News release today after an Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees meeting announces a $7.7 million academic building.
Down in the fine print is news of a new home for the theater department. Perhaps it will be sufficiently isolated to allow firing of starter pistols during student productions.
Barack Obama released a letter to the LGBT community today. He’s a candidate for president, perhaps soon to face a Republican attack machine that has feasted off this very issue for years. He need not have spoken so frankly. But he did. (UPDATE: This letter’s release coincided with ads in gay publications in large cities in coming primary states.) It’s awesome. Excerpt:
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation.
E-mail tells of this niche website — tornadowitness.com
It’s what it says — tornado accounts. The site currently has a piece about Emmy Cherry, the Atkins 10-year-old who died in the recent Arkansas tornado.
A veteran Capitol observer says Little Rock lawyer John Edwards will join the Democratic race for the District 38 House seat. Jeff Dailey of Little Rock has already announced. This is the seat Rep. David Johnson is leaving to run for Senate. Ed Linck has announced as a Republican.
CHECK THAT: I haven’t been able to reach Edwards, but a friend says a declaration of candidacy is premature.
That embezzling bookkeeper at the Oxford American, mentioned here previously? It was worse than originally thought.
From Publisher’s Weekly:
“We’ve now found out she may have taken as much as $70,000,” said founder and editor Marc Smirnoff. “She’s left us with just $3,000 in the bank.”
He doesn’t believe restitution is an option. “I just don’t expect Renae has any of the money left: she bought cars, got a tattoo, spent it on a ‘sweet sixteen’ party for her daughter at the best hotel in town.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — What used to be an empty field is taking shape as a baseball diamond in west Springdale.
Arvest Ballpark is nearly ready for the first pitch, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn and the illumination of stadium lights. Games will create a lot of traffic in the area, drawing mixed feelings from residents in the area.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will take the field for the first time April 19 against the San Antonio Missions.
Sid and Gee Gill might be the biggest Chicago Cubs fans ever, they said.
“We grew up and went to the games,” Gee Gill said.
The two grew up outside of Chicago, but they moved to Springdale 23 years ago. (Read the full post about ‘Springdale Ballpark Taking Shape As Baseball Season Nears’…)
FORT SMITH, Ark. — A controversial meeting to discuss whether to rehire Fort Smith City Administrator Randy Reed has been canceled.
Tuesday night, Ward One Director Ken Pyle told 40/29 he had requested a special board meeting to discuss Reed’s employment.
Reed retired Feb. 19, just hours before a board meeting to discuss his request to terminate Fort Smith Police Chief Kevin Lindsey. (Read the full post about ‘Meeting About Rehiring Reed Canceled’…)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas will impose a campus-wide smoking ban starting July 1. The university is already smoke-free inside buildings, but starting July 1, 2008 smoking will be banned outside as well.
We actually have had a lot of complaints about tobacco use outside the stadium, lots and lots of complaints, Serafini said.
All sports facilities will be part of the smoking ban, even for people not affiliated with the university, including sports fans who are on campus just to attend games. (Read the full post about ‘UA To Ban All Smoking On Campus’…)
ROGERS, Ark. — Some Rogers residents are up in arms about a proposed cell phone tower in their back yard.
The tower would sit in the middle of a neighborhood on Seminole Road in Rogers, which could be used by Verizon Wireless.
The Rogers Planning Commission has already voted down the proposal, but the local company proposing the tower — Smith Communications of Fayetteville — tried to have the Rogers City Council overturn the Planning Commission’s ruling so they can build the tower. (Read the full post about ‘Rogers Residents Angry About Proposed Cell Tower’…)
BENTON COUNTY, Ark. — Police made an arrest early Monday in what they called a road rage fight.
Curtis Sulffridge is accused of driving into Shawn Armstrong, with whom he had been fighting after an on-the-road incident led both men to pull over on Highway 412 in Benton County.
Police said Sulffridge had been following Armstrong too closely before both men pulled over and started yelling. Officers said Sulffridge got back into his car and drove into Armstrong, who was still standing.
Armstrong suffered minor injuries.
Police arrested Sulffridge on a complaint of aggravated assault and battery.