Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Shivering Tuesday summary
Residents of Northwest Arkansas are cleaning up after being hit by an ice storm that also socked parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. About 6,700 people in Benton County remained in the dark as power crews tried to restore electricity that failed on Friday when ice sent tree branches crashing into power lines.
Gov. Mike Beebe tells the Democrat-Gazette that he’s thinking about proposing the “un-merging” of the Department of Health and Human Services, two years after two agencies were combined to form it.
The legislature gets back to work today. More than 100 bills were filed by legislators in the first week. The bills range from cyber-bullying of students, incentive pay for teachers, meeting schedules for members of the Legislative Council, and increasing terms for county officials from two to four years.
The Arkansas Citizenship Coalition will help permanent, legal residents of the United States become citizens. The group was formed by the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas, Catholic Immigration Services, the Ozark Literacy Council, the Jones Center for Families in Springdale, the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 761 and other adult education groups. The coalition received a $69,604 grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation on Monday.
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas Reports that, after learning this past weekend that his role as Arkansas' offensive coordinator was going to be diminished, Gus Malzahn decided it was in his best interest to accept a position at the University of Tulsa, a source close to the team said Monday. Malzahn was named early Monday as Tulsa's assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator, joining the staff of new Golden Hurricane coach Todd Graham.
Central Arkansas Athletic Director John Thompson, who has served as defensive coordinator for four SEC schools and worked at five total, is leaving his alma mater and accepting an offer from Ole Miss Coach Ed Orgeron to become the Rebels’ defensive coordinator.
Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons will not file charges in connection with an alleged rape during a Dec. 28, 2006 party at the home of Ryan Whiteside, who is expected to testify in the murder trial of Kevin Jones, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Nona Dirksmeyer.
In a speech with few surprises but plenty of campaign hints in an election year, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has praised the state's economic progress since Hurricane Katrina while pledging more money for schools and fighting crime. During the 40 minute State of the State Address, he was interrupted by applause 20 times.
A woman and her boyfriend face capital murder charges in the beating death of her 4-year-old son. Roberta L. Johnson and Cornelius Dawson are being held in the St. Francis County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail each. Police say the child, Lamont Hurd, died shortly after noon Friday at Forrest City Medical Center. Police said they found healing cuts on the toddler’s head, neck, chest, arms, back, buttocks and legs.
Russellville’s city council has adopted a new policy which makes it easier for citizens to speak at meetings. It will no longer be required to sign in before meetings in order to be heard.
Students in the aviation program at Southern Arkansas University-Tech in Camden returned from Christmas break to find they had a fully equipped jet to play with. FedEx Express, based in Memphis, has donated a Boeing 727-100 aircraft to the program, which trains students to repair airplanes.
Gov. Mike Beebe tells the Democrat-Gazette that he’s thinking about proposing the “un-merging” of the Department of Health and Human Services, two years after two agencies were combined to form it.
The legislature gets back to work today. More than 100 bills were filed by legislators in the first week. The bills range from cyber-bullying of students, incentive pay for teachers, meeting schedules for members of the Legislative Council, and increasing terms for county officials from two to four years.
The Arkansas Citizenship Coalition will help permanent, legal residents of the United States become citizens. The group was formed by the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas, Catholic Immigration Services, the Ozark Literacy Council, the Jones Center for Families in Springdale, the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 761 and other adult education groups. The coalition received a $69,604 grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation on Monday.
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas Reports that, after learning this past weekend that his role as Arkansas' offensive coordinator was going to be diminished, Gus Malzahn decided it was in his best interest to accept a position at the University of Tulsa, a source close to the team said Monday. Malzahn was named early Monday as Tulsa's assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator, joining the staff of new Golden Hurricane coach Todd Graham.
Central Arkansas Athletic Director John Thompson, who has served as defensive coordinator for four SEC schools and worked at five total, is leaving his alma mater and accepting an offer from Ole Miss Coach Ed Orgeron to become the Rebels’ defensive coordinator.
Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons will not file charges in connection with an alleged rape during a Dec. 28, 2006 party at the home of Ryan Whiteside, who is expected to testify in the murder trial of Kevin Jones, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Nona Dirksmeyer.
In a speech with few surprises but plenty of campaign hints in an election year, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has praised the state's economic progress since Hurricane Katrina while pledging more money for schools and fighting crime. During the 40 minute State of the State Address, he was interrupted by applause 20 times.
A woman and her boyfriend face capital murder charges in the beating death of her 4-year-old son. Roberta L. Johnson and Cornelius Dawson are being held in the St. Francis County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail each. Police say the child, Lamont Hurd, died shortly after noon Friday at Forrest City Medical Center. Police said they found healing cuts on the toddler’s head, neck, chest, arms, back, buttocks and legs.
Russellville’s city council has adopted a new policy which makes it easier for citizens to speak at meetings. It will no longer be required to sign in before meetings in order to be heard.
Students in the aviation program at Southern Arkansas University-Tech in Camden returned from Christmas break to find they had a fully equipped jet to play with. FedEx Express, based in Memphis, has donated a Boeing 727-100 aircraft to the program, which trains students to repair airplanes.
