News

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Arkansas’ gubernatorial candidates debate taxes, transgender law, education

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by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Taxes, transgender laws, media access, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were part of Friday’s (Oct. 21) three-person gubernatorial debate in which frontrunner and Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Democrat challenger Dr. Chris Jones focused on education and jobs.

The debate, which also included Libertarian candidate Ricky Dale Harrington Jr., was conducted by Arkansas PBS and televised live Friday morning.

A recent Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll showed Sanders with a 10-point lead over Jones (51% to 41%) heading into the last weeks of the election cycle. Harrington had support from 3% of poll respondents. The poll was conducted Oct. 17-18 with 974 likely Arkansas voters.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/arkansas-gubernatorial-candidates-debate-taxes-transgender-law-education/

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Poll: Voters suggest a mixed bag for Issues 1, 2 and 3

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

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll shows about one-quarter of voters are still undecided on three amendment proposals to be considered this fall.

In the latest survey of 974 likely Arkansas voters, which was conducted Oct. 17-18, 2022, Issue 1 has an 11-point lead, Issue 2 is a dead-heat, and Issue 3 is slightly opposed by just three points.

Respondents were asked:

Q: Issue 1, would give the legislature the authority to convene in extraordinary session (special session) by joint proclamation of House and Senate leadership or by written proclamation containing the signatures of at least two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against Issue 1?

44.5% For
33.5% Against
22% Undecided

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/poll-voters-suggest-a-mixed-bag-for-issues-1-2-and-3/

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Poll: Opposition to recreational marijuana amendment grows, but slight majority still favor

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

Voter attitudes toward recreational marijuana have shifted significantly over the last month, according to a new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll.

The survey, conducted on Oct. 17-18, 2022, collected opinions from 974 likely Arkansas voters statewide. Respondents were asked:

Q. On November 8th, voters will be asked to consider one proposed constitutional amendment proposed by the people. Issue 4 would authorize the possession, personal use, and consumption of cannabis by adults in Arkansas sold by licensed adult use dispensaries and provide for the regulation of those facilities. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against Issue 4?

Definitely for – 36.5%
Probably for – 14%  (50.5% For)
Probably against – 9.5%
Definitely against – 33.5%  (43% Against)
Undecided – 6.5%

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/poll-opposition-to-recreational-marijuana-amendment-grows-but-slight-majority-still-favor/

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Poll: State Supreme Court race flying under the radar

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

Arkansans will decide a state Supreme Court race this November, but the latest Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll suggests 6 in 10 voters may not know for whom they will vote.

In this last round of polling, the survey of 974 likely Arkansas voters found incumbent Supreme Court Associate Justice Robin Wynne with 28% support to Judge Chris Carnahan’s 13% support. 59% of voters are undecided as early voting begins. Respondents were asked:

Q: Thinking about the upcoming non-partisan judicial race for Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 2, if the election were held today, which of the candidates would you vote for?

28%  Supreme Court Associate Justice Robin Wynne
13%  Judge Chris Carnahan
59%  Undecided

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/poll-state-supreme-court-race-flying-under-the-radar/

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Audio: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address Arkansas’s Historic Economic Growth

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LITTLE ROCK – Today I would like to talk about a priority I’ve had since taking office in 2015. Job creation is critical to our economic growth and our future as a state.

When I was elected, there were 1.2 million people employed in Arkansas. Even after a global pandemic that impacted much of the world’s working force, Arkansas sits at a 3.5% unemployment rate, and we have 125,000 more people working in jobs around the state today than we did 8 years ago. This is possible thanks to the help of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The state’s economic development team has signed 495 projects since January 2015 resulting in creating more than 25,000 jobs for Arkansans.

In 2022 so far, we have signed 19 new incentive agreements with companies investing their resources into our state, which in turn is creating more than 2,900 jobs for Arkansans. This includes the historic investment with U.S. Steel committing more than $3 billion to create the most advanced steel-making facility in North America in Osceola, Arkansas.

Two weeks ago, I joined Commerce Secretary Mike Preston for a ribbon cutting of Lockheed Martin’s new facility in Camden. They invested more than $142 million to expand their facility by 85,000 square feet to increase production capacity for the world’s most advanced air defense missile.

In that same week, Preformed Line Products announced plans to expand operations in Rogers. They will invest $16 million to expand its Rogers facility by 82,000 square feet and plan to add 50 more employees in the coming months.

Another win for Arkansas is Veolia, which is expanding in Arkadelphia. Veolia is a global company that designs and provides water, waste, and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. In 2019 alone, Veolia Group supplied 98 million people with drinking water and 67 million people with wastewater service around the globe. Last week, they announced a $600 million investment in Arkadelphia – or specifically, Gum Springs – that will create 125 new jobs by 2024.

And then on Tuesday of this last week, Owens Corning, which produces construction materials, announced plans to expand its existing facility by 70,000 square feet. This $24.5 million investment plans to add 50 new jobs in the Fort Smith area.

Since January 2015, we have lowered taxes, reduced regulations, and increased the speed to market by cutting permitting time — all of which improve growth.

Now we are seeing historical investments with Arkansas companies expanding every week and new companies committing their resources to put down their roots in our state.  

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UA Cossatot Colts/Lady Colts Benefit Golf Tournament in Nashville

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Early Voting Begins Monday, October 24th

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Voters are Reminded to Take ID to the Polls

(LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) – Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston would like to remind voters that early voting for the 2022 General Election, Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff Election, and School Elections begins on Monday, October 24th.  

Early voting will run from October 24th through November 7th. Polls will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the final Monday before Election Day. Polls are closed on Sundays. 

To check your voter registration, find your polling location and operating hours, or to view a sample ballot, visit www.voterview.org.

A voter guide containing unbiased information regarding ballot issues, produced by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center, can be accessed at www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/voter-education.

If you have moved to another county since you last voted, you have until Friday, November 4th to update your voter registration with your county clerk for this election.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th.  Polls that day will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Arkansas law requires that voters present a photo ID before voting.

Election results will be available at the Secretary of State's website after the polls close on Election Day at www.sos.arkansas.gov.

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UA Cossatot Agriculture Projects to be Showcased in Washington, D.C.

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Six agriculture students from UA Cossatot will be attending the annual National Science Foundation Advanced Technician Education (NSF ATE) conference on October 25-28, 2022 in Washington D.C.

This year Keaton Cox, Kaydee Cowling, and Haley Wright are presenting posters about projects conducted by the agriculture department. Three additional students attending the conference include April Klitz, Hannah Honey, and Valerie Smith. UA Cossatot faculty members Kelli Harris and Crystal Sims will also be in attendance.

Cox’s research is about water quality. The students in Natural Resources have been collecting water samples and testing for coliform bacteria, lead, mercury, pH, and other quality factors. The data is recorded through ArcGIS Survey123, including location data which is then mapped.

Cowling and Wright’s project started in the Intro to GIS class in the spring of 2022. They are collaborating with Casey Hardaway at Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center to collect location data on fossils found on the management area.

The conference will host more than 850 NSF ATE grantees and their project cohorts to focus on the critical issues related to advanced technological education. Fundamental persons working on ATE projects across the country will partake in the hybrid event. Conference partakers represent community colleges,

business and industry, secondary school systems, and four-year universities covering projects in a wide variety of areas, such as information technology, engineering technology, micro-and nanotechnologies, chemical technology, biotechnology, and other program areas.

The primary goal of the GSTARS project is to design and implement a curriculum that meets the region’s need for technician-level GIS skills in agriculture and related science industries. In addition, the $299,635 grant will create pathways for future GIS Technicians to enter the local workforce.

“This grant has created an amazing opportunity to integrate technology and technical skills, such as GIS data collection and drone operations, into our agriculture and science programs. We are excited to share what our students have been learning at UA Cossatot through the GSTARS grant during the NSF ATE conference," said GSTARS team leader and agriculture faculty, Kelli Harris.

To learn more about this grant and conference, contact Kelli Harris at kharris@cccua.edu. ###

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AG Alert: Con Artists Guilty of Jury Scam

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LITTLE ROCK— Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is warning Arkansans to be wary of con artists attempting to convince unsuspecting consumers that they have missed jury duty and are facing law enforcement action. The scammers often call consumers under the guise of representing a law enforcement agency or court official, claiming that the individual faces a fine or imprisonment for missing jury duty. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge encourages all Arkansans to verify the legitimacy of their jury summons by contacting their county’s circuit clerk directly.

“Intimidation and impersonation are common practices for con artists,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “These criminals are becoming more brazen by offering consumers a badge number and spoofing their phone number to make the call look like it is coming from the courthouse or local law enforcement agency. Scams may sound legitimate, but before providing any personal information to the person on the other end of the phone, consumers should confirm the accuracy of the information with their local court.”

Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips for consumers who are contacted by these scammers:

  • Contact your local circuit clerk to determine whether you truly are expected to report for jury duty.

  • Contact local law enforcement and provide the name and badge number you received to verify the officer’s information and confirm that you were contacted by that officer.

  • Court officials will not ask for your personal information such as social security number, address, credit card number or any other personal or financial information. Verifying any information over the phone could lead to other scams or identity theft.

  • Court officials will never ask individuals to pay fines with gift cards or bitcoin. If an individual asks you to transfer currency into bitcoin, it is probably a scam. Hang up the phone.

If you fall victim to one of these phone scams, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office. For more tips to avoid being scammed and other consumer-related issues, visit ArkansasAG.gov or call the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office at 800-482-8982.

The Attorney General’s office also makes presentations on scams to organizations and groups. To schedule a scam prevention presentation email speaker@arkansasag.gov or visit ArkansasAG.gov.

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Rutledge joins coalition opposing DOT's Highway Emission Rule

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LITTLE ROCK— Attorney General Leslie Rutledge joined a 20-state coalition in filing comments before the Biden administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to push back against a rule proposal requiring all fifty states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to reduce on-road CO2 emissions to net-zero by 2050. The coalition of attorneys general argues that Congress has not given the DOT authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

“This proposed rule shows that the Biden Administration once again has demonstrated its lack of regard for the separation of powers,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “The Biden Administration does not have the authority to require states to implement federal regulatory programs.”

Attorney General Rutledge and the coalition noted their concerns that DOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) overstepped its legal authority by proposing this measure. The coalition writes, “Given the Supreme Court recently made clear in West Virginia v. EPA that even the EPA cannot use its existing authority to take unprecedented and unauthorized actions to address climate change, such action is clearly beyond the authority Congress has given FHWA.”

The coalition also makes clear that the proposed measure violates the principles of federalism by requiring states to implement a federal regulatory program. The attorneys general note that the Supreme Court has said that “the Constitution protects us from our own best intentions: It divides power among sovereigns and among branches of government precisely so that we may resist the temptation to concentrate power in one location as an expedient solution to the crisis of the day.”

Further, the attorneys general note that FHWA issued a similar rule, which was repealed after the agency determined that the measure may duplicate “existing efforts in some States” and imposed “unnecessary burdens on State DOTs and MPOs [metropolitan planning organizations] that were not contemplated by Congress.”

Attorney General Rutledge was joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,  Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Read the coalition’s comments here.

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Artificial intelligence programmer in ag tech named ABI New Investigator of the Year

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By John Lovett
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A major intersection of agriculture and technology today is in artificial intelligence and machine learning to process massive amounts of data from those quadcopters buzzing over crop fields.

Operating multi-spectral and thermal cameras on drones is one thing, but programming computers to use that data to figure out complex agricultural problems, like early detection of crop stress on specific plants, is another.

MACHINE LEARNING — Emily Bellis, assistant professor of bioinformatics at Arkansas State University with a U of A Division of Agriculture appointment, was recognized as the 2022 New Investigator of the Year by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute during the ABI Fall Symposium at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Bellis)

That’s something computer scientists are working on in a collaboration between the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas State University’s computer science department and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute.

Emily Bellis, assistant professor of bioinformatics at Arkansas State University, was recently named the New Investigator of the Year by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute for her work on these kinds of problems. The Division of Agriculture partially funded her research on artificial intelligence that processes drone-derived images. The institute recognized Bellis and other researchers during its fall symposium on Oct. 4 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.

“I love this kind of project because it is really interesting from the data analysis viewpoint and also the eventual impacts you can have in agricultural systems,” Bellis said.

Bellis also serves as the associate director for the Center for No-Boundary Thinking, an Arkansas State University-based group with a goal to promote interdisciplinary research with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The study led by Bellis trained computers to interpret multi-spectral and thermal images taken by drones to determine yield potential differences within a given field based on various nutrient stress signs of the crop. The research paper, “Detecting intra-field variation in rice yield with unmanned aerial vehicle imagery and deep learning,” was published in March. Ahmed Hashem, assistant professor of agricultural systems technology at Arkansas State University, was the co-first author of the study and led the drone data collection. Tim Burcham, director of the Division of Agriculture’s Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center and a former ASU professor, linked the two for the project.

DRONE TECH — Ahmed Hashem flies drones with multi-spectral sensors as part of a program with Emily Bellis to develop artificial intelligence programs that can measure crop stress. (Courtesy Ahmed Hashem)

“We’ve been working for a couple of years together on how we can apply deep-learning techniques to massive image data sets that were collected over many different experiments, Bellis said. “Different types of cameras can often capture different types of stress. The multi-spectral sensors on Dr. Hashem’s drones are great for detecting nutrient and drought stress.”

The study compared two deep learning-based strategies for early warning detection of crop stress using UAV-derived data throughout the growing season for rice in east Arkansas irrigated rice fields. Researchers with the department of biological and agricultural engineering at the University of Arkansas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture were also involved.

They found that two-dimensional images, processed with a particular type of machine learning model called a convolutional neural network, did slightly better at predicting yield potential in a rice field at an earlier growth stage than a more complicated model that takes images from multiple surrounding time points as input. However, the models that use images from multiple time points may show potential for better performance if trained on diverse datasets that include multiple rice cultivars and environments, Bellis said.

Burcham said the research using advanced artificial intelligence computation tools “is critical for unlocking future advances in row crop production for Arkansas farmers.”

“Emily is a commensurate team player, and her skill set in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning has added immeasurably to the joint remote sensing research being conducted by faculty in the Arkansas State University College of Agriculture who hold joint research appointments with the Division of Agriculture,” Burcham said. “Her multiple research affiliations demonstrate her commitment to collaboration to unravel answers in complex ecosystems. I am so happy Dr. Bellis is recognized as an Arkansas Biosciences Institute New Investigator of the Year.”

Robert McGehee, executive director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and Distinguished Professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said Bellis has made “significant accomplishments” in her three years on the Arkansas State University campus. In addition to being engaged in undergraduate and graduate student education, McGehee said Bellis and colleagues were recently awarded a highly competitive National Science Foundation research training award. She has also won funding from the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCor) and the U.S. Forest Service.

“Her expertise in applying state-of-the-art bioinformatic approaches to better understand the interactions between the agricultural crops and the environment will be transformative,” McGehee said of Bellis. “As a young scientist pushing the envelope in her field and becoming so engaged as a role model in training the next generation, she is exceptionally deserving of the 2022 ABI New Investigator of the Year.”

McGehee noted one of the missions of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute is to foster collaborations within member institutions. The institute, funded through the state’s share of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement, is an agricultural and medical research consortium “dedicated to improving the health of Arkansas.”

“I am extremely excited about her collaborations with the U of A System Division of Agriculture,” McGehee said.

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. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu

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Inaugural Community Health Impact Conference Provides Info and Partnerships for Organizations Throughout the State

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By Kev' Moye

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Center for Research, Health & Social Justice presented its first-ever statewide Community Health Impact Conference.

Themed, “Social Justice in Turbulent Times: Reclaiming our Space,” the two-day, virtual event offered several discussions and group activities designed to address issues such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, health outcomes in rural settings and social justice reform.

“Our goal for this conference is to provide tools to help you eliminate cancer and cardiovascular disease through using a social justice lens,” Latonya Rucker, the center’s co-director of community outreach and engagement said during her opening remarks. “Currently, we’re facing chronic health disparities that can be addressed through community partnerships.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/10/24/inaugural-community-health-impact-conference-provides-info-and-partnerships-for-organizations-throughout-the-state/

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Longtime extension agent appointed consumer horticulture educator, Arkansas Master Gardener coordinator

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By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service has a new consumer horticulture educator who will lead statewide outreach and coordinate Master Gardener programs.

NEW TO THE BEAT — Randy Forst, who has served as a county extension agent for 13 years, has been hired as the consumer horticulture educator for extension, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. In his new role, Forst will provide leadership for statewide horticulture programs and coordinate the Arkansas Master Gardeners program, the state’s largest horticulture volunteer and education organization. Forst began the new position Oct. 3. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Randy Forst, who has served as a county extension agent for 13 years, has been hired as the consumer horticulture educator for extension, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. In his new role, Forst will provide leadership for statewide horticulture programs and coordinate the Arkansas Master Gardeners program, the state’s largest horticulture volunteer and education organization. Forst began the new position Oct. 3.

“Randy is the perfect person to lead our consumer horticulture program and Master Gardener program,” Dr. Bob Scott, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, said. “He has worked in the Delta, Ouachita and Ozark districts and is an expert when it comes to Arkansas horticulture. He will be an asset to our agents as well as to the hundreds of Master Gardeners we have volunteering across the state.”

Started in 1988 in four counties (Garland, Jefferson, Pulaski, and Saline) and with 40 members, the Arkansas Master Gardeners program now has more than 3,400 volunteers working in 67 of the state’s counties. Volunteers maintain hundreds of gardens and landscaping projects across Arkansas. Last year, they donated 128,994 service hours and provided 73,555 education hours.

Forst will support county extension agents across then state in managing all aspects of the Master Gardeners volunteer program, including policies and procedures, recruitment, training and management.

Forst has previous served as an agent and horticulture expert in St. Francis, Carroll and Pulaski counties. He most recently served as the staff chair for the Pulaski County extension office, where he worked with 560 Master Gardener volunteers.

“I just love it. The Master Gardener program is a great resource for Arkansas, and our volunteers do an exceptional job of educating others in their counties about horticulture,” Forst said. “It’s amazing the different projects we have across the state.”

Forst has a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Design and Urban Horticulture and a Master of Science in General Agriculture, both from the University of Arkansas. Before joining extension, he was a landscape architect in Tennessee.

 

For more information about the Master Gardener program in Arkansas, visit www.uaex.uada.edu/master-gardeners. To learn more about horticulture and other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.

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Rutledge hosts 12th Annual Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit

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LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge welcomed almost 650 participants to the 12th Annual Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, which was held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The annual event is a free training and educational opportunity for Arkansas law enforcement, medical professionals, pharmacists, educators, Peer Recovery Specialists and families.

“Drug abuse continues to plague communities across the nation,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Over the years, this training has provided much needed support to those who are on the frontlines serving their community. I am hopeful that it will continue to be the foundational training as Arkansas collectively battles the drug epidemic.”

Summit attendees heard from Dr. Bertha Madras, a professor of psychobiology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Madras served as a panelist at the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2017, and was appointed to be one of six members of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Fred Muench, a clinical psychologist and the President of The Partnership to End Addiction, also addressed summit attendees. Mark Westfall, a psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, spoke about five ways to help treat addiction. Westfall is a national recipient of the APA/Mead Johnson Fellowship Award in community psychiatry. He has previously held positions as Medical Director of the Community Mental Health Center in Charleston as well as President of the Frank Kay Psychiatric Clinic in Birmingham. Westfall is the President and Owner of Westfall Psychiatric Services and a radio talk show co-host for “Oh Brother Radio” and “Doc Talk.”

The summit comes the day after Rutledge announced $1 million in funding for the Arkansas Adult Drug Court Program. This funding continues Rutledge’s legacy and commitment to fighting drug abuse across Arkansas. This February, Rutledge announced a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement with drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, resulting in Arkansas receiving $216 million to fight the opioid crisis. Additional data and information related to the opioid epidemic in Arkansas may be found here.  

In addition to the Attorney General’s office, the Summit is sponsored by Arkansas Drug Director Boyce Hamlet, Criminal Justice Institute, Arkansas Pharmacy Board, Arkansas Alcohol Drug Coordinating Council, Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Medical Board, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Program, Arkansas State Board of Nursing, Arkansas Prevention Network, Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gulf Coast HIDTA, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation, University of Arkansas at Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Arkansans looking for more information on training, resources and presentations should visit ArkansasAG.gov.  

LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a $1 million allocation to provide additional funding for Arkansas’s Adult Drug Court Program. Rutledge’s announcement will provide needed funds to the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts in order to support the Adult Drug Court Program across Arkansas.

“Throughout my career as a practicing attorney, former prosecutor, and especially as Attorney General, I have seen the devastation that substance abuse has brought upon our communities,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “This allocation will equip Arkansas courts to continue treating and serving individuals on their journey to recovery.”

The first drug court began in Arkansas in 1994. Over time, these specialty courts have come to serve 49 counties across the state. The Adult Drug Court Program is a voluntary, 14 to 18 month program that utilizes evidence-based treatment and strict supervision of program participants by a judge, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, treatment provider and law enforcement liaison in order to aid participants in achieving lasting recovery. This approach has a proven record of decreasing recidivism and promoting increased public safety.  

In order to be eligible for Adult Drug Court, the individual must not have a previous conviction or pending charge of a serious felony offense involving violence, must not have a previous conviction or pending charge requiring registration as a sex offender, must have a moderate or severe substance use disorder and must be identified as high-risk, high-need. The Adult Drug Court team is composed of judges, program coordinators, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, treatment providers, probation officers and law enforcement officers who have the final determination to grant or deny prospective participants access to the program.

Rutledge has been a constant advocate leading the legal efforts to combat the opioid crisis devastating Arkansans. This contribution comes from the more than half billion dollar settlement with opioid consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. A court found the company concealed its work in developing Purdue Pharmaceuticals’ marketing strategy which contributed to the nationwide opioid epidemic. In February of 2022, Rutledge also finalized a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement with drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, resulting in Arkansas’s receiving $216 million to fight the opioid crisis. In July of this year, the State negotiated a $9.75 million lump sum settlement with Endo Health Solutions Inc. and Pharmaceuticals Inc. Additional data and information related to the opioid epidemic in Arkansas may be found here.  

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UAMS Announces a Partnership with Amedisys and Contessa, Creating a Comprehensive Care at Home Suite of Services

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By UAMS News Staff

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), a leading health care at home company, and Contessa, an Amedisys company and the leading comprehensive care at home provider, announced a partnership bringing a new care at home option to Central Arkansas. The joint venture offers patients a full spectrum of medical care in the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

“UAMS is leading the ambitious goal of making Arkansas the healthiest state in the region, and this strategic initiative supercharges that vision,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “We are thrilled to partner with Contessa and Amedisys to bring this first-of-its-kind model to the region and the first Comprehensive Care at Home program to the state. We look forward to giving our patients an innovative option that delivers on our commitment of community-focused, patient-centered care.”

https://news.uams.edu/2022/10/11/uams-announces-a-partnership-with-amedisys-and-contessa-creating-a-comprehensive-care-at-home-suite-of-services/

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Arkansas lawmakers discuss solar power, electric vehicle charging stations

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KUAR | By Daniel Breen

State officials are preparing for an influx of as much as $1.5 billion in federal funding to go toward new clean energy projects.

The Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in August dedicates the funding to Arkansas over the next eight years to help fund new solar energy projects.

In a meeting of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Energy Monday, Lauren Waldrip, executive director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, said farmers in the state have begun to adopt solar technology to help deal with rising energy costs.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-10-11/arkansas-lawmakers-discuss-solar-power-electric-vehicle-charging-stations

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

Sen. Bob Ballinger (R-Berryville) and Rep. Rick Beck (R-Center Ridge), co-chairs of the Arkansas Legislature's Joint Committee on Energy, listen at a committee meeting at Audubon Arkansas in Little Rock on Monday.

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Arkansas to receive $771 million for road, bridge projects in 2023

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KUAR | By Jeff Della Rosa/ Talk Business & Politics

The federal highway department announced Tuesday (Oct. 11) it has released $771.3 million in fiscal 2023 funding to Arkansas for infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges and tunnels. The money will come from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent $59.9 billion in fiscal 2023 funding to states, an increase of $15.4 billion compared to fiscal 2021, which was the last fiscal year before the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was to be implemented, according to a news release. Fiscal 2023 started Oct. 1.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-10-12/arkansas-to-receive-771-million-for-road-bridge-projects-in-2023

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Residents can expect higher heating bills this winter, according to EIA

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

U.S. households will likely pay more to heat their homes this winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Compared to last winter, households are expected to spend 28% more on natural gas, 27% more on heating oil, 10% more on electricity and 5% more on propane.

On Wednesday (Oct. 12), the EIA released its 2022 Winter Fuels Outlook showing that U.S. residential energy prices will be higher this winter and heating fuel consumption is projected to be higher amid a colder winter than last year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects the United States to have a slightly colder winter than last year, leading to higher consumption levels. The higher energy prices and consumption levels contribute to higher heating costs for households.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/residents-can-expect-higher-heating-bills-this-winter-according-to-eia/

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State accelerates EV charging station program; solar farm completed

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by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

As another advanced energy project comes online, the state continues to invest in electric vehicle charging stations.

The Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment (E&E) recently announced it’s accelerating the final disbursement of money for Level 2 charging stations. The Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Program is open to government, private and nonprofit organizations in Arkansas.

According to E&E, the final disbursement includes $227,791, or enough to reimburse up to 45 chargers. The average rebate for a Level 2 charging station is $5,000.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/state-accelerates-ev-charging-station-program-solar-farm-completed/

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Grocery prices rise 13% in September from year-ago

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by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

The Consumer Price Index for all consumers rose 0.4% in September from August and all prices were up 8.2% year-over-year, according to U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics released Thursday (Oct. 13.) Inflation slightly exceeded expectations of 8.1% annually.

The report showed all six major grocery store food groups saw higher prices with cereals and bakery products costing 16.2% more than a year ago. Dairy and related products cost 15.9% and the remaining grocery store food groups posted increases ranging from 9% on meats, fish and eggs to 15.7% for other food products, BLS reported. Restaurant food costs rose 13% year-over-year which was also pushed higher by expanding free lunch programs at many schools, BLS said.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, expects inflation pressures to moderate in the next six months. He said consumer inflation should moderate from 8% to 4% in the next six months, but it will take much longer to get to the Fed’s targeted 2% to 2.5%.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/grocery-prices-rise-13-in-september-from-year-ago/