AGP Executive Report

Conservation Education: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission honored 31 schools statewide as School of Conservation Leadership for 2026-29, with every grade level represented, underscoring how conservation learning fits classrooms from Pre-K through high school. Local Parks & Design: Little Rock cleared the way to apply for a state matching grant of up to $1 million for the 30 Crossing park project, a reimbursable 50-50 plan that would help fund a downtown urban park master plan. UAPB Athletics Facilities: The Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee approved UAPB’s funding plan for a new soccer and track facility, moving the project toward final approval and a target completion date of Nov. 30, 2027. Arts & Film (NWA): KUAF and The Medium highlighted animation editor David Condolora as part of the Creative Exchange Fund, previewing his in-progress animated film at The Medium’s Spectra Series. Music & Community Events: The Little Rock Zoo’s Zoo Brew & Cocktails, Too! returns Sept. 17 with craft beer, cocktails, live music, food trucks, and after-hours animal experiences. Hot Springs Pop Culture: PLANTERS’ NUTmobile rolls into Hot Springs Aug. 24 and 26 for tours, photos, and giveaways. Sports Spotlight: Arkansas football’s preseason scrimmage wrapped with multiple scoring drives and continued focus on playing well in the heat.

Wildfire Watch: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture launched a new active wildfire dashboard with real-time fire locations and acreage so residents can track incidents as they happen. Community Arts & Learning: The Generator donated 12 sewing machines to James Matthews Elementary in Pine Bluff, expanding hands-on sewing and design skills for students. Local Business Growth: SANY Nutrition Group opened a new $30M manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, aiming to add 150+ jobs over three years. Arts & Culture Spotlight: A new look at Johnny Cash’s handwritten lyrics highlights an unreleased “Fly Away” page acquired by Belmont University for the future Johnny Cash Learning Center and Archives. Sports & Entertainment (Arkansas): Arkansas football’s first fall scrimmage is set for Aug. 16, closed to the public and local media, with coach Ryan Silverfield to recap afterward. Public Safety: Benton police are investigating a reported shooting threat at Benton High School; the district placed nearby schools on hold while officers checked the claim.

Razorback Baseball: Arkansas locked in a major commitment to coach Dave Van Horn, extending his contract through 2031 and boosting pay to $2.1 million annually, with bonuses tied to a Men’s College World Series title and completing the deal. Community & Culture: Philander Smith-UAPB students built an AI project called Golden Link after a conversation with a veteran in Little Rock, aiming to connect college students with senior citizens through shared interests and tech help. Arts & Events: UAM’s fall semester kicks off with a free outdoor concert featuring country artist Patrick Averill on Aug. 18, plus yard games and campus org meetups. Public Health: Hospitals in at least 24 states are using “I Gave Birth” wristbands to flag postpartum risks for staff, including Arkansas health systems. Local Life: Central Arkansas storms knocked out power for about 27,000 SWEPCO/Entergy customers, and SWEPCO is suspending residential disconnections for nonpayment through the end of the week during extreme heat.

Stuttgart Shooting: Stuttgart police arrested a suspect after a shooting sent a person to Baptist Health Medical Center; the investigation is ongoing and neither victim nor suspect was named. Arkansas Film Night: UA Hope-Texarkana is hosting a free family movie night Aug. 28 at Hempstead Hall featuring Disney-Pixar’s Hoppers, with canned goods encouraged for Hope In Action. Pets to Adopt: Jonesboro Right Now spotlights NEAHS adoptables Dobby (a talkative 18-week-old pup) and Queenie (a recovered, friendly 2-year-old cat). Razorbacks Football Buzz: Arkansas’ schedule is loaded with preseason AP Top 25 opponents—seven ranked teams, including Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Tennessee, Utah and Missouri. Local Sports/Community: Caleb Wooden is set to return to Arkansas for a fifth-year eligibility season. Arts & Culture Spotlight: Little Rock filmmaker Jeff Nichols’ Arkansas Cinema Society and Filmland continue building a local film community. Food Safety Alert: A jalapeno recall has expanded due to possible salmonella contamination, with Arkansas among affected states.

Arkansas Football: Christian Harrison, son of Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison, is being billed as the “heartbeat” of the Razorbacks’ defense as he settles in after transferring from Cincinnati. Razorbacks Scrimmage Buzz: Arkansas’ first scrimmage of fall camp featured big plays, including a standout 96-yard catch by Chris Marshall, while coaches keep pushing through brutal heat and situational work. Eligibility Court Twist: Caleb Wooden is reportedly returning to Fayetteville after a Colorado federal ruling reshaped college eligibility for some athletes. Local Sports Media: First Security Bank is partnering with Varsity Vibe Arkansas to spotlight high school sports, kicking off with the “Chuck & Bo Show” Aug. 18 in Fayetteville. Wildfire & Safety: Crews battled a 210-acre wildfire north of Fordyce, and Arkansas saw three deadly crashes over a 27-hour span. Arts/Entertainment: Matthew McConaughey is set to appear at Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland festival, adding star power to the state’s film scene.

Arts & Culture Spotlight: Thea Foundation in Argenta opened “Holding Tension,” pairing painter Jeff Horton with ceramicist Yelena Petroukhina, running through August. Local Arts & Community: Museum of Discovery keeps science hands-on for kids and families, with Tinkerfest set for Sept. 12. Travel & Tourism (NWA): Visit Bentonville CEO Kalene Griffith was named to the Destinations International board. Science in Arkansas: UA researchers used “genetic neighborhoods” to sort disease-causing poultry bacteria strains from harmless ones. Health & Fitness: A new South Arkansas cardiovascular clinic opened in El Dorado and Camden, adding interventional cardiology and peripheral artery disease care. Sports (Arkansas): Arkansas State wrapped fall camp with a night scrimmage as quarterback battles continue ahead of the Memphis opener. Outdoor Arkansas: High water complicated a fishing trip at the Little Red River. Public Safety Tech: Little Rock and North Little Rock use license plate reader cameras from different vendors, while some Arkansas cities are turning off Flock. Opinion: A column argues law enforcement scrutiny can’t be automatically excluded in cases involving Black people found hanging.

Arts & Entertainment in Arkansas: Walton Arts Center previews its 35th anniversary season, setting up a big year for local theater and performances. Film & Museums: The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock screens “The Ghost Army” Tuesday as part of its “Movies at MacArthur” series, spotlighting WWII trickery tied to art and design. Visual Arts: Walton Arts Center’s Alexander Gallery at the Porter Art Warehouse announces “Our Art, Our Region, Our Time,” a regional-artist lineup opening Sept. 25 with a free reception. Community Arts: UAFS in Fort Smith is opening a Center for Book Arts in the Windgate Art & Design Building, with a public open house Aug. 20 and hands-on programming for bookbinding and printmaking. Music & Sports Culture: Chris Stapleton’s Fenway run gets a review for its music-first approach, while Arkansas sports keep rolling with volleyball’s Red-White scrimmage and baseball’s new commit, Levi Abrego. Public Safety & Tech (arts-adjacent community impact): Little Rock and North Little Rock use license plate camera systems from multiple vendors, including SkyCop, as other Arkansas cities scale back Flock.

Back-to-School Relief: Arkansas’ annual sales tax holiday runs Aug. 1-2, letting shoppers skip state and local tax on qualifying clothing, supplies, art materials, and student electronics under set price limits. Public Safety & Arts: The Arkansas State Crime Lab is getting major upgrades, including a new facility slated for 2027 to expand DNA, toxicology, firearms, digital evidence, and medical examiner services. Local Arts Spotlight: UAFS is opening a Center for Book Arts in its Windgate Art & Design Building expansion, with a public open house Aug. 20 and hands-on work in letterpress, papermaking, and bookbinding. Film & Community Culture: Little Rock’s MacArthur Museum screens “The Ghost Army” Tuesday as part of its free “Movies at MacArthur” series. Music & Arkansas Pride: Bryant native Shawn Camp is set for induction into the 2026 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Sports & Entertainment: Arkansas soccer looks to rebound on the road vs. Loyola Maryland, while Filmland’s Arkansas Cinema Society hosts Matthew McConaughey’s appearances tied to its festival programming.

WNBA Jump: Little Rock native Christyn Williams signed with the Dallas Wings after a standout UPSHOT League season with Greensboro Groove. Youth Sports & Safety: Arkansas 4-H Shooting Sports Championship highlighted determination and safety as young competitors learned patience and concentration across shotgun, archery, and rifle events. Film & Local Culture: Matthew McConaughey brought star power to Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland festival in Little Rock, sharing stories from his career and screening “The Rivals of Amziah King.” Immersive Movies: Malco Theaters will add D-BOX motion seating at locations including Malco Razorback in Fayetteville, with installs starting late September. Community Arts: The Medium in Springdale is hosting JasMania’s drag king punk mutual aid project “Banned Bodies” as part of its Creative Exchange Fund. Broadway in NWA: Walton Arts Center previewed its 2026-27 Procter & Gamble Broadway Series, including “The Outsiders,” “The Notebook,” and “Operation Mincemeat.” Heat Advisory: Extreme heat is reshaping schedules across Arkansas, with businesses and schools adjusting routines and crews taking more breaks. School Bus Reminder: Jonesboro drivers are urged to watch for school buses as the new school year brings more traffic and more caution zones.

LSU football legend Nick Saban: Saban says Skip Bertman was “100% right” about his 2004 LSU-to-NFL move—“I just didn’t listen to him”—as the longtime LSU baseball coach and athletic director died at 88. Public Safety & Local Justice: An Arkansas teen filed a federal lawsuit alleging an Arkansas State Police trooper punched her after telling her he was going to “tune” her up during a traffic stop, with civil rights attorney Ben Crump calling for a use-of-force review. Food Safety: Walmart recalled 3,240 packs of Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits in 29 states, including Arkansas, due to possible listeria; the FDA also upgraded a nearly 1.6 million-dozen egg recall to its highest-risk class after salmonella concerns. Health Watch: The cyclosporiasis outbreak now totals 13,895 lab-confirmed cases, with FDA inspection activity in Mexico tied to recalled iceberg lettuce distribution that includes Arkansas. Arts & Community: Michaels opened an “experiential” immersive supercenter in Rogers with themed shopping worlds and a Knit & Sew Shop featuring a Swatch Bar; and Sheryl Crow announced her fall album Pick You Up, with “Freedom Bus” featuring Arkansas singer Jesse Welles. Sports Oddity: A Maumelle High player found a cottonmouth inside his helmet during practice—animal control had to remove it safely.

Walton Arts Center 35th Anniversary: Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville is previewing its 35th season with an Aug. 27 open house, then kicking off Sept. 1 with Broadway’s “The Outsiders,” plus returning favorites like “Stomp” and Lyle Lovett. Arts & Community Spotlight: Batesville’s Gallery 246 highlights retired art teacher Aline McCracken, now working on woodblock prints and sharing decades of classroom art experience. Arkansas Weekend Arts Picks: Little Rock and beyond get a busy slate: Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s “The Remarkable Resignation of Dr. Joycelyn Elders” runs through Aug. 29, Actors Theatre stages “Angels in America” this week, and Benton’s Royal Players bring “Guys and Dolls.” Music on the Calendar: Hot Springs debuts its first-ever EDM festival at Magic Springs on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 5), pairing national bass acts with Arkansas performers. Local Events & Learning: Independence County Library in Batesville hosts a free Money Works financial seminar and welcomes a dinosaur-themed exhibit by local artist Aaron Conger.

Maternal Health Innovation: Hospitals in Arkansas and across the U.S. are adopting a simple silicone wristband marked “I Gave Birth” to flag postpartum risks and help reduce childbirth complications and deaths. Local Sports Spotlight: Arkansas State’s quarterback race is still open, with head coach Butch Jones saying the starter could be decided as late as game day. High School Football Buzz: USA TODAY released its Southwest Region preseason ALL-USA teams, spotlighting top Arkansas prospects. Little Rock Marathon: The Little Rock Marathon announced its 2027 theme, “Run Around the Rock,” with a 1950s-style weekend and retro-inspired activities. Arts & Community Calendar: McLemore Resort’s Songwriter Series adds Grammy-nominated Mae Estes (Aug. 20), and the Little Rock Touchdown Club unveiled a fall lineup featuring Ryan Silverfield, Emmitt Smith, Lynn Swann, and more. Health & Food Access: Saline Health System is opening a “Food Is Medicine” pantry in Benton to support patients and community members facing hunger and chronic disease. Theater Ticket Alert: “Hamilton” at Robinson Center will use a $10 digital lottery for limited seats.

Mountain Biking & Community Art: Searcy is nearing completion on the second loop of mountain biking trails at Little Red Riverpark, with a new “hub” structure and an added 10 miles of trails tied to the city’s #MySearcy plan; the RAMP community center project on South Main Street is also moving toward interior completion. Local Arts & Libraries: Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library kicks off its 2026 Speaker Series, “Where Stories Live,” with a free Sept. 5 event on stories, memory, and belonging. Theater & Music: Benton’s Royal Players stage “Guys and Dolls” this week, while Arkansas Tech’s band previews its Tucker Coliseum tribute halftime show Friday in Russellville. Cinema Tech: D-BOX haptic seating is coming to 13 Malco auditoriums across Arkansas and Tennessee. Sports Spotlight: Arkansas baseball adds four in-state junior commitments, and a Maumelle high school practice made headlines after a venomous cottonmouth was found in a player’s helmet. Public Safety & Privacy: Greers Ferry will remove its Flock license plate reader cameras, joining other Arkansas cities pushing back on the tech. Civil Rights: A viral video shows an Arkansas state trooper punching an 18-year-old woman during an arrest, prompting a federal lawsuit.

Snake-in-helmet scare: A Maumelle High football player found a roughly 2-foot cottonmouth hiding under his helmet padding during practice; staff forced it out with water, animal services relocated it, and the player kept going with a replacement helmet. Music & culture: The South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society opened a Johnny Cash photo retrospective, “1968: A Folsom Redemption,” at The Gallery of History Museum in El Dorado. Film night: Cinema I/O is hosting a free Tuesday screening of “Marathon Man” at the Ron Robinson Theater. Wildfire watch: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture urged residents to stay alert as wildfire risk rises, with all 75 counties at moderate risk and 30 under burn bans. Local arts spotlight: Arkansas native Shawn Camp was selected for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Community & entertainment: InnovAsian Cuisine broke ground in Jonesboro on a frozen food facility expected to create about 200 jobs. Tech policy: Clark County adopted an AI-in-workplace ordinance limiting uses and banning reliance on AI for legal, medical, financial, or compliance decisions.

Jonesboro Jobs Boost: InnovAsian Cuisine broke ground Tuesday on a $150 million frozen-food facility in Craighead Technology Park, aiming to add about 200 jobs; construction is slated to finish by end of 2027. Local Roads & Growth: ARDOT is taking public input on a potential connector between Jonesboro and Osceola, with comments due Sept. 2 and another meeting set Aug. 18. Veterinary Milestone: Arkansas State University opened the state’s first public veterinary school, with classes starting Wednesday for the inaugural 120-student class. Arts & Entertainment: Filmland Film Festival opens tomorrow in Little Rock, featuring “Hoop Street,” a Memphis-set story about a hot-headed high school basketball player fighting for a scholarship. Sports & Community Safety: A Maumelle High football player found a cottonmouth inside his helmet during practice; the snake was safely removed. Weather Watch: Forecasters warn Arkansas could face a historic heat wave, with officials urging residents to prepare for dangerous conditions.

Back-to-School Heat: Heat advisories are in effect across Arkansas as students return, with highs near 100 and heat indexes up to 110 in areas including Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Pine Bluff. Local Music & Venues: Walmart AMP in Rogers is planning a two-story front-of-house addition and a north expansion to add new event space, though details are still limited. Sports Safety Moment: A Maumelle High School football player found a cottonmouth snake inside his helmet during practice; animal services removed it and relocated it, and the player wasn’t bitten. Reproductive Healthcare Leadership: The Arkansas Abortion Support Network hired Holly Barron as interim executive director, aiming to expand full-spectrum access amid ongoing losses of care options. SEC Money Watch: A new look at SEC endowments highlights the huge wealth gap between top programs and the rest, with Arkansas listed among the smaller endowment totals. College Hoops Schedule: Arkansas women’s basketball will open SEC play at Vanderbilt on Dec. 31, with home games against Florida, Ole Miss, LSU, and more later in the season. Community & Culture: Arkansas’ 4-H Foundation awarded $153,000 in scholarships and sponsorships to 4-H members.