Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / ArkansasOnline.com

Experts say it's hard to establish any sort of trend when it comes to su***de because each case is deeply personal and unique.

Su***de is the leading cause of violent death in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Health's website.

"You don't have to be suicidal to call 988," Julie Cerel said. "It's there for anyone in a mental health or substance use crisis, or someone that cares about someone who's in crisis."

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North Little Rock-based Flyway Brewing Company opened a new location at Walmart's new headquarters campus in Bentonville.

"I think our brand mission and a lot of what Walmart and the Walton family has done up here has a lot to do with living life outdoors -- getting outside, breathing fresh air -- and I think there's a good alignment between our two brands," Rob Byford said.

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Rebecca Lucille Montgomery's remains were found on the morning of Aug. 21 after Trumann police and the Poinsett County sheriff's office executed a search warrant at 401 N. Pine Ave. in Trumann, police have said.

Later that day, Tennessee police encountered Ray at a truck stop after receiving a report of a suspicious person, Tennessee police have said. They said they arrested Ray after learning Trumann police were seeking warrants for his arrest.

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A dog-themed bar and restaurant in Little Rock is closing its doors permanently, according to a Saturday social media post.

"Bark Bar has always been so much more than a dog park, bar, or restaurant. It became a community," the post said.

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A former University of Arkansas football recruit with three pending criminal charges suited up for Sheridan High School on Friday night.

He is charged with manslaughter, aggravated robbery, and hindering apprehension.

He played on defense and special teams for the Yellowjackets as early as the first quarter in the game, played at Yellowjacket Stadium in Sheridan, according to a video from a live stream from Sheridan's game against White Hall.

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A federal appeals court will hear arguments next month about whether multiple Arkansas police officers are immune from being sued over their actions that, in part, led to the wrongful conviction of two people in a 1988 homicide.

At issue is a ruling by Judge Kristine Baker to deny qualified immunity to several law enforcement officers. In an Oct. 20, 2025, decision, Baker concluded that a jury could find that the officers violated the clear constitutional rights of Tina Jimerson and John Brown Jr.

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Arkansas' Senate District 13, which includes all of Maumelle, most of North Little Rock and other parts of Pulaski County, will have a new senator next year to replace term-limited state Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock. Democrat Allison Grigsby Sweatman is running against state Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle.

Sweatman says people in District 13 should vote for her in part because her opponent "is a rubber stamp for the governor's agenda in many ways." Achor says he understands the "real consequences" of what the Legislature does and doesn't do, "and I think that separates me from my opponent."

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The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act, introduced in the U.S. House of representatives in June, would change the H-2A visa program, which allows American farmers and agricultural firms to hire foreign workers temporarily.

The bill has seven Democratic sponsors and 52 Republican sponsors — but U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., is not one of them. Crawford says he's opposed to a provision allowing people who unlawfully entered the United States to seek an H-2A visa if they were already doing agricultural work.

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In June 2025, there were 97 people waiting for a bed at Arkansas State Hospital, the state-run psychiatric hospital in Little Rock. As of Monday, there were only 36.

Delays to enter the hospital can still stretch for months. But officials credit the reduced wait list to a number of factors, including a new unit at the facility, as well as a 2025 law requiring the Arkansas Department of Human Services to provide reports on patients' progress within 6 months instead of 10.

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The number of full-time Arkansas state government employees dipped by about 321 to 57,300 in the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to Bureau of Legislative Research records. That's a workforce reduction of just over half of 1 percent.

However, the state's total salary and benefit costs increased by roughly $386 million to $5.526 billion in fiscal 2026, according to state Department of Finance and Administration records. That's a spending increase of about 7.5%.

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