Good morning, Jonesboro.

Today near Jonesboro Municipal Airport, Grace Outreach Ministry handed out 100 backpacks filled with school supplies + fresh donuts to help local students get ready for class; more backpacks will be available Sunday at 10 a.m. for families facing rising costs.

Healthcare hiring surged as about 72,000 jobs were added in three months while retail jobs fell, with local experts at Arkansas State University attributing the shift to burnout and an aging population (according to the U.S. Department of Labor).

NYITCOM at A-State’s SHARE program gave high school students eight weeks of lab research this summer.

Funded by the American Chemical Society, the program let participants like Jayson Smith explore projects from cancer research to environmental studies, and Smith shared his journey at the recent graduation event.

Applications for fall 2026 are open at the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, offering up to $1,600 per semester to Arkansas single parents who meet broad eligibility requirements + maintain a 2.0 GPA; the deadline is Sept.

1.

At Arkansas State University, the new CREST program trains workers on industrial controls, steel, food science and engineering technology—providing real-world skills for local jobs.

Fall enrollment ends Aug. 19.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proclaimed that Jonesboro will serve as Arkansas’ 20th Capital for a Day on Aug.

11 – a program to bring senior state officials for local meetings, while Paragould is set for the designation on Aug. 12.

On Friday, the Arkansas State University Board of Trustees approved revised budgets for two campus projects: a 70,000 sqft CREST Center for job training and a 40,000 sqft indoor baseball center.

The revised budgets address increased construction costs and include funds from reserves + grants and loans.

Ozarks Healthcare announced that Hope Smith, a registered nurse with 15 years of experience, has been promoted to Director of Emergency Services.

She will lead the emergency team with a focus on patient care, quality initiatives and staff development.

The Arkansas Department of Health reported 237 cyclosporiasis cases and warned that social media claims linking the infection to weight loss are unsafe as doctors note the illness can cause severe, lingering symptoms.

Pixie — a lively pup with a wagging tail — is available for adoption at the NEA Humane Society, which is offering discounted fees through Sunday; call 870-932-5185 to learn more.