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AG Alert: Con Artists Guilty of Jury Scam

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LITTLE ROCK— Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is warning Arkansans to be wary of con artists attempting to convince unsuspecting consumers that they have missed jury duty and are facing law enforcement action. The scammers often call consumers under the guise of representing a law enforcement agency or court official, claiming that the individual faces a fine or imprisonment for missing jury duty. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge encourages all Arkansans to verify the legitimacy of their jury summons by contacting their county’s circuit clerk directly.

“Intimidation and impersonation are common practices for con artists,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “These criminals are becoming more brazen by offering consumers a badge number and spoofing their phone number to make the call look like it is coming from the courthouse or local law enforcement agency. Scams may sound legitimate, but before providing any personal information to the person on the other end of the phone, consumers should confirm the accuracy of the information with their local court.”

Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips for consumers who are contacted by these scammers:

  • Contact your local circuit clerk to determine whether you truly are expected to report for jury duty.

  • Contact local law enforcement and provide the name and badge number you received to verify the officer’s information and confirm that you were contacted by that officer.

  • Court officials will not ask for your personal information such as social security number, address, credit card number or any other personal or financial information. Verifying any information over the phone could lead to other scams or identity theft.

  • Court officials will never ask individuals to pay fines with gift cards or bitcoin. If an individual asks you to transfer currency into bitcoin, it is probably a scam. Hang up the phone.

If you fall victim to one of these phone scams, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office. For more tips to avoid being scammed and other consumer-related issues, visit ArkansasAG.gov or call the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office at 800-482-8982.

The Attorney General’s office also makes presentations on scams to organizations and groups. To schedule a scam prevention presentation email speaker@arkansasag.gov or visit ArkansasAG.gov.

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Rutledge joins coalition opposing DOT's Highway Emission Rule

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LITTLE ROCK— Attorney General Leslie Rutledge joined a 20-state coalition in filing comments before the Biden administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to push back against a rule proposal requiring all fifty states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to reduce on-road CO2 emissions to net-zero by 2050. The coalition of attorneys general argues that Congress has not given the DOT authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

“This proposed rule shows that the Biden Administration once again has demonstrated its lack of regard for the separation of powers,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “The Biden Administration does not have the authority to require states to implement federal regulatory programs.”

Attorney General Rutledge and the coalition noted their concerns that DOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) overstepped its legal authority by proposing this measure. The coalition writes, “Given the Supreme Court recently made clear in West Virginia v. EPA that even the EPA cannot use its existing authority to take unprecedented and unauthorized actions to address climate change, such action is clearly beyond the authority Congress has given FHWA.”

The coalition also makes clear that the proposed measure violates the principles of federalism by requiring states to implement a federal regulatory program. The attorneys general note that the Supreme Court has said that “the Constitution protects us from our own best intentions: It divides power among sovereigns and among branches of government precisely so that we may resist the temptation to concentrate power in one location as an expedient solution to the crisis of the day.”

Further, the attorneys general note that FHWA issued a similar rule, which was repealed after the agency determined that the measure may duplicate “existing efforts in some States” and imposed “unnecessary burdens on State DOTs and MPOs [metropolitan planning organizations] that were not contemplated by Congress.”

Attorney General Rutledge was joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,  Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Read the coalition’s comments here.

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Artificial intelligence programmer in ag tech named ABI New Investigator of the Year

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By John Lovett
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A major intersection of agriculture and technology today is in artificial intelligence and machine learning to process massive amounts of data from those quadcopters buzzing over crop fields.

Operating multi-spectral and thermal cameras on drones is one thing, but programming computers to use that data to figure out complex agricultural problems, like early detection of crop stress on specific plants, is another.

MACHINE LEARNING — Emily Bellis, assistant professor of bioinformatics at Arkansas State University with a U of A Division of Agriculture appointment, was recognized as the 2022 New Investigator of the Year by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute during the ABI Fall Symposium at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Bellis)

That’s something computer scientists are working on in a collaboration between the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas State University’s computer science department and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute.

Emily Bellis, assistant professor of bioinformatics at Arkansas State University, was recently named the New Investigator of the Year by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute for her work on these kinds of problems. The Division of Agriculture partially funded her research on artificial intelligence that processes drone-derived images. The institute recognized Bellis and other researchers during its fall symposium on Oct. 4 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.

“I love this kind of project because it is really interesting from the data analysis viewpoint and also the eventual impacts you can have in agricultural systems,” Bellis said.

Bellis also serves as the associate director for the Center for No-Boundary Thinking, an Arkansas State University-based group with a goal to promote interdisciplinary research with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The study led by Bellis trained computers to interpret multi-spectral and thermal images taken by drones to determine yield potential differences within a given field based on various nutrient stress signs of the crop. The research paper, “Detecting intra-field variation in rice yield with unmanned aerial vehicle imagery and deep learning,” was published in March. Ahmed Hashem, assistant professor of agricultural systems technology at Arkansas State University, was the co-first author of the study and led the drone data collection. Tim Burcham, director of the Division of Agriculture’s Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center and a former ASU professor, linked the two for the project.

DRONE TECH — Ahmed Hashem flies drones with multi-spectral sensors as part of a program with Emily Bellis to develop artificial intelligence programs that can measure crop stress. (Courtesy Ahmed Hashem)

“We’ve been working for a couple of years together on how we can apply deep-learning techniques to massive image data sets that were collected over many different experiments, Bellis said. “Different types of cameras can often capture different types of stress. The multi-spectral sensors on Dr. Hashem’s drones are great for detecting nutrient and drought stress.”

The study compared two deep learning-based strategies for early warning detection of crop stress using UAV-derived data throughout the growing season for rice in east Arkansas irrigated rice fields. Researchers with the department of biological and agricultural engineering at the University of Arkansas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture were also involved.

They found that two-dimensional images, processed with a particular type of machine learning model called a convolutional neural network, did slightly better at predicting yield potential in a rice field at an earlier growth stage than a more complicated model that takes images from multiple surrounding time points as input. However, the models that use images from multiple time points may show potential for better performance if trained on diverse datasets that include multiple rice cultivars and environments, Bellis said.

Burcham said the research using advanced artificial intelligence computation tools “is critical for unlocking future advances in row crop production for Arkansas farmers.”

“Emily is a commensurate team player, and her skill set in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning has added immeasurably to the joint remote sensing research being conducted by faculty in the Arkansas State University College of Agriculture who hold joint research appointments with the Division of Agriculture,” Burcham said. “Her multiple research affiliations demonstrate her commitment to collaboration to unravel answers in complex ecosystems. I am so happy Dr. Bellis is recognized as an Arkansas Biosciences Institute New Investigator of the Year.”

Robert McGehee, executive director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and Distinguished Professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said Bellis has made “significant accomplishments” in her three years on the Arkansas State University campus. In addition to being engaged in undergraduate and graduate student education, McGehee said Bellis and colleagues were recently awarded a highly competitive National Science Foundation research training award. She has also won funding from the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCor) and the U.S. Forest Service.

“Her expertise in applying state-of-the-art bioinformatic approaches to better understand the interactions between the agricultural crops and the environment will be transformative,” McGehee said of Bellis. “As a young scientist pushing the envelope in her field and becoming so engaged as a role model in training the next generation, she is exceptionally deserving of the 2022 ABI New Investigator of the Year.”

McGehee noted one of the missions of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute is to foster collaborations within member institutions. The institute, funded through the state’s share of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement, is an agricultural and medical research consortium “dedicated to improving the health of Arkansas.”

“I am extremely excited about her collaborations with the U of A System Division of Agriculture,” McGehee said.

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

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Inaugural Community Health Impact Conference Provides Info and Partnerships for Organizations Throughout the State

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By Kev' Moye

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Center for Research, Health & Social Justice presented its first-ever statewide Community Health Impact Conference.

Themed, “Social Justice in Turbulent Times: Reclaiming our Space,” the two-day, virtual event offered several discussions and group activities designed to address issues such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, health outcomes in rural settings and social justice reform.

“Our goal for this conference is to provide tools to help you eliminate cancer and cardiovascular disease through using a social justice lens,” Latonya Rucker, the center’s co-director of community outreach and engagement said during her opening remarks. “Currently, we’re facing chronic health disparities that can be addressed through community partnerships.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/10/24/inaugural-community-health-impact-conference-provides-info-and-partnerships-for-organizations-throughout-the-state/

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Longtime extension agent appointed consumer horticulture educator, Arkansas Master Gardener coordinator

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By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service has a new consumer horticulture educator who will lead statewide outreach and coordinate Master Gardener programs.

NEW TO THE BEAT — Randy Forst, who has served as a county extension agent for 13 years, has been hired as the consumer horticulture educator for extension, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. In his new role, Forst will provide leadership for statewide horticulture programs and coordinate the Arkansas Master Gardeners program, the state’s largest horticulture volunteer and education organization. Forst began the new position Oct. 3. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Randy Forst, who has served as a county extension agent for 13 years, has been hired as the consumer horticulture educator for extension, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. In his new role, Forst will provide leadership for statewide horticulture programs and coordinate the Arkansas Master Gardeners program, the state’s largest horticulture volunteer and education organization. Forst began the new position Oct. 3.

“Randy is the perfect person to lead our consumer horticulture program and Master Gardener program,” Dr. Bob Scott, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, said. “He has worked in the Delta, Ouachita and Ozark districts and is an expert when it comes to Arkansas horticulture. He will be an asset to our agents as well as to the hundreds of Master Gardeners we have volunteering across the state.”

Started in 1988 in four counties (Garland, Jefferson, Pulaski, and Saline) and with 40 members, the Arkansas Master Gardeners program now has more than 3,400 volunteers working in 67 of the state’s counties. Volunteers maintain hundreds of gardens and landscaping projects across Arkansas. Last year, they donated 128,994 service hours and provided 73,555 education hours.

Forst will support county extension agents across then state in managing all aspects of the Master Gardeners volunteer program, including policies and procedures, recruitment, training and management.

Forst has previous served as an agent and horticulture expert in St. Francis, Carroll and Pulaski counties. He most recently served as the staff chair for the Pulaski County extension office, where he worked with 560 Master Gardener volunteers.

“I just love it. The Master Gardener program is a great resource for Arkansas, and our volunteers do an exceptional job of educating others in their counties about horticulture,” Forst said. “It’s amazing the different projects we have across the state.”

Forst has a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Design and Urban Horticulture and a Master of Science in General Agriculture, both from the University of Arkansas. Before joining extension, he was a landscape architect in Tennessee.

 

For more information about the Master Gardener program in Arkansas, visit www.uaex.uada.edu/master-gardeners. To learn more about horticulture and other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.

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Rutledge hosts 12th Annual Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit

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LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge welcomed almost 650 participants to the 12th Annual Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, which was held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The annual event is a free training and educational opportunity for Arkansas law enforcement, medical professionals, pharmacists, educators, Peer Recovery Specialists and families.

“Drug abuse continues to plague communities across the nation,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Over the years, this training has provided much needed support to those who are on the frontlines serving their community. I am hopeful that it will continue to be the foundational training as Arkansas collectively battles the drug epidemic.”

Summit attendees heard from Dr. Bertha Madras, a professor of psychobiology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Madras served as a panelist at the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2017, and was appointed to be one of six members of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Fred Muench, a clinical psychologist and the President of The Partnership to End Addiction, also addressed summit attendees. Mark Westfall, a psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, spoke about five ways to help treat addiction. Westfall is a national recipient of the APA/Mead Johnson Fellowship Award in community psychiatry. He has previously held positions as Medical Director of the Community Mental Health Center in Charleston as well as President of the Frank Kay Psychiatric Clinic in Birmingham. Westfall is the President and Owner of Westfall Psychiatric Services and a radio talk show co-host for “Oh Brother Radio” and “Doc Talk.”

The summit comes the day after Rutledge announced $1 million in funding for the Arkansas Adult Drug Court Program. This funding continues Rutledge’s legacy and commitment to fighting drug abuse across Arkansas. This February, Rutledge announced a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement with drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, resulting in Arkansas receiving $216 million to fight the opioid crisis. Additional data and information related to the opioid epidemic in Arkansas may be found here.  

In addition to the Attorney General’s office, the Summit is sponsored by Arkansas Drug Director Boyce Hamlet, Criminal Justice Institute, Arkansas Pharmacy Board, Arkansas Alcohol Drug Coordinating Council, Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Medical Board, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Program, Arkansas State Board of Nursing, Arkansas Prevention Network, Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gulf Coast HIDTA, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation, University of Arkansas at Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Arkansans looking for more information on training, resources and presentations should visit ArkansasAG.gov.  

LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a $1 million allocation to provide additional funding for Arkansas’s Adult Drug Court Program. Rutledge’s announcement will provide needed funds to the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts in order to support the Adult Drug Court Program across Arkansas.

“Throughout my career as a practicing attorney, former prosecutor, and especially as Attorney General, I have seen the devastation that substance abuse has brought upon our communities,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “This allocation will equip Arkansas courts to continue treating and serving individuals on their journey to recovery.”

The first drug court began in Arkansas in 1994. Over time, these specialty courts have come to serve 49 counties across the state. The Adult Drug Court Program is a voluntary, 14 to 18 month program that utilizes evidence-based treatment and strict supervision of program participants by a judge, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, treatment provider and law enforcement liaison in order to aid participants in achieving lasting recovery. This approach has a proven record of decreasing recidivism and promoting increased public safety.  

In order to be eligible for Adult Drug Court, the individual must not have a previous conviction or pending charge of a serious felony offense involving violence, must not have a previous conviction or pending charge requiring registration as a sex offender, must have a moderate or severe substance use disorder and must be identified as high-risk, high-need. The Adult Drug Court team is composed of judges, program coordinators, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, treatment providers, probation officers and law enforcement officers who have the final determination to grant or deny prospective participants access to the program.

Rutledge has been a constant advocate leading the legal efforts to combat the opioid crisis devastating Arkansans. This contribution comes from the more than half billion dollar settlement with opioid consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. A court found the company concealed its work in developing Purdue Pharmaceuticals’ marketing strategy which contributed to the nationwide opioid epidemic. In February of 2022, Rutledge also finalized a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement with drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, resulting in Arkansas’s receiving $216 million to fight the opioid crisis. In July of this year, the State negotiated a $9.75 million lump sum settlement with Endo Health Solutions Inc. and Pharmaceuticals Inc. Additional data and information related to the opioid epidemic in Arkansas may be found here.  

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UAMS Announces a Partnership with Amedisys and Contessa, Creating a Comprehensive Care at Home Suite of Services

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By UAMS News Staff

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), a leading health care at home company, and Contessa, an Amedisys company and the leading comprehensive care at home provider, announced a partnership bringing a new care at home option to Central Arkansas. The joint venture offers patients a full spectrum of medical care in the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

“UAMS is leading the ambitious goal of making Arkansas the healthiest state in the region, and this strategic initiative supercharges that vision,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “We are thrilled to partner with Contessa and Amedisys to bring this first-of-its-kind model to the region and the first Comprehensive Care at Home program to the state. We look forward to giving our patients an innovative option that delivers on our commitment of community-focused, patient-centered care.”

https://news.uams.edu/2022/10/11/uams-announces-a-partnership-with-amedisys-and-contessa-creating-a-comprehensive-care-at-home-suite-of-services/

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Arkansas lawmakers discuss solar power, electric vehicle charging stations

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KUAR | By Daniel Breen

State officials are preparing for an influx of as much as $1.5 billion in federal funding to go toward new clean energy projects.

The Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in August dedicates the funding to Arkansas over the next eight years to help fund new solar energy projects.

In a meeting of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Energy Monday, Lauren Waldrip, executive director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, said farmers in the state have begun to adopt solar technology to help deal with rising energy costs.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-10-11/arkansas-lawmakers-discuss-solar-power-electric-vehicle-charging-stations

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

Sen. Bob Ballinger (R-Berryville) and Rep. Rick Beck (R-Center Ridge), co-chairs of the Arkansas Legislature's Joint Committee on Energy, listen at a committee meeting at Audubon Arkansas in Little Rock on Monday.

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Arkansas to receive $771 million for road, bridge projects in 2023

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KUAR | By Jeff Della Rosa/ Talk Business & Politics

The federal highway department announced Tuesday (Oct. 11) it has released $771.3 million in fiscal 2023 funding to Arkansas for infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges and tunnels. The money will come from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent $59.9 billion in fiscal 2023 funding to states, an increase of $15.4 billion compared to fiscal 2021, which was the last fiscal year before the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was to be implemented, according to a news release. Fiscal 2023 started Oct. 1.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-10-12/arkansas-to-receive-771-million-for-road-bridge-projects-in-2023

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Residents can expect higher heating bills this winter, according to EIA

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by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

U.S. households will likely pay more to heat their homes this winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Compared to last winter, households are expected to spend 28% more on natural gas, 27% more on heating oil, 10% more on electricity and 5% more on propane.

On Wednesday (Oct. 12), the EIA released its 2022 Winter Fuels Outlook showing that U.S. residential energy prices will be higher this winter and heating fuel consumption is projected to be higher amid a colder winter than last year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects the United States to have a slightly colder winter than last year, leading to higher consumption levels. The higher energy prices and consumption levels contribute to higher heating costs for households.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/residents-can-expect-higher-heating-bills-this-winter-according-to-eia/

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State accelerates EV charging station program; solar farm completed

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by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

As another advanced energy project comes online, the state continues to invest in electric vehicle charging stations.

The Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment (E&E) recently announced it’s accelerating the final disbursement of money for Level 2 charging stations. The Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Program is open to government, private and nonprofit organizations in Arkansas.

According to E&E, the final disbursement includes $227,791, or enough to reimburse up to 45 chargers. The average rebate for a Level 2 charging station is $5,000.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/state-accelerates-ev-charging-station-program-solar-farm-completed/

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Grocery prices rise 13% in September from year-ago

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by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

The Consumer Price Index for all consumers rose 0.4% in September from August and all prices were up 8.2% year-over-year, according to U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics released Thursday (Oct. 13.) Inflation slightly exceeded expectations of 8.1% annually.

The report showed all six major grocery store food groups saw higher prices with cereals and bakery products costing 16.2% more than a year ago. Dairy and related products cost 15.9% and the remaining grocery store food groups posted increases ranging from 9% on meats, fish and eggs to 15.7% for other food products, BLS reported. Restaurant food costs rose 13% year-over-year which was also pushed higher by expanding free lunch programs at many schools, BLS said.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, expects inflation pressures to moderate in the next six months. He said consumer inflation should moderate from 8% to 4% in the next six months, but it will take much longer to get to the Fed’s targeted 2% to 2.5%.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/grocery-prices-rise-13-in-september-from-year-ago/

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University of Arkansas chancellor search narrowed to two finalists

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by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The search for the next University of Arkansas chancellor is down to two candidates, but names of the two finalists are not being released, according to a statement issued Friday (Oct. 14) by the University of Arkansas System.

UA System President Dr. Donald Bobbitt announced Sept. 2 that four finalists for the top job at the state’s flagship university. The finalists were: Charles Robinson, Ph.D., interim chancellor, University of Arkansas; Jay Akridge, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, Purdue University; Daniel Reed, Ph.D., presidential professor of computational science, University of Utah; and Cynthia Young, Ph.D., founding dean of the College of Sciences, Clemson University.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/university-of-arkansas-chancellor-search-narrowed-to-two-finalists/

Photo courtesy of the University of Arkansas.

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Governor Hutchinson Selected to Lead National Education Organization

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LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has been selected as Chairman of the Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national, nonpartisan organization that serves as a partner to state education leaders.

"It is an honor to have been selected as Chairman of ECS," Governor Hutchinson said. "Arkansas has been a leader in education from computer science to pandemic learning, and I am excited for the opportunity to work with other leaders to secure our children's future."

During his time as Chairman, Governor Hutchinson will lead the Chair's Initiative, which will focus on expanded computer science education.

The Governor's selection comes on the heels of his recent tenure as National Governors Association Chairman, where he led the most successful Chair's Initiative in the organization's history. The Compact to Expand K-12 Computer Science Education was signed by 50 state and territorial governors, the most ever for a Chairman's Initiative.

ECS' team of experts provides trusted information and opportunities for partnership that allow policymakers to gain the insight and experience needed to create effective education policy for their states.

You can find more information on the Education Commission of the States HERE.

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AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Biden’s Proposed Marijuana Policy

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LITTLE ROCK – Today I would like to talk about the recently proposed policies on marijuana from the Biden administration, and why the administration’s proposal is not the best approach for Arkansas and our nation.

Last week President Biden announced his new policy on marijuana which included granting pardons to all individuals convicted of federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana.

In his proposed policy, he also urges governors to follow the policy at the state level where it is applicable.

The President’s third proposal would create the rescheduling of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.

During my time as Governor, I have often used the clemency powers granted to me under the Arkansas Constitution to grant pardons to those with drug offenses. In fact, I have pardoned hundreds of Arkansans who have been convicted of drug offenses. When choosing to grant a pardon, I will closely examine an applicant’s behavior after their sentence. In this time of rising crime, there should be a clear record of law-abiding conduct before pardons are issued.

I do not support issuing blanket pardons to those who have been convicted of these types of crimes. I firmly believe in second chances, and in each of these cases we must use compassion.

Each case should be looked at individually to determine who is deserving of a pardon.

The President’s request to potentially reschedule marijuana is also misguided. In his statement, President Biden says, “Federal law currently classifies marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the classification meant for the most dangerous substances.” This characterization is incorrect.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule I drugs are defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” While medical marijuana may be legal in many states across the nation, the medical community has not come to a consensus on the benefits.

Schedule I does not mean that the drugs in Schedule I are the most dangerous. For example, Schedule II drugs are those with a “high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.” This includes drugs like fentanyl, Adderall, and morphine. These drugs are considered dangerous but have a legitimate medical use.

When it comes to the proper schedule for marijuana, we need to follow the science and previous administrations that kept marijuana in Schedule I.

Most importantly, we have to make sure we don’t move to decriminalization of drugs that are harming Americans. The fact that a drug is unlawful discourages usage.

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De Queen non-profit donates to Spanish Spelling Bee in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

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DE QUEEN, AR— An inclusive group in Southwest Arkansas has provided Sponsorship of the Central Arkansas Spanish Spelling Bee this Hispanic Heritage month.

MAC is a De Queen-based non-profit organization with a focus on diversity and inclusion that formed in 2020. The group has initiated local programs and projects throughout Southwest Arkansas in recent years, including the commissioning of community artwork, hosting a black history month celebration, sponsoring foster care children, support of the E. A Edwards Street Dedication, and many local community initiatives.

For their latest outreach effort, MAC has teamed up with LaTasha Moore of "Tasha Teaches Spanish" for sponsorship of the state's Spanish spelling Bee. It is the only Spanish spelling competition in Arkansas, and the purpose of this event is to encourage students in 4th-8th grade to practice use of the Spanish language while embracing Hispanic culture.

Last year, the inaugural competition had 4 participants, and registration for this year's Bee has more than tripled with 15 students registered to compete.

Though the event is titled the "Central Arkansas Spanish Spelling Bee," program organizers welcome students from all over the state to participate. As the city of De Queen has an estimated Hispanic population of more than 60%, MAC members have supported this event in hopes that students from the De Queen area will participate in the future and represent the Southwestern Region of Arkansas.

All funds donated to the Spanish spelling Bee go to the planning of the event, as well as providing funding to send the state winner to the national competition in 2023.

MAC and event organizers would like to express appreciation to all who advocate for the Spanish language across the natural state and support this educational opportunity for Arkansas youth.

The Central Arkansas Spanish Spelling Bee will be held Saturday, October 22nd, 2022, at 9:00 am at Plaza Frida, 4001 West 65th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72209.

"Tasha Teaches Spanish" provides translation services, language education programs, and community partnership opportunities. The company was named as a finalist for the Little Rock Regional Chamber's 2022 Minority Business of The Year award. For more information about the Central Arkansas Spelling Bee or opportunities to learn with LaTasha, visit tashateachesspanish.com or email questions to tashateachesspanish@gmail.com

For more information about MAC, email DQunity@gmail.com

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Cooperative Extension Service welcomes new weed specialist to horticulture faculty

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By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Hannah Wright-Smith, new extension weed specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is looking forward to helping county extension agents make a difference in the lives of their constituents.

NEW TO EXTENSION — Hannah Wright-Smith has joined the Cooperative Extension Service's horticulture faculty as a weed specialist, where she will help county agents with issues related to brush control, forests, forages, turf, horticulture crops, industrial sites and right-of-way. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

“I am most excited to be a resource for county agents so they can assist people in their communities,” she said.

Wright-Smith began her new extension role on Oct. 3. Vic Ford, extension associate vice president of agriculture and natural resources, said Wright-Smith’s primary responsibilities will be handling weed science problems and education for several subject areas.

“This includes brush control, forests, forages, turf, horticulture crops, industrial sites and right-of-way,” Ford said.

As part of her duties, Wright-Smith will also conduct research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture.

In 2016, Wright-Smith received her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with an emphasis in Agribusiness from Mississippi State University. She received her Master of Science in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, with an emphasis in Weed Science, from the University of Arkansas in 2020. She will receive her Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences, with an emphasis in Weed Science, from the University of Georgia in December. Her dissertation focuses on “investigating novel herbicide uses in specialty crops, detecting pesticide residues in cotton and evaluating the benefits of a new herbicide for wheat producers.”

Wright-Smith said she is excited to join the extension horticulture faculty and get started with her programming.

“I am glad to be in the horticulture department,” she said. “The people are great, and I have really enjoyed the diversity of crops covered by the department and this weed specialist position. I am really looking forward to getting my program going.”

Ford said Wright-Smith and her expertise are a welcome addition to the agriculture and natural resources section.

“Dr. Wright-Smith is a product of the University of Arkansas, and we are proud to have her on the agriculture and natural resources team,” Ford said. “She has the skills and desire to assist and train agents and clients in her field. She has already started making impacts and working with agents. She has that drive to help people, which differentiates good extension employees. I look forward to seeing her career develop.”

Wright-Smith can be reached at hewright@uada.edu. For more information about extension crops and commercial horticulture resources, visit the Commercial Horticulture in Arkansas website.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. 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.

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Energy Project Attracts National Attention, Awards

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By Ben Boulden

As it nears completion in December, the $150 million UAMS energy project already is producing cost savings and garnering national praise.

It also helped earn an invitation for Ian Hadden, executive director of UAMS Engineering and Operations, to participate in a panel discussion about the project and others at the VITAL 2022 conference earlier this summer in Boston.

A nonprofit association of hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable patient populations, American’s Essential Hospitals organized the conference.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/10/04/energy-project-attracts-national-attention-awards/

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Cattle improvement professor receives award for his contributions

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By Brittaney Mann
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Reproductive technologies are some of the most powerful means for genetic improvement in cattle, but tools like artificial insemination are not widely used. Charles Richard Looney, professor of genetic improvement in cattle for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, wants to improve the industry through research and outreach on reproductive technologies.

CATTLE EDUCATION — Charles Looney, center, holds the Producer Education Award from the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association. Also pictured are Mike Looper, left, head of the department of animal science with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and Phillip DeSalvo, president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association. (Photo courtesy Arkansas Cattlemen's Association)

Looney, cattle improvement extension specialist and researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, received the Producer Education Award from the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association in late July for his contributions to the furtherment of cattle producer education in Arkansas.

His Work

Looney and other researchers focused on improving the genetics of beef cattle, promote artificial insemination as the most straightforward method. This technology has been around since the 1950s but is used by less than 5 percent of producers in the country, Looney said.

“It is by far the most powerful technology of bringing in new genetics,” Looney said. “So, some of the bulls you can obtain frozen semen from have values of more than $100,000. Typical farmers couldn’t afford to pay for that type of bull, but they could use those genetics from artificial insemination.”

Incorporating genes that correlate to higher quality cattle are one of the desired outcomes of artificial insemination, Looney said as an example.

Alongside his research on artificial insemination are his more recent projects of estrous synchronization, a process that syncs cows’ reproductive cycles and can allow for the artificial insemination of many cows at once.

Looney and his team have been testing the process for three years at the Savoy Research Complex near Fayetteville, the Livestock and Forestry Research Station in Batesville, and the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. They administer veterinary approved pharmaceuticals that affect the cows’ estrous cycles and then artificially inseminate the cows with conventional or sexed semen.

Through these efforts, the researchers have been able achieve more than 50 to 60 percent success on the first day of the 60-day breeding season. If cows become pregnant early on, they calve sooner and wean with heavier calves. Calves are sold by weight, so it leads to a higher profit if they wean heavier, Looney said.

The high rates of pregnancy are also important because it can take about $600-$800 per year to take care of a cow, Looney said. That includes forage fertilizer, insurance on the land, feed, and more.

“If that cow doesn’t have a calf, and you don’t know it until after the time of calving, you spent all that money for nothing,” Looney said. 

Through his extension work, Looney also demonstrates how to use an ultrasound to determine pregnancy in cattle. He said when many farmers see the developing calves, they are motivated to plan ahead and use better management practices. Blood tests that work similarly to a human pregnancy test are other tools Looney demonstrates to determine pregnancy in the cattle.

Though Looney wants many people to adopt his practices, he is aware that it is not feasible for some cattle producers in Arkansas.

The process of estrous synchronization takes multiple handlers and facilities. But overall, the procedures lead to sustainable practices for the cattle producers. And to Looney, that means being a good steward of the land while also being able to remain in the business, have a legacy and be profitable in the present.

Looney said profit for cattle producers is the top priority of his research program, noting how tough the cattle business is.

His Award

The Producer Education Award is presented yearly to highlight and show appreciation to the people leading the Arkansas cattle industry forward. Cody Burkham, the executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, said he appreciates Looney’s impact on Arkansas cattle producers.

“Dr. Looney’s knowledge and expertise in cattle genetics have impacted Arkansas cattle producers exponentially,” Burkham said. “We are grateful to have someone of his caliber working to better producers’ operations and cattle in our state.”

Mike Looper, department head of animal science for the Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, said he is always appreciative when the outstanding faculty in animal science get recognized for their efforts to support animal agriculture. 

“Dr. Looney thoroughly enjoys working with producers with an eye toward increasing reproductive efficiency in our state beef herd,” Looper said. “Congratulations to Dr. Charles Looney. Well deserved!”

An Arkansas native, Looney worked in the bovine transfer industry in Texas for 30 years before returning to work for the Division of Agriculture in 2018.

“My number one job every morning when I get up is trying to figure out how to help these guys and gals do better in their cattle breeding programs and their overall lives,” Looney said.

“I’m just real humbled to be able to serve the people of Arkansas.”

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.