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Phillips County, Arkansas

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About Phillips, AR

Local News
Complete local news coverage for Phillips County, Arkansas. Stay updated on local government, community events, business developments, and civic matters affecting residents of Helena-West Helena, Marvell, Elaine, Lake View, and surrounding Arkansas Delta communities.
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Helena-West Helena, Marvell, Elaine, Lake View and 695 square miles in eastern arkansas

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Newsroom monitoring local Phillips, AR developments. Next update cycle in 48 minutes.

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Mile Zero Festival Brings Cycling, Running, and Paddling to Helena-West Helena
Community

Mile Zero Festival Brings Cycling, Running, and Paddling to Helena-West Helena

Helena-West Helena's 5th annual Mile Zero festival drew cyclists, runners, and paddlers from across the region to Cherry Street for three days of endurance events and live music.

Sarah Chen2m read
Twin Dust Devils Caught on Video in Drought-Stricken Phillips County
Community

Twin Dust Devils Caught on Video in Drought-Stricken Phillips County

Twin dust devils spiraling over Phillips County on Saturday signal how deep the drought has cut into the Arkansas Delta, where a countywide burn ban is in effect.

Marcus Williams2m read
Delta Cultural Center Hosts Annual Beans, Greens and Cornbread Contest in April
Community

Delta Cultural Center Hosts Annual Beans, Greens and Cornbread Contest in April

Registration closes today at 3 p.m. for Saturday's Beans, Greens & Cornbread contest at Helena-West Helena's Delta Cultural Center Depot Museum.

Sarah Chen1m read
Phillips County Recount Wraps Up in Arkansas Secretary of State Runoff
Government

Phillips County Recount Wraps Up in Arkansas Secretary of State Runoff

Six Arkansas county recounts changed not one vote in the Norris-Hammer race, but chain-of-custody disputes now mirror the election-fraud scrutiny already rocking Phillips County.

Marcus Williams2m read
HPAI Confirmed in Clay County AR Broiler Flock, Biosecurity Urged for Poultry
Healthcare

HPAI Confirmed in Clay County AR Broiler Flock, Biosecurity Urged for Poultry

Bird flu hit a Clay County commercial broiler farm Friday, putting Phillips County flocks on alert during the highest-risk stretch of spring migration along the Mississippi Flyway.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez3m read
Together For Hope Youth Easter Bash Brings Family Fun to West Helena
Community

Together For Hope Youth Easter Bash Brings Family Fun to West Helena

Together For Hope's H.E.L.P. nonprofit hosted a youth Easter Bash Tuesday evening at 276 Richmond Hill, pairing holiday fun with its mission to funnel Phillips County kids into healthcare careers.

Sarah Chen2m read
Phillips County Sheriff's Office Publishes Public Pages on Inmates, Releases, and Notices
Government

Phillips County Sheriff's Office Publishes Public Pages on Inmates, Releases, and Notices

Sheriff Neal Byrd's three public pages reveal daily jail movement in Phillips County, but the Detention Center's own disclaimer warns the data cannot be certified as accurate.

James Thompson2m read
Judge Rejects Bid to Limit Helena-West Helena Airport Commission Operations
Government

Judge Rejects Bid to Limit Helena-West Helena Airport Commission Operations

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Cara Connors refused last week to restrict the Helena-West Helena Airport Commission, leaving a contested board in control of the 610-acre Thompson-Robbins Airport.

Marcus Williams2m read
Helena Regional Medical Center remains key health hub for Phillips County
Healthcare

Helena Regional Medical Center remains key health hub for Phillips County

Helena Regional Medical Center provides 24/7 emergency care and a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services that keep essential health services close to Phillips County residents.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read
PCCUA Helena Campus Anchors Education and Workforce Training in Phillips County
Education

PCCUA Helena Campus Anchors Education and Workforce Training in Phillips County

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas operates a major Helena campus at 1000 Campus Drive, providing two year college degrees, career technical training, adult education and community services for Phillips County and the eastern Arkansas Delta. The campus functions as a local workforce pipeline and community resource, offering programs and support that matter to residents and employers across the region.

Sarah Chen2m read
King Biscuit Blues Festival 2026 Lineup Features Bobby Rush, John Primer
Community

King Biscuit Blues Festival 2026 Lineup Features Bobby Rush, John Primer

Bobby Rush headlines the Oct. 8-10 King Biscuit Blues Festival in downtown Helena, where early bird tickets are on sale now and 100,000 visitors are expected to pack Phillips County.

Marcus Williams2m read
State Scrutiny of Marvell-Elaine Schools Raises Community Equity Concerns
Education

State Scrutiny of Marvell-Elaine Schools Raises Community Equity Concerns

The small Marvell-Elaine School District, which serves PreK–12 students in Marvell and Elaine, has drawn state attention for low enrollment and academic performance, a status that could trigger interventions under Arkansas’s LEARNS Act. Any state action or restructuring could reshape access to school-based health services, nutrition programs, and community gathering spaces that are vital to Phillips County’s social and economic fabric.

Lisa Park2m read
PCCUA Helena Campus Provides Key Workforce and Education Programs
Education

PCCUA Helena Campus Provides Key Workforce and Education Programs

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas operates a Helena campus in Helena West Helena that serves as a primary higher education and workforce training institution for Phillips County and the surrounding Delta region. The campus offers nursing and allied health training, commercial driver and skilled trade instruction, workforce certificates, and concurrent credit for high school students, making it a central resource for local job preparation and post secondary credentials.

Marcus Williams1m read
Long Lake 200-MW solar project secures Meta offtake with DESRI
Business

Long Lake 200-MW solar project secures Meta offtake with DESRI

Meta has signed a long-term PPA for the Long Lake 200 MWac solar project in Phillips County with DESRI as long-term owner-operator; developers say construction jobs and local economic benefits will follow.

Sarah Chen3m read
Local hospital, foundation and UAMS presence sustain health services in Phillips County
Healthcare

Local hospital, foundation and UAMS presence sustain health services in Phillips County

Phillips County relies on a network of local and regional partners to keep emergency care, specialty access and workforce training available close to home. Helena Regional Medical Center, the Helena Health Foundation and UAMS regional programs together provide inpatient and outpatient services, telehealth and community grants that matter for residents of Helena West Helena, Marvell, Elaine and Lake View.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read
Phillips County Library Remains Vital Local Hub for Access and Equity
Community

Phillips County Library Remains Vital Local Hub for Access and Equity

The Phillips County Library system operates three branches in Helena, Marvell and Elaine, providing free books, public computers, eBooks, genealogy materials and year-round programming that many residents rely on for work, school and health services. Its services and limited hours highlight persistent gaps in broadband and community resources that affect access to telehealth, job searches and educational support across the county.

Lisa Park2m read
Delta Dirt Distillery Turns Family Farmland Into Award-Winning Helena Spirits Business
Business

Delta Dirt Distillery Turns Family Farmland Into Award-Winning Helena Spirits Business

Harvey Williams's four-generation farm now powers a platinum-medal distillery on Cherry Street, converting local sweet potatoes into Helena's most visible downtown development win.

Sarah Chen6m read
Delta Heritage Trail Connects Phillips County Communities Along 960-Acre Corridor
Community

Delta Heritage Trail Connects Phillips County Communities Along 960-Acre Corridor

Arkansas trails secretary Shea Lewis pledged full completion of the nearly 85-mile Delta Heritage Trail, but two retrofitted railroad bridges still separate Phillips County from an unbroken $83M corridor.

Marcus Williams7m read
Eight Arrested in Phillips County Over 2024 Justice of the Peace Election Fraud
Government

Eight Arrested in Phillips County Over 2024 Justice of the Peace Election Fraud

Lita Moore Johnson, who won the 2024 JP District 9 runoff, faces felony charges after allegedly directing voters to falsify registration addresses — 7 others also arrested.

Ellie Harper2m read
PCCUA Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Earns Prestigious Five-Star Distinction
Education

PCCUA Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Earns Prestigious Five-Star Distinction

PCCUA's Sigma Kappa chapter, home to over 1,584 members and alumni, has earned the Five-Star Distinction from Phi Theta Kappa national honor society.

Lisa Park2m read
Pillow-Thompson House Anchors Helena Tourism and Hosts Hospitality Training Programs
Community

Pillow-Thompson House Anchors Helena Tourism and Hosts Hospitality Training Programs

Pillow-Thompson House at 718 Perry Street is a restored 1896 Queen-Anne Victorian open to the public since June 3, 1997, and available for rentals including the "Fabulous First Thursday Lunch."

Marcus Williams2m read
Elaine 1919 Massacre: Phillips County Reckons with Red Summer Violence
Community

Elaine 1919 Massacre: Phillips County Reckons with Red Summer Violence

Large-scale killings, arrests and detentions followed a meeting of Black sharecroppers in Elaine in 1919, a violent episode that shaped Phillips County's social and economic landscape.

Sarah Chen2m read
Helena Museum anchors Phillips County history in restored landmark
Community

Helena Museum anchors Phillips County history in restored landmark

the Helena Museum of Phillips County preserves local artifacts in a historic 1889-1891 Second Empire building and supports heritage tourism and local education.

Sarah Chen2m read
Community-led study maps barriers to healthy eating in Phillips County
Healthcare

Community-led study maps barriers to healthy eating in Phillips County

A nine-month project in Marvell and Elaine identified barriers to healthy eating and pushed for community-driven, culturally respectful solutions.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read
Historic sites anchor community identity and tourism in Phillips County
Community

Historic sites anchor community identity and tourism in Phillips County

Phillips County's Freedom Park, Pillow Thompson House and Elaine memorials preserve complex history and support education, tourism, and community healing.

Lisa Park2m read
Thompson-Robbins Airport Boosts Phillips County Business and MedEvac Access
Business

Thompson-Robbins Airport Boosts Phillips County Business and MedEvac Access

Thompson-Robbins Airport (FAA: KHEE, IATA: HEE) functions as Phillips County’s primary general-aviation gateway, supporting business travel, agricultural operations, flight training and emergency medical transport. Its runways, fueling and basing services make it a practical asset for local economic development and emergency response, affecting residents, farmers and potential investors.

Sarah Chen2m read
Barton Lexa School District Anchors Education and Community in Phillips County
Education

Barton Lexa School District Anchors Education and Community in Phillips County

The Barton Lexa School District serves northern Phillips County, operating Barton Elementary for preK to 6 and Barton High School for grades 7 to 12, and acts as a central hub for schooling, athletics and local workforce development. Its role matters because the district sustains daily services and community identity for the towns of Barton, Lexa and Lake View, and because changes in enrollment and funding shape local schools and the county economy.

Sarah Chen2m read
Institutional Investors Control Tens of Thousands of Acres in Phillips County
Community

Institutional Investors Control Tens of Thousands of Acres in Phillips County

Large institutional investors led by TIAA and its farmland management arm Nuveen Natural Capital own tens of thousands of acres in Phillips County, lands that are routinely operated day to day by tenant farmers and third party crop managers. Local residents and community groups have raised concerns about pesticide spray drift, water quality, chronic health issues, and the loss of local land control, and they have organized town halls and published demands for reduced pesticide use, expanded local control, and reparative investment.

Marcus Williams2m read
Progressive Health of Helena, County Hospital Offers Around the Clock Emergency Care
Healthcare

Progressive Health of Helena, County Hospital Offers Around the Clock Emergency Care

Progressive Health of Helena serves as Phillips County's primary hospital, providing around the clock emergency care, basic inpatient services, primary care clinics and telehealth support. Local residents should note the hospital address and phone number for emergencies and confirm specialty service availability before travel.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read