The state/region in brief

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Posted: July 30, 2009 at 5:36 a.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — 8th Circuit rules on search consent

A federal appeals court has ruled that the co-occupant of a house where the two adult residents shared a computer had standing to give consent for police to search for child pornography.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that it didn't matter that the other resident didn't share ownership with Andrew Philip Nichols of the home in Alma.

The woman called police after she found a sexual image of her minor child on a disk generated by the computer. She showed the image to police and gave them the disk, which they used to obtained the warrant.

Nichols had entered a conditional guilty plea to producing visual depictions of child pornography, contingent on the outcome of his appeal.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSUALR hires director of human resources

Annette Murdock-Tangye of Monroe, La., has been hired as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's director of human resources services.

Murdock-Tangye has worked as the University of Louisiana at Monroe's assistant director of human resources since 2004.

She is a former petty officer third class with the U.S. Navy.

Besides her experience in higher education human-resource management, Murdock-Tangye has worked as training and development coordinator at the university in Monroe, catering manager at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., and marketing manager of LSG Sky Chefs in Guam and Saipan.

Murdock-Tangye begins work at UALR on Aug. 17. She will earn a salary of $90,000, a spokesman said.

- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTEWoman hospitalized

after lightning hit

JUDSONIA - Authorities say a Judsonia woman was hospitalized after a lightning strike.

Authorities say the woman was working at a fruit stand Wednesday at the Thakerland Flea Market and had her hand on a tent pole when lightning struck.

Authorities say that she was unconscious when an ambulance arrived. She was taken to White County Medical Center.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

2 held in drinking

death of boy, 11

JOPLIN, Mo. - A Joplin man and his girlfriend have been charged in the drinking death of the man's 11-year-old nephew.

Records filed Tuesday in Jasper County Circuit Court say that Dale Phillips, 27, challenged his nephew, Tyler J.

Fecko, to an alcohol drinking game that led to his death.

Authorities also allege that Phillips and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Linda Petrait, participated in the game on Monday and did not supervise Tyler after the drinking. Police said three other children were in the home at the time. Phillips and Petrait are both charged with one count of first-degree child endangerment. Each is being held on $50,000 bond.

Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Dean Dankelson said he anticipates filing more charges.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMan held in deaths of 2 in drug-lab fire

TULSA - Tulsa police said they've arrested a man in connection with a methamphetamine lab fire that killed two people at a Tulsa apartment complex in March.

Mark Roberts is being held in the Tulsa County Jail on $600,300 bail on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Maria Martinez, 39, and Armando Nunez, 35.

Prosecutors have also charged Roberts, 44, with firstdegree arson and manufacturing a controlled drug.

Roberts was burned in the March 10 fire and was hospitalized but was released before the charges were filed.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

2 teens charged

in man's slaying

OKEMAH, Okla. - Two teenagers have been arrested on first-degree murder charges after a man was found dead in the eastern Oklahoma town of Okemah.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Jessica Brown said Tony Gibson, 18, of Okemah and his 16-year-old brother were arrested Wednesday after the body of Victor Berryhill, 24, was found outside the Creek Nation Housing Complex.

The name of Gibson's younger brother is being withheld until he is formally charged.

Brown said it appears Berryhill was beaten and stabbed to death, but the medical examiner will determine his cause of death.

Berryhill's body was found around 5 a.m. Wednesday in a parking lot.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFetus found in filter at wastewater plant

TULSA - Tulsa police said a human fetus was discovered trapped in a filter at the city's wastewater treatment facility.

Officer Leland Ashley said officers were called to the city's wastewater lift station about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after workers spotted the fetus.

Detectives and an investigator for the medical examiner's office determined the remains were human and that the fetus had been trapped in the filter as it passed through the wastewater system.

Ashley said the fetus was not full term and a cause of death has not been determined.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSGovernor OKs funds for veterans homes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.

- Gov. Jay Nixon said Tuesday that he will allow $16.1 million to be spent for renovations - previously stalled by his administration - at Missouri's seven veterans homes.

Missouri lawmakers included money for the construction projects in the state budget that took effect July 1. But Nixon, a Democrat, blocked the ability to spend it out of concern that it could bankrupt a state fund that helps pay for the facilities.

Nixon's office said Tuesday that it now is allowing the money to be spent because the federal government has increased the reimbursement that is paid to states for running the facilities.

The Missouri Veterans Commission operates homes in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St.

James, St. Louis and Warrensburg.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 07/30/2009

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