Explore

AP NewsAP News
Arkansas gem hunter says he found what may be a $1 million diamond

Arkansas gem hunter says he found what may be a $1 million diamond

Thousands of gem enthusiasts visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, each year
AP NewsAP News
Arkansas gem hunter finds a diamond he claims could be worth $1 million

Arkansas gem hunter finds a diamond he claims could be worth $1 million

Thousands of gem enthusiasts visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, each year
SB NationSB Nation
7 things we learned from Big Blue Madness 2026

7 things we learned from Big Blue Madness 2026

Several things to take away from this year’s Madness
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Amateur Gem Hunter Discovers 6-Carat Diamond in Arkansas State Park, Potentially Valued at $1 Million

Amateur Gem Hunter Discovers 6-Carat Diamond in Arkansas State Park, Potentially Valued at $1 Million

Jack Pearadin, a Navy reservist and amateur gem hunter, recently unearthed a 6.03-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. This discovery marks his most significant find after more than a decade of searching, during which he has found over 300 gems. Pearadin claims collectors have suggested the diamond could be worth up to $1 million, though an experienced appraiser cited by The Associated Press estimates its value closer to $250,000. The diamond, roughly the size of a fingernail, is the largest found at the park this year. Pearadin livestreamed the moment of discovery on TikTok, expressing his excitement. Crater of Diamonds State Park is unique as one of the only places globally where the public can search for diamonds and keep their findings, charging a $15 entry fee for a 5-gallon bucket of rocks. Most diamonds found there are small, typically weighing about a quarter of a carat, with larger finds being rare but not unprecedented.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
UAMS Community Health Workers Address Food Insecurity in Rural Arkansas Through Gardening Initiatives

UAMS Community Health Workers Address Food Insecurity in Rural Arkansas Through Gardening Initiatives

Community health workers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health are actively addressing food insecurity in rural Lee and Phillips counties, Arkansas, through gardening initiatives. Wonda Miller and a colleague, while conducting the Families Rising to Enforce Smokefree Homes (FRESH) study, discovered a significant prevalence of food insecurity among residents. This led to a pivot in their approach, integrating food assistance with their primary research on tobacco cessation. Under the guidance of Pebbles Fagan, Ph.D., MPH, a professor in the College of Public Health, the FRESH team collaborated with the Arkansas Foodbank, local ministries, and nonprofits to increase food pantries and giveaways. Additionally, Fagan secured a grant in 2021 for the FRESH Delivers study, which aims to help rural Arkansans quit tobacco by simultaneously addressing their food insecurity through community gardens and providing fresh produce.
USA TodayUSA Today
Where is the best Halloween street in the US? Nationwide search is on

Where is the best Halloween street in the US? Nationwide search is on

Where is the trick-or-treatiest street in the country? Reese's is hosting a contest to find out. See which streets made the short list of 150.
USA TodayUSA Today
Longstanding fashion retailer to close 120 stores by end of 2026

Longstanding fashion retailer to close 120 stores by end of 2026

The company previously announced a plan to open 10 stores and close between 40 to 50 this year. The number of closures has since risen to 120.
TrendlineTrendline
Scouting America Council to Honor Hunt Family for Multi-Generational Leadership and Philanthropy

Scouting America Council to Honor Hunt Family for Multi-Generational Leadership and Philanthropy

Scouting America Council to Honor Hunt Family for Multi-Generational Leadership and Philanthropy
Rapid ReadRapid Read
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Awards $24.6 Million Contract for Pine Bluff Arsenal Access Control Point

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Awards $24.6 Million Contract for Pine Bluff Arsenal Access Control Point

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District has awarded a $24,634,370 contract to Ross Group Construction Corp. of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This contract is for the design and construction of a new access control point at the Pine Bluff Arsenal’s Plainview Gate. The project aims to enhance security and improve the flow of personnel and vehicles entering the installation. Construction is slated to begin in 2027 and conclude by late 2029. The project was reportedly pushed forward by the Arkansas Congressional delegation, including Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, and Representative Bruce Westerman. The new access control point will feature a visitor control center, gatehouse, guard booths, pedestrian shelter, roadways, parking, lighting, traffic signals, and various vehicle barriers, along with advanced information systems and security measures.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
U.S. Representative French Hill Secures Additional Federal Funding for Arkansas HBCUs

U.S. Representative French Hill Secures Additional Federal Funding for Arkansas HBCUs

U.S. Representative French Hill (R-AR) joined leaders from Arkansas's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to announce additional federal funding. This funding, totaling approximately $4 million for Arkansas's four HBCUs, was part of a larger $174 million allocation from the U.S. Department of Education to HBCUs nationwide. Philander Smith University, one of the institutions, is set to receive $1,139,146 from this one-time allocation. The announcement, made on the Philander Smith campus, included representatives from Arkansas Baptist College, Shorter College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The leaders emphasized the critical role HBCUs play in providing higher education pathways, especially for first-generation students and those with significant financial needs. This federal funding is distinct from the proposed IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Representative Hill, which aims to establish competitive grants for long-term infrastructure and facili...
Rapid ReadRapid Read
U.S. Energy Department Awards Entergy $13.7 Million for Grid Modernization in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi

U.S. Energy Department Awards Entergy $13.7 Million for Grid Modernization in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted Entergy $13.7 million in federal funding to enhance electric grid reliability and meet increasing energy demands across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This investment, part of the DOE’s Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program, will enable Entergy to deploy advanced dynamic line rating technology across more than 1,000 miles of existing transmission lines. The project also includes targeted geographic surveys, substation and terminal upgrades, and hardware integration along 1,125 miles of transmission corridors. According to John Hudson, chief external affairs officer for Entergy, this new technology aims to deliver more reliable and affordable electricity by reducing congestion, improving system readiness for large loads, and potentially avoiding capital costs for other transmission upgrades. The upgrades are designed to increase transfer capability on selected transmissi...
AP NewsAP News
3 GOP states go to US Supreme Court to challenge 3 Democratic-led states' abortion 'shield' laws

3 GOP states go to US Supreme Court to challenge 3 Democratic-led states' abortion 'shield' laws

Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana have gone to the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge abortion “shield laws” in California, Massachusetts and New York that protect providers who prescribe abortion pills across state lines