First News With Toby Howell

Toby visits with Bill from Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa on Lake Ouachita about the what they have to offer for a get away spot. Visit https://mountainharborresort.com/ for more info and to book your stay!

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with Farm Bureau EVP Jarrod Yates about why Farm Bureau is a Partner in Conservation as a sponsor of Call of the Wild. 

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with Raouf Kassissieh, owner of The Soccer Center in Little Rock about their facility, the activities and the World Cup watch parties going on thru the tournament. 

Toby visits with comedian Dave Landau performing at The Loony Bin in Little Rock this weekend!

Toby visits with Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva, we get the details on how Arkansas is asking the Federal Government to streamline public school compliance. We also ask about the Educational Rights Amendment and what affect it will have on the Natural State

In our weekly visit with Rep French Hill, Toby gets us the latest from The House floor in Washing DC

In our weekly visit with Opportunity Arkansas' Nick Horton, Toby asks Nick about Education Rights Amendment.

Toby visits with Ward 5 LR City Director Lance Hines about the data centers being built in central Arkansas, Lance says data centers mean jobs & positive economic impact for The Natural State.

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby Visits with Donnie Faulkner, owner of Pickup Truck Accessory Warehouse & Vortex Sprayliner. One of our Honor Flag Project sponsors, about the variety of services they offer. 

Toby visits with Adam Hunter who is performing at The Loony Bin comedy club in LR this weekend. 

In our weekly visit with Rep French Hill, Toby starts it off by asking about the War Powers Resolution vote and why the Democrats are pushing for a bad idea 

Toby visits with UA-Little Rock Trojans Baseball Coach Chris Curry and gets a preview of the NCAA Super Regional at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy, Ala., first game Friday afternoon 4pm, you can watch the game on ESPNU.

Toby visits with Opportunity Arkansas's Founder & CEO Nick Horton. Toby starts it off by asking about the end of the fiscal year surplus in the Arkansas State Budget. 

Toby visits with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin about the recent Fraud Round Table with VP Vance in Washington DC. AG Griffin also lets us know about the efforts to fight fraud in The Natural State 

Toby visits with UA-Little Rock Bowen School of Law Professor Robert Steinbuch. The professor fills us in on details of the recent court cases battling the city of Little Rock over the carrying of firearms by licensed Enhanced Concealed Carry permit holders in Pulaski County and Little Rock government offices & buildings

Toby visits with "Monster" Michael Todd, competitor and organizer of The East vs.West 24 World Armwrestling Championship is taking place on June 6, 2026. The event will be held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Downtown Little Rock, featuring world title battles and elite supermatches with top pullers from around the globe.

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with Rob Thomas with Wayback Burgers about the new items on the menu and this week's Sweet Deal!

Toby visit with UA Little Rock Baseball Coach Chris Curry about their season and their post season play starting with Southern Miss In Hattiesburg Friday 5-29-26. 

Toby visits with Beula Ivy with the Automobile Museum at Petit Jean Mountain. She gives us the history of the museum and the details on a fun filled weekend, featuring John Schneider (Bo Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard) doing a meet and greet Friday afternoon at the museum.

This week in our visit with Opportunity Arkansas, Gary Newton with Arkansas Learns fills in for Nick Horton and gives us details on how they are advocate for the "consumers" of education, 

Toby visits with Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas CEO Buddy Hasten and gets the details of what goes into prepping the grid for summertime power demands.

Toby visits with 1st District Congressman Rick Crawford and asks his thoughts on the situation with Iran, Tulsi Gabbard stepping down and what the Congressional priorities are for the summer. 

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with Mark Jackson, owner of Jackson's Meat Market in Conway, about the local beef, chicken & pork they carry as well as their sandwiches & seasonings for that perfect holiday grilling! They're located at 2670 Prince #2 Street in Conway AR, and can find them on Facebook.  

In our weekly visit with Rep French Hill, Toby starts by asking about the situation with Iran. We also ask the Congressman about quartz mining in The Natural State.

In our weekly visit with Opportunity Arkansas' Nick Horton, Toby starts it off by asking Nick about an article on home school students out performing private school students in national testing scores.      

Toby visits with Public Affairs Officer for Central Arkansas Water, Doug Shackelford, We find out how the water demand for data centers will affect business and residential customers.

Toby visits with Riceland Foods EVP/COO Ben Noble about the challenges Arkansas Rice farmers are facing in this challenging world economy. 

Toby visits with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. VP of Archives & Exhibits, Angie Marchese, about the Memorial Day Festivities going on at Graceland with a special look at the patriotic Elvis! 

THIS WEEK ON THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF ARKANSAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT, FILL IN HOST STEVE FINNEGAN VISITS WITH JUSTIN MINTON FOUNDER OF THE MINTON LAW FIRM ABOUT HOW HE CAN HELP DEAL WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDNET.

IN THIS FIRST NEWS INTERVIEW, FILL IN HOST STEVE FINNEGAN VISITS WITH HERITAGE FOUNDATION POLICY ANALYST ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND INDO-PACIFIC AFFAIRS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMPS TRIP TO CHINA AND WHAT MIGHT COME FROM IT.

In our weekly visit Congressman French Hill, Toby starts it off by asking about what he's hoping to see and hear coming form President Trump's trip to China. 

Toby visits with Freedom 250 Spokesperson Julia Friedman and gets the details about the organization, it's mission and The Moment of Faith and Rededication going on in Washington DC this weekend. 

Toby visits with Opportunity Arkansas' Nick Horton, we get the latest on what's going on in politics in the Natural State

Toby visits with Cathy Browne WCF Capital Campaign Chair about their Forest of Hope Family Peace Center, and what they do for survivors of domestic abuse & violence.

Toby visits with Ben Johnson, President & CEO of the United States Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, about the museum, the history of the US Marshalls, and an upcoming event with U.S.A Jeanine Pirro on May 20 at the museum.  

TOBY VISITS WITH LRCVB'S ELIZABETH ALEXANDER AND GETS A PREVIEW OF THE 2026 LITTLE ROCK FARMERS MARKET RETURNING TO THE RIVER MARKET THIS WEEKEND!

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with Jeremy Bettanardi, GM at Kemuri, about their amazing, sushi & robata, as well as their steaks. 

TOBY VISITS WITH THE ARKANSAS FOOD BANK'S KATE JENKINS AND GET THE DETAILS ON THE 2026 STAMP OUT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE WITH THE US POSTAL SERVICE.

In our weekly visit with Representative French Hill, Toby starts it off by asking for the Congressman's thoughts on Iran and maybe getting close to an endpoint.

In this First news Interview, Toby checks in with ASO Associate Conductor Valery Saul about the Broadway Divas shows this weekend at The Robinson Center May 9 & 10

IN OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH NICK HORTON OF OPPORTUNITY ARKANSAS, TOBY STARTS IT OFF ASKING ABOUT THE ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE'S SPECIAL SESSION DEALING WITHT CORPORATE AND PERSONAL INCOME TAX IN HTE NATURAL STATE.

TOBY VISITS WITH DEANA McCORMACK WITH CELBRITY ATTRACTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING 2026-2027 BROADWAY SEASON AT THE ROBINSON CENTER!

TOBY VISITS WITH ARKANSAS SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE BART HESTER, WE GET AN UPDATE ON THE FISCAL SESSION THAT WRAPPED UP LAST WEEK AND THE TALK ABOUT ELEIMINATING THE STATE INCOME TAX IN THE SPECIAL SESSION GOING ON NOW. 

This week on the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with Morgan McMahon, co-owner of Rapid Mobile Care, a mobile urgent care that comes to you. 

In this First News interview, Toby visits with US 1st District Rep Rick Crawford and gets the latest on DHS Funding, the Farm Bill/ SNAP amendment, the FISA 702 vote, the Iran War-- blockade vs bombs and  the US Steel investment in E. Arkansas.   

IN THIS FIRST NEWS INTERVIEW, TOBY VISITS WITH ARKANSAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BRIAN EVANS, SPEAKER EVANS GIVES US AN UPDATE ON THE RECENTLY COMPLETED FISCAL SESSION AND A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION IN THE ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE.

IN OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH OPPORTUNITY ARKANSAS' NIC HORTON, TOBY STARTS IT OFF BY ASKING ABOUT THE RELAUNCH OF THE FOR AR FAMILIES COALITION. 

TOBY VISITS WITH ARKANSAS TRUCKING ASSICIATION PRESIDENT, SHANNON NEWTON, SHE GIVES US DETAILS ON THE 2026 ARKANSAS TRUCKING CONFERENCE GOING ON THIS WEEK,  AND AN UPDATE ON THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY INCLUDING FUEL PRICES AND STAFFING

This week on The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Open for Business Spotlight, Toby visits with ECA CEO Buddy Hasten who starts off by telling us about Line Worker Appreciation Day, April 21, and the amazing work that the people who climb the poles do to keep the power flowing in the Natural State. 

MEET SHARON SIMMONS! THE DOORDASHING GRANDMA WHO BROUGHT McD'S TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE! SHARON TELLS TOBY HOW THIS ALL CAME ABOUT AND GIVES AN UPDATE ON ON HER HUSBAND'S HEALTH STRUGGLES.