Stories by Doug Thompson

Former health care executives plead guilty to conspiracy in Medicaid fraud scheme in Arkansas SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Missouri couple pleaded guilty Wednesday in the Medicaid fraud scheme that saw five former Arkansas lawmakers convicted on bribery-related charges, federal court records show.Tom... September 29, 2022

Two compete for Centerton’s new House seat CENTERTON -- Centerton doubled its population between 2010 and 2020, earning the city and surrounding area a new House seat when legislative boundaries were redrawn after the census.Democrats nominate... September 29, 2022

Three candidates compete in Arkansas House race for new majority Hispanic district SPRINGDALE -- The state took special care to create a majority-Hispanic House district in Springdale when it redrew legislative boundaries last year. Three candidates seek that District 9 seat in the ... September 27, 2022

Hispanics shortchanged by 2020 census, and 2030 count is closer than it appears, speaker tells conference SPRINGDALE -- The 2020 U.S. census shortchanged Hispanic Americans, and the time to make sure that does not happen again in the 2030 census is now, the keynote speaker to the Hispanic Women of Arkansa... September 24, 2022

Fayetteville School Board outlines hopes for sale of former Jefferson Elementary School FAYETTEVILLE -- The Fayetteville School Board wants to sell the former Jefferson Elementary School while also encouraging a community-oriented role for the property after it is sold, board members sai... September 23, 2022

Conservatives compete in Boone County race for House District 5 HARRISON -- Boone County's House District 5 race pits a four-term Republican representative against an independent who claims to be the real Republican in the race.Rep. Ron McNair, R-Harrison, see... September 23, 2022

State House District 11 rivals cite government, business experience in push for Northwest Arkansas seat Both candidates seeking to represent state House District 11 claim a wide range of relevant experience.Republican Rebecca Burkes cites her experience as a businesswoman and as a conservative attorney ... September 21, 2022

Increasing voter turnout is vital for both his campaign for governor and the state’s future, Jones tells Fayetteville crowd FAYETTEVILLE -- Getting Arkansas off the bottom in voter turnout is vital to his campaign but also to the state's future, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Chris Jones told supporters Tuesday in Fa... September 21, 2022

Libertarian and Republican vie for District 35 senate seat The two candidates vying for western Benton and Washington counties' District 35 state Senate seat both pledge to protect constituents from government overreach.Republican Tyler Dees of Siloam Spr... September 19, 2022

Nonprofits present options to NWA SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansans have more options and resources available than they make use of now, speakers at a community forum in Springdale said Sunday.More than 100 attended a “rall... September 19, 2022

Dees, Peterson race for state Senate has no Democrat The two candidates vying for western Benton and Washington counties' District 35 state Senate seat both pledge to protect constituents from government overreach.Republican Tyler Dees of Siloam Spr... September 19, 2022

Democrats greet candidates in Little Flock LITTLE FLOCK -- Democratic nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and other offices ranging from U.S. Representative to county justices of the peace came to B... September 19, 2022

Springdale school district to pay teachers, staff bonus of $2,400 SPRINGDALE -- The Springdale School District will pay each of its approximately 3,000 full-time employees a bonus of $2,400 at a total cost of about $8.5 million, the School Board decided Tuesday with... September 14, 2022

McAlindon, Schaffer compete for Bentonville state House seat BENTONVILLE -- The competitors for the District 10 state House race in Benton County both expressed pride in their community service.Despite being in their first races, though, neither Republican Mind... September 13, 2022

Voters get three options in north Arkansas House District 6 race Voters in northern Arkansas' state House District 6 get three candidates to choose from in the Nov. 8 general election.Incumbent Harlan Breaux, R-Holiday Island, seeks his third term. Democratic c... September 12, 2022

Sanders: Expanding prekindergarten access, improving student reading skills top priority list if elected governor BELLA VISTA -- More Arkansas children need prekindergarten classes, and increasing access to such classes would rank high on her priorities if elected, Republican gubernatorial nominee Sarah Huckabee ... September 10, 2022

Hillary and Chelsea Clinton documentary features “Gutsy” Afghan women living in Northwest Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE -- Hillary and Chelsea Clinton stopped in Fayetteville when they were seeking brave women for their television documentary series "Gutsy" to meet women who flew halfway around t... September 9, 2022

Dotson, DeVilliers seek to fill Benton County’s new Senate district seat BENTONVILLE -- Voters in north-central Benton County have a new state Senate district and a race to fill it between Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, and Libertarian J.P. DeVilliers, also of Bentonville... September 7, 2022

District 28 candidates face off The two men seeking to represent state Senate District 28 both ran against state Sen. Bob Ballinger, R-Ozark, in 2018. Now they face each other in the Nov. 8 general election.Bryan King of Green Fores... September 4, 2022

Senate race pits GOP, Libertarian BENTONVILLE -- Voters in north-central Benton County have a new state Senate district and a race to fill it, between Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, and Libertarian J.P. DeVilliers, also of Bentonvill... September 4, 2022

Familiar faces King, Wallace square off in state Senate District 28 race The two men seeking to represent state Senate District 28 both ran against state Sen. Bob Ballinger, R-Ozark, in 2018. Now they face each other in the Nov. 8 general election.Bryan King of Green Fores... September 3, 2022

Retrial bid denied for ex-senator Woods FAYETTEVILLE -- Former state Sen. Jon Woods' request for a new trial was denied Wednesday by the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.Woods of Springdale, is serving an 18-year sentence in federal pr... September 1, 2022

Appeals court denies former state senator Woods' request for new trial Former state Sen. Jon Woods' request for a new trial was denied Wednesday by the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.Woods of Springdale, is serving an 18-year sentence in federal prison for his 201... August 31, 2022

Home prices in Northwest Arkansas climb faster than anywhere else in the U.S., industry figures show The residential real estate market shows no signs of cooling in Northwest Arkansas, where prices in the second quarter rose faster than anywhere else in the country, according to industry figures.But ... August 28, 2022

Make voter input easier, not harder, Common Ground leaders tell group in Fayetteville FAYETTEVILLE -- Voters already have too little say in their state government, and Common Ground AR will oppose upcoming efforts to restrict that say further, leaders of the group told the Political An... August 27, 2022

Court tosses Arkansas law limiting election helpers FAYETTEVILLE -- A 2009 state law forbidding one person from acting as translator for more than six voters in casting their ballots violates the federal Voting Rights Act, a U.S. District judge in Faye... August 23, 2022

Federal court tosses Arkansas' limits on election helpers FAYETTEVILLE -- A state law limiting the number of times one person can help translate for voters was overturned in federal court Friday.Arkansas United, a Springdale-based immigrant rights group, fil... August 22, 2022

Fayetteville planning commission unanimously endorses ‘cluster housing’ project FAYETTEVILLE -- Planning commission members expressed surprise when no one objected to a 15-unit "cluster housing" development on 1629 Crossover Road in a residential neighborhood, a project... August 9, 2022

Booming home prices, rising interest rates put pressure on NWA apartment rentals, experts say A duplex burned down two weeks ago in Springdale. The tenants have a spotless history of paying their rent on time, money coming to them through renters insurance and a state legislator who's in t... August 7, 2022

Making diversity work is an exchange, not a welcome mat, panelists say Reaping all the benefits of Northwest Arkansas' diverse population requires newcomers to reach out for the community to welcome them in, said speakers on a panel Friday organized by the Northwest ... July 30, 2022

Minorities will make up a third of Northwest Arkansas’ population by 2026, study says Ethnic and racial minorities in Northwest Arkansas will grow to one-third of the region's population by the end of 2026, according to a study released Wednesday by the nonprofit Northwest Arkansas... July 28, 2022

Game and Fish aims high to get competition shooting facility in NWA The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wants to build a first-rate public shooting sports complex in Northwest Arkansas -- a much better one than it can afford, according to commission Director Austin ... July 24, 2022

New veterans home in Benton County could replace Fayetteville Veterans Home by 2026, state commission told BENTONVILLE -- A new facility to replace the Fayetteville Veterans Home could open in Benton County as soon as 2026, the Arkansas Veterans Commission was told Tuesday.Whether those plans develop depen... July 20, 2022

Harris vote suit tossed; filed in wrong court, judge rules OZARK -- A Franklin County circuit judge Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by legislative candidate Jody Harris, saying she filed it in the wrong court.Harris, a Republican, filed a lawsuit to throw ... July 16, 2022

Judge tosses lawsuit challenging Arkansas House District 25 Republican primary results, but appeal is promised OZARK -- A Franklin County circuit judge Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by legislative candidate Jody Harris, saying she filed it in the wrong court.Harris, a Republican, filed a lawsuit to throw ... July 15, 2022

Judge tosses Harris lawsuit saying she picked wrong county to file OZARK -- A Franklin County circuit judge Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by legislative candidate Jody Harris, saying she filed it in the wrong court.Harris, a Republican, filed a lawsuit to throw ... July 15, 2022

Skyrocketing housing prices endanger region already, Northwest Arkansas Council told SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas saw the second-highest increase in the cost of buying a house of any metro region in the United States year over year, the Northwest Arkansas Council was told Thursday... July 15, 2022

Fayetteville man receives life sentence in murder FAYETTEVILLE -- Travis Trustin pleaded guilty to capital murder Monday and received a life sentence without possibility of parole."Do you understand that life without parole means exactly what it... July 12, 2022

Election spending by group is $117,198, with focus on 3 races in Northwest Arkansas A nonprofit group formed a month before the May 24 primaries spent more than $100,000 on legislative races, state finance records show.Of the group's $117,198 in spending, all went to Republican p... July 10, 2022

Creditor of Fort Smith candidate Max Avery seeks payment from his other business, records show FORT SMITH -- A creditor of state House candidate Max Avery wants some of the assets of his truck driving school to recover a debt from another of his businesses, according to court documents filed We... July 1, 2022

Creditor of candidate Max Avery seeks payment from his other business, records show FORT SMITH -- A creditor of state House candidate Max Avery wants some of the assets of his truck driving school to recover a debt from another of his businesses, according to court documents filed We... June 30, 2022

Fort Smith candidate for state House confirms debt defaults FORT SMITH -- Max Avery, the Republican nominee in the state House District 49 race in Fort Smith, defaulted on more than $800,000 in business loans, interest and related debts, court records show and... June 29, 2022

Springdale council recommends spending up to $359,850 for traffic study SPRINGDALE -- Improvements to existing streets could do as much or more to relieve traffic congestion as a new road, the Springdale City Council was told Monday.The council, meeting as a Committee of ... June 21, 2022

Runoff election races Early voting ends Monday. Election Day is Tuesday in the following runoff elections in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's subscriber area.Voters who cast a ballot in the Democratic primary ... June 19, 2022

Benton County’s early vote turnout more than twice Washington County’s, records show Benton County early votes were more than double the number of early votes cast in Washington County so far in Tuesday's runoffs, election records show.Benton County had 1,070 early votes cast by o... June 18, 2022

German pilots likely headed to Fort Smith base for training, ambassador says ROGERS -- The German ambassador's decision to publicly announce Fort Smith as the likely site for German pilots to learn to fly Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets came as a surprise to... June 17, 2022

Jody Harris sues, disputes outcome in House District 25 Republican primary election OZARK -- Republican state House candidate Jody Harris filed a lawsuit Tuesday to throw out the primary results that show her losing to Chad Puryear by seven votes.The race in House District 25 took pl... June 15, 2022

Harris sues, disputes outcome in House District 25 Republican primary OZARK -- Republican state House candidate Jody Harris filed a lawsuit Tuesday disputing certified primary results that show her losing to Chad Puryear by seven votes.The race in House District 25 took... June 14, 2022

Washington County planning and zoning needs reform, county judge candidate says SPRINGDALE -- Washington County's planning and zoning practices are inconsistent, confusing and frustrating to businesses and residents, county judge runoff candidate Patrick Deakins said at a can... June 14, 2022