The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas' Best News Source

Guard troops arrive in D.C. By the busload and planeload, National Guard troops were pouring into the nation's capital Saturday, as governors answered the urgent pleas of U.S. defense officials for more troops to help safeguard Washington even as states face the possibility of violent protests. by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports 2 hrs. ago

Trump trial muddies Senate schedule Republican leader Mitch McConnell is telling senators that their decision on whether to convict outgoing President Donald Trump over the Capitol riot will be a "vote of conscience." by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports 2 hrs. ago

Vaccines in short supply as wait lists grow It took several phone calls last week for Roy Brooks to locate the only pharmacy in Siloam Springs taking part in a statewide program, starting Monday, to vaccinate people age 70-plus against the coronavirus. by Lara Farrar, Lisa Hammersly 2 hrs. ago

2,543 cases added to state count Arkansas recorded 2,543 additional coronavirus cases Saturday, down from the more than 3,100 new cases the state Department of Health reported Friday. by Lara Farrar 3 hrs. ago

NYC cuts virus rates; shot supply still a worry New York state's covid-19 positivity rate and deaths fell slightly as officials continue wrestling with a "limited supply" of vaccine as well as a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday. Worry about the vaccine supply was echoed in California and other states. by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports 2 hrs. ago

Arkansas delegates reflect on past year With Democrats in control of the House, Senate and the White House, members of the all-Republican Arkansas congressional delegation will have to work across the aisle in order to pass legislation this year. by Frank E. Lockwood 2 hrs. ago

State lawmakers set for abbreviated week House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said lawmakers are to begin diving into their full legislative duties this week, despite a shortened work schedule. by John Moritz 3 hrs. ago

State sues over destroyed bridge Arkansas is suing a California trucking company and its driver, who followed GPS directions down a one-lane dirt road in 2019 and destroyed a historic bridge over the Petit Jean River near Ola. by Bill Bowden 3 hrs. ago

LR board to weigh chamber contract Little Rock city officials will consider renewing a $250,000 annual contract with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce for economic development consulting services, years after government payments to local chambers inspired a lawsuit and an amendment to the state Constitution. by Joseph Flaherty 3 hrs. ago

Jerry Jalal Barakat Jerry Barakat opened his first Little Rock restaurant nearly 40 years ago. It's still open, though it has moved several times, and Barakat has passed its management on to his daughters, Susi and Sandy. by Eric E. Harrison 4 hrs. ago

Latest on coronavirus

In support of public health, we’re continuing to keep our vital coronavirus content available to all readers online.

State tallies 2,543 new coronavirus cases, 30 covid-related deaths 12 hrs. ago

Region's coronavirus cases continue to rise 22 hrs. ago

Governor set to get first shot Monday 1 day ago

States advised extra vaccine is not arriving 1 day ago

State adds 3,124 new covid cases; ventilator use falls for 2nd day 1 day ago

VIERNES, 15 de ENERO: Cinco hechos importantes sobre la covid-19 en Arkansas 1 day ago

Bõlaide, Jānwōde 15: Ļalem men raurōk im jej aikuij jelã kōn nañinmej in covid-19 ilo Arkansas in 1 day ago

Online sign-ups complicate vaccine rollout for older people 1 day ago

FRIDAY, JAN. 15: Five things to know about covid-19 in Arkansas 1 day ago

Governor, state health officials give Tuesday coronavirus update

Pandemic resources

Coronavirus updates

Additional covid-19 content

Kids' screen-time increase during pandemic raises alarms The day after New Year's, John Reichert of Boulder, Colo., had a heated argument with his 14-year-old son, James. "I've failed you as a father," he told the boy despairingly. by MATT RICHTEL THE NEW YORK TIMES 2 hrs. ago

High school students start free tutoring service When her suburban Dallas high school moved to online instruction last spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, Charvi Goyal realized that the schoolmates she'd been informally tutoring between classes would still need extra help but wouldn't necessarily be able to get it. So she took her tutoring online as well. by CEDAR ATTANASIO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2 hrs. ago

City folks pricing small-towners out of housing Angel Garcia, a single father approved for a mortgage loan of $300,000, had high hopes early last year of finding a house he could afford in his hometown of Stamford, Conn. by SUSAN HAIGH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2 hrs. ago

China hospital built in 5 days amid virus surge China on Saturday finished building a 1,500-room hospital for covid-19 patients to fight a surge in infections that the government said are harder to contain and that it blamed on infected people or goods from abroad. by JOE MCDONALD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2 hrs. ago

Packages mailed in early December at bottom of stacks Are you still waiting for packages from early December to arrive? by ELLIE RUSHING THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (TNS) 2 hrs. ago

Pandemic said to slow international migration A new U.N. report estimates that the covid-19 pandemic reduced the number of international migrants by 2 million by the middle of 2020 because of border closings and a halt to travel worldwide -- an estimated 27% decrease in expected growth. by EDITH M. LEDERER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2 hrs. ago

Covid-19 vaccine Q&A Here are some frequently asked questions about vaccines and covid-19. Responses are from Arkansas Department of Health officials or the agency's website. by Lara Farrar, Lisa Hammersly 2 hrs. ago

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German ruling party picks new leader Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right party chose Armin Laschet, the pragmatic governor of Germany's most populous state, as its new leader Saturday. The choice sent a signal of continuity months before an election in which voters will decide who becomes the new chancellor. by GEIR MOULSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2 hrs. ago

Ugandan president's victory challenged Uganda's electoral commission said Saturday that President Yoweri Museveni won a sixth five-year term, extending his rule to four decades, while top opposition challenger Bobi Wine dismissed "cooked-up, fraudulent results" and officials struggled to explain how polling results were compiled amid an internet blackout. by The Associated Press 2 hrs. ago

Fundraisers piled up cash for caravans to D.C. Much is still unknown about the planning and financing of the storming of the Capitol, aiming to challenge President Donald Trump's electoral defeat. by DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK, MIKE McINTIRE AND CHRISTIAAN TRIEBERT THE NEW YORK TIMES 3 hrs. ago

The world in brief Deadly attacks hit Afghan security forces by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports 3 hrs. ago

Colleges fret over accuracy of virus-interrupted census count FAYETTEVILLE -- Experts fear a serious undercount in college and university towns in the 2020 U.S. Census because covid-19 sent students scurrying home just as the decennial survey started in March, according to a panel hosted by the National League of Cities. by Doug Thompson 3 hrs. ago

New lawmaker fined over ethics violation; former rival off hook Rep. Ashley Hudson agreed to pay a $50 fine and receive a public letter of caution in a settlement of a complaint filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission by a state Republican Party official, the commission's director said Friday. by Michael R. Wickline 3 hrs. ago

Education Notebook The Walton Family Foundation of Bentonville has awarded $146,000 to Educators Rising to strengthen and diversify the availability of teachers for Arkansas schools. by CYNTHIA HOWELL 3 hrs. ago

In the news Armando Luis Juarez, who fatally shot a Dallas police officer outside a Home Depot, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after striking a deal with prosecutors to avoid a death sentence and an independent psychological examination found him to be intellectually disabled. 3 hrs. ago

Birth Announcements The following is a list of births reported to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by area hospitals. It may not be a complete list since parents may ask the hospital not to publicly release the news of a birth. 3 hrs. ago

Health Care Notebook State posts rise in by Kat Stromquist 3 hrs. ago

Pet of the Week Big Boy is an approximately 5-year-old, neutered-male tabby cat. He is the most lovable cat we have ever had at the shelter. Big Boy has been at the shelter since Sept. 10. He has tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus. It is not contagious to humans and is spread only to other cats through deep punctures or intercourse. Big Boy lives in the shelter's free-roaming cat room with other cats and is doing well. He is the sweetest cat around and does great with children, particularly if they provide laps and hands to pet him. He would love to find a home. Big Boy can be seen at the Cabot Animal Shelter from noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 3 hrs. ago

Repeat offenders For the Arkansas Razorbacks, Saturday's game at Alabama seemed like a repeat of their performance at LSU earlier in the week. by Bob Holt 3 hrs. ago

North Little Rock Notebook King Day project by Stephen Simpson 3 hrs. ago

Diodoro working with Derby hopes HOT SPRINGS -- A new season will start with a new level of achievement for trainer Robertino Diodoro. 3 hrs. ago

Rodgers sets first in Lambeau career Don't tell Aaron Rodgers the lack of capacity crowds in a pandemic will limit the Green Bay Packers' home-field advantage in the NFC Championship Game. by The Associated Press 3 hrs. ago

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Crime in Arkansas

POLICE BEAT: Little Rock man faces gun charge Little Rock police arrested Ynohtna Carroll, 20, of Little Rock after a caller told police Carroll had admitted to having drugs and guns and to have killed someone, according to a report. by William Sanders

Arkansan in riot case to be held in D.C. Instead of being released from jail today as a federal judge ordered, Richard "Bigo" Barnett will be transferred to the District of Columbia for further legal proceedings. by Bill Bowden

Bryant police investigate ATM theft Bryant police are investigating an ATM theft that took place after 5 a.m. Friday morning at the Arkansas Federal Credit Union, police said. by Brianna Kwasnik

Police: Man killed, another wounded in Little Rock shooting A 23-year-old was fatally shot and another man was wounded Thursday night in the 8800 block of Kanis Road, Little Rock police said. by Brianna Kwasnik

2nd Arkansan charged in Capitol riot; FBI says man beat officer with flagpole An Arkansan accused of being the man who was caught on video using an American flag to beat a police officer during the U.S. Capitol riot was charged Thursday in federal court in the District of Columbia, according to court documents. by Bill Bowden, William Sanders

2 men guilty in drug-ring case Two members of a violent drug trafficking ring that operated in and around Little Rock and Pine Bluff entered guilty pleas during back-to-back hearings Thursday before U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson. by Dale Ellis

Little Rock man gets 25 years for child porn, extortion A Little Rock man convicted on multiple counts of extortion and child pornography in federal court last year was escorted from U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr.'s courtroom Thursday, yelling and cursing at the judge after being sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. by Dale Ellis

Man gets 10 years for enticement try A Roland man found guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity after exchanging messages with an undercover investigator conducting a sting operation was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison this week. by Dale Ellis