News

Arkansas Highway and Interstate Speed Limits to Rise Soon

By PHOEBE SANDERS  JUL 7, 2020

The speed limits on Arkansas highways and interstates will soon be increasing, but there are concerns it will lead to more accident fatalities, as has happened in other states.

Last year the Arkansas General Assembly passed legislation which puts the state on pace with neighboring states like Texas and Oklahoma. The maximum speed on rural stretches of interstates will go from 70 to 75 miles-per-hour. Some urban sections and four-lane highways will increase from 60 to 65 mph.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/increase-traffic-fatalities-expected-accompany-rise-arkansas-speed-limits

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Holds Media Availability Thursday with U.S. Attorney General William Barr

Governor Asa Hutchinson will hold a media availability Thursday afternoon, 07/09, at 1:30 p.m. after a luncheon with U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Senator Tom Cotton, and Congressman French Hill.

Thursday's Updated COVID-19 Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 769
  Active Positive: 89
  Recovered: 671
  Deaths: 9
  Negatives: 3,559

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 115
  Active Positive: 29
  Recovered: 85
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,531

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 40
  Active Positive: 0
  Recovered: 40
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 877

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 81
  Active Positive: 9
  Recovered: 72
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,586

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 12
  Active Positive: 5
  Recovered: 7
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,883

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Maddie Martin of De Queen Receives 2020 Rotary Club Crystal Award

Maddie Martin received the 2020 Crystal Award from the De Queen Rotary Club.  This award is given to an outstanding female athlete.  Check out the story on dequeenbee.com

Martin receives 2020 Rotary Club Crystal Award

Maddie Martin received the 2020 Crystal Award from the De Queen Rotary Club. This award is given to an outstanding female athlete. Martin participated in Lady Leopards basketball for four years where she received All Conference and All State honors. She also received All Conference in track.

Arkansas Voters First Group Seeks a Change in Redistricting Process

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Every 10 years, legislative and congressional districts in Arkansas are shifted based on population. A proposal to change who is in charge of the process might be on the November ballot after the group Arkansas Voters First handed in its signatures supporting the measure Monday. Activists have argued for years that redistricting is often plagued by gerrymandering, which is the practice of drawing district boundaries to achieve political advantage for legislators.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/campaign-independent-redistricting-commission-submits-signatures-ballot

Open Primaries of Arkansas Plan to Add Ballot Measure to November's Election

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The Open Primaries Arkansas group turned in its signatures to the Arkansas Secretary of State's Office Monday. Their initiative would place an open primary concept in front of voters in November. If the measure is approved, it would change how candidates are selected for office in the state.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/ballot-initiative-group-seeks-open-primaries-arkansas

Arkansas Nursing Homes Have Reopened to Visitors

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As visitations resume in nursing homes, visitors will have to follow new Arkansas Department of Health guidelines, like limiting visits to two guests per resident, wearing face masks, and passing a health screening. Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities closed to the public March 13 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable residents in these facilities.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-nursing-homes-reopen-visitation

Amazon's New Shipping Center in Little Rock will Create 1,000 Jobs

Amazon announced Tuesday plans to open its first fulfillment center at the Port of Little Rock. The new fulfillment center, which is anticipated to launch in 2021, will create over 1,000 new full-time jobs.

The 825,000 square-foot distribution facility will be located on 80 acres at the port and will benefit from yesterday’s announcement of upgrades to road infrastructure.

Amazon Says New Little Rock Fulfillment Center Will Employ 1,000

Amazon announced Tuesday plans to open its first fulfillment center at the Port of Little Rock. The new fulfillment center, which is anticipated to launch in 2021, will create over 1,000 new full-time jobs. The 825,000 square-foot distribution facility will be located on 80 acres at the port and will benefit from yesterday's announcement of upgrades to road infrastructure.

COVID-19 Latest Maps and Numbers for Wednesday

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 758
  Active Positive: 86
  Recovered: 663
  Deaths: 9
  Negatives: 3,538

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 106
  Active Positive: 24
  Recovered: 81
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,508

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 40
  Active Positive: 1
  Recovered: 39
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 875

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 80
  Active Positive: 9
  Recovered: 71
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,574

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 11
  Active Positive: 4
  Recovered: 7
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,865

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Tuesday's COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 748
  Active Positive: 89
  Recovered: 650
  Deaths: 9
  Negatives: 3,512

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 102
  Active Positive: 25
  Recovered: 76
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,486

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 40
  Active Positive: 2
  Recovered: 38
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 869

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 80
  Active Positive: 9
  Recovered: 71
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,563

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 10
  Active Positive: 3
  Recovered: 7
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,852

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COVID-19 Update for Monday, July 6th

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COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 743
  Active Positive: 100
  Recovered: 635
  Deaths: 8
  Negatives: 3,487

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 101
  Active Positive: 27
  Recovered: 73
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,450

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 40
  Active Positive: 2
  Recovered: 38
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 867

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 77
  Active Positive: 7
  Recovered: 70
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,540

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 10
  Active Positive: 3
  Recovered: 7
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,839

Message from the Howard County Farmers Market

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Market Monday, July 6th starting at 3 p.m.

For those who may not be able to come to the Friday morning market, we will be having a Monday afternoon market day tomorrow, 6 July starting at 3pm. We have seven vendors who will be bringing their items to the market. Here's who's coming and what they plan to bring:

- Wildflowers -

Garden fresh potatoes, onions, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, honey, jams & jellies

- Don's Fresh Produce -

Pink-eye Purple hull peas, squash, zucchini, tomatoes

- Wenta Farm -

Hand-picked blueberries, figs, cucumbers

- Green’s Farm -

Delicious plum jelly, tea cakes, apple plum jelly

- Grandma Sylvia's Creations -

Crocheted facemasks, earrings

- Threat Farm -

Free-range eggs

- Double J Farm -

Raw honey

We recommend you get there as soon as we open for the best selection. We also request you wear protective masks and follow social distancing of 6 feet separation from others as you shop at the market. Most importantly, please stay home if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms. We want everyone to have a safe time at the market.

WIC and SNAP Accepted by participating vendors. We thank you for your patronage!

COVID-19 Updated Numbers for Sunday

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COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 732
  Active Positive: 104
  Recovered: 621
  Deaths: 7
  Negatives: 3,447

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 100
  Active Positive: 26
  Recovered: 73
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,408

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 40
  Active Positive: 2
  Recovered: 38
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 864

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 76
  Active Positive: 7
  Recovered: 69
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,525

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 10
  Active Positive: 3
  Recovered: 7
  Deaths: 0
  Negatives: 1,815

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