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This Hour: Latest Arkansas news, sports, business and entertainment

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ARKANSAS TREASURER ARRESTED

Ark. treasurer resigns amid charges she took cash

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas' state treasurer has resigned after federal prosecutors accused her of taking cash payments from a broker who handled a large amount of the state's investment portfolio.

Democrat Martha Shoffner resigned effective Tuesday from the office she has held since 2007 and was re-elected to in 2010. She was barred by term limits from seeking re-election next year.

Democrats and Republicans called for Shoffner to step down after the FBI arrested her in a sting operation. She's accused of taking at least $36,000 in cash. At least 2 of the payments from the broker were delivered to Shoffner in a pie box.

Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe was among those who called for Shoffner to resign. Beebe can appoint someone to serve out the rest of Shoffner's term.

JOGGERS STRUCK

Man gets 12 years for striking SE Mo. joggers

JACKSON, Mo. (AP) - An Arkansas man who admitted driving into a group of joggers in southeast Missouri has been given a 12-year prison term.

The Southeast Missourian reports 19-year-old Vincent Anderson, of Little Rock, was sentenced Tuesday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

Anderson pleaded guilty last month to first-degree assault, admitting he drove directly at the joggers in downtown Cape Girardeau last Oct. 28 in a stolen car. Three people suffered minor injuries.

Anderson's passenger, 27-year-old Marcus Jones, of Cotton Plant, Ark., was sentenced earlier to 90 days in jail for two misdemeanors in connection with the case.

A prosecutor showed the judge at Tuesday's sentencing two videos taken from Jones's cellphone, in which a man is heard swearing and laughing as tires squeal in the background.

Anderson apologized Tuesday to the victims.

OKLAHOMA TORNADO-WALMART DONATION

Walmart pledges $1M for Moore tornado recovery

MOORE, Okla. (AP) - Walmart says it is pledging $1 million for the recovery from the tornado that devastated Moore.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company said Tuesday that it will make donations of cash and materials equal to $1 million.

Walmart is also sending truckloads of food, water and other basic items to serve as immediate aid.

The world's largest retailer says no customers or employees were injured in its two stores in Moore. But the company says some workers' homes were destroyed and that it is still checking on the needs of its employees.

The company is sending workers from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas to the affected areas so members of Oklahoma crews can be with their families.

GUNS ON CAMPUS-OPTING OUT

President recommends UA schools opt out of gun law

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The president of the University of Arkansas system is recommending its 11 campuses opt out of a law allowing faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns on campus.

A spokesman on Tuesday said UA System President Donald Bobbitt will recommend that the schools continue banning concealed handguns on campus. The UA Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on the recommendation Thursday.

A measure signed into law earlier this year leaves the decision on concealed handguns by faculty and staff up to the institutions of higher education. So far, most Arkansas colleges and universities have opted out of the new law.

The board of trustees for Arkansas State University system will also vote Thursday on a recommendation from its four chancellors that the system opt out of the new law.

YOUTH COACH-ABUSE

Prosecutors seek maximum for guilty youth coach

TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) - Federal prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentence for a former Texarkana-area youth baseball coach who pleaded guilty to molesting young players.

Prosecutors are limited in the sentence they can pursue for 60-year-old Walter Richard Roberts because he pleaded guilty to alleged offenses that occurred in 1992.

The Texarkana Gazette reports that the maximum sentence for Roberts would be 10 years. The law has since been updated and people convicted of bringing children across state lines for sex are now subject to a federal sentence of 10 years to life.

Court papers say Roberts is accused of molesting three victims who were younger than 12. The filing says Roberts admitted to molesting a fourth victim, but that person can't remember the abuse.

The sentencing proceeding is set for Wednesday.

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