MLILY Mattresses in Little Rock, AR

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. addressed the 2023 “State of the City” Monday evening with plans for a new sales tax proposal and a focus on growing Little Rock.

Mayor Scott addressed the accomplishments and needs of Little Rock at Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School. Scott said that the state of the city is better than it’s ever been, strong and bright.

Scott announced, “Little Rock Forward”, a new sales tax initiative to work toward growing the city by revitalizing public spaces like War Memorial Park and Hindman Park and expanding the footprint at the Little Rock port to attract even more jobs. The initiative would also upgrade public safety facilities and equipment and improve critical infrastructure.

He also spoke of intentions toward having a state-of-the-art multi-sport complex.

He went on to point out that Little Rock was named number one in job growth by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. Scott said more than 9,000 jobs have grown since 2019, with 739 new jobs added in 2022 alone. Scott said that the Little Rock Port continues to be a prime location for job growth in the city.

Mayor Scott then pointed out new commercial development that has grown into the Little Rock landscape, with businesses such as Main Event and Whataburger broadening the city’s future.

Scott said that the city has allocated $1.5 million for a downtown master plan toward a strategic reimagining of the downtown area and a call to downtown business owners and residents to make immediate improvements.

Mayor Scott said he intends for the city to compete with other cities to become a hub for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and young professionals. He stated that he is working to help shape Little Rock as a “Silicon South” by expanding Little Rock Tech Park and investing in tech infrastructure to support entrepreneurs from all around.

He also stated that with the city recently awarded $2 million from the Dept. of Transportation, a planned deck park connecting 6th Street to 9th Street over Interstate 30 will begin to bridge neighborhoods destroyed by highway placement decades ago.

Another milestone the mayor pointed out was the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts’ upcoming reopening in April.

Mayor Scott said work will begin over the next 10 years to update and transform all playgrounds in the city to be more inclusive with upgraded equipment.

When it comes to energy, Scott said that Little Rock should be a leader in identifying ways to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and decrease overall energy usage, all while saving money for residents.

He said the city will complete a greenhouse gas inventory and adopt a sustainable action plan for operations. Scott said it is a goal for at least 50 percent of the city’s fleet to be electric vehicles by 2030.

Mayor Scott said that a more than $2 million investment into community intervention programs aimed at keeping young people off the street and engaged in activities to grow who they are as an approach to violence reduction.

Scott also made a call toward policies and programs for more impoverished areas – south of I-630 and east of I-30 – by reinvesting and redevelopment to assist people in at-risk neighborhoods. He said after announcing last year’s goal of developing 100 new affordable housing units by 2025, that the city is on track to surpass that goal.

He said his administration is also planning to address unsheltered people in Little Rock with a micro home village o provide housing within the community.

The full address can be found in the player above.

UA Little Rock Public Radio, home of KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, is celebrating 50 years of providing Arkansas with important news, vibrant music, and quality public programming.

“As UA Little Rock Public Radio reaches its golden anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on the impact it has had on our community over the past 50 years,” said Jonathan Seaborn, general manager of UA Little Rock Public Radio. “From music and news to community events and local stories, the station has been a staple in Arkansas, connecting people through the power of radio.”

The 2023 Spring Fund Drive will run from March 13-17. UA Little Rock Public Radio has a goal of raising $100,000 and adding 100 new sustaining members to their loyal group of supporters.

To make your donation even more impactful, UA Little Rock Public Radio has secured a generous matching donation from several community partners. For every dollar you donate during the fund drive, it will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your contribution.

Donors who give during the spring fund drive may qualify for an NPR water bottle, tickets to Colony House at The Hall, Arkansas Ballet tickets, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra tickets, and other great giveaways.

“Your support will help us continue to bring you the news you trust from KUAR and the classical music you hold dear on KLRE,” said Grace Zafasi, membership director at UA Little Rock Public Radio. “We are committed to providing quality programming without interruption, and our fund drives are our way of raising the money we need to keep our station running. We would love for you to join us in celebrating 50 years of public radio in central Arkansas and to support us in our mission to provide high-quality programming for many more years to come.”

Housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, UA Little Rock Public Radio is a public service unit of UA Little Rock. University students gain professional experience by working as interns and part-time staff members who take part in all aspects of KLRE and KUAR operations with a specific focus on news reporting and broadcast production.

To make a donation during the spring fund drive, please call 501-916-6400 or give online at donate.kuar.org.

Whether you’re a paddling aficionado or a first-timer on the water, it’s easy to feel comfortable around Sam Ellis, owner of Rock Town River Outfitters in Little Rock. In between extolling Little Rock history and showing off the Arkansas River, Arkansas Wild Magazine’s 2022 “Champion of The Wild” sings to his dog, an adorable canine named Grizzly Bear. And although Grizzly Bear rides on Ellis’s kayaks, he’ll jump in the water and visit your kayak as well.

Rock Town Outfitters is just one of the many surprising features of Arkansas’s capital city, a metropolis containing only 200,000 residents but bursting with attractions, many of which are unique. There’s a vibrant arts scene, great dining options, and historical buildings not to be missed, such as the Clinton Presidential Library and Central High School, site of the tumultuous desegregation effort in 1957 and part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

Here are a few of the lesser known sites, all worth a visit:

Just south of downtown lies a hip neighborhood along Main Street that locals call SoMa, home to unique shops, a variety of restaurants and the ESSE Purse Museum.

Anita Davis spent years collecting unique and antique purses, so it was only natural she would open a museum after developing a traveling exhibit. The museum explains decades of female history through a woman's most essential item, from the small purses of the early 20th century that contained lipstick to larger bags as women entered the workforce.

Davis also believes in her community and created The Bernice Garden, transforming a neglected property at the southeast corner of Daisy Bates Avenue and South Main Street. In addition to the garden and its public artworks, the community gathering space offers a Sunday farmers market, yoga classes, weddings and the popular Arkansas Cornbread Festival.

Another favorite SoMa spot is Loblolly Creamery, which makes everything in house, from marshmallows and small-batch ice cream to gluten-free cones. Grab a scoop of Rock Town Distillery bourbon pecan and enjoy a spirited taste of Little Rock. The Root Cafe is a top-notch farm-to-table restaurant in the area that sources 100% of the meat, eggs, and bread they serve, as well as the majority of the vegetables, fruits, nuts and cheeses.

Cross the Arkansas River to find a host of additional attractions, such as the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the North Shore River Walk and sites marking the Indian Removal period known as the Trail of Tears, part of which has become a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

The quaint downtown Argenta Historic District features numerous restaurants, entertainment venues and the 1887 Argenta Drug Store on Main Street, the oldest continuously operating pharmacy west of the Mississippi.

A good place to pause and relax is Flyway Brewing Company, a multi-barrel microbrewery and restaurant. Its name and vibrant mural of regional birds pays homage to the Mississippi Flyway, America’s largest bird migratory route. Be sure to try the housemade pretzels or Gina’s Gumbo cheese fries, a festival winner.

St. Joseph Center of Arkansas began as an early 20th century orphanage and the historic building almost became apartments before being saved from the wrecking ball. Today, the 56,000-square-foot building houses artist studios and retreats, and the surrounding 63 acres includes sustainable gardens and pastures for animals. The nonprofit center offers tours and sells its farm products at its Saturday farm stands, with surplus going to local food banks. RVs are welcome to park on-site, special events happen throughout the year — there’s even goat yoga!

In addition to all the water activity Rock Town River Outfitters facilitates, it also rents bikes and hosts bike rides for the numerous trails running through Little Rock and the surrounding area. More options are in the works.

“We are planning new adventures in Little Rock for RTRO this year,” Ellis said.

Bikers may tour the town on the easy Arkansas River Trail, while mountain bikers wanting a bigger adrenaline rush may choose the new River Mountain Park trails at Little Rock’s only city park dedicated to mountain biking.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park west of Little Rock — also a Trails of Tears National Historic Site — offers 15 miles of hiking trails and 7 miles of mountain bike trails. Another site popular with hikers is the newly established Rattlesnake Ridge National Area between the Big Maumelle and Little Maumelle rivers.

Other restaurants to try:

Brave New Restaurant, at 2300 Cottondale Lane #105, Little Rock, has expansive views of the Arkansas River and a New American menu that is as consistent as it is delicious.

Kemuri has multiple locations in Little Rock and serves sushi that's as good as can be found most anywhere.

Heights Taco and Tamales, at 5805 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, is famous for its "Arkansas-style Mexican food" with its signature cheese-smothered blend of Tex-Mex and Arkansas Delta flavors. Rooted in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, the dishes feature local, seasonal and other Arkansas culinary influences.

Boulevard Bread Company, with a location in the Heights and Baptist Hospital, serves an array of wonderful handcrafted foods and baked items.

Star of India, at 301 N Shackleford Rd, Little Rock, serves incredible Indian food and the bonus is, if you visited last week or five years ago, when you walk in, don't be surprised if the host remembers your name!

ROGERS -- With all four teams in the Class 6A state tournament semifinals coming from the 6A-Central Conference, third meetings were evident and will be the same for the state championship game.

Conway and North Little Rock will now meet for the third time at noon Friday in Hot Springs after posting wins in rubber matches against league foes Saturday in Mountie Arena. Conway dominated Little Rock Central with a 66-38 rout while North Little Rock rallied in the final 5 minutes to take a 60-54 victory over Cabot.

CONWAY 66, LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 38

Conway started inside then went outside to defeat Little Rock Central on Saturday.

Senior center Savannah Scott scored eight of her 14 points in the first quarter and Conway rolled to a 66-38 victory over Central in the semifinals of the Class 6A state tournament at Mountie Arena. Guards Samyah Jordan and Kamille Brown combined for 29 points with Jordan leading the way for Conway with 16 points and Brown contributing 13.

The 6A-Central rivals split during conference play with both teams winning at home, 61-59 for Central on Jan. 17 and 68-39 for Conway on Feb. 14. Conway again was clearly the better team on the neutral court at Rogers and the Wampus Cats were rewarded with a chance to play for a state championship after being eliminated by Central in the quarterfinals of last year's state tournament at Little Rock Southwest.

"We've been talking about that [loss] since last year and about peaking at the right time," Conway coach Ashley Hutchcraft said. "We had a little come to Jesus meeting, so when you run a lot things tend to change. I'm super proud of all of them."

Conway began the game by pounding the ball inside to Scott, a 6-4 center who has signed collegiately with Auburn. Scott's effectiveness with the defense sagging down loosened up the perimeter and Conway began firing away with a combined six three-pointers in the first half from three different players.

Kamille Lee made consecutive three-pointers followed with another three from Samyah Jordan to give Conway a 35-20 lead in the second quarter. Scott scored on three consecutive trips down the court to assert inside dominance in the first quarter.

"Savannah looked like an SEC post player today," Ashcroft said of Scott. "When she's doing that, it makes the outside shots so much easier."

Jordan Marshall, who scored 31 points in a second-round win over Fayetteville, finished with 15 points to lead Central against Conway on Saturday.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 60, CABOT 54

The calendar may read March, but April arrived for North Little Rock -- and just in time.

Senior guard April Edwards scored 11 points during a 15-0 run as the Lady Charging Wildcats rallied past Cabot and earned a repeat trip to the state championship.

"We couldn't lose," Edwards said. "I didn't want us to lose; our team didn't want to lose. I just wanted to put it on for everybody back in North Little Rock and our whole team, and we got the job done. It felt amazing.

"I felt like nobody could stop me, so I trusted in myself. I just went in there and took it, and my coach trusted me. He put the ball in my hands, and I delivered."

Cabot (23-6) owned a 49-41 lead on Jayce Cook's three-point play with 5:19 remaining when North Little Rock (26-5) began its comeback. Madison Hatley, Jocelyn Tate and Garin Freeman each hit a bucket to pull the Lady Charging Wildcats with two, then they got the ball back after Freeman missed a free throw to complete a three-point play.

That's when Freeman took over. She was fouled on the inbound pass and hit both free throws to tie the game at 47-47 at the 3:46 mark, then her three-point play to put North Little Rock ahead for good before scoring six more points and making it a 58-49 game with under a minute to play.

"She's an amazing kid," North Little Rock Coach Daryl Fimple said of Edwards, who finished with 29 points. "We challenged them at halftime, and our seniors stayed back there. We left them alone, and whatever they said worked.

"We had some foul trouble with Garin and Jocelyn out, and April put it on her shoulders. She made some huge plays -- huge plays. That's what you expect from a senior. She's been there before, and to step up on this stage was awesome."

Tate was the only other North Little Rock player in double figures with 15 points, but most of them came before she picked up her fourth foul in the third quarter and had to sit for a period.

Jenna Cook had 20 points and Jaycie Cook 12 for Cabot, which went almost 5 minutes without scoring while North Little Rock went on its run.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Kiera Hill had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for her first double-double of the season to lead Tennessee Tech to its 11th NCAA Tournament and first since 2000 with a 54-46 win over top-seeded Little Rock in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday.

“I’m so happy for these kids. heart of champions right there,” seventh-year head coach Kim Rosamond said. “Today I was so calm, because of them, they weren’t going to be denied. ...

“We said if we can rebound and defend, everything else would take care of itself. ... It was just a great team effort.”

The third-seeded Golden Eagles, who lost to the Trojans twice during the season, held the Trojans to 34% shooting, including 0 for 6 from 3-point range, and had a 37-26 rebounding advantage.

Jada Guinn added 12 points and Reghan Grimes had 10 for Tennessee Tech (22-9), which was 2-of-9 shooting in the fourth quarter but made 6 of 8 free throws. Maaliya Owens scored eight to reach 1,000 for her career. Hill, a junior college transfer, had season highs in points and rebounds.

Tia Harvey had 13 points and Jayla Brooks 12 for the Trojans (21-10), who had a 13-game winning streak snapped after going 4 of 15 in the final 10 minutes. Leading scorer and OVC Player of the Year Sali Kourouma (17.2 ppg) was held to six points in 12 minutes before fouling out with 3:15 to play. Her team was 18-0 in games she played this season.

Little Rock was trying to make the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in its first year in the OVC, the last appearance coming in 2019 as Sun Belt Conference champion.

Tennessee Tech took a 21-15 lead at the half, holding Little Rock to 29% shooting. It was the first time in almost a month the Trojans trailed at the break.

The Golden Eagles lead by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but Jaiyah Harris-Smith hit a buzzer-beating floater from the lane and the Trojans trailed 44-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

Tennessee Tech won its 10th tourney title despite going scoreless 6:39 after taking a 46-37 lead 1 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter. Little Rock only got within five as the Trojans went 3:40 between baskets.

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25