El Dorado News-Times (VCID - Camden News)
El Dorado takes center stage as Gov. Sanders brings Cabinet to town
El Dorado served as the state capital for a day as Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her Cabinet met with first responders who battled last month’s destructive wildfires and spoke at the Mahoney Library at South Arkansas College. House Speaker...
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U.S. Senate debate between Cotton and Shoffner canceled
Salem Media Group will not hold a U.S. Senate debate between Republican incumbent Tom Cotton and Democratic candidate Hallie Shoffner, both campaigns confirmed Wednesday. Cotton and Shoffner, both of Little Rock, agreed to participate in the event by...
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U.S. stocks edge back from their record following the first big batch of profit reports for the summer
NEW YORK — The first big batch of summertime profit reports from U.S. companies made waves on Wall Street after topping analysts’ expectations, but many canceled each other out. That left U.S. stock indexes little changed near their records on...
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University of Arkansas College of Engineering’s Vision 2035 brings STEM workforce development to El Dorado
More than $2.2 billion in new industrial investment has been announced across south Arkansas, from defense manufacturing in Camden to lithium extraction in the Smackover Formation. The engineers it will take to build and run those operations are in...
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Isaias moves north into Appalachians and mid-Atlantic
PENSACOLA, Fla. — As people in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama cleaned up in the wake of Isaias, the storm’s remnants brought heavy rainfall Sunday and the risk of flooding across the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic region....
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Arkansans are now able to use app for state services
SPRINGDALE — Arkansans can access any state service — from getting new car tags to making a reservation at a state park campground — using a new app recently unveiled. “The only thing you can’t do is get your photo taken for a new driver’s license,”...
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Navi Pillay, South African-born jurist wins Nobel Peace Prize
OSLO, Norway — Navi Pillay, a South African-born jurist and former U.N. human rights chief whose career has spanned from defending the rights of an imprisoned Nelson Mandela to leading a panel that found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the...
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Hurricane Isaias is expected to strengthen as it barrels toward the U.S. Gulf Coast
BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. — Isaias surged toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, prompting mandatory evacuations, school closures and local government shutdowns in parts of Florida, Mississippi and...
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R2S delivers first American produced Tamir missiles to Israel on anniversary of attacks
On the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Arkansas and Israeli officials joined together to celebrate the first shipment of Tamir missiles produced in the R2s facility in Camden. Originally announced in October 2023 following Arkansas...
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El Dorado Haunt gearing up for spooky season
The El Dorado Haunt returns Oct. 16 with a promise of more heart-pounding scares, nightmare fuel, screams and fun this spooky season. The 11th annual “haunted” trail will open at 7 p.m. Oct. 16-18, Oct. 23-25, and Oct. 30-31, weather...
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Nobel medicine prize goes to 3 scientists for shining light on brain activity
STOCKHOLM — The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works. Dr. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel carried out research that opened a new...
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Germany’s Merz announces new aid for Ukraine in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks
KYIV, Ukraine — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth more than $1.5 billion) during a visit to Kyiv on Sunday, as Russia escalated its attacks on Ukrainian cities. The aerial war has intensified, with Moscow...
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Entergy gets $13.7M in federal aid
The U.S. Energy Department is awarding Entergy Corp. $13.7 million in federal funding to improve power delivery across the utility’s service territory. The funding will help deliver power and support economic growth across Arkansas, Louisiana and...
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NY governor says Cornell rape accuser was ‘failed’ by people obligated to protect her
NEW YORK — The woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including campus police and the county prosecutor, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday. Hochul said at a news...
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SpaceX launches 4 astronauts on fast track to International Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts rocketed into orbit Thursday on a space station mission that will stretch until spring, among them a Canadian whose wife will give birth while he’s away. SpaceX launched commander Jessica Watkins and her crew for...
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Trump hails the US military’s exit from Iraq after its 12-year mission
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military announced Wednesday that it completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group and prompting President Donald Trump to hail the conclusion of “a very...
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Netanyahu calls claims of genocide in Gaza ‘the biggest lie of the century’
Accusations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders Thursday in a speech that asserted his nation’s right to wage war against Iran — and was not heard by...
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Stocks slide on worries about inflation
NEW YORK — Pressure from the U.S. bond market hit a new level on Wall Street Wednesday after a strong report on the economy raised worries about inflation, while oil prices halted their slide. The squeeze caused U.S. stocks to sink. The S&P 500 fell...
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President Trump: U.S. and Iranian officials met, shortly after warning
UNITED NATIONS — President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met Tuesday, shortly after threatening in his address to the U.N. General Assembly that he may “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn’t reached soon to end the nearly...
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Wildfire in Calhoun County still burning
A fire that threatened areas of Highland Industrial Park is now at 85% containment, an official said. “We have a little bit of interior burning still. We’re trying to get that buttoned up before we get a a weather change tomorrow,” said Robert Murphy,...
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An Israeli is shot dead in the occupied West Bank
An Israeli was fatally shot in the occupied West Bank, while Israel’s military said it killed a man who attempted to ram his vehicle into troops elsewhere in the Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, Iran’s top diplomat will stop in Qatar on his way to...
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El Dorado students ready for Union County Livestock Show
For the members of El Dorado’s Future Farmers of America program, it’s showtime. The Union County Fair Livestock Show will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the fairgrounds with several events set for later in the week. “Some of them have been working...
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Highland Industrial Park thanks crews, community as Bunker Fire containment reaches 75%
With the Bunker Fire now 75% contained, Highland Industrial Park is thanking the firefighters, emergency personnel and community members who have helped protect the park and surrounding areas. The fire had burned just over 2,800 acres, according to...
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Calhoun County wildfire remains 65% contained
The Bunker Fire in Calhoun County remains 65% contained as of Thursday, officials said. “We have good lines around the fire, but there’s still several hot spots in there,” Arkansas State Forester Kyle Cunningham said. “In the days following the...
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Official: Calhoun County wildfire 65% contained as of Wednesday
The wildfire near Highland Industrial Park in Camden was 65% contained Wednesday morning, according to the Arkansas Forestry Division. Around 20 to 25 first responders were continuing to contain the fire Wednesday as the flames have spread across...
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Officials: Calhoun County fire 35% contained
CALHOUN COUNTY, Ark. — A wildfire burning near Highland Industrial Park in Calhoun County that forced evacuations and has drawn a growing response from state and local agencies is 35% contained. The fire was originally estimated at 2,338 acres. Crews...
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Texas landowners ask a court to stop Trump’s Big Bend wall plans
MARFA, Texas — Landowners, ranchers and business owners in the Big Bend region of Texas along with a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the region’s landscape and heritage are suing to stop the Trump administration’s plans to build a wall...
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Iranian cargo ship is struck and talks between Tehran and its neighbors are postponed
CAIRO — An Iranian cargo vessel was struck early Sunday off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said, and a plan by Tehran to brief neighboring countries on its contested efforts to manage shipping in the strait was...
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Westerman: Data centers could be a benefit if handled properly
Data centers have drawn growing opposition over electricity and water use, utility costs, noise and their effect on communities. But U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman believes the centers are getting a “bad rap.” Westerman, R-Hot Springs, said Wednesday data...
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‘I’m in trouble’: Eyewitness recalls how historic Manhattan church became sanctuary, beacon of hope on 9/11
FOREMAN — Under the gaze of approximately 200 students, the Rev. Stuart Hoke wove a narrative of memories and spiritual realizations as an eyewitness of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York City. Hoke asked for grace before beginning his...
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Smithsonian marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a display of rare artifacts
WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is honoring the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks this week with displays of dozens of rarely seen objects that tell the story of that day in personal terms. The exhibit,...
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Rubio calls Ecuador an ‘aggressive’ partner in the U.S. counterdrug push
QUITO, Ecuador — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed Ecuador on Wednesday as being the most “aggressive” partner in the Trump administration’s push to crack down on drug trafficking and transnational criminal groups in the Western...
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Trump honors 9/11 victims at the Ellipse, pledging to ‘never forget’
WASHINGTON — Nearly a quarter century after a day “etched forever into the memories of Americans,” President Donald Trump honored the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on Tuesday by vowing to “never forget.” The event at the Ellipse was...
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Iran claims a strike on a U.S. ship in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. denies it
CAIRO — Iran said Sunday it struck an unmanned U.S. vessel trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that the U.S. military dismissed as a “total lie.” The purported attack came a day after the U.S. military said forces struck three Iranian oil...
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Local chamber looks to build on business recruitment momentum
The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce is working with seven active state recruitment and expansion projects, has helped support 201 new jobs and is putting more attention on housing, infrastructure, health care and workforce needs. Chamber...
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Mistrial is declared in Clancy child killings case after jury deadlocks
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — A judge declared a mistrial Friday in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous verdict on whether she was criminally responsible for killing her three young children. The mistrial, on the...
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Clancy jury foreperson says they’re deadlocked over 1 juror
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial went home without a verdict Thursday in a dramatic sixth day of deliberations. Her defense lawyer told the judge that the panel’s foreperson said in a note that a single juror won’t...
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Edouard drenches Texas, downs trees
PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The former Tropical Storm Edouard weakened into a depression but dumped nearly 2 feet of rain in some places, flooded roads and knocked down trees Wednesday in parts of Texas as it slowly moved north. Schools and municipal offices...
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Possibility of floods as Edouard makes land fall on Gulf Coast
Rain fell Tuesday across parts of Texas and Louisiana as Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall near the border between the two states, bringing the possibility of flooding, the National Hurricane Center warned. The storm came ashore near Johnson Bayou,...
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South Arkansas lithium project lands second major customer
LEWISVILLE, Ark. — A major battery manufacturer has agreed to buy lithium from a planned South Arkansas project for 10 years, giving the development another boost. LG Energy Solution will buy 8,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate each year from the...
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NASA’s newest space telescope launches on a quest to explore the hidden universe
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s newest crown jewel blasted off Sunday to hunt for planets around other stars, explore secret dark energy and survey the cosmos like never before. SpaceX launched the $4.3 billion Roman Space Telescope shortly after...
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Intermediate School project is progressing toward ’27 completion
Construction on the new El Dorado Intermediate School is transitioning from major projects to interior finishes, according to the school district. The facility being constructed where the former high school once stood is slated to host classes for...
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Cotton visits fire crews, tours Union County wildfire site
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton visited Union County following the Pine Tree Road Fire, where he recognized first responders and other agencies for their work during the wildfire and toured the burned area. Cotton, R-Little Rock, presented certificates of...
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US officials: Missile stocks in Europe ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is experiencing a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe largely driven by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, a U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official told The Associated...
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Bond market may be resetting expectations about the U.S.A.
WASHINGTON — U.S. debt hasn’t been further downgraded, breakeven rates on inflation-protected bonds haven’t spiked, and the cost of insuring against a federal default hasn’t skyrocketed, signs that most investors still see U.S. bonds as a largely...
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Dolly Parton, music star, actor and beloved figure who spanned generations, has died at 80
Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, has died. She was 80 years old. Known for...
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Youth entrepreneur camp deemed a success
More than a dozen budding entrepreneurs delved into the various aspects of business ownership and met with local business leaders in the community during the first-ever youth entrepreneurship camp to be hosted by the El Dorado Boys and Girls Club of...
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Wildfire near El Dorado reported 80% contained as of Saturday afternoon
The wildfire that burned more than 2,300 acres near El Dorado was about 80% contained on Saturday afternoon as the last of about 150 people who were evacuated in response to the fire were allowed to return home, authorities said. By Saturday morning,...
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FIREFIGHTERS GAIN GROUND ON UNION COUNTY BLAZE
A wildfire that burned more than 2,300 acres in Union County was 80% contained Saturday afternoon, with fire lines established around the entire blaze and crews continuing to watch for flare-ups, officials said. The fire had burned 2,328 acres as of...
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Union County wildfire burns more than 2,100 acres
Wildfires in Union County near El Dorado were being contained Friday morning after more than 2,100 acres burned, and a wildfire spanning 100 acres was contained in Ashley County, officials said. No injuries had been reported, Fire Chief Chad Mosby of...
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Aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East, relieving long-deployed USS Lincoln
WASHINGTON — The Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating in the Middle East, the U.S. military said Thursday, relieving a long-deployed carrier following reports of mental health challenges and supply shortages aboard while...
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Governors’ races being increasingly buffeted by the politics of data centers
More governors are shifting their stances or taking more steps to squeeze data centers as the midterm elections near and public opinion sours on the energy-hungry behemoths tech giants are building to fuel artificial intelligence products and cloud...
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Florida carries out 13th execution of the year on a man convicted of killing estranged wife
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man convicted of fatally shooting his estranged wife and wounding his mother-in-law was executed Tuesday, continuing the state’s aggressive use of the death penalty in Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ final term. William...
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Study weighs economic impact of AI data centers in rural Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK — Across the country, the explosive growth of massive data centers, many of them meant to power the growth of artificial intelligence, has drawn both criticism and support from communities in both rural and urban areas. As more land is...
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Arts Center announces Fall Arts Academy Classes
The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) is welcoming a new season of creativity with registration now open for its 2026 Fall Arts Academy. In addition to the always-loved class offerings, this semester brings an expanded selection of classes in visual...
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Little basking in success of UAM’s trap shooting team’s debut season
El Dorado native Brody Little has long had a passion for the outdoors and hunting. However, it wasn’t until last year that he found an outlet to put all that he has learned on display. Little, who recently finished his freshman year at...
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Pentagon pressures expanding defense industry in South Arkansas
South Arkansas defense industry heavyweights Lockheed Martin and L3 Harris were working to expand weapons production well before the Pentagon ordered industry leaders to detail plans to speed up their assembly lines. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve...
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SAAC presents Four Seasons at Richland Creek Farm
Artist Maria Botti Villegas is hosting a “Harvest Season” Mixed Media Drawing & Painting Workshop for the third installment in her ‘Four Seasons at Richland Creek Farm’ series on September 19 from 9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. The workshop starts at Richland...
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‘Potentially historic heatwave’ could expose Arkansans to more widespread heat illnesses
Arkansas could face what forecasters are calling a “potentially historic heat wave,” bringing sustained dangerous heat. Temperatures in the Little Rock area will reach 100 degrees on Thursday, with triple digit temperatures expected for at least 10...
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Mayflower joins other Arkansas cities in stopping use of Flock devices
Mayflower has become the second Central Arkansas city in the last week to ditch its Flock Safety license plate readers. Interim Police Chief Brittany Byrd announced Monday that after “evaluating the capabilities” of the cameras, Mayflower will...
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Silver Screen Series returns to El Dorado
The South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society (SAHPS) has announced the return of its Silver Screen Series in a news release this week. The Silver Screen Series is dedicated to “showcasing timeless Hollywood classics from the remarkable film...
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Houthis claim attacks on Saudi oil facility and Yemeni port, and other Mideast news
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday struck a government-held port on the country’s Red Sea coast, killing several people and deepening fears over threats to strategic Middle East shipping routes and a potential return to civil war. They also...
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SouthArk welcomes students to Howard Hall
In June 2024, Murphy Oil Corporation announced a $10 million charitable gift to South Arkansas College to help start funding for a residence hall and a baseball stadium. Just over two years later, the first of the new facilities was officially...
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Firm says sites in Camden, region could support new nuclear reactors
Locations in southwest and Central Arkansas are best suited for new nuclear reactors, according to a study presented Thursday to the legislature’s Joint Energy Committee. Brian Meadors, an attorney with Maryland-based EXCEL Services Corp., told the...
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Governor launches process to replace McCollum as legislator, but county judge candidacy still stands
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will ask Republicans and Democrats to choose candidates for a special election to fill former state Rep. Austin McCollum’s unexpired term in the state House, which ends Jan. 11. McCollum resigned Wednesday following his...
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PCI celebrates 45-year anniversary
Polyethylene Containers, Inc. (PCI) held an anniversary celebration for the company’s 45th anniversary on Wednesday. The celebration included remarks from the current CEO, Walter Tyson, COO Stephen D. Kelley, Vice President Mark Childs, as well as...
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New World Screwworm has been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico
New World screwworm (NWS) has been confirmed in 42 domestic animal cases across Texas and New Mexico as of mid-July and Arkansas sheep and goat producers are being asked to treat this as an active and evolving threat. According to a news release from...
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Boozman joins bipartisan push to expand access to paid leave
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., has joined a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill to expand access to paid leave. Boozman, of Rogers, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act last month,...
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Ex-superintendent appeals suspension
A former superintendent of the Fouke School District is appealing a three-year suspension of his teaching license that cited ethics violations including personal relationships with students. In a suit filed Wednesday in Pulaski County Circuit Court,...
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Winning with Lillian
There is no such thing as taking it easy for Lillian Geurin. In June, Geurin was elected National Beta Club Vice President, which came on the heels of her election to Arkansas State Vice President in January. “I enjoy it,” Geurin said. “I feel like...
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Ballet camp performs ‘The Spirit of the Tides’
The South Arkansas Arts Center held the Ballet Camp production of The Spirit of the Tides at 5:30 pm on Friday evening. The ballet featured music and characters from Moana, telling this well-loved story through dance. The production was directed by...
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Camden named in nuclear feasibility study
The Camden area has been identified as one of six locations in Arkansas that could potentially support a nuclear power plant, according to a feasibility study authorized by the Arkansas Legislature. The study found that an area near Camden has an...
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