Stories by Doug Thompson

Ballooning housing costs in Northwest Arkansas require regional approach, study says Northwest Arkansas as a whole faces sharply rising housing costs, but each city in the region has unique aspects to this shared problem, a study released Thursday by the Walton Family Foundation says.... September 10, 2021

Democrat running for state’s No. 2 job LOWELL — The crowded race for lieutenant governor got its first Democrat and its first woman candidate Thursday. Kelly Krout, 38, of Lowell announced her bid in Ward Nail Park in Lowell, the same par... September 10, 2021

Krout, Lowell foster parent, announces bid for lieutenant governor LOWELL -- The crowded race for lieutenant governor got its first Democrat and its first woman candidate Thursday. Kelly Krout, 38, of Lowell announced her bid in Ward Nail Park in Lowell, the same par... September 9, 2021

Arkansas lieutenant governor candidate says, with 7 sons, she's used to dealing with 'boys club' LOWELL -- The crowded race for lieutenant governor got its first Democrat and its first woman candidate Thursday. Kelly Krout, 38, of Lowell announced her bid in Ward Nail Park in Lowell, the same par... September 9, 2021

Washington County lags Benton County in clearing federal rental assistance, records show Benton County distributes federal Emergency Rental Assistance money twice as fast as neighboring Washington County, U.S. Treasury and county records show. The county also distributed more rental assi... September 5, 2021

Two men convicted in Elm Springs wind farm scam FAYETTEVILLE -- Two men were convicted Friday on all counts for defrauding investors in a failed Elm Springs wind farm project and the development of a wind turbine that was never built. A federal co... September 3, 2021

Afghan refugees expected soon in Northwest Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE -- An as-yet unknown number of evacuated Afghans will arrive in Northwest Arkansas with as little as 48 hours notice after having escaped, in some cases, with nothing but the clothes on t... September 3, 2021

Afghan refugees expected soon in Northwest Arkansas An as-yet unknown number of evacuated Afghans will arrive in Northwest Arkansas with as little as 48 hours notice after having escaped, in some cases, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, the ... September 2, 2021

Children, particularly orphans, face great risk in Afghanistan, advocate says FAYETTEVILLE — A group founded by a Washington County deputy prosecutor is helping to relocate 5,000 Afghan refugees with 1,500 children among them, including about 400 orphans. These families and ch... August 31, 2021

Overall population growth in Northwest Arkansas is large but not evenly distributed, census shows Northwest Arkansas' rapid growth leaves the rest of the state behind -- with portions within Northwest Arkansas lagging, too, U.S. Census results show. Siloam Springs grew almost 15% to 17,287 reside... August 22, 2021

Census numbers will force school board changes in six NWA districts Six school districts in either Washington or Benton counties must change the way they elect board members to help protect the voting rights of racial minorities, officials said. The delayed census nu... August 22, 2021

Overall population growth in Northwest Arkansas is large but not evenly distributed, census shows Northwest Arkansas' rapid growth leaves the rest of the state behind -- with portions within Northwest Arkansas lagging too, U.S. Census results show. Siloam Springs grew almost 15% to 17,287 resident... August 19, 2021

Keep legislative district as is, Fort Smith mayor says FORT SMITH -- Mayor George McGill asked the state to try its best not to disrupt the Fort Smith legislative delegation, telling staff of the state Board of Apportionment the existing delegation is bot... August 19, 2021

Please protect Fort Smith's legislative delegation, mayor asks apportionment board FORT SMITH -- Mayor George McGill asked the state to try its best not to disrupt the Fort Smith legislative delegation, telling staff of the state Board of Apportionment the existing delegation is bot... August 18, 2021

Covid discussion dominates lieutenant governor candidates' campaign appearance in Rogers ROGERS -- Covid dangers are real and vaccines are safe, but anti-covid measures such as mask and vaccine mandates by government and private businesses have been too broad-brush and punitive, the state... August 18, 2021

Womack, SBA chief talk business in state The hospitality industry -- hotels, restaurants and other leisure-related businesses -- still bears the brunt of the resurgent covid pandemic, local business leaders told the director of the federal S... August 15, 2021

Hospitality, leisure industries suffer most from the revived pandemic, federal agency director told in NWA visits The hospitality industry — hotels, restaurants and other leisure-related businesses — still bears the brunt of the resurgent covid pandemic, local business leaders told the director of the federal Sma... August 14, 2021

Hospitality industry suffers most from the revived pandemic, federal director told in Rogers visit ROGERS -- The hospitality industry -- hotels, restaurants and other leisure-related businesses -- still bears the brunt of the resurgent covid pandemic, local business leaders told the director of the... August 13, 2021

Poll: Two out of three in Northwest Arkansas support local school districts deciding whether to mask students Two-thirds of Benton and Washington county residents prefer letting local school boards decide whether to impose mask mandates to respond to local covid conditions, according to a survey commissioned ... August 12, 2021

Foster child population rising, swamping case workers, state records show The ongoing covid pandemic erased most of the gains the state had made in getting children out of foster care, according to records and state officials. As many as 5,200 children were in foster care ... August 8, 2021

Foster child population rising, swamping caseworkers, state records show The ongoing pandemic erased most of the gains the state had made in getting children out of foster care, according to records and state officials. As many as 5,200 children were in foster care before... August 8, 2021

Benton County legislative districts are heavily overpopulated and under-represented, board figures show BENTONVILLE -- The three most overpopulated state House districts in Arkansas are all in Benton County, according to information presented by the state board drafting new legislative boundaries. The ... August 6, 2021

NW part of state to get new district boundaries BENTONVILLE -- The three most overpopulated state House districts in Arkansas are all in Benton County, according to information presented by the state board drafting new legislative boundaries. The ... August 6, 2021

Northwest Arkansas delegation members see special session call as a tall order on changing anti-mask bill None of the Northwest Arkansas delegation members contacted Thursday and Friday have changed their views yet on the state law prohibiting school districts from mandating the wearing of face masks on c... July 31, 2021

2 more lawsuits filed over diagnosis errors at VA FAYETTEVILLE -- Two more lawsuits have been filed against Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks over missed diagnoses linked to a former pathologist now imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter. T... July 30, 2021

Two more civil cases filed involving pathologist convicted of manslaughter FAYETTEVILLE -- Two more lawsuits have been filed against the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks over missed diagnoses linked to a former pathologist now imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter... July 29, 2021

Tontitown panel waits on landfill TONTITOWN -- Expansion of Northwest Arkansas' only landfill has been tabled until at least Aug. 31 by the Tontitown Planning Commission as residents opposed another 12-year extension of the useful lif... July 29, 2021

Tontitown landfill expansion plan delayed until Aug. 31 TONTITOWN -- Expansion of Northwest Arkansas' only landfill was tabled until at least Aug. 31 on Tuesday by the Tontitown Planning Commission as residents opposed another 12-year extension of the usef... July 28, 2021

Black vulture attacks on cattle in Arkansas leads to control efforts Ronnie Horn saw the newborn calf moving awkwardly and slowly as he drove past the pasture on his way to work at the Washington County Extension Service. He resolved to check on it after work. He foun... July 25, 2021

Services provider bows out after state cuts crisis center funds FAYETTEVILLE -- The Northwest Arkansas Crisis Stabilization Unit can't open until a new medical services provider is found, again leaving law enforcement with few options for people they encounter who... July 18, 2021

Washington County passes "pro life county" resolution over objections, protest FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Quorum Court passed a nonbinding resolution designating the jurisdiction a "pro life county" on Thursday night, rejecting proposed amendments to spend available f... July 16, 2021

JPs pass resolution designating Washington County as 'pro life' FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Quorum Court passed a non-binding resolution designating the jurisdiction a "pro life county" on Thursday night, rejecting proposed amendments to spend available ... July 16, 2021

Pay raise for Benton County dispatchers put on July 22 agenda BENTONVILLE -- The Benton County Quorum Court will consider a midyear pay raise for workers at its countywide dispatch center, in part to forestall more turnover after the stress on the center with th... July 14, 2021

NWA ranks fourth on ‘Best Places to Live’ report The Northwest Arkansas metro area passed Austin, Texas, to claim the number four spot in the annual U.S. News & World Report “Best Places to Live” survey released today. The region rose four plac... July 13, 2021

NWA ranks fourth on 'Best Places to Live' report The Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area passed Austin, Texas, to claim the No. 4 spot in the U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Places to Live" survey released today. The region rose four ... July 13, 2021

U.S. census delays cloud district lines, candidates' plans Chris Latimer of Rogers knew which doors to knock on in his debut campaign for the state House last year, but he didn't do it because of the covid-19 pandemic. Now he can more safely knock on any doo... July 11, 2021

Veteran suicide prevention stalled, Boozman says in Fayetteville FAYETTEVILLE -- Suicides among veterans remain high despite billions of taxpayer dollars spent to address the problem over many years, U.S. Sen. John Boozman told veterans groups Thursday. "Twenty to... July 9, 2021

Boozman speaks with veterans on suicide rate FAYETTEVILLE -- Suicides among veterans remain high despite billions of taxpayer dollars spent to address the problem over many years, Sen. John Boozman told veterans groups Thursday. "Twenty to 22 v... July 9, 2021

Diversity advocates will keep on despite legislative setbacks, they say Northwest Arkansas business leaders recently redoubled efforts to portray the region as a welcoming place for LGBTQ people and ethnic and racial minorities after a legislative session in which a numbe... July 4, 2021

VA center in Fayetteville sued again for missed diagnosis FAYETTEVILLE -- Another family of a veteran who died after a missed diagnosis filed suit Friday against the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. The pathologist who missed the diagnosis was con... June 26, 2021

VA center missed diagnosis, suit says FAYETTEVILLE -- Another family of a veteran who died after a missed diagnosis filed suit Friday against the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. The pathologist who missed the diagnosis was con... June 26, 2021

Springdale veterans park project hopes to raise $5.8 million, City Council told SPRINGDALE -- Fundraising for a $5.8 million park to honor veterans has begun, the nonprofit Springdale Veterans Organization informed the City Council on Tuesday. The project would convert 5 acres a... June 23, 2021

Springdale committee favors adding an ambulance SPRINGDALE -- The city should hire six ambulance crew to bring a fifth ambulance into service, the City Council's Committee of the Whole decided Monday. The committee's recommendation goes to the reg... June 15, 2021

Northwest Arkansas lawmakers see budget surplus as windfall Arkansas lawmakers see the largest state budget surplus in history as more of a one-time windfall than the beginning of a trend, a number of them said. At least for now. "I believe we should save th... June 13, 2021

Do not repeat a fatal mistake with vulnerable veterans, state lawmakers told Legislators need to oversee the state's care of vulnerable veterans because the lack of supervision at the federal level led to deaths at a Fayetteville hospital, lawmakers heard Tuesday. A June 2 re... June 9, 2021

Moving Fulbright statue violates law, legislators tell UA Moving the University of Arkansas' statue of the late Sen. J. William Fulbright would violate the law and could result in a criminal charge, state legislators told university officials Tuesday. "It i... June 9, 2021

Do not repeat fatal mistake with vulnerable veterans, state lawmakers told Legislators need to oversee the state's care of vulnerable veterans because the lack of supervision at the federal level led to deaths at a Fayetteville hospital, lawmakers heard Tuesday. A June 2 re... June 9, 2021

Convicted doctor lacked oversight, VA filing says FAYETTEVILLE -- The pathologist convicted of manslaughter in the death of a patient at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks largely supervised himself, according to a Department of Veterans A... June 3, 2021

Convicted VA pathologist oversaw himself, federal study concludes FAYETTEVILLE -- The pathologist convicted of manslaughter in the death of a patient at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks largely supervised himself, according to a Department of Veterans A... June 2, 2021

No need for retrial in Woods graft case, government argues FAYETTEVILLE -- The issues former state Sen. Jon Woods raises in his request for a new trial were handled during the guilty plea by former Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, according to a recent filing by the U... June 1, 2021