Kezia Nanda

Officials are working on the best plans for the future after Phillips County Jail was closed on Tuesday due to failing an inspection.

Danny Hickman, the Coordinator of the State’s Criminal Detention Facilities, said, “There were several items that they didn’t meet the standards. Main thing is, the jail becomes deteriorated a lot and it became a very unsafe facility for inmates and for the staff and for the public of Phillips County. And living conditions was not quite up to par.”

The jail in Helena-West Helena was 30 years old.

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.

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office says a 2007 study found that Arkansas rank the highest in the number of teen abuse of prescription pain relievers.

In its effort to protect children, potential abusers, and environment, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is partnering with over 300 agencies, including the Arkansas Department of Human Services, the state Department of Health, the Sheriff's Associations, the Governor’s Office, and the Board of Pharmacy, to provide locations for public to bring unneeded and expired medications.

Some hail and damaging wind can be seen in the south east area of Arkansas Friday and Saturday. 

Meteorologist Julie Lesko, with the National Weather Service, said, “We do expect showers and thunderstorms much of Friday and especially during the overnight hours into Saturday morning.”

“Best chance of anything severe in Arkansas will be Saturday afternoon and that is just chance of maybe larger hail and gustier wind but that mainly south of Little Rock area and south east Arkansas,” said Lesko.

Little Rock officials are now focusing on South Main Street’s growth and the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists in that area.

All this month, officials are working to heighten awareness of the need to drivers to be safer.  KUAR’s Kezia Nanda visited the South Main and 15th St. Intersection.

The corner of South Main and 15th Street is where the Root Café, the Green Corner Store and Boulevard Bread are located. 

Laura Frankenstein works at the Green Corner Store and feels it’s dangerous to walk across Main Street.

About a hundred students and teachers from around the state gathered on Friday in Little Rock for an Electric Vehicle Rally.

KUAR’s Kezia Nanda was at the competition. 

Through the project, kids as young as 12 years old know a lot about engineering and technology. 

Caleb Woodruff said, “I feel good because Mr. Gullett taught us a lot of things in class and he’s teaching us more about go karts.”

“(I’m) a little nervous because we’re in the quiz bowl and it’s difficult to ask a lot of questions,” said Alejandro Salas.

The Arkansas Earth Day Foundation, is inviting the public to its an annual festival.

“The whole point of the Earth Day Festival is to help teach the community about living a greener, more sustainable life,” said Christy Askea, the foundation’s president.

The festival is free and is being held on the grounds of Heifer International in Little Rock on Friday at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The power utility Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas is hosting its annual Electric Vehicle Rally on Friday.

Middle school, high school and college students around Arkansas are participating.

It’s a competition that’s fun and academic.

KUAR’s Kezia Nanda visited Cabot High School in central Arkansas as they prepared for the competition.

Imagine not having to fill up your gas tank regularly and the money you’d save. Imagine having a car that’s electric. 

State health officials are warning the public of an outbreak of rabies in Arkansas.

Over 60 rabid animals have been tested positive for rabies so far in 2013.

Most have been skunks, with three reported in Pulaski County.

Dr. Susan Weinstein, the state public health veterinarian, says the best way people can protect themselves is to vaccinate their dogs, cats, horses and livestock.

Entergy Arkansas is integrating is transmission grid with a large regional power pool, the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, or MISO.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission has given final approval for the transfer of its control to MISO, subject to continued compliance with the commission’s conditions.

Entergy Arkansas spokesman David Lewis says this will benefit its customers.