J.W.’s News Update:Wednesday June 22, 2011

Good Wednesday, Here are some stories making headlines today:

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An Oregon Company has opened a new railroad tie plant in Hempstead County in Southwest Arkansas. The facility near Hope, already has 29 employees and plans to hire at least six more. The company had considered a location on South Stateline near Texarkana a few years ago but decided against it after being confronted by local opposition to the plant. Amerities South LLC held a grand opening ceremony yesterday.

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A man wrongly imprisoned in Texas for nearly 20 years over murders he did not commit will be paid 1.4 million dollars. Texas Governor Rick Perry has signed a bill authorizing payments for Anthony Graves for 18 years, which was the amount of time he spent in prison. A 2009 law says those exonerated can receive $80,000 for every year they were incarerated.

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President Barack Obama speaks to the nation during a televised address tonight. The President will talk about his plan to draw down troops in Afgahnistan. He is expected to withdraw some 5,000 troops this summer and another 5,000 either this winter or next spring.

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In Sports:

We have two area girls softball teams that recently won state championships. The Redwater Crush 10 and under team and the Dekalb Eliminators both won state championships in Texas.

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