Friday, March 17, 2006
Orange Day Headlines
A top executive of FTD Inc. on Thursday hastily disavowed a local employment official's e-mail warning that the corporation was close to closing its central Arkansas call center, which employees 600 in Sherwood, after less than six months in operation. The e-mail, obtained by the Arkansas News Bureau, said FTD.com was "disgusted by the quality and quantity of employees" at the new facility. It was sent Tuesday by Rebecca Addison, president of Quality Employment Services Inc. of Little Rock, one of the employment agencies contracted to recruit workers for the center.
A federal judge has given plaintiffs 30 days to amend a lawsuit alleging Beverly Enterprises and several providers ripped off government health programs. The suit, brought under the federal False Claims Act, alleges Beverly, Hill-Rom Co., and Hangar Orthopedic Group presented false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs and conspired to provide kickbacks and referrals for their services.
Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday that he favors increasing the state minimum wage of $5.15 an hour and is willing to include a bill for that in his call for a special legislative session.
Science magazine is running with a story criticizing a video claimed to have captured an image of the ivory-billed woodpecker.
The acting Lonoke police chief said Thursday that he had a written a check to the city for $1,765 as a sign of good faith, not because he owes the money. A state audit report released March 9 said Sean O’Nale received unauthorized cash payments totaling that amount.
Today’s Southwest Times Record reports that, in Greenwood, talking to a school board member can get a teacher reprimanded. Kay Johnson, the same superintendent who gave special insurance coverage to the high school football coach, also allegedly does not allow some school staff members to speak at public school board meetings.
Scott Ford, president and CEO of Alltel Corp. of Little Rock, received a $1.88 million bonus for 2005, according to telecommunication firm's annual proxy statement filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Buses that will be the backbone of Jonesboro’s new public transit system are expected to arrive on or about April 5, said Joel Gardner, transportation coordinator.
Andrew Walker, of Pine Bluff ,allegedly shot one son with a shotgun and fired a shot at a second and is being held for investigation of domestic battery in connection with an incident in the Dollarway area.
It is almost three months since the murder of Russellville beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer and authorities have not released the name of the only suspect in the case.. He older brother Greg told the Courier newspaper that the family is puzzled and wants answers.
Children surfing the Internet could be buffered from pornography under legislation introduced in Congress Thursday. Senators. Mark Pryor and Max Baucus of Montana proposed a bill that would require adult Web sites to have a .xxx domain.
The Oxford American magazine, now published in cooperation with the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, is a finalist for two awards in the prestigious American Society of Magazine Editors’ 2006 national competition.
Keith Jones, executive director of Central Arkansas Transit, told Pat Lynch on WAI Radio.com that, since increases in the price of gasoline, ridership is up about 8% and has remained steady as gas prices have moderated.
North Little Rock electric customers will see a 10 percent increase on their monthly bill April 1, and another 10 percent increase on Jan. 1, to help offset a projected steep rise next year in the city’s electric purchase costs
New Orleanians displaced by Hurricane Katrina are being urged to contact the Louisiana secretary of state's office so they can participate in coming New Orleans elections.
A federal judge has given plaintiffs 30 days to amend a lawsuit alleging Beverly Enterprises and several providers ripped off government health programs. The suit, brought under the federal False Claims Act, alleges Beverly, Hill-Rom Co., and Hangar Orthopedic Group presented false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs and conspired to provide kickbacks and referrals for their services.
Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday that he favors increasing the state minimum wage of $5.15 an hour and is willing to include a bill for that in his call for a special legislative session.
Science magazine is running with a story criticizing a video claimed to have captured an image of the ivory-billed woodpecker.
The acting Lonoke police chief said Thursday that he had a written a check to the city for $1,765 as a sign of good faith, not because he owes the money. A state audit report released March 9 said Sean O’Nale received unauthorized cash payments totaling that amount.
Today’s Southwest Times Record reports that, in Greenwood, talking to a school board member can get a teacher reprimanded. Kay Johnson, the same superintendent who gave special insurance coverage to the high school football coach, also allegedly does not allow some school staff members to speak at public school board meetings.
Scott Ford, president and CEO of Alltel Corp. of Little Rock, received a $1.88 million bonus for 2005, according to telecommunication firm's annual proxy statement filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Buses that will be the backbone of Jonesboro’s new public transit system are expected to arrive on or about April 5, said Joel Gardner, transportation coordinator.
Andrew Walker, of Pine Bluff ,allegedly shot one son with a shotgun and fired a shot at a second and is being held for investigation of domestic battery in connection with an incident in the Dollarway area.
It is almost three months since the murder of Russellville beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer and authorities have not released the name of the only suspect in the case.. He older brother Greg told the Courier newspaper that the family is puzzled and wants answers.
Children surfing the Internet could be buffered from pornography under legislation introduced in Congress Thursday. Senators. Mark Pryor and Max Baucus of Montana proposed a bill that would require adult Web sites to have a .xxx domain.
The Oxford American magazine, now published in cooperation with the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, is a finalist for two awards in the prestigious American Society of Magazine Editors’ 2006 national competition.
Keith Jones, executive director of Central Arkansas Transit, told Pat Lynch on WAI Radio.com that, since increases in the price of gasoline, ridership is up about 8% and has remained steady as gas prices have moderated.
North Little Rock electric customers will see a 10 percent increase on their monthly bill April 1, and another 10 percent increase on Jan. 1, to help offset a projected steep rise next year in the city’s electric purchase costs
New Orleanians displaced by Hurricane Katrina are being urged to contact the Louisiana secretary of state's office so they can participate in coming New Orleans elections.
