Page 2 - Record Staff News Today

Every few months now it seems there is a “surge” of COVID-19 cases, and everyone worries aloud about a repeat of what happened here one year ago. In the community, it’s a constant concern for people as they see case…

The overnight snowstorm, whatever its dimension, will be an expensive one, according to City Manager Jay Ash. The city’s snow removal budget was wiped out in the last storm about two weeks ago and stood at $95,000 spent so far…

Times Record Staff A Russellville man pleaded guilty Wednesday to his involvement in a racketeering and narcotics conspiracy based on his role as president of a white supremacist organization. Wesley Gullett, 31, was president of New Aryan Empire (NAE), a white supremacist group founded by inmates in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Gullett entered a guilty plea before United States District Judge Brian S. Miller, according to the Eastern District of Arkansas. After Gullett’s plea, ...

 The Baker-Polito Administration announced Wednesday a new $4.7 million initiative to promote COVID-19 vaccine equity in the 20 communities most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, with one of those communities being Chelsea.  •Vaccination Appointments: On Feb. 25, around 50,000 new appointments…

Ashley Rodriguez is heading to Hollywood. Rodriguez, a Chelsea High School graduate and senior at the famed Berklee School of Music, earned a highly coveted spot on Season Nine of Fox Television’s “American Idol” after excelling at an audition held…

Times Record Staff After a five-week absence, Antioch for Youth and Family will resume its Pop Up In the Park food distribution 9-11 a.m. Wednesday. The drive-thru event takes place at Martin Luther King Park, 1815 N. Greenwood Ave., in Fort Smith and provides USDA CFAP (Covid Food Assistance Program) Farmers To Families boxes. The distribution will take place as long as supplies last, a news release states. Each box contains 20 to 25 pounds of protein, dairy and fruit and/or vegetables. 

Times Record Staff The River Valley Regional Food Bank, in partnership with Feeding America and PetSmart, will distribute pet food to the public on Friday, Jan. 29 as part of the food bank’s Furry Friend Friday event. PetSmart, through Feeding America, donated 32,000 pounds of pet food to the River Valley Regional Food Bank for the event. The food bank will first provide bags of dog and cat food to pet rescue agencies across the food bank’s eight-county service area beginning at 10 a.m., ...

Times Record Staff An Arkansas National Guardsman and emergency room nurse at Mercy Fort Smith was promoted to sergeant major while on duty at the U.S. Capitol this week. Dennis Huynh of Fort Smith was promoted from first sergeant Tuesday while on duty with the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade based in Fayetteville. The brigade arrived Monday at the District of Columbia Armory with a group of 25,000 National Guard men and women authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical miss...

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed in St. Augustine in 1964, he was shuffled from house to house to maintain his safety; held strategy meetings with local civil rights leaders; and stirred crowds at churches that still exist in the city today.  He planned to use St. Augustine as a platform to bring about national change for civil rights, but became part of a movement that sought a local transformation. While the effort sparked obvious changes, officials say work still remains. Dr. Benj...

EPA sued by CLF for refusing to investigate discrimination claims Last week the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Chelsea’s GreenRoots and Lawyers for Civil Rights filed a federal lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The group argues that the EPA…