Lynch at Large

Arkansas State Troopers shot and killed 21 year old Erin Hamley, a 21 year old mentally retarded man with cerebral palsy and “multiple personalities,” He had a habit of keeping his hands in his pockets and failed to show his hands on command.

More than half of Arkansas’ so-called payday lenders violate state law because they are not licensed by the state agency that is supposed to oversee the firms, Hank Klein, the president of a consumer advocate group said Wednesday.

Early morning storms have caused some damage across Arkansas including damage to one house in Cabot. Cross and Woodruff Counties report heavy damage near Tilton.

The state Court of Appeals overturned drug convictions Wednesday against a Rogers couple, saying police illegally searched the couple's home in October 2003. The court agreed with the defendant’s argument that no circumstances necessitated a warrantless nighttime intrusion into their home and their state and federal constitutional rights were violated.

Stephens Media Group reports a plan to expand the federally recognized Trail of Tears took a step forward Wednesday after a Senate committee offered its support. The proposed new routes pass through northwest Arkansas, including a trail just north of Fort Smith and another that extends from Randolph County in northeast Arkansas into Fayetteville.

Sushi King owners plan to reopen today, more than two weeks after voluntarily closing when people who ate at the restaurant reported becoming ill. John Wei said he's basically opening a new restaurant after throwing out his food stock and "quadruple" washing and sanitizing other items.

The superintendent of the Fountain Lake School District expressed interest Wednesday in taking over the former Paron School District and possibly keeping open the financially strapped high school in the northwest Saline County community.

The Maysville Volunteer Fire Department has responded to 107 fire calls since Jan. 1, Fire Chief Jesse Thomas said. About 80 percent of them are suspicious, he said. The small northwest Benton County city had 78 fire calls in 2005.

Harrison Pittman, staff attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, says that Arkansas should promote “agriculture tourism.” His presentation at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Jonesboro pointed to programs in several other states.

The Southwest Times Record reports today that it could be years, or decades, before federal and state authorities permit an Indian tribe to build an Arkansas River casino in Fort Smith.

Saline County officials have initiated an effort to save a historic piece of art on prominent display in the foyer of the 104-year-old county courthouse in Benton. According to the Benton Courier, County Judge Lanny Fite said his administrative assistant, Joy Ballard, received a “disturbing call” Monday concerning “The Bauxite Mines” mural that has been part of the county since 1942. It may be moved to the new federal building in Little Rock.

In a speech at the University of Central Arkansas, former CIA Director Admiral Stansfield Turner called for the abolishment of the Central Intelligence Agency in its current form.