Monday, May 22, 2006
It's Monday, and there's nothing anybody can do about it.
Arkansas’ unemployment rate in April matched its highest level since January 2005, rising to 5.1 percent from 4.8 percent in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Gov. Mike Huckabee says that he would seek advice from a panel of economic advisers on the best way to return some of the state's $322.3 million surplus back to taxpayers. Huckabee said he'd like to see the Legislature approve tax rebates sometime this year in a special session.
State Republicans raised ethics questions Thursday about Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Tim Wooldridge’s campaign ad proclaiming Wooldridge the best candidate to “partner” with Attorney General Mike Beebe, a Democrat running for governor. Clint Reed, executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, asked the Arkansas Ethics Commission for an advisory opinion on whether Wooldridge’s campaign ad is an in-kind contribution to Beebe’s gubernatorial campaign.
Pulaski County will investigate allegations that the company supplying voting equipment to 72 Arkansas counties knew about visual problems the touch-screen voting machines pose to tall voters but didn’t tell local election officials before early voting began last week. The problem occurs when a tall voter looks down at the automated-teller-like voting machine, and an optical illusion causes the voter to inadvertently choose the candidate directly above the intended choice.
A hearing on a lawsuit seeking to save Paron High School is scheduled for Tuesday in the Little Rock courtroom of Pulaski County Circuit Judge James Moody, but it could be postponed for a couple of weeks.
A federal jury is to begin deliberating today on whether Saline County violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay hundreds of hours of overtime to 33 sheriff’s deputies and four clerical workers over several years.
The Pine Bluff Commercial reports Norman Hill has tendered his resignation as superintendent of the Monticello School District. According to the Commercial, this followed a disagreement over compensation for basketball coaches.
The Dollarway School Board voted unanimously to propose annexation or consolidation with the fiscally-distressed Altheimer district.
Bentonville is the latest Northwest Arkansas city targeted for a sports venue, with developers showing off plans Friday for a 9,000-seat arena hosting hockey, basketball and big name concerts. A group of 13 investors known as Arkansas Sports and Entertainment Park wants to build the 232,000-square-foot sports and entertainment arena off Arkansas 12. Plans for the $40 million privately financed arena include skyboxes and an executive level, where organizers expect alcohol to be served.
A Huntsville High School honor student was killed Friday afternoon on her way to graduation after she drove into the path of an oncoming truck, state police said. Nola Jane Jarrett was killed in a two vehicle accident on Arkansas 12 near the Benton and Madison county line.
A 27-year-old janitor, Dustin Long of Bella Vista, is being held in the Washington County Jail in connection with raping a 6-year-old girl at Fayetteville daycare center. A 6-year-old girl told police Friday she had been sexually assaulted by the janitor,
A Vilonia woman was arrested Friday on suspicion of misdemeanor child endangerment after police said she left her 4-month-old son unattended in a hot, unlocked car outside a local discount store. Brittany Huett told police she had left the baby in the car while she went inside the store, where she worked, to pick up her check.
A 13-year-old boy died of unknown causes at a home in Benton on Saturday morning, police said. Chad Allen Plummer was found lying on the kitchen floor of the home shortly before 9 a.m.
An unnamed family of seven lost its Little Rock home early Sunday when someone threw a Molotov cocktail on the front porch.
Police arrested a Gravette High School student after finding a device containing flammable liquids in his locker.
A Fort Smith massage therapist pleaded not guilty to improperly touching a client during a massage. Manford Lee Barnard Jr. pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment. According to a police report, a woman contacted Fort Smith police on March 8 and reported that Barnard touched her improperly on Dec. 29. The woman said she was receiving a massage from Barnard when he touched her breasts, then started to put his hand inside her panties. The woman told police she grabbed Barnard’s wrist and stopped him, and he told her he was just trying to give her a “complimentary orgasm.”
The Hercules, California City Council is to vote Tuesday on whether to begin eminent domain proceedings to forcibly take 17.27 acres from Wal-Mart, which wants to put a big-box store near an upscale new residential neighborhood
Dillard’s posted record earnings per share in its first quarter report, along with a 61 percent increase in net income.
John Tyson, the grandson of the founder of Springdale-based Tyson Foods, stepped down Friday as chief executive of the world’s largest meat company. Tyson will remain as the company’s chairman. Tyson Foods President Richard Bond was named by the board of directors as the new chief executive.
The retirement of Monsignor John O’Donnell in Fort Smith has led to a domino effect in the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock. All over Arkansas, priests have been reassigned to fill vacancies. The diocese itself is awaiting new leadership. The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, former bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock, was reassigned by Pope Benedict XVI in the Diocese of Joliet, Ill. Sartain will begin work there June 27.
After more than four decades in education, Cheryl will retire as elementary principal at Valley View on June 30, ending her 42-year career as an educator.
Gov. Mike Huckabee says that he would seek advice from a panel of economic advisers on the best way to return some of the state's $322.3 million surplus back to taxpayers. Huckabee said he'd like to see the Legislature approve tax rebates sometime this year in a special session.
State Republicans raised ethics questions Thursday about Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Tim Wooldridge’s campaign ad proclaiming Wooldridge the best candidate to “partner” with Attorney General Mike Beebe, a Democrat running for governor. Clint Reed, executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, asked the Arkansas Ethics Commission for an advisory opinion on whether Wooldridge’s campaign ad is an in-kind contribution to Beebe’s gubernatorial campaign.
Pulaski County will investigate allegations that the company supplying voting equipment to 72 Arkansas counties knew about visual problems the touch-screen voting machines pose to tall voters but didn’t tell local election officials before early voting began last week. The problem occurs when a tall voter looks down at the automated-teller-like voting machine, and an optical illusion causes the voter to inadvertently choose the candidate directly above the intended choice.
A hearing on a lawsuit seeking to save Paron High School is scheduled for Tuesday in the Little Rock courtroom of Pulaski County Circuit Judge James Moody, but it could be postponed for a couple of weeks.
A federal jury is to begin deliberating today on whether Saline County violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay hundreds of hours of overtime to 33 sheriff’s deputies and four clerical workers over several years.
The Pine Bluff Commercial reports Norman Hill has tendered his resignation as superintendent of the Monticello School District. According to the Commercial, this followed a disagreement over compensation for basketball coaches.
The Dollarway School Board voted unanimously to propose annexation or consolidation with the fiscally-distressed Altheimer district.
Bentonville is the latest Northwest Arkansas city targeted for a sports venue, with developers showing off plans Friday for a 9,000-seat arena hosting hockey, basketball and big name concerts. A group of 13 investors known as Arkansas Sports and Entertainment Park wants to build the 232,000-square-foot sports and entertainment arena off Arkansas 12. Plans for the $40 million privately financed arena include skyboxes and an executive level, where organizers expect alcohol to be served.
A Huntsville High School honor student was killed Friday afternoon on her way to graduation after she drove into the path of an oncoming truck, state police said. Nola Jane Jarrett was killed in a two vehicle accident on Arkansas 12 near the Benton and Madison county line.
A 27-year-old janitor, Dustin Long of Bella Vista, is being held in the Washington County Jail in connection with raping a 6-year-old girl at Fayetteville daycare center. A 6-year-old girl told police Friday she had been sexually assaulted by the janitor,
A Vilonia woman was arrested Friday on suspicion of misdemeanor child endangerment after police said she left her 4-month-old son unattended in a hot, unlocked car outside a local discount store. Brittany Huett told police she had left the baby in the car while she went inside the store, where she worked, to pick up her check.
A 13-year-old boy died of unknown causes at a home in Benton on Saturday morning, police said. Chad Allen Plummer was found lying on the kitchen floor of the home shortly before 9 a.m.
An unnamed family of seven lost its Little Rock home early Sunday when someone threw a Molotov cocktail on the front porch.
Police arrested a Gravette High School student after finding a device containing flammable liquids in his locker.
A Fort Smith massage therapist pleaded not guilty to improperly touching a client during a massage. Manford Lee Barnard Jr. pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment. According to a police report, a woman contacted Fort Smith police on March 8 and reported that Barnard touched her improperly on Dec. 29. The woman said she was receiving a massage from Barnard when he touched her breasts, then started to put his hand inside her panties. The woman told police she grabbed Barnard’s wrist and stopped him, and he told her he was just trying to give her a “complimentary orgasm.”
The Hercules, California City Council is to vote Tuesday on whether to begin eminent domain proceedings to forcibly take 17.27 acres from Wal-Mart, which wants to put a big-box store near an upscale new residential neighborhood
Dillard’s posted record earnings per share in its first quarter report, along with a 61 percent increase in net income.
John Tyson, the grandson of the founder of Springdale-based Tyson Foods, stepped down Friday as chief executive of the world’s largest meat company. Tyson will remain as the company’s chairman. Tyson Foods President Richard Bond was named by the board of directors as the new chief executive.
The retirement of Monsignor John O’Donnell in Fort Smith has led to a domino effect in the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock. All over Arkansas, priests have been reassigned to fill vacancies. The diocese itself is awaiting new leadership. The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, former bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock, was reassigned by Pope Benedict XVI in the Diocese of Joliet, Ill. Sartain will begin work there June 27.
After more than four decades in education, Cheryl will retire as elementary principal at Valley View on June 30, ending her 42-year career as an educator.
