COVID rent/utility funds available for Hot Springs residents

The federal eviction moratorium protecting households who have been unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 ends on July 31, but those who are receiving unemployment or have a COVID-related hardship can apply for rent and utility assistance through the Arkansa...

COVID-19 vaccine updates and information

The COVID-19 Vaccine portal offers updates and information about vaccine distribution in Garland County, including links to online waiting lists.

COVID-19 information and updates

The COVID-19 portal has the most recent COVID-19 press releases and updates from the City, the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force and the State of Arkansas, as well as other helpful links and information.

Water main work may cause brief water discoloration

City of Hot Springs Utilities customers may experience temporarily discolored water Monday, Aug. 2, through Wednesday, Aug. 4, while work is being done on a 24-inch water transmission main that provides much of the city’s drinking water.&nbs...

City Board Work Session scheduled for July 31

The City of Hot Springs Board of Directors will be conducting a work session on Saturday, July 31, 2021, in the Lakeview Room at the DoubleTree Hotel, 4813 Central Avenue, to discuss matters including 2022 Goal Setting and Budget Priorities. The meeting w...

City issues burn ban

The Hot Springs Fire Department has issued a burn ban, effective immediately, for all areas within the City of Hot Springs. The ban is based on the potential hazard associated with drying moisture in the ground due to high temperatures. 

All open ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Community facing ‘major crises’ from COVID Delta variant

With a near ten-fold increase in Garland County’s COVID-19 active cases in the past five weeks, Dr. Gene Shelby gave a stark report at the virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force meeting on Monday, July 26.

&ldqu...

Planning Commission Public Hearing on August 12

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 12, in the Board Chambers at City Hall, 133 Convention Boulevard, to consider the following:

•  Hot Springs Gymnastics – 440 Broadway Street – Site ...

Lane closure: Malvern Avenue

The eastbound lane of Malvern Avenue, between the entrances to Cedarwood Street, will be closed daily from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., from Monday, July 26, through Friday, July 30, for the installation of a gas line.

Detour signs, barricades and flaggers will be...

Operation Clean Sweep planned for areas of Glade and Ramble streets

The City’s second Operation Clean Sweep of 2021 is scheduled for Monday, July 19, through Friday, August 6, to include approximately 400 structures in the areas from Glade to Bower streets, between Park Avenue and Magnet and Russell streets; and...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Delta variant fueling COVID ‘super spike’

The Delta variant of COVID-19 appears to be a primary factor in what Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby described as a “super spike” in new cases during his report at the July 12 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland Co...

Sanderson Dam Bridge construction entering final stages

Though progress on the new bridge crossing Sanderson Dam has continued despite the pandemic affecting operations on all levels, the bridge will not be ready for the Fourth of July holiday weekend as was previously hoped.

The Haren Construction crew also wo...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Local hospitals treating younger COVID patients

During the bi-weekly Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force meeting on June 21, representatives from CHI St. Vincent (CHI) and National Park Medical Center (NPMC) both reported seeing two recent trends – more younger COVID-19 patients than compare...

Southern Airways adds Memphis and intra-state routes at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport

Southern Airways CEO Stan Little joined Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport Director Glen Barentine on June 4 to welcome the inaugural intra-state flights from Harrison and El Dorado.

“For the first time in history, you can connect to El ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Continuing to promote need for vaccines

Garland County’s COVID-19 active case count rose from less than 30 in mid-May to a high point of 129 on May 25, before starting to decline.

At the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force’s June 7 meeting, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelb...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Garland County COVID numbers remain low

Compared to other populous counties in Arkansas, Garland County has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases per capita as the county remains on its six-week low plateau of new and active cases, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Business leaders encouraged to help in vaccination efforts

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby, citing a concerning trend in the county’s COVID-19 statistics, hopes creative efforts to increase public knowledge of the importance of vaccinations will lead to a greater percentage of the county becoming in...

Blasting to begin April 22 at Richardson Subdivision

A permit for blasting is being issued to McGeorge Contracting Company by the City of Hot Springs for work in the Richardson Subdivision, between Twin Points and Higdon Ferry roads, with the first blast expected to take place around noon on Thursday, April...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: County’s vaccination efforts have saved lives

At the April 19 meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby commended the area’s vaccination efforts and offered encouragement for the public to continue to get inoculated.

“I want to applaud...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Waning COVID vaccinations concerning to task force

A lack of information getting to the public about the open eligibility and the wide availability and critical importance of COVID-19 vaccines continues to be a concern for the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, which was a primary topic of di...

COVID rent/utility funds available for Hot Springs residents

Hot Springs residents who have experienced financial hardship related to COVID-19 and, as a result, are behind on rent or utility payments can now apply for assistance through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funded emergency rent an...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Promoting vaccinations and use of face masks

At the March 29 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, representatives planned ways to increase the county’s percentage of people who are fully vaccinated from the current 14% of all residents and 39% of the 65-and-older ag...

Intracity Transit giving free rides for vaccination seekers

The City of Hot Springs Intracity Transit public bus system is offering free rides for those seeking COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Thursday, April 1. 

The free rides will be in effect to and from scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointments, and ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID task force hopes to increase percentage of vaccinated residents

At the March 29 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force, representatives planned ways to increase the county’s percentage of people who are fully vaccinated from the current 14% of all residents and 39% of the 65-and-older ag...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID vaccine hesitancy could slow county’s return to normalcy

Garland County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to be on a great downward trend, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby, but residents need to remember that the virus is still here and that the vaccines are key to returning to normalcy.&...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID vaccine effectiveness shown locally from Phase 1-A participants

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline at the local and state levels, members of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force urge continued vigilance in wearing masks, socially distancing and hand washing, as well as seeking out a COVID test ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases continue decline, but vigilance needed 'to get to zero'

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline at the local and state levels, members of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force urge continued vigilance in wearing masks, socially distancing and hand washing, as well as seeking out a COVID test ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Mitigation efforts, now guidelines, will continue

Gov. Asa Hutchinson changed the statewide COVID-19 directives to guidelines on Feb. 26, yet he and Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero said it is essential that individual behaviors regarding wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands continue. ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Low testing numbers due to weather skews statistics

The week of Feb. 14-22 had the lowest total of COVID-19 test results recorded for Garland County since August due to the winter weather, but Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is still pleased by the continued downward trajectory of the county’...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Weather inhibits COVID testing

Cold temperatures most likely led to a lower number of COVID-19 testing being done the week of Feb. 8-14, and the continued effects of inclement weather will likely skew the pandemic outlook for weeks ahead, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases increase, but positivity rate and active cases hold steady

Although the week of Jan. 31 – Feb. 7 saw a 64% increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Garland County from the previous week, a higher number of test results kept the positivity rate steady and the number of active cases fell by 10.&...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases declining; vigilance should remain

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby told the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force at the meeting on Monday, Feb. 1, that the county has seen across the board improvement this past week. He warned, however, that there is a long road ahe...

On a vaccine waiting list? Be sure to answer your phone

Those in Garland County who have registered to be on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list are encouraged to answer their phone as vaccination clinics continue to be scheduled. 

Those involved in vaccine distribution are using the waiting lists to conta...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: COVID numbers trending downward as vaccinations continue

Although a significant number of active COVID-19 cases remain in Garland County, the trend of new cases is on a downward slope as vaccinations continue for Phase 1-A groups and the start of Phase 1-B – education workers and those 70 and older.

Along with t...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: High COVID numbers continue, but may be nearing peak

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Garland County for the week of Jan. 10-17 of 815 was a record high for the third-straight week, but with the holidays behind us, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is hopeful that the county is at or...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Record-setting trend continues to strain hospitals

The drastic upward trend of new COVID-19 cases in Garland County following the Christmas and New Year’s holidays is continuing, putting a strain on local hospitals.

“We have a surging, deadly pandemic that is getting worse here. The chances of getting COVI...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Cases and hospitalizations continue post-holiday rise

Although the start of the vaccine rollout offers hope, it will still likely be months before doses of the vaccine are available for the general public. In the meantime, record-level COVID-19 statistics for Garland County, including rising hospitalizations...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Hospitals at highest levels as task force dissuades COVID fatigue

At the virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force on Dec. 28, representatives from CHI St. Vincent and National Park Medical Center shared their anxiousness about a likely increase in cases in the weeks following the Christmas h...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Garland County begins inoculating healthcare providers

As the active cases in Garland County continue to rise, the beginning of the phased distribution of COVID-19 vaccines was a primary topic of discussion at the Dec. 21 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force.

CHI St. Vincent Ho...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Garland County COVID-19 numbers ‘off the charts’

Several COVID-19 statistics for the week of Dec. 6 – 13 in Garland County far exceeded previous record highs, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Dec. 14 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County Covid-19 Task Force.

A...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Shorter quarantine guidelines for non-symptomatic close contacts

Representatives on the Hot Springs/Garland County Covid-19 Task Force are bracing for what may be a rise in post-Thanksgiving cases this week while preparing for a change in quarantine guidelines and upcoming vaccine deliveries.

During the Dec. 7 virtual t...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Task force urges adherence to recommendations this holiday

Over the past week, Garland County’s COVID-19 statistics plateaued from the previous weeks’ upward trajectory, but health officials continue to urge area residents to be vigilant this Thanksgiving holiday.

Even though case numbers have stabilized, the coun...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: More pandemic records set locally; ‘it’s everywhere’

“The virus has continued to spread throughout our community, our county, with no particular source; it’s everywhere,” said Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Nov. 16 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force.

S...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Past week's new case count total all-time high

As area nursing home COVID-19 cases begin to decline from the spike in recent weeks, community spread is keeping the number of new cases and the active case count at or near record high levels.

At the Nov. 9 meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-...

Cases and deaths in area expected in increase due to COVID-19

With the active cases in Garland County at an all-time high for the second straight week and the greatest percentage of cases being in the most vulnerable population, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby fears that COVID-related deaths in the cou...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Active cases reach all-time high

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Garland County has risen to its highest number since the start of the pandemic at 247, according to Garland County Health Office Dr. Gene Shelby at the Oct. 26 virtual meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-...

Garland County’s active cases and COVID-19 deaths rise in past week

Following a downward trend for COVID-19 cases in Garland County, the week of Oct. 11 – 18 saw a higher number of new cases, active cases and deaths, while there was a decrease in the number of tests performed.

“Unfortunately, last week was not a very good ...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Continued vigilance needed to keep local COVID curve flat

Hot Springs and Garland County continue to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases, but members of the area COVID-19 task force caution that vigilance is needed to continue to keep down the spread of the virus.

“Our community cannot let our guard down. We have...

State and local health officials dissuade Covid fatigue

Recognizing that many people are experiencing fatigue in respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby seeks to remind the community of the deadly and communicable nature of this coronavirus.

At the Sept. 28 virtual meetin...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: No jump in cases following latest holiday weekend

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is optimistic about where Garland County stands in the pandemic as two weeks have passed since Labor Day, yet the COVID-19 numbers locally have not increased as they did following Memorial Day and Independence...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Schools seeking prospective substitute teachers/bus drivers

At this point in the pandemic, school superintendents across Garland County are more concerned that the quarantining of teachers and bus drivers could force a change to virtual learning more so than the threat of positive cases within school districts.

At ...

HS/GC COVID Task Force: Superintendents remind families of quarantine guidelines

If a member of a student’s household tests positive for COVID-19, the student is also required to quarantine rather than continuing to attend school in person. This was the primary message from superintendents during the virtual meeting of the Hot Springs...

Task force seeks to clarify state’s quarantine and isolation guidelines

During the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on Aug. 31, school superintendents from across Garland County reported a great first week, with hopes that communication from the task force can help clear up misunderstandings in t...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Garland County COVID cases and testing numbers are down

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby shared at the Aug. 24 meeting of the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force that he is pleased with the current numbers for Garland County, but he continues to stress the importance of wearing masks an...

HS/GC COVID-19 Task Force: Garland County COVID trend continues in right direction

At the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on August 10, Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby said that the COVID-19 numbers from the week of August 2-9 look better, and that he is pleased with the trend.

There were 171 ...

Garland County virus cases flatten, but positivity rate increases

COVID-19 numbers from Garland County for the week of July 2 – August 2 do show some “positive aspects compared to the previous two weeks” as new cases seem to be “leveling off,” said Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Hot Springs/Garland...

Garland County virus cases continue on ‘major upward trend’

Garland County averaged 30 new COVID-19 cases reported daily from July 19 – 26, with a total of 210 new cases for the week, according to Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby at the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on...

Garland County virus cases more than double in past week

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and those under investigation more than doubled this past week from 90 on July 12 to 188 on July 19, and the number of active cases went from 65 to 150.

“Garland County is certainly in the mix of this pandemic,” said ...

Garland County positivity rate rises to 6.4%

Although the number of new and active cases in Garland County has plateaued, the positive rate of infection among the 732 tests done between July 5-12 rose to 6.4%, up from the previous week’s 2.7%.

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby shared at t...

Garland County positivity rate cut in half from previous week

There were 48 new COVID-19 cases reported in Garland County from June 28 – July 5, but because of a record number of tests performed, the positivity rate decreased from the previous week’s 5.8% to 2.7%.

Also, thanks to the number of recoveries in Garland C...

Garland County has increase of 50 new active COVID-19 cases

Following Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force virtual meeting on June 22, where case numbers had stabilized, data from the past week shared at the June 29 meeting showed an upward trend with 50 new cases.

Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene S...

City issues burn ban

The Hot Springs Fire Department has issued a burn ban, effective immediately, for all areas within the City of Hot Springs. The ban is based on the potential hazard associated with drying moisture in the ground due to high temperatures. 

All open ...

Official HSPD Release: 107 Rocky Reef Circle Shooting

On Friday, July 16, 2021, at approximately 6:00 A.M., officers with the Hot Springs Police Department responded to a possible shooting at 107 Rocky Reef Circle. When officers arrived, they noticed the front door of the residence open and made entry. Once ...