This week on Fit-4-Life, Dr. Andi talks about the importance of boosting your immune system.
YouthBuild Program Launches August 17 at UA Cossatot
UA Cossatot recently became the second college in Arkansas to offer a YouthBuild program. YouthBuild programs provide educational training and occupational skill development to students ages 16 to 24. In the program, students can choose two skill pathways to obtain employment in construction/carpentry or industrial maintenance/welding.
The program's first semester will begin on August 17, 2020, at UA Cossatot's De Queen Campus, and the deadline to enroll in the program is August 10. No educational requirements exist to register. Students who do not have a high school degree or a GED certificate will earn their GED certificate in the program.
Depending upon class size, the Construction/Carpentry Pathway will be offered in the morning, while the Industrial Maintenance/Welding Pathway will be available in the afternoon.
Students who sign up to participate in the YouthBuild program will have the opportunity to learn hands-on experience while learning skills that can lead to future employment. The program is free to everyone enrolled, and YouthBuild students will benefit from supportive services at UA Cossatot.
Leslie Daniels and Steve McJunkins
The college's Job Placement Specialist will be working independently with students to help them learn about available careers. UA Cossatot's YouthBuild program will give students the opportunity to give back to their communities while volunteering and achieving experience they can use throughout their lifetime.
UA Cossatot's YouthBuild program consists of three staff members: Instructor, Steve McJunkins; Job Placement Specialist, Casey Morris; and Case Manager, Leslie Daniels. The college’s YouthBuild staff are located in the Frachisuer-Pullium building on UA Cossatot's De Queen Campus.
To enroll in UA Cossatot's YouthBuild program or for more information, please contact Casey Morris at 870-557-0883 or cmorris@cccua.edu. Students can also contact Leslie Daniels at 870-584-9798 or ldaniels@cccua.edu. UA Cossatot is open from 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. this summer Monday thru Thursday. Walk-ins are always welcome.
COVID-19 Update for Sunday from the AR Department of Health
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 933
Active Positive: 37
Recovered: 886
Deaths: 10
Negatives: 4,401
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 294
Active Positive: 73
Recovered: 219
Deaths: 2
Negatives: 2,363
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 152
Active Positive: 76
Recovered: 75
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,182
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 128
Active Positive: 18
Recovered: 109
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,101
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 77
Active Positive: 18
Recovered: 58
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,612
Arkansas Supreme Court Grants Review For Group Wanting To Expand Casinos
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday approved a request by Arkansas Wins requiring Secretary of State John Thurston to verify signatures as part of the group’s effort to place an expanded casino license amendment on the November general election ballot. The court also granted Protect Arkansas Communities, a group formed to opposed Arkansas Wins, the right to intervene in the case.
Arkansas Supreme Court Grants Review For Group Wanting To Expand Casinos
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday approved a request by Arkansas Wins requiring Secretary of State John Thurston to verify signatures as part of the group's effort to place an expanded casino license amendment on the November general election ballot. Friday's ruling also granted "provisional certification of the initiative pending review of the merits of the certification by the court."
Arkansans Wonder What's Next As $600 Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Ends
With a national unemployment rate of over 11 percent, many people, including thousands of Arkansans, are wondering what happens next as the pandemic unemployment benefit of an extra $600 a week runs out and congressional lawmakers have yet to come together on what an extension of those benefits will look like.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansans-wonder-whats-next-600-pandemic-unemployment-benefit-ends
Arkansans Wonder What's Next As $600 Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Ends
With a national unemployment rate of over 11 percent, many people, including thousands of Arkansans, are wondering what happens next as the pandemic unemployment benefit of an extra $600 a week runs out today and congressional lawmakers have yet to come together on what an extension of those benefits will look like.
Saturday's COVID-19 Numbers from the Arkansas Department of Health
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 929
Active Positive: 44
Recovered: 875
Deaths: 10
Negatives: 4,384
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 291
Active Positive: 73
Recovered: 216
Deaths: 2
Negatives: 2,352
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 149
Active Positive: 75
Recovered: 73
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,173
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 125
Active Positive: 17
Recovered: 107
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,077
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 77
Active Positive: 21
Recovered: 55
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,594
Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | The Arkansas Access Point Project
LITTLE ROCK – Under our state’s broadband initiative, the number of Arkansans with access to high-speed internet is increasing, and today I’d like to talk about the Arkansas Access Point Project, a new program that will make the world wide web available for thousands more students.
This week I announced that our Department of Education has signed agreements with three major telecommunications companies to purchase Wi-Fi access devices and unlimited data plans at a reduced cost for every school district in the state.
The Department of Education will buy as many as 20,000 of the devices with $10 million from funding provided through the federal CARES Act. The devices and internet access are free to students. School districts are equipping students with computers and tablets.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to adjust our methods of teaching and focused attention on the need for the option of virtual education. Arkansas Access Point Project expands our ability to teach virtually and increases the number of students who can choose that option.
This program opens new opportunities and narrows the gap between those who have access to high-speed broadband and those who do not. Students will be able to take the devices home. They won’t have to sit in a McDonald’s to do their homework. This is especially important to our rural communities and for families who otherwise might not be able to afford this vital access.
Sally Bennett, superintendent of the rural Rivercrest District in northeast Arkansas, welcomed the news that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon had agreed to participate in the project. She knows firsthand that the digital divide is real and deep.
Sally and her team of educators have worked hard and creatively during the pandemic to provide internet access to students. In the spring, they equipped school buses with Wi-Fi devices to deliver the internet along with meals for students who were confined to home. They extended Wi-Fi into the schools’ parking lot, but this still doesn’t help the student in their home.
She estimates that 40 percent of the eleven-hundred students in Rivercrest District have no access to internet, so you can understand why she calls our new initiative a “game changer.”
I share the superintendent’s excitement about this agreement, but this doesn’t completely bridge the digital divide in our state. We still have a lot of work to do to expand access to broadband internet. It’s important that everyone in Arkansas has the opportunities that come with easy and reliable access to the world wide web, whether they live in rural Mississippi County or in the state capital.
Governor Hutchinson Creates Advisory Group To Advise High School Sports During Pandemic
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed 14 physicians, mental health professionals, coaches, and educators to the High School Sports Advisory Group, which he created to consider the safest way to conduct sports and activities for the 2020-2021 school year.
“The Department of Health will continue its responsibility to provide health guidelines, and this group of experts will serve in an advisory capacity to look specifically at how we can have fall sports in the safest manner possible,” Governor Hutchinson said. “We want to consider every angle to protect our athletes, cheerleaders, and band members.
“My message for the football players on Monday is to grab your helmet for practice and then after practice, grab a mask. Because our responsibility for safety extends beyond the practice field.”
Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe will chair the group. Kelvin Gragg, superintendent of the Dumas School District, is vice chair.
The other members of the High School Sports Advisory Group are:
Dr. Lowry Barnes, orthopedic surgeon and chairman of UAMS Department of Orthopedics.
Jacob Brown, Therapeutic Family Services.
Paul Calley, dean of students, assistant football coach, Southwest High School.
Jason Cates, athletic trainer at Cabot School District; chairman of the Arkansas Sports Medicine Committee.
Laura Crow, volleyball coach at Conway High School.
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, state epidemiologist, Arkansas Department of Health.
Fitz Hill, State Board of Education.
Dr. Michael Israel, associate professor of Adolescent Medicine and Director of Sports Medicine at Arkansas Children’s.
Dr. Lee Johnson, state representative.
Janet McDonald, behavioral health professional at Pinnacle Point.
Lance Taylor, director of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA).
Dr. Joel Tumlison, physician specialist, Arkansas Department of Health.
Tri-County Regional Library Board of Trustees Meeting August 11
The Quarterly meeting of the Tri-County Regional Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11th at 5 p.m. at the De Queen, Arkansas, Branch of the Sevier County Library. Items on the agenda are the 2020-2021 Budget and other financial matters.
Marilyn B. Archer, MLS
Director
Tri-County Regional Library System
Serving 11 Public Libraries in Howard, Little River and Sevier counties in SW Arkansas
Friday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 927
Active Positive: 50
Recovered: 867
Deaths: 10
Negatives: 4,337
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 287
Active Positive: 80
Recovered: 205
Deaths: 2
Negatives: 2,325
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 145
Active Positive: 71
Recovered: 73
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,162
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 125
Active Positive: 18
Recovered: 107
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 2,047
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 69
Active Positive: 21
Recovered: 47
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,563
UAMS to Provide COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Aug. 6 in DeQueen
LITTLE ROCK – Drive-up testing for COVID-19 will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Aug. 6 at the University of Arkansas Cossatot Community College DeQueen Campus, 183 College Drive in DeQueen. There will be no out-of-pocket cost for testing. The first 200 community members will be tested.
The testing will be conducted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in cooperation with UA Cossatot Community College and the Blue and You Foundation.
You do not have to be a UAMS patient to be seen. This testing is for everyone who feels they need testing. Patients will get instructions on how to take care of themselves and their family at home. Test results will be returned either through an online patient portal, letter or phone call.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms, wash your hands regularly and practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from other people not in your household, and wear a mask in public. An online screening tool is available at uamshealth.com/healthnow. Phone screening is available through the UAMS Health hotline at 800-632-4502.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise including its hospital, regional clinics and clinics it operates or staffs in cooperation with other providers. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report named UAMS Medical Center the state’s Best Hospital; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top UAMS to Provide COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Aug. 6 in DeQueen Page 2 50 nationwide; and named six areas as high performing — cancer, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery. UAMS has 2,727 students, 870 medical residents and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.
2020 Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday August 1, 2020, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday August 2, 2020, the State of Arkansas will hold its sales tax holiday allowing shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain School Supplies, School Art Supplies, School Instructional Materials, and clothing free of state and local sales or use tax.
All retailers are required to participate and may not charge tax on items that are legally tax-exempt during the Sales Tax Holiday.
Arkansas Residents Asked to Report Mystery Seed, Product Packages
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK – Did you receive a packet of seeds or some trinket that you didn’t order? The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is asking Arkansans to let the department know if they received unsolicited packages in the mail.
Anyone receiving packages of seeds that they did not order should contact Arkansas Plant Industries Division at 501-225-1598, or by email: Paul.shell@agriculture.arkansas.gov or Mark.stoll@agriculture.arkansas.gov.
“The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has been made aware that private citizens in several states have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China,” said Scott Bray, plant industries director for the Arkansas Agriculture Department. “The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species. We urge people not to plant them, but report them to us.”
Cooperative Extension Service agents around the state said residents in their counties have received the seeds and asked agents what they were. Agents have been asked to place any seeds in a zip top plastic bag to send to the Arkansas Agriculture Department.
Some of the packages were marked as containing jewelry. Others had no content description on the outside. Return addresses indicated origins in China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
“These seeds are of unknown species and of unknown origin. We have no idea why or what’s being sent to us,” said Vic Ford, associate vice president-agriculture and natural resources, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. “The possibility of introducing an exotic invasive species or disease of common crops is a possibility and we have to take precautions.”
To learn about extension and research programs in Arkansas, visit division.uaex.edu, Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.
2020 - Mystery Seed Packages
Images of mystery seed packages received by Arkansas residents in July 2020.
Thursday's COVID-19 Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 918
Active Positive: 55
Recovered: 853
Deaths: 10
Negatives: 4,307
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 282
Active Positive: 87
Recovered: 193
Deaths: 2
Negatives: 2,293
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 138
Active Positive: 69
Recovered: 68
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,148
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 124
Active Positive: 18
Recovered: 106
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 2,017
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 65
Active Positive: 17
Recovered: 47
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,517
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Thursday (07.30.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Thursday, July 30, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.
Increase in COVID-19 Testing a Challenge for Healthcare Workers
As the coronavirus continues spreading through Arkansas, with daily records for new cases being repeatedly broken last week, more people are being tested for the virus. That’s causing longer lines at testing locations throughout the state.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reports it’s now averaging about 500 tests being conducted each weekday at its drive-thru triage in Little Rock, an increase of about 30% since the beginning of July.
Challenges Facing Arkansas Healthcare Workers Testing For The Coronavirus
As the coronavirus continues spreading through Arkansas, with daily records for new cases being repeatedly broken last week, more people are being tested for the virus. That's causing longer lines at testing locations throughout the state.
Fiocchi Ammunition Will Locate in Little Rock and Employ 85
A 225-year old Italian company with a large North American presence is expanding manufacturing operations in Central Arkansas.
Fiocchi of America, the U.S. subsidiary of Italy-based Fiocchi Group, announced plans Wednesday to establish a new manufacturing facility in Little Rock. It will invest $15 million in a new facility and hire 85 skilled employees with plans to further increase its workforce as the facility reaches its full potential.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/ammunitions-manufacturer-locate-little-rock-hire-85-workers
Ammunitions Manufacturer To Locate In Little Rock, Hire 85 Workers
A 225-year old Italian company with a large North American presence is expanding manufacturing operations in Central Arkansas. Fiocchi of America, the U.S. subsidiary of Italy-based Fiocchi Group, announced plans Wednesday to establish a new manufacturing facility in Little Rock.
Tyson Plans to Increase Coronavirus Testing
Tyson Foods says it plans to administer thousands of coronavirus tests per week at its U.S. facilities under an expanded effort to protect workers and keep plants running. The tests are on top of daily health screenings when workers arrive at Tyson’s 140 U.S. production facilities, the company said Thursday.
Tyson Foods to increase virus testing in US meat plants
Tyson Foods says it plans to administer thousands of coronavirus tests per week at its U.S. facilities under an expanded effort to protect workers and keep plants running.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update From Russellville Wednesday (07.29.20) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide an update to media in Russellville Wednesday, July 29, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.
COVID-19 Update for Wednesday 07/29/20
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
Total Positive: 913
Active Positive: 54
Recovered: 849
Deaths: 10
Negatives: 4,274
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
Total Positive: 275
Active Positive: 83
Recovered: 190
Deaths: 2
Negatives: 2,271
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
Total Positive: 106
Active Positive: 40
Recovered: 65
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1,109
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
Total Positive: 123
Active Positive: 16
Recovered: 107
Deaths: 0
Negatives: 1,997
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
Total Positive: 60
Active Positive: 17
Recovered: 42
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 2,492
