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Central Arkansas nonprofit leader Aaron Reddin steps down amid health challenges

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Central Arkansas nonprofit leader Aaron Reddin steps down amid health challenges


A big change is rolling in for one of central Arkansas’ most recognizable nonprofits serving the unhoused community.

Aaron Reddin is stepping down as executive director of The Van, effective immediately. The organization has been a critical presence in the region, providing food, water, clothing, hygiene supplies and emergency shelter for people in need, particularly in North Little Rock.

Reddin said he’s leaving day-to-day leadership because of ongoing personal health challenges. “I was diagnosed with CRPS in 22,” Reddin said, referring to complex regional pain syndrome, a condition that can cause severe, persistent pain. He said that “in early 24 I was in a accident that caused the spread of the disease into my upper body,” and that it has “greatly impacted my ability to be present.”

“I’m in weekly treatments and medications and things like that, that caused my absence,” Reddin said. “And you know, even though I may be slowed down, the organization is not and so that’s an unsustainable imbalance, and at some point it has to be acknowledged.”

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While he’s stepping away from daily leadership, Reddin will remain involved with The Van as a board member.

Parker Reid has been selected to take over as executive director. Reid said he’s ready to get started and build on what’s already in place.

“I am most excited, I think, just to really hit the ground running,” Reid said. He said he and Reddin have talked about the organization’s infrastructure and what they want it to look like going forward, with a focus on “really just refining what we what we have going on already, and really expanding our volunteer involvement.”

Reddin reflected on how much the organization has grown during his time leading it. “We’ve grown,” he said. “You know, I’ve always thought that we’ve hit a plateau, and then there’s, it just keeps going.”

He also emphasized how The Van is funded. “We’re 99.9% private donor funded. We don’t touch your tax dollars,” Reddin said. “So this is all people helping people from from the bank account to the streets. It’s people powered.”

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Asked about a proud moment, Reddin pointed to a recent opportunity to share The Van’s work with a much bigger audience. “I got the chance this past winter to talk about our work here in Little Rock on CNN International live,” he said, adding that the network gave him “like, 13 total minutes, two different days.”

Reddin said he valued being able to spotlight Little Rock as a community that looks out for its neighbors. He said he was able to show people that “we care about each other, we care about our neighbors, regardless of you know what those unconventional sleeping circumstances may look like at the time.”

The Van has also raised money to find and build a shelter for the unhoused, and Reddin said the organization’s emergency shelter work started even before the first van was in service. He said having a more permanent setup will be a major step forward, rather than moving supplies in and out during each weather event.

As Reid steps into the role, he said he’s mindful of what the organization means to Reddin and to the community. He hopes to “take care of of his baby,” he said, because “it means a lot to him, and it means a lot to me to have watched him, you know, grow it for as long as I’ve gotten to watch.”



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Arkansas

Arkansas Lottery Powerball, Cash 3 winning numbers for June 20, 2026

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The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Saturday, June 20, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing

16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 3-6-2

Evening: 7-6-6

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 8-9-5-3

Evening: 8-0-6-0

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Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from June 20 drawing

01-16-20-36-39

Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning LOTTO numbers from June 20 drawing

02-14-18-20-23-32, Bonus: 13

Check LOTTO payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 20 drawing

01-10-16-30-31, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
  • Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
  • Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
  • Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
  • Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
  • LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Joshua Harris tackles “American Ninja Warrior” and Arkansas health problems

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Joshua Harris tackles “American Ninja Warrior” and Arkansas health problems


Most people can barely conquer the monkey bars at a playground, but Joshua Harris is out here tackling American Ninja Warrior obstacles and using that spotlight to help Arkansans eat healthier.

Harris recently competed on American Ninja Warrior for the second time, calling it “an incredible experience” and saying it’s fun to be part of a national show while taking on the obstacles.

Away from the course, Harris runs a nonprofit called Well Fed, which operates across Arkansas and provides healthy food for people struggling with diet-related illnesses. He said the goal is to improve health outcomes by helping people access healthier options.

“Well, Arkansas has a lot of bad statistics when it comes to health, and we need to find ways to help change those health outcomes,” Harris said. He added that healthy food, including fruits and vegetables, can help people dealing with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and that the mission fits with his own lifestyle of training, exercise and staying healthy.

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Harris said his Ninja Warrior training and his nonprofit work connect in more ways than one. He described the Ninja Warrior community as full of like-minded people, and said the show embraced the story behind his work on food access in Arkansas.

He also said Well Fed runs food-as-medicine programs across Arkansas, working with health care to bring fruits and vegetables to people who need them. Harris said the aim is to make a measurable difference, including the possibility of seeing “type two diabetes reversed.”

As for what it’s like competing on TV, Harris said many viewers don’t realize the show is filmed overnight.

“When I’m doing Ninja Warrior on the TV show, a lot of people don’t realize that’s filmed at night, so it’s like three in the morning,” Harris said. He said he focuses on staying awake and locked in, with plenty of distractions from crowds and bright lights, but called the crew and community “amazing.”

Harris said his episode is coming up soon and he hopes people will watch and cheer him on.

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And he’s not slowing down after that. Harris said he plans to keep training and will head to Ireland in August for the OCR (obstacle course racing) world championship, where he’ll represent Team USA.



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Tulsa downs Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Tulsa downs Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


SPRINGDALE — Tulsa scored two runs in the first INNING and four more in the second to grab an early lead en route to a 9-1 win over Northwest Arkansas on Friday night in front of 4,076 fans at Arvest Ballpark.

The Drillers (44-23) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Chris Newell’s two-out, RBI-single and a bases-loaded walk by Kole Myers. Tulsa snapped a two-game skid.

Naturals manager Brooks Conrad just gave credit to the Drillers for a strong effort.

“You’ve got to tip your cap to the opposing pitching staff,” Conrad said. “They threw great. We had one run in the first, then they blanked us the rest of the game. It wasn’t our lack of effort or lack of preparation. It was just one of those games where we couldn’t get anything going offensively.

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“I think the bright spot was our defense. (Carson) Roccaforte continues to do well. It’s a point now that I see him night in and night out, and it’s to the point I see him every night and it’s just another good night.”

Tulsa, which took advantage of 11 walks by Naturals pitching to go with 12 hits, has already wrapped up the Texas League North Division first-half title. The half ends on Sunday.

Myers added a two-run single in the second, while Zyhir Hope chipped in a run-scoring single and Jake Gelof drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 6-1.

Myers drove in three runs, while center fielder Mike Sirotka finished with three hits, scored a run and drove in one.

Naturals starter Hunter Owens (1-3) allowed six runs on seven hits over two innings of work to absorb the loss. He struck out one and walked four.

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Northwest Arkansas (29-36) got a run in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out RBI single by shortstop Daniel Vazquez. But the Naturals had a runner thrown out at the plate when Rudy Martin Jr. tried to score from first on Colton Becker’s double.

Despite the back-to-back losses, the Drillers improved to 12-4 in June.

Drillers manager Eric Wedge declined to comment following the game.

Prior to joining the Drillers last year, he had previously spent ten seasons managing at the major league level, including seven years with the Cleveland Indians and three with the Seattle Mariners. His most successful season came in 2007, when he was named the American League Manager of the Year after finishing just one game shy of leading Cleveland to the World Series.

The same two teams continue the series on Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday afternoon at 2:05.

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Naturals 6, Drillers 5 (10 innings)

Martin singled up the middle to drive in the winning run and help Northwest Arkansas outlast Tulsa 6-5 in 10 innings in a game that started an hour late because of a rain delay on Thursday night.

Spencer Nivens started the 10th inning at second base, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Vazquez and scored on Martin’s hit.

Northwest Arkansas rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to claim the win. The Drillers scored four times in the top of the second, but the Naturals got three back in the fourth and tied the game on Colton Becker’s RBI triple.

Tulsa bounced right back with a run in the top of the seventh, but again Northwest Arkansas bounced back to tie the game in the eighth. Martin reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch.

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Martin and Vazquez had two hits each. They drove in a run each. Martin scored twice.

Augusto Mendieta (2-2) picked up the win in relief. He tossed two hitless innings of relief, struck out five and walked one.



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