Stories by Jeannie Roberts

RIVER VALLEY NOTEBOOK: New Hendrix plaza to honor late dean | Conway shuts roads due to leaning trees | Garcia joins board at Conway Corp. New Hendrix plaza to honor late deanHendrix College announced recently that it is honoring the late John Churchill with a new "Churchill Memorial Plaza" on campus and an endowed scholarship ... May 8, 2022

Republican candidates for House seat in Conway tout experiences Two Conway attorneys, both of whom describe themselves as conservative Republicans, are facing off in the GOP primary for a state House seat in Conway next month.Matt Brown, a Faulkner County justice ... May 2, 2022

After 2 pandemic years away, Toad Suck Daze returns to Conway The Conway festival Toad Suck Daze will return this weekend to its traditional three-day event for the first time since 2019 after the covid-19 pandemic shut down most live events."There are a lo... April 25, 2022

Arkansas broadband will seek "thought leader" on high-speed internet deployment A director will be hired for the state's broadband office, and the search has already begun for the right person, Jim Hudson, deputy director of operations and general counsel for the Arkansas Economi... April 23, 2022

Arkansas broadband report recommends path to connect rest of state to high-speed internet Arkansas will need about $550 million to extend broadband access to households in the state still without high-speed internet, according to a commissioned report released Monday.The report from Broadb... April 19, 2022

In Arkansas, covid pills struggle to catch on despite effectiveness Pharmacists and health care providers around the state say antiviral covid-19 pills significantly reduce the disease's impact, but limited distribution, poor access to testing and lack of awarenes... April 17, 2022

What to know about covid-19 antivirals In late December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorizations for two covid-19 antiviral oral medications: Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's molnupiravir.How do the c... April 17, 2022

RIVER VALLEY NOTEBOOK: County parking lot to get new stripes | Diversity honor bestowed at ATU | UCA student lands Newman fellowship County parking lot to get new stripesBen Cross, county judge of Pope County, announced recently that the parking lot of the Pope County Courthouse is being re-striped on Friday.The parking lot will be... April 10, 2022

Dateline NBC to air special on the murder of former Arkansas lawmaker Linda Collins The slaying of former state Sen. Linda Collins of Pocahontas will be featured on Friday's episode of the national prime-time crime television show Dateline NBC.Collins was found stabbed to death a... April 7, 2022

Dateline NBC to air special on murder of former Arkansas lawmaker Linda Collins The slaying of former state Sen. Linda Collins of Pocahontas will be featured on Friday’s episode of the national prime-time crime television show Dateline NBC.Collins was found stabbed to death... April 6, 2022

Suspect killed, sheriff wounded in east Arkansas shootout following Sunday police chase A shooting and police chase in east Arkansas Sunday night left two dead and two wounded, including a local sheriff, authorities said Monday.Cross County law enforcement officers shot and killed Darius... April 5, 2022

Conway will soon start work on homeless shelter, resource center Conway will break ground within the next two months on its first 24-hour emergency homeless shelter -- after five years of working to make it a reality, a community organizer said Friday.The shelter w... April 4, 2022

UCA, Arkansas Children’s Hospital team up to adapt electric toy vehicles for special needs children CONWAY -- Pool noodles wrapped around PVC pipe and foam kickboards along with black electrical tape and power tools covered half a dozen stations staffed with doctors, students and professors Saturday... April 3, 2022

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette journalist, known for keen eye and eclectic taste, dies at 62 LITTLE ROCK -- Stephen Steed -- a veteran journalist known for his accuracy and ability to notice unique details, a prolific themed party host and a friend to many -- died on Monday at his Little Rock... March 23, 2022

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette journalist, known for keen eye and eclectic taste, dies at 62 Stephen Steed -- a veteran journalist known for his accuracy and ability to notice unique details, a prolific themed party host and a friend to many -- died on Monday at his Little Rock home. He was 6... March 22, 2022

RIVER VALLEY NOTEBOOK: ’22 election signs draw complaints | Conductor program taking applications | Workers promoted at Conway Corp. '22 election signs draw complaintsPope County Judge Ben Cross said that his office and the county's road department have received numerous calls about campaign signs being placed in the rights... March 20, 2022

UAMS Medical Center CEO to retire in September Dr. Stephen "Steppe" Mette, chief executive officer of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, is retiring, UAMS spokeswoman Leslie Taylor confirmed Friday.Mette, who... March 19, 2022

UAMS Medical Center chief ‘Steppe’ Mette to retire Dr. Stephen "Steppe" Mette, chief executive officer of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, is retiring, UAMS spokeswoman Leslie Taylor confirmed Friday.Mette, who... March 18, 2022

3 Arkansas agencies report strong compliance with Biden administration vaccine mandate Three state agencies -- which were granted exemptions from a new state law to implement federal covid-19 vaccination requirements -- reported Thursday that vast majorities of their health workers had ... March 18, 2022

Hospital Zero: 2 years after caring for Arkansas’ first covid patient, team recounts early days of pandemic PINE BLUFF -- In early March 2020, nurse Erin Bolton laughed in her office at Jefferson Regional Medical Center at a question from Dr. Steven Wright."Erin, how do I order a coronavirus test on a ... March 13, 2022

Arkansas hospital executives reflect on two years of covid When the covid-19 pandemic hit the state on March 11, 2020, hospital administrators were thrust into the unknown.As virus cases in the state grew from a handful in the early days to more than 825,000 ... March 13, 2022

Conway voters overwhelmingly approve bonds for soccer, swimming pool centers CONWAY -- Conway voters on Tuesday approved $39.7 million in bond issues for construction of a new aquatic center and separate soccer complex.Complete but unofficial results showed that about 2,911 vo... February 9, 2022

Arkansas PBS Commission member named as trustee to national organization A longtime Arkansas PBS commissioner was named recently as a trustee to the national America's Public Television Stations organization.Annette Herrington of Little Rock said it's an honor to r... February 7, 2022

Arkansas' active covid cases fall by 11,684 as state resumes reporting after switch to new system Active cases of covid-19 fell dramatically Monday, when the state Department of Health combined three days of reports because it switched to a new data system."Today's report includes the dat... February 1, 2022

Arkansas adds 8,698 new covid cases Covid-19 hospitalizations as well as active cases fell Monday, even though the state Department of Health combined three days of numbers because they are switching to a new data system. "Today&rs... January 31, 2022

Early voting starts Tuesday in Conway election to decide on bond issues for swimming, soccer centers Early voting begins Tuesday in a special election to ask Conway voters to approve three bond issues totaling $39.7 million for construction of a new aquatic center and separate soccer complex."Sw... January 30, 2022

Pine Bluff's pool improved lives of residents, mayor says Pine Bluff's aquatic center, which opened in the summer of 2020, features an eight-lane competition pool, a therapeutic spa, a water slide and a children's play zone.Mayor Shirley Washington s... January 30, 2022

Arkansas covid hospitalizations leap to record 1,817; new cases total 3,243 Monday Hospitalizations of patients with covid-19 rose to an all-time high of 1,817 in Arkansas on Monday, while the number of active cases fell for the second day in a row."Active cases are down by mor... January 25, 2022

Arkansas posts 184 new covid hospitalizations, bringing total to record 1,817 Hospitalizations due to covid-19 rose to an all-time high in Arkansas on Monday, as the number of active cases fell for the second day in a row.There were 1,817 patients hospitalized with the virus.&n... January 24, 2022

Not enough vaccinated to stop covid in Arkansas counties, health officials say As active covid-19 cases continue to break daily records, some counties are being hit hard -- mostly in the Arkansas Delta -- despite the fact that vaccination rates are higher there than in counties ... January 22, 2022

Arkansas covid cases rise by 3,600 Monday, while hospitalizations hit 5-month high of 1,420 Arkansas hospitalizations because of covid-19 rose to 1,420 on Monday, the highest in five months, even as the day's report of new cases dipped to a three-week low.The state reported 3,600 new cas... January 18, 2022

Arkansas covid hospitalizations at 5-month high Hospitalizations due to covid-19 rose to 1,420 on Monday, the highest in five months, even as the number of new cases dipped to a three-week low.The number of active cases fell by 3,068 to 93,311, the... January 17, 2022

Friday's 10,405 new covid cases in Arkansas mark a drop from the day before, but hospitalized patients top 1,300 New coronavirus cases in Arkansas totaled 10,405 Friday, down from the total of new cases from the day before, but active cases set another record at 85,812 -- meaning that roughly 1 in 35 Arkansans h... January 15, 2022

Arkansas tops 85,000 active covid cases as day-to-day increases fall New coronavirus cases in Arkansas were 10,405 Friday, down from the total of new cases from the day before, but active cases set yet another record at 85,810 — meaning that roughly 1 in 35 Arkan... January 14, 2022

Arkansas adds 12,990 covid-19 cases; 18 deaths Almost 13,000 new covid-19 cases were reported Thursday, setting a daily record for the seventh time in two weeks as the omicron variant surges through Arkansas.With the 12,990 cases added Thursday, A... January 14, 2022

With 12,990 new covid cases, Arkansas sets a record for 2nd day in a row Almost 13,000 new covid-19 cases were reported Thursday, setting a daily record for the seventh time in two weeks as the omicron variant surges through the state.There were 1,251 patients hospitalized... January 13, 2022

Arkansas reports 4,747 new cases of covid; active cases more than double in a week's time to 61,122 The total number of active covid-19 cases in the state passed the 61,000 mark Monday, more than doubling since the same day a week ago and marking an all-time high since the pandemic hit the state.The... January 11, 2022

Total active covid cases in Arkansas hit 61,122, an all-time high; state receives shipment of at-home tests The total number of active covid-19 cases in the state passed the 61,000 mark Monday, increasing by 1,543 to 61,122, an all-time high since the pandemic hit the state. Another 4,747 cases of the ... January 10, 2022

Conway airport finishes first construction projects in 5-year plan Two years into a five-year, multimillion-dollar capital improvement plan, upgrades at the Conway Regional Airport are becoming a reality despite a change in administration and the challenges of a glob... January 10, 2022

Nearly 24% positive results in covid tests over a week in Arkansas; new cases rise by 1,750 Monday Arkansas' positivity rate for tests for covid-19 in the past seven days reached a record high of 23.8% Monday, while the number of active cases was the highest -- at 27,162 -- since levels reached... January 4, 2022

State: Active covid cases at 27,162 The state's positivity rate for covid-19 cases in the last seven days reached a record high of 23.8% on Monday while the daily active covid-19 cases were the highest — at 27,162 — sinc... January 3, 2022

Retired UCA official reflects on career that encouraged diversity, student development CONWAY -- Standing in front of a building on the University of Central Arkansas campus, Ronnie Williams smiled and looked up dazedly at the name carved in stone: Ronnie Williams Student Center."I... January 2, 2022

Arkansas Racing Commission OKs mobile sports betting through state's casinos; Legislative Council approval next step The Arkansas Racing Commission on Thursday unanimously approved changes to the state's gambling rules that will allow mobile sports betting through local casinos, including granting established ca... December 31, 2021

63 confirmed cases of omicron variant in Arkansas, says Health Department, as state sees 981 new cases Monday Arkansas now has 63 confirmed cases of the highly contagious covid-19 omicron variant, the state's chief medical officer, Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, said Monday.But they are a fraction of covid cases o... December 28, 2021

Arkansas now has 63 confirmed cases of omicron variant Arkansas now has 63 confirmed cases of the highly contagious covid-19 omicron variant, state chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Dillaha said Monday.The news comes as covid-19 hospitalizations increase... December 27, 2021

State sees week-to-week rise in new covid cases Sunday, increase of 15 hospitalizations The day after Christmas saw lower covid-19 numbers between new and active cases and deaths, but the number of patients hospitalized with covid-19 rose by 15 on Sunday, according to Health Department d... December 27, 2021

Arkansas reports 422 new covid cases; active cases fall back below 10,000 Arkansas reported Sunday that more people recovered from the coronavirus than caught it during the 24-hour period, sending the number of active cases back below 10,000. However, the 422 new cases repo... December 26, 2021

New covid cases top 1,300 in Arkansas on Thursday, highest increase since September The number of new covid-19 cases in Arkansas jumped to a level higher Thursday than has been seen for three months, topping 1,300 cases two days before Christmas.The number of omicron cases reported i... December 24, 2021

Arkansas' new daily covid cases hit 12-week high; active cases reach 8,595 Arkansas on Thursday reported the largest one-day increase in covid-19 cases since Sept. 24, according to data from the state Department of Health.Another 1,314 cases of the coronavirus were reported ... December 23, 2021

Arkansas State Police release some files on murder of former Sen. Collins The Arkansas State Police on Tuesday released portions of the investigative files in the slaying of former state Sen. Linda Collins of Pocahontas after a Pulaski County circuit judge the day before or... December 19, 2021