Andanh.com

And since I"m still up, checking e-mail at this late hour: I got a tip that the Democrat-Gazette may not be immune to what's currently ailing daily newspapers nationwide. Some indication of that had already been seen in new D-G publications to create new revenue streams, the latest being a slick magazine to be mailed free to rich folks (po' folks will have to buy it).

Anyway, the story is that a memo circulated at the newspaper today about rising newsprint costs, the increased costs of gas for carriers and the short-term necessity to adjust through a temporary wage and hiring freeze to be re-evaluated Jan. 1. Sounds plausible, but I can't attest to the tip's accuracy at this moment. Anybody have a copy of the memo?

We'd already written that candidates were maneuvering to run for Associate Supreme Court Justice Tom Glaze's seat in 2010, after his expected retirement at the end of this term, but the opening will come sooner than expected.

The judge, who's had health problems, is retiring more or less immediately. The Supreme Court is currently in summer recess. Glaze talked about his decision Monday with Gov. Beebe, who'll appoint an interim justice until 2010. The judge agreed to stay on until the court's fall term begins so the appointee can make arrangement to end his or her current work and prepare to take up court duties. Glaze won't be taking additional cases.

Glaze told friends of his decision in a letter this week. He'll fall just shy of 30 years on the court.

On the jump you'll find Glaze's letter.

That would be Joe Lieberman. Describing the choice between John McCain and Barack Obama.

Between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put his country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate that has not.

The patriotism card, announced in front of an array of flags while Loserman was joined at the hip with the doddering old man who once said he decried that sort of thing. I used to think Dick Morris was the biggest scuzzbag in politics today. Dick, you've got company.

The line is open.

A link for sports fans and followers of the super wealthy: Scottie Pippen, the basketball star, has brought Hamburg its first golf course, Pippen Meadows.

The Helena-West Helena Council has adopted a "plan of action" to deal with a crime-ridden neighborhood. Looks to me like Mayor James Valley's martial law-style curfew has been softened a bit in response to ACLU complaints about its unconstitutionality.

There will be saturation patrols and rigorous enforcement of existing ordinances. That's an improvement over a blanket crackdown over being outside while exhibiting no cause for arrest.

From Kane Webb's interview last Sunday with Mike Huckabee:

The week after our interview, Huckabee was scheduled to fly to New York to shoot a pilot for his new TV show this fall on FOX. ... Of his show, Huckabee offers only generalities: “I can say it’s gonna be unlike anything else that’s on FOX and maybe on cable.”

From Michael Calderone today on Politico:

UPDATE: A Fox News spokesperson responds that "contrary to what was reported in today’s NY Post — Mike Huckabee has not shot a pilot for Fox News Channel. We are in discussion about developing a show with him in the future, but remain in the early planning stages.”

Yeah, they did wrong, but, no, they won't be prosecuted. Surprise. Plus, the a.g. will keep the political hacks on board who were employed when partisanship, not merit, ruled hirings at Justice.

Quote o' the day: "Every violation of the law is not a crime."

You think maybe some of these dishonest lawyers should lose their law licenses?

Group announces a "black-on-black crime summit" this week in Little Rock.

"Uncle" Gaylord Willis, the Fayetteville restaurateur and raconteur, died Saturday and he's remembered on The Iconoclast, who also links the local obit. Of particular interest to food lovers is a link to an excerpt from his book on ice cream-making, his vocation before he entered the Fayetteville restaurant business. It's a thorough and useful treatise on home-made ice cream.

Our community blogger in NWA, Street Jazz, also has some Gaylord stories.

The University of Arkansas sent around a news release today about free tuition in credit courses for people 60 and older. The elderly may earn degrees tuition free.

I presume it is legal to discriminate in tuition fees on the basis of age.