Breaking News

More () »

Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS | Get the local news and weather where you live from 5NEWS. Covering Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and all of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Extreme Weather

Starlink’s promise of free service after hurricanes is misleading

Extreme Weather

Elon’s Starlink promise to Helene, Milton victims misleading

The SpaceX company promised a free month of satellite internet connection to hurricane victims in Florida and North Carolina, but for most it will cost hundreds.
Extreme Weather

No, a ‘1,000-year storm’ doesn’t mean it only happens once every 1,000 years

Meteorologists aren’t referring to the last time a storm of this magnitude happened when they say “100-year” or “1,000-year storm.” We VERIFY what the term means.
Extreme Weather

"1,000-year storm" doesn't mean the storm happens only once every 1,000 years

Meteorologists aren’t referring to the last time a storm of this magnitude happened when they say “100-year” or “1,000-year storm.” We VERIFY what the term means.
Extreme Weather

How to spot disaster relief job scams

A viral post falsely claims Florida is making people pay tolls on Hurricane Milton evacuation routes. Florida is suspending them across the state as people evacuate.
Extreme Weather

No, the $750 FEMA grant for disaster victims is not a loan

People on social media are claiming a $750 payment available to hurricane victims is actually a loan. That’s false. It’s a grant that doesn’t have to be paid back.
AI

These images appearing to show Walt Disney World flooding during Milton are AI-generated

These images of Walt Disney World flooded during Hurricane Milton and Pluto rescuing a child are AI-generated.
Extreme Weather

Yes, water was ‘sucked out’ of Tampa Bay by Hurricane Milton due to ‘reverse storm surge’

Water receded from the Tampa Bay shoreline as Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s Gulf Coast because of a phenomenon called “reverse storm surge.”
Electric Vehicles

Yes, electric vehicles can catch fire after being submerged by floods

While rare, it’s possible for electric cars to catch fire after being submerged, even weeks after a flood.
Electric Vehicles

EVs submerged by floods can catch fire

While rare, it’s possible for electric cars to catch fire after being submerged, even weeks after a flood.
Extreme Weather

FEMA is not blocking aid or confiscating donations meant for Hurricane Helene survivors

Viral posts claiming FEMA and the federal government are taking donations and seizing supplies meant for those affected by Hurricane Helene are unfounded.
Extreme Weather

No, FEMA isn’t giving people impacted by Hurricane Helene just $750

A FEMA disaster relief program does offer victims $750, but it’s not FEMA’s only program. Hurricane Helene survivors can apply for many others.