North Little Rock Bass Pro Shops permit revoked

A huge setback for newly reelected North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays. City government set up a TIF district to pay for this abomination at the expense of public schools and libraries. Bass Pro Shops expects corporate welfare wherever they may go. This outfit is also getting huge handouts in Memphis.

Arkansas Business reports.

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to revoke the permit granted to the would-be developers of the Shoppes at North Hills, a shopping center anchored by Bass Pro Shops to be located in the wetlands of Dark Hollow in North Little Rock.

U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson granted a summary judgment motion by the plaintiffs,  

Filed under: Arkansas, Economy

ADEQ issues air permit for Hempstead County coal-fired power plant, Sierra Club responds

 Here is what Glenn Hooks had to say about this not entirely unexpected development.

“While state after state has rejected dirty coal and embraced clean energy sources, Arkansas has taken a step backward that puts our environmental and public health at risk. Our Governor’s Commission on Global Warming got it right when it recently recommended rejecting coal-fired power plants for our state. Unfortunately, despite the incredible amounts of pollution that will occur, ADEQ has chosen to issue an air permit for the Turk plant.” “Literally thousands of Arkansans have called on Governor Beebe and the ADEQ to reject the Turk plant, and the Arkansas environmental community stands in unanimous opposition to its construction. This battle is not over. Expect that Sierra Club and our allies will use every tool in our arsenal and fight this plant until absolutely all avenues have been exhausted, up to and including legal challenges. The health of our citizens and the health of our environment demand nothing less.”

Filed under: Arkansas, Economy

LRPD releases Heights Neighborhood crime stats

Lt. Hastings sent over the latest crime numbers for the Heights Neighborhood. This comes in the aftermath of the Anne Presssly murder and increased anxiety among area residents. 

Two items have been released. According to Hastings, the first grid reports crime in the area from January 1 to October 15, 2007 and 2008. There is a significant drop in crime in the area from 2007 to 2008 with the exception of burglaries. Hastings says, “we are attacking the problem of burglaries and we will bring that number down. Overall crime is down 11.60% for the area. 

January 1 thru October 15
2007 vs 2008
Heights Area
	2007	2008	+/-	% CHANGE
CRIME TYPE
VIOLENT CRIMES
CRIMINAL HOMICIDE	0	0	0	N/A
RAPE	1	1	0	0.00%
ROBBERY	8	6	-2	-25.00%
BUSINESS	2	2	0	0.00%
INDIVIDUAL	6	4	-2	-33.33%
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT	16	4	-12	-75.00%
SUB-TOTAL	25	11	-14	-56.00%
PROPERTY CRIMES
BURGLARY	31	48	+17	54.84%
COMMERCIAL	11	6	-5	-45.45%
RESIDENTIAL	20	42	+22	110.00%
LARCENY	183	148	-35	-19.13%
AUTO B&E	92	71	-21	-22.83%
OTHER	91	77	-14	-15.38%
VEHICLE THEFT	9	14	+5	55.56%
ARSON	2	0	-2	-100.00%
SUB-TOTAL	225	210	-15	-6.67%
TOTAL	250	221	-29	-11.60%

Filed under: Arkansas, Crime, Little Rock

LRPD sets up tip line for Anne Pressly murder

The Detective Division has set up a tips line for anyone who may have information related to the murder of Ann Pressly. Anyone with information can call this number and provide the information anonymously. The number is 501-517-0750.

Filed under: Arkansas, Crime, Little Rock

First (bleary eyed) look at Wednesday morning

The Wednesday Wake Up is on a bit early today, 6:30 and it will be a bit longer. Join me and Bill Vickery for commentary on KARK TV Channel 4.

By the way, I am still looking for my new third job.

Good to see so many of you at Rotary. There is a big event at UCA to mark the donation of Jim Elders papers and historic artifacts.

There will be a new president. Barack Obama addressed a half-million supporters in Chicago. Democrats have gained five seats in the United States Senate and 12 in the House.

The threee congressional delegates and U. S. Senator facing Green Party challenges all easily won reelection.

Arkansas will have a lottery, annual sessions of the legislature, no unmarried couples as foster parents, $300 million in water bonds and more power over private property for the Natural Resources Commission. The word “idiot” has been removed from the state constitution.

State Republicans have picked up three seats in the state House. Steve Harrelson reports in his Under the Dome blog that there will be 24 women in the state house for the next session.  Richard Carroll, the newly elected Green representative from North Little Rock will caucus with Democrats.

There were voting machine problems in Craighead County for a while, and irregularities in Beebe and Bald Knob.

District 30 Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, has defeated Democratic challenger Joe White to win what, according to Baker, has been the most expensive race in state Legislative history.

Incumbent Mayor Dan Coody is in a runoff with Lioneld Jordan in Fayetteville. In Pulaski County, Mayor Pat Hays and Judge Buddy Villines are winners.  Tab Townsell has been reelected Mayor of Conway.

Jonesboro police say an officer was injured during a large disturbance near the campus of Arkansas State University late Tuesday evening.

State general revenue in October increased $13.1 million over the same month last year, hitting $423.8 million and exceeding the state’s forecast by $11.6 million. But the state’s chief fiscal officer responds that cuts in state spending will not be reversed.

The Federal Communications Commission approved Verizon Wireless’ $28.1 billion acquisition of Little Rock-based Alltel Corp. in a deal that will create the nation’s largest wireless carrier.

Beset with financial problems, the University of Central Arkansas has hired a former state bank commissioner as its interim finance chief. Robert H. “Bunny” Adcock Jr. of Conway began this week serving as UCA’s interim vice president for financial services.

The director of the planned U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith says it will cost up to $40 million to build the facility, higher than previous estimates.

The Smackover school board has voted to fire superintendent Darrell Porter after his arrest last month for drunken driving and endangering a minor.

Police in Forrest City say they arrested a woman for public intoxication after she reportedly demanded an officer return the can of compressed air she was inhaling “so she could finish getting high.”

Filed under: Arkansas