Arkansas

S&P brightens rating outlook for Arkansas

Published

2 years ago

May 7, 2024

S&P brightens rating outlook for Arkansas

Citing Arkansas’ “financial resiliency,” S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook on the state’s AA general obligation bond rating to positive from stable.

The rating agency’s action Thursday came ahead of the state’s sale of about $30 million of water, waste disposal and pollution abatement facilities GO bonds.

“S&P’s improved outlook for the state from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’ is a direct result of the hard work by Governor (Sarah Huckabee) Sanders and the Arkansas General Assembly to fully fund our long-term reserves and to limit the growth of spending,” said Jim Hudson, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

“The outlook revision reflects Arkansas’ demonstrated budget management practices and financial resiliency across economic cycles, which has yielded steady operating surpluses and an accumulation of substantial reserves,” S&P analyst Rob Marker said in a statement. “This is in conjunction with our expectation that recent improving economic and demographic growth trends will more closely align with U.S. levels over time, all of which support our view of a one-in-three chance that we could raise the rating over the outlook period.”

Arkansas is rated Aa1 with a stable outlook by Moody’s Ratings.

“The rating reflects the state’s strong governance practices, with conservatively managed financial operations that consistently result in healthy year-end fund balances and below-average debt and pension burdens,” Moody’s said in a May 1 report. “These features balance credit risks stemming from a weak demographic profile and exposure to elevated Medicaid expenses.”

“I’m pleased that both Moody’s and S&P affirmed their credit ratings for the State of Arkansas,” said Jim Hudson, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. “S&P’s improved outlook for the state from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’ is a direct result of the hard work by Governor (Sarah Huckabee) Sanders and the Arkansas General Assembly to fully fund our long-term reserves and to limit the growth of spending.”

The state had $514.13 million of GO bonds issued for highways, water, capital improvements, and higher education outstanding as of June 30, 2023.

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Arkansas

Arkansas State rallies for 8-3 win over Louisiana Baseball

Published

1 hour ago

April 27, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas State rallies for 8-3 win over Louisiana Baseball

JONESBORO, Ark. (KLFY)– Home runs by Cason Campbell and Evan Griffis highlighted a seven-run outburst through the middle three innings and helped Arkansas State rally for an 8-3 victory
over Louisiana in the final game of a three-game Sun Belt Conference series on Sunday at
Slayton Family Field at Tomlinson Stadium.

Dylan Farley (7-1) scattered three hits over 5.1 innings and combined with two relievers to help
A-State (26-17, 10-11 SBC) avoid a three-game sweep at home.

Louisiana (25-18, 9-12 SBC) trailed 1-0 after the Red Wolves scored an unearned run in the first
inning before Mark Collins lined a two-run homer down the left-field line in the third. The
Ragin’ Cajuns added an unearned run in the fourth, capitalizing on the Red Wolves’ second
error of the inning and third of the game.

Drew Markle lined a two-out single to right field and scored when Collins hit a dribbler just past
the plate, and an A-State throw sailed past Campbell at first and into right field.
Arkansas State, which scored two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth, tied
the game at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning as Lane Walton hit an RBI single to right before
Patrick Engskov scored on a fielder’s choice.

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The Red Wolves took the lead for good when Ashton Quiller’s RBI grounder to second scored
Kaden Amundson before Campbell followed two pitches later with a two-run homer to center.
Griffis added a two-run homer in the sixth for the Red Wolves to cap the seven-run rally.
JR Tollett (4-3) took the loss in relief for Louisiana after surrendering four runs in 1.2 innings.

Ty Roman tossed 3.1 innings in a starting role for the Ragin’ Cajuns while freshman Hayden
Pearson tossed a season-high 3.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Collins and Markle combined for four of Louisiana’s six hits in the game. Rigoberto Hernandez
added a third-inning double for Louisiana before Griffin Hebert reached on a pinch-hit single in
the ninth.

Louisiana will open a six-game homestand beginning on Tuesday when it hosts in-state
opponent Southern University in a 6 p.m. contest at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will host another in-state foe – Nicholls – on Wednesday at 6 p.m., before
opening a three-game Sun Belt Conference series against Georgia State on Friday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Storm Team Forecast: Alert Days to start the week

Published

13 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Storm Team Forecast: Alert Days to start the week

Strong to severe storms remain in the forecast through nearly midweek in Arkansas.

Monday and Tuesday have been designated as Arkansas Storm Team Alert Days.

On Monday, April 27, not everyone will see strong to severe storms. Not everyone will even see rain. But if you do see a storm on Monday, that storm will be capable of hail, tornadoes, and damaging wind gusts. This is mainly a late afternoon, evening, and early overnight risk. Some parts of eastern Arkansas may experience storms into early Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, April 28, the risk of severe weather is more widespread across Arkansas. All severe hazards are possible, including tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts.

The state needs rain as a dire drought continues, but rain usually comes with strings attached (in the form of storms) in Arkansas in April. After some beneficial rainfall last week and this weekend, through Wednesday, some areas could pick up another inch or two, or more.