NEWPORT — State playoff brackets put Newport and Harding Academy on a collision course in two of the last four football seasons. This season, the Arkansas Activities Association’s reclassification cycle did the trick.

FAYETTEVILLE — A starting cornerback opening the Razorbacks football season, graduate transfer Jerry Jacobs has opted out of continuing the 2020 campaign, Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman said Monday.

TUCKERMAN — The Tuckerman junior and senior high basketball teams kicked off the season last Friday with the annual Red vs. White game.

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Farm Bureau announced today a commitment of $300,000 to the FFA and 4-H over the next five years to support the development of new facilities and the growth of these youth leadership programs. Each organization will receive a total of $150,000.

HOLLYWOOD — Although he’s been experimenting with Bakersfield, Calif., jazz sounds, Newport native Jim Ranger decided to stick with his country roots when he selected Blake Shelton to be his coach Monday night on NBC’s The Voice.

BATESVILLE — Twenty-one residents of The Springs of Batesville nursing home have died from COVID-19, which is more than any other nursing home in the state.

NEWPORT — A review has been completed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation at the request of the City of Newport, and it has been determined that the traffic signal at Walnut and Third streets is no longer warranted, according to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Each year we discuss safety during Halloween. This year we are going beyond the flashlights and reflector tape. Many traditional Halloween activities are considered high-risk for spreading viruses, but there are safer ways to celebrate.

ASH FLAT — Emerson will open a new facility in Sharp County, where it plans to invest $35 million and create about 245 new jobs within four years.

LITTLE ROCK — Come learn the art of writing from well-known author and publisher Janis F. Kearney during this free, virtual workshop at 10 a.m. Nov. 9.

SEARCY — Sharon Clark of Newport was one of more than 100 students who received diplomas at Harding University for summer 2020 during a virtual ceremony on Aug.15. These graduates were recognized alongside more than 800 additional students who completed their degrees in May.

JONESBORO — The number of new confirmed coronavirus infections in Arkansas grew by 5.05 percent from Oct. 12 through Sunday, a slight improvement from the 6.18 percent jump in infections the previous week.

FAYETTEVILLE — For their part in the defensive gem polished by Arkansas securing seven turnovers in last Saturday’s 33-21 victory at Reynolds Razorback Stadium over the previously explosive Ole Miss Rebels, Razorbacks, senior middle linebacker Grant Morgan and redshirt freshman cornerback Hu…

The votes have yet to be counted in the 2020 elections, but in Arkansas, the 2022 campaign has already started.

Each year we discuss safety during Halloween, this year we are going beyond the flash lights and reflector tape.

SALEM — Newport scored the final 23 points last Friday night to polish off its eighth victory of the season, a 51-14 rout of Salem in 3A-2 conference high school football.

The courageous tradition of public safety is carried out by Arkansans who are dedicated to maintaining law and order. It takes a special person to put his or her life on the line every day to serve and protect a community. We are fortunate to have some of the very best law enforcement office…

NEWPORT — Newport earned its second consecutive shutout victory last Friday, limiting Mountain View to 110 total yards in a 42-0 rout.

FAYETTEVILLE — Not only from Arkansas fans and Arkansas media but national media and fans nationally, these Razorbacks incessantly hear they were wronged.

NEWPORT — Drucilla “Dru” Cunningham, 43, of Newport departed this life Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in Jonesboro. Drucilla was born Nov. 12, 1976, in Newport.

LITTLE ROCK — A first-of-its-kind study by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will test whether deliveries of healthy food, along with recipes and education materials, can help reduce type 2 diabetes among food-insecure rural Arkansans.

SEARCY — Newport forced Riverview to finish with negative offensive yardage last Friday as the Greyhounds kept their record perfect with a 41-0 rout of the Raiders.

NEWPORT — A teen accused of murdering a Newport police officer in 2017 was sentenced Tuesday to 42 years in prison, prosecutors announced.