Tamla Heminger Recognized as UA Cossatot's Teacher of the Year
Pandemic Assistance Promised for Arkansas Poultry Growers, Other Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday (June 15) it plans to provide roughly $6 billion in additional aid to farmers, ranchers and others who make their living in the agriculture industry.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said there is $6 billion in available funds through the Pandemic Assistance Program to support a number of new initiatives or to modify existing efforts. He said the funds will be doled out over the next 60 days in an effort to fill the gaps in the previous round of assistance aimed at helping small and medium-size farmers who need the most support. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments will provide aid to producers and businesses left behind.
The release did allocate some of the funds toward the following agri sectors.
• $200 million: Small, family-owned timber harvesting and hauling businesses
• $700 million: Biofuels producers
• Support for dairy farmers and processors to include $400 million for a new Dairy Donation Program to address food insecurity and mitigate food waste and loss, additional pandemic payments targeted to dairy farmers who have demonstrated losses that have not been covered by previous pandemic assistance, and approximately $580 million for supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage for small and medium farms.
• Assistance for poultry and livestock producers left out of previous rounds of pandemic assistance to include contract growers of poultry and livestock and poultry producers forced to euthanize animals during the pandemic (March 1, 2020 through Dec. 26, 2020).
• $700 million: Pandemic Response and Safety Grants for PPE and other protective measures to help specialty crop growers, meat packers and processors, seafood industry workers, among others
• Up to $20 million: Additional organic cost share assistance, including for producers who are transitioning to organic
AT&T has invested $675 million on expanded Internet service in Arkansas
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
AT&T has invested about $675 million during the last three years to improve Internet access in Arkansas and it plans to spend another $2 billion in the Natural State and other metro areas in the coming years, the company reported Wednesday (June 16).
From 2018-2020, coverage was broadened and connectivity was improved in more communities by investing in wireline and wireless networks. Those improved connections include fiber, 5G and FirstNet, the company said.
In 2021, AT&T plans to increase its fiber footprint by 3 million customer locations across more than 90 metro areas that it currently serves, including in Arkansas. AT&T will invest $2 billion over the next 3 years to help address the digital divide nationwide.
UA, NOWDiagnostics to Study COVID-19 Prevalence on Campus
by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
The University of Arkansas and Springdale-based diagnostics testing manufacturer NOWDiagnostics Inc. announced Wednesday (June 16) a partnership to study the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 virus antibodies among UA students, faculty and staff. SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is the virus that causes COVID-19.
NOWDiagnostics has developed a finger-stick antibody test that uses a blood sample to detect the presence of COVID antibodies in 15 minutes. The company’s self-contained ADEXUSDx COVID-19 antibody test, developed and produced in Arkansas, will be used for the study. The goal is to test each enrollee three times over four months. Recruitment for the study began March 17.
According to NOWDiagnostics, testing has already started and is tentatively set to end in July. However, investigators are preparing to expand the study to research the prevalence of COVID in children.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/ua-nowdiagnostics-to-study-covid-19-prevalence-on-campus/
New Fund to Improve LGBTQ Life in Arkansas
By KYLE KELLAMS
A new million-dollar fund will be used to administer grants to organizations working to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ Arkansans. The development of the grant comes after a legislative session that included several bills aimed at trans youth and adults.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/new-fund-improve-lgbtq-life-arkansas
UAMS Project Part of National Effort to Reduce COVID-19 in Hardest Hit Populations
By David Robinson
June 14, 2021 | LITTLE ROCK — UAMS researchers and their community partners across Arkansas are studying the causes behind COVID-19’s devastating impact on minorities and developing plans to help increase vaccination rates.
Supporting the one-year project is a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities. UAMS was one of 11 teams selected as part of the national alliance.
Last year, Arkansas was identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a national hot spot for COVID-19 disparities among Marshallese and Hispanic populations. The disparities in percentage of cases, hospitalizations and deaths among these populations were so severe that CDC and NIH officials visited Northwest Arkansas to investigate.
Black/African American and rural communities across the state have been struck hard, too, said Pebbles Fagan, Ph.D., MPH, one of three principal investigators on the study.
UAMS Principal Investigators Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, Pebbles Fagan, Ph.D., MPH, and Laura James, M.D.
Thursday COVID-19 Active Cases Update from the Arkansas Department of Health
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 10
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 4
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 1
Active Confirmed Cases: 1
Active Probable Cases: 0
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 10
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 6
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 8
Active Confirmed Cases: 5
Active Probable Cases: 3
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 8
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 4
Governor Creates Cyber Advisory Council To Identify and Manage Threats To Government, Industry
YOUTUBE
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has created the Arkansas Cyber Advisory Council to identify and manage the risk of cyberattacks and to enhance the state’s response to threats and attacks, the Governor announced today.
“The hacks of the Colonial pipeline and JBS Foods were an urgent reminder that cybercriminals are actively looking for targets,” Governor Hutchinson said. “Many industries, such as agriculture, are ripe for attack. As farmers and ranchers move more of their business to computers, the risk of cyberattacks on our food supply grows. The Advisory Council will recommend a path to strengthen our defenses against high-tech attacks.”
The Governor’s Executive Order directs the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to coordinate with the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services’s Division of Information Systems to create the Arkansas Cyber Advisory Council.
“Arkansas must demonstrate an effective cyber governance structure to support and enhance protections for governmental functions, private security, and economic development,” the order says.
In 2019, the 92nd General Assembly enacted the Arkansas Cyber Initiative Act, which authorizes the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to establish the Arkansas Cyber Initiative and to support cooperation among public and private entities to improve cybersecurity and the state’s economy.
Governor Hutchinson’s 12 appointees to the council are:
Jonathan Askins, director of the Division of Information Systems and Chief Technology Officer
Gary Vance, state Chief Information Security Officer, Division of Information Systems
Mike Preston, secretary of the Department of Commerce
Jami Cook, secretary of the Department of Public Safety
Dr. José Romero, secretary of the Department of Health
Cindy Gillespie, secretary of the Department of Human Services
Johnny Key, secretary of the Department of Education
Major General Kendall Penn, secretary of the Arkansas Military Department
Alan McClain, commissioner, Arkansas Insurance Department
A.J. Gary, director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
Colonel (Retired) Steve Eggensperger, Governor’s Office Cybersecurity liaison
Lee Watson, Forge Institute
SW Arkansas Crisis & Resource Center Smoked Chicken Dinner Fundraiser Friday
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
This week, we would like to remind families of an upcoming scholarship deadline. July 1 is the deadline to apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.
The scholarship provides tuition assistance to traditional and non-traditional students attending universities and two-year colleges – both public and private – in the state.
Freshman students at four-year colleges receive $1,000 from the scholarship. Second- and third-year students receive $4,000, and senior-level students are awarded $5,000 per year.
At two-year colleges, first-year students receive $1,000 annually, while second-year students are awarded $3,000. To maintain eligibility, students must keep a 2.5-grade point average.
Traditional students must score at least 19 on the ACT to qualify for the scholarship. The latest ACT score accepted by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education will be from the June testing. Students who have yet to achieve a score of 19 make take the Accuplacer test as a substitute.
Since its inception in 2009, the Arkansas lottery has helped raise more than $1 billion in scholarship proceeds and awarded more than 650,000 Academic Challenge Scholarships to students.
The lottery also funds the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship and the Arkansas Concurrent Challenge Scholarships.
Students seeking certification for high-demand occupations in healthcare information technology and industrial manufacturing may apply for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship.
And funding is available for high school students who wish to start early on receiving credit for college courses through the Arkansas Concurrent Academic Challenge Scholarship.
Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you'll earn good pay. Most college graduates earn more money during their working years than people who stop their education at high school earn. The more education you get, the more likely it is you will always have a job.
For more information and to apply, visit scholarships.adhe.edu.
VIDEO: Construction Site Progress of New Sevier County Medical Center
Progress continues at the construction site of the new Sevier County Medical Center.
Flag Day 2021 Flag Retirement Ceremony
Flag Day 2021, and American Legion Post 54 is conducting their annual flag retirement ceremony.
VIDEO: Tri-Lakes Bass Tournament in SW Arkansas Postponed to July 17
On this week's Sevier County Chamber chat, president Callie Miller tells us the Tri Lakes Big Bass Festival has been re-scheduled because of high waters for Saturday, July 17, and announces this Thursday's Chamber Board meeting will take place at UA Cossatot.
Tuesday's COVID-19 Active Cases and Vaccines Update from the AR Dept of Health
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 14
Active Confirmed Cases: 9
Active Probable Cases: 5
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 3
Active Confirmed Cases: 2
Active Probable Cases: 1
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 5
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 1
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 9
Active Confirmed Cases: 6
Active Probable Cases: 3
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 6
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 2
VIDEO: "What's Up Doc?" with Dr Randy Walker About Blood Clots
This week on "What's Up Doc?", Dr. Randy discusses the rare incidence of blood clots in the brain, COVID-19 vaccinations, and why long drives in the car can lead to blood clot formation (and bladder discomfort).
Historic Fort Chaffee Army Barracks to Become Residential, Retail Quarters
Plans to renovate more than 20 historic barracks and buildings, originally constructed in 1941 as part of Camp Chaffee, a U.S. Army base east of Fort Smith, will soon be transformed into contemporary living and commercial quarters, recently approved by the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/historic-fort-chaffee-army-barracks-become-residential-retail-quarters
An aerial view of Chaffee Crossing Historic District.
COURTESY / FORT CHAFFEE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Camp Chaffee U.S. Army training base circa 1940s.
COURTESY / FORT CHAFFEE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Court Orders Nine Members of Plant Board to be Removed
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
The Pulaski County Circuit Court, 6th Division, issued an order Thursday (June 10) removing nine of the 18 members of the State Plant Board from their positions on the board. The Court’s action was a result of a ruling from the Arkansas Supreme Court that those nine members had been unconstitutionally appointed.
In 2017, a lawsuit was filed by six Arkansas farmers challenging the constitutionality of the statute that provides for certain members of the Plant Board to be elected by private trade associations. The circuit court upheld the constitutionality of the statute and the farmers appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The members removed from the Board are:
Tommy Anderson, Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association; Marty Eaton, Arkansas Seed Dealers Association; Terry Fuller, Arkansas Seed Growers Association; Mark Hopper, Arkansas Pest Management Association; Brad Koen, Arkansas Crop Protection Association; Scott Milburn, Arkansas Forestry Association; Mark Morgan, Arkansas State Horticultural Society; Jason Parks, Arkansas Green Industry Association; and Terry Stephenson, Arkansas Oil Marketers Association.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/court-orders-nine-members-of-plant-board-to-be-removed/
arkansas.gov
Sunday COVID-19 Active Cases and Vaccines Update from the Arkansas Department of Health
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 17
Active Confirmed Cases: 11
Active Probable Cases: 6
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 3
Active Confirmed Cases: 2
Active Probable Cases: 1
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 5
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 1
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 9
Active Confirmed Cases: 7
Active Probable Cases: 2
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 5
Active Confirmed Cases: 4
Active Probable Cases: 1
LIVE VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides Weekly Media Update Tuesday (06.15.21) 130PM
Governor Asa Hutchinson will provide a weekly briefing to media at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Renovations Continue at UA Cossatot Lockesburg Campus
