What's up Fort Smith! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Arkansas chemical plant where acid spill occurred operated without a permit, state regulators say - Hot Springs Village Voice (hsvvoice.com) — A Fort Smith chemical plant operated for more than a year without a required stormwater permit or proper hazardous-chemical reporting before a May acid spill damaged a city fire truck and polluted a nearby creek. The spill killed thousands of fish between Fort Smith and Oklahoma, and regulators are still weighing penalties while local and state officials push for restoration and accountability from C&S Chemicals.
2. Ordinance fining people who transport unhoused to Fort Smith dies due to lack of motion (rivervalleydemocratgazette.com) — Fort Smith's Board of Directors quietly let a proposed ordinance die that would have fined people for transporting unhoused individuals into the city, after no director seconded a motion to vote. Residents and service providers instead urged evidence-based approaches, more support for local homeless services, and the creation of a dedicated homelessness task force.
3. Former UAPD officer pleads not guilty to charges accusing him of keeping explicit photos of a child on his laptop (5newsonline.com) — A former University of Arkansas Police Department officer from Fort Smith has pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing explicit images of a child found on his electronic devices, according to court records. Police initially arrested the 55-year-old man in April after a domestic incident, then later seized and searched his laptop, phones, and other devices. He remains charged while future court dates are still pending.
4. Arkansas 188th Flying Razorbacks mark decade of combat operations (4029tv.com) — Airmen at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith are marking 10 years of global combat operations flown remotely from the city. The 188th Wing's Flying Razorbacks operate MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, logging thousands of missions while juggling high-stress military duties with everyday family life in the Fort Smith community.
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Ok Fort Smith! 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
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