State briefs

Minimum wage proposal qualifies for ballot

LITTLE ROCK — A measure to gradually raise Arkansas’ minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2021 has qualified for the November ballot.

The Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office said Thursday that backers of the campaign have turned in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. The proposal needed at least 67,887 signatures from registered voters to qualify, and the state says the group submitted more than 84,000 valid signatures.

The initiated act will be Issue Five on the ballot this year. Voters will also consider whether to limit damages awarded in lawsuits, amend the Arkansas Constitution to require photo identification to vote, and impose stricter term limits for lawmakers. A group working to legalize casinos in Arkansas has until next week to submit additional signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

Officer hurt after wind knocks over helicopter

LITTLE ROCK — Authorities say one person was hurt when a powerful wind toppled a Little Rock Police Department helicopter during a test run.

Little Rock Police Lt. Michael Ford tells TV station KATV that a pilot was conducting the test run Thursday after a new battery was installed in the helicopter. Ford says a straightline wind tipped the helicopter off a staging area it was sitting on, then the aircraft went into a malfunction and started spinning on the ground.

Ford says one officer suffered a serious head injury but was able to talk to emergency crews as they arrived.

The incident happened on the south side of the city near Interstate 530.

Satanic Temple unveils statue at Capitol

LITTLE ROCK — The Satanic Temple has unveiled its statue of a goat-headed, winged creature called Baphomet during a rally at the Arkansas State Capitol to protest a Ten Commandments monument already on the Capitol grounds.

With Satanists, atheists and Christians among those in attendance Thursday, a parade of speakers called for the removal of the Ten Commandments monument or for state government officials to install Baphomet as well. The Satanic Temple says the Ten Commandments monument violates constitutional freedom of religion rights and that installation of their statue will demonstrate religious tolerance.

The statue of Baphomet, who is seated and accompanied by two smiling children, can’t be installed under a 2017 law that requires legislative sponsorship for all monuments. The Satanic Temple has said it will sue the state, claiming religious discrimination.

Pro-casino group raises $1M in July for proposal

LITTLE ROCK — An organization working to legalize casinos in Arkansas says it raised more than $1 million last month from two American Indian tribes in neighboring Oklahoma.

Driving Arkansas Forward reported Wednesday that it spent nearly $1.5 million in July and ended the month with $61,086. The group is campaigning for a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand casino gambling at a Hot Springs horse track and a West Memphis dog track. The proposal would also legalize casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties.

Downstream Development Authority of the Quapaw Tribe

donated $489,000 to the campaign in July and Cherokee Nation Businesses donated $525,300.

The campaign last month was given until August 24 to submit additional signatures to qualify for the ballot after falling short of the nearly 85,000 from registered voters needed.

Aerospace firm announces $50 million expansion

LITTLE ROCK — An aerospace manufacturer announced Wednesday a $50 million expansion of its facility in south Arkansas and said it will hire 140 new people for the project over the next three years.

Aeroject Rocketdyne announced it will expand its facility in East Camden, 83 miles southwest of Little Rock, where the company manufactures solid rocket motors and warheads. Company officials say the expansion will give it the capability to build large solid rocket motors, which provide propulsion for the Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent.

More than 800 people currently work at the company’s East Camden site, which spans

140 buildings and 1,940 acres. The full-time jobs are expected to pay an average annual salary of $55,000. The company has been in Arkansas since 1979.

The expansion project is receiving $1.3 million in state incentives for infrastructure and equipment, as well as a payroll rebate and sales tax refund. The project is also receiving

$236,900 in local incentives, along with an agreement that will abate local property taxes by up to 65 percent.