ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY

Jun 05 2026OPINION

Arkansas Embraces AI, but Is It Really Ready?

Arkansas has launched its first local magazine that celebrates artificial intelligence. The publication, created by a Little Rock consultant who also runs an AI club, claims to bring the promise of automation and new tech to residents. It paints a picture of AI as a friendly helper that can cut cost

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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 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 14 2026HEALTH

Weather‑Driven Lung Infection Threatens 1, 000 Lives Annually

Valley fever is a lung disease caused by spores from the fungus Coccidioides, which thrives in dry soil across parts of the southwestern United States and south‑central Washington. The illness can be fatal, with up to 1, 000 deaths reported each year. A study in Phoenix showed that the risk of infe

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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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May 08 2026POLITICS

How Arkansas politics is shaping what students learn in college

Arkansas colleges are facing growing pressure from state lawmakers to drop programs and remove professors they disagree with. In one recent case, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock agreed to cut its gender studies minor after Republican lawmakers threatened to block its budget. They argued th

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Apr 27 2026ENVIRONMENT

Can underwater plants warn us about hidden chemicals in rivers?

Rivers hide more than just fish and rocks. They also carry invisible chemicals from everyday products. One group, called PFAS, sticks around for years and mixes into water systems. Scientists recently tested a common underwater plant, Potamogeton crispus, to see if it could act like a warning sign f

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Apr 14 2026EDUCATION

Arkansas steps up in vet education to keep experts local

Arkansas has always relied on farming—poultry, cattle, and crops pump billions into the state’s economy and keep rural towns alive. Yet for years, the veterinarians who safeguard this backbone were scarce because most new vets had to leave Arkansas just to study. The result? The state spent years tr

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