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

Whitewater park could have big impact WATTS, Okla. -- Larry Wood first heard about plans for a water park near this small town when he took office as Adair County commissioner in 2019. by Mike Jones 13 hrs. ago

Rogers conservatively crafts 2021 budget ROGERS -- Covid-19 has affected some city departments' revenue and ability to operate more than others, and the uncertainty of the pandemic has officials taking a conservative approach to the 2021 budget. by Alex Golden 13 hrs. ago

Early voting ends today for runoff election BENTONVILLE -- Today is the last day to vote early in the runoff election. by Mike Jones 13 hrs. ago

Participants asked to register to place wreaths at Fayetteville National Cemetery FAYETTEVILLE -- People can still honor fallen veterans with wreaths this year at the Fayetteville National Cemetery, just in a socially distanced way because of the pandemic. by Stacy Ryburn 13 hrs. ago

Hospitalized covid-patient count at 1,030 Hospitalizations due to covid-19 in Arkansas reached a new all-time high of 1,030 on Sunday, eclipsing the previous record set last Wednesday by two. by Joseph Flaherty 6 hrs. ago

Snow/Rain mixture possible for Northwest Arkansas A mixture of snow and rain is possible Wednesday night and Thursday for Northwest Arkansas, according to the National Weather service in Tulsa. 3 hrs. ago

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Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved 3 hrs. ago

Experts worry virus's surge poised to worsen 6 hrs. ago

1,349 cases added to Arkansas' tally; deaths rise by 13 1 day ago

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State virus cases tick up by 2,348, set 1-day record Arkansas reported 2,348 new covid-19 cases on Thanksgiving, a single-day record that a chief state health official described as worrisome as residents head into the height of the holiday season. by Joseph Flaherty

Fayetteville health board talks of vaccination plans The city's Board of Health is worried about the coordinated response to administer the first round of covid-19 vaccines set to arrive in a few weeks. by Stacy Ryburn

Arkansas reports 2,348 new covid-19 cases, setting single-day record Arkansas reported 2,348 new covid-19 cases on Thursday, a single-day record that exceeded the previous record of 2,312 new cases reported on Nov. 13. by Joseph Flaherty

Arkansas virus hospitalizations jump, hitting new record of 1,028 The number of people hospitalized with covid-19 in Arkansas jumped to a new record, topping 1,000 on Wednesday as the state's tally of cases rose by almost 2,000. by Andy Davis

State's 2 largest districts make virus-tied pivots The state's largest school district announced that it is shifting to remote learning the week after Thanksgiving break because of a shortage of substitutes for teachers and staff members quarantined due to probable close contacts to individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus. by Lara Farrar, Cynthia Howell

Cases of virus in state again surpass 2,000 With coronavirus infections in Arkansas continuing to soar, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday that the state will no longer attempt to trace the contacts of people who test positive in instances where more than six days have elapsed since the test specimen was collected. by Andy Davis

Covid-19 cases on the rise in Siloam Springs The number of new covid-19 cases in the city continued to rise last week, according to data from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. by Janelle Jessen

Arkansas virus cases up 2,122; state adjusts contact tracing strategy Arkansas' count of coronavirus cases increased Tuesday by 2,122 — the third-highest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic. by NWA Democrat-Gazette

Hospitalizations from virus keep moving upward The number of people hospitalized with covid-19 in Arkansas has continued to trend upward, hitting a record high Monday for the second day in a row, according to the state Department of Health. by Rachel Herzog

Covid-19 hospitalizations set record for 2nd day in a row; death toll rises by 30 The number of people hospitalized with covid-19 in Arkansas hit a record high for the second day in a row on Monday, rising by 12 to 974. by Rachel Herzog

Many GOP lawmakers shrug off Statehouse mask-wearing rules Many Republican lawmakers in states where coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have surged are not only rejecting statewide mask mandates. They're also resisting rules requiring them in their own capitols. by The Associated Press

Five Covid Questions with Dr. Marti Sharkey Fayetteville public health officer, Dr. Marti Sharkey, talked with Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Stacy Ryburn and answered five more coronavirus questions from our readers. by NWA Democrat-Gazette

5 school districts in state change operations due to virus At least five school districts have made adjustments in operations this week because of the coronavirus pandemic. by Lara Farrar

State will get newest nurses on job quickly As the number of hospitalized covid-19 patients as well as those in intensive care units and on ventilators -- and the number of active cases -- hit new daily highs Friday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the state is expediting licensing and waiving fees for the more than 1,100 nursing students graduating next month. by Jeannie Roberts

Northwest Arkansas hospitals see more covid-19 patients, urge plasma donations Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to increase in Northwest Arkansas, and local health care organizations are urging people who have recovered from the virus to donate their plasma. by Alex Golden

Arkansas Supreme Court again halts jury trials as coronavirus cases grow The Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday has suspended jury trials across the state until at least Jan. 15, citing a "dramatic uptick" in covid-19 infections. by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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WATCH: Prep Rally recap Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Chip Souza recaps the latest prep sports with additional interviews from NWADG reporters, and the River Valley Report from Fort Smith with Kasius Williamson. by NWA Democrat-Gazette 2 hrs. ago

Let's Eat: Preacher's Son to say farewell to founding chef FAYETTEVILLE -- The Preacher's Son in Bentonville is hosting a special farewell dinner celebration for their chef Matt Cooper. 2 hrs. ago

Retailers cheery on holiday shopping This Christmas shopping season is likely to see sales rise between 3.6% and 5.2% over last year, with the online shopping trend driving e-commerce sales up 20% to 30%, a retail trade group said Monday. by Serenah McKay 3 hrs. ago

Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warnings Nearly 1.2 million people passed through U.S. airports Sunday, the greatest number since the pandemic gripped the country in March, despite pleas from health experts for Americans to stay home over Thanksgiving. 3 hrs. ago

Biden to nominate Yellen, highlights diversity on econ team WILMINGTON -- President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced his senior economic team, including his plans to nominate the first woman to head the Treasury Department as well as several liberal economists and policy specialists who established their credentials during the previous two Democratic administrations. 4 hrs. ago

Dictionary.com picks 'pandemic' as its 2020 word of the year NEW YORK -- On Dec. 31, China reported a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin to the World Health Organization. By Jan. 31, WHO declared an outbreak of a novel coronavirus a global health emergency. Come March 11, the world was facing down the COVID-19 pandemic. by The Associated Press 4 hrs. ago

Iran says Israel killed military nuclear scientist remotely TEHRAN, Iran -- A top Iranian security official on Monday accused Israel of using "electronic devices" to remotely kill a scientist who founded the Islamic Republic's military nuclear program in the 2000s. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council, made the comment at the funeral for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, where Iran's defense minister separately vowed to continue the man's work "with more speed and more power." 4 hrs. ago

Virtual tour keys on military history LITTLE ROCK -- The city's tourism bureau has compiled 14 local landmarks to form an online and driving tour of military history in and around the city. 13 hrs. ago

Bella Vista adjusts shelter agreement to help with tough year BELLA VISTA — The city has agreed to make a onetime $20,000 payment and increase its financial commitment to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter by $1,000 per month. by KEITH BRYANT NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE 13 hrs. ago

Completed Wisconsin recount confirms Biden's win over Trump MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin finished a recount of its presidential results on Sunday, confirming Democrat Joe Biden's victory over President Donald Trump in the key battleground state. Trump vowed to challenge the outcome in court even before the recount concluded. 1 day ago

Trial postponed; man to undergo mental appraisal HOT SPRINGS -- The attempted murder trial of a Hot Springs man arrested earlier this year after allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend in the face has been canceled to allow for a mental evaluation of the man. 1 day ago

Prison agency reports inmate's death An inmate at the Ouachita River Correctional Unit in Malvern was pronounced dead Saturday after corrections officers found him hanging in his cell, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Corrections. by Sandra Tyler 1 day ago

County to operate Texarkana-area jail again NEW BOSTON, Texas -- Nearly 20 years after Bowie County officials decided to forgo operating their own correctional center, they now face going back into jail operations. by Greg Bischof 1 day ago

Pre-pregnant rate of obesity up 22% Pre-pregnant rate by Kat Stromquist 1 day ago

ACA certifies Garland center HOT SPRINGS -- The Garland County Detention Center is the first local detention center in Arkansas to receive national American Correctional Association accreditation, according to the county sheriff. by From Staff Reports 1 day ago

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WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! Gee, what's ghee? Or is that gi? Though I've been editing for more than 30 years, and reading for even longer, certain word usages still make me stop and wonder what's right. by Bernadette Kinlaw

Roadtrip! OZ Art ARkanvas mural experience is a new reason to tour the state Once again, world-renowned artists have ventured to The Natural State, unleashing an explosion of creativity in the form of vibrant murals with positive messages. This time their creations were not limited to a specific city; the entire state became their ARkanvas. by Bob Robinson

OLD NEWS: Quack-quack — boom! boom! — quack-quack — boom! In 1920, the Arkansas bag limit for wild ducks was 25 per day. by Celia Storey

New Zelda game 'Age of Calamity’ has action aplenty but not much story The new "Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity" is more than a hack-and-slash romp set within the varied fantasy lands that make up the "Legend of Zelda" universe. If you don't go in with the mindset that it's the next magical, puzzle-filled Zelda open-world game, you'll find a satisfying entry in the annals of game brilliance first created by Shigeru Miyamoto more than three decades ago. by Harold Goldberg, The Washington Post

READ TO ME: Scarlett O’Hara evicted for the 20th anniversary edition of ‘Winn-Dixie‘ Kate DiCamillo has updated "Because of Winn-Dixie" for this handsome 20th anniversary edition. by Celia Storey

Horoscopes by Holiday The full moon in Gemini is about the sharing of our ideas and ourselves and connecting in whatever way we can. The lunar eclipse, subtle and visible to the experienced observer, has outsized mystical implications — the shadow of missed connections that provide a contrast. We'll know when we're getting it wrong or right. by Holiday Mathis

ASK THE VET: ALS-like dog disease has new treatments While there still is no cure for degenerative myelopathy in dogs, new therapies improve quality of life and extend how long beloved pets can survive. by Lee Pickett, VMD

Helpful Hints DEAR HELOISE: With the fall comes yard maintenance: cutting trees back, mulching and raking leaves. Two of my neighbors use those blowers that blow leaves and debris out into the street, but unfortunately they don't bag the leaves and twigs. The first strong wind that comes along blows everything back where it was, or worse, it ends up in everyone else's yard. by Heloise

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