Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response.
UA Cossatot Secondary Career Center Students Win Welding Competition
UA Cossatot Secondary Career Center students from the Nashville Campus attended and won first place in the 2021 Weld-A-Thon competition Thursday, March 18 at South Arkansas Community College.
UA Cossatot Secondary Career Center students, Damion Barbre of Dierks High School, Brantley Cupples of Nashville High School, and Harley Keys from Murfreesboro High School won 1st place. Fellow student, Dalton Gibson of Dierks High School was also in attendance. Participants were given a blueprint, welding materials, and had two hours to build a custom fire pit.
Each winning team member received a welding helmet, three pairs of welding gloves, a $50 visa gift card, a t-shirt, and a ball cap. Also, all competition participants were entered into a drawing for a $350 welding helmet and Damion Barbre was the drawing winner.
The students were accompanied by their welding instructor, Stuart Dufrene, and Director of High School Programs, Julie Rhodes. Rhodes said, “This is a tremendous opportunity that shows the standards of excellence that UA Cossatot requires.”
For more information on UA Cossatot Secondary Career Center, contact Director Julie Rhodes at 870-584-1343 or jrhodes@cccua.edu. ###
Democratic Party of Arkansas Again Lowers Filing Fees
Arkansas Democrats are reducing filing fees for candidates for the third time since 2017. A spokesman for the Republican Party of Arkansas says the organization has no plans to follow suit. Arkansas has some of the most expensive filing fees in the country.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/democratic-party-arkansas-again-lowers-filing-fees
Income Tax Deadline in Arkansas Has Been Extended To May 17
by Talk Business & Politics staff
Governor Asa Hutchinson has extended the deadline for filing state individual income taxes to May 17, 2021 to coincide with the extension of the federal filing deadline.
The normal filing deadline is April 15th.
“Pushing back the due date for state income tax is a simple way to help Arkansans in light of the extension of the federal tax deadline.” Hutchinson said. “The number of our COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continues to decline, and Arkansas is quickly rebounding. As the economy and our unemployment rate continue to improve, we will do all we can to help Arkansans to recover during the public health crisis.”
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/03/governor-extends-state-income-tax-deadline-to-may-17/
AG Rutledge on Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Opioid Lawsuit
by Roby Brock
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge says her new lawsuit against Walgreens is part of a continuing mission of accountability for the opioid crisis, and she says her experience as the state’s top legal officer makes her more qualified to be the next governor of Arkansas.
In a mid-week Talk Business & Politics interview, Rutledge claimed Walgreens should have done more to curtail the prescription of opioids. By not doing so, the national pharmacy chain has contributed to the black market for the extremely addictive drugs.
Walgreens has denied the allegations and said it plans to “vigorously defend” itself in the lawsuit.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/03/ag-rutledge-on-sarah-huckabee-sanders-opioid-lawsuit/
Bills Amending Telemedicine And SNAP Requirements Pass Arkansas Legislature
The Arkansas Legislature has passed bills that would amend telemedicine laws in an attempt to make permanent laws that are currently temporarily in place due to the pandemic.
The Arkansas Senate on Thursday voted 19-11 to pass House Bill 1063. Under the legislation, patients seeking medical care through telehealth would be able to seek care with a physician, without needing a prior face-to-face meeting. Instead an "real-time, interactive audio" meeting, which would include a phone call, would be enough to receive telehealth services.
Currently, the in-person meeting requirement is suspended due to the public health emergency Gov. Asa Hutchinson implemented last year.
Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, presents House Bill 1063 to the Senate.
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Arkansas Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Pharmacists To Prescribe And Dispense Birth Control
The Arkansas Legislature has passed a bill that would allow pharmacies to administer up to six months’ worth of birth control for patients seeking it. The Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to House Bill 1069. It advanced the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee on Monday.
The legislation would allow pharmacists, after screening a patient to assess whether that person has been seen by a primary-care provider in the previous six months, to dispense no more than six months’ worth of birth control until the patient has been seen by a doctor.
Pharmacists must also provide the patient with a referral to a local healthcare provider. The pharmacist would not be allowed to refer a patient to an abortion provider.
Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville presents HB1069 to the Senate floor.
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Arkansas Department of Health Holds Weekly Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
This month, the Arkansas Department of Health began operating mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics in each of the state's five health regions. Clinics rotate cities weekly and are available by appointment through the ADH vaccine clinic call center at 1-800-985-6030.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-department-health-holds-weekly-mass-covid-19-vaccination-clinics
Vaccines are now available for Arkansans under phases 1A through 1C.
COURTESY / CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Saturday's COVID-19 Update from the Arkansas Department of Health
The Arkansas Department of Health reported 228 new cases; 2,663 active cases, which is down by 71 from Thursday; 233 hospitalized, which is down 12 from Thursday; 50 on ventilators, which is up 3 from Thursday; deaths added today, 14, for a total of 5,529; a total of 328,273 cases; 251,698 recoveries; PCR tests, 5,430; antigen tests, 992.
The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are: Pulaski, 36; Benton, 26; Craighead, 18; Washington, 11; Sebastian, 10; White, 10.
Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:
"Overall, total cases and hospitalizations continue to decline. We are working hard to immunize every eligible Arkansan. 20 members of the Arkansas Air and Army National Guard have been deployed to assist with vaccinations in four public health regions as we close in on one-million vaccines. Let’s continue to work together on getting to the other side of this pandemic.”
Here are today's statewide COVID-19 numbers:
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 33
Active Confirmed Cases: 10
Active Probable Cases: 23
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 6
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 2
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 11
Active Confirmed Cases: 5
Active Probable Cases: 6
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 9
Active Confirmed Cases: 9
Active Probable Cases:
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 9
Active Confirmed Cases: 7
Active Probable Cases: 2
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Spring Time in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas is springing to life. The White Trout-lily is in full bloom in the woods. Spring ephemerals such as Pale Corydalis, Spring Beauty, Toothwort, Bloodroot, and Violets are coloring the forest floor. The return of Arkansas's natural beauty is a relief and a reminder that the pandemic of 2020 didn't upend everything in our world.
A brief walk through your neighborhood may be enough of an antidote to COVID-19 claustrophobia. If you have the means to travel beyond your community for some outdoor therapy, then Grady Spann, director of the Arkansas State Parks, suggests the Jonquils at Washington Historic State Park as well as a tour of the town of Washington. Grady says Dogwoods and Redbuds are blooming along the Ozark trail, and the wildflower and butterfly garden at Devil’s Den State Park is a showcase of native wildflowers.
When it comes to spring flowers – or any other flower or plant – Theo Witsell is a fount of knowledge. Theo is Arkansas’s chief botanist. He is employed at the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Theo fell in love with the natural world on childhood trips to the Buffalo River with his parents. In the book that Theo and two colleagues wrote about Arkansas plant life, called Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Arkansas, you’ll see that he knows nature.
For a spring flower expedition, Theo suggests a hike along larger creeks in the mountains such as the state park trails at Pinnacle Mountain, Petit Jean, and Lake Catherine; the natural areas at Sweden Creek Falls, Devils Eyebrow, Rattlesnake Ridge, and Cossatot River State Park; and Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. Jonquils are still going strong, and Henbit, Dead-nettle, Bittercress, Field Pansy, and Speedwell are everywhere.
Speaking of Daffodils, Wye Mountain, a short drive from Little Rock, is an easy spot for seeing flowers. Over the decades, thousands of children have romped among the seven acres of Daffodils, whose story dates to the 1950s. A fellow named Austin Harmon walked into Hackett’s feed and seed store in Little Rock and spotted their last half-bushel of Daffodil bulbs.
Austin proposed a swap: If they would give him the bulbs, he would bring them a half-bushel of fresh bulbs the next spring.
For the next twenty years, Mr. Harmon grew the Daffodils on his land. Then he moved a load of bulbs down the road to Wye Methodist Church, where they still grow and are the star of the annual Daffodil Festival. Members of the church still tend them and sell them. They use proceeds from the sale of flowers and bulbs to assist the less-fortunate in their community.
At the governor’s residence, when I look out any window, I renew my hope that COVID-19 is almost behind us, and I know there is still much beauty in the world.
UAMS Seeks Approval for $85 million Ortho/Sports Medicine Building in Northwest Arkansas
by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will seek approval Wednesday (March 17) to build an $85 million orthopedic and sports medicine facility in Northwest Arkansas.
Consideration of the project is part of the two-day agenda of the University of Arkansas System board of trustees meeting that begins Wednesday.
According to agenda materials, UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson will recommend Marlon Blackwell Architects with DSC Architects to lead the 185,000-square-foot building’s design. Nabholz Construction will be recommended as the general contractor.
The building will include up to 12 operating rooms and a limited number of patient beds. The building’s specialty clinics will consist of sports performance, physical therapy, orthopedic, imaging, research and education.
School Voucher Bill Passes Arkansas House Committee
By DANIEL BREEN
Following hours of debate, members of the Arkansas House Education committee narrowly passed a bill that would provide private school scholarships for low-income students.
Lawmakers on Tuesday voted 11 to nine in favor of House Bill 1371, sponsored by Republican Rep. Ken Bragg of Sheridan.
The bill would create a tax credit for individuals and businesses to donate to two funds, which would be run by a private nonprofit. One would provide up to $6 million in credits for donations to provide grants to public schools, while the other would provide $4 million in credits for donations to a fund for low-income students to attend private schools.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/school-voucher-bill-passes-arkansas-house-committee
Arkansas Education Association President Carol Fleming speaks against House Bill 1371 as the bill's sponsor, Rep. Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan, looks on.
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Arkansas Opens Vaccine Eligibility To Everyone In Phase 1-C Category
By MICHAEL TILLEY/ TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
With around 10% of Arkansans being fully vaccinated and a push by the Biden administration to open vaccine access, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday expanded eligibility an estimated 1.2 million Arkansans in the 1c category.
There are an estimated 2.131 million Arkansans now eligible – total in categories 1a-c – to receive the vaccine, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). The state’s population is about 3.018 million according to the latest estimate from the U.S. Census.
“It is important to move to 1c so we can open up more and keep the demand coming for the vaccine to make sure there is not any gap and to give everyone the best opportunity to get the vaccine that wants one and who needs it,” Gov. Hutchinson said Tuesday during his weekly COVID-19 press briefing.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-opens-vaccine-eligibility-everyone-phase-1-c-category
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday he is expanding vaccine eligibility to all Arkansans in category 1-C.
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Wednesday COVID-19 Update from the Arkansas Department of Health
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 34
Active Confirmed Cases: 11
Active Probable Cases: 23
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 10
Active Confirmed Cases: 7
Active Probable Cases: 3
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 15
Active Confirmed Cases: 8
Active Probable Cases: 7
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 11
Active Confirmed Cases: 11
Active Probable Cases:
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 12
Active Confirmed Cases: 8
Active Probable Cases: 4
Tuesday's COVID-19 Update from the AR Dept of Health
In its Monday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 117 new cases; 2,863 active cases; 250 hospitalized, which is up 7 from Sunday; 58 on ventilators, which is up 3 from Sunday; deaths added today, 7, for a total of 5,481; a total of 327,060 cases; 250,717 recoveries; PCR tests, 2,313; antigen tests, 138.
The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Benton, 15; Crawford, 13; Pulaski, 12; Washington, 11; and Lonoke, 8.
Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:
“Today's number of active cases is the lowest in Arkansas since early June. We are making great progress in decreasing our new case numbers, but we must continue to get vaccinated. The best thing each of us can do is get the vaccine when it's our turn.”
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 32
Active Confirmed Cases: 12
Active Probable Cases: 20
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 11
Active Confirmed Cases: 9
Active Probable Cases: 2
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 15
Active Confirmed Cases: 9
Active Probable Cases: 6
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 15
Active Confirmed Cases: 14
Active Probable Cases: 1
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 10
Active Confirmed Cases: 7
Active Probable Cases: 3
Bill To Limit Governor’s Emergency Declarations Heads To Hutchinson’s Desk
By STEVE BRAWNER / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
The Arkansas House of Representatives passed a bill Monday (March 15) that would give the Legislature the power to end a governor’s declared disaster emergency. Another bill, opposed by the governor, would require state agencies to refund COVID-19-related fines levied on businesses.
The House also passed a bill allowing medical professionals to opt out of certain procedures, and it advanced a bill codifying COVID-19-related civil immunity.
Senate Bill 379, which would create processes for the Legislature to end a governor’s declared state of emergency, passed 78-16, with 1 voting present. The bill by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway, R-Paragould, has already passed the Senate.
Arkansas lawmakers approved legislation Monday that will give the legislature the power to end a disaster emergency issued by the governor.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
Attorney General Rutledge Sues Walgreens, Says Company Helped Fuel Opioid Epidemic
By STEVE BRAWNER / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed suit Monday against Walgreens under the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act, saying the drug retailer failed to report and prevent suspicious opioid purchases as it was required to do under the law.
The complaint says the drug retailer failed to institute controls to prevent the diversion of drugs into the black market. Walgreens filled more than 142,090,680 dosage units of oxycodone and hydrocodone in Arkansas from 2006 to 2014. Nine of the company’s pharmacies were among the top 20 recipients of prescription opioids in the state.
“Walgreens helped fuel the opioid crisis by selling, distributing and dispensing far greater quantities of prescription opioids than [were] necessary for legitimate medical use,” Rutledge said in her press conference.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge at a press conference on March 26, 2018 making a different opiod-related announcement.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
UAMS Chancellor Reflects On Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Pandemic
By ROBY BROCK / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson said there have been lessons learned one year into the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Arkansas, there have been more than 5,400 deaths and over 325,000 identified coronavirus cases. Patterson said it’s put a huge strain on the state’s healthcare system and made the year “seem like a decade.”
That said, UAMS and other healthcare providers adapted to the huge influx of patients. He’s proud of the response, and he anticipates it won’t be the last time a plan for a pandemic is needed.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/uams-chancellor-reflects-lessons-learned-covid-19-pandemic
UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson (at the podium) alongside Gov. Asa Hutchinson and a sign language interpreter at a press conference on the coronavirus on May 8, 2020.
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House Committee Approves Bill Allowing DACA Recipients To Earn Teaching Licenses
Under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, recipients are given legal work authorization; however, students pursuing a teaching career cannot gain licensure in Arkansas even though they take the same courses and undergo the same training as their classmates. House Bill 1594, sponsored by Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio, aims to change that.
Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio, is the sponsor of House Bill 1594.
COURTESY / ARKANSAS HOUSE
LIVE VIDEO: CARES Act Steering Committee Meeting Tuesday (03.16.21) 4PM
The CARES Act Steering Committee, created by Governor Asa Hutchinson to recommend the best use of federal COVID-19 aid, meets virtually at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2021.