LITTLE ROCK — 100 YEARS AGO Jan. 24, 1913

ARKANSAS CITY - Lawyers, members of the Circuit Court jury and court officials threw off their coats and helped fight fire here today when the home of Fred Walls was discovered burning. Court was hastily adjourned, and the courtroom quickly deserted. The water pressure was weak, and for a time it seemed that a disastrous conflagration might ensue, but heroic work on the part of the volunteer firemen confined the blaze to the home of Mr. Walls and to an adjoining residence.

50 YEARS AGO Jan. 24, 1963

Little Rockians braved record cold this morning on their way to work over streets mostly clear of yesterday’s hazardous ice. Officially, the reading between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. today dipped to 2 degrees. That’s 3 degrees colder than the previous record low for Jan. 24, a 5-degree reading in 1894.

25 YEARS AGO Jan. 24, 1988

Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson swept a landslide straw poll victory during the “Super Saturday” rally in Little Rock for GOP presidential contenders. Robertson, the only candidate who made a personal appearance at the rally, easily defeated runner-up Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan.

10 YEARS AGO Jan. 24, 2003

The state cannot take custody of a fetus, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday, reversing a Faulkner County circuit judge who ordered the action last August. The justices said that Circuit Judge Linda P. Collier exceeded her authority when she placed an unborn child into the custody of the Department of Human Services.The department said it could not take custody of an unborn child and Collier’s action violated Arkansas Code 9-27-303. That law defines a juvenile for purposes of dependency and neglect cases as anyone “from birth to the age of eighteen.” Collier ordered Alicia Bennett, 24, held in the Faulkner County jail for criminal contempt of court because she failed to follow an order to remain drug free. Bennett was about 51/2 months pregnant and tested positive for methamphetamine use. Collier found Bennett’s unborn child was neglected under state law and should be made a ward of the state.

Arkansas, Pages 12 on 01/24/2013