Stories by Debra Hale-Shelton

DEBRA HALE-SHELTON: The best kind of town I worked in downtown Chicago for almost 15 years. For the first 13 years, I lived in high rises within walking distance of my job at The Associated Press bureau, then on North Michigan Avenue. So, whe... November 3, 2019

Evangelism officer for Episcopal Church lives up to her name CONWAY -- Meet Jerusalem Jackson Greer. She's a Southern Baptist preacher's daughter, a mother, crafter, cook, farmer, author and, now, staff officer for evangelism in the Episcopal Church. Greer, who... November 2, 2019

DEBRA HALE-SHELTON: All the things a man can be My dad died in September, less than two months before his 92nd birthday. He was a husband, a father, a veteran and a Christian. He was also a Democrat. In recent years, I have read comments by people ... October 27, 2019

DEBRA HALE-SHELTON: The return of 'that woman' One Taser, two bras and a framed picture that never made the newspaper were a few of the items I had to pack or discard when move-out day arrived. Add an exercise bike, two small refrigerators, a book... October 20, 2019

Couple’s approach nurtures food, flowers and family CONWAY — In the summer and fall, heirloom-variety sunflowers reach up to 6 feet tall in front of a small farm along Conway’s busy Tyler Street. Behind them sit two small houses on just under an acre o... October 20, 2019

HIGH PROFILE: Nancy Fulton brings empathy, practicality as leader of Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches BATESVILLE— Nancy Fulton’s life is full of work, hobbies and family, from her husband and children to the dozens of young people who live on a rural Arkansas ranch. As executive director of the Arkans... September 22, 2019

Facing deficit, Henderson State University seeks $6M from state Henderson State University has requested a $6 million advance in state funds as financial problems mount, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that the state wants to help the school but also favors ... June 28, 2019

Henderson State freezes hiring in face of debt; plans for lines of credit fall through Days after scheduling and then canceling a board meeting aimed at seeking a credit line of up to an additional $2 million, Henderson State University announced a hiring freeze and other spending cuts ... June 26, 2019

Faulkner County home losing ground MAYFLOWER -- A large, two-story house west of Mayflower is in danger of falling into the Arkansas River after recent flooding further eroded the riverbank. The house is among about 12 houses on Jones ... June 22, 2019

PHOTO/VIDEO: Two-story house in danger of falling into Arkansas River MAYFLOWER -- A large, two-story house west of Mayflower is in danger of falling into the Arkansas River after recent flooding further eroded the riverbank. The house is among about 12 houses on Jones ... June 21, 2019

Faulkner County exec cautioned, draws fine The Arkansas Ethics Commission has issued a public letter of caution and fined the county judge of Faulkner County $100 for using a government-owned cellphone and email account to handle some campaign... June 20, 2019

Pro-gay message removed by UCA CONWAY -- The president of the University of Central Arkansas said Tuesday that a library sign quoting Lady Gaga's words about gay people crossed a line because it amounted to an arm of the university... June 19, 2019

UCA removes sign celebrating Gay Pride Month from outside library CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas had a sign celebrating Gay Pride Month removed from outside the Torreyson Library. UCA President Houston Davis sent an email about the issue to students, fa... June 18, 2019

Event to honor abused children CONWAY -- More than 200 candles and a live band will mark a ceremony Saturday night to honor abused and neglected children in five Arkansas counties. The Children's Advocacy Alliance plans to honor ch... June 12, 2019

Aid in works to repair Lollie Bottoms levee CONWAY -- Temporary repairs to Faulkner County's 90-year-old Lollie Bottoms levee, which survived historic flooding of the Arkansas River, should begin in roughly three weeks if all goes well, a repre... June 11, 2019

Shirley man, 41, dies; gunfire exchanged with two deputies The Arkansas State Police said Monday that special agents were investigating the death of a Shirley man after Van Buren County sheriff's deputies reported an exchange of gunfire at his home. State pol... June 11, 2019

Flood threat rises around Lake Conway The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Monday for Lake Conway as water from Palarm Creek overflowed into it, threatening low-lying areas along the lake's 52-mile shoreline. Areas that hav... June 4, 2019

LATEST: Flood warning issued for areas near Lake Conway CONWAY — Forecasters have issued a flood warning for Faulkner County residents near Lake Conway. According to forecasters, portions of Mayflower, Saltillo and parts of southeast Conway are expected t... June 3, 2019

Governor asks Trump for help for flooded state Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday that he formally asked President Donald Trump for federal emergency assistance in Arkansas because of record-breaking flooding and damage caused by severe storms. Th... May 30, 2019

Water tops 2 Arkansas levees as angst rises downriver; Fort Smith crest revised a bit FORT SMITH -- The rain-swollen Arkansas River should crest today at 1.5 feet lower than previously predicted on the state's western edge, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the water l... May 29, 2019

Arkansas River tributaries to fill to flooding also As the Arkansas River continues its rise, the back flow of water into the river's tributaries will cause flooding in some unexpected areas off the river, officials said Tuesday. "Anyone who lives near... May 29, 2019

Arkansas Tech seeks outside emails in scholarship dispute Arkansas Tech University sent public-records requests to three public universities to obtain the electronic communications of professors who signed a letter faulting the university for having a schola... May 26, 2019

Judge keeps alive suit against Arkansas nursing-home owner, lobbyist CONWAY -- A judge on Wednesday declined to dismiss a corruption lawsuit against nursing-home owner Michael Morton and former lobbyist Gilbert Baker. Special Circuit Judge David Laser also granted a mo... May 23, 2019

Suspect in death of woman in '18 ruled fit for trial CONWAY -- A Pine Bluff man accused of kidnapping and killing a Wooster woman is mentally fit to stand trial, a judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Troy Braswell ruled in the Faulkner County Circuit Court case ... May 23, 2019

Arkansas justice recuses from suit filed against donor Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood recused Tuesday from an appeal involving a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against one of businessman Michael Morton's nursing homes. In November 2016, Wood had... May 22, 2019

Letter asks for Trump, Arkansans to help Syria Supporters of an organization that operates a kindergarten and a women's center in the war-torn Syrian province of Idlib are asking Arkansans and President Donald Trump for help. "We are writing you w... May 11, 2019

Henderson State University trustee quietly quits; since ’10, his company has held contract for textbooks James Barnes, whose company has held a textbook contract with Henderson State University since 2010, has quietly resigned as a trustee there just over a year after the governor appointed him to the po... May 9, 2019

Henderson State University checks scholarship honoree; alumnus, professor said to be Holocaust denier Henderson State University is researching the issue of a scholarship honoring an alumnus who, some Jewish leaders say, was a Holocaust denier. Arkansas Tech University already has come under criticism... May 2, 2019

Veteran who helped liberate Nazi concentration camp joins protest decrying scholarship name at Arkansas Tech University RUSSELLVILLE -- A World War II veteran who helped liberate a Nazi concentration camp joined Arkansas Tech University students at a rally Tuesday to protest a scholarship honoring a former professor ac... May 1, 2019

Students protest Arkansas Tech University scholarship honoring former professor RUSSELLVILLE — Scores of students and others turned out Tuesday to protest an Arkansas Tech University scholarship honoring a former professor. Some Jewish groups and national and international schola... April 30, 2019

Bank tied to Henderson State chief wins school bid Henderson State University has switched its banking services to Arkadelphia-based Southern Bancorp Inc., where the school's president, Glen Jones Jr., is board chairman, records show. Additionally, Ch... April 29, 2019

Judge backs deal in Conway suit CONWAY -- A judge gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a $1.15 million settlement between the city of Conway and more than 100 current and former police officers and firefighters. Ruling in Faulkner C... April 24, 2019

Judge gives preliminary approval for employee pay suit; deal offers $1.15M for officers, firefighters CONWAY — A judge gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a $1.15 million settlement between the city of Conway and more than 100 current and former police officers and firefighters. Judge Troy Braswell, ... April 23, 2019

Central Arkansas city settles employee pay suit; City Council OKs $1.15M deal for officers, firefighters CONWAY -- The Conway City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a proposed $1.15 million settlement between the city and more than 100 current and former police officers and firefighters over a ... April 23, 2019

Groups criticize Arkansas college for honoring former professor, claim he denied Holocaust The Anti-Defamation League's chief executive and other Jewish organizations, along with national and international scholars, criticized Arkansas Tech University on Thursday for a scholarship honoring ... April 19, 2019

Arkansas judge's decision in suit set off life-changing case Gilbert Baker and Michael Maggio were friends, political allies and, prosecutors contend, conspirators in a bribery scheme aimed at enriching themselves and a nursing-home owner and campaign financier... April 7, 2019

A who's who in the Baker criminal investigation These are some of the people whose names have surfaced during the investigation of an alleged bribery scheme involving former Judge Michael Maggio: Martha Bull. At 76, the Perryville woman died in ... April 7, 2019

County's bid to toss harassment suit denied A federal judge on Wednesday denied a motion to dismiss a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Faulkner County and three of its officials. Ruling in Little Rock, U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr. also ... April 5, 2019

Teen suspect in slaying judged fit to stand trial CONWAY -- A judge on Wednesday found the younger of two teenagers accused of murdering a Wooster woman mentally fit to stand trial. The Arkansas State Hospital had conducted a mental-health evaluation... April 4, 2019

Conway Airport fires two workers; city cites dishonesty, rule violations CONWAY -- Police have begun a criminal investigation after the city fired two employees of the Conway Municipal Airport over what the city described as dishonesty and rule violations. Josh Zylks, airp... March 26, 2019

Sides to hold talks in lawsuit over city's compensation moves CONWAY -- Lawyers for a group of Conway police officers and firefighters whose lawsuit against the city has been pending since 2012 are to gather for another round of negotiations this week with attor... March 25, 2019

UCA chief of staff to leave Aug. 15 CONWAY -- Kelley Erstine, a vice president and chief of staff at the University of Central Arkansas, plans to leave the school this summer. Erstine's resignation will be effective Aug. 15. Erstine, 61... March 19, 2019

UCA chief of staff to resign CONWAY — Kelley Erstine, a vice president and chief of staff at the University of Central Arkansas, plans to leave the school this summer. Erstine’s resignation will be effective Aug. 15. Erstine, 61,... March 14, 2019

Judge sets hearings for 2 killing suspects CONWAY -- A judge set new pretrial hearing dates Monday for two teenagers charged in the killing of a Wooster woman after she left a Conway shopping center. Authorities were still awaiting reports on ... March 12, 2019

Officials: White supremacist sect mixing drugs, hate born in Arkansas jail From a jail in Arkansas’ River Valley, 25-year-old Mckelly Leon Harris waited. It was March of 1990. He was already a convicted felon, and at that point he was facing new charges of aggravated robbery... March 3, 2019

Symbols have meaning for supremacist group Members of the New Aryan Empire use various symbols, numbers and terms to distinguish themselves and to reflect the gang's white supremacy roots. Chief among the Arkansas-based gang's symbols is a tat... March 3, 2019

Ex-senator's 2-day pass draws objection A prosecutor asked a federal court Thursday to reconsider a decision allowing Gilbert Baker to leave an in-patient substance-abuse treatment center for more than two days this month, saying that long ... February 15, 2019

Awaiting his trial, former state Sen. Gilbert Baker in therapy Former state Sen. Gilbert Baker has begun an inpatient treatment program as part of his conditional release while he awaits trial on bribery and other charges. Baker, a former chairman of the Arkansas... February 14, 2019

U.S. indicts 54 in investigation targeting Arkansas-based white supremacist group RUSSELLVILLE -- The New Aryan Empire, an Arkansas-based white supremacist group, has committed attempted murder, kidnapping and maiming in support of its organization and drug-trafficking operation, f... February 13, 2019