The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, mired in a mess over overcharges to veterans in the residential facility it operates in Little Rock, will have new leadership. Just in:

Governor Mike Beebe announced Monday that Department of Veterans Affairs Director Dave Fletcher has submitted a letter stating his intention to retire, effective immediately. Fletcher met with Beebe Monday and both agreed that it was time to take leadership of the agency in a new direction.

“Dave Fletcher stepped up five-and-a-half years ago when I asked him to take the helm at Veterans Affairs, and I thank him for his service and his dedication to our men and women in uniform,” Governor Beebe said. “However, it’s become evident that new leadership will be best positioned to re-examine practices and policies and to determine how best to manage the department’s finances.”

Beebe plans to name a new director very soon, likely in the next few days.

I like how they slipped this news release out amid the boomlet of media attention to newly minted lobbyist Mike Ross.

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