LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Outgoing Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has set a special election for April 14th to fill the vacant state Senate seat that had been held by the incoming governor's new chief of staff. Beebe on Friday called for a special election to fill the District 16 seat held by former Senate President Michael Lamoureux, a Republican. Primary elections for the seat will be held January 13th, with runoffs set for February 10th if required.
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THE DOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PREPARE FOR A THIRD MILLAGE ELECTION, WITH A FEBRUARY 10th BALLOT PLANNED. THE UPCOMING PROPOSAL CALLS FOR AN INCREASE OF 3.2 MILLS, NEEDED TO REFINANCE A CURRENT BOND ISSUE AND PRODUCE 6.2-MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW REVENUE FOR NECESSARY DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION. THAT CONSTRUCTION WOULD ALLOW SUBSTANCIAL RENOVATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES AND NEW CLASSROOMS AND PHYSICIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES AT THE DISTRICT'S MIDDLE SCHOOL. TWO PREVIOUS MILLAGE ELECTIONS FAILED TO RECEIVE THE APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT'S PATRONS.
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DURING THEIR NOVEMBER SESSION, THE ARKANSAS TECH BOARD OF TRUSTEES AUTHORIZED UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS TO INVEST $4.67 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, FOR RESIDENCE HALL IMPROVEMENTS. INCLUDED WILL BE UPGRADED FIRE SPRINKLERS, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AND WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTIVITY. ONCE COMPLETE IN 2017, THE PROJECT WILL MAKE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS AVAILABLE IN ALL 18 STUDENT HOUSING FACILITIES OPERATED BY ARKANSAS TECH. ARKANSAS TECH PRESIDENT DR. ROBIN BOWEN TOLD THE BOARD ON THURSDAY THAT ALL 18 OF THE FACILITIES ALREADY MEET CODE IN TERMS OF FIRE SPRINKLERS AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS.
In other business, the Board approved:
*a closing date extension of 180 days on the sale of the Campus Court property to Narayan Hotels LLC, a measure that will delay closing on the property until June 1, 2015;
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EARLY VOTING IS ALMOST COMPLETE AND ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW (TUES.), IN REFERENCE TO RUN-OFF ELECTIONS FOR TWO LOCAL MAYORIAL RACES. IN RUSSELLVILLE, A TOTAL OF 1471 BALLOTS WERE CAST AT POPE COUNTY'S ELECTION COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS, AS OF LATE FRIDAY. A LIGHTER TURN-OUT, THUS FAR, HAD BEEN NOTED IN CLARKSVILLE, 317 EARLY VOTES HAD BEEN RECORDED AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. EARLY VOTING CONTINUES THRU MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, FROM 8 A/M TO 4:30 WEEKDAYS. POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:30 TO 7:30 ON ELECTION DAY.
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