The American Red Cross is set to open disaster assistance centers in three locations in the state to provide a point of contact for residents seeking financial assistance after damaging storms and flooding in April People whose homes were damaged in the tornado-producing storms that swelled the state's rivers can discuss eligibility for aid from the nonprofit and fill out forms at centers in Hardy located at the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center at 1300 East Polk Ave. the aid center at the Historic Old Hardy Gym at 201 School Ave That's the same location where the nonprofit ran an overnight shelter and another disaster aid center last month in the wake of the storms The Little Rock center will be at the Red Cross's office in the city Those interested in applying can also fill out the paperwork on the Red Cross's website at redcross.org/gethelp the release states policing and breaking news for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette his articles focus primarily on crime and law enforcement efforts in Pulaski County although he reports on other parts of the state as well This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing (KATV) — Two separate single lane closures are scheduled to take place in West Memphis from April 29 until May 7 for a routine bridge maintenance operation outside single lane closures will be southbound from 8 a.m Outside single lane closures in the northbound direction will be set from 7 a.m the lanes will be closed as crews continue making progress motorists will be made aware of the closures by way of digital message boards More travel information can be found here. Help AARP Membership — $15 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.  nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWEST MEMPHIS (WMC) - West Memphis Uitlites crews are continuing efforts to clear floodwaters after heavy storms hit the area They ran pumps throughout the night and say they are making progress but aren’t quite through yet West Memphis Utilities also said they would reassess the situation again on Tuesday morning Our priority is to keep everyone safe and informed during this challenging time Thank you for your patience and understanding Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error Rain: 7am to 7am: .00  Month: 1.51 Year: 25.00 Recorded temps:  High: 68 Low: 46 The Interstate 55 Bridge over the Mississippi River in West Memphis is now scheduled to have southbound outside single lane closures from 8 a.m There will also be northbound outside single lane closures scheduled from 7 a.m the lanes will be closed for routine bridge maintenance and signage will be in place to notify motorists of the closures Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov (WMC) - Another Buc-ee’s is coming to the Mid-South The popular Texas-based chain is bringing a location to West Memphis This is just one of two major projects that will bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue to the city The pitch was presented before the West Memphis City Council in a meeting Tuesday afternoon West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon says the Buc-ee’s will be located off I-40 near North 7th Street right next to the Cracker Barrel and two new hotels The location would be less than 10 miles from Downtown Memphis “West Memphis is the best Memphis,” he said after the project was approved Scoring a Buc-ee’s is just the latest economic home run for this city of 24,000 “The addition of Buc-ees is going to be a game-changer for tourism in West Memphis,” said Jim Jackson “Buc-ee’s will not only serve as a major stop for travelers but also draw new visitors to our area showcasing everything West Memphis has to offer.” The mayor and city council officially celebrated their decision on Tuesday after over 18 months of negotiations this is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Mayor McClendon “It’s a good opportunity for the City of West Memphis and we’re honored to have it here The development will bring its delicious beaver nuggets and brisket 120 gas pumps and clean restrooms to the city but the best part has to be the more than 200 good-paying jobs Memphian Dajon Quinn fills up frequently in West Memphis and knows how important this deal is for the city “I think it’s beautiful,” he told Action News 5 The West Memphis City Council also gave the green light to a new $3 billion data-processing center to be built on the south side of the city near the Coca-Cola Company at the corner of Rainer and Bollinger Roads Mayor McClendon and the city council are taking a well-deserved victory lap at this point “This is a great time to be in our city,” said Mayor McClendon but big-city advantages are just five minutes away from Downtown Memphis The new West Memphis Buc-ee’s should be open by 2026 The groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in December Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWEST Memphis (WMC) - The former top educator of West Memphis has filed a lawsuit against the school district claiming that his 2023 firing was unlawful and partly based on his race Now-former Superintendent Richard Atwill was fired from the West Memphis School District in April 2023 Atwill’s lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that after he was hired a school board member told him several times that the school board “wanted a Black superintendent” instead Atwill claims that the executive session that resulted in his termination on April 18 in violation of both state open meeting laws and in violation of the terms of the contract.” The West Memphis School Board then appointed Dr. Terrence Brown Brown “was not properly licensed and certified to be a school superintendent,” and that the vote to appoint him was unlawful Brown formerly served as deputy superintendent at Forrest City School District He alleges that the West Memphis School Board chose Dr Brown as superintendent without conducting any public discussion Atwill maintains that his early termination was discriminatory and based in part on his race Two West Memphis citizens filed a lawsuit against WMSD and the school board in October 2023 alleging that board members violated the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by withholding information regarding Atwill’s termination from the public Throughout his time in the district, Atwill focused on school safety, approving a clear backpack policy for students K through 12 and increasing school resource officers at all 10 schools the school board’s attorney and other staff members also resigned to show some solidarity against the firing Richard Atwill v West Memphis School District by Lydian Coombs on Scribd Richard Atwill v West Memphis School District by Lydian Coombs on Scribd has been suspended from preaching and charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty after law enforcement officials say he violated local and state animal welfare laws The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 63-year-old Charles Thessing Jail records show he was released less than two hours later The West Memphis Police Department says Thessing’s arrest came after “an incident involving the improper care and treatment of an animal,” though no details about the allegations were provided An investigation resulted in a search of the pastor’s home where police reportedly found evidence that resulted in a warrant for Thessing’s arrest Thessing also preaches at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville Taylor with the Diocese of Little Rock wrote a letter to parishioners of both churches on Wednesday informing them that Thessing has been suspended from pastoring as a result of the investigation “Having heard from numerous voices within the parish the school and the broader community; having consulted with others; and having given this matter much prayer and consideration I have determined that Father Thessing cannot continue serving as an effective pastor for your parishes,” the letter reads Community members are credited for bringing the allegations to WMPD’s attention director of the West Memphis Animal Shelter provided the following statement on Thessing’s arrest: “We take all matters of public concern seriously especially those affecting the well-being of animals in our community and we will always enforce the law to protect the animals in our care,” said Facello Anyone with more information related to this case is encouraged to contact the West Memphis Police Department at 870-732-1210 According to the Diocese of Little Rock’s website — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is assisting the U.S Marshals Service in locating Calvion Dayshun Thomas Thomas is wanted in connection to the death of Justin Delgado Delgado was working in the Interstate 55 construction zone when he was hit and killed during a pursuit by the West Memphis Police Department (WMPD) which began after WMPD stopped a maroon Corvette on East Broadway for a traffic violation the suspect fled from police at high rate of speed and entered I-55 South heading into a construction zone near the 3-mile marker The suspect vehicle struck Delgado and another worker contracted by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.  The second injured worker remains in serious condition Thomas faces felony charges of First-Degree Murder If you have any information on Thomas’ whereabouts please call 1-877-Wanted-2 (1-877-926-8332) Severe Weather: Donate to the Arkansas Disaster Relief Program A second Buc-ee's location is coming to the Memphis area this time right across the Mississippi River The popular country store and gas station chain will construct a location in West Memphis with the groundbreaking beginning in the coming months An official opening date has not yet been announced The 74,000-square-foot facility will hold more than 120 fueling stations alongside its typical in-store offerings The Buc-ee's will be located on the eastbound side of I-40 between Missouri Street and 7th Street adjacent to Cracker Barrel director of planning and development in West Memphis That's about a 10-minute drive from Downtown Memphis West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon said he's been looking to get a Buc-ee's location in the city for a long time "This is a huge win for our city and shows that we’re serious about creating new jobs and growing West Memphis." McClendon said "Buc-ee’s is more than just a travel center — it’s an experience We’re proud to see a major brand like Buc-ee’s invest in our future BUC-EE'S IN THE MID-SOUTH: Why a Buc-ee's near Memphis is a big deal: What the travel center is known for and how it could impact West Tennessee The Buc-ee's location is expected to bring at least 225 jobs to West Memphis as well as more tourism dollars to the city “The addition of Buc-ee’s is going to be a game-changer for tourism in West Memphis," West Memphis Tourism Director Jim Jackson said in the statement "Buc-ee’s will not only serve as a major stop for travelers but also draw new visitors to our area showcasing everything West Memphis has to offer." This follows an April announcement that a Buc-ee's would be coming to Fayette County The West Tennessee service station will be located off exit 28 on Interstate 40 in Gallaway Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com. “West Memphis River” Renaming and Other Hilarious Memphis April Fool’s Day Gags Sausage-scented candles, GTA Memphis, unlimited ranch, and a Bass Pro at the Memphis Zoo. Credit: City of West Memphis via Facebook 12:25 p.m Subscribe to our newsletter News Opinion Calendar Music Screens Arts+Culture Food+Drink Books Sports Fun Stuff The West Memphis Office of Emergency Management said it made contact with about 100 people as they rescued residents from.. Amir Mahmoud is a general assignment and transportation beat reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette starting as a copy editor and designer before becoming a full-time reporter in March 2024 The Little Rock native attended the University of Miami