Jake Sandlin
Stories by Jake
Emancipation celebrated in LR
posted: 06/17/2013 4:07 a.m. Discuss
A national conference commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation will run Wednesday through Saturday in Little Rock and focus on the efforts of slaves who sought to gain their freedom during the Civil War and Arkansas’ role in their plight.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 06/16/2013 4:01 a.m. Discuss
Community center a place to cool off A heat-relief center will be available during the rest of the summer to offer residents a cool place to escape potentially deadly temperatures, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced.
Adapt or lose out, network chief says
posted: 06/13/2013 5 a.m. Discuss
Cities must be able to adapt or be left behind in this fast-changing world, the head of a national “innovation network” told more than 300 governmental, civic and business leaders Wednesday at the Argenta Downtown Council’s annual luncheon in North Little Rock.
NLR OKs $488,000 pledge
posted: 06/11/2013 3:46 a.m. Discuss
North Little Rock aldermen on Monday affirmed Mayor Joe Smith’s pledge of $488,601 to help Central Arkansas Transit Authority apply for a $10 million federal grant that would let the transit agency convert buses to compressed natural gas.
Maumelle to blaze new trail along boulevard for cyclists’ safety
posted: 06/10/2013 4:28 a.m. Comments 3
Bicyclists who ride in traffic on four-lane, divided Maumelle Boulevard have a name for an almost-blind sloping curve near where Riverland Drive meets the highway, Maumelle Mayor Mike Watson said.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 06/09/2013 3:25 a.m. Discuss
Church to dedicate flagpole to veteran Levy Baptist Church in North Little Rock will dedicate the installation of an 80-foot-high flagpole with a ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday in observance of Flag Day.
Campaign on Park Hill alcohol vote commences
posted: 06/05/2013 2:44 a.m. Comments 3
Terry Hartwick began visiting businesses along North Little Rock’s John F. Kennedy Boulevard on Tuesday, leaving behind petitions for customers to sign to put a liquor-by-the-drink issue on a special-election ballot.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 06/02/2013 3:45 a.m. Discuss
Public library sets 4 author lectures The William F. Laman Library will host a Meet the Author series of lectures in June and July, beginning June 11, the public library system announced.
CATA closes bus-grant gap
posted: 05/31/2013 4:57 a.m. Discuss
Central Arkansas Transit Authority pledged $288,066 from its reserve funds Thursday to meet a local match requirement for a hoped-for $10 million federal grant to help the agency convert buses from diesel to compressed natural gas.
NLR School District, city file to end tax district suit
posted: 05/30/2013 4:47 a.m. Discuss
Attorneys for the North Little Rock School District and the city filed a joint motion Wednesday to officially end a 4-year-old lawsuit between them over a downtown development proposal that never materialized.
Lost Airman’s son marks day new way
posted: 05/27/2013 12:34 a.m. Discuss
Observing Memorial Day while growing up in Harrison, Joe Cowan recalls, meant family time and maybe a typical American cookout.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 05/26/2013 3:50 a.m. Discuss
Ex-officer hired as park ranger in NLR Jason Rhodes, a former North Little Rock police officer, has been hired to fill the city’s vacant park ranger position, city Parks and Recreation Department Director Bob Rhoads said last week.
State historic sites put on endangered list
posted: 05/24/2013 4:42 a.m. Discuss
Stressing the importance of protecting vital pieces of the state’s heritage, the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas on Thursday released its 2013 listing of “most endangered places” that includes structures in five counties.
NLR makes city attorney’s pay the tops
posted: 05/23/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
For essentially juggling three jobs for the past five months, the North Little Rock City Council agreed Tuesday night to make City Attorney Jason Carter the highest-paid city employee, jumping past the mayor.
Riverboat opens for cruises today
posted: 05/23/2013 4:51 a.m. Discuss
In time for this weekend’s Riverfest, the Mark Twain riverboat will officially open for business today for cruises on the Arkansas River out of a city-owned port in North Little Rock.
Harding alumnus next boss of CATA
posted: 05/22/2013 5:24 a.m. Discuss
Jarod Varner will be the next executive director of Central Arkansas Transit Authority, winning over the public agency’s board in an interview that led to a unanimous vote of approval from the directors Tuesday.
NLR to weigh $35,000 raise for city attorney
posted: 05/19/2013 4:33 a.m. Comments 2
North Little Rock aldermen will consider a $35,000 annual raise for City Attorney Jason Carter, who has been juggling three city jobs, when they hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
CATA meeting on hiring top exec now on Tuesday
posted: 05/18/2013 5:11 a.m. Discuss
The Central Arkansas Transit Authority’s board of directors has changed the date of its special meeting to hire an executive director to ensure more members could be present, the public agency announced Friday.
Sherwood vote said to cement NLR link
posted: 05/16/2013 5:03 a.m. Discuss
With a “divisive” special-election campaign behind them, Sherwood and the North Little Rock Electric Department can move forward with their longterm partnership affirmed by Sherwood voters, Mayor Virginia Hillman said Wednesday.
CATA board to hire 1 of 2 Wednesday
posted: 05/16/2013 4:50 a.m. Discuss
Central Arkansas Transit Authority has set a special board of directors meeting for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Arkansas Transit Association, 620 W. Broadway, North Little Rock, to choose between two finalists for the executive director’s position.
Council’s utility call affirmed by voters
posted: 05/15/2013 5:22 a.m. Discuss
Sherwood residents voted to uphold a 20-year franchise agreement with the North Little Rock Electric Department on Tuesday, confirming the Sherwood City Council’s decision from almost six months ago.
CATA committee advances 2 executive director finalists
posted: 05/14/2013 3:52 a.m. Discuss
Two finalists for the executive director’s position at Central Arkansas Transit Authority will be recommended to the agency’s full board of directors after a search committee conducted three candidate interviews Monday.
CATA to hear 3 candidates
posted: 05/13/2013 1:58 a.m. Discuss
A Central Arkansas Transit Authority search committee will interview three candidates for the agency’s executive director position this afternoon in a public meeting at the Arkansas Transit Association, 620 W. Broadway in North Little Rock.
Sherwood to vote on NLR electric deal
posted: 05/12/2013 4:16 a.m. Discuss
Sherwood voters will decide in a special election Tuesday whether they want the City Council to retain a recently extended agreement with neighboring North Little Rock’s Electric Department to provide electricity to a portion of the city.
NLR utility to ask for $600,000 more
posted: 05/09/2013 4:47 a.m. Discuss
North Little Rock’s Electric Department will be asking the City Council on Monday for nearly $600,000 more for two separate projects, though the amounts are covered in a 2012 bond issue, according to filed legislation.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 05/08/2013 4:48 a.m. Discuss
Treats, cards set at visitors center The North Little Rock Visitors Bureau will provide refreshments and thank-you cards to travelers who stop by the Visitors Information Center this week as it recognizes National Travel and Tourism Week, the agency announced.
Sherwood referendum a test of utility decision
posted: 05/05/2013 3:56 a.m. Discuss
Sherwood voters will begin early voting Tuesday for a May 14 special election to see if the City Council will need a do-over for awarding a power-provider contract to North Little Rock Electric.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 04/29/2013 4:07 a.m. Discuss
Sherwood meeting to talk power plan A group that supports Sherwood’s plan to retain the North Little Rock Electric Department as a power provider for part of the city will have a public meeting at 7 p.m. today at Sylvan Hills Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 117 W. Maryland Ave., in Sherwood.
Ballpark payment to NLR dips for ’13
posted: 04/28/2013 4:20 a.m. Discuss
A decrease in the annual rent amount on Dickey-Stephens Park that the Arkansas Travelers paid to North Little Rock this month wasn’t unexpected, Mayor Joe Smith said last week, but he predicted that officials may soon tweak the payment formula to ensure a set amount each year.
With deletion, dropout, finalists for CATA helm at 3
posted: 04/26/2013 4:38 a.m. Discuss
The pool of candidates in Central Arkansas Transit Authority’s search for a new executive director dropped from five to three on Thursday as a search committee objected to a replacement semifinalist announced earlier this week and another applicant withdrew.
Finalist for top job at CATA drops out
posted: 04/24/2013 2:50 a.m. Discuss
A candidate for the executive director’s position at Central Arkansas Transit Authority has dropped out of contention after taking a job elsewhere, one of the search firms recruiting applicants informed the board of directors Tuesday.
Schools’ officers on table
posted: 04/23/2013 3:51 a.m. Comment 1
North Little Rock aldermen agreed Monday night to examine how much the city pays to place resource officers in public schools and to ask the North Little Rock School District if it would share that expense.
Sherwood celebrates heritage, 65th birthday with cake, party
posted: 04/22/2013 3:32 a.m. Discuss
The city of Sherwood is throwing itself a celebration party today and taking advantage of the opportunity to teach residents more about its history as a community.
Conference center shelved at NLR arena
posted: 04/18/2013 4:55 a.m. Discuss
Construction of a $2.2 million conference center at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock has been suspended indefinitely by the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and a $100,000 donation for the project has been returned to the city, Hall of Fame executives said Wednesday.
Put end to police in NLR schools?
posted: 04/17/2013 3:55 a.m. Discuss
At a time when some Arkansas schools are arming staff members for added security, a North Little Rock alderman wants the city to explore stopping the $400,000 it pays to place resource officers in six North Little Rock schools.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 04/17/2013 3:27 a.m. Discuss
Volunteers sought for city cleanup Volunteer teams are being recruited to pick up litter during the annual Great North Little Rock Cleanup scheduled for 8 to 11 a.m. May 18.
Counsel: CATA bonds legal
posted: 04/17/2013 3:23 a.m. Discuss
Central Arkansas Transit Authority has the ability to issue tax-exempt bonds for capital expenditures but doesn’t produce the revenue it would need to back the bonds, board members were told Tuesday.
5 finalists emerge for CATA’s top spot
posted: 04/10/2013 3:51 a.m. Discuss
Five candidates will be interviewed for Central Arkansas Transit Authority’s executive director position, several CATA board members agreed in a search committee meeting Tuesday.
CATA to roll out website for smart phones by May
posted: 04/08/2013 4:23 a.m. Discuss
Little Rock residents and visitors will be able to find Central Arkansas Transit Authority bus schedules, routes and other transit information on the go with their smart phones once a mobile website is available by month’s end, CATA officials said.
Benton finance chief takes NLR post
posted: 04/08/2013 4:22 a.m. Comment 1
Karen Scott, finance director for the city of Benton, will become North Little Rock’s finance director starting May 1, North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith said Friday.
NLR mayor says aide’s pay cut to reflect legislator duties
posted: 04/05/2013 4:16 a.m. Discuss
North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith said Thursday that state Rep. Eddie Armstrong’s salary as the city’s special-projects manager is set at a reduced rate year-round so Armstrong can continue to be paid while serving in the Legislature.
Maumelle looks at having own schools
posted: 04/02/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
A resolution to support Maumelle to look at creating its own school district passed the Maumelle City Council in a unanimous voice vote Monday night and drew applause from about two dozen supporters in the audience.
Bill lets voters decide future of alcohol ban
posted: 04/01/2013 12:23 a.m. Discuss
Having an alcoholic drink while dining out is common in North Little Rock, except along the part of John F. Kennedy Boulevard that passes through the city’s historic Park Hill neighborhood, a “dry” pocket in an otherwise “wet” Pulaski County.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 03/31/2013 3:47 a.m. Discuss
City to host 2013’s preservation forum North Little Rock will serve as the host city May 1-3 for the 2013 Arkansas Historic Preservation Conference, presented by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.
‘Portraits in Gray’ set to open at NLR library
posted: 03/28/2013 3:16 a.m. Discuss
Portraits of Confederate soldiers, many posed with guns or oversized knives, make up an exhibit opening Friday at North Little Rock’s Laman Library in conjunction with the Civil War Sesquicentennial.
10 names offered to lead CATA
posted: 03/27/2013 5:17 a.m. Discuss
Ten applicants will be considered for the executive director’s position at Central Arkansas Transit Authority, according to a list of recommendations given CATA board members Tuesday from consultants hired to recruit for the job.
Poplar Street change earns NLR approval
posted: 03/26/2013 12:56 a.m. Discuss
Hoping for a new residential development in North Little Rock’s downtown core, the city council Monday approved designating Poplar Street as a collector street that would reach from the north end of downtown to the riverfront.
NLR set to rethink Poplar Street
posted: 03/25/2013 4:45 a.m. Discuss
A proposal for North Little Rock’s Poplar Street to be rebuilt so that it goes completely through downtown and links Riverfront Drive to S.A. Jones Drive will help spur more residential projects in the city’s core, developer John Gaudin said.
NLR law would arm chief of staff
posted: 03/21/2013 12:55 a.m. Discuss
Retired police chief Danny Bradley’s new job as North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith’s chief of staff is poised to take on an added responsibility — being City Hall’s serendipitous security guard.
OUR TOWN: North Little Rock notebook
posted: 03/20/2013 4:31 a.m. Discuss
NLR council OKs hillside-cut rules The North Little Rock City Council approved new regulations for developments that would require a major hillside cut.
