Good morning, Springdale.

Volunteers from the River Valley + Sebastian County helped local groups complete projects for Day of Caring on Thursday.

Two Missouri residents—Gage William Carl Hill of Seligman and Jamie Walker of Cassville—are held on $1 million bonds in connection with Adam Blake Hensley’s fentanyl overdose death in Bentonville on April 4; Walker will be arraigned at 8 a.m. May 19 and Hill at 8 a.m. May 27.

Local pizza parlors serve a variety of pies for all palates in Springdale.

Several sources note that in Italian, pizza means pie—making 'pizza pie' redundant—while others insist that pizza simply means pizza.

Local artists, creatives and cultural organizers are invited to apply for awards ranging from $1,500 to $15,000 from the Creative Exchange Fund—a $147,000 grant provided by The Medium to support community events.

The grants will fund performances, exhibitions and music events at the venue at 214 S Main St from August 2025 to October 2026, and applications close at 5 p.m. on May 5.

According to the latest AAA report, average gas prices in Arkansas have dropped to $2.79—five cents lower than last week and 44 cents less than this time last year.

Local prices differ—Hot Springs drivers pay $2.74 while drivers in Texarkana pay $2.81 per gallon.

Arkansas lawmakers approved three constitutional amendments that will appear on the 2026 ballot after being referred to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The measures extend gun rights to include firearm accessories, allow economic development districts to be created, and restrict voting to U.S. citizens—amendments that would take effect Jan. 1, 2027 if approved by voters.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law Wednesday that bans pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating pharmacies—making it the first state to impose this rule.

CVS Health warned the law could force the closure of 23 pharmacies, which may affect local access and jobs.

UAMS is expanding its health care workforce by training community health workers—helping connect residents to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC under the new Community Health Worker Act established by Gov. Huckabee Sanders.

The one-year training program, launched in 2022, has already trained over 175 workers and will further boost access to social and health services.

Multiple Arkansas men’s basketball players announced their return for next season in a video posted by coach John Calipari on social media Thursday.

D.J. Wagner, Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond said they are all in—while Calipari expressed optimism about the team's prospects with returning players and new freshmen.

Matt Jones and Bubba Carpenter preview the Razorbacks' rotation change in a new podcast ahead of this week's series against Texas A&M + they explained how the adjustments may boost the team’s pitching strategy.

Regional NH3 Expo

6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. — The Jones Center — $65 entry — Enhance your ammonia refrigeration skills with hands-on training and expert sessions.

Earth Day Garden Market

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Botanical Garden of the Ozarks — Free entry — Celebrate Earth Day with local vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities at this enchanting garden festival.

Airetech Corporation Open House

8 AM – 4 PM — Airetech Corporation — Free entry — Explore the latest in technology and innovation with hands-on experiences and expert insights.

Demo Derby

3:30 a.m. — Rodeo of the Ozarks — Affordable tickets — Experience the thrilling excitement of a live Demo Derby event.