FAYETTEVILLE – A small aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Drake Field on Monday afternoon after experiencing engine problems mid-flight, according to a report by KNWA Television’s Doug Warner.

The aircraft, a Cessna 210 Centurion registered to South Delta Aviation of Fayetteville, had departed from the same airport earlier in the day. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported engine trouble and smoke in the cockpit, prompting a return to the airport.

Flight tracking data indicates the plane reached an altitude of approximately 6,500 feet and traveled as far east as Madison County near the Crosses area before reversing course.

The pilot successfully brought the aircraft back to Drake Field, though the plane skidded off the runway during the emergency landing. Despite the incident, all three people onboard escaped injury.

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Authorities have not yet released the names of those involved, and the cause of the engine issue remains under investigation.

South Delta Aviation is a flight services provider based in Fayetteville. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to review the incident as part of routine post-incident procedures.

EUREKA SPRINGS – Two people from Colorado were killed Friday morning in a head-on collision involving a school bus on U.S. Highway 62 near Eureka Springs, according to the Arkansas State Police.

The crash occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m. when a 2013 Ford Escape traveling eastbound crossed the centerline and collided with a westbound 2022 school bus. The occupants of the SUV, identified as 74-year-old Deborah Clark and 77-year-old Richard Clark, both of Divide, Colorado, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Deborah Clark was driving the vehicle, while Richard Clark was riding as a passenger. No injuries were reported among the occupants of the school bus.

The road was dry and weather conditions were clear at the time of the crash, according to the preliminary report from Cpl. Randall Schwab of the Arkansas State Police. The cause of the vehicle crossing into oncoming traffic remains under investigation.

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The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Carroll County Coroner’s Office. Next of kin has been notified.

This marks the 132nd and 133rd traffic fatalities on Arkansas highways in 2025.

LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday submitted a waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting a ban on soft drinks and candy from Arkansas’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps.

The proposed change, which would make Arkansas one of the first states to limit sugary and highly processed items under the program, is aimed at improving the health of low-income residents.

“President Trump and his administration have put a laser focus on solving America’s chronic disease epidemic, and reforming our food stamp program is a great place to start,” Sanders said in a statement. “Banning soft drinks and candy from food stamps will remove some of the least-healthy, most-processed foods from the program and encourage low-income Arkansans to eat better.”

The waiver also seeks to add rotisserie chicken to the list of SNAP-eligible items. The state intends to use the GS1 US food categorization system to implement the policy changes.

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Kristi Putnam, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, praised the move.

“Helping Arkansans improve their health is a top priority for our agency across all programs,” Putnam said. “Encouraging people to use their SNAP benefits for healthier foods is an important step that we believe will be truly beneficial to the people we serve.”

SNAP is a $119 billion federal program that provides food assistance to low-income Americans. About 23% of spending—roughly $27 billion annually—goes toward soft drinks, unhealthy snacks, candy, and desserts, according to recent studies. Arkansas has one of the nation’s highest rates of chronic conditions, with one-third of residents experiencing diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Citing data from Stanford University, state officials noted that banning sugary drinks from SNAP could prevent 141,000 cases of childhood obesity and 240,000 cases of adult-onset Type 2 diabetes.

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The waiver submission opens a 30-day public comment period in Arkansas. Sanders first announced her intent to pursue the change in December 2024.

The move is part of a broader effort by the Sanders administration to address food insecurity and promote healthier diets. Earlier this year, Sanders signed legislation providing free breakfast for all Arkansas students and redirecting medical marijuana tax revenue to sustain summer and school meal programs.

Last summer, the state served 260,000 students through its Summer EBT program, which will continue this year. Sanders also signed a bill making school lunch free for students who previously qualified for reduced-price meals.

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LITTLE ROCK – One of Arkansas’s most beloved voices in sports and television is celebrating a milestone today. Dave Woodman, the longtime KARK sportscaster and former “Voice of the Razorbacks,” turns 90.

Woodman’s name is synonymous with Arkansas broadcasting. For decades, he was a nightly fixture in homes across the state, delivering sports headlines with a distinctive voice and a steady presence. He began his Arkansas career in 1970 as KARK’s sports director, part of a powerhouse news team that dominated local television ratings for more than a decade.

But Woodman’s career began long before his Arkansas days. Raised in Alabama, he got his start in broadcasting as a teenager and quickly climbed the ranks, working for NBC and CBS affiliates in Alabama and Louisiana before settling in Arkansas. His early years behind the mic gave him the polish that would later define his legendary status in the Natural State.

In 1974, Woodman stepped into one of the most prestigious roles in Arkansas sports media — radio play-by-play announcer for the Razorback football team. For three seasons, he was the “Voice of the Razorbacks,” calling unforgettable games including the team’s 31-10 Cotton Bowl victory over Georgia in 1976.

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He returned to KARK after that stint and continued covering Arkansas sports through some of their biggest moments, from Lou Holtz’s football teams to the Razorback basketball program’s rise. Later, he transitioned into news anchoring, hosting KARK’s morning and noon newscasts through the 1990s before retiring from daily broadcasting in 2000.

Even after retirement, Woodman remained active behind the scenes, producing KARK’s Community Service Awards for more than a decade. That work earned him a regional Emmy and cemented his reputation as a broadcaster who never stopped giving back.

Over the years, Woodman has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and was most recently honored with the NATAS Mid-America Gold Circle Award for more than 50 years in broadcasting.

For many Arkansans, Dave Woodman isn’t just a sportscaster — he’s a voice that brings back memories of big Razorback wins, Friday night high school highlights, and trusted news coverage. His career helped shape the way sports were covered in Arkansas, and his legacy continues to inspire young broadcasters across the state.

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Today, colleagues, fans, and viewers alike are celebrating a career that defined an era — and the man who made Arkansas sports come alive on screen.

Happy 90th birthday, Dave Woodman.

CONWAY – The Conway Police Department is investigating a mass shooting that left two people dead and nine others injured at 5th Avenue Park on Sunday evening.

Officers responded to the scene earlier in the evening and confirmed that a total of 11 individuals were shot. Two victims were pronounced dead, while the other nine were transported to area hospitals. All surviving victims are currently listed in stable condition.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 501-450-6130. Detectives urge callers to leave a message if their call is not immediately answered.

Law enforcement continues to secure the area, and the public is urged to avoid the vicinity as the investigation remains active. Further details are expected to be released as the case develops.

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