LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Four outstanding teachers were named 2016 Arkansas Teacher of the Year state finalists at a recognition event today with Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Johnny Key. 

“Selecting just four teachers from an exceptional group of talented educators was a difficult process,” Key said. “The four state finalists chosen, however, have demonstrated leadership, knowledge and the ability to inspire students in the classroom. I congratulate them, as well as their administrators and fellow educators.”

The four state finalists are as follows:

Meghan Ables

11th Grade English/Literacy
Stuttgart High School
Stuttgart School District
Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative 

Brenda Galliher

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Developed by studioMAIN and Create Little Rock, Pop Up in the Rock is a rapid community development project that focuses on illustrating underdeveloped potential in local city areas.

The next Pop Up event will take place on West Ninth Street on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The PopUp West Ninth event will focus on Little Rock’s Historic West Ninth Street and will span from the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (MTCC) at Ninth and Broadway to Dreamland Ballroom at Ninth and State and across the State Street overpass to the campus of Philander Smith.

PopUp West Ninth hopes to encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic between Philander Smith College and West Ninth Street via the South State Street overpass, thereby bridging the gap that originally unraveled the urban fabric of the area.

Inspired by community feedback and the rich history of West Ninth, PopUp in the Rock hopes to demonstrate the district’s potential for a vibrant future.

 JACKSONVILLE, Ark. (KTHV) - The Jacksonville Police Department will be conducting a Citizens Police Academy at the end of September. 

The eight-week information course beginning on September 29 will be designed to inform citizens on different aspects of law enforcement including community policing, criminal investigations, patrol duties, use of force, firearms, K-9 duties, SRT demonstration, narcotics and less lethal weapons. 

The Citizens Police Academy will be held on Tuesday evenings starting at 6 p.m. and will last until 9 p.m. The course will be fee to the public, however attendance will be limited. The CPA is limited to those who live or work inside the city limits of Jacksonville, are over the age of 18, pass a background investigation, have no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions for at least one year.