Little Rock Local News

Little Rock, Arkansas - The Little Rock Police Department has revised its policy to permit patrol officers to bring home their police vehicles. This strategic change, endorsed by both the department's leadership and union representatives, aims to expand the force's reach and increase police visibility in local communities. According to LRPD Assistant Chief Troy Ellison, who is supervising the introduction of an updated fleet, "It's leaps and bounds on how it can benefit (a) neighborhood, knowing there's an officer right next door to them because there's a car there." Earlier this year, the Little Rock Board of Directors sanctioned over $3.57 million...

Little Rock, Arkansas - A construction project slated to last four weeks is due to commence in Little Rock on Monday. The Public Works Department of the City of Little Rock has revealed that reconstruction efforts on North Rodney Parham Road, extending from Buff Lane to Pleasant Valley Drive, will kick off on Monday, August 7. During this period, drivers will be provided with two alternative detour routes. With respect to detour route option one: Traffic will be rerouted to Valley Club Circle via Pleasant Valley Drive, proceed south along Valley Club Circle, and then make a turn on Buff Lane to reach North...

Little Rock, Arkansas - The 83rd edition of the Arkansas State Fair is slated to return in October, with organizers initiating early preparations to facilitate smooth participation for all attendees. The State Fair management announced the commencement of the 'Fair Frenzy' promotion, as well as the main stage concert lineup in anticipation of this year's event. The 'Fair Frenzy' initiative offers attendees the opportunity to avail significant discounts on both admission tickets and ride bands. Early bird admission tickets are priced at $5, while ride bands can be purchased in advance for $30. This discount promotion will commence on August 1 and terminate...

Little Rock, Arkansas - The city of Little Rock has faced a significant setback as a Pulaski County jury ruled in favor of Roderick Keith King Hickman, a former employee of the Parks and Recreation department, in a landmark wrongful termination lawsuit. The jury determined that the city had infringed upon Hickman's civil rights, leading to his unwarranted dismissal. This verdict establishes a critical precedent, signifying a crucial turning point in the advocacy for employee rights and protection against discrimination. In this article, we will delve into the case specifics and evaluate the consequences of this profound triumph. Roderick Keith King Hickman,...

Little Rock, Arkansas - The American Automobile Association (AAA) characterizes the current season as the "100 deadliest days on the road," signifying an interval where more adolescents are at the steering wheel, thus raising the risk of fatal accidents. The police department in Little Rock has observed an alarming 43% spike in fatal automobile crashes compared to the previous year. The task of monitoring traffic patterns and deciding when drivers receive a green signal is a responsibility borne by William Henry, the Traffic Engineer Manager of Little Rock. He commented, "If you're driving above the speed limit, then you're going to...

Little Rock, Arkansas - The Little Rock Police Department has initiated a request to the state's Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission for the decertification of a former officer, Henry Topps. This follows his misconduct that was linked to a fatal incident involving a 12-year-old driver and a 14-year-old passenger in 2021. The decertification proceedings commenced after Topps' resignation, which occurred during an investigation into the incident. The Commission received the department's request on March 30th, setting off the decertification process. Topps, who has been informed about these proceedings, has a period of 20 days to dispute the decertification and ask...

Little Rock, Arkansas - Law enforcement in Little Rock reported the arrest of two individuals in relation to a fatal shooting incident that transpired in December. The Little Rock Police Department disclosed that homicide investigators have apprehended Carlo Spencer, a 20-year-old male, linked to the shooting event on Dec. 6, situated on the 11500 block of West Markham Street. Officials have brought charges of capital murder against Spencer. Simultaneously, detectives have arrested 21-year-old Kevin Pringle, another suspect associated with the same shooting incident. Pringle, too, is facing a capital murder charge. In addition, on the preceding Friday, a representative from LRPD indicated...

Little Rock, Arkansas - In an initiative to bolster the fire department's resources, the City of Little Rock Board of Directors has sanctioned an amount of $8.5 million for the purchase of new fire trucks. The board approved the substantial funding to facilitate the acquisition of numerous new vehicles for the department. This significant investment will include the addition of seven state-of-the-art pumper trucks and a novel ladder truck to the Little Rock Fire Department's fleet. In a recent social media post, the city expressed that this approval demonstrates its commitment to prioritize safety, reinforcing their investment in the capabilities and preparedness...

Little Rock, Arkansas – The Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock is hosting a complimentary community gathering, the Family Touch-a-Truck event, aimed at providing families with a unique opportunity to explore a variety of specialized vehicles. The event is scheduled to take place in the southwest parking lot of the mall on Saturday, commencing at 11 a.m. and concluding at 3 p.m., as stated by an official representative. A broad spectrum of vehicles will be showcased during the event, with options extending from police cars and ambulances to fire trucks and more, according to a mall spokesperson. A number of local and regional...

Little Rock, Arkansas - In an endeavor to elevate the quality of its emergency response services, Little Rock has initiated the deployment of an innovative 911 protocol system. This system, referred to as the priority dispatch system, has been designed with an emphasis on the harmonization and standardization of emergency call handling, thereby enabling consistent procedures in crisis scenarios. Leveraging a logic-based methodology, the system is poised to introduce significant advancements to the management of emergency calls within the city. A prominent attribute of the priority dispatch system is its facilitation of effective information gathering by call handlers. This is achieved...