News

The Arkansas attorney general's office says it has no objection to an anti-abortion group's request to help defend a new law banning the procedure 12 weeks into a pregnancy.  

The attorney general's office on Thursday responded to the request by Concepts of Truth to intervene in the federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the new restriction.

The Wynne-based group provides counseling to women considering getting an abortion and to women who have had the procedure.  

The Little Rock Technology Park Authority Board is putting off selection of a site for the city’s tech park in order to discuss the specific types of research businesses that might be attracted to it.

The main topic of discussion for the Little Rock Tech Park Board has focused on site selection, but at its meeting Wednesday, members began delving into the basic purpose for the park and whether they need to consider two sites rather than one.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville is expanding its Saturday hours for viewing of the popular Norman Rockwell exhibition. Regular Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. But the Rockwell exhibit, the museum store and the coffee bar will be open 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays through the end of its run May 27. 

Anti-hunger organizations are getting ready for the nation's most expansive food drive.The "Stamp Out Hunger" drive is set for Saturday, and Gov. Mike Beebe is holding an event at the Arkansas Capitol at 9:30 a.m. 

Thursday to promote the food collection. Letter carriers on their regular routes Saturday are to pick up food left by mailboxes.The effort is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

Tinkering has always been a way to improve on just about anything. Every generation has its tinkerers. This week's program discusses the ways we have changed...or maybe haven't changed over time.

A power transmission company says it will locate a regional hub in Little Rock, a move that company officials say will bring between 30 and 50 high paying jobs to the state in the near future.

Governor Mike Beebe and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola joined state economic development officials as well as representatives from Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator, or MISO, at the state Capitol to announce the new jobs.

MISO handles power transmitted on the nation’s electric grid and Beebe said the mostly-high tech jobs would pay an average of $85,000 a year.

An anti-abortion counseling organization in Arkansas is asking to intervene in the federal case over a state law that bans most abortions 12 weeks into a pregnancy.  

Attorneys for Concepts of Truth, Inc. asked a federal judge to intervene as a defendant in the lawsuit challenging the new abortion restriction.

The Wynne-based organization provides counseling to pregnant women who are considering having an abortion and says it operates a national call center to counsel women who have had the procedure.  

Arkansas prison officials say they didn't know a 63-year-old fugitive was sick when they sought his return from Michigan.  

But Department of Correction spokeswoman Shea Wilson told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it's not the agency's role to make judgments about whether Lester Stiggers should be brought back to the Arkansas prison system he fled in 1970.  

Arkansas this year asked Michigan to return Stiggers.

Michigan is considering it, even though the state previously refused similar requests.  

Arkansas State Police say one person was killed and two were injured in a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 in eastern Arkansas.

State police say the crash involved five tractor-trailers and one passenger minivan.

The crash was reported Wednesday morning in the eastbound lane of Interstate 40 at the 199 mile marker near Hazen.  

State police say the crash happened in the I-40 construction zone. Traffic is being diverted onto U.S. 70 at Hazen and Biscoe as crews work to remove the wrecked vehicles from the roadway.

Arkansas Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell has chosen the North Little Rock School District's assistant superintendent to lead the Dollarway School District in Jefferson County. 

Education officials say Bobby Acklin will take over as head of the Dollarway district starting July 1. Acklin will replace Frank Anthony who came out of retirement last June to lead the district.

Acklin has served in the North Little Rock School District since 1989. He has experience as a classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.