Arkansas News

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AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Memorial Day in 2020

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LITTLE ROCK – Monday is Memorial Day, and today I’d like to pay tribute to the Arkansans who have given their lives through military service to ensure that Americans continue to live in freedom.

Memorial Day 2020 will be different than any of us has ever observed. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to alter most of our traditions, including Memorial Day. This year, we can’t congregate for memorial services at cemeteries and churches. But we can still honor the memory of those who died on our behalf by remembering them and all those who are still willing to go to the front lines.

Since last Memorial Day, we have dedicated a new monument just outside the west doors of the capitol. It is in memory of those who have died in war and in memory of their survivors, the Gold Star families. This monument acknowledges that these families have had to move on with their lives even as they grieve their loss. Their sacrifice never ends.

The monument also is a promise to them that to the best of our ability, we will continue to fight for freedom at home and around the world. We hope that we will never need to add another name to this roll of honor of those who have died on our behalf. But if a situation requires it, we will take up the fight. We will find inspiration in their courage and valor. We will battle to preserve the liberty they bought with their lives.

Those who fight for us understand that serving others requires us to put the interests of others ahead of what we want. That has never been more evident than during this pandemic. Wearing a mask in public is perhaps uncomfortable and inconvenient, but we wear masks because that protects others.

Right now, every retail shop in Arkansas is open to do business. As we head into summer, we will be able to lift even more limits as we reengage our economy, while at the same time we continue to wash our hands frequently and keep a safe distance from others in public.

Because of Arkansans’ willingness to work together, we have been able to allow greater use of our state parks, with all their lodges, cabins, trails, lakes, and rivers. This is a good weekend to begin to explore our life under new circumstances. It’s also a good time to honor the sacrifice of those who went before us.

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UA Cossatot Virtual Tour for Fall Registration

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Time to start planning for the future! Fall registration is underway now at UA Cossatot. For a taste of what we have to offer, check out this short video, then visit: www.cccua.edu

We would love to talk about how we can help you achieve your goals. And when you get your Associate's Degree at UAC, you can transfer to UA Fayetteville and pay the same low tuition you enjoyed at Cossatot! A member of our Cossatot family is standing by to answer all your questions and get you started on whatever career path you choose!

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Tornado Warnings were Issued for the Region Saturday Evening

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Thunderstorms moved across the region Saturday evening and tornado sirens and warnings from Code Red and the National Weather Service came across between 6 and 7 p.m. A Tornado Watch remains in effect through 9:00 Saturday night, 05/16.

Pockets of heavy rainfall came across the area and prompted Flash Flood Watches and Warnings for portions of southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and northeast Texas. According to the National Weather Service, skies should clear off Sunday bringing sunny and dry conditions throughout next week.

 

Carmelia Johnson captured this video Saturday evening, May 16, in Central.

 
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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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The COVID-19 pandemic could be a source of stress, fear, or anxiety for many Arkansans. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a good time to remind Arkansans of the resources available to help during this time. 

If you currently visit a provider for mental health services, these services can now be accessed by telephone or tele-video. Arkansas’s Community Mental Health Centers have also temporarily changed their services to utilize tele-video or telephone technology whenever possible.  

The Arkansas Lifeline Call Center can direct you to the center closest to you.

The Arkansas Lifeline Call Center (1-800-273-8255) is available 24/7. This call center housed within theArkansas Department of Health answers calls from Arkansans to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call takers can route Arkansans to local resources. 

Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming in both adults and children. 

Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.

The CDC recommends the following to cope with stress:

  • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

  • Eat healthy meals and exercise regularly.

  • Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

While we may all be social distancing, it’s important to still connect with others. Technology allows us to connect in new ways. As we collectively work to get our state back to normal, don’t underestimate the importance of reaching out to family and friends.

Taking care of yourself can help you cope with stress and in turn, help others. Helping others is what will make communities stronger on the other side of this crisis.

 
 
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Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Testing: A Critical Part of Fighting the Virus

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LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about our COVID-19 testing and a new partnership with the Arkansas Community Health Centers.

In an effort to flatten the curve and increase testing for COVID-19, I have consistently encouraged individuals with a simple message: “If you think you have symptoms, don’t wait – get tested.”

On April 21st, I created a Testing Advisory Group to expand and increase testing in the state. We have increased testing in high-risk settings, such as long-term care facilities. We have expanded testing to include all people who think they have been exposed to the virus, even if they aren’t showing symptoms.

At the beginning of this month, we set a goal of conducting 60,000 tests during the month of May. If we are able to do 60,000 tests, that’s 2% of our state population and a key part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations for ramping up states’ testing numbers.

Since we had the first positive case in Arkansas on March 11th, when we first declared the emergency, we started increasing our testing. As of May 14th, we had a little over 29,000 this month. To put that in perspective, since March 11th, (or over the last 65 days) we have done about 81,000 tests. So even though we're not to our goal yet, the nearly 30,000 in the first two weeks in May alone shows we are on the right track, and we are optimistic about meeting our goal.

Earlier this week, I announced a new partnership with the Community Health Centers across Arkansas. When CEO, LaShannon Spencer, called upon her community health centers and asked them what more they can do to support the testing initiative of our state. In response, they committed to provide over 2,000 test collections, per week, in May to add to this objective of reaching our 60,000 goal. Their health centers across the state are offering multiple testing sites, including drive-thru screenings and testing tents, all free of charge.

I was delighted by a conversation that took place in my office between Ms. Spencer and Secretary of Health Nate Smith. When LaShannon said all we need are swabs and we might need some help with that, Dr. Smith responded, “Don't worry, we've got plenty.”

When you are talking about PPE and supply chain and working together for the health and safety of all Arkansans, that’s exactly what you want to hear. I applaud the leadership of the community health centers and our public health officials for working together in this critical partnership.

Another great partnership is with Walmart. They have partnered to provide approximately 130 mobile testing units across the country. Currently, they have three operating in Bentonville, Little Rock, and Fort Smith; and just this week announced additional sites in Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Texarkana, and West Memphis.

During this Phase One period of lifting restrictions, we must expand our economy, but we have to manage the expansion to minimize the virus impact.

If we’re in a war, radar tells us where the enemy is on the horizon. Testing is our radar system; and tracking is our first defense. It gives us an early warning capability for where there's an increased potential of an outbreak so we can get a handle on it. And that is our objective.

We have to learn to live and manage and work through the potential of COVID-19 in the next year until we get a vaccine. And to accomplish that, testing is a critical part having the proper infrastructure in place.

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UA Cossatot Offering Free, Online Professional Development Courses this Summer

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UA Cossatot’s Office of Continuing Education is offering ten free self-paced courses this summer to support the communities it serves during these uncertain times. Anyone wishing to improve their skills and learn new techniques for the workplace or for personal enrichment can benefit from enrolling. Online registration is available through June 30.
A full list of classes and course descriptions can be found at UA Cossatot’s website at www.cccua.edu/ceonline.
UA Cossatot’s Public Services and Workforce Development Director, Tammy Coleman says, “These courses offer excellent opportunities for individuals to learn more about customer service, time management, supervision, organization, marketing, effective communication skills, personal finance, creating webpages, and so much more. Individuals can leverage these free courses to enter the workforce or advance their career. We also invite area employers to use this as a professional development opportunity for their employees.”
Anyone can register and access as many of the courses as they wish for three months from the time enrolled. A certificate of completion will automatically be available to the student for print or download immediately after successfully completing each course.
To sign up for a class, please visit www.cccua.edu/conted to complete an online registration form. For more information about the professional development courses offered at UA Cossatot, please contact UA Cossatot’s Continuing Education department at 870-584-1178 or continuingeducation@cccua.edu

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Telehealth Resource Center Receives Over $800,000 In Funding From CARES Act

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The South Central Telehealth Resource Center has received over $800,000 in federal funding to expand its efforts in telehealth education.

The center, housed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, but a part of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, received $825,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration as a part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relieve and Economic Security or CARES Act. 

The center provides educational, technical and outreach assistance to clinics or practices that already provide or are wishing to start their own telehealth services.

Telehealth Resource Center Receives Over $800,000 In Funding From CARES Act

The South Central Telehealth Resource Center has received over $800,000 in federal funding to expand its efforts in telehealth education. The center, housed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, but a part of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, received $825,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration as a part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relieve and Economic Security or CARES Act.

 
 
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Older Americans Month in May

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Just a shout out to our Older adults for Older Americans Month. PSA:

During May, Older Americans Month, we want to recognize the contributions made by older adults
every day as volunteers, employees, employers, parents, grandparents, mentors, and advocates.

This year’s Older Americans Month theme, Make Your Mark, highlights older adults’ unique and lasting contributions to their communities by offering their time, talents, and experience.

Communities that support and include all their members are stronger! Please join Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Arkansas, Inc. on Facebook, as we publish the favorite childhood memories so graciously shared by some of the older adults in our region. For more information, contact dkendrick@aaaswa.net or call 800-272-2127.