Stories from Friday, May 1, 2020

An area college has issued a partial refund to students for room and board after the school shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Joseph Botana, executive director for business and finance at Lyon College, said they did a prorated rate to calculate how much money the students would receive...

As of 9:40 a.m. this morning, the Arkansas Department of Health's website has 3,281 (1,942 active) positive tests with 1,339 recoveries and 61 deaths. There have been 47,937 tested with 44,656 being negative. Poinsett County has had 22 positive cases with nine recoveries and one death. There have been 118 tested negative...

Governor Asa Hutchinson announced during his daily news conference Friday that the restriction of barber shops and salons will be lifted on May 6. This also includes massage therapy, body art, and medical spa services. The facilities will have to follow certain guidelines: Ten or fewer people in facility, larger facilities, no more than 30% of station in operation, no walk-in appointments, clients should wait outside or in cars until ready, time set between appointments for cleaning, six-foot distance between clients during appointments, in wait area, client names, contact information recorded, vulnerable populations should consider staying home, face covering required for staff. ...

A bridge on Highway 77 over an unnamed creek near the intersection of County Road 1052 has been closed, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials. A routine bridge inspection revealed structural deficiencies, resulting in the bridge closure. The bridge is approximately 5 miles south of Highway 14 near the town of Lepanto. Motorists should use Interstate 55 or Highway 14 as alternate routes...