Dr. Chinedu Ede will be leaving Howard Memorial Hospital on April 15. He was presented a plaque today in honor of his dedicated service to our patients and their families. Dr. Ede, you will be greatly missed.
Complete Listing of Sevier County Waste Disposal Facilities
Heart Saver CPR Classes and Stop the Bleed Classes at Howard Memorial in Nashville
Howard Memorial Hospital will be resuming the Heart Saver CPR Classes and Stop the Bleed Classes. Class size will be limited to 20, masks will be required and social distancing guidelines will be in effect. For information or to schedule a class, please contact Jeff Williams, RN at 870-845-4400.
UA Cossatot CARES Grant Application Re-Opens
UA Cossatot recently received an additional $387,000 in HEERF II funds for student financial relief. UA Cossatot will re-open the application to distribute Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for spring 2021 students on April 15, 2021.
Students who qualify for the grant will receive $500 if they are enrolled in 9 credit hours or more. Students who qualify for the grant will receive $250 if they are enrolled in 3 to 8 credit hours. There will be no deadline to apply; however, funds are limited. Eligible students will continue to be awarded until all funds are disbursed. A change in the most recent award guidelines now allows dual-enrolled high school students to apply for the new HEERF II funds.
The CARES Grant is intended to help offset expenses students experienced because of the COVID-19 health emergency. Student applicants need to indicate their financial needs as a result of COVID-19 on their application. According to Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole, “We will continue to get this federal funding into the hands of UA Cossatot students as quickly as possible to help them with their financial needs caused by the ongoing pandemic. We also will have additional application windows this summer and next fall as long as we continue to receive HEERF funding. We want to make sure that UA Cossatot students can continue to pursue their educational goals and us getting this funding to them is our most important job”.
UA Cossatot CARES Grant applications will be sent to student’s college and personal emails as well as a mailed letter with a QR code to apply.
For more information on eligibility requirements and a list of Frequently Asked Questions please visit www.cccua.edu/CARES.
Daily Legislative Report From State Rep Deann Vaught:
On Tuesday, the House passed bills outlining several tax credits and exemptions.
HB1157 would double the income tax deduction for a teacher's qualified classroom expense from $250 to $500.
HB1513 creates an income tax credit for up to $3,500 for retired law enforcement officers who work cold cases for Arkansas State Police.
HB1196 would provide a sales and use tax exemption for water used by a poultry farm.
HB1054 allows for sales tax exemptions of isolated sales at special events.
The House also passed the following:
HB1879-This bill allows tuition waivers for dependents of disabled veterans, prisoners of war or a person declared missing in action or killed in action to be used at private and non-profit institutions of higher education. The amount of the waiver would be capped at the maximum amount of those at state-supported institutions.
HB1849-This bill states a vehicle shall not be driven upon the left lane of a multilane highway, except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing that movement
(2) When all other lanes for traveling in the same direction are closed to traffic while under construction or repair
(3) When all other lanes for traveling in the same direction are in disrepair or are in an otherwise undrivable or unsafe condition
(4) When a vehicle is preparing to exit the multilane highway on the left
HB1767-This bill allows the operation of a personal delivery device in pedestrian areas and certain streets.
HB1547-This bill states that a state agency or a state or local official shall not mandate an individual to receive a vaccine for COVID-19. It also states that if a state-controlled facility desires to mandate an individual to receive a vaccine, then the agency can make the request to the Arkansas Legislative Council. If a variant of COVID-19 occurs and mutates to be a more virulent strain that impacts children within two years from the date that the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine, then the Department of Health can request a meeting with the Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.
SB139-This bill allows a student applying for the Arkansas Governor’s Scholars Program or the Minority Teacher Scholarship Program to use his or her ACT super score.
The House will convene on Thursday at 1 pm.
Recent Construction Site Aerial Photos of the New Sevier County Medical Center
. (Pictures courtesy of Monte Bartek)
4-H Outdoor County O’Rama in Sevier County
Sevier County 4-H held their annual Outdoor County 4-H O’Rama. Due to COVID, the Outdoor O’Rama was held over various dates in March. The competitive events included gun safety and BB gun marksmanship, reel into sports fishing, and bicycle. The winners of these events will be eligible to compete at the District 4-H O’Rama that’s held in June. Even though it was a COVID year, 42 4-H’ers competed, which broke the record for the highest number of participants. Winners from each competition are as follows:
Gun Safety and BB Gun – JUNIORS: 1st – Drake Click, 2nd – Jake Seymour, 3rd –Ty Wagner, 4th - Charlie Collins, and 5th – Kaedon Davis. SENIORS: 1st – Hunter Frachiseur, 2nd – Ethan Wolcott, 3rd – Laikyn Morris, 4th - Brayden Frachiseur, and 5th – Kinlee Stivers.
Reel into Sports Fishing – JUNIORS: 1st – Landon Frachiseur, 2nd – Drake Click, 3rd – Pace Frachiseur, 4th – Jake Seymour, and 5th – Keegan McCoy. SENIORS: 1st – Hunter Frachiseur, 2nd - Brayden Frachiseur, 3rd – Ethan Wolcott, 4th – Kinlee Stivers, and 5th – Laikyn Morris
Bicycle – JUNIORS: 1st – Blair Bissell, 2nd – James Bartek, 3rd – Keegan McCoy, 4th- Wade Melton, and 5th - Libbie Bartek. SENIORS: 1st - Dori Bartek.
For more information on 4-H, contact Sevier County Extension Service at (870) 584-3013.
County Agent Rex Herring performing the skills portion of the 4-H Outdoor O’Rama Gun Safety test with Alex McCoy
Private School Tax Credit Measure Clears Senate Revenue & Tax Panel
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
A program that would create a tax credit scholarship for impoverished students to attend private schools was passed Wednesday (April 14) during the state Senate Tax and Revenue Committee meeting.
SB 680, also known as the “Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids Program Act” will be capped at $2 million and will help up to 250 students in the state each year, bill sponsor Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, told the committee.
For a student to qualify, their family must have an annual income that is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. The credits and application process will be handled by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DF&A). Credits will be given on a first come basis. It will cost DF&A about $100,000 per year to handle the program, according to estimates. Taxpayers who donate to the program will get an off-setting tax credit.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/private-school-tax-credit-measure-clears-senate-revenue-tax-panel/
Medicaid Expansion Bill Fails in House for Second Straight Day
by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
Arkansas lawmakers considered a variety of bills on Wednesday (April 14), but the main drama centered on the state’s Medicaid program. For the second day in a row, House members could not muster enough votes to approve a Department of Human Services budget that includes funding for a revamped Medicaid expansion program.
SB 55 outlines the spending for the state’s DHS Division of Medical Services budget, which includes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. In 2013, Arkansas first adopted a Medicaid expansion program through the ACA, known as the private option. It struggled nearly every session to reach the three-fourths vote needed for passage as Republican opposition to the ACA hardened.
Under Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s oversight, the expansion program was reworked to include a work requirement and the program was renamed Arkansas Works. A lawsuit struck down the work requirement, but it has often barely cleared the 75% threshold needed for budget bills.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/medicaid-expansion-bill-fails-in-house-for-second-straight-day/
Nonprofit Offers Free Legal Assistance to DACA Applicants
ImmigrationHelp, a nonprofit immigrant legal aid center founded in 2019 by Harvard University lawyers and students, now independently operated, helps undocumented youth across the U.S., including in Arkansas, obtain federal DACA credentials. Fernando Urbina, outreach director for ImmigrationHelp, describes how the legal team works.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/nonprofit-offers-free-legal-assistance-daca-applicants
COURTESY / IMMIGRATIONHELP
Senate Education Committee Advances Bills on Patriotism, Planned Parenthood Restrictions
by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)
The Senate Education Committee advanced bills Wednesday (April 14) preventing schools from transacting with abortion providers, requiring students to have a moment of silence after saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and requiring the national anthem to be sung before sporting events.
Meanwhile, it declined to endorse a bill returning school districts to local control within five years of being taken over by the state, and a bill that would treat students’ voluntary religious expression the same as secular expression.
House Bill 1592, the Arkansas Student Protection Act by Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, prohibits public schools from knowingly entering into any transaction with an individual or entity that provides abortions. It passed 5-3 on a roll call vote. The panel’s five Republicans voted yes and its three Democrats voted no.
Thursday COVID-19 Active Cases Update from the Arkansas Department of Health
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 4
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 4
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 3
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 3
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 2
Active Confirmed Cases: 2
Active Probable Cases: 0
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 3
Active Confirmed Cases: 1
Active Probable Cases: 2
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 5
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 1
In its Wednesday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 220 new cases; 1,715 active cases; 151 hospitalized, which is up 3 from Tuesday; 20 on ventilators, which is up 1 from Tuesday; deaths added today, 7, for a total of 5,680; a total of 332,666 cases; PCR tests, 4,798; antigen tests, 924.
The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Washington, 79; Pulaski, 58; and Benton, 50.
Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:
“Vaccination efforts continue across the state, with an increase of nearly 26,000 yesterday. New cases, hospitalizations, and ventilator use remain steady compared to last week. We can't become complacent because of these improved numbers, and it's important we continue to get vaccinated.”
Here are today's COVID-19 statewide numbers:
Arkansas Bill Allowing Misgendering of Trans Students Progresses to Senate
A proposed Arkansas law to protect teachers and school administrators who misgender public school and college students is expected to be approved by the state legislature. House Bill 1749, which prohibits requiring public school and college employees from identifying students by genders inconsistent with a student’s biological sex, was approved by the House and is now being considered by the Senate. It's one of nearly a dozen anti-transgender bills proposed this session.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-bill-allowing-misgendering-trans-students-progresses-senate
COURTESY / INTRANSITIVE ARKANSAS
Bill Eliminating Early Voting On The Day Before An Election Again Fails In Committee
A bill that would eliminate early voting in Arkansas on the Monday before an Election Day has failed in a Senate committee for a second time.
During a voice vote Tuesday, members of the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee did not have enough yes votes to advance Senate Bill 485. It would eliminate all early voting in Arkansas on the day before both a preferential primary or general election day.
Four members of the public spoke against the bill, including Joshua Price, an election commissioner with the Pulaski County Election Commission. He addressed claims brought up in the prior hearing on the bill suggesting that poll workers needed a day off before Election Day in order to prepare.
Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, again presents Senate Bill 485, to the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.
CREDIT ARKANSAS SENATE
Arkansas Pauses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
By ALEXANDRIA BROWN
Arkansas is among states pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports of people developing unusual blood clots. This comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced they were investigating six cases of women who developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. One death was reported among the women.
At his weekly press briefing Tuesday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said while he respects the White House’s recommendation to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution, this doesn’t mean Arkansans should delay getting the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-pauses-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-0
Gov. Asa Hutchinson urged Arkansans on Tuesday to still get the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines despite Johnson and Johnson distribution pause
CREDIT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE / YOUTUBE
Arkansas Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Campaign Funds To Go For Childcare Expenses
The Arkansas Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would allow campaign funds to be used for childcare services in certain circumstances.
The Senate on Tuesday voted 24-6, with 5 present, to pass House Bill 1728. It now goes to Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
The legislation, which has had bipartisan support, makes the distinction that the use of campaign funds to pay for a candidate’s childcare expenses would not be considered as a "taking of campaign funds as personal income" as long as the childcare being paid for because the candidate is engaging in campaign activity.
Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, presents House Bill 1728 to the Senate floor.
CREDIT ARKANSAS SENATE
$20 Million Deal Keeps Razorback Basketball Coach Musselman in Fayetteville
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
Eric Musselman, the most successful Arkansas Razorback basketball coach since Nolan Richardson, has signed a five-year $20 million deal with additional compensation and incentive payments available based on success in SEC and NCAA Tournaments.
The deal, which includes roughly $4 million in annual pay for Musselman, follows the Hogs first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in more than 25 years. The new agreement will run from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2026 and includes the potential for a pair of one-year automatic agreement extensions (2027, 2028) based on Arkansas receiving bids to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament within the timeframe of the agreement.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/20-million-deal-keeps-musselman-in-fayetteville/
More than 40,000 Pounds of Medical Marijuana Sold in Arkansas with Value of $285 Million
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
More than 40,000 pounds of medical marijuana have been sold in Arkansas since the first dispensary opened in May 2019, according to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (AMMC). A dispensary in Bentonville has sold the most medical marijuana.
The 42,769 pounds sold is valued at $285 million, according to a press release from Scott Hardin, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the parent agency of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. State taxes on the dispensary sales since May 2019 total just under $30 million. Most of the tax revenue is placed in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Designation Trust Fund.
The AMMC has issued licenses for 38 dispensaries, with 32 dispensaries in operation and six working toward opening. There are 12 dispensaries that have reached at least 2,000 pounds in sales. The Arkansas Department of Health reports 74,779 active patient cards. Over the last 30 days, patients across the state spent an average of $880,000 each day on medical marijuana purchases, according to the AMMC.
Bill to Raise Hunting and Fishing License Fees Passes Committee
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
For decades, there have been no changes made to the cost of fishing and hunting licenses issued to residents in Arkansas. That could change in the near future.
In a narrow 5-3 vote, the state Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee passed SB 670 and it now heads to the full Senate. The bill would incrementally increase fees charged for these licenses.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Pat Fitts told committee members the fee increases were necessary to keep pace with infrastructure improvements that will be needed in the coming decades.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/bill-to-raise-hunting-and-fishing-license-fees-passes-committee/
Wednesday COVID-19 Update from the Arkansas Department of Health
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 4
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 4
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 2
Active Confirmed Cases: 0
Active Probable Cases: 2
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 1
Active Confirmed Cases: 1
Active Probable Cases: 0
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 3
Active Confirmed Cases: 1
Active Probable Cases: 2
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 4
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 0
