Good morning, Conway.

Three free splash pads will open in Conway on May 12 at 9 a.m. at Laurel Park, Conway Soccer Complex & Fifth Avenue Park where a shooting claimed two lives on April 13, reminding residents of the site’s recent past.

Local coffee shops are paying 5%—10% more for imported coffee beans from Brazil and Columbia due to tariffs and high inflation.

Amy Counce of Nexus Coffee said she will pass some costs to customers—urging support for local businesses.

Conway police arrested a suspect without contest after reports said he carried a hammer at Baptist Health Medical Center—he left before officers arrived and no one was hurt.

Authorities in Morrilton arrested 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake after he was spotted at a Motel 6 and extradited him to Oklahoma to face new charges in a fifth murder.

He is accused of capital murder for killings in Oklahoma and Alabama (and he may face the death penalty in Oklahoma).

Public radio managers warned that proposals to cut federal funds, including ending support for NPR and PBS, could force stations like KUAF to raise an extra $264,000 to keep their programs running.

They said vital services such as emergency alerts + local news may be at risk if these funding changes are enforced.

Arkansas lawmakers passed a new law that will bar ballot initiative titles written above an eighth-grade reading level—canvassers must verify that each signer has read or had the title read aloud.

The change is part of a broader effort in several states to tighten rules for citizen initiatives.

Jacksonville High School wrestlers David Ester and Malakai Craig become the program's first college signees by signing with Central Baptist College in Conway.

They will sign Friday, May 9 at 3:00 p.m. at the school auditorium — a milestone head coach Andrew Healy praises as a breakthrough for the program.

Children's Concert: The Three Pigs & The Wolf

10:30-11:30 a.m. — Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts — Free entry — Experience a family-friendly, interactive concert featuring a new telling of 'The 3 Pigs and The Wolf' with original music.

Kanton Teen & The Penny Pickers Live

8 PM – 2 AM — Maly’s Entertainment Center — $10 at the door — Enjoy an energetic evening with live music in Conway, AR.

Playmaker College Basketball Camp

June 3-7 — Hendrix College — Registration required — A comprehensive basketball camp for serious players focusing on skills development and leadership.

Wunderpus Live Performance

8 PM — Kings Live Music — Cost not listed — Experience the 8-legged shape-shifting band Wunderpus with their original Southern Rock tunes.