A&E Feature
Brad Simpson a 'protector' of films like 'World War Z,' 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'
To-Do List
The Body at White Water
Arkansas Blog
Conway copes with monkey escape
Twitter has been lit up today with tales of an 'escape artist' macaque monkey that let itself out of a Conway vet's office last night and put a succesful chase in motion.
Should we note that the Arkansas legislature got into the monkey regulation business this year?
A friend of animals comments:
I
t says they took two tries to tranquilize the monkey which could be because the animal was scared and had adrenaline running through its veins. That often happens in situations like this where the first tranquilization doesn’t take. That’s not great for the animal.
Also, the report says the animals crawled onto one of the officers. These officers had no idea the kind-of real danger they were in. Most people think pet monkeys are cute and fun and don’t understand that they are wild animals. Here this monkey is in a situation where it’s being circled and someone is trying to capture it and it’s stressed. It could easily turn on one of those officers and really do some damage by clawing and biting.
Also, the officer was told to go to the hospital but this report doesn’t say the officer was recommended to be tested for any type of zoonotic disease. He may have just gone to the hospital and said “a monkey bit me.” He should be tested for the B virus because almost every macaque monkey carries the B virus. Period. And there’s no telling whether-or-not these healthcare professionals knew he was bitten by a macaque.
Tony Soprano is dead
Damn. From CNN:
James Gandolfini, 51, who won three Emmys for his portrayal of Tony Sprano on "The Sopranos", has died, according to HBO.
Crime
Second teen-age witness testifies in Hastings trial UPDATE
- Brian Chilson
- Defense attorney Bill James
Keontay Walker, who was in the car with the victim, Bobby Moore Jr., and Jeremiah Johnson, just testified. Walker, 17, said that he had known Moore since 3rd grade. Walker said they'd been downtown the night of the shooting looking for a party before deciding to go "checking cars" at the Shadow Lake Apartments between 4 and 5 a.m. Walker he'd acted as the lookout.
Walker said he was the first to see a flashlight, then heard "It's Little Rock Police! Stop the car!" He said before he saw the officer's gun and badge, the Honda Civic Moore was driving and in which he and Walker were passengers was around 20 feet away from Hastings and traveling about 15 mph. He said he, Johnson and Moore started "negotiating" over whether to run. He said Moore began to slow and came to a complete stop 10 feet from Hastings. Walker said he dropped down under the dash, felt the car jerk into reverse, heard Hastings say, "Stop or I'll shoot", then heard the shots.
"I heard Lil' Bobby take a deep breath, and when I rose up, the car was rolling backwards," Walker said. The car then bonuced off a curb and hit an awning and a parked car.
On cross examination, Walker told defense attorney Bill James the three only broke into three cars at Shadow Lake that night, including a car that sounded a car alarm and a car in which they broke a window. Asked by James what they did during the hour they were at the complex ("Were y'all taking naps between cars?" James said), Walker said they were checking for unlocked cars, and had only gotten into three. He said it was the first time they ever broke a window while "checking cars"
James repeatedly called the passengers seat "shotgun" at one point during questioning, before Judge Wendell Griffen asked him to approach to approach the bench. After conferring with Griffen, James referred to Walker's position in the car as "the front seat."
Repeatedly, Walker insisted the car came to a stop and was in reverse at the time of the shooting, saying that the only time Moore sped was when he turned out of a parking spot in the lot.
Koon said further questioning from Walker is expected following a break.
UPDATE: Koon reports that there were no big developments after afternoon recess, though Griffen did have to admonish attorneys again to abide by his "kindergarten rule" and not speak over each other and witnesses. At one point, defense attorney James showed two diagrams, one drawn by LRPD detctives and the other drawn by Pulaski County prosecutors. Walker had drawn a circle on one and an x on the other to indicate where Hastings was as car approached him. James made the point that while one showed Hastings near a curb, the other showed Hastings in the middle of the street. In closing his questions, James asked Walker if he was upset and mad because his friend was killed. Walker answered "Yes, sir." James then asked Walker if he was mad at Hastings for killing his friend, and Walker answered "Yes, sir." Later on redirect, Prosecutor John Johnson asked Walker if he would lie to the jury to get Hastings convicted of a crime, and Walker said, "No sir."
An earlier version of this post misspelled Keontay Walker's name.
Rock Candy
What's going on / Heavy Metal
Thursday To-Do: The Body
THE BODY
9:30 p.m. White Water Tavern.
The Body's been out on the road for a minute now, or, well more like several weeks to be accurate.
The dudes also somehow made time to stop off at their buddies' studio Machines with Magnets to record three full-length albums, including one that's going to be released on the Thrill Jockey label, which is also home to Barn Owl, Guardian Alien, The Skull Defekts and many other totally badass artists, so good work guys!
The Body's latest release, the EP "Master We Perish," is boss. I really dig how they go into some seriously Neurosis-esque territory for a sec on the last third of the nearly 10-minute closer "Worship." The whole thing is really killer though, and points to more great stuff to come. Oh yeah, for all of you The Body newbies, make sure to bring some earplugs. Openers Iron Tongue and Mothwind are gonna tenderize y'all. Should be a good'n.
What's going on / Books
Thursday To-Do: "The New 22"
THE NEW 22'
6:30 p.m., MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. Free.
Back in January, when the Arkansas Literary Festival slate of authors was announced, perhaps you scanned it and seized onto "The New 22," featuring hotshot novelists David Abrams ("Fobbit") and Ben Fountain ("Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk") and marked it as a "must-attend."
Then you noticed in the small print that, strangely, the event wasn't scheduled until two months after the literary festival. Well, two months has come and gone. The event's still a must-attend.
I haven't read "Fobbit," but it was one of the best-reviewed books of last year. It's set in a military base in Baghdad ("fobbit" is slang for a soldier stationed at a Forward Operating Base who avoids combat by hanging at the base). Abrams draws on his experience as an active-duty Army journalist.
"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" is one of the best books I've read. Lots of other people agree. It won this year's National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the National Book Award last year. It's about the surviving members of a group of Iraq War soldiers who've become minor celebrities after video of them in a firefight with insurgents goes viral. They've been sent home for a Victory Tour that culminates with an appearance at a Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day. It's a darkly funny satire written with more style and insight than anything in recent memory.
What's going on
Thursday: Companion, Shining Rae and more
Juanita's has some buzz-y indie rock, with Brooklyn pop outfit Companion and psychedelic Oklahomans The Evangelicals. Locals Ten Sentences open the show, 9 p.m., and hey, it's $3!
It's going to be a "'90s Throwback Concert" at The Joint, with Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers, 8:30 p.m., $10-$15.
Pop singer/songwriter Shining Rae is back in town for an all-ages show. She'll be showcasing new material, Downtown Music Hall, 7 p.m., $11.
Singer/songwriter Daniel Amedee might be from New Orleans, but his sound is "more King Crimson than King Oliver, more Mars Volta than Mardi Gras." Also on the bill: Gold Beneath the Highway and James Rose, Maxine's, 8 p.m., free.
Cover Story
Exploring Big Island, where three rivers meet
Event Calendar
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Re: J. Gumbo's is a spicy success
Hell yeah. We're going to start putting cheese and sour cream on damn near everything…
- on June 19, 2013
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Re: Timing of lawsuit filed by state, feds against Exxon surprises experts
The main reason it takes so long usually to file these lawsuits is so that…
- on June 19, 2013
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Re: Pfeifer asks Dillard to allow bike trail
This bike trail would be a good thing, but I'd like to see the engineering…
- on June 19, 2013
Arkansas Reporter
Ark. Republicans spar with Planned Parenthood over healthcare guides
Editorials
Huck beats Rick
Slideshows
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What's there, what's coming.
Fox16 Local News and Weather
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Comments Heated During Public Meeting on Voter ID
June 19, 2013During a public meeting Wednesday to discuss the implementation of Arkansas' new voter ID law, supporters said all the talk about people being disenfranchised is overblown. fox16.com /more/ -
Garland Co. Officials Issue News Release on Substance Found in Lake Hamilton
June 19, 2013Officials say they do not believe it was oil fox16.com /more/
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