City opposes federal proposal to downgrade key status Jonesboro could downgrade to micropolitan By Monae Stevens | March 8, 2021 at 7:13 PM CST - Updated March 9 at 6:03 AM JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - The federal government is proposing to Mayor Harold Copenhaver and Jonesboro Unlimited President Mark Young say they see no benefit to Jonesboro losing this key status. “It’s going to adversely affect students coming to our city,” Copenhaver said. “It’s going to adversely affect individuals on a personal level.” He said Jonesboro’s metropolitan area status has been beneficial by helping the city qualify for grants that are not accessible to smaller towns.