Financing Jonesboro’s mixed-use future

Jonesboro’s growth pattern is shifting as the city approaches 100,000 residents. Guided by initiatives such as Plan Jonesboro and the “Destination 100K” vision, and backed by strong community leadership and partnerships, our community is moving away from traditional commercial and residential sprawl toward modern, walkable, mixed-use developments that integrate residential, retail, office, medical, and entertainment spaces.

Steve Ditto elected as Hoxie mayor 

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - Steve Ditto has been elected as Hoxie’s mayor, according to early unofficial results. The Lawrence County Clerk’s Office reports Ditto defeated incumbent Mayor Tim Taylor by a vote of 279 to 157. Taylor resigned from office last month but his name still appeared on...

Several races in northeast Arkansas head to Dec. 1 runoffs

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Voters in four northeast Arkansas counties will decide nine races in runoffs Dec. 1, according to unofficial election results. The races include five mayoral contests and four city council contests. Craighead County. Incumbent LJ Bryant and Patti Lack will meet in a runoff for Jonesboro City...

Work begins on first phase of CREST Center in Jonesboro

Civic, business, and education leaders in Northeast Arkansas have spent decades to develop tools and relationships that would help better the workforce in the region. One of those multifaceted tools is nearing completion. Construction on the Career Readiness Education and Skills Training (CREST) Center remains on schedule. The first phase...

Hunting club asks judge to dismiss St. Francis Lake Association lawsuit

POINSETT COUNTY, Ark. — An attorney for the Hatchie Coon Hunting and Fishing Club near Trumann said a lawsuit brought by the St. Francis Lake Association should be dismissed. The hunting club filed a response Thursday in Poinsett County Circuit Court to a lawsuit filed by the association in...

Randolph County voters reject 0.25% sales and use tax 

RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - Randolph County voters rejected a 0.25% sales and use tax, according to unofficial election results. According to the Randolph County Clerk’s Office, the proposal was rejected by a vote of 1,973 to 1,061. The tax would have been used to build and maintain criminal...

8 Arkansas districts get grants to tie vendor pay to student results

Eight school districts in Arkansas have been awarded grants to help them implement outcomes-based contracts to improve student outcomes. School districts from Jonesboro to Harrison to West Fork received $10,000 grants to design and implement an OBC for the 2027-28 school year. Meghan Busbey is the senior director of programs at Forward Arkansas. She says one example of an outcomes-based contract is a tutoring provider for a school district.

Appeal to Reverse Private Club Permit Denial for Proposed Jonesboro Restaurant Filed in Circuit Court

Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – An appeal of the Jonesboro City Council’s decision to deny a liquor license permit to a restaurant located near an elementary school was filed in Craighead County Circuit Court Tuesday. The petition seeks to reverse the city council’s decision to...

Caraway Road closing Monday night, with more overnight closures planned

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A section of Caraway Road will be closed overnight Monday. The City of Jonesboro said crews will close the road from 9 p.m. Nov. 2 to 6 a.m. Nov. 3 to saw-cut the asphalt in preparation for the installation of six drainage pipe crossings as part of the road’s expansion.

Craighead County voters approve consolidation of treasurer, tax collector’s office

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Craighead County voters approved a measure that would consolidate the county treasurer and county tax collector’s offices. According to the unofficial results from the Craighead County Clerk’s Office, the ordinance passed by a vote of 15,642 to 9,104, minus the absentee votes. The measure...

Libertarians have a presence on Cross County ballot

CROSS COUNTY — Tuesday is Election Day in Arkansas, and there will be more than just Republicans and Democrats on the Cross County ballot. Candidates representing the Libertarian Party have also qualified for numerous state and national races, including those for Arkansas governor and U.S. Senate. Colt Shelby is...

Rotary Club of Jonesboro to Host Executive Director of the National Cold War Center

Jonesboro – Contributed – The Rotary Club of Jonesboro will host a special program featuring Dr. Christian Ostermann, Executive Director of the new National Cold War Center, on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at noon at St. Bernards Auditorium. The National Cold War Center, located on Eaker Air Force Base,...

Sanders urges Arkansans to vote at Jonesboro rally

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders urged Arkansans to vote at a rally in Jonesboro ahead of Election Day. Sanders rallied at Fat City Steak and Grill House at noon, surrounded by Jonesboro city leaders. She told supporters why she believes it is important for Arkansans to cast...

Cross, St. Francis counties lift burn bans after weekend rain

EASTERN ARKANSAS — Several counties in eastern Arkansas, including Cross and St. Francis, lifted their burn bans Monday after rain fell over the weekend. KWYN recorded more than an inch of rain overnight Saturday. This isn’t the first time that St. Francis County has lifted its burn ban only...

Things to know before heading to vote

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - There are several things you need to know before you head out and vote in Arkansas. You will need to have a photo idea when you head to the polls. A photo ID can be an Arkansas driver’s license, a state ID or a U.S. passport. Polls open Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Highland schools closed through at least Wednesday

Rosie man to be inducted into Military Veterans Hall of Fame

When Judy Ferrell walked in to buy a commemorative brick honoring her father’s military service, she expected a simple receipt. She walked out with a mission — and ended up securing his place in the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame. The late Pfc. Avner W. McBride of...

Sultana museum opening in November

The Sultana Disaster Museum will open at a new location in Marion, Arkansas, on Nov. 14 to tell the story of the sinking of the Sultana steamboat across the Mississippi River from Memphis. The Sultana was carrying more than 2,100 people north on the Mississippi, many of them newly released...

Arkansas Breaks Ground on $1.9 Billion Steel Plant Linking Minnesota Mines to Sun Belt Manufacturing

A new $1.9 billion steelmaking investment in northeast Arkansas is set to connect iron ore mined in Minnesota with advanced factories serving the automotive, appliance and solar industries. U.S. Steel broke ground Oct. 30 on a direct-reduced-iron facility at its Big River Steel Works campus in Osceola, near the Mississippi...