UAMS Names Rohit Dhall, M.D., as Neurology Department Chair

By Tamara Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) named Rohit Dhall, M.D., as chair of the Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine, effective July 1.

“Dr. Dhall brings extensive leadership experience to his new role as well as a deep commitment to ensuring exceptional neurological care for Arkansans today and in the years ahead through research, education and clinical innovation,” said G. Richard Smith, M.D., interim dean of the College of Medicine and UAMS executive vice chancellor.

A faculty member since 2016, Dhall has served as professor, vice chair for clinical research and director of neurodegenerative disorders in the Department of Neurology since 2021. He has directed the Cure PSP Center of Care at UAMS since 2017. Dhall has co-directed the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) Center of Excellence, with Dr. Tuhin Virmani, since 2021. He also directs the Parkinson’s Foundation Comprehensive Care Center, which obtained designation from the Parkinson’s Foundation Global Care Network under his leadership in 2022.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/05/15/uams-names-rohit-dhall-m-d-as-neurology-department-chair/

Rohit Dhall, M.D., is the new chair of the Department of Neurology, effective July 1.

Arkansas Trucking Association announces 2023 conference speakers

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Shelley Simpson, president of Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Gov. Sarah Sanders will be featured speakers at the annual Arkansas Trucking Association Conference & Vendor Showcase next week in Little Rock. Chris Spear, president and CEO of American Trucking Associations, will also speak at the three-day event.

More than 300 trucking industry leaders are expected to attend the event from Monday through Wednesday (May 15-17) at the Statehouse Convention Center. Speakers will address economics, leadership, politics, workforce equity, nuclear verdicts and the state’s role in the global supply chain.

On Tuesday, Simpson, who was named president of J.B. Hunt in 2022, will speak about the role Arkansas plays in the supply chain and the future of trucking. Bryan Day, executive director of the Port of Little Rock, will highlight the expansion of business in central Arkansas and how trucking is helping to drive the growth. Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Bentonville think tank Heartland Forward, will provide strategies for promoting regional innovation to enable job creation and economic growth.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/arkansas-trucking-association-announces-2023-conference-speakers/

Woman who grew up 7 miles from Rohwer Research Station named its new director

By Fred Miller
U of A System Division of Agriculture

ROHWER, Ark. — Linda Martin grew up just 7 miles from the Rohwer Research Station, and worked there as a high school student when she was 16. Now she’s the resident director at the research facility in Desha County.

CAREER PATH — Linda Martin is the new resident director of the Rohwer Research Station, following a career path of only 7 miles from Watson, where she grew up. The southeast Arkansas native has big plans to expand the impact and relevance of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station research facility. (Photo submitted)

“Linda has been part of that southeast Arkansas community her whole life,” said Nathan Slaton, associate vice president for agriculture and assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. “She knows the research and the multiple disciplines that are the heart of the work at Rohwer, and she is well equipped to run the research station.

“We are extremely happy to get her in that job,” Slaton said. “She’s a hard worker who knows how to get a job done, and she’s well-liked by the station staff and the southeast Arkansas community. I’m certain she has all the tools to be successful as the Rohwer Research Station director.”

The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Research at the Rohwer Research Station focuses on Arkansas’ leading row crops, including rice, soybeans, corn, grain sorghum and cotton. In recent years, researchers have launched projects on cover crops — plants grown to protect the soils in fields that are not in production. They have also studied specialty crops like edamame and sweet sorghum. Rohwer is part of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s network of research stations located throughout the state to ensure research accounts for Arkansas’ different soil types and climate conditions.

Martin grew up on a family farm in Watson, a short drive north on Arkansas Highway 1 from the Rohwer station. She earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. While there, she was a student worker for the Division of Agriculture’s former Southeast Research and Extension Center, occasionally working at what was then called the Rohwer Branch Station.

After completing her degree, she worked as an agricultural supervisor in the Garden Division at the Arkansas Department of Corrections Cummins Unit from 2010 to 2013. She joined the Rohwer Research Station as a program technician in 2019.

While working at Rohwer, Martin completed a master’s degree in soil fertility from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

She began her position as resident director on April 17.

Martin said one of her goals will be to elevate the public profile of the research station.

“I’m working on creating a social media presence focused on our community,” Martin said. “I also plan to be more involved with state schools to promote the Rohwer station and the Division of Agriculture. And I want to raise awareness in students to career opportunities in agriculture and research.”

Martin participates in a working group of research station and research and extension center directors endeavoring to keep their facilities up to date with the latest technology and agricultural practices. That includes seeking input from growers to keep up with the latest technologies that Arkansas farmers are using.

“We are constantly improving the efficiency of our stations and looking at how we can stay relevant to the agricultural industry,” Martin said.

Martin’s central responsibility is supporting the ongoing research efforts of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and creating opportunities for new research programs.

“I’m reaching out to Division of Agriculture scientists to see what they need to support their research,” Martin said. “And we’re in constant communication with them to match what the station offers to the resources they need and want with an eye toward bringing additional projects here.”

“I love finding new opportunities for new research on things no one has ever looked at before,” Martin said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how I can continue to move the station forward and advance research that supports Arkansas agriculture and building our base of knowledge."

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.

Second effort to overturn Arkansas LEARNS Act rejected by attorney general

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

A second effort to place a citizen’s referendum on the ballot to repeal the LEARNS Act, Gov. Sarah Sanders’ signature education bill, has been rejected by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. The Attorney General is charged with approving ballot titles for proposed referenda.

Citizens for Public Education and Students, or CAPES, was rejected in its first attempt to qualify its referendum in late April.

Griffin outlined several reasons for the latest rejection, although he declared a portion of it “legally sufficient.” In a letter to CAPES executive director Steve Grappe, Griffin said:

“Under the foregoing rules, your proposed popular name is legally sufficient as submitted. But your proposed ballot title is insufficient and must be redesigned. As explained in more detail below, the current version of the ballot title (1) fails to adequately summarize the LEARNS Act; (2) fails to make all the changes noted in my response to your first submission; and (3) is printed in a font that is so small, most people would be unable to read it,” Griffin said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/second-effort-to-overturn-learns-act-rejected-by-ag-griffin/

Arkansas Research Alliance Selects UAMS Researchers as Scholar, Fellow

By Benjamin Waldrum

The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) recently announced that two researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will be joining their ranks.

John Imig, Ph.D., an accomplished scientist focused on cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney diseases, was named an ARA Scholar, and Antiño Allen, Ph.D., a researcher known for his insight into the effects of radiation on brain function, was honored as an ARA Fellow.

Imig will receive $500,000, and Allen will receive $75,000 to further their research.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/05/12/arkansas-research-alliance-selects-uams-researchers-as-scholar-fellow/

National health advocacy groups ask governor to pause Medicaid disenrollment process

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

A coalition of 23 national health-related nonprofits expressed concern Thursday (May 11) over Arkansas’ early Medicaid disenrollment numbers and called on Gov. Sarah Sanders to pause the process.

The governor’s office said it is following state and federal law and has a systematic plan to evaluate and assist those whose Medicaid healthcare coverage is being redetermined.

The 23 groups (listed below) include the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, March of Dimes, and Susan G. Komen.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/national-health-advocacy-groups-ask-governor-to-pause-medicaid-disenrollment-process/

Arkansas minority health commission ends diversity scholarship following lawsuit

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

Quinyatta Mumford credits an Arkansas Minority Health Commission scholarship with affording her the opportunity to finish her doctorate in public health with less stress.

The single mother of three will graduate from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences next week and was disheartened to learn the Minority Health Workforce Diversity Scholarship is being discontinued as part of a lawsuit settlement.

“We already know that minorities are underrepresented across health care and in public health, so if we take away the ability to incentivize those that are typically marginalized, then it’s going to make it very difficult to entice people, not only to go into the field, but to entice people to come to Arkansas,” she said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-12/arkansas-minority-health-commission-ends-diversity-scholarship-following-lawsuit

Jenny Kane/AP

Masks hang from an IV pole at a hospital.

UAMS Receives $5.5 Million Supplemental Award for Programs in Rural, Underserved Communities

By Chris Carmody

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $5.5 million supplemental award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund training and outreach programs in rural and underserved areas of the state.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, awarded the money under its Value-Based Medical Student Education Grant. The supplemental funding brings UAMS’ fiscal-year award to $6.6 million and raises the overall grant award to nearly $19.6 million over four years.

UAMS will use the funding for projects intended to increase the number of primary care physicians practicing in rural and medically underserved communities in Arkansas.

Those projects include:

• Renovation of training facilities for a primary care accelerated medical school track and four-year traditional medical school track at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville

• The expansion of point-of-care ultrasound training for medical students with new equipment and fellowship programs for faculty members in six of the eight Regional Campuses and the Family Medical Clinic in Little Rock

• The Medical Scholars in Public Health Postbaccalaureate Program for Arkansans from socially, economically or geographically disadvantaged backgrounds

• Medical-student rotations in rural and underserved communities

• Partnership programs from the UAMS Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Arkansas’ historically Black colleges and universities

• Expansion of medical-school courses in primary care, behavioral health and lifestyle medicine in rural and underserved areas

• Workforce mapping for rural primary care physicians — a new program that aims to improve training and care in rural communities

• Upgrades to facilities and simulation equipment for the UAMS Simulation Center and the Northwest Regional Campus Simulation Center.

  https://news.uams.edu/2023/05/10/uams-receives-5-5-million-supplemental-award-for-programs-in-rural-underserved-communities/

UAMS faculty members take part in a training session on point-of-care ultrasound technology. The expansion of point-of-care ultrasound training for medical students is among the projects that UAMS plans to implement using the new grant funding.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

National Police Week begins on Sunday, May 14. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. 

National Police Week offers honor and remembrance while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Remembering our fallen officers helps ensure their bravery and dedication to serving and protecting our communities are not forgotten.

Nationwide in 2022, 246 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. Seven of those officers were from Arkansas. Two of the Arkansas officers who lost their lives died from Covid-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, protective service workers, including police officers, have had some of the highest Covid mortality rates of any occupation.

One of the Arkansas officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last year was Jonesboro Police Officer Vincent Parks. Officer Parks died on his first day of training at Camp Robinson last summer.

His death prompted changes in training procedures. During the most recent legislative session, we passed  Act 199 creating the Vincent Parks Law.  It would require instructors to complete training on the recognition and management of certain health conditions and establish procedures in the event a cadet or officer has symptoms of cardiac arrest while receiving training.

When an officer is killed it is not only a loss to the agency, it’s a loss to our entire state. We will continue to find ways to support our law enforcement agencies and invest in resources that make their job safer.

You can find the names of all the Arkansas officers killed in the line of duty in 2022 at arkansashouse.org. The link includes photos and stories about their bravery and service to our state. May we all remember and honor them and their families this week. Arkansas will forever be in their debt.

UA Cossatot Scholarship Presentation in Foreman, AR

Misty Eudy of UA Cossatot presented John Critchlow of Foreman the UA Cossatot Scholarship Tuesday night at Foreman High School.

Arkansas 4-H photographers capture landscapes, animals in photo contest

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Ready for her close-up, a handsome brown cow and the intricate textures of her tawny hair are the focus of nine-year-old Evelynn Wallace’s photo, which won Best in Show at the 2023 Ross Photography Contest.

BEST IN SHOW — Evelynn Wallace, 9, a member of the Sebastian County 4-H Club, took home Best in Show in the 2023 Ross Photography Contest for her close-up shot detailing the hair patterns of a cow. Contest judges said that overall, the quality of this year's entries improved, making their jobs tougher. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Sponsored by Arkansas 4-H, the Ross Photography Contest asks 4-H members to submit black and white or color photos of Arkansas subjects. The 2023 contest drew 465 student participants, with 50 of the state’s 75 counties represented. Of the entrants, 209 were new participants.

Other category winners captured shots of fog rising along a quiet country road, nature’s reclaiming of an animal skeleton and the joys of wishing on a dandelion. For the contest, “living subjects” were limited to people and animals.

One judge said that Wallace, a member of the Sebastian County 4-H Club, has a “really good eye for photography,” and that her winning shot of the brown cow was “udderly the best photo in the contest.”

Kerry Rodtnick, extension photographer and videographer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, coordinates the annual competition and said the quality of this year’s entries had improved, making the judges’ jobs tougher.

“The judges had a hard time narrowing their choices down to just a few winners,” Rodtnick said. “The photographers seemed to be using sound photography composition, more so than in the past. The variety and creativity used for these photos were at a higher level. The judges look at technical skill within the photographs, but they also look at creativity and the effort put forth in capturing the image. They want to know that a photographer spent time and thought as they were taking it — not just grabbing a camera and snapping a photo of a friend.

“Hopefully our competition encourages these kids to dig into photography practices so they can compete better each year,” he continued. “Maybe it will inspire future professional photographers. Or perhaps they will simply take better photos of their families as they grow. Both results make our contest a success.”

At the state level, prizes were awarded in four categories to the first-, second- and third-place winners. The Best in Show winner was selected among the category winners. All winning photographs can be viewed in the Division of Agriculture Flickr album.

The 2023 Ross Photography Contest winners are:

Color Living

1st — Evelynn Wallace, Sebastian County

2nd — Kenzly Weaver, Independence County

3rd — Emma Eubanks, Hot Spring County

Black and White Living

1st — Braylei Griffin, Washington County

2nd — Rebecca Frealy, Fulton County

3rd — Serenity Mora, Logan County

Black and White Non-Living

1st — Asa Eddington, Craighead County

2nd — Chloie Thomas, Washington County

3rd — Cailyn Smith, Montgomery County

Color Non-Living

1st — David Culver, Franklin County

2nd — Isabella Hays, Pope County

3rd — Ethan Doss, Stone County

Best in Show

Evelynn Wallace, Sebastian County

The Arkansas 4-H youth development program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Division of Agriculture.

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.

NWA radio personality reaches winner’s circle at Kentucky Derby

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Derek “Deek” Kastner of Springdale has been picking horses since he was seven. Several months ago, one of those picks was his most wise investment.

Kastner, a popular radio personality in Northwest Arkansas and lifelong horse racing fan, was in Louisville, Ky., this past weekend, where he watched a horse he owns win the sport’s most famous race.

At 15-1 odds, Mage won the 149th Kentucky Derby before a crowd of over 150,000 at Churchill Downs. It was the horse’s fourth career start. He’d only won one of the previous three.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/nwa-radio-personality-reaches-winners-circle-at-kentucky-derby/

Derek "Deek" Kastner and his wife, Lexi, following the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6, in Louisville, Ky. (Photo courtesy Derek Kastner).

Tyson Foods posts $97 million quarterly loss, reduces earnings guidance

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Tyson Foods reported a second fiscal quarter net income loss of $97 million on Monday (May 8), a wide swing from net income of $829 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue was $13.133 billion, up from $13.117 billion a year ago, but $600 million less than the consensus estimate.

After one-time adjustments for restructuring and plant closures, the net loss per share was 4 cents, down from $2.28 earned a year ago. Tyson fell way short of the 80 cents per share consensus estimate. The earnings miss in the quarter ending March 31 and weaker guidance for fiscal 2023 by Tyson Foods sent the stock tumbling more than 15% in heavy trading Monday morning after the earnings report was posted.

“While the current protein market is challenging, we have a strong growth strategy in place and are bullish on our long-term outlook,” said Donnie King, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. “We saw strong performance in our branded foods business and continue to be laser-focused on meeting customer needs and planning the future with them.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/tyson-foods-posts-97-million-quarterly-loss-reduces-earnings-guidance/

Gov. Sanders: New Air Force mission in Fort Smith will have ‘generational impact’

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The plaudits were frequent and magnanimous Friday (May 5) as political and business leaders met at the Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith to ceremonially mark the U.S. Air Force’s decision to locate a foreign military pilot training center on the base.

Ebbing, home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith and co-located with the Fort Smith Regional Airport, was selected in March by the U.S. Air Force to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Ebbing was selected over the Selfridge Air National Guard base north of Detroit.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the federal agency managing the FMS, notes that the program provides “responsible arms sales to further national security and foreign policy objectives by strengthening bilateral defense relations, supporting coalition building, and enhancing interoperability between U.S. forces and militaries of friends and allies.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/gov-sanders-new-air-force-mission-in-fort-smith-will-have-generational-impact/

(from left) U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., Gov. Sarah Sanders, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, participate in a press conference Friday (May 5) at Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith.

Arkansas Children’s announces $318M expansion plan

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Little Rock-based pediatric healthcare organization Arkansas Children’s is planning a $318 million expansion to increase child healthcare in Arkansas.

“Pediatric health needs are more complex than ever before, and we are committed to the highest levels of access and health care quality for the children and families across the state,” Arkansas Children’s President and CEO Marcy Doderer said. “This plan includes recruiting more than 100 new providers and 400 new team members, adding new programs, and building and modernizing facilities.”

According to the news release, the expansion will begin this summer and last nearly a decade. It will include construction projects at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Little Rock and Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW) in Springdale.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/arkansas-childrens-announces-318m-expansion-plan/

Arkansas Children's Northwest in Springdale.

Arkansas board of education to consider state’s first ‘transformation contract’

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Board of Education has called a special meeting for Friday to consider allowing the Marvell-Elaine School District to enter into a “transformation contract” with the Friendship Education Foundation.

If approved, the contract between the public school district and the charter management company would be the first of its kind under Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signature  LEARNS Act.

The new law makes several changes to the state’s education system, including creating a process through which public school districts with a “D” or “F”-rating or in need of Level 5 – Intensive Support can partner with an open-enrollment public charter school or another state board-approved entity in good standing to create “a public school district transformation campus.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-05/arkansas-board-of-education-to-consider-states-first-transformation-contract

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas State Board of Education held a public meeting in the Marvell-Elaine High School gym to discuss the future of the Marvell-Elaine School District on April 13, 2023.

May 18 event to provide matchmaking opportunities for vendors and minority- and women-owned businesses

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

New customers are critical to any business, and a May 18 matchmaking event will offer opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses to connect with public and private sector vendors.

A MATCH IN THE MAKING — Melanie Berman, director of Arkansas APEX Accelerator for the Division of Agriculture, said the upcoming May 18 Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Matchmaking event will provide important tools and networking opportunities for small businesses. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Matchmaking Event will take place from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theater and the Rock It! Lab, both located in the CALS Library Square in downtown Little Rock. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Registration is free, and participants must register online at info.arkansasedc.com/matchmaking2023 by May 12.

The event is hosted by the Arkansas APEX Accelerator — formerly known as Arkansas PTAC — in partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Arkansas District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The schedule will include 15-minute matchmaking appointments, where business owners can discuss possible contracts for their goods and services with buying representatives. These representatives are matched with business owners based on information provided during registration.

The keynote speaker is Edward “Ted” James, who was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s regional administrator for Region 6 South Central Region. James oversees the administration of Small Business Administration products and services in ten district offices in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Arkansas APEX Accelerator is also offering a webinar on May 11 from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with tips for navigating the matchmaking event. Topics will include the role of certifications, vendor registration sites, market research sources and marketing tools specific to the government marketplace. There is no cost to register at bit.ly/pre-matchmaking-workshop.

Opportunities for underserved small businesses

Melanie Berman, Arkansas APEX Accelerator program director for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the event provides critical tools for small and minority-owned businesses.

“Underserved small businesses have faced barriers in accessing capital, credit and other tools necessary for growth,” Berman said. “They are often located in inner cities and rural areas and often include women, people of color, veterans, tribal groups and others. Participating in the annual Minority and Women-Owned Business Matchmaking event will connect business owners with government buyers, small business support organizations such as Arkansas APEX accelerator, and other area businesses.”

Berman will also moderate the Success Stories from Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses panel at the event, where attendees will hear from successful business owners about how they navigate the world of government procurement. She said APEX Accelerator counselors can help business owners prepare to make the most of the matchmaking event.

“Businesses of all levels may attend the event, which may give them a competitive advantage with the government buyer,” Berman said. “However, businesses must manage expectations and properly prepare for their one-on-one meetings. APEX Accelerator counselors are here to help businesses prepare for the matchmaking event.”

APEX Accelerator is part of the Cooperative Extension Service’s Community, Professional and Economic Development Unit. The extension service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Cooperative Extension Service announces 2023 summer interns

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

For college students with a passion for agriculture and helping others, the Cooperative Extension Service’s internship program offers a hands-on opportunity to learn about the roles of extension agents.

2023 INTERNS — Devyn Britt, 22, will be one of 15 summer interns for the Cooperative Extension Service. The 10-week paid program provides hands-on learning in 4-H, agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences and gives students an idea of the day-to-day duties of county agents. (Photo submitted by Devyn Britt.) 

In late 2021, the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, announced the return of an internship program for college students interested in careers as extension agents. In the summer of 2022, a group of 11 students were selected for the program, two of whom were later hired for full-time employment.

Carla Due, extension Ouachita District Director for the Division of Agriculture, said the Division of Agriculture hopes to continue to hire former interns as positions become available.

“Last year was a successful year for our interns, and we look forward to this year being the same,” Due said.

For the 2023 program, extension’s three district directors — Due, Jerry Clemons and Kevin Lawson — selected 15 students from universities in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. Due said they had more than 30 applicants, with two interns returning from last year’s group. The interns will start May 22, and their last day is July 28.

Rayvin Callaway, 21, a student at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, interned with the Bradley County extension office last year. This year she will intern with the Drew County extension office. Callaway said she encourages her fellow interns to “soak it all in” during their experience.

“This summer is going to fly by. Any opportunity that is presented to you, take it,” Callaway said. “Every ounce of knowledge you gain from this summer will make you a better person, whether you work for extension or someone else. Trust me, making the decision to take this internship was the best choice you could’ve made.”

Brent Clark, 21, is a student at Arkansas State University. He will return to the White County extension office, where he said he made many connections during his internship experience last summer.

“My advice for this year’s group of interns is to go into the assigned county with an excited optimism and be open to trying every aspect of the extension service you can, because you may like something you were uncomfortable with before coming into this internship,” Clark said. “Look for the good in all the people you interact with because you will meet so many people who are incredibly different, but there is always something to learn from them.”

In 2022, the interns’ main program areas were 4-H and agriculture, but this year, the program will also include three Family and Consumer Sciences interns.

“The interns will gain knowledge about the day-to-day work of our county extension agents, who are the boots on the ground when it comes to educating Arkansans,” Due said. “It will be 10 weeks of ‘living the life of a county agent.’”

The 15 interns are enrolled in colleges and universities throughout Arkansas, Missouri and Texas.

2023 Cooperative Extension Service summer interns:

Devyn Britt, 22
Program area: Family and Consumer Sciences
County: Faulkner
Hometown: Cabot, Arkansas
School: University of Central Arkansas
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences, emphasis in Health Administration
Year: Rising senior, or entering their senior year
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for this internship because I want to enter the FCS field after graduating and gain more experience. I am looking forward to working with the Faulkner County community and learning about the programs the extension office offers.”

Haley Callanen, 21
Program area: 4-H
County: Grant County
Hometown: Sheridan, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agricultural Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I applied for this internship because I knew that it would give me a chance to grow as an individual. I felt that it would also give me experience related to my career. I hope to learn more about agriculture through hands-on experience. I also hope that I will be better prepared for my future in the agriculture industry after graduation. I want to be able to apply the knowledge and experience I gain in the classroom.”

Rayvin Callaway, 21, returning from last year’s program
Program area: 4-H
County: Drew
Hometown: Star City, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas at Monticello
Major: Animal Science, Plant and Soil Science
Year: Rising senior
Why did you want to participate in the Extension internship program for a second time?
“I don’t feel like I got all the information. Don’t get me wrong, I got tons! But if this is truly where I’m going to work, then I want to find out as much as I can! I also wanted to try a different discipline. Last summer I was mainly in the agriculture sector of the job. This summer I chose 4-H as my discipline so I could further my leadership skills and instill those skills into the members!”

Maria Cervantes, 21
Program area: Family and Consumer Sciences
County: Hot Spring
Hometown: Summers, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Major: Apparel Merchandising and Product Development
Year: Graduating senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I decided to apply to the CES internship program because I thought the premise of the program was great and coming from rural Arkansas, I can see why it's important to reach all people. I am looking forward to learning more about the Extension programs and helping people with the work we will be doing.”

Brent Clark, 21, returning from last year’s program
Program area: Agriculture
County: White
Hometown: El Paso, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University
Major: Agribusiness
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to participate in the CES internship program for a second time?
“I enjoyed the internship last year and really learned to love working with the agents and being able to see the outreach extension does for so many groups of people of all ages. I am really looking forward to this summer, as I am going back to my home county where just about everything has changed and evolved. I am super excited to see a side of extension I really haven’t seen, which is row crops.”

Delana Crutti, 33
Program area: Family and Consumer Sciences
County: Pulaski
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
School: University of Central Arkansas
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences
Year: Graduating senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I was told that I belong in the Cooperative Extension Service by many of my professors, and this was an opportunity to explore extension as a potential career. I’m looking forward to the hands-on experience helping to serve others. I am also excited to build my knowledge and skills.”

Laura Fincher, 19
Program area: Horticulture
County: Garland
Hometown: Texarkana, Texas
School: Texas A&M University – Commerce
Major: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, minor in Horticulture
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I applied for the program because I really enjoy sharing agriculture and horticulture with others, and I am always interested to learn about opportunities or experiences in those fields. I hope to work in the extension service when I begin my career, so the internship program seemed like a great fit! I'm most looking forward to connecting with the people in the county that I have been placed in. I'm excited to meet, learn from, and help both the extension professionals and the community members.”

Zeb Gattis, 21
Program area: Horticulture
County: Washington
Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Major: Horticulture, Landscape and Turf Sciences
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I applied because I am interested in working for the extension service after college, and because I most like the general goal behind the outreach part of the extension service. I am most looking forward to seeing how extension works, in addition to gaining work experience with an organization that I would like to be a part of in the future.”

Natasha Hightower, 20
Program area: 4-H
County: Washington
Hometown: Bailey, Arkansas
School: University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Major: Agriculture Education, Communication and Technology, minor in Agriculture Communications
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I grew up in 4-H and have always had a passion for helping others. Getting the opportunity to work with the youth in my community as well as others would be a wonderful experience. I want to be able to learn as much as I can and be able to educate and advocate agriculture to those around me. I am looking forward to learning from the people and community around the Washington County extension office. Being able to have this opportunity to learn and work in a county that I have only been in for less than a year is so exciting! I can’t wait to gain a new perspective on being an extension agent and gain valuable skills and experiences that will help me continue into my future career.”

Magon James, 19
Program area: 4-H
County: Craighead
Hometown: Dewitt, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University
Major: Animal Science
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for this internship because I am pursuing a career in agriculture, am a current 4-H state officer, and want to further my knowledge of day-to-day life in a Division of Agriculture Extension Office. I am looking forward to meeting new people and learning skills that will help me in my future career.”

Daniel Lam, 21
Program area: Agriculture
County: Poinsett
Hometown: Spring Valley, New York
School: University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Major: Crop Sciences, minor in Agribusiness
Year: Rising junior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply because I believe it will give me the tools necessary to be successful in the agriculture industry, as well as giving me an idea of the practical side of the job, which will help me decide which direction I want to take my career. I look forward most to gaining hands-on experience to give me a better understanding of the industry and working with professionals in the field and other interns.”

Cade McKee, 21
Program area: 4-H
County: White
Hometown: Pangburn, Arkansas
School: Arkansas State University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I decided to apply for the CES internship to learn more about 4-H and grow stronger in my knowledge about what extension does. I am looking forward to meeting new people that I can hopefully have a connection with for years to come.”

Amber Morris, 20
Program area: 4-H
County: Pope
Hometown: DeQueen, Arkansas
School: Arkansas Tech University
Major: Agribusiness
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“I grew up in 4-H, and I wanted to know what it was like on the agent side. I also wanted to help impact children in a way I was impacted growing up. I’m looking forward to growing my education in 4-H and agriculture and helping the children I guide grow as better people.”

Caelan Person, 20
Program area: 4-H
County: Sevier
Hometown: Nashville, Arkansas
School: Southern Arkansas University
Major: Agriculture Education
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program? 
“I decided to apply for this program because it will give me a better idea of what I would like to do in the future. I am most excited to see what it’s like on a day-to-day basis as an extension agent, as well as working with others to teach people about agriculture.”

Ashlin Usrey, 21
Program area: Agriculture
County: Boone
Hometown: Alpena, Arkansas
School: College of the Ozarks – Hollister, Missouri
Major: Animal Science, minors in Agronomy and Agribusiness
Year: Rising senior
Why did you decide to apply for the CES internship program?
“This internship program stuck out to me after hearing about it from some of my peers from across the state! I have always been interested in extension, as I have grown up seeing my local extension agents love their job and excel at it. Working in the agriculture realm and educating are two things I enjoy, and this internship seems to fill both of those spots very well. I am most looking forward to learning about the diversity of extension, and getting hands-on learning from someone who has years of experience in the area.”

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.

UAMS Opens New Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital

By Linda Satter

LITTLE ROCK —A number of dignitaries and other visitors gathered today to celebrate the opening of the Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

Front view of The Orthopaedic & Spine HospitalEvan Lewis

Located southwest of the main hospital, the four-story building includes more than 158,000 square feet dedicated to orthopaedic surgery, spine care and pain management. It has 24 private rooms for overnight observation and inpatient stays; 12 examination rooms for orthopaedic trauma, orthopaedic oncology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation; 12 operating rooms; eight exam rooms and two procedure suites for use by the pain management team; educational space for orthopaedic surgery residents; and offices for faculty and administrators.

“We are thrilled to be ushering in a new era of providing comprehensive specialized care available under one roof for orthopaedic and spine patients across the state,” said UAMS Health CEO and UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA. “This facility was designed to support the state-of-the-art equipment and world-class care that we are famous for, while providing easy access for patients.”

Smiles abound as C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, flanked by Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, cuts the ribbon in front of The Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital. Image by Evan Lewis

Weekly update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Since its inception in 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 557 cases of human trafficking in Arkansas. Close to 1,500 victims were identified in these cases. 

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. 

For the last several years, the General Assembly has made a continual effort to strengthen our laws regarding human trafficking. In the most recent session, we passed legislation to expand civil remedies for trafficking victims, increase fines for trafficking convictions, and clarified language in existing laws.  

Act 354 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. 

Act 327 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. 

Act 330 ensures victims are eligible for crime victim reparations even if they do not cooperate with law enforcement. 

Act 722 creates the offense of sexual solicitation of a minor and classifies the offense as a Class B felony. 

Act 736 adds the words “reasonably should know” to Arkansas code regarding trafficking of persons offenses. It allows individuals to be charged if they knew or reasonably should have known they were benefitting financially or actively engaged in trafficking. 

Act 772 clarifies the definition of “serious harm” under the Human Trafficking Act of 2013. 

We will continue to review ways to prevent future trafficking cases and raise awareness of the issue. 

To report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text the hotline at 233733.