eType Editor

It is not that I have difficulty finding things to write about for my column, but rather the difficulty in choosing what I think might be beneficial to both you and myself. The complexity of the world we live in offers no ends of ready subjects rife for discussion. Let’s just start with the recent news making events. You will find, upon opening the discussion, that we have an overabundance of armchair analysts and experts, many without ready credentials to back up their opinions. Let’s try the recent horrible incident with the bridge in Baltimore that was struck with the container ship. I had just finished my nightly reading of a wonderful book and had opened Tik-Tok to let my mind un-focus. If you wish to un-focus your mind, TikTok is the place to go, lol! It must have been a bit past 12:30 a.m. CST when a clip came across my feed from a security camera somewhere of the bridge falling in, and the ship against it. That fast it was on the air. Within 24 hours the absurdity was already flowing, everything from ‘the Russians did it,’ to ‘it was Joe Biden’s fault.’ I dare say the President was deep in slumber at the time, and I doubt he would have wanted to add another fallen bridge to his already heavy load of repairing infrastructure. One guy said that the Democrats did it. Nah, that didn’t fly either. There were a few more, most too stupid to list. Then there is the solar eclipse that is going to turn parts of the country from bright day light to starry bright nighttime on April 8th. By the time you read this that will have come to pass.

LITTLE ROCK – Several state agencies prepared for increased traffic from out-of-state tourists who would drive to Arkansas on Monday, April 8, to view the solar eclipse. They planned for traffic disruptions even in parts of the state that would not experience the full effect of the eclipse.

Last Tuesday, I wrote Legislative Auditor Roger Norman to ask if he still hoped to issue Legislative Audit’s final report regarding the lectern purchase by the end of March. That was the timeline he’d laid out for lawmakers at February’s Legislative Joint Auditing meeting.

I am constantly amazed at how Sarah Sanders will consistently appear on national TV to tout being a champion for all Arkansans, while enacting policies and taking actions that diverge significantly from the needs and aspirations of working- class, low-wage, and disadvantaged Arkansans. Here is a clear example… The Stark Reality: Arkansas ranks as the worst state in the nation for maternal health. Women, especially Black women, are more likely to die during pregnancy here than in any other state.