Arkansas News

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Tax filing season opens Jan. 23; extension offers tips for preparation, filing

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By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Tax seasons officially starts Jan. 23, when the Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing 2022 tax year returns. For those who haven’t started preparations yet, now is the time to collect documents and understand the changes to tax credits and deductions that may affect their finances.

The IRS expects more than 168 million individual tax returns to be filed, with the majority of those coming before the April 18 tax deadline. People have three extra days to file this year, as April 15 is a Saturday and the Emancipation Day holiday is observed on April 17 in Washington, D.C.

“For tax year 2022, some tax credits that were expanded in 2021 will return to 2019 levels,” said Laura Hendrix, an accredited financial counselor and associate professor of personal finance with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “This means that some tax filers could receive a smaller refund than last year.”

Hendrix offers these tips for preparing to file this year:

Be aware of changes for credits and deductions

For tax year 2022 some tax credits that were expanded in 2021 will return to 2019 levels. Changes include amounts for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child and Dependent Care Credit.

  • Those who received $3,600 per dependent in 2021 for the Child Tax Credit will, if eligible, get $2,000 for the 2022 tax year.

  • For the Earned Income Tax Credit, eligible taxpayers with no children who received roughly $1,500 in 2021 will now get $500 in 2022.

  • The Child and Dependent Care Credit returns to a maximum of $2,100 in 2022 instead of $8,000 in 2021.

Unlike 2020 and 2021, there were no new stimulus payments for 2022 so taxpayers should not expect to get an additional payment in their 2023 tax refund.

During COVID, taxpayers were able to take up to a $600 charitable donation tax deduction on their tax returns. However, for tax year 2022, taxpayers who don’t itemize and who take the standard deduction, won’t be able to deduct their charitable contributions.

If you bought a new, qualified plug-in electric vehicle in 2022 or before, you may be eligible for a clean vehicle tax credit.

Get your refund fast

One of the fastest ways to get your refund is to file electronically and use direct deposit. The IRS discourages people submitting paper forms to avoid potential delays. Tax refunds can be deposited in up to three accounts, and Hendrix recommends people deposit some of their refunds into a savings account to build financial security. Use IRS form 8888 for direct deposit.

Filers should also avoid using advance refund loans, which often have high fees.

Save money by filing for free

Several organizations offer free assistance to filers who meet income and age criteria.

“Taking advantage of these services means you can keep more of your refund because you don’t have to pay a tax-preparation service,” Hendrix said.

 Some of these include the following:

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance):

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide:

MyFreeTaxes:

IRS Free File:

MilTax

Organize records for tax time

Whether you are doing your own taxes, using a paid tax preparation service, or using one of the free file options, you will need to gather the following information:

  • Birth dates and Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse and dependents on the tax return.

  • Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc) from all employers.

  • Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099).

  • Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received.

  • A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available.

  • Bank account routing and account numbers for direct.

  • Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number.

  • Forms 1095-A, B and C, Health Coverage Statements.

  • Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable.

  • If using a free or paid tax preparation service, you will need to show proof of identification, such as a driver’s license.

  • If married and filing jointly, both you and your spouse will need to sign the tax return.

For more information, visit IRSgov. For extension resources on personal finance, visit uaex.uada.edu/money. To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

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Researchers pursue cost-effective method to remotely monitor streamflow in small-scale watersheds

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Researchers at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station have developed an economical method to monitor rainwater surges in small streams.

STREAMFLOW — A research team from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station's Arkansas Water Resources Center installs an upward scanning acoustic doppler instrument to monitor streamflow in Brush Creek in Washington County. Master's degree student Brandy Everett places the radar unit on a concrete pad used to anchor it to the streambed. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

They showed that compact upward-scanning doppler radar systems designed to monitor manmade waterways can be adapted to monitor streamflows in natural channels of smaller watersheds.

Long-term streamflow data is essential to understand changes in hydrology and trends in natural disturbances like floods and drought, said Brian Haggard, professor of biological and agricultural engineering for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Haggard is director of the experiment station’s Arkansas Water Resources Center. He also has a teaching appointment with the University of Arkansas’ College of Engineering.

Fresh water is a small percentage of the Earth’s water supply, but it is vital for human wellbeing, ecosystem support, economic activity and other purposes, Haggard said. Human activity and natural changes have great influence on available freshwater sources. Monitoring streamflow under extreme conditions caused by drought or stormwater runoff is essential for understanding how these stresses affect freshwater ecosystems.

Streamflow data support municipalities that need to manage storm surge water, Haggard said. State and federal agencies and researchers need the information to build and validate watershed models for the movement of sediments and nutrients and to find and correct nonpoint pollution sources.

Haggard said that most techniques for measuring and recording streamflow data can be costly to install and maintain.

“Installing and operating a typical streamflow monitoring station represents an investment of about $50,000 for the first year and around $25,000 for each subsequent year,” he said.

The instruments are not designed to be portable and are not easily moved to multiple locations, Haggard said.

A three-year study by Abbie Lasater, one of Haggard’s former graduate students, evaluated a low-cost method for remotely monitoring streamflow in small-scale watersheds. Haggard said these are mostly smaller streams that feed into larger watersheds, such as the White River.

Lasater led the study in the upper Poteau River Watershed in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supported the study with a $415,415 grant administered through the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

Lasater used three SonTek-IQ acoustic doppler instruments, rotating them to 12 research sites to monitor streamflow discharges in the upper watershed, Haggard said. Cables connected the units to battery packs and data ports mounted above the high-water levels of each stream. The team used inexpensive pressure transducers to measure stream depth continuously.

By Fred Miller
U of A System Division of Agriculture

The researchers collected stream depth continuously at each location and storm surge data following rain events, Haggard said. The compact SonTek units provided effective and accurate measurements in the small stream settings.

Haggard said the SonTek devices are designed for measuring flow through manufactured waterways like stormwater conveyances and irrigation canals where the shape and volume of the channels are known. Central to this research was to see if they could accurately measure flow through the irregular channels of natural streams.

The research team learned some valuable lessons about using the compact devices, Haggard said. For example, it’s essential to anchor the devices securely. One unit was lost when a storm surge overpowered the concrete pad used to hold it in the streambed. Brad Austin, a research scientist for the Arkansas Water Resources Center, said they now use a steel cable as a safety line to limit how far the units can travel downstream if they break loose from their moorings.

Also, some streambeds can cover the devices with sand, fine gravel or other materials during high flows, obscuring the sensor surfaces.

Even so, Haggard said the water resources lab team continues to use the devices in ongoing research. They are currently using them to study rainwater surges in small streams in the White River Basin.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and on Instagram at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

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Researchers receive $1 million grant to develop robotic system to assist poultry processing

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By Brittaney Mann
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The COVID-19 pandemic strained many poultry processing plants as employees became ill. With the help of a $1 million grant, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers will soon begin designing robotics to help alleviate that potential strain.

ROBOTICS — Dongyi Wang is the principal investigator in a robotics project for the poultry industry. The project is funded by a $1 million grant provided jointly by the National Science Foundation and the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. (U of A System Division of Agriculture Photo by Fred Miller)

The project will be funded through a joint proposal between the National Science Foundation’s National Robotics Initiative 3.0 and the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Dongyi Wang, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, is the principal investigator on the project. Wang conducts research for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. He also has a research appointment with the food science department and a teaching appointment with the University of Arkansas’ College of Engineering.

A major focus in Wang’s lab is to understand what jobs robotic and automated systems can accomplish.

“We are trying to explore the opportunities and to see how automation can help the agriculture industry and the food industry,” Wang said.

This four-year project will lead to the development of a robotic system that can hang raw chicken as human workers do to meet the long-term needs of the poultry industry.

Poultry processing plants

In 2021, the U.S. produced 59.2 billion pounds of broiler chickens, according to the USDA. Arkansas ranked No. 3 in the nation, producing 1 billion broilers — 7.46 billion pounds of meat worth $3.97 billion — in 2021, according to the 2022 Arkansas Agriculture Profile.

Many of the steps to process chicken are already automated in processing plants, Wang said. Slaughtering and evisceration do not really rely on people. Rehanging the raw chicken is one of the major steps that relies on human work. Workers on the processing line hang the birds on conveyor lines that continue to the deboning, wing-cutting and packing steps.

Lending a hand

Besides Wang, the team includes Co-PIs, Wan Shou, assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Arkansas, and Yu She, assistant professor in the industrial engineering department at Purdue University. Casey Owens, Novus International professor of poultry science and Philip Crandall, professor of food science, both with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, will also be involved with the research.

To create the automation system, the researchers will customize tactile sensory grippers and develop a high-resolution and high-speed 3D imaging system, Wang said. The 3D imaging system will allow the robotic arms to differentiate between the topmost chicken and the rest of the pile and will indicate the predetermined key points for chicken grasping. A key challenge is developing a gripper that reliably grasps the chicken without damaging the meat quality.

Shou will design the tactile sensors and She will design the robotic hand. By integrating these developments, robots will be enabled to adjust their grip based on how slick the surface is to ensure the bird is secure.

“Rather than buying an expensive robotic hand, we are going to design and fabricate a robotic hand with lower cost with the assistance of 3D printing,” Shou said.

Wang’s focus for this project is programming the two robots to work as human hands and complete the task of hanging the chicken without issues like the arms hitting one another.

They will test the robotics in the experiment station’s pilot chicken processing plant, with Owens overseeing the quality of meat handled by the robotic arms. The team will also use this project for opportunities in education and, with the help of Crandall, extension activities that target poultry and broader food industries.

Shou and She are excited to work on this project because of the advances they aim to make in artificial intelligence and multimodal sensing capabilities for intelligent robotic systems.

“With the new robotic system, we will generate new knowledge on mechanics and control,” She said.

Shou expressed confidence in the team to accomplish these advances.

“We have a great team to tackle the proposed project,” Shou said, highlighting the multiple disciplines the research involves, including manufacturing, sensors, robotics, mechanics, and computer vision and machine learning. “It has very promising applications for society,” he said.

Wang visualizes this project benefitting the scientific areas of tactile sensing, 3D imaging, dual robotic control and algorithms. He also sees it benefitting the poultry industry itself.

“It is very, very exciting that this kind of technology, even maybe not right now, but potentially, can help the local economic development and the local industry,” Wang said.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

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Jason Williams, Psy.D., to Lead Child Mental and Behavioral Health at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s

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By News Staff

LITTLE ROCK — After a national search, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Children’s have named Jason Williams, Psy.D., M.S.Ed. to lead their work together to improve pediatric mental and behavioral health statewide.

Williams will serve as the new chief of UAMS’ Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and as Arkansas Children’s senior vice president and chief mental and behavioral health officer, a newly created position.

Williams comes from Children’s Hospital Colorado, where he served as an associate professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and as the director of operations in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/01/23/jason-williams-psy-d-to-lead-child-mental-and-behavioral-health-at-uams-arkansas-childrens/

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Three-Year-Old Patient Keeps Sight, Survives Rare Eye Cancer

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By Benjamin Waldrum

All Quatisa East wanted was for her infant daughter, Dallas Carter, to be able to see. A rare diagnosis of retinoblastoma, or cancer of the eye, threatened that possibility.

“I didn’t give up on her — everything I’ve done is just being a mother,” said the 29-year-old.

It’s been a long road for Dallas and her family, but today, the carefree 3-year-old can see in both eyes and her cancer is in remission. Getting there took a team effort from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) experts at the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute and the retinoblastoma program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH).

https://news.uams.edu/2023/01/20/three-year-old-patient-keeps-sight-survives-rare-eye-cancer/

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Dr. Michelle Krause to Lead UAMS Health System & Hospital; Dr. Ahmed Abuabdou Named Chief Clinical Officer

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By Yavonda Chase

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has named Michelle W. Krause, M.D., MPH, senior vice chancellor for UAMS Health and chief executive officer for UAMS Medical Center, and Ahmed Abuabdou, MD, MBA, chief clinical officer for UAMS Medical Center. Both have been serving in these roles on an interim basis since September 2022.

“Dr. Krause has been at UAMS for more than 20 years and led both our COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts and helped lead the implementation of our operational surge plans for caring for additional hospitalized COVID patients,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA.  “Her clinical expertise, administrative experience and institutional knowledge make her the ideal leader for our statewide health system. She is well versed on the health care needs across Arkansas.

“We are fortunate to have two established leaders from within UAMS to step into these roles,” he said. “Their leadership and perspectives will be particularly valuable in our efforts to achieve our strategic goals to make Arkansas a healthier state and grow our national reputation for excellence.”

https://news.uams.edu/2023/01/17/dr-michelle-krause-to-lead-uams-health-system-dr-ahmed-abuabdou-named-chief-clinical-officer/

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AG Griffin: 5,000 new prison beds needed

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by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Attorney General Tim Griffin is not a legislator nor is he governor, but he’s on the same page with Gov. Sarah Sanders and legislative leaders and has been instrumental in pushing for criminal justice reforms that include serving longer sentences, provide work and education skills to prisoners, and expanding prison bed capacity.

Griffin said Sunday (Jan. 22) in an interview on Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics he believes that 5,000 prison beds are needed to meet demand.

“We need a minimum three [3,000] in my view,” Griffin said. “The truth is, we’ve been building prisons, we’ve been building them for years as a matter of practice in a practical matter because we have been quietly pushing our violent felons into – they don’t have room in state prison – we’ve been pushing them into county jails. Which has basically made county jails useless. For the purpose of putting misdemeanors, DUIs, etc. So we have basically made misdemeanor justice irrelevant.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/ag-griffin-5000-new-prison-beds-needed/

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State of the State 2023: Construction sector faces inflation, labor, supply chain issues

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by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ construction sector dealt with a mix of new and old problems in 2022. Record inflation, interest rate hikes, and chronic supply chain issues continued to plague the industry during the last year and going into 2023.

Despite those problems, Nabholz CEO Jake Nabholz told Talk Business & Politics the company had a banner year and 2023 is projected to possibly be even better.

“I think everybody had a really good year,” he said. “As an industry we had to overcome record inflation and continued supply chain issues. We are excited about 2023, but I’m anxious to see what happens in 2024.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/state-of-the-state-2023-construction-sector-faces-inflation-labor-supply-chain-issues/

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State of the State 2023: School choice, other changes to follow pandemic’s disruptions

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by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas’ K-12 public schools have returned to mostly normal operations after the pandemic, and now they face more permanent changes with a new governor planning to give parents more control over their children’s education.

Gov. Sarah Sanders hasn’t been specific about her plans for more “parental empowerment,” a term she prefers over “school choice,” where families have access to state funds for non-public education options like private schools. But it’s clear from her comments and from her early appointments that she intends to move the state in that direction. She nominated Jacob Oliva from Florida as her secretary of education, and Gretchen Conger from Arizona as her chief of staff. Both states have embraced school choice reforms in recent years.

In a recent interview with Talk Business, Sanders said she is working with legislators to craft specific policies. Asked if she was opposed to the money following the students, she replied, “I’m not opposed to parents having the ability to spend their taxpayer dollars on the best education possible for their kids.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/state-of-the-state-2023-school-choice-other-changes-to-follow-pandemics-disruptions/

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AHA study: State short of nurses, other professions

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by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas in 2021 had only 76% of the registered nurses required to provide the national average level of care demand. The state fared better or worse compared to other states among other health professions, but it nevertheless remains short of health care workers in crucial areas.

Those were some of the conclusions of a study by GlobalData PLC that was commissioned by Arkansas Hospital Association Services, the AHA’s for-profit subsidiary that markets products to hospitals.

The report defines demand as “the amount and types of healthcare services patients are willing and able to purchase at prevailing prices and the number of healthcare workers that employers are willing and able to hire at prevailing salary levels.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/aha-study-state-short-of-nurses-other-professions/

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Arkansas governor renews call for education reform

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KUAR | By Daniel Breen

The State of Arkansas will be a national leader in education reform, according to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The governor has said she hopes to tackle a slew of educational issues in her first term, including workforce readiness, access to broadband internet, teacher accountability and allowing state dollars to help fund students’ education in private, parochial or charter schools.

In a rally Thursday hosted by the conservative advocacy group Americans For Prosperity, Sanders said Arkansas will be on the frontlines of the school choice debate under her administration.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-01-19/arkansas-governor-renews-call-for-education-reform

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

Supporters of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' education policy agenda listen to her speak in the rotunda of the Arkansas State Capitol on Thursday.

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Bill regulating drag shows advances from Arkansas Senate committee

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KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Members of a Senate committee on Thursday unanimously voted to advance a bill that would regulate some drag shows.

The City, County & Local Affairs Committee of the Arkansas Senate heard debate on Senate Bill 43. If passed, the legislation could force any performance involving cross dressing to be classified as an adult-oriented business if the performance appeals to “prurient interests.”

Much of the debate Thursday centered around the word “prurient.” Lawmakers insist the bill’s language would mean a performance would have to be sexual for it to violate the law. Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, told the senators that the word “prurient” could be interpreted by courts to mean a wide variety of artistic performances.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-01-19/bill-regulating-drag-shows-advances-from-arkansas-senate-committee

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UA Cossatot’s Textbook Rental and OER Program Saved Students Over $3 Million Dollars

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UA Cossatot’s textbook rental and Open Educational Resource (OER) program has saved students $3,004,899.01. What began as a chancellor’s vision in 2015 exceeded all expectations in 2022. Nearly 70% of courses at UA Cossatot are taught with OER.

UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole recently recognized Relinda Ruth, Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist, for her efforts in building this program and leading the OER effort in Arkansas. Dr. Cole also commended Ruth for serving as a leader for the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Arkansas State OER Action Team and leading the Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) consortial membership with the Open Education Network (OEN). “Good visions only become reality if the right persons can see them through. In our case, that person was Relinda Ruth. She not only built this program but just like Johnny Appleseed, she has provided her ideas and leadership community to Arkansas and the United States. This program would not have happened without Relinda!” said Cole.

Ruth was recently invited to Florida to join the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative (ETC) alongside 11 others representing 16 southern states.

UA Cossatot continues to lead Arkansas in OER usage and has become a leader in the OER world. Ruth has traveled to other colleges across the state to help educators move toward OER. Ruth has shared her

experience in building an internal textbook rental and OER program through national interviews, presentations, publications, blogs, and even podcasts. To date, she’s presented at 20 state and national conferences.

“It’s amazing what everyone at UA Cossatot has accomplished with our textbook rental and OER program. Dr. Cole had a vision of making college more affordable to students and the entire UA Cossatot team worked together to make it a reality,” said Ruth.

Ruth will travel to Atlanta in March 2023 to present at the SREB OER and Dual Enrollment Conference. Her focus is expanding the use of OER in developmental education and college readiness in Arkansas Community Colleges.

For more information on UA Cossatot’s textbook rental and OER program, contact Relinda Ruth at 870-584-1181 or rruth@cccua.edu.

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UA Cossatot joins AACC/Microsoft Cyber Skills Initiative

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UA Cossatot was recently selected as one of 14 community colleges across the nation to participate in the Cyber Skills for All initiative, made possible by a partnership between the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Microsoft. In addition to receiving a grant of $20,000, UA Cossatot will be part of a community of practice consisting of community college workforce and economic development executives across the nation aimed at skilling people for participation in the digital economy.

UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “Joining the Cyberskills initiative aligns perfectly with UA Cossatot's new offerings in Cybersecurity we will be offering on our Nashville campus as part of the UA Cyberlearn Network. Cybersecurity is the absolute most important topic for individuals and businesses, and UA Cossatot is gearing up to prepare our workforce to address the needs for Cybersecurity experts in our area.”

“Cyber skills have become increasingly important for community colleges to provide students as their need from the workforce continues to grow,” said Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “Selected community colleges will have the opportunity to learn best practices from one another to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant cyber skills education to all students.”

“The United States faces a cybersecurity skills crisis – we simply don’t have enough people to combat the increasing number of cybersecurity attacks,” said Kate Behncken, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft

Philanthropies. “By working with AACC we can help ensure there are enough people with the necessary skills to keep organizations secure and people safe.”

“As technology evolves so do the skills needed to protect the nation’s technology infrastructure,” said Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “Working together with Microsoft, we will provide these community colleges with resources to ensure students learn the relevant skills needed in the workforce. Selected community colleges will have the opportunity to learn best practices from one another to continue to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant cyber skills education to all students.

Other institutions part of the second cohort include: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Hostos Community College; North Hennepin Community College; Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech); Community College of Philadelphia; Central Community College; Bellevue College; Southwest Tennessee Community College; Blue Ridge Community and Technical College; College of Western Idaho; Tulsa Community College; City Colleges of Chicago; and College of Southern Nevada.

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UA Cossatot was recently awarded $64,000 Blue & You Foundation Grant

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UA Cossatot was recently awarded a $64,000 Blue & You Foundation Grant to provide hunger relief and hygiene items for students in need.

The grant will aid UA Cossatot’s Center for Student Success’s food pantries and supplies closet, located on three of their four campuses in Sevier, Howard, and Little River counties.

“Food insecurity and lack of resources on college campuses across America is a growing problem, and within the Center for Student Success, we want to do all that we can to alleviate hunger locally and meet these needs. We want students to come to college and focus solely on their academics and not where their next meal may come from,” said Erika Buenrrostro, Director of Student Success and Enrichment. “We are excited that UA Cossatot was chosen to receive this grant that will greatly benefit our students.”

The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas announced Wednesday that 47 grants are being awarded in 2023 to public schools, universities and nonprofit groups in Arkansas totaling $3.38 million. The grants will directly impact each of the state’s 75 counties, funding projects focused on:

· Behavioral health resources

· Social determinants of health

· Maternal and pediatric health needs

· Health equity

· Whole person health

· Medical condition innovation

“These grants will fund dozens of projects touching Arkansans all over the state — from supporting the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Hotline to providing recreational therapy to youth aging out of foster care, the 2023 grants will impact Arkansans in a powerful way.” said Rebecca Pittillo, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation. “The organizations that we have funded are focused on improving the lives of people in our communities, which is also our goal at the Blue & You Foundation.”

For more information, contact Erika Buenrrostro at 870-584-1133 or ebuenrrostro@cccua.edu

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Sanders Appoints Chief Chris Chapmond as Director of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Today, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that she will appoint Chief Chris Chapmond to serve as director of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. 
 
“I have made it clear that under my leadership, our brave law enforcement officials will always have the training and resources they need to keep Arkansans safe – and I am proud to announce that Hot Springs Chief of Police Chris Chapmond will help me accomplish this as director of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training,” Sanders said. “With more than 26 years of law enforcement experience, Chapmond will bring critical knowledge and expertise to ensure that our officers are always supported.”
 
Chief Chris Chapmond Bio:
 
Chief Chris Chapmond is Chief of Police at the Hot Springs Police Department and has more than 26 years of law enforcement experience. As Chief, he developed the first five-year strategic plan, implemented a crime reduction strategy utilizing a multifaceted approach, partnered with federal, state, and local partners to reduce violent crime, and managed 164 employees and a $16 million dollar budget. He also spent two years as the Chief of Police for the Bluffton Police Department in Bluffton, South Carolina. 
 
At the Hot Springs Police Department, he rose through the ranks, holding the titles of patrol officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and assistant police chief. 
 
Chapmond also served as operator, team leader, instructor, and incident commander for the Hot Springs Police Department SWAT Team for 11 years.
 
He is a graduate of Columbia Southern University, with his bachelor’s degree in police administration, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command, and FBI-LEEDA.

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Winter weather headed to Arkansas

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Overall, forecast confidence is high for an impactful Winter Storm across the northwestern half of the state this coming Tuesday through Wednesday. 

Forecast snowfall amounts have continued to increase, and hazardous travel impacts are expected across much of western, northwestern, and northern Arkansas Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. 

Attached is a supplemental briefing with our latest forecast information, including our newest forecast snowfall amounts. Changes to snow amounts/coverage of accumulation are still possible, but overall confidence for impactful snowfall is high.

Winter weather briefing nws little rock
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Sanders Appoints Jamol Jones to the Arkansas Parole Board

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Jamol Jones to the Arkansas Parole Board.  
 
Jones’ appointment will expire on January 14, 2030, and he will be replacing Jerry Riley. 
 
“Today, I am appointing former police officer and Army veteran Jamol Jones to serve on the Parole Board,” Sanders said. “I am confident that he will work to ensure violent, repeat offenders are kept off the streets while also providing opportunities for those in prison to see positive behavioral change by focusing on mental health, faith-based programs, and workforce skills. His prior law enforcement experience makes him a clear choice to take on this important role, and I look forward to working together as we empower Arkansans with a safer, stronger state.” 
 
Jamol Jones Bio:
 
Jamol L. Jones is an Army veteran and a former police officer with the U.S. Department of Defense, Benton Police Department, and most recently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
 
At the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Jamol was a Corporal assigned to the patrol and training divisions. As a Corporal, he trained the department in defensive tactics, use of force, low and high-risk traffic stops, and physical fitness.
 
He is a native of Benton, Ark, and a graduate of Benton High School, Arkansas Tech University, and the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. Jamol and his wife and children are devoted members of the First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock where they serve in various capacities of ministry.


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Sanders Announces Appointments

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced the following appointments to boards and commissions:

Arkansas Racing Commission:

Steve Landers, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Racing Commission. Term expires on January 14, 2028. Reappointment.

Arkansas State Police Commission:

Mike Akin, of Monticello, to the Arkansas State Police Commission. Term expires on January 14, 2030. Replaces Murray Benton.

Black History Commission of Arkansas:

Dr. Lynda Johnson, of Little Rock, to the Black History Commission of Arkansas. Term expires on January 14, 2029. Replaces Frank Stewart.

Arnetta Bradford, of Hope, to the Black History Commission of Arkansas. Term expires on January 14, 2030. Replaces Cherisse Jones-Branch. 

Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission:

Charlene Reed, of Little Rock, to chair the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Kristen Boozman, of Rogers, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Ashley Caldwell, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Stacy DeJarnette, of White Hall, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Sarah Finley, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Cheri Halsey, of Jonesboro, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Cathy Lanier, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Megan Turner, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Advisory Council:

Rebecca Jones, of Benton, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Advisory Council. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Leigh Keener, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Advisory Council. Serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

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Sanders Reverses Official Position of the Governor on the Constitutionality of Arkansas’ Ban on Mask Mandates by Public Entities

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that she is reversing the official position of the governor on the constitutionality of Arkansas’ ban on mask mandates by public entities. 
 
“Yesterday, I reversed the official position of the governor on the constitutionality of Arkansas’ ban on mask mandates by public entities,” Sanders said. “I have asked the Attorney General to resume representing the office in this capacity. I promised that when I was elected, Arkansas would not have mask or COVID-19 vaccine mandates and we would not shut down churches and schools because we believe in personal freedom and responsibility. Arkansans need to talk with their medical professionals, with their doctors, and make the decisions that are best for their family and their kids. I promised in my inaugural address that here in Arkansas government would never loom larger than liberty in our lives. I stand for freedom and it’s time to get back to normal.”
 
“Governor Sanders expressed her belief in the constitutionality of Arkansas’ ban on government mask mandates,” Attorney General Tim Griffin said. “The Governor requested that my office represent her in this case. We look forward to the Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision in the coming weeks.”
 
“I have been advised that Governor Sanders has reversed the executive branch’s position on the constitutionality of Arkansas’s ban on mask mandates by public entities,” Speaker Matthew Shepherd said. “I welcome this development and believe it is consistent with the proper Constitutional authority of the legislative branch, which as Speaker of the House I have always sought to preserve.”
 
“I fully support Governor Sanders reversing the previous position of the Governor’s office regarding the constitutionality of the Arkansas’ ban on mask mandates by public entities,” Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester said. “The General Assembly adopted, and the previous Governor rightly signed, this legislation into law to safeguard our citizens from overreach and heavy-handed mask mandates. Protecting Arkansans and defending their freedoms is a top priority that we share with Governor Sanders. It is time that Arkansas gets back to normal.”