The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating $5.6 million to support Arkansas farmers and food distributors in accessing new markets, with $4.2 million directed towards a grant program. Announced by Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffit at the Arkansas Foodbank, the funding aims to improve food insecurity rates in Arkansas by enabling small farmers to aggregate products for schools and food banks, increase processing capacity, and add value to local products. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will provide technical assistance, and P.J. Haynie emphasized the importance of equity and diversity in the program's success.

Education service cooperatives in Arkansas face budget cuts under a new proposal from Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Arkansas farmers are urging Congress to allocate more funding for conservation efforts. A festival during the total solar eclipse weekend aims to celebrate and preserve Arkansas' musical heritage. The Arkansas Newswrap, hosted by Brandon Tabor, Matthew Moore, and Daniel Breen, covers these stories and more.

Brian Malinowski, executive director of Little Rock's Clinton National Airport, was fatally shot by federal agents during a search warrant raid, leading to controversy and legal scrutiny. The Middle East Studies Association criticized the University of Arkansas for not defending academic freedom amid faculty criticisms over perspectives on Israel. The episode also covers severe weather preparedness, a wrongful termination lawsuit, and a Netflix documentary filmed in Pulaski County Jail, along with the emergence of two broods of cicadas in the region.

Bryan Malinowski, executive director of Little Rock's Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, died from injuries sustained during a shootout with federal agents. The incident occurred when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives attempted to serve a search warrant at his home. Malinowski, who had been with the airport since 2008 and served as its executive director since 2019, was accused of making private firearm sales to an ineligible buyer. Arkansas State Police are investigating the incident. The Malinowski family expressed their grief and questioned the government's actions leading to the raid.

Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of Little Rock's Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, was injured after firing on federal agents from the ATF who were serving a search warrant at his home. An ATF agent was also injured. The incident is under investigation by the Arkansas State Police, with the prosecuting attorney to determine the legality of the use of deadly force.

Arkansas farmers are advocating for the continuation of conservation funding under the USDA's NRCS, which received nearly $20 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Arkansas received $724 million, aiding farmers like Jared Phillips in sustainable practices and resource preservation. An advertising campaign by Invest in Our Land emphasizes the need for federal conservation funding. The Farm Bill, which includes various USDA programs, is due for reauthorization. Senator John Boozman and Representative Rick Crawford have commented on the bill's progress and funding plans. Farmers like Phillips see conservation programs as economically beneficial and environmentally responsible.

Arkansas is set to identify areas without high-speed internet access as part of the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which has allocated over $1 billion to the state. The BEAD program, under the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, requires an accurate mapping of broadband coverage. Evan Feinman, the BEAD program director, highlighted the upcoming 'challenge process' where discrepancies in the Federal Communications Commission's map can be addressed. The state will seek private sector bids to build broadband networks, particularly in rural areas, to balance the cost of infrastructure and potential revenue. More than 215,000 homes and businesses in Arkansas currently lack high-speed internet. The BEAD program is part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with $42.5 billion dedicated to improving nationwide internet access.

Three people died and at least five were injured in a Jonesboro shooting. Arkansas U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford and Steve Womack secured federal funding for various initiatives. A judge permitted plaintiffs to amend their complaint against an Arkansas law altering the petition process. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is on a trade mission to South Korea and Japan. Bill Whitworth, a Hot Springs native and former editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, passed away at 87.

The Arkansas Newswrap is set to cover a range of topics including a new ambassador program aimed at enhancing accessibility and inclusion on outdoor trails, the rise of the GOP in Arkansas, and a State of the City address by a mayor in Northeast Arkansas. Hosts Brandon Tabor, Matthew Moore, and Daniel Breen will discuss these stories on the upcoming episode, which airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on KUAR 89.1.

In central Arkansas, snow persists with temperatures not expected to rise above freezing until Wednesday. State offices are closed due to dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills. A lawsuit has been filed by a former Pulaski County juvenile detention employee who claims they were fired for reporting sexual abuse. Governor Sarah Sanders has not commented on reports that former President Trump received $8 million from foreign governments.