State briefs

Finance officials say revenue up in October

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas finance officials say the state’s revenue in October was above both expectations and the same month last year.

The Department of Finance and Administration said Friday the state’s net available revenue in October totaled $435.4 million. That’s $20.9 million above the same month a year ago and $24.1 million above forecast.

Arkansas’ net revenue so far for the fiscal year that began July 1 totals $1.9 billion, which is $57.5 million above forecast.

The department says tax refunds, mainly from corporate income tax filings, were significantly lower than expected in October.

The state’s individual income tax collections were lower than October last year, but above the forecast. Sales tax collections were above the same month last year, but below forecast due in part to lower utility sales tax collections.

LR police chief chosen to lead Syracuse’s force

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The police chief for Little Rock has been chosen to lead the Syracuse Police Department.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has introduced Little Rock Police Department Chief Kenton Buckner during a news conference Friday morning at Syracuse City Hall.

Buckner has been police chief in Little Rock since 2014. He was chosen from among three finalists after an eightmonth search to select a successor to Frank Fowler, who’s retiring.

Buckner spent most of his career with the police department in Louisville, Kentucky. He said in a recent interview that one of his top priorities in Syracuse would be to reduce violent crime.

He’ll take over a police force dealing with a recent spate of gun violence that killed boys, ages 12 and 15, and wounded several other children and adults.