SB8, a new law in Texas that has made abortion effectively illegal after 6 weeks of pregnancy, means women are traveling out of state to get access to services. One clinic in Little Rock is already seeing Texans travel from nearly seven hours away.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/new-abortion-law-texas-impacts-clinics-arkansas
Texas Capitol Building
CLARK VAN DER BEKEN / UNSPLASH
By MADDIE BECKER & MICHAEL HIBBLEN
A military medical team is now working alongside medical professionals at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences which has been short-staffed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Stephen Mette, senior vice chancellor for UAMS Health and chief executive officer for UAMS Medical Center, welcomed the 23-person team to the state-run facility Monday. Members of the team will assist with COVID-19 patients and other needs. He said UAMS has expanded physical space to take care of more patients, but hasn’t had enough staff.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/us-army-medical-team-assisting-uams-amid-staffing-shortage
Dr. Stephen Mette, senior vice chancellor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, talks with members of the military medical team before a press conference Monday.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
The Elder Abuse Webcast is free and open to the public and will cover elder financial abuse, an overview of Medicaid fraud investigative authority expansion and other relevant topics to Elder Abuse. The Arkansas Securities Department, Arkansas State Nursing Board and Attorney General's Office will be presenting. This webcast does NOT offer any continuing education credits.
DATE: Thursday, September 30
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
REGISTER: https://arkansasag.webex.com/arkansasag/onstage/g.php?MTID=e630a436b7825f85a59d61845817adf54
Contact: Rachel Ellis
(501) 682-3645
Rachel.Ellis@ArkansasAG.gov
There are three legislative meetings scheduled this month to review proposals for congressional redistricting.
Arkansans are welcome to attend these meetings and comment on the proposals.
The proposals will be outlined in bills drafted by legislators. We have provided a link to the bills at www.arkansashouse.org.
The House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committees will be meeting jointly in the MAC building located directly behind the State Capitol.
The schedule will be as follows:
September 20, 2021 (1 p.m.)-Any congressional redistricting bills that have been filed by September 17, 2021, will be taken up by the committees.
September 23, 2021 (1 p.m.) - Any congressional redistricting bills that have been filed by September 21, 2021, will be taken up by the committees.
September 27, 2021 (1 p.m.) - Any congressional redistricting bills that have been filed by September 24, 2021, will be taken up by the committees.
The committees will take no action during these three meetings.
It is anticipated that leadership will call members back into the extended session of the 93rd General Assembly on September 29. That date is subject to change, and we will continue to update you on any developments.
The General Assembly is tasked with only drawing the boundaries of the U.S. House of Representatives districts in Arkansas. The Board of Apportionment is tasked with drawing the state legislative boundaries.
Our state’s population increased by 3.3% since 2010 when we last drew congressional boundaries. Some areas of the state have increased in population more than others. Our task is to redraw those boundaries now to ensure they are as equally populated as possible.
All meetings will be live-streamed and recorded at www.arkansashouse.org.
The ADH has released their most recent report on the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the state's public schools and colleges. Some area schools of note include:
UA Cossatot less than 5 (ADH does not release info for schools with fewer than 5 active cases to protect student privacy.)
Mena 14
De Queen 19
Ashdown 19
Centerpoint 20
Nashville 14
South Pike County 11
Horatio 15
Foreman 20
Texarkana, AR 12
Cossatot River 9
For the complete report, please visit:
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/School_Report_09132021.pdf
2021 Howard County Fair Exhibit Winner
Sr. Flower Show – Cut Flower …..……………………………… Deb Wallis
Sr. Flower Show – Plant …………………..…………………. Betty Johnson
Jr. Flower Show – Cut Flower …..…………………………… Arlee Howard
Sr. Food Preservation – Dried ……………...………………… Corliss Lewis
Sr. Food Preservation – Vegetable …………………….……. Codie Jamison
Jr. Food Preservation – Pickles …………………..……… Guy Cooper Kroll
Sr. Needlework – Other Category……………………..……… Judy Johnson
Sr. Needlework – 1st Quilt ……...………………………………….. Joy Barr
Sr. Needlework – Quilt ………………………..……….. Jeanette McConnell
Sr. Needlework – Crochet ………...……………………………….. Jon Nutt
Sr. Needlework – Cross Stitch ………………………………. Kay Gathright
Jr. Needlework – Quilt …………………………………….…… Sarah Lamb
Sr. Photography ………………………………………….. Gayle Castleberry
Sr. Photography …………………………………………..……. Jim Johnson
Sr. Photography ………………………………………………… Julia Moore
Jr. Photography ………………………………………………….. Elli Wallis
Sr. Home Arts ………………………………………….….… Wade Bearden
Sr. Home Arts …………………………………………………. Scott Wilson
Jr. Home Arts ……………………………………...…… Christian Trombley
Jr. Home Arts ………………………………………...…….. Torey Hathcoat
Sr. Art …………………………………………………….….…. Cindy Petty
Jr. Art ………………………………………………………… Klaire Hendry
Sr. Horticulture ………………………………………….……. Judy Johnson
Jr. Horticulture – Peppers ……...……………………………….. Briley Ford
Jr. Horticulture – Eggs …………………………………..…. Payeton Bagley
Jr. Horticulture – Pumpkin …………..………………...… Guy Cooper Kroll
Sr. Baked Goods ……………………………………………….. Tina Conzel
Sr. Baked Goods ……………………………………………….. Hazel White
Jr. Baked Goods ……………………………………………… Ember Boyce
Sr. Clothing …………………………………………..……….. Judy Johnson
Jr. Clothing ………………………………………….……….. Lily Trombley
Educational Booths
4-H …………………………………………….…………..……. Cloverbuds
EHC Club ………………………………………………………….. Twilight
School Group ………………………………………………………. FCCLA
Civic Group ……………………………………………… Master Gardeners
LITTLE ROCK – This fall, Arkansans will once again have the opportunity to enjoy live football games at all of our great in-state institutions. However, Arkansans looking to buy tickets, should be leery of scammers. Unfortunately, scam artists will try to take advantage of fans by selling them tickets that are fake, duplicates or non-existing. They may use high-pressure-sales tactics to rush innocent Arkansans into buying tickets using deals that seem unbeatable and many times are. Sports fans should be spending their time cheering on their favorite teams – not calling penalties on scammers.
“Arkansans couldn’t be more excited to get back into the stadiums to watch live football, a cherished tradition,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Whether you support the Razorbacks, Red Wolves, Bears or Boll Weevils, everyone deserves to cheer for their favorite team without worry of scammers trying to take advantage of their wallets.”
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued the following tips to help Arkansans protect themselves when looking to buy game tickets during the upcoming football season.
Research the seller or broker with the Better Business Bureau and ensure it is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers.
A legitimate ticket broker will offer a refund policy. Only buy tickets from a reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction.
Always use a credit card to make a ticket purchase because credit card laws provide buyers with some recourse if the tickets are fraudulent.
Check the seats ahead of time. Ask for section, row and seat numbers to avoid obstructed views and purchasing tickets that do not exist.
Stick with well-known ticket sellers who offer guarantees and policies that protect buyers and have the ability to investigate and restrict accounts of merchants who violate the policies.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Refuse to be rushed. Scam artists often try to hurry prospective buyers into making a decision.
Consumers who think they may have purchased a counterfeit ticket can contact the National Association of Ticket Brokers at 630-510-4594 or the Arkansas Attorney General’s Public Protection Department.
For more information on how to avoid scams and other consumer-related topics, visit ArkansasAG.gov, email Consumer@ArkansasAG.gov, or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 482-8982.
Rice is grown in over 40 Arkansas counties. The crop contributes billions to the state’s economy and accounts for approximately 25,000 jobs, crucial to rural communities.
September is National Rice Month, a month-long celebration of all things rice. In Arkansas, we have a great deal to celebrate.
Our state is home to 2,300 rice farms and 96% of those farms are family owned and operated. Our farmers produce more than 9 billion pounds of rice each year.
The history of rice in Arkansas began in the 1800’s but it wasn’t until 1910 that production, research and milling were established in the state.
Today, Arkansas produces approximately 48 percent of U.S. rice and ranks number one in acres planted and bushels produced. Arkansas has been the nation’s leading rice-producing state since 1973.
Arkansas rice farmers not only contribute to our economy by creating jobs, they’re also known for giving back to their communities. The state’s rice industry gives over 100,000 pounds of rice annually to fight food insecurity in Arkansas.
Rice farmers have a commitment to protect and preserve natural resources. Today, Arkansas rice farmers produce more rice using less land, energy and water than they did 20 years ago. Working rice fields also provide critical wildlife habitat for many species of birds, mammals and reptiles.
A half-cup cooked serving of white or brown rice costs less than 10 cents, and provides vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Consuming Arkansas-grown rice helps support our neighbors who continue to produce a quality food supply. You can help celebrate rice month by purchasing Arkansas-grown rice at your local supermarket.
We’ve posted more information about the industry on our websitewww.arkansashouse.org.
(September 7, 2021) LITTLE ROCK, Ark – Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land announced that his office will auction tax-delinquent land in Howard County on Wednesday, September 22, at 2:00 p.m. The auction will be held at the Carter Day Training Center in Nashville, with registration beginning at 1:30 p.m.
“Since we were unable to hold public auctions in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, we are auctioning properties that were scheduled for sale last year,” Land said. “These are properties whose taxes have been delinquent since 2015.”
Next year, during the 2022 auction season, the COSL office will auction two years’ worth of properties. “That will catch us up so that we’re current on all sales,” Land said.
Prospective bidders can find an online Public Auction Catalog, including a buyer’s guide; statutes governing sales; auction date, time and location; and a complete listing of parcels offered. This resource is on the Commissioner’s website, www.cosl.org, and is regularly updated.
The website also includes an instructional video demonstrating how to research information about each parcel available for sale.
“We open the bidding at the amount of taxes, penalties and interest due,” Land said. “Anyone who has delinquent property going up for auction should be aware they only have 10 business days after the auction to redeem property sold there.”
Bidders must register for the auction, but the registration is free. The first $100 of any parcel’s purchase price must be paid in cash, while the remainder may be paid by cash, check or credit card.
“Property taxes help fund schools, roads, libraries and public services including ambulances,” Land said. “Everyone benefits from paying those taxes — and the property owner benefits from paying on time, by avoiding interest and penalties on delinquent taxes.”
Properties that do not sell at auction will appear on the COSL’s post-auction sales list 30 days after the auction date. From there, they can be purchased through an online auction system. Another instructional video on the COSL website demonstrates that process to bidders.
Owners of delinquent parcels may redeem those delinquent taxes online at www.cosl.org using a credit or debit card. Those who prefer to pay by check or money order can print a Petition to Redeem from the website or call the office at 501-324-9422 to request the petition, which must accompany their payment.
The ADH has released their most recent report on the rise of active cases of COVID-19 in the state's public schools and colleges. Some area schools of note include:
UA Cossatot less than 5 ( ADH does not release info for schools with fewer than 5 active cases to protect student privacy)
Mena 51
De Queen 33
Ashdown 32
Centerpoint 28
Nashville 24
Caddo Hills 23
South Pike County 23
Horatio 16
Mineral Springs 14
Foreman 13
Texarkana, AR 13
Cossatot River 8
Kirby 8
Dierks 5
For the complete report, please visit:
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/School_Report_09062021.pdf
Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 156
Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 131
Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 118
Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 167
Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 119
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
Cases of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) have been confirmed in Arkansas in horses at two separate locations in Pulaski County, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
EEE is an extremely rare but serious and fatal infection that causes encephalitis, an acute inflammation of the brain. The disease is spread by biting insects, primarily mosquitoes and flies that have bitten birds infected with the EEE virus (EEEV). Insect control and vaccination are the recommended preventative measures.
EEE can infect a wide range of animals other than horses, including other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. While humans can also contract the disease through biting insects, they cannot get the disease through direct contact with an infected animal.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/09/rare-communicable-brain-disease-found-in-horses-in-arkansas/
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
A federal jury in Fayetteville has found two Arkansas men guilty of fraud and money laundering in connection with the development of a wind turbine that was never operational and a proposed wind farm project in Washington County that was never constructed. The convictions were detailed in a press release Friday (Sept. 3) from the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jody Davis of Searcy and Phillip Ridings North Little Rock formed a limited liability company in Texas in 2014 called Dragonfly Industries International LLC. They also created an Arkansas LLC called Arkansas Wind Power (AWP). They told investors they planned to develop a revolutionary wind turbine design on a 311-acre wind farm proposed for construction in Elm Springs.
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
After guiding the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture through a decade of growth, vice president for agriculture Dr. Mark J. Cochran will retire effective Sept. 30.
During his tenure, Cochran encouraged the growth of the entrepreneurship and commercialization of research products and obtained funding to continue the Division of Agriculture’s research and extension work, enabling the traditional land grant mission to remain strong in Arkansas.
“After 39 rewarding years in the University of Arkansas System, retirement is not a decision that was made casually or in haste,” he said. “It’s been an honor to lead the Division of Agriculture and there is still much that can be accomplished. However, the time has come to pass on that responsibility to the next leader of the division and to enjoy time with my family and especially my granddaughter.”
Nine months after announcing her candidacy for Arkansas governor through a produced video, Sarah Huckabee Sanders is now taking her campaign to the people. This Labor Day weekend she began a series of 15 appearances around the state.
On Monday evening, the former White House press secretary spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at a rally in Benton. Sanders was introduced by her father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee.
“She understands why she wants to run, what she will do when elected, and I believe with all my heart – and this is hard to say for reasons that will make perfect sense when I say it – I think she will be the best governor Arkansas ever had,” Huckabee said.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaking to a crowd of supporters Monday evening in Benton.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
By KYLE KELLAMS
Our monthly update from ArkansasCovid.com includes higher rates of infection for younger Arkansans and a steady number of new cases diagnosed throughout August.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/schools-hospitals-navigate-covid-19
COURTESY / ARKANSASCOVID.COM
By JACQUELINE FROELICH & KYLE KELLAMS
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has launched a new multiplatform website connecting schools engaged in gardening and agriculture to local farmers and growers. Sarah Lane who serves as Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture says the new portal features interactive maps of school gardens, local procurement activities, participating farms and producers – which number around 800 statewide.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-department-agriculture-links-farms-schools
Sarah Lane is Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
COURTESY / SARAH LANE
By Marty Trieschmann
Aug. 30, 2021 | LITTLE ROCK — The first UAMS Baptist Health Cancer Center is now open on the campus of Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock, bringing the full spectrum of cancer research, diagnostic and treatment services available at UAMS’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute to more Arkansans.
“This collaboration benefits the people of Arkansas by bringing the most advanced cancer care in the state closer to where people live,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Building on our longstanding relationship, UAMS and Baptist Health are taking steps to expand the innovative and unique oncological care found at UAMS’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute into all corners of the state.”
“The opening of UAMS Baptist Health Cancer Center on our Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock campus is just the beginning of our cancer partnership and another example of our shared commitment to bring the best health care to the people of Arkansas,” said Troy Wells, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “Uniting together against cancer, this partnership will leverage our network of 11 hospitals and 100 clinics to bridge the gaps in state-of-the-art cancer care where patients need these services most across the state.”
https://news.uams.edu/2021/08/30/new-uams-baptist-health-cancer-center-opens-in-north-little-rock/
