The Daily Record (Little Rock, AR)

UA Little Rock The University of Arkansas at Little Rock continues to build support for the future of its Shellam Flake Planetarium, with a new $50,000 gift focused on sustaining the facility for years to come. The gift from UA Little Rock alumnus and retired attorney James Bruce McMath and his wife, Becky, contributes to the Shellam Flake Planetarium Endowment Fund.

By Molly Coleman Two University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty members have been inducted into the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Academy, a distinction recognizing leading researchers whose work is driving innovation and economic growth across the state.

 By Ainsley Platt, Tess Vrbin and Antoinette Grajeda A controversial plan to build a 3,000-bed prison in Arkansas is on hold after a year and a half of steadfast opposition from the local community and a group of lawmakers. The plan to build a facility on 815 acres of Franklin County farmland, first unveiled by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2024, had the support of several Republican lawmakers as a solution to Arkansas’ growing prison population.

 UA Little Rock The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s annual Taste of Little Rock brought together alumni, employers, and community supporters for an evening that raised $196,000 to support student scholarships. Organized by an alumni-led host committee, the event showcased the collective impact of the Little Rock community—uniting business leaders, nonprofit partners, and friends of the university around a shared commitment to student success.

By Kevin Hardy More states are piling up gold bars, or encouraging residents to use gold-backed debit cards, to hedge against inflation. Several states, including Western ones with rich mining histories, have been stockpiling gold as part of their broader state savings. And more states are looking to follow the lead of Texas and Florida by passing so-called transactional gold laws that would invite consumers to save and spend gold through their own accounts.

By Sydney Ambrus UA Little Rock Wrestling isn’t just preparing for competition — it’s also helping young athletes at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind find their footing on the mat. The team volunteers twice a week with the school’s elementary wrestling program, an effort led by senior Cael Keck that has grown into a full-team commitment focused on mentorship, inclusion, and community impact.

 By Meena Jha It’s a simple thing we encounter many times every single week – often while in a hurry. You pull up at a parking spot, scan a QR code and pay within seconds. Or you sit down at a cafe, scan a code to view the menu and order your meal. At the train station, you scan the code on the poster for timetable updates. QR codes are increasingly used in public transport systems worldwide for ticketing, payments and accessing real-time information.

Money for  nanotechnology, cybersecurity, and national defense research By Justin Bates The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Carnegie classified high research activity (R2) institution, announced it has secured $12.75 million in federal funding to support veterans services, cutting-edge nanotechnology research, cybersecurity innovation, and advanced social network analysis.

By Justin Bates More than five years ago, UA Little Rock alumnus Larry Golden and his wife Debbie first heard Chancellor Drale talk about strengthening the campus living and learning environment — the spaces and experiences that shape student life beyond the classroom, where students gather, recreate, and build community. For Golden, the concept resonated as a powerful vision for the campus.

 By Jennifer Shutt Congress will look considerably different next year, after dozens of its members move on to other political offices or retire, a number that’s likely to grow as some of those hoping to stay lose their reelection bids. A turnover of at least 13% will be the highest in more than three decades, bringing in a wave of new lawmakers, who will be looked to as a source of solutions for some of the country’s biggest problems.