All posts in Features

LITTL ROCK – The Year of the Dragon is upon us, and the Little Rock Zoo is ready to celebrate!  The Dragon Kingdom Exhibition kicks off during Spring Break at the Zoo, March 16-24, and continues through Sept. 28. The exhibition includes life-size, animatronic models ranging from 10 to 40 feet. Of course, dragons are mythical creatures, but their real-life distant cousins,…

March 5, 2024 marks a significant anniversary in Arkansas history, as we commemorate the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution Number 22 by Governor Harvey Parnell and the Forty-seventh General Assembly on this day in 1929. This resolution declared the mockingbird as the official state bird of Arkansas, a decision that has stood the test of…

Nestled within the rugged beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Petit Jean State Park stands as a testament to Arkansas’s rich natural heritage and pioneering spirit. Established on March 1, 1923, by Act 276 of the Arkansas General Assembly, Petit Jean holds the distinction of being the state’s inaugural state park, marking a significant milestone in…

LITTLE ROCK – Spring weather is welcomed for its sunny skies and cool breezes, but the season has also proven to bring dangerous thunderstorms. Ahead of the seasonal switch, Arkansas has declared Feb. 26 to March 1 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Entergy Arkansas is encouraging customers to observe the week by making a severe weather…

In the annals of military history, certain names resonate with awe-inspiring tales of skill, bravery, and unparalleled marksmanship. Among them, the name Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock stands tall, a legend whose story is etched into the fabric of American military folklore. On this day, February 22, 1999, the world bid farewell to a true American…

February 16, 1945, marked a pivotal moment in the storied history of the USS Arkansas (BB-33), a battleship that etched its name in the annals of naval warfare during World War II. As the United States and its allies pressed forward in the Pacific theater, the Arkansas embarked on a series of critical missions that…

As February unfolds, hearts adorned with crimson hues and the sweet scent of roses fill the air, signaling the arrival of Valentine’s Day. While for many it’s a day of celebration and romance, few may know the intriguing history that underpins this cherished tradition. Dating back centuries, Valentine’s Day finds its origins in ancient Rome,…

Meet Armondo White, a veteran and Black farmer in Marvell, Arkansas. Amidst the sprawling fields of the Delta, Armondo works with his wife, Andrea, and their two daughters, Madam and Ava, to combat food insecurity by bringing fresh, healthy produce to their community. Top photo: Armondo and his daughter, Madam, inside their hoop house. Photo…

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Guess who’s coming home? Renowned Jazz Trumper Rodney Block, a proud alum of Dumas High School and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, is returning for a Valentine’s Day treat. On Feb. 13 at 7 pm, the UAM Gibson Center Green Room will be filled with Block’s smooth jazz vibes, setting the…

Food traditions often serve as cultural landmarks, preserving culinary heritage and connecting generations. Long-standing food establishments carry the flavors and techniques passed down through time, offering a taste of history on each plate. That is why in 2016, the Division of Arkansas Heritage launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.  The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame…

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Artist Erica Daborn captures the attention of the public via 13 large-scale charcoal-on-canvas murals that explore the critical issues facing the planet. Her artwork records fictitious historical events based on issues relevant to climate change. “Dialogues with Mother Earth: Drawing to Save the Planet” by Erica Daborn opens Friday, Feb. 23,…

Little Rock, Ark. (January 31, 2023)—The Adult Education Section of the Division of Workforce Services (Adult Education) has experienced a 20% enrollment increase during its 2022-2023 school year, showing a trend toward pre-COVID enrollment. More than 16,000 Arkansans came through the doors of an Adult Education Center and nearly 10,000 Arkansans utilized adult education services…

LITTLE ROCK — 2024 is gonna get loud. Entomologists say two broods of periodic cicadas will be making a rare simultaneous emergence this spring. The last time this happened in the U.S. was in 1803 and the next one won’t happen for another 221 years.   Arkansas is home to brood XIX, a group whose adult…

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The theater program at the ARTx3 Campus is seeking performers ages 8 and older for its summer musical of 2024. Auditions for “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” are set for Friday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 25. To help prepare performers, the ARTx3 Campus is hosting a free audition workshop on…

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) has announced the 2024 Sandwiching in History tour schedule, which highlights the following six historic sites across Arkansas: Since 1997, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program has hosted tours of historic properties around our state. These are called “Sandwiching in History.” Tours generally last less than one…

On Thursday, January 11, Julien Navas, of Paris, France, visited Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park for the first time. While there, he found a 7.46-carat diamond on the surface of the park’s 37.5-acre search area. Navas was visiting the U.S. to see the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur Rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Fla.…

The Bradley County Courthouse shown in all its splendor, towering over the surrounding City of Warren, on Monday following the winter storm which covered the region with sleet and snow. Photo by Paul Outlaw. For a complete list of Tuesday closures, click here.

There are few tasty delights of the often flaky and wet winter snow that can equal a good bowl full of snow ice cream. The approaching winter weather in Bradley County and along the red-brick streets of Warren call for such a concoction. If the younger generation doesn’t know – snow ice cream – has…

William and Christina Forrest announce the birth of their daughter, Waylyn Jolee Forrest, on January 8, 2024, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. She weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and was 21 and 1/4 inches long. Waylyn is welcomed home by her loving family and especially her big sister Vivian.

LITTLE ROCK — Backyard chicken flock owners preparing for the wave of extreme cold need to be sure their coops are not only warm, but also well-ventilated, said extension poultry experts for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. By Mary Hightower U of A System Division of Agriculture On Wednesday, the National Weather Service at…

LITTLE ROCK — For people interested in learning to grow healthy, nutritious food at home, the Cooperative Extension Service’s Grow Your Own Groceries webinar series offers monthly Zoom presentations on Arkansas-friendly crops for gardeners of all skill levels. Krista Quinn, Faulkner County agriculture agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the…