Severe Weather expected this afternoon and overnight for the ArkLaTex

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

TORNADO WATCH 57 REMAINS VALID UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ARKANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS UNION, IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS COLUMBIA HEMPSTEAD HOWARD LAFAYETTE NEVADA, IN LOUISIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 PARISHES IN NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA LINCOLN UNION IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA BIENVILLE BOSSIER CADDO CLAIBORNE DE SOTO NATCHITOCHES RED RIVER SABINE WEBSTER

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Little River County in southwestern Arkansas...
  Hempstead County in southwestern Arkansas...
  Northern Miller County in southwestern Arkansas...
  Sevier County in southwestern Arkansas...
  Howard County in southwestern Arkansas...
  Central Bowie County in northeastern Texas...

* Until 1045 PM CST.

* At 943 PM CST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near De Queen to near Horatio to 6 miles west of
  Richmond to 6 miles south of New Boston, moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. Numerous trees and power lines have been
           downed with these storms across McCurtain County
           Oklahoma. Roof damage has been reported as well.

  IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to
           mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
  Texarkana, De Queen, Wake Village, Ashdown, Nashville, New Boston,
  Mineral Springs, Dierks, Horatio, Foreman, Umpire, Nash, Hooks,
  Redwater, Red Lick, Lockesburg, Wilton, Blevins, Tollette and
  Fulton.

A Moderate Risk (red) and an Enhanced Risk (orange) remains in place across the region for today and tonight. All modes of severe weather will be possible (tornadoes, hail, wind). Remember, NOW is the time to prepare, don't wait for warnings to be issued before taking action!

Severe weather is likely across the entire region Thursday afternoon, especially in the northwest half of the region, continuing into the overnight hours. The above graphic shows the different tornado, severe hail, and severe wind outlooks. Areas in the significant hatched area have the best chances to see strong EF2 or greater tornadoes, damaging winds of 70-80 mph and hail 2" in diameter or greater.

Areas of prolonged rainfall may result in flooding and flash flooding over the next few days. A Flash Flood Watch will go into effect at 6PM this evening, and remain in effect through Noon Friday.

A Wind Advisory will go into effect at noon today and continue through noon on Friday. South to southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected with gusts up to 45 mph possible.

Weather radar at 8:45 pm Thursday

Go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the Tornado Watch and Flood Watch.

TORNADO WATCH 55 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN ARKANSAS. COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE: LITTLE RIVER, MILLER, AND SEVIER

...FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM CST THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... A widespread severe weather outbreak appears to be possible this afternoon and into the evening and overnight hours. There will be two main chances for severe weather. The first will come during the early or mid-afternoon hours when we have the potential for discrete supercells. This would pose a threat of large hail and strong tornadoes. The second round will come along just ahead of an advancing cold front that will push through during the late afternoon and into the evening and overnight hours. The main threat for this round will be damaging wind gusts and embedded tornadoes. In addition, moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible from training storms, increasing the potential for Flash Flooding.

Thunderstorms will become numerous this afternoon and continue into tonight, with widespread severe weather likely across much of the region. The greatest risk for severe weather will exist along and east of Highway 281 during the day, shifting east of the I-35 corridor during the evening hours. All modes of severe weather will be possible, including large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes.

ACCUWEATHER

Thunderstorms on Thursday will erupt from the afternoon into the nighttime hours from Texas through the Ark-La-Tex region and into the lower Mississippi Valley.

This will be the peak of the severe weather risk this week, with AccuWeather forecasters warning of a rare 'high risk' for severe thunderstorms across parts of northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, northern Louisiana and a large portion of Arkansas. This threat area includes the cities of Dallas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Shreveport, Louisiana. Damaging hail, perhaps as large as golf or tennis balls, and a few powerful tornadoes will be possible.

Storm chasers, such as extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer, were gathering in the high-risk area early on Thursday, ahead of the expected formation of tornadoes late in the day.

A much wider part of the country, spanning more than a dozen states and extending from southern Texas to Kentucky, can also experience strong thunderstorms that also could produce damaging wind gusts that bring down trees and power lines, as well as flooding downpours that could imperil motorists.

USDA to send $250 million in aid to rice farmers, Sen. Boozman recognized for effortsa

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Rice acres and yields were down across the board during the 2022 growing season. Farmers had to battle wild weather fluctuations, disease and skyrocketing input costs. But federal aid is on the way.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday (Feb. 28) plans to provide up to $250 million in assistance to rice farmers and what steps they can take to be prepared to sign up when the program is released later this spring. USDA is sharing information early so producers can prepare for program sign up, which will include a pre-filled application in an effort to simplify and streamline the application process.

“USDA intends to use the streamlined approach it has utilized on other disaster programs to speed program implementation,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By leveraging Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency data for the Emergency Relief Program, USDA saved farmers and staff significant time, and we think this approach will help us provide an initial payment more quickly with a final payment after the application period has closed. I appreciate Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking member Sen. John Boozman’s assistance bringing together rice farmers from across the country to provide input on how to expedite and simplify the process.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/usda-to-send-250-million-in-aid-to-rice-farmers-sen-boozman-recognized-for-efforts/

Farm bills seek to steer younger Arkansans into agriculture

by Ronak Patel (rspatel.personal@gmail.com)

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, and Rep. Denise Garner, D-Fayetteville, have introduced a bill aimed at addressing the challenges young farmers face entering the profession.

According to House Bill 1003, an income tax credit would be available for farmers who sell or rent agricultural assets to a beginning farmer. Agricultural assets include land, livestock, facilities, buildings and machinery.

In an interview, Mayberry said the bill was sponsored in the previous legislative session by former Rep. Joe Jett, R-Success, but failed to make it out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/farm-bills-seek-to-steer-younger-arkansans-into-agriculture/

LEARNS Act advances to House floor

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act passed the House Education Committee Wednesday (March 1) and now heads to the full House for a vote March 2.

Senate Bill 294 by Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, and Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, passed easily on a voice vote after Brooks closed for his bill and then many committee members expressed their reasons for voting for or against it.

Brooks told Talk Business & Politics that he plans to run the bill through the full House of Representatives on Thursday, March 2. Passage seemed a virtual certainty, as 55 of the 100 House members are sponsors.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/learns-act-advances-to-house-floor/

Tyson Foods’ Green Forest plant implicated in child labor investigation

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Springdale-based Tyson Foods and George’s Inc. were among the 13 companies found to have used Packer Sanitation Services who hired minority workers ages 13-17 working overnight shifts in plants around the country.

The U.S. Department of Labor said Packers Sanitation Services employed minors to work in meat packing plants on third-shift sanitation crews. The Labor Department found 102 children between the ages 13 and 17 working in hazardous occupations.

Tyson Foods plant in Green Forest is reported to have had 6 minors working, resulting in fines of $90,828 by the Labor Department against Packers Sanitation. Tyson’s plant in Goodlettsville, Tenn., was found to have one minor, and that penalty was $15,138. The investigation found Springdale-based George’s Inc. had four minors working its Batesville, Ark. plant. That penalty was $60,552.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/tyson-foods-green-forest-plant-implicated-in-child-labor-investigation/

Photo from the U.S. Department of Labor of a child working in a slaughterhouse.

Feral swine still causing significant damage to timberlands in Arkansas

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Feral swine causes more than $1.5 billion in damage to agriculture fields around the country each year. In Arkansas, it is estimated that the damage is about $19 million annually.

Damage to croplands has been well-documented in recent years, but there is less data available when it comes to feral hog damage in timberland areas.

Nana Tian, a forest economics researcher for the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, is part of an effort to change that dynamic.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/feral-swine-still-causing-significant-damage-to-timberlands-in-arkansas/

Arkansas bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use will be amended, returned to committee

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas legislators will amend a proposed law that would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a minor of the opposite sex” in a public restroom or changing room.

Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 270, pulled the bill from consideration on the Senate floor Wednesday in order to clarify some of the language.

Adults who enter and remain in a facility that does not align with their gender assigned at birth would risk criminal charges of sexual indecency with a child if they are aware that minors are present, the bill states.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-02/arkansas-bill-restricting-transgender-adults-bathroom-use-will-be-amended-returned-to-committee

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock) explains his opposition to Senate Bill 270 before the full Senate on March 1, 2023. The bill would make it a crime of sexual indecency with a child if a person enters and remains in a restroom that does not align with their biological sex when children are present.

Arkansas Medical Board chairman suspended from state Medicaid program

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

The chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board has been suspended from the Arkansas Medicaid Program and is under investigation for Medicaid and Medicare fraud.

State health officials suspended all Medicaid payments to Board Chairman Dr. Brian Hyatt on Friday after determining there was a “credible allegation of fraud,” according to a letter obtained in a public records request.

A search warrant for Hyatt’s phone records, also obtained by the Advocate under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, provides a list of allegations against the Northwest Arkansas psychiatrist being investigated by Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-01/arkansas-medical-board-chairman-suspended-from-state-medicaid-program

Jenny Kane/AP

Dr. Brian Hyatt is being investigated by Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office for suspected Medicaid fraud.

Turfgrass foundation presents award of excellence to researcher for graduate-level work

By Brittaney Mann
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation presented its 2023 Musser Award of Excellence to horticulture researcher Wendell Hutchens for his graduate-level contributions to the turfgrass industry.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE — The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation presented its prestigious award to Wendell Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive such a prestigious award,” said Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Receiving the Musser Award of Excellence is and always will be a major highlight of my career.”

The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence is given to outstanding Ph.D. candidates who, in the final phase of their graduate studies, demonstrate overall excellence throughout their doctoral program in turfgrass research, according to the organization’s website. 

The criteria for selecting award recipients include graduate work, academic record, dissertation, publications, leadership and extracurricular activities.

Hutchens conducts applied research on turfgrass diseases for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture. Hutchens also conducts outreach work through the division’s Cooperative Extension Service and has a teaching appointment in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

His current research plans include incorporating technology such as drones and GPS-guided autonomous sprayers into turfgrass pest management, expanding on work he did for his doctoral thesis research at Virginia Tech University.

“I am beyond thankful to every single person who helped me along the way –– I have been so blessed in my career to be surrounded by such supportive and encouraging people,” Hutchens said. “This award is also a tip of the cap to them.”

He also works closely in research and teaching with Mike Richardson, professor of horticulture, who expressed joy that Hutchens is a faculty member in the department. 

“We are so excited to have Wendell on our faculty, and this award just confirms that we now have one of the top young turf scientists in the nation at the University of Arkansas System,” Richardson said. “Wendell is already making a big impact in our program and around the state, and I look forward to watching him grow as a national and international scholar.”

The standards are rigorous for the doctoral candidates who seek the award, Musser International Turfgrass Foundation president, Frank Dobie, said in a press announcement of the award.

“We strive to select the one candidate that we feel is the best of the best and, this year, that was Dr. Hutchens,” Dobie said.

Hutchens received his bachelor’s degree in turfgrass management in 2015 and a plant pathology master’s degree in 2018, both from North Carolina State University. He received his doctorate in plant pathology from Virginia Tech University in 2022.

“Being in the turfgrass industry has been an absolute joy,” Hutchens said. “This industry is made up of some of the most genuine and kind people I have ever met, and it has afforded me opportunities like the Musser Award of Excellence. For that, I am grateful to be a part of it.”

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.

Arkansas 4-H members visit Capitol to see government in action

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas lawmakers were seeing green Tuesday when Arkansas 4-H members showed up en masse at the Capitol for a day of learning about the state government and meeting their legislators.

SEEING GREEN — Arkansas 4-H members from across the state visited the state Capitol on Feb. 28, 2023. Division of Agriculture photo

Nearly 500 Arkansas 4-H members, agents, leaders and volunteers from 52 of the state’s 75 counties participated. There was widespread applause after the reading of resolutions in the House and Senate, recognizing the positive impact of the Arkansas 4-H program on youth and proclaiming Feb. 28 as 4-H Day.

 The gathering is usually held every other year, when the Legislature is in session. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the 2021 event was canceled.

“This is the first time in four years that we’ve been able to bring 4-Hers to the Capitol, and we’re excited our youth have this opportunity to meet with their legislators and learn more about state government,” Bob Scott, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, said.

4-H is the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The program serves more than 144,000 youth and is available in every county. At its core, the program promotes civic engagement and leadership, healthy living and science. Members can choose from among 50 project areas to develop their skills and knowledge.

On Tuesday, 4-H members learned about the role of the state’s constitutional officers and heard from many of them, including Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge, Attorney General Tim Griffin, Treasurer Mark Lowery, Secretary of State John Thurston and Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land.

Rutledge praised the 4-H program for the values it instills in youth. She said she is often asked about being the first female lieutenant governor and said, “I tell people if a girl can get through junior high, she can do anything. To all you young ladies and men, you can do anything.”

Thurston praised the group for taking the initiative to learn about government and encouraged them to register to vote when they are old enough.

“When you turn 18, it is your responsibility to show up and vote,” he said. “No one will make you register. It is your right and privilege, but you have to exercise that right.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin urged the group to get to know their elected officials.

“A lot of people get to know their elected officials only when they need something. That’s the wrong way to do it,” Griffin told the group. “Get to know your elected officials early in life. Learn the process. Develop meaningful relationships now, so that when you become a community leader — and you will be — you will know people. When leaders know other leaders, they can’t be stopped.”

Many youth took advantage of the day to do exactly that. Members of Newton County 4-H visited with Rep. Bryan King and discovered that they know a lot of the same people in Northwest Arkansas.

Rep. Harlan Breaux searched through the crowd of 4-H members on the second floor of the Capitol rotunda until he saw a Boone County 4-H sign. Boone County 4-H members Isaac Majano, Dominic Eddings and Jaycee Carter were eager to talk to him.

The visit to the Arkansas Capitol was a first for dozens of youth. John Sawyer Murphy, 13, and Brooke Rawls, also 13, both of Bradley County in southern Arkansas, were among the first-time visitors.

“I’ve always wanted to see inside it because it looks cool,” Murphy said.

Throughout the day, the youth attended sessions in the House, Senate and Arkansas Supreme Court, where they saw government in action. They also visited the Treasurer’s Office, where they posed for pictures while holding $600,000 in cash inside the vault.

Vallie Yancey, 14, Ryker Shofner, 12, McKenna Cousins, 14, and Jade Emitt, 13, all of Madison County, were also among the first-time visitors to the state Capitol. Yancey, who has an animal science project, said she was interested in being a state constitutional officer. “I wanted to know more about what they do,” she said.

Making the best better

Many 4-H members are actively engaged in their communities and talked about how they live out the 4-H motto: “to make the best better.” Through project work in their respective areas of interest, they learn leadership and citizenship skills.

Emily Horton, 13, of Benton County, has been in 4-H for two years and talked about her music project.

“Singing and playing violin in front of larger audiences has really helped me gain confidence,” she said.

Belvia Powers, 13, has been a 4-H member for seven years and raises dairy goats. As part of her veterinary science project, she collects donations to provide cleaning supplies for a local animal shelter. Both Horton and Powers will also help lead a summer camp for Cloverbuds, the youngest group of 4-H members.

Abigail Catron, 17, from Craighead County, started a “Blessing Backpacks” project last year, for which she collects and packs items to give to children in foster care. The backpacks contain items such as blankets, shampoo, combs, ponytail holders, deodorant and something fun — like a deck of cards.

To learn more about 4-H and how to get involved, visit https://4h.uada.edu/. 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.

Well Rooted Homesteading Conference draws 200-plus farmers, families for workshops on sustainable living

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

ASHDOWN, Ark. — Hundreds of farmers, growers and home gardeners gathered at Cossatot Community College for the Well Rooted Homesteading Conference, to hear experts lead workshops focused on sustainable living and ask questions about managing their own self-sufficient homestead.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING — At the Well Rooted Homesteading Conference in Ashdown, over two hundred farmers, growers and home gardeners gathered for workshops led by homesteading experts in soil health, backyard poultry, rainwater safety and storage, gardening techniques and more. Local vendors also sold their wares, including crafts and baked goods. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Jennifer Sansom, Little River County extension agricultural agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said 270 people attended the Feb. 18 conference. Attendees represented 26 of Arkansas’ 75 counties, along with three Oklahoma and four Texas counties and one Louisiana county.

“People are reaching out for information like this, so it’s definitely needed,” Sansom said. “A lot of other county agents are now getting requests for homesteading conferences.”

Lauren Reed of Russellville attended the conference with her husband and said she was excited to take advantage of the education provided by homesteading experts.

“I worked in environmental quality and am kind of a nerd when it comes to that kind of stuff, so I try to be as conscious about how we impact things as possible,” said Reed. She was particularly interested in the rainwater safety and storage workshop led by John Pennington, extension water quality educator. “We live right in the middle of town, we don’t have a homestead, so learning to be sustainable where I live is how we want to do it.

“We have a little garden, and we’ve been looking at doing the rain capture piece of it,” she said, noting the prevalence of misconceptions about rain capture being illegal. “A lot of people think that you can’t do it, that it’s not allowed. So, to hear somebody from a regulatory background say, ‘Yes, you can capture rainwater, and here’s how to do it safely,’ I think that’s a really good thing.”

Sustaining skills

Les Walz, extension livestock and forages educator for the Division of Agriculture, led a workshop on Hügelkultur gardening techniques. Hügelkultur is a centuries-old permaculture method of building a garden bed from a mound of decaying wood and other compostable plant debris. These mounds are then topped with soil, and the gradual decay of the wood and plant matter within the bed provides long-term nutrients and moisture for the plants growing atop it.

Walz said hügelkultur beds are “really appealing to people who live in arid places” because they retain moisture through periods of drought.

Carey Robinson, owner of CWC Farm and former extension agent, led a lively workshop on backyard poultry, answering many questions from attendees about chicken breeds and sources for poultry. She also addressed misinformation about chicken feed being tampered with by suppliers.

“I feed a feed that, according to social media, is contaminated and causes chickens to not lay, and my chickens are laying,” Robertson said. “It’s just a totally normal year, I’m not seeing any problems. Some of the things that I think may contribute to this is that a lot of people got chickens when COVID hit two years ago, and now their chickens are two years old. What happens when chickens are two years old?”

“They slow down,” an audience member said.

“They slow down, they take a bigger break, they enjoy a winter vacation,” Robertson replied. “In the world of chickens, all those things can happen.”

Robertson’s husband, Bill Robertson, retired extension cotton agronomist, led a workshop on soil health, covering topics such as the importance of biodiversity and the benefits of improved soil structure.

“An improved soil structure holds together better, and when we do that, we have places and channels for water to go, and water goes deeper,” he said. “When the water goes deeper, we have increased water holding capacity in the soil. When you have a bigger, better root system, you’re more efficient with the water and you’re more efficient with the nutrients.

“Think about when you’re growing tomatoes, and you do a patio garden with a tomato in a five-gallon bucket,” Bill Robertson said. “It dries up fast, you have to stay on top of watering it. But if you’ve got it in your garden, where you’re able to water it better, it has a much bigger, effective root system and it’s easier to maintain.”

Relevant resources

The final workshop of the day focused on long-term food storage methods, including freeze-drying, canning and dehydrating, as well as sourdough basics and cheese making. Bethany Barney, Terrie James and JoAnn Vann – extension family and consumer sciences agents in Little River, Hempstead and Clark counties, respectively – along with Carolyn Spencer, Hempstead County Extension Homemakers Council president, led the workshop.

The conference concluded with a charcuterie tasting and an expert panel Q&A session with Walz, Pennington, Carey and Bill Robertson and James.

Reed said she was grateful to the Cooperative Extension Service for providing such important information and resources to Arkansans.

“A lot of people don’t realize the extension resources that are available to them, and that they’re free,” Reed said. “And that there’s one sitting in every county, and they will come to you. You don’t have to go find where their office is, they will literally come out to your house, come out to your farm and teach you.”

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.

Severe Weather to affect Arkansas Wednesday and Thursday

An active weather pattern is underway with the first round of severe weather expected this afternoon through tonight. An additional round of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are expected Thursday afternoon through the early morning hours on Friday. Severe weather types include damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.

The threat for flash flooding will increase across the central and northern portions of the state over the next few days.

Please see the attached briefing for more details.

National Weather Service in Little Rock, AR

ArcBest sells FleetNet in a $100 million cash deal

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Fort Smith-based ArcBest announced Tuesday (Feb. 28) the sale of its FleetNet segment to Cox Automotive in a $100 million cash deal. The maintenance and repair unit of ArcBest generated 6.4% of overall revenue in 2022 and 1.5% of operating income.

Cox Automotive is a division of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises, which also owns Cox Communications. Cox Enterprises has more than 55,000 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue.

“FleetNet has been a valuable part of ArcBest, giving us insight and expertise in equipment maintenance and repair. As an integrated logistics company, it is no longer core to our growth strategy,” said Judy McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. “We’ve enjoyed working with the wonderful team at FleetNet and have benefitted greatly from their innovative mindset.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/arcbest-sells-fleetnet-in-a-100-million-cash-deal/

Sanders to Appoint Dr. Kay Chandler as Arkansas Surgeon General

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Dr. Kay Chandler to serve as the Arkansas Surgeon General. 

“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Kay Chandler will serve as Arkansas’ next Surgeon General, bringing strong leadership and years of medical expertise to the Department of Health,” Sanders said. “Dr. Chandler is a skilled, qualified OB-GYN who has spent decades serving women across Arkansas. I promised that when I was elected governor, Arkansas would not have mask mandates or vaccine mandates and we would not shut down churches and schools because we believe in personal freedom and responsibility. I look forward to working together to protect the health, well-being, and individual freedoms of Arkansans.”

“I am incredibly honored to be given this opportunity by Governor Sanders to serve the people of the great state of Arkansas as their Surgeon General. I was inspired when I heard our Governor say in her inaugural address that even though she did not want to dismiss the significance of being the first woman to serve as governor of Arkansas, she ran to make Arkansas first in everything. I consider it a tremendous privilege to be called on to serve in Governor Sanders’ administration and I am committed to working alongside her and the people of Arkansas towards achieving this – especially as related to the health and wellness of all Arkansans.”

Dr. Kay Chandler Bio: 

Dr. Kay Chandler has served as an OB-GYN at Cornerstone Clinic in Little Rock since 1997 and has been named Best OB-GYN by Little Rock Family Magazine and AY Magazine. 
 
She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hendrix College, received her M.D. from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and completed her residency training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 
 
Dr. Chandler has been included on the national Best Doctors, Inc. list since 2005. She is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through true lifestyle change and has served as Medical Director of Ideal Health NOW! since 2011. She shares new women’s health care information on the Medical Monday segment on THV11’s morning show, “THV This Morning.” 
 
She also currently serves on the board for the Pulaski County Medical Society and on the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Medical Society. She is married to her husband of 30 years, Jeffrey K. Chandler DDS, who serves the Little Rock area at Chandler Family Dentistry.

UAMS Researchers Produce Journal’s Top Cited, Most Downloaded Article on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, is the study's principal investigator.

Don Willis, Ph.D.

LITTLE ROCK — A University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) research team’s article on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been recognized by the publisher of Clinical and Translational Science for having its top-cited article in 2022 and the most downloaded paper since its publication in 2021.

The article, “COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Race/Ethnicity, Trust and Fear,” resulted from a study conducted by researchers at the UAMS Office of Community Health & Research, directed by Pearl A. McElfish, Ph.D., MBA. Don Willis, Ph.D., is the paper’s lead author.

McElfish, a professor based at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, was notified of the recognition by the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (ASCPT), which publishes the Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) journal.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/02/27/uams-researchers-produce-journals-top-cited-most-downloaded-article-on-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy/

Arkansas Senate committee OKs bill to regulate paper ballots and hand counts

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

A group of state senators on Thursday voted to require Arkansas counties that opt to hand count election returns to first run ballots through vote-counting machines.

Senate Bill 250 sponsor Rep. Kim Hammer (R-Benton) and state election officials said the legislation would ensure that preliminary, unofficial election results are reported quickly.

Counties would still have the flexibility to conduct official counts by hand.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-24/arkansas-senate-committee-oks-bill-to-regulate-paper-ballots-and-hand-counts

Wong Maye-E/AP

Workers sort absentee ballots in Kenosha, Wis.

Arkansas bill restricting bathroom access in presence of minors advances

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Another bill aimed at restricting bathroom use in Arkansas has gained approval from a legislative panel.

Members of the Senate Judiciary committee on Monday voted along party lines in favor of Senate Bill 270, which would make it a crime for Arkansans to linger in a restroom or changing room inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth if a minor is present.

Bill sponsor Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn, said it would only apply to adults who “knowingly remain” in a shared facility in which others, including minors, could be expected to be in various states of undress.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-27/arkansas-bill-restricting-bathroom-access-in-presence-of-minors-advances

Arkansas Legislature

Jessica Disney (right) speaks against Senate Bill 270 in a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday as the bill's sponsor, Sen. John Payton, looks on.

School choice detractors, advocates come to head over Arkansas education bill

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ omnibus education bill continues to make its way through the Arkansas Legislature this week.

The bill would create new “education freedom accounts,” or public money parents can use to enroll their children in private, parochial, or charter schools. The debate on the future of education in Arkansas hinges largely on where to spend taxpayer dollars, and what public schools should look like.

After spending twenty years advocating for choice-based education policy, Laurie Lee feels like she has climbed a mountain.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-27/school-choice-detractors-advocates-come-to-head-over-arkansas-education-bill

Lorenzo Gritti/NPR

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' education package brings up a long-held discussion about the role of tax dollars in public education.

New commerce secretary says entrepreneurship will be a focus

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Lured out of retirement by Gov. Sarah Sanders, Hugh McDonald, former Entergy Arkansas CEO, said he still has a lot to contribute.

“I got a call one night out of the blue and had an offer that I really couldn’t refuse. The Governor is a good negotiator, and I think I still have a little bit to contribute and it’s in sort of the wheelhouse that I worked a lot in in my previous life in economic development and workforce development and running a large organization,” said McDonald, a guest on this week’s Talk Business & Politics. McDonald retired from Entergy in 2018 and he is the former chairman of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

He will be different than his predecessor, Mike Preston, who wore two hats as Secretary of Commerce and director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. McDonald will wear the cabinet secretary hat and he’s elevated Clint O’Neal to the AEDC director’s post.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/new-commerce-secretary-says-entrepreneurship-will-be-a-focus/

Rep. Brooks, Sen. Chesterfield discuss LEARNS bill, changes to be made

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Two vice-chairs of the education committees in the House and Senate say there are changes to be made to Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS bill, but those changes are unlikely to alter votes in the state legislature.

Appearing on this week’s edition of Capitol View, Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, vice-chair of the House Education Committee and the primary House sponsor of SB294, the omnibus education bill, said there is an amendment being added to the measure before it is considered in his chamber.

The amendment was added Friday afternoon. It offers technical corrections and clean-up language brought up in Senate testimony last week. It also outlines some steps of due process for teachers who may be dismissed; speaks to a requirement for teacher salary schedules; and outlines how auditing for potential misuse of public school money being used for private or homeschooling purposes will work.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/rep-brooks-sen-chesterfield-discuss-learns-bill-changes-to-be-made/

Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, and Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock.