Ashley News Observer

04/10/2026

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

https://www.ashleynewsobserver.com/news/two-ashley-county-residents-die-in-separate-wrecks-in-last-week/article_f9c59c1a-39f9-4fb9-a262-320e77f1aca8.html

Two Ashley County residents were killed in separate automobile wrecks last week.

04/06/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtfcFq_ypDA

Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show.Si...

03/28/2026

03/27/2026

Reminder — this is the meeting to discuss the proposed roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 82 and 425.

03/26/2026

A look at the 3-25-26 edition:

03/20/2026

03/20/2026

Ashley News Observer Publisher Rick Kennedy is seeking local investors in an effort to purchase the Crossett-based newspaper and ensure continuing locally produced news coverage in southeastern Arkansas.

The Ashley News Observer has been majority owned by Lancaster Management, Inc., of Gadsden, Ala., for approximately 25 years. Lancaster recently solicited a purchase bid from Kennedy, a regional native who has led the newspaper since he relocated to Crossett in December.

“Over the years, I have been a strong believer in the importance of community newspapers. Crossett is a great place to live and raise a family, and it deserves a quality newspaper to provide a reliable source of news, sports and advertising of local services and products,” Kennedy said.

The newspaper has not been without its operational challenges in recent years. Changes in the advertising market and loss of local press operations in September 2025 have seen the business’s revenues decline. In addition to the newspapers produced in-house at the Ashley News Observer, the Crossett press had served as the printing hub for ten other newspapers in the region, and that revenue substantially supported the News Observer’s overall operations.

Kennedy believes the best way forward for the newspaper is local control and investment, and he has developed a business plan that will — in the long-term — bring the dormant press operations back online, returning the News Observer’s printing production back to Crossett.

It would also mean bringing needed press services to the printing industry, which only has six active presses in the state of Arkansas.

While the traditional print product customers have always known will remain, Kennedy’s plan calls for the newspaper to continue transitioning to more Web-based media products including video and podcast content.

For the plan to work, however, it will require not only investors but also continued community support from advertisers, subscribers and other readers.

“For years, under the ownership of Larry and Charlotte Johnson to the more recent leadership of Barney and Tina White, the Ashley News Observer has served loyal readers and customers. As we seek a return to local ownership, I hope the community will rally and demonstrate how important having the newspaper is to them,” Kennedy said.

For more information, or to learn how to get involved, contact Kennedy directly at [email protected] or go to the Ashley News Observer office at 106 E. Second Ave., in Crossett, to speak with him.

03/19/2026

A look at this week's front page:

03/18/2026

https://www.ashleynewsobserver.com/news/three-elementary-students-treated-after-ingesting-chemical-product/article_8e7f6096-97d0-4b50-a445-3383d97acae9.html

Three elementary-age students from Hamburg were treated in hospital this week after they consumed a chemical on a school bus on the way to school.