Arkansas 4-H awards college scholarships, sponsorships to outstanding youth
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — Years of detailed project work, community service and leadership efforts have paid off for 32 4-H members in the form of college scholarships.
The Arkansas 4-H Foundation recently awarded $24,000 in college scholarships to youth across Arkansas. Amounts ranged from $500 to $8,000.
“These scholarships directly help our 4-H members continue to excel,” John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation, said. “These would not be possible without generous donors, many of whom are former 4-H members who want to pay it forward for future generations.”
The Arkansas 4-H Foundation has awarded more than $170,000 to 4-H members this year, enabling them to attend summer camps and leadership and citizenship trainings. The foundation also provides sponsorships for more than 40 students with winning record books to attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta each year, a trip valued at $1,500 per person.
Record books reflect each student’s achievements in leadership, community service and work in their chosen projects. 4-H offers more than 70 projects spanning the arts and humanities, healthy living, civil engagement, animal and plant sciences, engineering and technology.
This year’s scholarship recipients include:
Sue Marshall Scholarship — Abby Frizzell of Johnson County and Kristin Lehmann of Conway County each received $8,000 to pursue collegiate studies in family and consumer sciences.
Ada & Tyrell Anderson Scholarship — Emma Gardner of Washington received the $6,000 scholarship awarded to a 4-H member from Madison or Washington County to attend a college or university in the University of Arkansas System.
Robert D. and Betty F. Oliver Scholarship — Jordan Thomas of Pulaski County, $4,000.
Rick and Lynette Cartwright Scholarship — Alec Frachiseur of Sevier County, $3,500.
Raydus Ree and Virginia Williams James Scholarship — Weston Penny of Washington County, $3,500.
C.A and Joye Vines Scholarship — Kallyn Sossamon of Saline County, $1,000.
Farm Credit Cooperatives Scholarship — Hannah Riggan of Hot Spring County and Alex Trombley of Howard County each received $1,000 to pursue an agriculture-related course of study in college.
Dennis R. Millard Memorial Scholarship — Savannah Barrentine of Grant County received the $1,000 award, which recognizes a person who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, community service and mentoring of other 4-H members.
Rotary Club of Fayetteville and Dale Killian Scholarship — Janna Morse of Washington County received the $1,000 scholarship, which is awarded to a Washington County student enrolling at the University of Arkansas.
Gladys Klepfer/ Bo & Peggy Cobb Scholarship — Rob Phillips of Arkansas County and Savannah Loving of Johnson County each received a $1,000 scholarship, which is awarded to members who have served as volunteer camp counselors at the Arkansas 4-H Center.
John W. White Scholarship — Erin Holland of Van Buren County received a $1,000 award to pursue agriculture or human environmental sciences at the University of Arkansas.
Zack O. and Jennie D. Jennings Scholarship — Annabelle Ferren of White County received the $1,000 award for outstanding leadership.
Division of Agriculture Livestock Scholarships
Ethan Wolcott, Hunter Frachiseur and Madison Bagley, all of Sevier County, each received $1,000. The scholarships are awarded to youth who have exhibited livestock at the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show within the past year and who plan to pursue an agriculture-related major in college.
Oaklawn Jockey Scholarships — $625 each
Rylee Kelley, Searcy County.
Riley Pearce, Faulkner County.
Mollie Leonard, Van Buren County.
Caylee Turner, Little River County.
Larry Sandage Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Scholarship — Grace Rutherford of Clark County received the $500 scholarship to a pursue studies related to a career in forage, grass or the cattle industry.
Regions Bank Scholarship — Emmarie Savell, Izard County, $500.
Raymond Cox Scholarship — James Daniell of Clark County, Tayte Christensen of Benton County and Magon James of Arkansas County, each received $500 for outstanding 4-H work.
Maeda Asbell Scholarship — Josalyn Allbritton of Chicot County received $400 for outstanding 4-H work.
For more information about 4-H, visit https://4h.uada.edu/. To learn more about other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.
UAMS’ Ashley Nemec-Bakk, Ph.D., Awarded Postdoctoral Fellowship for Space Health Research
By Benjamin Waldrum
Ashley Nemec-Bakk, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the UAMS College of Pharmacy’s Division of Radiation Health and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is one of three researchers nationwide to receive a postdoctoral fellowship from the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine.
TRISH is backed by NASA’s Human Research Program, with a mission, in part, to support the upcoming Artemis missions, which aim to put the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. The institute funds innovative and disruptive research that can improve and protect the health and safety of humans, wherever they explore.
“Cultivating the next generation of space health researchers is one of our strategic goals,” said Dorit Donoviel, Ph.D., TRISH executive director. “We aim to prepare a diverse workforce from a variety of scientific backgrounds to help us solve the challenges facing space explorers on future missions to the Moon and beyond. We are thrilled to welcome this next batch of postdocs as they help bring us closer to that goal.”
COVID Vaccines Recommended as Students Return to Classroom
KUAF - Daniel Caruth
Many students across Arkansas return to school this week. With new COVID-19 variants emerging, some health officials are urging students, parents and school staff to take precautions that could prevent virus outbreaks.
Courtesy/CDC
In June, COVID-19 vaccines were approved for kids as young as six months old.
Crop quality, progress aided by rains
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
It rained very little during the months of June and July throughout most of northern and eastern Arkansas, plunging many parts of the Natural State into a severe drought. In recent weeks, that trend has changed dramatically and it comes at a time that is critical for many row crop farmers.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) about 25% of the state’s corn crop is mature, as compared to the five-year average of 32% by this point in the growing season. There are an estimated 710,000 corn acres in the state.
Nearly 97% of the state’s soybean crop is blooming, which is 2% ahead of the five-year average. Arkansas farmers planted 3.2 million soybean acres, making it the state’s most widely grown crop.
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/crop-quality-progress-aided-by-rains/
Legislative leaders wrap up special session, offer thoughts on January regular session
by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
With the recent special session behind them, legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle are sizing up issues for the next regular session of the Arkansas Legislature.
On the Sunday (Aug. 14) edition of Talk Business & Politics, Senate President Pro Tempore-elect Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, and House Minority Leader Rep. Tippi McCullough, D-Little Rock, shared their thoughts on the agendas expected to play out at the state capitol.
Hester said criminal justice reform will be a top priority for him as he eyes ways to reduce violent crime and repeat offenders.
Adult-use cannabis makes Nov. 8 ballot, votes might not count
by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
A group recently submitted more than twice the number of signatures for a ballot issue that, if approved, would allow for adult-use or recreational cannabis in Arkansas. While the issue was conditionally certified to be on the November ballot, the Arkansas Supreme Court will decide whether the votes will count.
Responsible Growth Arkansas gathered more than 193,000 signatures, more than twice the 89,151 signatures required to make the ballot. In late July, Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston confirmed the group had the signatures to meet the requirement. But in early August, the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners, on which Thurston is chairman, denied certifying the ballot issue amid concerns regarding sufficient background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a marijuana chemical.
Steve Lancaster, attorney for Wright Lindsey Jennings and spokesman for Responsible Growth Arkansas, appealed to the Supreme Court, and it ruled to conditionally certify the ballot issue. Lancaster said the ruling was needed to meet the Aug. 25 certification deadline, so the ballots could be printed on time.
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/adult-use-cannabis-makes-nov-8-ballot-votes-might-not-count/
Steve Lancaster is an attorney for Wright Lindsey Jennings and the spokesman for Responsible Growth Arkansas. The group recently submitted more than twice the number of signatures needed for a ballot issue to legalize adult-use or recreational cannabis in Arkansas.
J.B. Hunt gives $1.5 million to UA department, named after it
by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced (Aug. 11) a collaboration with the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas that includes the Lowell-based carrier giving $1.5 million to its supply chain department and renaming it after the company.
According to a news release, the two entities are working together to make “Northwest Arkansas an epicenter for developing tomorrow’s industry and its leaders.” The money will be used to enhance the UA’s supply chain department, which has been renamed the J.B. Hunt Transport Department of Supply Chain Management.
In a Thursday event at the company’s headquarters, J.B. Hunt and UA leaders noted the company is the first to name a supply chain department and emphasized that Gartner recently ranked it No. 1 in North America. The department’s graduate program is ranked No. 2.
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/j-b-hunt-gives-1-5-million-to-ua-department-named-after-it/
Shelley Simpson, president of J.B. Hunt
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Special Session Successes
LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about the excellent position our state is in to provide additional financial relief for Arkansans.
In December, we cut nearly $500 million in taxes which was the largest tax cut in Arkansas history. This gave the people of Arkansas some financial relief and continued my promise of cutting taxes for everyone.
But as the cost of living continues to go up, Arkansans need more money in their pockets now. Because of the work we have done to be more efficient in state government, we have created a record surplus in the last fiscal year, and it is clear the state is collecting more than it needs. This gives us the ability to provide financial relief in a time when Arkansans need it most.
Just eight months later, I have signed into law an acceleration of the historic December cuts while also signing into law funding for a new grant program to help schools better protect our children.
With the support of the Arkansas General Assembly, we have been able to lower the individual tax rate to 4.9%, which will save taxpayers a total of $295 million just this year. In 1929, the state income tax was at 5.0%. In 2014, the state income tax was at its highest level at 7%, but our reserves were empty. Less than eight years later, we will have the lowest income tax in state history since its creation, all while having more than $2 billion in state reserves. We also created a $150 nonrefundable tax credit for low- and middle-income Arkansans, saving taxpayers another $156 million this year.
This means the total individual tax relief this year alone is more than $400 million.
My other goal for this special session was to ensure our children are protected in their schools. When parents drop their children off at school, they want to have confidence their children are going to be safe. I proposed we transfer $50 million from the state surplus for the purpose of a school safety grant program. The General Assembly concurred with this plan.
At the beginning of the month, the Arkansas School Safety Commission presented an interim report to me highlighting recommendations for schools to ensure the best protections for our children.
With this grant program, we can provide funding for school districts to increase security measures on their campuses. This will benefit all schools, but especially those who need the most help meeting the recommendations.
I applaud the work of the General Assembly for putting more money back into the pockets of Arkansans and for ensuring schools have the proper resources to keep our children safe.
VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Signs Tax Cut, School Safety Legislation
Governor Asa Hutchinson held a news conference Thursday, August 11, 2022, with members of the Arkansas General Assembly to sign legislation into law regarding the second-largest tax cut in state history and to provide $50 million for a school safety grant program.
USDA’s Risk Management Agency taps Division of Agriculture for crop insurance analysis, stakeholder feedback
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will be collecting stakeholder feedback and providing data analysis for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency to help RMA improve its products and services to farmers.
Established in 1996, RMA manages the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to provide crop insurance products to America’s farmers and ranchers.
LIGHT MOMENT — Group shares a light moment about a common experience. From left, Hunter Biram, extension economist; Richard Flournoy, deputy administrator for product management for the Risk Management Agency; Marcia Bunger, RMA administrator. Taken Aug. 10, 2022, at the Cooperative Extension Headquarters in Little Rock. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)
The RMA Navigator program is rooted in a $1.3 million grant proposal by Ron Rainey, assistant vice president for the Division of Agriculture. Rainey, who also serves as the director of the Southern Risk Management Education Center, said the project will provide a better understanding of federal crop insurance products and the performance of those risk management tools.
“Bottom line, we hope to help the crop insurance sector support more farmers and ranchers with more effective policies,” Rainey said.
Work on the program begins Sept. 1.
Vision for RMA
The program fits squarely in the vision outlined Wednesday by RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger during a visit with Division of Agriculture leaders at Little Rock. Among her objectives for the RMA are better service to underserved audiences, recruiting agents and loss adjusters locally, and helping specialty and organic crops.
She spoke about her years conducting outreach in South Dakota for the Farm Services Agency, another arm of USDA, reflecting on how best to serve stakeholders.
“How do we move that needle? I spent a lot of time in my years giving advice,” she said. “I think it’s time we do a better job of listening to hear what stakeholders believe would work the best.”
Another part of her vision “is to elevate some of the specialty crops, the organic crops, the crops we don’t currently have policies with and elevate them to the point that they are on the same playing field as the corn and bean, cotton and wheat guys,” she said.
At a Farm Bill field hearing held June 17 in Jonesboro, Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, chair of the Senate ag committee and Arkansas’ John Boozman, ranking member, heard about the lack of affordable protection for specialty crops.
Being part of the community
To build trust within a community, “it’s important to have a crop insurance agent in your community. It’s important that they go to church with you. The kids go to the same schools that your kid is going to. They have a cultural understanding of the area,” she said.
“I think with that vision of having crop insurance agents from their communities and loss adjusters from their communities, will also help farmers and ranchers have an easier time going into their county offices as well,” she said.
Accompanying Bunger were Roddric Bell, RMA’s director of the southern region insurance office; Michael Heiserman, director of the risk management education division; and Richard Flournoy, deputy administrator for product management. Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System, and Vic Ford, who heads up agriculture and natural resources for the Cooperative Extension Service, and Rainey represented Division of Agriculture administration.
“The Division of Agriculture is uniquely suited for this project because it is home for both the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence and host for the Southern Risk Management Education Center,” Fields said. “We have the in-house expertise to accomplish this mission with an aim to helping farmers in Arkansas and across the nation. I appreciate Dr. Rainey’s vision and leadership for this valuable program.”
RMA and the RMA Navigator are not affiliated with the Risk Management Association or its services.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
UAMS Researcher Co-Authors Nature Communications Article Showing Higher Heart Failure Rates in Some COVID-19 Patients
LITTLE ROCK — Patients previously hospitalized with COVID-19 had a 45% higher risk of heart failure than other hospitalized patients, according to the first national study of its kind, which was co-authored by a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) researcher.
Lead author Husam M. Salah, M.D., at UAMS said the findings reported in Nature Communications also revealed an even higher risk of heart failure for younger, white patients previously hospitalized with COVID-19, surprising the research team.
“We were seeing this increased trend in heart failure among patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19, but until our study, we did not have evidence to confirm the relationship to COVID-19,” said Salah, chief medical resident in the College of Medicine Department of Medicine. “Inflammation of the heart muscle and the coronary arteries as well as formation of small clots in the coronary arteries caused by COVID-19 may be major players in the association between COVID-19 and heart failure.”
UAMS’ Elizabeth Riley, DNP, APRN, Chosen as Fellow of National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education
By Chris Carmody
Elizabeth Riley, DNP, APRN, clinical associate professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing, has been selected as a fellow of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Academy of Nursing Education.
Riley is among 20 nurse educators who will be inducted into the academy during a Sept. 30 ceremony at the NLN Education Summit in Las Vegas. The Academy of Nursing Education has more than 300 members affiliated with teaching hospitals, academic institutions and other health organizations across the country.
UA Cossatot Releases Summer 2022 Honor Students and List of Graduates
UA Cossatot's Office of the Registrar recently released the summer 2022 Chancellor's List, Vice Chancellor's List, and 2022 summer graduates.
Four students are named on the Chancellor's list, maintaining a minimum of 4.0 semester GPA while taking a minimum of twelve college credit hours. Seven students are named on the Vice Chancellor's list, holding a minimum of a 3.5 semester GPA while taking a minimum of twelve college credit hours.
UA Cossatot Summer 2022 Chancellor's List:
Ashdown: Tucker Patrick Tompkins
De Queen: Logan Turner
Texarkana: Anthony Stine and Joseph Benett Cagande Shan
UA Cossatot Summer 2022 Vice Chancellor's List:
Ashdown: Lexius Winfrey and Breana Nicole Noble
Foreman: Jaymee Hess
Gillham: Ariel Morgan Dinkins
Okolona: Lakyn Danielle Watts
Texarkana: Chase Aldwin Hicks and Grant Phillip Nolen
Summer 2022 Graduates (Listed with Highest Degree(s) Earned):
Sixty-one students graduated with a Certificate of Proficiency (CP), Technical Certificate (TC), or an Associate Degree (AA/AGS/AAS/AS). Many students earned multiple certificates and degrees, totaling 93 summer awards.
Amity: Randi Mechelle Markham: Associate of Arts
Antoine: Jessi Ann Dugger: Technical Certificate: General Studies
Ashdown: Mikayla Blagg: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing, Kellie Anne Jones: Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Raylei Suzzanne Merrell: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and
Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Breana Nicole Noble: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant, Cory Tatom: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant, Lexy Walden: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Lexius Winfrey: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant and Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Ben Lomond: Kaitlyn Finigan: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
Bigelow: Elizabeth Rather: Associate of Science: STEM
De Queen: Sara Elizabeth Abril: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Stephanie Butler: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Diana Hernandez Galindo: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and
Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Layton Jackson: Associate of Arts and
Associate of General Studies, A'Nayzia Janay Jefferson: Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies, Maria Munoz Juache: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Alexandra Salinas: Technical Certificate: Cosmetology, Katherine Rachelle Taylor: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing, Ivan Trejo: Technical Certificate: General Studies, Logan Wayne Turner: Associate of Arts, Associate of General Studies, and Technical Certificate: General Studies, Emily Brooke Whisenhunt: Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Delight: Madison Erin May: Technical Certificate: General Studies
Dierks: Savannah Nicole Morris: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Lindsey Jean Stamps: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
Foreman: Danielle Nicole Boyd: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Kenzie Elizabeth Cowan: Associate of Science: STEM, Chunjung Ke Howell: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
Gillham: Ariel Dinkins: Associate of Science: Business and Technical Certificate: General Studies,
Stephanie Rose Parsons: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
Horatio: Heather Barton: Technical Certificate: General Studies, Ashley Olalde: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing, Misty Marie Wheeler: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
Little Rock: Elizabeth Moore: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
Lockesburg: Mina Christine McAda: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Magnolia: Noah Samuel Reed: Associate of Science: STEM
Murfreesboro: Kailee Ann Backus: Technical Certificate: General Studies, Madison Paige Humphry: Associate of General Studies and Technical Certificate: General Studies
Nashville: LaTambra Shanea Anderson: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Kyla Collins: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing, Allie Michelle Couch: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Aaysha Chantel Hollins: Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Jaydon Ray Hostetler: Associate of Science: Business, Jaydon Ray Hostetler: Technical Certificate: General Studies and Certificate of Proficiency: Accounting, Diana Rubio Hernandez: Technical Certificate: Cosmetology, Mattison Nacole Steele: Associate of Arts, Associate of General Studies, and Technical Certificate: General Studies, Takela Rochon Stewart: Associate of Science: Psychology, Associate of Arts, and Associate of General Studies, Jasmin Ariana Summers: Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Ogden: Ariyonna Alise Trotter: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Okolona: Lakyn Watts: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant
Prescott: Ashlynn Glenda Hart: Associate of Applied Science: General Technology
Texarkana: Julie Kate-Lynn Clift: Associate of Science: Psychology, Associate of Arts,
Associate of General Studies and Technical Certificate: General Studies, Chase Hicks: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant and Technical Certificate: Health Professions,
Grant Phillip Nolen: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant, Joshua Matthew Robles: Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Joseph Benett Shan: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Anthony Stine: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant and Anthony Stine: Technical Certificate: Health Professions
Umpire: Chloe Wakley: Associate of General Studies
Winthrop: Monica Elane Forrest: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing, Jaymee Marie Hess: Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapist Assistant and Technical Certificate: Health Professions, Amy Rachelle Shults: Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing and Technical Certificate: Health Professions
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The University of Arkansas Cossatot is a community college in Southwest Arkansas accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Offering technical certification and Associate degrees, UAC also collaborates with other colleges and universities to offer bachelor's degrees on its three campuses. UAC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 and other Civil Rights laws and offers equal opportunity for admission and employment. Employment preference is given to applicants possessing a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) with all other qualifications being equal. Programs and activities of UAC are provided to all students without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, Vietnam era veteran or special disabled veteran status, or sex. Questions or concerns regarding affirmative action can be directed to the Compliance Officer, c/o UA Cossatot, 183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832. For Arkansas RELAY Voiced Services call 711 or 800-285-1121. Visit www.cccua.edu for more information.
Aerial Photos of the new Sevier County Medical Center in SW Arkansas
Aerial Photos provided by Monte Bartek of Bartek Recon
State Board of Election Commissioners denies certification of recreational marijuana ballot measure
by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
The State Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday (Aug. 3) denied certification of a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21.
The SBEC review is part of a new process for ballot petitions. The panel cited concerns regarding sufficient background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found in marijuana.
Responsible Growth Arkansas, the group supporting the ballot measure, turned in more than 193,000 signatures for adult recreational marijuana use, more than twice what was needed to qualify. Secretary of State John Thurston signed off last week on the measure as having sufficiently met the signature threshold to qualify for the November ballot.
State to use $3.3 million to train broadband, telecom industry workforce
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
The Office of Skills Development (OSD) is investing $3.3 million to train new broadband and telecommunication industry workers in an effort to close the gap in the state’s digital infrastructure.
The Fiber Broadband and Telecommunications Working Group – a partnership of industry leaders, state government, and educators – has identified areas where workforce training can produce strategic results.
“The past several months have shown us that reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury, it is a necessary way of life,” said Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “As a rural state, it is even more imperative that Arkansans have the same opportunities as citizens in urban areas. Now that we are making strides to bring broadband to every corner of the state, we need workers to build and implement the infrastructure. Today, we not only celebrate the progress we are making to ensure all Arkansans have access to broadband for school, work, and leisure, but we celebrate the creation of high-tech jobs in a growing sector.”
Cooperative Extension Service to recruit volunteer Health Ambassadors in six counties
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — A new Cooperative Extension Service project is seeking to improve the health of rural counties by recruiting local volunteers, who will receive training and deliver extension health programming to their communities.
AMBASSADORS IN TRAINING — Carl Trahan-True conducts "Wellness Ambassador 101" session IN 2014. The Cooperative Extension Service is revamping the Health Ambassador program in six counties with the help of NIFA grant funding. (Division of Agriculture photo by Kevin Quinn.)
Arkansas ranks 41st out of 50 states for access to clinical preventive care services, making it difficult for Arkansans – especially in rural communities – to access health care screenings and other services that monitor well-being and anticipate problems. The Extension Health Ambassadors project will work with these communities to identify and find solutions to their health problems.
The training program is a partnership between the Cooperative Extension Service’s Community, Professional and Economic Development department and the Family and Consumer Sciences department. The program will equip community volunteers with the health education and teaching skills necessary to lead extension-based health programming in targeted rural counties.
Bryan Mader, extension assistant professor and health specialist, said that by providing this training for volunteers to share with their communities, extension health programming can reach more Arkansans.
“The primary goal of the Extension Health Ambassadors project is to amplify the reach of county Family and Consumer Sciences agents in delivering health programs to a larger audience than the agent is able to do by themselves,” Mader said.
The new program is similar to a previous extension project, Extension Wellness Ambassadors. That project took place from 2013-2014 and used a community-based recruitment model to train volunteers to deliver extension health programs. It recruited 60 volunteers who contributed 5,600 hours of volunteer time and led 434 health education sessions.
The primary difference between programs is the collaboration between the CPED and FCS departments. CPED will play an important role in the project by using an asset-based community development strategy, which Mader said “works with and within a community to identify its strengths – such as people and resources – and uses a person-centered approach to form solutions to community issues.”
This strategy will allow project leaders, agents and volunteers to identify community health issues and work together to address challenges related to the “chronic disease burden in Arkansas and the health disparities between urban and rural populations,” Mader said.
Hunter Goodman, assistant professor of Community, Professional and Economic Development for the Division of Agriculture, said the asset-based community development strategy is also designed to help county extension agents in their efforts to strengthen and improve the communities they serve, including by “building local leadership capacity for engagement on aspects of quality of life and community vitality.”
“At its core, asset-based community development underscores what’s vibrant in the community, centers the community at the heart of local decision making, activates individual participation, strengthens community leadership and emphasizes local relationships,” Goodman said.
The project recently received funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Rural Health and Safety Education grant program, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Six Arkansas counties — Clarke, Cleburne, Hempstead, Phillips, Pope and Mississippi — were selected to participate in the project for the two-year project period. Project activities will begin on Sept. 1, 2022, and end on Aug. 31, 2024. Mader said the project will begin with an initial three communities that will “work with the project team to navigate through the community engagement, recruitment, training and delivery components.”
Mader said he is optimistic about the interest among potential volunteers for the project. Arkansas has one of the highest levels of volunteerism in the country, with 30 percent of Arkansas residents reporting having volunteered within the last year in 2017, according to Aspire Arkansas.
“This means there is a rich pool of community members who are interested in helping make their communities better,” Mader said.
Mader said extension’s goal for the Extension Health Ambassadors program is to recruit and train 30 volunteers from six counties over two years.
“Success for this program would result in extension working alongside community members to address their identified, or felt, health needs and working collaboratively with the community to create viable solutions to their health issues,” he said.
As the USDA defines 55 of Arkansas’ 75 counties as rural, Mader said a long-term goal of the program would be to find additional funding to expand its impact to additional counties.
Rutledge: U.S. Supreme Court orders abortion clinics to pay for state's legal costs
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s judgment in Rutledge v. Little Rock Family Planning Services vacating a lower court order blocking Arkansas’s ban on abortions performed solely on the basis of a Down syndrome diagnosis and ordering Little Rock Family Planning Services to pay the State of Arkansas for filing costs associated with seeking Supreme Court review. This Supreme Court victory comes on the heels of the dismissal of Planned Parenthood v. Gillespie in federal district court, where Arkansas terminated Planned Parenthood’s participation in the State’s Medicaid program. Since the Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June, Attorney General Rutledge has also been successful in ending litigation challenging the dismemberment abortion ban and the total abortion ban (SB6).
“For the last two years, Arkansas has been the most prolife state in the union because of the work of the dedicated staff at the Attorney General’s Office,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “After certifying the Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe and Casey, which ended elective abortion in Arkansas, my office jumped into action to strike all remaining abortion lawsuits. I have always advocated for the lives of unborn children because no baby should ever face the unimaginable and horrifying fate of abortion.”
UAMS Researcher to Lead Study on Antibiotic Resistance in Fresh Vegetables in the United States
By Kev' Moye
En Huang, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Environmental Health Sciences, has received a three-year, $1 million research grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Huang and his team — which consists of Sun Hee Moon, Ph.D., and Se-Ran Jun, Ph.D., from UAMS; along with Xinhui Li, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse; Erin DiCaprio, Ph.D., of the University of California-Davis; and Xu Yang, Ph.D., of California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — will investigate why some bacteria isolated from retail vegetables in the United States are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics. The aforementioned class of antibiotics – considered the most important classes of antibiotics – are used in the management and treatment of bacterial infections.
“Food is an important vehicle for transmitting foodborne microorganisms,” Huang said. “Since most vegetables are consumed when they’re raw or after only being minimally cooked, if present, those antibiotic-resistant bacteria could potentially harm people. Therefore, there’s an urgent need to understand the role of fresh produce in the transmission of antibiotic resistance.”
