Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Wistful Wednesday
September 20, 2006
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation, six correctional officers have been fired, and seven others warned or suspended after an internal probe concluded that an inmate was repeatedly kicked, punched and beaten with a baton at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker in May. A separate state Department of Correction investigation into another excessive-force allegation at the prison led to the resignation of Capt. Eric Hobbs, a nephew of Deputy Director Ray Hobbs.
Federal statistics released this week show violent crime in the U.S. rose by 2.3 percent last year, the first increase since 2001, while property crime decreased. In Arkansas however, violent crime rose at three times the national average - up by 6.1 percent - and property crimes increased by 1.7 percent.
A Fayetteville pro-marijuana group has collected enough signatures for a November ballot initiative seeking to make marijuana arrests in Eureka Springs a low law enforcement priority.
Wendell Collier, wanted for questioning in a double homicide over the weekend in Howard County, was found dead Tuesday near his home in neighboring Hempstead County, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Howard County Sheriff Butch Morris said.
The parents of a teenage boy who prosecutors say was sexually assaulted by his teacher testified that they contacted authorities after discovering numerous e-mail messages, some of them sexually explicit, between the teacher and their son. Prosecutors have charged former Greenwood teacher Deanna Bobo with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, alleging that she had sex with a male student on two occasions in early 2005.
For the second consecutive year, enrollment at public and private higher education campuses in Arkansas grew about 3 percent, reaching a record setting fall enrollment of more than 145,600 students.
Hendrix College has received a $20,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Education Charter School Office to train leaders of charter schools.
A lawsuit challenging this past summer's annexation of the Elaine School District to the Marvell School District has been transferred from Phillips County Circuit Court to the circuit court system in Pulaski County. Attorney John Walker's lawsuit said the merger of the two districts creates a hardship for students and staff at Elaine, because of transportation concerns and educational problems arising from the "dismal quality of education which exists in Marvell."
A Washington County jury deliberated less than 30 minutes before awarding a Springdale couple $100,000 for land taken by city officials to extend Har-Ber Avenue to Arkansas 112. The city offered the couple $23,900.
The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission has approved spending $15 million on the existing passenger terminal, including improved baggage handling, while devoting $5 million to its potential replacement at the state's largest airport.
The Clarion-Leger reports that defenders of Jackson, Ms. Mayor Frank Melton have begun a street campaign aimed at discrediting the criminal investigation that led to his eight-count indictment last week. A throng of Melton supporters convened at City Hall on Tuesday evening armed with signs expressing their outrage.
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation, six correctional officers have been fired, and seven others warned or suspended after an internal probe concluded that an inmate was repeatedly kicked, punched and beaten with a baton at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker in May. A separate state Department of Correction investigation into another excessive-force allegation at the prison led to the resignation of Capt. Eric Hobbs, a nephew of Deputy Director Ray Hobbs.
Federal statistics released this week show violent crime in the U.S. rose by 2.3 percent last year, the first increase since 2001, while property crime decreased. In Arkansas however, violent crime rose at three times the national average - up by 6.1 percent - and property crimes increased by 1.7 percent.
A Fayetteville pro-marijuana group has collected enough signatures for a November ballot initiative seeking to make marijuana arrests in Eureka Springs a low law enforcement priority.
Wendell Collier, wanted for questioning in a double homicide over the weekend in Howard County, was found dead Tuesday near his home in neighboring Hempstead County, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Howard County Sheriff Butch Morris said.
The parents of a teenage boy who prosecutors say was sexually assaulted by his teacher testified that they contacted authorities after discovering numerous e-mail messages, some of them sexually explicit, between the teacher and their son. Prosecutors have charged former Greenwood teacher Deanna Bobo with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, alleging that she had sex with a male student on two occasions in early 2005.
For the second consecutive year, enrollment at public and private higher education campuses in Arkansas grew about 3 percent, reaching a record setting fall enrollment of more than 145,600 students.
Hendrix College has received a $20,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Education Charter School Office to train leaders of charter schools.
A lawsuit challenging this past summer's annexation of the Elaine School District to the Marvell School District has been transferred from Phillips County Circuit Court to the circuit court system in Pulaski County. Attorney John Walker's lawsuit said the merger of the two districts creates a hardship for students and staff at Elaine, because of transportation concerns and educational problems arising from the "dismal quality of education which exists in Marvell."
A Washington County jury deliberated less than 30 minutes before awarding a Springdale couple $100,000 for land taken by city officials to extend Har-Ber Avenue to Arkansas 112. The city offered the couple $23,900.
The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission has approved spending $15 million on the existing passenger terminal, including improved baggage handling, while devoting $5 million to its potential replacement at the state's largest airport.
The Clarion-Leger reports that defenders of Jackson, Ms. Mayor Frank Melton have begun a street campaign aimed at discrediting the criminal investigation that led to his eight-count indictment last week. A throng of Melton supporters convened at City Hall on Tuesday evening armed with signs expressing their outrage.
