Arkansas
Arkansas lands grant to battle deadly cattle tick disease
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Dave Van Horn dishes on what went right for Arkansas baseball in a regional win over Missouri State.
As cases of a deadly tick-borne cattle disease continue to spread across Arkansas, researchers with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture have received nearly $500,000 in federal funding to test potential treatments to protect cattle herds.
The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station received a two-year, $492,218 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study ways to combat bovine theileriosis, a disease caused by the parasite Theileria orientalis Ikeda and carried primarily by the invasive Asian longhorned tick.
Emily McDermott, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and project director for the grant, said the rapid increase in cases has created significant challenges for cattle producers across the state.
“Arkansas cattle ranchers are reporting significant losses of the herd, resulting in economic hardship,” McDermott said.
No approved drugs or vaccines currently exist in the United States to treat or prevent the disease, making the research especially important as infections continue to expand across Arkansas.
Researchers will evaluate two commercially available approaches that could be adopted quickly by producers if proven effective. One is a prescription anti-tick vaccine developed by Medgene for long-term protection. The other will test the slow-release parasiticide eprinomectin in combination with currently labeled tick-control products and compare its effectiveness to two pyrethroid treatments.
Theileriosis produces symptoms similar to anaplasmosis, another tick-borne disease familiar to many cattle producers. Infected cattle may experience weight loss, reduced milk production, loss of appetite, anemia and reproductive losses.
“One of the tricky things about Theileria is that it looks so much like anaplasmosis that I think a lot of producers might not be aware they have a new disease,” McDermott said. “We’ve heard the same story a lot over the last year: ‘I had a bunch of cows die, and I thought it was anaplasmosis, but it was weird.’”
Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist with the Division of Agriculture and a collaborator on the project, said one key difference is that bovine theileriosis can cause illness in cattle of any age, while anaplasmosis typically affects older animals.
Two genotypes of the parasite, Ikeda and Chitose, have been confirmed in Arkansas, including Logan, Franklin, and Johnson Counties. Ikeda considered it more harmful because it attacks blood cells and can be fatal.
Researchers say infections caused by the Ikeda genotype typically kill 1 to 5 percent of infected cattle but have reached mortality rates as high as 50 percent in some outbreaks.
“It’s hard to think of a tick-borne cattle pathogen that’s had this much of an impact in the United States since Texas cattle fever,” McDermott said, noting that Arkansas partnered with the USDA for decades during the first half of the 20th century to eradicate that disease.
The grant also includes funding for outreach through the Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service to educate county extension agents, ranchers and veterinarians about the disease and its transmission.
The Asian longhorned tick was first confirmed in the United States in 2017 and in Arkansas in 2018. The first Arkansas cases of bovine theileriosis caused by Theileria orientalis Ikeda were confirmed in 2024.
Since then, the parasite has been confirmed in 15 Arkansas counties, while established Asian longhorned tick populations have been identified in 10 counties. Researchers expect those numbers to continue growing and say confirmed disease cases in counties without established tick populations suggest infected cattle are carrying the parasite as they are moved from place to place.
Researchers are also investigating whether insects such as horse flies may be capable of mechanically transmitting the blood-borne pathogen between animals.
Loftin said the Division of Agriculture will continue providing information through webinars, field days, and its “Asian Longhorned Ticks & Theileriosis in Arkansas” website as the study moves forward.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When thinking in terms of stretches, some of the Razorbacks’ hardest games come at random times throughout the season.
However, there is a crucial stretch of games that takes up the whole month of October that will ultimately define how the season will be perceived.
Of course, it’s not completely fair to grade a first-year coach based on his win total in Year One no matter how good he was at his previous stop. But when it’s all said and done, Arkansas’ success under coach Ryan Silverfield will be graded upon how hard his team fights, and how disciplined they’ve become before the wins begin flowing in.
Embracing the 12th Man
When Arkansas heads to College Station for its first SEC road game of the season, it’ll be the first time since 2012 that the Razorbacks will play in front of a full capacity Kyle Field crowd.
The Aggies will be coming off a relatively tough four game stretch to being the season against Missouri State, Arizona State, Kentucky and at LSU in Tiger Stadium. Coach Mike Elko’s teams are 15-1 in September and October since his arrival in 2024 with his lone loss coming in his debut against Notre Dame.
The Razorbacks will be facing an offense loaded with weapons between Marcel Reed, Rueben Owens, Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman and many others. This will be a major test for Arkansas’ rebuilt defense if they can figure out a way to slow the Aggies down.
Will Lightning Strike Twice in Fayetteville?
Arkansas fans remember Oct. 5, 2024 fondly. That was the last time the Razorbacks won a home game against a power conference opponent, which happened to be Tennessee 19-14 and it resulted in a field rush of a capacity crowd.
It was mentioned Monday that there are some similarities between this game and the last meeting between the two in 2024. One is the fact that a highly regarded former 4-star and redshirt freshman quarterback, George Macintyre, will make his first SEC road start.
But he’ll at least be tested heavily against the likes of Georgia Tech, likely preseason No. 1 Texas, and Auburn before heading to Fayetteville.
There are some questions for Josh Heupel this season after gutting his defensive coaching staff by hitting the reset button with his hiring of respected coordinator Jim Knowles. There’s enough talent on that side of the ball to possibly bail the offense out if things stall multiple possessions per game.
For an Arkansas offense under new direction from offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, this stretch will tell fans a whole lot about the Razorbacks program trajectory and complete buy-in.
One unique nugget is Silverfield is 5-1 against the current group of SEC head coaches, which includes a thrilling 50-49 victory over UCF in 2020. The Golden Knights were coached by Heupel, who was in his final year with the program before being hired by Tennessee.
Encore in Music City?
Heisman finalist Diego Pavia finally ran out of eligibility after last season, which means the Commodores have to start over but this time with 5-star quarterback signee Jared Curtis.
Arkansas has been quite successful in games played at FirstBank Stadium through the years with a 4-0 all-time record in Nashville.
Coach Clark Lea will field a solid defensive unit that features a potentially dominant group of linebackers in Nick Rinaldi and Brian Longwell.
However, it was Vanderbilt’s secondary that struggled to stop the passing game, finishing No. 118 nationally at 249 yards per game.
Cramsey’s offense is predicated on getting playmakers room to work in space and there’s certainly an opportunity to find wiggle room against a rather suspect coverage group.
This is a game the Razorbacks have to win before going into a much needed bye-week and final stretch of the regular season.
Hogs’ Tricking or Treating Against Mizzou?
On paper, this Missouri team will have its most talented roster under Eli Drinkwitz 43 former 4-star recruits and only 25 3-stars. Led by new starting quarterback Austin Simmons, he’ll be tasked with giving the Tigers’ offense more explosive with a downfield passing attack.
Between Beau Pribula and Matt Zollers, the two completed just 30 passes that surpassed 20+ yards in 2025, which ranked No. 106 nationally. The biggest of questions will be whether or not star running back Ahmad Hardy will be ready to go when the season begins or by the time Halloween comes around to carry Missouri to its first College Football Playoff bid.
Drinkwitz’s team will have a murder’s row of a schedule from Oct. 3 through the conclusion of the regular season with games against Florida, Texas A&M, at Ole Miss, at Arkansas, Texas, at Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma.
An interesting note is the Razorbacks are 11-5-1 all-time in games played on Halloween, but 4-1 on that same date at home.
2020: L @ A&M
2009: W vs Eastern Michigan
1998: W @ Auburn
1992: T @ Auburn
1987: W @ Rice
1981: W @ Rice
1970: W @ Texas A&M
1964: W @ Texas A&M
1953: W vs Texas A&M
1942: L @ Texas A&M
1936: W vs Texas A&M
1931: L vs TCU
1925 W vs LSU
1914: L @ Oklahoma State
1908: L @ Oklahoma
Silverfield’s team will probably be playing for their postseason lives at this point in the season, but his program can’t be graded on its win-loss record alone this fall.
There’s a possiblity that his team goes 0-4 in this stretch or sneak up and beat the likes of Tennessee, Vanderbilt or even sneak up and bring the Battle Line Rivalry trophy back to Fayetteville for the first time since 2020.
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The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Monday, June 29, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 29 drawing
10-14-41-53-59, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 29 drawing
Midday: 1-9-5
Evening: 7-2-9
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 29 drawing
Midday: 1-6-7-1
Evening: 4-9-8-3
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from June 29 drawing
11-12-23-27-32
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 29 drawing
04-25-26-31-36, 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.
LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Monday, June 29, Republican Harrell Wilson announced his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate District 1.
Wilson currently serves as President of the Cleveland County School Board, on the AgHeritage Board of Directors, Camp Wyldewood Board, Arkansas Forestry Association Board, AFA Education Board and UAM Foundation Board and Board of Visitors.
He is endorsed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Attorney General Tim Griffin, and Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge.
The Senate seat is being vacated by Senator Ben Gilmore.
From the Senate to the Attorney General’s Office, Gilmore’s exit opens District 1 seat
The district includes all of Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Cleveland counties and part of Drew, Grant, Jefferson and Lincoln counties.
Wilson also operates a family-owned hardwood sawmill and farms pine and hardwood timber.
He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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“As your state senator, I will always fight to protect life, oppose any encroachment on the Second Amendment, and defend Arkansas family values. District 1 will continue to have a senator who will fight for limited government, less regulations on Arkansas businesses, lowering our tax burden, and solutions facing our forestry and agricultural industries. As a Christian conservative Republican, I understand and take seriously protecting our shared family values and our God-given individual liberties. Southeast Arkansas will have a senator who will continue making our community the best possible place to live, work, do business, and raise a family,” Wilson said.
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