A National Historic Landmark, the church was built by a black architect and was pastured by Rev. Elias Camp Morris, the first president of the National Baptist Convention USA, now the largest and oldest African-American religious organization in the country.

Several junior high and high school students from Clark County attended the “What’s Next” education forum at Ouachita Baptist University’s Walker Conference Center on Saturday.

A grant from the Helena Health Foundation in the amount of $75,000 has been given to Main Street Helena to be used in the development of the Court Square. Court Square is a one-block city park that will be located between the Phillips County Courthouse and the Federal Building in downtown Helena.

Ouachita Baptist University will soon have a “front door” entrance sign thanks to a $54,000 grant awarded to the university, President Dr. Rex M. Horne Jr., announced Tuesday.

One of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards programs in the financial services industry today announced Arkadelphia-based Southern Bancorp is a semifinalist for $5.5 million to scale up their success. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are special purpose financial institutions skilled at creating opportunities and economic growth in difficult markets across the nation.

The Helena Health Foundation in partnership with the Delta Area Health Education Center held a groundbreaking Monday for an outdoor walking track, children’s playground, fitness stations, and pavilion to be constructed on the grounds of the Helena Health Wellness Center.

With prices going up across the board, requests for utility bill assistance have increased, according to officials who help pay energy bills.

“Five thousand or more people must have applied in the five counties served,” said Betty Smith, executive director of the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Economic Opportunities Commission.

Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending (AAAPL) held a news conference July 16, 2008, to release a report evaluating payday lenders’ compliance with Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s March 2008 order to stop making loans. The report found that 101 of 156 lenders have complied with McDaniel’s order and stopped making loans while the remaining 55 remain open in defiance of the order.

…Delta American launched its biodiesel project in late 2005. The original target date of April 1 has passed and now the anticipated opening has been moved back to no earlier than mid August.