AmyJo Brown
Stories by AmyJo
Bricks or mortar?
posted: 08/22/2009 4:15 a.m. Discuss
Concrete walkways, patios and driveways can be beautiful and inexpensive - but for those worried about the environmental impact of their hard-scaping, there are paver options that retain much of the utility and beauty of traditional poured concrete.
Pervious paving sticky to use, but rain soaks in
posted: 08/22/2009 2:39 a.m. Discuss
For large projects - long driveways or parking areas, for instance - another environment-friendly alternative to traditional concrete slabs is permeable pavement. Unlike pavers, permeable pavement is mixed and poured much like typical concrete but is far more difficult to install and requires professional expertise, the experts said.
City will dip into reserves
posted: 05/01/2009 4:04 a.m.
The Sherwood City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to appropriate $350,000 from its reserve fund to pay a settlement with its former ambulance provider, Arkansas Emergency Transport LLC.
Mayor of Wrightsville repaying diverted funds
posted: 04/30/2009 3:02 a.m.
Wrightsville Mayor Lorraine Smith illegally diverted $4,619.81 of city money into a personal account over four years - a discovery made during the course of a larger ongoing investigation, federal prosecutors said this week.
5-acre lot-size cap for watershed fails
posted: 04/29/2009 2:15 a.m.
A proposal to limit lot sizes to a minimum of 5 acres within the Lake Maumelle watershed was defeated by the 15-member Pulaski County Quorum Court on Tuesday despite a packed room of supporters for the idea.
Quorum Court votes to spend $220,000 for county morgue
posted: 04/29/2009 2:01 a.m.
The Pulaski County Quorum Court voted 14-0 Tuesday night to spend $220,000 to establish the county's first-ever morgue.
Fee raise sought in bid for county jail funds
posted: 04/28/2009 5:16 a.m.
The Pulaski County Quorum Court is being asked to raise the cost of being cited for a misdemeanor or traffic violation to help raise additional money for the county jail.
LR housing board OKs settlement
posted: 04/24/2009 2:51 a.m.
Little Rock's Housing Authority will soon take control of assets worth millions of dollars from the nonprofit Neighborhood Builders Inc., according to a settlement agreement the Housing Authority's board of commissioners unanimously approved Thursday.
Restitution from mayor a mystery in Wrightsville
posted: 04/24/2009 2:50 a.m.
Wrightsville Mayor Lorraine Smith has repaid the city $2,619.81 - but elected officials in the small rural community in southwest Pulaski County say they have no idea why they received the check.
Car goes into lake; 3 kids die
posted: 04/20/2009 4:59 a.m.
A 26-year-old mother tried but failed to rescue her three young boys after she drove a vehicle into Brewer Lake in rural Conway County early Sunday morning, according to the Conway County sheriff's office.
Panels endorse plan to shield watershed
posted: 04/15/2009 5:58 a.m.
Thirteen of the 15 members of the Pulaski County Quorum Court agreed Tuesday to greater environmental protections for land within the Lake Maumelle watershed in northwestern Pulaski County - but not to a proposal to limit the size of new lots in the area to a minimum of five acres.
JPs set to take up limits to growth in watershed
posted: 04/14/2009 5:37 a.m.
Pulaski County Quorum Court members will review today a proposed agreement with Central Arkansas Water that would put greater restrictions on development within the Lake Maumelle watershed in northwestern Pulaski County.
Bar has Easter worship on tap
posted: 04/13/2009 5:34 a.m.
Shane Montgomery, lead pastor of a new church that offered an unusual Easter church service Sunday at the Revolution Music Room in Little Rock's River Market, started things off by acknowledging the novelty of the event.
Sherwood to settle suit on ambulance contract
posted: 04/09/2009 4:21 a.m.
The Sherwood City Council voted 5-1 Wednesday to pay its former ambulance provider, Arkansas Emergency Transport LLC, $350,000 to settle a lawsuit being tried this week in federal court in Little Rock.
Sherwood sued over planned freeway site
posted: 04/01/2009 2:07 a.m.
A developer who owns about 600 acres in the path of the proposed North Belt Freeway in northern Pulaski County is suing the city of Sherwood, alleging an illegal taking of land.
LR better off than most, mayor says
posted: 03/31/2009 5:26 a.m.
The city of Little Rock navigated a troubled national economy better than most cities last year and is continuing on that path, Mayor Mark Stodola said Monday in his annual State of the City address.
Alltel Arena logged losses in 2007-08; officials not worried
posted: 03/25/2009 1:46 a.m.
Pulaski County's Alltel Arena operated at a loss in both 2007 and 2008, according to a two-year audit completed by an independent firm and presented this week to the arena's governing bodies.
LR Eastside Lofts risking foreclosure
posted: 03/19/2009 3:01 a.m.
A second historic Little Rock apartment building that the state helped finance in order to preserve low-income housing downtown has defaulted on its debt and is in danger of being foreclosed on.
Pedestrian bridge on track for 2010
posted: 03/18/2009 2:15 a.m.
Construction of a $5 million pedestrian and bicyclist bridge over the Little Maumelle River in west Little Rock is planned to begin as early as late summer and be completed by the end of 2010, Pulaski County officials recently announced.
Thousands in LR embrace the race
posted: 03/16/2009 4:10 a.m.
Gripping cups of coffee and signs that shouted encouragement - including at least one "Run, Forrest, Run," reference - family and friends of the more than 6,000 runners who participated in the seventh annual Little Rock Marathon flanked the course Sunday.
Pair of aldermen among 6 in Jacksonville mayor race
posted: 03/16/2009 4:09 a.m.
Six Jacksonville residents are campaigning to become the city's next mayor in a special election set for May 12.
O'Brien says records edited, on Web again
posted: 03/12/2009 2:34 a.m.
Pulaski County real estate records pulled off a county Web site last year over privacy concerns are back online with information such as Social Security numbers and tax identification numbers redacted, Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Pat O'Brien said Wednesday.
Sales begin for King license-plate decals
posted: 03/12/2009 2:14 a.m.
A special license-plate decal meant to raise money for the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission went on sale Wednesday at the state's Office of Motor Vehicle.
Sheriff gives JPs tour of old jail
posted: 03/11/2009 2:23 a.m.
Repairs being made to the old Pulaski County jail are nearly complete, and the jail is on schedule to house 160 inmates from the county's Work Release Center in June, Sheriff Charles "Doc" Holladay told county Quorum Court members Tuesday during a tour of the building.
Block 2 Lofts in LR for sale, owners confirm
posted: 03/10/2009 4:47 a.m.
The Block 2 Lofts, a collection of three historic buildings containing 145 apartments and nine commercial spaces in downtown Little Rock that the state helped finance nine years ago, is for sale, a spokesman for the property's owner has confirmed. The move follows the state's early release of land-use restrictions that reserved more than half of the $21 million development's apartments for low-income tenants.
Improve logs on finances, county urged
posted: 03/04/2009 4:13 a.m.
Pulaski County needs to better maintain its financial records and improve its software infrastructure, according to a 2007 independent audit of the county's finances released last week.
LR, NLR balk at funding bid to open more jail beds
posted: 03/03/2009 5:14 a.m.
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays said they aren't yet willing to commit to helping fund the county's plan to open more jail beds.
MLK commission calls off fundraiser
posted: 02/20/2009 3:04 a.m.
The Salute to Greatness Gala, an annual fundraiser for the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission originally scheduled for tonight, has been postponed indefinitely, according to a written statement released Thursday by the organization.
'Make the most' of stimulus, Clinton tells NLR crowd
posted: 02/18/2009 2:28 a.m.
In a speech Tuesday night before 1,200 people at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, former President Bill Clinton reiterated the theme of speeches he has given over the past few days, praising President Barack Obama's actions in dealing with the nation's financial crisis and encouraging local leaders to wisely spend the money they receive from the recently passed economic stimulus bill.
County urged again to hand out 3% bonus
posted: 02/13/2009 3:32 a.m.
A proposal to provide Pulaski County employees and elected officials another 3 percent bonus will be back on the table soon, Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Wilandra Dean said.
JP panel agrees to $1.35 million for jail beds
posted: 02/11/2009 2:35 a.m.
A proposal by Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines to open 160 beds at the Pulaski County jail received support - and the promise of $1.35 million - on Tuesday from the Quorum Court's ways and means committee.
2 LR stations going ahead with Feb. 17 digital switch
posted: 02/10/2009 5:03 a.m.
Joining KLRT-TV, Channel 16, Little Rock television station KARK-TV, Channel 4, will stick with the original Feb. 17 deadline mandated by the federal government for switching off its analog over-the-air broadcast signal.
Now, even tax Collectors are singing the blues
posted: 02/09/2009 5:26 a.m.
As Arkansas' county tax collectors prepare to open their books March 1, some fear that the tumbling economy may affect their ability to collect all the tax money they are responsible for collecting - and are warning local elected officials that they may fall short of expectations.
Sherwood pays $15,500 to state over sewage spill
posted: 02/06/2009 5:14 a.m.
Sherwood paid a $15,500 fine to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality on Thursday for violating federal and state water and air pollution laws in the management of its public sewer system, a city engineer said.
Jacksonville mayoral vote set for May 12
posted: 02/06/2009 5:03 a.m.
The Jacksonville City Council voted 10-0 Thursday to set May 12 as the date for voters to choose the city's next mayor.
Mayor says time's right for his exit
posted: 02/05/2009 5:16 a.m.
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim is retiring July 1 with one year left on his four-year term.
Inman leaving job of election director
posted: 02/05/2009 5 a.m.
Susan Inman, director of elections for Pulaski County, will retire from her position Feb. 27. Her resignation was accepted Tuesday by the Pulaski County Election Commission.
Sherwood signs pact for county fire district
posted: 01/28/2009 1:48 a.m.
The mayor of Sherwood signed a contract Tuesday providing $798,376.67 to Pulaski County Fire District 5 for 2009, ending a delay that was meant to influence the district's decision to hire a full-time fire chief to replace the current part-time chief.
Democrat-Gazette names Web-content chief
posted: 01/25/2009 2:41 a.m.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has hired award-winning new-media innovator Conan Gallaty to oversee its online operations.
LR land agency nails down acquisition policies
posted: 01/22/2009 4:35 a.m.
A year after its creation, the Little Rock Land Bank Commission finalized its guiding policies and procedures Wednesday, clearing the way for development work.
Fire district's board agrees to new chief
posted: 01/21/2009 2:23 a.m.
Over the objections of the mayor of Sherwood and the majority of the firefighters it employs, the Pulaski County Fire District 5 Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 on Tuesday to offer a Memphis Fire Department employee a full-time position as the district's fire chief.
Arkansans heed Obama's call for volunteers
posted: 01/20/2009 3:47 a.m.
Arkansans on Monday took up President-elect Barack Obama's call for service, adding their share of volunteer sweat and effort to the national observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Abortion foes make annual Capitol march
posted: 01/19/2009 4:54 a.m.
A packed group of people more than a dozen wide and stretching at least six blocks marched along Capitol Avenue on Sunday afternoon and converged at the Capitol rotunda in opposition to laws that allow abortion.
No county fire chief decision yet
posted: 01/16/2009 5:02 a.m.
The Board of Commissioners for Pulaski County Fire District 5 adjourned a special meeting Thursday night without making any decision after interviewing four candidates for a full-time position as the district's new fire chief.
Sherwood fire agency in turmoil over full-time chief
posted: 01/14/2009 4:51 a.m.
A decision by the majority of a five-member commission governing Pulaski County Fire District 5 - also known as the Sherwood Fire Department - to search for a full-time fire chief has divided the department internally and caused the mayor of Sherwood to withhold nearly $800,000 in subsidies.
County seeks end to lawsuit over vote
posted: 01/08/2009 5:18 a.m.
Pulaski County officials filed a motion Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the county in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Justice over the county's management of its elections.
Projects set to go if cash arrives, 6 state cities say
posted: 01/07/2009 2:23 a.m.
Mayors of six Arkansas cities have joined other cities across the nation in lobbying for a piece of the U.S. economic stimulus plan being crafted by lawmakers in Washington, D.C., saying they have at least $500 million worth of public-works projects that can be started this year if they receive the funding.
Squirrel leaves 200 businesses in the dark
posted: 01/05/2009 5:20 a.m.
About 200 downtown businesses lost power for three hours Sunday after a squirrel sparked a small fire at the Garland Avenue Substation behind the Little Rock Municipal Court and near the intersection of Garland and North Arch Street.
Panel sets hopes on inaugural festivities
posted: 01/03/2009 2:05 a.m.
The state's Martin Luther King Jr. Commission is turning to fundraising to pay for a series of events and programs its leaders say are needed to repair the commission's reputation.
Longtime Pulaski County JP looks back at term
posted: 01/01/2009 2:18 a.m.
In 1988, when Ann McCaleb first ran for the District 8 seat on the Pulaski County Quorum Court, she rigged the race as much in her favor as she legally could.
