KWXI News for Sunday February 5th, 2012

WALDRON, Ark. (AP) — Authorities say no one was seriously hurt when a strong thunderstorm moved through Scott County late Friday. Police say strong winds ripped the roofing off some homes and littered the streets in Waldron with debris and power lines.

SHERIDAN, Ark. (AP) — Fire investigators are looking into what caused a deadly house fire in Grant County. Authorities were notified late Friday of the blaze at a residence along Arkansas Highway 167 in Sheridan. Firefighters heard someone inside the residence and were able to pull the person out, but the victim was declared dead at the scene. The victim's name hasn't been released.

PALESTINE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police officials have identified a man they say fatally shot himself as troopers tried to stop his vehicle on Interstate 40 in eastern Arkansas. A State Police spokesman says troopers pursued the vehicle until it passed the Palestine exit and stopped Thursday night. Troopers say they approached the car and found 60-year-old Rex McCollum of Grapevine, Texas dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — A plan by Air Force officials would remove the A-10 aircraft mission from a Fort Smith-based fighter wing in 2013 and possibly replace it with one involving remotely piloted aircraft. The proposal released by Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz on Friday would make the 188th Fighter Wing an MQ-1/9 Remote Split Operations Squadron that would be made up of unmanned aerial vehicles or "drones".

KWXI News for Saturday February 4th, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Governor Mike Beebe says he plans to pardon seven people who were convicted of drug, trespass or battery charges. Beebe's office said yesterday that all seven people have paid their fines and completed jail time and parole-and-probationary requirements. The public has 30 days to comment on the governor's pardon plans before they become official.

HOUSTON (AP) — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down 11 this week to 1,997. Houston-based oilfield services provider Baker Hughes says Oklahoma gained two rigs in its weekly count, while Texas shut down three and Louisiana seven. The count for Arkansas was unchanged.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Keith Urban has given his first performance since having vocal surgery last year. The 44-year-old Australian returned to the stage at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry last night for three songs and an encore. It was Urban's first public appearance since having a polyp removed from a vocal cord in November.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Peabody hotel in Memphis has a new "duckmaster" to lead the five North American mallards on their daily trek at the hotel. Twenty-five-year-old Anthony Petrina succeeds Jason Sensat, who left the job to become a minister. Petrina will escort the ducks at 11 each morning from their rooftop home to a marble fountain at the center of the hotel's grand lobby, and then lead them back at 5 p.m.

KWXI News for Friday February 3, 2012

GLENWOOD-41 year old Keith Couch of Nathan has entered the race for Pike County Judge. Couch will face off against long time County Judge Don Baker. Sara Stewart McKinney of Kirby says she entering the race for Pike County treasurer. Reda Ledbetter the current county treasurer says she will not seek re-election. Danny Dougan of Glenwood and Loletia Rather of Delight have also said they were in the race for county treasurer. The primary election will be held May 22 and the general election is November 6.

GLENWOOD-Yesterday Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow but in Arkansas Phil's cousins are popping up everywhere. The groundhog invasion which started several years ago is slowly moving the groundhog from its traditional home in the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains further southward. Renn Tumlison a biology professor at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia says ground hogs are popping up in Pike, Howard, Clark, Ouachita and Sevier counties. Officials say ground hogs aren't hard to spot they are large animals weighing between 5 and 30 pounds with thick furs and fuzzy tails. They eat grass, clover and some insects and occasionally wander into gardens for food, which can make them minor pests.

MOUNT IDA-Officials in Montgomery County now say they believe the 24 year old man who fell off a cliff early Wednesday morning may have drowned in the Ouachita River. Police say they responded to the call near an area off Highway 27 north near the Fishing Village at the river bridge. The Garland County Sheriff's Dive Team was called into assist. Lt. James Corky Martin with Garland County says the team used sonar in the area looking for the missing man. Martin says the water in the area under the cliff is about 25-35 feet deep. So far, the identity of the missing diver has not been released.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK-Tonight at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Terry Wallace the longtime announcer at Oaklawn Park will be inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Wallace says he's very honored and feel fortunate to join some of his childhood heroes in the Hall of Fame. Wallace who wouldn't be thrilled to be linked with fellow Hall of Famers like  Bill Dickey and Brooks Robinson, past Razorback stars like Sidney Moncrief and Corliss Williamson and such legendary coaches as Frank Broyles, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nolan Richardson? Wallace was the park announcer for 37 years until his retirement this year and called a over 20k consecutive races at the park. Tickets to the even are still available by calling 501-663-4328.

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, AR - Garland County Deputies name a person of interest in the death investigation of Dawna Natzke. Her boyfriend, Keith Duck, was the last person to be seen with Natzke back in December as they were leaving a holiday party. Officials now say that Duck was arrested late Wednesday night in Louisiana for a probation violation. Police say Natzky left that Christmas party in Hot Springs Village with her boyfriend Kevin Duck, friends waited for her to return and that never happened. Days later her car was found burned and abandoned in the Ouachita National Forest. But his naming as a person of interest has people here in Hot Springs Village talking about the case again. Patty Hathaway was best friends with Natzke and she says she's not surprised that Duck was named as a person of interest in the case. Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call the Garland County Sheriff’s investigating officers at 501-622-3690. Anonymous messages can be left at at 501-622-3674. The Garland County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $1000 reward and Hot Springs Village has offered an additional $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Dawna Natzke.

NASHVILLE-More people than ever are utilizing the Christian Health Center of Howard County. Officials with the center say 1394 patients were seen last year and 5792 prescriptions were filled. 26 people were saved. According to the Nashville Leader, the average number of patients has nearly doubled since 2007. CHC Treasurer Cay Teague says the clinic is an answer from God and that God has paved the way. The clinic is held 22 times a year and is open the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The clinic is run only on donations and grant money. Teague says the clinic has seen patients from Polk, Sevier, Miller, Pike, Hempstead, Little River and Howard County. If you need more information or would like to donate money call 845-2871.

STATE-Revenue for the State of Arkansas is millions above forecast, with five months left to go in the fiscal year. The latest revenue report from the Department of Finance and Administration shows net available revenue nearly 43-million dollars more than expected. That's an increase over last year of 1.6 percent. Numbers for the month of January were also up but only slightly, to the tune of $1.0 million or 0.2 percent above last year and $0.6 million or 0.1 percent above forecast.

State— Arkansas lawmakers are considering a proposal to restore 20 firefighting jobs to the financially troubled Arkansas Forestry Commission, but how to pay for those positions remains uncertain. The Joint Budget Committee discussed whether to add the jobs in the commission budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The commission this month laid off 34 employees to close a $4 million shortfall. A legislative panel recommended restoring the jobs, but declined to back an increase in the fire protection tax to pay for them. State Forester John Shannon has proposed increasing the tax on private timberlands from 15 cents an acre to 20 cents. Legislative leaders say they don't expect the tax hike to win support in the fiscal session that begins Feb. 13.

KWXI News for Thursday, February 2, 2012

Early yesterday morning, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received information that a 24 year old male had fallen off a cliff located near Highway 27 North near the Fishing Village at the river bridge. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office dispatched first responders and Southwest Emergency Medical Service to the scene. Deputy Sheriff Chad Davis arrived on scene and immediately requested additional assistance. Short time later additional deputies arrived along with officers of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to assist in the search and rescue efforts. Sheriff David White called Garland County asking for assistance of their dive team who responded. Search and rescue efforts were called off last night but will continue today.

25 year old Stephen Chris Warren of Glenwood has pleaded guilty to theft of property charges. Officials with the Pike County Sheriff's office say they stopped Warren in December on Smith Lane in Glenwood. He was arrested for driving with a suspended license and officer discovered copper wire in the back of his pickup truck. When questioned Warren allegedly admitted to stealing the wire from a storage building belonging to Rodney Porter. Warren was sentenced to 10 years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution and court costs.

43 year old Gary Don Smith of Little Rock sentenced yesterday. Officials with the Pike County Sheriff's Office along with member of the South Central Arkansas Drug Task Force received a tip last year about illegal drug activity at a home on North Granfield Road in Pike County. Smith was at the home when officers arrived and consented to a search of his pickup truck. Police found methamphetamine in the truck. Smith was on federal probation at the time on weapons charges and had prior methamphetamine arrests.
Two new businesses have joined the Mount Ida Area Chamber of Commerce. Caddo River Cabins and Ouachita Artist Groups are new members. Located between Mt. Ida and Glenwood, Caddo River Cabins offers three cabins on the bank of the Caddo River. Each cabin has its own unique features including Jacuzzi tubs and a massage table. For more information about renting a cabin log onto gocaddoriver dot com. The Ouachita Artist Group is located on South West Street in Mount Ida and features several local artists who make quilts, jewelry and pottery. If you'd like more information call 870-334-3264.

Mt. Ida Mayor Jo Childress says after working months to get grant funding the one lane bridge of West Elm Street will now be replaced. Childress says the area is now closed to traffic as worker start the project. Childress says workers have 90 days to install the new two lane bridge and so far things are moving right along. Childress says she's been working hard to find and apply for grant money to help with infrastructure repairs and to buy a new fire truck to keep the town within is ISO regulations. Grant money was also used to expand the Mount Ida Airport.

A Hot Springs woman and her 4 year old son are lucky to be alive today after plunging nearly 75 feet off West Mountain yesterday. According to the Sentinel record Nicole Clark was traveling north on West Mountain Drive when she lost control of her SUV. The vehicle went down the embankment and rolled over at least one time. John Hughes with the National Park Service says luckily Clark and her son were buckled up. Officials cited Clark for driving too fast for conditions and failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle.

A question under consideration by the Arkansas Department of Human Services is whether or not preschools can sing religious songs, read books about Jesus, and pray before snack time. Yesterday, representatives with DHS met with State Representative Justin Harris, who runs Growing God's Kingdom Preschool in West Fork. His business has come under scrutiny for being faith-based and taking government funding. Harris says he won't be pleased if he can't continue to operate a Christian based preschool. Rules DHS is proposing clarifying a constitutional ban on schools using taxpayer money to teach religion, and to help schools correct any constitutional violations that might be occurring. The rules must be approved by State Department of Education and receive a public hearing and legislative review. That review is in April

KWXI News for Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Members of the Legislative Joint Budget Committee say they haven’t given up hope in finding a way to give a cost of living raise to state employees. Senator Gilbert Baker of Conway and Representative Kathy Webb of Little Rock made the comments yesterday to the legislators. Baker says a 2 percent adjustment would cost 14.5 million dollars in general revenue if extended to all state workers. Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year that starts July 1 includes 163 million dollars in spending increases but no raise for state employees. Beebe says that he believes state employees deserve an increase but “you can’t spend what you don’t have.”

A rough diamond found last March at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro has now been cut and appraised for over 21k. The 2.44 carat was dubbed the Silver Moon and was found by Melissa and Kenny Oliver. A jeweler in Fayetteville cut the gemstone down to a pear shaped diamond measuring a little over 1 carat. Officials with the Crater of Diamonds State Park say a rough diamond will normally lose between 40-60 percent of its weight in the cutting process.

Angie Walker the President of the DeQueen Sevier County Chamber of Commerce says aviators from around the region are welcome at a fly in this March at the J. Lynn Helms Sevier County Airport. The fly in will be held March 31 and officials say they hope to show off the improvements at the airport including a new taxiway and renovated pilot’s lounge. The event is free and open to the public.

The National Park Service will close a road that leads into Hot Springs National Park to clean up litter over the weekend. Park Service officials say Gulpha Gorge Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, weather permitting. Officials say closing the road will enable park volunteers from the Ouachita Mountain Hikers to pick up litter safely. No through traffic will be allowed that morning, but there will be access to Gulpha Gorge Campground and Sleepy Valley Road.

Officials in Sheridan say a single engine plane crashed yesterday afternoon at the city airport injuring two people. The plane went down near a tree line and its unknown if the plane was landing or taking off when the accident happened. One of the occupants was taken to a nearby hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. The other was transported by ambulance. There is no word yet on either person’s identity or condition. The plane is registered to Vernon Wilkerson of Sheridan but it’s not known if he was in the plane at the time of the crash. FAA investigators will now look into the cause of the crash

KWXI News for Tuesday January 31st, 2012

The Pike County Fair Board announced plans for electing new board members;

The Pike County Fair Board announced yesterday that they will be electing new board members at their February monthly meeting. The Pike County Fair Board monthly meeting will be Monday February 6th at the Pike County Cooperative Extension office in Murfreesboro at 7 p.m. They said that they’ll be electing new board members at that time. Anyone with questions about the meeting is encouraged to call 870-925-0802.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A legislative panel's proposal to restore 20 firefighting jobs to the Arkansas Forestry Commission is expected to go before a joint budget committee today. The Commission supported a recommendation yesterday that was made by a budget subcommittee formed to look at the agency's finances.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The state Game and Fish Commission is considering proposed changes to antler restrictions in a number of wildlife management areas and deer zones across Arkansas. The commission is exploring three types of restrictions that could give hunters a chance to take home bigger bucks. Public meetings will be held tonight to generate feedback.

ALEXANDER, Ark. (AP) — Police in central Arkansas say two men were wounded during what authorities believe was a drug-related shooting. Drugs and money were recovered from the scene of the shooting yesterday in Alexander, just outside Little Rock. Police were working to determine whether anyone else was involved in the shooting.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — A 72-year-old Kentucky man is being held on weapons charges after police say he showed up at a federal prosecutor's office in western Arkansas with at least two guns, a knife and ammunition in his vehicle. Police say the man wanted to talk to someone in the office in Fort Smith and that he didn't trust the government in his home state.

KWXI News for Monday January 30th, 2012

REGULAR DUCK SEASON
Arkansas' regular duck season ends
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The 2011 to 2012 duck hunting season for Arkansas has closed.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials say the regular duck season closed at sunset on Sunday, and the state's special youth waterfowl hunt is set for February 4th through February 5th.
Record rainfall created abundant waterfowl habitat during the first part of the regular season, and ducks responded to the favorable conditions. Officials say also in play was a lack of prolonged cold conditions, which may have prevented additional large migration from occurring.
After a relatively dry late December and January caused the river levels to fall over the past weeks, officials are expecting additional rainfall in the next few days.
The youth waterfowl hunt is open to hunters under 16 years old.

LOTTERY DISPUTE-SCANNERS
Ark. lotto official says scanners not a problem
(Information in the following story is from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas lottery official says there have been no issues with ticket scanners since the agency began selling lottery tickets in 2009.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in Sunday's editions that interim director Julie Baldridge issued a statement after a convenience store employee testified that a customer discarded a $1 million ticket because a scanner indicated it wasn't a winner.
The ticket was purchased at a Beebe convenience store last year and its winnings were claimed by Sharon Jones. Store manager Lisa Petriches sued Jones, saying she stole the ticket from a discarded ticket bin.
Employee, Rondi Smith, says another customer threw away the ticket because the scanner indicated it hadn't won.
Records show the scanner registered the ticket as a winner, but officials don't know who scanned the ticket.

TURNBACK FUNDS
Delinquent property sales rake in $20.4 million
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands office has collected more than $20 million in revenues from the sale or redemption of tax delinquent properties to give to schools and counties.
Commissioner John Thurston says $20.4 million in "turnback" revenue was collected in 2011.
When real estate taxes aren't paid for a year after the October 15th annual due date, counties must certify the delinquent properties to the Commissioner of State Lands office for collection. If the taxes aren't paid within a set time, the property goes to public auction.
Thurston says public schools and county services rely on real estate tax dollars to help fund programs.
Officials say Pulaski County received $4.1 million, the largest combined turnback amount. Benton County received just under $4 million.

FATAL ACCIDENT-WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT
Ark. family sues driver, company over teen's death
(Information in the following story is from: Texarkana Gazette, http://www.texarkanagazette.com)
TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — The family of a Fouke, Ark., teenager who died after being hit by a tractor-trailer has sued the driver of the truck and his employer.
According to a story in Sunday's Texarkana Gazette, the wrongful death lawsuit alleges the driver of the semi, Marc Simard, was talking on a cellular phone shortly before the August 19th accident along Interstate 30 near Hooks, Texas.
State troopers say 16-year-old Tommie Roden was riding in a car that was involved an earlier accident with a truck, and she may have been walking back to the vehicle when she was killed.
The lawsuit, filed in Texas, seeks compensation for past and future mental anguish for the plaintiffs, including Roden's mother, Sandra Ward.
A message left at Drive Logistics' offices wasn't immediately returned Sunday.

BEEBE, Ark. (AP) — Authorities say a train has collided with a vehicle in White County. KTHV-TV reports that police received a call at 6 a.m. Saturday of an abandoned vehicle on the railroad crossing in Beebe. Officers say the driver wasn't in the car when the train hit it. No injuries were reported.

TRUMANN, Ark. (AP) — Fire officials have released the name of a 13-month-old boy who died in a house fire in Trumann. The Craighead County Deputy Coroner says that Blake Pierce died from inhalation of super-heated gases at the family's home on Friday. The surviving children were taken to Memphis, Tennessee hospitals for treatment.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — A man who said he wanted to talk to federal prosecutors in Fort Smith about corruption was arrested after weapons and ammunition were found in his vehicle. A Police Sergeant says officers responding to a suspicious person call took James Curtis into custody between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. yesterday. The Sergeant says Curtis told officers he wanted to talk to the U.S. attorney about government corruption.

KWXI News for Sunday January 29th, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Military officials say an airman at the Little Rock Air Force Base has died in a traffic accident in central Arkansas. A statement released yesterday by the 19th Airlift Wing says Airman 1st Class Kyle Truitt was injured when his vehicle collided with a car on Arkansas Highway 107 in Sherwood on Thursday. Officials say the 23-year-old died at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Sherwood on Thursday night.

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — Police have arrested a man for a fatal stabbing in Jonesboro. Officers took Luis Serano into custody Friday in connection with the death of 42-year-old Mantel Mendez, whose body was discovered in a street on Tuesday. Authorities say he suffered a knife wound. Jonesboro police and the Mexican Consulate worked together to notify Mendez's family of his death.

OZARK, Ark. (AP) — The wife of a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy has been killed in a fire at their home. Sheriff Anthony Boen says deputy Dave Dodge was returning home from his shift early Friday when he noticed flames coming from his home. Dodge found his wife, 46-year-old Christy, and called firefighters. She was pronounced dead at a hospital in Ozark.

TRUMANN, Ark. (AP) — A toddler was killed and three others were taken to hospitals after fire erupted at a house in Trumann. Authorities say firefighters were called to the home about 12:30 p.m. on Friday. A 13-month-old died at a Jonesboro hospital and the other children were taken to a Memphis, Tennessee hospital.

KWXI News for Saturday January 28th, 2012

ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD
Deployment called off for Arkansas soldiers
(Information in the following story is from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — About 3,000 Arkansas National Guard soldiers who had been preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan have learned they are no longer scheduled to go.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Friday that director of the Army National Guard told the 39th Infantry Brigade that the deployment has been called off.
Arkansas National Guard spokesman Sergeant 1st Class Chris Durney says he's happy the troops will have the chance to stay home and be with their families.
The 39th Infantry Brigade has been deployed to Iraq twice in the last eight years.
Though the scheduled deployment has been called off, the unit will remain in the Army's available pool of units for overseas missions through October.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Planned Parenthood will again offer abortions at its Columbia, Missouri clinic after a four-month wait to hire a new doctor. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri plans to again offer the procedure starting in February. The women's health clinic hasn't performed abortions since October, when its sole Columbia physician was called to active military duty overseas.

MANSFIELD, La. (AP) — Officials in northwest Louisiana are becoming increasingly concerned that a buyer has not stepped forward to reopen a former steel plant. Australia-based CQMS Razer suspended operations in November after furloughing 164 workers. In December the company made the closing permanent and filed for bankruptcy. The Shreveport Times reports that no significant interest has emerged for the site.

EDUCATION-FINANCE COMMISSIONER
Lavaca superintendent named finance commissioner
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The superintendent of the Lavaca School District has been named the new assistant commissioner for finance for the state Department of Education.
Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell announced the hiring Friday of Jared Cleveland.
Cleveland has served as the Lavaca superintendent for six years. He'll continue in that role through the end of the school year and will begin his job with the education department on July 1st.
Kimbrell says Cleveland is a proven school leader who worked hard to improve test scores, expand pre-kindergarten and establish a student health center.
He will replace Kathleen Crain, who's been serving in an interim capacity since October 2011. Crain will return to her position as director of financial applications and support.

ARKANSAS RACIAL CRIMES
3 sentenced in racial crimes in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for firebombing an interracial couple's home.
Before sentencing Friday in Little Rock, Jason Barnwell said he regretted his actions and that he understands the need for punishment.
Prosecutors say Barnwell and other men made Molotov cocktails and threw them at a couple's mobile home in Hardy last year. The black man and white woman whose home was attacked were not injured but their home caught fire.
Barnwell said he was drunk when he committed the crime but that that was no excuse.
Two other men were also sentenced Friday in a separate cross-burning incident.
James Branscum and Curtis Coffee pleaded guilty last year after prosecutors said they burned a cross at a black man's home near Batesville.

MEMPHIS OFFICER CHARGED
Memphis policeman charged with buying cocaine
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a 32-year-old Memphis police officer has been charged with trying to buy cocaine while in uniform and driving his patrol car.
The U.S. attorney's office for West Tennessee says Melvin Robinson was arrested Thursday while trying to buy what he believed to be 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine.
Prosecutors said Friday that Robinson has been charged with attempt to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted on the charges, he faces up to life in prison.
Memphis police say Robinson has been on the force since October 2008. He has been relieved of duty with pay during the investigation.

DROUGHT-CATTLE
Report: Nation's cattle herd smallest in 50 years
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The National Agricultural Statistics Service says the nation's cattle herd has shrunk to its smallest size in 50 years.
Ranchers in Texas and Oklahoma made the most drastic cuts to their herds amid drought conditions that shriveled pastures and drove hay prices to record levels.
The agency's inventory released Friday counts 90.8 million head of cattle and calves on January 1st in the United States. That is 2 percent below last year.
It's the lowest inventory since 1952, when the nation had 88.1 million head of cattle.

PAUL-NEWSLETTERS
Ron Paul disavows 1990s newsletters
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is flatly denying a Washington Post report that he was deeply involved in the company that produced provocative, racially charged newsletters and that he signed off on articles.
The newsletters from the 1990s have dogged Paul for years, resurfacing as his presidential campaign gained momentum.
The Texas congressman has denied writing the inflammatory passages — the articles included racial, anti-Semitic and anti-gay content — and said that he didn't read them at the time or for years afterward.
The Post story published Friday says the newsletters were part of a marketing strategy by Paul's company and that three people familiar with his businesses have described his involvement with the newsletters.
In an interview Friday with CNN, Paul described the report as false.

KWXI News for Friday January 27th, 2012

ARKANSAS FORESTRY
Lawmakers propose restoring Ark. forestry jobs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Lawmakers are recommending restoring 20 positions to the Arkansas Forestry Commission without a proposal on how to pay for the new jobs.
The measure was approved Thursday by a budget subcommittee formed to look at the financially troubled agency's budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The commission laid off 34 workers this month to close a budget shortfall.
State Forester John Shannon told legislators that four firefighting positions could be restored by cutting nearly $167,000 from another part of the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.
Shannon also said 21 positions could be added by a 5 cent increase in the fire protection tax. That tax hike was not included in the lawmakers' proposal.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Department said that a Montgomery County man is in the county detention center after being arrested and charged with possession of firearms by certain person, this arrest came after the mans relatives said he shot up their dogs and mobile home. According to authorities, the arrest occurred on January 24th after sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at 162 Wilson Rd in Montgomery County. The people living there said that a relative, A.J. Cogburn had been drinking and that he shot and killed their 3 dogs and shot holes in their mobile home. Mr. Cogburn was taken into custody near his residence after returning from the nearby woods. Mr. Cogburn was scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning January 27th.

BLACK SPRINGS, Ark.- A Black Springs man told the Montgomery County Sherriff that his storage building was robbed and building materials were heisted. According to the Montgomery County Sherriff’s Department, James Augustin said that on January 16th, someone cut off the lock on his storage building and the materials were stolen from his property located on Granville LN. The Sheriff’s Department said that they’re investigating the alleged crime.

TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — United Steel Workers members in Texarkana have voted to approve a tentative contract agreement with Cooper Tire Company. The Texarkana Gazette reports that members of the union's Local 752L approved the contract last night, after both sides announced a four-year deal on January 19th.

ORRUPTION INVESTIGATION-ARKANSAS
Ex-police officer pleads guilty in 'Delta Blues'
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Arkansas say the second of five law enforcement officers indicted on drug-trafficking charges has pleaded guilty to extortion and money laundering.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining charges against former Marvell Police Officer Robert Wahls in exchange for his guilty plea Thursday in Little Rock.
Wahls and four other law enforcement officers were indicted last year in a corruption and drug-trafficking investigation in eastern Arkansas. Sixty-six other people were indicted in the probe dubbed "Operation Delta Blues."
Helena-West Helena Police Officer Robert Rogers pleaded guilty to an extortion charge earlier this month.
Prosecutors say they're recommending a two-year prison sentence for Wahls. He will be sentenced on May 30th.
His attorney didn't respond to a request for comment.

KWXI News for Thursday January 26th, 2012

Glenwood Police Chief Randy Red told KWXI that there might be a burglary ring in the area looking to break in local businesses. According to Chief Reid, someone described as a white male stole the cash register drawer at the Dollar General on January 10th. The chief also said that the Caddo Flea Market in the old Glenwood High School Gym was broken into over the weekend and some items including jewelry, knives and coins were taken. The alleged thieves entered a side door. Police have two suspects in the case described as white males but no other information regarding the suspects has been released pending an investigation. Chief Reid said that there may be a burglary ring in the area and businesses should take precautions.
“Business owners should pay attention to people that come into their store. If someone is acting suspicious or strange, get some information from them or call us and let us talk to them,” Glenwood Police Chief Randy Reid said. “”Because it seems like we got a ring going around. These people have been in several stores, especially the flea markets looking at different items and usually a few days after that the items come up missing.”
Anyone with information regarding the break in at Caddo Flea Market or the heist of the cash register drawer at the Dollar General is encouraged to call the Glenwood Police Department at 870-356-3333.

BLACK SPRINGS, Ark.- A Black Springs man told the Montgomery County Sherriff that his storage building was robbed and building materials were heisted. According to the Montgomery County Sherriff’s Department, James Augustin said that on January 16th, someone cut off the lock on his storage building and the materials were stolen from his property located on Granville LN. The Sheriff’s Department said that they’re investigating the alleged crime.

LOTTERY LAWSUIT
Ark. judge postpones hearing over $1M lotto ticket
SEARCY, Ark. (AP) — A hearing over who the rightful owner is of a $1 million lottery ticket jackpot was postponed after an Arkansas judge raised the possibility that neither the woman who claimed the ticket nor the store manager suing her would prevail in the case.
White County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Hughes didn't say Wednesday when the proceeding would resume after store manager Lisa Petriches' attorneys asked for time to assess their case.
Petriches is suing Sharon Jones over the jackpot she claimed. Jones took the ticket from a discarded bin at the store.
Hughes was concerned that another customer identified as the original buyer of the ticket wasn't a party in the lawsuit.
The customer, Sharon Duncan, discarded the ticket after an electronic scanner indicated it wasn't a winner.

TEEN SISTER SHOT
APNewsBreak: Ark. teen charged in sister's death
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A formal murder charge has been filed against a 15-year-old Arkansas boy who authorities say confessed to killing his sister.
In court documents filed Wednesday, prosecutors charged Colton Harvey with first-degree murder in the death of his 16-year-old sister, Candace.
The court filings obtained by The Associated Press also order Harvey not to communicate or be around his parents unless they initiate the conversation.
Authorities said Harvey showed up at the Franklin County Sheriff's office earlier this month and told investigators he had shot and killed his sister at their family's home near Ozark.
A judge appointed a public defender to represent Harvey but no lawyer was listed in the court filings.
A public defender who oversees appointing attorneys didn't immediately return a message left Wednesday, nor did Harvey's family.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Southwestern Electric Power has signed long-term agreements to purchase power from wind projects in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The company says the wind power will help it meet a renewable energy commitment made in a recent legal settlement over a coal-fired power plant in southwestern Arkansas.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Authorities say heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas, but no injuries have been reported. The National Weather Service canceled flood and flash flood watches for both states yesterday after thunderstorms moved out of the area. Rainfall totals of two to four inches were common in southeastern Oklahoma and in Arkansas, where some roads were affected.

STREET RACING DEATHS
Little Rock police say 2 killed, 3 hurt in crash
(Information in the following story is from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Little Rock police say two people were killed and three others injured when two cars that were reportedly racing each other crashed.
Police say the two people riding in a Lincoln Towncar — 33-year-old Kenyata Lake and 22-year-old Jasmine Smith — were pronounced dead after Tuesday's crash. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Lake lost control of the car when the driver of an Oldsmobile Cutlass clipped his car, causing him to crash into a utility pole.
The driver of the Oldsmobile was injured when his car crossed into traffic and struck a third car, injuring two people.
Police say it's likely charges will be filed in the fatal crash.

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (AP) — State officials say a tax mailing lists the wrong rate for West Memphis. The notice sent last week mistakenly lists West Memphis' local sales and use tax rate at 1.75 percent instead of 1.5 percent. West Memphis voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax for economic development projects in November. But the state says the tax can't be collected yet.
 

KWXI News for Wednesday January 25th, 2012

The Arkansas State Auditor will auction off unclaimed property from abandoned safe deposit boxes on the last Friday of every month. The property which includes jewelry, coins, baseball cards and other stuff will be auctioned off on Ebay. The first auction will be this Friday. Interested bidders can register to receive email alerts by visiting the auditor’s website at www.auditor.ar.gov.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Democratic members of Arkansas' congressional delegation applauded President Barack Obama's focus on the economy in his State of the Union address. But Republican members criticized his efforts to create more jobs. GOP Senator John Boozman said it's time for Obama to work with Republicans on common sense solutions.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Officials say three people at Little Rock National Airport were removed from a Delta Air Lines flight after one of them made his way onto the airfield and later boarded the plane. Police say the man was lost and didn't do anything wrong. The flight was scheduled to head to Atlanta.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former Little Rock bank executive has pleaded guilty to bank fraud, money laundering and Social Security violation. Federal prosecutors say Kelly Harbert devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by obtaining funds under false pretenses and then converting the proceeds of the fraudulent loans and lines of credit for personal use.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Chief Justice Jim Hannah says he doesn't know how much money he'll request from the state's $72 million surplus for a fund that pays for many of the state's judicial operations. But he says finance officials have indicated it would need about $350,000 through the budget year that ends June 30th.

KWXI News for Tuesday January 24th, 2012

At yesterday’s Pike County Quorum Court meeting in Murfreesboro; Pike County officials agreed to fight a claim that the sale of Pike County owned Pike County Hospital to New Directions Health Systems violated state law. New Directions bought the hospital in September 2010 but later informed the county that they felt that the sale was invalid. Pike County Attorney Jana Bradford told the Texarkana Gazette that she believes the sale is valid and that the county is not planning on paying a requested $50,000 reimbursement for maintenance costs that New Directions is asking for. Judge Donald Baker is quoted in the Gazette as saying that his recommendation is that Pike County not pay the $50,000 and the Quorum Court unanimously agreed.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Records show an Arkansas truck driver suspected in the death of a distant relative of former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee had threatened his ex-wife from jail. Authorities say Donald Hux killed Sandy Huckabee and kidnapped and shot Sandy Huckabee's wife. Hux was once married to Amy Huckabee. Deputies killed Hux in a Sunday shootout.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A Benton County judge will decide whether a man who pleaded guilty to capital murder was competent. Serafin Sandoval-Vega says he received ineffective assistance from his attorneys at trial. Authorities say he fired a shot from one car to another in 2006 in Lowell and killed Daniel Francis.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A funeral is planned Saturday in Marianna for a correctional officer who was stabbed to death at an eastern Arkansas prison last week. Authorities say Corporal Barbara Ester was killed by an inmate after she confiscated a pair of unauthorized tennis shoes from him at the East Arkansas Regional Unit.

CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees will reimburse the new school president for expenses he incurs while conducting university business. Board members voted yesterday to reimburse Tom Courtway for vehicle mileage, parking expenses and meals.

KWXI News for Monday January 23rd, 2012

HUCKABEE RELATIVE KILLED
Police seek suspect in Huckabee relative's death
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (AP) — Authorities in Arkansas are searching for a suspect wanted in a murder-kidnapping case involving a distant relative of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Police issued an arrest warrant for Donald Hux after investigators found the body of Sandy Carl Huckabee on Sunday in Arkadelphia.
Former Huckabee spokesman Jim Harris says Sandy Huckabee's father was the first cousin of former presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee's father.
Authorities say Hux abducted his ex-wife, Amy Huckabee, and their three children before he dropped the kids off in southern Arkansas' Union County. The children weren't hurt.
Arkadelphia Police found the body of Amy Huckabee's husband, Sandy Huckabee, but they have yet to find Amy Huckabee.
Authorities say Hux is wanted on capital murder, kidnapping, burglary and firearms charges.

ROAD PROJECT
Ark. road project about a month away from end
(Information in the following story is from: The Sentinel-Record, http://www.hotsr.com)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' highway department says a road renovation project in Hot Springs is about a month away from completion.
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department spokesman David Nilles tells The Sentinel-Record that the $520,000 Arkridge Road project currently involves moving water lines and finishing work on culverts and driveways along the road.
The newspaper in Hot Springs reported Sunday that some residents have expressed concerns that the project hasn't been finished yet.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Strong winds and tornadoes have been reported in parts of eastern Arkansas as storms move across the state. The National Weather Service says it received reports of possible tornadoes in Arkansas, Dallas, Lonoke, Prairie and Cleveland counties last night. There were no reports of any injuries. The storms also brought hail and strong winds as they moved through eastern Arkansas as they made their way into Tennessee.

LEAD HILL, Ark. (AP) — A medieval fortress in northern Arkansas has closed indefinitely. The Democrat-Gazette reported yesterday that a 13th century-style castle and tourist destination in Boone County is closing because of financial problems. Founder Michel Guyot says he's looking for investors or a buyer.
 

KWXI News for Sunday January 22nd, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Independence County man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for burning a cross in front of the home of a black man. Tony Branscum — who is white — was sentenced Friday in federal court in Little Rock after pleading guilty in July to violating federal civil rights laws.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A convicted killer who allegedly stabbed an east Arkansas prison guard to death has been moved to a maximum security prison. A Department of Correction spokeswoman said yesterday that 30-year-old Latavious Johnson arrived at the Varner Unit in Grady Friday night from the East Arkansas Regional Unit near Brickeys (BRICK'-ees). Johnson is suspected of stabbing 47-year-old guard Barbara Ester after Ester took contraband tennis shoes from Johnson on Friday.

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The Oscar-winning director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy says Damien Echols would be dead now if not for a 1996 documentary that cast doubt on the man's guilt in three child murders. Filmmaker Peter Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh were at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend to premiere their documentary "West of Memphis". The film chronicles the case of Echols and two other men jailed for 18 years for the 1993 slayings in Arkansas.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says his victory in South Carolina's GOP primary is a blow to elites. Gingrich finished in a strong first place last night, with Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul all finishing behind him.

KWXI News Saturday January 21st, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Prison officials say a female guard stabbed at the East Arkansas Unit near Brickeys has died at a Memphis, Tennessee hospital. A Correction Department spokeswoman says 47-year-old Barbara Ester was checking a report that inmate Latavious Johnson had an unauthorized pair of shoes in the barracks when she was attacked yesterday afternoon. Johnson is serving time for first-degree murder in the death of his father.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Federal officials in Little Rock say 51 people have been indicted for trafficking in prescription drugs and conspiracy. A U.S. Attorney and Drug Enforcement Administration agent announced the indictments at a Little Rock news conference yesterday.

HOUSTON (AP) — Oklahoma's rig count is rising again as the nation's oil and gas drillers ramp up activity. Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes says the Sooner state added nine rigs this week, while the count in Arkansas remained unchanged. West Texas Intermediate Crude priced at Oklahoma's Cushing pipeline hub closed the week at $98.46 a barrel.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's administration is projecting an $895 million shortfall in his state's budget for the spending year that starts July 1st. The Advocate reports that the biggest is a $538 million projected shortfall in the Medicaid program. Other areas in need of a revenue boost include a college scholarship program and basic state aid for public schools.

KWXI News for Friday January 20th, 2012

ARKANSAS BUDGET
Ark. DHS chief: $114M to keep services intact
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Human Services Director John Selig says that the $114 million in new money requested for Medicaid in the state is needed to keep existing services and is not intended for an expansion of the program.
Selig told members of the Joint Budget Committee Thursday that the money Governor Mike Beebe has requested for Medicaid for the budget year beginning July 1 would have been larger had an expected shortfall in the program materialized. Selig said the program still faces a $250 million shortfall in the program in the following budget year.
The Medicaid increase is the largest part of $163 million in new funding Beebe has proposed in his $4.7 billion budget.
Selig said the state is continuing work on proposals to change the way Medicaid pays for services.

CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION-ARKANSAS
Ark. police officer pleads guilty in 'Delta Blues'
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say an Arkansas police officer indicted on drug-trafficking charges has pleaded guilty to an extortion charge.
Prosecutors agreed to drop multiple other charges against Helena-West Helena Police Officer Robert "Bam Bam" Rogers in exchange for Thursday's guilty plea. Neither the Helena-West Helena police chief nor Rogers' attorney immediately responded to phone messages and it wasn't clear whether Rogers was still on unpaid leave as an officer.
Rogers was one of five law enforcement officers arrested in a corruption and drug-trafficking investigation in eastern Arkansas. Seventy-one people were indicted as part of the probe that authorities called "Operation Delta Blues."
Two others also pleaded guilty on Thursday in the case.
Prosecutors said they're recommending a 16-month prison sentence for Rogers. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

STOLEN HORSES
Prosecutor says no deal in stolen horses case
(Information in the following story is from: The Banner-News, http://www.bannernews.net)
MAGNOLIA, Ark. (AP) — An Oklahoma prosecutor says there will be no plea deal for a woman charged with stealing horses from a Southern Arkansas University rodeo barn and bringing them to Oklahoma.
Nineteen-year-old Jaci Jackson of Broken Bow is charged in Oklahoma with bringing stolen property into the state, concealing stolen property and cruelty to animals.
Four of the five horses were found alive but in poor condition in McCurtain County. The fifth was found dead.
District Attorney Mark Matloff told The Banner-News Thursday that Jackson's attorney contacted him about any potential plea deal and Matloff said he will not make an offer.
Defense attorney Richard Stout did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to six felony theft charges in Arkansas in connection with the case.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal praised Rick Perry after the Texas Governor bowed out of the Republican race for president yesterday. Jindal calls Perry a "close friend and a great governor." Jindal endorsed Perry last September, but he tells The Associated Press that he won't endorse another candidate in this year's GOP primary.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers in 10 Midwest and Great Plains states puts the report's overall index at a 4 1/2-year high, but other indicators show trouble ahead for the rural economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey from Omaha, Nebraska, says the results indicate a "leveling off" in rural economic growth after years of growing crop and farmland prices. The survey includes Missouri and several other states.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas football team will be honored during a Razorback basketball game. The university announced in a news release that the football team will be recognized at halftime of tomorrow's game against Michigan in Fayetteville. Saturday's tipoff is at 1 p.m.

KWXI News for Thursday January 19th, 2012

AGRICULTURE-DISASTER FUNDS-ARKANSAS
USDA: Arkansas to get $8 million in emergency aid
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is expected to receive $8 million in emergency agricultural assistance to help the state recover from natural disasters.
The money is part of about $308 million in aid headed to 33 states and Puerto Rico that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Wednesday.
Vilsack told The Associated Press ahead of the announcement that the disaster funds will be used for financial and technical assistance to help rebuild and repair land damaged by flooding, drought, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
Tornadoes swept across parts of Arkansas last year while floods and weeks of scorching temperatures without much rain hurt farmers.
The USDA initially said Arkansas would receive $11 million.

ARKANSAS BUDGET-DRUG COURTS
Ark. drug court disagreement stalls bill's draft
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A legislative panel has stalled over how to draft the Department of Community Correction budget over a disagreement on drug court funding.
A proposal to draft the appropriation bill for the department failed to pass before the Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday after members objected to an amendment that would create two new drug courts.
The panel also voted to include a $3 million transfer from the Tobacco Settlement Commission to pay for drug courts throughout the state.
Republican Senator Bill Pritchard of Elkins proposed the amendment and said the courts, which offer defendants a chance to go through treatment and have their records wiped clean if they stay out of trouble, need a funding source from the state. The panel will vote again later on the motion.

ALABAMA SHAD-LAWSUIT
Suit filed over denial of protection for Ala. shad
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Center for Biological Diversity is suing over the denial of endangered species protection for the Alabama shad.
The Center says it filed suit Wednesday against the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Center says it petitioned in 2010 for protected status for 404 species dependent on southeastern rivers and streams, including the shad. The Center says protection for the shad was rejected without a status review.
The Fisheries Service said Wednesday it could not comment on pending litigation.
The Center says the shad used to be abundant but has been diminished by a combination of dams, pollution and habitat destruction.
The shad spends most of its life in the ocean but breeds in fresh water. Populations are thought to remain in certain rivers in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri.

THE MOUNTAINTOP-MLK DRAMA
Play set in Memphis, Tn. on eve of MLK assassination a Broadway hit
NEW YORK (AP) — Just before it goes into history, the Broadway play "The Mountaintop" has announced that it has earned back its investment.
Producers said Wednesday that the play starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Basset recouped its entire initial investment of $3.1 million. It closes Sunday because Jackson has a movie commitment.
Playwright Katori Hall's fictional drama set in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on the night before the 1968 assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King Junior began performances September 22nd and opened October 13th.
When it closes, it will have played 24 preview and 117 regular performances.
In the play, audiences watch King flirt, curse, smoke Pall Malls, sip booze and even have a pillow fight with a mysterious hotel worker who brings the civil rights leader coffee.

MIRANDA LAMBERT-SHOWS RESCHEDULED
Miranda Lambert reschedules shows after death of father-in-law
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Miranda Lambert has rescheduled weekend shows in Kentucky and North Carolina following the death of her father-in-law.
Dick Shelton, father of "The Voice" star Blake Shelton, died Tuesday in Oklahoma with his family after a year of declining health. Lambert, who just kicked off her "On Fire" tour, rescheduled shows in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina and Lexington, Kentucky.
Lambert thanked fans for their prayers and support in a news release: "This is a really difficult time for our family and the most important thing is being together. Tell your loved ones you love them."
Lambert will return to the road January 25th for the rescheduled show in Charlotte. The other dates were pushed back to February.

CLAY WALLER-PRISON
Waller moved to prison in Louisiana
(Information in the following story is from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — The estranged husband of a Missouri woman missing since June has been moved to an out-of-state prison following his conviction for threatening his sister-in-law.
The Southeast Missourian reports that Clay Waller this week was moved to a low-security federal prison in Louisiana. Since his conviction in October he had been housed at the Pemiscot County jail.
Waller is appealing the five-year sentence handed down earlier this month. He pleaded guilty in October to federal charges for threatening the sister of Jacque Waller in an Internet posting.
Jacque Waller was last seen June 1st and is presumed dead. Authorities say Clay Waller is a suspect, but he has not been charged in his wife's disappearance.
 

KWXI News for Wednesday January 18th, 2012

The new Bainum Library and Learning Center in Glenwood is open. The Library was originally scheduled to close this week after the passing of the librarian Judy Johnson on Sunday. However, Johnson’s friend and neighbor Marjorie Melichar told KWXI News that she will work at the library this week because she said that Judy Johnson would have wanted her to.

Meanwhile, memorial services for Judy Johnson will be held this Friday at 2 p.m. in the First Church of the Nazarene in Glenwood with Brother Wally Beckman officiating. In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorials be made to the Glenwood Library, 210 North 2nd Street, Glenwood, Arkansas, 71943.

Attorney Leanne Daniel from Glenwood announced yesterday that she’s running for Pike County District Judge. Ms. Daniel told KWXI what her credentials were. Daniel has been a practicing attorney for 27 years, she served as Pike County District Judge by appointment, she served as deputy prosecuting attorney in the area and she said that she’s ready to serve Pike County again. Daniel will be running against Dana Stone from Murfreesboro.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A 15-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his 16-year-old sister at their home near Ozark is jailed, despite no formal murder charges. Authorities say the teen showed up at a sheriff's office Sunday and told investigators he shot his sister.

OZARK, Ark. (AP) — Investigators in Ozark have identified a man who died in a mobile home fire over the weekend as a 51-year-old local man. Firefighters say Baker ran into the home when they arrived at the scene early Sunday, but they couldn't enter the residence because of the flames. Crews later found the man unresponsive inside the home.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Twenty-two people have been indicted on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine throughout Arkansas. U.S. attorneys allege the methamphetamine was brought to Arkansas from Mexico and that the drug trafficking occurred in homes with children present and close to elementary schools.

HOPE, Ark. (AP) — Thirty-four-year-old Sergeant First Class Benjamin Wise of Hope died Sunday after being wounded in combat earlier in the month in Afghanistan. His brother, Jeremy, was killed in an attack on a CIA outpost in Afghanistan in 2009. Jeremy, a former Navy Seal, was working as a security contractor after leaving the Navy.

KWXI News for Tuesday January 17th, 2012

Leanne Daniel is kicking off her campaign for Pike County District Judge today with a coffee at Susies Country Kitchen in Glenwood. Supporters areinvited to gather at Suzies from 9 a.m. till 10;30 a.m. today at the coffee hosted by the Daniel Campaign comitee; Lisa Whitley is the chairman.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Police in Little Rock say an 18-year-old was in stable condition after being shot in an alley near the city's Martin Luther King Day parade. Witnesses told police two vehicles pulled up and someone started firing at people in an alley where a group of girls were arguing.

FORREST CITY, Ark. (AP) — A Texas grandmother accused of taking her three-month-old granddaughter out of state without permission is back in Arkansas to face felony charges. Police say Carolyn Morris had permission to take her granddaughter to a funeral in Forrest City, but then went to Texas after the service.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — An executive from CBS Interactive has been named Wal-Mart's new head of online operations. Neil Ashe replaces Eduardo Castro-Wright, who is retiring. Wal-Mart has made the expansion of online sales a priority.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Chicago snack food supplier has completed acquisition of an Arkansas ice cream maker. Schulze and Burch Biscuit Company says its management will meet with retailers to present the Yarnell's Ice Cream product line with original formulas and start the process of reopening Yarnell's plant in Searcy.

KWXI News for Monday January 16th, 2012

The Glenwood Librarian passed away yesterday, a day before today’s open house. For Southwest Arkansas’s news leader, KWXI AM-FM and Dot Net; I’m Bob DelGiorno.

Left: At the Grand Opening of the Glenwood Library, know as the Bainum Library and Learning Center, along with a good crowd of people from all walks of life from the city of Glenwood. Glenwood's Mayor Ron Martin Evea Bainum

There was an open house today at the brand new Bainum Library and Learning Center located in what was the Diamond Bank Building on the intersection of Broadway and 2nd street in Glenwood. The building and money was donated by the Bainum foundation to open the new facility; Dr. Tim Bainum told KWXI News why the Bainums donated the building and money to open the new Library and learning center. “Diamond Bank wanted the building to be utilized after we gave it to the city of Glenwood and my late brother and father were very avid readers and we thought that it would be a great memorial to them,” Dr. Tim Bainum of the Bainum Foundation said.

Left: After the Grand-Opening in side and meeting with the people who attended Evea Bainum and son Tim Bainum view the outside sign before heading home.

Glenwood Mayor Ron Martin said that the new Library is great.
“We’ve been able to open it up. It’s something, there will be books on different subjects that we couldn’t get out,” Mayor Martin said. “We have a children’s section, a section on genealogy, 7 computers and now the students have a place to come and study and look for documentation; everything from A-Z.”

The open House at the new library wasn’t without some sorrow; yesterday morning the library’s librarian Judy Johnson passed away at a Hot Springs Hospital after a brief illness. Friends remembered Judy Johnson at today’s open house. One of Judy’s friends was Margorie Melichar. “She was such a nice friend and neighbor and had a nice personality,” Marjorie Melichar said. “She was great for this town and the library. She loved the library.
Judy Johnson was 68. “She was looking so forward to this open house. That’s why we decided to go ahead with the open house after her passing, “ Ms. Melichar said.


Montgomery County Sheriff David White said that the Montgomery County Sheriff’s department assisted U.S. Marshals in the arrest of a man wanted for allegedly stealing more than $600,000 from Vanderbilt University in 2011. According to authorities, 34-year old Jason Hunt (left) was served a warrant and arrested at a Cabinet Shop in Sims, Ark. Friday. According to Sheriff White, Sims was taken into custody without incident. Mr. Hunt was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1 Million bond and is awaiting extradition back to Tennessee. You can see a picture of Jason Hunt being taken into custody on our website at KWXI.Net.

SEARCY, Ark. (AP) — A Searcy woman says her son and daughter have survived a luxury cruise ship wreck off the coast of Italy. Justin Baines, his sister, Sarah Plath, and their spouses were aboard the Costa Concordia when the ship struck a reef Friday, killing at least five people. Donna Baines tells KLRT-TV the couples jumped into the dark sea and swam about 100 yards to a rock before being rescued.

OZARK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a teenage girl near Ozark. Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen alleges a 15-year-old boy shot his older sister while she was sleeping. Boen says the teenager surrendered to authorities about 9:30 a.m. yesterday and is in custody at the Sebastian County Detention Facility.

MAGNOLIA, Ark. (AP) — A missing Magnolia man has been found dead in an irrigation pond at the company where he worked. Columbia County Sheriff Mike Loe says that sheriff's deputies discovered 44-year-old David Mullins about 12:45 p.m. Saturday at Pittman Farms. Officials began searching for Mullins after family members reported him missing Thursday night.

OZARK, Ark. (AP) — Authorities say an Ozark man has died in a house fire. Ozark Police Chief Cory Tedford tells KHOG-TV that firefighters responded to a call of a blaze at a residence around midnight Saturday. Tedford says faulty wiring from a breaker box may have been the culprit. The victim's name and age weren't immediately released yesterday.

KWXI News for Sunday January 15th, 2012

Left: The 2011-2012 Kirby Senior and Junior High Homecoming Court. (center left) Kirby Junior High Princess Lauren Elizabeth Ray seated beside her is her attendants Ty Robinson and Kylee Crump.standing behind is Captains: Brady Mount and Logan Foshee. (center right) Kirby's Senior High Homecoming Queen Makayla Claire Hudgins and setting to her right is her attendants Lane Abernathy and Grace Turner. Standing behind her is her escort Derek Furr and Team Captains Blevin Boyd and Grady Tolleson

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark. (AP) — A slain Arkansas police dispatcher is being remembered as a devoted mother and loyal daughter who donated a kidney to her father. Family members, friends and co-workers reflected on Dawna Natzke's life during yesterday's memorial service at a Hot Springs Village church. No arrests have been made in the 46-year-old woman's death.

MALVERN, Ark. (AP) — A Kohler faucet plant at Malvern, Arkansas will be closed with its operations moving to Sheridan and to the company's namesake city in Wisconsin. The home faucet and plumbing fixtures manufacturer has about 80 employees at the Malvern plant. A company press release says "as many positions as possible" will be transferred to the Sheridan plant about 25 miles away.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' education commissioner wants the state to be able to control a financially distressed school district for a longer time. Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell told a legislative committee Friday that some communities are not prepared to retake control of a troubled district after two years. He suggests allowing state control for up to five years.

MAGNOLIA, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas authorities are looking for a man for questioning about the theft of five horses from the stables of Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia in November. An SAU police Sergeant says that authorities want to talk with 40-year-old William Hamilton about the case. He says Hamilton is known as both Billy Hamilton and Billy Mitchell in southwestern Arkansas and northeastern Texas.

KWXI News for Saturday January 14th, 2012

The Montgomery County Sherriff’s department said that on January 4, 2012 at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office received a call that a suspicious person was down Dragover Road walking around a chicken house with a flashlight. Deputies Steven Gibbs and Bernie Soliz responded to the call. As they approached the area they observed the subject walking south down Dragover Road. The officers made contact with subject and he identified himself as Luke Sawyer of Shreveport, LA. After doing a search of the subject, they located a glasses case in his back pocket that contained a hypodermic needle with a usable amount of methamphetamine. At this time, the officers placed him under arrest. He was transported back to the Sheriff’s Office where he was charged for Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule II and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, both of which are Class D Felonies. Mr. Sawyer is currently in being held at the Montgomery County Jail on a $5000 bond. He is also wanted out of California for a parole violation.

(Left) Montgomery County Sherriff David White said that the Montgomery County Sherriff’s department assisted U.S. Marshalls in the arrest of a man wanted for allegedly stealing more than $600,000 from Vanderbilt University in 2011. According to authorities, 34-year old Jason Hunt (left) was served a warrant and arrested at a Cabinet Shop in Sims, Ark. Friday. According to Sherriff White, Sims was taken into custody without incident. Mr. Hunt is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1 Million bond and is awaiting extradition back to Tennessee.

Today is Homecoming 2012 at Kirby High School. In honor of Homecoming; there will be an afternoon ceremony today from 2 p.m. till 3 p.m. and an evening ceremony from 5 p.m. till 5:30 p.m. before the Kirby Oden Basketball games. The theme of this year’s homecoming at Kirby is Dreams Do Come True. They did for Makayla Hudgins and Lauren Ray. Hudgins will be crowned queen and Ray will be crowned princess.

The Glenwood Library has a new name, new location and they’re celebrating with an open house. The Glenwood Library recently moved to a new location; it’s now located in the former Diamond Bank building on the corner of Broadway and 2nd, and it has a new name. The new name for the Library is the Bainum Library and Learning Center. The Library’s open house will be this Monday, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. and it’s open to the public. There will be free new book bags handed out to kids and they’ll be serving cookies and punch. Plus, The McWilliams girls, 3-local home schooled children form our area will perform live chamber music at the event with two violins and a cello.

LONOKE, Ark. (AP) — Lonoke County authorities say a man was killed when he fell into a grain silo near Lonoke. A County Sheriff's Lieutenant told reporters that 56-year-old Jacques Parker of Carlisle died after falling into the silo about 11 a.m. yesterday.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has hired former Arkansas assistant Kirk Botkin to be the Gamecocks new linebackers' coach. Spurrier made the announcement yesterday. Botkin comes to the Gamecocks after spending the past two years as a high school coach in Texarkana, Texas. Before that, he was defensive end and special teams coach for two seasons at Arkansas. He replaces Lorenzo Wood, who was promoted to defensive coordinator in Columbia, South Carolina.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas looks to remain perfect at home this season when it hosts LSU tonight. The Razorbacks are 12-0 in Bud Walton Arena this season, including a win over then-Number 15 Mississippi State last week. LSU enters the game following a 69-53 loss at Alabama on Wednesday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) —Texas Governor Rick Perry aimed his sharpest criticism at President Barack Obama rather than his GOP rivals as he campaigned yesterday in coastal South Carolina, eight days ahead of the state's primary. Perry spoke to people in crowded restaurants in Bluffton and Charleston, and mostly stuck with the campaign speech he used in Iowa.KWXI News for Friday January 13th, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Governor Mike Beebe is calling for more than $100 million in additional funding for Medicaid and $55 million for public schools when he presents his balanced budget proposal next week. The Democratic governor is scheduled to present his proposal on Tuesday, the first day of budget hearings. Lawmakers convene for the fiscal session on February 13th.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hot Springs' horse race track will open its season with a new sound. Frank Mirahmadi will begin his career as the new Oaklawn track announcer when the gaming venue opens today. Mirahmadi replaces Terry Wallace, who announced his retirement after 37 years as the park's announcer in June.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Keith Urban will return to the stage for the first time since vocal surgery on February 3rd at the Grand Ole Opry. The country superstar had a polyp removed from a vocal cord at Vanderbilt University Medical Center late last year and has been on vocal rest since then.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis officials have approved naming a street after Martin Luther King Junior, nearly 44 years after the civil rights leader was killed in the city. The Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board voted yesterday to re-name nine blocks of Linden Avenue in downtown Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue. The street runs near the Clayborn Temple, where King rallied with striking sanitation workers days before he was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4th, 1968.

KWXI News for Thursday January 12th, 2012

The Glenwood Library has a new name, new location and they’re celebrating with an open house. The Glenwood Library recently moved to a new location; it’s now located in the former Diamond Bank building on the corner of Broadway and 2nd, and it has a new name. The new name for the Library is the Bainum Library and Learning Center. The Library’s open house will be this Monday, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. and it’s open to the public. According to Judy Johnson the librarian, there will be free new book bags handed out to kids and they’ll be serving cookies and punch.

In Howard County, Sheriff Butch Morris said that stray livestock are a problem and they’re out trying to coral the loose cattle. Sheriff Morris told the Texarkana Gazette that they need the public’s help in finding the contact information of the owners of the lost stock. If you live in Howard County and you are looking for lost livestock; you’re encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s department at 870-845-2626.

U.S. Representative Mike Ross said that he’s searching for young adults interested in getting an insiders view of Politics to apply for summer internships. The internships will be divided into two sessions; May 29th through June 29th and July 2nd through August 3rd and they’re available in his Washington DC, Hot Springs, El Dorado, Pine Bluff and Prescott offices. Applications must be postmarked by March 15th, 2012 and they can be downloaded on Ross’ website at ross.house.gov/students. You can email U.S. Representative Ross at mike.ross@mail.house.gov or call him at 800-223-2220. We posted all that information on our website at www.kwxi.net. Click on local news.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Coca-Cola bottling plant in central Arkansas will get rid of nearly 50 production jobs as it ships bottling duties to facilities elsewhere in the state and in Texas. A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said yesterday that the Little Rock plant will lose 49 jobs as the company moves production work to facilities in West Memphis and Dallas. A bottling plant in Jonesboro previously closed in 2010.

BRYANT, Ark. (AP) — Authorities in central Arkansas say they're looking into a sexual misconduct claim against a high school teacher. Bryant police said yesterday that they're investigating allegations reported last month. The case involves a victim who would have been 15 years old at the time of the alleged incidents. Sergeant Todd Crowson says no one has been charged or arrested in the case.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The data services company Acxiom Corporation has named a former Amazon DOT com financial officer to be the company's CFO. Little Rock-based Acxiom said yesterday that Warren Jenson will join the marketing and data management company.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged a Memphis police officer with illegally accessing the FBI's National Crime Information Center database. The U.S. attorney's office for West Tennessee said yesterday that it has charged 36-year-old Sean Fritz with two counts of computer fraud and one count of lying to a federal agency. Fritz was arrested on Tuesday.

KWXI News for Wednesday January 11th, 2012

SLAIN MOM-ARKANSAS
Memorial service planned for slain Ark. dispatcher
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark. (AP) — A memorial service will be held this weekend for an Arkansas police dispatcher and mother of three whose body was found in the woods on New Year's Eve.
Authorities say they have a person of interest in the death of 46-year-old Dawna Natzke, but they won't say who it is. No one has been arrested.
Funeral home manager Gary Clarkson says a memorial service will be held for Natzke on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Village Church of Christ in Hot Springs Village. Natzke was last seen leaving a holiday party with her boyfriend on Dec. 21. She was reported missing two days later when she didn't show up for work. Clarkson says her family asks that donations be made to the "Natzke Boys Fund" through Summit Bank.

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (AP) — Collection of a 1 percent tax on restaurants and hotel and motel rooms is being delayed in Arkadelphia pending a possible public vote on the matter. The city's Board of Directors approved the tax in November to pay for tourism advertising and recreational facilities. The decision led to a petition drive calling for a public vote on the matter. Arkadelphia City Manager Jimmy Bolt said that a vote would be a waste of the city’s money.
City Manager Jimmy Bolt said collection of the tax is being delayed because the money would have to be repaid if voters reject the tax. Mr. Bolt said that he believes that the Petition organizer, Arkadelphia NAACP President Henry Wilson has until January 17th to gather the 432 signatures needed to allow a public vote on the matter.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Authorities continue their search for a man accused of forcing a woman to go to a Fayetteville bank with a device strapped to her leg and instructions to take money from her account. Betty Davis says she thought the device was a bomb. But authorities who tested the device say it was not explosive.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — U.S. Department of Agriculture offices in 10 Arkansas counties are scheduled to be closed under a cost-cutting plan announced by federal officials this week. The affected Arkansas offices are in Benton, Bradley, Faulkner, Fulton, Garland, Izard, Johnson, Lafayette, Logan and Pulaski counties.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The attorney general in Arkansas is suing a Jonesboro-based asphalt company. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's lawsuit claims Moore Asphalt engaged in deceptive door-to-door sales tactics to convince consumers to sign contracts for paving or repaving driveways.