STATE
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Arkansas State Police organization, but we will manage it with transparency and integrity,' said Colonel Mike Hagar.
Smothers was transported to the Washington County Detention Center.
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Funds available to address regional water infrastructure needs
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas is providing $60 million to address statewide water infrastructure needs. This includes $55 million to address water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects and $5 million for the Arkansas Rural Water Association to assist water and wastewater systems across the state. The legislature approved these funds in Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) on June 21, 2024.
“My administration has worked with our federal partners to appropriately put money into Arkansas’ water infrastructure development, and this announcement adds to that commitment,” said Sanders. “Every Arkansan deserves safe and accessible drinking water, and with this funding, we will move closer to that goal.”
“Water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critically important to the everyday lives of all Arkansans,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We appreciate Governor Sanders’ consistent leadership on water issues and will work diligently to utilize these newly approved funds, as well as our existing programs and efforts, to meet water and wastewater needs across the state.”
These federal funds build on existing efforts to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the state and provide dependable services, Arkansas is administering over $2.5 billion for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds. To be eligible for the funding announced today, water and wastewater projects must be on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) waitlist approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) in December 2022. Projects will receive funding based on their readiness to proceed to construction and must expense all funds by Dec. 31, 2026.
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Woman arrested after threatening to ‘blow up’
Arkansas governor
FORT SMITH — An Arkansas woman appeared Wednesday in court on charges she threatened to blow up Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her office, prosecutors said.
Susan Scott, 66, of Fort Smith, was charged with threatening to cause a catastrophe and battery of an officer in the second-degree, both felonies, Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue said in a news release.
Police said on June 14, Scott was still making threats against Sanders when they went to arrest her at her home. Scott resisted arrest and 'head-butted' an officer, according to an affidavit.
Scott appeared before Circuit Judge R. Gunner DeLay without an attorney and the public defender's office was appointed to represent her, Shue said. A plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf, he said.
A telephone message left with the public defender's office was not immediately returned. DeLay set bond for Scott at $500,000. A trial date has not been set.
