Dueling Sister Cities' Rivalry Moves Beyond Gridiron

The Texarkana, Ark., and Texarkana, Texas rivalry doesn't stop at the field

The rivalry between two sister cities on the Texas-Arkansas border used to play out between high school football teams and their fans.

But lately, the competition between Texarkana, Ark., and Texarkana, Texas, has widened beyond the gridiron into everyday life.

City leaders on either side of the state line have been squabbling over tourism dollars, sewage treatment and other issues. And when a developer decided to build a convention center in one town, the other side made plans to erect one, too -- even though the two facilities will be just a few miles apart.

Geographer Michael Glass lectures about urban studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He said when it comes to putting tax dollars on the line, the two towns might be taking their friendly rivalry too far.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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