News in brief
Various projects close several city streets
Etter and Shelby streets, at the intersection of West Grand Avenue, will be closed to traffic from 7 a. m. today until 7 a. m. Tuesday for fiber optic line installation. Neither street will be accessible from West Grand Avenue. Traffic will need to enter and exit from Fawn Street.
Four streets may require lane closures today for manhole replacement. Crews will be working near streets curbs, but may close a lane if needed. The locations include: • 307 Walter St., to the intersection of Newton Street.
• 102 St. Francis Circle, to the intersection of St. George Street.
• 277 Linden St., to the intersection of Linden Park Lane.
• 117 St. George St., to the intersection of Whittington Avenue. This street will require an all- day lane closure.
Signs will be posted, and motorists will need to seek an alternate routes during the closures.
South Patterson Street closed for paving
The 300 block of South Patterson Street, between Ira and Plain Streets, will be closed from 8 a. m. until 4 p. m. today for paving.
Signs will be posted, and motorists will need to seek an alternate route.
Hot Springs Mountain road closed for repairs
Hot Springs Mountain road will partially close Wednesday and Thursday for road repair work. North Mountain Loop and the downhill side of the mountain road will be closed to traffic.
The Mountain Tower will remain open for business. Traffic will be escorted to and from the Mountain Tower by a pilot car. Expect delays of about 10 minutes for pilot car to travel the length of the mountain.
Road work will start at 7 a. m. each day.
Committee still searching for higher ed director
BENTONVILLE — The deadline has passed, but a search committee looking for a director for the state Department of Higher Education says people can still submit resumes.
Thirteen people had applied for the position by Wednesdays’
deadline, and one withdrew. Higher Education Coordinating Board member Kaneaster Hodges told his colleagues Friday the committee is willing to look at those who are still interested in the position.
The director is paid $ 192,775 annually and serves at the pleasure of the governor.
The Arkansas Democrat- Gazette reports that Hodges there are impediments for potential applicants, including the statemandated salary — which the board considers too low — and a new governor in 2015.
Jim Purcell resigned as director in February 2011 to lead Louisiana’s higher education system. Shane Broadway has served as interim director.
Ex- death row inmate due back in court in June
BENTONVILLE — A former Arkansas death row inmate whose conviction was overturned because one juror slept and another tweeted during court proceedings is due back in court this summer.
Lawyers in Erickson DimasMartinez’s case say he has another pre- trial hearing on June 4.
Dimas- Martinez appeared in court in northwest Arkansas on Monday as a judge went through a few pending motions.
Dimas- Martinez was convicted in 2010 in the shooting death of a 17- year- old. He was sentenced to death, but the Arkansas Supreme Court overturned his conviction last year.
He’s slated to go on trial in August. Prosecutors say they’re seeking the death penalty again.
LR districts oppose ending desegregation agreement
LITTLE ROCK — Three Little Rock- area school districts are asking a federal judge to deny Arkansas’ attempt to end a desegregation settlement agreement that has required the state to pay the schools more than $ 1 billion since 1989.
The Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts on Monday filed briefs opposing the state’s request last month to end the agreement.
Little Rock said the request should be dismissed and said the state hasn’t proven how it’s complied with the agreement.
Pulaski County proposed the court modify the agreement and approve creating a Jacksonville- area school district that it says would help the district to attain unitary — or substantially desegregated — status. North Little Rock also argued that if the payments are terminated, they are they should be phased out.
Whirlpool to shutter Fort Smith plant June 29
FORT SMITH — Whirlpool Corp. has formalized its closing plan for its refrigerator factory in Fort Smith.
The company has sent Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders a letter saying that 834 workers will lose their jobs on June 29. Another 77 employees will be terminated by July 31.
Benton Harbor, Mich.- based Whirlpool has been reducing the number of workers at the plant for years, since opening a side- by- side refrigerator plant in Mexico.
The factory had 4,600 workers as recently as 2006 but the company lists only 917 in the layoff notice, including management.
Fort Smith television station KHBS reports the last six workers will be laid off by Aug. 31. The letter says there is no plan to recall any workers because the plant will become idle.
Revenue drop causes cutback in airport grants
SPRINGDALE — Improvements at Arkansas airports could be delayed after a state agency announced a cutback in funding.
The Springdale Morning News reports that the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission is cutting back on grants because of a decline in sales tax revenue.
A letter from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics says the commission will only give money to projects that receive Federal Aviation Administration grants.
Agency director John Knight says projects that are unlikely to receive FAA grants include hangar renovations and improvements to terminals, fuel systems and security systems.
The aeronautics department’s money comes from sales taxes on airplanes, fuel and other supplies. Knight says the department’s income falls when people cut back on flying.