Page 4 - Jon Eubanks News Today

A bill to overhaul the make-up of public education cooperatives failed to make it through a House committee Tuesday.

Senate votes to nix running-car law

Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, was elected to an unprecedented third term as speaker of the Arkansas House shortly after state chambers convened on Monday.

EL DORADO -- The man who is set to become the longest-serving Arkansas House speaker doesnt have a lot to say. Instead, he listens. Matthew Shepherd, a 46-year-old lawyer from El Dorado, is poised to enter his third full term as speaker.

EL DORADO -- The man who is set to become the longest-serving Arkansas House speaker doesnt have a lot to say. Instead, he listens. Matthew Shepherd, a 46-year-old lawyer from El Dorado, is poised to enter his third full term as speaker.

FORT SMITH -- The Western Arkansas Planning and Development District reported helping secure over $1.8 million more in grant money for entities in its service area this year compared to last year.

I first met Lt. Ridge Alkonis during his time at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was a close friend of my youngest son, Andrew. I would regularly meet Ridge in Annapolis during visits with my son, and even hosted Ridge in Arkansas for a Razorback football game one year.

Despite large spending and unprecedented numbers of open seats and candidates, voters in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley returned all serving legislators seeking another term or at least didn't fire them yet.

Runoffs will determine loaded state House races in Benton County, and two sitting legislators in the River Valley appeared to withstand challenges in their primaries Tuesday.

Arkansas lawmakers adjourned a three-day special session on Thursday despite efforts by some to extend their time at the state Capitol.