The state in brief

Bus agency extends comment period

LITTLE ROCK — Rock Region Metro, the transit agency for Pulaski County, has extended the public comment period for its proposed overhaul of its bus network. The agency is in the midst of a 15-day comment period that was supposed to end next week. It followed a series of three public meetings Rock Region held the week of July 5 to accept comment and answer questions about the proposal. The comment period has been extended to Aug. 7. The agency’s board of directors will consider the proposed overhaul at its Aug. 25 meeting. It was originally scheduled to consider it on July 28. Rock Region has proposed eliminating its low-performing routes and replacing them in most cases with an on-demand micro-transit service that it tested in two Little Rock neighborhoods. The micro-transit service will pick up riders at their door and take them anywhere within the zone or to a transfer point where they can resume travel on regular bus service.

— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Fatal shooting reported in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK — Police in a news release Sunday said a woman was shot and killed Saturday night at a home at 1111 S. Hughes St. An individual has been charged with first-degree murder, residential burglary and third-degree battery, according to police. The deceased woman, whom police identified as Omnii Miller, was found dead inside the front door when police arrived. Police said the Hughes Street resident, Shannon Martin, told officers Miller and another individual, identified as Tina Davis, broke through her door in the process of entering her home, forcing Martin to shoot. Police said Martin, Davis and Martin’s daughter were taken to the 12th Street station and interviewed. In the news release, police said Davis has been charged under the accomplice clause of the first-degree murder statute. According to police, Martin was released and hasn’t been charged, pending a review by county prosecutors.

— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

VA to again limit veterans’ visitors

LITTLE ROCK — The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System returned to allowing visitors on an exception-only basis starting Monday because of increasing case numbers of covid-19, according to a Friday news release. The policy means those visiting veterans undergoing inpatient care must arrange visits with hospital staff, the release said. Each veteran will be allowed only one visitor over the age of 19 “to ensure proper safety precautions” for patients and staff. For outpatient treatment, only veterans who need assistance will be allowed to be accompanied by a caregiver, under the policy. Everyone entering Central Arkansas VA buildings will be required to answer screening questions lasting about 10 minutes, use a face mask and follow social distancing, according to the release.

— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Hospitals envision proton therapy hub

LITTLE ROCK — Three Arkansas hospitals signed a letter of intent to create a state proton therapy center, an alternative to traditional radiation for treating cancer. Baptist Health, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s hospital joined in the agreement with Proton International, a Georgia company. A news release said proton therapy works well for some solid-tumor cancers, such as tumors on the brain, spine, lung, prostate, colon and breast. The therapy is sometimes used to treat cancers in children, according to reports. Some clinicians argue it can mitigate harmful effects of older treatments. The center will be housed on the UAMS campus in Little Rock and will allow for patients’ participation in selective national studies and trials, Chancellor Cam Patterson told University of Arkansas System trustees last week. The plan will be presented to trustees for formal approval this fall. It also must be approved by governing boards at the two private nonprofit health systems.

— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Fleeing man nabbed at hotel, police say

LITTLE ROCK — Police on Saturday night arrested 30-year-old Eric Johnson, a resident of Little Rock, after he forced his way into an occupied hotel room while fleeing police after a disturbance, according to an arrest report. Johnson was arrested at the Magnuson Hotel Little Rock South at 2401 W. 65th St. A woman and her son were inside the room at the time, the arrest report said. Johnson hid in the bathroom, according to the report. Johnson faces a felony charge of residential burglary and a misdemeanor charge of fleeing. He remained in the Pulaski County jail as of Sunday evening with no bail set.

— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Officers say man found intoxicated

LITTLE ROCK — Police on Sunday morning arrested Robert Earl Diggs, 40, on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct after the Little Rock man tried to get into someone else’s car, startling the person and prompting a call to police, according to an arrest report. After responding to the area of 10220 W. Markham St., police saw Diggs walking in the street, the arrest report said. Diggs, who was speaking incoherently and slurring his words, told officers that he had taken an ecstasy pill, police said. He did not appear on a roster of Pulaski County jail inmates as of Sunday evening.

— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Upcoming Events