Monday, May 21, 2007
Monday summary
Little Rock-based Acxiom Corp. says that its chief executive, Charles Morgan, has moved to Dallas and the company plans to open a new office in that city in the next month. Morgan, Rodger Kline, Acxiom’s chief administrative leader, and Chris Wolf, Acxiom’s new chief financial officer, all will have their offices in Dallas. Morgan is reported to receive over $80 million if the Axciom sale closes. Texas does not have an income tax.
Roby Brock of TalkBusiness.net reports that Governor Beebe is hinting positive economic development news for Central Arkansas. Brock says it may involve the manufacturing of windmill blades at the Port of Little Rock. This would entail $150 million in infrastructure and 500 new jobs.
Attempting to further delay proceedings against Appeals Court Judge Wendell Griffen. the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission is seeking to question Griffin under oath about comments reported in various publications. Griffen, who is representing himself, observes that it is illegal and unethical to compel him to testify.
Rep. Chris Thyer of Jonesboro, co-chairman of the Joint Budget Committee, is accusing officials from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences of having a “lack of forthrightness” about plans to establish a campus in Fayetteville. Sen. Dave Bisbee of Rogers says that at the Capitol “everybody in the whole building knew” of UAMS’ plans to expand and doesn’t understand why Thyer is just now hearing about it.
Dennis Milligan of Bryant is the new state Republican chairman. The 49-year-old businessman was the only candidate to succeed state Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, who announced his resignation last month.
The Arkansas State Police has its new $4 million airplane and Gov. Mike Beebe released a new policy on its use stating that his office would, in most cases, reveal the purpose of each trip.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared 68 Arkansas counties disaster areas because of crop damage caused by the late-season freeze of April 7 and 8.
Four Lincoln juvenile males are under arrest in in connection with the rape of a girl. Three 16-year-olds and one 15-year-old are accused of raping a 15-year-old girl May 9. Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Threet says his office is considering charging the individuals as adults.
Little Rock police are investigating the city’s 14th homicide of the year on Saturday. The victim is identified only as a while male.
A Wilson township constable is facing charges for harassment after he allegedly got personal information about a woman from a job application. Gary Clark works part-time at Dollar General in Atkins and reportedly took personal information from a woman who applied for a job there. It is charged that he contacted the woman by text messaging her 30 times concerning the job, although his position at the store does not involve hiring new employees.
Authorities broke up a suspected cockfighting and gambling operation in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Police executed search warrants in the Crawford County towns of Cedarville and Rudy. Arrests were made in at least one of the Arkansas locations.
Zaudi Ramirez, the Community Liaison and Coordinator for English as a Second Language at Conway Public Schools tells the Log Cabin Democrat that number of Hispanic elementary and secondary students enrolled in the city school district has increased by 70 since 2006.
The Delta Regional Airport project to be built at Colt recently received word that the effort will receive close to $400,000 as part of a $5.3 million grant to Arkansas airports from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The owners of North Hills Country Club are seeking an end to a six-month moratorium the city of Sherwood placed on developing the now closed club and golf course. Club owners say in their lawsuit that the city improperly singled out the property and effectively stopped a $5.1 million pending sale with a residential developer.