Sanders Announces Jonesboro as Arkansas’ Capital for a Day on August 11

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS COME - GREETINGS:

WHEREAS: Jonesboro, the largest community in Northeast Arkansas and the seat of Craighead County, was established in 1859 and officially incorporated in 1883, taking its name from State Senator William Jones - author of the legislation that created the county - after his fellow senator, Thomas Craighead, proposed that the county seat be named after his colleague;

WHEREAS: In 1897, the Jonesboro, Lake City and Eastern Railroad came to town, catapulting the city into the 20^thcentury, connecting nearby communities, and driving growth and trade;

WHEREAS: Following a widespread malaria epidemic in the region, sisters from the Olivetan Benedictine established St. Bernards Hospital in 1900 - one of the city's largest employers to this day;

WHEREAS: In 1909, after Governor George Donaghey signed a law to create agricultural schools in each of Arkansas' four districts, the First District Agricultural School was established in town, later becoming known as Arkansas State University - the second largest university in the state;

WHEREAS: Today, Jonesboro is an agricultural and food-processing hub, home to plants operated by Riceland Foods, Frito-Lay, Nestlé, ConAgra Foods, and many others;

WHEREAS: Hattie Caraway, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, the first woman to chair a Senate committee, and the first woman to officially preside over the Senate, called Jonesboro home and is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery;

WHEREAS: World-renowned author John Grisham was born in Jonesboro and chose the city to host the world premiere of the film adaptation of A Painted House, his novel about growing up in rural Arkansas in the 1950s;

WHEREAS: Jonesboro offers residents and visitors a variety of experiences including hiking, camping, fishing, concerts at Fowler Center, and the annual Downtown Jonesboro BBQ and Music Festival;

WHEREAS: Governor Sanders' "Capital for a Day" program highlights great cities around Arkansas like Jonesboro and brings senior state government officials into town to meet with their local counterparts; and

WHEREAS: Jonesboro will serve as the twentieth "Capital for a Day" under Governor Sanders and will momentarily serve as Arkansas' seat of government.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby name Jonesboro, Arkansas, our Capital for a Day on August 11, 2026, and invite our senior state government officials to join me in a visit to the city.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 7th day of August, in the year of our Lord 2026.

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