Arkansas Advocate: With budget done, state lawmakers move on to tax cuts
Arkansas lawmakers ended the fiscal session this week as expected, and will return to the Capitol Monday for a special session focused on tax cuts
Letter to the Editor: A Thank You to Those Who Serve
Even with mixed feelings about a data center, a reader says we should remember the good faith of public servants
Letter to the Editor: The Great Arkadelphia Divide
A reader ponders different perspectives on the perception of a community’s divide
Stateline: Americans’ air conditioning costs expected to rise again this summer
After facing costly heating bills this winter, consumers shouldn’t expect relief for the summer months, according to new projections for household utility costs
Arkansas farmers could see more than $150M in disaster relief
Arkansas farmers being squeezed hard by higher fuel and input prices this year could see more than $150 million in total disaster relief with a second round of Supplemental Disaster Relief Program payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Arkansas Advocate: State lawmakers give $6.7B budget final OK, adjourn session
The Arkansas Legislature adjourned its fiscal session Wednesday, wrapping up three weeks of work that included debate over a multimillion economic incentive package and ended with lawmakers rejecting an effort to provide state matching funds for donations to the state’s public television network
Ag, food economics are hard to simplify
Consumers who see parallels between crude oil and gas prices might expect the same for food, but what seems like a straightforward relationship between prices at the farm and prices at the grocery store is anything but simple
Clark County Jail Bookings: April 20-26, 2026
The following people have recently been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia
Real Estate: Amity brewpub changes ownership
Clark County real estate transactions recorded April 2-23, 2026, having a value of $100,000 or greater
Arkansas’ 3,000-bed prison site is on hold. What are the other options?
A look at the scenarios for expanding prison space now that the Franklin County project’s in doubt
Commentary: Watch your (special) language: Arkansas lawmakers need to rein in strings attached to budget bills
Known in legislative jargon as “special language,” the strings lawmakers attach to budget bills used to be a dirty little secret of the Arkansas Legislature. They were a way to sneak major policy changes in without the public noticing.
Dispatch Desk: Fist fights lead to arrests and citations at Feaster Park, Family Dollar
The following incidents were gathered from reports filed April 20-26, 2026, at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Could glass be dethroned as wine’s top packaging? Researchers unbox consumer packaging perceptions
With nearly 400 years under its cork, glass is still the top choice for consumers when it comes to packaging preferences for wine, but sustainability concerns may open the way to other container types, a study by food science and economics researchers has found
Sheriff warns of ill-intent roofers in aftermath of Amity area hail storm
Law enforcement is urging Amity area residents to be wary of door-to-door “contractors” who could be taking advantage of homeowners in the aftermath of a weekend hail storm that damaged scads of rooftops in northern portions of the county
Arkansas Advocate: State panel OKs proposal aimed at assisting newly formed smaller school districts
Arkansas lawmakers this week gave initial approval to a measure aimed at assisting several newly formed smaller school districts, and rejected an effort to increase funding for an early childhood education program
Growers turn to irrigation as drought deepens, but forecast rain can help
The last time Arkansas was drought-free was the week of July 22, 2025
Retired teachers hear from child safety center
Clark County Retired Teachers heard from Tiffany Barnes, development coordinator of the Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center, in their April meeting
Anti-litter campaign seeks to make Natural State more natural
Drivers on Arkansas’ roadways are passing the word “Natural?” written with five-foot-tall metal letters and wire mesh and crammed with something very unnatural – manmade litter
HSU College of Business inducts Steve Ratcliff into Hall of Fame
Steve Ratcliff, a Henderson State University alumnus and native of Malvern, became the newest member of the College of Business Hall of Fame during an awards ceremony April 16
Arkansas Advocate: Senate gives OK to take up 3 non-budget issues
The Senate voted 34-0 to allow Magnolia Republican Sen. Steve Crowell to introduce his proposal increasing the homestead tax credit to $675. An Arkansas House committee approved an identical bill last week.
Arkansas Advocate: Attorney general certifies hemp regulating law
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday formally cleared the way for the state to enforce a law regulating hemp-derived products following the conclusion of litigation challenging an earlier state measure banning the sale of these products
Arkansas Advocate: Low reimbursement rates force hospitals to scale back services
Hospitals in Jacksonville, Fort Smith and Camden have all cut services since January
New project ‘floats’ idea of solar panels on irrigation reservoirs
Electricity and water don’t usually mix, but technological advancements in floating solar arrays open the potential to generate electricity while decreasing impacts on farm irrigation reservoirs and agricultural land
Founder of Zambian university to visit, lead sermon in Arkadelphia this Sunday
Dr. Moffat Zimba, chancellor of Northrise University, will visit Arkadelphia on April 26-27, 2026. Northrise University was the first private Christian university to be accredited in Ndola, Zambia.
AGFC adjusts fishing and hunting regulations, sets waterfowl season dates
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at Thursday’s meeting at the University of Arkansas at Monticello unanimously approved a regulations package incorporating more than 200 changes to the AGFC Code of Regulations
Clark County Jail Bookings: April 13-19, 2026
The following people have recently been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia
Felony Friday: Man accused of setting mobile home fire, attempting second blaze in woods
This is a roundup of felony charges filed April 1 through April 15, 2026, by the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office
Thirsty Arkansas strawberry crop gets off to early start
Arkansas’ strawberry crop is not only looking good, but is also running a little early this year
State police warn of scam calls impersonating Internet Crimes Against Children agents
Several Arkansas residents have reported receiving calls from individuals identifying themselves as “Officer Jackson” with ICAC and demanding a return call regarding an alleged investigation
AGFC: Youth turkey hunt success continues 8-year climb
The increase was likely due to a combination of factors, including excellent weather during the hunt, a few strong years of reproduction and an increase in the number of adult gobblers on the landscape
National Day of Prayer to be observed locally May 7
The event will take place at Third Street Baptist Church
Chris Kizer tapped as head Badger
The Arkadelphia Public School District school board approved the hiring of Chris Kizer as the next head coach of the Badger football program Friday evening at a special called meeting
Felony Friday: Cases of “Sizzurp” ingredient found in I-30 traffic stop
This is a roundup of felony charges filed April 17-30, 2026, by the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office
Parkin archeologist to talk ongoing work, future research at Native mound center
Parkin is believed to be the Native town of Casqui that was described by Spanish chroniclers of that expedition