LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson's Weekly Media Briefing Thursday (08.19.21) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide a briefing to media at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, August 19, 2021.
2020 Census Numbers in SW Arkansas
The 2020 Census numbers are in and as we reported earlier, every county in our immediate area of Southwest Arkansas lost population over the past ten years. Here are the 2020 population totals for a number of area towns and cities:
State Rank Name 2021 Pop. 2010 Census Change
15 Texarkana 29,473 29,976 -1.68%
43 Hope 9,425 10,117 -6.84%
56 De Queen 6,496 6,609 -1.71%
65 Mena 5,426 5,756 -5.73%
80 Ashdown 4,380 4,706 -6.93%
81 Nashville 4,302 4,626 -7.00%
168 Murfreesboro 1,598 1,677 -4.71%
196 Mineral Springs 1,132 1,203 -5.90%
203 Dierks 1,068 1,128 -5.32%
207 Horatio 1,016 1,049 -3.15%
214 Foreman 910 1,026 -11.31%
216 Kirby 878 786 +11.70%
234 Wickes 751 754 -0.40%
242 Lockesburg 718 735 -2.31%
Population totals for every incorporated town in the state can be found here: https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/cities/arkansas
Arkansas Trucking Academy Begins at 4 College Sites
The Arkansas Trucking Academy — the state’s first public program of its kind — will see its first students today.
The academy is offered by a consortium of four community colleges and supported by a $720,000 two-year grant at a time when a driver shortage is being keenly felt throughout the state and nationwide.
The consortium comprises Arkansas State University Three Rivers in Malvern, University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana in Hope, UA Cossatot’s Nashville campus and UA Rich Mountain in Mena. They are hoping to train 80 truck drivers per year, 20 at each location, through four- to five-week classes, according to ASU Three Rivers Chancellor Steve Rook.
https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/136873/arkansas-trucking-academy-begins-at-4-college-sites
A first-of-its-kind Arkansas Trucking Academy seeks to ease a driver shortage.
Howard County 4-H Youth Compete in Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge
On Friday, August 6, 2021, nine Howard County 4-H youth attend the first Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge at the Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute in Alexander, Arkansas. Teams from 8 counties and 50 plus youth participated in the competition which required them to plan, prepare and present a nutritious meal in under forty minutes using readily available items found at the Dollar Store, Family Dollar or Dollar Tree. For people who live on a tight budget and in areas with limited access to food, eating nutritionally balanced meals can be a challenge. Through 4-H, youth are learning this important life skill, and just how creative they can be in preparing an inexpensive and nutritional meal in a short amount of time.
Howard County had three teams consisting of one senior team and two junior teams. This year’s senior team, know as Seniors with Spatulas, is made up by Adelene Westfall, Alex Trombley and Sarah Lamb. These three youth where named this year’s winners in the Senior division qualifying for the National 4-H Food Challenge event in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 28. Alex Trombley was also given the Specialty Award for his great leadership skills he demonstrated during the event. He received a golden spatula as his award. Two junior teams competed. One team, known as the Howard County Food Choppers, placed second overall in the junior division. This team is made up by Anna Kate McKinnion, Abi Webb and Christian Trombley. Our other junior team, known as the Howard County Cuties (and that is exactly what they were), is made up by Julianna Webb, Gracie Woodruff and Peyton Bagley.
If you are interested in joining Howard County 4-H, and finding out how you can be a part of all our 4-H youth activities, you can contact Samantha Horn at the Howard County Extension office at 870-845-7517 or shorn@uada.edu.
Active COVID Cases Increasing as Public Schools Are Back in Session in SW Arkansas
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 135
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 95
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 99
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 119
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 63
Surplus Federal Pandemic Rent Relief Available to Arkansas Tenants and Landlords
The federally funded Arkansas Rent Relief Program administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, launched last May, has many millions of dollars remaining to distribute to tenants facing eviction due to the pandemic.
COURTESY / ADHS
Researchers Aim to Strengthen Bee Pollinator Populations
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
Bees are critical in food cultivation but in recent decades the number of bee colonies has sharply declined and is a significant threat to the world’s food supply. Scientists in Arkansas are doing research that could lead to ways to protect the world’s bee populations.
Olivia Kline, an entomology doctoral student at the University of Arkansas, works in the research program of Neelendra Joshi, associate professor of entomology for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. He specializes in research on pollinator health, fruit entomology, integrated pest management and pesticide toxicology.
Their research focuses on blue orchard bees, a type of mason bee native to Arkansas and many other areas in the U.S. Joshi said they are easy to identify because of their iridescent blue color. They nest in tunnels left behind by other insects, like the galleries carved out of trees and wood structures by boring beetles.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/08/researchers-aim-to-strengthen-bee-pollinator-populations/
Neelandra Joshi, associate professor of pollinator health, fruit entomology, IPM and pesticide toxicology, shows how masonry bees build nests in tubes designed to simulate the kind of cavities the bees prrefer to use for nesting. (UA System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)
Neelandra Joshi, associate professor of pollinator health, fruit entomology, IPM and pesticide toxicology, shows how masonry bees build nests in tubes designed to simulate the kind of cavities the bees prrefer to use for nesting. (UA System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)
Arkansas Children’s CEO: Staffing, ICU Space Biggest Worries For Handling COVID Patients
By ROBY BROCK / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
Arkansas Children’s CEO Marcy Doderer says staffing challenges and ICU resources are the biggest challenges to treating the surge in COVID-19 patients, particularly those under the age of 12, who are not eligible for vaccines. Three children have died from COVID-19 and more could be in harm’s way as the Delta variant of the disease has been more prevalent in younger populations.
Doderer, who appeared on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics said federal money exists to expand bed space, but it is of little use without the personnel to monitor and treat sick patients.
“If you spoke to any hospital CEO in the state of Arkansas, it [staffing] is probably one of their number one concerns. We are facing a global nursing crisis in terms of shortage of workforce. I saw a statistic this week published by the Arkansas Hospital Association, something like 130,000 vacant nursing positions across the country. So staffing is a big one,” she said.
Arkansas Children's Hospital has been struggling to treat a rising number of kids needing treatment for COVID-19.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
UAMS’ Ear, Nose & Throat Department Ranked Among Top 50 in Nation for Third Consecutive Year
By Linda Satter
Aug. 13, 2021 | For the third year in a row, the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been ranked among the top 50 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.
The digital news and information company that is the global leader in quality rankings also recognized UAMS as a Best Hospital for 2021-22 and named five areas as high performing: colon cancer surgery, diabetes, hip replacement, knee replacement and stroke.
UAMS’ ENT program is the only one at any hospital in Arkansas to achieve national ranking status.
UAMS Research Sheds Light on Vaccine Hesitancy in Arkansas
By David Wise
Aug. 10, 2021 | FAYETTEVILLE – Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have found that trust in vaccines, fear of infection, and race or ethnicity play a large role in whether or not people will get a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly when looking at socio-demographic factors.
In the study, “COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Race/Ethnicity, Trust and Fear,” published in Clinical and Translational Science, researchers found that the majority of respondents who were surveyed in July and August of 2020 were not hesitant. Only about one in five (21%) reported vaccine hesitancy.
However, when looking at socio-demographic factors, the findings were much more pronounced across age, sex, race and ethnicity, income and education. Research subjects who were younger, African American, lower income and those who had some college or a technical degree were more likely to report hesitancy as opposed to those who were older, white, higher income and who had a four-year college degree.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/uams-study-delves-vaccine-hesitancy-arkansas
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee met on Monday to begin the discussion on the redistricting process for Congressional districts in Arkansas.
Redistricting is the periodic redrawing of district boundaries that elected representatives who serve specific geographic areas.
The periodic updating of districts must be done because, in a series of 1960’s cases, the U.S. Supreme Court held that districts must be equal in population. This is known as the “one-person, one-vote” requirement.
Arkansas code establishes that Arkansas is divided into four congressional districts, and the responsibility for the delineation of congressional districts of the substantially equal population is given to the Arkansas General Assembly.
The Board of Apportionment is responsible for drawing the boundaries of state legislative districts. The Board of Apportionment is comprised of the Governor, the Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The Board of Apportionment is holding meetings across the state, and the list of these events is found at www.arkansasredistricting.org.
On Thursday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its numbers. It shows the population of Arkansas is now 3,011,524, an increase of 3.3% since 2010. Northwest Arkansas saw the most amount of growth in the past decade.
Receiving this data is the first step. A software vendor contracted by the General Assembly will now begin entering the data in a format to allow members to draft potential maps. We expect to return to the Regular Session soon after that process is complete.
The maps ultimately adopted by the General Assembly must be as nearly equal as possible and must not limit the right to vote of any racial minority.
All legislative meetings regarding redistricting are open to the public, and there is time set aside for public comment.
You can also watch the meetings live and recorded on our website www.arkansashouse.org.
UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors Help in Welcoming Students to All Campuses
Ambassadors kicked off the semester today by providing FREE DONUTS to students of the college and continue Welcome Week!
Be on the lookout for daily clues via FB, Ed88 and email beginning at 10am as the Colts Horseshoe Scavenger Hunt BEGINS! Nashville… Make sure to check out the student Organization tables and games 11-2!
UA Cossatot Colts Basketball Benefit Golf Tournament Saturday at De Queen Country Club
Pictured (L-R): Coach Bryant Pagan II, Logan Cole, Chad Wilson, Cory Brown, J. Bigham, Tournament Director Jon Bunyard, and Head Coach Robert Byrd
Winners of the Championship Flight with a score of 57 were: Cole, Wilson, Brown and Bigham
Pictured (L-R): Coach Bryant Pagan II, Kyle Slayton, Jared Bristow, Trey Gentry, Jeffrey Mitchell, Tournament Director Jon Bunyard, and Head Coach Robert Byrd
Winners of the First Flight with a score of 62 were: Slayton, Bristow, Gentry, and Mitchell
Pictured (L-R): Coach Bryant Pagan II, Trever Berg, Will Dykes, Zac Herrington, Tournament Director Jon Bunyard, and Head Coach Robert Byrd (Drew Dykes not pictured)
Winners of the Second Flight with a score of 66 were: Herrington, Dykes, Berg, and Dykes
Also, Congratulations to Michael Collins (not pictured) for winning the longest drive during the tournament on the 9th hole. Collins won a $100 Academy Gift Card donated by Seth Tollett Farms.
Tyson Area Food Distribution Tuesday - Thursday
Monday's SW Arkansas COVID-19 Active Case Numbers and Vaccinations
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 142
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 96
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 111
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 130
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 72
Governor Retains the Law Firm of Matthews, Campbell, Rhoads, McClure & Thompson as counsel in the case regarding Act 1002
“The Attorney General has always done an outstanding job in representing my office and the state of Arkansas, but it is her duty as the attorney for the state to defend Act 1002,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “I have expressed the view that Act 1002 should have been amended and questions need to be raised as to the constitutionality of the law. Generally speaking, I support the decision of Judge Fox, and my position creates an unavoidable conflict; for that reason I have asked David R. Matthews of Matthews, Campbell, Rhoads, McClure & Thompson, P.A. to represent me.
“David Matthews has a special expertise in school law, and I have confidence that he will represent me effectively in the current litigation.”
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Arkansas Dairy Bars: Nostalgic and Pandemic Perfect
LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about a sector of our culinary industry that is the perfect business model for dining establishments during a pandemic.
Ninety-four of these eateries dot the Natural State’s rural landscape, and next week, Arkansas PBS will release a documentary about these short-order diners.
The subject of the film is the Arkansas dairy bar, a remnant of the time before the proliferation of franchised restaurants.
The idea for this project came to Arkansas foodie Kat Robinson in the early months of COVID-19. Kat, a 1995 broadcasting graduate of Arkansas Tech, has made her name as a food historian, author, and foodie, with some public television shows thrown in. She is a member of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame’s selection committee. She grew up eating sugar on her rice for breakfast and country-fried venison. Her books include Another Slice of Arkansas Pie and two volumes of Things to Eat in Arkansas Before You Die.
One day when Kat was hankering for an ice cream, as she says, she traveled to Malvern to see whether the dairy bar from her childhood was still in business. Mel's Dairy Bar was still standing, it looked just like she remembered, and the place was hopping. That’s when she decided to write a book. In March, she and the team at Arkansas PBS began to work on the companion documentary.
The documentary, Arkansas Dairy Bars: Neat Eats & Cool Treats, will premiere at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 19, on Arkansas PBS. This week, Arkansas PBS hosted a free advance screening at the Kenda Drive-In in Marshall.
Dairy bars evoke nostalgia for many of us who had the good fortune to live in a town with a dairy bar or whose grandparents lived near one. That was the initial appeal for Kat.
But as she traveled more than eight thousand miles to visit all ninety-four of Arkansas’s diners, she realized that by their very design, dairy bars may be the perfect restaurant for a pandemic.
Think about it. A dairy bar generally doesn’t have a dining room. You order your food through a window. You eat in a car or at a picnic table. Textbook social distancing.
Arkansas PBS sustained the social-distancing theme by holding its premiere of Arkansas Dairy Bars at a drive-in theater. The Arkansas PBS event was perfectly crafted as public family entertainment during a worldwide pandemic.
Kat is an Arkansan who understands Arkansans. Like the 3 million other people who live here, Kat took the pandemic head-on and blazed a different route. In one of her books, she writes about the character of her state. “Arkansas is a stubborn, hang-on-by-your-teeth subsistence land that adapts to weather, new folks, and the lay of the land.” That’s an accurate description.
With this documentary, Kat Robinson and Arkansas PBS preserve a piece of our culinary history. They also demonstrate that with imagination, sweat of the brow, and a dash of courage, we can work our way through anything.
Message from UA Cossatot Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole
IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING COVID FROM CHANCELLOR DR. STEVE COLE
August 11, 2021
With vaccination rates being lower than expected and a spike in the Delta variant presently occurring, UA Cossatot has been monitoring the CDC and the prevailing local health conditions to make decisions designed to protect our students and employees. Yesterday, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees passed a resolution that stated in part “…WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that, based on the spread of the Delta variant, communities with high transmission of COVID-19 should require individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings in indoor public settings; and WHEREAS the Board passed a resolution in May 2020 directing UA System institutions to adopt policies requiring face coverings in university facilities when physical distancing cannot be assured, and that such policies remain in effect as long as the use of face coverings is recommended by the CDC…”.
Based on this directive, and after meeting with our employees and Board of Visitors, beginning Monday, August 16th, all UA Cossatot campuses will require face coverings according to Procedure 1000, which requires that faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to wear a face covering while in campus facilities. The following indoor exceptions apply to this procedure:
· Employees working alone in their offices.
· Participating in activities in which a face covering cannot be worn, or would prohibit normal breathing functions (such as eating, drinking, playing sports).
· Individuals with a documented disability.
· Instructors in outdoor or shop-type areas.
This face covering requirement will be in effect until the CDC designates all four counties in our service area as YELLOW (Moderate Risk) or GREEN (Low Risk). All four counties are currently RED (High Risk). I have included a link to the CDC Tracker here:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/.
We will post CDC updates on our UA Cossatot website and all social media platforms. We will also send students email updates as conditions change.
It has been widely reported the strain the Delta variant has placed on our medical communities. In fact, our regional facilities are feeling the strain more now than ever before. We feel it is our obligation to make every reasonable effort to mitigate the spread of this virus and the highly contagious Delta variant. There is no doubt we must all work together to mitigate COVID by making safe and informed decisions, especially while the threat of this virus is high. The health and safety of our students and staff will remain my highest priority.
Please consider being vaccinated and please wear a mask!
Chancellor Cole
UA Cossatot Face Covering Procedure 1000
UA Cossatot Face Covering Procedure 1000
The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees voted on August 11, 2021 and directed each campus, division and unit to implement face covering policies for students, faculty, staff and guests, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public settings where physical distancing cannot be assured in accordance with CDC guidance regarding the COVID-19 Delta variant. UA Cossatot, in the interest of campus and community health, has developed the following face covering procedure.
Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to wear a face covering while in campus facilities. The following indoor exceptions apply:
· Employees working alone in their offices.
· Participating in activities in which a face covering cannot be worn, or would prohibit normal breathing functions (such as eating, drinking, playing sports).
· Individuals with a documented disability.
· Instructors in outdoor or shop-type areas.
This procedure will be in force until the prevailing local health conditions warrant its cancellation.