Doug Thompson | Stories

Veterans health care a call or click away at new virtual clinic The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville became the 17th center in the United States on Monday to open a clinic to help veterans navigate online access to health care.Online servi... June 5, 2023

Two fights over Illinois River water quality approach court deadlines this month The decades-long dispute over pollution of the Illinois River is back in federal court this month with two cases set for hearings between now and June 21.The Illinois River’s headwaters lie in N... June 4, 2023

Clock running, costs rising on Fort Smith sewer work, officials say FORT SMITH -- The city needs to spend at least $65 million a year, on average, through 2032 to comply with an agreement it made with federal and state environmental officials to fix its sewer system, ... June 4, 2023

Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative considers starting a regional robotics training center FARMINGTON -- A proposed regional effort to train both adults and high school students how to program, operate and fix advanced industrial robots met with interest from the board of the Northwest Arka... June 2, 2023

Silver Dollar City steam train closes until further notice after slipping its rails BRANSON, Mo. -- Silver Dollar City's steam train slipped its rails Thursday, closing the ride until further notice and slightly injuring one passenger, who declined medical attention, the theme pa... May 27, 2023

Four apply so far for Rogers City Council vacancy in Ward 4 ROGERS -- Four people so far have applied to fill the City Council vacancy in Ward 4 in the southeastern section of the city, Mayor Greg Hines said after Tuesday's council meeting.Those applicatio... May 24, 2023

Regulations on drainage issues need updating, state planners told WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. -- Local standards for managing water runoff need updating to handle the growth in Northwest Arkansas, state planners from Arkansas and Oklahoma were told Tuesday.Those stat... May 19, 2023

Rogers council vacancy shifts from Ward 1 to Ward 4 ROGERS -- Ward 4 City Council member Betsy Reithemeyer became a Ward 1 council member Tuesday morning.Reithemeyer didn't move to Ward 1. Ward 1 moved to her.The shuffle began May 1 with the death ... May 17, 2023

Rogers council vacancy shifts from Ward 1 to Ward 4 ROGERS -- Ward 4 City Council member Betsy Reithemeyer became a Ward 1 council member Tuesday morning.Reithemeyer did not move to Ward 1. Ward 1 moved to her.The shuffle began May 1 with the death of ... May 16, 2023

Rogers council chooses city ward plan with the most room for growth in the south and west ROGERS -- The City Council chose the new city ward proposal with the most room for growth in the city's south and west during a special meeting Monday.The council also declared a special meeting t... May 16, 2023

Rogers ward map proposals would leave room to grow ROGERS -- The City Council will decide today whether to accept city ward maps that do not divide the city's population equally, a feature designed to give the growing areas some room."The cit... May 15, 2023

Costco plans move to Sam’s Club’s backyard, Lowell mayor says LOWELL -- Costco is coming to Northwest Arkansas.The Washington state-based warehouse store chain will open a store in Lowell, Mayor Chris Moore confirmed Friday. The company chose a location on the s... May 13, 2023

Expect more income tax cuts in next fiscal session, lawmakers from Benton County say ROGERS -- Expect more income tax cuts when the Legislature convenes in its fiscal session next year, the state Senate president told the Benton County Republican Committee on Thursday night.Other Bent... May 12, 2023

Special elections in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley The following is a list of contested races and issues on Tuesday's special election ballots in Boone, Johnson, Logan and Scott counties. There were no contested races nor ballots in Carroll, Crawf... May 11, 2023

Rogers City Council to consider new ward boundaries in special meeting on Monday ROGERS -- The City Council will consider new ward boundary lines in a special meeting at 4 p.m. Monday at City Hall, council members decided at their meeting Tuesday.Two council members come from each... May 10, 2023

UA students seek to reclaim, reuse tons of furnishings their peers leave behind FAYETTEVILLE -- Two hundred tons of usable furniture and other goods ranging from throw pillows to couches wind up in the trash when University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students move out each May, ac... May 7, 2023

Smith leads Clouse in fundraising in Fayetteville School Board race Incumbent Keaton Smith went into the final week of his reelection campaign for Fayetteville School Board with a lead in fundraising over challenger Heather Clouse, their latest campaign finance report... May 7, 2023

State grants request of Tontitown landfill to accept more construction-related waste over neighbors’ objections Northwest Arkansas' only landfill can continue to accept waste from construction and building demolition sites while the appeal opposing any more such dumping is under consideration, the state Pol... April 29, 2023

Madison County farmer donates 75 acres to conservation group Herb Culver, a fourth-generation farmer in Madison County, has donated 75 acres along the banks of the White River in the southern part of the county to the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, a nonprofit ... April 27, 2023

Former state senator Jeremy Hutchinson sentenced in corruption case SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, the son of a former U.S. senator and nephew of a soon-to-be announced presidential candidate, received a 50-month prison sentence Tuesday in fe... April 26, 2023

Former state senator Jeremy Hutchinson sentenced in corruption case SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Former Arkansas Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, the son of a former U.S. senator and nephew of a soon-to-be announced presidential candidate, received a 50-month prison sentence Tuesday in... April 25, 2023

Presidential hopeful Hutchinson has a history of fighting uphill battles Asa Hutchinson fought the odds for most of his political life. Announcing for president is, in many ways, a return to form for the former governor who won reelection to his last term with 65% of the v... April 23, 2023

Recycling options grow and change rapidly, panel agrees during Fayetteville gathering FAYETTEVILLE -- Recycling options grow, change and improve so rapidly that even people in the business race to keep up with their alternatives, a panel of recycling entrepreneurs told their audience F... April 22, 2023

Be gracious to those outside the majority, wife of former governor Hutchinson advises during Rogers appearance ROGERS -- Be gracious to those in the political minority, Susan Hutchinson, wife of former governor and current presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson, told the Benton County Republican Women on Tuesda... April 19, 2023

Design error blamed for essay requirement on what accomplishment of Arkansas governor that applicants ‘admire the most’ A webpage design error put the essay question "What is an accomplishment of the Governor's that you admire the most?" on the online application for state staff and commissions, according... April 14, 2023

Upward trend in annual rainfall outstrips land use or development as Illinois River flood cause, engineers say SILOAM SPRINGS -- Heavier rains outstrip all other causes of worsening floods in the Illinois River's basin, according to a study presented Tuesday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.Development ... April 12, 2023

Housing shortage threatens rural areas and boom towns, federal development official says FAYETTEVILLE -- The difficulty of attracting home builders to rural areas threatens the recovery of cities such as Wynne after the tornadoes of March 31, said Xochitl Torres Small, undersecretary for ... April 11, 2023

Rural areas face home builder shortage FAYETTEVILLE -- The difficulty of attracting home builders to rural areas threatens the recovery of cities like Wynne after the tornadoes of March 31, said Xochitl Torres Small, under-secretary for ru... April 11, 2023

Bella Vista taxpayer’s lawsuit to recover money lost to fraud ordered to trial by Arkansas Supreme Court A Bella Vista taxpayer may attempt to recover $52.8 million paid by the state to a Missouri company involved in Medicaid fraud, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.Preferred Family Healthcare Inc. ... April 8, 2023

Bella Vista taxpayer’s lawsuit to recover money lost to fraud ordered to trial by Arkansas Supreme Court LITTLE ROCK -- A Bella Vista taxpayer may attempt to recover $52.8 million paid by the state to a Missouri company involved in Medicaid fraud, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.Preferred Family H... April 7, 2023

Springdale bond would provide $135 million for street improvements Editor's Note: This is the second in a five-part series on the proposed Springdale bond issue.SPRINGDALE -- The city is asking voters to approve a bond issue that could mean $135 million for work ... April 3, 2023

Retired UA professor who studies genocide gathers evidence in Ukraine Thieves and looters normally steal what they can carry, but Russian occupiers in Ukraine steal everything, said Samuel Totten, a University of Arkansas professor emeritus."The thing I keep hearin... April 2, 2023

Target of ‘Tiger King’ plot giving big cats to Arkansas sanctuary EUREKA SPRINGS -- Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge near Eureka Springs will receive 35 big cats from Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla., statements from both the Arkansas and the Florida organizations conf... March 31, 2023

“Tiger King” big cats moving from Florida to Arkansas EUREKA SPRINGS -- Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge near Eureka Springs will bring in 35 big cats from Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla. to Arkansas, statements from both the Arkansas and the Florida organ... March 30, 2023

Target of ‘Tiger King’ plot giving big cats to Arkansas sanctuary EUREKA SPRINGS -- Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge near Eureka Springs will receive 35 big cats from Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla., statements from both the Arkansas and the Florida organizations conf... March 30, 2023

Columbia’s consulate in Houston plans mobile office stop in Springdale from April 14-16 SPRINGDALE -- The Colombian consulate in Houston will send a mobile office to The Jones Center in Springdale from April 14 through 16 to serve citizens of its country in this region, the consulate con... March 22, 2023

Oklahoma AG to seek special master in poultry case over Illinois River pollution, while judge extends negotiation deadline TULSA -- Oklahoma's attorney general wants a court-appointed special master to oversee any agreement his state and Northwest Arkansas poultry companies arrive at in their negotiations to settle th... March 20, 2023

Wind farm project in Carroll County stirs up opposition BERRYVILLE -- An opponent to a wind farm in eastern Carroll County will speak at Tuesday night's Quorum Court meeting even though there is little county government could do to stop the project, bo... March 19, 2023

Oklahoma AG to seek special master in poultry case over Illinois River pollution, while judge extends negotiation deadline TULSA -- Oklahoma's attorney general wants a court-appointed special master to oversee any agreement his state and Northwest Arkansas poultry companies arrive at in their negotiations to settle th... March 18, 2023

Code violation against homeless camp coming, Fayetteville city attorney tells committee FAYETTEVILLE -- The city attorney plans to cite a code violation against a camping spot used by about a dozen unsheltered people, a City Council committee was told Wednesday."The city prosecutor ... March 16, 2023

Governor: Northwest Arkansas a model for the state in business, particularly in willingness to follow women leaders ROGERS -- Northwest Arkansas leads the state in business, particularly in its willingness to choose women as top leaders, Gov. Sarah Sanders told a crowd of about 400 at the Economics Arkansas annual ... March 16, 2023

Increasing scrutiny of libraries in Arkansas part of national trend, officials say Libraries in Arkansas are under increased pressure to remove children's books addressing sexual subjects, both supporters and opponents of those removals say.Senate Bill 81 would take away librari... March 12, 2023

Arkansas GOP chairman appeals for party unity at Benton County event ROGERS -- State Republican Party chairman Cody Hiland appealed for party unity Thursday while speaking during the monthly meeting of the Benton County Republican Committee."No external threat fro... March 10, 2023

Most NWA lawmakers support education bill, final tally shows Most Northwest Arkansas lawmakers supported the governor's education package while regional school leaders said Tuesday they were taking time to study the measure before commenting.Gov. Sarah Huck... March 8, 2023

Rules being written will enhance Arkansas education bill, lawmakers say at Fayetteville forum FAYETTEVILLE -- Extensive rules being written will resolve many of the concerns about the governor's education bill, lawmakers told a forum in Fayetteville.Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, exp... March 4, 2023

Governor’s education bill stirs concern in Northwest Arkansas’ first public forums on the proposal Even the supporters of the governor's education bill asked questions and raised concerns Friday at forums in Northwest Arkansas.The Rogers-Lowell and Fayetteville chambers of commerce on Friday af... February 27, 2023

Education bill almost certain to pass, opposing senator tells protesters FAYETTEVILLE -- Stopping the governor's education reform package from passing is unlikely and even slowing it down to make changes will be difficult, state Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, told a... February 26, 2023

Governor’s education bill stirs concern in Northwest Arkansas’ first public forums on the proposal Even the supporters of the governor's education bill asked questions and raised concerns Friday at forums in Northwest Arkansas.On Friday, both the Rogers-Lowell and Fayetteville chambers of comme... February 25, 2023

Springdale man freed, arrives home after eight-day detention by immigration agency HIGHFILL -- Cesar Acosta, freed from an eight-day detention by federal immigration authorities in Texas, arrived home Wednesday afternoon to the embrace of friends and family he thanked for securing h... February 24, 2023

Springdale man freed, arrives home after eight-day detention by immigration agency HIGHFILL -- Cesar Acosta, freed from an eight-day detention by federal immigration authorities in Texas, arrived home Wednesday afternoon to the embrace of friends and family he thanked for securing h... February 23, 2023

Stories by Doug Thompson