Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Heading south on I-430 today? Check this lane closure first.

Be sure to catch 90s Country New Year - Vol. 4 on the Little Rock Patch calendar

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Greetings Little Rock! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Heading south on I-430 today? Check this lane closure first.
  • How did a Little Rock teenager become a Civil War legend?
  • How a Little Rock veteran is reshaping birth support in Arkansas

Also on today's calendar: 90s Country New Year - Vol. 4.

Find out what's happening in Little Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? . 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Little Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Monday: Cooler; breezy in the morning, with a high of 41 and low of 25 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Sunny, but chilly, temps: high: 43, low: 32.
  • Wednesday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 58 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Vehicle fire on I-430 causing traffic (thv11.com) — Drivers in Little Rock should steer clear of southbound I-430 near Mile Marker 9.4, where a vehicle fire is blocking the right lane and on-ramp. ARDOT is urging motorists to avoid the area and check online traffic updates while crews respond and congestion builds through Pulaski County.
   

2. Arkansas History for December 28: Albert Lee Scarber of Rosston vanishes (magnoliareporter.com) — Little Rock’s Civil War past surfaces in the story of teenager David O. Dodd, questioned and later executed after returning to Union headquarters in the occupied city with troop details on December 28, 1863. A broader Arkansas history roundup also recalls a massive 1823 Native gathering, a 1900 manhunt, a 2008 Nevada County disappearance, a 1987 voting-rights decree, and notable Arkansas births.
   

3. Arkansas' Ujima Maternity Network celebrates graduates of birth coach training program (arkansasonline.com) — A statewide doula training push is nearly doubling Arkansas’ number of birth coaches, and one of the newest graduates is Little Rock native and Army veteran Amanda Springs. Through the Ujima Maternity Network’s program with UAMS, she and other doulas are working to improve Black maternal and infant health outcomes, offering culturally aware support during birth and especially in the postpartum weeks.
   

4. Arkansas ends .125% grocery sales tax, saving residents millions in 2026 (thv11.com) — Starting January 1, shoppers in Little Rock and across Arkansas will no longer pay the state’s 0.125% sales tax on staple grocery items like meat, produce, and bread. Local city and county sales taxes, plus taxes on candy and soft drinks, will still apply, but state officials estimate families statewide could save $10–12 million a year. Additional new laws will tighten hiring rules and unemployment requirements.
   

5. Gas prices hit four-year low as holiday travel ramps up (kark.com) — Drivers around Little Rock are seeing some of the cheapest gas in four years, with Arkansas averaging about $2.38 a gallon, well below the national price. Locals say the drop is easing holiday travel costs and freeing up cash for gifts, groceries, and savings as analysts expect continued relief at the pump into the new year.
   

📸 Around Little Rock

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Romeo, a dog who went missing in Maumelle, AR, has been safely reunited with their family after 1 days, 2 hours. Message from Owner: "If you see our… (Nextdoor Westcliffe)
  • Anyone missing a dog?
    Was happily trotting around Lorine Circle. We've got her! (Nextdoor Leawood)
  • Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Little Rock. Apply here.
  • USA Jobs posted a job opening for Warehouse Material Handler in Little Rock. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Little Rock here.

Ok Little Rock! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Lunch and dinner. (From Norine S.)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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