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6 days ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Michael R. Wickline
The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System's trustees on Monday authorized hiring Scout Investments Inc. through its Reams Asset Management division as an investment manager to invest up to $50 million of system funds in Israel bonds. The system's total investments are valued at roughly $22.3 billion, Rod Graves, a deputy director for the system, said Monday.
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1 week ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Alex Thomas |Doug Thompson
The next race for Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District seat is starting to take shape. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., recently announced he would seek a ninth term representing the district, which includes communities in Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Madison, Sebastian and Washington counties. At least one more person intends to run: Diana Lawrence, a Democrat from Van Buren. The general election is set for Nov. 3, 2026.
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1 week ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Monica Hooper
One of country music's most authentic and beloved voices, Deana Carter is on the road and making a stop at at 9 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Lee Creek Tavern inside Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland. The show is free to those 21 and older. Carter is the daughter of legendary studio guitarist Fred Carter Jr. and grew up immersed in the music of icons such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel -- experiences that would shape her distinctive country-pop sound.
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1 week ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Matt Jones
Matt Jones and Bubba Carpenter discuss the latest in Razorback baseball, including the matchups at this weekend's NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. It publishes each weekday.
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2 weeks ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Becca Martin-Brown
It's harder than you might think to make a theater veteran laugh uproariously. It's not that they're jaded. Not at all. It's just that, as Tina Dale says, she read a lot of scripts trying to decide what to direct during the Fort Smith Little Theatre 2025 season.
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2 weeks ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Neal Earley
President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for severe flooding and tornadoes that hit the state in April, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Friday. The declaration covers both individual and public assistance to aid those who had their homes damaged and help repair infrastructure in severe storms from April 2-22, according to FEMA.
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2 weeks ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Randal Seyler
FORT SMITH -- The Board of Directors unanimously approved an ordinance ordering the demolition of two structures during Tuesday's regular meeting. Shawn Gard, director of Neighborhood Services told the board Tuesday his department had gone "above and beyond to find anyone who has a vested interest" in either of the...
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2 weeks ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Penny Weaver
FORT SMITH -- Investigators continued Monday to search for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man in Fort Smith. Tumontay Parks died after he was shot Saturday evening during a gathering in the 1400 block of Belle Avenue, according to preliminary information in a press release from the Fort Smith Police Department. Officers responded about 10 p.m. to a local hospital regarding a gunshot victim, who later died, the media release stated.
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3 weeks ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Graham Thomas
Graham Thomas, a native of Jackson, Miss., is an award-winning sports writer who serves as sports editor for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. With more than 20 years of experience, he previously served as a sports writer at the Jonesboro Sun before moving to Northwest Arkansas in 2006, where he’s worked for the Benton County Daily Record and was managing editor of The Herald-Leader in Siloam Springs. He received his journalism degree from Louisiana State University.
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3 weeks ago | 
rivervalleydemocratgazette.com | Becca Martin-Brown
Quilts are everywhere at the Rogers Historical Museum this summer. There's an exhibit titled "Ozark Quilts: Stitches in Time," open through March 28, 2026, that helps celebrate the museum's 50th anniversary.