AGP Executive Report

Campus Music: The University of Arkansas’ First Friday concert brought local acts The Belladonnas and DABBIDOT to the Union for an LGBT+ History Month celebration. Documentary Film: Hot Springs’ 35th Documentary Film Festival runs Oct. 9–17 with nearly 100 films, including a 30th-anniversary screening of Paradise Lost and a visit from co-director Joe Berlinger. Arkansas Arts: A three-artist Tiny Desk Arkansas Showcase is returning to Little Rock, while UAFS opens “Arkansas Women to Watch 2026: Words Become Matter” on Oct. 15, featuring a Fort Smith artist. On Stage: Arkadelphia’s marching showcase brings 10 bands to Badger Stadium on Oct. 17, with Henderson State’s Showband and the Badger Pride band performing. Coming to North Little Rock: Dancing with the Stars: Live! stops at Simmons Bank Arena on Feb. 25; tickets go on sale Tuesday.

Daylight Saving Fight: Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton is again at the center of the push to make daylight saving time permanent, after President Trump urged Arkansans to pressure him—sparking fresh debate over late-winter sunrises and health concerns. Razorbacks Football: Arkansas opens SEC play Saturday at Fayetteville against No. 15 Tennessee, with reports saying Vols QB George MacIntyre will make his first career start after Faizon Brandon’s shoulder injury. Arkansas Sports Recruiting: Arkansas baseball keeps rolling in the 2028 class, adding three more commitments—two from the Houston area and one from Chicago—for 13 total signees. Local Community & Arts: Pine Bluff’s downtown blues legacy gets a boost with $46,500 in grants for a permanent Bobby Rush exhibit and new artist banners at the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Blues & Wellness Plaza. Humane Society: Northeast Arkansas Humane Society mourns Hooch, a beloved community dog whose mobility issues worsened. Events Picks: Texarkana’s week includes Picklefest 5K and Taste of Texarkana, plus Paint and Sip nights and free Movies in the Park.

Local Arts & Film: Cinema I/O in Little Rock is rolling out October screenings at Good Weather, including John Wilson’s “The History of Concrete” (starts Oct. 17) plus “Filipiñana” (Oct. 7–18). Arkansas Visual Arts: UAFS in Fort Smith will host “Arkansas Women to Watch 2026: Words Become Matter” in the Don Lee Gallery starting Oct. 15, featuring Fort Smith artist K. Nelson Harper and others, running through Dec. 12. Food & Culture: Little Rock’s Baja Grill (Kavanaugh Blvd.) has finished its run and is giving way to Lime & Lotus Latin Asian Grill & Sidebar, with a soft opening into the end of the year. Community & Seniors: Hot Springs Village leaders are working on a long-term plan for seniors after the Aug. 16 closure of McAuley Senior Adult Center, with the Boys & Girls Club exploring buying the building. Sports Spotlight: Arkansas defense concerns and perimeter run support are back in focus as the Razorbacks prepare for Tennessee after last week’s 34-7 loss at Texas A&M.

Local Arts & Culture: RockEd, a Fayetteville Folk School and Ozark Folkways program for ages 8–18, is teaching young musicians how to start bands and build skills, with a Prairie Street Live showcase set for Oct. 22 to support scholarships. Community Events: Jonesboro’s Main Street closes Monday for the Arkansas Graveler block party, with live music and late hours at Brickhouse Grill and Gearhead Outfitters. Health & Public Life: The Community Health Education Foundation donated 20 AEDs to schools, churches, and nonprofits across Northeast Arkansas, including a life-saving impact at Fox Meadow Elementary. Education & Leadership: A-State permanently appoints Dr. William McLean as provost and executive vice chancellor, after serving as interim since July. Tourism Recognition: Richmond Hill CVB director Christy Sherman earns a 2026 “Shooting Star” honor from the Southeast Tourism Society. Sports (Arkansas ties): Arkansas’ SEC road game at Texas A&M ends 34–7, while UAPB enters its final bye week after a 41–10 win over Southern. Arts/Media Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court declined Nexstar’s bid to block an antitrust suit tied to DirecTV’s streaming and satellite fees.

Local Music & Culture: The University of Arkansas Inspirational Chorale opened a new chapter Sept. 29 under new director Daetris Alexander Cobb, continuing its nearly 50-year tradition of Black sacred music and gospel at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center. Community Events: Downtown Jonesboro’s Main Street (200 block) will close Monday, 4–9 p.m., for Arkansas Graveler’s “Meet Me on Main,” with live music and pop-up stops. Arts & Entertainment Calendar: Little Rock Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Arkansas Showcase returns Oct. 17 at The Hall with Brae Leni, Jupiter’s Flytrap, Rachel Fields and the Blues Therapy Group. Food & Dining: Beignets & Brew has opened in Jonesboro, bringing New Orleans-style beignets and specialty coffee to a new Sweet Spot. Arkansas Spotlight: A diamond hunter at Crater of Diamonds State Park found a 6.03-carat yellow diamond, claiming it could be worth $1 million. Public Health Alert: PepsiCo recalled about 122,000 cases of Gatorade in 37 states, including Arkansas, due to undeclared Yellow No. 5/No. 6 dyes.

Arkansas Arts & Community: Jackson Farm’s Fall Festival is in its second week in Black Rock, leaning into a Wicked-inspired theme with more than 30 photo ops, candy-cannon surprises, and “details” that keep visitors coming back. Local Culture & Learning: Arkansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine will dedicate the Dash Goff Equine Center – Nodouble Barn (Oct. 8 in Jonesboro), a hands-on teaching facility funded by a $1 million gift. Fitness & Campus Life: Rock climbing is growing at the University of Arkansas, with students using gyms like Boulders and Brews and URock Climbing Club meetups to build community. Arts, Media & Public Square: WGLT marks its 60th anniversary with a community movie series at the Normal Theater, including “She Said,” tying newsroom work to First Amendment protections. Sports With Arkansas Ties: Arkansas volleyball dropped a third straight SEC match at South Carolina, while Arkansas men’s golf remains atop the Blessings Collegiate Invitational after a windy second round.

Arkansas Politics: President Trump escalated his fight over permanent daylight saving time by posting Sen. Tom Cotton’s phone number online and urging Arkansans to call him—prompting Cotton to push back that Arkansans “don’t want their kids going to school in the pitch dark.” Arkansas Sports: Texas A&M got its first SEC win by hammering Arkansas 34-7, leaning on a big rushing day from KJ Edwards and freshman backs as the Aggies’ offense finally clicked. Arkansas Soccer: Missouri earned its first SEC point with a 1-1 draw against Arkansas, equalizing late after an early Arkansas push. Immigration Data: Arkansas employers in Educational Services filed 281 H-1B petitions in 2025, with a 97.9% approval rate. Outdoors & Wildlife: A predatory “land-walking” northern snakehead is spreading into new states, and Missouri officials say anglers should kill any they catch by severing the head or gutting it. Community Events: Civil War Weekend returns to Historic Washington State Park in southwest Arkansas with reenactments and home-front programming Nov. 6-7.

College Sports (Arkansas): Texas A&M rolled past Arkansas 34-7 in the SEC opener at Kyle Field, leaning on a dominant run game led by KJ Edwards (two TDs) and a steadier Marcel Reed. Arts & Culture (Little Rock): “The Age of Anxiety: German Expressionism in Art and Film” opens Friday at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, featuring Albert Bloch’s “Duell (Duel)” and expressionist film imagery through Jan. 10. Community Arts/Nonprofit: St. Joseph Center’s 10th Annual Lettuce Grow fundraiser drew 250+ guests, with local farm-sourced dinner, music, and a push to expand year-round Arkansas-grown offerings. Outdoor/Fishing: Lake Hamilton hosted the Black Bass World Championship, with Team USA winning as 23 nations competed in a points-based format. Public Health: FDA recalls frozen organic berries (Great Value and Trader Joe’s) sold in Arkansas due to possible E. coli contamination. Local Business/Leadership: UAPB named Kristi L. Smith vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement, effective Nov. 9. Politics (National, Arkansas): Trump escalated his daylight-saving fight by posting Sen. Tom Cotton’s cellphone number and urging Arkansans to pressure him.

Politics & Timekeeping: President Trump escalated his push to make daylight saving time permanent by publicly sharing what he said is Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton’s cellphone number and urging Arkansans to call him to move the Sunshine Protection Act forward—Cotton fired back on X, saying Arkansans don’t want kids in “pitch dark” winter mornings. Arts & Culture: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s River Rhapsodies brings pianist-composer Stewart Goodyear and ASO musicians to Little Rock’s East Village for a chamber concert featuring works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Debussy. Local Arts Calendar: Fayetteville is closing parts of downtown Dickson Street and West Avenue starting 6 a.m. Sunday for Falltoberfest, a noon-to-6 p.m. festival with live music, local craft beer, shopping, and family activities. Film Spotlight: Producer Linda Duncombe talks about her suspense feature “Killing Time,” filmed in central Arkansas with Freddie Prinze Jr. and others, as it heads toward an early-2027 release. Community Events: Jonesboro plans traffic changes for the Arkansas Graveler kickoff as more than 200 cyclists roll through the Delta starting Oct. 6.

College Sports & Local Rivalries: Conway rolled past North Little Rock 49-20 as Dereon Holt scored four rushing TDs and the Wampus Cats piled up 450+ yards on the ground. High School Football: Benton’s Panthers rallied from an early deficit to beat Sylvan Hills 44-40, with a big late run sealing another one-score win. Arkansas Arts & Entertainment: Fayetteville’s Primetime at the Palace brought major Razorbacks buzz—fans packed Bud Walton Arena for team introductions and a dunk contest won by Billy Richmond. Music: Little Rock’s Revolution Room is on the tour stop list for With A Vengeance, featuring ex-Bad Wolves frontman Tommy Vext, releasing the aggressive new single “Oblivion.” Community Events: Jonesboro’s downtown block party returns Monday ahead of the Arkansas Graveler, with live music and local pop-ups. Arts & Culture (STEM): Bentonville broke ground on the Bentonville Institute of Technology, a STEM-focused university planned for the former Walmart HQ site. Lottery: Mega Millions climbed to a $345 million Tuesday jackpot after Friday’s drawing had no grand-prize winner.

Arkansas Events & Festivals: Texarkana’s 2nd Annual Pickle Fest returns Oct. 10 at Front Street Festival Plaza with live music, vendors, contests, a kids area, and a new 5K plus car show. Benton Community Arts & Americana: Downtown Benton’s 52nd Old Fashioned Day hits Oct. 10 with free admission, live music, 120+ vendors, food trucks, kids activities, and contests on the courthouse square. Haunted Theater Season: The Royal Theatre in Benton launches its 7th annual Royal Haunted House Oct. 15–17, 22–24, and 29–31, with handmade animatronics and special effects; tickets start online Oct. 1. Local Arts & Culture: Arkansas poets Ellie Black and Acie Clark pair up for a conversation event, and a new “Perspectives” art contest from the Foundation of Arts is set for November. Human Interest (Arkansas): A Crater of Diamonds State Park gem hunter says he found a 6.03-carat diamond that could be worth up to $1 million, after livestreaming the discovery on TikTok. Sports (Arkansas): Former Razorbacks coach John Pelphrey lands a new role as Kentucky’s director of player development.

College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate took a first step on the Protect College Sports Act, voting 77-22 to give the NCAA an antitrust exemption and raise the player pay limit—though the House still has to act. Local Arts & Entertainment: Carbon Coffee Lounge is opening up in Little Rock’s neighborhood scene with a specialty partnership with Arkansas roaster Onyx Coffee Lab. Theater: Prairie Home Alliance Theater will host the touring cast of “Waitress” Oct. 6-7. Music: Arkansas native Johnny Marr’s new solo album “The Age of Everything” gets a spotlight, alongside releases from FEET OF CLAY and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Community & Culture: Searcy marks 175 years with a heritage-focused celebration at City Hall. Health & Wellness: White River Health and First Community Bank bring HealthFirst, a women’s health event, to UACCB in Batesville Oct. 6. Sports in Arkansas: Fayetteville’s Bryce Davis Park reopens after improvements, adding shade and better access for visitors. Food & Fun: Hurts Donuts will close its downtown Little Rock location Oct. 8 ahead of a Hot Springs opening.

Community Arts: The Foundation of Arts’ Perspectives Art Contest returns this November in Jonesboro, inviting artists 5+ to submit 2D and 3D work, with a special “Keep Jonesboro Beautiful” category and public voting Nov. 10-13 at the FOA Arts Center. Local Business & Culture: SANY Nutrition Group celebrated the grand opening of its Jonesboro manufacturing plant, investing $30M, hiring about 75 people now, and planning more hires in November; the company also partners with Arkansas State University on Red Wolves-themed protein bars. Music & Weekend Picks: Arkansas venues are packed Oct. 1-4, from Koe Wetzel at Simmons Bank Arena to live sets across Little Rock, Hot Springs, and beyond—plus festival and Oktoberfest-style events. Civic Cleanup: ARDOT, Keep Arkansas Beautiful, and AG Tim Griffin team up for a Fourche Creek litter cleanup at Benny Craig Park in Little Rock Friday, Oct. 2, 9-11 a.m. Sports Spotlight (Arkansas ties): Arkansas football coverage continues to drive attention as fans look ahead to the week’s matchups and Razorbacks-related sports programming.

Civic Dialogue in Bentonville: Condoleezza Rice told a sold-out crowd at Crystal Bridges that democracy works best when citizens “deliver for one another,” urging Americans to listen and reconnect after 9/11-era unity faded. College Sports Policy: Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari weighed in after the Protect College Sports Act cleared the Senate and heads to the House, saying it’s not perfect but could fix most problems around NIL and transfers. Arts & Community Events: The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2026-27 season with “America 250,” featuring American composers at Robinson Center. Local Culture Spotlight: Little Rock’s Fiesta en SoMa returns for Hispanic heritage with music, dance, food, and late-night neighborhood specials. Health & Memory Through Art: St. Bernards hosted a Mind and Memory Boot Camp at the Bradbury Art Museum, highlighting how creative activities may support mood and cognition. Sports on the Ground: More than 200 cyclists are set for the third annual Arkansas Graveler in Jonesboro, with a Monday kickoff and Tuesday departure.

Arts & Culture Calendar: Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library hosts Dr. Tywanna Smith for “Bold Enough to Begin” (Oct. 1, 10 a.m.), focused on youth leadership, confidence, and career readiness. Music Spotlight: Fayetteville’s Jude Brothers release the double album “Dogwood Maiden Voyage,” exploring happiness and Ozark ballads in a 14-song set built around the ampersand. Live Entertainment: The Harlem Globetrotters’ Rivalry Tour lands at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock on March 14, with on-court fan participation and ticket sales starting Oct. 2. Arts Funding: Mid-America Arts Alliance opens applications for its Catalyze program, awarding 25 Arkansas artists $10,000 each (applications Oct. 1–Dec. 1). Local Arts in Focus: U of Arkansas English department celebrates “Second Breakfast: A Hobbit Day Potluck,” bringing Tolkien-themed readings and trivia to campus. Community Pride: Central Arkansas PRIDEFest names its 2026 Diamond Honoree and parade grand marshals for the Oct. 17 Capitol Avenue event.

Local Politics & Media: Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ welfare-to-work ad has sparked backlash for depicting a “young white man” as the face of welfare fraud, with critics arguing it leans on harmful stereotypes. Community Health: Baxter Health and KTLO/Classic Hits & The Boot are set to host the 45th annual Health Fair & Expo Oct. 7 in Mountain Home, with free screenings and health resources. STEM & Research: The University of Arkansas opened ARIES, a new research institute focused on semiconductor innovation and other electronics pillars like cybersecurity/AI, photonics, and RF/microwave tech. Arts & Culture: JANM announced George and Brad Takei will gift their $21M+ estate to the museum, with a new gallery space named for them. Local Arts Scene: Fayetteville’s Upper Ramble hosted “The Thing,” a free festival spotlighting Northwest Arkansas bands and cross-pollinating fan bases. Entertainment & Fun: Sherwood is planning Slick City Action Park, a 36,000-square-foot indoor slide and air-court attraction expected to open in summer 2027. Sports (Arkansas ties): Arkansas’ campus transit guide highlights fare-free Razorback Transit options for students without cars.