Good morning, Fort Smith.

Today, Hope Campus in Fort Smith is preparing to serve free Thanksgiving meals to up to 300 people—with brunch at 10 a.m. and dinner at 4 p.m.—while coping with a 30% staffing cut and reduced funding; executive director Kasey Wilson said recurring donations help match federal and state grants that are vital to keeping the program open. The campus has helped serve 720,000 meals since opening and continues to provide shelter and essential services to those in need.

Lisa Price, a Fort Smith resident on SSI because of physical disabilities, had a man bring groceries to her door on a sunny Wednesday before Thanksgiving—showing how many homebound residents struggle to get food.

Amanda McMillin works as an ER technician at Baptist Health, a National Guard medic, and a nursing student at UAFS to balance her busy schedule.

She said the Evening and Weekend BSN Track — which supports her work, service and studies — helps her manage her duties while advancing her career.

Two UAMS graduate students will present cancer and cell biology research to a free public audience in downtown Fort Smith on Dec.

4 at 6 p.m. in Room 103 of the Bakery District + the event will offer short presentations and Q&A sessions for curious nonexperts.

Holly Needham — a former stay-at-home mom who found strength during a hard time — is in her senior year of the BSN program at UAFS, saying the evening and weekend classes helped her balance school and family life.

She added that her 14-year-old daughter is inspired by her journey and looks forward to celebrating her graduation with family.

Greenwood senior quarterback Kane Archer and Benton’s Drew Davis will lead their teams into the Class 6A playoff semifinals tomorrow at Smith-Robinson Stadium—marking a marquee matchup set for the Thanksgiving holiday and state playoffs.

Fort Smith Northside's Lady Bears beat Bryant 57-28 Tuesday as Coach Rickey Smith praised Camryn Schmidt's 25 points—she helped spark a strong second-quarter run amid early challenges.

Bryant's boys also won their game with a 68-30 score, led by RJ Young and Camarion Bead each scoring 21 points.

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.