PSC Chair: Winter Storm May Spike Electric and Natural Gas Bills in Arkansas
by George Jared
A generational storm may lead to all-time record electric and natural gas bills in Arkansas. Investigations have been opened by the Attorney General’s Office and the Arkansas Public Service Commission.
APSC Chairman Ted Thomas told members of the Arkansas Legislature’s Joint Energy Committee on Tuesday (March 2) the winter storm that hit the entire state and many parts of the country two weeks ago stressed the system to its maximum capacity.
How much this will cost consumers has not been tabulated, he added.
Arkansas Senate Committee Advances Several Bills Concerning Elections
An Arkansas Senate committee advanced a series of election-related bills Tuesday ranging from ballot eligibility to campaign finance.
The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs passed House Bill 1338, which raises the signature requirement for those running for president from 1,000 to 5,000 signatures in Arkansas.
Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, the bill’s sponsor on the House side, presented the bill to the committee.
Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, (right) presents her bill alongside Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers.
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Arkansas Sales Tax Revenue Up Nearly15% In February, Revenue Surplus Tops $500 Million
By TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS STAFF
The February tax revenue report again shows broad year-over-year gains to include an almost 15% increase in statewide sales and use tax revenue – a sign that consumer spending appears to be robust.
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) reported Tuesday that gross revenue for fiscal year-to-date (July 2020 to February 2021) is $4.913 billion, up 8.4% compared with the same period in 2019-2020 and up 11.6% over the budget forecast. Part of the gain includes a shift in collections when the 2020 tax due date was moved from April to July, according to the DFA report.
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Tuesday's COVID-19 Update from the AR Dept of Health
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 51
Active Confirmed Cases: 5
Active Probable Cases: 46
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 31
Active Confirmed Cases: 14
Active Probable Cases: 17
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 15
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 9
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 22
Active Confirmed Cases: 16
Active Probable Cases: 6
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 29
Active Confirmed Cases: 21
Active Probable Cases: 8
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Asa Hutchinson at ARHOME Press Conference
Governor Hutchinson Issues Statement on the Watson Chapel School Shooting
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson issued the following statement on the 15-year-old student who was shot Monday at Watson Chapel Junior High in Pine Bluff.
“We have been informed that the 15-year-old has not died and is in serious condition. Our prayers remain with the family.”
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides Weekly COVID-19 Update Tuesday (03.02.21) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response.
Proposed UAMS Nursing Program Designed to Ease Nursing Shortage in Arkansas
In late January, the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees approved an accelerated inclusive nursing degree program to be offered at UAMS Northwest in Fayetteville to address a nursing shortage in the state. Patricia Cowan, UAMS Dean of the College of Nursing, is facilitating the development of the novel program.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/proposed-uams-nursing-program-designed-ease-nursing-shortage-arkansas
Patricia Cowan, Ph.D., R.N., has served as Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences since late 2015.
COURTESY / UAMS
Legislative Update From State Representative Deann Vaught
The House has now wrapped up the 7th week of the 2021 Regular Session.
The House passed the following bills on Thursday afternoon:
HB1224-This bill establishes the State Crime Laboratory Student Loan Forgiveness Program. If law, this would allow a pathologist to enter a probationary period with the State Crime Lab. After that probationary period, the lab could reimburse the pathologist $25,000 for outstanding student loans for a 2 year contract up and renew the contract for up to $100,000 per pathologist.
HB1137-This bill prohibits the performance of a pelvic examination on an unconscious or anesthetized patient without the prior consent of the patient. It provides an exception when a medical emergency exists and the pelvic examination is immediately necessary for diagnosis or treatment of the patient.
HB1215-This bill grants full practice authority to certified nurse midwives.
HB1254-This bill states the Arkansas Medicaid Program shall recognize an advanced practice registered nurse for all purposes as a primary care provider authorized to carry out the duties of a primary care case manager.
HB1023-This bill excludes certain school fundraisers from the sales tax laws regulation special events.
The House will convene again on Monday at 1pm.
De Queen Middle School Good Citizens for February 2010
Logan Dallas, Lizbeth Hernandez, Valentin Hernandez & Alondro Calderon
ARHOME Seeks To Replace Arkansas Works As New Medicaid Expansion
Under construction for the past year, Arkansas lawmakers and Gov. Hutchinson’s administration will unveil their newest version of Medicaid expansion on Monday.
ARHOME (pronounced “Are-Home”) stands for Arkansas Health & Opportunity for Me. Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, and Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Bethesda, will be two of the lead sponsors of the proposal.
In a Talk Business & Politics interview, Irvin, Gray and Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Cindy Gillespie discussed ARHOME’s details and political obstacles for the healthcare program expected to cover more than 300,000 low-income residents who make below 138% of the federal poverty level.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arhome-seeks-replace-arkansas-works-new-medicaid-expansion
Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock speaking with Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Bethesda), Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View) and Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Cindy Gillespie.
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After Second Go Round, Arkansas Lawmakers Approve "Stand Your Ground" Bill
This week, Arkansas legislators approved a controversial “stand your ground” gun measure allowing the use of lethal force in self-defense without first having to attempt to retreat, which was previously required by the state. The bill has been sent to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for approval. His decision is expected this week.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/after-second-go-round-arkansas-lawmakers-approve-stand-your-ground-bill
J. FROELICH / KUAF
Arkansas Lifts Nearly All Coronavirus Restrictions On Businesses, Gatherings
By DANIEL BREEN
Effective immediately, Arkansas is lifting nearly all restrictions on businesses related to the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Friday that all capacity limits on businesses and large gatherings will only be recommendations, and not enforceable by law.
Speaking in a news conference at the state Capitol, Hutchinson said the goal is to give businesses more flexibility to tailor public health guidelines to better fit with their day-to-day operations.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson displays a graphic outlining the conditions for Arkansas' mask mandate to end during a news conference at the state Capitol.
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Arkansas Airports Receive More than $4 million in Federal Stimulus Money
by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $4.5 million in federal stimulus money to Arkansas airports, including $4.38 million to Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill. U.S. Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, and Steve Womack, R-Rogers, announced Friday (Feb. 26) the grants will help to offset costs and maintain jobs as a result of COVID-19 and provide for increased sanitization to combat the spread of pathogens at airports.
The DOT, through the Federal Aviation Administration, will give the money appropriated through the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, which Congress approved in December. All federal legislators from Arkansas supported the act.
Grant recipients and amounts include:
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), $4,382,255
Rogers Executive Airport – Carter Field, $91,162
De Witt Municipal Airport/Whitcomb Field in Arkansas County, $13,000
Thompson-Robbins Airport in Phillips County, $9,000
Delta Regional Airport in St. Francis County, $13,000
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport in Lawrence County, $13,000
Bill Expanding Scholarship Eligibility Rushed Through Legislature To Meet Deadline
The winter weather postponed the Arkansas Legislature last week, which has complicated things for a time-sensitive bill aimed at expanding eligibility for certain Arkansas scholarships to students with legal status. This would include DACA recipients and Marshallese migrants legally residing in the state under a Compact of Free Association.
Bentonville West senior Ananya Vangoor, a Bentonville West senior, speaks to the House Education Committee Feb. 25, 2021. She is one student who would benefit from the passage of SB287.
Monday Southwest Arkansas' COVID-19 Case Numbers and Maps
COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 52
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 46
COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 28
Active Confirmed Cases: 9
Active Probable Cases: 19
COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 13
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 7
COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 26
Active Confirmed Cases: 22
Active Probable Cases: 4
COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 33
Active Confirmed Cases: 23
Active Probable Cases: 10
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | PPP Loans’ Impact on Arkansas Businesses
LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about the federal Payroll Protection Plan or PPP, which has kept many Arkansas companies alive during the pandemic.
Congress passed the CARES Act to help Americans navigate the pandemic. PPP was one of the programs Congress authorized to assist businesses with loans. The Small Business Administration (SBA) distributes the loans through local banks.
Little Rock business owners such as Vikita Eason and Chris and Samantha Tanner say that without the loan program, they may not have survived.
Vikita was able to pay the two employees of her boutique, and she assisted the three stylists in her salon by eliminating the rent for their booth. Vikita’s landlords have allowed her to pay rent as she can and didn’t raise the rent when she renewed her three-year lease.
The Tanners own three restaurants and employ about 130 people. Mr. Tanner said that “restaurants got pounded,” and the PPP loans allowed many to keep their doors open.
The SBA lent $3.3 billion to more than 42,000 Arkansas businesses and nonprofits, which saved more than 375,000 jobs. A second round of lending opened in January and closes on March 31.
On Monday, President Biden announced his administration has established a two-week window that opened Wednesday; during this period, only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for the forgivable loans.
The SBA has also implemented a loan-forgiveness program that erases the PPP debt for businesses that followed all the guidelines and spent the money for payroll, mortgage, rent, and other eligible expenses. The SBA has forgiven nineteen percent of the loans.
Representative Les Eaves and Senator Jonathan Dismang introduced a bill in the 93rd General Assembly that would exempt a forgiven PPP loan from state income tax. It has broad support. The Department of Finance says this would cut the state’s general revenue by about $33 million this year and $179 million next year. If the General Assembly passes it, I will sign it into law, and this will provide needed relief for those who have received the PPP loans.
In Arkansas, the pandemic has been another opportunity for Arkansans to help one another. As usual, many Arkansans have shown their humanity. Bankers have helped struggling business owners, and business people have assisted their employees. In the midst of the losses, Arkansans have found new ways to reach out to those in need. Arkansans have lavished compassion on one another, grace upon grace as together we hope for the end of this pandemic.
VIDEO: Gov. Hutchinson Makes Significant Announcement on State of the Public Health Emergency
Governor Asa Hutchinson made an announcement, Friday, February 26, 2021, on the current public health emergency and provide an update regarding COVID-19 directives in Arkansas.
Apply Now for UA Cossatot Scholarships
The 2021-2022 UA Cossatot Online Scholarship Application is open! The scholarship application can be found here: cccua.awardspring.com
We currently have a variety of scholarships open for spring 2021! Check them out here: https://www.cccua.edu/pay-for-college/scholarships
