Monday headlines

Mississippi smokers who buy non-premium brand cigarettes would start paying an extra 43 cents a pack starting Wednesday under legislation approved a special session called to adopt a $6.01 billion state budget. Mississippi faces a shutdown of all but essential and constitutionally mandated services at midnight Wednesday unless legislators adopt a budget and it is signed by Gov. Haley Barbour.

Second District Congressman Vic Snyder is the only Arkansas representative to vote in favor of new federal energy legislation.

Prison Director Larry Norris will appear before a legislative committee this week to explain how two convicted murderers walked out, the lap dancing exploits of medical staff and the near fatal medical neglect of an inmate. Norris has had the job since 1993 is expected to emerge untouched.

The Democrat-Gazette reports that new federal financial legislation would make it easier for out-of-state banks to enter Arkansas, make existing bank charters worth less, but probably not change things much since the large banks that want to do business in Arkansas already do.

John Shelnutt, administrator for economic analysis and tax research at the state Department of Finance and Administration, tells Stephens Media Group that the state’s officially reported 7% unemployment rate, which is lower than the national average, may be quite a bit worse than the number indicates.

Spending by lobbyists increased to over $1.1 million in the past legislative session and it was inflated by two firms representing tobacco companies that spent more than $330,000 in an unsuccessful campaign to kill Gov. Mike Beebe’s plan to increase tobacco taxes.

Transportation officials have selected SeaPort to provide service from Harrison, Hot Springs, Jonesboro and El Dorado to Memphis on a 9-seat a single turboprop airplane.  It’s not a done deal.

The northwest Arkansas satellite campus of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has received a $1 million grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

Closing isolated schools because of high transportation costs violates the Arkansas Constitution, an attorney representing a group of parents fighting to keep their rural schools open argued in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Friday.

Despite the weak economy, Arkansas fireworks dealers say they expect brisk sales ahead of the Fourth of July.

The Pinncale Foods Inc. facility at Fayetteville has announced it will lay off about 69 employees, or roughly 11 percent of its plant work force.

A spokesperson for Con Agra has announced an ongoing multi-million dollar expansion to its Russellville facility expected to pave the way for up to 75 new jobs in early 2010.

The State Police says officers are looking for help to solve a multi-state series of burglaries of Dollar General and Dollar Tree discount stores.

Jason L. Taylor, a middle-school dropout and drug user, was sentenced to die for firing two rounds at a man’s head after hauling him around in the night, gagged and bound, in the back of a pickup. Taylor is the first death sentence in Saline Co. since 1990.

Former Arkansas guard Patrick Beverley was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (pick No. 42) of the NBA Draft. Then, he was traded from the Lakers to the Miami Heat for a future second-round pick and cash considerations.

Filed under: Arkansas