Capitol to close briefly for sewer line repairs

LITTLE ROCK — Sewer line repairs at the Arkansas state Capitol will require the building to be closed for at least a weekend, and perhaps for several weeks.

Officials in Secretary of State Mark Martin’s office told the

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the sewer lines may be original to the more than 100-year-old building and will be re-lined.

Martin spokesman Chris Powell said the problem was discovered during an investigation of sewer lines after drainage was discovered beneath the Capitol cafeteria. House Chief of Staff Roy Ragland told the House Management Committee that if re-lining the inside of the sewer lines fails to stop leaks, the Capitol could be closed for four weeks for replacement.

The Capitol will be closed from 6 p.m. May 19 through May 21 for the repairs.

TEXARKANA — A Texarkana, Arkansas, man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his girlfriend.

Miller County prosecutors have charged 57-year-old Tony Earl Taylor with the March death of 35-year-old Crystal Reed. He also faces charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

Taylor is being held on $750,000 bond and court records do not list an attorney to speak for him.

The Texarkana Gazette reports that police began questioning Taylor after Reed’s mother reported her missing.

Police later found Reed’s body buried in a heavily wooded area in Ogden.