Dr. Linda L. Beene of the University of Central Arkansas has been appointed executive director of the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board.

REDFIELD - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt arrived Friday to visit Hurricane Katrina victims in Arkansas and promised that refugees would have easy access to Medicaid and other benefits.

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Several changes have been made at the Governor's Mansion since state auditors raised legal questions about the relationship between mansion overseers and a private fund-raising group.

A contempt order by a 20th Judicial District judge against a Department of Human Services manager has been upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court. But the court significantly reduced the manager's jail sentence and implied her bosses may share the blame.