This week’s Arkansas Newswrap spotlights the first class of students at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, a behind-the-scenes look at the 24-Hour Plays in Little Rock, and Arkansas State University’s upcoming Delta Symposium, which explores monsters, cryptids, and hoaxes tied to the region’s folklore.
1:07 – Alice L. Walton School of Medicine welcomes first class
The inaugural class at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville is settling into a campus designed to blend wellness, nature, and science. KUAF’s Kyle Kellams explores the new facility’s unique features, including its “awesome” approach to healthcare education and public spaces that foster both learning and well-being.
10:03 – The 24 Hour Plays: Little Rock’s one-day theater challenge
More than 60 Arkansas theater artists join forces to write, rehearse, and perform six original plays within 24 hours. Producers Ashley Atkinson and Wyatt Hamilton share how the project pushes actors and writers to new creative heights—and why the energy on performance night is electric. The next show takes place July 28 at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock. More information is available at cals.org.
16:36 – Monsters, cryptids, and hoaxes: Delta Symposium 2025
Arkansas State University announces the theme for its 31st Delta Symposium—focused on legendary creatures, cryptids, and the monstrous in regional culture. Dr. Gregory Hansen unpacks the folklore behind monsters like the White River Monster and Fouke Monster, and explains how legend, hoax, and pop culture blur the lines between fact and fiction. The Delta Symposium is scheduled for April 8–11, 2025. Details and call for papers at AState.edu.