State briefs

Part of town evacuated, record flood in forecast

POCAHONTAS — Parts of the northeast Arkansas town of Pocahontas have been evacuated as the rising Black River nears record flood levels.

The river began rising during the weekend and more heavy rainfall is in the forecast. The National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, says the flood waters are expected to cut off access to highways and flood homes and businesses.

The Randolph County Office of Emergency Management says about 150 people are affected by the evacuations in east Pocahontas.

As of midmorning Tuesday, the Black River at Pocahontas was just below 28 feet, already above the flood stage of 17 feet and major flood stage of 25 feet. The river is expected to crest Thursday at 31.5 feet, or 3 feet above a record high set in the spring 2011 floods.

Medical board investigating purchase of execution drugs

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas State Medical Board says it’s investigating the state’s purchase of lethal injection drugs used in four executions last month.

Under Arkansas law, doctors can participate in executions. But in a court case last month, questions were raised about whether Arkansas improperly used a doctor’s name and license to purchase one of the drugs.

The Department of Correction denied the claims. Arkansas doesn’t have to publicly reveal details about how it obtains the drugs because of a secrecy law.

Kevin O’Dwyer, an attorney for the medical board, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the board can subpoena witnesses and records and has the authority to reprimand doctors or revoke their licenses.

Arkansas’ execution protocol calls for an emergency medical technician, nurse, physician’s assistant or physician to be present.

Fort Smith files lawsuit over unfinished project

FORT SMITH — A western Arkansas city is suing a state senator and a county official for nearly

$27,000 in state grant money to finish a project.

The Southwest Times Record reports Fort Smith terminated its contract with the River Valley Sports Complex in February after state Sen. Jake Files and Sebastian County Election Commissioner Lee Webb repeatedly missed deadlines to finish the project on city-owned property.

The city entered the contract in 2014 with an estimated June 2015 completion. Fort Smith donated

$1.08 million of its $1.6 million donation promise before ending the contract. Four subcontractors who weren’t paid for the work they did on the complex are also suing Fort Smith for over $200,000.

Files previously told the newspaper that he and Webb aren’t responsible for paying the contractors since their contract was terminated.