Good morning, Jonesboro.

After a surprising AncestryDNA match, two Jonesboro women discovered they were sisters last December when Capetrice Bonner reached out to Melodie Harris.

They met for the first time and shared an emotional reunion while continuing to build their family bond.

NEA Divine Intervention will host the Soup for the Soul event on Friday, Dec.

12 at the Salvation Army Shelter on Cate Avenue in Jonesboro from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will distribute free soup & winter warmth items to community members.

GasBuddy's survey shows gas prices in Jonesboro dropped 7.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.45 — the prices are 18.3 cents lower than last month and 12.9 cents below last year.

Arkansas State University earned the 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award for the eighth straight year, as Insight into Academia magazine honored its innovative student success programs and community partnerships (including the Arkansas Promise Plus Scholarship).

More than 1,200 first-year students at Arkansas State University recently presented research, creative, and community projects at the annual FYE Academic Expo in Jonesboro, with awards going to the top classes in research (best prize: $250), connections ($150) and philanthropy ($100); top projects also received certificates.

The state's plan to use $305 million in federal funds to extend broadband to over 79,000 underserved Arkansans passed its final federal hurdle on Monday when it was approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology — the project now moves to the Legislature for final approval and will begin in 2026.

St. Bernards announced Monday, Dec.

8 that its Maternal Life360 program will expand to Greene County to support high-risk pregnancies by providing home visits and community resources. The program, which began in Craighead County, will also help families care for their babies until age two.

St. Bernards Healthcare in Jonesboro implanted Arkansas’s first tibial nerve device to ease bladder control without anesthesia; the FDA-approved device is about half the length of a stick of gum (battery lasts up to 15 years) and offers same-day therapy activation.

Former Valley View baseball star Slade Caldwell recounted his rookie season in a recent interview (he detailed early challenges and improvements on the field).

His comments reflected a promising start as he adjusted to professional play.

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.

Live at the 501 Steakhouse

6:30 PM – 12:30 AM — 501 Steakhouse — Cost varies — Enjoy a night of new tunes and classic covers in a cozy Arkansas setting.