State Digest

Arkansas man accused of trying to kill US airman in Japan

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal grand jury in Arkansas has issued a new indictment against a man and his son alleging the father attempted to kill a U.S. airman on a military base in Japan.

Justice Department and Air Force officials said Tuesday Rodrigo Pineda Gomez, formerly of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and his son, Miguel Gomez, allegedly assaulted three airmen on Misawa Air Base in 2016 and that Rodrigo Gomez allegedly attempted to kill one of them.

An earlier indictment accused Rodrigo Gomez of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault charges, but he is accused in the new indictment of also lying to law enforcement about who threw the first punch. His son is accused of assault and resisting arrest.

Authorities say the father and son were residing with a service member on the base.

3 Jonesboro radio stations knocked off air by copper thefts

JONESBORO (AP) — Three Jonesboro radio stations are back on the air after copper thieves disrupted operations and damaged the transmitter building and a backup generator.

The outages affecting East Arkansas Broadcasters stations KIYS, KIYS HD2 and KBTM were discovered about 1:20 a.m. Monday.

EAP Chief Operating Officer Scott Siler told The Jonesboro Sun that the stations returned to the air about 9 a.m. Monday.

Damage to the building and generator is estimated at $80,000.

The Craighead County Sheriff's Office reports the wires were cut and were pulled from the ground and the building by a truck using either a rope or a cable.