Sensational headlines are popping up across the country about the latest trending species introduced to the United States, the joro spider (Trichonephila clavata). Eye-catching articles highlight these spiders as being giant, venomous, and if that was not enough to pique America’s arachnophobic interests, they are also tagging these spiders as “flying.” However, in practice these sensationalized claims, just like the spiders themselves, do not have wings, and as with much of the news today, there is less to worry about than headlines suggest. more

The monthly Virtual VA Claims Clinic for Arkansas Veterans will be held Thursday Aug. 22, 2024, 4 - 6 p.m. more

Editor's Note: This is the second of a two-part series on the White Family traveling from the west coast to the east coast via horseback. Read part one in the Saturday, Aug. 3 edition of the Daily Times. more

A pair of Arkansas Heritage museums laid host to the director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on Friday, July 25. more

LITTLE ROCK — Supporters of a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment to create a limited right to abortion claim Secretary of State John Thurston’s rejection of the measure in July was viewpoint discrimination, according to a brief filed Friday with the state Supreme Court. more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate has confirmed the nominations of two general officers who are set to lead the Army National Guard and the US Army Reserve. more

SAINT JOE — The 2024 Arkansas Dark-Sky Festival will take place Sept. 26-28 alongside Bear Creek, just off of Hyw. 65 south of the Buffalo River, an International Dark-Sky Park. During the day, there will be presentations, hikes, and other activities for adults and children. Each night, guests will rediscover the night sky as their ancestors knew it, complete with guided constellation tours and telescopic views of celestial objects under the Summer Milk Way. more

LITTLE ROCK — Every region in Arkansas is seeing an increase in the number of syphilis cases, especially among women. From 2017 to 2021 there was a 164% increase (from 562 to 1,482) overall in early syphilis cases and a 285% increase (from 155 to 597) among women of reproductive ages (15-44 years). This led the Department of Health to start raising awareness of the concern, but the most recent numbers are still high. According to data available in January of this year, Arkansas was positioned in ninth place for highest overall rates of STDs. more

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 13, the 226th day of 2024. There are 140 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 13, 1961, on what would become known as Barbed Wire Sunday, East Germany … more

The statewide gas price average in Arkansas was $3.09 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel on Thursday, according to the AAA Arkansas Weekend Gas Watch. That price is four cents less compared to that day last week and is 35 cents less per gallon compared to that day last year. more

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) will conduct a Location and Design Public Hearing meeting from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 29, to present and discuss the proposed design plans and environmental assessment for the widening of Highway 65 from Industrial Park Road to Highway 7 as well as intersection improvements at the juncture of Highway 65, Industrial Park Road, and North Main Street. more

Arkansas is rich in biomass resources, thanks to its plentiful agricultural wastes and extensive forests that cover nearly three-fifths of the state. Biomass refers to renewable organic material from plants and animals, and it was the largest source of energy consumption in the U.S. until the mid-1800s. It can include things like wood, crops, and the gas created by the decay that occurs in landfills. more

Editor's Note: This is the first of a two-part series on the White Family traveling from the west coast to the east coast via horseback. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence (ACCARDV), a statewide organization based at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), recently awarded more than $630,000 to 11 organizations for projects aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect. more

LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Workforce Policy and Innovation, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, announced Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point, from 3.4% in May to 3.3% in June. At 4.1%, the United States’ jobless rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point in June. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved a dozen clarifications to regulations passed during May’s Commission meeting. While most changes were simple clarifications in wording, four changes may affect hunters during upcoming deer and turkey seasons. more

Prysmian Cables and Systems USA LLC (Prysmian), located in Abbeville, South Carolina, has agreed to pay $920,000 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly falsifying test results and failing to conduct required testing on military cable, known as M13486 cable, that was used in vehicles manufactured for use by the military. more

DEVALLS BLUFF—A 32-year-old Little Rock, Arkansas, man is dead after an exchange of gunfire Thursday with Arkansas State Police's SWAT team. more

LITTLE ROCK — Justin Lee Palmer, who “coached” young girls who were anorexic and encouraged them to self-harm and film child pornography, will spend 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Thursday by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker. more

JASPER — Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said that on Thursday, July 11, Newton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an abandoned truck on a county road off Highway 74 East between Jasper and Piercetown. A deputy responded to the area and located the truck still on the county road, but pulled to one side so traffic could squeeze by. more