Good morning, Jonesboro.

The North Jonesboro Community Development Corporation hosted its second annual Men Who Cook event on Saturday, June 28 at Hilton Garden Inn, where 11 participants including Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliot competed in a cooking contest to support local health and wellness initiatives. Shamal Carter won with baby back ribs — Lee Stanbank earned the crowd favorite title for his stuffed Cajun pasta.

A Jonesboro woman was arrested after a video showed her driving her car erratically and trying to run over someone during a fight at a local business on Gee Street — a judge set her bond at $10,000 and scheduled court for July 31.

Yesterday, the Jonesboro Pride community hosted its Let’s be Proud Brunch at The Parsonage in downtown Jonesboro to celebrate Pride Month by serving food and entertainment—Miss NEA Pride 2024 Liv Laflauv noted the event capped seven gatherings despite the challenges the community faces.

The Kappa Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrated its 50th anniversary this past weekend with a brunch at the Cooper Alumni Center and a church service at First Baptist Church, marking decades of service and sisterhood in Jonesboro.

Chapter President Goldie Holliman noted the milestone (chartered on June 29, 1975) as a sign of progress for leadership among African American women and encouraged future generations to continue their legacy.

Two proposed amendments aim to strengthen Arkansas' direct democracy with one measure now collecting signatures after its ballot language was approved by the attorney general—while the other, from a coalition including the NAACP, awaits certification to begin its signature drive.

Both proposals must reach 90,704 valid signatures by July 3 for a November 2026 ballot vote.

State laws passed this year will take effect Tuesday and will merge the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf into the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind with Nicole Walsh as superintendent, add a $65 million building project, and revise the pay plan for over 22,000 executive branch employees. The laws will also increase fees for accident reports and transfer or rename several state agencies—such as the Wine Producers Council and the Division of Information Systems—to better align with their missions.

Summer Social 2025: Candy Land Craze

4-6 p.m. — New Moon Venue — Free entry — Enjoy a Candy Land themed social for families and the community in Jonesboro.