Category Archives: Government

Free Admission to Clinton Center for Independence Day

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CPC july4Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, the Clinton Presidential Center will feature free admission to the exhibits.

Explore the Clinton Center’s newest exhibit, “Dinosaurs Around the World,” as well as our permanent exhibits. Acoustiguide audio tours narrated by President Clinton are also free.  The Clinton Center is open from 9am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday.

Dinosaurs Around the World takes you back in time on a dinosaur adventure and a tour of an Earth very different from today – a time before the continents as we know them existed, when lush landscapes covered Africa and greenery was the norm in Antarctica! With 13 life-sized animatronics, a multi-layered narrative, fossils, authentic casts, cutting-edge research and immersive design elements, you’ll experience the Age of Reptiles as it comes to life!

The permanent exhibits include:

Robinson Renovation Tops Out

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LRCV 1The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB), members of the Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission (LRA&P), local officials, and members of the design and construction teams hosted a topping out ceremony July 1, 2015 at 10:00 AM for the Robinson Center’s new conference facility, signifying a one–‐year milestone in the 28–‐month, $70 million renovation and expansion project.

Following a press conference and ceremonial beam signing held on the western side of the Robinson Center, local media and special guests were given tours of the magnificent ballroom platform and conference center located on Robinson’s north side. This new addition not only provides some of the most dramatic enhancements of the project, but will also provide groups with spectacular views of the Arkansas River and the city’s illuminated bridges.

Along with additional meeting and pre–‐function space situated above its ballroom, the new conference center will also provide a new connection to the DoubleTree Hotel, with an adjoining lobby and additional pre–‐function space.

LRCV 5For more information on the Robinson Center Second Act renovation and expansion project, visit http://www.RobinsonCenterSecondAct.com and follow us on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robinson–‐ Center/276515585880 and https://twitter.com/RobinsonCenter .

Robinson Construction Facts to Date:

  • Nearly 10,000 tons of material have been recycled, representing 91% of the waste material diverted 1,216 tons of steel has been erected
  • 2,300 cubic yards of concrete has been placed
  • 470 individuals have gone through CDI/Hunt Safety Orientation
  • 73% of the project subcontractors are local
  • 130,000 man hours have been spent.

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Little Rock Look Back: President Truman returns to LR

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trumansmallOn July 1, 1952, President Harry S. Truman returned to Little Rock for the last time in his presidency.  He landed at Adams Field. After a short ride to the Missouri Pacific train station, he boarded a train for Newport where he made remarks.  Later that evening, the presidential train arrived at Norfork where Mr. Truman spent the night on the train.

The next morning, he went by car to the Norfork Dam before heading to Bull Shoals Dam where he gave an address.  An outdoor luncheon followed the Bull Shoals address.  After lunch, he got back on the train.  Truman made a whistle stop visit in Batesville before arriving back in Newport.  He boarded a plane in Newport and returned to Washington DC.

Congressmen James W. Trimble and Wilbur D. Mills accompanied the President on the entire trip from and to Washington.  Governor McMath joined the party once they were in Little Rock.  The press corps on the trip included the New York Times, Washington Star, Baltimore Sun, New York Herald-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, CBS Radio, NBC Radio, ABC Radio and NBC Television.  The local press included reporters and photographers from both the Arkansas Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat as well as KLRA Radio and the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

Scottish Play to Strut on Ark Rep Stage for Students Thanks to Shakespeare in American Communities Grant

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ark repThe Arkansas Repertory Theatre was one of 40 nonprofit, professional theater companies across 26 states selected to perform the works of William Shakespeare for students through the Shakespeare in American Communities grant. Participating theater companies will present productions of Shakespeare plays to students from at least 10 schools. The Rep has received a $25,000 grant to support a week of student matinee performances of Macbeth.

The awards mark the 13th consecutive year of Shakespeare in American Communities, a national program managed by Arts Midwest in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

The Rep will produce Macbeth in September 2015 on its 377-seat main stage performance space on Main Street in downtown Little Rock as the first of its landmark 40th MainStage Season. The theatre will open the production with a week of free student matinees, attended by schools from across Arkansas.

Shakespeare in American Communities introduces middle and high school students to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. Since the program’s inception in 2003, Shakespeare in American Communities has benefited more than 2.5 million individuals, including 2.1 million students, with live performances and educational activities.

“Arts Midwest is so proud to once again partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to support the activities of 40 outstanding theater companies that will bring Shakespeare’s plays alive for students across the country,” says Susan Chandler, vice president of Arts Midwest. “Shakespeare in American Communities’ goals of introducing students to the art form of theater and to Shakespeare’s timeless themes of love, ambition, jealousy, courage, and betrayal will be brilliantly executed by these theaters.”

One hundred and two theater companies across the United States have taken part in Shakespeare in American Communities since its inception 13 years ago. These companies have presented 33 Shakespeare plays through 8,600 performances and 29,000 educational activities at more than 7,900 schools in 3,400 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, to enhance the educational impact of Shakespeare in American Communities, Arts Midwest and the NEA have developed a comprehensive Shakespeare in American Communities website in order to share resources and grantee spotlights.

View the complete list of the 40 theater companies that have been selected to participate in Shakespeare in American Communities for 2015-2016 at http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org.

800 Years of Magna Carta focus of noon program today by Clinton School and Clinton Foundation

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Magna_charta_cum_statutis_angliae_p1This week marks 800 years since the signing of the Magna Carta. To commemorate this historic anniversary, the Clinton Foundation, in partnership with the Clinton School of Public Service and the Pulaski County Bar Association, invites you and a guest to, “The Magna Carta at 800,” on Friday, June 26, at NOON. The program will feature the distinguished Lewis Neilson, Jr., Chancellor of the National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons.

Signed in 1215 by King John of England, the Magna Carta has persisted as one of the most influential charters in history. Its principles of individual liberty, right to trial by jury, and legal supremacy have informed a wide variety of documents, from the United States Constitution to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mr. Neilson will discuss the importance of the Magna Carta as well as the institutions that have preserved its principles.

This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Call 501-748-0425 with any questions.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is focus of this month’s film at MacArthur Museum

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MacMus DontAskEach month, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History screens a free movie one evening.  This month’s film is the HBO documentary The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  The film screens from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.  It is part of LGBT Heritage month.

This film illustrates the tumultuous evolution of the controversial policy that forced many soldiers to lie and live in secrecy. Filmed during the final 15 months of the law, The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell interweaves archival news footage and interviews with key players, from policy experts to Pentagon personnel, as well as personal accounts by a number of actively serving gay soldiers

Free admission. Popcorn and libations provided.

Filmed during the final 15 months of the law, THE STRANGE HISTORY OF DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL interweaves archival news footage and interviews with key players, from policy experts to Pentagon personnel, as well as personal accounts by a number of actively serving gay soldiers (obscured from the camera because speaking about their sexual orientation violates Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell). Among the featured subjects are: Mass. Rep. Barney Frank; Ct. Sen. Joe Lieberman; former Pa. Rep Patrick Murphy, an Iraqi war veteran who played a leading role in the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal; Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach; Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer; Jeh C. Johnson, general counsel of the Department of Defense; and Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN).

Filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have produced a variety of acclaimed nonfiction programming, including 24 documentaries for HBO and CINEMAX, among them “Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal,” “Monica in Black and White,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and, most recently, the Emmy®-nominated “Wishful Drinking.”

THE STRANGE HISTORY OF DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL is produced and directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato; supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; executive producer, Sheila Nevins; producers, Gabriel Rotello and Mona Card; editors, Langdon F. Page, Chris Conway; music by David Benjamin Steinberg.

Little Rock Look Back: Mayor Buddy Villines

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judgebuddyOn this date in 1947, future Little Rock Mayor Floyd G. “Buddy” Villines was born.  A 1969 graduate of Hendrix College, he served in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. He later graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School.

Villines’ first interaction with Little Rock City Hall was as an employee in the City Manager’s office.  After joining the private sector, he returned to City Hall in 1985 serving on the Little Rock City Board of Directors.  He was re-elected in 1989.

While on the City Board, he was chosen as Vice Mayor for a two year term in 1987 and 1988.  The following year he was selected as Mayor for a two year term.  In 1990, Villines was elected Pulaski County Judge; he resigned from the City Board in December 1990 to take office.

Villines served as Pulaski County Judge for 24 years, from January 1991 until December 2014.  He is the longest serving County Judge in Pulaski County history.