LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The union representing bus drivers are bringing their concerns to the public as they work to negotiate a new contract with Rock Region METRO.

Rock Region METRO and Local 704 of the Amalgamated Transit Union work up a new agreement every three years and have been negotiating this year’s contract since early June.

At a rally Saturday night on the steps of the State Capitol, the president of Local 704, Floydell Bibbs, said several routes have been interrupted because of a shortage of available drivers.

The union said one of the key issues they currently have with management involves wages, and how overtime is calculated.

“The only thing we’re asking for is a fair contract, we’re asking for fair wages, and we’re asking Rock Region METRO to come to the table and talk about wages, which they have not done,” Bibbs said.

KARK 4 News reached out to Rock Region Metro management Friday afternoon in advance of Saturday’s rally but have not heard back.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials are continuing to investigate a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella linked to contact with backyard poultry flocks, according to an update released on Thursday.

195 people from 38 states, including nine in Arkansas, have contracted Salmonella from touching or carrying backyard ducks or chickens, as of May 23.

The investigation began on May 23 with 109 cases in 29 states initially reported. Arkansas has seen 4 new cases since the initial report.

No deaths have been reported, however, 50 people have been hospitalized, a jump of 17 since May 23. The CDC says 41% of those infected were under the age of 5.

Missouri has seen the highest number of cases with 23. Texas has 21, 16 in Oklahoma, and Alabama, Washington and Nebraska have 10.

Cases have yet to be reported in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. All other states have confirmed at least one case.

The CDC says Salmonella can cause symptoms that include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

The agency also said to not let children under five years touch chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry as younger children are more likely to get Salmonella.

For more information on what to know about the outbreak, visit the CDC’s website.

If you ask any honest Kentucky fan about John Calipari’s time as their head coach, they might have many negative things to say. But not one of them would argue about his recruiting abilities. Luckily, for Arkansas fans, it looks like he’s still got it.

On Friday, the No. 1 point guard in the 2025 class released his top-4 schools, including Arkansas.

Darius Acuff Jr. announced in an X post that Arkansas, UCONN, Kansas, and Michigan are still in play for his commitment. According to 247 Sports composite rankings, Acuff is a five-star prospect with a .9967 rating and the No. 8 player in the country. 247 itself is a little higher on Acuff, ranking him the nation’s fourth-best player in the 2025 class.

Adam Finkelstein, the director of scouting for 247 Sports, wrote this about the IMG Academy product:

“Acuff is the most dominant and dynamic lead guard in the class, who plays with outward confidence. He controls the offensive end of the floor with the ball in his hands and has a variety of versatile tools at his disposal. Firstly, he’s cut-up and powerful with long arms (a +4.5 inch wingspan). So, when he drops his body to attack, he can absorb contact without getting pushed off his line, whether that be in the open floor or half-court. That contributes to his ability to dictate his own pace and avoid getting sped up. He’s got a good early feel for how to play pick-and-roll, and loves to both change his angle right before reaching the screen and also split those defenders just when coming off. He’ll attack hard in the open floor and can really get downhill with his increasing power and sheer force.

“As Acuff has sculpted his frame, he’s simultaneously become more explosive and improved his first-step, but it’s often his second-move, or counter, that is especially lethal. He’s got a lot of different options when he goes through his legs mid-drive and has even become adept at adding a burst of speed, and accelerating, in the midst of his attack. Inside, the lane he has a full assortment of scoring options including crafty wrong-footed finishes, complete use of both hands at the rim, and good range on his runner. He is also a tough shot-maker and improving overall shooter who is equally dangerous off the catch or dribble, and doesn’t need much separation to get his shot off.

“Acuff is most effective when he’s making those around him better and asserting himself as efficiently as possible. He has good vision and is a talented passer, but like many young scoring lead guards, he can sometimes dominate the ball and settle for unnecessarily tough shots. Defensively, his physicality and competitiveness should be long-term assets, while he gradually seems to be getting a little looser in his hips.”

Landing Acuff isn’t a guarantee for Arkansas. On3 Sports has the Razorbacks with a 44.3 percent chance to land him, while Kansas still leads with a 51 percent chance.