Doctoral student wins American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society awards

By Robby Edwards, Director of Communications
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Carrie Ortel, a University of Arkansas doctoral student in crop, soil and environmental sciences, was named winner of two prestigious awards by national organizations and will be recognized at their joint annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, in November.

AWARD WINNER — Trent Roberts, associate professor of soil fertility and soil testing, and senior graduate assistant Carrie Ortel, examine soybean plants for signs of nutrient deficiency. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

The American Society of Agronomy named her one of five winners of the Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship. The scholarship is for $3,000.

The Crop Science Society of America named her recipient of the Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science.

Trenton Roberts, professor and the Endowed Chair in Soil Fertility Research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is Ortel’s graduate advisor. She is a senior graduate research assistant conducting experiment station research on soil fertility.

Ortel earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech University before earning her master's degree from the U of A and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Her research evaluates late season potassium applications to Arkansas soybeans, striving to maximize yield and profit potential for producers.

She has worked as an extension agent in North Carolina, placed in several graduate student oral presentation contests and served as president of the Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Club.

Ortel is a repeat winner of the Nelson Yield-Limiting award, also earning the ASA honor in 2021.

The Nelson award is named for Werner L. Nelson, and recognizes leadership, accomplishments and long-term goals to research and develop improved diagnostic techniques and solutions to yield-limiting factors in agronomy. Nelson was a professor of agronomy at North Carolina State University.

The Mott award is named for the first CSSA president, who trained 75 graduate students during his 45-year career at Purdue University and the University of Florida.

ASA is an international scientific and professional society that empowers scientists, educators and practitioners in developing, disseminating and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world. It is home to 7,000-plus members and 12,000-plus certified professionals dedicated to advancing the field of agronomy.

CSSA is an international scientific society that fosters the vision to improve the world through crop science. It is home for 4,000-plus members dedicated to discovering and applying plant science solutions to improve the human condition and protect the planet.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and on Instagram at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

UAMS Breaks Ground on Child Development Center

By Chris Carmody

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) broke ground today on a nearly $10 million Child Development Center on a four-acre property in Little Rock.

The approximately 20,000-square-foot Child Development Center will be built at the intersection of 11th and Monroe streets, just south of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and across Interstate 630 from the UAMS campus. The facility is expected to open in spring 2024.

Chancellor Cam Patterson stands with Jeannette “Jan” Shorey, professor emerita in the UAMS College of Medicine. Image by Bryan Clifton

The center will be able to provide services for about 200 children, from infancy through prekindergarten, UAMS employees, and students. Of those, 10% of the slots will be reserved for the children of employees who live in the surrounding community, and another 10% will go to workers or students who qualify for Child Care and Development Fund vouchers through the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/09/14/uams-breaks-ground-on-child-development-center/

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Chancellor Cam Patterson speaks Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Child Development Center project in Little Rock. Image by Bryan Clifton

UAMS will co-lead research to develop inexpensive toxin detectors

KUAR | By Michael Hibblen

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is co-leading a research project to develop inexpensive devices that can detect harmful toxins in water and people. It’s part of a four-year, $6 million project funded by the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Shuk-Mei Ho, vice chancellor for Research and Innovation at UAMS, says the detectors ideally will be made using printers, then naturally decompose in the environment.

“We’re developing the technology into various formats that can be put into an ambient environment like soil, water, and get real-time signals,” she said in an interview with KUAR News.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-09-21/uams-will-co-lead-research-to-develop-inexpensive-toxin-detectors

UAMS

The main campus of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. It’s one of six universities nationwide taking part in a project to develop devices that will be used to monitor potentially hazardous toxins that can leach into surface and groundwater.

Coalition forms against proposed changes to Arkansas ballot initiative process

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A coalition of nonprofit groups has formed in opposition to a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution on the November ballot.

The group, called Protect Arkansas Rights, opposes Issue 2 which would raise the number of votes needed to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives as well as constitutional amendments proposed by both citizens and state lawmakers.

Kwami Abdul-Bey, elections coordinator for the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, says a number of crucial state laws directly resulted from the state’s ballot initiative process.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2022-09-22/coalition-forms-against-proposed-changes-to-arkansas-ballot-initiative-process

Meg Kelly/NPR

Issue 2 on the November ballot would make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives and proposed constitutional amendments in Arkansas.

The Supply Side: Drone delivery among retailers becomes more prevalent

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Once seen as a small possibility, drone delivery for online orders has become a reality for Walmart and some of its competitors. Drone deliveries are increasing with ongoing investments among big retailers following more leeway from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Walmart has tested drone deliveries with various partners for the past two years but more recently ramped up investments in the final-mile delivery method following the guidelines released by the FAA in January 2021.

Walmart announced in May 2022 that it was expanding its investment with DroneUp to 34 sites by the end of the year. The drone towers have become fixtures at local Walmart stores in Pea Ridge, Store 100 in Bentonville, and the Walmart Neighborhood Market store in Farmington.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/the-supply-side-drone-delivery-among-retailers-becomes-more-prevalent/

Barth, Coon analyze independent voters, issue of abortion from latest poll data

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

Dr. Jay Barth and Robert Coon offer bipartisan analysis on every Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll that comes out. In our final installment of analysis, Barth and Coon look at different groups of voters from an “Independent” political affiliation and on the issue of abortion.

In the latest survey of 835 likely Arkansas voters, the poll found that roughly 30% of voters identify as Independent versus 38% who say they vote Republican and 25% who vote Democrat.

Some common traits of Independent voters in 2022 include:

• They tend to be younger, lean slightly more college-educated, and are represented more by males than females.

• Independent voters find unfavorable both Donald Trump (55%) and President Joe Biden (60%).

• At the state level, a plurality of Independents currently say they plan to vote for U.S. Senator John Boozman (36%) and Lt. Governor Tim Griffin (44%), but narrowly (+2%) support Chris Jones in the Governor’s race.

• In key races, Independents are more likely to still be undecided in their candidate choices.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/barth-coon-analyze-independent-voters-issue-of-abortion-from-latest-poll-data/

Arkansas Supreme Court puts marijuana amendment back on the November ballot

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

Recreational marijuana use will be on Arkansas’ November election ballot. The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday (Sept. 22) overturned a State Board of Election Commissioners (SBEC) decision to deny certification of the constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana use for adults.

The SBEC on Aug. 3 denied certification of a proposed constitutional amendment – Issue 4 – to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The panel cited concerns regarding sufficient background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found in marijuana. The SBEC review is part of a new process for ballot petitions.

In a 5-2 opinion, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the panel’s concerns about ballot sufficiency. Justices Shawn Womack and Barbara Webb dissented. (Link here for a PDF of the opinion.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/arkansas-supreme-court-puts-marijuana-amendment-back-on-the-november-ballot/

LIV Golf in Northwest Arkansas? John Tyson discusses the idea with Greg Norman

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

John Tyson is exploring the idea of offering his Northwest Arkansas golf course as a venue for a LIV Golf tournament.

The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal has learned that Greg Norman, a two-time major champion and CEO of the highly lucrative upstart golf league, traveled to Northwest Arkansas in early September to visit with Tyson at Blessings Golf Club.

Tyson, chairman of Springdale-based meat giant Tyson Foods Inc., owns Blessings, which opened 18 years ago near Fayetteville.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/liv-golf-in-northwest-arkansas-john-tyson-discusses-the-idea-with-greg-norman/

Greg Norman

Governor Hutchinson Appoints Mark White as Secretary of The Department of Human Services

LITTLE ROCK –  Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced his appointment of Mark White of Bryant as the Secretary of the Department of Human Service. He will replace Cindy Gillespie.

White currently serves as Chief of Staff and Chief Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer. He represents DHS before the Arkansas Legislature and serves as a primary point of contact for legislators, elected officials, lobbyists, and other state agencies. He was also appointed by the Governor to serve on the Arkansas Health Services Permit Commission.

Since he first joined DHS in 2013, he has served in a variety of capacities including work in the Secretary’s Office, the Office of Chief Counsel, and the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services.

In 2017, Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed him to the Governor’s Transformation Advisory Board, which helped lay the groundwork for the reorganization of state government culminating in the Transformation and Efficiencies Act of 2019. 

He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Arkansas School of Law.

“I have the utmost confidence in Mark to lead the Department of Humans Services. His breadth of experience, working relationship with the legislature, and his close working relationship with transformation within DHS makes him the perfect fit to lead a department that provides critical services to children, senior citizens, and provides health care needs to the most vulnerable Arkansans.” Governor Hutchinson said.

“I am grateful to Governor Hutchinson for the opportunity to lead the Department of Human Services as we serve the people of Arkansas. The mission of DHS is to improve the quality of life for all Arkansans by protecting the vulnerable, fostering independence, and promoting better health,” White said. “Secretary Cindy Gillespie has led DHS in making great strides to pursue this mission, and I look forward to working with the Governor and the Arkansas General Assembly in continuing that good work.”

White's term will begin October 8, 2022, and his salary will be $201,700. 

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address Celebrating the Heritage of Hispanic Americans

LITTLE ROCK – Today I would like to talk about Hispanic Heritage Month and what this occassion represents. Hispanic influence can be seen in all aspects of American life and culture.

In the 1980’s Arkansas saw a growth in the Hispanic population, which continued well into the 21st century. According to the 2020 census, Arkansas was one of 15 states where the Hispanic population made up more than half of all population growth in the state. Hispanic roots in Arkansas run deep and have become a vital part of our communities around the state.

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law a week-long celebration for Hispanic Heritage. He believed that it was important to celebrate the heritage of our American citizens who were of Hispanic descent because it was those who came before them who helped settle our land and built our country into what it is now.

Later in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Week grew into Hispanic Heritage Month after President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.

It is no coincidence that this falls in September as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence on September 15. But also, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

Hispanic Heritage is American heritage because the American story is about every person who takes responsibility, works hard, and dreams big. When we take the time to honor those who made this American story possible, we can overcome America’s challenges and continue to be a beacon of freedom for the world.

When President Reagan signed into law the month-long celebration, he did so because he believed that the celebration of Hispanic Heritage was an example of how fundamental family is to our country.

He believed that the strength of America’s families translated into the strength of our country. This time of celebration looks into a culture’s strongest qualities, and Hispanic Heritage Month is a time where we can honor a love for family and connect through the stories of those who came before us.

Rutledge discourages banks and credit card companies from tracking firearm purchases

LITTLE ROCK— Attorney General Leslie Rutledge joined a coalition of 24 states in alerting the chief executive officers of multiple banks and major credit card companies that classifying firearm transactions into a newly created Merchant Category Code is potentially a violation of consumer protection law and antitrust law.

“Attempting to document when law-abiding Americans choose to exercise their Second Amendment right is a flagrant attack on consumer privacy,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “This action by banks and credit card companies must stop immediately.”  

In the letter to the CEOs of American Express, Mastercard and Visa, the attorneys general argue that monitoring and tracking firearm purchases creates a “list of gun buyers” which would present great risk to law-abiding consumers if the list were obtained and misused by those who oppose the Second Amendment.

The creation of this new Merchant Category Code specifically for gun stores allows credit card companies and large banks to monitor spending habits of consumers who purchase guns by adding their name to a list. Activists pressured the International Organization for Standardization to adopt this policy in order to circumvent and undermine the American legislative process.

Joining Rutledge in signing the letter are attorneys general from: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

To read the full letter, click here.

Oct. 28 field day to address drought’s effect on cattle, forages and more

HOPE, Ark. — While several weeks of relatively cool, wet weather may have distanced the memory of this summer’s drought conditions across much of the country, experienced cattle and forage producers know there’s no guarantee tough times won’t return.

UPCOMING — This year’s Beef & Forages Field Day, scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope, will address drought impacts on the cattle market, nutritional considerations in forage and more. (DIvision of Agriculture flier.)

Though the rain has eased the dry conditions, nearly two-thirds of Arkansas still had some form of drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s Sept. 15 update.

This year’s Beef & Forages Field Day, scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope, will address drought impacts on the cattle market, nutritional considerations in forage and more. The center is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s research arm, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m., with lunch provided. There’s no cost to attend, but registration is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/SWREC_Cattle_Field_Day_2022 or call 870-777-9702 no later than Oct. 25.

Daniel Rivera, associate professor and SWREC director, said attendees will “have the opportunity to tour facilities and pastures to hear ways to reduce hay waste and how to utilize annual forage plantings to extend grazing as you see these management strategies in practice.”

Speakers include James Mitchell, livestock economist for the Division of Agriculture; Shane Gadberry, cattle nutritionist and director of the agricultural experiment station’s Livestock and Forestry Station at Batesville and more. Additional topics include minimizing hay waste, an overview of the research topics at SWREC and a tour of the pastures and facilities.

The Southwest Research and Extension Center is located at 362 Highway 174 North in Hope.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. 

Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association honors longtime leader for 40 years of service

FERNDALE, Ark. — Many former 4-H members remain involved with the youth development program long after they age out, ensuring new generations benefit from the program’s hands-on learning opportunities. On Aug. 6, the Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association honored Barbara Nelson for 40 years of service to the organization, which supports the Natural State’s 4-H programs.  

40 YEARS OF SERVICE — On Aug. 6, the Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association honored Barbara Nelson, pictured with her son Mike, for her 40 years of service to the organization, which supports 4-H programs in the state through scholarships, an innovative grant program, and other fundraising projects.

Nelson, 79, joined the Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association when it was established in 1982. She was elected as chair of the association in 1985, only the second person to hold the position, and served in the role for eight years. Nelson said that after seeing the impact 4-H had on three generations of her family, she knew she wanted to give back to the program.

“Having seen my brother and sisters and what they accomplished, the projects that my mom and dad had us do, and after watching my kids grow up in it, to me it was quite worth it to give alumni another way to help 4-Hers,” Nelson said.

“I’ve always felt like 4-H has been well worth any time anybody puts in it, and it’s just good for the kids,” she said. “You get to see them grow up, and you get to see them start off scared to death to give a presentation, but in two years, they’re standing up and telling you anything they want to tell you.”

The Alumni Association supports 4-H and gives former 4-H members the opportunity to stay involved in the program. They provide two $500 scholarships each year to graduating 4-H members, and their innovative grant program provides up to $200 to four clubs each year for community projects. The association also sponsors the brick 4-H Memory Walk at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center, along with other projects, including their support of the Arkansas Hospitality Suite at the National 4-H Congress.

Ettamarie Belden, current president of the Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association, said Nelson’s history as a teacher and passion for 4-H have made her an important source of support. 

“She’s the best,” Belden said. “She has so much experience, and she’s so dedicated. She’s just very community oriented, somebody who could always be depended on. She’s the kind of teacher that you want.”

4-H runs in the family

Nelson was a member of the New Providence-Turley 4-H club in the Lodge Corner community of Arkansas County starting in the late 1940s, where she worked on clothing, dairy cattle and “personal improvement” projects, such as public speaking. Her mother, Gladys Kennedy, served as the main 4-H leader, and Nelson’s brother and sisters were also involved.

After leaving Arkansas for a few years while she and her husband were stationed at different Army bases, Nelson earned a Bachelor’s in Education from Henderson State Teacher’s College in 1964. This led to a 50-year career in public education. She worked as a schoolteacher from 1965 to 1995, served five years on the DeWitt School Board and worked for 18 years as an adjunct instructor at Phillips County Community College, now part of the University of Arkansas System. She also earned her Master’s in Education from the University of Arkansas in 1978.

In 1973, Nelson’s sons Ken and Mike became interested in 4-H, and the family joined the Eager Beavers 4-H club in Fordyce, where Nelson became a 4-H leader. The family moved to Watson in 1977, where they helped start one of the first integrated 4-H club in the state, the Warriors.

“We had some really good 4-Hers,” Nelson said. “Everybody cooperated with everybody else, and it was a fun time.”  

Mike and Ken both went on to earn state and national recognition for 4-H achievements. Nelson was a 4-H club leader for 35 years for her local “Spirit of 76” club in Arkansas County. She has eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren participated in poultry, shooting sports, bicycle safety and other local 4-H programs. Her oldest grandson, W. Trevor Nelson, was a county officer, a state Teen Leader, and a state and national winner for his project “Rice for Ducks,” for which he received an achievement plaque from then U.S. President George W. Bush. Mike Nelson said the great-grandchildren will all be “encouraged to join and participate in 4-H when they are old enough.”

Nelson’s family history with 4-H also includes her father, Holland Leroy “HL” Kennedy. Mike Nelson said his family has a record of Kennedy participating in 4-H starting in 1925 at age 14, just 17 years after the start of 4-H club work in Arkansas in 1908. Kennedy received a 75-year distinction award from the alumni association for his lifelong support of the program.

Decades of service and support

Nelson said she “would not change a thing” about her years of service to the alumni association and the 4-H program, and that she was “flabbergasted” when she was recognized in
August.

“I never thought about it being 40 years with the alumni association,” she said. “I just can’t believe I’m quite that old yet. But it’s time well spent, and I wouldn’t change a bit of it.”

John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation, said the support of alumni like Nelson is crucial to the state’s 4-H program.

“Arkansas 4-H alumni are an invaluable resource to the continued success of the 4-H program,” Thomas said. “Barbara is a great example of that. We are so grateful for her and her legacy of giving back to the next generation of Arkansas 4-H youth.”

4-H is a youth development program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The program teaches participants life skills through the “learn by doing” model. Program participants gain knowledge through non-formal, science-based, experiential education activities.

To learn more about Arkansas 4-H and its programs, visit the Arkansas 4-H website.

Rutledge announces 2022 Arkansas Law Enforcement Summit

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has announced the 20th Annual Arkansas Law Enforcement Summit, which will be held on October 4 at the Benton Event Center. The annual event is a free training and educational opportunity for Arkansas’s law enforcement community, including prosecutors and criminal justice personnel. The summit is also open to teachers, counselors and educators as the event will focus on collaboration between law enforcement and school administrators in an effort to ensure school safety across Arkansas.

“This year’s Law Enforcement Summit will address concerns that have arisen in school safety,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I encourage officers and educators to register for this free training so they can learn ways to better protect students throughout Arkansas.”

The summit attendees will hear from Max Schachter, a national school safety advocate. Schachter is the Founder and Executive Director of Safe Schools for Alex. Schachter’s youngest son, Alex, was one of the 17 victims of the Parkland School shooting. He has received numerous honors for his advocacy such as the Citizen Volunteer Service Award by former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr.

Rutledge will also welcome Miss Arkansas Ebony Mitchell who will discuss her partnership with the Attorney General’s Office to educate Arkansas’s children about being safe online. In partnering with the Attorney General, Ebony has dispersed over 2,500 of the Attorney General’s Internet Safety booklets to schools across the State.

Dr. Amy Klinger of the Educators School Safety Network will also give a presentation. Dr. Klinger combines a knowledge of law enforcement procedures with the practical experience of educational administration. She delivers trainings and lectures to audiences on school safety and crisis management. Dr. Klinger’s expertise in active shooter response, crisis management, vulnerability assessment and mitigation, as well as lockdown enhancements is derived from her work in developing training courses for the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For more information on the event or to register click here.

Arkansas recreational marijuana advocates say it could be $1 billion industry

KUAR | By Michael Tilley/ Talk Business & Politics

River Valley Relief in Fort Smith could add up to 150 jobs. Kansas City, Kan.-based Greenlight estimates adding 100 jobs in Arkansas with $2 million in new investment. They’re just two of many medical marijuana companies operating in Arkansas likely to add jobs and investment if voters approve recreational marijuana use for adults in November.

Polling suggests broad support for recreational, or what is also called adult use.

But there will be opposition. Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former federal prosecutor and head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration under President George W. Bush, is against the November ballot question. He’s encouraging law enforcement groups to come out against the measure, telling members of the Arkansas Municipal Police Association not to be swayed by benefits being promoted by Responsible Growth Arkansas (RGA), the organization that worked to place legalization of recreational use on the November ballot.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-09-15/arkansas-recreational-marijuana-advocates-say-it-could-be-1-billion-industry

Arkansas tourism officials welcome rebound of visitors

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Arkansas’ tourism industry is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new study.

The 2021 Arkansas Tourism Economic Impact Report shows tourism jobs in the state rose to 95% of pre-pandemic levels last year. Jobs in the tourism industry grew by nearly 24% compared to 2020, with over 64,000 more Arkansans employed.

Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, says the state’s economy is also seeing a rebound thanks to the increase in visitors.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-09-19/arkansas-tourism-officials-welcome-visitor-revenue-rebound

Jared Sorrells/Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cyclists ride one of the Monument Trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock.

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Life Lessons from the Friday Night Lights

LITTLE ROCK – Every year, near the end of Summer, the smell of popcorn, face paint, and freshly mowed grass fills the air in cities and towns around the state. Friday night lights and the chill of the early fall air is a familiar feeling to Arkansans of all ages.

High school sports are important to every community in Arkansas, but it is most important to those who participate, the student-athletes. Our students spend so much time of their young life learning how to serve, dribble, and catch a ball. They learn to make a tackle or march in the band.

But the special thing about sports for our children is what they can learn that translates to the rest of their life. Sports teach responsibility and discipline. Our children learn to practice honesty and to have passion for their goals.

They teach how to be resourceful and take situations they aren’t familiar with and make the best out of them. There was a time, not too long ago, during the pandemic that many states canceled school and cancelled sports. I heard from parents, teachers, and student-athletes about how important school was and the sports and other extracurricular programs that go with school.

I told our Secretary of Education and the public that we had to have school in the fall of 2020, and that’s exactly what we did. We had to make many changes to how we operated, we made adjustments to our daily lives, but ultimately we as a community, were resourceful and made it work. Our students continued to participate in the extracurricular activities they hold dearly, all while going to school and continuing their education.

In fact, Arkansas ranked second in the nation for in-classroom instruction during the pandemic. Allowing our school districts to make decisions based on their unique needs kept the health and safety of our students and families a top priority without forcing all schools to follow one set of rules.

In the fall of 2020, I received a letter from a senior at Greenwood High School. Her name was Hannah Watkins and she played volleyball for the Bulldogs. In her letter she talked about how her team huddled around the T.V. watching a press conference where I announced that high school sports would be played during that upcoming school year.

Hannah and her team went on to win the 5A State title in volleyball that season. In the letter she told me they followed all the precautions “to a T” and did whatever they could to make sure they were ready to play. Now, Hannah is playing college volleyball in Arkansas.

This is an amazing example of how sports instill meaningful qualities in our children. They had a goal. They did everything it took to reach that goal, and even though many things had to adjust they were successful in their endeavor.

Tonight, many young Arkansans will be battling it out against each other on the turf, and in the end some teams will win and some will lose. But the sun will rise again tomorrow, and those life lessons they learned will carry on with them for a lifetime. 

Governor Hutchinson Announces Resignation of Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services Cindy Gillespie

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced that Cindy Gillespie will resign as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

“Cindy Gillespie has given the state of Arkansas her experience, management capabilities, and the right ideas that have led us in a great direction,” Governor Hutchinson said. “She is a great friend, and she is truly passionate about making a difference in the lives of Arkansans every day.”

Secretary Gillespie issued this response reflecting on her time in public service for the State of Arkansas.

“In 2016, when Governor Hutchinson offered me the role leading the Arkansas Department of Human Services, I could not have imagined all that would happen in the coming years, nor did I realize how quickly Arkansas would become my home and the employees at DHS become my family. The last six years have been the most challenging and rewarding of my career and I am extraordinarily proud of all the incredible DHS team has accomplished over these years. “We care, we act, we change lives” is more than a motto at DHS - it’s truly the mission my co-workers live each day as they go to work in our facilities, our offices, and in the homes of families and individuals in need.

The continuing focus Governor and First Lady Hutchinson have had on the safety, health, and future of children has guided so much of my work here, and I have benefitted from the Governor’s steadfast support, leadership, and the model of servant leadership he set. It has been an honor to be part of his Cabinet.

I am also grateful to the members of the Arkansas General Assembly for their guidance and support over the years. Many of them spent countless hours working with me on policy, legislation, and issues, and I have appreciated their dedication to the constituents they serve and to ensuring Arkansans thrive.

Although it is bittersweet to leave, I appreciate the Governor understanding that family must always come first, so I will need to depart in October.”

Before joining DHS in 2016, Gillespie served as a Principal in the Washington D.C. office of Dentons’ Public Policy and Regulation practice and a leader of the firm’s Health Policy and Health Insurance Exchange Teams. Earlier, Gillespie served as a senior advisor to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, where she led the Commonwealth of Massachusetts interactions with the federal government and oversaw the development and implementation of the Administration’s executive branch initiatives, including playing a leading role in the development of Massachusetts health reforms. 

Prior to her government service in Massachusetts, Ms. Gillespie served as a senior executive for the not-for-profit Salt Lake Olympic Committee, responsible for hosting the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games, and as a director at the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the non-profit hosting the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. She was recognized both nationally and internationally for her leadership in developing a unique public-private partnership between federal, state, and local government and the organizing committees for staging the Games in the U.S. She is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, TN, and has a master’s degree from Auburn University in Alabama. She is a native of Columbus, Georgia.

Governor Hutchinson will announce a successor to Secretary Gillespie at a later date.

Secretary Gillespie’s last day in the DHS office will be October 7, 2022.

Arkansas receives $280 million from American Rescue Plan

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas will receive $280 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to tackle water problems statewide.

About $270 million will be used on water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects, and $10 million will be doled to assist areas in eastern Arkansas with the transition from groundwater to surface water and help preserve the Sparta and Alluvial aquifers.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson created a Water and Other Infrastructure Working Group to assist the Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Steering Committee in identifying water infrastructure projects. The working group conducted a needs survey that identified more than $5 billion in water, wastewater, and stormwater needs across the state. The working group made a subsequent funding proposal which was approved by the Steering Committee in August and by the Arkansas Legislative Council today.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/arkansas-receives-280-million-from-american-rescue-plan/

Governor Hutchinson Announces Opposition To Proposed Rules Undermining Women’s Sports

In a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his opposition to proposed amendments to the regulations on implementing Title IX.

"The proposed rules would make it clear that sexual orientation and gender identity are both covered under the non-discrimination laws for our schools," Governor Hutchinson said. "This would interfere with Arkansas law, it would interfere with common sense, and it would interfere with local control."

Governor Hutchinson said the proposed changes would violate Arkansas law that prohibits biological males from competing in women's sports. He announced Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has filed a response with other Attorneys General opposing the new rules.

Secretary Johnny Key and the Department of Education have also joined other states in presenting comments opposing these proposed rules.

"These proposed amendments of the Biden administration not only fly in the face of well-established law but in the face of reason and the intent of Congress," Governor Hutchinson said. "The state of Arkansas will not stand by idly while the federal government seeks to redefine the law to the detriment of women's sports and local decision making."