List of COVID-19 Testing Sites from the CADC (Central Arkansas Development Council)
LIVE: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update From Mountain Home Tuesday (06.23.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media in Mountain Home on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response.
COVID-19 Update for Tuesday with Maps and Numbers
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 592
Active Positive: 193
Recovered: 393
Deaths: 6
Negatives: 3,015
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 68
Active Positive: 29
Recovered: 39
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 977
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 35
Active Positive: 3
Recovered: 32
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 794
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 67
Active Positive: 13
Recovered: 54
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,194
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 7
Active Positive: 1
Recovered: 6
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,427
Racing Commission Awards Pope County Casino To Gulfside, Appeal Expected
By TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS STAFF
The Arkansas Racing Commission on June 18th awarded a coveted license to Mississippi-based Gulfside Casino Partnership for a $254 million casino resort in Pope County, but expect more litigation to be filed before anyone rolls the dice on a groundbreaking.
Earlier this year, the commission had narrowed its choices to a casino operated by Gulfside and another proposal led by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
In ranking the proposals, commissioners graded Gulfside’s proposal with a higher score than the Cherokee Nation plan, which had secured the backing of the Pope County Quorum Court. The Cherokee Nation has 15 days to appeal the decision, which they indicated would happen.
Racing Commission Awards Pope County Casino To Gulfside, Appeal Expected
The Arkansas Racing Commission on Thursday (June 18) awarded a coveted license to Mississippi-based Gulfside Casino Partnership for a $254 million casino resort in Pope County, but expect more litigation to be filed before anyone rolls the dice on a groundbreaking.
From the Howard County Farmers' Market in Nasvhille
We will be open Monday, 22 June starting at 3 pm with some great produce and baked goods!
The following vendors will be there with:
- Heirloom Farm -
Squash, Kale
- Wenta Farms -
Fresh handpicked Blueberries, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini
- Threat Farm -
Free-range chicken eggs (pullet and mature)
- Green's -
Plum jelly, Apple Plum jelly, chocolate chip cookies, blueberry teacakes, old fashion teacakes
- Owensburg Farm -
Free-range duck eggs
- Carolyn's Kitchen -
Baked loaves of bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies
- Don's Fresh Produce -
Squash, bell peppers, cayenne peppers, zucchini, tomatoes
Thank you to all who support our market! This new market time and day is designed to give those who might not get the chance to come to the Friday morning market the opportunity to get some local goodness! Please share this fact with your friends and co-workers. 😀 WIC and SNAP Accepted from participating vendors.
Visitors To Arkansas State Parks Now Have Passport Option
By DAVID MONTEITH
Visitors to any of the Arkansas state parks now have the option to add stamps to a park passport. The new program was announced last week. Grady Spann, the director of Arkansas State Parks, says other park systems around the county have similar programs.
Passport booklets can be picked up and stamped at any of the state's 46 parks that have active park rangers on duty at visitor's centers. Stamps are available at the remaining six parks via medallions that visitors can use to create rubbings in their passport books. Spann says he hopes the new incentive helps maintain the increase in usage the parks have seen in the last few months.
The state's parks have received around 1.7 million visitors since the middle of March, when many indoor facilities were closed as a precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The offerings at some parks remain limited or closed while the state is in Phase Two of re-opening, per Governor Asa Hutchinson's mandates. Group lodging at several parks are closed. All playgrounds are closed. Masks are required in indoor venues, and public swimming areas are operating at 50% capacity. Despite these limitations, Spann says the parks are receiving significantly more visitors than normal. Hiking and camping are unrestricted.
Visitors To Arkansas State Parks Now Have Passport Option
Visitors to any of the Arkansas state parks now have the option to add stamps to a park passport. The new program was announced last week. Grady Spann, the director of Arkansas State Parks, says other park systems around the county have similar programs. "The national parks do have a passport program, as do other state's park systems around the nation.
Arkansas Unemployment Rate Falls To 9.5% In May
By SARAH KELLOGG
For the first time in months, Arkansas’s unemployment has dropped, though the number of those unemployed still remains higher than before the coronavirus pandemic hit the state.
Arkansas’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.5% in May, around 1.3% lower than its April percentage of 10.8%. The decrease in unemployment follows the national trend, though the United States’ jobless rate is almost 4% higher at a rate of 13.3%.
According to numbers from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, over 46,000 Arkansans gained employment in the month of May, a result the division says is due to the partial re-opening of the state’s economy.
Arkansas Unemployment Rate Falls To 9.5% In May
For the first time in months, Arkansas's unemployment has dropped, though the number of those unemployed still remains higher than before the coronavirus pandemic hit the state. Arkansas's unemployment rate dropped to 9.5% in May, around 1.3% lower than its April percentage of 10.8%.
CADC (Central Arkansas Development Council) Meeting Open to the Public
De Queen Graduate, Jesus Wences, Receives Blue and Gold Scholarship from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia
Southern Arkansas University has awarded a Blue and Gold Scholarship valued at $26,400 to De Queen honor graduate Jesus Wences. Jesus is the son of Jose Wences and Maria Wences. He is a member of National Honor Society, FCCLA, Quiz Bowl, GT Interact and Leopard Football. Jesus plans to major in Sports Medicine.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Monday (06.22.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Monday, June 22, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. (Press play button above.)
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
A few weeks ago, we reminded Arkansans of the upcoming deadline for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. This week, we received word that the deadline has been extended to August 1.
Unlike in prior years, students who are already receiving the scholarship, have a sufficient number of hours, and have earned satisfactory academic progress before March 27 are automatically eligible for the scholarship for the 2020 fall semester.
Traditional students must score at least 19 on the ACT to qualify for the scholarship. The latest ACT score accepted by Arkansas Department of Higher Education will be from the July testing. Students who have yet to achieve a score of 19 on the ACT may take the Accuplacer test remotely as a substitute.
Meanwhile, we want to remind Arkansans of another valuable scholarship funded by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
The Workforce Challenge Scholarship was created in the 2017 legislative session and is funded by lottery revenue. The purpose of the scholarship is for workforce training in high demand areas of healthcare, information technology, and industry. Classes are not limited to credit-bearing programs. Non-credit, workforce-training classes that fit into the three above categories may also qualify.
To meet minimum eligibility requirements, those applying for the Workforce Challenge Scholarship must be 1) an Arkansas resident, 2) a high school graduate or received high school equivalency, 3) cannot be a current recipient of the Academic Challenge Scholarship, and 4) be accepted for admission into an approved program as defined by ADHE. The degree list for the 2020-2021 academic year can be found on our website www.arkansashouse.org.
Arkansas Workforce Challenge is a non-renewable grant. Students who successfully complete their program of study will be allowed to reapply for award in another eligible program. Students who receive funding from Workforce Challenge and do not successfully complete their program will be allowed to reapply one time.
The Workforce Challenge Award will be the cost of a certificate program or program of study not to exceed $800. Students must apply at least 30 days prior to enrollment in an eligible program. There is no deadline to apply, however applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the program.
To apply for either scholarship visit the Department of Higher Education’s website, scholarships.adhe.edu, and complete the Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Application. The online YOUniversal application is your one-stop-shop for state and lottery-funded financial aid.
Monday's COVID-19 Arkansas Area County Active Case Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 588
Active Positive: 201
Recovered: 382
Deaths: 5
Negatives: 2,973
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 68
Active Positive: 29
Recovered: 39
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 950
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 35
Active Positive: 3
Recovered: 32
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 793
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 64
Active Positive: 11
Recovered: 53
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,057
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 7
Active Positive: 1
Recovered: 6
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,375
Monday's Ark-La-Tex Weather from the National Weather Service in Shreveport
Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will keep our temperatures at or below normal for today. A few severe storms with damaging wind gusts cannot be ruled out.
A line of strong thunderstorms, which may produce gusty winds and
brief heavy rainfall, will move southeast across the area today.
Redevelopment is possible this afternoon across Southeast
Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and Northeast Texas, but this is
very uncertain. If thunderstorms redevelop this afternoon, a few
storms could be severe. Damaging winds and large hail will be the
primary threats. The threat for severe weather should diminish
this evening.
Widespread thunderstorms are expected Tuesday as a cold front
slowly moves into the area. A couple of severe storms cannot be
ruled out, especially south of the Interstate 30 corridor.
Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threat.
More thunderstorms are expected along the from Wednesday and
Thursday. Severe weather is not anticipated, but multiple rounds
of locally heavy rainfall could lead to isolated flooding.
Rain chances will decrease after Thursday, but isolated to widely
scattered thunderstorms will remain in the forecast Friday through
Sunday.NPR: China Suspends Poultry Imports From Tyson Foods Plant In Arkansas
NPR
June 21, 2020 12:18 PM ET
JASON SLOTKIN
China is halting the import of poultry from a Tyson Foods plant in Arkansas following an outbreak of coronavirus cases at the facility.
Tyson Foods confirmed to NPR that the announcement pertains to its Berry Street facility in Springdale, Ark., where 227 workers tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month. All but four of them were asymptomatic, according to Tyson.
The company said that tests of its facilities in northwest Arkansas showed that 481 employees, or 13% of 3,748 employees, had tested positive. The company said 455 of those employees (95%) were asymptomatic.
China Suspends Poultry Imports From Tyson Foods Plant In Arkansas
China is halting the import of poultry from a Tyson Foods plant in Arkansas following an outbreak of coronavirus cases at the facility. The nation's General Administration of Customs office made the announcement on Sunday, saying shipments from the plant would be temporarily suspended, while products that have already arrived will be seized.
Sunday's COVID-19 Maps and Numbers from the Arkansas Department of Health
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 563
Active Positive: 182
Recovered: 376
Deaths: 5
Negatives: 2,913
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 62
Active Positive: 24
Recovered: 38
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 927
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 35
Active Positive: 4
Recovered: 31
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 770
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 63
Active Positive: 13
Recovered: 50
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,051
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 7
Active Positive: 1
Recovered: 6
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,344
A Message from Dr. Steve Cole to All UA Cossatot Students and Future Students
Saturday's COVID-19 Maps and Numbers from Arkansas Department of Health
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 550
Active Positive: 186
Recovered: 359
Deaths: 5
Negatives: 2,861
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 54
Active Positive: 20
Recovered: 34
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 902
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 35
Active Positive: 7
Recovered: 28
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 761
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 62
Active Positive: 14
Recovered: 48
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,040
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 7
Active Positive: 1
Recovered: 6
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,300
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | The Wait for Nursing Home Visits is Almost Over
LITTLE ROCK – We set a goal to test every resident and staff member in long-term-care in June, and today I’m pleased to say that nursing homes, and assisted-living and residential-care facilities will be able to resume limited family visits and other activities on July 1 if they have complied with the public health guidelines of the Arkansas Department of Health.
This is an important step. The residents of nursing homes have been cut off from direct visits with family and friends for three months. This isolation is very difficult on our loved ones, and because of our testing and other measures in place, we are ready to have visitors again.
In terms of testing, as of this week, we have tested over 19,000 of our nursing home residents and staff with only 150 positive cases. This indicates we are doing a good job of protecting some of our most vulnerable Arkansans.
Many of our nursing homes are completely free of COVID-19. Arkansas’s rate of positive cases is less than half the national average.
The Arkansas Health Care Association is coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Health on the June initiative. Executive Director Rachel Bunch said that for the comfort of the elderly, the testers will use the least-invasive swab available.
She points out that the increase in testing will initially produce an increase in the number of positive cases, but the testing will allow us to create a baseline to guide our decisions. She also said that a large number of patients who test positive don’t show any symptoms. A person with a positive test isn’t necessarily sick.
We issued the directive that visitors would not be allowed into nursing homes on March 14. This decision hit close to home. A member of my own staff wasn’t allowed to visit her father. The directive included an end-of-life exception for family members, so that she was allowed to put on personal protective equipment to see him before he passed.
During this time of isolation, the caregivers have assisted residents with window visits and internet visits. The family of Louis Strickland, an Army veteran, threw a party for his 100th birthday, but his family had to watch through a window at the Veterans Home. But nothing is as good as an in-person visit of a family member.
We are close to our testing goal. The long wait for families and their loved ones in nursing homes is almost over.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Friday (06.19.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Friday, June 19, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. (Click on Play Button Above)