John Robert Starr News Today

Past and present holders of government offices, once renowned college athletes, judges and attorneys, physicians, faith leaders, restaurateurs, media giants, craftsmen and business tycoons are among the Arkansans who died in 2023.

Past and present holders of government offices, once renowned college athletes, judges and attorneys, physicians, faith leaders, restaurateurs, media giants, craftsmen and business tycoons are among the Arkansans who died in 2023.

Oakley made a name for herself as a tough critic of the Arkansas Legislature and of Bill Clinton.

Meredith Oakley didnt restrain herself when an Arkansas governor with aspirations for the White House made his intentions known to the world 32 years ago in front of the Old State House.

The year was 1986 and not only was your trusty scribe younger, apparently he was much dumber.

We did it to ourselves

Walter Hussman Jr., 75, is ending 48 years as publisher of the Democrat-Gazette at the end of this year, with news of his successor expected soon.

Goodness, but we are becoming a pearl-clutching nation. Everything seems to be offensive to somebody. And that somebody--instead of giving a cold stare or simply ignoring the remark (!)--will make a federal case out of it almost every time. Its as if Americans have decided that they have a right to never be offended. Or, even worse, its as if Americans are going around looking for something for which to be offended. And the first person to find a wrong word/idea/pronoun/metaphor wins!

If Alyson Hoge was biding her time to become managing editor of the only paper she ever worked for, she sure did a lot of biding. Forty-three years worth.

Alyson Hoge, a newspaper veteran of nearly 43 years, has been named managing editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.