HEADLINES

01/23/12

National Weather Service Rates Sunday Tornado F2
The National Weather Services says it was an F2 tornado with winds up to 135 miles per hour that tore through the north side of Fordyce Sunday night.

01/18/12

Cotton Releases Campaign Fundraising Figures
A Republican running for the south Arkansas congressional seat says he's raised more than $197,000 in the last three months of 2011.

Lawmakers to Discuss Prisons, School Budgets
Arkansas lawmakers are looking at proposed budgets for public schools and prisons as they prepare for this year's legislative session.

Bagwell Makes Dean's List at High Point University
Madelyn Bagwell of Fayetteville, formerly of Fordyce, made the Dean's List for the Fall Semester at High Point University in North Carolina.

Chambliss Obituary
Carolyn Faye McConnell Chambliss of Camden died at Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden on Monday at the age of 65.

Pennington Obituary
Derrell Eugene Pennington of Fordyce died at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock on Monday at the age of 64.

22 People in Arkansas Indicted After Drug Bust
Twenty-two people have been indicted on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine throughout Arkansas.

Crime Victims get $3.8M in Reparations
More than $3.8 million was distributed to crime victims in Arkansas in 2011.

Teen Held on $750K Bond in Sister's Death
A prosecutor says a 15-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his older sister in western Arkansas is being held on a $750,000 bond, though formal murder charges haven't been filed.

01/17/12

Gov. Beebe Proposes $163M Increase in State Budget
Gov. Mike Beebe is calling for $117 million in new money for the state's Human Services Department to
pay for growth in Medicaid and wants $56 million in additional funding for public schools for the coming year.

15 Year Old Boy Tells Police he Fatally Shot Sister
Authorities in western Arkansas say a 15-year-old boy has confessed to fatally shooting his older teen sister.

Officials Probe Release of Suspect in Cabot Deaths
Authorities say a man charged in a double homicide in Cabot was released from jail two days before the killings because of an apparent paperwork mishap.

Company Completes Purchase of Yarnell's Ice Cream
A Chicago snack food supplier has completed acquisition of an Arkansas ice cream maker and plans to make its products available to retailers across the state.

01/16/12

Routine Traffic Stop Leads to Drunk Driving Arrest
A routine traffic stop in Fordyce on Friday led to a drunk driving arrest.

Rison Man Arrested in Fordyce for DWI
A Rison man was arrested by Fordyce police last week for Driving While Intoxicated.

Disturbance in Front of Police Station Leads to Arrest
A New Edinburg man was arrested last week after police responded to a disturbance in front of the Fordyce Police Station.

Teen Surrenders after Sister is Fatally Shot
Arkansas State Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a teenage girl near Ozark.

Missing Man Found Dead in Irrigation Pond
A Magnolia man who was reported missing has been found in an irrigation pond at the company where he worked.

Woman, Brother Aboard Downed Cruise Ship
An Arkansas woman says her son and daughter have survived a luxury cruise ship crash off the coast of Italy.

Few Surprises Expected as Legislative Budget Talks Begin
Few surprises are expected as Arkansas lawmakers prepare to review Governor Mike Beebe's budget proposal this week.

01/13/12

Beebe to Propose Extra Money for Medicaid, Schools
Governor Mike Beebe says he'll call 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.

Redbug Basketball Teams Traveling to Harmony Grove Tonight
The Redbug and Ladybug basketball teams will be on the road tonight for some conference action.

Solid Waste Meeting Moved Back
Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday on Monday, the regular meeting of the Dallas County Solid Waste Authority has been postponed.

Mirahmadi Set to Take Over Announcing at Oaklawn
Oaklawn Park will open its live racing season with a new sound.

Maumelle HS Teacher Arrested on Drug Charges
Authorities say a teacher has been arrested on drug charges on the Maumelle High School campus.

01/12/12

AHTD to hold Public Meeting in Calion
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) will hold a Public Involvement Meeting in Calion to discuss plans for improvements to Highway 167, according to highway department officials.

School to Ask Voters to Refinance Bond
The Fordyce School District will ask voters for permission to refinance their construction bonds to get them back in the black.

Coca Cola Plant to Lose Production Jobs
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.

01/11/12

10 USDA Offices, Including Bradley County, Marked for Closure
U.S. Department of Agriculture offices in 10 Arkansas counties are scheduled to be closed under a cost-cutting plan announced this week by federal officials.

Device Attached to Woman was not a Bomb
Authorities say a device removed from the leg of a 73-year-old woman who said she was forced to go to a bank was not actually a bomb.

Outdoor Newsletter from Arkansas Game and Fish can Keep You Informed
Steve "Wildman" Wilson says if you want to keep up with what's going on in the outdoors, sign up for their e-newsletter.

Memorial Service Planned for Slain Dispatcher
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.

Nichols Obituary
Howard Glenn Nichols, Jr. of Galveston, TX died at his home on Monday at the age of 70.

01/10/12

Fordyce Man Arrested for Public Intox
Arkansas' education board has approved four new charter schools including one in Warren.

Arkansas Ed Board Approves 4 New Charter Schools
Arkansas' education board has approved four new charter schools including one in Warren.

73 Year Old Woman Forced to Try Bank Robbery
Arkansas authorities are searching for a man suspected of holding a 73-year-old woman and her husband hostage and then trying to force her to rob a bank by strapping a device to her ankle that he said was a bomb.

Former Arkansas Symphony Conductor Dies
William Francis McBeth, a composer, former conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and one-time band teacher to Bill Clinton, has died.

Tide Rolls to 2nd BCS Title in 3 Years by Blanking LSU
The son of Arkansas basketball coach Mike Anderson has been arrested again on suspicion of drunken driving.

Son of Arkansas Coach Arrested for DWI
The son of Arkansas basketball coach Mike Anderson has been arrested again on suspicion of drunken driving.