Arkansas’s Congressional delegation today announced that Congress has finalized legislation with funding for several projects critical to Arkansas’s military installations, research institutions and defense contractors. 

The members of the delegation said they are pleased the FY2008 Department of Defense Appropriations Act includes a 3.5% pay raise for military personnel, an additional $70 million to better meet the medical needs of wounded service members, $11.6 billion for body armor…[more]

Jefferson city, Missouri — Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan issued a warning to Missourians regarding unsolicited e-mails about tax refunds appearing to come from the Internal Revenue Service. The e-mail asks recipients for personal financial information such as ATM pin numbers and debit card information.

An auditor in the Missouri Securities Division of the Office of Secretary of State recently received a copy of one of the…[more]

SALEM, Mo.-Deer hunters headed to the Ozarks for Missouri’s firearms deer season need to know that the Mark Twain National Forest has closed an 11-square-mile area in Dent, Iron and Reynolds counties.

The USDA Forest Service closed the area 20 miles east of Salem in response to the crash of a fighter jet in the area Nov. 2. The closure is expected to remain in effect for 45…[more]

After discovering around 80 diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas since he moved here from Iowa in February, Chad Johnson just about tossed out what became his biggest find yet.

Johnson made the dig on Saturday and stored his equipment away fro the rest of the weekend. On [more]

Built in 1924, shut down and almost sold to out-of-state buyers, Little Rock’s “over-the-jumps” carousel has been restored and is now back in operation at its new home in the Little Rock Zoo.

Former state senator Mike Kinard was one of those who helped raise over $1 million in donations to make the restoration project a reality.

“You can’t put a price on childhood memories,” said…[more]

A media panel discussion on the topic of “Citizen Journalism and Ethical Practice” will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 in Room 313 of the Plaster Student Union on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.

The free program is open to the public, area journalists, teachers and students.

Nearby parking is available in the metered visitor lot on…[more]

Drivers in the St. Louis are have been worried for several years as some motorcyclists have taken to zipping around traffic, standing on their bikes and popping wheelies, even on crowded highways.

Now, a new twist has developed as some cyclists may have turned from daredevil stunts to violence.

[more]

A new mail scam has invaded the Ozarks area.

This one is claiming to be a legitimate deal from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, but is actually another way con artists have devised to separate innocent people from their hard-earned cash.

The scam begins with a letter and two checks – one is a cashiers check made out in an amount equal to about $3,800. The other is for…[more]

Six rabid skunks have been reported already this year in Logan County, and that’s cause for concern, according to Susan Weinstein, DVM, State Public Health Veterinarian for the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). It’s not just the number of skunks, however, but the fact that there has been a rabid dog reported that has made a difference to officials in the county and at ADH.

“We have several…[more]

An Arkansas success story that has been recognized nationally is our expansion of pre-kindergarten for children in poor families.

The first significant effort to create a statewide pre-K program occurred in 1991, when the legislature passed Act 212.

During this year’s regular session, the legislature and the governor made…[more]