Fayetteville bans using city money for foam containers

FAYETTEVILLE — Leaders in Fayetteville have approved a measure that bans the city from buying disposable products made from Styrofoam.

The Fayetteville City Council on Tuesday approved the ban on polystyrene foam, better known as Styrofoam. The measure also applies to vendors operating on city property, but it makes an exception for construction material.

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that council members may consider a citywide ban in the future.

Last month, Maine became the first state to ban single-use food and drink containers made from Styrofoam.

Dozens of communities from Berkeley, California, to New York City have already passed their own bans, some of which date back to the late 1980s.

Drugmakers ask court to dismiss opioid lawsuit

LITTLE ROCK — Three drug manufacturers are asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that Arkansas’ attorney general filed accusing the companies of deceptive marketing that fueled a spike in opioid abuse.

Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and Endo Pharmaceuticals responded Monday to the lawsuit that Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed last year against the companies over the opioid crisis. The state claims the companies broke laws against deceptive trade practices and the filing of false Medicaid claims.

The lawsuit was the first of two that Rutledge filed against drug companies over the opioid crisis. The Republican last month filed a lawsuit against three drug distributors.

Bella Vista warned of unsafe air near underground fire

BELLA VISTA — A property owner’s association is warning residents about the unhealthy air near an underground fire that’s been burning for 10 months at a former unlicensed dump in northwest Arkansas.

Crews began fighting the fire Saturday at the Trafalgar Road site in Bella Vista, about 170 miles northwest of Little Rock.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Bella Vista Property Owners Association’s chief operating officer Tom Judson says the goal is to quench the fire within 30 days.

The fire that’s burning at least 70 feet underground was first reported in July.

Some residents say smoke from the fire has caused respiratory and other health problems .

Arkansas’ Legislature passed a bill in March appropriating $20 million to help clean up the fire.