Texarkana Gazette
Hazardous Haze
The Statue of Liberty is photographed from the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky Thursday in New York. Heavy, pungent wildfire smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast,...
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Gov. Sanders, experts discuss lithium industry
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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Gov. Sanders to visit Texarkana, ‘Capital for a Day,’ today
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared Texarkana to be Arkansas’ “Capital for a Day” today and will make a series of appearances during a visit to the city. Sanders’ “Capital for a Day” program highlights Arkansas cities and brings...
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Activists say county can take some action on data centers
NEW BOSTON, Texas — Residents opposed to local construction of digital data centers had a single message for Bowie County Commissioners on Monday: You are not powerless. Ten people spoke during the public comment period of a regular commissioners’...
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‘We shall not see his likes again.’
After more than three decades in elected office, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham died after a “brief and sudden illness” Saturday evening, his office said in a statement. The senior senator's death received an outpouring of reaction from many of the most...
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BEST IN SHOW
“Itzamná,” ceramic art by Mario Mungula of Paris, Texas, is on display at the Texarkana Arts and Humanities Council’s 38th annual Adult Juried Exhibition on Saturday at the Regional Arts Center in Texarkana, Texas. Juror Emily Budd named the piece Best...
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Detainees: ICE shot driver through passenger window
HOUSTON — Three men inside a van who witnessed the fatal shooting of the driver by an immigration officer in Houston said the Mexican man was shot through a passenger window and that the officer was never threatened, a lawyer who has spoken with them...
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Nominees address data center opponents
TEXARKANA, Texas — During a meeting of more than 100 grassroots activists Thursday, the nominees for Texas House District 1 set aside partisanship to voice alarm about digital data centers planned for the area and call for a pre-election special...
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An uphill climb?
TEXARKANA, Ark. — The city’s recent rezoning of land to allow a convenience store on Dudley Street signals a step to breathe new life into the College Hill neighborhood. Over the past year, East Street, the neighborhood’s thoroughfare, has seen the...
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Library grant to pay for comics, manga
TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texarkana Public Library soon will grow its collection of manga, comics and graphic novels, thanks to a grant from the 2026 Texas Book Festival Library. The library applied for the $2,500 grant early this year and received...
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Local conference will share insight into lithium industry
The Texarkana region’s place in lithium development is the topic of conversation at a conference next week. State of Lithium will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15 at Texarkana Convention Center. Hosted by Texarkana USA Regional Chamber of...
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Rockets Red Glare
Fireworks explode over King Park during a Fourth of July celebration Saturday in Wake Village, Texas. The holiday marked the 250th anniversary of the United States.
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Local history comes to life on Independence Day
TEXARKANA, Texas — The Ace of Clubs House on Saturday became the stage for an Independence Day celebration of Texarkanians’ roles in the nation’s 250-year history. Texarkana Museums System and Texarkana Repertory Co. teamed up to present “Moments That...
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Heat bears down as America 250 celebrations ramp up
WASHINGTON — Festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence ramped up across the United States on Friday as demonstrations of national pride — and hints of political polarization — were balanced with efforts to stay safe as...
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Rain has helped conditions for fireworks
TEXARKANA —Record-breaking rainfall in June has made weather conditions safer for fireworks this year, but those celebrating the Fourth of July should still use caution. “Conditions are better this year then they usually are due to all of the rain we...
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INDEPENDENCE DAY 2026
TEXARKANA — Looking for a Fourth of July fireworks display near you? Here’s the 2026 list, alphabetical by location. Happy Independence Day! ASHDOWN, ARKANSAS COMMUNITY PRAYER FOR AMERICA 250 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4 — First Assembly Ashdown, 150 S....
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‘A piece of the legacy’
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Work has begun on a new mural at 218 Walnut St., in front of Hopkins Icehouse. Ray Abernathy, owner of the building, commissioned the mural after a conversation with local artist Darlene Taylor around two years ago. “He’s the one...
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Flyover for Freedom
An Arkansas National Guard C-130 transport plane flies over North State Line Avenue on Monday in Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence during the week before the Fourth of...
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No need to wait another 30 years
TEXARKANA, Ark. — The success of the Texarkana Airshow has organizers thinking the sky is not the limit for aerial entertainment over the Twin Cities. The all-day event drew approximately 11,000 spectators to Texarkana Regional Airport on Saturday,...
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Rep. Moran files AI safety bill
WASHINGTON — As concern about artificial intelligence grows worldwide, Texarkana, Texas’ congressman, Rep. Nathaniel Moran, on Thursday introduced a bill that aims to compel AI companies to report any security risks their systems cause. The draft...
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Coming in for a landing
Army Staff Sgt. Adrian Lara comes in for a landing during a Golden Knights practice jump Friday afternoon at Texarkana Regional Airport in Texarkana, Ark. The Knights will be one of the featured aerial performers today in the Texarkana Airshow. Gates...
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‘I have big shoes to fill’
BOWIE COUNTY, Texas — Col. Christopher J. Masson became the 46th commander of Red River Army Depot on Thursday in a ceremony rich in military pageantry and reminders of the depot’s recent accomplishments. Outgoing commander Col. Denis J. Fajardo came...
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Residents testify about dead dogs, ‘horrific’ smell in cruelty case
NEW BOSTON, Texas — A Bowie County man testified Wednesday the smell was “horrific” on the property where Stuart Duncan Hammonds lived in Simms, Texas. “It (the property) was very junky, and there was a dead dog laying by the camper. I have never...
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Doors of Hope project to bring art and resources to downtown
TEXARKANA — A new public project planned for downtown aims to combine creativity, community engagement and access to local resources through a series of miniature doors installed in downtown alleys. Keep Texarkana Beautiful, the Activated Alley...
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Mahjong studio becomes a new gathering place
TEXARKANA, Texas — A local mahjong studio is giving area residents a new place to gather, learn a centuries-old game and build connections through friendly competition. Birds of a Tile, at 1718 New Boston Road in the former Wells Fargo Bank building,...
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Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas hosts fatherhood summit
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Men from across the community gathered for a Fatherhood Summit hosted by Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas, creating a space for open conversation about parenting, emotional well-being, and financial literacy. The event brought together...
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Investigators: Camp Mystic did not meet state emergency requirements
AUSTIN — Investigators into the deadly flood that killed 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic concluded the Christian youth camp failed to meet state emergency requirements or prepare for the July 4, 2025, flood. State investigators for a joint...
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‘Super excited about being home’
Trey Patterson speaks before the ribbon cutting for Patterson Nissan Texarkana on Wednesday at 3707 Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas. Patterson is the principal of the dealership, formerly known as Pete Mankins Nissan. ‘We've got car dealerships in...
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Higher prices are likely to outlast the Iran war
NEW YORK — A tentative deal to end the Iran war makes it reasonable to ask how soon prices will drop for gasoline, groceries, airline tickets and other items that got more expensive during the conflict. Not so fast, experts say. Even after oil starts...
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Juneteenth Pageant awards scholarships
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A local Juneteenth Pageant on Saturday focused on confidence, community service and giving back, bringing contestants of all ages while also awarding scholarships to area students. The pageant at Arkansas High School, organized by...
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Hypecon 2026
Actor and voice actor D.C. Douglas, sitting, shows Eira Mcdonald, from left, and Emily Derrick photos of characters that he has portrayed or voiced over his career at the 2026 Hypecon event Saturday at Canvas Special Events Center. See related photos...
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Garland City preparing to open its first public library
GARLAND City. Ark. — A new community library is coming inside the Garland City Community Center, a project local leaders hope will provide educational resources, technology access and a gathering place for residents of all ages. An opening date has...
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New trolley makes tracks through downtown
TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texarkana Arts and Historic District’s new trolley made its way around downtown for the first time during its unveiling on Friday. The new trolley, a 1999 Freightliner trolley bus, was previously owned by the Arktex Council of...
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California falls just behind Texas in Fortune 500 count
Texas has dethroned California as the state with the most Fortune 500 companies. The Fortune 500 list ranks the largest U.S. companies by revenue. This year, 57 of the top companies are headquartered in Texas, compared with California’s 56. It’s a...
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Lawsuit seeks to stop White House UFC fight
Construction continues on a 5,000-seat octagon-shaped arena on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday in Washington. A federal lawsuit seeks to halt a UFC mixed martial arts show at the arena timed for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and...
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Noah, 2, joins courthouse team
TEXARKANA, Ark. — His wagging tail and calm demeanor are hints Noah is the right dog for his new job. The Labrador-golden Retriever mix is already making new friends as he goes about his daily rounds at Miller County Courthouse. “He has to go around...
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Pleasant Grove clinches 4A baseball state championship
Pleasant Grove baseball coach Riley Fincher celebrates with players and coaches after the Hawks defeated Calallen, 2-1, in the Class 4A, Division I state championship game Friday, June 5, 2026, at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. The victory gave...
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Restaurateur wants to transform downtown train car into family-friendly dining experience
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A new owner is preparing to bring fresh life to the historic downtown train car that housed Alley Cats Coffee Bar. Jenn Wren’s upcoming business, called The Concho Railhouse, will continue operating inside the iconic 1940s train car...
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9/11 exhibit makes stop in Texarkana
A steel beam from the World Trade Center is on display outside the federal building Wednesday in downtown Texarkana. The display was part of the Tunnels to Towers Steel Across America Tour, which included the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit. See...
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Local nonprofit hosts men’s mental health talk
TEXARKANA, Texas — Men from across the Texarkana community gathered Monday at A Cut Above Others Barbershop for an open discussion about mental health, personal struggles and topics many men often avoid discussing publicly. The event brought together...
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Flesh-eating screwworms head for American livestock
Southern states are bracing for a potential invasion of the New World screwworm that could disrupt livestock markets and raise already high meat prices. So far, the parasite has yet to land in the United States, but it has been spreading across Mexico...
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Cooling off at the splash pad
Park goers cool off in the water Sunday afternoon at the Rotary Splash Pad at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, Texas. The splash pad opens the weekend after Memorial Day each year. The high temperature Monday is expected to be near 96, with a heat index...
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Reading program kicks off with party
TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texarkana Public Library kicked off its 2026 Summer Reading Program on Saturday with a block party featuring bounce houses, face painting, vendors and reading incentives aimed at keeping children engaged during the summer...
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A 24-hour Musical
Actors in a 24-hour musical hold their first song rehearsal Thursday at Silvermoon Theatre in Texarkana, Texas. The cast of 12- to 75-year-olds received their lines Thursday and practiced overnight for performances Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30...
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Assistive technology allows independent living for people with disabilities
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Technology is playing a central role in helping people with disabilities live more independently in Texarkana, with assistive devices and smart systems allowing individuals to manage daily tasks with less direct support. At Texarkana...
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Bee Happy
Sanil Thorat, 10, of Shreveport, La., reacts after answering correctly during the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Wednesday in Washington. See story on Page 6B.
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Paxton defeats Cornyn in Senate runoff election
Texas will have a new senator come January following incumbent John Cornyn’s defeat by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Tuesday night’s runoff election. Paxton’s victory follows a hardfought campaign punctuated by a late endorsement by President...
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Arkansas’ Hispanic health lags
A recent report from the Commonwealth Fund ranked Arkansas dead last in health system performance for Hispanic residents. The Natural State was given a third percentile score for Hispanic groups’ healthcare quality, 50th among the District of Columbia...
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Ark-la-tex A’s seize championship
Carson Rosenbaum, of the Ark-la-tex A's 9U in Nashville, Ark., is safe at first as Swing Lab-brush 10U's first baseman Noah Delgado waits for the ball in the championship game at USSSA'S Big League Chew NIT tournament Sunday at Swanger Sports Complex...
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Trump says deal with Iran and opening of Strait of Hormuz are ‘largely negotiated’
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Donald Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region. “Final aspects and details of the Deal are...
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Arrest made in shooting on Miller County Road 296
Miller County Sheriff’s Office investigators discuss the probe into a shooting Friday at a residence in the 1700 block of County Road 296, east of Texarkana, Ark. The male victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and remains in critical...
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TXDOT aims to drive change through Click It or Ticket campaign
TEXARKANA — In 2025, 965 people who failed to buckle up died in crashes on Texas roadways. The Texas Department of Transportation hopes to put a dent in that number through its annual Click It or Ticket campaign, which runs through the end of the...
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THS senior wins car for perfect attendance
TEXARKANA, Texas — Students from across the Texarkana area were recognized for their dedication to education during the fourth annual Attend and Win giveaway hosted by Robbins Toyota. The top prize, a 2026 Toyota Corolla, was awarded to Brayden Ahrens...
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RRCU awards $40K to nonprofits
TEXARKANA, Texas — The first Red River Credit Union Give Back Game brought together community members, local nonprofits and a family-friendly Saturday, all with a mission centered on giving back. Hosted by RRCU Gives, the event featured a community...
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Walk down memory lane
Graduating seniors smile at the applause of students and teachers during a processional Monday at Pleasant Grove Middle School in Texarkana, Texas. The middle school was the first stop of the graduate walk, when the high school’s 218 seniors visit the...
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Thousands flock to National Mall for an America-themed prayer rally
WASHINGTON — Thousands of people streamed onto the National Mall for a daylong prayer rally Sunday billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God.” Against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, worship music blared from a stage...
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New library study pods offer quiet and privacy
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texarkana Public Library has added a modern option for patrons who want an especially quiet, private space in which to work: soundproof study pods that can be reserved for up to two hours at a time. The library recently made...
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New historical marker dedicated downtown
TEXARKANA, Texas — A new historical marker downtown commemorates an obscure 19th-century exploration of the Red River in Louisiana and Northeast Texas. Cty officials and the historian who brought fresh attention to that event took part in a dedication...
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Demand for Pokémon cards still growing
TEXARKANA — Collectors and players of the Pokémon card game continue to collect them all while battling for rare cards and against scalpers. Some payers, like Brandon Fairbanks, began their collection at a young age, with the original 151 cards. “I...
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Senators seek support for lithium projects
Arkansas Sens. Tom Cotton and John Boozman joined Texas Sen. Ted Cruz this week in asking the Defense Department to back lithium development in the Smackover Formation, a massive brine deposit in South Arkansas and East Texas. In a letter sent Tuesday...
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Nash police chief: Two killed in domestic dispute at local plant
NASH, Texas — Two people are dead after a domestic dispute Tuesday in the parking lot of Texarkana Aluminum on Alumax Drive. Nash Police Chief Kelly Dial said three individuals were found in the parking lot of the plant at 6:37 a.m. after reports of...
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Texas-side council hears from data center opponents
TEXARKANA, Texas — Residents opposed to construction of a digital data center in the area did not mince words on Monday as they told the City Council about their concerns. Though the council has no control over a recently announced data center...
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ICED OUT
SPRINGDALE — A mother from Honduras said she is terrified to leave the home where she lives with her four children. A lifelong Springdale man said his hometown has become more welcoming and diverse during his 75 years. A woman from El Salvador...
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New Texarkana nonprofit makes debut by hosting Battle of Badges
TEXARKANA, Texas — The fourth Battle of the Badges on Saturday was the first official event of a new community organization. Ark-la-tex First Responders, which received its accreditation as a nonprofit earlier this year, was organized by FCI Texarkana...
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TAMUT holds largest commencement ceremony yet
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-texarkana held its largest commencement ceremony yet on Friday morning at the Patterson Student Center. The Spring 2026 class, per the university’s recent press release, is the largest in TAMUT’S history, with...
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Cruz pegs Red River Army Depot as critical to nation’s war efforts
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas speaks on drone production and the modernization of the Army on Thursday at Red River Army Depot in Hooks, Texas. The depot will play a pivotal role in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles to support the warfighter,...
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Chamber hosts Women in Business event
NASH, Texas — The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Women in Business event, bringing together local professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders for a day focused on leadership, growth and shared experience. The event at The...
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Data center opponents speak at TAC meeting
BOWIE COUNTY, Texas — About two dozen area residents who question or oppose a recently announced data center development plan voiced their concerns Tuesday at Texamericas Center, asking whether the potential economic gains are worth the potential...
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Arkansas Middle School holds field day
Seventh-grader Wesley Latham sprints toward the finish line in a heat of the boys 100-yard dash at field day Monday at Arkansas Middle School in Texarkana, Ark. Athletics coordinator Venture Watson said more than 900 students in grades six through...
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President flexes executive power with unprecedented flouting of court rulings
When a federal judge shot down a Trump administration policy of holding immigrants without bond last December, it seemed like a serious blow to the president’s mass deportation effort. Instead, a top Justice Department official insisted the ruling...
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Hope High School student is Arkansas recipient of national leadership award
HOPE, Ark. — A Hope High School student has been awarded the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award presented by the National Association of Student Councils. Jair Arroyo, a 17-year-old junior, is the Arkansas recipient of the award, which is presented...
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Sling Fit awarded $10,000 first prize at annual Pitch It Texarkana
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Entrepreneurs from across the region took the stage Thursday at Crossties Event Venue to present their business ideas at the fifth annual Pitch It Texarkana competition. Hosted by The Assembly Line, the competition brought together...
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Remembering Graycen
Flowers decorate a table at a memorial for Graycen Vargo on Thursday evening at Texas A&M University-texarkana. Vargo collapsed while competing April 24 at the Red River Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships at Xavier University in New...
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