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Bay Man Accused of Simultaneous Drug, Gun Possession After Chase Through Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Bay man is facing charges, including a Class Y felony, after police allege they arrested him with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms after a chase over the weekend in Jonesboro. The probable cause affidavit states that on July 19, 2025, an officer conducted a traffic stop for unconfirmed insurance at Union and Matthews. While attempting the traffic stop, the suspect…

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Paragould Man Jailed on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges Following Dropbox Tip

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Paragould man was arrested for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material, according to a probable cause affidavit filed on July 16 in district court. On June 3, 2025, JPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Division received a tip, relayed through Arkansas State Police ICAC from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, notified originally by…

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Sanders Announces More Than $1.4 Million in Funding for Fairs and Livestock Shows

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture today announced more than $1.4 million in funding to support Arkansas’ local fairs and livestock shows. The funding — awarded through the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Fair Funding Program — will assist with operational costs, facility improvements, and livestock-related expenses at 80 different…

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Jonesboro City Attorney’s Office Relocates After Justice Complex Closure

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Jonesboro City Attorney’s Office has officially relocated following the temporary closure of the Jonesboro Justice Complex on June 27, 2025, due to structural safety concerns related to a failing roof rafter. The City Attorney’s Office is now located on the 1st floor of the Jonesboro Municipal Building, 300 S. Church Street, occupying the former offices of the City’s Human…

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Wynne Woman Accused of Stealing Purses, Selling Them at Nearby Store in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — A woman with a previous shoplifting conviction was arrested after she allegedly stole purses from one store and went to sell them at another in Jonesboro. On July 11, officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Fair Park in Jonesboro over a shoplifting call, according to the probable cause affidavit. Police made contact with the alleged victim at the store where the items were…

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Activist Jailed for Contempt of Court After Recording Incident in Pocahontas

POCAHONTAS, Ark. — An area activist known for confrontations with public officials over transparency laws has been jailed in Randolph County after running afoul of a district judge during court. Lucas Peppers, 43, was arrested Wednesday morning, July 9, at the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department for contempt of court. The contempt order states that during the active court session, Peppers…

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Pocahontas Mayor Reacts Aggressively to Viral First Amendment Auditor

POCAHONTAS, Ark. — Mayor Keith Futrell did not perform well recently in a First Amendment audit by the Random Patriot, according to many of the comments made by viewers of his latest video. The YouTuber, real name Justin MacHenry from Conway, has over 120,000 subscribers. He visits different communities and tests whether government officials will violate his rights as he films in public places.…

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Two Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — Two people appeared in court on Wednesday, each facing charges including Class Y felonies for alleged drug trafficking in Jonesboro. According to the probable cause affidavit released on Wednesday, a drug investigation began in April 2025 by the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force. The task force received information that a man named “Tay” was involved in selling cocaine…

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Jonesboro Police Investigating Shooting on North Allis Street

JONESBORO, Ark. — Police are investigating an afternoon shooting that left one man injured Tuesday in the 300 block of North Allis Street, according to a statement from the Jonesboro Police Department. Officers responded to the scene, where a male victim was found with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not released details…

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Man Accused of Sexual Assault at AState Identified Through Police Photo Lineup

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Little Rock man was recently arrested after being identified in a police line-up by a woman who reported she was sexually assaulted on the campus of Arkansas State University. According to the probable cause affidavit, a report was made at 3:35 PM on April 1, 2025, with the University Police Department regarding a sexual assault that had allegedly occurred on campus. The…

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Suspect Arrested in Alleged Cat Strangulation Case in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — A man was arrested in a disturbing case involving alleged animal cruelty on July 2 in Jonesboro. James Earl Tobar, 20, of Jonesboro, made his first appearance in court on Monday, July 7, after the long holiday weekend. He faces a Class D felony charge of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or horse.  Monday, Judge Tommy Fowler ordered a mental health evaluation and for Tobar to be…

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Paragould Man Faces Felony Trafficking Charge After Fentanyl Allegedly Found in Vehicle

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A man is facing a Class Y felony drug trafficking charge after a parole search recently in Paragould. The probable cause affidavit from the Paragould Police Department states that on July 1, 2025, agents with the Arkansas Community Corrections searched a vehicle in their office parking lot that belonged to Jesse Duane Page. Page is reportedly on active parole with a search…

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Paragould Man Accused of Assaulting Pregnant Woman During Car Ride

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after a domestic altercation recently in Craighead County. According to a probable cause affidavit from the Brookland Police Department, Officer Josh Whitley responded to a report of a domestic battery inside the Brookland city limits. He met with Greene County deputies who had both the alleged victim and the arrestee,…

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Man Accused of Breaking Into Home, Stealing Wallet in Jonesboro Arrest

JONESBORO, Ark. — A man is accused of aggravated residential burglary, theft, and resisting arrest after his arrest last week in Jonesboro. According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 25, 2025, JPD was dispatched to an intoxicated subject call on Turtle Creek Road. Officers arrived and found a partially clothed subject, identified as Matthew Jones, who told officers that when he left the…

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Man Faces Life Sentence, $1 Million Bond, in Fentanyl Trafficking Case

JONESBORO, Ark. — A man accused of fentanyl trafficking in Jonesboro is facing up to a life sentence in prison after his arrest on a Class Y felony. Kenterrian Tavonte Washington, 26, of Jonesboro, was arrested on June 27 by JPD on charges of trafficking of fentanyl, possession of a schedule VI substance, and improper tint. He appeared before Judge David Boling on Monday, June 30. The judge noted…

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Sanders Announces New Farm-To-School Pilot Program Beginning in 2025-26

Program created by the Governor’s Faith-Based Initiatives Office LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Monday announced a new farm-to-school program launching in Marion School District for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. This innovative program, created by Governor Sanders’ faith-based initiatives office in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Arkansas…

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Arkansas Law Mandating Coverage of ‘Restorative’ Fertility Treatments Raises Concerns Among IVF Advocates

by Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Advocate Fertility treatment advocates have expressed concerns about a new Arkansas law they say is meant to cast doubt on the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology, even though the law does not penalize or prohibit such treatments. Act 859 of 2025, the Reproductive Empowerment and Support Through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act, is “groundbreaking…