EL DORADO, Ark. — Families across South Arkansas are invited to attend the Back 2 School Bash 2026, a free community event combining family entertainment with educational opportunities ahead of the new school year.

The event will be held July 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Douglas Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, located at 969 Smackover Highway in El Dorado. Registration will begin at 4:15 p.m.

The Back 2 School Bash will feature waterslides, bouncy houses, amusement rides, motorcycle clubs and other activities for children of all ages. Colleges and additional educational organizations are also expected to participate, giving families an opportunity to connect with helpful information and resources.

Admission is free and the event is open to the entire community.

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Attendees will also be able to enjoy free food and refreshments, including snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn. Music will be provided by DJ P “Flann,” with prizes and giveaways planned throughout the evening.

The event flyer also lists appearances and activities featuring Hamilton’s Farm and the national champion EHSS cheerleaders.

Organizers hope the celebration will provide children and families with an enjoyable evening while helping students become excited and prepared for the upcoming school year.

For additional information, contact Nikki Lee McCoy at 870-814-2876. The event flyer also lists Jamie Davis at 870-918-5096 as a contact.

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El Dorado, Ark. — What began as one mother’s search for an affordable way to keep six children safe, fed and learning during summer break has grown into a free camp serving families across the community.

Stephanie Miller-Owens founded the YAS Summer Camp after realizing that many parents faced the same summer dilemma she did.

“A few years ago, I had six small children at home with nothing to do during the summer — at least nothing I could afford for six kiddos,” Miller-Owens said. “Then I noticed so many other parents were having the same issue.”

She said families wanted their children to enjoy summer break without losing the academic progress they had made during the school year. Parents also needed a dependable environment where their children could remain safe, active and properly fed.

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“We didn’t want our babies to lose what they had learned during the school year,” she said. “We wanted them safe and happy, and we wanted to make sure they had healthy meals daily.”

That need inspired Miller-Owens to establish a summer program provided at no cost to participating families.

“I had this bright idea to help these parents, so I started an absolutely free summer camp that combats learning loss, provides meals and safety, all while allowing children to learn and have fun,” she said.

Now entering its fifth year, the YAS Summer Camp continues to focus on academic achievement, safety and prevention. The camp provides breakfast and lunch each day and has expanded its services to include transportation for participating children.

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This year’s camp began June 8 and will continue through July 17.

Miller-Owens credited the program’s growth to a dedicated team and community supporters who share her commitment to serving children.

“I work with an amazing team that shares the same love and passion for educating our babies,” she said. “We are blessed to have great supporters in the community who stepped up to sponsor this program and allowed us to help even more families this year.”

Summer programs such as YAS can be especially important for young people in South Arkansas. During the weeks away from school, children may have fewer opportunities for structured learning, regular meals, supervision and positive social interaction. Free programs help make those resources available to families regardless of their financial circumstances.

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By combining academics with recreation, meals, transportation and prevention education, the camp helps children maintain important skills while giving parents greater peace of mind during the summer months.

Miller-Owens said she remains grateful that the program has continued to grow and reach additional families each year.

“It is our endeavor to continue providing love, safety and education to every child we meet,” she said. “To God be the glory.”

Community members and businesses interested in supporting or sponsoring the YAS Summer Camp are encouraged to contact Miller-Owens for additional information.

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EL DORADO, Ark. — New and expectant parents across South Arkansas are invited to attend a Community Baby and Safety Shower designed to connect families with essential supplies, education and local support services.

The event will take place Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Immanuel Baptist Church, located at 3209 West Hillsboro Street in El Dorado.

The shower is being hosted by TOUCH Coalition, which stands for Tremendous Opportunities for Union County Health, in partnership with Ambetter Health & Wellness, the UAMS Institute for Community Health and the UAMS Family Medicine Clinic.

While supplies last, families attending the event will be able to receive diapers, wipes and baby formula. A free boutique featuring baby clothing and other infant items will also be available.

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Arkansas Children’s Hospital representatives will be on site to provide car-seat safety checks and education. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their child’s car seat to receive guidance on proper installation and use.

Safe-sleep classes will be offered at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Participants who complete one of the classes may receive a portable Pack ’n Play while supplies are available.

More than 30 vendors are expected to participate, offering resources, supplies, educational materials and information about services available to children and families throughout the region.

Organizers say the event is intended to help parents prepare for their new arrival while learning about infant safety, health and community resources in a welcoming environment.

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Communist China has been working to undermine the United States at seemingly every turn. From leaking COVID from a lab to buying up farmland in Arkansas, they will stop at nothing to try to do us harm. Their latest target? Medications. The flow of illegal Chinese drugs into our country is stronger than ever and puts our nation at risk. For these reasons, we must now take long-overdue action to protect the health and safety of Arkansans. Communist China is a major source of counterfeit and unregulated active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). These are the substances in medications that produce a drug’s intended therapeutic effect. For example, ibuprofen is the API used in many pain relievers.

Communist China doesn’t have the same quality-control standards as the United States, meaning that APIs produced by corrupt, unregulated Chinese manufacturers can’t be trusted. When sourcing APIs from Communist China, there’s no telling whether they are diluted or mixed with other dangerous ingredients. Nonetheless, these substances make their way into our homes by way of online marketplaces. Under-regulated GLP-1s are a good example of how Chinese APIs can infiltrate our pharmaceutical supply chain. While FDA-approved versions of these drugs can be life-changing, the under-regulated compounded GLP-1 market exposes Americans to dangerous, unreliable Chinese APIs. These products are sold directly to American patients at high volumes through online marketplaces. Yet, when they arrive on a patient’s doorstep, they have no way of knowing what’s actually in it or what it will do.

That’s why Congress must take action to protect Arkansans against this unnecessary risk. In November, I introduced the Combatting Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals Act to identify and sanction those responsible for bringing counterfeit drugs and drug ingredients into our country. I also wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and prosecute anyone affiliated with bringing illicit foreign pharmaceuticals into America. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it was working with the DOJ to investigate under-regulated manufacturers of compounded GLP-1s for potential violations of federal law. While this is a welcome development, we must do more to address this ongoing problem. That’s why I also recently wrote to the Director of the Food and Drug Administration, urging him to investigate the extent to which unregulated Chinese ingredients are infiltrating American medications.

Communist China’s unfettered access to America’s pharmaceutical supply chain presents national security risks as well as significant health risks to Arkansans. Protecting Americans from illicit Chinese pharmaceuticals requires that we strengthen enforcement, secure our supply chains, and hold bad actors accountable. Every Arkansan should have the assurance that their medication will provide the therapy it advertises. And above all, no Arkansan should ever have to worry that the medicine they take contains unsafe or counterfeit ingredients that may do more harm than good.

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By: Sen. John Boozman, R.-AR

Arkansas is full of entrepreneurs who use innovative ideas, everyday solutions and ongoing challenges to fuel opportunity. This reality is apparent when I return home and visit the excellent small businesses generating economic growth across all regions of our state. As the backbone of our communities and the American economy, I am pleased to advocate policies that make it easier to start, sustain and grow a small business. During the last state work period, I had the pleasure of visiting Red Barn Donuts in Rogers, owned by the hardworking Wiginton family. They are a great example of entrepreneurs turning their passion and family activity into a thriving local business where neighbors can come together and enjoy a delicious treat. Small businesses like theirs not only serve customers –– they help define the character and spirit of the towns they call home. It almost goes without saying that starting and growing a business is not a simple feat. Through grit and tireless dedication, paired with resources such as the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), the Wigintons were able to make their dream come true. Their collaboration is a great example of what can happen when public institutions and private businesses work together to achieve success. As a result, jobs are created and enterprises thrive, with far-reaching benefits. This public-private partnership is just one example of the exciting economic development underway in The Natural State. When government, educational resources and private initiative work hand in hand, Arkansas families win. Fortunately, our spirit of hard work and resilience is reinforced by policies that increase access to capital and promote right-sized regulations.

One such policy I am proud to back is Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) and Congressman French Hill’s (R-AR) PROTECTED Act, a bill that would shield small financial institutions and Main Street businesses from burdensome requirements to collect and share personal and private data. Forcing entrepreneurs and community lenders to share identity-based information opens the door for the federal government to pick winners and losers based on factors other than sound underwriting. Rural employers should be focused on growing their businesses and communities, not complying with overly burdensome red tape. Significant federal support was also secured through the Working Families Tax Cuts, landmark legislation that Senate Republicans championed and President Trump signed into law. Provisions that made the small business deduction permanent, reduce regulatory burdens and implemented “No Tax on Tips” put more money back in the pockets of Arkansans. The law will also spur investment by allowing companies to fully expense business equipment more quickly. Providing certainty in the tax code allows job creators to plan for the future with confidence and gives them breathing room to invest, hire and grow without Washington’s cumbersome overreach. By uplifting small businesses, supporting effective public-private partnerships and continuing to fight for pro-growth policies, we can ensure they stay strong. Small businesses are the backbone of rural America, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure the regulatory environment allows for local businesses and communities to flourish. My priority in Washington is to help create an environment that keeps our economy moving forward so Arkansas remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.