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Saturday, November 7, 2026

UA Little Rock tops its $250 million fundraising goal

Plus, $8.4 million in Monsanto settlement money is headed to Arkansas waterways.

The Today in Little Rock team2 stories18 sources5 min read

EducationTop story

UA Little Rock raised $266.5 million, beating its $250 million campaign goal

UA Little Rock's Centennial Campaign beat its $250 million goal

$266.5 million
raised over seven years
22,762
donors gave
211
new endowments created
192%
growth in the university's endowment

UA Little Rock raised $266,532,569 in its seven-year Centennial Campaign, beating the $250 million goal. The university announced the total Thursday at a celebration for donors, alumni and community partners, and it's a university record.

Chancellor Christina Drale said, “Seven years ago, a $250 million campaign for UA Little Rock might have seemed out of reach.” Private gifts launched two programs to make school more affordable: the Half-Off Scholarship for incoming freshmen and the , which covers remaining tuition for qualifying students with a Pell Grant and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

  • Enduring Opportunity Scholarship: $7.5 million Windgate Foundation gift
  • Classrooms and labs renovated: 22
  • : promenade from 28th Street to University Drive
  • Shellam Flake Planetarium: slated to open in December

The biggest slice of giving, 42%, went to the university overall. Athletics took 14.5%.

Campuswide gifts drew the largest share of campaign money

Source: Arkansas Money & Politics

View as table
Value
UA Little Rock overall42%
Humanities, Arts, Soc. Sci., Educ.21.5%
Athletics14.5%
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math7.2%
Business, Health and Human Services5.9%
Little Rock Public Radio5.8%
Bowen School of Law2.9%

Waterways

Arkansas is putting $8.4 million from the Monsanto settlement into 21 waterway projects

If you spend time around or War Memorial Park, some of this money is headed your way. Attorney General Tim Griffin announced $8.4 million Friday for 21 waterway improvement and restoration projects across Arkansas, paid for by the state's settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination claims.

Pulaski and Saline county projects get up to $500,000 each

Source: K8 News

View as table
Value
War Memorial Park Restoration (Pulaski)$500K
Alum Fork Saline River (Saline)$350K
North Fork Saline River, Zuber (Saline)$350K
Friends of Fourche Creek (Pulaski)$100K
  • Settlement announced: Oct. 2, with Monsanto, Solutia and Pharmacia
  • Use: restricted to water quality purposes
  • $1 million each: Eleven Point River, Crooked Creek, Bayou Bartholomew

The release designates $6.7 million for Arkansas Game and Fish Commission projects and $1.7 million for other waterway projects.

Most of the $8.4 million runs through the Game and Fish Commission

Waterway funding from the Monsanto settlement, $8.4 million, by where it comes from and where it goes

Comes from

$8.4 million

Goes to

$8.4M Monsanto settlement 100%
$6.7M Game and Fish projects 80%$1.7M Other waterway projects 20%

Comes from

  • $8.4M Monsanto settlement 100%

$8.4 million

Goes to

  • $6.7M Game and Fish projects 80%
  • $1.7M Other waterway projects 20%

Source: K8 News

View as table
AmountShare
From: Monsanto settlement$8.4 million100%
To: Game and Fish projects$6.7 million80%
To: Other waterway projects$1.7 million20%

“Today, we are putting those dollars to work by investing in projects that will make a meaningful difference in waterways across our state.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin

Separately, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a new slate of board and commission appointments, including two residents of the Saline County area.

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Gifts for retirees, students, and healthy living

News Notes · More

Friday football

If you missed Friday night, North Little Rock beat Cabot 31-3, Little Rock Central topped Fort Smith Northside 37-13, and Little Rock Christian beat Pulaski Academy 56-20. Little Rock Catholic shut out Little Rock Southwest 35-0, and Searcy beat Sylvan Hills 38-24. Cabot at North Little Rock was one of FOX16's games of the week. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-GazetteFOX16.com

These Arkansas teams posted these scores in Week 10

WinnerLoserScore
North Little RockCabot31-3
LR CentralFS Northside37-13
LR ChristianPulaski Academy56-20
LR CatholicLR Southwest35-0
SearcySylvan Hills38-24

Baptist Prep

Baptist Prep finished its first undefeated regular season, beating Episcopal Collegiate 43-0 on Friday in Little Rock. The Eagles (10-0, 7-0 2A-4) also won their first outright conference title since 2004 and host East Poinsett County next Friday in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Baldwin & Shell

Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., the Little Rock builder, announced Thursday that it's now 100% employee-owned through an . Ownership moves from 39 shareholders to eligible employees, and the current leadership team stays in place. The firm is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Arkansas BusinessArkansas Money & Politics

Monsters of Todd

The 12th annual Monsters of Todd concert is set for Saturday at Revolution Music Room in Little Rock, and this year's event benefits Maurice Biggs Jr., who is battling leukemia. The event was originally created in 2014 to support Todd Mills, a member of the local music community diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. KARK

Lung screenings

Baptist Health is offering appointments for low-dose CT lung cancer screenings Sat., Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., for patients who qualify. Four Baptist Health Imaging Centers take part, in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Fort Smith and Benton, and the Little Rock site is the Kanis center at 9101 Kanis Road, Suite 100. KATV

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone. Advertising from Amazon.

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Your wardrobe is begging for these two fall footwear essentials on sale for a limited time: a sturdy, versatile chelsea boot in your choice of faux leather or suede, and the perfect home moccasin that will keep your feet cozy against cold floors all winter. Advertising from Amazon.

Job

You have job openings; our job is filling them. List your available positions with our Self-Service Ad Portal and connect with top talent citywide. Submit here in seconds. Sample advertising from 6AM City.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Around Arkansas · More

Conway-Bryant

Conway shut out Bryant 17-0 on Friday, with a pair of special teams touchdowns igniting the Wampus Cats. Conway (9-1, 7-0) won the 7A-Central outright for the first time since 2014, and Coach Buck James beat his former team for the first time in four tries. Both teams already knew their playoff fate, Conway as No. 1 and Bryant as No. 4. The Arkansas Democrat-GazetteThe Saline Courier

Conway shut out Bryant to win the 7A-Central outright

  • Conway17 (won)
    Bryant0
    FinalConway won the league outright for the first time since 2014.

State Chamber

The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas hired Lance Turner as director of communications. He'll oversee communications strategy, including digital and social media, media relations, publications and member outreach. Turner has more than 25 years in journalism and public relations, most recently at Ghidotti Communications of Little Rock. Arkansas BusinessArkansas Money & Politics

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Today’s puzzles

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

All 13 games

Quoted

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

— Cesar A. Cruz

Things to Do

Things to Do

Little Rock, AR

Saturday, Nov. 7

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Neighbors

What a beautiful letter Chris wrote to the people in the state of AR, in his concession to the incumbent congressman , we will not forget you Chris!

“You will be our next congressman in the senate or house if we could get everyone out to vote! Every vote counts! Keep running and we’ll get you in!”

— A neighbor, Leawood

96 likes · 5 comments

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The Wrap

Robert Say McIntosh, Little Rock's sweet potato pie king, had a signature line after tasting entries: "It's good, but it ain't my pie." Mosaic Templars Cultural Center honors him with the "Say It Ain't Says Sweet Potato Pie Contest", now in its 12th year. It also kicks off the museum's holiday season. Hard to top that review.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Arkansas gas fell 9 cents to a $3.71 average

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Every source in this edition18 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. FOX16.comfox16.com
  3. Arkansas Money & Politicsarmoneyandpolitics.com
  4. Arkansas Businessarkansasbusiness.com
  5. K8 Newskait8.com
  6. The Saline Courierbentoncourier.com
  7. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazettenwaonline.com
  8. FOX16.comfox16.com
  9. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazettenwaonline.com
  10. Arkansas Businessarkansasbusiness.com
  11. Arkansas Money & Politicsarmoneyandpolitics.com
  12. KARKkark.com
  13. KATVkatv.com
  14. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazettearkansasonline.com
  15. The Saline Courierbentoncourier.com
  16. Arkansas Businessarkansasbusiness.com
  17. Arkansas Money & Politicsarmoneyandpolitics.com
  18. Little Rock events calendartodayinlittlerock.com

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Today in Little Rockto me · Sat., Nov. 76:00 a.m.

UA Little Rock tops its $250 million fundraising goal

Plus, $8.4 million in Monsanto settlement money is headed to Arkansas waterways.

The TLDR

  1. UA Little Rock's Centennial Campaign raised $266.5 million
  2. $8.4 million in Monsanto money will fund 21 waterway projects
  3. Baldwin & Shell is now 100% employee-owned
Read this edition

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