FORT SMITH — A Northwest Arkansas health system aims to expand into the River Valley with a proposed acquisition of several Baptist Health primary care clinics.

Springdale-based Community Clinic announced in a Tuesday news release it has signed a letter of intent to acquire multiple Baptist Health Family Clinics. The locations that it is seeking to acquire are in Alma, Greenwood, Fort Smith and Van Buren.

“For 35 years, Community Clinic has provided comprehensive primary care to Northwest Arkansas through a whole-person care model that integrates behavioral health, dental, pharmacy and specialty services,” the release states. “Today, the nonprofit serves more than 75,000 patients across more than 30 locations in Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma.”

“For us, this is about more than expanding our footprint. We believe every community deserves access to great primary care,” Judd Semingson, president and chief executive officer of Community Clinic, said in the release. “You don’t become part of a community by putting your name on a building. You become part of a community by listening first, showing up consistently and earning trust over time. That’s the commitment we’re making to the River Valley.”

“This proposed acquisition represents an important opportunity to build on the strong foundation of care our patients and providers have established throughout the River Valley,” Brandi Stewart, interim president/chief nursing officer for Baptist Health Western Region, said in the release.

“Community Clinic’s commitment to whole-person care and its deep connection to the communities it serves make it a natural fit to carry that legacy forward. Together, we are working toward a seamless transition that ensures patients continue to receive the trusted, compassionate primary care they know close to home while advancing our shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” she said.

Community Clinic plans to meet with clinic providers to “discuss opportunities” and recognizes that providers have build “trusted relationships” with patients, according to the release. Community Clinic is committed to “maintaining continuity of care throughout the transition” as it expands access to care for patients in the River Valley, the release states.

It’s far from a done deal, though.

Any final agreement between Community Clinic and Baptist Health will be subject to a regulatory review, approval by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, and execution of a definitive agreement.

In recent months, Baptist Health-Fort Smith has made multiple announcements regarding closures of major services and the layoff of employees.

Baptist Health on March 30 confirmed it would be ending labor and delivery services in Fort Smith effective April 28, citing a drop in births at the Fort Smith hospital.

Baptist Health-Fort Smith announced April 29 its plans for the closure of several departments and clinics in Fort Smith. The April 29 release said the closures would take place over the following 60 days and the changes would result in about 150 employees being laid off, including 10 physicians.

On June 2, Baptist announced the elimination of 70 additional jobs.

State Rep. Jay Richardson said June 23 he would be happy to work with the Fort Smith Board of Directors regarding a letter to the Arkansas General Assembly. The letter would ask that legislation be passed to require Arkansas hospitals to provide 180 days prior written notice before ending major services.

Ashley Torres can be reached by email at [email protected].

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.

Sign up to our free newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter) for the latest news.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow

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.