State Digest
Study finds economic growth from Arkansas casino amendment
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A study by an economic research institute has found that the economic impact from approving Arkansas' casino ballot measure could result in 6,000 additional jobs for the state and $39 million in annual state and local revenue.
The Arkansas Economic Development Institute, an independent research group, said Friday that the study shows an increase of $5.8 billion in economic activity over 10 years for the state.
The study was commissioned by Driving Arkansas Forward, a group which advocates for the casino expansion ballot measure known as Issue 4.
The proposed constitutional amendment would allow two new casinos, one in Jefferson County near Pine Bluff and the other in Pope County near Russellville, and would expand gambling in Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs and Southland Racing Corp. in West Memphis.
Arkansas school cancels football season on bullying concerns
NEWARK (AP) — A high school in northeast Arkansas has canceled the remainder of its varsity football season after players quit the team following a meeting about bullying and unsportsmanlike behavior.
Jennifer Seaman, a spokeswoman for Cedar Ridge High School in Newark, said in a statement Friday that district administrators decided to cancel the season because of safety concerns from a lack of players.
Seaman says Cedar High's principal, who is also athletic director, met with the team Monday to address reports of team bullying made by multiple players and parents, as well as "unsportsmanlike game behavior" officials reported during two games. Some players quit the next day.
A post on the school district's Facebook page says the school is working to schedule junior varsity games and anticipates a varsity return next season.
Chancellor: Student center, research building top priorities
FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — The chancellor of the University of Arkansas says two top priorities for the campus are construction of both a new student center and a research building to enable more faculty research.
Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said in an address Thursday that the student center, expected to cost up to $45 million, would include space for tutoring, mentoring and food services.
He says the project, along with others, will help improve upon a freshmen student-retention rate that's already at an all-time high.
The university generated more than $13 million in new revenue this year and he says much of that went to faculty salary increases.
He says that, in turn, will foster broader faculty research projects.
Federal research expenditures for the university increased last year from about $46 million to $52 million.
Officials: Oklahoma City lamp posts were grounded
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City officials say an electrical inspection has found that a lamp post that electrocuted a man after he fell in a canal was grounded and correctly connected.
The Oklahoman reports that city officials said Wednesday that the lamp post wasn't grounded .
Oklahoma City spokeswoman Kristy Yager says there may have been a miscommunication between city workers about technical details. She says work to fix loose or damaged posts is expected to be finished Thursday.
The city's Parks and Recreation Department is working on reducing the lighting system's voltage.
Wesley Seeley of Tuttle was killed Sunday when he fell into a canal in the Bricktown entertainment district and then grabbed a lamp post to try and pull himself out. Brandon Gann of Arkansas was shocked while trying to help Seeley and remains in critical condition.