Posted: Jul 3, 2020 / 03:08 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 3, 2020 / 05:05 PM CDTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — You have five-times the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for the Fourth of July than you did for Memorial Day according to Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith.Large parties over Memorial Day weekend caused a lot of concern about the spread of COVID-19.But Smith says you need to be even more cautious for the Fourth of July because the state now has five-times as many active cases as it did on Memorial Day.“You’re five times more likely to be in contact with someone who is an active case so things...…Posted: Jul 3, 2020 / 03:08 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 3, 2020 / 05:05 PM CDTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — You have five-times the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for the Fourth of July than you did for Memorial Day according to Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith.Large parties over Memorial Day weekend caused a lot of concern about the spread of COVID-19.But Smith says you need to be even more cautious for the Fourth of July because the state now has five-times as many active cases as it did on Memorial Day.“You’re five times more likely to be in contact with someone who is an active case so things...WW…

Posted: Jun 24, 2020 / 09:43 PM CDTUpdated: Jun 24, 2020 / 09:43 PM CDTA Fort Smith music venue announces plans to host a concert next month.Country music singer Parker McCollum is set to perform at TempleLive.The show is scheduled for July 10.Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.Those with the venue say they will be taking precautions to keep the venue safe for everyone.You may remember TempleLive had the country’s first concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in May.Thanks for signing up!Watch for us in your inbox.Subscribe NowThanks for signing up!Watch for us in...…Posted: Jun 24, 2020 / 09:43 PM CDTUpdated: Jun 24, 2020 / 09:43 PM CDTA Fort Smith music venue announces plans to host a concert next month.Country music singer Parker McCollum is set to perform at TempleLive.The show is scheduled for July 10.Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.Those with the venue say they will be taking precautions to keep the venue safe for everyone.You may remember TempleLive had the country’s first concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in May.Thanks for signing up!Watch for us in your inbox.Subscribe NowThanks for signing up!Watch for us in...WW…

Posted: Jun 17, 2020 / 04:37 PM CDTUpdated: Jun 17, 2020 / 05:04 PM CDTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Responding to Fayetteville’s mask ordinance, Governor Hutchinson said there is a conflict between what the city passed and executive orders issued by the state.He said he discourages other individual cities from taking this approach.“What you don’t want to see is 50 different municipal ordinances all providing different directions, requirements or penalties in reference to wearing of masks,” Gov. Hutchinson said.The governor said he does not intend to interfere with the ordinance but would...…Posted: Jun 17, 2020 / 04:37 PM CDTUpdated: Jun 17, 2020 / 05:04 PM CDTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Responding to Fayetteville’s mask ordinance, Governor Hutchinson said there is a conflict between what the city passed and executive orders issued by the state.He said he discourages other individual cities from taking this approach.“What you don’t want to see is 50 different municipal ordinances all providing different directions, requirements or penalties in reference to wearing of masks,” Gov. Hutchinson said.The governor said he does not intend to interfere with the ordinance but would...WW…

Posted: Jul 8, 2020 / 01:23 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 8, 2020 / 03:12 PM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Health officials worry the COVID-19 pandemic will worsen in the U.S. as a result of the Fourth of July celebrations.Since people traditionally travel and gather to spend Independence Day weekend, the fear is these get-togethers will increase the spread of the virus.It could be a while before we know if we will see a spike from this past weekend though since Dr. Gary Berner says our labs are overwhelmed with tests right now which means there will be a delay for people getting their...…Posted: Jul 8, 2020 / 01:23 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 8, 2020 / 03:12 PM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Health officials worry the COVID-19 pandemic will worsen in the U.S. as a result of the Fourth of July celebrations.Since people traditionally travel and gather to spend Independence Day weekend, the fear is these get-togethers will increase the spread of the virus.It could be a while before we know if we will see a spike from this past weekend though since Dr. Gary Berner says our labs are overwhelmed with tests right now which means there will be a delay for people getting their...WW…

UAMS says the increase in actual and predicted cases is due to the relaxing of social distancing regulations.Posted: Jul 7, 2020 / 04:45 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 8, 2020 / 07:46 AM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. () — A new model from said Arkansas is on track to reach 20,000 daily new infections by the end of September if conditions do not change.“If all things stay the same, our forecasts show about 20,000 new cases per day by the end of September,” said Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). “By adopting almost complete compliance with masking, these new...…UAMS says the increase in actual and predicted cases is due to the relaxing of social distancing regulations.Posted: Jul 7, 2020 / 04:45 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 8, 2020 / 07:46 AM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. () — A new model from said Arkansas is on track to reach 20,000 daily new infections by the end of September if conditions do not change.“If all things stay the same, our forecasts show about 20,000 new cases per day by the end of September,” said Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). “By adopting almost complete compliance with masking, these new...WW…

Posted: Jul 10, 2020 / 06:45 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 14, 2020 / 02:45 PM CDTFORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Fort Smith business gets one of the last remaining licenses to grow marijuana.The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission voted to issue the final two cultivation licenses.One went to River Valley relief.The other went to a group in Hot Springs.There are now eight licensed growers in the state.That is the maximum allowed.Storm Nolan with River Valley Relief said they hope to start with about 40 employees and could grow to over 100.“We’re going to be able to pull from Fort Smith workers in a...…Posted: Jul 10, 2020 / 06:45 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 14, 2020 / 02:45 PM CDTFORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Fort Smith business gets one of the last remaining licenses to grow marijuana.The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission voted to issue the final two cultivation licenses.One went to River Valley relief.The other went to a group in Hot Springs.There are now eight licensed growers in the state.That is the maximum allowed.Storm Nolan with River Valley Relief said they hope to start with about 40 employees and could grow to over 100.“We’re going to be able to pull from Fort Smith workers in a...WW…

Posted: Jul 6, 2020 / 02:13 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 6, 2020 / 06:44 PM CDTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) – Governor Asa Hutchinson announced 439 new cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas at his daily press conference on Monday.In his first press conference since Friday, Hutchinson announced that the number of patients hospitalized due to the virus in the state has spiked to an all-time high to 337 (), including 81 patients on ventilators (+6 since yesterday).Gov. Hutchinson reported 3615 tests performed in Arkansas over the last 24 hours, noting that the number was down, likely due to the holiday...…Posted: Jul 6, 2020 / 02:13 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 6, 2020 / 06:44 PM CDTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) – Governor Asa Hutchinson announced 439 new cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas at his daily press conference on Monday.In his first press conference since Friday, Hutchinson announced that the number of patients hospitalized due to the virus in the state has spiked to an all-time high to 337 (), including 81 patients on ventilators (+6 since yesterday).Gov. Hutchinson reported 3615 tests performed in Arkansas over the last 24 hours, noting that the number was down, likely due to the holiday...WW…

Posted: Jul 3, 2020 / 04:40 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 3, 2020 / 06:38 PM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Blue Lives Matter supporters came together in Fayetteville and they were met with counter-protestors just across the street.Organizers tell us they were in front of the courthouse for two different reasons.Jacci Perry with the Blue Lives Matter side told us she was there for America wanting to show her support of police officers and celebrate her freedom.The rally gaining support from Justice of the Peace candidate Shannon Marti.Marti posting on Facebook Monday signing people up to...…Posted: Jul 3, 2020 / 04:40 PM CDTUpdated: Jul 3, 2020 / 06:38 PM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Blue Lives Matter supporters came together in Fayetteville and they were met with counter-protestors just across the street.Organizers tell us they were in front of the courthouse for two different reasons.Jacci Perry with the Blue Lives Matter side told us she was there for America wanting to show her support of police officers and celebrate her freedom.The rally gaining support from Justice of the Peace candidate Shannon Marti.Marti posting on Facebook Monday signing people up to...WW…

Posted: May 20, 2020 / 05:07 PM CDTUpdated: May 20, 2020 / 05:14 PM CDTUPDATE: In an interview, Governor Asa Hutchinson says the PUA website is fixed.Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston says direct deposits will begin to go out Friday.Original StoryLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The FBI is now investigating the possible data breach of Arkansas’ Pandemic Unemployment website.The breach was announced by the state on Saturday morning.While the investigation continues, the state shut down the site to make sure it is safe and secure for users.“The data was exploited and so that raises...…Posted: May 20, 2020 / 05:07 PM CDTUpdated: May 20, 2020 / 05:14 PM CDTUPDATE: In an interview, Governor Asa Hutchinson says the PUA website is fixed.Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston says direct deposits will begin to go out Friday.Original StoryLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The FBI is now investigating the possible data breach of Arkansas’ Pandemic Unemployment website.The breach was announced by the state on Saturday morning.While the investigation continues, the state shut down the site to make sure it is safe and secure for users.“The data was exploited and so that raises...WW…

Posted: Jun 26, 2020 / 08:55 PM CDTUpdated: Jun 26, 2020 / 09:52 PM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A bipartisan group of Arkansas legislators has drafted a hate crimes bill but some state lawmakers aren’t on the same page.Arkansas is one of a few states without a hate crime law.The new bill would increase criminal charges for targeting someone based race, sexual orientation, religion, or, disability among others.It would also require an annual report on hate crimes in Arkansas.One of the writers of the bill Sen. Jim Hendren said the legislation would not create any new crimes but would...…Posted: Jun 26, 2020 / 08:55 PM CDTUpdated: Jun 26, 2020 / 09:52 PM CDTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A bipartisan group of Arkansas legislators has drafted a hate crimes bill but some state lawmakers aren’t on the same page.Arkansas is one of a few states without a hate crime law.The new bill would increase criminal charges for targeting someone based race, sexual orientation, religion, or, disability among others.It would also require an annual report on hate crimes in Arkansas.One of the writers of the bill Sen. Jim Hendren said the legislation would not create any new crimes but would...WW…