The UA Cossatot Board of Visitors said goodbye to outgoing chairperson Kathy Beavert at their July meeting in Lockesburg on Monday. Beavert has served on the board for 21 years and was presented an award from UAC Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole. New officers for the coming year are:
Jimmy Tumey - Chairman
Tim Pinkerton - Vice Chairman
Angie Walker - Secretary
The UA Cossatot Student Occupational Therapy Association recently hosted Kid's College on the UAC Ashdown campus
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 22
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 11
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 10
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 16
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 19
Arkansans know that no summer barbecue is complete without fresh watermelon. Our state may not be the largest producer of watermelon, but Arkansas communities lay claim to being the home of the world’s largest and the world’s sweetest.
The month of July is known as National Watermelon Month. July is typically the largest shipping month of the year, with over 15 states harvesting simultaneously.
The United States currently ranks 7th in the worldwide production of watermelon. Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown across 96 countries worldwide. But the impact the crop has on communities here in Arkansas has been a cause for celebration for decades.
In Arkansas, we have more than 200 farms harvesting more than 1,500 acres of watermelons. Crops are valued at more than $5 million.
The city of Hope annually celebrates its claim as the home of the world’s largest watermelons with a yearly watermelon festival. The event first originated in 1926 and has been ongoing, though not continuous, since 1977.
And since 1980, the residents of Cave City have been coming together to celebrate the "World's Sweetest Watermelons" and reconnect with family and friends. Now, in its 40th year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region.
Researchers are now finding out that watermelons are even more nutritious than previously known. The USDA's Agricultural Research Service recently identified over 1,500 small molecules of diverse chemical characters in the fruit, known as phytochemicals. They concluded that eating watermelon is an excellent way to increase your intake of antioxidants, non-protein amino acids, and lycopene. This means that every time you eat watermelon, you’ll be improving the health of your cells, organs, and nervous system.
In addition to farmer’s markets and fruit stands across the state, you can find Arkansas watermelons and any Arkansas grown produce at supermarkets by looking for the “Arkansas Grown” label. The “Arkansas Grown” logo is a registered trademark of the Department filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State. It may appear in black and white or black and green versions.
We’ve posted more information, including recipes and expert tips on finding the perfect watermelon, on our website www.arkansashouse.org.
ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson called for action to be taken to contain the virus before the new school year begins next month.
CREDIT ARKANSAS CENTER FOR HEALTH IMPROVEMENT
Friday was the third consecutive day that new COVID-19 cases in Arkansas topped 1,000, and the rise in active cases in the past three days has risen more than 27%, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
ADH numbers show 1,000 new cases on Wednesday, 1,210 on Thursday and 1,155 on Friday. The state’s cumulative number of cases is 355,462, and active cases rose by 673 on Friday to 6,605, which is 27.2% more than the 5,192 on Wednesday. Deaths rose by 4 to 5,948, and hospitalizations rose by 16 to 497.
The Health Policy Board of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) issued a statement Friday explaining the danger of the more transmissible COVID Delta variant and urging Arkansans to get vaccinated.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-records-3365-new-covid-19-cases-three-days
By GEORGE JARED/ TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS
Repairs to the fractured Interstate 40 bridge connecting West Memphis to Memphis are progressing rapidly and officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Transportation are confident the bridge will re-open by late July or early August.
ArDOT public information officer Dave Parker told Talk Business & Politics that phase one of the work is complete and repair crews are now in phase two of the project which includes inspections.
The initial fracture spot on a primary support beam has been repaired and there have been 500 “weld spots” performed by workers. Each spot had to be inspected and about 10 spots need additional work, Parker said.
Workers position outer and inner anchor weldments in place last month on the I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River as part of the ongoing repair.
CREDIT TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Nearly a hundred LGBTQ+ youth were enjoying activities and comraderie at "Queer Camp" hosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville engaging in art, theatre, outdoors activities — as well as daily facilitated empowerment groups. Dozens of volunteers and parents are assisting. The week-long camp is the largest like it to be held in the South.
kuaf.com/post/fayetteville-lutheran-church-hosts-week-long-queer-summer-camp-kids
LITTLE ROCK – Last Thursday was the first of my Community COVID Conversations in Cabot, and I am so grateful for the crowd who attended and filled every seat with the overflow left standing along the walls. The time was well spent with citizens asking questions and providing ideas as to how to overcome the hesitancy of some in getting vaccinated.
Let me describe the challenge we face. One month ago, our active COVID cases had declined along with our hospitalizations. We were increasing our vaccinations across the state, and we were very optimistic about the return to normalcy.
And then during the last month, we saw our rate of vaccinations stall at about 40 percent, and the Delta variant showed up, a right-left punch that has led to a dramatic increase in the daily number of new COVID cases, along with an increase in hospitalizations.
Someone at the Cabot meeting suggested we offer more incentives to encourage people to take the vaccine, but the success of the incentives we’ve already offered was limited. The fishing licenses and lottery tickets we offered were worth a try, but we learned that the incentive wasn’t effective in changing the mind of someone who isn’t already inclined to get a vaccination.
The most powerful incentive is the reality that if Arkansas doesn’t significantly increase its rate of vaccinations, we won’t be getting rid of COVID-19 and its spinoffs anytime soon.
The best incentive is to appeal to the hearts of Arkansans with the fact that taking the vaccination is the best way to protect family and friends. Education is our most powerful tool.
In Arkansas, we have chosen the path of personal responsibility. The state is wide open. We aren’t mandating masks or vaccinations. We know what we must do, and for the most part, Arkansans have done the hard work. The big task before us now is to vaccinate more Arkansans.
But there is good news and reason for optimism. The three vaccines are effective against all the COVID variants, including the Delta variant. The vaccine reduces the symptoms in those who do catch it; 90 percent of those who get the vaccine are not hospitalized, and the vaccine cuts the chance of death to almost zero. More than 50 percent of the population of Bradley County has been fully vaccinated. In the coming weeks, I expect more counties to reach that interim goal that I set, and then we can go up from there.
Next week, I will hold COVID Community Conversations in Batesville, Blytheville, the Forrest City/Marianna area, and Texarkana. My hope is that Arkansans, as they always do, will rise to the challenge, overcome the objections to the vaccine, and help us beat the pandemic so we can quit having these COVID conversations.
LITTLE ROCK – The National Governors Association closed its virtual summer session today with the selection of Governor Asa Hutchinson as NGA chair for 2021-2022. The Governor served the past year as vice chair.
“This is a highlight of my time as governor, and my pledge is to use the platform to build on the areas where Republicans and Democrats agree and work to remove the obstacles in Washington where we can,” Governor Hutchinson said. “One of my most important missions will be to help facilitate the states' partnership with the White House as we guide the nation out of the pandemic. We must combat the fear that many have expressed about getting a vaccination.
“My initiative as chair will be to improve access to computer science education nationwide. Arkansas has become known nationally for our computer science education program, and I want to showcase the efforts in other states and show why this matters and how we can expand computer science education. We will continue to have honest conversations with the White House and seek bipartisan solutions that work for everyone.”
Governor Hutchinson is the third Arkansas governor elected to chair the NGA. Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee held the position during their terms.
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 21
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 21
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 10
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 12
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 19
UA Cossatot hosted a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) graduation and pinning ceremony on Friday, June 25, at the UA Cossatot Bank of Lockesburg Historic Gymnasium.
Graduates included: Sanjuana Alvarez-Hernandez, Victoria Boyd, Heather Bradshaw, Dondria Burdette, Rosio Cisneros, Brittany Crumpler, Elizabeth DiBucci, Yatzari Dominguez, Hannah Fry, Myranda Gross, Caitlin Harding, Evie Harris, Crystal Hernandez, Alondra Lerma, Haley Manasco, Ana Martinez, Leslie Martinez, Emily McCarley, Hannah Pate, Alexis Rubio, Gabriela Ruiz, Shyla Schwartz, Maeghan Vaughn, Caylee Young, Victoria Alfaro, Ada Camarillo, Aldair Guerrero, Kimberly McCauley, Samantha Molina, JaQuasha Ogden, and Hailey Oglesby.
The Practical Nursing Program offers two educational formats for students, an 11-month day program that begins in August and ends in June and an 18-month evening program that begins in January and ends in June of the following year. Students successfully completing the Practical Nursing Program Course are awarded a Technical Certificate. The course of study meets the requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, and after graduation, students are eligible to apply for the State licensing examination to become an LPN.
Dr. Ashley Aylett, Vice Chancellor for Academics, stated “we are extremely happy we were able to gather in-person to celebrate these LPN graduates. We are always proud of all our graduates, but we are especially proud of this LPN cohort. The COVID-19 pandemic made the past year extremely difficult to navigate for most everyone. This particular group of LPN students experienced a complete change in the way the nursing program was delivered—requiring them to transition to several months of virtual learning, testing, and clinical. These students’ dedication and determination are evident through the successful completion of the program during a time like none of us have experienced. This was also our first time hosting the nursing pinning combined with the conferral of degrees. This allowed students and families to gather for a single ceremony versus two as we have done in the past. We feel the single ceremony was extremely meaningful and successful.”
For more information on UA Cossatot’s LPN program, contact Medical Education at 870-584-1211.
This week on "What's Up Doc?", Dr. Randy talks about the HIPPA rules and how HIPPA has changed the medical field over the past few years.
by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)
Beef prices typically increase following Memorial Day with more summer grilling demand but prices this year are trending higher than a year ago, according to Derrell Peel, livestock marketing specialist with Oklahoma State University Extension.
Peel said the seasonal increase in boxed beef cutout prices is higher than usual this year, with the weekly average “Choice” boxed beef prices rising 63.8% from early January to early June. Prices were higher across the board with loin cuts increasing 93%, rib meat up 60%, round rising nearly 44% and chuck cuts up 39% from the same period last year.
Year-to-date, values range from a 17% increase in rib meat for cuts like cowboy steaks and prime rib roasts to a 110.8% rise in short plate meat which includes skirt steak used in fajita and short ribs. Peel said the slight decrease in prices toward the end of June do not indicate weakening demand, but rather that food service operators had largely replenished their supply by early June.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/07/sizzling-summer-beef-demand-pushes-prices-higher/
Wholesale “choice” boxed beef prices are up 40.7% through the end of June, compared to a year ago. (photo courtesy of Oklahoma State University Extension)
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
Arkansas is easily the top rice producing state and it’s no surprise it leads the nation in rice exports, according to the State Agricultural Trade database released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Rice exports accounted for $722 million of the state’s total of $3.1 billion in agricultural exports, the report stated. Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said that of the $3.1 billion 78%, or $2.4 billion, was attributed to plant products. The report covers the 2019 calendar year.
According to the report, following are the commodities ranked by their respective contribution to the total export value.
• Rice — $722 million
• Soybeans — $679.3 million
• Cotton — $427.3 million
• Other feed grains: barley, oats, sorghum — $73.2 million
• Corn — $71.4 million
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/07/arkansas-remains-largest-rice-producing-state/
By DANIEL BREEN
The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to grow in Arkansas, resulting in a new surge in coronavirus hospitalizations.
The state added another 270 cases of COVID-19 Tuesday while another six Arkansans died from the disease caused by the coronavirus. The state currently has 4,645 active cases of COVID-19.
“This is the largest increase in hospitalizations since January. It is the largest increase in hospitalizations since we’ve had the vaccination available to prevent hospitalizations. And we have 55 added to the hospital rolls as a result of COVID-19,” Hutchinson said.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-sees-largest-spike-covid-19-hospitalizations-january
Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks with reporters at the state Capitol in his weekly media briefing on July 6, 2021.
CREDIT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE / YOUTUBE