Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Over the top Tuesday summary
A third accounting of votes in Benton County shows a third, and completely new, set of results. The numbers released Monday changed the outcome of three tight races for the second time. Candidates in two runoff elections also changed. It was not a record turnout of over 63% either, but around 51%, according to the latest reports.
Seth Blomeley reports in today’s Democrat-Gazette that reactions at the state Capitol are not favorable to news that Gov. Mike Huckabee and first lady Janet Huckabee have gift registries at Target and Dillard’s for a “housewarming” party for their recently purchased half-million dollar home. “I don’t think it would play too good in the country,” said House Speaker-designate Benny Petrus, a Democrat from Stuttgart.
Seven out of every 10 Arkansas home-schooled students in grades three through nine took at least a part of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills last spring as required by state law. That leaves more than 2,000 test-eligible students unaccounted for in state records and potentially truant.
A planned mass flu vaccination exercise involving 26 health clinics across the state is scheduled for later this week Department of Health and Human spokeswoman Ann Wright says the purpose of the exercise, which is to run Wednesday through Friday, is to immunize as many people as possible from the flu, and to test the state's ability to distribute medication in a short time frame to a large number of people in the event of an influenza pandemic. The flu shots are free to those who participate in the vaccination exercise.
The executive director for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System said Monday that he expects the system’s actuary to recommend next month that the trustees either increase the rate that the system charges school districts or reduce future retirement benefits.
The U. S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to study possible expansion of the national "Trail of Tears" system to include two trails through Arkansas and Tennessee.
As the federal drug-distribution trial of Newport Alderman Pinkey McFarlin entered its second week, a pharmacist testified about a frightening encounter she had with McFarlin after refusing to refill his prescription for pain medication early. Summer Washam, working that day at Fred’s Pharmacy in Newport, testified that after McFarlin threatened her, she closed early, called the police for an escort out of the building, and asked Fred’s corporate office to never assign her there again or she would sue them.
Two Rogers youths accused in approximately $350,000 of vandalism pleaded guilty Monday to 16 counts each of felony and misdemeanor criminal mischief, commercial and residential burglary and breaking and entry. The boys, then ages 13 and 14, admitted sneaking out of their homes late at night on eight occasions during the summer of 2005. They were sentenced to probation.
The Craighead County Quorum Court is considering a proposed increase in jail fees assessed to municipalities and other counties, over objections from Jonesboro Police Chief Mike Yates. The ordinance would raise fees from $30 to $45 per day for male and female inmates starting Jan. 1. If enacted it would represent the first hike in 16 years.
Jermain Taylor says his Dec. 9 title defense against Kassim Ouma will be his last as a middleweight and that he plans to begin campaigning in the 168-pound class in 2007. Taylor, who weighs around 180 when not in training, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that making the 160-pound middleweight limit has become more and more of a chore. Taylor went on to say that he plans to quit fighting at the age of 30. His 30th birthday is Aug. 11, 2008.
After losing his congressional bid, Cabot Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will need a new job Jan. 1, and he says he’s looking for one that pays a little more than he is accustomed to earning. Stumbaugh told the North Pulaski Leader he isn’t ruling out anything, he said, with the exception of returning to the Little Rock Police Department, where he worked before he was elected mayor, but he says there are other opportunities for people with his background and experience.
CNN founder Ted Turner told a crowd of some of the nation’s most generous philanthropists gathered Monday in Little Rock that the key to benevolence is to tap into basic, human sensibilities.
Seth Blomeley reports in today’s Democrat-Gazette that reactions at the state Capitol are not favorable to news that Gov. Mike Huckabee and first lady Janet Huckabee have gift registries at Target and Dillard’s for a “housewarming” party for their recently purchased half-million dollar home. “I don’t think it would play too good in the country,” said House Speaker-designate Benny Petrus, a Democrat from Stuttgart.
Seven out of every 10 Arkansas home-schooled students in grades three through nine took at least a part of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills last spring as required by state law. That leaves more than 2,000 test-eligible students unaccounted for in state records and potentially truant.
A planned mass flu vaccination exercise involving 26 health clinics across the state is scheduled for later this week Department of Health and Human spokeswoman Ann Wright says the purpose of the exercise, which is to run Wednesday through Friday, is to immunize as many people as possible from the flu, and to test the state's ability to distribute medication in a short time frame to a large number of people in the event of an influenza pandemic. The flu shots are free to those who participate in the vaccination exercise.
The executive director for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System said Monday that he expects the system’s actuary to recommend next month that the trustees either increase the rate that the system charges school districts or reduce future retirement benefits.
The U. S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to study possible expansion of the national "Trail of Tears" system to include two trails through Arkansas and Tennessee.
As the federal drug-distribution trial of Newport Alderman Pinkey McFarlin entered its second week, a pharmacist testified about a frightening encounter she had with McFarlin after refusing to refill his prescription for pain medication early. Summer Washam, working that day at Fred’s Pharmacy in Newport, testified that after McFarlin threatened her, she closed early, called the police for an escort out of the building, and asked Fred’s corporate office to never assign her there again or she would sue them.
Two Rogers youths accused in approximately $350,000 of vandalism pleaded guilty Monday to 16 counts each of felony and misdemeanor criminal mischief, commercial and residential burglary and breaking and entry. The boys, then ages 13 and 14, admitted sneaking out of their homes late at night on eight occasions during the summer of 2005. They were sentenced to probation.
The Craighead County Quorum Court is considering a proposed increase in jail fees assessed to municipalities and other counties, over objections from Jonesboro Police Chief Mike Yates. The ordinance would raise fees from $30 to $45 per day for male and female inmates starting Jan. 1. If enacted it would represent the first hike in 16 years.
Jermain Taylor says his Dec. 9 title defense against Kassim Ouma will be his last as a middleweight and that he plans to begin campaigning in the 168-pound class in 2007. Taylor, who weighs around 180 when not in training, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that making the 160-pound middleweight limit has become more and more of a chore. Taylor went on to say that he plans to quit fighting at the age of 30. His 30th birthday is Aug. 11, 2008.
After losing his congressional bid, Cabot Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will need a new job Jan. 1, and he says he’s looking for one that pays a little more than he is accustomed to earning. Stumbaugh told the North Pulaski Leader he isn’t ruling out anything, he said, with the exception of returning to the Little Rock Police Department, where he worked before he was elected mayor, but he says there are other opportunities for people with his background and experience.
CNN founder Ted Turner told a crowd of some of the nation’s most generous philanthropists gathered Monday in Little Rock that the key to benevolence is to tap into basic, human sensibilities.
