Legislative Update From State Representative Deann Vaught

On Tuesday, the House passed the following:

HB1388-This bill states that in an adoption proceeding concerning a minor who is not in the custody of the Department of Human Services, a prospective adoptive parent may voluntarily enter into a written agreement with a birth parent concerning post-adoption exchange of information, communication, or other contact between the birth parent and the minor.

HB1728-This bill states the use of campaign funds to pay a candidate's childcare expenses shall not be considered a taking of campaign funds as personal income if the campaign funds are used to pay for childcare for time the candidate is engaging in campaign activity and the childcare expenses would not exist in the absence of the campaign.

SB160-This bill states that in the 2022-2023 school year, Holocaust education shall be taught in all public schools in a manner that generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust. The bill states the lesson must also develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination.

SB394-This bill states that a public school district or open-enrollment charter school shall conduct a comprehensive school safety audit every 3 years to assess the safety, security, accessibility, and emergency preparedness of district buildings and grounds in collaboration with local law enforcement, fire, and emergency management officials.

SB27-This bill requires the Arkansas Department of Health to ensure that the Suicide Prevention Hotline employs individuals who have experience working with veterans or are veterans.

SB524-This bill states that by August 1, 2022, each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school in the state shall prepare a three-year teacher and administrator recruitment and retention plan. The plan should include goals for recruitment and retention of teachers and administrators of minority races and ethnicities who increase diversity among the district staff and, at a minimum, reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the district's students.

HB1743-This bill amends the Digital Product and Motion Picture Industry Development Act of 2009 to allow production companies a choice of applying for either a rebate or tax credit with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

SB474-This bill creates the offenses of fertility treatment abuse and fertility treatment fraud.

The House will convene on Wednesday at 1 pm.

UA, UAMS Researchers Awarded $10.8 Million Grant to Establish Metabolic Research Center

by Talk Business & Politics staff

A $10.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will enable an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to address the role of cell and tissue metabolism in rare and common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity and mitochondrial disorders.

The five-year award, funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, establishes the Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center as an NIH-designated Center of Biomedical Research Excellence. The award recognizes the university’s combination of expertise in advanced imaging techniques, bioenergetics and data science.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/ua-uams-researchers-awarded-10-8-million-grant-to-establish-metabolic-research-center/

Crystal Bridges Plans Expansion; Will Double in Size by 2024

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced on Wednesday (April 7) plans to double its size.

According to a news release, the Bentonville museum will expand from 100,000 to 200,000 square feet. According to the release, the expansion will showcase the museum’s growing collection and welcome more visitors.

Envisioned to support Crystal Bridges’ commitment to free access to art for all, the new space will increase capacity for presenting art and exhibitions, educational and outreach initiatives, cultural programming, and community events.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/crystal-bridges-plans-expansion-will-double-in-size-by-2024/

Moshe Safdie, founder of Safdie Architects, and Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art founder and board chairperson, inside the museum’s Great Hall in Bentonville.

‘Military Judgment,’ Not Politics, Likely to Guide FMS Site Location Decision

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and a defense industry lobbyist with ties to Fort Smith believe a decision to locate a pilot training center for the U.S. military’s Foreign Military Sales will be based on “military judgment” and not on politics.

Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith is one of five Air Force finalist sites for a long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/military-judgment-not-politics-likely-to-guide-fms-site-location-decision/

The F-35

Report: Arkansas’ Rural Population Declined By 3.3% During Last Decade

By GEORGE JARED/ TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

According to the 2021 Rural Profile of Arkansas, the state’s rural population decreased about 3.3% between 2010 and 2019, while the overall population of Arkansas grew by more than 3% during that same period. However, about 41% of the state’s population still resided in rural counties in 2019, which was higher than the national average.

Wayne Miller, professor of Community, Professional and Economic Development for the Division of Agriculture, and co-author of the 2021 profile, said the publication highlights both the challenges and successes of rural communities in the state.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/report-arkansas-rural-population-declined-33-during-last-decade

An abandoned railroad right-of-way near Hazen. The report says rural areas like this saw a population decline of 3.3% over the last decade.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

Bill Concerning COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Fails Arkansas House Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would have banned businesses in the state from mandating its employees get COVID-19 vaccinations has failed in a House committee.

House Bill 1547, which would make employers wait years after a COVID-19 vaccine has been officially approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before requiring its employees to get it, failed to receive the needed support on Tuesday from the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee to move on to the House.

Currently, three approved COVID-19 vaccinations are available through an emergency use authorization from the FDA.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-concerning-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-fails-arkansas-house-committee

Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, presents House Bill 1547 to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

Quarter Century After Arkansas Eagle Deaths, Researchers Identify Killer

By ZUZANNA SITEK

In the mid-1990s, dozens of bald eagles started dying at DeGray Lake after exhibiting neurological symptoms like stumbling, flying into cliffs and stooped wings. A quarter century later, researchers have identified the specific pollutant that causes blue green algae to make a novel toxin that then leads to brain lesions in the birds. Their research was published last month in Science Magazine.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/quarter-century-after-arkansas-eagle-deaths-researchers-identify-killer

Drooping wings are a symptom of vacuolar myelinopathy, which is caused by a toxin created by blue green algae.

COURTESY / REBECCA HAYNIE

Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto, Ban Gender-Affirming Care to Trans Youth

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

Since Gov. Asa Hutchinson's briefing Monday afternoon, Arkansas lawmakers have overturned his veto of the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which bans gender-affirming medical care to transgender minors. During the media conference, Hutchinson said the bill is "extreme" and an overreach of government.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/lawmakers-override-governors-veto-ban-gender-affirming-care-trans-youth

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced his decision to veto the SAFE Act at a media conference in Little Rock Monday.

COURTESY / YOUTUBE

Wednesday COVID-19 Active Case and Vaccination Numbers from the AR Department of Health

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 1
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 1

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 1
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 1

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 4
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 0

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 4
Active Confirmed Cases: 2
Active Probable Cases: 2

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 0
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 0

Severe Weather Possibility for Wednesday Morning

LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides Weekly COVID-19 Update (04.06.21)

Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide the weekly COVID-19 update to media at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

LIVEVIDEO: Governor Asa Hutchinson Holds Pen and Pad Session with Local Media Monday (04.05.21)

Governor Asa Hutchinson Holds a Pen and Pad session with Local Media Monday.

Fresh Start Program Continuing Through CDC

Texarkana Airport Receives $4.9 Million in Federal Funds

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.96 million in federal funds to Texarkana Regional Airport-Webb Field.

The money will be used to reconstruct the airport’s terminal building. This funding is awarded through the FAA’s second round of FY21 Airport Improvement Program grants.

The purpose of the Airport Improvement Program is for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/texarkana-airport-receives-4-9-million-in-federal-funds/

Arkansas Tax Revenue Surplus Near $550 Million; Year-To-Date Collections Up 7.5%

By TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS STAFF

Tax revenue through the first nine months of Arkansas’ fiscal year is up 7.5%, and the fiscal year-to-date revenue surplus – “net available revenue” collected beyond what was estimated – totaled $549.9 million.

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) reported that gross revenue for fiscal year-to-date (July 2020 to March 2021) is $5.482 billion, up 7.5% compared with the same period in 2019-2020 and up 11.3% over the budget forecast. Part of the gain includes a shift in collections when the 2020 tax due date was moved from April to July, according to the DFA report.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-tax-revenue-surplus-near-550-million-year-date-collections-75

CREDIT KUAR NEWS

Alternative To Hate Crimes Bill Filed In Arkansas Legislature

By GEORGE JARED/ TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

Arkansas is one of the only states without some type of hate crime law on the books, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said more than once it’s a top priority for him during the current legislative session. SB622, filed Thursday will attempt to solve that problem.

The bill, filed by Sen. Jimmy Hickey Jr., R-Texarkana, Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, and Rep. Carol Dalby, R-Texarkana, had not been assigned to a committee as of Thursday morning. Talk Business & Politics has confirmed that the bill is an alternative to the previously filed hate crimes legislation which has stalled during the session. It’s described as a “class protection bill.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/alternative-hate-crimes-bill-filed-arkansas-legislature

A hate crimes bill has so far not gained any momentum in the Arkansas General Assembly, so SB622 was filed Thursday as an alternative.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

Bill Modifying Absentee Voting Process Passes Arkansas House

By SARAH KELLOGG

The Arkansas House has passed a bill that makes a variety of changes to the state’s absentee voting process.

Members voted 74-22 Thursday, largly on bipartisan lines, in favor of House Bill 1715. It now goes to the Senate.

Some changes the bill includes are: denying absentee ballots to voters if signatures don’t match between their application and voter registration application, and not allowing county clerks or other designated officials to give to voters "unsolicited absentee ballot applications."

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-modifying-absentee-voting-process-passes-arkansas-house

Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, presents House Bill 1715 to the House floor.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Rounding the Bend with COVID

LITTLE ROCK – This time last year, I knew COVID-19 was a serious threat, but I was confident if we pulled together as a state and nation, then we could over time defeat the virus.

Now we seem to have rounded the bend with the development of three effective vaccines. I am thankful to see the dramatic decline in the number of deaths, the number of new and active COVID-19 cases, and the number of those in a hospital. I’m also grateful that more than 250,000 Arkansans have recovered.

The pandemic isn’t over, but I am hopeful that the worst of it has passed. To be cautious, we have extended the emergency declaration for Arkansas for sixty more days. I have lifted the mask mandate, but businesses still may require employees and customers to mask up, and I encourage you to respect others. Arkansans have responded well to our vaccination program, but we need even more of you to get a vaccination. That is our path out of the pandemic.

Today, I’d like to share the story of 23-year-old Maleek Caton, one of the many Arkansans who has survived COVID-19.

Maleek had just started his senior year at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge when he tested positive for COVID on Labor Day weekend. He was a member of Williams’ wrestling team and was ranked 7th nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He had spent the summer of 2019 working construction and was in the best condition of his life. He went home to North Little Rock on Tuesday after Labor Day, and by Wednesday, he was in intensive care on one-hundred-percent oxygen. He felt as if had glue in his lungs when he breathed. He refused the doctors’ recommendation to go on a ventilator. He was in the hospital for a week and a half and went home with oxygen. In that short time, he had lost the bulk and strength he had added over the summer. Doctors told his mother, Glenda, that Maleek came as close to dying as possible without actually dying.

Maleek returned to school in November to finish the semester and resume training. In January and February, he won most of his matches and tournaments on his way to the national tournament in Park City, Kansas, where he won three matches and lost three to finish in eighth place.

Although he didn’t win the tournament, Maleek did enjoy a sweet moment on the mat in Kansas.

His opponent was Ethan Bunch, a wrestler who had beaten him in each of their three previous college matches. But in their fourth meeting, which was his last match of the tournament as well as the last match of his career, Maleek beat Ethan seventeen-to-nothing.

Maleek’s story is miraculous, and so is the story of every person who recovered. And as spring arrives, I ask everyone over 16 to get their vaccination. This is how we turn spring into a wonderful summer and fall.

Saturday COVID-19 Update from the Arkansas Department of Health

In its Friday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 144 new cases; 1,684 active cases; 161 hospitalized, which is down 7 from Thursday; 26 on ventilators, which is unchanged from Thursday; deaths added today, 3, for a total of 5,639; a total of 330,753 cases; PCR tests, 4,246; antigen tests, 1,103.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 21; Benton, 13; and Greene, 9.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

“We continue to see declining cases in our COVID-19 numbers. We are not increasing in cases like we see in many other states. Let’s all be mindful over Easter that we must continue to guard against the spread of the virus. Get a vaccine this weekend because this helps everyone. Yesterday, we saw an increase of over 29,000 vaccine doses administered.”

Here are today's COVID-19 statewide numbers:

Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 0
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 0

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 2
Active Confirmed Cases: 1
Active Probable Cases: 1

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 2
Active Confirmed Cases: 1
Active Probable Cases: 1

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 5
Active Confirmed Cases: 2
Active Probable Cases: 3

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 0
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 0

UA Cossatot to Host Fiesta Fest May 1 in Downtown De Queen

PRESS RELEASE

183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832

870-584-1124

www.cccua.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01 April 2021

CONTACT: Dustin Roberts, Director of Development

UA Cossatot to Host Fiesta Fest in Downtown De Queen

UA Cossatot will host Fiesta Fest on Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Downtown De Queen on North 3rd Street and West De Queen Avenue in front of the Courthouse from 1:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

The festival’s focus is bringing the community together to celebrate the cultures of Southwest Arkansas while raising scholarship money for UA Cossatot students.

Festivities will include food, vendors, live music, a DJ and light show, folkloric dancing, carnival rides, games, inflatables, and more.

“It a great time for all of us to come together for a common cause to celebrate the cultures that make up our community and help provide students of the college with an opportunity to benefit from the money that is raised from this event. These scholarships will help students complete their degree at the college,” said Director of the Center for Student Success, Erika Buenrrotro.

To become a sponsor or vendor for Fiesta Fest, contact Dustin Roberts, Director of Development, at droberts@cccua.edu or 870-584-1172. ###