Michael Wickline
Stories by Michael
Shoffner let out of jail; filing cites a bribe Saturday
posted: 05/21/2013 12:44 a.m. Comments 8
State Treasurer Martha Ann Shoffner made her first appearance in federal court Monday in Little Rock, two days after an FBI informant secretly recorded her taking $6,000 cash hidden in a pie box in return for the lucrative state business she directed his way, a criminal complaint says.
Beebe says he has no dog in ’14 hunt; aide backs Ross
posted: 05/18/2013 5:24 a.m. Discuss
Gov. Mike Beebe said he’s not taking sides in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, although one of his staff members is working part time as a fundraising consultant for gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross.
Gavel falls on ’13 legislative session
posted: 05/18/2013 5:23 a.m. Comment 1
The Arkansas General Assembly quietly ended its 101-day regular session Friday without attempting to override Gov. Mike Beebe’s vetoes of three election bills sponsored by an outspoken Republican critic of Beebe.
Carter: Ruling out run in 2014
posted: 05/18/2013 5:20 a.m. Discuss
House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, said Friday that he won’t seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2014 and that he’s accepted a job as executive vice president of Home BancShares in Conway.
2 more schools to supplement lottery aid
posted: 05/17/2013 12:09 a.m. Discuss
Two four-year colleges are joining six other schools in providing special onetime scholarships this fall to freshman recipients of the Academic Challenge Scholarship, a few months after the Legislature cut the size of those students’ scholarships from $4,500 to $2,000.
Retiree system has 6.43% quarter
posted: 05/16/2013 5:06 a.m. Discuss
A robust stock market helped boost the value of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System’s investments in the past quarter as they increased by $358 million to $6.652 billion, investment consultants told the system’s trustees Wednesday.
Halter’s promise flagged by ASU
posted: 05/15/2013 12:22 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas State University is warning Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Halter that it owns the trademark to the “Arkansas Promise Scholarship” and is threatening to “take steps to protect the mark” if Halter continues to use the “Arkansas Promise” term.
No override expected on voting-rules vetoes
posted: 05/14/2013 3:56 a.m. Discuss
The leader of the Arkansas Senate said Monday that he doesn’t think the Republican-controlled Legislature will override Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe’s vetoes of three election bills, sponsored by Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, before it adjourns Friday.
Hobbs plans to run for governor
posted: 05/14/2013 3:55 a.m. Discuss
State Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, said Monday that, after much prayer, she has decided to seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2014.
Schools to boost aid to freshmen this fall
posted: 05/13/2013 2:09 a.m. Discuss
This fall, some colleges and universities in the state plan to financially assist incoming freshmen who were to get $4,500 in state lottery-funded Academic Challenge Scholarships. They will instead get $2,000 after the Legislature decided this spring to trim the amount.
Ex-elections official to run for secretary of state to ‘restore good service’
posted: 05/10/2013 5:04 a.m. Discuss
A director of the elections division under former Democratic Secretary of State Sharon Priest wants to oust Republican Mark Martin as secretary of state in 2014.
Lottery panel’s Pickard reappointed
posted: 05/10/2013 4:53 a.m. Discuss
Gov. Mike Beebe has reappointed Arkansas Lottery Commission Chairman Ben Pickard of Searcy, Beebe said Thursday.
Attorney-general hopeful promises to stand up to U.S.
posted: 05/08/2013 12:07 a.m. Discuss
Attorney David Sterling of Little Rock said Tuesday that he wants to protect Arkansans from “an overreaching” federal government as he launched his bid for the Republican nomination for attorney general next year.
State Auditor Daniels not running in ’14
posted: 05/07/2013 12:50 a.m. Comments 3
State Auditor Charlie Daniels won’t seek re-election next year after serving nearly 30 years in three statewide offices, Daniels said Monday.
13 report taking in money in blackout
posted: 05/05/2013 4:21 a.m. Discuss
Thirteen state lawmakers reported taking campaign contributions within 30 days of the Jan. 14 start of this year’s legislative session or while the session was under way, although House and Senate rules bar them from accepting contributions during that time.
Halter hits rivals on private option
posted: 05/04/2013 4:38 a.m. Discuss
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Halter said Friday that the Republican-controlled Legislature wouldn’t have authorized the use of federal Medicaid dollars to purchase private health insurance for 250,000 uninsured Arkansans if the three other gubernatorial candidates had their way.
Hutchinson: Would OK private option
posted: 05/03/2013 4:48 a.m. Discuss
Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that he would have approved legislation authorizing the use federal Medicaid dollars to obtain private health insurance for about 250,000 uninsured Arkansas.
April showers $99.2 million more on state
posted: 05/03/2013 midnight Discuss
State general revenue surged last month, exceeding year-ago collections by $99.2 million and the state’s forecast by $88.1 million in what the state’s chief fiscal officer and others referred to as the “April surprise.”
State sees rosier revenue outlook
posted: 05/02/2013 12:55 a.m. Discuss
Gov. Mike Beebe’s administration increased its general revenue forecast by $34.2 million for the fiscal year ending June 30 and by $11.7 million in the next fiscal year, citing slightly stronger-than-expected economic growth.
Lottery’s haul in March falls from last year
posted: 04/30/2013 12:01 a.m. Comments 2
March’s ticket sales for the Arkansas lottery fell $4.4 million behind sales in March 2012, when ticket sales soared because of a $640 million Mega Millions jackpot, the lottery’s director told the Arkansas Lottery Commission on Monday.
Legislature checks off 3 priority issues
posted: 04/28/2013 4:44 a.m. Discuss
In the longest session in 82 years and the first led by Republicans in more than a century, members of the 89th General Assembly went home last week after passing bills to provide health insurance for more than 250,000 poor Arkansans, cut taxes projected to reduce state general revenue by $235.6 million over the next three fiscal years and allow $125 million in state-backed bonds for a $1.1 billion steel mill.
State legislators pass 61% of bills filed in session
posted: 04/28/2013 4:28 a.m. Discuss
The 89th General Assembly approved 1,520 of the 2,492 bills filed during the 100-day legislative session, or 61 percent.
2 rivals clash on scholarship cost
posted: 04/25/2013 5 a.m. Discuss
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Mike Ross and Bill Halter on Wednesday clashed over Halter’s new Arkansas Promise plan, the state lottery that Halter championed and Ross’ support for anti-abortion legislation in Congress.
Lawmakers wrap up, head home
posted: 04/24/2013 3:39 a.m. Discuss
The Republican-controlled state House and Senate on Tuesday completed action on bills increasing the state general-revenue budget by $197 million in the fiscal year that starts in July and distributing more than $300 million in surplus funds to various programs and projects.
Governor kills senator’s trio of election bills
posted: 04/24/2013 3:03 a.m. Discuss
Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe vetoed three bills Tuesday that state Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, says he sponsored to curb voter fraud.
$197 million state budget rise OK’d
posted: 04/23/2013 4:15 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas House and Senate on Monday handily approved bills that would increase the state budget by $197 million in the fiscal year starting July 1.
$7.5 million of surplus set for new vets home
posted: 04/20/2013 5:05 a.m. Discuss
The state Department of Veterans Affairs would receive $7.5 million in state surplus funds to help build a new veterans home under bills that cleared the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Friday.
Lawmakers send tax cuts to Beebe
posted: 04/20/2013 4:52 a.m. Discuss
With the 2013 Legislative session winding to a close, the Arkansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved and sent to Gov. Mike Beebe more than a dozen tax cuts Friday that will reduce state general revenue by more than $90 million during the next two years.
House falls short on giving judges, prosecutors 2% raises
posted: 04/19/2013 4:51 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas House rejected 2 percent cost-of living raises for judges and prosecutors Thursday, a day after a committee had approved them.
Budget plan antes up for Medicaid, schools
posted: 04/19/2013 12:56 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas’ public schools and health-care programs would get most of the money, while state employees would receive a 2 percent cost-of living increase under the state budget proposal that legislative leaders unveiled Thursday night.
Bills slashing slew of taxes clear Senate
posted: 04/19/2013 12:01 a.m. Discuss
A cornucopia of measures cutting state income taxes, capital-gains taxes and other taxes sailed through the Arkansas Senate and its tax committee Thursday.
Cutoff for Planned Parenthood stalls in House panel
posted: 04/18/2013 5:07 a.m. Discuss
A bill barring state grants to entities that perform abortions or make abortion referrals failed to clear an Arkansas House committee Wednesday.
It’s official: Ross is in governor’s race
posted: 04/18/2013 12:56 a.m. Discuss
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross on Wednesday launched his bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in his hometown, saying he wants to defend women’s rights and build on Gov. Mike Beebe’s advances in education and economic development.
Private-option redo gets key bill to Beebe
posted: 04/18/2013 12:12 a.m. Discuss
The Senate voted 28-7 late Wednesday night to approve using hundreds of millions of federal dollars to purchase private health insurance for 250,000 low-income Arkansans, after a day of waiting and amendments.
Tax-cut bills quickly clear House votes
posted: 04/17/2013 12:56 a.m. Discuss
The state House of Representatives on Tuesday handily approved bills cutting the state’s top income-tax rate, taxes on capital gains and the sales tax charged on energy used by manufacturers, after an appropriation measure to allow the use of federal dollars to purchase health insurance for 250,000 low-income Arkansans cleared the chamber.
2 in run for governor report funds
posted: 04/16/2013 12:57 a.m. Discuss
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Halter and Republican hopeful Asa Hutchinson are neck-and-neck when it comes to collecting campaign contributions.
Senate balks at ballot measure
posted: 04/13/2013 5:17 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Senate balked Friday at referring to voters a proposed constitutional amendment to make it harder for citizens to place measures on Arkansas ballots but supported placing on the 2014 ballot an amendment to require legislative approval of state-agency rules and regulations.
Panel endorses red-light cameras
posted: 04/13/2013 5:03 a.m. Comment 1
A bill allowing the state’s largest cities to use cameras to catch motorists running red lights cleared an Arkansas House committee Friday.
Bill setting lottery’s net at 25% stalls
posted: 04/13/2013 5:02 a.m. Discuss
A bill requiring that at least 25 percent of the Arkansas lottery’s proceeds go to college scholarships failed to clear the Arkansas House Rules Committee late Friday.
School-choice bill sent to governor
posted: 04/12/2013 5:07 a.m. Comment 1
The Arkansas Senate Thursday sent a bill to rewrite the state’s schoolchoice law to Gov. Mike Beebe.
State projecting $5 million slash in scholarships, aid
posted: 04/12/2013 12:10 a.m. Discuss
The state Department of Higher Education projects it will have nearly $5 million less to spend on scholarships and financial aid in fiscal 2014 than it spent in fiscal 2013, the department’s interim director told lawmakers on Thursday.
Bill to pare retiree system’s shortfalls advances
posted: 04/11/2013 5:09 a.m. Discuss
A bill allowing the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System’s board of trustees to increase the amount it charges school districts and other system employers cleared a legislative committee late Wednesday.
Beebe to sign raw-milk sales bill
posted: 04/11/2013 12:16 a.m. Comment 1
A bill to allow farmers to sell unpasteurized whole milk narrowly cleared the state Senate on Wednesday, and a spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe said Beebe intends to sign the bill into law.
Hutchinson raises $350,000 in period
posted: 04/11/2013 12:02 a.m. Discuss
Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson raised more than $350,000 in campaign contributions last quarter, he announced Wednesday.
Senate: Cut off Planned Parenthood
posted: 04/10/2013 12:04 a.m. Comments 10
The state Senate on Tuesday narrowly approved a bill aimed at barring state agencies from providing grants to Planned Parenthood, and another measure creating nonpartisan elections for prosecuting attorneys.
Senator’s campaign itemizing reviewed
posted: 04/09/2013 12:37 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Ethics Commission is investigating a Jonesboro man’s complaint against state Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, which alleges that he violated state law by failing to itemize expenditures of more than $100 on his campaign finance reports.
Senate backs slash to jobless benefits
posted: 04/09/2013 12:06 a.m. Comments 22
A bill that sharply reduces unemployment benefits narrowly cleared the Arkansas Senate on Monday after a measure requiring applicants for and recipients of unemployment benefits to consent to random drug tests sailed through the chamber.
Milk bill on list legislators OK
posted: 04/07/2013 3:59 a.m. Comments 2
The sale of unpasteurized whole milk would become legal in Arkansas under legislation that cleared the state House of Representatives in a rare Saturday session.
Panels OK bills on tax cut, milk
posted: 04/06/2013 5:05 a.m. Discuss
A bill linking a cut in the state’s sales tax on groceries to a reduction in the state’s bond obligations or desegregation payments passed one House committee Friday, and another bill allowing sales of locally produced unpasteurized whole milk advanced in another.
Republicans plan voter-ID drive
posted: 04/05/2013 4:23 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Republican Party plans to educate voters about a new law requiring people to provide photo identification to vote, and will help eligible voters obtain their photo identification regardless of political party, party Chairman Doyle Webb said Wednesday.
