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Hey Hot Springs, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s edition: Fish habitat blitz at Lake Ouachita, free UAMS MASH camps, and a family fishing derby + fun things to do for free & local fundraisers worth checking out this week.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Hot Springs protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Two-week habitat blitz delivered: Anglers around Hot Springs may notice better fishing at Lake Ouachita, where AGFC and the Army Corps completed dozens of new fish attractor sites in December using invasive cedar brushpiles — see how they did it.

Leadership and community impact: Abilities Unlimited in Hot Springs will move its thrift store to a larger spot this spring, marking 65 years of service and adding space for programs supporting people with disabilities — see the new location details.

CPR, suturing and dissections: UAMS is taking applications for free two-week summer MASH camps offering health care experience. A Hot Springs session is planned. It is open to students entering 11th or 12th grade — see how and when to apply.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Try beginner Qigong in the park
• Celebrate three years with book swap
• Experience restorative yoga with therapeutic touch

🫶 We got your back

Fresh lunch upgrade: When the midday rut hits, Cafe 1217 keeps things lively with a monthly menu of from-scratch sandwiches, bright salads, and comforting classics made daily. Easy to grab and go, or linger with a friend… a nudge to eat something that actually tastes like now.

Your midweek nature fix: Need a quick reset? Hot Springs National Park is right in town, with 26 miles of trails, the shady Grand Promenade, and scenic overlooks for an instant mood lift. Slip in a stroll or a slow drive, then remember why we live here.

Local game night upgrade: Steadfast Hobbies & Games carries TCG standouts, classic board games, RPG books, miniatures, and paints, plus regular tournaments that make finding a table easy. Ready to start a new campaign or revive family game night? Consider this your nudge.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎶 Cliff & Susan @ Oaklawn Hot Springs | Friday (3/13) at 4:00 PM – Start with the ponies, end with Cliff & Susan at Pop’s Lounge at Oaklawn, the decade-strong duo that still packs the floor with country, rock, oldies, blues, and award-winning originals. No cover, choruses you know, and a line if you stroll in late.

🧹 Keep Arkansas Beautiful Cleanup @ Hollywood Park | Saturday (4/4) at 9:00 AM – Let’s pitch in with Parks & Rec and Diamond Lakes Master Naturalists to clean up Hot Springs Creek, at Rotary Centennial Trailhead by Hollywood Park. Supplies are provided, wear shoes that can get wet, bring a teen chasing volunteer hours, and yes, the invasives lose.

🥚 Kiowa Easter Egg Hunt @ Fawn Valley Park | Saturday (4/4) at 11:00 AM – Kiowa’s Easter egg hunt takes over Fawn Valley Park with age-bracketed chaos, golden eggs, and a photo op with the bunny. Bring the kids or grandkids, enjoy a free lunch from the Lions Club and ECCO, and call it quality time without the dishes.

🦆 Duck Duck Goose Spring ‘26 @ Crossgate Church | Thursday (4/16) at 9:00 AM – If your kid has outgrown three shoe sizes since breakfast, hit Duck Duck Goose in Hot Springs for consignment steals. Strollers, toys, and closets worth of clothes, neatly sorted, start at $3 and run about 75% off retail, with free admission and parking.

🩺 Take the Scare Out of Medicare Educational Seminar @ Garland County Library | Thursday (4/16) at 1:30 PM – Medicare questions stacking up like CVS receipts? Sit down with Rhonda from Sharp Family Insurance, a local pro with 30+ years and a Medicare user, for plain-English answers, real-life tips, and no sales nonsense. Free, helpful, and seats go quick.

🎣 5th Annual Family Fishing Derby @ Family Park | Saturday (4/25) at 9:00 AM – Family Park turns into Dad HQ for the 5th annual family fishing derby, a free day for dads, father figures, and the crew. Reel in door prizes, meet local vendors, snag resources, and bring your gear, bait, and a valid AR license if you’re 16+.

🖼 Gallery Walk @ DoubleTree by Hilton Hot Springs | Friday (5/1) at 5:00 PM – First Friday in Hot Springs means Gallery Walk, a no-rush stroll along Central Avenue and neighboring spots with fresh exhibits, featured artists, and live music. Wander, sip, chat, repeat, and call it culture. Map drops that week, so pretend you planned it.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Hot Springs report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 78°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 34%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 78. South southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 71°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 93%

Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Arkansas but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

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