Joseph Flaherty

Central Arkansas Library System’s galleries, bookstore closed ahead of Main Library overhaul The Central Arkansas Library System's bookstore and gallery space in downtown Little Rock closed its doors permanently Wednesday, a casualty of the coming overhaul of the nearby Main Library.The M... June 1, 2023

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.’s use of city vehicle during ‘22 campaign violated law, ethics panel finds LITTLE ROCK -- Mayor Frank Scott Jr. violated Arkansas law by traveling to and from campaign events in a city-owned vehicle without his campaign reimbursing the city for the mileage during his 2022 re... May 30, 2023

Federal Aviation Administration notified of ‘potentially noncompliant activity’ tied to Little Rock public-relations firm The head of the state's largest airport recently notified the Federal Aviation Administration of "potentially noncompliant activity" related to the disadvantaged business enterprise cert... May 28, 2023

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.’s use of city vehicle during ‘22 campaign violated law, ethics panel finds Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. violated Arkansas law by traveling to and from campaign events in a city-owned vehicle without his campaign reimbursing the city for the mileage during his 2022 reele... May 27, 2023

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.'s use of city vehicle during '22 campaign violated law, ethics panel finds Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. violated Arkansas law by traveling to and from his 2022 reelection campaign events in a city-owned vehicle without his campaign reimbursing the city for the mileage, ... May 26, 2023

Central Arkansas Library System’s board authorizes legal challenge to library materials law The Central Arkansas Library System's board of directors in a voice vote Thursday authorized a lawsuit in federal court challenging elements of Act 372, a new state law that exposes library person... May 26, 2023

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation dropped from Pike-Fletcher-Terry House lawsuit Pulaski County Circuit Judge Cara Connors at a hearing on Wednesday granted a motion to dismiss the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation from litigation over the condition of the Pike-Fletcher-Terr... May 25, 2023

Judge drops Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation from Pike-Fletcher-Terry House lawsuit Pulaski County Circuit Judge Cara Connors at a hearing Wednesday morning granted a motion to dismiss the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation from litigation over the condition of the Pike-Fletcher... May 24, 2023

Little Rock Police Department reorganization plan to shake up chain of command in wake of staffing study, recent promotions Divisions across the Little Rock Police Department will experience a shakeup of the chain of command under a reorganization plan to be implemented next month, members of the Little Rock Board of Direc... May 24, 2023

June 11 to be last day for collection of tornado debris at the curb in Little Rock The last day for Little Rock residents to deposit tornado debris at the curb for collection will be June 11, the city’s Public Works Director Jon Honeywell announced at a meeting of the Little R... May 23, 2023

LITTLE ROCK NOTEBOOK: Mayor joins Bloomberg data alliance | New CALS book lockers Bloomberg alliance picks Mayor ScottLittle Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. is one of 20 mayors from across the U.S. and Latin America who have joined the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance as its ... May 21, 2023

Little Rock housing authority’s board drafted letter of reprimand for executive director, signaling new friction LITTLE ROCK -- The Little Rock public housing authority's board of commissioners recently circulated a draft letter of reprimand addressed to Executive Director Ericka Benedicto that claimed she h... May 21, 2023

Over $500,000 from tornado-relief fund to go to organizations, individuals, Little Rock mayor says Approximately $510,000 in donations the city of Little Rock collected in the aftermath of the March 31 tornado that struck the metro area will be distributed to organizations as well as affected resid... May 20, 2023

Over $500,000 from tornado-relief fund to go to organizations, individuals, Little Rock mayor says Approximately $510,000 in donations the city of Little Rock collected in the aftermath of the March 31 tornado that struck the metro area will be distributed to organizations as well as impacted resid... May 19, 2023

Little Rock housing authority’s board drafted letter of reprimand for executive director, signaling new friction The Little Rock public housing authority's board of commissioners recently circulated a draft letter of reprimand addressed to Executive Director Ericka Benedicto that claimed she had failed to co... May 19, 2023

Three properties named to Arkansas’ Most Endangered Places list Preserve Arkansas announced its 2023 Most Endangered Places list on Wednesday.The list includes the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District in Little Rock, the oldest building in Osceola an... May 19, 2023

Little Rock Port Authority’s board approves expenses tied to railroad safety, aviation structure’s relocation The Little Rock Port Authority's board of directors at a meeting on Wednesday approved expenditures clearing the way for new railroad safety equipment as well as a construction contract tied to a ... May 18, 2023

Three properties named to Arkansas’ Most Endangered Places list Preserve Arkansas announced its 2023 Most Endangered Places list on Wednesday.The list includes the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District in Little Rock, the oldest building in Osceola an... May 18, 2023

Little Rock city board again defers proposal to regulate Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, one day after public forum A proposed Little Rock ordinance that would create a set of regulations for short-term rental properties listed on platforms such as Airbnb was deferred again at a meeting of the Little Rock Board of ... May 17, 2023

Little Rock board OKs funds for park, zoo work Members of the Little Rock Board of Directors on Tuesday evening approved a series of measures that allocate funding for improvements to Little Rock parks and recreation facilities along with the zoo.... May 17, 2023

Little Rock city board authorizes $175,000 settlement with firm to end litigation over 2016 fire inspection of apartment complex Members of the Little Rock Board of Directors at a meeting Tuesday evening approved a resolution authorizing a $175,000 settlement to end litigation against the city that was triggered by a 2016 fire ... May 17, 2023

Forum examines short-term rentals in Little Rock with proposed regulations set to go before city board The city of Little Rock on Monday evening held a forum for members of the public to share feedback and ask questions with regard to a proposed local ordinance that would establish new regulations for ... May 16, 2023

LITTLE ROCK NOTEBOOK: Group requests edits to short-term rental proposal | Contract OK’d for airport website redesign Coalition's letter addresses rentalsKathy Wells, the president of the Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods, in a letter Thursday told the Little Rock mayor and Board of Directors that a short-te... May 14, 2023

Four firms seeking to carry out upgrades to Central Arkansas Water’s Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant Four firms seeking to become the so-called construction manager at risk during the planned upgrades to a Little Rock water treatment plant have submitted responses to Central Arkansas Water.Ahead of t... May 12, 2023

Little Rock airport commissioners reelect current slate of officers after lengthy discussion and two executive sessions After protracted discussions about procedure and two executive sessions in the same meeting, members of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission on Thursday seemed to put to rest a quarrel over th... May 12, 2023

City of Little Rock has yet to distribute money from tornado relief fund that has received over $300,000 in donations Officials at the city of Little Rock have yet to distribute money from a relief fund they set up in the aftermath of the tornado that struck the metro area on March 31.At a meeting of the Little Rock ... May 10, 2023

LITTLE ROCK NOTEBOOK: City seeking new H.R. chief | Forum set on short-term rentals City seeks to hire overseer of HRThe city of Little Rock is looking to hire a replacement for Chief People Officer Stacey Witherell, who oversees the Human Resources Department.Witherell's last da... May 7, 2023

Little Rock mulls updating building directives for MacArthur Park Historic District Little Rock officials are considering pursuing a comprehensive update to the design guidelines that govern construction and rehabilitation within the city’s MacArthur Park Historic District.Hann... May 5, 2023

Guidelines for Little Rock's MacArthur Park Historic District under review Little Rock officials are considering pursuing a comprehensive update to the design guidelines that govern construction and rehabilitation within the city’s MacArthur Park Historic District.Hann... May 4, 2023

Little Rock city board approves slew of projects related to streets and drainage to be funded by bond proceeds Street resurfacing, the installation of new sidewalks, drainage work and more will soon get underway in Little Rock and roll out through 2025 after the city's Board of Directors on Tuesday approve... May 3, 2023

Debris removal work after tornado could cost up to $10 million, Little Rock mayor says Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. at a City Hall news conference on Tuesday suggested that debris removal work by a contractor after a March 31 tornado may cost up to $10 million.Scott emphasized that... May 3, 2023

Little Rock city board adopts new financial-reporting standards The Little Rock Board of Directors on Tuesday approved an ordinance to adopt new financial-reporting standards and thereby update language in city code that had not been adjusted since December 2001.A... May 3, 2023

Debris removal work after tornado could cost up to $10 million, Little Rock mayor says Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. at a City Hall news conference on Tuesday suggested that debris removal work by a contractor following a March 31 tornado may cost up to $10 million.  Scott emph... May 2, 2023

Anticipating a lawsuit, Central Arkansas Library System’s board votes to pursue legal review of new law on library materials LITTLE ROCK -- The Central Arkansas Library System's board of directors at a meeting on Thursday voted to move ahead with further legal analysis of a new state law related to library materials in ... May 1, 2023

Salaries of top officials at Little Rock sewer authority, airport and water utility rank highest among area’s government employees Despite recent pay increases, the annual salaries of Little Rock's mayor and city manager trail those of the top executives at the Little Rock wastewater authority, the state's largest airport... April 30, 2023

LITTLE ROCK NOTEBOOK: Library system considering sale of Hillcrest Hall Library considers Hillcrest Hall saleOfficials at the Central Arkansas Library System are considering selling the event venue known as Hillcrest Hall located at 1501 Kavanaugh Boulevard.In a report pr... April 30, 2023

Central Arkansas Library System considering sale of Hillcrest Hall LITTLE ROCK -- Officials at the Central Arkansas Library System are considering selling the event venue known as Hillcrest Hall located at 1501 Kavanaugh Boulevard.In a report prepared for a library s... April 30, 2023

City of Little Rock's network services restored The City of Little Rock's network services, including the email system used by city employees, went back online on Friday morning following an outage that began Tuesday."That outage was proac... April 28, 2023

Anticipating a lawsuit, Central Arkansas Library System’s board votes to pursue legal review of new law on library materials The Central Arkansas Library System's board of directors at a meeting on Thursday voted to move ahead with further legal analysis of a new state law related to library materials in anticipation of... April 28, 2023

City of Little Rock's email and network systems remain down due to 'security concern' The city of Little Rock's email and network applications remained down on Wednesday, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said in a tweet.Scott said the city's network and email had been taken down "as ... April 26, 2023

Initial list of street and drainage projects funded by capital-improvement bond proceeds to go before Little Rock Board of Directors Little Rock city officials have compiled a list of the first run of proposed street and drainage projects to be funded by bond proceeds tied to last year's successful referendum that extended thre... April 26, 2023

Street project plan going to Little Rock board Little Rock city officials have compiled a list of the first run of proposed street and drainage projects to be funded by bond proceeds tied to last year’s successful referendum that extended th... April 26, 2023

City of Little Rock reports network outage The city of Little Rock's network, including its internet, email and external applications, was down on Tuesday, according to statements from the city's Twitter account.An initial tweet about ... April 25, 2023

Arkansas attorney general asks judge to hold Big Country Chateau owners in criminal contempt LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's office has asked a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge to hold Big Country Chateau's owners in criminal contempt of court, claiming they h... April 25, 2023

LITTLE ROCK NOTEBOOK: Little Rock Farmers’ Market season starts May 6 | More visitors bureau promotions Farmers Market gears up for startMay 6 will be the first day for the Little Rock Farmers Market during its 2023 season, which runs Saturdays through Sept. 2 at the River Market pavilions, according to... April 23, 2023

Arkansas attorney general asks judge to hold Big Country Chateau owners in criminal contempt Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's office has asked a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge to hold Big Country Chateau's owners in criminal contempt of court, claiming they have failed to p... April 22, 2023

Arkansas attorney general asks judge to hold Big Country Chateau owners in criminal contempt Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's office has asked a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge to hold Big Country Chateau's owners in criminal contempt of court for allegedly not providing rec... April 21, 2023

Saturday to be final day for residents to deposit tornado debris at Reservoir Park The final day for residents to deposit tornado debris at Little Rock's Reservoir Park will be Saturday, according to a news release the city issued Friday afternoon.The city has asked residents to... April 21, 2023

Attorneys seek protective order related to security cameras in civil lawsuit from man struck by police bean bag round Attorneys for a man who was injured during a 2020 protest and Arkansas State Police officials have filed a joint motion in the civil lawsuit the man filed last year for a protective order over concern... April 21, 2023

Head of Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority to step down after nearly nine years in the role Gregorio Ramon, chief executive officer of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, will step down after serving in the role for close to nine years, commission members were told during a meeting ... April 20, 2023

Stories by Joseph Flaherty