Little Rock theater suspends productions

LITTLE ROCK — A Little Rock theater has suspended its productions indefinitely.

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s board of directors announced the decision Tuesday. Financial issues forced the theater to cancel its final production and cease future planning.

“This has been one of the saddest days of my life, when we had to talk to staff today and say we’re going to suspend operations,” said Ruth Shepherd, chairwoman-elect of The Rep.

Board Chairman Brian Bush said a decline in ticket sales and an increase in theater options

around the city contributed to the shuttering.

But theater officials hope to eventually bring back the theater. Bush said the theater hopes to fundraise $750,000 to ensure financial stability for The Rep when it returns.

Bush said the board has assembled a committee with Shepherd at its head that’s working to raise the money and revamping the theater for the future.

The committee is expected to come up with a working plan by early August to present to patrons, donors and lenders.

Shepherd said she hopes the community “will step up and help us, now, through this challenging time.”

The theater will still host the Artworks auction on April 28 and Ballet Arkansas from May 4-6. It’ll issue a refund for any tickets purchased, but not yet redeemed, including single tickets, season subscriptions and flex passes.

Governor allows grant for tornado disaster relief

FORT SMITH — The governor of Arkansas has authorized a $100,000 grant for a town recovering from a tornado that recently swept through the area.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson is using specialized funds to aid Mountainburg, a northwestern Arkansas town that didn’t qualify for state of federal assistance.

Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis says governor officials announced the grant out of the state emergency proclamation fund for “large debris removal” in the area on Tuesday.

The Southwest Times Record reports that the grant is part of

$175,400 given to four areas in Arkansas damaged after a wave of severe weather this month.

Crawford County, Mulberry and Howard County will also receive funds. Mountainburg is located in Crawford County.

The April 13 tornado left

2,000 without power, damaged approximately 160 structures and resulted in four injuries.

Court halts rulings against state’s dicamba ban

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ highest court has halted orders by two judges exempting some farmers from the state’s ban of an herbicide that took effect last week.

The state Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed temporary restraining orders issued by judges in Phillips and Mississippi counties preventing the state from enforcing its ban on dicamba on groups of farmers in those counties.

The state Plant Board’s dicamba ban took effect last week and will run through October 31. The ban was issued after the board received nearly 1,000 complaints last summer that the herbicide drifted onto crops and caused damage.

The state Supreme Court earlier this month stayed a similar ruling by a Pulaski County judge exempting six farmers from the dicamba ban.