Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a downtown Little Rock hotel just became student housing

Also check out Come From Away on the Little Rock Patch calendar

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Thursday August 20th Patch AM
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Cheers Little Rock! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a downtown Little Rock hotel just became student housing
  • Inside Little Rock's new hands-on training lab for child welfare workers
  • How could LRSD's new high school lines reshape your neighborhood?

Also on today's calendar: Kawaii Rave - 18+ and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Very hot, with a high of 101 and low of 74 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Near-record temperatures, temps: high: 102, low: 72.
  • Saturday: Near-record temperatures, with a high of 101 and low of 74 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Arkansas Baptist College transforms Little Rock hotel into student housing (thv11.com) — Arkansas Baptist College is turning the former La Quinta hotel in downtown Little Rock into student housing and classroom space to handle a surge in enrollment. The 12‑story building will house hundreds of students, add amenities, and run a shuttle to the main campus, while also boosting nearby restaurants and businesses with more daily foot traffic.
   

2. New Child Welfare Learning Lab gives Arkansas DCFS workers hands-on training (katv.com) — A new Child Welfare Learning Lab near UA Little Rock is giving Arkansas DCFS trainees realistic practice with home visits, tough conversations, and safety assessments before they ever knock on a real family's door. The Little Rock facility, run with MidSOUTH Training Academy, lets new workers make mistakes, get coaching, and build confidence so they're better prepared to protect children statewide.
   

3. Little Rock School District discusses redistricting plans for new high school (thv11.com) — Little Rock families could see new school zones soon as the district redraws boundaries to add a third high school and reduce neighborhood splits. Leaders say they're trying to keep central Little Rock communities together longer so students aren't separated from classmates at every school level. Final maps will decide who attends the new West High School.
   

4. Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame cuts ribbon on new exhibit in North Little Rock (katv.com) — A new Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame exhibit has opened at the North Little Rock Event Center after years at Little Rock's Statehouse Convention Center, putting stories of influential Arkansas women in a more visible spot. The multimedia display features this year's seven inductees and is easy to find just inside the main entrance, with city and chamber support behind the move.
   

5. St. Joseph's Center says WWII munitions at Burns Park putting new location on hold (katv.com) — Plans to move St. Joseph Center of Arkansas to Burns Park in North Little Rock are on hold while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers checks for WWII-era munitions, a process that could take years. With grant deadlines looming, the nonprofit may seek another site, after already losing its former North Little Rock home when the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock chose to build a seminary there.
   

📸 Around Little Rock

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Little Rock

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday September 12
  • Come From Away →
    Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Rd, Little Rock
    2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Little Rock Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday August 20
  • Board Meeting (Regular)
    Pike View Early Childhood Center Administration Board Room
    5:30 pm
  • Varsity Volleyball vs. Searcy (Exhibition Game) 9th Football vs. St
    Bobby G Lester Elementary School Home
    7:00 pm
  • Couples Therapy: A Relationship-Themed Comedy Show at Little Rock Loony Bin →
    Loony Bin Comedy Club, 10301 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock
    8:00 pm
    • Friday August 21
  • NO ATHLETIC EVENTS
    Bobby G Lester Elementary School Little Rock, AR 72216
    8:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Our lovely cat Pepper got lost as my husband said last he saw him was more than 10 days ago, as me and my kids were traveling but my husband was in town, so if anyone see him please let us know.
    Pepper came to our home when he was 5 days old as he was left by his Mom, so I raised him, I hope we can find him! (Nextdoor LaMarche)
  • I was walking in War Memorial Park with my dog this morning and we circled the "pond".
    It is trashed at the bridge and grownup you can't use the banks. I called Parks and Rec and talked to the maintenance manager. Great guy named JT. … (Nextdoor Hillcrest)
  • Atrium Hospitality posted a job opening for Housekeeping Room Attendant in Little Rock. Apply here.
  • GF Uponor posted a job opening for Production Manager 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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