Arkansas
Arkansas Activist Reflects on the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson
Little Rock, AR (KATV) — Leaders in Arkansas’s Black community are reflecting on the passing of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
Among them is Edmond W. Davis — a historian, activist, and professor at Arkansas Baptist College — who says Jackson’s life and work shaped not only a generation of leaders, but the course of American history.
Davis, who is well-versed in African American history and civil rights, had the opportunity to meet and march alongside Jackson nearly 20 years ago during demonstrations surrounding the Jena Six case in Louisiana. He later met Jackson again about four years ago in Selma, a city widely recognized as a historic landmark of the Civil Rights Movement.
For Davis, those encounters were more than moments in time — they were affirmations of a calling to continue the work laid by leaders before him.
“This is our history, and so we have to embrace it, the ups and downs, the highs, the lows, the glows and grows,” Davis said. “We have to embrace our history. And he’s one of the pillars of the 20th century that people scholars of the 21st Century, we can look back and say, Hey, let’s embrace what he talked about again,” Davis said.
He described Jackson as a towering figure whose influence extended well beyond the African American community.
“Let’s bask in the ambience of what he did for this country, what he did for not just black people, not black Americans, but all Americans. And so we can let them know, in terms of that realm, that Jesse Jackson represented all Americans. He was an ambassador of humanity. He wasn’t just a civil rights activist. He was a global rights icon,” Davis said.
When reflecting personally on Jackson’s character, Davis said several qualities immediately come to mind.
“When I think about Reverend Jesse Jackson, I think about ambition. I think about the sense of American identity. I think about, of course, the walk in faith with Jesus Christ. I think about being a family man.”
Davis continues to carry forward the mission of advocacy and community empowerment. Most recently, he represented Little Rock as a grand marshal for the largest African American history parade held during Black History Month in Louisiana — an annual event welcoming people of all races and ethnicities to celebrate shared history and culture.
In addition to his role as a professor and historian, Davis serves as the executive director of the HBCU Black Wall Street CareerFest and remains active in numerous leadership roles throughout the community. He says leaders like Jackson continue to inspire him to use his voice for positive change.
As Arkansas and the nation remember Reverend Jesse Jackson, Davis says the best way to honor his legacy is to embrace the history he helped shape — and to continue building on the foundation he laid.
It’s been a bone-dry year in Arkansas. It’s now the 7th driest year on record in Little Rock since record-keeping began in 1875, as of April 20.
24 days so far this year in Little Rock have received measurable rainfall. 12 days received a trace amount of rain, meaning there were no rainfall measurements to report (it was too little to record), as it was just a sprinkle or a few spits.
Only 4 days have received an inch or more of rain so far this year. Those occurred on April 4, March 7, February 14, and January 24. January’s “rain” was really winter precipitation.
April is usually the rainiest month of the year in Arkansas. In Little Rock, April on average receives 5.59 inches of rainfall. So far this April, as of April 20, Little Rock has only recorded 1.17″ of rain for the month.
The rainfall deficit over the last 6 months is well over a foot for much of Arkansas, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Harrison.
Spring is the rainy season, and summer is the dry season. If rain isn’t recorded soon, the drought will persist into the summer. In fact, the latest seasonal drought outlook shows that while some areas of Arkansas could see improvements, the drought continues into July.
To fully end the drought, parts of central and northeast Arkansas need more than 25 inches of rain over the next 3 months. Parts of northwest Arkansas need between 15 and 20 inches of rain over the next 3 months. The rest of the state needs between 20 and 25 inches of rain over the next 3 months. All of this rain would need to be received slowly, not all at one time.
The odds of receiving this much rain slowly over the next 3 months are very low.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 5-3-2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 7-5-4-8
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from April 19 drawing
02-07-17-20-23
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
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.
BENTON, Ark. (KATV) — Saline County residents got a fresh boost earlier today when the Central Arkansas Development Council hosted its third Fresh Market event in the county, handing out about 300 bags of fresh produce free of charge.
The council, described as the largest community action agency in Arkansas, said the event is part of its ongoing effort to address food insecurity in the state and expand access to healthy food options.
“What we’re here to do is we’re here to be what our community needs us to be,” Randy Morris, CEO of Central Arkansas Development Council, said. “We are here to serve our mission, which is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential and to build strong communities in Arkansas through community action.”
The council also said it was rewarded funds by the government to host an emergency food drive that will happen soon.
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