TOP STORY > >Victim’s body is identified, more sought

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerThe woman whose remains were recently found near the Wright Cabinet shop in Jacksonville has been identified as Sandra Ann Givens of White County, who would have been 32 at the time of her murder a year ago. So far law-enforcement officials have nothing to say regarding as many as 14 other murders allegedly committed […]

TOP STORY > >Beebe animal shelter will start euthanizing

By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerFor about two years, Beebe Animal Control working with a rescue group in Texas has shipped to states in the east most of the unwanted dogs picked up in Beebe. As a result, about 350 dogs have found new homes and the city has the reputation of running a no-kill shelter.But during a special council meeting […]

TOP STORY > >City collars 137 pit bulls

By RICK KRONLeader staff writer“It’s as if we don’t have a pit bull ban at all,” says Hedy Limke, supervisor of Jacksonville’s Animal Control Department.Even though Jacksonville has had a ban in place for about two years, Limke says this year alone her department has picked up 137 pit bull or pit mixes. Of those, 101 have been euthanized. Of […]

TOP STORY > >How hospital might operate

By NANCY DOCKTERLeader staff writerIn order to shore up the financial base of North Metro Medical Center, the hospital’s board of directors is considering converting the facility to a long-term acute care hospital. The hope is that the higher rate of insurance reimbursement garnered for long-term care would strengthen the hospital’s revenue stream, making it possible to keep doors open […]

TOP STORY > >Prosecutor named for Lonoke County

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerGov. Mike Beebe has named a former prosecutor long active in the Cabot community to serve out the balance of Lona McCastlain’s term as District 23 prosecuting attorney.Will Price Feland, 56, who is a lawyer, a businessman, a minister, former president of the Cabot Chamber of Commerce and a Lonoke Exceptional School board member, will […]

EDITORIAL >>Global warming and Arkansas

Study commissions in Arkansas have a long and dreary history of fostering government assistance to any kind of business development. So it was refreshing to read that the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming, a creature of the 2007 legislature, chose the broader public interest over investor profits.The commission recommended that Arkansas build no more coal-fired generating plants until the power […]