Here’s an open line and a news roundup by video. Might be one more big court development today. Might not. But I’m standing by. Also:
* FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE: Steven Alan Standridge, 58, of Mount Ida was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to make $7.09 million in restitution for money laundering and wire fraud. He pleaded guilty to one count in each of two multi-count indictments from both the western and eastern districts of Arkansas.
In one case, Standridge, who was president of Steve Standridge Insurance, falsely represented that he’d sought loans to buy insurance agencies and submitted false information to a Hot Springs bank. In the other case, Standridge conspired with customers to obtain premium finance loans.
* PRIVATE OPTION: The monthly report from DHS shows a continuing rise in participation in the private option expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare: 223,456 eligibility approvals and 213,200 with complete enrollment. Will Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Republican legislature vote to let them stay insured? Tune in in January.