Arkansas Lottery Budgets 17% of Its Revenue for Education

Arkansas Lottery

The Arkansas Lottery is continuing to set aside very little money for college scholarships, according to a report released this week.

In July the state-run Lottery took in nearly $49.8 million, but paid only $8.6 million to college scholarships — about 17 cents out of every dollar the Lottery made.

July marks the beginning of the Arkansas Lottery’s new fiscal year.

To date, the Arkansas Lottery has maintained a pattern of budgeting an extraordinary amount of money for prizes and other expenses while setting aside relatively little money for students.

Photo Credit: Powerball and Mega Millions Lottery Billboard in Missouri by Tony Webster, on Flickr.

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Springdale City Council Authorizes Public Drinking District

Alcohol, Public Drinking, ,

On Tuesday the Springdale City Council voted to allow public drinking throughout part of downtown.

The vote was 5-3.

Under the city’s ordinance, public drinking will be legal in certain areas from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Act 812 of 2019 by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) lets cities create “entertainment districts” where alcohol can be carried and consumed publicly on streets and sidewalks.

These districts can be permanent or temporary, under Act 812.

As we have said time and time again, public drinking is a scourge on the community.

It raises serious concerns about drunk driving and public safety.

Public drinking doesn’t attract new businesses or bolster the economy. It hurts neighborhoods and families.

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