Little Rock

A late summer heat wave has gripped much of the United States, with roughly 97 million people facing advisories from the central Plains to the Southeast. Dangerous temperatures and high humidity could cause it to feel up to 115°F in portions of the Southeast due to a trapped heat dome effect. Meteorologists warn that the combination of long-lasting heat, intense conditions, and lack of nighttime relief increases mortality risk.

Homicide rates in 30 U.S. cities declined by 18% in the first half of 2026, with 215 fewer killings compared to the same period in 2025, continuing a trend of historic lows since the pandemic-era surge in 2022. A Council on Criminal Justice report notes the decline spans diverse cities but warns no single policy or factor explains the drop, which may be influenced by macro-level forces like criminal justice changes and social shifts.

Homicide rates in U.S. cities declined 18% in the first half of 2026, with 215 fewer killings across 30 cities, marking a continuation of a historic downward trend since 2022. The Council on Criminal Justice reported widespread but not universal reductions, with four cities, including Minneapolis, showing rates above 2019 levels.

Crime rates, including homicides, continued to decline in 36 U.S. cities in the first half of 2026, with homicide rates dropping 18% compared to 2025. The Council on Criminal Justice analysis noted the national homicide rate could reach a century low, though some cities like Minneapolis saw rates above 2019 levels.

Crime rates in U.S. cities continued declining in 2026, with homicide rates dropping 18% in 30 cities, according to a Council on Criminal Justice report. The decline follows pandemic-era surges but is not universal, with Minneapolis and three other cities reporting higher 2026 rates than 2019 levels.

Rising diesel prices have led school districts to adopt electric buses to save costs. The Little Rock district in Arkansas saved 59 cents per mile with diesel buses compared to 31 cents with electric buses, while Fleming County, Kentucky, cut costs by 80% per mile. Federal funding through the Clean School Bus Program supported the transition.

Homicide rates in U.S. cities declined by 18% in the first half of 2026, with 215 fewer killings across 30 cities compared to 2025. A report by the Council on Criminal Justice attributes the drop to macro-level forces like changes in criminal justice operations, technology, and social shifts, though the decline was not universal, with Minneapolis and three other cities reporting higher rates than 2019.

Nijaiha Jackson, childhood friend of Jade Benning, testified about their final interaction before Benning and her unborn child were allegedly poisoned. Blaise Taylor, the child's father and a former Tennessee Titans scout, is on trial for their murders. Jackson described a phone call in which Benning accused Taylor of poisoning her drink.

Doris Coulson died from aspiration pneumonia at a nursing home under Skyline Healthcare, which was owned by Joseph Schwartz. Her family sued for $19 million in damages but couldn't collect after Schwartz received a Trump pardon, allowing him to avoid accountability for his criminal tax scheme.

The FBI and its federal, state, and local partners arrested 45 people in Pine Bluff and Little Rock, Arkansas for drug and firearm crimes in a gang takedown operation. The operation represents a significant law enforcement action targeting violent gang activity in the region.