White House document urges 18 states in virus ‘red zone’ to mandate masks, close bars, increase testing

A recent unpublicized White House document prepared by the coronavirus task force and obtained by the Center for Public Integrity on Thursday shows that 18 states are currently in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

Arkansas to require face masks to combat coronavirus surge

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued an order Thursday requiring people to wear face masks in public throughout the state, which has had a surge in coronavirus cases over the past several weeks.

Judge blocks federal executions; administration appeals

A U.S. district judge on Monday ordered a new delay in federal executions, hours before the first lethal injection was scheduled to be carried out at a federal prison in Indiana.

NY, NJ, CT restrict access to travelers from 16 states due to fear of coronavirus spread

A mandatory quarantine of 14 days has been extended to travelers entering New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to 16 from the 8 states listed when the advisory was first issued last week.

Hundreds test positive for COVID-19 at Tyson Foods plant in Arkansas

Tyson Foods is looking into reports that China’s customs agency has suspended poultry imports from a Tyson facility in the United States after coronavirus cases were confirmed among its employees.

Televangelist Jim Bakker sued by second state over coronavirus treatment claims

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed the lawsuit in Arkansas against Bakker and Morningside Church Productions, just three months after the state of Missouri filed a similar lawsuit.

Walmart pays hourly staff nearly $180M in bonuses with 'more to come'

Walmart paid almost $180 million in cash bonuses to its hourly associates nationwide on Thursday and has fulfilled its goal of hiring 200,000 more employees since March in response to demand prompted by the novel coronavirus, the company announced.

Doctor and son in viral photo lose home in tornado

On Saturday, she shared the news on her Facebook page that a tornado tore through their home in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Jared was inside at the time.

Fire department hands out free meals for truck drivers in Arkansas

With many restaurants closing their doors, some firefighters in Arkansas have taken it upon themselves to help feed truckers whose meal options are dwindling.

'Significant' severe weather event, including tornado threat, for millions across South

An enhanced threat of severe storms with damaging winds is possible Friday in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, where more than nine million people live, according to the NWS' Storm Prediction Center.

Former 911 dispatcher who told drowning woman to ‘shut up’ cleared of wrongdoing

The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Donna Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Debra Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help, at one point telling her to "shut up."