UA School of Journalism to Run COVID-19 Website

The University of Arkansas School of Journalism is taking over the maintenance of www.ArkansasCOVID.com this month. The project, which also includes a Twitter account with more than 12,000 followers, analyzes statewide, COVID-19 data. Springdale resident and small business owner Misty Orpin launched the initiative in April as a way to better understand how the pandemic was affecting her community.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/ua-school-journalism-run-covid-19-website

UA School of Journalism to Run COVID-19 Website

The University of Arkansas School of Journalism is taking over the maintenance of www.ArkansasCOVID.com this month. The project, which also includes a Twitter account with more than 12,000 followers, analyzes statewide, COVID-19 data. Springdale resident and small business owner Misty Orpin launched the initiative in April as a way to better understand how the pandemic was affecting her community.

Thursday's COVID-19 Numbers

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,159
  Active Positive: 22
  Recovered: 1,125
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,565

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 425
  Active Positive: 32
  Recovered: 388
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,157

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 284
  Active Positive: 16
  Recovered: 253
  Deaths: 15
  Negatives: 1,448

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 225
  Active Positive: 15
  Recovered: 207
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 3,113

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 177
  Active Positive: 10
  Recovered: 166
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,743

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Thursday (09.03.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Thursday, September 3, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

Free Meals for Arkansas Students

UA Cossatot YouthBuild Students Complete Mental Toughness Training

(from left to right) Hattie Vance, Timothy Stubbs, Jonathon Harrington, Raymond Perez, Coby Butler, and Sherriff Robert Gentry

Jayden Pope is one of the students who was unavailable for the group picture

Confederate Statue Removed From Downtown Square In Bentonville

After 112 years, a statue of a Confederate soldier has been removed from Bentonville’s downtown square. Several onlookers gathered Wednesday morning as a construction crew started to disassemble the sculpture and its base.

The controversial statue was placed on the Bentonville square in 1908 and was mistakenly considered by some as a statue of former Arkansas Gov. James Berry, who took office in 1882. The statue is not of Berry, but is a common statue that is seen in many city squares and on courthouse lawns in the South. Berry helped pay for the statue, and a small plaque upon it in his honor following his death in 1913.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/confederate-statue-removed-downtown-square-bentonville

Confederate Statue Removed From Downtown Square In Bentonville

After 112 years, a statue of a Confederate soldier has been removed from Bentonville's downtown square. Several onlookers gathered Wednesday morning as a construction crew started to disassemble the sculpture and its base. The controversial statue was placed on the Bentonville square in 1908 and was mistakenly considered by some as a statue of former Arkansas Gov.

UA Cossatot Hosts Colts 2020 Benefit Golf Tournament August 29

(Left to Right) 1st row: Ashley Starks, Ra'naiya Kennedy, A'nayzia Jefferson, Mikayla Scott, Kyaira Jackson, Maya Hallman, Ashley Aguilar, and Kailynne Chaney

(Left to Right) Dustin Bissell, Jeff Brown, Cory Mc Mellon, Stephen Sprick, Jon Bunyard, and Seth Tollett

UA Cossatot Cornhole Tournament Winners – Chris Richards and Stephen Miller

LifeShare Declares Emergency Blood Need Following Laura

Surgeries including organ transplants put at risk because of shortage

August 30th, 2020 – Imagine waiting years on a transplant list for the organ that could save your life knowing that for most – that lifesaving gift never comes. Then one day, the phone call that changes everything – the liver you’ve been waiting and praying for is available.

That’s the story of one Ark-La-Tex patient this weekend. However, what should have been a happy moment turned uncertain for surgeons as LifeShare was unable to provide the blood needed for the surgery. Fortunately, surgeons were able to go ahead with the operation, as LifeShare worked to relocate blood products.

“Hospitals are being forced to make tough decisions right now that could impact the outcome for their patients,” said LifeShare Regional Director Elizabeth Cunningham. “Since Thursday, LifeShare has collected 393 units of red blood cells. That’s 26% of the blood LifeShare needs to support the transplants, traumas, and other treatments requiring a blood transfusion at our local hospitals.”

For more than a week, LifeShare has been reaching out to other blood centers for help, but because of the nationwide blood shortage, only a few blood centers were able to provide minimal assistance.

LifeShare is operating on extended hours at all of its donor centers. All donor centers will be open this week Monday-Friday from 8am-6pm and on Saturday from 8am-3pm. Several mobile drives will also be operating. All mobile locations can be found at LifeShare.org or on the LifeShare app. The donor center in Lake Charles remains closed as the facility is still without water and electricity.

This appeal is going out to everyone, but LifeShare is trying to focus on young donors. “This is a time of year when we would typically be in our high schools and colleges. Because of COVID-19, many of these blood drives are canceled or are yielding far fewer donors than usual. Most people don’t recognize that nearly one-quarter of the blood supply comes from teenagers. Young people are the backbone of the local blood supply,” says Cunningham. LifeShare is asking young people to please donate blood. Also, if you’re a parent, coach, teacher, or other influencer, please get the word out about this critical need.

Businesses and churches that want to help are urged to call LifeShare and schedule a blood drive. LifeShare has been taking extra safety precautions since the outbreak of COVID-19. Thus far, there are no reports of a LifeShare team member or LifeShare donor contracting the virus from interacting with each other during the donation process. Donating blood is as safe as it ever has been.

LifeShare doesn’t use the word “emergency” very often. The last emergency appeal was issued more than 15 months ago.

Cooperative Extension Service Offers Free Virtual Estate Planning Workshops

Cooperative Extension Service offers free virtual estate planning workshops

By Tracy Courage

U of A System Division of Agriculture

Fast facts:

· Free estate planning workshop series: Sept. 10, 17, 24

· Covers estate planning, wills and trusts, asset protection, power of attorney · Register at https://bit.ly/UAEXEstatePlanning

UAEX Multi-County Virtual Estate Planning Sign Up Form

The University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service in Conway, Johnson, Faulkner, Pope, and Yell counties are preparing a workshop on estate planning to be held in three sessions lasting one hour each on September 10, 17, and 24.

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service will offer a virtual three-part workshop series covering the basics of trusts, transfer of property, wills and other estate planning tools.

Three one-hour online sessions will be held 2-3 p.m. on consecutive Thursdays, beginning Sept. 10. Topics will include:

• Sept. 10 — Estate planning basics and legal language

• Sept. 17 — Financial inventory and asset protection, advance directive and power of attorney

• Sept. 25 — Wills and trusts

Extension offices in Conway, Johnson, Faulkner, Pope and Yell counties are jointly hosting the workshop, which is free and open to all Arkansans. Register online at https://bit.ly/UAEXEstatePlanning.

For more information, contact Pope County Family & Consumer Science Agent Pamela Luker at 479-968-7098, or email pluker@uaex.edu.

To learn about other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Announcement for 6th-12th Grade Virtual Students at De Queen Schools

Wednesday COVID-19 Update from the AR Department of Health

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,159
  Active Positive: 22
  Recovered: 1,125
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,565

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 425
  Active Positive: 32
  Recovered: 388
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,157

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 284
  Active Positive: 16
  Recovered: 253
  Deaths: 15
  Negatives: 1,448

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 225
  Active Positive: 15
  Recovered: 207
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 3,113

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 177
  Active Positive: 10
  Recovered: 166
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,743

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Wednesday (09.02.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas's COVID-19 response. Click on play button above.

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update Tuesday (09.01.20) 130PM

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

Flash Flood Watch in Effect for the Area

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of southwest Arkansas...southeast Oklahoma and northeast
  Texas, including the following areas, in southwest Arkansas,
  Hempstead, Howard, Little River, Nevada and Sevier. In southeast
  Oklahoma, McCurtain. In northeast Texas, Red River.

* Through Wednesday evening

* Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher amounts
  possible through Wednesday evening. The Watch area remains
  saturated from the heavy rainfall that has fallen over the last
  week. This additional heavy rainfall late tonight through
  Wednesday evening will likely result in flash flooding.

* Flooding may occur in urban and poor drainage areas.  Heavy
  rainfall may also cause flooding of creeks, streams, and rivers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to
Flash Flooding. Flash Flooding is a very dangerous situation. You
should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should
Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Now that in-person instruction has resumed in Arkansas schools, it is more important than ever to have an adequate level of COVID-19 testing.Without extensive testing, health experts cannot determine the level of community spread or give a reliable forecast.

This week, Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero urged Arkansans not to fall into the trap of testing fatigue. If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath OR if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 call ahead to your health care provider provider or schedule a test at an Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Local Health Unit. ADH continues to recommend testing for people who have been exposed even if that individual does not have symptoms.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance on that issue, it made exceptions for high-risk individuals and those in areas where local and state health officials feel it necessary to do so. Dr. Romero stressed this week that ADH feels it is important to test anyone who has been exposed regardless of symptoms. ADH also recommends testing if you have traveled out of state. Testing is available. Public health labs can also provide quick turn-around. Dr. Romero said they could deliver results in 48 hours. The state’s goal for August is to conduct 190,000 tests. That is close to 6% of the state’s population. As of Friday, the state was close to reaching that goal, with more than 160,000 tests conducted so far. While the health department may take your insurance information if you do not have a way to pay for the test, it is free of cost. Whether you have insurance or not, local health units will administer a test.

Here is a link to find your nearest health unit on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

VIDEO: Greg Ray and Callie Miller at Ed 88 Studios Monday

Sevier County Judge Greg Ray and Callie Miller of the De Queen / Sevier County Chamber of Commerce were in our studios this morning talking about high lake levels and the cancellation of the 2020 Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival.

Tuesday's COVID-19 Case Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,157
  Active Positive: 30
  Recovered: 1,115
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,559

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 425
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 385
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,145

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 281
  Active Positive: 17
  Recovered: 250
  Deaths: 14
  Negatives: 1,446

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 224
  Active Positive: 16
  Recovered: 205
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 3,109

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 176
  Active Positive: 12
  Recovered: 163
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,737

Arkansas Supreme Court Disqualifies Redistricting, Open Primaries Efforts

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday tossed two ballot initiatives that would have enacted constitutional amendments creating a legislative redistricting commission and a system of open primaries and ranked choice voting.

In a decision written by Associate Justice Robin Wynne, the court agreed with Secretary of State John Thurston, who had disqualified both efforts because they did not verify that signature collectors had “passed” criminal background checks. Instead, both efforts had certified that they had “been timely acquired.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-supreme-court-disqualifies-redistricting-open-primaries-efforts

Arkansas Supreme Court Disqualifies Redistricting, Open Primaries Efforts

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday tossed two ballot initiatives that would have enacted constitutional amendments creating a legislative redistricting commission and a system of open primaries and ranked choice voting. In a decision written by Associate Justice Robin Wynne, the court agreed with Secretary of State John Thurston, who had disqualified both efforts because they did not verify that signature collectors had "passed" criminal background checks.

Farmers Assess Damage After History-Making Storm Sweeps Through Arkansas

Arkansas farmers are still calculating the damage in the wake of Tropical Storm Laura. The storm that hit the state Thursday produced gushing rains, high winds and a multitude of tornadoes in northeast Arkansas. Originally a hurricane, Laura was the first storm in state history to produce a tropical storm warning, according to the National Weather Service

Photos taken by extension personnel show swaths of flattened, or “lodged” plants in the heart of rice country. Jarrod Hardke, University of Arkansas Agriculture Extension rice agronomist, said in an early round of assessments, it seems “rice damage is luckily minimal.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/farmers-assess-damage-after-history-making-storm-sweeps-through-arkansas

Farmers Assess Damage After History-Making Storm Sweeps Through Arkansas

Arkansas farmers are still calculating the damage in the wake of Tropical Storm Laura. The storm that hit the state Thursday produced gushing rains, high winds and a multitude of tornadoes in northeast Arkansas.

Arkansas ACLU Secures New Executive Director

Long-time legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union — Arkansas affiliate, Holly Dickson, has been selected to serve as executive director. Dickson assumes the positive during a global pandemic which ACLU declares is "laying bare the systemic oppression at the root of inequality in America." 

https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-aclu-secures-new-executive-director

Arkansas ACLU Secures New Executive Director

Long-time legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union - Arkansas affiliate, Holly Dickson, has been selected to serve as executive director. Dickson assumes the positive during a global pandemic which ACLU declares is "laying bare the systemic oppression at the root of inequality in America."