Thursday, December 28, 2017

DFA RELEASES FORMS THAT LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT FILED APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION AND DISPENSARY PERMITS




TAINTED ABC ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR BOYCE HAMLET WILL NO DOUBT TAKE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA OUTLETS AND CULTIVATION FACILITIES


We successfully fought the Department of Finance and Administration for release of documents to help identify the individuals that filed applications for permits to open a Medical Marijuana cultivation facility or dispensary.

Although they redacted the name of the applicant on the forms we requested, we are able to identify most if not all of them through filings with the Arkansas Secretary of States office and will soon have another post that will list the names and proposed locations and their information from filings with the Arkansas Secretary of State.




We have uploaded the files DFA gave us and you can view then by clicking on the links listed below.













 



Once we have completed the research, we will list the applicants in another post.

Friday, December 22, 2017

2017 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR BLOGGING

This and other blogs we publish had an epic year of rooting out and exposing misdeeds and misadventures of local, county, state and federal agencies and their employees in Arkansas.

Every day we get information from the public, employees in local, county, state and federal agencies that we investigate and share with our growing readership.

Several posts we made were featured in the Arkansas Times Best and Worst 2017.
Add caption
One was our January 15th post about state General Improvement Funds being being given to a sham medical research entity.




The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published a story about this 10 months later and made it seems like it was breaking9news crack investigative journalism.  

They were heavily criticized by the Arkansas Times and us for their  "BREAKING NEWS" front page story.







We know that many of the ARDEMGAZ  reporters follow our blogs and often report on the same topics, but to try and do what they did back in October was a new low for that rag.

In April we obtained footage that no other new media source obtained and even some that Arkansas State Police investigators did not have concerning Johnson County Circuit Court Judge "Wild Bill Pearson and posted several stories on our Bad Government in Arkansas blog.





http://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/2017/04/judge-fails-to-stop-at-checkpoint-is.html

http://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/2017/04/new-videos-obtained-of-judge-wild-bill.html

http://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/2017/04/watch-video-of-drunk-judge-wild-bill.html

The next one our our posts referenced was from our Bad City of Little Rock blog about the corruption and violation of city and state laws by LRPD for refusing to issue tickets to LRPD personnel (or any other LEO) when they cause an accident withing the city limits of Little Rock.





That post is cited by many that are demanding the removal of LRPD Chief Kenton Tremar Buckner and LR City Manger Bruce Moore from their positions.
 
The last post that was noted in the Arkansas Times Best and Worst 2017 was another one from our Bad City of Little Rock blog about the financial mismanagement of public funds by Little Rock City Manager Bruce Moore with his "no strings attached" $5k bonus to LRPD recruits upon graduation from the academy.




The ARKDEMGAZ and other news media reported that two officers took the money and ran, but it was our blog post that identified them and exposed lies that LR City Manager Bruce Moore told about the "incentive" and documented his refusal to set any sort of conditions on the receipt of that "incentive" even after $10k was foolishly wasted.

 We expect that 2018 will prove to be a better blogging year and much more corruption will be exposed.


https://blog.feedspot.com/arkansas_blogs/

Sunday, December 17, 2017

LITTLE ROCK CITY LEADERS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT LAUNCHING OF USS LITTLE ROCK THAN DEATHS OF MOTHER AND CHILDREN

  
MAYOR MARK "SKIPPER" STODOLA  AT LAUNCHING OF USS LITTLE ROCK

Little Rock city leaders display lack of respect and concern in recent events. Two more marks added to their naughty list.
http://badlittlerock.blogspot.com/2017/12/city-leaders-more-concerned-about.html

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

FORMER PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH BATTERY FOR ATTACK ON SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT

KAY SURRATT - PCSSD EMPLOYEE (NOW FIRED) ATTACKED SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT

Kay Surratt, was a Pulaski County Special School District employee back in February of this year web she viciously attacked a special needs student that was being transported to a caretakers home.
 


The vicious attacks occurred while the vehicle was traveling from Little Rock to Maumelle and apparently the driver of the PCSSD vehicle,  Aaron Shelton, called 911 and a North Little Rock Police Officer responded. 

According to information obtained by our staff, the victim was placed into handcuffs by NLR police, but was not arrested or charged with any offense.

NLR Police refused to arrest Surratt and it is not believed that they filed a mandated report with the Arkansas Department of Human Services as Arkansas law requires.

 



This is not the first time that PCSSD has been under scrutiny for their sketchy employees.

We previously posted a story about them hiring a convicted felony.  

You can read that post by clicking here. 

Surratt is scheduled to appear in District Court in Little Rock on January 8, 2018.

We have requested a copy of the video from the PCSSD vehicle and other documents regarding their employment of Surratt.

 Stay tuned for updates.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION DIRECTOR GARY ISOM SOUGHT TO HAVE FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION DIRECTOR CAROL JOHNSON REMOVED TO KILL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST HIS AGENCY

GARY ISOM - ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION DIRECTOR

At an October 9th meeting of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC"), agency director Gary Isom told board members of a complaint filed against his agency that was being investigated by the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission ("AFHC").

Isom told the board he questioned the jurisdiction of the AFHC to conduct such an investigation and said he might need to get a lawyer to represent the AREC.

Isom also told the board that unlike himself, who served at the pleasure of the AREC and reported to them, that AFHC Director Carol Johnson did not report to the AFHC and served at the pleasure of the Governor. Isom told board member that one possible solution to resolve the complaint was to get Johnson removed as director.

You can listen to a recording of that meeting by clicking here.

CAROL JOHNSON - ARKANSAS FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION DIRECTOR
In a meeting concerning the complaint and investigation, Johnson refuted Isom's assertion that her agency "lacked jurisdiction". 
You can listen to a recording of that meeting by clicking here. 

Word is that Johnson, who was at first ready to go after the AREC, has been told by the Governor's office to quash the investigation and Johnson has asked the complainant to drop the complaint.

We have a series of posts coming up shortly about Isom and the AREC that will bring to light some of their shenanigans. 




Monday, December 4, 2017

ETHICS COMMISSION ACCEPTS COMPLAINT ON FORT SMITH DISTRICT JUDGE JIM O'HERN, HIS CAMPAIGN TEASURER AND TWO DONORS OVER ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS

MUGSHOT OF JUDGE JIM O'HERN
The Arkansas Ethics Commission has accepted a complaint concerning illegal campaign contributions made to and accepted by the Jim O'Hern during his campaign for the position on the Sebastian County District Court in which he currently holds.

You can read our post about the complaint by clicking here.

The next step in the process will be a Probable Cause Hearing, expected to be held after the first of the year.

 Stay tuned for updates.











Tuesday, November 21, 2017

FORMER FAULKNER COUNTY EMPLOYEE APRIL MATHIS MAKES ANOTHER FALSE CLAIM - IS SHE A HAINT OR JUST A HISTRIONIC HARLOT??







The continuing saga of April Mathis, a fired employee of the office of the 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office, has taken a deeper turn into the twilight zone.

In a filing the day before she was a no-show at her Probable Cause hearing before the Arkansas Ethics Commission, April via her attorney, James Barger, files an answer to on-going litigation between her and her former husband in their domestic relations case

JAMES BARGER - APRIL'S ATTORNEY




In the pleading, April claims that she is being harassed by this blog.

This blog has accurately and truthfully detailed her crimes and shenanigans and provided irrefutable evidence to back up any allegations made.  

 Again, if April and her shyster believe that we have harassed her by reporting the facts and detailing her actions, then sue us or shut the f#@% up.
 

Saturday, November 18, 2017

ETHICS COMMISSION FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE IN THE APRIL MATHIS COMPLANT - TO SEND OFFER OF SETTLEMENT

APRIL MATHIS


The Arkansas Ethics Commission held a Probable Cause Hearing on Friday, November 17th for the complaint filed by the publisher of this blog against April Mathis. 

You can view the full complaint by clicking here. And you can read out previous posts concerning her by clicking here, here and here.

 April Mathis did not appear at the hearing and was not represented by her attorney James Barger.

JAMES BARGER - APRIL MATHIS' LAWYER
The publisher of this blog was permitted to address the Commission and he reiterated the facts of the complaint.

He also informed the Commission that after the filing of the complaint, Mathis had attempted to use her position to influence a Faulkner County Sheriff's Deputy. That attempt resulted in her separation from employment with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the 20th Judicial District (see this previous post). He pointed out that a Special Prosecutor has been appointed to look into a complaint presented by the Conway Police Department regarding the same matter that resulted in the complaint before the Commission.

He stated that this was a indicator of a pattern of behavior by Mathis,  to use her position as an employee of that agency to get her way even if it was in violation of the law.

A review of the Commissions file revealed some interesting information provided by April Mathis.

When the District Clerk from Flathead County Montana was finally able to speak with April's former boss, Cody Hiland, Hiland pulled April into his office and asked her what she was up to. Hiland demoted her from Case Coordinator to Hot Check Coordinator with a reduction in salary and sent her home for three days without pay.

Mathis also made some wild, unsupported accusations in written statements:

1. She alleged that her ex-husband provided the publisher of this blog with a copy of a deposition in which she perjured herself. FALSE - her ex has never contacted, spoken with or sent anything to the publisher of this blog.

2. She alleged that Peg Allison, the Flathead County Montana District Court Clerk is not a real person because she Googled that name and found nothing. FALSE.


3. She alleges that the Flathead County Montana District Clerk's Office sent her sealed court records by mistake and they are trying to "cover their ass." FALSE. Exhibits in the complaint clearly show that Mathis requested all the documents under false pretense.

April Mathis has told what few friends she still has that what this blog has posted about her is all false and made up.  If that is the case, why has her attorney not demanded that it be taken down? Why did the Ethics Commission accept the complaint about her and move forward? Because it's all true that's why.

Mathis clearly has issues with the truth.  Just check out her heavily retouched photo she posted on her Twitter account.

 PHOTO FROM HOOK-UP SITE

RE-TOUCHED PHOTO FROM HER TWITTER ACCOUNT
There is an  order for a psychological evaluation in her open domestic relations case.  Can't wait to see how that turns out.
 
The Ethics Commission will send Mathis an Offer of Settlement, in which she will have to agree that she violated Arkansas law by using her position as a public employee to obtained sealed records from another state for her our personal benefit and gain.  They can also impose a fine anywhere from $50 to $2000.

She will have a few days to sign and return the letter. If she does not sign the Offer of Settlement,  the Commission will set the matter for a full final hearing.

Stay tuned for updates.

Friday, November 17, 2017

BOBBY MCCALLISTER DONE AS JUDGE




McCALLISTER  - RESIGNATION HAS LEGAL EFFECT OF REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Bobby McCallister's days as a judge are done. This was announced today by the Arkansas Judicial Disciple & Disability Commission.

DAVID SACHAR - JDDC DIRECTOR ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF THE PRESS PRIOR TO THE MEETING

 

McCallister will continue to draw a paycheck until December 15th. He still faces a criminal trial in state courts and the IRS has apparently chosen to seek a civil judgment and let him slide on criminal penalties.

McCallister had filed no more than four returns in 22 years. He faces more than $100,000 in federal tax liens for years in private practice.

JJDC PANEL MEMBERS

Thursday, November 16, 2017

MORE PROBLEMS FOR SEBASTIAN COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE JIM O'HERN - THIS TIME IT'S ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS


LRPD MUGSHOT OF JIM O'HERN

No doubt readers will recall the escapade in December 2016 at a sketchy Little Rock hotel that lead to the arrest and release of then Judge Elect Jim O'Hern of Fort Smith and his questionable girlfriend Brandie Gibson after meth was found in their hotel room.
Gibson was charged with possession of a controlled substance and in September 2017 made a negotiated  plea and was fined and placed on three years probation. Her probation case was transferred to Fort Smith and she is listed as residing at the same address at Judge O'Hern.


In the coming days we will detail the appointment of a Special Prosecuting Attorney in Sebastian County to investigate allegations of violation of a court order and harassment by O'Hern and Gibson.
Our previous posts about the Judge Jim O'Hern Scandal:
O'Hern is probably the only sitting married judge in Arkansas to ever have a felony probationer as a live-in girlfriend.
O'Hern is currently under investigation by the Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission in part due to his involvement with Gibson.
Now Judge O'Hern is facing a complaint for accepting an illegal campaign contribution made by the Fiori Joint Revocable Trust,
That trust is administered by Sam and Susan Fiori of Fort Smith.
SAM & SUSAN FIORI
Sam Fiori is CEO of K-Mac Enterprises, Inc., a franchisee of Golden Corral, KFC and Taco Bell.
No doubt this will open another investigation by the JDDC into Judge O'Hern's questionable activities.
Here is the complete Ethics Complaint filed against O"Hern, Bill Warren, Jr, his campaign treasurer and the Fiori's.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

ETHICS COMMISSION SETS PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING FOR APRIL MANTHIS, FORMER EMPLOYEE OF CODY HILAND

 
WHAT HOLD DID MATHIS HAVE OVER HILAND TO KEEP HIM FROM FIRING HER?


The Arkansas Ethics Commission has set a probable cause hearing for the complaint about filed about April Mathis for November 17th.

Mathis used her position as the case coordinator for Cody Hiland, who was Prosecuting Attorney for the 20th Judicial District at the time. Hiland is now the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

We posted about her shenanigans here and here.






After months of Conway City Attorney Charles Clawson not taking any action on the investigative file Conway Police turned over to him, he finally sought out and received a Special Prosecuting Attorney to review the matter and potentially file criminal charges against April Mathis.


We first contacted Clawson about this matter in August and then again in September.







Monday, November 6, 2017

HEARING SET FOR SALINE COUNTY TAX EVADING CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE BOBBY MCCALLISTER



You can read our previous posts about soon to be former judge McCallister by clicking here, here, here and here.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

MORE EVIDENCE SURFACES ABOUT EMPLOYEE IN FAULKER COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE USING HER POSITION FOR PERSONAL BENEFIT AND GAIN

 
APRIL MATHIS - WILL HER CRAZY ANTICS RESULT IN LEGAL ACTIONS???

We posted a story back in August about shenanigans in the office of the now former Prosecuting Attorney for the 20th Judicial District of Arkansas, Cody Hiland, that involved his case coordinator April Mathis.

That post detailed how April Mathis used her position to obtain sealed records from another state under the false pretense that it was for a criminal case in Arkansas. Turns out it was sealed records from the divorce case of the current wife of her ex-husband.

The Arkansas Ethics Commission has an on-going investigation into a compliant about that very thing and the search for a Special Prosecuting Attorney to review the matter began several months ago - more on that in an up-coming post.

Mathis was demoted from her position as Case Coordinator to that of Hot Check Coordinator in March after complaints about her illegal activity were made to Hiland.


  
News came in recently that she was given the choice to resign or be fired. She chose to resign.


 

The straw that broke the camels back was her latest attempt to use her position in the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for her personal benefit and gain.


According to the report, Nancy Eastham (Deputy Circuit Clerk) was with April Mathis during this kooky episode. Eastham and Mathis spent hours sending emails to each other about personal matters using their work email accounts. A post about Eastham and a threat she made is coming soon.