Springdale-Based Biotech Firm Develops Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

Springdale-based medical diagnostic biotechnology firm, NOWDiagnostics, has developed a rapid COVID-19 antibody test. The test, which is pending approval for emergency use by the FDA, will be made available to clinics, labs and for at-home use. It requires a drop of blood and provides results within 15 minutes.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/springdale-based-biotech-firm-develops-rapid-covid-19-antibody-test

Springdale-Based Biotech Firm Develops Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

Springdale-based medical diagnostic biotechnology firm, NOWDiagnostics, has developed a rapid COVID-19 antibody test. The test, which is pending approval for emergency use by the FDA, will be made available to clinics, labs and for at-home use. It requires a drop of blood and provides results within 15 minutes.

Education Boss: Arkansans Must Follow Guidelines ‘If We Want to Make this Work’

The return to school, blood plasma treatments and the need for more testing were key parts of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Monday (Aug. 24) COVID-19 briefing, with Arkansas Secretary of Education Johnny Key saying Arkansans must follow safety guidelines “if we want to make this work.”

Hundreds of thousands of students, educators, support staff and others returned Monday to in-class instruction at Arkansas public schools. Thousands of students elected to return to school only with virtual instruction. Gov. Hutchinson opened his briefing with a note to those returning to school.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/education-boss-arkansans-must-follow-guidelines-if-we-want-to-make-this-work

Education boss: Arkansans must follow guidelines 'if we want to make this work' - Talk Business & Politics

The return to school, blood plasma treatments and the need for more testing were key parts of Gov. Asa Hutchinson's Monday (Aug. 24) COVID-19 briefing, with Arkansas Secretary of Education Johnny Key saying Arkansans must follow safety guidelines "if we want to make this work."

Tropical Storm Laura Effect on Arkansas

National Weather Service statement regarding Tropical Storm Laura and its possible effect on Arkansas

Tropical Storm Laura Impacts to Arkansas

What’s Coming

• Tropical Storm Laura is expected to strengthen into a hurricane today over the Gulf of Mexico.

• Laura is forecast to make landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning along the northern Gulf coast near the Texas/Louisiana border.

• The storm center will lift north over Arkansas sometime Thursday afternoon into Friday. Impacts could be felt as early as Wednesday afternoon and night.

Hazards

• Heavy rain/flash

• Strong winds/wind gusts (mainly southern Arkansas)

• Isolated tornadoes (mainly central/eastern Arkansas)

Discussion

The latest official forecast track has Laura making landfall near the Texas/Louisiana coast as a major hurricane Wednesday night or early Thursday Morning, with the storm moving into Arkansas Thursday afternoon or evening.

Specific impacts will be determined by Laura's track across Arkansas, and slight variations could significantly alter the forecast.

Rainfall...

Heavy rainfall is a given, especially near and to the east of the center as rain bands repeatedly move over the same areas. Based on the latest forecast, western and central Arkansas will be the prime areas for heavy rainfall, with amounts of four to six inches likely, and localized totals in excess of seven inches.

While most of central and eastern Arkansas has been running below average on rainfall as of late, portions of southwest and western Arkansas have been running five to ten inches above average month to date.

We definitely think flash flooding will be a concern, but it would likely take longer to materialize in the driest areas.

Winds...

Even as Laura moves into Arkansas, it is likely to still be maintaining tropical storm strength.

· Sustained winds of 30 to 40 MPH will be possible surrounding the center of circulation, and gusts could approach or even briefly exceed 50 MPH.

· While the winds alone are enough cause for concern, any areas that have experienced heavy rainfall could see more downed trees due to saturated ground.

Tornadoes...

Tornadoes will be possible in the bands north and east of the center of circulation. These are the types of tornadoes that tend to be very brief and move south to north or southeast to northwest. They are particularly challenging to warn for, as they tend to be shallow and short-lived.

Threat timing (Greatest potential)...

Heavy rainfall - Thursday and Friday

Winds - Thursday Afternoon and Evening

Tornadoes - Thursday and Thursday Night

As far as rivers are concerned, with the current amount of rainfall expected, we could see rises in the Ouachita, Saline, Fourche Lafave, Little Missouri and Arkansas basins.

Again, any change in the anticipated track of Laura could alter the forecast significantly.

NWS meteorologists will continue to monitor the situation and adjust the forecast as necessary.

Continue to monitor the latest information from the National Hurricane Center and your Arkansas NWS forecast offices.

National Weather Service

Little Rock, Arkansas

Tuesday's COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,121
  Active Positive: 53
  Recovered: 1,056
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,392

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 393
  Active Positive: 33
  Recovered: 355
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,033

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 258
  Active Positive: 39
  Recovered: 206
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,395

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 207
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 170
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,917

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 157
  Active Positive: 29
  Recovered: 127
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,665

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update from Malvern Tuesday (08.25.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media from Malvern on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

More than 700 Arkansans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic hit the state in March. The Arkansas Department of Health reported another 15 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total to 711. Two of the deaths took place in July, but have just been reported to the ADH. The state also reported another 480 new COVID-19 cases out of 3,300 test results in the last 24-hour monitoring period. Four counties reported more than 20 cases, including Sebastian County, which had 38 new cases. The other three counties are in central Arkansas.

Both Governor Asa Hutchinson and Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero urged Arkansans to continue testing as its the best way of knowing how the virus is spreading in the state. The governor said the state is still waiting for the approval of an application that would allow the distribution of $300 unemployment expansion checks to residents. He also announced an additional $7 million from the Arkansas Rural Connect program will be distributed to smaller communities to expand broadband accessibility in rural parts of the state. Hutchinson also addressed a report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force that shows Arkansas has moved out of the red (most severe) category into the yellow, but the state still ranks as 9th highest in the country for its positivity rate.

The report included recommendations such as stricter limits on businesses and social gatherings. In response to questions about the report, the governor said the state needs to do better with its positivity rate, but there are no plans to issue any further restrictions on businesses.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/state-reports-480-new-covid-19-cases-adh-stresses-importance-continued-testing

Ribbon Cutting at New De Queen High School Monday

Ribbon Cutting at the first day of school at the brand new De Queen High School

Tropical Storm Laura to Affect This Week's Weather

The National Weather Service predicts our area will be impacted by Laura this week.

We wanted to send everyone a quick "heads-up" email about the upcoming potential for impacts from Tropical Storm Laura. At this time, we don't anticipate much in the way of impacts from Hurricane Marco, which is expected to come ashore across southeast Louisiana Monday. However. some uncertainty does remain with the eventual impacts of Marco.

Probably the most important piece of information and why we haven't sent any emails previously is that forecast information has remained inconsistent in terms of where we believe each of the storms will make landfall. From there, the northward path inland of the storms continues to vary as well.

Now, regarding the second storm, Laura. According to the National Hurricane Center and other forecast information, the latest data leads us to believe Laura will make landfall along the upper Texas/Louisiana coast area as a category 2 hurricane Wednesday into Wednesday night. It will then track along the TX/LA border Thursday, making its way into north-central Arkansas Friday morning.

With this track being utilized, the heaviest rainfall amounts will occur across southwest into central portions of the state. Sustained winds across much of southern into central Arkansas could be in the 25-35 mph range with higher gusts. Lastly, with the storm tracking north from southwest to north central Arkansas, all but far western Arkansas could potentially see a threat for isolated tornadoes.

With all this being said, significant changes to impacts may still occur depending on the path it takes. The potential for the path of this storm ranges anywhere from eastern Oklahoma to western Mississippi, with Arkansas in the middle. Due to this uncertainty, please monitor the latest forecast information and we will keep everyone updated in the coming days as often as we can.

(See the attached images for the latest information about the potential track, rainfall and potential for strong winds.)

-NWS Little Rock

Monday's Updated COVID-19 Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,120
  Active Positive: 61
  Recovered: 1,047
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,366

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 391
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 345
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,024

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 256
  Active Positive: 39
  Recovered: 204
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,389

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 204
  Active Positive: 36
  Recovered: 166
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,890

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 156
  Active Positive: 33
  Recovered: 122
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,658

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Monday (08.24.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Monday, August 24, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

Howard County Farmers' Market in Nashville Monday

Market Monday, 24 August starting at 3 pm 

Here is who's coming and what they plan to bring:

- Grandma Sylvia's Creations -
Crocheted facemasks, earrings
Green's Farm -
Plum Jelly, peanut butter cookies, various baked goods
- Threat Farm -
Free-range eggs, various peppers, cherry tomatoes


If more vendors contact us we will update our facebook page.

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!

From De Queen Public Schools

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Because of Covid-19, school will look different this year, and so will transportation. The Arkansas Department of Education’s transportation directors are taking the utmost measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 on buses. These measures include regularly disinfecting the buses and implementing requirements for students to wear masks and socially distance while riding the bus.

But there are other actions we can all take this school year to help ensure the safety of our students. “Flashing Red, Kids Ahead” is an effort led by the Arkansas Department of Education to remind people to be mindful of student safety when approaching school buses.

The purpose of safety campaign is to remind educators, parents, school bus drivers, and community leaders to obey all traffic laws whenever they are near a school bus. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus whenever its red lights are flashing, as students are present.

The law requires drivers to stop on 2-lane and 4-lane highways in both directions, even those with a middle lane. Drivers cannot attempt to pass in any direction until the school bus vehicle has finished receiving or discharging its passengers and is in motion again.

The fines, penalties and punishment for anyone found guilty of illegally passing a stopped school bus were dramatically increased by Arkansas Act 2128 of 2005, also known as Isaac’s Law. The legislation was named for Isaac Brian, an elementary school student in the Bryant School District, who was struck and killed when a driver illegally passed his school bus while students were unloading.

In the 2019 Regular Session, the legislature increased the fines in Isaac’s Law again with Act 166. Drivers can now face up to a $2,500 fine or up to 90 days in jail.

Let’s all do our part to ensure students arrive to and from school safely. Remember: Flashing Red. Kids Ahead.

UA Cossatot Educational Resource Center

The ERC at De Queen will be extending its hours beginning Monday. We’ll be open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Ashley Wenzel will be a resource assistant covering evenings as a FWS. Please note that Ashley is not working as a tutor.

We’ll share specific tutoring hours next week.

The Nashville ERC will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Ashdown ERC is currently by appointment only.

ERC hours will be changing often throughout these first few weeks as we adjust to staff shortages. Thank you for your patience.

Samaritan Soccer Fields in De Queen - Estaban Ochoa

Estaban Ochoa stopped by the Ed 88 De Queen studio Friday to give an update on the Samaritan Fields soccer project.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture Extended Deadline

JONESBORO, Ark. — Farmers have more time to apply for aid under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program after the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended the deadline to Sept. 11.

The original program application deadline was Aug. 28.

Scott Stiles, extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said that through Aug. 17, Arkansas farmers had received nearly $127 million in payments through CFAP from more than 16,400 applications.

“Payments totaled $90.8 million to livestock producers, $31.6 million to producers of non-specialty crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton and sorghum; $3.2 million to producers of specialty crops and roughly $1 million to dairy producers,” Stiles said.

Total payments jumped $27 million last week and are likely to show another sharp increase this week as USDA’s Farm Service Agency begins second-installment payments.

“Producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments,” Stiles said. “Beginning August 17, the FSA was issuing the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers.”

Producers who received initial payments need not apply for the second installment.

Stiles said that “going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment — provided it does not exceed the $250,000-per-person payment limit — when their applications are approved.”

Where to apply

Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, are recommended to call (877) 508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call.

Producers can also find information and applications at the program website: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap. There, producers may:

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on August 11 that the deadline to apply for CFAP has been extended to September 11. The original application deadline was August 28, 2020. USDA's Farm Service Agency offers multiple ways for you to apply for CFAP to meet your business needs.

• Download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local office or office drop box.

• Complete the application using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.

• If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP Application Portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.

All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can also be downloaded at the CFAP website. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.

To learn about extension and research programs in Arkansas, visit www.division.uaex.edu, Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.

De Queen and Centerpoint School Districts on the High Risk List

Nineteen school districts in Arkansas are considered at high risk of coronavirus outbreaks based on the number of cases among residents within the districts' boundaries over a recent two-week span, according to information released Thursday by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.

The center's president, Joe Thompson, unveiled the data at Gov. Asa Hutchinson's daily news conference on the pandemic as the state released a new guidance document on how districts can respond to outbreaks once classes start next week.

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2020/aug/21/19-school-districts-deemed-high-risk-for-virus

19 school districts in state deemed high-risk for virus

Nineteen school districts in Arkansas are considered at high risk of coronavirus outbreaks based on the number of cases among residents within the districts' boundaries over a recent two-week span, according to information released Thursday by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.

Sunday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,114
  Active Positive: 63
  Recovered: 1,039
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,341

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 389
  Active Positive: 40
  Recovered: 345
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 3,012

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 254
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 200
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,386

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 200
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 163
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,882

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 154
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 118
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,652

AUDIO: Governor Asa Hutchinson Weekly Address: Getting Back to School

Most Arkansas schools are starting next week, and today I’d like to offer some thoughts as we head into an academic year unlike any in my lifetime.

One of my favorite things about the new school year in Gravette where I grew up was going to McAlister’s Grocery and Hardware store to buy school supplies.

In my day, we bought pencils, Big Chief tablets, and little plastic tubs of white paste with a spreader built into the lid. In high school, we took notes with ballpoint pens in spiral-bound notebooks. Teachers wrote on blackboards with chalk. We learned science with filmstrips and overhead projectors.

The world has changed much since those simple days. Chromebooks and iPads have replaced pen and paper. YouTube has replaced film projectors. Those changes occurred gradually, and we had time to adjust. We didn’t suddenly have to toss out everything that was familiar.

But the pandemic has changed almost everything about life, and it changed it in an instant. It’s as if we woke up one morning to a world where nothing looked the same. That kind of rapid change is understandably unsettling.

COVID-19 has changed education dramatically. Whether you are starting kindergarten or finishing college, this year won’t look like last year. But the basics do remain the same. Teachers will share new concepts with their students. Cafeteria workers will prepare delicious meals. After a week of learning, students will cheer the football team on Friday nights.

We’ve already had some valuable experience in rethinking school. In the last three months of the spring semester, the pandemic forced us to alter the way in which we live, celebrate, and learn. This means there is a lot of change. But there are also some important life lessons from all of this. In school and in life, some of the most valuable lessons don’t come from books, but from experience. This year, in addition to literature, computer coding, and biology, we will learn a number of important life lessons, such as we can adapt to the changes that the coronavirus has forced on us.

Also, it is important that we not only start the school year but finish the school year. And to do this, all of us must perform at a higher level and work as a team. We are all individually responsible, but we are also dependent on each other to be successful in beating the virus. We are living through a historic time. We will get through this. This school year will be easier if each of us does our part. Wash your hands. Wear a mask when appropriate. Keep your distance socially. Be patient and kind to your schoolmates and teachers.

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Friday (08.21.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Friday, August 21, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

Friday's Arkansas COVID-19 Update from the AR Department of Health

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,086
  Active Positive: 60
  Recovered: 1,015
  Deaths: 11
  Negatives: 5,293

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 383
  Active Positive: 43
  Recovered: 337
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 2,988

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 248
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 201
  Deaths: 6
  Negatives: 1,369

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 191
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 154
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,829

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 151
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 109
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,628