News

ExxonMobil as well as federal, state and local officials are still working to clean up from the oil spill in Mayflower that happened one month ago.

The Pegasus Pipeline ruptured spilling about 5,000 barrels of oil into the Northwoods subdivision. Residents from the neighborhood still have not returned to their homes.

The director of the Arkansas lottery says he hopes recent changes are helping the state-run gambling  operation overcome a sales slump that plagued the agency for several months.  

Lottery director Bishop Woosley says March numbers were strong, even though they don't match up to sales figures from March 2012, when a huge Mega Millions jackpot drew people in droves to lottery ticket sellers.  

Officials say it will be weeks before some Mayflower residents who had to leave their homes because of a leak from an ExxonMobil oil pipeline can return.  

More than 20 homes were evacuated after the March 29 leak from the pipeline flooded a neighborhood with crude oil.  

The Unified Command responsible for cleanup says ExxonMobil and environmental regulators will conduct air monitoring and sampling in the homes. The state Health Department will make final recommendations on when residents can return.

Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has rejected the wording of a proposed constitutional  amendment that would create stricter term limits for lawmakers and expand the "cooling off" period before they could become lobbyists.  

McDaniel on Monday rejected the wording of the amendment proposed for next year's ballot by Tim Jacob of Little Rock.

The wording of the measure must be certified by McDaniel's office before supporters can begin gathering signatures.  

After nearly twenty years of vacancy the port at Helena is getting its first tenant, Enviro Tech Chemical Solutions. Improvements over the last decade, including rail lines, pipelines, and a crane have kept the port working in the absence of a permanent business. State Representative John Edwards attributes the port’s recent success to government involvement and personal leadership.

The intersections of Capitol and Sixth at Broadway in Little Rock have been named by city officials as one of the most dangerous intersections in the city for pedestrians.

Dave Ingram, with Entergy Arkansas, said an Entergy employee died after being hit by a car in the downtown area.

State highway officials say there will be nighttime lane closures in the week ahead at the construction zone at the Interstate 430/Interstate 630 interchange. 

For safety, a lane on I-430 will be closed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. nightly through Friday morning. The southbound outside lane on I-430 will be closed to allow crews to paint steel bridges on structures above the travel lanes. No detours will be set up. The work is contingent on good weather. 

All taxpayers in Arkansas will see their rates reduced through a $140 million package adopted during this year's session, but the new laws also include special breaks for varied interests.

Volunteer firefighters, manufacturers, farmers and armed service members are among the groups to see additional breaks through the dozen tax cut bills that legislators approved and Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law before wrapping up the session last week. 

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education is reporting an increase in the state's six-year college graduation rate.

The department says 40.8 percent of students who entered college in 2006 had received a degree six years later - an increase from 39.5 percent last year and up from 37 percent five years ago. Still - more improvement is needed to meet Gov. Mike Beebe's stated goal of doubling the number of Arkansans with a degree by 2025. 

Live racing is over for the year at Oaklawn thoroughbred race track in Hot Springs but the venue is still working to attract patrons for a barbecue competition that coincides with the Kentucky Derby. 

The infield will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and admission is free. The track will offer simulcast wagering on the big race while fans take in the Smokelawn BBQ Championship and listen to live music.