Registration is now open for the Medical Billing and Coding Program. Interested persons should contact Continuing Education Services at ContinuingEducation@cccua.edu or by calling (870) 584-1178 for more details. Financial aid is available to qualifying students.
Phlebotomy Technician Program Registration is Open at UA Cossatot
Registration is now open for the Phlebotomy Technician Program at UA Cossatot. Interested persons should contact Continuing Education Services at ContinuingEducation@cccua.edu or by calling (870) 584-1178 for more details. Financial aid is available to qualifying students.
Little Rock School Superintendent Suggests Lawsuit Over Mask Mandate Ban
By ALEXANDRIA BROWN
Little Rock School Board members are being asked to consider filing a lawsuit against the state regarding a ban on mask mandates. Superintendent Michael Poore made the request in a video released Friday. He said Act 1002, which took effect Wednesday, is unconstitutional. It prohibits state and local government entities, including schools, from enforcing mask mandates.
While Gov. Asa Hutchinson has called for a special session of the Arkansas General Assembly to consider modifying or lifting the ban, Poore said he isn't confident lawmakers will make the right decision.
“My hope is that the state legislature will take the appropriate action to repeal 1002 and allow school districts to formulate their own policy related to masks," Poore said. "I’m not confident that that will occur. This lawsuit allows us a place in order to take this situation to the judicial branch to act on 1002.”
Michael Poore, superintendent for the Little Rock School District, announced in a video released Friday he will ask board members to consider filing a lawsuit against the state for banning mask mandates.
CREDIT LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT / YOUTUBE
Former Arkansas Judge, Now Serving Prison Time, Testifies In Bribery Trial
By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK
A nursing home magnate, one of Arkansas’s highest-ranking jurists and a former judge in shackles were among witnesses in the first week of the federal bribery trial of former lobbyist Gilbert Baker.
Prosecutors sought to weave an intricate tale of political ambition and greed while the defense focused on a key witness’ lack of credibility. Both sides struggled at times to jog witnesses’ memories of events that happened as far back as 2013 and 2014.
Baker, a former state senator from Conway and former chairman of the state Republican Party, is charged with bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy. He is accused of being the middleman in an alleged plot to bribe former Faulkner County Circuit Judge Michael Maggio on behalf of Michael Morton, a wealthy nursing-home owner and campaign financier. Maggio is now serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting a bribe.
Former Faulkner County Circuit Judge Michael Maggio in 2016 at the U.S. District Courthouse in Little Rock.
CREDIT BRIAN CHILSON / ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK
Arkansas Children Are Becoming Sick Like Never Before During COVID Pandemic
As Arkansas is experiencing a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, with more than 2,800 new cases reported Thursday, kids are being impacted like never before in the pandemic. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he was especially concerned about the increase in pediatric cases while announcing he was reinstating a public health emergency for the state.
Only people who are 12 and older can get vaccinated, which is a concern as schools are only a few weeks away from starting a new academic year. The latest variant is making a growing number of children sick, with Arkansas Children’s Hospital this week reporting its largest number of patients with COVID-19.
Hutchinson said Thursday there were 24 children being treated at the hospital and none had been fully immunized. Half of those, he said, were under 12-years-old and not eligible to be vaccinated.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-children-are-becoming-sick-never-during-covid-pandemic
Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock reported a record number of pediatric patients this week suffering from COVID-19.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Shooting for a Medal
LITTLE ROCK – Many athletes who are competing in the Olympics in Tokyo this year have a connection to Arkansas, but today I’d like to talk about Kayle Browning, the only home-grown Arkansan representing the United States. This year, Kayle won a silver medal on Thursday in the International Trap Shooting competition.
Like many of our youth, Kayle dreamed of competing in the Olympics, but she was thinking gymnastics or figure skating. As it turned out, her Olympics dreams dovetailed with her shooting talent.
Kayle’s parents, Tommy Lynn and Tammy Browning, their kin, and friends, watched from their home in Wooster, where Kayle grew up. On Thursday afternoon, Tommy Lynn said his house had been pretty noisy as they watched their only child win. They had talked to Kayle briefly a couple of times between her appearance on the “Today” show and an onslaught of interviews.
Kayle comes by her love of the sport honestly. Her father, Tommy Lynn Browning, is a lifelong hunter who has won his share of national shooting titles. At shooting competitions, the mom, Tammy, pushed Kayle about in a stroller while her dad shot. Kaylee was eight when she started shooting water-filled jugs for fun in her yard. That also was the year she killed her first deer and duck.
At twelve, Kayle was a member of the Women’s Open All American team. At thirteen, she switched from shooting sporting clay targets to international trap shooting, which is an Olympic event. The idea to compete came from a talent recruiter for the U.S. Army marksman team. After he saw her shoot, he recommended that she try out for the Olympics.
In order to train, Kayle needed a professional facility, but there wasn’t one within ten hours of Wooster. So in 2006, her dad built one on their farm.
In 2012, Kayle was an alternate on the Olympic team. This year, she made the cut and traveled to Tokyo. Kayle competes with a Krieghoff over-and-under twelve-gauge shotgun.
I’d like to note that while Kayle learned much about shooting from her father, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission contributed to her training. With her parents’ encouragement, Kayle was one of the first youth to participate in the Game and Fish Commission’s Youth Shooting Sports Program. Her success is a good testimonial to the value of that program.
Tommy Lynn and Tammy have encouraged and supported Kayle’s pursuit of her passion. But they also have emphasized that winning a medal is a good thing, but just earning a spot on the team is a worthy accomplishment. Kayle is finding success outside of the Olympics. She owns Cypress Creek Lodge, where guests can stay overnight and learn to shoot from Kayle and David Radulovich, another champion shooter. Kayle has a real estate license, and in her spare time, flips an occasional house.
Kayle Browning is following in the footsteps of her family, deepening her roots in Arkansas, building a successful business, and improving the quality of life in her community and state. Now she has brought an Olympic medal back to Arkansas. Congratulations, Kayle. For all you parents who want your children to learn about the great outdoors, meet Kayle Browning, Arkansas’s new ambassador for the shooting sports.
COVID-19 Active Cases Steadily Rising in SW Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 57
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 68
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 43
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 77
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 79
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson to Hold News Conference (07.29.21)
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide a weekly briefing to media at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
Heat Advisory Continues for SW Arkansas
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Heat index values from 105 to 110 expected.
* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Louisiana,
southeast Oklahoma, south central and southwest Arkansas and
east and northeast Texas.
* WHEN...From noon to 7 PM CDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.Today and Tonight...
A Heat Advisory is in effect today for all of the Four State
Region. Temperatures will again climb into the mid and upper 90s
this afternoon across the area, and when combined with the
humidity, will result in heat indices ranging from 105 to 110
degrees. In addition, isolated to widely scattered showers and
thunderstorms will develop today over portions of East Texas and
North Louisiana, before diminishing by sunset.
Friday through Wednesday...
Very hot, humid, and mostly dry conditions will continue across
the region Friday through Sunday, as an upper level ridge of high
pressure begins to shift southeast into the area. This will result
in the hottest temperatures so far this summer, and when combined
with the humidity, will produce heat indices that will near or
exceed 105 degrees each day. However, a weak cool front will shift
south into the region late Sunday, which will focus an increase
in showers and thunderstorms over the area late Sunday through
Tuesday. The increased cloud cover and rain near and behind the
front will also contribute to slightly cooler temperatures Monday
through midweek.Latest Aerial Photos at the Construction Site of the New Sevier County Medical Center
Latest Progress Report From the Construction Site of the New Sevier County Medical Center
Contract Days: 485; Days Remaining: 227; Percent Complete: 53.02%
PERSONNEL ONSITE:
• Four (4) Prime Contractors:
o Gigerich Electrical
o Bass Concrete
o Car-Son Construction
o DS Murphy (Metal Building Erector)
• Three (3) Structural Steel Erectors
• Two (2) Electricians
EQUIPMENT ONSITE:
• Five (5) Scissor Lifts
• One (1) Takeuchi Mini Excavator
• One (1) Takeuchi Skid Steer
• One (1) Komat’su Excavator
• One (1) Gradall Shooting Boom Forklift
• One (1) Grove Crane
• One (1) Welding Machine
WORK IN PROGRESS:
a. Building “A”:
i. Structural Steel:
1. Steel decking and miscellaneous screen steel is being erected at the roof level.
2. The steel platforms for the roof top units (RTU’s) are being
completed in preparation to pour the concrete support pads. See
the discussion in the discussion section below.
3. Steel decking is being completed on the high roof.
ii. Electrical:
1. Uni-Strut framing is being erected at the roof top unit (RTU)
locations
Arkansas State Supreme Court Justice Testifies In Bribery Trial Of Former Lawmaker
By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK
Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood testified Tuesday that she never talked with former Circuit Judge Michael Maggio about his decision to alter a jury’s award in a nursing home negligence case in 2013 — a ruling that led to Maggio’s imprisonment and to federal bribery charges against former lobbyist Gilbert Baker.
Wood’s testimony for the prosecution came near day’s end at Baker’s trial in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. She is to continue testifying Wednesday.
Wood’s statement contradicts defense attorney Annie Depper’s assertion during opening statements Monday that Maggio had “struggled” with the 2013 ruling so much that he consulted with Wood, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox and a law clerk about the decision.
CREDIT KUAR NEWS
U of A Health Center Medical Director Issues Stark COVID-19 Variant Warning
Dr. Huda Sharaf, Chief Medical Director of the University of Arkansas Pat Walker Health Center in Fayetteville, as well as a key Fayetteville City Health Board member, explains why the new even more life-threatening COVID-19 Delta variant is spreading so quickly through the unvaccinated population in Arkansas.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/u-health-center-medical-director-issues-stark-covid-19-variant-warning
COURTESY / HUDA SHARAF
Active COVID Cases Continue to Push Upward in SW Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 45
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 62
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 39
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 57
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 65
VIDEO: Community COVID Conversations - TEXARKANA (July 15, 2021)
Governor Asa Hutchinson was in Texarkana in July for one of his Community COVID Conversations
UAMS Chooses John Erck as Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement
By News Staff
July 26, 2021 | LITTLE ROCK — John Erck has been selected as the vice chancellor of Institutional Advancement at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), effective Aug. 23.
“I look forward to working with John,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “He has accomplished impressive things at the University of Arkansas, and I am confident his efforts at UAMS will help support our mission of achieving a better state of health for all Arkansans.”
Erck joins UAMS from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, where he is the senior director of development and external relations, a position he has held since 2013. In that position, he led the college’s highly successful Campaign Arkansas development efforts.
Image by Beth Hall Photography
COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise in Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 43
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 47
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 39
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 44
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 56
Heat Advisory Tuesday Afternoon and Early Evening for SW Arkansas
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Heat index values will range from 105 to 109 degrees.
* WHERE...Northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas, eastern Texas
and southeast Oklahoma.
* WHEN...Noon to 7 PM CDT on Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.Fundraising Finish Closer for Marshals Museum in Fort Smith
By KYLE KELLAMS
The United States Marshals Museum received an anonymous $5 million dollar gift that moves the fundraising finish line much closer.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/fundraising-finish-closer-marshals-museum
COURTESY / THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS MUSEUM
Health Leader Warns New Coronavirus Variant Could be Resistant to Vaccine
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
Dr. Joe Thompson, former state surgeon general and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, says we are nearing the point of declaring another pandemic emergency and his biggest worry is a new coronavirus variant resistant to current vaccines.
Appearing on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics, Thompson was asked if it is time to declare a new COVID-19 emergency.
“We are approaching that point,” he said. “If we don’t get control of the spread of this Delta variant, one of my biggest fears is that with the spread we’re going to have a new variant that is either more infectious or escapes the control of our vaccines and then we will be back at square one as we were in the original pandemic.”
Arkansas to Receive $216 Million of $26 Billion Settlement Reached in Opioid Crisis
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Friday (July 23) a $26 billion agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors of opioids.
The agreement includes Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactures and markets opioids. The settlement requires significant industry changes that will help prevent an opioid crisis from happening again, she said. The agreement would resolve investigations and litigation over the companies’ roles in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic.
Drug overdoses, fueled by opioids, has been the second leading cause of accidental deaths in Arkansas in the last decade. In the last three years, opioid deaths have been declining, but they are still high on a per capita basis.
