BRING ON THE RED BULL!~
From Arkansas Matters:
Governor Mike Beebe's Weekly Column and Radio Address for January 23, 2011:
Each year, a national publication, Education Week, grades all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the performance and policies of their schools. The grades are now out for 2011, and Arkansas's public-education system ranks 6th in the nation. This is unprecedented and praiseworthy recognition, which we take great pride in achieving. (READ MORE...)
From Talk Business:
UNION MEMBERSHIP IN ARKANSAS FALLS LESS THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE
Union membership in Arkansas fell 6.38% and nationwide membership fell 12.3% according to information released Friday (Jan. 20) by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In Arkansas, union membership in 2010 totaled 44,000, down from 47,000 in 2009. Union membership was 4% of total employment in Arkansas during 2010, down from 4.2% in 2009.
The BLS data also shows that 59,000 Arkansas workers were represented by a union in 2010, up from 55,000 in 2009. (Read More...)
COULD NEW DEBT BAIL OUT OLD DEBT FOR ARKANSAS?
Arkansas business, labor and government leaders are struggling for a solution to a growing $330 million state debt owed to the federal government for borrowed funds to shore up unemployment benefits to jobless workers.
The debt has accumulated in a fund – which is supported by business owners through state unemployment tax assistance (SUTA) contributions – that pays for unemployment benefits to laid off workers. At one time, the balance of the fund used to stay around $200 million, but in recent years has declined. Certainly as Arkansas’ unemployment rate has climbed and the number of layoffs has risen, claims from the fund have jumped sharply. (Read More...)
From Arkansas Democrat Gazette: (paid subscription required)
Analysis: Ark. lawmakers eye more spending cuts
Gov. Mike Beebe began the legislative session with a challenge to legislators who were floating dozens of tax cut proposals: Show me what to cut in the budget to pay for it.Some Republican lawmakers are all too happy to take him up on that offer.From pay raises to state employees to boosts in funding for education, legislators from the GOP say just about everything is on the table as they continue a push to contain state spending — and possibly make room for other forms of tax relief. (Read more...)
Hope you go through the feed today, it is VERY interesting the goings on... 
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