State briefs

Man accused of taking 388 quarters from laundromat

LITTLE ROCK — Police in North Little Rock have accused a 31-year-old man of taking 388 quarters from dryers at a laundromat.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Jarad Paul Hughes is accused of collecting $97 worth of quarters from three dryers where coin drawers had been broken into.

A police report says officers arrived at the laundromat around 4:35 a.m. Tuesday after an alarm went off. Officers found Hughes inside the business with 388 quarters on his person.

Hughes, who was taken to the Pulaski County Jail, faces three counts of breaking and entering. Bail was set at $45,000.

Texarkana board bans the chaining of dogs

TEXARKANA — Texarkana has passed an ordinance banning the chaining of dogs.

The city Board of Directors

voted 6-1 to adopt an ordinance that will change how dogs may be tied up within city limits, the Texarkana Gazette reported.

The ordinance says dogs can’t be chained to stationary objects but may be restrained with a “trolley” or pulley system that allows more freedom of movement. It takes effect next month.

Ward 2 Director Laney Harris voted against the ordinance. He has been critical of the new law because it’ll allow animal control officers to seize a chained dog without a court warrant after a warning and a 10-day waiting period.

“I’ll end by saying if you start by taking the rights away from somebody, you’re eventually going to take the rights away of everybody,” he said.

The director of Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center, Charles Lokey, said he was pleased with the board’s decision and called it a step forward for Texarkana.

Lokey said animal control officers can hold an animal to protect its welfare. He said any cases warranting a seizure of a dog would result from animal neglect or cruelty serious enough that the dog’s owner would subsequently appear in court.

Arkansas House votes to keep primary in March

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas House has voted to permanently move the state’s primary from May to March, but the idea faces an uphill battle in the Senate where the move has already been rejected.

The bill approved by the House by a 73-10 vote would move the state’s primary to the first Tuesday in March. Lawmakers voted to temporarily move the state’s primary last year to that date as part of an effort among southeastern state to create a regional nominating contest for the presidential election.

Supporters of the move have said it helped raise Arkansas’ profile and should become permanent. However, a similar proposal failed in the Senate earlier this year after opponents said it would effectively lead to non-stop political campaigns in the state.