Debra Hale-Shelton

4 days ago | arktimes.com | Debra Hale-Shelton

A judge has ruled that Randal Worcester, whose brutal arrest in Mulberry led to two now-former sheriff’s deputies going to prison, is innocent based on mental disease or defect. Randal Ray Worcester, now 30, of South Carolina was charged in 2022 with terroristic threatening, second-degree battery, resisting arrest, possessing instruments of a crime, obstructing governmental operations and disorderly conduct.

4 days ago | arktimes.com | Debra Hale-Shelton

An increasingly divisive and unpopular Conway School District superintendent might want to start updating his resume. The school board has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, possibly to address Superintendent Jeff Collum‘s contract. An executive session dealing with personnel is the main item on the agenda.

2 weeks ago | arktimes.com | Debra Hale-Shelton

Seven Arkansas families have sued to block a new state law requiring all public schools to “prominently” display the Ten Commandments. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville on Wednesday. The families, which all include public school students, are Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and nonreligious, according to a . On Thursday, they followed up with a motion seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the law, Act 573 of 2025, from taking effect while the lawsuit is pending.

2 weeks ago | arktimes.com | Debra Hale-Shelton

Two former teachers and a parent called for the ouster of Superintendent Jeff Collum during a Conway School Board meeting Tuesday night. “Teacher morale is at an all-time low in the history of the Conway Public School District. Our educators, the backbone of our school, have lost trust and confidence not only in the administration, but also in this board,” former teacher Tami Marsh said. “The community shares that lack of trust.

2 weeks ago | arktimes.com | Debra Hale-Shelton

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson announced Tuesday that he will leave the Little Rock medical school’s top position and return to a faculty position in cardiology. Patterson, 62, cited medical and personal issues that require more attention than he can give while serving as chancellor, according to a UAMS news release. Patterson, a cardiologist, has been chancellor sine June 2018 and also is the UAMS Health chief executive officer.