PCSSD negotiations end in stalemate

Submitted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 14th, 3:57 pm

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Wednesday, school officials with the Pulaski County Special School District met with both PASS and PCSSD union representatives with hopes they would come to a budget agreement.

"It's sad we couldn't come to an agreement," said Pulaski Association of Support Staff (PASS) President Emry Chesterfield.

The school's spokesperson said the meeting ended in a stalemate, unable to close a more than $4 million gap.

"We are looking at things like severance pay, accrued leave versus sick leave," said Superintendent Dr. Jerry Guess of the Pulaski County Special School District, prior to entering the meeting. But both unions say the cuts were not enough. In addition, attempts by the district to cut teacher school days fail upon deaf ears with union leaders.

"That just means teachers will have to do more work and the same work have to be done," said PACT President Marty Nix.

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Night on the Street Kicks Off

Submitted by Union Rescue Mission on Wednesday, March 14th, 9:51 am

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 14, 2012)- The Union Rescue Mission (URM) is holding its fifth annual Night on the Street to help raise awareness and financial support for programming that touches the lives of the homeless domestically abused and addicted here in Central Arkansas. URM’s goal is $70,000 and each involved individual will commit to spend the night on the streets, learn about the plight of those the Mission serves and assist in raising resources for the Union Rescue Mission. Donations can be obtained by contacting friends, colleagues or family to assist in getting the person off the street. The personal goal of those participating is $1,000.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at the River Market Pavilions from 6 p.m. to midnight.

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Submitted by Jay Jackson, Community Web Producer

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, 6:30am

Show me the money: CALS offers scholarship workshop

The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) and Arkansas Extended Learning Center (AELC) are sponsoring Show Me the Money: Playing the Scholarship Game, a scholarship workshop, on Wednesday, March 28 at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Library's Darragh Center, 100 Rock Street. The workshop is presented by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and Little Central High School's Guidance Office.

In this workshop, parents will learn the best practices for obtaining scholarships such as: the scholarship application process, when and how to build a winning resume, when to start looking for colleges, traditional and nontraditional sources of funding, in-state and out-of-state scholarships, and resources only available through CALS.

This workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. RSVP to Dana at 666-0759 or dvenhaus@cals.org.

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Submitted by Lindsey Tugman, Online Producer for THV11

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, 4:46am

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Voters in cities throughout Arkansas have supported measures in special elections, including a bond refinancing package to benefit libraries, a sales tax increase to pay off Blytheville's tax bill with the IRS and the renewal of a sales tax to pay for projects in Fort Smith.

In Little Rock, voters overwhelming supported the bond package proposed by the Central Arkansas Library System. The library says the bond initiative will raise about $21 million. Complete but unofficial results show that 86 percent of voters supported the measure.

In Blytheville, voters backed a 1-cent sales tax hike that will help pay off the city's $3.7 million tax bill.

And in Fort Smith, voters renewed an existing 1-cent sales tax to pay for various projects, including a new aquatics center.

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Submitted by Jay Jackson, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012, 2:09pm

Bank celebrates anniversary by giving away $12.5K in free gasoline

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- IBERIABANK Corporation (NASDAQ: IBKC), holding company of the 125-year-old IBERIABANK (www.iberiabank.com), continues their celebration of 125 years in business by giving away FREE gas. The IBERIABANK team will hit the streets on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, to give away FREE gas at random gas stations. Companywide, $12,500 worth of gas will be given away.

Given the increase in cost for gas, IBERIABANK thought this would be an appreciated Random Act of Kindness. The Company believes a Random Act of Kindness is an extension of the IBERIABANK brand as they strive to treat clients in an exceptional way and extend that effort to prospective clients out in the community at every opportunity.

IBERIABANK hopes this random act of kindness becomes contagious by encouraging others to ‘pay it forward’ with their own random acts of kindness throughout the community.

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Submitted by THV 11 News Staff

Monday, March 12th, 2012, 7:32am

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - As the temperatures warm up around Arkansas, soon many of you will be spending your days around the pool or at one of Arkansas's beautiful lakes. It's critical that you make the choice to wear a life jacket.

Of the drowning victims in The Natural State, 90 percent were not wearing life jackets. Chris Smith and Amy Shultz from the Army Corps of Engineers joined us with tips on picking the right life jacket.

Here are the five things to keep in mind when fitting a life jacket:

1. Check the label: it will tell you the size and how it can be used.

2. Check for Damage: check that there are no broken parts and no mold or rips in the fabric.

3. Fasten Up: Fasten all buckles zippers and straps.

4. Check for Proper Fit: make sure it does not slip above the chin or ears. It should feel snug, yet comfortable.

5. Wear it: A life jacket only works if it's worn!

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Submitted by Steve Payne

Sunday, March 11th, 2012, 1:30pm

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas' new lottery director has offered a plan to allow the purchase of lottery tickets with debit cards.

Current state law allows tickets to be bought only with cash. Lottery director Bishop Woosley says he raised the idea of allowing tickets to be bought with debit cards because he thinks it could have a "modest impact" on ticket sales.

Lottery Commission Chairwoman Dianne Lamberth told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the idea is "intriguing." Lottery commissioners Patty Shipp and Steve Faris said the idea is worth considering.

Faris noted that allowing debit card purchases of tickets must be approved by the state Legislature.

Rep. Mark Perry - co-chairman of the Lottery Commission Oversight Committee - said he expects the committee to consider the idea - but he said he would oppose it.

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