It was a good week for…
THE OXFORD AMERICAN. The Southern-culture-focused magazine based in Little Rock and Conway named Roger Hodge, former editor of Harper’s, as its new editor. Hodge replaces founding editor Marc Smirnoff, who was fired in July.
It was a bad week for…
JOSH HASTINGS. The Little Rock police officer was charged with felony manslaughter in the Aug. 12 fatal shooting of Bobby Moore, 15, a suspected car burglar at a West Little Rock apartment complex. Hastings had said he fired on a Honda Civic because he feared for his life as it sped toward him. Sources told the Times the investigation produced discrepancies between Hastings’ account and other evidence, particularly in the speed and direction of the car that Hastings said he felt threatened by.
CIRCUIT JUDGE SAM POPE. The state Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission reached a settlement with the Hamburg judge over an April 5 fight with his estranged wife, Gayle Zimmerman, and a male friend in a Crossett Walmart. Pope agreed to a 30-day suspension without pay and to apologize for violations of judicial ethical rules. He promised to behave better in the future and to attend an anger management program.
STATE REP. HUDSON HALLUM. He and three other men pled guilty to felony conspiracy to commit election fraud in Hallum’s special election victory last year. The case involves paying for bundled absentee ballots.
THE ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS. They lost to University of Louisiana-Monroe, a Sun Belt team without a winning record in 19 seasons, at War Memorial Stadium, where the Razorbacks had won their last 20 non-conference games. Arkansas football fans went nuts. More on page 8 and 13.
TIM GRIFFIN. The U.S. representative and the Republican Party of Arkansas have decided, as a matter of policy, that homophobia is a winner in Arkansas, on a par with distrust of a foreign-sounding colored man. A shill for Griffin posted a couple of touts on Twitter that Chick-fil-A chicken was served at the candidate’s tailgate at Saturday’s Razorback game.