Good morning, Little Rock.

Gatik AI Inc raised $200 million Tuesday to expand its autonomous trucking routes for Arkansas customers and its partnerships with Walmart and Tyson Foods.

The funding will help grow regional services, support increased operations (aiming for 100 driverless trucks by year-end) and boost performance on critical freight routes.

Delta Dental Arkansas named Jimmy Anthony as its next president and CEO to take over on Jan.

1, 2027 — Kristin Merlo will retire at year end and serve as an advisor in Q1. Anthony began his career with the company in 2007.

Entergy Arkansas filed a plan to convert its White Bluff coal plant near Redfield to burn natural gas for $301.3 million.

The project will modify Unit 1 (828 MW) to meet a settlement that will shut the plant down by end 2028 and may increase residential rates 23 cents.

Fuel Accelerator, an Arkansas-based startup support program, was named one of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators by TIME and Statista, ranking No. 59 among 80 programs.

It opened its 13th cohort (Tuesday, Aug. 25) in Little Rock to boost its enterprise-focused offerings.

Author Eli Cranor was awarded the 2026 Booker Worthen Literary Prize from the Central Arkansas Library System's Butler Center for Arkansas Studies for his 2025 novel Mississippi Blue 42, and he will receive a $2,000 prize at the Six Bridges Book Festival from Sept.

27-Oct. 4.

Country music star Dolly Parton wowed audiences with her memorable 1990 performance that featured a playful Razorback moment and later celebrated full state funding for her Imagination Library in Little Rock in 2022; the program now provides free monthly books to young children across all 75 counties.

Phyliss Stickney portrays Daisy Bates as she brings Little Rock history to life in a one-woman performance today at a local theater (details coming soon).

Jacksonville Elementary students and staff will remain relocated to Jacksonville High School on Wednesday, Aug.

26 as officials await final air-quality testing results and repairs to the building's ventilation system. Families and staff may expect an update when the report is received.

USDA announced its Harvest to Hallways initiative Monday to help schools buy Arkansas-grown food and upgrade their cafeterias.

The program will fund Farm to School grants and expand fresh food access for students (and local farmers), building on a pilot started last school year.

Arkansas DCFS is launching a statewide hiring campaign to recruit child welfare professionals with roles offering increased pay and benefits.

The campaign will include a recruitment webinar on Monday, Aug. 31 to help fill positions that protect children and support families in Little Rock.

Arkansas football added defensive back Brylan Green — a former Liberty player with strong stats last season — on Tuesday, but his practice start remains undetermined as eligibility questions continue to be resolved.

Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari extended a scholarship offer to ESPN 4-star prospect Asa Montgomery on Monday.

The 6-foot-7 forward (from Powder Springs) also received offers from Michigan, Duke, and other top programs.

Arkansas football players Steven Soles and Carter Stoutmire discussed the 'gruesome' training camp and praised wide receiver Chris Marshall (in a 20-minute interview on Tuesday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium).

They said the intense camp aimed to build strength for the season.