Enterprise Stories

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette enterprise stories published within the last year, selected by Griffin Smith, executive editor.

1. Down from the pinnacle

   By Bill Bowden, Richard Massey;

   • Down from the Pinnacle
   • Schwyhart staked his claim with car dealerships
   • Aviation dream grounded after partners split, sue

2. Mark Wilcox - Land Commissioner

   By C.S. Murphy;

   • Files detail state-paid trips, fuel; Land commissioner gases up 2 state vehicles, records show
   • Wilcox: Put state truck to farm use; Practice was rare he says of pickup
   • Wilcox reimburses state; $995 to fix truck hit in ’08 came from office fund
3. Carmeletta Green

   By C.S. Murphy, Amy Upshaw and John Krupa ;

4. Arkansas Arts Center

   By C.S. Murphy;

   • Costly steps toppled art center’s finances; Leaders relied on overstated projections, donation that never arrived
   • Center pursued Arab’s donation; $500,000 pledge never materialized

5. State Employee Pension

   By Andy Davis;

   • Elected officials' ins and outs under study; State looking into those who ‘retire’ to get benefits, then return to office
   • State lets employees get pension and salary
   • Pension limit lifted for working retirees; Aim is to retain seasoned school staffs
   • JP tries to rebuke 3 county officials; Unofficial retirements draw ire
   • New policy defines employment
   • McDaniel pension opinion out; System not required to release information, he says
   • Doubledippers’ windfall forecast
   • Retired, returned to jobs, 2 more county officials say
   • 2 ‘retire,’ return to Lonoke County payroll within months
   • Didn’t quit posts, 2 officials tell JPs; Lonoke County debates pension cases
   • System updated on retiree dilemma; Attorney: Seeking to recoup benefits
   • 7 got benefits improperly, attorney says; System notifying workers
   • Benefits cut off for 6 who retired, returned; But effort dropped to get money back
   • 3 county retirees filing to appeal pension cuts