MONTICELLO, Ark. — Arkansas State Police (ASP) Corporal John M. Parker, 45, of Camden, resigned August 23, 2026. ASP Troopers arrested Paker on August 21, 2026, following a single-vehicle wreck he had on duty and in his ASP vehicle. Standardized Field Sobriety Tests conducted by ASP indicated impairment, and Parker was charged with Driving While Intoxicated/Drugs and…
Election Day may still feel a ways off, but Arkansans planning to vote in the 2026 General Election have several important dates — and decisions — approaching this fall. The General Election will be held Tuesday, November 3, when voters across Arkansas will select candidates for federal, state and local offices. Depending on where a…
MONTICELLO, Ark. — Arkansas State Police (ASP) Corporal John M. Parker was arrested on August 21, 2026, after a single-vehicle wreck he had on duty and in his ASP vehicle. The wreck occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 278 near Monticello. Parker was not injured. Parker, 45, of Camden, was charged with Driving While…
Article courtesy of Frank Spain, Prosecuting Attorney, Tenth Judicial District On August 19th, 2026, an Ashley County jury found Rosario Ford Jr., a 34-year-old Crossett resident and violent habitual offender, guilty of multiple felony charges. The conviction stems from an investigation by the Crossett Police Department into a report from the victim regarding an incident…
By Ryan McGeeneyUniversity of Arkansas Division of Agriculture LITTLE ROCK — With all but six Arkansas counties under a burn ban as of Thursday and elevated risk of wildfires across the state, experts with the Cooperative Extension Service are urging residents to take precautions to protect their land, property and lives. Jaret Rushing, extension forestry instructor for…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — From August 21 through September 7, 2026, state and local law enforcement agencies across Arkansas will join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the nationwide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign. The campaign’s goal is simple: prevent impaired driving crashes and save lives during one…
Article submitted by FRANK SPAIN, Prosecuting Attorney, Tenth Judicial District HAMBURG, AR — A jury in Ashley County has found Michael Hicks guilty of sexual assault in the second degree following a trial in Ashley County Circuit Court before Judge Robert Gibson III. The conviction stems from a 2023 investigation by the Arkansas State Police…
Harrell Wilson has won the Republican nomination for Arkansas State Senate District 1, according to final district-wide results from Tuesday’s special primary election. With all 130 precincts reporting, Wilson received 3,111 votes, or 64.95 percent, while Missy Wardlaw received 1,679 votes, or 35.05 percent. A total of 4,790 votes were cast in the Republican primary…
JONESBORO – A historic moment for the state was witnessed Tuesday at Arkansas State University as the doors officially opened on Arkansas’ College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). “The future of veterinary medicine will be shaped by the students who study here, the faculty who teach here, and the research that emerges from this college,” said…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is urging Arkansans to stay alert as wildfire risk increases across the state. The Department has designated all 75 counties at moderate wildfire risk, and 30 counties are under burn bans issued by county judges. The National Interagency Fire Center’s Predictive Services forecasts above-normal significant fire…
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A new state historic marker recognizing Chief Saracen and the history of the Quapaw people in Arkansas will be unveiled later this month in Pine Bluff, adding a permanent reminder of a pivotal and difficult chapter in the state’s history. The Arkansas 250 historic marker will be dedicated Monday, Aug. 24,…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for wildland fire suppression kits through October 2, 2026. Through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service, the Department will distribute 70 wildland fire suppression kits to rural volunteer fire departments across Arkansas this year. Since 2014, more than 898 kits have…
EAST CAMDEN, Ark. — The Arkansas Division on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (ADLEST) proudly recognized the graduates of Basic Police Training Class 2026-B during a ceremony at the East Camden campus of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA). The class consisted of 65 cadets representing 45law enforcement agencies from across Arkansas. Following weeks…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas roadway fatalities are down significantly compared to recent years, according to year-to-date data. As of July 29, 2026, preliminary reports indicate there have been 245 traffic fatalities statewide, compared to 292 at the same point in 2025 — a decrease of 47 deaths. A total of 569 people were killed on…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL) announced a major milestone in digital evidence processing, with significant reductions in the backlog of mobile device examinations and substantial improvements in turnaround times. For the first time in recent years, the laboratory’s Digital Evidence Section is now processing mobile devices as they are submitted, effectively…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is investigating two separate in-custody deaths. On Sunday, July 26, 2026, the West Memphis Police Department requested ASP assistance in the death of Tony Sanders, 40, of West Memphis. Officers responded to a report that a man was attempting to break into an ambulance at Crittenden Baptist Hospital.…
Voters across Arkansas Senate District 1 will return to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 18, as the process of selecting a new state senator for southeast Arkansas gets underway. The special election was called following the resignation of former State Sen. Ben Gilmore of Crossett, who left the Senate at the end of June to accept…
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Anthony B. Smith, 26, of Little Rock, was sentenced Thursday, July 23, 2026, to 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to First-Degree Murder in the death of Clifford James Griffin, 27, of Maumelle. The fatal crash occurred on September 19, 2024, on Interstate 430 near Colonel Glenn…
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, working in coordination with Arkansas Task Force One, has deployed two seven‑member Swift Water search and rescue teams through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to assist Texas communities experiencing severe and widespread flooding. The deployment began Thursday after Texas requested support through EMAC, allowing Arkansas to…
By Ryan McGeeney University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture LITTLE ROCK — University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture experts are urging the state’s pasture managers to gear up for winter by planting cool-season grasses in the fall. Jonathan Kubesch, extension forage specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said that Arkansas offers some unique challenges to farmers, being in a…
VAN BUREN, Ark. — On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, around 1:45 p.m., an Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a van traveling on Interstate 40 near the 2-mile marker in Crawford County. During a search of the vehicle, Troopers discovered approximately 150 pounds of high-grade, illegal marijuana packaged in multiple bundles. The…
