By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerThe recent refinancing of a 2003 bond issue for $31 million was expected to save the Cabot School District $1.3 million in interest, but the school board learned Thursday evening that the actual savings will be $2.4 million.The savings will be used for construction projects in the district. The sale was handled by Stephens Inc., which […]

By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerThe recent refinancing of a 2003 bond issue for $31 million was expected to save the Cabot School District $1.3 million in interest, but the school board learned Thursday evening that the actual savings will be $2.4 million.The savings will be used for construction projects in the district. The sale was handled by Stephens Inc., which […]

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerTuesday’s primary election failed to answer some of the biggest questions in the run up to the November general elections, questions that will be answered in the primary runoff elections June 8.Jacksonville native and current Pulaski County/Circuit Clerk Pat O’Brien had hoped to claim the Democratic nomination for secretary of state on Tuesday, but despite […]

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerTwo hailstorms in 10 days in the England area cost Dow and Laudies Brantley 500 to 600 acres of crops, according to Lonoke County Chief Extension Agent Jeff Welch. “Several fields were completely annihilated,” he said, including about 200 acres in cotton and corn.“We’ll replant the cotton next week,” said Dow Brantley, “and the beans. […]

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerMetroplan is casting a wide net—make that Internet—seeking ideas for its Grassroots Green Agenda. And not surprisingly, tech-savvy high school students, bitten by the green bug, have been among the most frequent and creative of those sending suggestions.The website is www.grassrootscentral.org.The net caster is Jasmin Moore, the Metroplan planner charged with foraging for ideas to […]

Mike Beebe is an uncommonly popular governor after one term during which the state has endured unusual economic hardship, which ordinarily drives down a chief executive’s approval ratings. The reason is simple. He tends to act decisively rather than waffling through crises.Rather abruptly on Wednesday, Beebe ordered the closing of the state Human Development Center at Alexander, one of four […]

For the Arkansas Supreme Court, it was a good week that began on a Thursday with halting an extravagant pollution-belching coal plant that the state didn’t need and ended the next Thursday with an order that should halt an effort to hoodwink the voters this fall.A few west Arkansas businessmen who call themselves the Arkansas Progressive Group concocted an amendment […]

Sen. Blanche Lincoln flew back to Washington early Wednesday and indicated that she would spend most of the next three weeks there tending to business, giving the impression that she was retreating from Arkansas voters who had delivered a stern rebuke in the Democratic primary.But now is the time when people will discover what she is made of, whether she […]

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorGriffin Glaude pitched a complete game and helped himself at the plate as the Beebe Badgers won their first state baseball championship, beating Monticello 6-2 in the 5A final at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville on Friday.Beebe won its first boys state championship in any sport since winning the state basketball tournament in 1941.Glaude struck out 11 […]