Early MLK happenings

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.

I occasionally add items of state and local interest on my Lynch at Large blog

https://lynchatlarge.wordpress.com/

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

http://trains4america.wordpress.com/

Florida 80 – Arkansas 65

An Arkansas disciplinary panel reprimanded a state Supreme Court justice after the judge’s sister accused him of assaulting her during an argument at their father’s house in 2007. Justice Jim Gunter was accused of striking his sister, Janet Gibson, bruising her upper lip and lower back

UAMS opened its new $200 million, 540,000-square-foot hospital. The hospital began a massive, highly-coordinated two-day effort to move about 300 patients from the 52-year-old hospital and into the new.

Mike Ross has been selected to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Ross also serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

More than 1,700 state employees make at least $100,000 a year. That’s nearly 400 more $100,000-toppers than two years ago. The Democrat-Gazette reports that not all of that money comes from taxpayers.

After a long holiday weekend, legislators will return to the Capitol on Wednesday for another short week of work that is expected to include committee consideration of animal cruelty legislation and a bill to ban texting while driving.

Gov. Mike Beebe is willing to consider a slight reduction in a proposed 56-cent increase in the state cigarette tax as long as all components of the health care plan he has proposed are funded.

Legislation to remove the statute of limitations on rape and first-degree sexual assault faces a stiff challenge when a House committee debates the measure, likely this week. While DNA evidence has changed the way such cases are prosecuted, defense lawyers say removing the time limit would open the door to all sorts of false prosecutions.

House Bill 1113 by Rep. Dawn Creekmore, D-Hensley, would make it a felony for a physician to perform a late-term abortion in Arkansas unless the procedure is necessary to save the life of the woman.

A former business manager for the Alexander Human Development Center that is under investigation for an unexplained $100,000 shortfall in funds for disabled residents refused to answer questions in an internal probe while another former employee denied any wrongdoing, according to the Democrat-Gazette.

Former Russellville finance director Jeanette Small filed suit against the city of Russellville  in connection with her Aug. 14, 2008, firing. Small’s suit alleged her termination was a result of her cooperation with a Freedom of Information Act request made by The Courier.

Customers who bought certain cosmetics at Dillard’s Inc. and other retailers as far back as 15 years ago can pick up a free makeup item or related product starting next week.

Pine Bluff recorded its first and second homicides over the weekend. Four arrests have been made in connection with the Saturday night shooting. The Friday night incident is under investigation .

An airman at Little Rock Air Force Base is accused of involuntary manslaughter as one of at least eight suspects who investigators say fatally beat an Army sergeant in 2005 during a gang initiation at a U.S. military base in Germany.

A lawsuit challenging the financing for a downtown North Little Rock hotel and parking deck is a likely deal breaker for investors in the proposed project, the developer comments.

A woman rescued from a Thursday night fire at her home on Pine Street in Little Rock died Saturday in a Little Rock hospital.

Pulaski County’s homicide rate is down 25% in 2008.

A one-time drug dealer featured in an HBO documentary on gang warfare may get a pardon from Gov. Mike Beebe after he filed a request for clemency, saying his status as a felon prevents him from working with a youth group he founded. Beebe announced Friday he intends to pardon Leifel Jackson, who was featured in the 1993 documentary “Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock.”

NLRDailyNews.com reports the driver of a Greyhound bus abandoned his vehicle and 15 passengers Saturday night before the station closed at 8 PM. The stranded passengers called the police who tried to call Greyhound, with no success., The passengers spent the night at the police substation on East Broadway before they took another bus out the next day.