Chelsea Boozer
Stories by Chelsea
Alexander absences leave posts unfilled
posted: 05/22/2013 5:19 a.m. Comment 1
For the third time this year the Alexander City Council failed to gather a quorum and appoint an eighth alderman or a city recorder — positions that have been vacant for five months.
JPs approve health-care copay at jail in Benton
posted: 05/22/2013 5:17 a.m. Discuss
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Inmates at the Saline County jail will be charged copays on medical services they request and any prescription medicine not covered by their insurance under an ordinance approved Tuesday by the county Quorum Court.
Ling urges LR grads to be hopeful, kind
posted: 05/19/2013 4:32 a.m. Comment 1
Award-winning journalist Laura Ling, who spent five months held captive in North Korea in 2009, used that experience as she urged the 10th graduating class of Little Rock’s Episcopal Collegiate School to never give up hope or stop showing kindness.
‘Opah!’ Fresh gyros at Greek fete
posted: 05/19/2013 4:31 a.m. Discuss
Whether stationed behind the scenes at the performance stage, in front of the grill at the gyro tent or next to the pastry booth in the world market, volunteers at the International Greek Food Festival said the event is truly “a family affair.”
Democrat-Gazette wins regional praise
posted: 05/19/2013 4:29 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s online staff won a top regional journalism honor Friday when arkansasonline.com was named Website of the Year at the 2013 Great Plains Journalism Awards ceremony in Tulsa.
Line flushings to discolor tap water
posted: 05/19/2013 4:27 a.m. Discuss
Work on water mains Monday and Tuesday may cause some discoloration of Central Arkansas Water customers’ tap water in the North Rodney Parham Road area of Little Rock, the utility’s spokesman said.
2 services held in LR for fallen officers
posted: 05/18/2013 5:05 a.m. Discuss
Law enforcement officers from Little Rock and across Arkansas gathered at two separate ceremonies in the capital city Friday to remember colleagues who either died or were killed while on duty.
Benton to seek alcohol permit
posted: 05/17/2013 4:54 a.m. Discuss
The event center scheduled to be completed by October here will apply for a permit to sell alcohol, the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission decided Thursday after its members weighed their beliefs against economic impact.
Haskell mayor to run for county judge
posted: 05/17/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
Haskell Mayor Jeff Arey will seek the Republican nomination for Saline County judge next year, he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Tuesday.
Bryant officers draw complaint over 2012 arrest
posted: 05/16/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
A mentally ill Little Rock man’s arrest and treatment by Bryant police officers paired with the city’s lack of a policy dealing with encounters of people with a mental illness is a problem, the man’s attorney said in a complaint filed in federal court.
Bryant stays undecided over technology adviser
posted: 05/15/2013 5:15 a.m. Discuss
BRYANT — A nearly two-hour meeting with city officials about a proposed contract with the city’s information-technology consultant ended without a clear decision Tuesday.
Writer of Civil War Arkansas 1863 wins literary award
posted: 05/12/2013 4:13 a.m. Discuss
The author of a book about the Civil War in Arkansas is this year’s winner of the Central Arkansas Library System’s literary award.
Fayetteville man, 18, abducted, slain in LR
posted: 05/11/2013 4:59 a.m. Discuss
A Fayetteville man became Little Rock’s fourth homicide victim this week after he and an acquaintance were abducted from a gas station at gunpoint early Friday, the acquaintance told police.
Advisory-board diversity better since ’09 LR step
posted: 05/10/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
Little Rock has progressed since officials vowed four years ago to focus attention on recruitment of members of minority groups to city advisory boards, but there is still improvement to be made, city officials said Thursday.
$25 buys 1 of 50 garden plots in Bryant park for 2 seasons
posted: 05/10/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
Bryant residents can now buy a spot in the first city owned community garden at Bishop Park for $25.
Saline County judge to seek seat in House
posted: 05/10/2013 4:49 a.m. Discuss
Saline County Judge Lanny Fite, a Republican, will end his 16-year career as county judge and run for state representative next year, he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday.
Gripes, praise at oil-spill meeting
posted: 05/10/2013 12:14 a.m. Comment 1
After a meeting Thursday, between Exxon Mobil officials and residents of the Mayflower subdivision that was most affected by a March 29 oil spill, some residents said their neighbors’ demands were getting out of hand and others said it is Exxon Mobil that isn’t being fair.
Alexander teen makes finals of Doodle 4 Google contest
posted: 05/08/2013 5:01 a.m. Discuss
A mermaid-themed reimagining of Google’s home page scored an Alexander teenager a finalist position in the national Doodle 4 Google contest and an all-expenses-paid trip to see her artwork showcased in a New York City museum.
Festival features fun, information
posted: 05/05/2013 4:01 a.m. Discuss
More than a dozen businesses, colleges and groups used Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo festival in downtown Little Rock as a chance to share information with the growing Hispanic community.
Forge ahead, give back, 127 urged
posted: 05/05/2013 3:59 a.m. Discuss
Like the historically black college’s motto, “Think Justice,” tales of prevailing justice and motivation weren’t hard to come by Saturday at Philander Smith College’s graduation ceremony, where one of the Little Rock Nine gave the commencement address.
Police beat
posted: 05/05/2013 3:53 a.m. Discuss
Wallet with $2,500 stolen at gunpoint Two men took nearly $2,500 at gunpoint from a man who was kicked out of Khalil’s Pub & Grill on Thursday night, police said.
Police beat
posted: 05/04/2013 4:30 a.m. Discuss
Bandits hit Big Red early in morning Police are searching for two men who robbed a Little Rock gas station early Friday.
State jumps 13 spots in bicycle-friendly rankings though little changed
posted: 05/03/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas moved up 13 spots on this year’s ranking of bicycle-friendly states, but the improvement is mostly being attributed to better communication of the programs and policies the state already had in place rather than development of such measures.
Offer of home for new shelter pulled in Benton
posted: 05/03/2013 4:45 a.m. Discuss
A Benton businessman has withdrawn his offer to lease his spare home to a nonprofit for use as a homeless shelter despite having signed a 10-year contract.
6-week water bills jar some
posted: 05/02/2013 4:43 a.m. Discuss
Up to 1,000 Bryant water bills were higher than usual in April because they were billed for six weeks rather than the usual four, prompting some residents to complain to the water department.
Bryant street panel identifies priorities, sends list to council
posted: 05/02/2013 4:42 a.m. Discuss
Four streets head a list of street overlay projects recommended for completion this year by a city street committee Wednesday and sent to the City Council for approval.
Benton panel backs police officer’s firing
posted: 05/01/2013 4:27 a.m. Discuss
BENTON — After a five hour hearing and 15 minutes of deliberation Tuesday, the Benton Civil Service Commission upheld the police chief’s decision to fire officer Christopher Goss.
Take-back day garners prescription drugs
posted: 04/28/2013 4:20 a.m. Discuss
Law enforcement agencies across the state worked Saturday to collect prescription drugs in a national effort to deter drug abuse and misuse, as well as educate Arkansans on the proper way to dispose of medicine.
LR teacher linked to shooting
posted: 04/28/2013 4:04 a.m. Discuss
A teacher with the Little Rock School District who Benton police say has been operating a marijuana growing operation from his home was arrested Friday in connection with an early-morning shooting that left another man critically injured.
Clinton daughter fires up students
posted: 04/27/2013 4:55 a.m.
Discuss
In many ways, especially regarding technology, today’s young people should lead their parents and grandparents, Chelsea Clinton told a group of 11th- and 12th-graders gathered Friday for Global Youth Service Day.
Deputy focus of probe in Saline County quits
posted: 04/27/2013 4:50 a.m. Discuss
Saline County Deputy David Blevins has resigned after an internal investigation into whether he assaulted a Benton resident last week, a sheriff’s office spokesman said Friday.
Bryant aldermen’s delay on IT contract gets testy
posted: 04/26/2013 4:34 a.m. Discuss
Aldermen here postponed a year-long contract for the city’s information technology consultant for the sixth time Thursday, prompting the contractor to threaten to double his hourly rate and cease to offer the discounted and sometimes free services he has been providing since 2011.
Panelists in Benton backing ex-Texan
posted: 04/25/2013 4:57 a.m. Discuss
A former Texas businessman has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Benton Civil Service Commission per recommendation from the city’s Personnel Committee.
Oil-spill cleanup changes to repair
posted: 04/24/2013 3:04 a.m. Discuss
Cleanup of the oil spill in Mayflower is transitioning from emergency response to long-term remediation and restoration, Mayflower Unified Incident Command Center officials said in a joint news release Tuesday.
Festival pops favorite tales out of binding
posted: 04/21/2013 4:08 a.m. Discuss
Storm troopers marched by a reading area as Jedi in training learned how to use light sabers. Iron Man sat behind a shelf of books with other superheroes making capes.
Pieces of overpass fall onto I-30 in LR
posted: 04/20/2013 4:45 a.m. Discuss
Concrete debris from a hole in the Scott Hamilton Road overpass fell onto eastbound lanes of Interstate 30, causing lane closures for several hours Friday.
Police beat
posted: 04/20/2013 4:31 a.m. Discuss
LR cell-phone store robbed; 2 disrobed Police are searching for a man they said robbed a phone store Friday and made the employees take off their pants as he fled.
Bryant can’t enforce building-permit ban
posted: 04/19/2013 4:23 a.m. Discuss
Bryant can’t enforce a temporary ban on issuing apartment permits as it relates to the city’s Midtown development, a judge ruled Thursday.
Alexander aldermen: Board ‘deadlocked’
posted: 04/18/2013 4:50 a.m. Discuss
Several Alexander aldermen described city government Wednesday as “deadlocked” while the Little Rock suburb remains without a treasurer, recorder and an eighth City Council member, and another alderman said he will no longer attend meetings because of the “controversy.”
Pay scale a ‘retention tool,’ Bryant fire chief says
posted: 04/17/2013 3:23 a.m. Discuss
A new step-and-grade pay scale for Bryant’s police officers and firefighters has been recommended by the Finance and Personnel Committee for the City Council’s approval next week.
Plan set, date remains to remove faulty pipeline
posted: 04/14/2013 4:12 a.m.
Comment 1
Crews are continuing cleanup efforts after an Exxon Mobil pipeline spilled about 210,000 gallons of oil in the city more than two weeks ago, and though a plan to remove the faulty portion of the pipe has been approved, there has not been a date set to do so, a spokesman said Saturday.
Police beat
posted: 04/14/2013 3:57 a.m. Discuss
Apologetic call leads to suspect The wife of a Jacksonville robbery suspect unknowingly helped North Little Rock police find the man after she called to apologize to the store manager her husband is accused of robbing, police said.
In LR, McCain speaks on U.S. in Syria, Medicare future
posted: 04/13/2013 4:58 a.m. Discuss
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., spoke about public service in Little Rock to a crowd of more than 600 people Friday afternoon, but the question-and-answer session that followed focused on the U.S. involvement in the Syrian civil war and the future of Medicare.
City’s lawyer responds to suit
posted: 04/13/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
An attorney representing the city of Bauxite, the mayor, former police chiefs and a former police officer filed a response Friday to a federal lawsuit filed by a former Bauxite alderman, denying allegations that the defendants oppressed, retaliated against and slandered the alderman.
Police beat
posted: 04/13/2013 4:45 a.m. Discuss
Man charged after car owner dragged A North Little Rock man is accused of stealing a vehicle and dragging its owner down Interstate 30, police said.
Victims recall twister’s terror
posted: 04/12/2013 12:01 a.m.
Discuss
As she lay in a hospital bed Thursday with a fractured rib and three fractured vertebrae, Carolyn Cloud told of the “scariest thing that has ever happened” to her — surviving the twister that ripped apart her home in the nearby Botkinburg area and threw her into the yard the night before.
Two sentenced in kidnapping case
posted: 04/10/2013 3:47 a.m. Discuss
Two Saline County men accused of rape and kidnapping have been sentenced to prison on separate charges.
Reject Risperdal penalty, state chamber, national groups urge
posted: 04/10/2013 12:25 a.m. Discuss
Three national groups and the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce have joined a drug manufacturer in asking the state Supreme Court to overturn a $1.2 billion civil penalty imposed after a Pulaski County jury found that the manufacturer committed Medicaid fraud and engaged in deceptive trade practices.
Tickets big boon in Parkin
posted: 04/08/2013 12:54 a.m. Comments 8
Violations of a single city traffic ordinance account for nearly 70 percent of this Cross County town’s court revenue, which in turn made up almost a third of the city’s general fund income last year.
Oil spill seen as ‘blessing’ for some
posted: 04/07/2013 3:24 a.m.
Comments 25
MAYFLOWER — Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. has already spent millions of dollars on supplies and services from local businesses and contractors after a major oil spill more than a week ago in this town 10 miles south of Conway, a spokesman said Saturday.
