A cold front will sweep across Arkansas Thursday and Friday.
Showers and storms will develop along and ahead of the front, with potential for strong to severe storms to develop.
The primary hazards with these storms will be large hail, damaging winds, with heavy rain and localized flash flooding.
The timing of the development of storms on Thursday will begin early this afternoon across west/northwest AR, with storms continuing to develop along and ahead of the front as it advances east/southeast through early Friday. Rainfall looks to persist through Friday evening across central, south, and eastern portions of the state.
Tornado debris collection to begin in Little Rock; 3,000 buildings damaged
KUAR | By Daniel Breen
Little Rock city officials say last month’s tornado left roughly 3,000 buildings damaged or destroyed.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said he and city officials will hold bi-weekly briefings to update residents on cleanup efforts. Speaking at City Hall on Friday, Little Rock Emergency Management Administrator Matt Burks said the total price tag of the storm damage is still unclear.
“All told, we’ve currently identified 89 structures, mostly residential, completely destroyed; 496 having received major damage, 636 with minor damage, 203 that were affected in some way by the storm, and 76 unaffected,” Burks said.
Daniel Breen/KUAR News
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. speaks in a news briefing at City Hall on Friday, April 14, 2023.
Arkansas governor signs parks, tourism bills into law
KUAR | By Josie Lenora
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrapped up nearly a week of bill signings on Thursday at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Sanders signed new laws relating to the state Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
Arkansas First Gentleman Bryan Sanders said the goal of the laws is to “get more kids off screens and outdoors” and to improve their quality of life.
“There has never been a better time to get outdoors in Arkansas,” he said. “It really is our unique selling proposition, particularly in this region of the country.”
Josie Lenora/KUAR News
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs tourism bills surrounded by legislators and park rangers at Pinnacle Mountain State Park on Thursday.
Gov. Sanders vetoes three bills, uses line-item veto on budget bill
by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
Gov. Sarah Sanders vetoed Friday (April 14) three bills and exercised her line-item veto on a budget bill, her first vetoes of the session.
Sanders said she was striking an appropriation of $5 million for “pandemic related expenses” for the Department of Corrections. The governor said she has terminated by executive order COVID-19 pandemic mandates.
“I believe in freedom and personal responsibility – not COVID mandates or shutdowns. The COVID-19 pandemic is over,” she said in her veto letter.
https://talkbusiness.net/2023/04/gov-sanders-vetoes-three-bills-uses-line-item-veto-on-budget-bill/
Rep. Womack tours U.S. Marshals Museum, says it will have ‘amazing impact’
by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)
“Wow,” was the first response from U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, following his tour Wednesday (April 12) of the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith. He said what was once considered a “pipe dream” by some will soon be a “magnificent” part of the region.
Construction of the approximately 53,000-square-feet U.S. Marshals Museum was completed — except for exhibits — in early 2020. The facility is on the Arkansas River near downtown Fort Smith. In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September 2015, and museum officials initially hoped to have the facility open by late 2017, but struggles to raise enough money delayed the opening.
Exhibit work is ongoing and museum officials have said the museum will open this summer. Once open, the museum will tell the story of the United States’ oldest federal law enforcement agency, which was established by President George Washington.
Former Tyson Foods exec named chief sustainability officer for National Pork Board
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
Jamie Burr, former director of environmental compliance for Tyson Foods, has been named the first chief sustainability officer for the Des Moines, Iowa-based National Pork Board.
Burr brings more than 20 years of experience to the trade group working in sustainability and environmental programs for Tyson Foods. He grew up on a hog farm in southern Missouri. Burr served on and chaired several Pork Board environmental and sustainability committees and task forces, so his leadership has already helped shape the industry’s sustainability vision, the trade group noted in the release.
“Jamie’s input has been invaluable to several key producer-funded initiatives for more than a decade,” said National Pork Board CEO Bill Even. “Establishing a CSO position and adding Jamie to the team continues to demonstrate our industry’s strong commitment to advancing pork sustainability. Burr’s previous experience puts him in a unique position to be an advocate for the pork industry.”
Southern Bancorp receives $9.8 million in CDFI grant funds
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund has awarded more than $1.73 billion in grants to 603 CDFIs through the CDFI Equitable Recovery Program. Southern Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company, and Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a nonprofit loan fund that works alongside Southern Bancorp, Inc., announced Wednesday (April 12) that each has been awarded $4.9 million, which will be put to work in its Arkansas and Mississippi markets.
“We are grateful to the U.S. Treasury for appropriating this pandemic recovery funding and distributing it to CDFIs like Southern Bancorp, Inc. and Southern Bancorp Community Partners, who can put it to work supporting the people and places who are hurting most in this economic climate,” said Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp, Inc.
“Southern Bancorp has a proven track record of putting such resources to work in communities that need it, and this funding will allow us to increase access to financial opportunities in and around our markets, while supporting small businesses and working families,” he added.
https://talkbusiness.net/2023/04/southern-bancorp-receives-9-8-million-in-cdfi-grant-funds/
Sanders’ Request for 100 Percent Federal Cost Share Approved
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced her request for a 100 percent federal cost share, for a 30-day period, for state and local resources spent on storm debris cleanup and emergency protective measures in Pulaski, Lonoke, and Cross counties was approved by President Biden.
“As Arkansas’ tornado recovery continues, it’s clear that communities across our state will be substantially burdened by the cost of cleanup and repair. Last week, I asked President Biden to approve a 100 percent federal cost share for our storm recovery expenses. Today, I’m pleased to announce that the President has approved our request,” said Governor Sanders. “Coordination between federal, state, and local leaders has been seamless so far, and with today’s announcement, I’m confident we can continue our close partnership for as long as the recovery process takes.”
Bills signed into law by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Monday, April 10, 2023, the Governor signed into law:
HB1594, to create a sales tax exemption for the Disabled American Veterans Organization.
HB1653, to prohibit the purchase of small, unmanned aircrafts manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.
HB1674, concerning the consumer protection division of the attorney general’s office; and to amend the law concerning settlement funds held by the Attorney General’s Office.
HB1296, to make technical corrections to the arkansas code concerning the use of respectful language when referring to individuals with disabilities.
HB1408, to create the Uniform Easement Relocation Act.
HB1501, to amend Arkansas law concerning when a prosecution is commenced.
HB1503, to create the offense of operating a chop shop; and to create the offense of dealing in stolen or forged motor vehicle parts.
HB1695, to amend the definition of “active-duty service member” used in the child maltreatment act.
HB1729, to name a licensed massage therapist as a mandated reporter under the child maltreatment act.
HB1129, to require the Arkansas Medicaid program and insurance policies to reimburse for behavioral health services provided in certain settings.
HB1273, to amend the healthcare payor identification card act; and to define short-term, limited duration insurance.
HB1274, to modify the prior authorization transparency act; and to amend the appeal process for a denial under the prior authorization transparency act.
HB1275, to regulate electronic medical records; and to prohibit a healthcare payor that has electronic access to medical records from requesting medical records in a different format from a healthcare provider.
HB1640, to amend the definition of “rebates” as used in the business of insurance; and to amend the law concerning token gifts in the business of insurance.
HB1690, to amend the law regarding return to service by essential seasonal staff members of the department of agriculture.
HB1707, to amend the Arkansas soil nutrient application and poultry litter utilization act; and to provide that nutrient management plans and poultry litter management plans are not public record.
HB1067, to modify the law concerning residency requirements for certain firefighters.
HB1207, to create the Fast-Track Permits Act.
HB1369, to require public entities to create a policy concerning the authorized use of technology resources and a cyber security policy; and to amend the duties of the state cyber security office.
HB1555, to regulate meetings, internal policies and guidelines, and reports to address a cybersecurity incident involving, or a cyberattack on, a public entity.
HB1579, to amend the law concerning the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission Act.
HB1621, to amend the definition of “revenue” under the Arkansas speed trap law.
HB1641, to amend the law governing payments in lieu of ad valorem taxes; and to provide for the billing and collection of certain payments related to certain leased or purchased property.
HB1703, to amend the law concerning leave time for deputy sheriffs, municipal police officers, and firefighters; and to add military leave for full-time deputy sheriffs, municipal police officers, and firefighters.
HB1559, concerning implicit bias training required by a public school or state-supported institution of higher education.
HB1576, to establish the creating a respectful and open world for natural hair (crown) act.
HB1619, to permit a local board of a community college district to establish additional zones under certain circumstances.
HB1009, to establish the nonemergency transportation rideshare expansion study workgroup to study expanding rideshare services covered by the Arkansas Medicaid program.
HB1102, to create the Universal Newborn Screening Act; and to ensure that newborns are screened for conditions recommended by the United States department of health and human services.
HB1462, to amend the law concerning youths in foster care; and to certify unaccompanied homeless youths.
HB1543, to amend the cemetery act for perpetually maintained cemeteries; and to modify the law concerning the state board of embalmers, funeral directors, cemeteries, and burial services.
HB1565, to create the Arkansas legislative study on mental and behavioral health.
HB1574, to support positive mental health for families with young children through the Arkansas Medicaid program; and to establish supplemental reimbursement rates for preventive services for children.
HB1580, to exempt cosmetologists from licensing restrictions based on criminal records.
HB1629, to amend the rabies control act related to the confinement of an animal when a person is bitten to allow an owner to confine an animal who has received a current vaccination against rabies.
HB1203, to clarify that a mayor of a city of the first class is entitled to count previous or subsequent years of service in employment with the same city toward the mayor’s retirement.
HB1253, to create the State Government Employee Retirement Protection Act.
HB1592, to amend the digital product and motion picture industry development act of 2009.
HB1627, to clarify that membership dues paid to hunting or fishing clubs are exempt from sales tax.
HB1062, an act for the Office of the Treasurer of State appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
HB1072, an act for the Department of Commerce – state bank department appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
HB1074, an act for the Department of Finance and Administration – regulatory division appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year
HB1105, an act for the state board of election commissioners appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
HB1118, an act for the Department of Human Services – secretary’s office appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
HB1120, an act for the Department of Human Services – division of provider services and quality assurance appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
HB1135, an act for the Office of Attorney General appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
HB1269, an act for the UAMS – Reynolds Center on Aging, Boozman College of Public Health, Ark. Biosciences Institute, & The Area Health Ed. Center in Helena appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
UAMS Researchers Identify Most Accurate Hearing Screening Methods for Rural Children
By Linda Satter
LITTLE ROCK — Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) evaluated the accuracy of various hearing screening tools in a rural school setting in a recent article published by Ear and Hearing, the official journal of the American Auditory Society.
Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Au.D., Ph.D., associate director of the UAMS Center for Hearing Health Equity, was the lead author of the article, “Changing the Paradigm for School Hearing Screening Globally: Evaluation of Screening Protocols From Two Randomized Trials in Rural Alaska.”
Susan Emmett, M.D., MPH, director of the center, was the senior author leading 11 co-authors on the article, which cited data collected during a landmark study that Robler and Emmett led in 2017-2020 in 15 communities in rural northwest Alaska.
Forest management workshop to focus on white oak woodlands
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
BATESVILLE, Ark. — An upcoming workshop aims to help forest managers better understand white oak woodlands in the Ozark region, from improving the health of the habitat to selling harvested timber.
LEAF BY LEAF, BIRD BY BIRD — An upcoming workshop aims to help forest managers better understand white oak woodlands in the Ozark region, from improving the health of the habitat to selling harvested timber. (Division of Agriculture photo.)
The forest management workshop will be hosted at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Livestock and Forestry Research Station in Batesville, Arkansas. The workshop is scheduled for April 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Kyle Cunningham, associate professor of forestry for the Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service, said the workshop will address several themes, including:
• Experiences with white oak management in Arkansas and neighboring states
• Selling white oak for stave logs
• Field tour of sustainably managed white oak woodlands, and
• Increasing Health and Habitat within your Woodland
"White oak woodlands in the Ozark region are a valuable resource that provide timberlands, wildlife habitat, aesthetic value, assist with air and water quality concerns,” Cunningham said. “The resource is experiencing strains from higher demand for wood products, climate, invasive species impacts, unsustainable management and other factors. This workshop aims to provide current and accurate information on the resource and its management.”
The meeting will also provide a platform for networking among stakeholders, he said.
There is no cost to attend the workshop, but registration is required. To RSVP, contact the Livestock and Forestry Research Station at 870-793-7432. For more information, contact Cunningham at kcunningham@uada.edu.
The research station is located at 70 Experiment Station Drive in Batesville.
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 growers lay out the season ahead
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas growers expect to plant approximately 52,000 more acres of principal crops in 2023 than they did in 2022, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report published March 31. While this is only a small ripple amidst the state’s 7 million acres of farmland, it reflects the encouragement of rallying markets in 2022, tempered by high input costs and unpredictable weather.
HISTORIC PATTERN — These graphs show prospective planting numbers reported by NASS and the actual number of acres planted for four crops across the United States. The prospective numbers reflect survey data from growers across the country; many factors, including weather and market shifts, can affect the actual number of acres planted in the end. (USDA graphic.)
USDA’s annual Prospective Plantings report reflects growers’ intentions and often provides context for global markets. According to last Friday’s report, Arkansas growers intend to plant more than 7 million acres of soybean, rice, cotton and other major crops this year. Nationally, America’s farmers intend to plant more than 318 million acres.
The most notable shift in this year’s intentions is the fall in Arkansas cotton acres, which fell by 25 percent to 480,000 acres. Vic Ford, associate vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said a combination of high input costs and low market prices likely made the choice a necessary one for many producers.
“High input costs, such as seeds, fertilizer, chemicals, fuel and equipment combined with low crop prices have made cotton less profitable,” Ford said. “Other crops are being favored because of this.”
Cotton acres fell steeply across the entire country as well, with overall acreage falling 18 percent to less than 11.3 million acres.
The acreage isn’t going fallow, however. Hunter Biram, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture, said growers will simply shift those acres to more profitable crops.
The report, based on survey data gathered by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, noted that the drought conditions that deeply affected agriculture throughout the country for much of 2022 began to lessen in the fall and winter months. The country experienced a “record-setting streak with at least 40 percent drought coverage” of 126 weeks, finally ending in February of this year, the report said.
Pasture area was particularly affected by the drought, the report stated.
On a brighter note, although most input prices remain high relative to pre-pandemic markets, many have fallen significantly from their 2022 peak.
“Key nutrient prices are down year-over-year,” Biram said. “According to Bloomberg Green Markets, urea is down 60 percent, DAP is down 33 percent and potash is down 45 percent compared to this time last year. Given this, I think expected harvest time crop prices are driving prospective plantings,” in addition to annual crop rotations.
DAP, or diammonium phosphate, is one of the most commonly used fertilizers in the world.
Writing for Southern Ag Today, Biram noted in an April 3 article that the NASS projections for planted acreage are generally reliable across both Southern agricultural states and the United States more broadly, especially for corn and soybeans.
Winter wheat and feed grains
Arkansas growers expanded wheat acreage by about 5 percent, from 220,000 in 2022 to 230,000 acres. Nationally, winter wheat acres grew by 13 percent.
Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said that cost-benefit analysis played a strong hand in the shift of acreage toward wheat.
“Winter wheat seedings increased slightly during the fall of 2022, partially due to the reduction in fertilizer costs and attractive grain prices,” Kelley said. “The dry fall was helpful for farmers to get their summer crops harvested ahead of wheat planting, but wet weather in late October and November limited wheat acres in some areas of the state.”
Arkansas hay production appears likely to increase marginally, rising 3 percent to more than 1.1 million acres. Nationally, hay acreage looks to expand by about 2 percent to more than 50.6 million acres.
The state’s corn growers appear optimistic about the crop’s future, increasing acreage 14 percent to 810,000 acres. By comparison, the prediction for all U.S. corn acreage increased by only 4 percent.
There were “no real surprises on the corn side,” Kelley said. “We expected corn acres to be up in 2023 compared to last year’s 750,000 acres. The drop in fertilizer prices along with still relatively high grain prices helped increase interest in corn planting intentions in Arkansas and across the United States as well.
“Last year, corn acres were down in some areas of the state due to wet conditions in April that prevented planting, so this year’s increase is also a reflection of producers trying to get back to their normal crop rotation,” he said.
Rice
Arkansas rice acreage looks to increase by 18 percent over 2022 intentions, to more than 1.3 million acres, accounting for long-, medium- and short-grain varieties. Nationally, growers expect to expand their acreage by 16 percent to nearly 2.6 million acres.
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the 2023 numbers were unsurprising.
“Prospective plantings report intentions were right in line with expectations at this point,” Hardke said. “We’ve been predicting about 1.3 million acres of rice total. The question mark has been more around the breakdown of long grain versus medium grain.
“Two straight lower acreage years for rice in Arkansas — 2021-2022 — have had growers geared up for more rice acres in 2023,” he said. “There was better land preparation last fall than we have seen in some time; however, the winter turned and remained wet once again so there’s still a lot of ground waiting to be prepared for planting.
“Whether we meet or exceed the 1.3 million acres of rice intended will once again depend on favorable weather in April, which is not off to a great start,” Hardke said. “However, there was a nice start to rice planting up and down the state over the past week where ground could be found dry enough to plant.”
Soybeans
Arkansas soybean growers appear to be planting slightly fewer acres of the crop in 2023, with intended acreage falling 4 percent to just over 3 million acres. Nationally, acreage for the crop remains steady from 2022 at 87.5 million acres.
Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said that final acreage for the state’s largest crop is largely weather-dependent.
“The final numbers are going to be dictated by the weather over the next three months,” Ross said. “If we stay in this pattern that we’ve been in, we may see more soybean acres.
There’s been quite a bit of beans planted in the last five or six days.”
Peanuts
Arkansas remains a small-but-mighty peanut-producing state, with intended acres growing 6 percent to 35,000 acres. Nationally, intended peanut acres grew 7 percent to more than 1.5 million acres.
Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist and acting peanut agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the modest increase in peanut acres was another factor related to the significant drop in cotton acreage.
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.
New small ruminants specialist plans to lead from the ground up
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — After growing up in rural Brazil and conducting research at several universities there, in Europe and the United States, Dan Quadros said he is ready to bring three things to Arkansas: motivation, innovation and confidence.
NEW TO ARKANSAS — Dan Quadros is the extension small ruminants specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. (Division of Agriculture photo.)
Quadros, who joined the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as an assistant professor and extension small ruminant specialist in January, first came to the United States in 2013 as a visiting scholar.
A native of Brazil, Quadros said joining the Cooperative Extension Service seemed like a natural fit.
“This is my passion, to help other people,” he said. “To help those in need with knowledge.”
Quadros completed a Bachelor of Science in agronomy at Southwestern Bahia State University, located on the eastern coast of Brazil, in 1999. After completing a master’s degree and then a Ph.D. in animal science at Sao Paulo State University in 2004, he was hired as an assistant professor at Bahia State University with appointments for teaching, research and extension.
In 2013, he traveled to the University of Florida for postdoctoral research.
“Coming to the United States changed my life,” he said. “Ever since, I’ve tried to stay.”
Vic Ford, associate vice president of agriculture and natural resources for the Division of Agriculture, said he believes Quadros can help Arkansas producers develop a stronger foothold in the sheep and goat markets.
“Small ruminant interest and herd numbers are increasing in Arkansas,” Ford said. “Dr. Quadros is knowledgeable in livestock but is especially gifted in small ruminants. He has the knowledge and experience to increase efficiency of production with small ruminants which may lead to Arkansas being a major supplier in this area.
“Dr. Quadros is enthusiastic about his program,” Ford said. “Anyone spending time with him will catch his enthusiasm and the beneficiaries are the county agents and producers.”
With the collaboration of county agents and other faculty, Quadros said his plan is to develop a hands-on extension program to increase producer knowledge and understanding of small ruminant husbandry, health, production and marketing.
“Most of the time, the bottleneck isn’t in production, but in the market,” he said. “This region is something new for me — but if something’s working, I can adapt what I know to the situation.”
But, he said, even tried-and-true solutions won’t work for every problem.
“You can apply all the basics and still run into trouble,” he said. “That’s where innovation comes in.
”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 to send reserve funds to UAMS for cancer center, redirect medical marijuana tax
KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate
Arkansas will send $100 million in reserve funds over the next two years to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ pursuit of recognition from the National Cancer Institute, known as NCI designation.
But that doesn’t mean the 4% privilege tax on medical marijuana that had funded the NCI efforts will go away. Instead, state policymakers enacted legislation to extend the tax for at least two more years and dedicate those revenues to food insecurity and public health needs.
State officials hope the $50 million transfers to UAMS in fiscal 2024 and 2025 will further strengthen the institute’s chances for success when it formally requests NCI designation.
Arkansas Governor signs social media regulation bill
KUAR | By Josie Lenora
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders continues to sign bills passed earlier this year by the Arkansas General Assembly. On Tuesday, she signed into law the “Social Media Safety Act” which aims to prevent underage children in Arkansas from setting up social media accounts without obtaining parental permission.
“As a parent, this is a very personal thing,” Sanders said. “I have a ten-year-old, a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old.” The governor said she was concerned about the increase in depression among teenagers, and that the bill was the start of “great steps in protecting the young people of Arkansas.”
The law also requires adult social media users in Arkansas to provide a digital copy of their ID for purposes of age verification. That only applies to new accounts and is not applicable to companies like Amazon and Google which would not qualify as social media under the act.
Organization launches effort to place Arkansas LEARNS Act repeal on the ballot
KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate
A group of public school supporters took the first step Monday to pursue a referendum petition to repeal the LEARNS Act, a wide-ranging education law signed by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in March.
Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES) filed a statement of organization with the Arkansas Ethics Commission on Monday and submitted their ballot title to the Attorney General’s office. If it’s approved, the group will start gathering signatures to get their referendum on the ballot.
CAPES Executive Director Steve Grappe said that, as the Arkansas Democratic Rural Caucus chairman, he’s spoken to people in rural communities where he’s seen “such a groundswell of people that are against it.”
John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate
A group of Little Rock Central High School students and others met on the steps of the state Capitol on March 8, 2023 to express their opposition to the LEARNS Act, which was signed into law earlier that day by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Sevier County 4-H holds Indoor and Outdoor County O’Rama Competition
Submitted by: Kim Frachiseur, 4-H Program Assistant
Sevier County 4-H held its annual Indoor O’Rama competition on April 3. This year’s Indoor O’Rama consisted of speeches, singing, instrumental, and modeling. There were 10 4-H’ers competing if different categories. The winners in the junior and senior divisions will be able to compete against others in the District O’Rama in June held at Malvern.
Those competing and the categories they competed in are as follows:
Cloverbuds – ages 5 to 8: Ally Gregg-Tap Dance, Molly Mangum-Fashion Review, GG Herring- Horse Speech, Elliot Hooker- Fashion Review, and Landon Tabler- Vocal
Juniors – ages 9 to 13: Leighton Frachiseur- Fashion Review, Raegan Frachiseur- Fashion Review, Madison Tabler- Instrumental
Seniors – ages 14 to 19: Jake Seymour- Animal Science, Audrey Pardana- Fashion Review
Sevier County also held Outdoor O’Rama on February 20. Outdoor consists of gun safety, bicycle, and sportfishing. There were 68 4-Her’s competing. Winners will have the opportunity to represent Sevier County in June as well.
Winners of each category are listed below:
Juniors – ages 9 to 13: Leighton Frachiseur-Sportfishing, Kinnah Ferguson- Bicycle, and Jude Gallagher- Gun Safety
Seniors – ages 14 to 19: Zae-Lei Frachiseur- Sportfishing, James Bartek-Bicycle & Gun Safety
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
In the final week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed a criminal justice reform bill, a tax cut, and a budget that increases spending in education and public safety.
The House passed SB549. This bill will reduce the state’s top income tax rate from 4.9% to 4.7%. It also reduces the corporate income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.1%. The reductions will be retroactive to January 1, 2023.
The House also passed SB495, the Protect Arkansas Act. This bill makes several felony offenses ineligible for early release from prison. Those offenses include capital murder, murder in the first degree, aggravated robbery, rape, and several crimes against children.
It also classifies several other offenses as restricted release felonies. After January 1, 2025, a person convicted of a restricted release felony would have to serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for early release.
Restricted release felonies include murder in the second degree, manslaughter, negligent homicide, battery in the first degree, and sexual indecency with a child.
Another bill we passed this week creates the Social Media Safety Act. It requires age verification for use of social media and parental consent for minors.
The House adopted HJR1006. This resolution is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lottery proceeds to provide scholarships and grants to Arkansans enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes. This proposal will now appear on the November 2024 ballot.
And one of the final items of business we address every session is the budget. This year we passed a $6.2 billion balanced budget.
The biggest increases in funding are directed to the public school fund and the Division of Correction. The budget also includes $31.7 million for Educational Freedom Accounts.
The House also passed SB578. This bill outlines one-time spending of state surplus funds. It directs $250 million to educational facilities, $330 million to correctional facilities, and $200 million to the state crime lab.
You can review all of the legislation passed during this session and watch recorded committees and House floor proceedings at arkansashouse.org.
Lookout Arkansas! Another round of severe storms on the way for late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning
The potential for widespread severe weather across much of the state remains for later this evening and into the overnight hours. All severe weather hazards will be possible, including damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.
Thunderstorms are expected to develop and move across the state from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.
Damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail will be possible as storms move across the state.
Initial storm development may occur across western Arkansas. These storms are expected to be isolated and capable of producing large hail and tornadoes as they move to the northeast.
By late Tuesday/early Wednesday morning, storms are expected to merge into a line and march east across the state. The main severe weather hazards with the line of storms will be damaging winds and QLCS-type tornadoes.
Locally heavy rainfall will be possible, but should not be very widespread. The highest amounts are expected across far southern Arkansas.
Here we go again: 2nd tornado outbreak in 5 days looms for Midwest
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Many of the same areas in the central United States that were hit by violent thunderstorms on Friday will face a similar threat starting late Tuesday as another powerful system takes aim at the region with many modes of severe weather ranging from damaging winds to large hail and destructive tornadoes, AccuWeather meteorologists warn.
Like this past Friday, at least 16 states in the middle of the United States are at risk for severe weather and tornadoes from the latter part of Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. The risk includes all of Missouri and Illinois, much of Arkansas and Iowa, and portions of Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
As of Monday morning, 80 of the over 100 reported tornadoes from Friday have already been confirmed by National Weather Service (NWS) officials, including one EF4 tornado in southeastern Iowa with winds estimated to be between 166 and 200 mph. There were at least nine EF3 tornadoes with winds between 136 and 165 mph.
Little Rock tornado survivor explains why he took a tornado warning ‘seriously for the first time’
By John Murphy, AccuWeather staff writer
Little Rock, Arkansas, resident Mike Green shared his harrowing experience of surviving the high-end EF3 tornado that caused significant destruction to his home Friday.
Green, a resident of the Stone Bridge neighborhood of Little Rock for eight years, has experienced countless tornado warnings, but his property had never been directly hit by a twister until March 31. On that day, Green was working at his home office when he heard on the news that a wall cloud had formed over Little Rock.
"I actually saw the wall cloud. So I took it seriously for the first time in my life. I took a tornado warning seriously," Green told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell.