100 years ago
Jan. 13, 1921
• The need of a building code to govern construction of hotels, rooming houses and other public buildings has been definitely shown by the recent fire at England, which destroyed the Royal hotel, and resulted in the loss of eight lives, according to Dr. C.W. Garrison, secretary of the State Board of Health. At present only one hotel inspector is employed by the State Board of Health. It is his duty to visit every hotel in the state, making recommendations for necessary changes and serving a 30 days' notice on the proprietor.
50 years ago
Jan. 13, 1971
• Governor Dale L. Bumpers took office Tuesday with a promise not to waste "the new awakening of our people" by failing to confront the problems of the state. He called on the people to support him in efforts to obtain higher funding for education, a reorganization of the executive branch of state government and prison reform and to start a crash attack on the problems of pollution. By referring to "the probability of additional revenues," Mr. Bumpers also indicated more strongly than ever that a tax program would be needed to achieve his goals.
25 years ago
Jan. 13, 1996
FAYETTEVILLE -- After seven months of debate and a pair of moratoriums, Washington County has permanently banned new billboards along four scenic highways. After property rights advocates warned that the measure constitutes an illegal "taking" of land along the county's highways, the Washington County Quorum Court removed an extensive section of the bill that would have limited the size and placement of signs on most roads in the county. The new ordinance approved Thursday night also allows existing billboards.
10 years ago
Jan. 13, 2011
• Forget watching the stars twinkle, Arkansas residents saw a blast of light rip through the sky Tuesday night. About 9 p.m. a meteor blazed over Arkansas and several other states. Even though it was rare to see it, meteors are common, said Tony Hall, associate professor and chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. "This isn't unexpected. These occurrences happen a couple of times a year," Hall said. "Being that the planet is two-thirds ocean, they typically happen over water two-thirds of the time. The chances of it being seen are slim." Little Rock and North Little Rock police said they didn't receive any calls about the meteor, but Pulaski County sheriff's office Lt. Carl Minden said his office received at least two calls from the northern part of Pulaski County from people thinking a plane had crashed.