Declarations

A Long Recovery

“It’s a long drawn out process. … Some places will recover faster than others.”

—Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said recovery in Arkansas from flooding that has shut down parts of the state will be long term with some farmers facing devastating losses. Beebe said that some farming is lost for the year from the flooding, which has prompted the shutdown of a portion of Interstate 40 and the evacuation of some Arkansas communities. Beebe said that federal disaster aid for farmers traditionally lags by a couple years, so it may take some time for portions of the state to fully recover from the impact of recent flooding. AP

A Happy Slice of Life

“Elly has always been good for me. … That was a slice out of my life, a very happy slice out of my life.”

—Donna Douglas, the actress who played Elly May Clampett on the hit television series “The Beverly Hillbillies,” and a Louisiana native, sued toy manufacturer Mattel Inc., claiming the company used her name and likeness for a Barbie doll without her authorization. The federal suit filed in Baton Rouge, La., says packaging for the “Elly May” Barbie doll features a photo of Douglas portraying the character. Douglas says she never endorsed the doll or gave Mattel permission to use her name to promote its sale before the toy maker introduced the doll in December 2010. Douglas lives in Zachary, near Baton Rouge. AP

No Additional Assistance

“Over the past few months, FEMA has awarded over 20 fire management grants to the state, which provide targeted funding to help with firefighting efforts, including 16 in April alone.”

—Federal Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Rachel Racusen defended FEMA’s decision to withhold additional assistance for Texas in the wake of widespread wildfires, saying that the state has already received sufficient U.S. government help. Gov. Rick Perry criticized the White House after learning that his April 16 request for a federal major disaster declaration and additional help had been rejected. Perry said the state will consider all its options, including an appeal. AP

Topics Arkansas