Little Rock Local News

Little Rock, Arkansas - An 18-year-old man faces serious charges following a fatal shooting incident over the weekend in south Little Rock. Juan Ruiz, aged 18, was arrested on Sunday and charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of a juvenile. The incident took place outside a residence in the 1000 block of Hilaro Springs Road on Saturday night. According to the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, a disturbance outside the home led to the shooting. After the incident, Ruiz reportedly fled the scene. The young victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to a local hospital for...

Little Rock, Arkansas - In a recent development highlighting the ongoing battle against healthcare fraud, Shaona Mizell, a 52-year-old personal care aide from Paragould, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud. This case underscores the commitment of legal authorities to protect public funds and uphold the integrity of healthcare programs. Mizell was convicted of a misdemeanor charge for billing Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income individuals, for several months of care services that she never actually provided. This fraudulent action led to a conviction and sentencing. She received one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $200 fine. Additionally,...

Little Rock, Arkansas - Attorney General Tim Griffin has taken legal action against Imran Bohra, a Little Rock landlord, for allegedly failing to comply with a consent judgement from 2022. This development represents a continuing effort by the Attorney General's office to ensure tenant rights and safe living conditions in rental properties. The backstory of this legal tussle dates back to 2019 when then Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a lawsuit against Imran Bohra and his company, Entropy Systems, Inc. The lawsuit alleged that Bohra rented properties deemed unfit for living. Housing inspectors had detailed five pages of issues at a...

Little Rock, Arkansas - Police have disclosed the identity of a man tragically shot and killed at an apartment complex earlier this week. The victim, 27-year-old Owen Mitchell, was discovered unresponsive in the early hours of Thursday morning. The incident occurred at the Otter Creek Villas apartments, a residential complex located at 13600 Otter Creek Parkway. Police arrived at the scene around 1:30 a.m. to find Mitchell in a breezeway of building 9, showing no signs of life. Despite the efforts of responders, Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene by homicide detectives. His body was then transported to the Arkansas...

Little Rock, Arkansas - The Little Rock School District faced significant challenges this week as a severe winter storm wreaked havoc, damaging at least 13 schools. The district is now grappling with the aftermath of burst water lines, flooded areas, and other storm-related issues, impacting the daily operations and learning environment of many students and staff. Extensive Damage Across Schools The storm's impact was widespread, affecting various schools across the district: At Cloverdale Middle School, a major water line burst in the cafeteria wall caused significant flooding in the kitchen and cafeteria. The water was removed, and the area is now dry,...

Little Rock, Arkansas - The Biden-Harris administration's commitment to environmental sustainability has taken a significant leap forward with the announcement of nearly $1 billion being allocated to schools nationwide. This funding, a part of the Investing in America Agenda, is earmarked for the clean bus initiative. In Arkansas, the Little Rock School District (LRSD) stands as a notable beneficiary, having been selected to receive a substantial grant of $9.8 million. The EPA's inaugural Clean Bus Program Competition, which chose 67 applicants, will enable the distribution of electric buses across 37 states, impacting over 7 million students. Brenda Mallory, Chair of the...

Little Rock, Arkansas - In the world of lotteries, sometimes the most exciting stories are about the tickets that remain unclaimed. Such is the case in Little Rock, where a Powerball ticket worth a staggering $1 million, from Saturday night's draw, is still waiting for its lucky owner to step forward. The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has revealed that this ticket was sold at the Heights Kroger located at 1900 N. Polk St. Eric Hagler, the executive director of the state lottery, urged players who bought Powerball tickets at this Kroger store to check their tickets. The winning numbers for that Saturday's drawing were 4,...

Little Rock, Arkansas - Residents and drivers in Little Rock are gearing up for a significant road closure that will impact traffic in the downtown area. President Clinton Avenue is set to be fully closed from Thursday, January 11 to Tuesday, January 30. This closure comes as part of the ongoing construction efforts on the new I-30 westbound river bridge. During this period, the specific stretch of President Clinton Avenue between Mahlon Martin and Sherman Streets will not be accessible to vehicular traffic. To accommodate this disruption, a detour will be set up, directing traffic to 3rd Street as an alternative...

Little Rock, Arkansas - Little Rock's culinary scene has been enriched with the opening of BB.Q Chicken & Pub, a new Korean restaurant situated where David’s previously stood on Bowman. This marks the chain’s first venture in Little Rock, adding to its extensive global presence. A Fresh Dining Experience BB.Q Chicken & Pub diverges from its predecessor by offering a full-service dining experience, complete with beer and cocktails, making it a delightful addition to the city's dining options. While the restaurant does not feature a drive-thru, like the previous establishment, it compensates by providing the convenience of online ordering and delivery. These...

North Little Rock, Arkansas - The North Little Rock Police Department (NLRPD) is actively seeking the public’s assistance in locating a suspect involved in a violent robbery at a Waffle House on December 15, 2023. Devontea Clay, a 24-year-old suspect, is wanted for aggravated robbery and first-degree battery following the incident at the Waffle House located on Camp Robinson Road. The robbery resulted in a life-threatening injury to a woman who was shot during the crime. According to police reports and witness statements from the restaurant, a black male armed with a handgun entered the Waffle House and demanded money. In the...