Lynch at Large

Election officials in Lonoke and Phillips counties were still counting primary ballots Thursday, and the secretary of state's office said some counties might not be ready next week for early voting for the June 13 runoffs.

The Public Service Commission has not made a final determination, but has informed lawmakers meeting at a rural development conference in Eureka Springs that the review of records so far has not found a compelling reason to deny a rate increase request by Entergy Arkansas.

Stephens Media Group reports that Arkansas' senators voted in favor of sweeping immigration legislation, saying they supported tougher stance on border security while integrating undocumented immigrants who are already in the United States.

The Saline County Quorum Court decided Thursday night to appeal a federal court jury’s verdict that awarded overtime pay to sheriff’s deputies and a clerical worker.

Rural schools -- mainly high poverty, predominantly black schools in eastern Arkansas -- have rapidly closed over the past two years as a result of state-mandated mergers, according to a study released by the Rural School and Community Trust found. It concludes that 47 schools, about a third of those required to annex or consolidate, have been closed since the Legislature approved Act 60 of the 2004 special session on education requiring school districts with fewer than 350 students to merge administrations with another district.

Paul Barton, the Democrat-Gazette’s Washington correspondent, reports this morning Rep. Mike Ross told community leaders from across the region that if the United States makes a major effort to use biofuels in cars, the Mississippi Delta region could reap an economic bonanza.

Arkansas’ Sen. Mark Pryor used Thursday’s joint hearing of the committees that oversee government operations and veterans’ affairs to push for passage of the Identity Theft Protection Act, a bill that contains a “security freeze” measure written by Pryor.

Two Pulaski County men have been arrested in connection with a Thursday morning homicide at the Happy Pines Mobile Home Park.

Ouachita County Sheriff Paul Lucas considers three people who reportedly witnessed a fatal hot tub accident early Sunday suspects in the death of David Herman Dawson of Stephens.

Richard Bond, Tyson Foods's new chief executive says he has asked company managers to identify $110 million in spending cuts that he hopes will return the company to profitability.

Regions Financial Corp. is paying about $9.8 billion in stock to acquire Birmingham, Alabama rival AmSouth Bancorporation in a deal announced Thursday that would create one of the nation’s biggest bank holding companies.

A holiday light festival may be in the works for the citizens of Faulkner County and beyond if the Conway Advertising and Promotions Commission chooses to grant a $30,000 funding request for a drive-thru light display at the Conway Sanitation Department landfill.

Today’s Paper Trails reports that Little Rock Animal Services Director Tracy Roark has issued citations and filed charges against Robb Watkins of 2210 Beckenham Cove, which allege cruelty, abandonment and trapping of the neighborhood cats without the approval of Little Rock Animal Services. Roark adds that he doesn’t believe Watkins killed any of the cats but captured them in a humane trap and removed them from the neighborhood.

Union Pacific Railroad’s steam locomotive 844 will be traveling between North Little Rock and Van Buren today with scheduled stops in Conway and Russellville.