It was a good week for…
THE PROSPECTS OF THE LITTLE ROCK SALES TAX PROPOSALS. A poll commissioned by the Arkansas Times by the polling firm Impact Management suggests broad support for both the 5/8ths of a cent tax for city operations (62 percent for, 27 against) and the 3/8ths of a cent for capital needs (55 percent for, 32 against).
ARKANSAS FOOTBALL. The Razorbacks drubbed the Missouri State Tigers 51-7 in their season opener.
ESCAPING JAIL. Frederick Young, 37, and Joe Patton, 44, both of Little Rock, escaped from the Pulaski County jail Friday night. At press time, they were still at large.
WEATHER. Labor Day Weekend was like heaven for those with time off, with significantly cooler temperatures, a steady breeze and lots of sunshine.
It was a bad week for…
THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS. The university Board of Trustees voted to buy out the contract of embattled president Allen Meadors after he failed to acknowledge that a gift for presidential house renovation from Aramark was contingent on a new contract for the food service contractor. Meadors will be paid roughly $525,000 in state and private money. Meadors followed the controversial Lu Hardin, who resigned in a bonus scandal that ultimately led to a federal indictment on wire fraud and money laundering, to which he pleaded guilty. General counsel Tom Courtway will serve as interim president, just as he did following Hardin’s departure.
STATE REVENUE. Arkansas general revenue dropped about 1 percent in August compared to the same month last year and fell short by $7 million of what the state had forecast. Lower sales tax collections were largely to blame.