FUN

As we speak, the Central Arkansas Library System’s new used bookstore Library Square Books is in the midst of its grand opening, until 6 p.m., at 405 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock’s River Market District, with refreshments and giveaways and a limited number of commemorative items. Shelves are stocked with everything from children’s books and paperbacks to rare finds, priced at $2 for Step Into Reading children’s books, $4 for paperbacks and other children’s books, $8 for hardcovers and rare books individually priced. Hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday. (501) 918-3000; cals.org.

Crown Jewel Cat Club is hosting “A Royal Cat Show Extravaganza,” a benefit for rescue organizations in the Little Rock and Maumelle areas featuring more than 30 pedigreed breeds, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at the Maumelle Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle. All-breed judges will examine competitors for Cat Fanciers’ Association titles based on health, temperament and conformation to breed standard. There will also be a cat costume contest each day around lunchtime, a marketplace of cat product vendors and a lineup of family activities. The first 100 children will receive a cat-inspired headband. (501) 502-7429; events.ticketleap.com.

MUSIC

Country star Ella Langley headlines a concert, with opening acts ERNEST and Laci Kay Booth, 7 p.m. Saturday at North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Arena. (501) 340-5660; simmonsbankarena.com.

THEATER

“The Bunco Squad Rolls Again” by Jim Hesselman takes the stage this week at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (but Wednesday matinees only Aug. 26 and 29), 12:45 and 6:45 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 12. It’s the sequel to “The Bunco Squad,” which Murry’s staged in August 2025. Buffet opens 30 minutes before curtain time. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com.

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock, continues its run of the world premiere of “The Remarkable Resignation of Dr. Joycelyn Elders,” written by and directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 29. (501) 378-0405; TheRep.org

Actors Theatre of Little Rock also is closing out the run of “Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches” by Tony Kushner, 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Louisiana St., Little Rock. actorstheatrelr.org.

The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, wraps up its run of “Lungs” by Duncan Macmillan, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. onthestage.tickets.

And The Royal Players are closing out the run of the musical “Guys and Dolls” 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton. onthestage.tickets.

ART AND EXHIBITS

New this week:

“Echoes & Narratives,” pastel paintings by Siloam Springs artist Charles Peer, go on display with a 5-8 p.m. Argenta Arts District 3rd Friday Art Walk reception Friday at Acansa Gallery, 413A Main St., North Little Rock. The exhibition remains up through Sept. 11; gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. (501) 416-0973.

“Messengers & Messages,” an exhibition of fiber art by Aida Ayers, Deborah Kuster, Mo Lashbrook, Lisa Thorpe and Emily Moll Wood, opens with a 5-8 p.m. Third Friday Art Walk reception Friday at Argenta Library, 420 Main St., North Little Rock. It will remain on display through Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. (501) 687-1061.

Continuing:

Made-in-Arkansas objects, including paintings and sculptures, is on display in the “Collecting Arkansas Made” exhibit at Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351.

The Arkansas League of Artists Member Show remains on display through Sept. 30 at the William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday-Saturday. (501) 758-1720; nlrlibrary.org.

“Holding Tension,” a collaborative exhibition of architectural paintings by Jeff Horton and ceramic houses by Yelena Petroukhina, is on display through August in the gallery at Thea Foundation, 401 Main St. in North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. theafoundation.org.

“Arkansas Black Voices: Shaping a Nation at 250,” personal histories, artifacts, photographs and stories highlighting “the lasting impact of Black Arkansans whose lives and legacies have helped shape the United States,” is on display through Aug. 29 at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday. (501) 683-3593; mosaictemplarscenter.com.

“America 250 — A Revolutionary Life Exhibit,” highlighting the country’s Founding Fathers with artifacts and stories of Revolutionary War figures, is on display until Aug. 30 in the main rotunda of the state Capitol, 500 Woodlane St., Little Rock. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekends and state holidays.

“The Three SoMa Sisters: History, Nature, Wellness, and Anita Davis’ Mission to Thrive in SoMa” is on display through Aug. 30 at ESSE Museum & Store, 1510 Main St. in Little Rock’s SoMa neighborhood. (501) 916-9022; essepursemuseum.com.

“Will Barnet: Seasons of Life,” works on paper by Barnet from the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection, is on display through Oct. 11 at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. arkmfa.org.

“In Natural Space,” recent landscapes and other paintings by Pope County artist David Mudrinich, a professor emeritus in art at Arkansas Tech University, “drawn from many of his experiences roaming within the Arkansas River watershed,” is on display through Oct. 17 at Cantrell Gallery, 8202 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. The exhibit remains up through Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com.

“Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield,” a traveling exhibit on loan from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine showcasing the life and legacy of one of the most celebrated Civil War caregivers, is on display through Oct. 31 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602.

“Icons in Transformation,” three-dimensional paintings inspired by traditional Russian icons by Ludmila Pawlowska, is on display through Nov. 8 in The Oasis at St. Margaret’s at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 20900 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. Gallery hours are 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday. theoasisatstmargarets.com.

“Play in Arkansas,” examining how people have created joy through play and how the history of play can contribute to understanding of both past and present, is on display through Dec. 15 at the University of Arkansas Little Rock Downtown, 333 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. The exhibit includes handmade and mass-produced toys, dolls and game paraphernalia, as well as a memories section, where individuals can share their personal reflections on childhood play. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“Material Nature: Gifts From the John and Robyn Horn Collection” opens Saturday in the Robyn and John Horn Gallery in the Windgate Art School at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. It’s up through April 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.com.

“Kuimeaux’s World,” drawings and paintings by late Little Rock native Dwight “Kuimeaux” Drennan, is on display through spring 2027 at Little Rock’s Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351.

“Manufacturing Victory in Arkansas: Supplying the Battlefront and Changing the Homefront During World War II,” “highlight(ing) the role and contributions of ordnance plants in Arkansas during the war,” remains on display through Dec. 31, 2027, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

- The Arkansas Department of Education's ACCESS portal is now open, creating a streamlined application process for prospective college students

- The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame has a new home inside the North Little Rock event center

- Arkansas State University is representing the Arkansas Delta at the Oak Ridge Associated University’s newly-formed rural health Research Innovation Cluster

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

- A controversial plan to build a new 3,000-bed state prison in Franklin County has officially been canceled

- Arkansas Department of Human Services officials say they are exploring multiple options to keep the state’s Medicaid expansion program online

- The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has received a $2.1 million grant from the U-S-D-A’s Natural Resources Conservation Service

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Monday, August 17, 2026.

- Rice farmers in Arkansas are facing high input costs, low market prices and large rice stocks, contributing to the state’s lowest planted acreage in about 50 years

- Arkansas State Police celebrated the opening of its new training lodge during its August commission meeting

- Three state lawmakers gathered at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Friday for a bipartisan discussion of increasing tax incentives for locally-produced films

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Friday, August 14, 2026.

- A New York-based nonprofit is giving direct cash payments to expecting mothers in Arkansas in an attempt to combat poverty

- A $6.6 billion data center project in Clarksville will initially require 40 natural gas turbines to help power it, according to the permit application

- Officials with Arkansas State University held a ribbon-cutting at the new College of Veterinary Medicine in Jonesboro on Tuesday

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

FUN

The Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, celebrates President Bill Clinton’s 80th birthday on Saturday with free admission and a slate of family-friendly activities that includes crafts and games, free Hope watermelons for the first 80 visitors and a performance by the Hot Springs World Class High School Marching Band. clintonfoundation.org/events.

MUSIC

The North Little Rock Community Concert Band performs a program Music Director Rico Belotti calls “America Sings,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Patrick Henry Hays Center, 401 W. Pershing Blvd., North Little Rock. (501) 920-2539; nlrcommunityband.com.

THEATER

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock, stages the world premiere of “The Remarkable Resignation of Dr. Joycelyn Elders,” a play with music by and directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 29. (501) 378-0405; TheRep.org

The Royal Players stage the musical “Guys and Dolls” 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 23 at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton. onthestage.tickets.

Actors Theatre of Little Rock stages “Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches” by Tony Kushner, 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Aug. 19-21, 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 22 at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Louisiana St., Little Rock. actorstheatrelr.org.

The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, stages “Lungs” by Duncan Macmillan, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 23. onthestage.tickets.

And “Footloose the Musical” is onstage 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. Buffet opens 30 minutes before curtain time. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com.

ART AND EXHIBITS

New this week:

“Material Nature: Gifts From the John and Robyn Horn Collection” opens Saturday in the Robyn and John Horn Gallery in the Windgate Art School at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. It’s up through April 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.com.

A new selection of objects, including paintings and sculptures, goes on display in Historic Arkansas Museum’s “Collecting Arkansas Made” exhibit, during 2nd Friday Art Night, 5-8 p.m. Friday at the museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock. Charlotte Taylor will perform and Arkansas-made beer from Stone’s Throw Brewing of Little Rock will be available. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351.

The Arkansas League of Artists Member Show opens with a 6-8 p.m. reception Friday at the William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. The exhibition is up through Sept. 30 during library hours, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday-Saturday. (501) 758-1720; nlrlibrary.org.

“Holding Tension,” a collaborative exhibition of architectural paintings by Jeff Horton and ceramic houses by Yelena Petroukhina, goes on display with a 5-7:30 p.m. reception Thursday in the gallery at Thea Foundation, 401 Main St. in North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District. It’s up through August, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. theafoundation.org.

Continuing:

“America 250 — A Revolutionary Life Exhibit,” highlighting the country’s Founding Fathers with artifacts and stories of Revolutionary War figures, is on display until Aug. 30 in the main rotunda of the state Capitol, 500 Woodlane St., Little Rock. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekends and state holidays.

“Arkansas Black Voices: Shaping a Nation at 250,” personal histories, artifacts, photographs and stories highlighting “the lasting impact of Black Arkansans whose lives and legacies have helped shape the United States,” is on display through Aug. 29 at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. The exhibit includes. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday. (501) 683-3593; mosaictemplarscenter.com.

“The Three SoMa Sisters: History, Nature, Wellness, and Anita Davis’ Mission to Thrive in SoMa” is on display through Aug. 30 at ESSE Museum & Store, 1510 Main St. in Little Rock’s SoMa neighborhood. (501) 916-9022; essepursemuseum.com.

“Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield,” a traveling exhibit on loan from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine showcasing the life and legacy of one of the most celebrated Civil War caregivers, on display through Oct. 31 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602.

“In Natural Space,” recent landscapes and other paintings by Pope County artist David Mudrinich, a professor emeritus in art at Arkansas Tech University, “drawn from many of his experiences roaming within the Arkansas River watershed,” is on display through Oct. 17 at Cantrell Gallery, 8202 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. The exhibit remains up through Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com.

“Icons in Transformation,” three-dimensional paintings inspired by traditional Russian icons by Ludmila Pawlowska, is on display through Nov. 8 in The Oasis at St. Margaret’s at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 20900 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. Gallery hours are 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday. theoasisatstmargarets.com.

“Will Barnet: Seasons of Life,” works on paper by Barnet from the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection, is on display through Oct. 11 at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. arkmfa.org.

“Play in Arkansas,” examining how people have created joy through play and how the history of play can contribute to understanding of both past and present, is on display through Dec. 15 at the University of Arkansas Little Rock Downtown, 333 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. The exhibit includes handmade and mass-produced toys, dolls and game paraphernalia, as well as a memories section, where individuals can share their personal reflections on childhood play. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“Kuimeaux’s World,” drawings and paintings by late Little Rock native Dwight “Kuimeaux” Drennan, is on display through spring 2027 at Little Rock’s Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351.

“Manufacturing Victory in Arkansas: Supplying the Battlefront and Changing the Homefront During World War II,” “highlight(ing) the role and contributions of ordnance plants in Arkansas during the war,” remains on display through Dec. 31, 2027, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602.

Arkansas routinely finishes near the bottom for indicators of maternal and infant health when compared to other states. Pete Gess, economic policy director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, says this phenomenon can largely be attributed to one thing.

“The big problem in Arkansas is we’re a poor state,” Gess told Little Rock Public Radio. “So there’s pretty tremendous childhood and family poverty.”

According to Gess, 21% of children under 5 years old – about 36,000 kids – live in poverty. Nearly 10% of children in Arkansas live in "extreme poverty.” This is defined as 50% of the federal poverty level. In Arkansas that’s under $11,000 for a family of two, and under $16,500 for a family of four.

According to Gess, there’s a potential solution: programs that give direct financial help to pregnant mothers. This is what the Bridge Project, a nonprofit organization aims to do in Arkansas.

“Poverty is highly correlated with maternal and infant […] health issues,” Gess said. “If a household’s living in poverty it has a lot of trouble meeting those needs that help a child develop.”

The Bridge Project is working to help expecting Arkansans by giving them direct cash payments. There are 300 spots available with $6 million committed to the program in Arkansas.

“Each enrolled mom will receive a total of $20,250 over the course of three years. (Specifically, that’s a $1,125 one-time, upfront prenatal stipend; $750 per month for the first 15 months of the program; $375 per month for the remaining 21 months in the program.)” said Varsha Vijayakumar, a spokesperson for the Bridge Project.

Suzanna Fritzberg, the program’s executive director, said providing concrete support like this is “actually a really old idea.”

“Folks like Thomas Paine, MLK, even Richard Nixon had a proposal [for] something like this interestingly enough,” she said. “And I think where it comes from is recognizing that, especially for some of our most vulnerable communities, health and financial stability are really intertwined.”

According to the Bridge Project website, about 1 in 6 children – around 575,000 – in the U.S. live in poverty.

“These children face structural disadvantages, including limited access to quality healthcare, nutrition, and educational resources, all of which dramatically limit their opportunities for economic mobility and future prosperity,” reads the nonprofit’s website.

Depending on the state, the Bridge Project is funded through a mix of philanthropy and public dollars. In Arkansas, the program is funded through philanthropy. The project receives money from the Monarch Foundation and other state and national charities. More information about the Bridge Project can be found on the Internal Revenue Service’s website.

Fritzberg says she has heard of people on the Bridge Project using the money to cover costs for specialty baby formula, make ends meet during a slow period of work and save up for education. While the ways that expecting mothers use the money may differ, she said the impact across communities is consistent.

Fritzberg said the data shows birth outcomes, access to medical care, housing stability and food security are all positively impacted by the Bridge Project.

“And overall, we see healthier, more stable families across all of the programs we serve.”

Applications for the program in Arkansas are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis. To be eligible you must make under $44,000, live in Arkansas and be 27 weeks pregnant or less. You must also either be 18 to 22 years old or a member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Prospective applicants can apply at www.bridgeproject.org/apply.

Correction: this story was updated to clarify a statement from Suzanna Fritzberg.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Thursday, August 13, 2026.

- The National Weather Service says Central Arkansas may be experiencing a historic heatwave, as temperatures may peak at or above 100 degrees for 10-14 consecutive days

- In an effort to promote gun safety in Central Arkansas, the Little Rock Police Department will be providing free gun locks and education to residents

- A fourth officer has been decertified in connection with sexual harassment allegations at an east Arkansas police department

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

- The Pulaski County Quorum Court voted 13 to 1 Tuesday to consider another emergency ordinance to allow the county to regulate large-scale data centers

- The City of Mayflower is ending its use of Flock cameras amid growing concerns about residents’ privacy

- The National Weather Service in Little Rock is warning of a heat wave that may last over the next two weeks

- The head of Arkansas’ high court is requesting to temporarily replace one of its members

- A new report from the March of Dimes finds nearly half of Arkansas is a maternity care desert

- North Little Rock city officials have approved a new lease for the region’s minor league baseball team

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

- A video circulating on social media shows an Arkansas State Trooper punching a woman during an arrest in Mississippi County

- Arkansas grocery stores are dealing with a new round of food recalls after Taylor Farms jalapeños were named a potential salmonella risk

- Little Rock city officials have approved a new “sustainable energy district”

- A hearing date has been set in an ongoing dispute over control over the state’s prison system

- The National Bikers Roundup has been held since 1977, and this year, Little Rock was chosen to host

Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.