Arkansas nonprofit sues Washington County over use of COVID funds for jail expansion

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

A criminal justice reform group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday requesting a judge block Washington County from using pandemic relief money to expand jail facilities.

Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, which filed the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas alleges officials misallocated federal funds when the Washington County Quorum Court in December 2022 approved $18.8 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding for a jail expansion project.

Washington County voters in November 2022 rejected a proposed temporary sales tax increase to fund the jail expansion. County officials have said an expansion is necessary to address overcrowding.

Arkansas nonprofit sues Washington County over use of COVID funds for jail expansion

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition Executive Director Sarah Moore (right) discusses a lawsuit against Washington County outside the nonprofit’s Fayetteville office on June 4, 2024 as co-founder Beth Coger and program director Gracie Fuhrman.

ArDOT kicks off $310M in road projects in Benton, Washington counties

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Northwest Arkansas will add about 11 miles of interstate-style freeway to the region when nearly $310 million in highway projects are completed over the next three years.

On Wednesday (April 17), Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) officials and area leaders gathered at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill to break ground on phase two of the Springdale Northern Bypass and a connecting road from the bypass to XNA. Combined, the contract values of the two projects exceed $308.46 million.

“Both of these projects represent a total cost of $410 million,” said ArDOT Director Lorie Tudor. “Of that is right-of-way, design and construction. Construction is $310 million, so that just gives you an idea of how much it costs to get a project ready to break ground on.”

ArDOT kicks off $310M in road projects in Benton, Washington counties

Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Springdale Northern Bypass and Northwest Arkansas National Airport connector projects.

Two Arkansas men sentenced in connection with failed Washington County wind farm

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

A federal judge on Tuesday (March 8) sentenced two Arkansas men to federal prison in connection with the development of a wind turbine that was never operational and a proposed wind farm project in Washington County that was never constructed.

U.S. District Judge Tim Brooks sentenced Jody Davis of Searcy to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Phillip Ridings was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both men were also ordered to pay $1.13 million in restitution.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/03/two-arkansas-men-sentenced-in-connection-with-failed-washington-county-wind-farm/

Marijuana Card Holder Sues Over Job Loss

by Mark Friedman

A medical marijuana card holder is suing a northwest Arkansas hospital system for withdrawing a job offer after he tested positive for pot, and he says he’s not alone.

Balance “Lance” Reed of Washington County is seeking class-action status against Northwest Arkansas Hospitals LLC of Springdale, which operates several hospitals including Willow Creek Women’s Hospital and Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville.

Under the law, employers can decide not to hire a medical marijuana patient for a “safety-sensitive position,” such as being a truck driver or manufacturing explosives.

https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/136016/marijuana-card-holder-sues-over-job-loss

Washington County Judge Joseph Wood Joins Lt. Governor’s Race

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Washington County Judge Joseph Wood announced Monday (May 17) he would be a Republican candidate for Arkansas Lt. Governor. Wood is serving his second term as county judge.

“I’m running for Lt. Governor because there are big issues facing our state and my record of cutting government waste, recruiting new businesses, and standing for conservative values are needed for a better Arkansas,” said Wood. “I will bring to the office real–world experience from working with major corporations in the private sector to being a small business owner and fighting for our shared pursuit of life and liberty in the state.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/washington-county-judge-joseph-wood-joins-lt-governors-race/