CAMDEN — Prison inmate dies from suicide attempt injuries
NEWPORT (AP) — Arkansas prison officials say an inmate has died two days after a suicide attempt.
Department of Correction spokeswoman Dina Tyler says 29-year-old Jesse James of Conway died Wednesday night at a hospital where he was taken after being found hanging from a bed sheet in his cell at the Grimes Unit in Newport. He was serving a 15-year sentence for theft and burglary in Faulkner County.
Tyler says guards found James hanging and unconscious in his cell about 9 p.m. Monday and that he never regained consciousness.
James' body was sent to the state crime lab to determine the exact cause of death.
Police find child that was taken from home
ROGERS (AP) — Police in Rogers say they have found a 2-year-old boy safe after he was reported missing early Thursday. Police said Thursday afternoon that the child had been located in Atoka, Okla.
Earlier Thursday, police said the mother had called to report she had gotten into a fight with her roommate and that he had taken the child and left the residence.
According to police, someone who had seen an Amber Alert about the child spotted the suspect's vehicle and called emergency operators. The Atoka County Sheriff's Office stopped the car, retrieved the child and detained a suspect. The child was reported to be in good health.
Sanitizer plant set to start production in Fort Smith
FORT SMITH (AP) — A company that makes a key component of sanitizers says it will build a pilot production facility in Fort Smith and eventually put its company headquarters there.
TiFiber Inc. says the move could create up to 100 jobs by 2019. Production would begin next year to meet Food and Drug Administration certification, then expand into significant production in 2017.
The Southwest Times Record newspaper reported Thursday that TiFiber makes a sanitizer that kills bacteria without triclosan or triclocarban. Those substances have been shown to alter hormone regulation and may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
The FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency are reviewing the effects of triclosan on human and environmental health.
Arkansas governor’s portrait to be unveiled
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The portrait for outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will be unveiled at the state Capitol.
Beebe planned to host the unveiling of his official portrait today, less than a month before he's set to leave office due to term limits.
The Democrat was first elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.
Beebe announced earlier this year that he had chosen Garland County art instructor Ovita Goolsby to paint his portrait.
Beebe's portrait will be hung on the east side of the governor's reception room at the Capitol, and former Gov. Mike Huckabee's portrait will be moved from that spot to the second-floor rotunda.
Beebe is being succeeded by Republican Asa Hutchinson, who will be sworn in Jan. 13.
State closing 28 miles of lanes over holiday
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Travelers will come across 28 miles of lane closures on major Arkansas roads during the upcoming holiday season.
The state Highway and Transportation Department said Friday the longest restriction will be along eight miles of Interstate 530 from Little Rock to near the Sheridan exit.
Interstate 40 will have lane restrictions in both directions for five miles near West Memphis, for five miles in eastbound lanes near Brinkley, and four miles in both directions near Russellville.