Bike Trail Expansion

The Kruth Talks: April 14

If you aren’t a regular reader of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, you may have missed the coverage of a local scramble to secure $3.2 million of federal grants to construct the Razorback Greenway pedestrian and bike trail that will connect Fayetteville to Bentonville.

Ron Wood, reporter for the Northwest Arkansas Times, wrote on Saturday, April 9 about the project and the efforts of “regional planners, the Federal Highway Administration, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Office, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service” to get the grant proposal approved before the final budget cuts were defined. Wood reported, “By getting the agreement signed before a new budget resolution or government shutdown, the federal transportation money is considered obligated.”

Only a portion of the estimated $40 million required for the project, this grant will likely be supplemented by other donations, including a $15 million match by the Walton Family Foundation.

Razorback Spring Weekend

This weekend, April 15-17, is the 2011 Woo Pig Spring Weekend, featuring softball, baseball, tennis and the spring football game. The annual “Red and White” football scrimmage will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday and for the first time will be televised on ESPN.

General admission for the football game is free and students can access all events at no cost, but for $35, Razorback fans can get reserved seating to all three baseball games, general admission to all three softball games and seating in the South Outdoor Club for the football game. In addition to the sporting events, the seventh annual Razorfest for kids will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, contact the Razorback box office at 800-982-4647.

Women’s Football

There are 18 teams in 16 states that are contributing to what may become the first National League of Women’s Football.
The Women’s Spring Football League has an official logo, ball sponsorship and even a supporting insurance agency offering medical insurance to the players for as low as $15 a month. Our home state is privileged to represent the league as the Arkansas Rampage. As a nonprofit group, the ticket prices are low: $20 for adult season pass, $10 for children 6-12. Single game prices are $8 and $4, respectively. The season will last from May 7 to June 25. Learn more at ladytuskersfootball.com or wsflfootball.net.

U.S. Budget Showdown Busted

Last week the U.S. government reached the deadline for agreeing on a budget.

There was a colossal showdown of where and how much would be trimmed from national expenditures. It became a bipartisan trial of stubbornness, jeopardizing the stability of the nation. Budget cuts to nationally funded programs such as Planned Parenthood and Medicaid were fiercely protected by Democrats, while Republicans pushed to reduce government spending as much as possible.

Nearing the 11th hour, the bargaining table reached stand-off before an agreement was made to cut nearly $39 billion, down from $61 billion the House passed earlier this year.

Categories: Commentary, In The News