Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How geothermal wells will change heating and cooling at Little Rock’s airport.

Coming up: Come From Away on the Little Rock Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Tuesday August 18th Patch AM
Tuesday August 18th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hi Little Rock! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How geothermal wells will change heating and cooling at Little Rock's airport.
  • How a downtown Little Rock hotel is becoming student housing
  • How scammers convinced a North Little Rock couple to hand over $160K

Also on today's calendar: BossMan Dlow & Yung Miami - The Motion Party Tour and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the man leave his watch in the bank? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and hot, with a high of 99 and low of 78 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Wednesday: Record-tying temperatures, temps: high: 105, low: 78.
  • Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 94 and low of 75 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Geothermal wells to enable more efficient heating, cooling at Little Rock airport (texarkanagazette.com) — Little Rock's Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is drilling hundreds of geothermal wells to power a new central utility plant, aiming to eliminate nearly all natural gas use and modernize the terminal. Backed by federal climate grants and FAA funding, the $39 million project should come online in 2027 and eventually sit beneath a new expanded parking lot.
   

2. Former La Quinta in downtown Little Rock sold for $7.8 million to provide student housing for Arkansas Baptist College (kark.com) — A former La Quinta Inn on South Broadway in downtown Little Rock has been sold for $7.8 million and will be converted into student housing for Arkansas Baptist College. The 12‑story, 261‑room building sits less than a mile from campus and will be renovated for its new role. Leaders say the project boosts both the college's capacity and downtown's ongoing revitalization.
   

3. Texas man arrested in $160,000 scam of North Little Rock couple (arkansasonline.com) — An elderly North Little Rock couple lost about $160,000 after scammers convinced them their Social Security and freedom were at risk, leading to cash handoffs at a local QuikTrip and Maumelle Walmart. Pulaski County investigators traced a rented Kia to a San Antonio Walmart employee, who's now arrested, while a second suspect remains at large.
   

4. Jeff Nichols' Bold Vision to Revive American Independent Cinema (yve-style.com) — Filmmaker Jeff Nichols is working to grow a real film community in his hometown of Little Rock through the Arkansas Cinema Society and its Filmland festival. Recent Filmland events have drawn big names like Matthew McConaughey, while Nichols pushes for better incentives to keep independent productions, including his Arkansas-shot thriller "King Snake," in the United States.
   

5. NYITCOM, UA Little Rock launch pathway program for aspiring doctors (kait8.com) — UA Little Rock students now have a clearer path to medical school through a new partnership with NYITCOM at Arkansas State University. The pathway program lets eligible students complete a bachelor's at UA Little Rock, then continue directly into osteopathic medical training. With applications already open and a spring 2027 start, it aims to grow homegrown doctors for Arkansas.
   

📸 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

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • UPDATE: REUNITED WITH HIS DADDY!!
    THANKS! A nice ladyThat was jogging , found him and took him to the hillcrest animal hospital and he was reunited with his dad there. We thank you… (Nextdoor Capitol View)
  • UPDATE: somebody has seemed to have found a sibling, these baby's were dumped!!
    Is this anybody's baby boy? He was found on the side of markham, we are currently fostering him but if we can find his owners that would be great, he… (Nextdoor Capitol View)
  • BJ's Restaurants, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial in Little Rock. Apply here.
  • The University of Arkansas System posted a job opening for Stationary Engineer 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: So he could save time! (Thank you Lorraine S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Little Rock