FRIENDS Foundation Hosts AEDI and Community Leaders for First Meeting to Develop CEDS for Sevier County
Arkansas Medical Society Leaders Endorse Vaccine Requirements for Health Care Workers
by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
The Arkansas Medical Society board of trustees adopted a policy Monday (Aug. 30) calling for the required vaccination of health care workers.
In a statement released broadly, the AMS said the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association had endorsed the position and “more medical organizations are expected to do the same.” The AMS is the largest and most influential physician lobbying group in Arkansas.
“The physicians of Arkansas are deeply concerned about their patients and the citizens of our state as we continue to wage a battle with the COVID-19 virus and its highly contagious variants. Our ethical obligations, as well as the ethical obligations of most health care workers, teach us to always put patients first. To live up to that moral and ethical standard, it is imperative that we lead by example and take a stand in support of required vaccination for health care workers,” the AMS statement said.
AEDC’s Rural Services Division to Grant $769,000 to Schools for Conservation
by Talk Business & Politics staff
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) Division of Rural Services announced Monday (Aug. 30) it will award more than $769,000 to Arkansas schools and educators to support conservation education programs in the 2021-22 school year. Funds for these grants come from wildlife fines collected by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).
AEDC awards conservation education grants to schools in the same counties where the fines are collected. Any school or conservation district in Arkansas may apply through Oct. 26.
“Each year, AEDC is excited to be part of this opportunity to expand educational support for our schools while also enhancing conservation efforts in the Natural State,” Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said. “This ongoing partnership with the AGFC serves our communities, our students, and our economy.”
Arkansas Lagging Behind In Providing Relief To Renters, Could Lose Millions
Arkansas could lose over $100 million in federal aid for renters. On Monday, the state was identified as having one of the lowest disbursement rates for funding provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance program.
Over $173 million has been earmarked for rent relief in Arkansas as part of COVID-19 assistance provided directly to states by the federal government. According to Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Arkansas has distributed less than 3% of its allotment, which could expire at the end of September.
Rep. James Clyburn (D) of South Carolina, the chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, says states like Arkansas can do a better job of disbursing rent relief funding.
CREDIT ZOOM
COVID-19 Active Cases in SW Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 128
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 141
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 108
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 151
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 112
Lyon College President Resigns Amid Furor Over White Supremacist Comments
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
Lyon College President W. Joseph King resigned Thursday (Aug. 26). King, who was under fire for comments about President Donald Trump supporters and white supremacist in the Ozark Foothills tendered his resignation to the Lyon College Board of Trustees.
“I’m writing to let you know that the Lyon College Board of Trustees has accepted President W. Joseph King’s resignation effective immediately. We are thankful for Dr. King’s service and guidance during his presidency. The College has established numerous programs and initiatives that have flourished under his leadership including the College’s ROTC program and military science concentration. We are also grateful for Dr. King’s leadership in keeping our campus and our students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are especially grateful for his leadership in establishing our ongoing exploration of a strategic partnership with the University of the Ozarks,” Board of Trustees Chairman Perry Wilson noted in a statement.
Windgate Foundation to Give $30 Million for Second Phase of University of Arkansas Art District
by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
The University of Arkansas announced Wednesday (Aug. 25) a $30 million partial challenge grant from the Windgate Foundation to further expand the Windgate Art and Design District, a home for the UA’s School of Art. The money will be for the district’s second phase that will include the 58,000-square-foot Windgate Gallery and Foundations Building.
In 2017, the Windgate Foundation gave $40 million to the UA to create the Windgate Art and Design District in south Fayetteville. The district will include the Windgate Studio and Design Center, which is expected to open in fall 2022. The first phase of the overall Windgate Art and Design District project is under construction.
Construction continues on the Windgate Studio and Design Center in south Fayetteville. The Windgate Foundation will provide an additional $30 million to support the further expansion of the University of Arkansas' Windgate Art and Design District.)
Former Arkansas Lawmaker To Face Retrial On Federal Bribery Charges
By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK
Federal prosecutors plan to retry former lobbyist and political fundraiser Gilbert Baker on bribery and other charges after a mistrial earlier this month.
On Aug. 12, a jury on its fifth day of deliberations acquitted Baker, a former state senator from Conway and former chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, of one count of conspiracy. The jury deadlocked on eight other charges, including one count of bribery and seven of wire fraud.
In its notice to the court Thursday, the U.S. attorney’s office stated only that it intended to retry Baker and did not elaborate on what may have led prosecutors to that decision. The office had earlier sought and been granted permission to interview jurors who heard from the first trial who were willing to discuss the matter. Such interviews could have given prosecutors information on how jurors were divided on the case and why.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/former-arkansas-lawmaker-face-retrial-federal-bribery-charges
Gilbert Baker (right) and his attorney, Blake Hendrix, exit the U.S. courthouse in Little Rock during Baker’s first trial.
CREDIT BRIAN CHILSON
Active COVID Cases in SW Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 147
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 156
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 118
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 164
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 121
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson's Weekly Media Briefing Tuesday (08.31.21) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide a briefing to media at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Arkansas Aviation Then and Now
LITTLE ROCK – Airports and air travel are essential to Arkansas’s growth and economic development, and the history of aeronautics in Arkansas is colorful. Today I’d like to talk about this industry that has contributed so much to the high quality of life in the Natural State.
Charles McDermott, a transplant from Louisiana, was one of Arkansas’s first aviators. The 1872 patent for his airplane was titled “Improvement in Apparatus for Navigating the Air.” The machine was built with flaps and the pilot operated it with his feet. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Mr. McDermott exhibited his invention at the Arkansas booth in 1876 at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. History doesn’t record whether any of his flying machines actually flew.
In May 1910, Fort Smith was the site of Arkansas’s first well-documented flight when James C. “Bud” Mars hit sixty-miles-per-hour in a Curtiss Bi-Plane.
Louise Thaden, who was from Bentonville, won the Women’s Air Derby in 1929. In 1936, she and her co-pilot beat all the men pilots in the Bendix Trophy race from New York to Los Angeles. The first African American known to receive a pilot’s license was Pickens W. Black, a Jackson County planter from Blackville. His private pilot license was issued in November 1933 and his last in 1958.
Those pioneers laid the foundation for an industry that has grown into 99 publicly owned general aviation public-use airports; and 3,400 general-aviation aircraft. We have nearly 6,000 pilots, four FAA-approved pilot schools, nearly 2,000 student pilots; and more than 800 flight instructors.
General aviation airports contribute $467 million to the state’s economy every year with 5,100 jobs and a payroll of nearly $167 million. That doesn’t include the general aviation jobs at commercial-service airports across the state.
The “Economic Impact of Arkansas Airports” report shows that all sectors of the industry combined provide more than 42,000 jobs; generate $1.5 billion in payroll; and produce $3.5 billion in economic activity.
The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas National Airport, known as XNA, are among the one-hundred largest airports in the nation. Between them, the two fly nearly two-million passengers a year.
A robust air-travel system is high on the list for site selectors who are considering Arkansas. To maintain our top-flight system, the Division of Aeronautics oversees the industry with a staff of five and a commission with seven members that the governor appoints. To underscore the importance of the industry, in 2019, I moved the division into the Arkansas Department of Commerce as part of my government transformation initiative.
Like every other business, COVID turned the airline industry on its head. In 2020, air travel was down 50% nationally. Travel spending decreased from nearly a trillion dollars in 2019 to $679 billion last year. That affects so many other areas, such as business travel, conventions, and tourism.
As our air-travel industry emerges from the pandemic, we can look to the ingenuity and tenacity of our founding flyers such as Charles McDermott, Pickens Black, Louise Thaden, and Bud Mars, and soon Arkansas aviation will be flying higher than ever.
NOAA/National Weather Service Briefing for Hurricane Ida
Ida is now a dangerous category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds
▪ Significant impacts are expected across portions of southern Louisiana and Mississippi. ▪ Impacts across Arkansas will be limited to southeast portions of the state. ▪ There are currently no tropical storm watches or warnings in effect for Arkansas.
Tourism, Economic Development Leaders Partner To Recruit Return To Arkansas
By ROBY BROCK / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
While COVID-19 has impacted tourism and travel as well as business expansion, Arkansas is pushing forward to remain open and ready for business. Tourism and economic officials in Arkansas have spent many years trying to convince people to work, live and play in Arkansas.
Three people working hard on those efforts have new tools and new collaborations to conduct their business thanks to the Arkansas Legislature and a Gov. Asa Hutchinson executive order to develop more outdoor recreation businesses. Secretary of Parks, Heritage & Tourism Stacy Hurst, Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston, and Arkansas Tourism Director Travis Napper recently sat down with TB&P Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock.
(Clockwise) Arkansas Tourism Director Travis Napper, Talk Business & Politics Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock, Secretary of Parks, Heritage & Tourism Stacy Hurst and Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston discuss efforts to draw tourists back to Arkansas.
CREDIT TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
An Airplane-Based Ambulance Pilot Shares about the Chaos of COVID-19
Tom Myers is the founder of Physicians Air Transport, a fixed-wing air ambulance service that covers five states across the South. Myers says due to COVID-19, they're having to travel farther away than ever before to find a hospital bed for their patients. He recently shared on a Facebook post, "It’s certainly your choice to get vaccinated. No argument from me. But if you could see, what I see daily, it’d be easy for you to make the choice for vaccination."
https://www.kuaf.com/post/airplane-based-ambulance-pilot-shares-about-chaos-covid-19
Tom Myers
COURTESY / TOM MYERS
FDA-Approved COVID-19 Vaccines, Boosters for Arkansans Explained
This week FDA gave full approval to the Pfizer and BioNtech’s COVID-19 vaccine, previously authorized only for emergency use. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also announced plans to provide COVID-19 booster shots to maintain immunity. Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, chief medical office and medical director for immunizations and outbreak response at the Arkansas Department of Health explains.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/fda-approved-covid-19-vaccines-boosters-arkansans-explained
Jennifer Dillaha, MD, is Medical Director for Immunization/Outbreak Response at the Arkansas Department of Health.
COURTESY / ADH
De Queen Health and Wellness Offering Monoclonal Antibody Treatments
De Queen Health and Wellness Pharmacy is now offering REGEN-COV (Casirivimab 600mg & Imdevimab 600mg) injections.
We offer this treatment Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM and by appointment if needed outside of those hours or on the weekend. The patient must see their healthcare provider first to see if they are in need of treatment. If they do need it, the doctor can send us an order for treatment.
COVID-19 Active Cases Climbing Again in SW Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 151
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 136
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 120
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 144
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 104
Governor Hutchinson Appoints Randy Henderson to State Board of Education
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed Randy Henderson of Blytheville to the Arkansas State Board of Education, he announced today.
“Randy’s experience in education and leadership provides him with a vision for the future of Arkansas’s students.” Governor Hutchinson said. “His belief in the power of education for a successful workforce will be of great benefit to our education system and the future of Arkansas.”
Mr. Henderson has worked for Nucor Steel for over 24 years and has served in an advisory role for educational institutions including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Advisory Council and the Philander Smith College Business Advisory Council. He is a graduate of Arkansas Northeastern College and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.
“This is such an incredible honor, and I am beyond humbled for the opportunity to serve on the State Board of Education,” Mr. Henderson said. “I am grateful to the Governor for his confidence in me and for granting me the opportunity to work with exceptional leaders and stakeholders to help advance educational excellence in our state.”
Mr. Henderson is replacing Susan Chambers of Bella Vista. His term expires on June 30, 2028.
UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors 2021
UA Cossatot’s Center for Student Success Announces 2021-2022 Student Ambassadors
UA Cossatot’s Center for Student Success announced its 2021-2022 Student Ambassadors. Student Ambassadors include Layton Jackson, Dennis Guzman, Ana Ruvalcaba, Brenda Mera, Gisselle Gomez, Julie Clift, Kimberly Delgado, Lizbeth Ozura, Lizbeth Hernandez, and Mackynze Dollarhide.
UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors are chosen to be the face of UA Cossatot on campus and in the community. They are an active voice for the UA Cossatot student body. Through a joint effort with Student Services and other Student Ambassadors, they reach out to prospective students, sharing personal UA Cossatot experiences and successes. UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors are hard-working, honest, curious, adventurous, and have strong communication skills and high academic standards.
“Being a student ambassador not only teaches you the skills but also helps you broaden and fine-tune those you already have, said Center for Student Success and Enrichment Director Erika Buenrrostro. “You'll learn the different ways to communicate with both individuals and large groups, and you'll gain emotional intelligence as you develop new relationships. In addition, to be a UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors means developing students into leaders that we hope will pave the way for others to come.”
For more information on UA Cossatot’s Student Ambassador program, contact Ambassador Sponsor Erika Buenrrostro at 870-584-1133 or ebuenrrostro@cccua.edu.