The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas' Best News Source

Thieves hit Arkansas 'treasure hunt' program; security up after $40,000 claimed A "treasure hunt" touted by state officials ended up drawing in online thieves, according to a report by legislative auditors. by John Moritz

Paper mill fined over foul air; Georgia-Pacific plant in Arkansas to pay $600,000, fix flaws A south Arkansas paper mill must pay $600,000 in fines and spend $1.8 million on environmental projects and even more on facility upgrades to reduce air pollutants in a town full of residents complaining about their air quality, according to a consent decree filed Friday. by Emily Walkenhorst 21 hrs. ago

Interior Secretary Zinke resigning, cites 'vicious' attacks WASHINGTON — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity and potential conflicts of interest, will be leaving the administration at year's end, Trump said Saturday. In his resignation letter, obtained by The Associated Press, Zinke said "vicious and politically motivated attacks" against him had "created an unfortunate distraction" in fulfilling the agency's mission. by ELLEN KNICKMEYER, MATTHEW BROWN and JONATHAN LEMIRE, Associated Press 12 hrs. ago

Defense begins in trial for 2 Arkansas men accused of youth lockup abuses As a weeklong civil-rights trial for two former youth lockup officers continued Friday, one of them told jurors that the force used on youths in a Batesville facility in 2012 and 2013 was both appropriate and necessary. by Linda Satter 21 hrs. ago

All options on table to put out underground Bella Vista fire State and federal officials Friday toured the site on Trafalgar Road where an underground fire has burned for more than four months, but haven't decided how best to extinguish it, one of them said. by Mike Jones 1 day ago

Disney actor Stoney Westmoreland fired after arrest NEW YORK -- Disney Channel actor Stoney Westmoreland has been fired after he was arrested in Salt Lake City for allegedly attempting to have a sexual relationship with an online acquaintance he believed was 13 years old. by The Associated Press 10 hrs. ago

Trucker saves dogs thrown from vehicle on New York highway WHITNEY POINT, N.Y. -- A pair of beagle mixes are on the mend after authorities say someone threw them out of a moving vehicle on a snowy New York highway. The dogs were rescued by a passing trucker, but one was so badly mangled that a front leg had to be amputated. by The Associated Press 11 hrs. ago

After criticism, Trump visits Arlington National Cemetery WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump has made an announced visit to Arlington National Cemetery. by The Associated Press 11 hrs. ago

Ukraine Orthodox leaders approve break with Russian church KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian Orthodox leaders on Saturday approved the creation of a unified church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate and elected a leader to head that new church — a move that could exponentially raise tensions with neighboring Russia. by YURAS KARMANAU and EFREM LUKATSKY, Associated Press 12 hrs. ago

Putin says rap should be controlled in Russia, not banned MOSCOW -- Alarmed by the growing popularity of rap among Russian youth, President Vladimir Putin wants cultural leaders to devise a means of controlling, rather than banning, the popular music. by The Associated Press 12 hrs. ago

Baylor ties pervade rape case that sparked uproar DALLAS -- The Texas judge who approved a plea deal allowing a former Baylor University student accused of rape to avoid jail time holds three degrees from Baylor. The criminal district attorney overseeing the case holds two. The prosecutor who agreed to the plea agreement graduated from Baylor law school. by The Associated Press 14 hrs. ago

Ballot security was a worry long before disputed North Carolina race BLADENBORO, N.C. -- Six months ago, election officials in rural North Carolina's Bladen County resolved to tighten security at their headquarters and protect the ballots stored there by installing an alarm and video cameras and securing an unlocked door that leads to another government office. by MICHAEL BIESECKER and EMERY P. DALESIO, Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Egypt announces discovery of 4,400-year-old tomb SAQQARA, Egypt -- Egypt on Saturday announced the discovery of a private tomb belonging to a senior official from the 5th dynasty of the pharaohs, which ruled roughly 4,400 years ago. by The Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Democrat Sherrod Brown, mulling 2020, sets online town hall CLEVELAND -- Ohio's Democratic U.S. senator plans an online town hall Sunday as he considers running for president in 2020. by The Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Donations pour in for family of 5 kids killed in Ohio fire YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- A report says thousands of dollars in donations have poured in for family members following the deaths of five children killed in a fire at their Ohio home. by The Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Trump pushes Congress for new health law after court ruling WASHINGTON -- After a federal judge ruled that the Obama-era health overhaul was "invalid," President Donald Trump is looking to congressional leaders to come up with a replacement even as the White House says the current law will remain in place for now. by RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Light at the end of the tunnel for UN climate talks KATOWICE, Poland -- A deal on the rules that govern the Paris climate accord appeared within grasp Saturday, as officials from almost 200 countries worked to bridge remaining differences after two weeks of U.N. talks in Poland. by FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Australia recognizes west Jerusalem as Israel's capital SYDNEY -- Australia has decided to formally recognize west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, but won't move its embassy until there's a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Saturday. by The Associated Press 15 hrs. ago

Iowa coffee shop's community coat rack keeps residents warm CLINTON, Iowa -- Jay Sanders wasn't too worried on a recent late morning, when only four coats hung on the coat rack just outside his coffee shop in Clinton, Iowa. by AMANDA HANCOCK, Quad-City Times 16 hrs. ago

More Latest News

Featured Photos

View All Photos a float is required

Religion

Sanctuary Jessa van der Vaart and Rosaliene Israel, two Dutch ministers, usually get to church by cycling through the streets of Amsterdam to a Protestant parish in the city center. But on Dec. 5, they packed their robes into the trunk of a car and drove down the highway to The Hague for what was the equivalent of a priestly shift change. by PATRICK KINGSLEY THE NEW YORK TIMES

Churches needed to help stem opioid crisis Little Rock area faith leaders have partnered with the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the state Department of Health and Interfaith Arkansas to help fight the opioid epidemic in Arkansas. by Francisca Jones

RELIGION NEWS BRIEFS Summit offers men training to mentor

Bush 'was ready for heaven' when the time came During 60 years of friendship, George H.W. Bush went on countless trips with James Baker III, his secretary of state and a confidant so close that America's 41st president liked to call him his "little brother." by Terry Mattingly

Religion calendar MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

Love is truth of God I struggle with Christianity, and I struggle with our patriarchal society. The two are intertwined, although I don't believe Jesus would have it that way. Women played a key role in Jesus' ministry. by JUDI NEAL Faith Matters

Local notes Washington County

Soul food Science and technology keep company with the saints of yore and the virtue of gratitude for the second set of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's annual roundup of religion-theme gifts for the book lovers on your Christmas list. by Francisca Jones

Recommended for you Most commented