LITTLE ROCK Gov. Mike Beebe said Thursday he wants lawmakers to take up legislation on the state's funding priorities before they recess, despite a legislator's suggestion that they wait until May.

The state's politicians have given dutiful lip service to keeping themselves pristinely separated from the new state lottery. They've done more than that, actually. They've designed and passed legislation making a law to that effect.

LITTLE ROCK (AP) Without a staff, a chairman or an office, the commission that will run Arkansas' newly minted lottery holds its inaugural meeting this week as lawmakers say they hope to see the first tickets sold by the end of the year.

... addresses that could used for the games of chance approved by voters last year. David Ferguson, director of the Bureau of Legislative Research, told lottery commissioners in an April 27 memo that six Web site names, including lotteryarkansas.net ...

LITTLE ROCK (AP) This year, Gov. Mike Beebe turned a campaign promise into the largest tax cut in Arkansas' history.

LITTLE ROCK (AP) University researchers have embarked on a second economic study of natural gas drilling in north-central Arkansas that should help state officials as they consider whether to raise the severance tax on the industry.

LITTLE ROCK (AP) University researchers have embarked on a second economic study of natural gas drilling in north-central Arkansas that should help state officials as they consider whether to raise the severance tax on the industry.

LITTLE ROCK With most legislators backing him, Gov. Mike Beebe on Friday called a special session to raise the state severance tax on natural gas.

LITTLE ROCK Lawmakers recommended Tuesday that the state boost school funding as much as $58.8 million annually to pay for increases in salary and the costs of instructional materials, and also moved to find a way to help schools struggling with rising gas prices.

... questioned whether the increase would mirror price increases. Richard Wilson, assistant director of the Bureau of Legislative Research, said the agency predicts districts to pay 17 percent more in 2010 but that 2011 may bring an 8 percent decrease ...