Monday, June 26, 2006
(Late again) Monday
(Sorry. Mornings have been busy.)
A Pulaski County circuit judge has temporarily barred the state from shutting down rural Paron High School in Saline County until a full hearing is held in a lawsuit aimed at saving the school.
Efforts to move all students in the Palestine-Wheatley School District to one campus in Palestine came to a halt, when United States District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to move the Wheatley campus to Palestine. The school board will have to decide what to do about the middle school building in Wheatley that was party destroyed by a fire in February.
14-month-old Zachary Bowden is dead, less than 24 hours after his mother left him in her vehicle at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas in De Queen. The boy’s mother, Kristin Bowden, the vice chancellor and dean of academic services at the community college will reportedly not be facing charges. Prosecutor Tom Cooper cited the infant’s disabilities and the mother’s recent brain surgery as mitigating circumstances.
Former Wal-Mart executive Robert Hey is facing one day in prison and six months of supervised release and a fine of $3,000 for wire fraud convictions in Fort Smith Federal Court. Hey manipulated Wal-Mart accounts to defraud the retailer into paying almost $40,000 for hunting trips and seminars which never took place. Hey also charged Wal Mart $3,000 for repairs to a 1999 Ford pickup truck.
The Arkansas State Medical Board is challenging a Russellville doctor’s medical care after 10 patients died from a lethal mix of drugs or an overdose of prescription medications. The Medical Board has accused Dr. Randeep Mann of prescribing excessive amounts of controlled substances to patients he knew or should have known had histories of drug abuse and overdoses.
A state Senate candidate who lost a Democratic primary election in which an equipment malfunction left more than 400 votes uncounted has filed a lawsuit requesting a recount. Former State Sen. Alvin Simes of Helena-West Helena is asking a judge to throw out the results of the May 23 District 16 race and the subsequent runoff in Phillips County. Simes also contends that there are almost 200 additional votes in Phillips County unaccounted for.
The Jonesboro Sun reports that city officials in Marmaduke are considering how to hand out over $42,000 in contributions for families effected by the April tornadoes. The money should be distributed in late July.
Fort Smith City directors have selected hometown Police Chief Randy Reed to be the city’s new administrator.
A financial shortfall h threatens to delay the October opening of Saline County’s $1.8 million, 180-bed jail. The uncertainty lies with a lingering federal lawsuit brought by 30 current and former sheriff ’s employees who won a verdict against the county last month and were awarded over $257- a sum that could be doubled, under federal law. Including all damages and legal fees, Saline County faces a possible $1.2 million judgement.
Sunday’s third annual gay pride parade in Conway went off without incident. Two former employees of Signal Media’s KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, were charged with felony counts of with distributing pornography to a minor after the 2004 event. Both were fined and performed community service under terms of a plea bargain on reduced charges.
FOX 16 reports authorities in Faulkner County say a disaster was averted when five people suffering from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning at a raceway near Greenbrier were revived. Officials say the family members were in a camper trailer at the Twin Creeks Raceway when a nearby generator vented into the trailer's air intake. All received medical treatment and returned to the raceway.
If you have reservations for the lodge at Mt. Magazine State Park, better get ready for disappointment. Arkansas Times blog reports on would-be vacationers who were, at the lst minute, informed by the lodge that, over the next few weeks, it is overbooked by hundreds of rooms.
Kroger workers statewide have ratified a four year contract, averting a possible strike.
Roby Brock reports that Wal-Mart and several of its counterparts were in court on Friday challenging a Maryland law that requires Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care. The Maryland law, which was passed earlier this year, would require private companies with more than 10,000 employees to spend at least 8 percent of its payroll on health care or pay the difference to the state.
The Democrat-Gazette reports when Jeff Gardner and Francis X. “Skip” Frantz take the reins of Windstream Communications, they’ll get a generous going-away present from Alltel Corp. - retirement packages that combined are worth nearly $17 million.
After four days of competition, Miss Central Arkansas Amber Elizabeth Bennett, 22, was crowned Miss Arkansas 2006 late Saturday night.
A Pulaski County circuit judge has temporarily barred the state from shutting down rural Paron High School in Saline County until a full hearing is held in a lawsuit aimed at saving the school.
Efforts to move all students in the Palestine-Wheatley School District to one campus in Palestine came to a halt, when United States District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to move the Wheatley campus to Palestine. The school board will have to decide what to do about the middle school building in Wheatley that was party destroyed by a fire in February.
14-month-old Zachary Bowden is dead, less than 24 hours after his mother left him in her vehicle at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas in De Queen. The boy’s mother, Kristin Bowden, the vice chancellor and dean of academic services at the community college will reportedly not be facing charges. Prosecutor Tom Cooper cited the infant’s disabilities and the mother’s recent brain surgery as mitigating circumstances.
Former Wal-Mart executive Robert Hey is facing one day in prison and six months of supervised release and a fine of $3,000 for wire fraud convictions in Fort Smith Federal Court. Hey manipulated Wal-Mart accounts to defraud the retailer into paying almost $40,000 for hunting trips and seminars which never took place. Hey also charged Wal Mart $3,000 for repairs to a 1999 Ford pickup truck.
The Arkansas State Medical Board is challenging a Russellville doctor’s medical care after 10 patients died from a lethal mix of drugs or an overdose of prescription medications. The Medical Board has accused Dr. Randeep Mann of prescribing excessive amounts of controlled substances to patients he knew or should have known had histories of drug abuse and overdoses.
A state Senate candidate who lost a Democratic primary election in which an equipment malfunction left more than 400 votes uncounted has filed a lawsuit requesting a recount. Former State Sen. Alvin Simes of Helena-West Helena is asking a judge to throw out the results of the May 23 District 16 race and the subsequent runoff in Phillips County. Simes also contends that there are almost 200 additional votes in Phillips County unaccounted for.
The Jonesboro Sun reports that city officials in Marmaduke are considering how to hand out over $42,000 in contributions for families effected by the April tornadoes. The money should be distributed in late July.
Fort Smith City directors have selected hometown Police Chief Randy Reed to be the city’s new administrator.
A financial shortfall h threatens to delay the October opening of Saline County’s $1.8 million, 180-bed jail. The uncertainty lies with a lingering federal lawsuit brought by 30 current and former sheriff ’s employees who won a verdict against the county last month and were awarded over $257- a sum that could be doubled, under federal law. Including all damages and legal fees, Saline County faces a possible $1.2 million judgement.
Sunday’s third annual gay pride parade in Conway went off without incident. Two former employees of Signal Media’s KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, were charged with felony counts of with distributing pornography to a minor after the 2004 event. Both were fined and performed community service under terms of a plea bargain on reduced charges.
FOX 16 reports authorities in Faulkner County say a disaster was averted when five people suffering from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning at a raceway near Greenbrier were revived. Officials say the family members were in a camper trailer at the Twin Creeks Raceway when a nearby generator vented into the trailer's air intake. All received medical treatment and returned to the raceway.
If you have reservations for the lodge at Mt. Magazine State Park, better get ready for disappointment. Arkansas Times blog reports on would-be vacationers who were, at the lst minute, informed by the lodge that, over the next few weeks, it is overbooked by hundreds of rooms.
Kroger workers statewide have ratified a four year contract, averting a possible strike.
Roby Brock reports that Wal-Mart and several of its counterparts were in court on Friday challenging a Maryland law that requires Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care. The Maryland law, which was passed earlier this year, would require private companies with more than 10,000 employees to spend at least 8 percent of its payroll on health care or pay the difference to the state.
The Democrat-Gazette reports when Jeff Gardner and Francis X. “Skip” Frantz take the reins of Windstream Communications, they’ll get a generous going-away present from Alltel Corp. - retirement packages that combined are worth nearly $17 million.
After four days of competition, Miss Central Arkansas Amber Elizabeth Bennett, 22, was crowned Miss Arkansas 2006 late Saturday night.
