El Dorado News-Times
Swamp Angel Ministries to host Retired Ministers Day
More than a quarter-century ago, David Bush went to a prayer meeting and, throughout the night, kept meeting retired ministers and pastors. “I knew I was supposed to do something for them,” he said. Thus were born Swamp Angel Ministries and Arkansas...
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Work requirement expected to cause 10% increase in average cost of coverage under Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion program
The work requirement that will take effect for Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion program on Jan. 1 will not only decrease enrollment in the program but increase the average cost of providing coverage to those who remain, the state Department of Human...
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As Trump boosts nuclear power, regulators seek to eliminate a longstanding radiation safety rule
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to eliminate a foundational safety principle that has for 50 years minimized the radiation people in the United States are exposed to and that has been adopted around the world. Currently, facilities such...
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Local state Civics Bee winner launches community book campaign
Jai Durvasula is preparing to travel to Washington, D.C., this October to represent Arkansas in the National Civics Bee following his win at the state Civics Bee in June. Durvasula, a rising eighth grader at Barton Junior High School in El Dorado,...
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Paradox CTO promises no increase to cost of electricity with data center buildout
Jeffery Harris, Chief Technology Officer of Paradox Infrastructure and Z Squared, spoke to the Quorum Court last week and assured them their planned data center would not raise electricity rates, but help in building the infrastructure in the area for...
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Trump expands a voluntary pledge to protect consumers from high utility bills from AI data centers
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday had governors and electricity companies join a voluntary pledge to shield U.S. consumers from higher utility bills from data centers — a sign of how the artificial intelligence build-out has become a...
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Touch-A-Truck this Saturday
United Way of Union County is joining forces with The Salvation Army and Walmart to host the free 2026 Touch-A-Truck event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at the El Dorado Walmart, 2730 N. West Ave., on the Garden Center side. Families are invited...
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SAAC announces Annie KIDS cast for Penguin Project Production
The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) announces the cast for this year’s Penguin Project Summer Camp production of Annie, KIDS. Camp will take place July 20–24, culminating in a performance at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24. Directed by Lynn Gunter,...
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Arkansas’ 8.81% food stamp error rate has state facing multimillion-dollar federal penalty
There is good and bad news for Arkansas when it comes to how it runs the program for federal food assistance. The good news is that a recent report from the federal government shows Arkansas’ error rate for payments made under the Supplemental...
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U.S. strikes Iran over troop deaths
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States launched more airstrikes at Iran on Sunday in response to the killing of U.S. troops, and Iran fired missiles toward Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. Step by step, the...
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Number of children served by state program falls 32% after cuts
A Cabot daycare center on Friday joined the dozens of Arkansas childcare facilities that have closed down since the Arkansas Department of Education cut payments last fall for a program serving low-income families. Beth Flippo, the executive director...
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Final presentation of Boomtown Days 2026 set for Saturday
The third and final installment of Boomtown Days 2026 is set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. today in Downtown El Dorado. Admission is free, and the event will include festival food, live music and plenty of family-friendly activities, organizers said. Terry...
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Gov. Sanders, experts comment on regional lithium industry at Texarkana conference
TEXARKANA, Texas — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday said Arkansas is positioned to become a national leader in the lithium industry, telling business leaders the state’s deposits could transform its economy while reducing U.S. dependence on...
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US reimposes blockade and steps up strikes as Iran threatens to halt energy exports
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and intensified its airstrike campaign Wednesday in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The American strikes hit an...
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Trump backs away from plan to charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday backtracked on plans to charge ships for using the Strait of Hormuz, saying Gulf countries would instead invest in the United States. Another wave of U.S. strikes on Iran, and Iranian...
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Arkansas' ban on food stamps for candy, sodas goes well for retailers, but customers voice irritation
More than a week after the rollout of Arkansas' ban on using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks, retailers had reported few hiccups. The reviews from at least some shoppers were less positive,...
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Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally and foreign policy hawk, dies after a brief illness
WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, has died after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said. He was 71. The...
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Rockin’ For Vickers:
Local bands and friends of Chris Vickers came together July 11 at Hills Pool Hall to celebrate the life of the local musician while raising community awareness about suicide prevention and the need for more local mental health resources. The benefit...
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Winner of the State Civics Bee given Key to the City
Jai Durvasula was presented with the Key to the City at the El Dorado City Council meeting on Thursday. Durvssula was recognized for his academic achievement and first place win in the state Civics Bee. While being presented with the key to the city...
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ElDo city clerk receives leadership award, master designation
El Dorado City Clerk Heather McVay walked away from 92nd annual Arkansas Municipal League Convention last month with more than ongoing education and knowledge on topics about how to improve local government. For her 13 years of service to the city and...
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Proposed data center brings permitting history into focus
The recent announcement by Z Squared of their plans to merge with Paradox Data and build a 150 MW data center in Union County has led to community members asking why residents were unaware of the project. The June announcement by Z Squared was the...
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Hail, wind damage reported in parts of Arkansas after Monday storms
Parts of Arkansas had reports of wind damage and hail after a series of storms Monday, the National Weather Service said. Much of the state experienced scattered thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. A combination of several elements created a...
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Alligator hunting permits available
Applications for the 2026 Arkansas alligator hunting season are available at www.agfc.com until midnight July 31. Anyone interested in pursuing alligators on public land in Arkansas must apply for one of the nine hunting locations within Arkansas’s...
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El Do Wins to hear funding requests totaling $12.1M
Members of the El Dorado Wins Board are expected to consider three funding requests totaling more than $12.1 million when they convene for a regular meeting at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chamber of City Hall. The largest ask pertains to highway...
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UNION COUNTY MARKS CENTURIES OF CHANGE, FROM OIL BOOM TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing America 250 series examining the people, places and events that helped shape South Arkansas and their connection to the nation’s history as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. Union...
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El Dorado welcomes the Redbull Airforce and drone show
Larger crowds gathered in downtown El Dorado to watch the RedBull Airforce skydivers and the first-ever drone show at the MAD amphitheater on Thursday night. The show began at 8:45 pm with the Redbull Airforce skydivers leaping from a plane over...
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The Tucker-Parnell Feud: The showdown that shook South Arkansas
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing America 250 series examining the people, places and events that helped shape South Arkansas and their connection to the nation’s history as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. A sidewalk,...
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Maud Crawford’s story in South Arkansas began long before her disappearance
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing America 250 series examining the people, places and events that helped shape South Arkansas and their connection to the nation’s history as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. By the...
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El Dorado native Lamar Hunt gave the Super Bowl its name
Long before the Super Bowl became the biggest day on the American sports calendar, it was just a name one football owner tossed out during a conversation. That owner was Lamar Hunt, who was born in El Dorado and grew up in a family whose fortune was...
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Florida-based firm details plans for local data center
An El Dorado facility identified as a data center is the acquisition target of a Florida-based digital infrastructure company that says it has plans to expand the operation there significantly. Publicly traded Z Squared Inc. said Thursday that it has...
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Architect Fay Jones found his foundation in South Arkansas
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing America 250 series examining the people, places and events that helped shape South Arkansas and their connection to the nation’s history as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. Long before...
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T.H. Barton helped shape town during South Arkansas’ oil boom
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing America 250 series examining the people, places and events that helped shape South Arkansas and their connection to the nation’s history as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. Thomas H....
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El Dorado’s Reece ‘Goose’ Tatum became South Arkansas’ ambassador of laughter
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing America 250 series examining the people, places and events that helped shape South Arkansas and their connection to the nation’s history as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. Reece...
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El Dorado boy, 12, wins Arkansas civics bee, qualifies for nationals in D.C.
Jai Durvasula, 12, of El Dorado, is on his way to Washington, D.C., after taking home the top prize at the National Civics Bee Arkansas State Finals on Wednesday. For Jai, who attends Barton Junior High School, the event gave him a second chance to...
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Official says Issue 3 would give communities new development tool
Michele Simmons Allgood, a financial lawyer with the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, spoke with the Union County Quorum Court last Thursday about Issue 3 ahead of a town hall meeting to discuss the topic on June 29. According to Allgood, Issue...
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SAAC hosts Awards Reception June 27 for 2026 Juried Art Competition Exhibition
The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) invites the community to celebrate the artists featured in its 2026 Juried Art Competition during an Awards Reception from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, in the Merkle and Price Galleries. Nationally...
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Boomtown Days brings music downtown
Main Street El Dorado hosted Boomtown Days on Saturday in downtown El Dorado, where attendees braved the heat and were treated to live performances, craft vendors, and food trucks. The June Boomtown Days featured the return of the Showdown at Sunset,...
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Vance meets top Iranian officials as U.S. looks to get negotiations back on track
OBBUERGEN, Switzerland (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Sunday there was an opportunity to “turn over a new leaf” with Iran as the sides launched talks aimed at building out the interim deal to end the war in Iran reached by the two sides last...
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Restoration project planned for City Hall
City Hall will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and months ahead the milestone moment, the city is expected to get the ball rolling on a restoration project on the municipal building. Michael Rogers of MR Designs, LLC, architectural firm —...
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Union County Cooperative Extension Service and Main Street El Dorado give updates to Quorum Court
Union County Quorum Court was visited by Terry Moore, executive director of Main Street El Dorado, and Jason Hillman, staff chair of the Union County Cooperative Extension Service, for updates on their programs from 2026. Moore, who became the...
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Reality TV star Jase Robertson to appear at local event
Last fall, more than 800 attendees packed into the First Financial Music Hall at Murphy Arts District for a Meet and Eat with pro bass fisherman Hank Parker. The evening, presented by South Arkansas Fishers of Men and largely coordinated by laymen...
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FBI led crime sweep results in 9 indictments
An FBI-led initiative resulted in nine Arkansans being indicted on multiple federal gun- and drug-related charges, a U.S. attorney’s office news conference on Tuesday revealed. Coined “Operation VIPER,” which stands for violence intervention proactive...
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Legislative panel advances rules to restrict school choice program spending on athletics, limit fund rollovers
An Arkansas legislative panel advanced proposed changes to the Educational Freedom Account program for the 2026-27 school year on Monday. The Arkansas Department of Education’s proposed rule changes seek to prevent misuse of the hundreds of millions...
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South Arkansas Junteenth Festival adds more activities to the event
More activities have been added to the 2026 South Arkansas Juneteenth Festival, stretching the event across three days. Originally scheduled to begin Friday, activities for SAJF will kick off Wednesday with a community cleanup, organizers...
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Baptist Health officially takes over local hospital
The papers have been signed, sealed and delivered and Baptist Medical Health Center-El Dorado will begin serving the area's medical needs. A monthslong effort by Baptist Health hospital to acquire the former South Arkansas Regional Hospital campus...
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States move to curb pricing tactics
A growing number of states are introducing bans on dynamic pricing or surveillance pricing as consumer concerns grow about the possible misuse of retail technology. But a retail expert describes these new laws as “purely preemptive...
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Official: U.S., Iran have agreed to wording of a deal
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s prime minister said Friday the United States and Iran have agreed to wording of an agreement aimed at ending their war in the Middle East and that mediators were working with both sides to finalize a deal. Prime Minister Shehbaz...
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Arkansas Black Hall of Fame announces 2026 inductees
The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame announced seven inductees for the 2026 class on Wednesday, honoring representatives of Black excellence in government, sports, medicine and more. The six inductees include Joe Marcus Johnson, Frank A. James, Shirley N....
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El Do City Council to consider ordinance, lease for hospital acquistion
With an acquisition deal between South Arkansas Regional Hospital and Baptist Health Hospital expected to go into effect Sunday, the El Dorado City Council will consider two related actions during a regular monthly meeting at 5:15 p.m. today. The...
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Trump dismisses idea Iran betrays his ‘no new wars’ message
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — President Donald Trump is dismissing the idea that launching the war with Iran this year betrayed his refrain of “No new wars” that he made repeatedly as he campaigned again for the White House. Trump, in an interview that aired...
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Crash of vehicle carrying kids during pursuit near Camden prompts ASP warning to parents
Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar called Friday for parents not to flee police with children aboard after a May pursuit in Ouachita County ended in a crash that left four young children shaken but unhurt. The trooper pursuing Tyrice Fletcher, 28,...
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Asbestos abatement project nearing completion at former Warner Brown Hospital
A public meeting to give an update on the progress of asbestos removal from the West Wing of the Former Warner Brown Hospital was held on May 21 at the Union County Courthouse. Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District (SWAPDD) Special...
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Drum battle set for Juneteenth in El Dorado
Drummers in the area will have the opportunity to go head-to-head for prizes and bragging rights during the Juneteenth-themed Battle of the Drummers, which is set for 5 - 9 p.m. on June 19 at the TAC House, 1101 N. West Ave. Presented by the Literacy...
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Local man taken into custody following stand-off with SWAT
Mount Holly Road was shut down following reports of an aggravated assault on Wednesday morning, which led to an El Dorado man being taken into custody following SWAT intervention, according to a news release from the El Dorado Police Department...
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No formal plans for summer jobs program
The city of El Dorado is not formally offering its summer youth work program for 2026. El Dorado City Council Member Willie McGhee inquired about the program in mid-May, saying that he had received several calls from area youth who were looking for...
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Construction expected to begin soon for expo center
The last of the construction materials have arrived for the South Arkansas Expo Center, and crews are expected to begin erecting the pre-engineered metal building soon. Deliveries began May 4 for components of the building kit that will make up 40,000...
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Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon
BEIRUT — Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in the deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter-century, the military said Sunday. The taking of Beaufort castle, near...
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Young at Heart
If there is anyone that can be described as being young at heart, Ashley Johnson is it. An eighth-grade science teacher at Barton Junior High School, Johnson was selected as the El Dorado School District Teacher of the Year, as well as the El Dorado...
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Chairman, co-chairman to head up El Do Finance Committee
The El Dorado City Council Finance Committee did not take long to conduct its business during a meeting that was held earlier this week. In less than an hour Tuesday, the committee, which is made up of members of the city council, held a robust...
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South Arkansas Arts Center and South Arkansas Symphony announce unification ahead of SASO’s 70th season
The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) and the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (SASO) are pleased to announce that the Symphony will officially become part of SAAC beginning in July 2026, coinciding with the launch of the orchestra’s landmark 70th...
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One hurt in explosions at local recycling facility
Multiple explosions were reported at Wildcat Recycling just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The El Dorado Fire Department responded along with the Union County Sheriff's Office to the emergency. According to employees who were at the scene, they were...
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Cause undetermined in fire at Oakhurst apartments
The cause of a fire that destroyed several units at a local apartment complex in late March has been deemed undetermined, according to the El Dorado Fire Department. El Dorado Fire Marshal Jason Evans said the investigation into the incident is...
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City Council Finance Committee to meet today
The El Dorado City Council Finance Committee has a lot to discuss when they meet at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chamber of City Hall. The committee is expected to elect a new chairman weeks after Vance Williamson, former city council...
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South Arkansas defense industry expands amid rising global demand
Though South Arkansas has been the site of munitions manufacturing since the 1940s, world events such as the conflict with Iran have ushered in a new era and shined a spotlight on the defense industry in south Arkansas. Coupled with demand from the...
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Election commissioner tells JPs to ‘get your house in order’
Union County Election Commissioner Horace R. Charles spoke to the Quorum Court about the state of county elections during the May meeting on Thursday and told the Justices it is time to get their house in order. Charles told the court that Arkansas...
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Union County reclassifies dispatchers as first responders
Union County Quorum Court passed a resolution recognizing public safety telecommunicators as first responders during the May meeting on Thursday. County dispatchers were in attendance at the meeting on Thursday as they were recognized by the Quorum...
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Obsession with mass shootings was ‘divine intervention’ for former Fordyce officer
FORDYCE — During his first two months as a Fordyce police officer, even before he responded to a mass shooting that left four people dead, Neil Brasse was “obsessing” over active shooters. “I don’t know why, it just became a subject I was into all of...
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Hospital CEO warns state’s hospital system is unsustainable, rural medical centers at risk
Arkansas’ current hospital system is not sustainable because roughly 40% of the state’s hospitals operate at a net income loss, the president and chief executive officer of Conway Regional Health System warned state lawmakers on Tuesday. Matt Troup,...
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ACA enrollment projected to drop 5 million as costs rise
Nationwide enrollment in the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace could plummet by nearly 5 million people this year, shrinking the number of participants in the program by more than 20%, according to a new analysis from the healthcare...
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Smackover Lithium clears NEPA review for SW Arkansas Project
Smackover Lithium said the U.S. Department of Energy has completed its environmental review of the South West Arkansas Project under the National Environmental Policy Act, issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact, or FONSI. The decision concludes...
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Stevie Jo’s Ribbon Cutting
The Union County El Dorado Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at Stevie Jo's, a female clothing store.
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Where softball and community come together
As the sun descends over the El Dorado Recreation Complex, the gentle clatter of bats echoes through the air. The atmosphere is filled with the enticing aroma of freshly cut grass and hot dogs and nachos from the concession stand. The parking lot...
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AI-generated bills are misinforming residents on social media
False reports of new laws being enacted are the latest trend in AI-generated fake news. Currently, one such bill that can be found on Facebook, labeled House Bill 1742, says, “Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially signed House Bill 1742 into...
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Tensions flare near Strait of Hormuz as a ship is seized and another is sunk
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized and taken toward Iran and another — a cargo ship near Oman — sank after being attacked, authorities said Thursday, as tensions escalated near the Strait of...
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Senators again pitch area as future hub for U.S. lithium production
Three Republican senators are pressing the Defense Department to back lithium development in South Arkansas and East Texas, arguing the region could become a critical domestic source for minerals used in U.S. weapons systems and military...
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