Good morning, Fort Smith.

Christmas cheer will roll back into town when the Fort Smith Trolley Museum hosts the Holly Jolly Trolley event on December 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.—a festive ride that brings holiday spirit to locals.

UAFS earned national reaccreditation for its Studio Art and Graphic Design programs, which extends NASAD approval through the 2033–34 school year—this decision came after a multiyear review that included a self-study and peer visit.

Both programs will benefit from enhancements linked to the Windgate Expansion project.

Twelve Arkansas Tech University students presented their research at the INBRE Conference held at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville from Nov.

7-8+ their work covered biomedical studies and plant salt tolerance+ one team earned an honorable mention for an undergraduate poster presentation.

Mercy hospitals in Booneville, Paris, and Waldron won top rural health awards from The Chartis Center for Rural Health and Mercy was named best for patient experience in the nation.

Mercy Fort Smith finished a $186 million expansion of its emergency room and began a $55 million cancer center to help patients in the River Valley—continuing its local investment.

Data from Realtor.com showed that the median home listing price in Sebastian County fell to $281,763 in October—down 2.6% from September and 4.4% lower than October last year.

Homes in Fort Smith dropped slightly to $272,450 as listings spent a median of 59 days on the market.

Offensive lineman Ben Mubenga committed to play for the Razorbacks on Tuesday after reopening his Arkansas football recruitment on October 1st—he is the 13th pledge for the 2026 class and had offers from schools like Michigan and LSU.

Matt Jones and Eli Hoff discussed this weekend's game between Arkansas and Missouri on the WholeHogSports Daily Podcast—Christina Long also shared predictions for the teams.

Their talk provided insight as fans prepare for the upcoming matchup.

Christmas Honors Wreath-Laying Event

8 a.m. - 11 a.m. — Fort Smith Convention Center — Free entry — Participate in a heartfelt wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the holiday season.

Hearts of Gold Classic 5K Run/Walk for Project Compassion

3-5 p.m. — Ben Geren Regional Park — Registration details available — Participate in a festive holiday run to support Project Compassion.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Systems Administrator II Training

Dec 8-11 — Fort Smith Adult Education Center — $1890 — Enhance your Linux skills with this hands-on, expert-led training course.

Velcro Pygmies Live Performance

7:30 PM - 1:30 AM — Majestic Fort Smith — Ticket prices vary — Experience a nostalgic musical journey with the World Famous Velcro Pygmies.

An Evening with Jane Austen

6:30-11 p.m. — Bonneville House — Ticket purchase required — Celebrate Jane Austen's 250th birthday with a Regency dinner, wine tasting, and dance lessons.

Candlelight Christmas Concert

6:30-8:30 p.m. — United States Marshals Museum — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of Christmas Carols performed by strings under candlelight.