City of Fayetteville's park budget reduced for 2021 by $700,000

• Info - "The proposed Parks Department budget is $5.5 million, about $700,000 less than the $6.2 million budgeted this year.
  " - NWA Democrat Gazette
• "A large part of the revenue for parks comes from half the city’s 2% hotel, motel and restaurant sales tax. The other half goes to tourism.
  That sales tax revenue for parks has dropped about $529,000 so far this year, according to the department. From January to September, the Parks Department garnered about $2.2 million. It received about $2.7 million for the time period last year." - NWA Democrat Gazette
• Deep Dive - Events for the City of Fayetteville can be found HERE

Arkansas continues to break their previous day's record of new confirmed cases. Yesterday, the state reported an additional 1,962 confirmed cases

• Info - "According to a report from state health officials, Arkansas has 126,197 total cases, up 1,962 from Tuesday. The number of total deaths was also up 14 Wednesday, to 2,126." - KAIT
• Deep Dive - More information can be found HERE
• Current public school cases can be found HERE

OZ Cast a creative digital variety show featuring Arkansas and Heartland artists, places and cultures released their third episode.

• Info - Episode Three: I Know Why was released earlier this week featuring L.I.F.E, Lisa Marie Evans, Sons of Otis Malone, and Robyn Jordan in efforts to bring positive light through word and song. There will be a total of 4 episodes with the next one being on November 18.

• Deep Dive - All episodes (1-3) can be found HERE

Weekend of October 10, new trails opened on top of Markham Hill near the University of Arkansas campus

• The 1.6 Markham Hill Loop is a soft surface trail that runs through a 50-acre nature preserve protected and managed through a conservation easement. The trail connects two existing trails – Oak Loop and Pine Loop – that were built as horseback riding trails in the early twentieth century.
  " - Fayetteville Flyer
• Deep Dive - More information can be found HERE

Tuesday, the University of Arkansas Athletic Department announced that Head Coach Sam Pittman will not coach Saturday's game against Florida.

• Info - Coach Pitman, having tested positive on Monday, was required by NCAA rules to take a second test, which returned positive.
• Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Barry Odom will serve as the team's interim coach. as Pitman will be required to isolate at home