News

During the legislative session that wrapped up this week, Twitter was used more than ever before by lawmakers to share opinions and debate ideas. KUAR’s Nathan Vandiver has more with Roby Brock of Talk Business Arkansas.

In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, U.S. Senator John Boozman of Arkansas says lawmakers must take a closer look at the nation’s visa system. He says his colleagues also have to make sure intelligence and security agencies are sharing important information that could stop future attacks.

Next month leaders of the Boy Scouts of America plan to vote on a resolution lifting their ban on gay youth participation in scouts. The resolution would keep sexual orientation barriers in place for leadership and volunteer positions.

Assistant Scout Executive Christian Swaim represents the WestArk Area Council and believes the area supports the current ban.

The Conway Police Department is retiring the duty weapon of a police officer who was killed when he was  
struck by a vehicle while directing traffic.

The department typically retires a weapon when an officer  retires, but Conway Police Chief A.J. Gary asked that the ceremony also be used for fallen officers. The Log Cabin Democrat reports that the Conway City Council passed a resolution Tuesday in support of the plan.

U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California is scheduled to speak at an event in central  Arkansas next month.

Pelosi is scheduled to discuss current affairs during a May 2 visit to the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Pelosi has represented San Francisco for more than two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives. She served as Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011.  

She's scheduled to speak at noon on May 2 at Sturgis Hall in downtown Little Rock.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville will get to display works of modernist American Art from the famed Alfred Stieglitz collection after years of court battles kept its purchase of the works on hold.

The museum owns a 50 percent stake in the collection with Fisk University in Tennessee. The state’s attorney general sued to keep the collection in the state.

Spokeswoman for Crystal Bridges, Diane Carroll, the museum will allow members of the public who would not otherwise have been able, to view the works.

House Speaker Davy Carter says he's considering running for governor next year, but wants some time after the session to decide whether to join the race. 

The Republican from Cabot told reporters Tuesday he's thought about and discussed a run for governor, but said he wanted to spend time at home to think about the race.

Carter later said he didn't have a timeline for making a decision and declined to say with whom he's been discussing a run. Lawmakers on Tuesday wrapped up this year's legislative session. 

Legislators have a few weeks before they come back to officially wrap up the session, but Tuesday was likely the last day of business for Arkansas lawmakers as they approved the budget and Governor Mike Beebe signed into law a health insurance expansion that many lawmakers agree was the biggest issue of the session.

The Little Rock Board of Directors is deciding whether or not to challenge Mayor Mark Stodola’s veto of its approval for the recent zoning proposal.

The zoning request would allow an RV and boat storage facility on residential property near Pinnacle Mountain. At-Large Director Joan Adcock, says the development would have benefited park visitors, by providing storage for their boats and RVs. 

Mayor Stodola felt overriding the decision was necessary to protect the natural beauty of the area. "Highway 300 out by Pinnacle Mountain is a very scenic area" said Stodola. 

Since the oil spill in Mayflower, official studies have shown an absence of tar sands oil in Lake Conway, but an independent study shows otherwise.