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Jefferson County lawsuit settled

Pine Bluff resident settles with county on 2023 lawsuit - Pine Bluff Commercial A Pine Bluff man settled a federal lawsuit against Jefferson County in which he alleged excessive force was used during a traffic stop in February 2023. Donald Frazier Jr., aka Donald Muhammad, and the county agreed to a confidential settlement June 4, according to a June 12 filing in U.S. District....

Eric Brown victim goes public

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Article written by the staff of Arkansas democrate
Confirmed cases of a foodborne illness that can cause severe diarrhea have spiked in Arkansas this week in connection with a national outbreak, according to the state health department.

On Friday, the Arkansas Department of Health’s website reported 35 confirmed cases of the illness, known as cyclosporiasis, across the state so far this year.

The number is more than double the cases reported on the department’s website two days earlier. On Wednesday, health officials confirmed there had been 14 cyclosporiasis cases statewide so far this year. On Thursday, the cases rose to 26.

In 2025, Arkansas only saw seven cases of the illness.

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhea and “frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements,” the health department’s website says. Cyclospora, the parasite which causes cyclosporiasis, spreads when people eat or drink food or water contaminated by f***s, and it takes one to two weeks to infect someone, the website says.

The increase in cyclosporiasis cases in Arkansas could be part of a larger national outbreak. In an email to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Dr. Austin Porter, state epidemiologist, described the sources of the new cases.

“While investigations are ongoing, some cases have reported consuming lettuce linked to the national cyclospora outbreak,” Porter said.

Other recently sickened people have reported domestic and international travel, he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday identified shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia as a source of the national outbreak.

Taco Bell released a statement Thursday with plans to remove affected lettuce from locations across the country as a precautionary measure. “The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states,” the statement said.

Those with cyclosporiasis usually recover with little to no treatment. The illness can be prevented through safe food handling practices, the health department’s website said.

Although washing and scrubbing produce can help reduce the risk of illness, Porter emphasized that heat is the best way to prevent cyclosporiasis.

“Cyclospora is killed by heat,” Porter said. “Cooking produce to at least 158°F is the most effective way to eliminate it.”

The health department’s website also recommends cutting away damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables and refrigerating cut or peeled produce within two hours.

While the exact impacts on Arkansas produce are still unknown, some local restaurants are taking precautionary measures.

Kevin Wilson, owner of the Big Kev’s BBQ food truck based in Morrilton, said Friday that he chose to remove coleslaw from the food truck’s menu when he realized it might contain contaminated produce.

“It’s a decision based on taking care of my customers and not making anybody sick,” Wilson said.

Coleslaw will not return to the menu until more information about the illness is available, he said.

As of Tuesday, the CDC had received reports of 1,645 confirmed cases nationwide, with 141 hospitalizations and around 5,000 additional cases under review, according to the agency’s website. However, figures compiled by the CDC often lag behind state and local health departments, the website says.

Jacie Sellars

According to court records Eric brown was sentenced to prison for knowingly exposing another man to HIV in Pulaski County c/c for details

When did basic government responsibilities become political achievements?

Every administration is expected to maintain streets. That’s not a special accomplishment—it’s one of the core functions taxpayers already pay for.

Yes, it’s good to see Hazel Street repaved. No one is arguing against improving roads. But let’s be honest: one completed project doesn’t erase years of streets across Pine Bluff that remain full of potholes, crumbling pavement, drainage problems, and neglected neighborhoods.

The real question isn’t whether one road got fixed.

The real questions are:
• How many miles of city streets are still in poor condition?
• What neighborhoods are next?
• Is there a published paving plan with priorities and timelines?
• How are projects being selected?

Citizens shouldn’t be expected to applaud government for doing the minimum. We should expect consistent maintenance, transparency, and equal investment throughout every part of Pine Bluff—not just photo opportunities.

Good work deserves acknowledgment. But accountability shouldn’t disappear just because one street got paved.

What’s the worst street in Pine Bluff that still needs immediate attention? Drop the street name and photos below. Let’s document the roads that still need work.

That framing invites engagement while sticking to verifiable points: cities have a responsibility to maintain roads, one project doesn’t address the entire system, and asking for a transparent paving plan is a reasonable public-policy question.

According to pine bluff police department
Officers Arrest Alleged EBK Gang Members with Machine Gun-Like Weapons

The Pine Bluff Police Department recognizes the exceptional work of Detective Lieutenant Corey Wilfong and FTO Officer Saquinn Lee for their proactive efforts in removing dangerous weapons and illegal narcotics from our community.

While searching for a wanted subject, Officer Lee located a vehicle matching the description and began following it, with Lieutenant Wilfong responding to assist. As the vehicle traveled through the city, the occupants threw multiple items from the vehicle, including two fi****ms and a bag later determined to contain approximately 51 grams of ma*****na.

Officer Lee immediately notified Lieutenant Wilfong of the discarded evidence while maintaining visual contact with the suspect vehicle. The officers quickly secured the area where the items were thrown and successfully recovered both fi****ms and the ma*****na before anyone else could access them.

One of the recovered fi****ms was equipped with a G***k switch, an illegal device that converts a handgun into a fully automatic firearm. A second firearm is also suspected of being illegally converted and will undergo additional testing.

Following a traffic stop, officers detected the odor of ma*****na coming from inside the vehicle. As they began removing the occupants, two suspects attempted to flee on foot. One was quickly apprehended, as well as the second suspect. The third suspect was identified and an arrest warrant will be sought.

As a result of the investigation, two alleged gang members of “EBK” (Everybody Killers) were arrested and charged with Violation of the Arkansas Machine Gun Act and Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Fi****ms, with additional charges filed against the driver for fleeing.

EVERY illegal gun recovered is a potential life saved. Every drug seizure helps make our neighborhoods safer.

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