Arkansas
Arkansas unemployment rises to 3.9% in latest Department of Commerce report against record high job level
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas unemployment numbers continue to climb in the latest Department of Commerce report.
The report shows unemployment went from 3.8% in August to 3.9% in September. This 0.1% increase followed the national increase for the same time period, which is now at 4.4%.
The state unemployment rate has been steadily climbing, though slowly, since a record low of 2.9% in the summer of 2023. The state has avoided the up-and-down peaks and valleys of changes in the national employment rate by remaining fairly stable, despite the slow increase.
The report shows the Arkansas civilian labor force increased by 3,437 in September, with 1,891 more unemployed actively seeking work and 1,546 additional employed. Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas rose by 16,000 in September to reach a new record high level of 1,393,300 jobs.
Compared to September 2024, Arkansas has 22,700 more jobs, the report stated. The Private Education and Health Services category posted the most significant growth, adding 8,800 jobs. Other notable category gains occurred in Trade-Transportation-Utilities, up 4,900; Leisure and Hospitality, up 4,700; Professional and Business Services, up 3,500; and Manufacturing, up 2,200, according to the report.
By county, Department of Commerce figures show the delta with the most significant unemployment rate of 7.2% in Desha County and 7% in Phillips County, both followed closely by Izard County in the state’s north with a 6.9% unemployment rate.
In northwest Arkansas, Benton, Washington, and Madison counties had below-state-average unemployment rates of 3.1%, 3.3%, and 3.3%, respectively.
Central in the state, Pulaski County showed a 4.3% unemployment rate, with surrounding Faulkner County at 3.7%, Saline County at 3.4%, Lonoke County at 3.6%, and Jefferson County at 6.3%.
Arkansas
Herron and Johnson Selected to AUSL Reserve Pool
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– Arkansas senior LHP Robyn Herron and senior OF Reagan Johnson were selected as provisional picks in the 2026 AUSL College Draft and have been named to the league’s reserve athlete pool, the organization announced Sunday evening.
AUSL provisional picks in the 2026 College Draft were selected to allow teams to secure the draft picks’ rights and give teams added flexibility. The AUSL Reserve Pool is an opportunity for players to potentially be called up, compete, and earn full-time roster spots. For example, Reserve Pool athletes will be utilized at the start of the season when select AUSL players compete overseas in the Japan Diamond League.
Herron is among the all-time Arkansas greats in the circle with 111 career appearances, 73 starts, 52 wins and a 2.18 ERA while registering 554 strikeouts and limiting opposing hitters to a program-record .180 batting average. She has also registered 16 10+ strikeout games in her Arkansas career, which is tied for Mary Haff (2018-2022) as the most in program history. This season, Herron is 14-4 with a 1.99 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 91.1 innings pitched. She currently ranks among the top pitchers nationally in fewest hits allowed per seven innings (14th, 4.45), saves (15th, 4), and strikeouts per seven innings (5th, 11.0).
Johnson is the all-time Arkansas career hits leader with 272, while her 68 career stolen bases are the third-most in program history. She has posted a .331 batting average this season with 48 hits, four doubles, a triple, and 14 RBI while drawing 27 walks, scoring 50 runs, and stealing 18 bases. Defensively, Johnson is among the best center fielders the game has seen during her four years on The Hill with a .988 career fielding percentage. She is on a 122-game errorless streak dating back to April 6, 2024, which is the longest errorless streak by an Arkansas outfielder on record (since at least 2001).
In addition to Herron and Johnson’s provisional selections, Dakota Kennedy previously received an AUSL Golden Ticket on April 6. The 2026 AUSL College Draft is set for Monday, May 4, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
No. 6/9 Arkansas (39-9, 13-8 SEC) will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series at Texas (April 30-May 2). Thursday’s contest will be at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network, while Friday and Saturday’s first pitch times are set for 2 p.m. and noon on SEC Network+.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Arkansas
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.
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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.
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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.
Arkansas
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.
After Tuesday, Arkansas has a break from severe storms. Only light rain chances persist into next weekend.
Download the Arkansas Storm Team app for the latest, and stay weather-aware.
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