Friday, October 27, 2006
Drenched Friday morning summary
Rogers Mayor Steve Womack is reviewing an ordinance that would declare illegal aliens a public nuisance and impose fines on those employing or renting to illegal residents.
The state police director told lawmakers Thursday that he wants 100 more state troopers. Some legislators wanted to know if that would be enough to enable the state police to start enforcing federal laws against illegal immigration. Col. Steve Dozier told them it might, if that’s what the next governor wants.
Seth Blomeley reports in the Democrat-Gazette that State Auditor Jim Wood has a new state car since he wrecked his previous one while on personal business in Charlotte, N. C, The mishap with the state-issued 2002 Lincoln Continental midsize luxury car happened Oct. 13. Wood said his office traded the wrecked car in for a 2007 Lincoln Continental that cost $38,300. The trade-in amount of $8,500 was applied toward the new car, he said.
State environmental regulators have proposed $38,900 in civil penalties against a Marion County land development company accused of violations at three residential developments. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality said Homeport Land Co. failed to obtain required storm-water construction permits for two developments in Marion County and one in Baxter County.
Poultry companies with operations in Arkansas have lashed out at Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, saying his latest political advertisement contains “grossly irresponsible” and “blatantly untrue” information. The companies’ leaders claimed, during a news conference in Tulsa, that the television ad wrongly criticizes the companies for damaging Oklahoma rivers.
Gov. Mike Huckabee’s chief counsel, O. Milton Fine, has left the governor’s office for a job at the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Fine’s salary is $89,350 a year. As chief counsel he was making $95,851. Fine had worked for the governor since 2002.
Two of the four candidates for Little Rock mayor on Thursday said they would like to see smoking banned in all city restaurants and bars, tightening a state law that went into effect this summer. Bill Walker and Jessie Mason made those comments at a UALR candidate forum.
Crittenden County has agreed to pay more than a quarter-million dollars to current and former employees who sued over unpaid overtime and regular pay. Employees claimed to have been shorted for two weeks pay in 2004.
FOX 16 reports a Cabot business, Tecboys.com, has generated over 50 complaints to local police form 18 states as angry consumers claim to have spent thousands of dollars for scooters that were never delivered.
Nathan Lee Martin, of Atkins is serving 30 days in the Pope County jail after District Judge Don Bourne convicted him of giving whiskey to an 8-year-old child. Hospital officials reported the youngster’s blood alcohol level was .06 percent.
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Norman Wilkinson ruled Wednesday that Deanna Bobo, a former Greenwood teacher, can remain free on bond while she appeals her conviction on two counts of first-degree sexual assault.
Schools in the southwest Arkansas town of Blevins remained locked down for a third day Thursday while federal, state and local authorities continued their search for a man linked to a multistate drug ring.
A tugboat that survived Pearl Harbor will soon be on its way to North Little Rock to join the city’s maritime museum, having passed through a brief financial skirmish Thursday After hearing some public dissent, the North Little Rock City Council approved 7-0 in a special meeting to spend $395,000 to transport the USS Hoga from California to the city’s downtown riverfront area.
Shelby County's Homeland Security office in Memphis had its own security breach this month when four electronic listening devices were found hidden in the ceiling of its Memphis headquarters. Officials became suspicious and had the FBI sweep the office for bugs after a local television station said it possessed "damaging and embarrassing" audiotapes that were secretly recorded and given to the station.
Mississippi consumers gained access to some $4 prescription drugs Thursday with the announcement that it is now among the 27 states where the nation's largest retailer has its generic drug program.
The state police director told lawmakers Thursday that he wants 100 more state troopers. Some legislators wanted to know if that would be enough to enable the state police to start enforcing federal laws against illegal immigration. Col. Steve Dozier told them it might, if that’s what the next governor wants.
Seth Blomeley reports in the Democrat-Gazette that State Auditor Jim Wood has a new state car since he wrecked his previous one while on personal business in Charlotte, N. C, The mishap with the state-issued 2002 Lincoln Continental midsize luxury car happened Oct. 13. Wood said his office traded the wrecked car in for a 2007 Lincoln Continental that cost $38,300. The trade-in amount of $8,500 was applied toward the new car, he said.
State environmental regulators have proposed $38,900 in civil penalties against a Marion County land development company accused of violations at three residential developments. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality said Homeport Land Co. failed to obtain required storm-water construction permits for two developments in Marion County and one in Baxter County.
Poultry companies with operations in Arkansas have lashed out at Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, saying his latest political advertisement contains “grossly irresponsible” and “blatantly untrue” information. The companies’ leaders claimed, during a news conference in Tulsa, that the television ad wrongly criticizes the companies for damaging Oklahoma rivers.
Gov. Mike Huckabee’s chief counsel, O. Milton Fine, has left the governor’s office for a job at the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Fine’s salary is $89,350 a year. As chief counsel he was making $95,851. Fine had worked for the governor since 2002.
Two of the four candidates for Little Rock mayor on Thursday said they would like to see smoking banned in all city restaurants and bars, tightening a state law that went into effect this summer. Bill Walker and Jessie Mason made those comments at a UALR candidate forum.
Crittenden County has agreed to pay more than a quarter-million dollars to current and former employees who sued over unpaid overtime and regular pay. Employees claimed to have been shorted for two weeks pay in 2004.
FOX 16 reports a Cabot business, Tecboys.com, has generated over 50 complaints to local police form 18 states as angry consumers claim to have spent thousands of dollars for scooters that were never delivered.
Nathan Lee Martin, of Atkins is serving 30 days in the Pope County jail after District Judge Don Bourne convicted him of giving whiskey to an 8-year-old child. Hospital officials reported the youngster’s blood alcohol level was .06 percent.
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Norman Wilkinson ruled Wednesday that Deanna Bobo, a former Greenwood teacher, can remain free on bond while she appeals her conviction on two counts of first-degree sexual assault.
Schools in the southwest Arkansas town of Blevins remained locked down for a third day Thursday while federal, state and local authorities continued their search for a man linked to a multistate drug ring.
A tugboat that survived Pearl Harbor will soon be on its way to North Little Rock to join the city’s maritime museum, having passed through a brief financial skirmish Thursday After hearing some public dissent, the North Little Rock City Council approved 7-0 in a special meeting to spend $395,000 to transport the USS Hoga from California to the city’s downtown riverfront area.
Shelby County's Homeland Security office in Memphis had its own security breach this month when four electronic listening devices were found hidden in the ceiling of its Memphis headquarters. Officials became suspicious and had the FBI sweep the office for bugs after a local television station said it possessed "damaging and embarrassing" audiotapes that were secretly recorded and given to the station.
Mississippi consumers gained access to some $4 prescription drugs Thursday with the announcement that it is now among the 27 states where the nation's largest retailer has its generic drug program.
