Ex- Ark. treasurer’s trial delayed to 2014
LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge has delayed until next year former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner’s trial over charges she steered state investments to a bond broker who paid her more than $ 36,000 in cash.
U. S. District Judge Leon Holmes on Tuesday granted Shoffner’s request to delay her trial, which had been set to begin
July 29. Holmes scheduled her trial to begin March 3, 2014.
Shoffner was indicted June 5 on 14 federal counts of extortion and bribery charges. She was arrested at her Newport home on May 18 after the FBI said it caught her on tape accepting a $ 6,000 payment from the broker, who hasn’t been identified.
Shoffner, a Democrat who was re- elected in 2010, resigned days after her arrest.
Shoffner’s attorney asked for the delay on July 2.
Ark. group submits gay marriage proposal for 2016
LITTLE ROCK — A group has asked Arkansas’ attorney general to approve the wording of a measure legalizing gay marriage for the 2016 ballot.
The Arkansas Initiative for Marriage Equality on Tuesday asked Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to certify the proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize same- sex marriage. If McDaniel certifies the measure, the group can begin gathering signatures needed to place it on the ballot.
If approved by voters, the amendment would state that the right to marry shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender and sexual orientation. The measure would not require churches or religious organizations to perform gay marriages.
Another group has submitted a proposal for next year’s ballot that would ban the Arkansas Constitution’s ban on gay marriage.
Blytheville seeks thieves stealing downtown plants
BLYTHEVILLE — Businesses in downtown Blytheville are asking for help in catching thieves who has been stealing plants that are part of a beautification effort.
Officials say the thefts have been taking place for several months.
Among the victims are a salon, a bank and a ministry.
The Blytheville Courier News reports that business owners are asking the public to come forward if they’ve seen anyone stealing the plants or unusual conduct in the area.
Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson said the department is aware of the problem. Most businesses don’t file police reports about the thefts because the losses don’t rise to the level of an insurance claim.
Ark. House speaker named bank’s regional president
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter has been named regional president of Centennial Bank.
The bank announced Tuesday that the Republican lawmaker from Cabot would oversee the acquisition of Liberty Bank by Centennial’s parent company, Home BancShares Inc. Officials with Home BancShares last month announced the acquisition, a deal they said would create the secondlargest banking company headquartered in Little Rock.
Carter was named Home BancShares’ executive vice president on May 17. The same day, he announced he would not seek the Republican nomination for governor next year.
Home BancShares said its acquisition of Liberty would create a banking company with $ 7.1 billion in assets. The combined company will have 151 branches and 1,500 employees in Arkansas, Florida and southern Alabama.
State Hospital worker fired for hitting patient
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Human Services says a worker at the State Hospital has been fired for hitting a patient with a closed fist.
The hospital on Tuesday dismissed the worker for failing to follow proper guidelines.
Officials say the worker was hit by a patient last Wednesday. The worker responded by punching the patient, who needed a trip to the hospital for stitches.
DHS didn’t name the worker because he can still file an appeal. The employee was placed on administrative leave the day of the incident, pending the outcome of an investigation.
State Hospital CEO Steve Henson says that staff members have to expect to encounter agitated patients and use their training to respond properly.
DHS says its case file was turned over to prosecutors for possible charges.