UPDATE: A very nasty night, North Little Rock’s Old Mill is on fire

If you thought travel conditions might improve, don’t count on it. As of 9 PM, the I-30/I40 interchange is shut down.

And there is a report that the Old Mill is on fire.

UPDATE 9:41 Some shingles on the roof caught fire and it is now officially out.

Filed under: Arkansas, Weather Resources

A snowy Tuesday morning summary

There are hazardous weather conditions today. This Lynch at Large blog has a complete set of links in the right hand column for weather, road conditions, airport arrivals and departures and such. Also, I will be blogging “live” on local road conditions and such. Scroll down right below this post.

My morning updates are on K-106.3 The Greatest Hits of All Time with John Lee and Spirit FM at 93.3 and 100.7. You can also hear my early morning headlines on Y-95 in Camden.

Winners and losers will be held up to public scrutiny on the Wednesday Wake Up on KARK TV Channel 4 tomorrow morning at around 6:45. Join me and Bill Vickery.

My train blog is very popular, so check out Trains for America.

http://trains4america.wordpress.com/

A central Arkansas man is dead after a four-car weather related accident in North Little Rock.

An administrative judge plans to hold a trial beginning March 9 over an appeal of a pollution permit for a proposed coal-fired power plant in southwest Arkansas.

250 employees with  Little Rock based Continental Express will be losing their jobs, just a week before the holidays. It’s part of a merger between Continental and Indiana based Celadon trucking.

Baldor Electric CEO John McFarland disputes the Reuters report and others who said that Baldor will cut 900 jobs, many in Fort Smith.  McFarland tells the City Wire that the workforce will be reduced through attrition.

Toyota will complete construction of the automotive assembly plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi which was hotly contested for in Mario, Arkansas. The Japanese car maker will delay installing equipment due to current market conditions.

Tim Griffin, who resigned his post as interim U.S. attorney in Little Rock after serving six months under scrutiny, says he’s thinking about running against U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010.

Three Newark teenagers have been suspended from school after stabbing and spray-painting a pink Mohawk on a school-kept pig and throwing eggs at an elementary school. A 15-year-old and one 14-year-old has been charged with criminal mischief, criminal trespass and cruelty to animals. Another 14-year-old has been charged with two counts of criminal mischief and criminal trespass.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff cheerleaders will be featured on a 90-minute MTV special Jan. 3 competing against four other collegiate squads selected by Paula Abdul, the show’s host.

Filed under: Arkansas

Gettin’ around Tues AM

You can get the office and school closing from many other fine sites. LAL can tell you that LR streets north of I630 are a sheet of ice. South of I630 is reportedly much better. Lots of sand on Kanis hill, but be careful. As usual, parking lots are the worst. Central Arkansas Transit is on regular routes.W

Will update. We may have a “live” thread again this morning. Please pass along your weather news.

UPDATE 5:27 18 wheeler jackknifed at 430 and Cantrell NB.

Downtown streets reported in good conditin.

6: 03 AM EB Exit ramp on I-40 at Springhill is impassable because of trucks.

6:09 No CAT express buses.

Salt trucks have been out on 6-30 but be careful on th ebridges.

Parking lots have been maintained at UAMS and Baptist.

6:13 going up the hill on 197 is tough.

IMPORTANT 6:29 I-30 River Bridge is shut down EB. Accident with 18 wheeler.

7:35 I have been preoccupied this morning, but I can tell you there are a lot of people out in traffic going nowhere. AND just so there is no confusion, many streets in south and southwest LR are a mess. 107 up north is bad too.

7:37 I-30 EB from the 40 Split is blocked. IMPORTANT

Filed under: Arkansas, Little Rock, Weather Resources