Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Wednesday summary
No bills came to a vote in the Senate on Tuesday. The House calendar was bare, with not even amendments for consideration.
A House committee Tuesday endorsed legislation prohibiting state agencies from contracting with businesses employing illegal immigrants.
Jefferson County school superintendents expressed disappointment, frustration and guarded anger on the Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate Education Committees’ approval of a .05% increase on state per-student funding for 2008. Pine Bluff Superintendent Frank Anthony said the typical annual rate of inflation is at least 2 percent, and expanding demands within education would likely take up the suggested increases.
Teachers and students in the Lee County School District are experiencing a bout with “blue flu” this week after the school board last week rejected a proposal for district-wide raises. According to Lee County Education Association president Leroy Williams, teachers in the district plan to be back in class today (Wednesday), but could be out again later this week.
Hiring more probation officers and making greater use of alternative sentencing would be effective ways to ease the strain on jails and law enforcement agencies, Gov. Mike Beebe told the state's sheriffs Tuesday. Beebe said his proposed budget includes funding to increase the number of probation officers employed by the Department of Community Correction.
Arkansas' unemployment rate fell one-tenth of 1 percent to 5.1 percent in December. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged from November at 4.5 percent. The state jobless rate was 4.7 percent a year ago.
A new plant to produce oil drilling equipment will be added to IPSCO Inc.'s Blytheville pipe mill, the company announced Tuesday The expansion will generate about 40 new jobs, the company said.
The Fort Smith School District is still waiting for the money that local attorney Oscar Stilley was ordered to pay for filing a frivolous lawsuit against the district in 2002.
Police officers from several states are gathering in Madison this week for training on how best to handle domestic violence situations. Instructors from six states with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, which is based in Glynco, Ga., are presenting the seminar.
A recycling program is among the "big items" Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin has in the works during his first year of office.
Top awards were presented to organizers of the Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends at Pine Bluff and the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival during the Arkansas Festival Association’s Awards Luncheon.
A House committee Tuesday endorsed legislation prohibiting state agencies from contracting with businesses employing illegal immigrants.
Jefferson County school superintendents expressed disappointment, frustration and guarded anger on the Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate Education Committees’ approval of a .05% increase on state per-student funding for 2008. Pine Bluff Superintendent Frank Anthony said the typical annual rate of inflation is at least 2 percent, and expanding demands within education would likely take up the suggested increases.
Teachers and students in the Lee County School District are experiencing a bout with “blue flu” this week after the school board last week rejected a proposal for district-wide raises. According to Lee County Education Association president Leroy Williams, teachers in the district plan to be back in class today (Wednesday), but could be out again later this week.
Hiring more probation officers and making greater use of alternative sentencing would be effective ways to ease the strain on jails and law enforcement agencies, Gov. Mike Beebe told the state's sheriffs Tuesday. Beebe said his proposed budget includes funding to increase the number of probation officers employed by the Department of Community Correction.
Arkansas' unemployment rate fell one-tenth of 1 percent to 5.1 percent in December. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged from November at 4.5 percent. The state jobless rate was 4.7 percent a year ago.
A new plant to produce oil drilling equipment will be added to IPSCO Inc.'s Blytheville pipe mill, the company announced Tuesday The expansion will generate about 40 new jobs, the company said.
The Fort Smith School District is still waiting for the money that local attorney Oscar Stilley was ordered to pay for filing a frivolous lawsuit against the district in 2002.
Police officers from several states are gathering in Madison this week for training on how best to handle domestic violence situations. Instructors from six states with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, which is based in Glynco, Ga., are presenting the seminar.
A recycling program is among the "big items" Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin has in the works during his first year of office.
Top awards were presented to organizers of the Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends at Pine Bluff and the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival during the Arkansas Festival Association’s Awards Luncheon.
