Good morning, Jonesboro.

Jonesboro Right Now has named lifelong journalist Jody Barker as its new editor-in-chief today.

Barker brings over a decade of local news experience + a strong focus on government transparency as he leads the newsroom into a fresh era.

Swept Away Janitorial pledged $22,000 for local school backpack food programs — a move to help fight childhood hunger — for the 2026-2027 school year.

The donation will support students in the region.

SANY Nutrition Group opened a food manufacturing facility in Jonesboro at the former Butterball plant on East Highland Drive — the company plans to invest over $30 million and create 150 new jobs over the next three years, boosting the local food industry.

ASU-Newport has named Lindley Gilliaum dean of Applied Trades, and she will lead programs including Commercial Driver Training, Diesel Technology, Cosmetology, Agricultural Technology, Culinary Arts, and Automotive Service Technology across its Newport, Jonesboro, and Marked Tree locations, strengthening grants and community partnerships (she began with the institution in 2016).

Local educational and business leaders gathered Tuesday in Jonesboro when Hytrol Conveyor Company donated a $500,000 check to support Arkansas State University’s upcoming CREST Center (the Hytrol Workforce Training Room honors their long-standing community partnership), with the first phase under construction to finish in spring.

Arkansas has launched the ACCESS Portal to let high school seniors use one application to apply to up to five colleges with no fees.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (with the Arkansas Department of Education) says school counselors will help students meet priority deadlines.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture launched a real-time wildfire dashboard showing active fires, acres affected and year-to-date totals across the state.

Officials remind residents not to approach active fires or fly drones near them + to help keep the community safe.

Arkansas State University has placed 130 opioid rescue kits across its campus to help reduce overdose deaths.

Emergency manager Wyatt Reed said students can use Narcan nasal spray with simple instructions available in every building until emergency responders arrive.