Sarah Kellogg

After an eight-week, hands-on lab, the two short films created by the Arkansas Cinema Society’s Teen Girl Filmmaking Lab premiered to a full crowd on Thursday night.

The short films, "Ensemble" and "Justitia" were part of the 'Girls Night' program for this year’s Filmland festival in Little Rock. They preceded a screening of the film "Troop Zero," where writer Lucy Alibar and Bert, half of the directing duo Bert and Bertie, were both in attendance to answer questions about the film afterwards.

Starting Friday night, visitors to the River Market District will be able to bring alcoholic beverages outside as a part of the newly established entertainment district. 

The four-block zone stretches along President Clinton Ave. from South Cumberland St. to Interstate 30. Patrons 21 and older will be allowed to carry their drink in the established zone as long as they have purchased the approved wristband and cup.

Speaking on President Donald Trump’s recent comments on purchasing Greenland from Denmark, Sen. Tom Cotton said there is a logical case for wanting to purchase the territory.

Cotton revealed Wednesday, during the new Talk Business & Politics Power Lunch series, he met with the Danish Ambassador months ago and proposed the sale of Greenland to the United States and told Trump himself to pursue it.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law is launching two new programs that will provide free legal services to veterans in Arkansas. The law school will open a veterans legal services clinic and a veterans legal service center. Eventually, eight law school students, who are under the supervision of a clinical facilitator, will staff the programs and provide services each semester.

The clinic will initially focus on disability claims and appeals of discharge status. Those services may expand in the future to different areas.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson expanded on previous comments concerning two recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, including the prospect of adopting an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) in Arkansas. An ERPO, known colloquially as a red flag law, would outline a process officials could use to temporarily remove guns from individuals who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. Hutchinson said a red flag law would have to balance the need for protection with the due process of law.

Construction for the Saracen Casino and Resort in Pine Bluff is officially underway, after a groundbreaking ceremony took place Monday afternoon.

Speaking during the ceremony, John Berrey, chairman of the Quapaw Business Committee and Downtown Development Authority, said the main goal of this project is to create jobs to help Pine Bluff’s economy.

"This is about economic development… about hope… about keeping people here at home in the Delta and creating an economy based on people to come and visit, have a good time and enjoy this part of the state," Berrey said.

July marked the beginning of the fiscal year and state revenues totaled over $462 million, which is 1.4 percent lower than last year. Though some revenue sources are lower compared to last year, according to Friday’s released report, that does not necessarily indicate a negative trend to Arkansas’ economy.

Since this is the first month of the new fiscal year, there are no cumulative balances to consider. The report instead makes comparisons to last July.

Trade discussions between the United States and China resumed Tuesday months after talks initially dissolved. However, the lack of a deal, over one year into the trade war continues to leave Arkansas farmers with a surplus of crops and fewer vendors to sell them to. This combined with an above average amount of rainfall has led to a bad couple of years for farmers without a permanent solution in sight.

The recently-transformed Arkansas cabinet welcomed a new member, discussed ground rules and talked finances during the beginning of its first cabinet meeting on Monday.

A Pulaski County circuit judge has petitioned the Arkansas Supreme Court to restore his power to hear and decide civil and criminal cases concerning the death penalty, capital punishment and the method of execution.

Arkansans working on all kinds of household projects have the opportunity to use tools they may need for no cost. The Central Arkansas Library System’s tool library at the Dee Brown Library offers equipment ranging from lawn care to power tools and car repair. Joe Hudak with the Central Arkansas Library System, says some of the equipment is not what you would find in a toolbox.

While the Arkansas River has crested and continues to fall, steady barge traffic along the river will not be observed for at least six more weeks. Bryan Day executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority said the stopping of barges was due to river speed more than height.

“How fast, what the volume is…will impact the ability to safely move commodities up and down the Arkansas River,” Day said. The increase in rain and eventual flooding impacted transportation in other areas besides Arkansas.

A news conference and memorial honoring former Arkansas state senator Linda Collins offered no new details on the case and asked those with any relevant information to contact authorities.

Collins formerly served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate, before losing re-election in 2018 to a GOP primary challenger. She was found dead in her home last week. The investigation is still underway. 

Film fans in Little Rock will have the opportunity to watch some movies from the Czech Republic this weekend as a part of the Czech That Film festival. The event, hosted by the Czech Honorary Consulate in Little Rock, includes partners like the Arkansas Cinema Society and the Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater.

While a rainy spring and summer as well as flooding along the Arkansas River has impacted farmers, it has also affected agricultural research in the state. The Agricultural Experiment Station, a part of the The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, has several research stations located across the state. 

About 40 segments of highways in the state have been shut down as a result of flooding along the Arkansas River. As the river crest in areas of central Arkansas, that number is expected to rise. Danny Straessle, a spokesman with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, says the areas being flooded are not the “usual suspects” the department prepares for during a flash flood. 

The Arkansas River is expected to crest higher and later than initially expected in the Little Rock area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forecasts the river will likely crest at 29 feet next Thursday. That’s one foot more than the 28 feet the river was expected to reach on Monday. Speaking during a news conference on Thursday, Jon Honeywell, director of Public Works for Little Rock said the city will reach lower levels of water compared to other areas of the state.

Arkansas is receiving an additional $250,000 in emergency funding for flood relief in the state. Gov. Asa Hutchinson made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) at Camp Robinson. This funding comes after Hutchinson announced $100,000 in funding earlier in the week. Hutchinson said this increase came at the request of ADEM. During the conference, Hutchinson spoke on an earlier conversation with President Donald Trump about the flooding. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary praised Arkansas for its commitment to its veterans while choosing not to speak as much to non-VA matters, such as proposed federal cuts to non-VA programs and comments from a Republican U.S senator from Arkansas concerning service members.

During a visit to the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Little Rock Tuesday, Secretary Robert Wilkie discussed reorganization efforts within the VA. This includes the Mission Act, which changes how veterans can receive healthcare.

Arkansas’s governor has unveiled the 15 people slated to head the state’s reformed cabinet. Gov. Asa Hutchinson released the names Wednesday during a news conference. The newly announced secretaries will have until July 1 to prepare for their new roles. They are:

Wes Ward -  Department of Agriculture

Michael Preston -  Department of Commerce

Wendy Kelley - Department of Corrections

Johnny Key  - Department of Education

Becky Keogh - Department of Energy and Environment