News

Crowds, officials gather as ribbon cut to welcome Saracen gamblers With fanfare, speeches and authentic Quapaw drums, Saracen Casino Resort threw open its doors Tuesday to the public after more than a week of celebrations and sneak previews, not to mention nearly two years of anticipation after voters approved Amendment 100 to allow casinos to operate in the state. by Dale Ellis

16-year-old fatally shot in Pine Bluff, police say Police are investigating after a 16-year-old boy was found dead Tuesday night outside a Pine Bluff school, authorities said. by Josh Snyder

Event keys on violence at home Matching purple T-shirts and purple balloons and pom-poms gave the event a festive atmosphere, but the small signs in the planters sprinkled around Civic Center plaza told a different story: Domestic violence can be deadly. by Byron Tate

Drag strip, aviation ideas back on radar A proposal that has floated around for several years regarding a drag strip in Jefferson County may begin getting some traction with the recommendation by the Pine Bluff Traffic and Aviation Committee that the City Council form a committee to study the feasibility of such a project. by Dale Ellis

Panel discusses old bus station, theater The city's Urban Renewal Agency Commission agreed Tuesday night to purchase the old Greyhound Bus Station at 221 W. Fourth Ave. in the Urban Renewal Area, ratified an earlier decision to provide $6,000 to fund a city-wide affordable housing study, hired a part-time administrative assistant, and funded a $56,000 change order for unforeseen repairs to a wall between 322 and 324 Main St. where the Urban Renewal Agency is funding renovations to two buildings it purchased as part of the downtown revitalization plan. by Dale Ellis

Delays over, casino in Pine Bluff opens its doors PINE BLUFF -- After months of delay, Saracen Casino Resort -- the state's first standalone gambling facility -- celebrated its grand opening Tuesday, welcoming ... by Lara Farrar - October 21, 2020

OPINION | EDITORIAL: Many deserving of credit in building partnership The groundbreaking for three new public buildings was overshadowed by other news a couple of weeks ago, but we didn't want to let the moment pass without taking... October 21, 2020

OPINION | PAUL WALDMAN: Much at risk in election cases The 2020 election could well end in the Supreme Court when the challenges to election procedures and results brought by the Trump campaign and the Republican Pa... by Paul Waldman The Washington Post - October 21, 2020

White Hall on track to accept part of Claud Road from state In order to avoid any future bumps in the road, the state is turning over about four-tenths of a mile of Claud Road to the city of White Hall. by Deborah Horn Special to The Commercial - October 21, 2020

Census count at White Hall over, at 71.7% Every American citizen is worth about $3,300 per year when it comes to the 2020 U.S. Census count. With the count ended Oct. 15, that means any undercount could... by By Deborah Horn Special to The Commercial - October 21, 2020

White Hall’s new website goes live The new Visit White Hall website, www.visitwhitehallar.org, is now live and reflects the rapid growth of the city in a big way. by By Deborah Horn Special to The Commercial - October 21, 2020

Council member pulls police-post ordinance After a lengthy and tense discussion by City Council members over a proposed ordinance that would elevate the senior deputy chief of police to the assistant chi... by Dale Ellis - October 20, 2020

Residents file around courthouse for state's first day of early voting Like Black Friday shoppers waiting for the stores to open after Thanksgiving, voters jammed the doors at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Monday morning, the ... by Eplunus Colvin - October 20, 2020

Event to cover ag record keeping A virtual workshop on agricultural record keeping is set for 1to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The meeting will provide an opportunity for landowners to improve the prof... by Special to The Commercial - October 20, 2020

Simmons' 3Q profit decreases by 19.5% Simmons First National Corp. announced net income of $65.9 million for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, compared with $81.8 million for the same period in 2019,... by Special to TheCommercial - October 20, 2020