. It just goes to show how people can see the same event from very different perspectives.
These don't involve geo-political chess, but here are a few of our digital assessments of recent news:
(Thumbs down) Recent numbers show it's getting harder for lower-income Arkansans to afford an education at the University of Arkansas, and we suspect that's true for institutions of higher education across the state. College costs continue to grow. Arkansas can never fully address its economic shortcomings if higher education is out of reach for a significant portion of its population. As much as we don't care for state-run lotteries, at least the Arkansas version has helped by providing some aid for Arkansans struggling to achieve a college education. But as this newspaper's recent reporting found, the gap between college costs and aid in the form of scholarships and grants is hurting students' ability to stay in school. The state can't raise its population's education level if its population cannot afford to be in classes.
(Thumbs up) The Bentonville City Council adopted a public comment period for the public, a move that at least implies municipal government cares about giving constituents a chance to be heard. The panel also created several rules designed to tamp down any tendencies toward grandstanding and to ensure aldermen themselves aren't put on the spot with an questioning. Protocol and decorum are important, you know. But at least when a resident has an issue, there is a clear avenue for them to speak to the entire City Council. They deserve that much, don't they?
(Thumbs Up) Jagger Thompson is a 10-year-old kid in the fourth grade at Walker Elementary School in Springdale, but on Monday, he was an advocate for storm sirens in front of the Springdale City Council. Lest anyone believe this is just a cutesy, pat-the-kid-on-the-head moment, what he's campaigning for would cost an estimated $369,000. Aldermen asked questions and Jagger anticipates returning with answers. Whether Springdale needs or wants the sirens is a fair question; but without question, we're impressed a boy this age took on such a project and made a serious pitch for it. There are a lot of adults who don't have that kind of gumption. We applaud his involvement in the community.
(Thumbs up) Tyson Foods Inc. and the family from which the company gets its name gave a whopping $5 million gift to the University of Arkansas to help fund a 60,000-square-foot research facility for the UA's Division of Agriculture. The $16 million building on Fayetteville's Garland Avenue will house lab space, two greenhouses and a 300-seat multipurpose room. Key among the researchers will be experts in the study of water quality and the impact of agriculture on it. That's crucial research not just for the Natural State, but the world. Obviously, Tyson Foods has an interest in the kinds of discoveries or advancements that can be made in that kind of research, but the donation ensures the UA will have the kinds of facilities and opportunities necessary to explore issues of importance to all areas of agriculture and the environment.
(Thumbs up) Walmart Foundation gave the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences a $194,200 grant to support diabetes treatment in the Marshallese community of Northwest Arkansas. The diabetes rate among the Marshall Islands natives is extremely high. With an estimated 10,000 Marshallese living in Northwest Arkansas, this is a service critical to their long-term health.
(Thumbs down) To winter precipitation. How bad is it when prediction of a winter storm forces the cancellation of a storm spotter class in Bentonville? Well, that's obviously not the kind of storm they're worried about spotting. Today's prediction was for more wintry precipitation. Ugh. Someone go kick that groundhog, or at least his shadow.
Commentary on 03/04/2015