Thursday, September 21, 2006
Ray's Day
September 21, 2006
More than half of the school districts seeking millage increases succeeded Tuesday, with some cashing in on a 2005 state law that will help them pay to build or expand school facilities. Forty-two of the 245 school districts in Arkansas sought public approval of property-tax increases. Voters in 23 districts accepted higher levies; voters in 19 districts rejected them.
State officials and lawmakers are discussing requiring all students to take the tougher “Smart Core” curriculum and eliminating the existing provision that lets students - with parental permission - opt out of higherlevel math and science classes. Education Commissioner Ken Jamestold several hundred educators and community members that the existing optout clause sends a mixed message to the state’s 452,000 students and their parents at a time when state leaders are convinced that higherlevel academic classes are essential to a high school graduate’s success in the work force or in postsecondary education.
Arkansas’ unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent in August, a drop of one-tenth of a percent from 5.4 percent in July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday.
At the urging of in-state companies, notably Wal-Mart, members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation have crafted legislation to suspend import duties on goods ranging from toenail clippers to clock radios. Wal-Mart and others argue that eliminating tariffs on imported goods results in lower prices for consumers.
The Arkansas Court of Appeals has reversed a Workers’ Compensation Commission ruling and ordered the commission to determine a benefit amount for Tina Engle, who fell into rocks on an employee “team bonding” outing at Bull Shoals Lake, injuring her back, breaking both her wrists, her left leg and five ribs, and leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. The commission ruled Engle was having a good time and not working. Judge Terry Crabtree wrote, “It defies reason to assert that Engle was required by her employer to find a place from which to jump, but was not expected to participate in jumping.”
Problems with suppliers, subcontractors and others may delay opening the new Jefferson County Adult Jail by the end of the year. County Judge Jack Jones told a meeting of mayors and law enforcement officials that there are “some players who don’t want to open it until March 1.”
After consulting with the Saline County auditor and county attorney, County Judge Lanny Fite says that he has asked the sheriff to rebid a legally questionable contract to provide telephone service for county jail inmates. The sheriff’s office will comply, a spokesman said.
White County Sherriff Pat Garrett has begun moving into a 98,000 square foot Law Enforcement Center.
Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Richard Hall, who was arrested last week and is currently hospitalized, has resigned from the Jefferson County Quorum Court.
Lisa Rivers of didn't show up for her first-degree murder trial in Huntsville Wednesday. Prosecutor Terry Jones of the 4th Judicial District believed she wasn't a flight risk and released her after she was arrested in January.
A 34-year-old Little Rock man who was shot in the head early Wednesday died several hours later after being removed from life support, marking the capitol city’s 48th homicide for 2006.
A 28-year-old man is behind bars this morning charged with the first murder in Cleveland, Ms. for 2006. Patrick Simpson of Cleveland was arrested for the fatal stabbing of Keith Williams, 40, also of Cleveland.
A court-ordered election that was held Sept. 10 has not ended a dispute that has divided a Buddhist temple in Fort Smith for the past 15 months. The defendants have filed notice in Sebastian County Circuit Court that they are appealing the election’s outcome and all court rulings leading up to those results.
The Daily Citizen reports that Albert Yarnell, patriarch of the Searcy’s sweetest industry, has worked his way to the whipped-cream and cherry top of the ice cream world. Dan L. Worrell, dean of Sam M. Walton College of Business has announced the chairman of Yarnell Ice Cream, will be a 2007 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Inductee.
More than half of the school districts seeking millage increases succeeded Tuesday, with some cashing in on a 2005 state law that will help them pay to build or expand school facilities. Forty-two of the 245 school districts in Arkansas sought public approval of property-tax increases. Voters in 23 districts accepted higher levies; voters in 19 districts rejected them.
State officials and lawmakers are discussing requiring all students to take the tougher “Smart Core” curriculum and eliminating the existing provision that lets students - with parental permission - opt out of higherlevel math and science classes. Education Commissioner Ken Jamestold several hundred educators and community members that the existing optout clause sends a mixed message to the state’s 452,000 students and their parents at a time when state leaders are convinced that higherlevel academic classes are essential to a high school graduate’s success in the work force or in postsecondary education.
Arkansas’ unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent in August, a drop of one-tenth of a percent from 5.4 percent in July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday.
At the urging of in-state companies, notably Wal-Mart, members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation have crafted legislation to suspend import duties on goods ranging from toenail clippers to clock radios. Wal-Mart and others argue that eliminating tariffs on imported goods results in lower prices for consumers.
The Arkansas Court of Appeals has reversed a Workers’ Compensation Commission ruling and ordered the commission to determine a benefit amount for Tina Engle, who fell into rocks on an employee “team bonding” outing at Bull Shoals Lake, injuring her back, breaking both her wrists, her left leg and five ribs, and leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. The commission ruled Engle was having a good time and not working. Judge Terry Crabtree wrote, “It defies reason to assert that Engle was required by her employer to find a place from which to jump, but was not expected to participate in jumping.”
Problems with suppliers, subcontractors and others may delay opening the new Jefferson County Adult Jail by the end of the year. County Judge Jack Jones told a meeting of mayors and law enforcement officials that there are “some players who don’t want to open it until March 1.”
After consulting with the Saline County auditor and county attorney, County Judge Lanny Fite says that he has asked the sheriff to rebid a legally questionable contract to provide telephone service for county jail inmates. The sheriff’s office will comply, a spokesman said.
White County Sherriff Pat Garrett has begun moving into a 98,000 square foot Law Enforcement Center.
Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Richard Hall, who was arrested last week and is currently hospitalized, has resigned from the Jefferson County Quorum Court.
Lisa Rivers of didn't show up for her first-degree murder trial in Huntsville Wednesday. Prosecutor Terry Jones of the 4th Judicial District believed she wasn't a flight risk and released her after she was arrested in January.
A 34-year-old Little Rock man who was shot in the head early Wednesday died several hours later after being removed from life support, marking the capitol city’s 48th homicide for 2006.
A 28-year-old man is behind bars this morning charged with the first murder in Cleveland, Ms. for 2006. Patrick Simpson of Cleveland was arrested for the fatal stabbing of Keith Williams, 40, also of Cleveland.
A court-ordered election that was held Sept. 10 has not ended a dispute that has divided a Buddhist temple in Fort Smith for the past 15 months. The defendants have filed notice in Sebastian County Circuit Court that they are appealing the election’s outcome and all court rulings leading up to those results.
The Daily Citizen reports that Albert Yarnell, patriarch of the Searcy’s sweetest industry, has worked his way to the whipped-cream and cherry top of the ice cream world. Dan L. Worrell, dean of Sam M. Walton College of Business has announced the chairman of Yarnell Ice Cream, will be a 2007 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Inductee.
