Michael Wickline
Stories by Michael
Judge in lottery win fight recuses
posted: 05/26/2012 3:25 a.m. Comments 2
A judge who on Thursday ordered a new trial over who should get a $1 million lottery prize that he had awarded May 1 recused himself Friday from presiding over the new trial, blaming lawyers.
Judge restarts lottery ruckus
posted: 05/25/2012 5:42 a.m. Comments 5
A White County circuit judge on Thursday threw out his May 1 ruling awarding a $1 million lottery ticket prize to a woman who said she bought the ticket and wouldn’t have thrown it away had she known it was a winner.
Elliott bests primary rival in District 31
posted: 05/23/2012 4:49 a.m.
Discuss
State Sen. Joyce Elliott on Tuesday handily turned back a challenge from state Rep. Fred Allen in the Democratic primary in Senate District 31.
State lottery scholarship projection up
posted: 05/22/2012 2:29 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Lottery Commission on Monday approved a budget projecting the lottery will raise $98 million for college scholarships next fiscal year, starting July 1, after the lottery’s director said the lottery probably will raise more than $96 million for scholarships in the current year, which will end June 30.
Election Tuesday has few big draws
posted: 05/20/2012 5:26 a.m. Discuss
In what’s generally been a lackluster campaign, Arkansans choose Tuesday from among three candidates for the Democratic nomination in eastern Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District and the Democratic and Republican nominations in south Arkansas’ 4th Congressional District.
Legislator’s spouse fired from UAMS
posted: 05/19/2012 5:18 a.m. Comment 1
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences terminated the employment of the wife of state Rep. Hank Wilkins from her $60,199-a year job as a mental-health professional at the school because her employment violated state law, a UAMS spokesman said Friday.
Panel votes to keep paying legislators 51 cents per mile
posted: 05/19/2012 5:14 a.m. Discuss
The Legislative Council decided Friday that the Bureau of Legislative Research will keep paying lawmakers 51 cents per mile for their mileage expenses, though a Senate committee voted earlier this month to increase the rate the Senate pays to senators from 51 cents to 55.5 cents per mile.
System’s returns at 8.9%
posted: 05/17/2012 5:02 a.m. Comment 1
The investments for the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System increased in value by $468 million to $6.11 billion during the past quarter as they reaped gains in domestic and international stock markets, the system’s trustees learned Wednesday.
2 Democrats hope differences shine
posted: 05/17/2012 4:52 a.m. Comments 2
State Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock is accusing her Democratic rival of choosing not to “stand with” President Barack Obama in the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the constitutionality of the federal health-care overhaul and not fighting “the takeover of public education by big business.” Her opponent, state Rep. Fred Allen of Little Rock, contends the accusations are unfounded.
Politics no fun anymore, Ross says of departure
posted: 05/16/2012 5:10 a.m. Comment 1
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross is bowing out of politics because “it wasn’t any fun anymore,” he said Tuesday.
Ross: No race for governor for him
posted: 05/15/2012 4:30 a.m. Comments 2
Departing U.S. Rep. Mike Ross on Monday ruled out running for governor in 2014, nearly 10 months after he announced that he wouldn’t seek a seventh term in the House this year because he was considering a governor’s office bid.
Ex-inmate settles prison-injury suit
posted: 05/12/2012 4:54 a.m. Discuss
A Little Rock man — whose lawsuit accuses the Arkansas lottery of allowing the sale of rigged tickets — settled his $75,000 claim against the state Department of Correction this week for $2,500 for injuries he suffered as an inmate in 2009.
Audit details nonprofit’s fiscal woes
posted: 05/12/2012 4:52 a.m. Discuss
The end of federal stimulus funds for a Russellville based preschool provider in September 2011 contributed significantly to its inability to continue operations earlier this year, a state auditor told lawmakers Friday.
State approves merit bonuses
posted: 05/12/2012 4:47 a.m. Discuss
State employees are eligible for one-time merit bonuses of up to 3 percent this fiscal year, state officials said Friday.
Auditor: No car, no dog, and mayor upset
posted: 05/11/2012 2:32 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas State Police is investigating a Poinsett County mayor’s contention that his signature was forged on loan documents after the police chief purchased a police car and drug dog for $12,040 using lease-purchase agreements in September of 2010, a state auditor told lawmakers Thursday. Although the loan documents bear Fisher Mayor Homer Anschultz’s signature, he maintains that the signatures were forged, said Deputy Legislative Auditor June Barron.
Damages upheld 7-0 in shooting cited in suit
posted: 05/11/2012 2:29 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed a Mississippi County circuit judge’s order awarding $1.56 million in punitive damages and $520,000 in compensatory damages to a man who filed a complaint against a corporation and its alcohol permit holder after he was allegedly shot twice while standing outside a nightclub near Blytheville waiting for a taxi.
Justices support retrying convict in 2005 murder
posted: 05/11/2012 2:22 a.m. Discuss
In a 5-2 decision, the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a Pulaski County circuit judge’s order granting a new trial to a man convicted of capital murder in 2006.
Beebe raises projections for fiscal ’12
posted: 05/10/2012 5:33 a.m. Discuss
Gov. Mike Beebe on Wednesday increased the general revenue forecast for the fiscal year that ends June 30 to allow for the budget enacted by the 2011 Legislature to be fully funded.
Court upholds child-stalking, porn sentences
posted: 05/10/2012 5:25 a.m. Discuss
The Arkansas Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld prison sentences imposed on a man who pleaded guilty in Benton County to one count of computer child pornography and three counts of Internet stalking of a child.
Smith back in race for House
posted: 05/08/2012 4:28 a.m. Comment 1
Nearly a month after a judge disqualified former Rep. Fred Smith of Crawfordsville from running as a Democrat for the Legislature, Smith said the Green Party of Arkansas has given him “a second chance” by nominating him as its candidate for the state House of Representatives in an eastern Arkansas district.
Green party nominates Smith for House
posted: 05/07/2012 11:25 a.m. Comments 2
Nearly a month after a judge ruled he was ineligible to run for the state Legislature when he filed his paperwork on March 1, the Green Party of Arkansas has nominated former Rep. Fred Smith of Crawfordsville to run for an eastern Arkansas House seat.
Election turnout forecast at 30%
posted: 05/06/2012 3:39 a.m. Discuss
Early voting begins Monday for the May 22 elections, and Secretary of State Mark Martin expects about 30 percent of the state’s 1.53 million registered voters to turn out at the polls.
2 tout GOP cores in District 15 race
posted: 05/06/2012 3:34 a.m. Discuss
A term-limited state representative, who has promoted cutting taxes on capital gains and whose business owes more than $10,000 in delinquent unemploymentinsurance taxes, is vying with a freshman representative, who calls himself a committed conservative leader, for the Republican nomination for a Senate seat in central Arkansas’ District 15.
State takes in record $718 million in April
posted: 05/03/2012 5:04 a.m. Discuss
State general revenue in April increased by $33.9 million over the same month last year to $718.2 million — the largest amount that the state has ever collected in one month — and the latest sign of an improving economy, state officials said Wednesday.
State revenues increase for April
posted: 05/02/2012 11:29 a.m. Discuss
State general revenue in April increased by $33.9 million over collections in the same month last year, exceeding the state’s forecast by $30.6 million.
Ticket’s $1 million awarded to buyer
posted: 05/02/2012 5:51 a.m. Comments 7
A White County circuit judge ruled late Tuesday that a Beebe woman who testified in January that she purchased a lottery ticket at a Beebe convenience store last July and wouldn’t have thrown it away had she known it was a $1 million winner is entitled to the $1 million.
Elliott resigns $80,000-a-year child-assist job
posted: 05/01/2012 4:41 a.m. Comments 10
State Sen. Joyce Elliott has resigned from her job as the $80,000-a-year executive director of the Central Little Rock Promise Neighborhood.
Elliott on project payroll at UALR before job offer
posted: 04/28/2012 3:09 a.m. Comments 59
A University of Arkansas at Little Rock vice chancellor put state Sen. Joyce Elliott on the university payroll in mid-July — more than a month before he formally offered her an $80,000-a-year-job leading the Central Little Rock Promise Neighborhood program.
LR to channel Elliott $80,000
posted: 04/22/2012 4:39 a.m. Comments 13
State Sen. Joyce Elliott will be paid $80,000 a year as executive director of the Central Little Rock Promise Neighborhood through the city of Little Rock rather than through the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to ensure that there is no conflict with state law, a spokesman for UALR said.
Police work by deputies gets OK
posted: 04/21/2012 2:47 a.m. Discuss
Union County sheriff’s deputies are not violating state ethics law by working part time as police officers for the city of Norphlet, the Arkansas Ethics Commission said Friday.
Near-LR legislator per diem set at $61
posted: 04/20/2012 3:35 a.m. Discuss
Lawmakers who live within 50 miles of the state Capitol are now eligible to be paid $61 in per diem, plus mileage expenses, for attending legislative meetings in Little Rock, officials for the House and Senate said Thursday.
Will seek a 3rd term, Pryor says pointedly
posted: 04/20/2012 3:18 a.m. Comments 2
U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor said Thursday that he’s making it clear to friends and supporters that he plans to seek re-election in 2014, and predicted a tough race.
Monitor fee plan causes concern
posted: 04/19/2012 4:15 a.m. Comment 1
A state senator said Wednesday that he plans to seek an attorney general’s opinion about the constitutionality of a proposal to require eligible offenders to pay for the cost of their electronic monitoring, after they have served 120 days in prison, in order to participate in the program.
2 colleges get OK for 3 new positions
posted: 04/19/2012 4:10 a.m. Discuss
A legislative panel Tuesday approved requests from Ozarka College and the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope to create administrative posts.
Senate’s 27th foes raise tax as issue
posted: 04/15/2012 3:47 a.m. Discuss
A state representative, who signed a pledge not to vote to increase taxes and then voted to raise tobacco taxes, and another state representative, who didn’t sign the pledge and also voted for the tax increase, are seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 22 primary for a state Senate seat in south Arkansas.
Lottery rules aim to rein in counsel
posted: 04/14/2012 3:14 a.m. Discuss
Before doing work for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, its outside $200-per-hour legal counsel would have to get approval from two of three senior lottery officials or a majority of the lottery commission’s nine commissioners under proposed guidelines drafted by the lottery’s director and chief spokesman.
Athletic agency’s files seen deficient
posted: 04/13/2012 3:35 a.m. Discuss
The state Athletic Commission has experienced documentation problems ranging from failing to issue receipts to individuals when the commission received funds at events to not maintaining adequate records to support credit-card charges and travel reimbursements, a state auditor told lawmakers Thursday.
State chairmen debate political parties’ influence
posted: 04/12/2012 4:54 a.m. Discuss
The chairmen of the state Democratic and Republican parties on Wednesday debated which party is out of the political mainstream, and disagreed about the potential effect of President Barack Obama in this year’s elections. State Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb of Benton maintained that the party reflects the views and values of everyday Arkansans and the state Democratic Party “has continued to drift and drift and drift further to the left and become the party of extremes.”
Panel urges better scholarship notices
posted: 04/11/2012 5:15 a.m. Discuss
A legislative committee recommended Tuesday that state officials work out a way to ensure public-school students are notified about scholarships financed largely by the state lottery.
Smith ballots won’t count, judge rules
posted: 04/10/2012 4:25 a.m. Discuss
A Pulaski County circuit judge ruled Monday that ballots cast for former Rep. Fred Smith for a state House of Representatives seat in the May 22 Democratic primary won’t be counted or certified because the Crawfordsville man was ineligible to be a candidate for elected office when he filed his paperwork.
Lawmakers want information on lottery scholarships improved
posted: 04/10/2012 4:15 a.m. Discuss
Some public school students are not aware of scholarships largely financed by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, and state and public school officials need to do more to inform them and help them apply for the scholarships, state lawmakers said Monday.
College directors air gifts
posted: 04/09/2012 4:46 a.m. Discuss
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Chancellor G. David Gearhart is among about a dozen chiefs at the state’s two- and four-year colleges who in the past month or so have for the first time filed personal financial disclosure reports with the state.
For senator, rival sounds familiar
posted: 04/08/2012 3:45 a.m. Discuss
A Democratic state senator in southwest Arkansas is being challenged in the May 22 primary by a brother of the man who lost to the senator in a primary two years ago.
Judge hears arguments in Smith case
posted: 04/06/2012 4:13 a.m. Discuss
Attorneys for former state Rep. Fred Smith, D-Crawfordsville, and the state Democratic Party disagreed Thursday in a court hearing about whether Smith was convicted of a felony crime last year.
Suit on reimbursement of legislators is settled
posted: 04/04/2012 5:24 a.m. Discuss
A Pulaski County circuit judge approved Tuesday a proposed settlement of a lawsuit under which state officials would be barred from paying lawmakers up to $10,200 a year in lieu of per diem and mileage for attending legislative meetings.
Retirement system denies ex-teacher’s claim for 2nd time
posted: 04/03/2012 4:14 a.m. Discuss
For the second time in the past three years, the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System on Monday denied a former Greenbrier Junior High School teacher’s claim for about a year’s worth of additional retirement benefits.
Back raising tax for roads, say 2 in race
posted: 04/02/2012 4:31 a.m. Comments 4
Two of the three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in a southeast Arkansas Senate district say they intend to vote for a proposed constitutional amendment to temporarily raise the state’s sales tax by a half percent to improve highways and roads.
Officials for state list trips, who paid
posted: 04/01/2012 4:11 a.m. Discuss
The director of the state Department of Information Systems wrote checks totaling $3,347.55 to reimburse the state a few weeks ago for the rest of the cost of her October trip to Malaysia to attend a technology conference, state records show.
Players dream of $640 million lottery jackpot
posted: 03/31/2012 3:42 a.m.
Discuss
With a record Mega Millions jackpot estimated at $640 million, Sheila Roy of Little Rock and thousands of other Arkansans felt “real lucky” as Friday night’s drawing neared.
Obama opens NLR office
posted: 03/28/2012 4:01 a.m. Comments 2
President Barack Obama has created jobs, expanded access to health care and improved the nation during his first term, and will be re-elected this year, Obama’s national campaign manager told about 100 people as the campaign’s Arkansas headquarters opened in North Little Rock.
