An annual, artificial haze is set to descend in the skies of the Arkansas Delta as the harvest makes way for the burning of row crop fields. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture wants to remind its partners in agriculture and conservation of the importance of safe, prescribed burning techniques as a valuable tool in crop management plans. Row crop farmers use prescribed fires in the fall as part of crop management plans to remove stubble following the harvest of rice, soybeans, corn, and cotton. Prescribed burning is an efficient and economical control method for preparing fields for the nex ..read more

Republican Sen. John Boozman’s campaign said Wednesday it’s raised more than $1.1 million over the past three months for his reelection bid. The campaign for the two-term senator from Arkansas said it has more than $2.7 million cash on hand. Friday is the deadline for campaigns to file their quarterly reports with the Federal Election Commission. Boozman, who was first elected to the Senate in 2010, faces several challengers in next year’s Republican primary. They include Jake Bequette, a former NFL and Arkansas Razorbacks player, and Jan Morgan, a Hot Springs gun range owner. Natalie James an ..read more

Activists are seeking to overturn Arkansas’ newly-drawn congressional district map through a procedure known as a popular veto. Arkansans for a Unified Natural State says it is beginning the process of collecting signatures to prevent the new map from going into effect. Organizer Kwami Abdul-Bey says once the state legislature formally adjourns, the group will have 90 days to collect 54,000 signatures from at least 15 Arkansas counties to overturn the legislation. “Other rights, even the most basic, are illusionary if the right to vote is undermined," Abdul-Bey said. "We believe that the way t ..read more

Arkansas continues seeing a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. On Monday, the Department of Health said the number of active cases fell by 707 people since Sunday to 6,889, the lowest level since July 10. Twelve deaths were reported, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 8,132. There were 217 new cases of people testing positive for the virus. On Twitter, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the number of new cases was at its lowest level since June. Hospitalizations dropped slightly to 545, with three fewer people needing treatment. The number of patients on ventilators was up by three to ..read more

Arkansas continues seeing a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. On Monday, the Department of Health said the number of active cases fell by 707 people since Sunday to 6,889, the lowest level since July 10. Twelve deaths were reported, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 8,132. There were 217 new cases of people testing positive for the virus. On Twitter, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the number of new cases was at its lowest level since June. Hospitalizations dropped slightly to 545, with three fewer people needing treatment. The number of patients on ventilators was up by three to ..read more

A monster that lives by eating the dead is hiding underground, and it has developed a taste for soybeans. For the past two years, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers have worked in the lab and in the field to learn more about an emerging pathogen identified in 2014 as the prime culprit of soybean taproot decline — Xylaria necrophora. Researchers with the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, are studying its genetics and testing for resistance and susceptibility in different soybean strains. They have also conducted ..read more

Arkansas now has six boxes where a newborn child can be dropped off by anyone not ready to care for a child. On Sunday, an unveiling and blessing ceremony was held for the latest Safe Haven Baby Box which is located at Maumelle Fire Department Station 1, 2000 Murphy Drive. Other cities in Arkansas that have the infant safety devices are Benton, Jonesboro, Rogers and Springdale. Monica Kelsey, CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Box, said in an interview that after being abandoned as an infant herself, she wanted to provide a place where babies could be safely surrendered. “A baby box is an exte ..read more

New Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant Tennille says he believes Republicans are out-of-step with the majority of Arkansans and he expects electoral, financial and messaging success from the GOP’s recent political moves in the state legislature. Tennille, a guest on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics, was elected chairman of the party a week ago. He said this past week has seen a resurgence in fundraising, opportunity for legislative gains, and encouragement from the party faithful across the state. “I think that because of the rise of President Trump and his followers ..read more

The city of Little Rock and the family of a Black driver fatally shot by a white police officer during a traffic stop have tentatively reached a settlement, court records show. U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall on Thursday canceled the trial in the lawsuit the family of Bradley Blackshire had filed, saying the city had informally advised him of a settlement. Marshall’s order did not disclose details of the settlement. An attorney for Blackshire’s family said in a letter to the court Friday that the settlement still must be approved by the probate court. Spokespeople for the city did not im ..read more

The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival will begin showing films and hosting events Friday. Last year, the festival was a drive-in screening where social distancing was the utmost priority. This year, nearly all the films will have at least one in-person screening and be available for 48 hours online. The festival in previous years featured around 50 to 55 films. This year there will be 35 featured films. “The number is smaller actually for a strategic reason," said executive director of the festival Jennifer Gerber. "We found that our audience wants to be able to see as many films as possib ..read more