Good morning, Jonesboro.

AAA predicts 82 million people will travel 50 or more miles for Thanksgiving which is expected to set a record for holiday travel.

Tuesday and Wednesday are predicted to be the busiest for departures and Sunday for return trips.

A holiday donation guide lists drives across Jonesboro that accept food, toy, and clothing donations for local groups.

The guide provides dates, drop-off locations & details for organizations including the Food Bank and Salvation Army.

Jonesboro hosts the TAPS Benefit Bake Sale today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tech Friends parking lot on East Highland Drive — all funds will support Arkansas Pet Savers to rescue local dogs.

Fill the Food Bank kicked off Friday morning with volunteers collecting food and monetary donations at Walmart on E.

Highland Drive + 15 satellite sites to reach a goal of 350,000 meals for families facing hunger this holiday season; the event is sponsored by K8 and the Jonesboro Media Group.

The Salvation Army of Jonesboro kicked off its Red Kettle Campaign on Friday with bells ringing across Northeast Arkansas to raise $150,000.

The campaign—running until Dec. 24—will fund local programs like a homeless shelter and food pantry and is seeking volunteers.

Craighead Electric Cooperative and Empower Broadband have named Jonesboro native Justin Etter as their new chief executive officer.

He has served in several senior roles—including vice president of Member Services and chief operating officer—and lives with his wife and three children in Jonesboro.

A guide lists Christmas events in Jonesboro and Craighead County from November 21 through December 24—events include performances of The Nutcracker, a tree lighting ceremony, parades, markets and concerts with ticketed and free options.

Jonesboro shoppers are filling grocery stores for last-minute Thanksgiving groceries as turkey prices drop to $21.50 for a 16 lb bird.

The lower cost has reduced the average Thanksgiving meal for a family of 10 to $55.18, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation—helping buyers save ahead of the holiday.

Arkansas State University’s College of Agriculture and Riceland Foods have launched the Riceland Scholars program to provide undergraduate and graduate students with real-world research opportunities at a world-class facility—teams from Agriculture, Engineering, and Business have pitched projects and received funding for their work. The program offers professional development opportunities and will include a site tour of the Jonesboro Riceland Plant later this semester.

Construction is ahead of schedule at Valley View High School in Jonesboro as a new 22,149 sq ft building is being built to add eight classrooms, a new choir room, two agriculture shops, and an 8,000 sq ft storm shelter—designed to serve both students and the community.

The project, approved in January and started in late spring, will be finished by fall 2026 to help relieve space issues caused by growing enrollment.

Arkansas State University received a $600,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to study reptile immune systems and will work with nine zoos, including Memphis and Little Rock.

Associate Professor Lori Neuman-Lee said the study may lead to new treatments for reptiles — a step that could improve care in the pet trade — and offer students hands-on experience over the three-year project.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Act 696 of 2025 that exempts Arkansas farmers and ranchers from state income tax on USDA disaster aid payments — the exemption applies to funds from the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program for the 2024 crop year and from the Emergency Livestock Relief Program assisting cattle producers affected by last year's flooding.

Santa Shuffle

6:30 PM — Joe Mack Campbell Park — Free entry — Enjoy a festive stroll through Jonesboro in holiday spirit.

23rd Annual Duck Classic

7 p.m. — First National Bank Arena — Ticketed event — Celebrate with a charity banquet followed by a fun-filled duck hunting experience for a great cause.