Monday, December 11, 2006
Monday morning early summary
The Democrat-Gazette reports that Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose use of the state police airplane reached a high last year, has eased off using it in 2006. At $875 an hour, the cost to taxpayers dropped from $176,312 in 2005 to $105,525 so far this year.
Arkansas Medicaid has saved the state and federal governments about $20 million in less than two years by screening which drugs can be prescribed for recipients, program officials say.
Circuit Judge L.T. Simes dismissed a lawsuit contesting the runoff for the District 16 state Senate seat Friday, saying the plaintiff, state Rep. Arnell Willis, had failed to question enough votes to change the results.
Abon Tili of Springdale is facing capital murder and rape charges in the death of a 10-year-old girl by the Washington County Prosecutor's office. Tili is being held without bond.
A Jefferson County jury has convicted Jimmy Frizielle, a former Pine Bluff police officer, of conspiracy to commit capital murder for concocting a murder-for-hire plot in fall 2004. The trial judge imposed the recommended six-year sentence.
Timothy Wallace, wanted on double-murder charges in Saline County, could be free to walk Canadian streets if the federal government in Ottawa allows him to stay in that country. Fugitives may request to remain in Canada if they fear persecution, torture or the death penalty, if returned.
A correctional officer has been fired at the Benton Work-Release Unit after authorities said she had sex with an inmate, prison officials confirmed Thursday. The dismissal marks at least the fourth time this year that a Correction Department worker has left the agency under similar circumstances.
Sheila Walters had the luck of the draw Friday afternoon and became mayor-elect of Trumann by virtue of a tie-breaker in her 730-730 logjam with incumbent Ronnie Harrison. Shortly after the Poinsett County Election Commission certified three additional military ballots that drew the candidates even,
An agreement with an Alabama company to provide phone service to prison inmates has been temporarily blocked, something that happens only to about 1 percent of state contracts. Inmate advocates hailed the freeze, saying Global Tel-Link, the company awarded the contract, didn’t reduce the $6.60 price for a 15-minute collect call, a cost they say burdens low-income families.
Entergy Arkansas Inc. customers in 2005 saw a record low number of power failures for the state’s largest electricity provider.
The state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union has sent letters to all Arkansas public school superintendents offering guidance on issues involving religion and public schools. The three-page letter addresses the issues of whether there is a place for religious holidays in public schools and whether schools can make religious materials available to students.
Almost 18 years to the day after it was the site of one of Memphis' most horrific accidents killing 8 people, the Interstate 40-240 interchange in Midtown has been rebuilt and will be fully open to traffic this week, state officials say. Crews during the past several days have been wrapping up a three-year, $53 million project designed to eliminate dangerous curves and accommodate heavier traffic loads at the interchange.
Arkansas Medicaid has saved the state and federal governments about $20 million in less than two years by screening which drugs can be prescribed for recipients, program officials say.
Circuit Judge L.T. Simes dismissed a lawsuit contesting the runoff for the District 16 state Senate seat Friday, saying the plaintiff, state Rep. Arnell Willis, had failed to question enough votes to change the results.
Abon Tili of Springdale is facing capital murder and rape charges in the death of a 10-year-old girl by the Washington County Prosecutor's office. Tili is being held without bond.
A Jefferson County jury has convicted Jimmy Frizielle, a former Pine Bluff police officer, of conspiracy to commit capital murder for concocting a murder-for-hire plot in fall 2004. The trial judge imposed the recommended six-year sentence.
Timothy Wallace, wanted on double-murder charges in Saline County, could be free to walk Canadian streets if the federal government in Ottawa allows him to stay in that country. Fugitives may request to remain in Canada if they fear persecution, torture or the death penalty, if returned.
A correctional officer has been fired at the Benton Work-Release Unit after authorities said she had sex with an inmate, prison officials confirmed Thursday. The dismissal marks at least the fourth time this year that a Correction Department worker has left the agency under similar circumstances.
Sheila Walters had the luck of the draw Friday afternoon and became mayor-elect of Trumann by virtue of a tie-breaker in her 730-730 logjam with incumbent Ronnie Harrison. Shortly after the Poinsett County Election Commission certified three additional military ballots that drew the candidates even,
An agreement with an Alabama company to provide phone service to prison inmates has been temporarily blocked, something that happens only to about 1 percent of state contracts. Inmate advocates hailed the freeze, saying Global Tel-Link, the company awarded the contract, didn’t reduce the $6.60 price for a 15-minute collect call, a cost they say burdens low-income families.
Entergy Arkansas Inc. customers in 2005 saw a record low number of power failures for the state’s largest electricity provider.
The state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union has sent letters to all Arkansas public school superintendents offering guidance on issues involving religion and public schools. The three-page letter addresses the issues of whether there is a place for religious holidays in public schools and whether schools can make religious materials available to students.
Almost 18 years to the day after it was the site of one of Memphis' most horrific accidents killing 8 people, the Interstate 40-240 interchange in Midtown has been rebuilt and will be fully open to traffic this week, state officials say. Crews during the past several days have been wrapping up a three-year, $53 million project designed to eliminate dangerous curves and accommodate heavier traffic loads at the interchange.
