Census 2020 Helps Build Arkansas

Want more money for Roads, Libraries, Schools, Employment, Healthcare, etc? Make sure to #BECOUNTED You can fill out the 10 minute questionnaire by phone, mail, or internet.
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¿Quiere más dinero para carreteras, bibliotecas, escuelas, empleo, atención médica, etc.? Asegúrese de ser contado #BECOUNTED. Puede llenar el cuestionario de 10 minutos por teléfono, correo o por internet.

The 2020 Census is coming! March 12-April 30, 2020. Get involved and help make sure we count EVERYONE living in Sevier County. The 10 minute questionnaire will impact the next 10 years! The 2020 Census is IMPORTANT, SAFE and Easy!
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¡Se acerca el Censo 2020! Del 12 de marzo al 30 de abril de 2020. Participe y ayude a asegurarse de contar a TODOS los que viven en el Condado de Sevier. ¡El cuestionario de 10 minutos tendrá un impacto en los próximos 10 años! ¡El Censo 2020 es IMPORTANTE, SEGURO y Fácil!

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, and 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease each year. In 2017 in Arkansas, a total of 8,270 people died of heart disease.

February is American Heart Month. Its purpose is to promote the importance of heart health and increase awareness of the risk factors of heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease-high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Other conditions and behaviors that affect your risk for heart disease include obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating patterns.

Smoking, the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, is also one of the greatest risk factors for developing heart disease. Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels very quickly, but the damage is repaired quickly for most smokers who quit

In 2019, the General Assembly passed Act 580, which would have phased in an increase in the age a person must be to buy tobacco products like cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and vaping products that contain nicotine. However, a new federal law signed by President Trump supersedes the 2019 state law, and as of December 27, 2019, the nationwide minimum age to buy tobacco products has been raised to 21. With this law now in place at the federal level, we expect to see fewer teens begin smoking or vaping in the first place.

You can choose healthy habits to help prevent heart disease. Arkansans are encouraged to make healthy changes to lower their risk of developing heart disease such as controlling their cholesterol and blood pressure, living an active lifestyle, and eating healthy. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, know that quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. For free help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to smokefree.gov or cdc.gov/tips.

Home | Smokefree

Preparation is the first step to being smokefree. Boost your chances of success by making a quit plan.

Create Bridges Wants to Hear From You

The CREATE BRIDGES pilot project wants to hear about the experiences of retail, accommodations, tourism or entertainment employees in your community! Retail and hospitality sectors provide jobs and business opportunities that often drive rural economies. University Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is piloting CREATE BRIDGES, a program designed to strengthen these industries in Arkansas. As part of the pilot, CREATE BRIDGES is collecting the opinions and comments of retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment employees related to their preparation, training, and benefits in the industry. The following Arkansas counties are included: Howard, Little River, and Sevier. This anonymous survey takes less than 15 minutes: http://bit.ly/CBEmployeeSurvey. Please help us get the word out about this opportunity, as these employees’ feedback will be invaluable to identifying training and policy opportunities to promote the flourishing of these industries. If your business or community is having an event at which we can survey or you are interested in more information, please contact Julianne Dunn at 501-671-2158 or jbdunn@uaex.edu.

Updated Winter Weather Projection For Arkansas

Heavy Rains Possible in the Early Part of the Week

Here's an update on the severe weather potential for Tuesday afternoon/evening across Arkansas. Heavy rain will also be possible through mid week, with around 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.

Forecast for the Middle of the Week Calls for Snow

Around half an inch to an inch of snow is forecast for Wednesday into Thursday, with higher amounts near 2 inches possible across the northwest.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week, the Department of Finance and Administration announced that effective February 3, 2020, all 134 State Revenue Offices will have the ability to issue a Real ID.

Arkansas is taking part in the federal nationwide initiative to improve the security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, which will help fight terrorism and reduce identity fraud.

Starting October 1, 2020 anyone who boards a domestic flight or enters a federal building will need a Real ID driver's license, Identification Card or other approved documentation required by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

When we previously reminded constituents of the upcoming deadline, just 25 State Revenue Offices could issue a Real ID. Now, DFA has expanded the capability to all revenue offices to make it more convenient.

The cost to obtain a REAL ID does not differ from the cost to obtain or renew a license or ID. Current Driver Licenses (DL) can upgrade to REAL ID at any time by purchasing a duplicate license. The fee for a duplicate DL is $10.00 and expiration dates remain the same. If within one year of the expiration date, you may renew and convert to the Arkansas Real ID. At regular renewal periods, the REAL ID may be purchased for $40.00 and will not expire for eight (8) years.

Real ID will not replace a U.S. Passport or allow border crossing. A Real ID Driver’s License is optional and only required for individuals who wish to continue using their Driver’s License to board domestic flights or enter federal buildings after October 1, 2020.

Should you have any questions about the Real ID, please contact the Office of Driver Services at 501-682-7059, email questions to driver.services@dfa.arkansas.gov or VISIT www.ar.gov/realid or www.dhs.gov/real-id

REAL ID

The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver's licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act's minimum standards. The purposes covered by the Act are: accessing Federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Research tells us that 61% of low-income families have no age-appropriate books in their homes. Middle-income homes have an average of 13 books per child.

On average, children in poverty have been exposed to only 25 hours of one-on-one reading, compared to middle-class children who have been exposed to 1,000-1,700 hours of one-on-one reading. Only 48% of young children are read to daily.

Exposure to books provides significant academic advantages as 85% of the brain is developed between the ages of 3-5.

To provide Arkansas families with more resources, a state 501 (c) (3) partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in July 2017. Arkansas is 1 of 4 states to partner with the organization.

In 1995, singer-songwriter Dolly Parton launched the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee. Her vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. The new program gave each child from birth to age 5 a specially selected book each month.

The program has expanded and now delivers 1.4 million books each month to children nationwide.

Recently, the House and Senate Education Committees were updated on the progress of the Arkansas Imagination Library.

Approximately, 39,000 books are delivered each month to Arkansas children enrolled in the program. And in the last year, more than 427,000 books have been delivered to Arkansas homes. The number of books mailed monthly grew 87.3% in just two years.

Thousands of families could still benefit from the program. Any family with children ages 5 and under can sign up regardless of income. We have provided a link on our website www.arkansashouse.org

Arkansas Secretary of State

Secretary of State John Thurston to Open Northwest Arkansas Office

30th Annual Arkansas Big Buck Classic

30th Annual Relyance Bank Arkansas Big Buck Classic returns to the Arkansas State Fair Grounds
Friday, January 24, 2020 through Sunday, January 26, 2020
Open Friday 1-8 * Saturday 9-8 * Sunday 10-6

Win Big Bucks @ Arkansas Big Buck Classic with $10,000 CASH PRIZE GIVEAWAY.
Plus, The Great Gun Giveaway! Remington and The Big Buck Classic have teamed up to giveaway
9 Remington Rifles and 3 Lazy Man Tree Stands THROUGH OUT THE WEEKEND!
More exhibits, demonstrations & FREE parking at the 2020 Big Buck Classic

THIS ARKANSAS TRADITION HAS BECOME A HALL OF FAME EVENT

Little Rock, Arkansas...01/8/20....THE BUCKS ARE BACK! The 30th Annual ARKANSAS BIG BUCK CLASSIC returns to the Arkansas State Fairgrounds JAN 24-26, 2020 Now considered the largest outdoor and hunting show of its type in the Mid-South, the 30TH Annual Arkansas Big Buck Classic offers something for all ages, as well as non-hunters. Live animals, tree stands, deer blinds, outfitters, clothing, boats, fishing equipment, exhibits, demonstrations and activities
utilize virtually every building on the State Fair Grounds. It is a tribute to the Arkansas Hunter that the Big Buck Classic continues to showcase big deer from around the State year after year. The Classic offers a place for outdoorsmen to observe hunting success from different parts of the State in one location. With so much to experience, many patrons now visit the Big Buck Classic more than once during the three-day weekend event, as there is something for the entire family and outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life and interests. MONSTER TRUCKS AND BIG BUCKS
WILL BE AT THE 2020 BIG BUCK CLASSIC. THE BIG BUCK CLASSIC WILL HAVE A MONSTER TRUCK DISPLAY AND MONSTER
TRUCK RIDES! For those who love looking at LIVE animals: A Monster Deer Display, plus an Alligator Show from Gator Country in Texas, the Fetch’ n Fish dogs, Bwana Jim Live Animal Show, Live Rattesnake Handling, Chainsaw Carving, plus much more. Meet Smokey Bear with the US Forest Service and Bobber from the Core of Engineers. And the official Big Buck Classic Mascot Lucky Buck. Plus the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort Big Buck Chili Cookoff benefitting Shriners Hospital for Children.

THE ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH FOUNDATION FREE KIDS ZONE
Trout Pond
BB Gun Range
Hover Ball Shoot
Free Coloring Books
Chance to win a Lifetime Hunting License from the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation

ALL at the 30th Annual Relyance Bank Arkansas Big Buck Classic.

ServSafe Training

Arkansas Tourism Henry Awards

Arkansas Tourism names finalists for Henry Awards
Awards recognize excellence in tourism across the state

The winners of the Excellence in Arkansas Tourism Henry Awards will be revealed at the 46th Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism to be held in Fort Smith March 1-3, 2020. The Henry Awards ceremony will take place the evening of Tuesday, March 3. The awards honor Henri de Tonti, the man historians consider to be among the first “Arkansas Travelers.”

Among the awards to be presented is The Bootstrap Award, which is presented annually to an individual, organization, or community that has achieved significant success “on a shoestring” budget. Finalists include:
– Spring River Innovation Hub, Inc., for work on the Arkansas Pie Festival
– Sevier County Tourism Committee
– Marvell Civic Club for work on the Levon Helm Project

During the Henry Awards ceremony, the Tourism Person of the Year Award will also be announced. Selected by former honorees, the Tourism Person of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual who has been actively involved in tourism and who has made a substantial contribution, within the past year, to the betterment of the tourism industry as a whole.

The Tourism Hall of Fame Award is presented the previous day of the conference, recognizing individuals who have been actively involved for many years in tourism and have made substantial contributions to the betterment of the industry.

For more information on the 46th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism, contact Arkansas Tourism at 501-682-1926. For specific information on the Henry Awards, contact Leigha Jones at 501-682-1676.

Arkansas Farmer’s Industrial Hemp Conference Slated for February in North Little Rock

The Arkansas Farmer’s Industrial Hemp Conference, a two day meeting designed to give farmers the pros and cons of adding industrial hemp to their crop rotation will take place Feb. 14 and 15 at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown North Little Rock.
Speakers will include Arkansas farmers who grew industrial hemp this last season, soil scientists, seedsmen, processors, marketers and regulators. The Arkansas farmers will pass on lessons learned regarding varieties, controlling THC levels, pests and the marketing and sale of their crops.
The conference is presented by Green Remedies which operates Indigenous Seeds, Hawgs Hemp Farm and Hawgs Hemp Refinery. Green Remedies co-founder Brad Fausett leads the industrial hemp program at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University and will be speaking about the most common mistakes made by new hemp farmers and best practices for growing hemp.
Shawn Peebles, owner of Peebles Farm, a 1200 acre organic sweet potato operation in Woodruff County grew five acres of industrial hemp this season and will speak at the conference.
“ First, hemp is way over-hyped”, said Peebles.” You are not going to get rich quick, however it can be a very profitable addition to your crop rotation. You have to pay attention in advance as to where you are going to sell it. It is not like selling a commodity crop.”
There will be a session devoted entirely to the business side of hemp production which differs significantly from business models associated with row crops. Jason Martin, CEO of Tree of Life Seeds will lead a session on creating a sound business model for industrial hemp farming.
Currently about 90 percent of industrial hemp grown in Arkansas is processed into CBD oil and products. That may change over the next several years according to John Workman, an England, AR based row crop farmer and president of the Arkansas Hemp Association who will be speaking. “Hemp is now being processed economically into construction materials such as ‘hemp wood’ and insulation. A manufacturing facility has opened up in Kentucky to make hemp wood. That market will require different varieties and different planting methods than what we currently do. It’s a few years off probably.” Workman plans to bring a hemp board to his session.
The conference kicks off at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb 14 and continues on until 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $99 which includes a cocktail reception with the speakers Friday night and a box lunch on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at CentralArkansasTickets.com. The conference is hosted by the Arkansas Times Magazine.

Central Arkansas Tickets

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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

One of the new laws which took effect this week may reduce the number of uninsured motorists on Arkansas roads.

Nationwide, it is estimated that 1 in 8 drivers do not have insurance. In Arkansas, the uninsured motorist rate has been higher than the national average in recent years. The latest numbers show close to 16% of drivers on our roads may be uninsured. Arkansas State Police write more than 10,000 citations a year for failing to provide proof of insurance.

Legislators along with law enforcement and insurance companies worked for two years to implement a system to address this problem.

The result is the implementation of a real-time insurance verification program. It was created by Act 1016 of 2017. The fees and dates of implementation were created by Act 869 of 2019. It went into effect on January 1, 2020.

The system allows law enforcement real-time data when they run a license plate. It will tell officers if the car is currently insured or if a policy has lapsed. In addition, it will also result in letters being issued to any Arkansan (with a registered vehicle) if they allow any lapse in insurance coverage. As soon as the system is alerted to the lapse, the owner will be issued a $100 fine for the lapse in coverage along with a letter notifying them of this. If the fine and proof of insurance are not provided within a certain time frame (normally 30 days), the vehicle’s registration will be permanently suspended until the fine is paid and coverage confirmed.

When a similar system was implemented in Alabama, the rates of uninsured motorists on the road dropped from more than 20% to 13%.

This is just one of several laws which took effect this week. You can find a list of other laws on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

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ARGIRLSLEAD #ARGIRLSLEAD is a movement started by women serving in the Arkansas House. Each of them have a unique story to share about their journey on the road to their current leadership position. Kids In The House Who says civics can't be fun?

Territorial Arkansas: The Wild Western Frontier

A traveling exhibit that tells the story of Arkansas Territory will be displayed at Historic Washington State Park, on December 17, 2019—January 6, 2020, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The traveling exhibit consists of 15 panels that explore the history of Arkansas Territory though the collections of the Arkansas State Archives and their branch archives, the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives in Powhatan and the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives in Washington.

Historic Washington State Park

An important stop on the Southwest Trail, James Bowie, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett famously traveled through here. James Black, a local blacksmith, actually forged the legendary Bowie knife. From 1863-1865, it served as the Confederate capital of Arkansas. The 1874 Courthouse serves as the park visitor center.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

As many of you are reflecting on 2019 and setting goals for 2020, we want to remind you of what is ahead for the Arkansas House in the New Year.

In less than 10 weeks, Arkansans will be heading to the polls to cast ballots in the March 3 primary.

This year, the General Assembly passed Act 545 whichprovides for a March preferential primary election in the years in which the office of President of the United States is voted on and a May preferential primary election in the years in which the office of Governor is voted on.

Fiscal sessions have been held on the second Monday in February on even-numbered years. However, Act 545 states that on years in which the preferential primary is held in March, the General Assembly will instead meet for a fiscal session on the second Wednesday of April.

This means we will begin pre-fiscal session budget hearings the day after the primary election, March 4.

The hearings are expected to continue through March 12.

Members can begin filing bills for the session on March 9. We will convene on April 8.

In 2008, Arkansans approved Amendment 86 which created fiscal sessions. Only budget bills are to be considered during a fiscal session. If any member wishes to file a bill other an appropriation bill during a fiscal session, then 2/3 of both chambers must first vote on a resolution to allow such a bill to be filed. Amendment 86 is also very clear about keeping these sessions brief. Fiscal Sessions can only be 30 days long. They can be extended one time for 15 days only if ¾ of both chambers agree.

We head into this New Year with an optimistic financial outlook. State revenue reports continue to exceed economic forecasts. And the unemployment level is at 3.6%.

Just as you do with your budget, our job in the weeks ahead will be to prioritize spending. As a reminder all of our budget hearings are live streamed and recorded on our website:  www.arkansashouse.org.

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ARGIRLSLEAD #ARGIRLSLEAD is a movement started by women serving in the Arkansas House. Each of them have a unique story to share about their journey on the road to their current leadership position. Kids In The House Who says civics can't be fun?

ADHE Provides Scholarships through Arkansas Lottery

On December 13, 2019, UA Cossatot held its winter graduation ceremony at the UA Cossatot Bank of Lockesburg Gymnasium in Lockesburg, Arkansas. The ceremony began at 6:00 P.M. and concluded with 257 students receiving 374 credentials.
During the graduation ceremony, UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole, introduced Dr. Maria Markham, Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) and Alisha Lewis, Associate Communications Director for ADHE. They were invited to the ceremony to present Dr. Cole and UA Cossatot with a sample check for 1.1 million dollars.
This check was used to represent the total amount of money that has been awarded to UA Cossatot students through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education using funds generated by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
In the ten years since its inception, the lottery has raised more than $908 million to help provide more than 542,000 college scholarships for Arkansas students.
To apply for a lottery scholarship in Arkansas, please visit the Department of Higher Education’s website, scholarships.adhe.edu, to complete the Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Application.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

From delivering the food to the grocery store shelves to stocking up retail stores with must have gifts, the trucking industry touches every aspect of the holidays.

As the trend towards online shopping continues, the trucking industry continues to provide a critical infrastructure for our nation. Arkansas companies play an important role in providing the drivers and logistics.

As a midway point between Mexico City and Montreal, our central location enables Arkansas to have a large and growing distribution and logistics services sector. Arkansas offers access to a market of 100 million people within a 550-mile radius of the state. That represents 40% of the total U.S. population.

More than 55,000 Arkansans are employed at more than 80 distribution centers and 10 major trucking companies in the state.

Arkansas is home to two transportation companies on Fortune magazine's list of the largest 1,000 companies in the United States, based on annual revenue - J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and ArcBest. And of the 25 largest employers in the state, 20% are in the transportation services sector.

The trucking industry is a growing industry. Nationwide, the number of trucking businesses grew 15.9% between 2012 and 2016, outpacing total growth across all industries. This translates into an increase of 200,000 workers in the trucking industry during that time period.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at least one in 10 truckers are veterans, double the rate of workers in general.

The Census Bureau also notes the demographic of new truckers is changing. Among younger truckers under age 35, more of them are women and they are more educated than their older counterparts. They’re also more urban. The percentage of young truck drivers coming from rural areas is about half that of older truckers, with fewer than 20% of younger truckers living in rural areas.

Although many truckers work a regular 40-hour workweek, almost half of truckers work longer hours. And many are working extra hours during this season. So if you see or know a trucker, thank them this season for tackling one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs

Hemp Producer Meeting Thursday December 19th

Information session for potential hemp growers at UA Cossatot in De Queen

Hemp meeting, second half

Mexican Consulate Donates to UA Cossatot Foundation

During this fall semester, the Mexican Consulate of Little Rock, Arkansas worked alongside the UA Cossatot Foundation to provide a total donation of $5,000 towards student scholarships.
The six students awarded were Diana Hernandez, Jose Rio, Jessica Aquilar, Jorge Soto, Laura Salas, and Veronica Marrufo.
IME Becas is a program implemented by the government of Mexico to support low income Hispanic students living in the United States who are completing basic education, higher education, or technical careers. The government of Mexico allocates funds to this program which can be complemented by other organizations that also support the educational advancement of students who are decedents of Mexico or those majoring in Spanish.
Maria de Monservat, representing the Mexican Consulate of Little Rock, Arkansas presented the donation to UA Cossatot Foundation Director, Dustin Roberts.
Every fall semester the UA Cossatot Coordinator for the Center for Student Success, Erika Buenrrostro applies for this grant. Erika Buenrrostro said, “This partnership has allowed us to help provide assistance to students who may not otherwise be able to find aid to help pay for school.”.

UA Cossatot Participates in Hispanic Women Organization of Arkansas Panel

Erika Buenrrostro is the Coordinator for the Center for Student Success at UA Cossatot. Erika was invited to serve on the panel for the Hispanic Organization for Women Conference in Springdale, Arkansas in October. Topics she discussed at the conference included Latinos in higher education, trends, Hispanic Serving Institutions in Arkansas, and her employment at UA Cossatot.
UA Cossatot is the only Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs) in Arkansas and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. With Erika’s employment at UA Cossatot and her experience as the Coordinator for the Center for Student Success, she has valuable knowledge that the committee members of the conference wanted her to share.
In Springdale, Erika shared her experience of being a former college student and a minority student. She then spoke about UA Cossatot’s best practices in achieving Hispanic enrollment.
Minorities tend to face obstacles in earning a certificate or degree from a college. At the conference, Erika discussed ways UA Cossatot reaches the needs of Hispanic men and women. Through the Center for Student Success, UA Cossatot helps students with self-care practices and gives students a safe place to seek assistance.
“It is important for students to know that their school cares about them. Also, if assistance is available, they should be aware of that. Every student is different, and UA Cossatot realizes that. I am proud to work for a college that believes in helping all students achieve their dreams,” said Coordinator of the Center for Student Success, Erika Buenrrostro.
Erika also discussed financial aid opportunities that are available to the public, programs available for secondary and post-secondary students, as well as opportunities available through Adult Education and Continuing Education at a community college.
The conference concluded with Erika stating that Hispanics, especially Hispanic women, have more opportunities than ever before to receive higher education. While promoting educational opportunities at UA Cossatot, Erika expressed ways other colleges can help Latinos reach their goals