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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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The Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) is typically one of the last items passed every session. It categorizes and prioritizes state spending.

Members are now reviewing the proposed Revenue Stabilization amendment schedule reflecting the allocation of general revenue funds for Fiscal Year 2023.

The proposed amendment outlines $6.02 billion in spending. That is less than a 3% increase in spending from the current fiscal year.

The state fiscal year begins July 1.

The largest increases in spending can be found in education and human services.

The proposed budget outlines a $70 million increase for elementary and secondary education.

It includes an $11 million increase for DHS Children and Family Services and a $23.5 million increase for DHS grants which includes Medicaid spending.

County jail reimbursement is increased by $6.4 million in the proposed budget.

The RSA calls for a $7.4 million increase for Arkansas State Police. This will assist in raising the salaries for state troopers.

It is anticipated members will vote on the RSA next week.

On Wednesday, the House voted to amend HB1034, an Act for the Department of Corrections-Division of Correction Appropriation. The amendment includes an appropriation of up to $75 million for costs associated with prison expansion.

The House passed SB103 which provides a one-time stipend of $5,000 to full time certified city and county law enforcement officer as well as probation and parole officers.

It also provides for a $2,000 one-time stipend for state troopers.

The House also passed one time appropriations for pregnancy center resource grants, the School for the Deaf and Blind, the breast milk bank, and the Northwest Arkansas Veterans Home.

You can find the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023 as well live-streams of all committee meetings and House proceedings on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

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Crystal Bridges Museum Hosts Marshallese Nuclear Victims Commemorative Event

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KUAF Staff

A Marshallese Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day program will take place Saturday March 5th from 5 to 9pm in the Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. The event, hosted by KBE Annex and the Four Atolls will commemorate with speeches and performances the ten year-long history and devastating radiologic impact of nearly 70 nuclear weapons tests conducted by the U.S. military on the Marshall Islands during the Cold War.

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Filing period to run for office in Arkansas officially closed

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by Marine Glisovic (msglisovic@sbgtv.com)

The filing period to run for office in the State of Arkansas ended on Tuesday (March 1). The Arkansas Secretary of State’s office reported that 379 partisan candidates filed this year.

Arkansas Republican Party Chairwoman Jonelle Fulmer said this is the highest number of Republicans to have filed.

Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Grant Tennille said they have focused on recruiting strong candidates where they believe they can win.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/03/filing-period-to-run-for-office-in-arkansas-officially-closed/

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Mohamed O. Elasri, Ph.D., Named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at UAMS

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By Linda Haymes

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently appointed Mohamed O. Elasri, Ph.D., as the associate vice chancellor for research.

Elasri is an active researcher in infectious diseases and has established a highly innovative research program that includes antibiotic resistance, biofilm development, advanced material imaging and new regulatory ribonucleic acids (RNAs), a long, single-stranded chain of cells similar to DNA, which provides the code for a cell’s activities. RNAs convert that code into proteins to carry out cellular functions. His work is highly translational toward improving human health and medical practice.

Elasri previously served at the University of Southern Mississippi as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the inaugural director of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, and the principal investigator and director of the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). While at the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, university, Elasri also served as the associate dean of research and graduate affairs in the College of Science and Technology and the College of Arts and Sciences.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/03/01/mohamed-o-elasri-ph-d-named-associate-vice-chancellor-for-research-at-uams/

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COVID-19 Active Cases in SW Arkansas

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Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 5

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 14

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 13

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 23

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 9

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Governor Hutchinson Pays Tribute to Firefighter, Officer Who Died in Line of Duty; Introduces Reading Initiative

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LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson opened his weekly news briefing today with a tribute to a firefighter and a corrections officer who died in separate incidents on Saturday and Monday.

Sergeant Joshua Caudell, 29, of the Department of Corrections was shot and killed while assisting local law enforcement. Jason Lang, 20, of the West Memphis Fire Department stopped on his way to an EMT training class to assist with a traffic accident and was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler.

Governor Hutchinson ordered the Arkansas and U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff in their honor.

Ukraine

Arkansas will do all it can to honor the sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia, Governor Hutchinson said.

He has worked with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division to ensure that distributers are no longer acquiring Russian liquor.

The Governor noted that he has proclaimed March 1 through March 3 as days of prayer for Ukraine.

“There is not a more important moment than now to continue in prayer for them and their safety, and that they will have increased support from our allies,” Governor Hutchinson said.

As part of the efforts from the state to follow the sanctions, a review of state records showed that there are no Russia-owned assets in Arkansas and no direct investment of Arkansas funds.

The Governor has asked that state employees to be vigilant for signs of a cyberattack on state systems.

10 Minutes Matter

Governor Hutchinson announced a new reading initiative in partnership with the Department of Human Services and Department of Education, called “10 Minutes Matter.” 

The partnership emphasizes the importance of reading to children from birth to five years old for 10 minutes a day. Studies show that reading one short book a day to young children can increase their vocabulary by 300,000 words by the time they start school, the Governor said.

The state will provide reading kits for childcare centers, schools, and pediatrician offices.

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UA Cossatot and the City of De Queen Partner in Workforce Scholarship Program

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UA Cossatot and the City of De Queen recently partnered to provide City of De Queen employees and children discounted tuition rates while attending UA Cossatot.

The tuition discount, which does not apply to specific program fees, gives full-time City of De Queen Employees a 50% tuition discount while children of full-time City of De Queen employees receive a 25% tuition discount. Eligible recipients must complete the course(s) authorized with a grade of "C" or better.

UA Cossatot and the City of De Queen established a procedure for participation, a memorandum of agreement between UA Cossatot and the City of De Queen, and a memorandum of understanding on financial awards.

UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “Our community is only as good as the collaborations within it. It is amazing how much a community prospers when we are able to share resources with each other. De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown and the De Queen City Council identified a way to reward employees and, at the same time, give them away to better themselves and their families. UA Cossatot was honored to assist in these efforts.”

For more information, contact Dr. Steve Cole at 870-584-1173 or scole@cccua.edu.

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Danyelle Musselman to Emcee UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s ‘Be a Part of the Cure’ Walk on April 30

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Danyelle Musselman serves on the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Board of Advisors.

By Marty Trieschmann

The first lady of Arkansas Razorback Men’s Basketball, Danyelle Musselman, will emcee the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s “Be a Part of the Cure” Walk honoring all Arkansas cancer patients.

“Like many of us, I have lost friends and family members to cancer,” said Musselman, who serves on the Cancer Institute’s board of advisors. “Not one to sit on the bench, I’m lacing up my shoes and going on a walk to raise money to fight cancer of all kinds and help patients battling the disease right here in the Natural State.”

The walk is set for 8 a.m., Saturday, April 30, at War Memorial Stadium and outdoor course and will honor cancer patients, cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle with cancer, as well as raise funds for research programs at the Cancer Institute.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/02/28/danyelle-musselman-to-emcee-uams-winthrop-p-rockefeller-cancer-institutes-be-a-part-of-the-cure-walk-on-april-30/

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Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

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The House will begin the 3rd week of the 2022 Fiscal Session on Monday. The second week was an abbreviated one due to the federal holiday and winter weather across the state.

In addition to several appropriation bills, the House also passed the following pieces of legislation this week:

SB87-This bill establishes coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of morbid obesity under the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program.

SB86-This bill establishes a funding mechanism to ensure the solvency of the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program by directing the Employee Benefits Division to aim for a reserve balance of 14% of expenses.

SB85-This bill clarifies the definition of “eligible inactive retiree” to participate in the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program.

SB88-This bill modifies the state contribution to the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program.

This completes our work on a package of bills we elected to take up during this Fiscal Session to ensure the health insurance plan for state and public school employees and retirees remains financially stable without reducing benefits.

On Tuesday, the House approved an amendment to HB1034, an appropriation for the Department of Corrections. The amendment adds $4.5 million to be used for employees’ overtime pay.

The House also approved an amendment to HB1067, an appropriation for the Division of Career and Technical Education. The amendment adds approximately $1.4 million for vocational training.

The Joint Budget Committee is working to complete the review and votes of the remaining budget bills in the upcoming week. The bill filing deadline for the 2022 Fiscal Session is February 28.

The House will reconvene on Monday, February 28, at noon. You can watch all committee meetings and House proceedings at www.arkansashouse.org

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Active COVID Cases in SW Arkansas

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Active Cases Data for Sevier County
Total Active Cases: 10

Active Cases Data for Howard County
Total Active Cases: 20

Active Cases Data for Little River County
Total Active Cases: 17

Active Cases Data for Polk County
Total Active Cases: 34

Active Cases Data for Pike County
Total Active Cases: 15

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Influenza could threaten state’s poultry industry

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by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Disease, especially avian influenza, could impact Arkansas poultry producers in 2022.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is urging poultry owners to increase biosecurity measures on their operations in response to several reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in other states to include some in the Mississippi Flyway.

HPAI is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry and wild birds. HPAI virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. Symptoms can include sudden increase in bird deaths with no clinical signs, lack of energy and appetite, decrease in egg production, soft- or thin-shelled or misshapen eggs, and more.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/02/influenza-could-threaten-states-poultry-industry/

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Hutchinson, Boozman say harsh sanctions are needed against Russia

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KUAR | By Laura Jansen ,

Michael Hibblen

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and U.S. Sen. John Boozman expressed their support Friday for Ukraine and its citizens as Russia continues a military invasion of the sovereign eastern European nation.

During his weekly press conference, Hutchinson said the U.S. needs to enact severe sanctions on Russia and suggested President Joe Biden hasn’t acted as quickly as he would like.

“We don’t need to hold anything back right now, we need to give the full weight of our sanctions now,” Hutchinson said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2022-02-25/gov-hutchinson-sen-boozman-say-harsh-sanctions-are-needed-against-russia

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

Sen. John Boozman speaking with reporters Friday inside the Arkansas State Capitol.

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Appeal filed in dismissal of Arkansas redistricting case

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KUAR | By Josie Lenora, Daniel Breen

A decision by a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ new districts in the state House of Representatives is being appealed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Arkansas State Conference NAACP and the Arkansas Public Policy challenged the new map arguing it dilutes the power of Black voters. The map was approved by the state Board of Apportionment, which is made up of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Secretary of State John Thurston, all Republicans.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-02-23/groups-appeal-dismissal-of-arkansas-redistricting-case

ARCAN/Arkansas PBS

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge confer before the start of a meeting on Nov. 29, 2021 in which new legislative maps were approved.

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More than 27,000 feral hogs eradicated in Arkansas

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KUAR | By George Jared/ Talk Business & Politics

Feral hogs cause billions of dollars in agriculture losses nationwide each year, and in the Natural State an effort has been underway since before the pandemic to curb the problem. At least 27,803 feral hogs have been killed in Arkansas since January 2020 by members of the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

The Feral Hog Eradication Task Force was initially created by the Arkansas Legislature during the 2017 regular session and was directed to create a plan for the eradication of feral hogs in Arkansas. The Task Force is made up of 21 federal and state agencies and non-government organizations.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-02-21/more-than-27-000-feral-hogs-eradicated-in-arkansas

United States Division Of Agriculture

Feral hogs, an invasive species, are especially destructive to agricultural crops, native wildlife, and young domestic livestock.

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AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Paving the Way for the Future of Mobility

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LITTLE ROCK – Ever since I took office in 2015, my goal has been to make Arkansas first.

From the very first coding tour, I have pushed Arkansas to lead the nation on computer science. Legislators who share my vision for the future passed laws that put the state ahead of the rest of the nation.

In a press conference this week, I announced that Arkansas can also be a worldwide leader in advanced mobility, which includes electric vehicles, driverless vehicles, drone delivery, and cars that travel by air. I created the Arkansas Council on Future Mobility to identify barriers, recommend policy, and suggest incentives to support the development of advanced mobility. Members of the council will search for innovative companies and create partnerships with businesses that are pushing the future in terms of transportation and movement of people and goods.

By doing this, we are laying the foundation for Arkansas's leadership in the transportation industry for decades to come. This is another step that will not only make Arkansas No. 1, but we will be the first to create this type of council with private sector experts, academia, and government leaders.

Arkansas is home to a growing number of mobility companies such as Canoo, an electric vehicle manufacturer, which is moving its headquarters and R & D [Research and Development] facility to Bentonville, and Envirotech announced this week it would be opening its first U.S.-based electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Osceola, Arkansas.

In Bentonville, right now thanks to a partnership between Walmart and Gatik, the world’s first autonomous driverless delivery service is operating daily, without a safety driver aboard the vehicle. This is the first time that fully autonomous operations have ever been achieved on the “Middle Mile,” a term to describe moving goods from warehouses or micro fulfillment centers to a pick-up location such as a retail store. These companies are choosing to build in Arkansas because we have made it clear we are committed to striving for the future. Nowhere else in the world has this been done yet, but in Arkansas, we have achieved it and continue to look forward to what's next.

In 1908, Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to travel by automobile while on official duties. He rode in a Columbia Electric Victoria Phaeton, an electric vehicle that ran on two 20-volt batteries that weighed nearly 800 pounds. His trip around Hartford, Connecticut took nearly four hours. Now, more than 100 years later, I was the first Arkansas Governor to sit in the driver’s seat of the next generation of transportation.

When discussing the most innovative and forward-thinking places in the world, Japan, Germany, Israel, and Finland are among those mentioned. Now, the Natural State has staked its place as a global leader as we lay the pavement for the future of transportation and mobility.

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Nashville Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Winners

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Nashville Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet was held Monday night at the Occasions Event Center. Incoming president Carlos Martinez welcomed the large crowd. Awards included:

Memorial Recognition - Mary Woodruff

Lifetime Achievement - David Blase

Scrapper Pride - Johnny Wilson

Orange & Black - Patricia Elliot

Better Together - Nashville High School Cheerleaders

Woman of the Year - Stephanie Harrison

Man of the Year - Greg Furr