Local Crime & Safety: Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott urged parental accountability after a River Market shooting sent a juvenile to the hospital, with police saying the incident followed a fight that escalated into gunfire. North Little Rock Arrests: Police arrested Raymond Smith, 65, for allegedly stealing a car without an engine, and also charged Jamaal McJunkins, 46, after finding meth, psilocybin and marijuana during a disturbance call. Child Exploitation Case: An Arkansas man, Tyler Paul Hutcheson, 23, was extradited to North Carolina on warrants tied to sexual exploitation of a minor, with additional charges listed in Indiana. Education & Literacy: A new study links stronger teachers’ unions with weaker early-literacy policy outcomes in some states, highlighting Arkansas among those with “stronger literacy outcomes.” State Politics: A Trump-backed plan for permanent daylight saving time stalled in the Senate, with Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton warning it could repeat the 1974 “dark mornings” failure. Business & Growth: Arvest is keeping new checking fees after customer backlash; meanwhile, Northwest Arkansas got a direct road connection to XNA via Highway 642, and a long-running Little Rock estate lawsuit ended in a confidential settlement. Community & Economy: The Leadership Mountain Home Class launched “The Hatchery,” a youth pitch contest awarding $5,000 total, and Arkansas tourism tax revenue rose more than 8% in the first half of 2026.