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Monday, November 2, 2026

Fichardt wins the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock

Plus, AG Tim Griffin pledges $500,000 to restore War Memorial's fishing pond

The Today in Little Rock team4 stories19 sources7 min read

SportsTop story

Darren Fichardt wins the Simmons Bank Championship with an eagle on the 18th hole

Fichardt set a tournament record on his way to $365,000

$365,000
first-place prize
22 under
a new tournament scoring record
64
Fichardt's final-round score, 8 under

Sources: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, KARK

South Africa's Darren Fichardt used a birdie-eagle finish Sunday to win the Simmons Bank Championship at . His eagle putt on the par-5 18th set a tournament record at 22 under and beat Zach Johnson by one stroke.

Fichardt, 51, came in 46th in the standings and is now projected 17th. That puts him in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix, which begins Nov. 12. Only the top 36 players get in.

Fichardt's win moved him from 46th to a projected 17th in the Cup standings

Charles Schwab Cup standings, by rank

BeforeProjected now
Fichardt 46Ridings 17
17 −63%19 +12%

Source: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View as table
BeforeProjected nowChange
Fichardt4617−63%
Ridings1719+12%

“I must say I was very nervous, but excited as well.”

Natasha Fichardt, who caddied for her husband all week
  • Tag Ridings: shot 69 Sunday, tied for 28th at 6 under
  • Foreign winners: Harrington in 2024, Alker last year, now Fichardt
  • Saturday: Fichardt's 11-under 61 put him in position to contend

Parks

AG Tim Griffin pledges $500,000 to restore the War Memorial Park fishing pond

If you've wondered when the fishing pond at will be fishable again, there's movement. Attorney General Tim Griffin pledged $500,000 Thursday at a fundraiser at Trio's Restaurant, setting the money aside from a Monsanto settlement over PCB pollution. Silt has turned the pond into a shallow wetland.

$64 millionMonsanto settlement over PCB pollution, $32 million of it guaranteed

Griffin said $32 million is guaranteed, and that his office will dedicate a large portion to protecting water quality.

Source: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Steve Davison's group picked the cheapest of three plans: dredging the mud and adding fish habitat, at $750,000. An earlier report said organizers hoped to raise money that would also cover fishing piers and trees for fish habitat. Griffin's pledge leaves it $250,000 short, and he didn't say where the rest comes from. It's a temporary fix that won't keep silt from refilling the pond.

Griffin's pledge covers two-thirds of the dredging plan

Source: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View as table
AmountShare
Griffin's pledge$500K66.7%
Still needed$250K33.3%
  • Fri., Nov. 6: Griffin plans statewide water announcements with state agencies
  • Lasting fix: restoring stream banks will cost multiple millions
  • Trout: Game and Fish says a deeper pond could support winter fishing

Public Safety

North Little Rock police are investigating after a woman was found dead in a vehicle on Halloween night

North Little Rock police are investigating the death of a woman found inside a vehicle Saturday night. Officers went to the 1400 block of W. Long 17th St. at 9:49 p.m. after a report of a sick or injured person. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

9:49 p.m.Saturday, when police responded to W. Long 17th St.

Officers found an unresponsive woman inside a vehicle.

Sources: KATV, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Police haven't identified her. Detectives opened a death investigation. Her body went to the so the manner and cause of death can be determined. If you know anything, here's who to call.

Two numbers take tips on the North Little Rock investigation

WhoNumber
Police Tip Line(501) 680-8439
Det. Michael Gibbons(501) 771-7149

Sources: KATV, FOX16.com

  • Location: about 2 miles southwest of the I-40 and I-30 interchange
  • Cause of death: pending at the state Crime Lab
  • Tips: callers can stay anonymous

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Sports

First-year Coach Travis Ford opens UALR's men's basketball season at VCU on Monday night

The Travis Ford era begins Monday night in Richmond, Va., against Virginia Commonwealth. It's the first game of the season for both squads. Ford isn't sugarcoating it: "We start out against a legit top 25 team."

Ford has 14 newcomers and one returner, and he's told his team it will be a work in progress. "We don't have a best player," he said. The Trojans got a taste of a big crowd Oct. 16, when they fell to Kentucky before nearly 19,000 fans.

UALR fell to Kentucky 69-⁠49 in a preseason exhibition

  • Arkansas-Little Rock49
    Kentucky69
    FinalExhibition, Oct. 16 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.

Source: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

  • VCU: got 12 votes in the preseason AP poll
  • Atlantic 10: VCU was picked to win the league
  • Returner: forward Terrion Burgess of Benton
  • Slate: 16 nonconference games before play

UALR's schedule starts at VCU and reaches conference play Jan. 6

  1. Nov. 2Trojans open at Virginia Commonwealth in Richmond, Va.
  2. Nov. 7UALR faces Southeastern Louisiana.
  3. Jan. 6UALR opens play at Abilene Christian.

Source: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Asked

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News Notes

Cornbread

The Arkansas Cornbread Festival returns to SoMa Nov. 7 after skipping 2025. Admission is free, and tasting tickets benefit charity. Little Rock Soirée

Wilson building

The Little Rock School Board voted unanimously Thursday to list the former Wilson Elementary building at 4015 Stannus St. for sale, with proceeds going toward capital improvement projects. The district has at least eight vacant properties. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Music pavilion

The ATG Pavilion in North Little Rock is now open to the public with an 8-foot Johnny Cash sculpture. It will feature sculptures honoring 21 Arkansas musicians. FOX16.com

Endangered places

Preserve Arkansas added seven properties to its 2026 Most Endangered Places list, including a Little Rock church and a Magnolia jail. The list also includes a hotel that catered to timber agents and traveling salesmen. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

UALR women

The UALR women open the regular season Monday night at the Jack Stephens Center against NAIA foe Central Baptist College. They were predicted to finish seventh in the nine-team . The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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The former Wilson Elementary building covers 38,816 square feet

Floor area of the former Wilson Elementary building, beside places you know

The former Wilson Elementary building38,816 sq. ft.District will list it for sale
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A basketball court4,700 sq. ft.NBA size

8 basketball courts would fit inside the former Wilson Elementary building

Source: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View as table
Floor area
The former Wilson Elementary building38,816 sq. ft. (District will list it for sale)
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A basketball court4,700 sq. ft. (NBA size)

Around Arkansas

Sheridan

Sheridan's 91-65 win over Sylvan Hills Friday night set a state record with 156 combined points. The Yellowjackets totaled 880 yards of offense. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Red Wolves

Arkansas State men's basketball was named the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt in a poll of the league's head coaches. Guard Royal Blue Smith is the lone returner from last season's 20-12 team. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Sheridan's 91 points tied for the second-most in a state game

Source: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View as table
Value
Augusta, 200192 points
Sheridan, 202691 points
Nashville, 201691 points

Quoted

A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.

— Italo Calvino

The Buy

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Little Rock answered.

Asked

What's on your calendar this week?

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Little Rock, AR

Monday, Nov. 2

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Jobs

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

There's a kitten on a ledge outside the big wall on the westbound side of I-630 in LR.

“Other posters have mentioned it and at least one person said it had been there for days. The kitten was still there when I was parked nearby watching the Fire Department's brief attempts about 3:15. Any rescue will take either a long ladder or a very long catch pole w/loop. The kitten must be 25-30 feet off the…”

— A neighbor, Leawood
Photo from the neighbor’s post

36 likes · 42 comments

View post

The Wrap

Halloween pumpkins get a grand finale in Hillcrest. For the 23rd year, parents, children and dogs lined up on Hill Street to roll their leftover gourds down steep Midland Street, hoping theirs would travel the farthest. A cheer went up whenever a pumpkin made it across Kavanaugh Boulevard. It's a smashing way to end spooky season.

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Every source in this edition19 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  3. KARKkark.com
  4. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazettenwaonline.com
  5. arkansasonline.comarkansasonline.com
  6. KATVkatv.com
  7. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  8. THV11thv11.com
  9. FOX16.comfox16.com
  10. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  11. The Couriercouriernews.com
  12. Little Rock Soiréelittlerocksoiree.com
  13. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  14. FOX16.comfox16.com
  15. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  16. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  17. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  18. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  19. Little Rock events calendartodayinlittlerock.com

Past issues

  1. Wed., Nov. 11Little Rock schools want your input; River City Ministry takes over rent grants
  2. Tues., Nov. 10Globetrotters legend Geese Ausbie, a Philander Smith star, dies at 88
  3. Mon., Nov. 9Hundreds walk at Argenta Plaza to fight Alzheimer's
  4. Sun., Nov. 8Little Rock news notes and the latest from around Arkansas this Sunday
  5. Sat., Nov. 7UA Little Rock tops its $250 million fundraising goal
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Today in Little Rockto me · Mon., Nov. 26:00 a.m.

Fichardt wins the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock

Plus, AG Tim Griffin pledges $500,000 to restore War Memorial's fishing pond

The TLDR

  1. Darren Fichardt wins the Simmons Bank Championship with an 18th-hole eagle
  2. AG Tim Griffin pledges $500,000 to restore War Memorial's fishing pond
  3. North Little Rock police investigate a woman's death on Halloween night
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Today in Little Rock’s other editions

All the news
SchoolsLittle Rock School District asks you to help shape its schools for the next 15 to 20 yearsIf you have a stake in Little Rock's public schools, the district wants to hear from you. “Design Our District: Our Schools. Our Say.” kicked off Tuesday with the first community meeting at Hall High School. It follows LRSD Forward, the district's effort to address declining enrollment and rising costs, with a goal of saving $5 million to $6 million.Today’s editionRead HousingRiver City Ministry takes over the federal rent grants People Trust used to runIf you're a tenant caught up in the People Trust fallout, there's a new place to start. River City Ministry, a North Little Rock nonprofit and day shelter, is taking over the federal Continuum of Care grants that People Trust Community Loan Fund administered. HUD confirmed it was investigating People Trust over multiple issues of serious noncompliance.Today’s editionRead RememberingGlobetrotters legend Geese Ausbie, a Philander Smith star, has died at 88If you grew up watching the Harlem Globetrotters, you knew Hubert “Geese” Ausbie. The “Clown Prince of Basketball” died Sunday at 88, the team announced Monday. He starred at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, and after leaving the team in 1985, he went back to living in Little Rock.Tuesday’s editionRead

Around Little Rock

From FOX16.com, KATV and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. FOX16.com24 minutes ago

    Arkansas State Capitol hosts Veterans Day ceremony

    A Veterans Day ceremony was held on Wednesday at the State Capitol, where keynote speaker Jim Hudson, CFO for the state of Arkansas and secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, highlighted the sacrifices made by veterans.

  2. KATV1 hour ago

    Rain or shine, Little Rock honors veterans with wreath-laying Dec. 19 ceremony

    Veterans Day has a way of reminding people that gratitude isn’t just something you feel — it’s something you do. In Little Rock, two organizations are teaming up again to make sure local veterans are remembered by name,

  3. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette1 hour ago

    Cureate’s 2027 small business food program taking applications

    Stephanie Kirkpatrick was operating a food truck in Boston in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic when she realized the tiny business wasn't producing enough revenue.

  4. KATV1 hour ago

    Only 15.5% of Arkansas employers offer paid parental leave, study finds

    If you’ve ever wondered why matching outfits can make a conversation feel instantly more coordinated, this Women’s Health Wednesday had a perfect example — and it came with some big news for working families in

  5. KATV2 hours ago

    Cabot’s “Sprouting Author” brings a new garden of kidlit to local shelves

    A stack of colorful children’s books walked through the door, and right behind them was Kavi Mullen — better known as the Sprouting Author — ready to talk about how her years in early childhood education helped her grow

  6. KARK2 hours ago

    Arkansas Storm Team Forecast: Temperatures Tank Soon.

    The first widespread freeze of the season is in the forecast as temperature tank soon