LITTLE ROCK - Governor Beebe has authorized state offices in the Little Rock Metropolitan Area to close at noon today as the snow is expected to continue falling and accumulating. State agency directors and supervisors are allowed to release some personnel sooner if conditions continue to worsen.

Governmental proclamations remain in place from earlier this week, suspending some regulations for commercial vehicles in Arkansas. This will allow utility crews and other emergency responders to work longer hours, and to relax time limits on poultry-and- feed haulers already facing slow going in Northwest Arkansas.