Daily Newscast for Friday, May 22, 2026

Weekend Entertainment Roundup for June 11, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e61fd5e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1500x900+0+0/resize/792x475!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F23%2F5d7f18044e09a987c881ccca2bd0%2Fcolr-mp-hero-01.png]( City of Little Rock) MUSIC The Little Rock Winds headlines the 29th annual Flag Day concert, 7 p.m. Sunday on the old parade ground behind the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in MacArthur Park, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. The band’s America250 celebration features a program of marches, patriotic songs and pop tunes. Israel Getzov conducts. Blue Bell Creameries is providing free ice cream and Woodmen Life will provide free hand-held flags. Central Arkansas Water will supply free ice water for filling water bottles. You should provide your own lawn chairs and picnic baskets. In case of rain, the concert will move to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Theater. (501) 666-0777; lrwinds.org. THEATER Actors Theatre of Little Rock stages Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pre-“Hamilton” Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical “In the Heights!,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday through June 27 at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 Louisiana St., Little Rock. The production is “immersive,” meaning the performers will be making contact with some audience members throughout the show. actorstheatrelr.org/tickets. A young woman sets out to discover her past, which could include a connection to the former Russian royal family, in the musical “Anastasia,” onstage, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through June 21 at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton. our.show/the-royal-theatre/anastasia. The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, is staging a gender-bending adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew,” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday through June 21. Tickets are $20, $18 for students, senior citizens and members of the military.centralarkansastickets.com. Flurffy, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts’ canine puppet-in-residence, and his best friend, Emily, travel in dreams on the eve of the pup’s 10th birthday celebration to a magical land “where clouds become stages, pajamas become costumes, and everyday moments transform into something extraordinary,” in “Flurffy in the Land of Almost Awake,” 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Governor Winthrop Rockefeller Lecture Hall at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.org/event/flurffy-in-the-land-of-almost-awake-4. Opening Tuesday at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock, “Ain’t Misbehavin’ — The Fats Waller Musical,” 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday through June 28. TheRep.org. Onstage through June 27 at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock: A conservative radio host announces that he and his wife will renew their vows in Sin City and all the residents of Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas (and all played by only two actors) come along for the ride in “Tuna Does Vegas,” the latest in the “Greater Tuna” series. Buffet opens 30 minutes before curtain time — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 12:45 and 6:45 Sunday. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com. ART AND EXHIBITS New this week: Boswell-Mourot Fine Art, 1501 Main St., Little Rock, holds an opening reception6-9 p.m. Friday for “Katie Adkins/Queen,” Adkins’ photographs of drag queens prepping for performance. Adkins will give an artist talk, 5:30–7:30 p.m. June 23. The exhibition remains up through July 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. (501) 454-6969; boswellmourot.com. Continuing: “Disfarmer: Portraits of Rural Arkansas,” early 20th-century black-and-white portraits of Arkansans by Mike Disfarmer, is up through the month of June, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock. (501) 324-9685. “Arkansas Black Voices: Shaping a Nation at 250,” highlighting “the powerful stories and lasting impact of Black Arkansans whose lives and legacies have helped shape the United States,” on display through Aug. 29 at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. The exhibit, in partnership with the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, includes personal histories, artifacts, photographs and stories. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday. (501) 683-3593; mosaictemplarscenter.com. “Remote Wonder: Richland Creek Wilderness,” recent photographs by Paul Caldwell centering on Richland Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River, up through July 18 at Cantrell Gallery, 8202 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com. “Aftermaths: Mat Collishaw,” centering on the latest film from British painter, photographer, sculptor and filmmaker Mat Collishaw, on display through Nov. 15 in the Fine Arts Club New Media Gallery at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. Collishaw focuses on grotesque sea creatures that mutate, evolve and swim through a dystopian world to vividly illustrate the price of progress and humanity’s impact on the planet. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday (but closed as of 4:30 p.m. this Friday), noon-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 372-4000; amfa.org. “The Art of Friendship,” watercolors by Kim Perkins and Laura Powers, is up through July 25 in the Gallery at the William F. Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (501) 758-1720 or visit NLRlibrary.org. “The Three SoMa Sisters: History, Nature, Wellness, and Anita Davis’ Mission to Thrive in SoMa” is on display through Aug. 30 at ESSE Museum & Store, 1510 Main St. in Little Rock’s SoMa neighborhood. (501) 916-9022; essepursemuseum.com. “Will Barnet: Seasons of Life,” works on paper by Barnet from the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection, is on display through Oct. 11 at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. amfa.org. “Thomas Hart Benton,” a traveling exhibition of original artwork created by the artist during World War II, is up through July 31 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602; littlerock.gov/macarthur. “Kuimeaux’s World,” drawings and paintings by late Little Rock native Dwight “Kuimeaux” Drennan, is on display through spring 2027 at Little Rock’s Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351. “Manufacturing Victory in Arkansas: Supplying the Battlefront and Changing the Homefront During World War II,” “highlight(ing) the role and contributions of ordnance plants in Arkansas during the war,” remains on display through Dec. 31, 2027, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602.

Daily Newscast for Thursday, June 11, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a8a9b16/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/792x446!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2F70%2Ffd3a93b046bdace12d233d0c4461%2F2.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Thursday, June 11, 2026. -A former Arkansas State Trooper is decertified for falsely arresting a Lake Village woman -A federal appeals court will consider re-instating an Arkansas law governing library content -A Little Rock Police officer is arrested for DWI for the second time in less than a month -Sherwood education officials consider separating from the Pulaski County Special School District -Siloam Springs considers incentives to attract new housing development Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Arkansas Girls State volunteers allege 'culture of fear and shame' in 2026 program

The Arkansas House of Representatives on June 17, 2024. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/71bd21d/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1280x960+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2Fe2%2F8b9697cb4f7c95b618ad5aac3cee%2Fhouse1.jpg] The Arkansas House of Representatives on June 17, 2024.(Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate ) A popular civics education program for high school girls is facing scrutiny after over 70 volunteer members quit on the final day of the 2026 session. Julia McKee started going to Girls State in 2023. She was selected to apply to the program at the end of her Junior year by her school’s sponsor. McKee was chosen to be a Girls State delegate, and spent the week-long session participating in a mock-elections program designed to teach participants about U.S. civics policies. She says the connections she made during that session were what kept her coming back. “I went, and I spent my first week there and I absolutely loved it. I met some of my best friends there," McKee told Little Rock Public Radio. "I learned a lot about civics and government and policy, and I also met so many great people from across the state who were at the same part of their life as me. We had all just completed our junior year going into our senior year, and, just had a great time.” After the session, she was asked to return as a counselor, which she did for the next three years. She says Girls State, first and foremost, seeks to teach its delegates — that’s their word for students — the importance of participating in government and speaking up for what you believe in. But, she says the 2026 session felt different. “Throughout the week, we had delegates dropping like flies, and it really broke our hearts because I love this program and I would not be the person I am without it," McKee said. "So the fact that they hate it enough to call their parents to come get them truly just speaks to how different this session was versus our prior ones.” The American Legion Auxiliary is a national organization and hosts ALA Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. Each state hosts their own Girls State program, which are run by a mix of staff and local volunteers with ties to the program. Arkansas Girls State ran during the last week of May, and wrapped with a closing session for delegates to reflect on their experience, hear from guest speakers, and swear in their elected officials. McKee says the closing session is usually marked by heartfelt goodbyes and tearful “I miss yous.” But this year, 10 longtime staff members publicly resigned, along with 74 out of 78 counselors, including Julia McKee. The counselors issued a press release alleging the program promoted “a culture of fear and shame,” and called for reforms. [https://www.facebook.com/carmen.campbell.5855/posts/pfbid02z799EAJqAtCosWzYoTbDsw1Edek9KL6AdeyhSMy9q9ZeGwnjieA1Z6U5gG241VxBl] A few days later, Arkansas Girls State refuted the allegations in a statement posted on Facebook, saying they prioritize the “safety, dignity, and well-being of every staff member and delegate.” Lawmakers' response Even prior to the 2026 session, Arkansas Girls State was facing controversy. The deadline for Girls State applications this year was March 27, which fell on spring break for many schools. The deadline for Girls State is also typically the same time as the deadline for Boys State, a similar program run by a different organization. This year, though, the Girls State deadline was a week later. School ALA sponsors, usually guidance counselors, are responsible for submitting students’ applications. Around 150 applications weren’t submitted by the deadline this year. Some Arkansas lawmakers said refusing to take late applicants meant punishing students for something out of their control. One of them was state Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio. On April 23, Vaught moved to bar the 2026 Girls State session from using State Capitol facilities if Girls State organizers didn’t accept the late applicants. Two days later, the Auxiliary Department of Arkansas released a statement on Facebook saying they were sad some schools missed the deadline, but would not accept late applications. In previous years, the deadline has been extended. Even this year, the deadline for Arkansas Boys State was extended. Girls State told schools the deadline would not be extended for Girls State, and refused to speak further with sponsors. They have not responded to Little Rock Public Radio’s requests for comment. State Rep. Ashley Hudson, D-Little Rock, said Girls State’s communication with schools was shocking. “Not only was there a lack of communication, but the communication that was coming to them was often pretty hostile. There were at least two counselors in schools that were brought to tears in conversations with people in the auxiliary, who referred to this as... weaponized incompetence." On April 27, the Arkansas House of Representatives put forward a resolution to bar Arkansas Girls State from using their chambers. They urged the National American Legion Auxiliary to communicate with them. When no resolution was presented, Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, took matters into her own hands. “Since… the auxiliary has chosen not to allow them to attend, we will be hosting the 150 young ladies here, for our own elite Girls State this summer,” she said. Ultimately, lawmakers did not bar Girls State from using the House chambers. After Davis presented her alternative, she rescinded the original resolution. Counselor Julia McKee said this disagreement made her nervous for this year’s session. This year's program During the session, McKee says her anxiety only continued. She and her fellow counselors pointed to a number of issues with the 2026 session, saying the dress code was “oppressive.” They also stated the ALA staff, including chairwoman Melissa Mangini, interacted disrespectfully with delegates and counselors and promoted a culture of silence. “There was one incident where… a counselor was told one of her delegates might have had a vape. And Harding [University] is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus, and it’s frowned upon with the American Legion Auxiliary," she said. "Our chairwoman at the time walked into this girl's room at 1 o’clock in the morning and gave a, visual search, essentially looking for this vape, in the middle of the night, unwarranted, with really no cause, and… we found no vape.” McKee says after the search, staff talked about sending the girl home. Girls State defended the incident in their June 1 statement, saying no search was conducted, but staff did respond to a complaint filed by a delegate regarding their suite mate. According to their post, delegates were not threatened with dismissal, and no disciplinary action was taken. The counselors' press release contradicts Girls State’s posts. In their statement, Girls State said the dress code was fully communicated in writing before the session. They claim delegates were not shamed because of the dress code. But Junior counselor Carmen Campbell disagrees. “We would try so hard to make sure our girls wouldn’t be in attire that they would feel is inappropriate so that they wouldn’t get dress-coded. But if that did happen, just the way they went about it was very inappropriate.”  Staff repeatedly stated the importance of modesty and professionalism when speaking on the harsher dress code, according to Campbell. She says staff would make dress code announcements at unexpected times. “It was clear that they were seeking to put… young women down for what they wore, how they acted," she said. Campbell says the saddest part about the Girls State post is how it has affected the delegates of this year's session. “They’re sitting there being smacked in the face by the hard reality that grown women that were supposed to take care of them and nurture them for a week instead are sitting there and telling the public that they all lied.” Junior counselor Lexington Hynes said the statement from Girls State was “audacious”. “To call everyone a liar… it shows us where their morals lie, and it shows us that there is no intent of accountability, which is absolutely ridiculous.” Both Hynes and Campbell said they believe the behavior of Girls State staff during the session does not meet the standard of behavior for the national chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary. They say the women’s comments during the session were inappropriate, and made delegates uncomfortable. On Facebook, the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Arkansas, which is separate from the American Legion Auxiliary Arkansas Girls State, says all concerns are under review. Hynes commended the Auxiliary Department of Arkansas for their response, but said she still has questions about how Girls State leaders will be held accountable. “And our only question is, how do we hold them accountable to that? Even if we achieve some sort of change now, what stops this from happening again? Delegates, they sign a pledge. Counselors sign a pledge. What pledge does the ALA have to take? How do we make sure that they actually adhere to the pledges we all have to take, of just basic human respect and decency?” Senior counselor McKee says she believes the message of encouraging girls to use their own voice was not accomplished to its full extent. In their post, Arkansas Girls State says they are committed to transparency, accountability, and empowerment of their delegates. The organization has not responded to Little Rock Public Radio’s requests for comment.

Daily Newscast for Wednesday, June 10, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1070cc5/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/792x446!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff6%2F87%2F699be6ba461ea80dcad55054f02d%2F4.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Wednesday, June 10, 2026. -Pulaski County officials delay a vote on a proposed data center moratorium -Attorneys challenging Arkansas' abortion ban seek to depose Gov. Sarah Sanders -Children in Arkansas' foster care system will automatically be enrolled in the Trump Account program -A new art exhibit showcases works by Arkansas foster youth -North Little Rock opens a new main fire station Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Daily Newscast for Tuesday, June 9, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a8a9b16/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/792x446!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2F70%2Ffd3a93b046bdace12d233d0c4461%2F2.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Tuesday, June 9, 2026. -A report finds Arkansas continues to rank toward the bottom nationally when it comes to overall child well-being -State Police warn parents not to flee with kids in the car -UAMS will host a free dental clinic for children -Tyson Foods names a new COO -Arkansas' State Fire Marshal is retiring Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.