Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Wednesday dawning
The sale of Beverly Enterprises to a subsidiary of a California investment company, Filmore Equiry, is now complete. The $2 billion deal includes $220 million in “severance costs.” Filmore has threatened to move the corporate headquarters and 600 jobs out of Fort Smith without special legislation to prevent nursing home residents from suing to recover damages for injuries received in its’ facilities. Arkansas has already passed general tort reform laws.
Legislators have heard that it may not be necessary to call a special session this year to deal with the recent Supreme Court Lake View ruling.
The state will continue paying the shortfall resulting from the new Medicare drug benefit program through March 17. So far, costs are approaching $5 million.
Pine Bluff voters, by a 62% margin, have approved a millage increase for public schools. The measure will allow the district to consolidate its campuses from 15 to 10, and construct an honors academy building at Pine Bluff High School.
Helen Walton has donated $20 million to the College of the Ozarks.
The Van Buren School Board voted unanimously Monday to uphold the superintendent’s recommendation to terminate Steve Jones, a Coleman Junior High teacher and the father of Jacksonville Jaguar Matt Jones, for missing a meeting over a year ago and leaving a meeting early in January. Jones sent an email critical of school administrators to a state lawmaker.
The Villonia school district has included a new $20 million high school in it’s ten year facilities master plan. Officials say that might be addressed in 2009. The district will have about $600,000 in immediate projects.
The trial of Anthony Sanchez in Norman, Oklahoma for the 1996 murder of Benton ballet student Julie Buskin continues with testimony about athletic shoes supposedly worn by the killer. Two jurors have been dismissed from hearing the case and replaced by alternates.
A group of bankers will study funding options for the city to build a minor league ballpark. The Springdale City Council will allow bond underwriters to study a cost for the ballpark and possible public funding. The park is estimated to cost between $25 million and $30 million and could attract a AA minor league baseball team.
Legislators have heard that it may not be necessary to call a special session this year to deal with the recent Supreme Court Lake View ruling.
The state will continue paying the shortfall resulting from the new Medicare drug benefit program through March 17. So far, costs are approaching $5 million.
Pine Bluff voters, by a 62% margin, have approved a millage increase for public schools. The measure will allow the district to consolidate its campuses from 15 to 10, and construct an honors academy building at Pine Bluff High School.
Helen Walton has donated $20 million to the College of the Ozarks.
The Van Buren School Board voted unanimously Monday to uphold the superintendent’s recommendation to terminate Steve Jones, a Coleman Junior High teacher and the father of Jacksonville Jaguar Matt Jones, for missing a meeting over a year ago and leaving a meeting early in January. Jones sent an email critical of school administrators to a state lawmaker.
The Villonia school district has included a new $20 million high school in it’s ten year facilities master plan. Officials say that might be addressed in 2009. The district will have about $600,000 in immediate projects.
The trial of Anthony Sanchez in Norman, Oklahoma for the 1996 murder of Benton ballet student Julie Buskin continues with testimony about athletic shoes supposedly worn by the killer. Two jurors have been dismissed from hearing the case and replaced by alternates.
A group of bankers will study funding options for the city to build a minor league ballpark. The Springdale City Council will allow bond underwriters to study a cost for the ballpark and possible public funding. The park is estimated to cost between $25 million and $30 million and could attract a AA minor league baseball team.
