Columns

Evergreen fir trees were traditionally used for Christmas trees. They had been used to celebrate Pagan winter festivals for thousands of years, long before the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people, especially in the winter. In many countries, it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

The ability to heal is an ancient and respected art. The practice of medicine, from binding wounds to folk remedies for diseases, date back thousands of years. In the twentieth century, major advances were made that eliminated many diseases and eased the suffering of countless individuals. The expansion of medical schools allowed many more people to be able to practice medicine and to spread its availability into underserved communities. With the desegregation of universities in Arkansas, African-Americans could receive a top-rated medical education in the state. With these advances, Dr. Edith Irby Jones became the first African-American to attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and began a storied career as a leader in medicine.

Don’t let the fog of busyness of the season distract you from the reality of the reason. The holiday season can be overwhelming with the plans, parties and family visits. Just remember to focus on the present, respect the past and hope for the future.

* On Dec. 11, 2008, Bernie Madoff, the founder and chairman of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was arrested and subsequently convicted of fraud for the multi-billiondollar Ponzi scheme that fleeced investors around the world for decades.

In the 1870s, medicine was in a miserable state in Arkansas. Few doctors were available and the remote locations of many farmsteads and small towns made it difficult for doctors to reach patients. Worse still, there were no means to train new doctors in Arkansas. Two Little Rock medical partners, Dr. Philo Hooper and Dr. Augustus Breysacher, decided it was time for this to change. Together with a team of other respected physicians, they launched what is now one of the most respected medical schools in the South, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

LITTLE ROCK – When the jackpot approaches a billion dollars a lot of people go out and buy lottery tickets, even though normally they hardly pay any attention to the lottery.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Last year, more than 54 million Americans traveled for the festivities. With Thanksgiving, in the midst of the rushing and the race to cook huge meals, people stop to give thanks for what they have. It is part of a long tradition that has spanned many generations.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Last year, more than 54 million Americans traveled for the festivities. With Thanksgiving, in the midst of the rushing and the race to cook huge meals, people stop to give thanks for what they have. It is part of a long tradition that has spanned many generations.

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas legislature has tried to apply lessons learned by other states when it enacted school safety laws over the past several years. The legislature also applied the best practices recommended by the School Safety Commission in 2018 and 2022.

The U.S. House of Representatives is back in business. In just three days, we passed appropriations legislation to fund the legislative branch and the Department of the Interior and provide military assistance to Israel, all while reining in reckless government spending and bureaucracy. When the phrase, “power of the purse,” is invoked, the appropriations process is where Congress, and especially the House, has an opportunity to exercise that power.

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