The Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese and the Consul General came together on Saturday, Dec. 19, to collect toys, bikes, and food for families who have lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Melisa Laelan of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, says the community has disproportionately been hit by the pandemic, having the highest case mortality rate in NWA. She says the holiday season is very important in Marshallese culture and hopes that this toy drive provides comfort for those families. -4029 News

• Many area hospitals were surprised to find a surplus of the COVID-19 vaccine in the first shipment, which normally contains five doses, but some contain six. If all vials contain six doses, the Northwest Health System would have received 1,680 doses instead of 1,400. -Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
• On Thursday, NWA hospitals had a combined total of 106 patients in COVID-19 units. Mercy, Washington Regional, and Northwest Health have a total of 134 beds designated for COVID-19 units, leaving about 30 empty beds between the three hospitals. -Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
• Front-line healthcare workers in NWA have started receiving the vaccine and are encouraging others to do the same. -4029 News

• Arkansas Football will face TCU in the Mercari Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. Arkansas has not made an appearance in a bowl game since 2016. -Arkansas Razorbacks

• The No. 12 Lady Hogs were put to the test against UALR on Saturday, but came home with the win (80-70). -Pig Trail Nation

• The Arkansas Razorback Baseball program, led by head coach Dave Van Horn, signed another top-10 recruiting class for the upcoming season. -Pig Trail Nation

Mayors from Bentonville, Centerton, Rogers, Siloam Springs, and Springdale, along with other government officials have joined forces to ring the iconic Salvation Army bell at local Walmarts this holiday season.

• “We talk amongst ourselves quite a bit and we thought this would be a good time for us to have some fun and for bragging rights. We’ll see what raises the most money,” Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards said. -KNWA/Fox 24
• Final tallies for total funds raised have not yet been released.

Many landlords are refusing to take part in the Federal COVID-19 Relief Program designed to help with rent payments due to financial hardship. -4029 News

• The Arkansas Fresh Start program requires landlords to waive late fees, which can add up to hundreds of dollars for tenants.
• The Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County is working with 100 families to provide assistance for rent, 27 of which were denied by a couple of large NWA property management firms.
• Local Rogers developer, Laurice Hachum, has partnered with Blakeman's Jewelers to cover the late rental fees of those 27 families to prevent eviction.
• The EOA is now working with the Arkansas Community Action Agency to negotiate with landlords and revise the agreement.