Maggie Carroll

After nearly a year of renovation work, Little Rock’s Amphitheater is back in business.

Formerly known as the Riverfest Amphitheater, and now the First Security Amphitheater, the venue hosts many events throughout the year, including next week’s Riverfest and the summer series Movies in the Park. 

DeAnna Korte, Executive Director of Riverfest, says the repair effort was a collaboration.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday  that 16 people have been charged with conspiring to distribute hundreds of kilograms of cocaine throughout Arkansas. 

Idalia Ramos Rangel, better known as “Big Momma” or “La Tia”, is the highest ranking member indicted of leading the drug trafficking organization.

The Gulf Cartel is based out of Matamoros, Mexico but works in several U.S. areas, including inmates who were serving time in the federal prison in Forrest City.  

Another school has decided to opt out of the state law allowing staff and faculty to carry firearms on college campuses.

Northwest Arkansas Community College’s board of trustees voted against allowing guns after reviewing student and faculty surveys.

Steven Hinds, director of public relations for the college, says students were surveyed about the issue.

"When the student government looked at the issue, deciding whether or not they were going to sign the resolution…they voted unanimously in favor of opting out of Act 226," said Hinds. 

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Thea Foundation, is launched the Stringed Instrument Drive.

It is aimed at collecting gently used violins and monetary donations to bring classical music back into the schools in Little Rock and North Little Rock

Paul Leopoulos, Executive Director of the Thea Foundation, says music can help children achieve academically and boost their confidence.

An event Monday will mark the one-month anniversary of the rupture of an oil pipeline in Mayflower. More than 200 thousand gallons of raw crude was spilled in the residential neighborhood.

Glen Hooks is with the Sierra Club, one of several organizations taking part on Monday. 

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. 

In a press conference Thursday, officials heading the Mayflower Oil Spill clean up efforts say the air and water qualities in the affected area remain at safe levels for residents.  6,750 cubic yards of solid waste materials have been removed from the site, but more decontamination must be done to remove the 5,000 barrels of oil spilled.  

Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson, the local on-scene coordinator, assures residents that the Mayflower Incident United Command team has experts and trained staff to handle all aspects of the clean up.

Amtrak announced Tuesday that ridership is the highest it has ever been in the railroad’s history. October, December and January set individual records and in the past 6 months ridership has grown by one percent.

Spokesman Mark Magliani says they have been struggling with capacity issues, but are working to add stops and routes.

A small-scale earthquake struck north central Arkansas Thursday morning. It is the seventh in the span of a few weeks to strike the Van Buren County area.

The highest registered a 2.8 on the Richter scale, and is the most powerful the region has seen since monitoring began. Scott Ausbrooks, Geo Hazards Supervisor for the Arkansas Geological Survey, says there are three potential causes for the increase in activity. 

The Arkansas Health Department says it could be weeks before Mayflower residents can return to their homes because of Friday’s oil spill.

An ExxonMobil pipeline spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil and the company is currently working to clean it up.

Ed Barham, a spokesman for the health department, says the crew has to safely remove and transport the contaminated soil away from the neighborhood.