Mayor says Little Rock tornado cleanup could cost $10 million

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Crews continue to survey and clear the streets of Little Rock just over a month after an EF-3 tornado ripped through parts of the city.

City contractors have worked since mid-April to remove fallen trees and vegetation from some of the hardest-hit areas of west Little Rock. Work began this week to haul away rubble and scrap from damaged buildings.

In a briefing Tuesday at Little Rock City Hall, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said it could take two to three months for the city to complete the debris removal process. But, he says, the overall recovery could last as long as two years.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-03/mayor-says-little-rock-tornado-cleanup-could-cost-10-million

Tornado debris collection to begin in Little Rock; 3,000 buildings damaged

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Little Rock city officials say last month’s tornado left roughly 3,000 buildings damaged or destroyed.

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said he and city officials will hold bi-weekly briefings to update residents on cleanup efforts. Speaking at City Hall on Friday, Little Rock Emergency Management Administrator Matt Burks said the total price tag of the storm damage is still unclear.

“All told, we’ve currently identified 89 structures, mostly residential, completely destroyed; 496 having received major damage, 636 with minor damage, 203 that were affected in some way by the storm, and 76 unaffected,” Burks said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-04-14/tornado-debris-collection-to-begin-in-little-rock-3-000-buildings-damaged

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. speaks in a news briefing at City Hall on Friday, April 14, 2023.

Little Rock To Host National Junior College Football Championship

By DANIEL BREEN

Central Arkansas will be the host of the National Junior College Athletic Association Football Championship for the next three years.

State and local tourism officials joined Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. for the announcement Friday at War Memorial Stadium, which will host the games. Hutchinson said the opportunity is now possible thanks to relaxed coronavirus restrictions.

“We’re wide open. We’re doing business, we’re vaccinated, we’re increasing that every day, our cases are down, and we’re going to be in business for a long time. We never shut down, we’re going to have our crowds, we’re planning on that, and so we’re ready for this,” Hutchinson said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/little-rock-host-national-junior-college-football-championship

[Left to right] LRCVB President & CEO Gretchen Hall, NJCAA President & CEO Dr. Christopher Parker, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. meet at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.

CREDIT DANIEL BREEN / KUAR NEWS