Few Contested Local Races as Batesville and Independence County Head Into 2026 Midterm Election

BATESVILLE, Ark. — Voters in Batesville and across Independence County will find relatively few contested local races on their ballots in the Nov. 3 general election, with one contested judicial race and a local ballot measure in Pleasant Plains among the decisions facing voters. According to election information provided...

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.

City of Jonesboro being sued for denying liquor permit

City of Jonesboro being sued for denying liquor permit.

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

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...

Walmart brings drone delivery to West Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Walmart is now bringing drone delivery service to West Memphis, Arkansas. Mayor McClendon joined Walmart, Wing Drone Delivery, city officials, and community leaders Monday for the official ribbon-cutting celebrating the arrival of the Mid-South’s first drone delivery service, the city of West Memphis said. Standard delivery fees will apply per order, but […]

New rookie program brings firefighter training closer to home

Future firefighters in Independence County and surrounding areas can now complete rookie training closer to home through a new program launched at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville’s White River Fire Training Center. The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce joined UACCB, the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, and...