El Dorado News-Times
El Dorado takes center stage as Gov. Sanders brings Cabinet to town
El Dorado served as the state capital for a day as Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her Cabinet met with first responders who battled last month’s destructive wildfires and spoke at the Mahoney Library at South Arkansas College. House Speaker...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
U.S. Senate debate between Cotton and Shoffner canceled
Salem Media Group will not hold a U.S. Senate debate between Republican incumbent Tom Cotton and Democratic candidate Hallie Shoffner, both campaigns confirmed Wednesday. Cotton and Shoffner, both of Little Rock, agreed to participate in the event by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
U.S. stocks edge back from their record following the first big batch of profit reports for the summer
NEW YORK — The first big batch of summertime profit reports from U.S. companies made waves on Wall Street after topping analysts’ expectations, but many canceled each other out. That left U.S. stock indexes little changed near their records on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
University of Arkansas College of Engineering’s Vision 2035 brings STEM workforce development to El Dorado
More than $2.2 billion in new industrial investment has been announced across south Arkansas, from defense manufacturing in Camden to lithium extraction in the Smackover Formation. The engineers it will take to build and run those operations are in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Isaias moves north into Appalachians and mid-Atlantic
PENSACOLA, Fla. — As people in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama cleaned up in the wake of Isaias, the storm’s remnants brought heavy rainfall Sunday and the risk of flooding across the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic region....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Arkansans are now able to use app for state services
SPRINGDALE — Arkansans can access any state service — from getting new car tags to making a reservation at a state park campground — using a new app recently unveiled. “The only thing you can’t do is get your photo taken for a new driver’s license,”...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Navi Pillay, South African-born jurist wins Nobel Peace Prize
OSLO, Norway — Navi Pillay, a South African-born jurist and former U.N. human rights chief whose career has spanned from defending the rights of an imprisoned Nelson Mandela to leading a panel that found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Hurricane Isaias is expected to strengthen as it barrels toward the U.S. Gulf Coast
BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. — Isaias surged toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, prompting mandatory evacuations, school closures and local government shutdowns in parts of Florida, Mississippi and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
R2S delivers first American produced Tamir missiles to Israel on anniversary of attacks
On the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Arkansas and Israeli officials joined together to celebrate the first shipment of Tamir missiles produced in the R2s facility in Camden. Originally announced in October 2023 following Arkansas...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
El Dorado Haunt gearing up for spooky season
The El Dorado Haunt returns Oct. 16 with a promise of more heart-pounding scares, nightmare fuel, screams and fun this spooky season. The 11th annual “haunted” trail will open at 7 p.m. Oct. 16-18, Oct. 23-25, and Oct. 30-31, weather...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Nobel medicine prize goes to 3 scientists for shining light on brain activity
STOCKHOLM — The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works. Dr. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel carried out research that opened a new...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Germany’s Merz announces new aid for Ukraine in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks
KYIV, Ukraine — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth more than $1.5 billion) during a visit to Kyiv on Sunday, as Russia escalated its attacks on Ukrainian cities. The aerial war has intensified, with Moscow...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Entergy gets $13.7M in federal aid
The U.S. Energy Department is awarding Entergy Corp. $13.7 million in federal funding to improve power delivery across the utility’s service territory. The funding will help deliver power and support economic growth across Arkansas, Louisiana and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NY governor says Cornell rape accuser was ‘failed’ by people obligated to protect her
NEW YORK — The woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including campus police and the county prosecutor, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday. Hochul said at a news...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SpaceX launches 4 astronauts on fast track to International Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts rocketed into orbit Thursday on a space station mission that will stretch until spring, among them a Canadian whose wife will give birth while he’s away. SpaceX launched commander Jessica Watkins and her crew for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump hails the US military’s exit from Iraq after its 12-year mission
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military announced Wednesday that it completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group and prompting President Donald Trump to hail the conclusion of “a very...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ex-Trump prosecutor defends investigations as Republicans assail his team’s tactics
WASHINGTON — Former special counsel Jack Smith forcefully defended his prosecutions of President Donald Trump and his investigative tactics, pushing back against repeated Republican efforts to paint him and his team as partisan political operators...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Five men arrested near a U.S.-run air base are out on bail, U.K. police probe whether there’s link to Iran
FAIRFORD, England — Five young British men arrested on explosives and terror charges near a U.S.-operated air force base in England were released Monday on bail, and counterterror detectives said they were investigating “multiple lines of inquiry,”...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Boozman bullish paid leave bill to be mulled
WASHINGTON — Arkansas’ senior U.S. senator suggested that lawmakers could consider legislation on paid leave after the midterm elections. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., worked with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on introducing the More Paid Leave for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Free screening of literacy documentary planned in Camden
To help raise awareness about illiteracy in South Arkansas, the Literacy Coalition of South-Central Arkansas is continuing its documentary-screening and panel discussion series. “Sentenced: A Call-to-Action”, an immersive documentary that takes an...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Xi says he’ll see Trump again soon as he wraps up U.S. visit
WASHINGTON — Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Washington on Friday by announcing that he will meet President Donald Trump two more times before the end of the year, doubling the number of face-to-face discussions between the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Netanyahu calls claims of genocide in Gaza ‘the biggest lie of the century’
Accusations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders Thursday in a speech that asserted his nation’s right to wage war against Iran — and was not heard by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Stocks slide on worries about inflation
NEW YORK — Pressure from the U.S. bond market hit a new level on Wall Street Wednesday after a strong report on the economy raised worries about inflation, while oil prices halted their slide. The squeeze caused U.S. stocks to sink. The S&P 500 fell...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
President Trump: U.S. and Iranian officials met, shortly after warning
UNITED NATIONS — President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met Tuesday, shortly after threatening in his address to the U.N. General Assembly that he may “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn’t reached soon to end the nearly...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wildfire in Calhoun County still burning
A fire that threatened areas of Highland Industrial Park is now at 85% containment, an official said. “We have a little bit of interior burning still. We’re trying to get that buttoned up before we get a a weather change tomorrow,” said Robert Murphy,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
An Israeli is shot dead in the occupied West Bank
An Israeli was fatally shot in the occupied West Bank, while Israel’s military said it killed a man who attempted to ram his vehicle into troops elsewhere in the Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, Iran’s top diplomat will stop in Qatar on his way to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
El Dorado students ready for Union County Livestock Show
For the members of El Dorado’s Future Farmers of America program, it’s showtime. The Union County Fair Livestock Show will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the fairgrounds with several events set for later in the week. “Some of them have been working...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Highland Industrial Park thanks crews, community as Bunker Fire containment reaches 75%
With the Bunker Fire now 75% contained, Highland Industrial Park is thanking the firefighters, emergency personnel and community members who have helped protect the park and surrounding areas. The fire had burned just over 2,800 acres, according to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Calhoun County wildfire remains 65% contained
The Bunker Fire in Calhoun County remains 65% contained as of Thursday, officials said. “We have good lines around the fire, but there’s still several hot spots in there,” Arkansas State Forester Kyle Cunningham said. “In the days following the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Official: Calhoun County wildfire 65% contained as of Wednesday
The wildfire near Highland Industrial Park in Camden was 65% contained Wednesday morning, according to the Arkansas Forestry Division. Around 20 to 25 first responders were continuing to contain the fire Wednesday as the flames have spread across...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Officials: Calhoun County fire 35% contained
CALHOUN COUNTY, Ark. — A wildfire burning near Highland Industrial Park in Calhoun County that forced evacuations and has drawn a growing response from state and local agencies is 35% contained. The fire was originally estimated at 2,338 acres. Crews...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Texas landowners ask a court to stop Trump’s Big Bend wall plans
MARFA, Texas — Landowners, ranchers and business owners in the Big Bend region of Texas along with a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the region’s landscape and heritage are suing to stop the Trump administration’s plans to build a wall...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iranian cargo ship is struck and talks between Tehran and its neighbors are postponed
CAIRO — An Iranian cargo vessel was struck early Sunday off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said, and a plan by Tehran to brief neighboring countries on its contested efforts to manage shipping in the strait was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Westerman: Data centers could be a benefit if handled properly
Data centers have drawn growing opposition over electricity and water use, utility costs, noise and their effect on communities. But U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman believes the centers are getting a “bad rap.” Westerman, R-Hot Springs, said Wednesday data...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘I’m in trouble’: Eyewitness recalls how historic Manhattan church became sanctuary, beacon of hope on 9/11
FOREMAN — Under the gaze of approximately 200 students, the Rev. Stuart Hoke wove a narrative of memories and spiritual realizations as an eyewitness of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York City. Hoke asked for grace before beginning his...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Smithsonian marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a display of rare artifacts
WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is honoring the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks this week with displays of dozens of rarely seen objects that tell the story of that day in personal terms. The exhibit,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rubio calls Ecuador an ‘aggressive’ partner in the U.S. counterdrug push
QUITO, Ecuador — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed Ecuador on Wednesday as being the most “aggressive” partner in the Trump administration’s push to crack down on drug trafficking and transnational criminal groups in the Western...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump honors 9/11 victims at the Ellipse, pledging to ‘never forget’
WASHINGTON — Nearly a quarter century after a day “etched forever into the memories of Americans,” President Donald Trump honored the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on Tuesday by vowing to “never forget.” The event at the Ellipse was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SouthArk Outdoor Expo set for Saturday
The SouthArk Outdoor Expo 2026 is set for Saturday at the El Dorado Conference Center, 311 S. West Ave., and the community is invited to celebrate all things outdoors. Entering its 27th year, the expo is an annual fundraiser that is presented by the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iran claims a strike on a U.S. ship in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. denies it
CAIRO — Iran said Sunday it struck an unmanned U.S. vessel trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that the U.S. military dismissed as a “total lie.” The purported attack came a day after the U.S. military said forces struck three Iranian oil...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Local chamber looks to build on business recruitment momentum
The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce is working with seven active state recruitment and expansion projects, has helped support 201 new jobs and is putting more attention on housing, infrastructure, health care and workforce needs. Chamber...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Clancy jury foreperson says they’re deadlocked over 1 juror
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial went home without a verdict Thursday in a dramatic sixth day of deliberations. Her defense lawyer told the judge that the panel’s foreperson said in a note that a single juror won’t...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Edouard drenches Texas, downs trees
PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The former Tropical Storm Edouard weakened into a depression but dumped nearly 2 feet of rain in some places, flooded roads and knocked down trees Wednesday in parts of Texas as it slowly moved north. Schools and municipal offices...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Possibility of floods as Edouard makes land fall on Gulf Coast
Rain fell Tuesday across parts of Texas and Louisiana as Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall near the border between the two states, bringing the possibility of flooding, the National Hurricane Center warned. The storm came ashore near Johnson Bayou,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Intermediate School project is progressing toward ’27 completion
Construction on the new El Dorado Intermediate School is transitioning from major projects to interior finishes, according to the school district. The facility being constructed where the former high school once stood is slated to host classes for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
US officials: Missile stocks in Europe ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is experiencing a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe largely driven by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, a U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official told The Associated...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Bond market may be resetting expectations about the U.S.A.
WASHINGTON — U.S. debt hasn’t been further downgraded, breakeven rates on inflation-protected bonds haven’t spiked, and the cost of insuring against a federal default hasn’t skyrocketed, signs that most investors still see U.S. bonds as a largely...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dolly Parton, music star, actor and beloved figure who spanned generations, has died at 80
Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, has died. She was 80 years old. Known for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Little basking in success of UAM’s trap shooting team’s debut season
El Dorado native Brody Little has long had a passion for the outdoors and hunting. However, it wasn’t until last year that he found an outlet to put all that he has learned on display. Little, who recently finished his freshman year at...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pentagon pressures expanding defense industry in South Arkansas
South Arkansas defense industry heavyweights Lockheed Martin and L3 Harris were working to expand weapons production well before the Pentagon ordered industry leaders to detail plans to speed up their assembly lines. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SAAC presents Four Seasons at Richland Creek Farm
Artist Maria Botti Villegas is hosting a “Harvest Season” Mixed Media Drawing & Painting Workshop for the third installment in her ‘Four Seasons at Richland Creek Farm’ series on September 19 from 9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. The workshop starts at Richland...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Potentially historic heatwave’ could expose Arkansans to more widespread heat illnesses
Arkansas could face what forecasters are calling a “potentially historic heat wave,” bringing sustained dangerous heat. Temperatures in the Little Rock area will reach 100 degrees on Thursday, with triple digit temperatures expected for at least 10...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mayflower joins other Arkansas cities in stopping use of Flock devices
Mayflower has become the second Central Arkansas city in the last week to ditch its Flock Safety license plate readers. Interim Police Chief Brittany Byrd announced Monday that after “evaluating the capabilities” of the cameras, Mayflower will...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Silver Screen Series returns to El Dorado
The South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society (SAHPS) has announced the return of its Silver Screen Series in a news release this week. The Silver Screen Series is dedicated to “showcasing timeless Hollywood classics from the remarkable film...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Houthis claim attacks on Saudi oil facility and Yemeni port, and other Mideast news
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday struck a government-held port on the country’s Red Sea coast, killing several people and deepening fears over threats to strategic Middle East shipping routes and a potential return to civil war. They also...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SouthArk welcomes students to Howard Hall
In June 2024, Murphy Oil Corporation announced a $10 million charitable gift to South Arkansas College to help start funding for a residence hall and a baseball stadium. Just over two years later, the first of the new facilities was officially...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Firm says sites in Camden, region could support new nuclear reactors
Locations in southwest and Central Arkansas are best suited for new nuclear reactors, according to a study presented Thursday to the legislature’s Joint Energy Committee. Brian Meadors, an attorney with Maryland-based EXCEL Services Corp., told the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Governor launches process to replace McCollum as legislator, but county judge candidacy still stands
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will ask Republicans and Democrats to choose candidates for a special election to fill former state Rep. Austin McCollum’s unexpired term in the state House, which ends Jan. 11. McCollum resigned Wednesday following his...
Read Full Story (Page 1)