Walmart AMP transitioning to digital tickets

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

Digital tickets will be the default method of delivery for the 2023 season at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers. The change was announced Monday (March 20) in a news release.

Digital tickets are secure, paperless tickets accessible on a smartphone. According to the release, patrons will access their tickets by logging in to a personalized, online ticket wallet with the same username or email and password they use to purchase tickets.

Digital tickets will be delivered to a ticket wallet immediately upon purchase and can be securely shared. They use a rotating QR code so patrons know they have a valid ticket, and it reduces the ability to counterfeit tickets. The rotating QR code for each ticket will be delivered within 24 hours of the performance start time or at a time specified by the tour.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/walmart-amp-transitioning-to-digital-tickets/

Jewel performs at the Walmart AMP in Rogers in 2022. The venue's ticket sales were up 71% from last year.

Severe weather risk for Arkansas Thursday and Friday

A strong storm system is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms to the state Thursday through Friday night. Some of these storms could become strong to severe. In addition to the threat for severe weather, there is also a threat for flooding due to the expected heavy rainfall. Please see the attached briefing for more details.

There is a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorm late on Thursday into early Friday, along and mainly north of our I-30 corridor. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats and locally heavy rainfall could bring isolated flash flooding.

Locally heavy rainfall from a line of strong to possibly severe thunderstorms, could result in isolated flash flooding late Thursday into early Friday with the Slight Risk north of our I-30 corridor.

There is a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorm late on Thursday into early Friday, along and mainly north of our I-30 corridor. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats and locally heavy rainfall could bring isolated flash flooding.

Locally heavy rainfall from a line of strong to possibly severe thunderstorms, could result in isolated flash flooding late Thursday into early Friday with the Slight Risk north of our I-30 corridor.

A line of strong to severe storms will continue across the area during early Friday with afternoon heating firing up a Slight Risk for severe storms in deep E TX, all of our Parishes and south central AR during the afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats and locally heavy rainfall could bring isolated flash flooding.

Tyson Foods to build $70 million hatchery in Hope

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

On the heels of Tyson Foods’ announcement to close its processing plant in Van Buren, Ark., with the elimination of almost 1,000 jobs, the Springdale-based meat giant reports a new $70 million hatchery it will build in Hope that will be completed in late 2024.

The new 131,000-square-foot hatchery will replace the existing facility and triple capacity, contributing to operational efficiencies at the company’s nearby poultry processing complexes in Hope and Nashville, Ark.

“We continually strive to unlock the next level of excellence in quality and service to our customers,” said Donnie King, CEO of Tyson Foods. “This investment is another way to demonstrate our long-term commitment to our home state of Arkansas and the Hope and Nashville communities.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/tyson-foods-to-build-70-million-hatchery-in-hope/

Readout from the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet Meeting

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Following Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Workforce Cabinet meeting, Sanders’ spokeswoman Alexa Henning released the following readout: 
 
“Today, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders hosted the first-ever meeting of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet with Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers and state leaders including Secretary Putnam, Secretary Bassett, Secretary McDonald, Secretary Wood, and Secretary Penn. The Governor thanked the members of the Cabinet for their dedication to career education and workforce development initiatives, which prepare students in Arkansas to graduate into high-wage, high-growth jobs. Last week, Governor Sanders signed into law the most far-reaching bold, education reforms in the nation, including important career education programs that will empower high school graduates with the skills they need to find a high-paying job in their community. The Cabinet emphasized their support for these reforms and discussed ways to streamline existing workforce development programs to ensure an all-of-government approach to this issue. They closed the meeting by reiterating their commitment to this issue and resolved to meet again regularly to fast-track additional workforce development reforms.”

Sanders to Appoint Dr. Wesley Kluck, Dr. Matthew Sellers, and Dr. Michael Birrer to the Arkansas State Medical Board

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Dr. Wesley Kluck, Dr. Matthew Sellers, and Dr. Michael Birrer to the Arkansas State Medical Board.

Dr. Wesley Kluck will replace Dr. Sylvia Simon, and his term will expire on December 31, 2028. Dr. Matthew Sellers will replace Dr. Rhys Branman, and his term will expire on December 31, 2028. Dr. Michael Birrer will fulfill the remaining term of Dr. Robert Breving, and his term will expire on December 31, 2026.

“Dr. Wesley Kluck, Dr. Matthew Sellers, and Dr. Michael Birrer are proven, successful physicians who have improved the lives of Arkansans across the state with their work, and today, I am proud to be appointing them to the Arkansas State Medical Board,” Sanders said. “Together, we will make sure that under my leadership Arkansas will never have COVID mask and vaccine mandates or shutdowns – because my administration stands for freedom. I am confident that they will excel in these new roles by ensuring that every Arkansan receives a high standard of care and our physicians operate with professionalism and integrity.”

Dr. Wesley Kluck Bio: 

Dr. Wesley Kluck is the university physician at Ouachita Baptist University and serves as a pediatrician and the president of Arkadelphia Clinic for Children and Young Adults. He is a graduate of Arkadelphia Public Schools and Ouachita Baptist University and earned his M.D. at the University of Arkansas Medical School. He completed his pediatric residency at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he received the “Excellence in Primary Care” award.

He was named to Arkansas’ 250 Most Influential Leaders 2022 and was the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce “Person of the Year” in 2021. He has received the “Best Doctors in Arkansas” award every year since 1999. 

Dr. Matthew Sellers Bio: 

Dr. Sellers is a graduate of Bryant High School and the University of Central Arkansas. He obtained his medical degree at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he also completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Sellers is a Board-Certified OB-GYN with a clinical emphasis on OB-GYN and gynecological surgery.

Dr. Sellers has been practicing obstetrics and gynecology at Cornerstone Clinic for Women in Little Rock, Arkansas, since 2008. He lives in Little Rock with his wife and three children. An active member of his church, Dr. Sellers and his family are passionate about serving the community and the world. When he’s not working, Dr. Sellers enjoys spending time with his family, biking, hunting, playing tennis and traveling. 

Dr. Michael Birrer Bio: 

Dr. Birrer is the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Vice Chancellor and Director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Dr. Birrer earned his undergraduate degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated with a BS in Biology. He was accepted into the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his MD and PhD in 1982 with his principle area of study in microbiology and immunology. He then performed a medical internship and residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital. 

Dr. Birrer entered the medical oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and upon completion performed a postdoctoral on the molecular genetics of lung cancer. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Birrer joined the faculty at the NCI in the Division of Cancer Treatment as an investigator in 1988. Three years later, Dr. Birrer was appointed as a senior investigator and established the molecular mechanism section in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. 

Dr. Birrer is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in gynecologic oncology. He has published over 400 peer reviewed manuscripts and another 30 book chapters and review articles. 

In November 2008, Dr. Birrer was appointed Professor of Medicine at the Harvard School of Medicine. In August 2017, Dr. Birrer accepted the position of Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). While there, he was a Professor of Medicine, Pathology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the recipient of the Evalina B. Spencer Chair in Oncology. During his tenure, Dr Birrer raised over 40 million dollars in philanthropic funds including a 30 million dollar gift to name the Cancer Center. In addition, during this time he designed and open the first cancer service line at UAB.

Sanders, Boozman, Cotton, Womack Applaud Selection of Fort Smith for F-35 Fighter Planes, Singapore Air Force Squadron

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton and Congressman Steve Womack applauded the U.S. Air Force’s selection of Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith as the home of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission that will bring F-35 fighter planes and a Republic of Singapore F-16 squadron to the installation. 
 
“Today’s Record of Decision makes clear and cements Arkansas’ important role in training, equipping, and supplying our friends across the globe. This also means bringing jobs and economic prosperity to the state. I look forward to welcoming the new U.S. Air Force personnel who will be moving to our state and am excited for all our international partners to discover the meaning of Arkansas hospitality. The Arkansas Congressional Delegation and the Fort Smith community were instrumental in securing this major new mission for Ebbing Air National Guard Base – they have my deepest gratitude for their hard work,” Sanders said.
 
“This is a gamechanger for Fort Smith and our state that will enhance economic development and opportunity in the region and strengthen Arkansas’s role in defending our national security,” Boozman said. “The Arkansas Congressional Delegation has worked tirelessly along with state and community leaders to demonstrate to the Air Force what we all knew – Fort Smith is the best location for this mission.” 
 
“I’m pleased that the Air Force has selected Fort Smith as the location for this training mission, another positive step in bringing a manned flying mission back to Arkansas. I will continue to work with the Air Force, our congressional delegation, and Governor Sanders to bring the sound of freedom back to the River Valley,” Cotton said.
 
“Today’s Record of Decision makes official what Arkansans have known since the start of this process—Fort Smith is the premier location for F-35 FMS training and Singapore’s F-16 mission. Fort Smith’s central location, existing infrastructure, and airspace were essential differentiators but the people of Fort Smith and their desire to support national defense were truly the deciding factor. I’m proud the Air Force has made this final decision and look forward to hearing the ‘Sound of Freedom’ soon in the River Valley,” Womack said. 
 
Since 2021, when the U.S. Air Force announced Ebbing Air National Guard Base as its preferred location for these missions, members of the delegation have worked to strengthen relationships with Singapore leaders and allies who have an interest in enhancing their air power with the F-35 in addition to recently securing $28 million to support the F-35 FMS program.
 
State leaders have delivered critical funding in support of an expanded runway and community leaders have demonstrated their commitment with investments in this project, warm welcomes to foreign dignitaries and a widespread embrace of the project at public comment events.

Governor Sarah Sanders signs bills into law

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Governor signed into law: 

SB276, to amend the candidate filing period for a position on a school district board of directors; and to declare an emergency.

HB1325, to standardize the hours early voting is available; and to amend the law concerning early voting.

SB200, to amend various provisions of law related to tuition benefits for soldiers and airmen of the Arkansas national guard.

HB1246, to amend the law concerning the effective date of benefits paid to survivors of deceased members, former members, and retirants under the Arkansas judicial retirement system.

SB199, concerning medical malpractice and gender transition in minors; and to create the protecting minors from medical malpractice act of 2023.

HB1455, to make technical corrections to title 17 of the Arkansas code concerning professions, occupations, and businesses.

HB1472, to amend the law concerning delinquency cases for which records must be kept for a period of time.

HB1494, to amend the law concerning fees related to marriage licenses.

SB295, to amend the Arkansas renewable energy development act of 2001; to prevent cost-shifting and ensure fairness to all ratepayers; to create the customer protections for net-metering customers act; and to declare an emergency.

SB287, to amend the law relating to recording subdivision plats, deeds, and instruments of transfer; and to amend the law relating to recording certain documents prepared by a land surveyor.

HB1244, to amend the law concerning the issuance of and application for a digitized driver’s license.

HB1365, to amend the law concerning records maintained by scrap metal recyclers; and to create offenses for theft of a catalytic converter and unauthorized possession of a catalytic converter.

HB1384, to amend the law concerning the payment of a tool allowance to certain employees of the Arkansas department of transportation.

HB1406, concerning the regulation of certain battery-charged fences by municipalities and counties.

HB1437, to amend the law concerning the operation of an all-terrain vehicle on a public street or highway by an employee of a utility, telecommunications, or cable company.

HB1082, to establish the occupational therapy licensure compact in Arkansas.

HB1128, to allow emergency medical responders to be licensed; and to authorize emergency medical responders to be reimbursed by insurance companies and the Arkansas Medicaid program.

HB1142, to create the Arkansas nuclear recycling program.

HB1181, to establish the counseling compact in Arkansas. 

HB1401, regarding public assistance; and to amend the duration of cash assistance.

HB1420, regarding emotional support animals.

Arkansas seeks federal disaster relief after winter storm earlier this year

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has asked President Joe Biden to issue a disaster declaration for 13 counties that experienced the worst of a four-day winter storm that hit the state in late January and early February.

The request for federal public assistance covers 11 counties in southern Arkansas — Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Nevada and Ouachita — and Searcy and Stone counties in northern Arkansas.

“The sheer magnitude of this event created disastrous amounts of debris, caused extensive power outages, and resulted in the death of two Arkansans and the injury of many others,” Sanders said in a statement Monday afternoon. “We have determined that these storms are of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-21/arkansas-seeks-federal-disaster-relief-after-winter-storm-earlier-this-year

University Of Arkansas System Division Of Agriculture

A tree made top-heavy by ice tumbled into the side of a house in Pulaski County, Arkansas, during the winter storm of Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2023. The tree was uprooted as soils became saturated.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

House members will now be taking an extended recess. When the House reconvenes on March 27, members will be addressing public safety legislation, constitutional amendments, and the budget. 

In the days leading up to the recess, the House passed a number of bills addressing human trafficking, elections, and employment. Bills passed this week that amend human laws include SB282, HB1459, and HB1470. 

SB282 allows a victim of human trafficking to bring a civil action against a person or entity who knew or should have known that the individual was being trafficked. 

HB1459 increases the fines for a human trafficking conviction and trafficking-related charges to a range between $5,000 and $15,000. The bill directs that the fines be divided between specified funds that support exploited children and trafficking victims. 

HB1470 ensures victims are eligible for crime victim reparations even if they do not cooperate with law enforcement. 

Election bills passing the House this week included SB 250, SB 254, and SB 258. 

SB 250 requires counties to pay for the costs if using paper ballots. SB 254 eliminates the write-in candidate portion on a ballot, and SB 258 prohibits absentee ballot drop boxes. 

The House also passed HB1207 which requires local governments to act on permit applications in the first 60 days. 

And the House passed HB1575 which requires Arkansans to make at least 5 work searches a week when claiming unemployment benefits. That search could include applying for a job or participating in job training. 

In addition, the House passed SB81 and SB66.  

SB81 amends the law concerning libraries and obscene materials and creates the offense of furnishing a harmful item to a minor. It states furnishing a harmful item to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor.  

SB66 requires a commercial entity to use a reasonable age verification method before allowing access to a website that contains a substantial portion of material that is harmful to minors.  

We will continue to update you in the remaining weeks of the session. You can watch all House committee meetings and floor proceedings at arkansashouse.org.

UA Cossatot Names Madelyn Jones Foundation and Advancement Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2023

CONTACT: Loren Hinton, Community Relations Coordinator

Madelyn Jones has been selected to serve as the UA Cossatot Foundation and Advancement Director. Jones will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of UA Cossatot’s Foundation and Advancement programming, including securing, accepting and entering gift transactions, processing them through to the centralized donor database and tracking pledges, pledge payment, and gift fulfillment. She will also create and maintain the alumni/donor database to support all alumni and donor engagement activities, outbound solicitations including annual giving, sponsorship programming and major gift activities. The Foundation and Advancement Director will also assist the Athletic department to develop successful gift campaigns in support of men’s and women’s athletics.

Jones said, “As a Sevier County native, I am thrilled and grateful to be returning to my home community to serve as Director of Foundation and Advancement. I am looking forward to working alongside Chancellor Steve Cole, the College Relations team, and community members to strengthen resources that will serve students and the UA Cossatot campuses.”

Jones joins UA Cossatot after six years working at the University of Arkansas. She was named the first director of employer relations for the College of Education and Health Professions in 2021, serving as the contact for employers, industry, and external partners hoping to recruit and hire U of A students from the college, the university's third-largest, with more than 6,000 students. Jones coordinated employer recruiting on campus and scheduled employer speakers. She also facilitated career events, industry tours, and provided training for employers, faculty, and students to increase awareness of employment opportunities. She also created an employer sponsorship program for the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing to support program ceremonies, operational costs, and student expenses. Jones was previously the college's career counselor, assisting students with career exploration, career development and transition to their professional careers. Jones has also been very active with the Arkansas Association of Colleges and Employers (AACE), serving as secretary and leading the conference committee.

UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole praised Jones, and is looking forward to adding her to the UAC staff. “To get someone with Madelyn’s pedigree to head up the UA Cossatot Foundation is pure gold. She has all the tools for the job, but more importantly, she is from Southwest Arkansas and is ready to develop an incredible Foundation and Advancement office that will interact every week in Sevier, Howard, Little River, and Pike counties. There is no doubt she will be a friendraiser and fundraiser that will help our students, athletics, and college grow for the future.”

Jones will officially begin her duties at UA Cossatot on April 10

CDC study reveals mental health crisis among high school students; tips for parents

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Many of today’s teenagers are facing a mental health crisis. A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2021, 42 percent of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, including 57 percent of teenage girls.

TEENS IN TROUBLE — According to a new study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021, including 57 percent of teenage girls. Brittney Schrick, extension family life specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it's important for parents to pay attention to changes in teens' moods, monitor their phone and social media use, and engage with their day-to-day lives. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention photo.)

Brittney Schrick, extension assistant professor and family life specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the COVID-19 pandemic is a major contributing factor to mental health issues among teens.

“I think the elephant in the room is COVID,” Schrick said. “It is a collective trauma, a collective stressor, and it was such a prolonged stressor that continues today. People lost family members, and they were away from support networks for extended periods of time. For any student who had or has an unstable or stressful home life, or experienced food insecurity, that would add an extra layer of stress.”

Though these teens — many of whom were in middle school when the pandemic began — were able to adapt and get through the experience, relying solely on resilience is harmful, Schrick said. 

“Resilience is a really important concept, but I think that to a large extent, we have over-emphasized how resilient kids are,” Schrick said. “Because ultimately, they shouldn’t have to continue being resilient about everything.”

According to the CDC study, female high school students and LGBTQ+ students were “more likely than their peers to experience poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.” In 2021, nearly 70 percent of LGBTQ+ students experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Schrick said some of this can be attributed to current cultural conversations concerning these groups.

“The high rates of suicide attempts, self-harm and mental health concerns among LGBTQ young people and among adolescent girls is a reflection of the turmoil in the culture surrounding those groups,” Schrick said. “Having consistent discussions surrounding legal rights and future prospects for both of those groups is going to contribute to mental health concerns for these youth.”

“They need support and grace”

Schrick said it’s important for adults to realize that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the emotional maturity of today’s teenagers.

“I’m around a lot of youth, and they are not as mature as they would be if COVID had never happened,” she said. “If we compare these kids to the kids pre-COVID, they are not the same. Socially, a 16-year-old right now is closer to a 14-year-old.”

Schrick said giving teenagers specific action steps, then letting them know what they need to do next, will be helpful, as “one of the things this group has suffered cognitively is planning, because they’ve never been able to.”

“When they planned, all the plans changed, so they have not gotten to stretch that planning muscle and learn how to do it,” she said. “Everything feels like it’s temporary.”

For adults who are working with today’s teens or will once they enter college or the workforce, Schrick said it’s critical to understand that “it’s not a character flaw, it’s a collective trauma.”

“These kids have been through the wringer,” she said. “It’s really hard to be a teenager right now. I think all we can do as future employers, as parents, as aunts and uncles and mentors, is keep in mind that they’re going to need some help, and it doesn’t make them weak, bad or lazy. They need support and grace.”

Learning to help

The Cooperative Extension Service offers QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer — Suicide Prevention training geared toward all audiences, as well as Mental Health First Aid training. More information about both programs is available on the extension Personal and Family Well-Being website. Contact your county Family and Consumer Sciences agent for more information.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. Call 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website for support and prevention and crisis resources.

To learn 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.

Farm-focused conservation research programs in four states to present updates in March 28 webinar

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For more than a decade, the Discovery Farms program has tested and researched conservation practices on working farms under real-life conditions in Arkansas, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin.

“The Discovery Farms concept has proven itself in all four states in terms of conservation methods tested and the resulting recommendations,” said Mike Daniels, director of the Arkansas Discovery Farms program. “This is work that will continue to help farmers of all types be the best steward of our resources they can be.

DISCOVERY FARMS -- Discovery Farms tests conservation concepts under real-world conditions on working farms.

“This program works because we make farmers a part of the solution process,” Daniels said.

On March 28, representatives from the four states will present updates on their programs and share conservation learnings during a free webinar. The multi-state webinar starts at 9 a.m. central/10 a.m. eastern. Registration is available online: https://bit.ly/4-States-Webinar. Three soil and water management continuing education unit credits are available for agricultural consultants.

Topics for the webinar include:

• Building a Network of Conservation Practices: Can we improve our water quality impact?

• More Than a Pipe

• Expanding the Arkansas Discovery Farm Program

• Managing Nitrogen on Grass Fields

Learn more about the Discovery Farms program in Arkansas.

To learn 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.

Overnight freezing poses potential damage to Arkansas fruit

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — With the official start to spring less than a week away, winter is throwing one last curveball at fruit growers in Arkansas and the surrounding region.

COVER UP! — Crop covers like those seen here can help protect horticulture crops such as strawberries, blackberries and blueberries during cold weather. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Below-freezing temperatures throughout much of the state made an appearance Monday night and Tuesday morning, with more cold weather on the way, particularly in the northwestern corner of the state.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday forecast temperatures in the 20s for Washington County beginning Thursday night, with an overnight low of 22 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. The plummeting temperatures are part of a major storm front expected to enter the state Thursday.

While below-freezing temperatures are never particularly welcome for many Arkansans, the timing is particularly worrisome for growers of strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. Amanda McWhirt, extension fruit horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said that blooms are currently visible on many strawberries.

“Strawberry blooms can be damaged at around 29 or 30 degrees, but a lot of growers use row covers, so that gives them a few extra degrees of protection when temperatures dip below that mark,” McWhirt said. “But the other thing that’s happening is that there are blooms on blueberries in some places, and blackberries have broken bud,” making the plants especially vulnerable to freeze damage when temperatures get into the low 20s.

About 200-300 acres each of strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are grown in Arkansas annually, McWhirt said. While the extent of damage caused by Monday night’s freeze is largely unknown at this point, growers need to take steps to protect their crops throughout the expected winter storm, she said.

“Producers can use row covers on certain crops,” she said. “In blackberries, they can use covers if they’re using the cross-arm rotating trellises. I’m recommending people put on their row covers now, especially as we’re likely to have rainfall, so growers need to get those on before it starts raining.”

As much as 2 inches of rain is expected in central and southern Arkansas on Thursday, potentially triggering flash flooding in several areas, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, the likelihood of severe winds of 58 miles per hour or more is projected as high as 44 percent in southwestern Arkansas, with the probability of severe hail reaching 29 percent for the state’s westernmost tier of counties, from Sebastian to Miller County.

McWhirt, who co-authors the Arkansas Fruit, Vegetable & Nut Update Blog with several other Division of Agriculture horticulture specialists, said the key to protecting budding or blossoming fruits from cold weather damage is to know the thresholds of a given plant at a given stage and protect them when temperatures are expected to dip (or plunge) below those respective points. The Division of Agriculture offers many online resources for growers, including a chart of critical temperatures for several popular Arkansas fruit crops.

“In some areas, especially the northwest corner of the state, growers may want to consider double-covering — put two row covers on instead of just one,” McWhirt said.

To learn 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.

Education department asks for applications for LEARNS working groups

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

The Arkansas Department of Education is seeking applicants for six working groups to develop rules for the LEARNS Act, the recently enacted education reform bill supported by Gov. Sarah Sanders.

A memo from Education Secretary Jacob Oliva asks for stakeholders to complete a form and upload a resume by a March 31, 2023 deadline for consideration.

“The next step is a call to action, and we invite Arkansans statewide to engage with us in the implementation of LEARNS. We are seeking volunteers to become part of working groups to provide ideas, expertise, and feedback to the Department of Education in the development of rules and policies. The work groups will submit recommendations to the ADE secretary for consideration,” the memo said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/education-department-asks-for-applications-for-learns-working-groups/

Arkansas expanding low-income water bill assistance program

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

The State of Arkansas is expanding a program to help low-income residents pay their water bills.

The $10 million expansion of the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP, is now available to water customers across the region.

In a news conference Thursday, Central Arkansas Water CEO Tad Bohannon said eligible households could get a year’s worth of water bills paid by the state.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-16/arkansas-expanding-low-income-water-bill-assistance-program

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

Tad Bohannon, CEO of Central Arkansas Water, speaks in a news conference at the utility's downtown Little Rock headquarters on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Governor wants rework of state employee classification; won’t support $80 million pay increase

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders said Wednesday (March 15) she would not support an $80 million proposal to increase pay for state employees. According to an agency spokesperson, there are 22,913 executive branch state employees in Arkansas.

In a letter to Joseph Wood, Sanders’ Department of Transformation and Shared Services Secretary, she indicated her objection to the plan and called on him to initiate a review of the state employee compensation and classification system.

“As Governor, I have been clear that my goal is to look for ways to boldly reform state government to be more responsive and responsible to the taxpayers of our great state. One of the largest costs for any department within my administration is personnel. There are many good and hard-working Arkansans that are employed by the state to perform essential services and help their fellow citizens. These public servants should be compensated and rewarded through a system based on merit and accomplishment, not solely on years of service,” she said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/governor-wants-rework-of-state-employee-classification-compensation-wont-support-80-million-pay-plan-increase/

Bill to regulate libraries passes Arkansas House

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A bill to regulate libraries passed a final vote in the Arkansas House of Representatives Wednesday.

Senate Bill 81 will create an identical book challenge policy for all libraries which can be appealed up to city and county government entities. The bill would criminalize librarians who furnish books deemed to be obscene.

Rep. Justin Gonzales, R-Okolona, presented the bill. He said the criticisms he had gotten on the bill were based on misunderstandings.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-16/bill-to-regulate-libraries-passes-arkansas-house

Sarah Kellogg/KUAR News

Senate Bill 81, a bill to regulate libraries in Arkansas, moved through its final legislative hurdle Wednesday.

Final decision places foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

It’s official. Fort Smith will be home to a foreign military pilot training center, initially bringing more than 500 military personnel and an estimated 300 “dependent families” to the city during the next two years.

It was announced Wednesday (March 15) that U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has signed the final “record of decision” to place the unique operation at Ebbing Air National Guard Base located adjacent to the Fort Smith Regional Airport.

Ebbing, which is home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith, was selected on June 8, 2021, by then-acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Air Force also selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Selfridge, Mich., as the alternative site.The Air Force also selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Selfridge, Mich., as the alternative site.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/final-decision-places-foreign-pilot-training-center-in-fort-smith/

Arkansas House approves monument to the unborn, porn ID legislation

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A bill to require Arkansans to show identification before viewing online pornography passed the Arkansas House of Representatives on Tuesday. Rep. Mindy McAlindon, R-Centerton, said the bill will prevent minors from watching explicit material, which she said can have negative effects on children and be addictive.

“Currently it is easier for children to log onto a pornography website than it is to log on to Budwiser.com,” she said. “This bill puts just a little bit of a gateway between our children and adult entertainment.”

Rep. Stephen Meeks, R-Greenbrier, worried the bill was unenforceable since most porn companies are not based in Arkansas. He said requiring people to show legal identification on an untrustworthy website could violate their right to privacy.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-15/arkansas-house-approves-monument-to-the-unborn-porn-id-legislation

Arkansas House Of Representatives

Lawmakers Tuesday voted to build a monument at the State Capitol to "unborn children aborted" and require picture identification to view pornography.

Arkansas lawmakers send school ‘bathroom bill’ to House for final approval

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A bill restricting bathroom usage in public schools is one step closer to becoming law in Arkansas.

House Bill 1156 won approval from the Arkansas Senate Monday on a party-line vote. The bill would require students to use bathrooms and changing facilities aligning with the sex on their birth certificate, and prohibit students from sharing overnight sleeping accommodations with members of the opposite sex.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Sen. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, said the bill’s discriminatory nature means it likely wouldn’t hold up in court.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-13/arkansas-lawmakers-send-school-bathroom-bill-to-house-for-final-approval

Toby Talbot/AP

A sign marks the entrance to a gender-neutral restroom at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt. in 2007.