Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Wednesday Watch
Pulaski County Circuit Judge Jay Moody late Tuesday cleared the way for the Bryant School District to close tiny Paron High, dissolving the temporary restraining order he issued last week.
The average salary paid to public school teachers in the state was higher than the average salaries paid in all surrounding states for the school year that ended in May, according to a report by researchers who work for the Legislature. When those wages are adjusted for differences in the cost of living, the state’s average teacher salary is the highest among 17 Southern or contiguous states, according to the report from the Bureau of Legislative Research.
The number of Arkansas homes in some stage of foreclosure is up nearly 20 percent for the first six months of 2006 over the corresponding period last year, according to RealtyTrac of Irvine, Calif. Today’s Democrat-Gazette reports that many of the homes in trouble are in the $200,000 range and up.
A Pulaski County circuit judge on Tuesday dismissed two legal challenges of the District 16 state Senate primary and runoff elections because neither included two “necessary and indispensable parties,” namely the Arkansas secretary of state’s office and the Democratic Party of Arkansas State Committee.
Gov. Haley Barbour's official call for a special session of the Mississippi Legislature set to begin tomorrow seeks state incentives for an economic development project in DeSoto County as well as eliminating barriers for construction of new housing and financial assistance for cash-strapped local governments on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, seeking his fourth term in the November 7th general election brought his campaign to Greenville and discussed hurricane relif efforts. “The insurance companies are still not doing what they should do,” Lott said. “My house was 110 years old and I'm sure there was some water damage, but it was wind-driven water.” Lott is among homeowners suing his insurance company.
Greenville police officer Anthony Ferguson has resigned the force after an alleged shooting incident while he was off duty. An investigation is underway.
Alleging the existence of a “continuing criminal organization or enterprise” with former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell as its mastermind, the Lonoke County prosecutor filed motions Tuesday dismissing old charges against Campbell and five others and filing new charges involving drugs, sex and a state inmate labor program.
Despite recent investigations for financial irregularities, the Faulkner County Sheriff’s department has purchased a surplus helicopter. Sheriff Marty Montgomery claims the 1968 vintage chopper was appraised at $200,000, but the county purchased it for $5,000.
Little Rock has scored its’ 43rd homicide for 2006.
The state’s prison director says that he is considering scrapping the long-standing practice of allowing unsupervised inmates to transport other work-release prisoners after two drivers used state vans to escape last month.
High-speed, straight-line winds that caused damage in Fort Smith on Sunday were produced by a “microburst thunderstorm,” according to a meteorologist with National Weather Service in Tulsa. According to the Southwest Times Record, Steve Piltz, chief meteorologist for the NWS in Tulsa, says the microburst was created by the cool air in the storm front colliding with 100-degree temperatures.
Van Buren and Crawford County are under the gun to certify the 24 miles of levee that extend from the base of Mount Vista to Clear Creek Park before September 15. Officials learned from FEMA Monday they may have to pay for the million-dollar project out of their own pockets.
Council members agreed to the ordinance, which states that no candidate for public office may display more than one political advertisement per street address on property belonging to the city during an election period.
Little Rock will host one of the biggest events in professional bass fishing Thursday-Sunday when the Bassmasters Legends tournament visits the Arkansas River. The field will be made up of 55 of the world’s top anglers, competing for a top prize of $250,000, the richest nonchampionship prize in professional bass fishing.
Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, formerly Casino Magic, will open August 31, much sooner than expected.
The average salary paid to public school teachers in the state was higher than the average salaries paid in all surrounding states for the school year that ended in May, according to a report by researchers who work for the Legislature. When those wages are adjusted for differences in the cost of living, the state’s average teacher salary is the highest among 17 Southern or contiguous states, according to the report from the Bureau of Legislative Research.
The number of Arkansas homes in some stage of foreclosure is up nearly 20 percent for the first six months of 2006 over the corresponding period last year, according to RealtyTrac of Irvine, Calif. Today’s Democrat-Gazette reports that many of the homes in trouble are in the $200,000 range and up.
A Pulaski County circuit judge on Tuesday dismissed two legal challenges of the District 16 state Senate primary and runoff elections because neither included two “necessary and indispensable parties,” namely the Arkansas secretary of state’s office and the Democratic Party of Arkansas State Committee.
Gov. Haley Barbour's official call for a special session of the Mississippi Legislature set to begin tomorrow seeks state incentives for an economic development project in DeSoto County as well as eliminating barriers for construction of new housing and financial assistance for cash-strapped local governments on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, seeking his fourth term in the November 7th general election brought his campaign to Greenville and discussed hurricane relif efforts. “The insurance companies are still not doing what they should do,” Lott said. “My house was 110 years old and I'm sure there was some water damage, but it was wind-driven water.” Lott is among homeowners suing his insurance company.
Greenville police officer Anthony Ferguson has resigned the force after an alleged shooting incident while he was off duty. An investigation is underway.
Alleging the existence of a “continuing criminal organization or enterprise” with former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell as its mastermind, the Lonoke County prosecutor filed motions Tuesday dismissing old charges against Campbell and five others and filing new charges involving drugs, sex and a state inmate labor program.
Despite recent investigations for financial irregularities, the Faulkner County Sheriff’s department has purchased a surplus helicopter. Sheriff Marty Montgomery claims the 1968 vintage chopper was appraised at $200,000, but the county purchased it for $5,000.
Little Rock has scored its’ 43rd homicide for 2006.
The state’s prison director says that he is considering scrapping the long-standing practice of allowing unsupervised inmates to transport other work-release prisoners after two drivers used state vans to escape last month.
High-speed, straight-line winds that caused damage in Fort Smith on Sunday were produced by a “microburst thunderstorm,” according to a meteorologist with National Weather Service in Tulsa. According to the Southwest Times Record, Steve Piltz, chief meteorologist for the NWS in Tulsa, says the microburst was created by the cool air in the storm front colliding with 100-degree temperatures.
Van Buren and Crawford County are under the gun to certify the 24 miles of levee that extend from the base of Mount Vista to Clear Creek Park before September 15. Officials learned from FEMA Monday they may have to pay for the million-dollar project out of their own pockets.
Council members agreed to the ordinance, which states that no candidate for public office may display more than one political advertisement per street address on property belonging to the city during an election period.
Little Rock will host one of the biggest events in professional bass fishing Thursday-Sunday when the Bassmasters Legends tournament visits the Arkansas River. The field will be made up of 55 of the world’s top anglers, competing for a top prize of $250,000, the richest nonchampionship prize in professional bass fishing.
Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, formerly Casino Magic, will open August 31, much sooner than expected.
