Michael Wickline

Even-year session creates odd pickle

Lawmakers not sure what to take up

With the state’s first “fiscal” legislative session less than three months away, lawmakers are divided on whether to expand its scope beyond budget items.
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Senator: Cuts leave schools holding tab for heart devices

The legislator who sponsored a law calling for schools to have defibrillators said Friday that he worries that state budget cuts last month may force school districts to buy them instead.
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Pension system’s returns at 12.3%

The Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System reaped the benefits of resurgent stock markets in the past quarter, system trustees learned Wednesday.
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Speaker Wills acting governor for 1st time

House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, is acting governor for the first time, a spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday.
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State lottery to offer Mega Millions shot

2nd multistate game set for January

The Arkansas Lottery Commission on Tuesday authorized the lottery to begin selling tickets to a second multistate jackpot game.
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Panel denies damages to firms in street-closure case

A legislative panel on Monday narrowly upheld the Arkansas Claims Commission’s decision to deny $270,000 in damages from the state to two Little Rock firms that contend the value of their properties fell after the state closed a street access to a highway.
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Teacher system director praised

He’s cleaning up mess, panel told

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System’s executive director is “cleaning up” problems exposed in a recent audit, the chairman of the system’s board of trustees told lawmakers Friday.
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Mishandled funds focus of inquiry, auditor says

The Arkansas State Police is investigating unauthorized and undocumented disbursements of more than $45,000 from the Arkansas Dance Team Association and the misappropriation of more than $14,000 in Paris School District activity funds, a state auditor told lawmakers Friday.
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Athletic outlays up $4.4 million at universities

Schools’ total about $105 million

Athletic expenses at the state’s colleges and universities increased about $4.4 million last fiscal year to $105 million, a deputy director of the state Department of Higher Education said Friday.
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Audit: Standardize tobacco fund tracking

The recipients of tobacco settlement proceeds have varied accounting systems and formats for providing information, and that’s inhibiting the ability of lawmakers to oversee the money, a state auditor told lawmakers Friday.
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