Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response.
Proposed UAMS Nursing Program Designed to Ease Nursing Shortage in Arkansas
In late January, the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees approved an accelerated inclusive nursing degree program to be offered at UAMS Northwest in Fayetteville to address a nursing shortage in the state. Patricia Cowan, UAMS Dean of the College of Nursing, is facilitating the development of the novel program.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/proposed-uams-nursing-program-designed-ease-nursing-shortage-arkansas
Patricia Cowan, Ph.D., R.N., has served as Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences since late 2015.
COURTESY / UAMS
Legislative Update From State Representative Deann Vaught
The House has now wrapped up the 7th week of the 2021 Regular Session.
The House passed the following bills on Thursday afternoon:
HB1224-This bill establishes the State Crime Laboratory Student Loan Forgiveness Program. If law, this would allow a pathologist to enter a probationary period with the State Crime Lab. After that probationary period, the lab could reimburse the pathologist $25,000 for outstanding student loans for a 2 year contract up and renew the contract for up to $100,000 per pathologist.
HB1137-This bill prohibits the performance of a pelvic examination on an unconscious or anesthetized patient without the prior consent of the patient. It provides an exception when a medical emergency exists and the pelvic examination is immediately necessary for diagnosis or treatment of the patient.
HB1215-This bill grants full practice authority to certified nurse midwives.
HB1254-This bill states the Arkansas Medicaid Program shall recognize an advanced practice registered nurse for all purposes as a primary care provider authorized to carry out the duties of a primary care case manager.
HB1023-This bill excludes certain school fundraisers from the sales tax laws regulation special events.
The House will convene again on Monday at 1pm.
De Queen Middle School Good Citizens for February 2010
Logan Dallas, Lizbeth Hernandez, Valentin Hernandez & Alondro Calderon
ARHOME Seeks To Replace Arkansas Works As New Medicaid Expansion
Under construction for the past year, Arkansas lawmakers and Gov. Hutchinson’s administration will unveil their newest version of Medicaid expansion on Monday.
ARHOME (pronounced “Are-Home”) stands for Arkansas Health & Opportunity for Me. Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, and Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Bethesda, will be two of the lead sponsors of the proposal.
In a Talk Business & Politics interview, Irvin, Gray and Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Cindy Gillespie discussed ARHOME’s details and political obstacles for the healthcare program expected to cover more than 300,000 low-income residents who make below 138% of the federal poverty level.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arhome-seeks-replace-arkansas-works-new-medicaid-expansion
Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock speaking with Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Bethesda), Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View) and Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Cindy Gillespie.
CREDIT TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
After Second Go Round, Arkansas Lawmakers Approve "Stand Your Ground" Bill
This week, Arkansas legislators approved a controversial “stand your ground” gun measure allowing the use of lethal force in self-defense without first having to attempt to retreat, which was previously required by the state. The bill has been sent to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for approval. His decision is expected this week.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/after-second-go-round-arkansas-lawmakers-approve-stand-your-ground-bill
J. FROELICH / KUAF
Arkansas Lifts Nearly All Coronavirus Restrictions On Businesses, Gatherings
By DANIEL BREEN
Effective immediately, Arkansas is lifting nearly all restrictions on businesses related to the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Friday that all capacity limits on businesses and large gatherings will only be recommendations, and not enforceable by law.
Speaking in a news conference at the state Capitol, Hutchinson said the goal is to give businesses more flexibility to tailor public health guidelines to better fit with their day-to-day operations.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson displays a graphic outlining the conditions for Arkansas' mask mandate to end during a news conference at the state Capitol.
CREDIT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE / YOUTUBE
Arkansas Airports Receive More than $4 million in Federal Stimulus Money
by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $4.5 million in federal stimulus money to Arkansas airports, including $4.38 million to Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill. U.S. Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, and Steve Womack, R-Rogers, announced Friday (Feb. 26) the grants will help to offset costs and maintain jobs as a result of COVID-19 and provide for increased sanitization to combat the spread of pathogens at airports.
The DOT, through the Federal Aviation Administration, will give the money appropriated through the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, which Congress approved in December. All federal legislators from Arkansas supported the act.
Grant recipients and amounts include:
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), $4,382,255
Rogers Executive Airport – Carter Field, $91,162
De Witt Municipal Airport/Whitcomb Field in Arkansas County, $13,000
Thompson-Robbins Airport in Phillips County, $9,000
Delta Regional Airport in St. Francis County, $13,000
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport in Lawrence County, $13,000
Bill Expanding Scholarship Eligibility Rushed Through Legislature To Meet Deadline
The winter weather postponed the Arkansas Legislature last week, which has complicated things for a time-sensitive bill aimed at expanding eligibility for certain Arkansas scholarships to students with legal status. This would include DACA recipients and Marshallese migrants legally residing in the state under a Compact of Free Association.
Bentonville West senior Ananya Vangoor, a Bentonville West senior, speaks to the House Education Committee Feb. 25, 2021. She is one student who would benefit from the passage of SB287.
Monday Southwest Arkansas' COVID-19 Case Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 52
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 46
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 28
Active Confirmed Cases: 9
Active Probable Cases: 19
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 13
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 7
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 26
Active Confirmed Cases: 22
Active Probable Cases: 4
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 33
Active Confirmed Cases: 23
Active Probable Cases: 10
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | PPP Loans’ Impact on Arkansas Businesses
LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about the federal Payroll Protection Plan or PPP, which has kept many Arkansas companies alive during the pandemic.
Congress passed the CARES Act to help Americans navigate the pandemic. PPP was one of the programs Congress authorized to assist businesses with loans. The Small Business Administration (SBA) distributes the loans through local banks.
Little Rock business owners such as Vikita Eason and Chris and Samantha Tanner say that without the loan program, they may not have survived.
Vikita was able to pay the two employees of her boutique, and she assisted the three stylists in her salon by eliminating the rent for their booth. Vikita’s landlords have allowed her to pay rent as she can and didn’t raise the rent when she renewed her three-year lease.
The Tanners own three restaurants and employ about 130 people. Mr. Tanner said that “restaurants got pounded,” and the PPP loans allowed many to keep their doors open.
The SBA lent $3.3 billion to more than 42,000 Arkansas businesses and nonprofits, which saved more than 375,000 jobs. A second round of lending opened in January and closes on March 31.
On Monday, President Biden announced his administration has established a two-week window that opened Wednesday; during this period, only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for the forgivable loans.
The SBA has also implemented a loan-forgiveness program that erases the PPP debt for businesses that followed all the guidelines and spent the money for payroll, mortgage, rent, and other eligible expenses. The SBA has forgiven nineteen percent of the loans.
Representative Les Eaves and Senator Jonathan Dismang introduced a bill in the 93rd General Assembly that would exempt a forgiven PPP loan from state income tax. It has broad support. The Department of Finance says this would cut the state’s general revenue by about $33 million this year and $179 million next year. If the General Assembly passes it, I will sign it into law, and this will provide needed relief for those who have received the PPP loans.
In Arkansas, the pandemic has been another opportunity for Arkansans to help one another. As usual, many Arkansans have shown their humanity. Bankers have helped struggling business owners, and business people have assisted their employees. In the midst of the losses, Arkansans have found new ways to reach out to those in need. Arkansans have lavished compassion on one another, grace upon grace as together we hope for the end of this pandemic.
VIDEO: Gov. Hutchinson Makes Significant Announcement on State of the Public Health Emergency
Governor Asa Hutchinson made an announcement, Friday, February 26, 2021, on the current public health emergency and provide an update regarding COVID-19 directives in Arkansas.
Apply Now for UA Cossatot Scholarships
The 2021-2022 UA Cossatot Online Scholarship Application is open! The scholarship application can be found here: cccua.awardspring.com
We currently have a variety of scholarships open for spring 2021! Check them out here: https://www.cccua.edu/pay-for-college/scholarships
UA Cossatot Receives $400,587 Grant For Fiber Upgrades At The Lockesburg Campus And For Virtual Reality Welding Simulators
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2021 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is investing $42.3 million to help rural residents gain access to health care and educational opportunities (PDF, 255 KB). Rural areas are seeing higher infection and death rates related to COVID-19 due to several factors, including a much higher percentage of underlying conditions, difficulty accessing medical care, and lack of health insurance. The $42.3 million in awards includes $24 million provided through the CARES Act. In total, these investments will benefit 5 million rural residents.
As part of this program, UA Cossatot has been awarded $400,587. This Rural Development investment will be used to implement a distance learning system with virtual reality welding simulators at five rural sites in Sevier, Little River and Howard counties. The system will allow Cossatot Community College to offer distance learning skilled sciences courses to additional rural students at multiple locations. The grant will fund network fiber upgrades at Cossatot’s Lockesburg campus . The college expects to train 30 students in welding technology at five end-user sites annually. The equipment also will be available for special training sessions in evenings and on weekends for workers and industry partners.
UAC Chancellor Steve Cole said, "We will be receiving $400,000 to pilot, beginning next school year, a virtual welding program that will link our four campuses and Dierks High School. We are excited to see the success we can have if we keep being progressive and proactive when it comes to technical education. This will allow students to access a welding learning environment from a distance, ensuring we can continue to teach students even if they are quarantined or live in extremely remote areas. We look forward to putting this in motion."
LIVE VIDEO: Sevier County Quorum Court Meeting Friday, 02/26/21
UA Cossatot Drawdown Set for April 2nd
UA Cossatot will host TWO drawdowns for UA Cossatot’s Colts and Lady Colts! The drawdowns will be held on Friday, April 2, 2021. The first drawdown starts at 5:30 PM and the second drawdown at 7:30 PM at the UA Cossatot Bank of Lockesburg Gymnasium. Loren Hinton and Jon Bunyard will emcee the event. Head Coach and Athletic Director, Robert Byrd and the entire Colts and Lady Colts teams will be in attendance to root on each ticket holder!
How does a Drawdown work?
Tickets are eliminated until only one is left. The last ticket on the board is the winner of the Drawdown prize. The last ten (10) people holding tickets are given the option to keep drawing and eliminating tickets or to split the money among themselves. All must agree to split or keep drawing until they all agree or only one is left as the winner. Winner does not have to be present to win.
Why would you want to buy a $50 Drawdown Ticket?
· With only 120 tickets being sold per drawdown, each ticket has a 1 in 120 chance of winning $2,500!
· Each ticket includes a delicious fried fish dinner for 2 (can take order to-go)
· Fun fellowship with friends and excitement to see whose ticket is drawn next (Can also watch on Facebook live from home)!
· Door prizes
· Proceeds benefit the UA Cossatot Colts and Lady Colts
How do I buy a ticket?
Tickets are available by contacting Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or email droberts@cccua.edu. Tickets can also be purchased online by texting the word Cossatot to 41444 or by clicking this link: igfn.us/form/M9JcFg
We accept cash, check, or credit card!
Health Talk with Dr. Randy Walker of De Queen
De Queen Soccer Discussion
House Speaker Matthew Shepherd Commends Legislature For Making Progress Despite COVID-19 Pandemic
By ALEXANDRIA BROWN
Although the Arkansas General Assembly didn’t meet last week because of severe winter weather, House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, still commends the amount of progress that the legislature made this week.
While he says the amount of bills that have been filed is down compared to other sessions, he expects those numbers to pick up despite some members contracting the coronavirus earlier in the session.
"Even in the midst of working in the House where we have 100 members on the floor every single day, we’ve been very fortunate," Shepherd said. "A number of our members are falling into those categories from an age perspective being over 70 or 65, and they’re taking steps to obtain the vaccination. I feel like we’re only going to be in a better position as we move forward."
File photo of the Arkansas House
CREDIT SARAH KELLOGG
Bill Allowing Arkansas Healthcare Providers To Refuse Service Over Moral Grounds Fails In Committee
By DANIEL BREEN
A bill that would allow healthcare providers to decline certain non-emergency medical services because of their moral opposition has failed in a legislative committee.
Members of the Arkansas House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee voted not to approve Senate Bill 289 in a meeting Thursday following hours of debate, including an abbreviated public comment period cut short by a motion for immediate consideration.
Like other proponents of the bill who spoke in favor of it, Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe cited abortion and gender affirmation surgery for minors as two reasons physicians should be allowed to decline certain services for moral reasons.
Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe speaks in favor of Senate Bill 289 before members of the Arkansas House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.
CREDIT ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE
House committee says no to bill allowing medical providers’ conscience refusal
An Arkansas House committee on Thursday (Feb. 25) voted down a bill that would allow medical providers to refuse to provide services that violate their conscience and also advanced a bill that would allow hospital and long-term care patients to have a loved one present with them in the facility.
The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted 8-10 against Senate Bill 289, the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton. Hammer said later Thursday that he will try to run the bill later and is considering amendments.