Channel 7 - Top News Stories of 2008
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January

KATV Tower Collapse

January 11, KATV's broadcast tower at Redfield collapsed after over 40 years of service. The 2,000 foot tall structure was the tallest in Arkansas.

Tornado Hits Pope County

Severe weather tore through Arkansas and left a wake of destruction in Pope County, where a confirmed EF-2 tornado passed through the small communities of Moreland and Appleton.

Osburn Sentenced to Life in Prison

Kenneth Osburn, the convicted killer of a 17-year-old Pine Bluff girl, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the death of Casey Crowder.

Little Rock CFO Missing: John Glasgow

John Glasgow has been missing ever since leaving his Little Rock home on January 28th. The forty-five-year-old businessman's car was found at Mather Lodge on Petit Jean Mountain.

February

Tornado Death Toll Reaches 13

Deadly tornadoes ripped through Arkansas killed 13.

Four People Dead After A Head-On Collision

Three children and a woman were killed in head-on traffic crash by a pickup truck traveling in the wrong direction on Interstate 530. State police arrested a Bryant man of felony negligent homicide and second-offense driving-while-intoxicated.

Seven People Killed in Arkansas Storms

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe says seven people were killed as tornadoes passed through the state Tuesday.

March

Flood Waters Close Roads, Two Missing

Rain storms caused flooding that made numerous roadways impassable, left people evacuated from their homes and also left two people missing after their vehicles were swept away by rushing waters.

UALR Coach Resigns Following DWI Charge

The head coach of UALR's women's soccer team resigned following his arrest after an early-morning traffic accident.

Winter Storm Moves Into Arkansas

A winter storm warning was in effect for much of Arkansas with snow expected to overspread the state with bursts of heavy snowfall possible in thunderstorms.

Two Die in Conway Robbery

Two men die after trying to rob an apartment in Conway. Officers identified the dead as Johnny Calvin, 24, of Morrilton and Billy Doss, 37, of the Plumerville area.

April

EF2 Tornadoes Strike Central Arkansas

A severe storm system moved through central Arkansas with a series of tornadoes damaging homes and buildings and knocking out power to thousands of customers.

Three Workers Fall From Bridge into Arkansas River

Officials conducted a recovery mission for three construction workers who fell from a platform under the Interstate 430 bridge into the Arkansas River. The workers were installing a water pipeline under the bridge.

Major Flooding Expected as Lakes Release Water

Officials are warned of major flooding of the White River and other rivers as water from seven Arkansas lakes is released in emergency measures to prevent overflowing.

May

Tornados Hit Arkansas

A tornado damaged buildings and pulled down trees on the south side of Stuttgart as storms that spurred numerous tornado warnings moved across the state.

Bride and Groom Shot at Wedding

A bride and groom were gunned down at their own wedding just north of Dover in Pope County. Two others were also shot.

Two Arkansans Killed in Florida Accident

Two young adults from the Conway area were killed when the SUV in which they were riding drove into an interstate highway median and went airborne as the driver tried to steer back onto the highway.

Eleven Tornadoes Confirmed From Arkansas Storms

The National Weather says storms that passed through Arkansas included 11 tornadoes. The death toll from the storms included seven Arkansans.

June

Verizon Wireless Agrees to Buy Alltel for $5.9 Billion

Verizon Wireless agreed to buy Little Rock-based Alltel Corporation which would make it the largest cellular carrier in the US. Verizon Wireless said it would assume $22.2 billion in debt in the deal, bringing the total value of the deal to $28.1 billion.

Two Dead After Crash on U.S. 67 Bridge

All lanes of U.S. 67 are open again where the highway crosses the White River in Jackson County. Both southbound lanes and one northbound lane were closed Tuesday morning after an accident that took the life of a tractor-trailer driver and a highway worker.

Police Arrest Teen in Mountain Home Kidnapping

Police say an 18-year-old Norfork woman - Samantha Ann House-Baser - was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping 16-month-old Aiden Chase Mullin a Mountain Home toddler, who was later found safe.
       

July

Former Razorback Arrested

Former Razorback Matt Jones faced a felony charge after police allegedly caught him in a vehicle with cocaine.

Two Killed in Boating Accident On Lake Hamilton

Two men were killed on Lake Hamilton when their boat collided with another during an informal fishing tournament.

Sherwood Couple Found Dead in Missouri

The St. Louis Major Case Squad was investigating the double homicide of Tom and Jill Estes of Sherwood. A man wanted for questioning in six other murders is their prime suspect.

Two Killed in Helicopter Crash Near Norfork Dam

A helicopter inspecting power lines in northern Arkansas crashed near Norfork Dam, killing the two aboard. Baxter County authorities said the helicopter came down on the far side of Norfork Dam in the Overlook Estates area.

August

Gwatney Dies After Shooting, Gunman Identified

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney was shot and killed by Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy, at Democratic Party headquarters in Little Rock.

UCA President to Resign

The University of Central Arkansas board of trustees accepted the resignation of Lu Hardin which will be effective Sept. 16, the six-year anniversary of his coming to the University.

Police Investigate Double-Shooting

Two people were transported to a local hospital following an apparent drive-by shooting in Little Rock. The incident occurred around 1:15 p.m. Thursday outside a business located at 2501 South Arch Street.

September

Victim in Otter Creek Shooting Identified

Little Rock police say a female employee was shot and killed at the Otter Creek Racquet Club. Her killer — or killers — remain on the loose.

Explosion Reported at Aerojet In East Camden

Arkansas Department of Emergency Management officials confirmed an explosion at Aerojet in East Camden.

Governor Declares State of Emergency for Ike

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe declared a state of emergency because of gas supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike, which was bearing down on the Texas coast.

Tony Alamo Arrested

FBI agents and Arizona police arrested evangelist Tony Alamo at a resort near Flagstaff, Arizona, alleging he transported minors across state lines for sexual purposes.

October

KATV's Anne Pressly Attacked in Home

Little Rock police investigated an early-morning home invasion that left a KATV morning anchor hospitalized.

Anne Pressly: 1982-2008

KATV Daybreak anchorwoman Anne Pressly died at the age of 26, as a result of injuries sustained in an attack at her home earlier in the week.

Anne Pressly Tribute

KATV's President and General Manager Dale Nicholson paid tribute to Anne Pressly, our dear friend and colleague who passed away at the age of 26.

November

Police Arrest Pressly Murder Suspect
Little Rock Police called a press conference at 10pm to name Curtis Lavell Vance as a suspect in the murder of KATV morning anchor Anne Pressly. Shortly after, Vance was captured.

Hospital: Up to Six Fired for Accessing Pressly Files

St. Vincent Health says that up to six employees have been fired for improperly accessing the medical records of slain TV anchor Anne Pressly.

Damien Echols Speaks

It has been 15 years since Damien Echols was sentenced to die for the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis. He claims he and two others convicted of the killings have what they need to prove they are innocent.

December

Gag Order Issued in Pressly Homicide Case

A Little Rock district judge issued a gag order in the case against Curtis Vance, who faces a capital murder charge in the death of KATV’s Anne Pressly.

Mother Kills Son During Attack

State Police say a mother shot her son to death after he kicked in his parents' door and started pistol-whipping the Charleston couple. Police say the victim, Cameron Utsler, had a history of violence.

Tanker Accident Shuts Down I-40 Near I-430

An 18-wheeler tractor-trailer carrying gasoline apparently flipped over and landed on its side when the driver tried to avoid a sports utility vehicle that had swerved into the lane. The resulting fiery crash sent motorists to the hospital and shut down a stretch of Interstate 40.

Freezing Rain, Sleet Moving Across State

Nearly all of Arkansas was under a winter weather watch or advisory, as temperatures plummeted and freezing rain and sleet hit parts of the state. Several school districts in northern Arkansas canceled classes Monday.

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