Arkansas

Rare solar eclipse is set to become Arkansas’ biggest tourist attraction: Event will last only four minutes – but as many as 1.5 MILLION people will flock to the state in April

Published

2 years ago

February 5, 2024

Rare solar eclipse is set to become Arkansas’ biggest tourist attraction: Event will last only four minutes – but as many as 1.5 MILLION people will flock to the state in April

A rare solar eclipse will sweep across Arkansas this year and is expected to send 1.5 million people flocking to the state.

Just two total eclipses have crossed through the state since it became part of the US after the Louisiana Purchase, the first in 1834 and the second in 1918.

This year’s eclipse will pass northeast from Texarkana to Piggott on April 8 between 1.45pm and 2pm CDT.

A rare total solar eclipse is expected to send 1.5 million people flocking to Arkansas this year

The totality zone will fall northeast across the state from Texarkana to Piggott on April 8 between 1:45 and 2pm CDT

The event could temporarily increase the population of Arkansas by 50 percent

While it is shaping up to be the largest tourist attraction this year, it will only be visible for minutes at a time.

State tourism director Dalany Thomas told Axios that the event could temporarily increase the population of Arkansas by 50 percent.

The state Department of Transportation anticipates up to 1.5 million visitors. A half-million Arkansas residents are also expected to travel towards it.

Over 30,000 hotel rooms, 5,400 cabins and 6,400 RV sites fall within the eclipse’s path, excluding Airbnbs, Thomas said.

Morrilton Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer said on public affairs program AR Week that locals need to prepare as they would in an ‘ice storm.’

‘You may not be able to get out with the traffic problems,’ Lipsmeyer said.

In anticipation of the flood of travelers, the Department of Transportation has developed a traffic management plan and is working with local agencies.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun and all but completely obscures it.

While the Sun is around 400 times larger in diameter than the Moon, the Moon is about 400 times closer to Earth, causing them to appear roughly the same size in the sky.

During a total eclipse, the Moon just nearly covers the Sun, masking all but the corona – the outermost layer that appears as a ring of light.

A half-million Arkansas residents are also expected to travel towards the eclipse’s path

During a total eclipse, the Moon just nearly covers the Sun, masking all but the corona – the outermost layer that appears as a ring of light

The event will be visible in 11 ‘totality towns,’ with peak viewing time ranging from two to four minutes

The event will be visible in 11 ‘totality towns’ in Arkansas, with peak viewing time ranging from two to four minutes.

Clinton will spend four minutes and 14.9 seconds in the totality. The small city is home to riverwalk trails, a historic down full of local crafts, antiques and dining.

The eclipse will cross Mountain View for four minutes, 13.7 seconds. The city is nestled deep in the Ozark Mountains and home to the state’s largest craft cooperative, in addition to its copious options for outdoor recreation.

Hardy and Cherokee Village are both expected to spend 4 minutes, 12.1 seconds in the totality. Hardy is a preserved 1920s-era Ozark village with several bed-and-breakfast inns. By contrast, Cherokee Village is a 15,000-acre resort destination boasting two golf courses, swimming pools and a private beach.

In Heber Springs, the viewing time decreases to four minutes, 2.4 seconds. The city serves as a popular access point to Greers Ferry Lake, one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations, and the Little Red River.

Batesville will spend just over 4 minutes in the totality. This small community is home to the state’s oldest existing city historic commercial district, but new restaurants and businesses have sprung up over the years.

The eclipse will be visible in Mountain Home for under 4 minutes. The city was one of the state’s first retirement regions, with fishing resorts and hotels aplenty.

Searcy is projected to spend only 2 minutes and 55.7 seconds in the totality. The city’s claim to fame is its fishing, but there are also opportunities for climbing nearby and countless hiking trails.

The small Ozark Mountain town of Flippin will fall in the totality’s path for just two minutes and 49 seconds. The town falls just three miles west of the White River and is surrounded by vacation resorts.

The eclipse will be visible for 2 minutes and 47 seconds in Yellville, which provides access to Crooked Creek, popular for fishing and camping. The city also houses the Rush Historic District, a late 19th-century zinc mining town.

Visitors may catch a glimpse of the eclipse in Jasper with a narrow two-minute, 4.2-second window. Plentiful opportunities for hiking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, mountain biking and horseback riding.

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Arkansas

Univ. of Arkansas fires professor over alleged support of Ayatollah, anti-Israel remarks

Published

1 hour ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Univ. of Arkansas fires professor over alleged support of Ayatollah, anti-Israel remarks

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Dr. Shirin Saeidi, former director of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Center for Middle East Studies, has officially been fired following alleged pro-Iranian regime stances and anti-Israel remarks.

Saeidi was given a warning letter in July from the Dean of the Fulbright College, Brian Raines, after she allegedly used the school’s letterhead to campaign for the release of Hamid Nouri, who was convicted by a Swedish court in 2022 for ordering the execution of thousands of political prisoners at Gohardasht Prison in 1988.

Saeidi was suspended in December 2025 following posts on X in support of Palestine and former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referenced in the letter sent to Saeidi.

Raines expressed that her posts could be harmful to the university, especially its Israeli and Jewish students.

I am very concerned by your repeated statement that Israel, a nation recognized by the United States, must be ‘dismantled’, including being ‘dismantled by international forces,’” Raines wrote. “This could be taken as advocacy for a military invasion and destruction of a U.S. ally, which is not similar to criticism that would be voiced against any other nation.

Such statements are likely to create a chilling effect on many Israelis or Jews considering involvement with our Middle East Studies Program, and others, as well,” Raines added. “It also undermines any perception of our program as a scholarly and objective source of research and information rather than indoctrination.

I am also concerned that your actions reflect lack of judgement and are requiring repreated involvement from my office, creating unnecessary controversy and distracting from other university priorities.

Saeidi’s X account is suspended, and previous posts cannot be found.

Raines said that her actions could “undercut any notion of diverse intellectual opportunity when it comes to one of the most important political issues in the Middle East.”

In February 2026, the University of Arkansas Faculty Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure voted unanimously to restore Saeidi to her position as associate professor of political science at the university.

Despite the unanimous vote, on March 30, UofA President, Dr. Jay Silveria, overruled the unanimous decision, terminating Saeidi effective immediately.

In his written response, Silveria cited concerns that the university could lose funding as a result of Saeidi’s comments.

I am also concerned that the University could suffer a reduction or elimination of funding under Ark. Code Ann. 6-16-2004 if its responses to antisemitism are determined to be inadequate,” Silveria wrote. “Moreover, other institutions of higher education have endured funding losses at the federal level due to their insufficient responses to antisemitism under Title VI. Such an outcome could be devastating to the University of Arkansas—not just disruptive.

Saeidi and her legal team are expected to appeal the decision.

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Arkansas

Arkansas baseball vs. Auburn Game 1: How to watch and listen, pitching matchup, forecast, what to know | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

14 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas baseball vs. Auburn Game 1: How to watch and listen, pitching matchup, forecast, what to know | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

SCHEDULED GAME TIME

The game is scheduled to begin Thursday at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park (6,300) in Auburn, Alabama.

RECORDS

Arkansas: 19-11, 4-5 SEC

Auburn: 20-8, 4-5 SEC

STREAKS

Arkansas: Lost 4

Auburn: Lost 4

LAST 10 GAMES

Arkansas: 5-5

Auburn: 4-6

COACHES

Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 952-483 in 24th season at Arkansas and 1,272-640 in 32nd season overall in Division I.

Auburn: Butch Thompson — 344-240-1 in 11th season at Auburn and overall in Division I.

SERIES HISTORY

Arkansas leads 56-50

LAST MEETING

Auburn defeated Arkansas 8-6 on March 23, 2024, in Auburn to salvage a game in a 2-1 series loss.

TELEVISION

The game will be televised by ESPN2 and can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (subscriber login required). Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Jensen Lewis (analyst) will call the game.

RADIO

Phil Elson (play-by-play) will call the game on the Razorback Sports Network, which can be accessed through local FM and AM affiliates, via the Arkansas Razorbacks Gameday app, via the Varsity Network app or on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Blackouts may apply.

FORECAST

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday will be partly cloudy with a high of 83 degrees and a low of 62 in Auburn. Southeast winds will be around 5 mph.

STARTING PITCHERS

Arkansas: RHP Gabe Gaeckle (3-2, 3.58 ERA, 1.53 WHIP in 32 2/3 innings).

Auburn: RHP Andreas Alvarez (4-1, 0.85 ERA, 0.99 WHIP in 31 2/3 innings).

TEAM COMPARISONS

Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 4.02; Auburn 3.06

WHIP: Arkansas 1.24; Auburn 1.11

Scoring Avg.: Arkansas 7.30; Auburn 6.46

Batting Avg.: Arkansas .281; Auburn .285

Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .230; Auburn .218

Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .483; Auburn .426

On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .382; Auburn .399

OPS: Arkansas .865; Auburn .825

Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .977; Auburn .974

Run Differential: Arkansas +3.00; Auburn +2.89

RPI: Arkansas 66; Auburn 4

SOS: Arkansas 48; Auburn 1

WHAT TO KNOW

• The Tigers are ranked 11th and the Razorbacks are ranked 16th in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.

• Arkansas is 2-2 on the road. Auburn is 13-4 at home.

• This is the first of three games between the Razorbacks and the Tigers. They are scheduled to play Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

MORE FROM WHOLEHOGSPORTS

• Arkansas baseball’s record streak as a ranked team might be in jeopardy ahead of Auburn series

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Arkansas

Sanders Announces the April Face of Arkansas – Arkansas Governor

Published

1 day ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Sanders Announces the April Face of Arkansas – Arkansas Governor

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the fifth installment of Faces of Arkansas, a monthly series highlighting Arkansans whose portraits and stories are displayed at the entrance to the Governor’s office as a reminder of who the Governor and her team serve every day: the people of Arkansas. The series was launched to keep the focus of public service rooted in the individuals and communities that make the state what it is.

Each month, a different Arkansan is featured through a written profile, portrait photography, and a short video, with their framed photo hanging inside the Capitol. Selections are based on individuals who make Arkansas function — whether by serving as the heartbeat of their local communities, overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams, or playing an essential role in their industry.

This installment features Jolinda Bryant, of Conway, Department of Human Services Fiscal Support Specialist.

Jolinda Bryant at her office at Conway Human Development Center. Photo credit: Will Newton.

Jolinda Bryant – I Just Do It

For nearly 60 years, Jolinda Bryant has made the same drive to work. Two miles there. Two miles home.

It is a detail she offers the way she talks about most things: plainly, without trying to make too much of them. But in many ways, that steady routine says everything about her. For decades, Bryant has shown up to the Conway Human Development Center with the same sense of purpose that first brought her there in 1966: to do her job well, to help where she is needed, and to keep going.

“I’ve always worked,” she said. “It’s just my way of life.”

This week marks 60 years of service for Bryant, a milestone she will officially reach on April 2nd.

Bryant is currently the State of Arkansas’ longest-tenured employee, having spent nearly six decades in public service, all at the same center, all rooted in commitment to the local families needing assistance.

She serves as a fiscal support specialist for the Department of Human Services in Conway, where her work keeps the daily operations of the center moving, from balancing accounts to reconciling statements to assisting wherever the office needs her.
But her story is not one she tells in terms of titles or milestones. She tells it in habits. In responsibilities. In the simple discipline of doing what needs to be done.

At her desk, Bryant still keeps a handwritten book to track part of her daily work. When the numbers match and everything balances, she writes one short note beside the day’s entry: “BAL.” Then she closes the book and starts again the next day.

Bryant came to Conway as a teenager and graduated from vocational school after high school, where she learned the skills that would help shape her career: shorthand, typing, adding machines, and the basics of office work. College was out of reach at the time, so she got to work. After marrying her husband, Rob, at 19, she knew she needed a job. Through a connection to the personnel director at what was then called the Arkansas Children’s Colony, she got an interview and has been there ever since.

Over the years, she has worked through sweeping changes in both the workplace and the world around it. She started with typewriters and handwritten ledgers. She watched the center evolve, its systems modernize, and its leadership change through multiple administrations, superintendents, and business managers. She saw the move from paper to computers, even if, as she puts it, that transition was “a terrible adjustment” at first.

“I hate computers,” she said with a laugh. “I can’t help it.”
Still, she adapted, as she always has. That same willingness to step in wherever needed became the hallmark of her career. For 22 years, Bryant also served as acting supervisor for the center’s switchboard, on top of her regular duties, often without extra pay. She worked nights, weekends, and long shifts when necessary. Even after officially retiring for a brief period in 2005, she returned after just two months. During that time away, she still came in after hours to help keep the books balanced.

“I felt like I still had some work ethic in me,” she said.

That instinct – to keep helping, to keep showing up – runs through every part of her story.

Bryant describes herself as a people person, someone who can strike up a conversation anywhere and leave knowing someone’s life story. At work, that has meant more than just balancing numbers. It has meant checking in on coworkers, filling in when others are out, helping staff through hard times, and making herself available whenever someone needs a hand.

“I just want to be a help,” she said. “Just for people to know, hey, I’m here if you need me.”

That spirit has made her a steady presence in the office, but also in the lives of the people around her. Outside of work, Bryant has taught two-year-olds in Sunday school for roughly 45 years. She has watched generations of children grow up, get married, and start families of their own. She speaks about those years the same way she speaks about her work life: as a natural extension of who she is.

She does not seem especially interested in being celebrated. More than once, Bryant brushed aside the attention that comes with recognition, insisting she is “just a plain Jane person” who loves her job.

But spend a few minutes with her, and that description begins to shift. She is quick to tell a story, quicker to ask about yours, the kind of person who rarely meets a stranger and rarely leaves a conversation without knowing something about the person in front of her. When asked what it means to stand out after 60 years of service, she answered simply: “You don’t do it for such as this. You do it because you have a passion for what you do.”

That may be exactly why her story resonates.

In an age that often prizes movement, reinvention, and visibility, Bryant’s life offers a quieter example of purpose: staying, serving, and finding meaning not in the spotlight, but in usefulness. Her career has been built not on spectacle, but on consistency. On the belief that even the work people do not always see still matters deeply.

She never speaks of time the way others might.

“No, it does not seem at all,” she said when asked whether 60 years feels like a long time. “I never think about length of time. I don’t. I just do it.”

As long as she is able, Bryant says she plans to continue coming in. There is still work to do. Still people to help. Still another day’s balance to check. For nearly 60 years, Arkansas has had Jolinda Bryant quietly at work in Conway – steady, dependable, and just doing what she has always done.

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