Little Rock Public Radio

On today's show, we have a conversation with the host of "We Keep Us Safe," a new NPR podcast series that revisits the 2020 protest movement in Seattle, including the livestreams, volunteer security and an unsolved murder. We also learn that Homer will hit the big screen and the stage this summer, as Arkansas Classical Theater is presenting works inspired by the poet. Plus, we hear about supporting musicians with Les Fest.

As climate change strains Arkansas's rice industry Little Rock Public Radio's Amir Mahmoud reports on efforts to breed rice varieties resistant to heat drought and high nighttime temperatures.

On today's show, we learn that nearly half of Arkansas counties qualify as maternal care deserts and consider how that impacts women seeking prenatal care. We also spoke with artist, writer and storyteller Zeke Pena about his 2026 Caldecott Honor Book Award-winning book, "Sundust." Plus, we dive into a new one-act play about Fort Smith.

An invasive tick species is spreading a deadly cattle disease across Arkansas. Experts say the Asian longhorned tick has now been confirmed in 10 northern counties.

On today's show, we hear about a new study that indicates the achievement gap between higher and lower-performing students has been widening significantly over the past two decades. We also hear the story of a recognizable Arkansas voice and face, John Philpot. Plus, we get a new edition of Sound Perimeter.

Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Mark Hayes told Little Rock Rotary Club members that cyber attacks and failing water and sewer systems are straining cities and towns across the state.

Allison Bronson is an evolutionary ichthyologist based at Cal Poly Humboldt studying the Fayetteville Shale in northwest Arkansas. She says the site's unusual chemistry has preserved rare cartilaginous fossils that are shedding new light on shark evolution.

Arkansas lawmakers raised concerns over a DHS proposal to shift Medicaid in-home personal care eligibility decisions to physicians. Officials agreed to pull the rule and rework it.

A University of Minnesota report shows seven Arkansas counties have lost obstetric services since 2010, adding to 40 with no maternity care. Researchers say rural communities are hardest hit and outline policy fixes.

Arkansas legislators plan to revisit child abuse investigation protocols after a family testified they were wrongly suspected. The move follows public scrutiny of earlier cases and questions about mandatory reporter standards.