$600 million solar farm proposal draws public hearing near Keo
About 100 people attended an Aug. 5 hearing on a proposed 6,000-acre solar project near Keo in Lonoke County.
Arkansas
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Arkansas Medicaid expansion renewal faces federal rejection, putting coverage for roughly 200,000 residents at risk
Federal officials have rejected or indicated they will not approve Arkansas’ request to extend the waiver supporting its Medicaid expansion, creating uncertainty for roughly 200,000 low-income residents.
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Arkansas School Employee Health Fund Could Be Depleted Within Three Years, Consultant Warns
A consultant told Arkansas officials that the state’s roughly $510 million public-school employee health-insurance fund could be depleted in about three years without changes to costs, contributions or benefits.
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Arkansas announces more than $3.4 million for water and wastewater projects
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced more than $3.4 million in grants for water and wastewater infrastructure and statewide operator training.
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Bentonville Proposes Wastewater Fee for New Development
Bentonville is considering a wastewater development fee intended to make new growth contribute to needed system improvements instead of relying entirely on existing ratepayers.
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Little Rock approves $25,000 engineering increase for Hilaro Springs Bridge replacement
Little Rock adopted a $25,000 engineering increase for the Hilaro Springs Bridge replacement, raising Michael Baker International’s contract ceiling to $319,634 as the city prepares a new federal grant application.
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Lonoke precinct codes changed as candidates face Aug. 5 filing deadline
Lonoke County replaced named election precincts with three-digit codes as independent municipal candidates face a noon Aug. 5 filing deadline for the Nov. 3 general election.
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Jonesboro Breaks Ground on New E-911 and Real-Time Crime Center
Jonesboro broke ground July 2 on a planned $5.5 million public-safety center at Madison and Monroe that will bring E-911 dispatch and real-time intelligence operations under one roof.
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Little Rock board weighs $40 million energy-as-a-service deal for downtown buildings
Little Rock directors are set to consider a second-reading ordinance allowing a sole-source ENFRA agreement for downtown energy upgrades, with proposed payments spread across as many as 30 years.
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Proposed DOJ settlement targets Arkansas paper mill pollution
A proposed Domtar settlement would require a $1.5 million penalty and at least $2.6 million in pollution-control work. Court approval is pending.
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Arkansas House District 44 voters decide who will finish vacant House term
Voters in portions of Pope and Van Buren counties cast ballots Tuesday, August 4, to fill the remainder of former Rep. Stan Berry’s Arkansas House District 44 term. Republican nominee Bill Teeter is unopposed.
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ArcBest cuts jobs, plans 10 freight-terminal closures
ArcBest plans to cut about 2% of its workforce, close 10 ABF Freight service centers and retire one Vaux product while consolidating brands.
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Little Rock board to consider data-center moratorium and Jan. 1 application cutoff
Little Rock directors are scheduled to consider an 18-month hyperscale data-center moratorium and a separate Jan. 1, 2027, application cutoff, while the Google-linked project’s status remains unresolved.
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Bentonville posts proposed Community Code changes affecting future projects
Bentonville has posted draft Community Code amendments that could change parking calculations, building height, airport reviews, signage and landscaping, but none of the changes is enacted yet.
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Arkansas cyclosporiasis cases reach 123 as lettuce investigation continues
Arkansas reported 123 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases by July 30, including 75 in Benton County. Recalled iceberg lettuce was distributed in Arkansas, but officials have not linked every state case to the product.
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Cabot Water Rates Stay Flat Through 2032 Under Current Water-Supply Agreement
Cabot, AR, adopted a water-rate schedule that keeps listed residential inside-city water charges flat through 2032 under the current Central Arkansas Water purchase agreement. A separate Cabot WaterWorks study models an 83% increase only if the utility shifts to buying all of its water from CAW.
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Conway Ward 2 special-election candidates begin filing for November ballot
Filing is underway for Conway’s Ward 2, Position 1 special election. Petitions must reach the Faulkner County Clerk’s Office by noon Wednesday, August 5.
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Fayetteville-area gas falls to $3.759; diesel eases to $4.814
Regular gas and diesel prices eased in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro, but both remain sharply higher than a month and a year ago.
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Little Rock’s 30 Crossing Park Moves Into Final Design After $30 Million Bezos Grant
A July 21 city action authorizes Sasaki Associates to complete final architectural design for downtown Little Rock’s 30 Crossing Park, while the larger project still needs additional funding and construction approvals.
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Arkansas PSC weighs who should pay for rising power demand
An active Arkansas Public Service Commission case is examining rate design, affordability and cost allocation as utilities plan for large industrial and technology-related electricity demand.
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Fort Smith makes 2026 candidate packets available for mayor, three at-large director seats
Fort Smith has made candidate packets available for the 2026 mayoral election and Director-at-Large Positions 5, 6 and 7. The city says candidates must file during a seven-day period in August, but its election page does not list the exact filing dates.
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Arkansas sets Aug. 18 special primary for Senate District 1
Arkansas’ Secretary of State lists an Aug. 18, 2026, special primary for Senate District 1. The state calendar also lists the general election and nonpartisan runoff election for Nov. 3.