EDITORIAL >> Vote to help Arkansans

U. S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln formulates a novel test for whether she will vote for something in Congress, or at least that is the whole premise of her re-election campaign. Never mind what the president, either party or special interests want, if it helps the people of Arkansas, she will vote for it. If it is bad for them, she […]

TOP STORY >> Candidate says he has background for victory

By GARRICK FELDMANLeader executive editorScott A. Wallace of Little Rock is running for Congress in the Second District as a Republican. He’ll face former interim U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin in the May primary.Wallace, 48, owns Bruno’s Little Italy restaurant in Little Rock and Whole Hog World Championship Barbecue in Jonesboro.He’s a former Pulaski County deputy sheriff and a former board […]

TOP STORY >> Census uses technology for counting

By RICK KRONLeader staff writerSherwood officials are worried about hundreds of census forms Sherwood residents have received with North Little Rock addresses.There’s also Gravel Ridge. Many residents in that community, annexed last year by Sherwood, are receiving census forms with Jacksonville addresses on them, and many residents living in north Pulaski County are getting census forms with Cabot addresses.What town […]

TOP STORY >> Marker recalls fire at Twist

A marker on the site of a burned-out nightclub in Twist recalls an appearance by B.B. King in the mid-1950s. B.B. King still plays his Lucille. By GARRICK FELDMAN Leader executive editor There’s finally a marker honoring B.B. King in Twist in Cross County, Arkansas, where the great blues singer escaped from a fire at a nightclub with his guitar […]

TOP STORY >> PCSSD feels heat as hearing ends

By NANCY DOCKTERLeader staff writerOn Friday, the Joshua Intervenors, advocates for black students in the Pulaski County Special School District, rested their case in federal court, saying the district has failed to achieve unity status in the delivery of education to blacks compared to nonblacks.The case opened in the court of U.S. Judge Brian Miller on March 1. Miller is […]

SPORTS >> Upset tries, record feats create food for thought

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorBy the time you read this, if anyone is reading this, Duke should have eliminated Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.This was written before Friday night’s game and I’ll charitably guess the top-seeded Blue Devils beat the No. 16 Golden Lions by at least 25 points in the South Regional game. Anything […]

SPORTS >> Castleberry propels Devils to big sweep

By CHAD MATCHETTSpecial to The LeaderIf there were any questions regarding the hitting abilities of Jacksonville’s Patrick Castleberry, they were answered in Tuesday’s conference opening doubleheader sweep of West Memphis.The Red Devils swept the Blue Devils 14-0 and 13-1 as the Jacksonville offense continues to impress.Castleberry was hitting .588 going into the day, and increased that to .609 after going […]

SPORTS >> Jacksonville suffers league setback

Jacksonville catcher Alexis Oakley goes for a bunt against Mountain Home.By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterAll it took for Mountain Home to claim a sweep over Jacksonville on Thursday was two bad innings by the Lady Red Devils at Dupree Park.That’s one for each game.The Lady Devils got off to a rough start in Game 1 and never recovered in Mountain Home’s […]

SPORTS >> Players enjoy last fling in All-Metro Classic

Deshone McClure, of Jacksonville, goes for a layup in Tuesday’s All-Metro Classic at Little Rock Hall. McClure teamed with players from North Pulaski and Abundant Life to grab a victory.By CHAD MATCHETTSpecial to The LeaderThe North Pulaski Falcons didn’t get the chance they wanted to play Little Rock McClellan in the Class 5A state finals, but were able to get […]

SPORTS >> Crossett takes two from North Pulaski

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterConference play for North Pulaski began with a pair of slugfests against visiting Crossett on Tuesday.The Lady Falcons fell in a pair of close games to start their 5A-Southeast Conference schedule on Field 6 at Dupree Park. The Lady Eagles took the first game 14-11 in eight innings and held off a furious North Pulaski comeback in […]