$150,000 allotted to Innovation Hub
The North Little Rock City Council approved a $150,000 appropriation to the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub last week, even though a majority of city aldermen originally agreed to reduce the amount to $100,000.
The appropriation request had been held over since the council's Feb. 27 meeting while the aldermen sought more information.
Alderman Debi Ross' amendment to reduce the contribution by $50,000 passed 5-3, with Aldermen Ron Harris, Charlie Hight and Murry Witcher voting against the decrease.
After Mayor Joe Smith leaned over to speak with Alderman Steve Baxter immediately after that vote, Baxter motioned to expunge the amendment vote, gaining a 5-3* approval. The revote was a 4-4 tie, with Baxter switching sides. Smith voted no to break the tie and defeat the amendment.
The $150,000 appropriation was then approved 6̶-̶3̶ 5-3*. Ross voted no, as did Aldermen Beth White and Maurice Taylor. Alderman Linda Robinson voted for the full appropriation after previously voting for the reduction.
The discussion centered on the nonprofit Innovation Hub, now part of Winrock International, taking over the former Art Connection two years ago and assuming its city appropriation of $85,000, providing the Hub with a total of $150,000 in city taxpayer money.
The Innovation Hub, at 201 E. Broadway, also charges its students to participate in after-school programs, summer camps and field trips, Ross said.
"That $85,000 was to continue to go to the Art Connection's students," Ross said before offering her amendment. "Now that's no longer there. They serve a very small amount of North Little Rock students. I don't see how that justifies $85,000 from the city. I think [$100,000] is a fair amount."
Library spotlights art from LR native
An art exhibit by Little Rock native Lisa Krannichfeld is to open Monday at the William F. Laman Public Library's exhibition hall at 2801 Orange St.
Krannichfeld's exhibit "Undomesticated Interiors" will be displayed through March 25. An opening reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Krannichfeld's work has been featured in numerous publications and exhibitions nationally and internationally, including shows across the southern United States and in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Sweden and Germany, according to a library news release.
The March exhibit "tackles the historical imagery of the female gender and aims to counterbalance it," according to the library news release.
The series, according to the artist, is intended "to rebel against the traditional portrayal of doll-like women of the 17th-19th centuries, when women were painted in lavish interior settings belonging to their husbands or fathers," the news release said.
The exhibit will be free and open to the public.
Event will honor emergency crews
The annual North Little Rock Public Safety Awards will be at 11:30 a.m. March 30 at Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, 2 Riverfront Place.
The event honors outstanding individuals in North Little Rock's police, fire and emergency services departments.
Tickets are $25 each. Tables of 10 are available for sponsorships at $250 each.
Tickets and more information are available by contacting the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce at (501) 372-5959 or by emailing nlrchamber@nlrchamber.org.
Metro on 03/05/2017
*CORRECTION: The North Little Rock City Council voted 5-3 Feb. 27 to approve a $150,000 appropriation to the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub after voting 5-3 to expunge a vote on an amendment that would have reduced the amount. A previous version of this article incorrectly reported the totals of both votes.