Kristen, Please report on any emergency legislation proposed for early 2009 to assist laid-off workers and displaced workers to get distributions from pension plans before the age of 55 and governments assistance in eliminating some of the penaltys and tax as to these distributions. At L'Oreal USA, North Little Rock, AR. they are offering early retirement to 33 more employees this month. Some of these employees are not 55 years of age and will be starting their careers over in order to support their families in a very dismal recession and very few jobs available. The funds in their pension plans for employees that have been with the company since 1975 could use those funds until permanent employment is available. In June, 2008, they had 70 employees take the early retirement (graceful words for layoff and a nice way not to call attention to L'Oreal). Several of these employees weren't close to 55. Also there are so many employees that started with the Maybelline Company at the age of 18 or 19 and have been there since 1975 when the plant opened. Appreciate any news you have on this subject. Thanks and keep up the good work. Jana B.

I enjoyed the "Great Debate" last evening with Brummett. How about putting in up for web casting --

Jim Bemis Fayetteville

Highlights of the Great Fisher Brummett debate are now up on The Tolbert Report.

I wouldn't go so far as describing what's being done here as true civic journalism, but I do feel it's a fresh, fun way of reporting what the viewers want to learn about, which is admirable. Personally, I don't think Mr. Brummett should be looking down his nose at other news-media forums, and should stick to making his own, The Arkansas Times, better; however, he is a seasoned veteran of Arkansas news gathering, and his opinion is definitely worth listening to (and respecting).

I look forward to the debate. Good luck.

Brummet, you know as well as anyone that there are editorial decisions made on every show every day to determine what "news" makes the air. After all, this segment is more of a feature than hard news, so why are you making such a big fuss over giving voters an opportunity to voice what they prefer.

I will be watching tonight! see if you can make him say uncle(haha) ? why does he think the news is to be what he thinks and not all of us ?if he was back looking for a job would it be in TV-net-paper news (and we know what hes going to say) ?is the old way of newspapers on the way out or do people like two day old news? ?is there any way to make paper news more up todate for us internet people

I can't wait the watch you mop the floor with him. I will be there with my flip camera handy. Look for highlights tonight on "The Tolbert Report."