ALABAMA ARKANSAS ILLINOIS

May 28 2026POLITICS

Arkansas Pushes for Less Federal Rules in Schools

Arkansas wants to change some federal rules that guide its public schools. The state says these rules slow down progress for students and make it hard to use money wisely. In April, the state’s education department sent a letter to the U. S. Department of Education asking for three special permissi

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May 28 2026TECHNOLOGY

Arkansas makes digital IDs available in Apple Wallet

Arkansas has joined a growing number of states allowing residents to store their driver’s license or state ID digitally in Apple Wallet. The move follows the state’s earlier launch of a mobile ID app in 2025, initially meant for downloading IDs to phones. Now, those digital copies can be used alongs

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May 28 2026POLITICS

Arkansas voters push back on new laws that could silence their voice in making laws

Arkansas gives its people a special power—voting directly on new laws through signatures. For years, this has let citizens push for changes like better pay or healthcare, even when politicians said no. But now, those in charge are trying to make it much harder for regular folks to do this. Last year

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May 26 2026WEATHER

Storm Watch in Alabama: Mild Threats and Heavy Rain

Alabama is under a light chance of severe weather this Monday, with the Storm Prediction Center rating parts of west and south Alabama a Level 1 risk. A Level 1 means isolated storms could pop up, but large outbreaks are unlikely. The National Weather Service warned that some of these storms might b

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May 18 2026WEATHER

Rain on the Way: What Arkansas Can Expect This Week

Arkansas residents should prepare for a mixed bag of weather this week. Forecasters predict scattered thunderstorms starting Tuesday morning, with another possible round later in the day. A cold front pushing through the region will bring the chance of heavy rain that could last into Wednesday. Whil

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May 17 2026WEATHER

Rainfall Is Coming, But Alabama Still Faces a Drought

Alabama’s weather forecast says rain will arrive later in the week, but it won’t be enough to fix the state’s long‑standing dry spell. Most regions will see light showers, while the southern part of the state—where drought is most severe—will get only a trickle. The U. S. Drought Monitor shows larg

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May 17 2026HEALTH

Alabama’s youth face major gaps in mental health support

Alabama lands at the bottom of the country for young people’s mental health care, according to the latest national rankings. The state sits in 50th place—just one spot above last—when looking at how often mental health struggles appear in youth and how easy it is to get help. Alabama isn’t alone in

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May 14 2026POLITICS

A governor’s last stretch: what Alabama’s final months could focus on

Alabama’s governor spent her latest public appearance highlighting past wins instead of diving into current debates like redistricting. Her speech at the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber event focused on economic growth and school improvements, leaving out any questions about ongoing political figh

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May 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Dust storms hit Illinois roads, raising safety concerns

Illinois is seeing more dust storms these days, and they’re not just an annoyance—they’re a serious danger. Strong winds can lift dry soil from farm fields, creating sudden walls of dust that reduce visibility to almost zero. These storms can appear quickly, turning highways into risky zones for dri

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May 09 2026EDUCATION

New Dean Leads Arkansas State Nursing College

Arkansas State University has officially named Stacy Walz the dean of its College of Nursing and Health Professions, ending her interim status that began in 2025. Walz, who has a long history with the college as associate dean and chair of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, will take over full responsibi

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