A 22-month long leadership program through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture continues through a pandemic. LeadAR offers participants a chance to have a global view of issues facing Arkansas and its communities.
Ballot Title Approved for Proposed Amendment by Arkansas Voters First
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas board has approved the ballot title and popular name for a proposed constitutional amendment that would shift the authority on who can redraw legislative and congressional boundaries for the next decade.
Arkansas board approves ballot title for proposed amendment
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas board has approved the ballot title and popular name for a proposed constitutional amendment that would shift the authority on who can redraw legislative and congressional boundaries for the next decade. The state Board of Election Commissioners voted Wednesday to advance the amendment proposed by The Arkansas Voters First.
Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert Hospitalized From Coronavirus
An Arkansas state senator is in the hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Sen. Jason Rapert on Thursday said in a statement provided by the Senate that he was hospitalized after being diagnosed with pneumonia and testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The statement said Rapert was responding well to treatment.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-state-senator-jason-rapert-hospitalized-covid-19
Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert Hospitalized For COVID-19
An Arkansas state senator is in the hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. Sen. Jason Rapert on Thursday said in a statement provided by the Senate that he was hospitalized after being diagnosed with pneumonia and testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
University of Arkansas Issues Reopening Plan
After operating remotely since mid-March, the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is re-opening in phases in preparation for fall semester under strict guidance from the campus COVID-19 Response Team.
University of Arkansas Issues Reopening Plan
After operating remotely since mid-March, the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is re-opening in phases in preparation for fall semester under strict guidance from the campus COVID-19 Response Team. Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Laura Jacobs provides details.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Friday (07.24.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Friday, July 24, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response. (Click on play button above.)
Governor Hutchinson Appoints Solomon Graves Secretary of Department of Corrections
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed Solomon Graves as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections. The governor announced the appointment today during his daily COVID-19 briefing.
“Solomon is stepping up during a difficult time in Arkansas, but with fourteen years of experience in adult corrections, he is well prepared for the task,” Governor Hutchinson said. “In my time as governor, I have benefited from Solomon’s breadth of knowledge of the prison system and the wisdom of his counsel. He is a compassionate leader who will vigorously fulfill the state’s responsibility to assure public safety balanced with the need for rehabilitation and reentry support.”
Mr. Graves succeeds Secretary Wendy Kelley, who has overseen the Department since 2015.
“I am honored and humbled by the faith shown in me by Governor Hutchinson,” Mr. Graves said. “The staff and leadership of the Department are some of the most dedicated public servants I have ever met. My commitment to them is that we will remain focused on public safety and successful offender reentry, while we work to meet our varied challenges and improve the efficiency of our service to Arkansans.”
The Board of Corrections will consider Governor Hutchinson’s recommendation at a called meeting on Tuesday, July 28.
Mr. Graves has served as Chief of Staff to Secretary Kelley for the past year. Before that, he was public information officer for the Division of Correction. From 2007 to 2016, he was board administrator for the Parole Board.
Governor Hutchinson appointed Mr. Graves to his Transformation Advisory Board in 2017, and he served on the Governor’s Transformation Transition Team in 2019.
Mr. Graves earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a master’s in public administration from Webster University.
Mr. Graves and his wife live in Little Rock. They have one son.
U of A Grad Students Request Increase in Stipends
Graduate assistants at the University of Arkansas are asking for higher wages. The request comes as the pandemic has made it more difficult to obtain a second job or meant more time preparing to teach in socially-distanced classrooms or even remotely. The university is forming a committee to examine the issue while graduate students are continuing to collect signatures in support of their effort.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/u-grad-students-request-increase-stipends
U of A Grad Students Request Increase in Stipends
Graduate assistants at the University of Arkansas are asking for higher wages. The request comes as the pandemic has made it more difficult to obtain a second job or meant more time preparing to teach in socially-distanced classrooms or even remotely.
Thursday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 880
Active Positive: 66
Recovered: 805
Deaths: 9
Negatives: 4,015
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 209
Active Positive: 69
Recovered: 139
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,009
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 72
Active Positive: 23
Recovered: 48
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,013
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 106
Active Positive: 13
Recovered: 93
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,851
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 43
Active Positive: 15
Recovered: 28
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 2,267
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Thursday (07.23.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Thursday, July 23, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response. (Click on Play Button Above)
National Guard Called In to Assist at Washington Regional COVID Unit in Fayetteville
The face covering requirement is now in effect and while there is some push back against the mandate, the current conditions demand it. The state reported another 699 new cases with 11 counties reporting at least 20 new cases. There were also six additional deaths and 18 more hospitalizations, bringing the total number of hospitalized individuals to 471.
Among 11 regional states, from Kansas to Kentucky, Arkansas now has the third-highest rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 residents. Governor Asa Hutchinson also authorized 10 National Guard personnel to support case management work at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. During the most recent 24-hour reporting period, the state received fewer than 5,700 test results, so the governor said, reaching a goal of 200,000 tests in July will be a challenge.
Hutchinson also announced the state has received more than $8 million in federal CARES funds to help low income residents pay for utility bills, which will allow Arkansas to relaunch the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/national-guard-called-assist-washington-regional-covid-unit
National Guard Called In to Assist at Washington Regional COVID Unit
Governor Asa Hutchinson started Monday's coronavirus response briefing by reminding residents the face covering requirement is now in effect and while there is some pushback against the mandate, the current conditions demand it. The state reported another 699 new cases with 11 counties reporting at least 20 new cases, including 94 in Washington County, 57 in Benton County and 25 in Sebastian County.
Sevier County Libraries Reopening Soon
We have received news that our protective glass will be in next week.( only 3 weeks late but everyone is installing). As soon as we are able to get it installed then we will open. Since Masks are mandated by the Governor of Arkansas, masks will be required in all Sevier County Libraries. However if you have a health condition that prevents wearing a mask for a short time then give us a call and we will set up an appointment for you so we can make sure we have time to clean extra before you enter the building. We will also continue curbside service from 10-4 Monday - Friday.
UA Cossatot’s $500 CARES ACT Grant Application is Available for Fall Students
University of Arkansas Cossatot has announced that students who qualify can apply and receive a $500 CARES ACT Grant this fall. This grant was established with federal funds to help students that were and are still financially being impacted due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.
The deadline to register for fall classes and receive a fall CARES ACT Grant is September 1, 2020.
After registering for fall classes, students can complete the application at www.cccua.edu/cares. The
$500 checks will be mailed to students who qualify starting September 2, 2020.
UA Cossatot still has $233,000 of CARES ACT funds left from the spring and summer to be awarded to UA Cossatot students this fall. Students who are taking online courses or who have previously received the grant earlier this year are still eligible to apply for the CARES ACT Grant this fall.
UA Cossatot’s Student Services department is currently enrolling students in fall classes. Students can sign up for classes or seek assistance by contacting Student Services at 870-584-4471 or via e-mail at studentservices@cccua.edu. Students can also enroll in classes in-person with an Admissions Advisor. The college is open this summer Monday thru Thursday from 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
For more information about the UA Cossatot CARES ACT Grant Application, please visit www.cccua.edu/cares.
Cossatot Community College
What is the UA Cossatot FALL CARES ACT Grant? The UA Cossatot FALL CARES ACT Grant is a $500grant that was established with federal funds to help students that were/are financially impacted due to the disruption of campus operations caused by COVID-19.
COVID-19 Update for Wednesday, July 22nd
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 869
Active Positive: 60
Recovered: 800
Deaths: 9
Negatives: 3,962
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 196
Active Positive: 59
Recovered: 136
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,975
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 67
Active Positive: 18
Recovered: 48
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,001
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 106
Active Positive: 15
Recovered: 91
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,837
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 39
Active Positive: 13
Recovered: 26
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 2,242
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update from Fayetteville Wednesday (07.22.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides a COVID-19 update to media in Fayetteville on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response
State Scholarships are Available for UA Cossatot Students
Students interested in receiving financial aid assistance for the 2020-2021 academic year still have time to apply for three state scholarships. These three scholarships include the Academic Challenge Scholarship, the Arkansas Future Grant Scholarship, and the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship.
The Academic Challenge Scholarship is open until August 1, 2020. This scholarship is a grant that applies to students regardless of their academic status, whether just graduating from high school, currently enrolled in college, enrolling in college for the first time, or re-enrolling after a period of time out of college.
The deadline for the Arkansas Future (ArFuture) Grant Scholarship is also August 1. This grant aims to increase the education and skills of Arkansas’s workforce in an affordable manner. The grant applies to students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), or regional high demand areas of study.
Students who are single parents can apply for the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship, which is open until September 15 for the fall 2020 semester. Students can also apply for this scholarship opportunity now to be used for the spring 2021 semester. The deadline to apply for the spring semester is January 15, 2021.
Students can view details, requirements, and apply for the Academic Challenge and ArFuture Grant scholarships online at scholarships.adhe.edu. Students can also apply for the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship at aspsf.org.
For any questions about scholarships or financial aid assistance, students can e-mail UA Cossatot’s Financial Aid department at finanicalaid@cccua.edu or call 870-584-1112.
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund | Arkansas Scholarships
We help eligible single parents in Arkansas build a new future for their families. At ASPSF, we support both part-time and full-time single-parent students pursuing a post-secondary education, including associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and certificate programs. We also make referrals to additional services to help with other needs, and offer developmental programs to help you be job ready.
De Queen Public Schools Notice
Revels and Company CPA's Sophomore Accounting Scholarship to UA Cossatot
$500 is Available Per Student at UA Cossatot Through the Fall Cares Act Grant
Stanford Epidemiologist Discusses COVID-19 Death Rate, Herd Immunity, Mutation
Sister Station, KUAF in Fayetteville, invites you to listen in to a two-part interview with Erin Mordecai, an assistant professor of biology at Stanford University, about COVID-19. Part one of the conversation includes discussions about the death rate, herd immunity and whether the virus has the potential to mutate. Click on the KUAF link below.
Stanford Epidemiologist Discusses COVID-19 Death Rate, Herd Immunity, Mutation
In a two-part interview, we speak with Erin Mordecai, an assistant professor of biology at Stanford University, about COVID-19. Part one of the conversation includes discussions about the death rate, herd immunity and whether the virus has the potential to mutate.
New Nano Drug Candidate Kills Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells, U of A Researchers Say
July 20, 2020
Whit Pruitt, University Relations
Hassan Beyzavi
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a new nano drug candidate that kills triple negative breast cancer cells.
Triple negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive and fatal types of breast cancer. The research will help clinicians target breast cancer cells directly, while avoiding the adverse, toxic side effects of chemotherapy.
Their study was published in June issue of Advanced Therapeutics.
Researchers led by Hassan Beyzavi, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, linked a new class of nanomaterials, called metal-organic frameworks, with the ligands of an already-developed photodynamic therapy drug to create a nano-porous material that targets and kills tumor cells without creating toxicity for normal cells.
Metal-organic frameworks are an emerging class of nanomaterials designed for targeted drug delivery. Ligands are molecules that bind to other molecules.
“With the exception of skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women,” said Beyzavi. “As we know, thousands of women die from breast cancer each year. Patients with triple negative cells are especially vulnerable, because of the toxic side effects of the only approved treatment for this type of cancer. We’ve addressed this problem by developing a co-formulation that targets cancer cells and has no effect on healthy cells.”
The chemical structure of multi-functional, anticancer drug candidate. Image provided by Hassan Beyzavi, University of Arkansas.
Researchers in Beyzavi’s laboratory focus on developing new, targeted photodynamic therapy drugs. As an alternative to chemotherapy – and with significantly fewer side effects – targeted photodynamic therapy, or PDT, is a noninvasive approach that relies on a photosensitizer that, upon irradiation by light, generates so-called toxic reactive oxygen species, which kill cancer cells. In recent years, PDT has garnered attention because of its ability to treat tumors without surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
Beyzavi’s laboratory has specialized in integrating nanomaterials, such as metal-organic frameworks, with PDT and other and therapies. Metal-organic frameworks significantly enhance the effectiveness of PDT.
Doctoral student Yoshie Sakamaki from Beyzavi’s laboratrory prepared the nanomaterials and then bio-conjugated them with ligands of the PDT drug to create nanoporous materials that specifically targeted and killed tumor cells with no toxicity in normal cells.
In addition to cancer treatment, this novel drug delivery system could also be used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or fluorescence imaging, which can track the drug in the body and monitor the progress of cancer treatment.
This collaborative project also included contributions from U of A research groups through Julie Stenken, professor of analytical chemistry; Yuchun Du, associate professor of biological sciences; and Jin-Woo Kim, professor of biological and agricultural engineering.
The American Cancer Society estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2019 and 41,760 deaths. Currently there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Since 2007, breast cancer death rates have been steady in women younger than 50 but have continued to decrease in older women. This decrease is believed to be the result of earlier detection and better treatments.
Triple negative breast cancer is aggressive and lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which means it cannot be treated with receptor-targeted therapy. It is difficult to treat with existing chemotherapy and often requires surgery because it quickly metastasizes throughout the body.
Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the only approved treatment for this type of breast cancer. More than 80% of women with triple negative breast cancer are treated with chemotherapy regimens that include anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin, which can cause cardiotoxicity as a serious side effect. Furthermore, chemotherapy treatment of breast cancer cell lines using either 5-FU, cisplatin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin or etoposide have shown multi-drug resistance.
Beyzavi joined the University of Arkansas in 2017 after serving as a research associate at Harvard University. Before that he was a postdoctoral awardee at Northwestern University under the co-guidance of Nobel Laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart.
About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.