AGP Executive Report

College Football (Local): Missouri opens its 2026 season Thursday at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on SEC Network, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. and the game sold out after a $250 million Memorial Stadium renovation. Local Sports (Arkansas): Arkansas State is kicking off its season with community pride in Jonesboro’s “Paint the Town Red Week,” running Sept. 7-11 ahead of the Sept. 12 home opener. Public Safety: An Arkansas state trooper’s use of force is under review after dash-cam video shows a man being pulled by the hair and punched following a high-speed chase; Arkansas State Police say force is a “regrettable last resort” and reviewed. Health & Housing: Arkansas Family Alliance is expanding CarePortal access to Carroll County to connect families with urgent needs before crises hit. Maternal Health: UAMS researchers say Arkansas’ rapidly growing doula workforce is improving maternal and infant outcomes, supported by statewide collaboration and new reimbursement pathways. Environment: After a massive sewage spill in Colorado, advisories continue for the Arkansas River downstream as E. coli levels remain dangerously high. Politics/Legal: A federal judge criticized HHS over teen pregnancy prevention grant materials, calling out studies that appeared missing or unsupported.

Data Center Fight in Federal Court: A federal judge denied Entergy Arkansas a temporary restraining order aimed at stopping Arkansas news outlets from publishing details tied to Google’s West Memphis data center deal, with the dispute centering on claims of trade secrets after documents were shared through a public records request. Water Safety After Sewage Spill: Colorado Parks and Wildlife expanded a water contact advisory to 10 state wildlife areas along the Arkansas River after a Pueblo sewage discharge, warning people to avoid swimming, wading, fishing and other direct contact. Razorbacks Women’s Basketball Recruiting: Arkansas landed 6-foot-8 center Kendall Hulsman, a senior from New York, adding size and shot-blocking to the 2027 class. Community Support in Hope-Texarkana: UA Hope-Texarkana’s Free Family Movie Night drew more than 100 donated food items for Hope in Action. Road Safety Education: ARDOT rolled out Street Smart Phase Two, adding high school materials for grades 9-12 focused on driver safety topics like speeding, impaired driving and what to do when pulled over. Local Legal Settlement: Saline County agreed to pay $275,000 to settle a lawsuit from a librarian fired over opposition to moving certain books out of the children’s section. Business Expansion: Eaton’s Fibrebond by Eaton announced a $242 million North Little Rock facility, aiming to scale manufacturing and add 1,200 jobs.

Health & Safety: Arkansas River contamination remains a concern after a massive sewage spill in Colorado sent untreated wastewater downstream, with officials warning people to avoid affected stretches as E. coli levels stay high. Healthcare Costs: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas and CHI-St. Vincent/CommonSpirit Health have ended their network partnership, raising questions for members about access and reimbursement. Public Policy: Arkansas is rolling out Medicaid work requirements for some ARHOME participants, with a soft start now and full enforcement beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Local Travel: A house fire shut down part of Highway 106 near Batesville, prompting detours and travel delays. Lottery: Mega Millions climbed to a $177 million jackpot after no grand prize winner Tuesday; Arkansas also saw multiple smaller Mega Millions winners. Sports: KJ Jackson won Arkansas’ quarterback competition, while Arkansas State coach Butch Jones says the Red Wolves’ Week 1 starter decision will be made at game time. Business/Expansion: 7 Brew outbid Dutch Bros for former Salad and Go locations in a $143.2 million bankruptcy auction.

Public Safety & Courts: Prosecutors formally charged former Arkansas state Rep. Austin McCollum with felony domestic battering, false imprisonment and aggravated assault tied to an alleged attack on his wife, with arraignment set for later this week. Police Accountability: Newly released dashcam footage shows an Arkansas State Police trooper breaking a car window, punching a passenger and pulling dreadlocks during a tense arrest after a high-speed chase; state police say they’re investigating. Health Care & Insurance: CHI St. Vincent will leave the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas network after contract talks failed, affecting hospitals across Little Rock, Hot Springs, Morrilton and Sherwood. Energy & Data Centers: Entergy Arkansas asked a federal judge to block local news outlets from publishing details of its Google data-center deal, including Google’s $526 million contribution toward a solar-and-battery project. Agriculture: Recent rains brought relief to parched fields, with some lodging issues in northeast rice but overall benefits for soybeans. Local Economy: SWEPCO expanded temporary bill help for residential customers, including pausing deposits and waiving late fees through October. Education & Workforce: A Brightwater program in Bentonville targets restaurant job gaps, while UAM-CTC reported a 100% first-attempt NCLEX-PN pass rate for its practical nursing graduates.

Housing & Eviction: Little Rock-area families face new uncertainty after rental aid ended, leaving some at risk of eviction and homelessness. Public Safety: An Arkansas State Police trooper was unharmed after a Mississippi County traffic stop turned into a struggle and chase; the suspect and two passengers were later found and face charges. Food Insecurity: Domino’s stores across Arkansas will team up with Feeding America food banks during September’s Hunger Action Month, donating 15% of sales Sept. 15 and collecting canned food. Health & Community: Arkansas is offering landowners reimbursement for trapping feral hogs through the AGFC Conservation Incentive Program. Justice & Crime: A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to sextorting a 15-year-old Arkansas girl via Instagram, threatening to share images; sentencing is set for December. Sports: Arkansas State volleyball fell to Cal Poly in straight sets and remains winless; Powerball rolled over to an estimated $146 million. Energy & Jobs: Smackover Lithium signed a second 10-year offtake deal with LG Energy Solution for 8,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually starting with production targeted for 2029.

Public Health: Colorado extended its Arkansas River sewage advisory after about 4.2 million gallons of untreated sewage entered the river near Pueblo, with E. coli levels still high; officials say the contamination is expected to reach John Martin Reservoir State Park and warn people to avoid water contact and keep pets out. Maternal Care: Mercy expanded Arkansas’s Maternal Life360 program to Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, offering home visits for Medicaid-enrolled, high-risk pregnancies through a child’s second birthday. Local Justice: Conway police say a 35-year-old man died about an hour and 20 minutes after arrest and transport for medical care; Arkansas State Police are investigating and an officer is on administrative leave. Higher Education: NWACC reported its first-ever enrollment above 12,000 total students, with academic-credit enrollment up 1.8% to 9,177. Economy/Industry: Smackover Lithium signed a binding 10-year take-or-pay lithium offtake with LG Energy Solution for 8,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate annually. Sports: Arkansas women’s basketball released its 2026-27 schedule, including games Nov. 12 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Nov. 16 at Little Rock. Wildfire Preparedness: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture launched an active wildfire dashboard with real-time incident info. Public Safety: UA Northark restarted its CDL program after 18 months, with a new class starting Sept. 14.

Rural Health Funding: Mercy Fort Smith is set to receive more than $19 million to expand telehealth and upgrade rural health care services across western Arkansas. Water Safety: A sewage spill from Colorado is moving downstream toward Arkansas, with officials warning people to avoid direct water contact as contamination reaches popular recreation areas like John Martin Reservoir. State & Courts: Arkansas is expected to receive millions from a Meta child-safety settlement, while other social media cases—like TikTok and YouTube—continue working through the courts. Public Safety & Health: Arkansas wildlife officials briefed on black bears and whether hunting could be years away as populations are still building. Local Sports: Arkansas sports roundup highlights Razorbacks volleyball’s strong start and soccer’s early turnaround, plus game-week changes at Razorback Stadium. Community Events: Arkansas Tech will host a 9/11 memorial stair climb Sept. 11, with options for 32 or 110 flights. Sports—NFL/College: A former Arkansas State student, tight end Seydou Traore, made the Dolphins’ initial 53-man roster, while college football coverage ramps up for Week 1 matchups.

Road Safety: Arkansas State Police say eight crashes across the state since Thursday have killed nine people, including a man struck by an SUV on I-55 near Blytheville and a fatal Baxter County rollover. Cycling Tragedy: A Dumas bicyclist was killed Saturday night after being hit by a pickup on Arkansas 54. Local Sports: Arkansas soccer earned its first win of the season with a 9-0 rout of Little Rock, while Arkansas volleyball kept rolling in the Razorback Invitational, beating UT Arlington 3-0 and finishing the weekend undefeated. UAFS Community Service: RoarCorps at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith is expanding AmeriCorps-style volunteer work for more students, adding new service areas beyond early childhood. Economic Development: Walnut Ridge demolished two downtown buildings after structural problems surfaced during preparations for Provalus, with the city awaiting an extension approval tied to the project. Public Health Watch: Visitors are being told to avoid contact with John Martin Reservoir and the Arkansas River as sewage-contaminated water from a Pueblo spill moves downstream.

Arkansas State Police Accountability: Newly released footage shows an Arkansas State Trooper breaking a vehicle window and pulling a man out by his dreadlocks after a high-speed chase in Blytheville, sparking outrage and renewed calls for accountability. Local Public Safety: Seventy-eight Arkansas National Guard soldiers returned to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith after a federal public safety deployment in Washington, D.C. Medicaid Spending Watch: Medicaid billing data shows sharp local swings across the state, including big jumps in Ozark alcohol and drug treatment claims, Berryville ambulance/transport spending, and multiple small-town spikes in categories like surgery, radiology, and medicine services. Little Rock Community & Health: Little Rock providers reported rising Medicaid vision services spending in 2024, while Maumelle’s medicine services and procedures totals climbed to more than $46 million. Sports in the Natural State: UAPB beat Morehouse 35-15 in Little Rock’s Natural State Kickoff Classic, powered by Demetric Whitlock’s three touchdown catches, and Arkansas-area football and volleyball coverage continues to roll into the weekend. Business & Growth: Little Rock-area building permits include a $1.5 million home at 15015 Beau Vue Drive, alongside other commercial and residential projects.

College Football (Local Angle): Missouri named six captains for its season opener vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but All-SEC left tackle Cayden Green will miss Thursday’s game, leaving sophomore Jack Lange and junior Whit Hafer to protect the line. Public Safety/Health: Health officials are warning people to avoid the Arkansas River downstream of Pueblo, Colo., after a sewage spill contaminated the water with high E. coli levels. Crime Update: A Trumann man accused of first-degree murder has been returned from Tennessee to Arkansas after extradition was waived; investigators say human remains were found during a Trumann search. Police Use-of-Force (Viral Clarification): A viral video falsely identified as Kai Cenat being assaulted is actually from a traffic stop in Blytheville, where a trooper confronted a passenger. Community Calendar: ARTx3 Campus announced September events in Pine Bluff, including a Live@5 concert and a line-dancing workshop.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Rural Health Transformation Program is sending more than $1 million to Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, including $774,340 for a new emergency generator, $176,850 for telemedicine “virtual physician carts,” $35,370 for emergency teleconsultation, and $25,500 to expand behavioral health services. Public Health: Arkansas health officials say Cyclospora cases are under 10 in each of three Northeast Arkansas counties—Craighead, Greene and Mississippi—while noting the statewide total tops 280 and is linked in part to a multistate recalled iceberg lettuce outbreak. Rural Health Grants: The state’s first-round rural health awards total $149.3 million, with Northeast Arkansas projects including St. Bernards ($14.5M) for telehealth and remote monitoring and Mississippi County Hospital System ($9.6M) for improvements in Blytheville and Osceola. Local Sports: Pine Bluff rallied from a 28-6 halftime deficit but fell to Little Rock Parkview 34-26 in the season opener. UAPB Spotlight: Sanders hosted a UAPB pep rally at the Governor’s Mansion ahead of the Golden Lions’ season opener at War Memorial Stadium.

Opioid Accountability: Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle federal allegations tied to fraudulent painkiller prescriptions, and the DOJ says the company let suspicious orders pass for years—now Walmart must tighten pharmacy checks nationwide. Public Health: A lettuce-linked Cyclospora outbreak is expanding, with Georgia, Tennessee and Texas added as the nationwide case count tops 11,000, while Arkansas residents are also included in the broader spread. Food Insecurity in Arkansas: A new survey from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance finds 37% of Arkansans lacked enough food in 2025—about 1.14 million people—highlighting rising prices and chronic need. Rural Care Funding: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced nearly $150 million in rural health transformation grants, with about 20 programs slated for Northeast Arkansas. Local Business & Growth: Little Rock’s Southern Tail Brewing is buying Orthodox Farmhouse Brewery in Goshen to expand into Northwest Arkansas. Health & Safety: Bentonville and Springdale hospitals in the region became Level III trauma centers, upgrading from Level IV. Sports & Community: Magnolia kicks off its 2026 football season Friday night at Panther Stadium, and Morehouse opens its season Saturday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock.

Water Infrastructure Vote: Arkansas is asking voters to approve a $500 million bond issue (Issue 4) to cut water loss from leaky pipes, which average 21% statewide and can hit 70% in some systems, with the goal of getting leakage under 15%. Public Health: The FDA upgraded the cyclospora-linked lettuce recall to its highest risk level and added more states to the outbreak list, now tied to 20 states including Arkansas. Rural Health Funding: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced about $149 million in rural health grants, with more details on recipients across the state. Workforce Training: The Arkansas Health Care Association is using a medication assistant certified training program in Camden to help nursing homes rebuild staffing, reporting more than 600 medication assistants statewide. Consumer Finance: Ohio reached a $15.5 million settlement with mortgage servicer NewRez over improper “force-placed” insurance charges; the case involved thousands of borrowers nationwide. Local Education: The Little Rock School Board approved new zones for high school students in a 5-2 vote. Business/Tech: Uber Eats is moving toward drone delivery through a partnership with Zipline, starting in existing markets before expanding.

Food Safety: Whole Foods recalled several dips sold in 13 states, including Arkansas, after jalapeños tied to a Salmonella concern were found in products like mango pineapple salsa and multiple guacamole varieties. Local Policing: Fort Smith Police tightened its Flock camera rules, cutting license-plate data retention from 30 to 7 days, limiting other agencies’ access, and saying it will review whether to renew the contract. Health & Research: A University of Arkansas researcher won a $2.16 million NIH grant to study systolic heart failure and develop personalized treatments. State Politics: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced new appointments across multiple Arkansas boards and commissions. Rural Health: Arkansas announced nearly $149.3 million in rural health transformation grants, with Southeast Arkansas counties among the recipients. Meta Settlement: Arkansas is set to receive about $172 million from a multistate Meta settlement over teen safety claims, while Meta says it will take steps to reduce potential harms. Public Safety/Weather: Northwest Arkansas water restrictions and burn bans remain in place as hot, dry conditions continue. Crime: Little Rock police arrested Omarion Hatchett in a fatal southwest Little Rock shooting.

Meta Settlement: Meta agreed to pay states up to about $17B in a landmark child-safety deal tied to Facebook and Instagram addiction claims, with Arkansas expected to receive about $172M; the proposal also adds youth protections like default limits for under-18 users and changes to how likes and reactions are shown. Local Public Safety & Health: Baxter County just moved money to its coroner’s project, including $18,000 for an underwater body-locating sonar device after a summer demo. Community Support: CarePortal launched in Greene County, connecting churches with requests for urgent needs for vulnerable children and families. Arts & Culture: Arkansas State’s Bradbury Art Museum in Jonesboro opened “more-than-human,” an immersive media art exhibit running through Oct. 10. Education & Sports: UCA opens its season Thursday night in Tennessee, aiming to erase last year’s “bad taste” after a late skid.

Meta Settlement: Arkansas is set to receive about $173 million from Meta’s $17.1 billion multistate deal over alleged harm to teens, with new youth safety requirements and platform changes. Public Safety in Schools: Attorney General Tim Griffin and the High School Broyles Award are launching Coaches vs. Overdoses Week to push fentanyl prevention messaging in Arkansas schools. Child Welfare: Arkansas State Police and partners say Operation HOPE recovered or located eight missing or endangered children during a multi-agency effort. Health & Food: A new survey from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance finds 37% of Arkansans don’t have enough food, with the state’s food insecurity rate nearing 40%. Local Life: Arkansas State University’s campus bells are ringing again after repairs, and the Little Rock School District’s Wing Wednesday tradition continues feeding thousands. Sports Recruiting: Jenks lineman Odaefe Oruru flipped from Arkansas to Oklahoma State. Weather: South Arkansas remains under a severe thunderstorm watch, with drought-strained areas hoping for meaningful rain.