Arkansas
Arkansas Foodbank and Walmart partner to kick off annual hunger relief campaign | Texarkana Gazette
For the next month, Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers in Arkansas and across the country will have the opportunity to support local hunger relief efforts at the register.
Through May 3, shoppers will be able to round up or donate while checking out as part of the 13th annual “Fight Hunger. Spark Change” campaign, a national partnership between Feeding America and Walmart that supports local Feeding America food banks around the country.
In Arkansas, donations will go to the Arkansas Foodbank, the local Feeding America food bank, which describes itself as the state’s largest hunger relief organization. The organization serves much of central, south and east Arkansas and distributes food from its warehouse to a network of local pantries, schools and shelters.
“We are so excited to partner with the Arkansas Foodbank,” Walmart Vision Center Development Coach Rhonda Johnson said Monday at a news conference at the Walmart on Bowman Road in west Little Rock.
“Every dollar matters,” Johnson said. “Make sure that you donate when you come into our Walmart and Sam’s Clubs.”
Arkansas Foodbank CEO Brian Burton said at the news conference that last year’s campaign yielded more than $188,000 for the food bank.
“The food bank doesn’t do this work alone,” Burton added. “Our 100,000-square-foot warehouse on 65th Street would quickly become a ‘food museum’ if it wasn’t for almost 400 pantry partners, scattered across these 33 counties, that actually move the food, that actually serve the people and carry them through life’s ups and downs.”
Shoppers can also contribute to “Fight Hunger. Spark Change” by donating online or purchasing food items made by companies that are participating in the fundraiser, including Dole, Frito-Lay, Hershey and Kellogg’s. Every participating item purchased at a Walmart or Sam’s Club translates into an additional donation for local hunger relief efforts.
“Funds raised through the campaign help Arkansas Foodbank prioritize nutritious food, including fresh produce, dairy and protein — foods families want and need,” according to a news release. “The support also strengthens local food pantries and meal programs, ensuring neighbors can access food in ways that are dignified and welcoming.”
Lascelles Lyn-Cook Jr., who heads community outreach at Hunter United Methodist Church in Little Rock, said at the news conference that his church’s food pantry has benefited greatly from its retail rescue partnership — through which Walmart diverts unsold food items — with the Bowman store.
“When I first took over with the food pantry, we were able to provide maybe 25 to 35 boxes of food, but now we go at least 160 because of the additional food that we get weekly from Walmart,” Lyn-Cook said.
The food pantry is monthly, Lyn-Cook said, and the 160 boxes feed roughly 500 to 600 people.
A federal report in January ranked Arkansas the hungriest state in the country for the third consecutive year.
The report, which relied on survey responses, estimated that 19.4% of households in Arkansas were food insecure, significantly higher than the 13.3% national average.
“We’ve been through some really hard few months here, with the government shutdown and a tumultuous economy and a lot of uncertainty,” Burton said. “But this is something we can control and we can shape and make better.”
BROOKLYN — Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff is the first of three Razorbacks off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft Tuesday night when he was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round.
Acuff’s selection makes him the highest drafted player from Arkansas since 2023 when Anthony Black went No. 6 overall to the Orlando Magic.
He went into the night projected to be the first player from the Hogs taken following a phenomenal freshman year that saw him earn first team All-American honors, SEC Player of the Year, league freshman of the year, and SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Likely his biggest accomplishment was becoming the first player to lead the SEC in points and assists since Pete Maravich in 1970.
As a freshman, Acuff averaged over 24 points, six assists and three rebounds on 48% shooting from the field, 44% from three and 81% from free throw line.
His knack as a bucket getter and facilitator lifted the Razorbacks to a different level in the postseason by averaging an astonishing 30 points, seven assists and one steal across six postseason tournament games.
He led Arkansas to a victory over Vanderbilt for the SEC Tournament Championship and back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.
Arguably his best performance of the season came in a double-overtime classic in Tuscaloosa against Alabama when he dropped 49 points on 16-of-27 from the floor, 6-of-10 from three and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. He also contributed with five rebounds, five assists and only one turnover in 50 minutes.
And don’t forget, the 6-foot-2, 186 pound point guard did all of that on a bum ankle he sustained against Aubrn just four days prior.
During a media appearance on ESPN last week, Calipari made sure to warn NBA teams they will regret passing on superstar point guard.
“A great teammate. We all hear stuff. I’m around these kids, all they want to do is get better. They want to respect who’s coaching them,” Calipari told Colin Cowherd on The Herd. “And Darius Acuff, I’m telling you, there’s going to be some guys regretting [not picking him.]
“That’s okay. That’s okay. When he starts playing, you’ll remember this conversation, and we’re saying, ‘You’re going to regret not taking him.’”
Acuff is the latest in a growing list of coach John Calipari guards to be selected as lottery picks across his four decades in the college game. Former Kentucky stars Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, John Wall, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox and Brandon Knight.
During his time at Memphis, Calipari helped Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and Dajuan Wagner were each lotter picks from 2000-2009.
The 2026 NBA Draft will continue with its second round Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Coach Cal Reaction
There haven’t been many times over the years that Calipari has missed out on watching one of his stars stroll across the stage to shake hands with the NBA Commissioner.
The second-year Razorbacks coach told the world Tuesday night that the Kings will be getting a “fierce competitor and winner” in Acuff.
With NBA Lottery pick and Sacramento Kings Guard Darius Acuff Jr!!! Congratulations to the entire family! The Kings are getting a fierce competitor and winner https://t.co/pk7T9H8e8b
— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) June 24, 2026
Being drafted by Sacramento shouldn’t come as a surprise either as most mock drafts pegged him at No. 7 overall since the beginning of the college basketball offseason. With so many connections to the franchise, the Kings’ organization might be the perfect fit after all as General manager Scott Perry coached his father two decades ago at Eastern Kentucky.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) – Registration is open for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s annual urban deer hunt.
This year’s hunts will be held in Cherokee Village, Fairfield Bay, Heber Springs, Helena-West Helena, Horseshoe Bend and Russellville.
The archery-only hunts are designed to offer an “inexpensive and effective method of nuisance deer management,” according to an AGFC news release.
Deer harvested during the urban hunts do not count toward a hunter’s seasonal limit, and there are no limits to the number of deer that can be harvested.
However, the first deer taken must be donated to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, which provides ground meat to food pantries across the state.
Hunters must pass the International Bowhunters Education Program before participating. The program is available at www.agfc.com/education/hunter-education.
Hunters also must attend orientation to learn the specific rules of the hunts and pass a shooting proficiency test.
For more information, visit www.agfc.com/urbanhunt.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2026 KAIT. All rights reserved.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Monday, June 22, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 22 drawing
17-19-21-45-48, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 22 drawing
Midday: 8-6-8
Evening: 4-9-7
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 22 drawing
Midday: 4-4-6-9
Evening: 6-4-1-4
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from June 22 drawing
07-17-23-28-32
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 22 drawing
07-08-20-24-42, 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.
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