A Little Rock teacher who was arrested after a dispute with a TV news reporter has returned to work, the school district said. According to a police report, Mitchell McCoy, a reporter at NBC affiliate KARK-TV and Fox affiliate KLRT-TV, had questioned Lance Fritchman, 52, about social media posts that referenced race, among other topics. The Little Rock School District’s McClellan High School lists Fritchman as a coach on its website. Around 7 a.m. March 5, officers responded to the lower parking deck at the Victory Building, 1401 W. Capitol Ave., in reference to a terroristic threatening report. Fritchman told police that he had gone to the building, which houses the TV news stations’ studio, as a result of McCoy’s reporting. Police said Fritchman left several messages telling McCoy to “come out and let’s handle this man to man.” Fritchman was later told to not call the reporter and was barred from returning to the Victory Building, the report … [Read more...] about Little Rock teacher arrested after dispute with TV reporter back at work, district says
Little rock news
New broadcast reporter set to join Little Rock TV stations
A new broadcast reporter has signed on at Little Rock’s NBC and Fox affiliates, according to the stations’ news director. Susan El Khoury will join the team at KARK-TV and KLRT-TV later this month, News Director Austin Kellerman said. El Khoury reportedly graduated from Boston College’s communication honors program and has a master’s degree from Northwestern University. According to an online biography, she previously worked as an anchor and reporter at NBC affiliate WILX-TV in Lansing, Mich. El Khoury also interned for PBS affiliate WGBH-TV in Boston and for Boston ABC affiliate WCVB-TV’s Chronicle newsmagazine. … [Read more...] about New broadcast reporter set to join Little Rock TV stations
Little Rock police name man killed in city’s 13th homicide
Little Rock police on Friday named the man killed Thursday night in the city's 13th homicide of 2018. Officers were called about 8:25 p.m. to the parking lot of Vision's Auto Detail, located at 5301 Mabelvale Pike, according to a news release. Joshua Backus, 39, of Little Rock was lying in the lot with multiple gunshot wounds and was unresponsive, police said. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries, the release states. Police canvassed the area and interviewed individuals who were in the lot at the time of the shooting, according to the department, but no suspects have been named and no arrests had been made at the time of the release. Because the lot was a common hangout area and the individuals likely knew each other, spokesman Michael Ford said, police believe there is not a threat to the public. … [Read more...] about Little Rock police name man killed in city’s 13th homicide
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Little Rock Central to hire North Little Rock offensive coordinator
Little Rock Central will hire North Little Rock offensive coordinator Blake Pizan as its new head coach, the Little Rock School District confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The recommendation for Pizan’s hiring will be presented for final approval to Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key, who acts in lieu of the school board in the state-controlled Little Rock School District. “We are pleased to have Coach Pizan join our team,” LRSD Athletic Director John Daniels said in a news release. “We believe he has the talent and commitment to lead the football program at Central, and that he is not only committed to the success of the program, but also the student-athletes he will serve.” The LRSD added that Pizan, 35, will also teach physical education at Central. He will make a total salary of $58,870, per the LRSD. Pizan, a Pulaski Academy and Arkansas Tech University graduate, has worked at North Little Rock since 2009. The Charging Wildcats won the Class 7A … [Read more...] about HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Little Rock Central to hire North Little Rock offensive coordinator
North Little Rock offensive coordinator picked as new head coach at Central High
Little Rock Central will hire North Little Rock offensive coordinator Blake Pizan as its new head coach, the Little Rock School District confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported earlier Wednesday that Pizan was going to be hired as the Tigers' new coach. The recommendation for Pizan's hiring will be presented for final approval to Education Commissioner Johnny Key, who serves as LRSD's board of directors. "We are pleased to have Coach Pizan join our team," LRSD Athletic Director John Daniels said in a news release. "We believe he has the talent and commitment to lead the football program at Central, and that he is not only committed to the success of the program, but also the student athletes he will serve." [Sign up for the Arkansas sports daily email newsletter] The LRSD added that Pizan will also teach physical education at Central. Pizan, a Pulaski Academy and Arkansas Tech University graduate, has worked at North Little Rock since 2009. The Charging … [Read more...] about North Little Rock offensive coordinator picked as new head coach at Central High