Conway Regional Medical Center to Expand in $32 Million Project

(CONWAY, Ark.) -- Conway Regional Medical Center will pay $32 million for a new 95,000 square foot building that will expand services and create higher quality health care for Faulkner County residents.

The new building will house the women’s and surgical services, ABC News Little Rock affiliate KATV-TV reports.

The expansion of the women's center comes after a reported 20 percent increase in the number of childbirths in Conway over the past 10 years. Labor and delivery rooms will increase from 16 to 24.

Operating rooms will become larger as well, and feature state-of-the-art imaging and surgical equipment.

The new facility is slated to be open for services beginning in June of 2012.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

UAMS Gets $5.5 Million Grant for Research Center

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) -- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $5.5 million grant for a new research center.

Officials say the five-year grant comes from the National Institute on Aging, and will go toward establishing the Arkansas Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center. Work carried out at the center will be aimed at improving the standards of care for the elderly.

"We are extremely excited about this grant because it is the cornerstone for research that will help aging Arkansans remain independent and even regain their independence," Dr. Jeanne Y. Wei, executive director of the UAMS Reynolds Institute on Aging, said in a statement.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Fire Destroys Building at Mueller Industries Plant in Wynne

(WYNNE, Ark.) -- A fire destroyed a building at the Mueller Industries plant complex in Wynne on Tuesday.

The fire started Tuesday evening around 5 p.m. There was reportedly no explosion, and the fire was contained to a single building.

Forrest City firefighters battled the blaze overnight, although initially Marion and Colt fire departments reported to the scene.

The cause of the fire remains unclear. An investigation is underway.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Supreme Court Justice Steps Down with Two Years Left on Contract

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) -- Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Robert L. Brown says he will retire two years early, according to the Arkansas News.

Brown, who will be 71 when he steps down from his post, announced Wednesday that he will retire Jan. 1, 2013.

“I have devoted most of my professional life to public service, which I consider to be a noble calling,” Brown said in a news release.

Although the move may be somewhat unexpected considering he will leave two years before his current contract ends when he retires, state law requires justices to forfeit their retirement benefits if they stay on past the age of 70.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Escaped Inmate Turns Himself In

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) -- One of two inmates who escaped from the Pulaski County Detention Facility on Friday night is back in custody.

Officials say Frederick Young, 37, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday night. However, Joe Patton, 44, another inmate who escaped at the same time as Young, remains on the run, and is the subject of a manhunt by authorities.

Patton is described as approximately 5'6" and 130 lbs.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio