3 NWA chefs selected as semifinalists for 2025 James Beard Awards

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

The James Beard Foundation has named three Northwest Arkansas chefs as semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards, the foundation announced Wednesday (Jan. 22). This year marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards.

Matthew Cooper of Bentonville-based Conifer, Rafael Rios of Bentonville-based Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, and Jordan Wright of Johnson-based Wright’s Barbecue are the Arkansas semifinalists in the Best Chef: South category of the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards.

The James Beard Awards, which have over 70 categories, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries and are considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, the release shows.

3 NWA chefs selected as semifinalists for 2025 James Beard Awards

Arkansas hay production grew in 2024

By the U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Hay acreage declined in the southeastern United States in 2024, but the region’s hay production rose 2 percent, and was up 17 percent in Arkansas, according to the Crop Production Summary from National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The summary — issued Jan. 10 — included information about U.S. hay production, acreage, and yield, as well as data for Dec. 1 hay stocks. The report categorizes the data into two segments: alfalfa and other hay, with other hay being particularly relevant for producers in the Southeast.

Map showing change in production of non-alfalfa hay between 2023-2024, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Arkansas saw a 17 percent increase in hay production. (Image from USDA)

For the 2024-25 marketing year that started in May and ends in April, “hay stocks were higher compared to the previous year, totaling 21.01 million tons, which represents a 47 percent increase year over year,” said James Mitchell, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

In the southeast — a region comprised of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, hay stocks on May 1 reached 2.80 million tons, up 15 percent from the previous year, Mitchell said.

“These stocks, combined with the increased hay production in 2024, have elevated hay supplies to their highest level since 2020,” he said. “Total hay supplies for the 2024-2025 marketing year are 143.47 million tons. In the Southeast, the 2024-2025 hay supplies total 25.49 million tons, a 3 percent increase year over year, accounting for 18 percent of total U.S. hay supplies.”

Other hay production totaled 72.62 million tons in 2024, up 6 percent from the previous year and marking the largest annual total since 2020.

In Texas, the largest hay-producing state, production reached 11.52 million tons, more than double the total from two years prior, when it was just 5.7 million tons. In Arkansas, production increased 17 percent.

“The USDA’s estimate for Arkansas surpassed what I would have predicted last summer,” Mitchell said. “For several states included in the Southeast total, hay production was impacted by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. Specifically, production in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee was down by 24 percent, 9 percent, and 4 percent, respectively.

All U.S. hay acreage declined by 3.38 million acres in 2024 to 49.39 million acres. In the Southeast, hay acreage decreased by 9.84 million acres, or 3 percent.

“Conversely, Texas saw a 5 percent increase in hay acreage,” Mitchell said. “Despite the overall decline, improved hay yields offset these reductions.”

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X 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 X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

Arkansas work-related fatalities rise almost 23% in 2023

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

New data shows there were 92 work-related fatalities in Arkansas during 2023, up 22.7% compared with the 75 fatalities in 2022. The 2023 fatality count was just below the record of 93 in 2011.

The data comes from the Arkansas Arkansas Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Report data showed 72 deaths in 2023 involving wage and salary workers in the private sector, up from 57 in 2022. Self-employed worker fatalities accounted for 14, up from 7 in 2022. Fatal injuries among local and state government workers accounted for 6 in 2023, down from 10 in 2022. 5 were local government workers, and 1 was a state government worker.

Arkansas work-related fatalities rise almost 23% in 2023

Governor Sanders Announces $66.5 Million in Arkansas Water Funding

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced an additional $66.5 million in financial assistance for water and wastewater projects for eight entities. The projects serve more than 60,594 Arkansans in eight counties. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission approved this funding on January 15, 2025.

“Today’s announcement continues my administration’s commitment to making sure every Arkansas community has access to safe drinking water,” said Governor Sanders. “Thank you to the agency staff and local officials who are working in close partnership to develop sustainable solutions to water infrastructure in all four corners of our state.” 

“Reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is vital to both the quality of life for every Arkansan and the strength of our communities,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Governor Sanders’ continued leadership on water issues ensures that Arkansas is well-positioned for future success.”

Under Governor Sanders’ leadership, the State of Arkansas has administered more than $2.8 billion for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds.

The recipients are listed below:

• Bentonville in Benton County is receiving a $55,000,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 54,164. These funds will be used for water resource recovery facility improvements.

•  Eureka Springs in Carroll County is receiving two loans: a $6,180,000 loan from the Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Fund and a $100,000 emergency loan from the Water Development Fund. The projects serve a current customer base of 1,945. These funds will be used for wastewater treatment plant improvements. 

• Gravel Ridge Sewer Improvement District 213 in Pulaski County is receiving a $2,512,632 loan from the General Obligation Bond Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 1,489. These funds will be used for a sewer collection rehabilitation.  

• Horsebend Property Owners Association in Washington County is receiving a $154,500 loan from the Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 51. These funds will be used for a wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation. 

• Mount Ida in Montogomery County is receiving a $586,226 loan from the General Obligation Bond Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 600. These funds will be used for a sewer plant rehabilitation.

• North Crossett Utilities in Ashley County is receiving two loans: a $848,916 loan from the General Obligation Bond Fund and a $396,288 loan from the Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Fund. The projects serve a current customer base of 1,251. These funds will be used for meter upgrades and a sewer lift station. 

• Ola in Yell County is receiving a $343,477 loan from the Water Development Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 571. These funds will be used for a water main replacement and pump station upgrade. 

• Yellville in Marion County is receiving a $384,190 loan from the Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 523. These funds will be used for wastewater collection and treatment improvements.

Landreaux, Hegeman to chair State Chamber, AIA in 2025

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

The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas Inc. (AIA) announced new board leadership for 2025. Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, has been elected chairman of the State Chamber board of directors, while Brad Hegeman, vice chairman and chief strategy officer at Nabholz Corporation, will continue as chairman of the AIA board of directors.

Landreaux brings extensive experience to her role as chairman of the State Chamber board. As president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, she leads efforts to deliver reliable and sustainable energy to approximately 730,000 customers across 63 counties.

Hegeman has served as AIA chairman since early 2024. As vice chairman and chief strategy officer at Nabholz Construction, he has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s strategic initiatives and growth since 1996.

Landreaux, Hegeman to chair State Chamber, AIA in 2025

Farm aid could be on the way with proposed Continuing Resolution

By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK – Amid worries that an expired Farm Bill would leave farmers without an economic safety net, Congressional leadership released a Continuing Resolution Tuesday that includes $10 billion for crop producers. 

FARM AID -- Nine program crops covered in the Continuing Resolution are relevant to Arkansas farmers.

This new agricultural aid package follows the payment mechanism laid out by the previously proposed Farmer Revenue Assistance Mitigation Act. Hunter Biram, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said the payments are based on three key variables: National season-average price reported, 10-year national average yield and 2024 cost of production.  

“Two key elements of this payment mechanism differ from the FARM Act,” Biram said. “The payment factor has been reduced from 60 percent to 26 percent of the estimated economic loss. However, a minimum payment has been included.”  

Biram said the minimum payment will be the product of 8 percent of the statutory reference price laid out in the 2014 and 2018 farm bills and the national Price Loss Coverage payment yield to be determined by USDA. 

“Among the nine program crops that are relevant to farmers in the southeast, three should expect to see the minimum payment be greater than the estimated payment,” Biram said. “This includes barley, peanuts and rice. The other six program crops considered will receive the estimated payment per acre. These include corn, cotton, grain sorghum, pats, soybeans and wheat.”  

Although the resolution has been the subject of much discussion, Biram said it is important to remember it still has to pass. 

“The deadline to pass a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown is Dec. 20,” he said. “While Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) have both  voiced support for economic assistance to farmers, there has been opposition from GOP hardliners who have voiced frustrations over not pushing funding issues to 2025. 

“Economic assistance seems likely, but we will not know with full certainty until the bill passes. The situation is very fluid,” Biram 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.  

Winter Storm Watch for Arkansas Thursday and Friday

Western to southwestern Arkansas and the Ouachita Mountains is expected to see the greatest snowfall accumulations.

• WHAT HAS CHANGED: • Forecast liquid-equivalent (QPF) was increased across the forecast area, which has increased forecast snowfall amounts. • A Winter Storm Watch has been issued across portions of western, southwestern, and central Arkansas, following the areas of highest confidence for winter weather impacts Thursday through Friday (January 9-10).

• WHAT WE KNOW: • A strong storm system is forecast to move across the southern Gulf Coast Thursday through Friday, and is expected to bring impactful winter weather to the state. • Greatest confidence for impacts remains across western to southwestern Arkansas.

• WHAT WE DON’T KNOW: • There is still uncertainty regarding the exact placement of where the greatest snowfall amounts could occur. This will be addressed over the next few runs of forecast data. • There is also uncertainty across the Arkansas/Louisiana border region with regard to mixed precip types (freezing rain versus wintry mix). Expect changes and refinement to the forecast!

Confidence continues to increase on an impactful winter storm across the state during the Thursday-Friday timeframe (January 9-10). New updates with this briefing include the issuance of a Winter Storm Watch for a large portion of the state. 

 The greatest impacts are currently expected across western to southwestern, and portions of central Arkansas. Expect changes to the footprint of greatest snowfall accumulations, and the Winter Storm Watch!

Arkansas Clean Plant Center leads global effort to wipe ‘phantom agents’ from pathogen regulatory lists

By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Wiping “phantom agents” from a list of suspected plant pathogens would improve agricultural efficiency and food security by updating regulations on international shipment of pathogen-free plant materials destined for countries where they are needed.

Phantom agents are suspected pathogens that have been reported in scientific literature going back to the early 1900s with no real evidence they exist, according to Ioannis Tzanetakis, professor of plant virology for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and director of the Arkansas Clean Plant Center. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

PHANTOM AGENTS — Scientists around the globe have called for reform in testing some regulated pathogens because there is no way to accurately test for them. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

The Arkansas Clean Plant Center led the efforts of a team of 185 agricultural scientists from more than 40 countries that test for plant pathogens. They are calling for the removal of more than 120 phantom agents from regulation lists because they are outdated and impede access to plant materials clean of pathogens. Clean plants are needed for the sustainable production of crops.

India, for example, is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, but its lack of disease-free propagation material limits its yield potential, Tzanetakis said.

Most of these phantom agents were described before modern molecular techniques, and there are no samples or genome sequences available to study them. Despite the lack of evidence of their existence, the suspected pathogens made their way into international regulations that control the shipment of plant materials.

The result, Tzanetakis said, is a confusing mix of real and phantom agents on regulatory lists that must be ruled out by the sender before plants can be shipped from country to country.

“We have tried to clean the list of regulated pathogens to make this process much more mainstream,” Tzanetakis said. “What we call phantom agents are names where there’s not really any knowledge of what they are, nor are there any places on this planet where you can go pick this plant and say it is infected with agent X.”

In a Plant Disease article recently published by the American Phytopathological Society, Tzanetakis and a broad host of co-authors identify phantom agents in eight crops that still appear on regulated pathogen lists even though there is no way to accurately test for them.

The article is titled “Streamlining Global Germplasm Exchange: Integrating Scientific Rigor and Common Sense to Exclude Phantom Agents from Regulation.”

“With today’s technology, if an indicator plant shows symptoms, it would undergo analysis by high-throughput sequencing, also known as HTS,” Tzanetakis explained. “If this process identifies a novel agent, it’s unlikely to be attributed to a phantom. Instead, it would be recognized as a new pathogen of the host. As a result, phantom agents tend to persist indefinitely.”

High-throughput sequencing is a scientific method that allows researchers to quickly sequence DNA from a large numbers of samples and/or organisms simultaneously.

Start clean, stay clean

The Arkansas Clean Plant Center, or ACPC for short, is the newest center for berries in the National Clean Plant Network. The network, also known as the NCPN, was created to protect U.S. specialty crops from the spread of economically harmful plant pests and diseases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds the NCPN, which includes scientists, educators, state and federal regulators, nurseries and growers who work together to make sure plant propagation material is clean and available.

Labs like the Arkansas Clean Plant Center conduct testing to identify and verify the presence of plant pathogens like those on regulatory lists. The ACPC also provides “clean-up” services to ensure that plant material is the best quality possible before providing it to nurseries, breeding companies and growers.

Tzanetakis said cleaning plant material might be responsible for the elimination of some of the pathogens on the list of phantom agents. Suspected pathogens could also be caused by either a single or multiple viruses now known under a different name, or possibly even eliminated through resistance in modern cultivars.

For example, among the list of phantom agents is “Strawberry band mosaic virus,” something described as a disease once in Hungary in the 1960s on an old cultivar by its display of symptoms based on a single picture present in a publication.

REFORM CALL —  Ioannis Tzanetakis is professor of plant virology for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and director of the Arkansas Clean Plant Center. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

“Given the limited information provided in the single report, the agent cannot be studied further,” Tzanetakis and his co-authors noted.

The ACPC lab is one of only two in the National Clean Plant Network with in-house HTS capabilities, which streamlines the testing and clean-up processes for breeding lines that improve quality control in pathogen testing.

The goal, Tzanetakis said, is to improve crop production and ensure that farmers have access to high-quality, disease-free plants without unnecessary obstacles.

“Those regulations are in place even though we have so many better tools to test for a disease,” Tzanetakis said.

New tools in the toolbox

Tzanetakis said that NCPN labs like the Arkansas Clean Plant Center are designed to test for and eliminate viruses from plants.

Once the plants are “clean” — that is, free from systemic pathogens like viruses — the ACPC maintains “G1” — Generation 1 — materials to offer “the highest level of protection against re-infection by systemic pathogens,” Tzanetakis added.

“This ensures the long-term maintenance of G1 materials, providing breeders and stakeholders with confidence in the quality and integrity of their advanced selections,” Tzanetakis said.

Along with HTS-based virus diagnostic tools and robotics for nucleic acid extraction, Tzanetakis noted that the ACPC is also staffed by a team of experts.

The collective experience, facilities, equipment and staff, Tzanetakis said, add up to “smooth virus elimination operations, offering solutions for selections that are difficult to propagate in vitro, while also keeping pace with and tailoring new protocols for virus elimination.”

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

Governor Sanders, AEDC award $10M to 13 Arkansas communities for industrial site development

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.– Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today joined the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) to award 13 communities with $10 million through the Arkansas Site Development Program. This funding will be used to enhance industrial sites across Arkansas, increasing their readiness for job-creating economic development projects.

The communities receiving funds include Arkadelphia, Berryville, Hope, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Malvern, Monticello, Morrilton, Newport, Prescott, Searcy, Stuttgart, and Texarkana. 

“The sky is the limit for Arkansas’ economy when our government and private sector work together to grow investment and jobs,” said Governor Sanders. “The Arkansas Site Development Program tells companies worldwide that Arkansas is open for business and will help each of the recipient communities attract new businesses.”

Under Governor Sanders’ leadership and in partnership with the Arkansas State Legislature, AEDC developed and announced the Arkansas Site Development Program in June 2024. Eligible recipient locations are industrial sites of at least 30 contiguous acres of land, listed on the Arkansas Site Selection Database, and owned or optioned by the applicant.

“Ensuring that our communities have company-ready sites is critical for Arkansas’ economic success,” said Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald. “The Arkansas Site Development Program has been a model of collaboration between Governor Sanders, the Arkansas General Assembly, the Arkansas Department of Commerce, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and local stakeholders to build a program that will set a course for future success across our state.”

AEDC received a total of 28 applications for the Arkansas Site Development Program, totaling $44,646,370.37 in requested funding.

“Strong communities with competitive industrial sites are essential for winning economic development projects, and the Arkansas Site Development Program will play a major role in equipping our state’s communities to win,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “The Arkansas Site Development Program is the first program of its kind in our state, and it is an important step that will help us continue to secure economic development projects in the years to come. This program would not have been possible without the support of Governor Sanders, the Arkansas General Assembly, and the local communities that applied for funding – we appreciate their support and look forward to continued success.”

The funds can be used for a range of site development projects, including the extension and improvement of public infrastructure to the site; right of way acquisition; easement acquisition; soil borings and analysis; construction costs for site improvements, including drainage improvements, easement, dozer or dirt work, grading, site mitigation, and site rehabilitation; due diligence study costs; and other site development-related activities deemed necessary by AEDC to improve a site’s competitiveness.

See the Arkansas Site Development Program awards below:

• AR-TX Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI) – Texarkana, $2,000,000

• Berryville Business Park – Berryville, $400,000

• City of Prescott – Prescott, $698,845

• Conway County Economic Development Corporation- Morrilton, $109,800

• Economic Development Corporation of Clark County – Arkadelphia, $1,013,710

• Forward Searcy Inc. – Searcy, $314,165

• Hempstead County Economic Development Commission – Hope, $4,602

• Hot Spring County – Malvern, $133,250

• Jonesboro Unlimited – Jonesboro, $2,000,000

• Little Rock Port Authority – Little Rock, $2,000,000

• Newport Economic Development Commission – Newport, $335,700

• Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facility Authority – Monticello, $166,520

• Stuttgart Industrial Development Corporation – Stuttgart, $823,408

Federal judge puts Arkansas foreign ownership restrictions on hold

By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A federal judge in Arkansas has halted enforcement of the state’s foreign ownership restrictions for plaintiffs owning a crypto-mining business.

Jones Eagle LLC, which operates near DeWitt, Arkansas, and mines digital assets like cryptocurrency, came under investigation by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Arkansas Attorney General following the state enacting Act 636 and 174 during the 2023 legislative session. Both acts involve restriction of foreign ownership of U.S. land, and Act 174 specifically prohibits foreign-owned entities from acquiring or holding any interest in a digital mining business in the state. Qimin “Jimmy” Chen, who was born in China and is a naturalized American citizen, exercises control over Jones Eagle as sole owner of Eagle Asset Holding, Inc.

Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, testifies to the Senate Ag Committee on Sept. 27, 2023. The committee held a hearing on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. (Image courtesy U.S. Senate)

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a press release in December 2023 stating that Jones Eagle was under investigation for potentially violating state foreign ownership restrictions, as the entity “may have significant ties to China.”

Jones Eagle filed a lawsuit against the state of Arkansas in November 2024, claiming the investigation was unconstitutional and requesting a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. Judge Kristine Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas issued a temporary restraining order for 14 days on Nov. 25, and on Dec. 9 issued a preliminary injunction. The decision renders Acts 636 and 174 unenforceable against Jones Eagle until further notice from the court.

The preliminary injunction order is sealed — which means it is not accessible to the public — to protect Jones Eagle’s confidential business details. However, the Notice of Preliminary Injunction Order can be viewed online.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in national interest and activity regarding the topic of foreign ownership of U.S. land, and particularly agricultural land,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “It’s an extremely active issue at both state and federal levels, although there are currently no federal laws restricting foreign persons, entities, or governments from acquiring or holding private U.S. agricultural land.”

Almost half of all U.S. states have some kind of law limiting foreign ownership. In 2023, Arkansas became the first state to enforce a foreign ownership law when it ordered a subsidiary of Syngenta Seeds, another Chinese-owned company, to divest itself of farmland in Arkansas.

What’s next?

“The injunction is limited to Jones Eagle and does not apply to others who may be subject to Acts 636 and 174,” Pittman said. “Arkansas can continue to enforce foreign ownership restrictions under these acts.”

A redacted version of the preliminary injunction is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

More details regarding the case are available online on the NALC website.

For the latest in agricultural law and policy developments, including foreign ownership, subscribe at no cost to The Feed, a twice-monthly newsletter from the NALC. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Saline County I-30 construction set for completion despite delays

KUAR | By Madison Stolzer-Cavanaugh

After a series of delays, the long-awaited Interstate 30 construction project in Saline County is finally set to reach completion at the end of December.

Rex Vines, chief of operations for the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), said in an interview with Little Rock Public Radio that final touches are being done around mile marker 111 –the last stretch of construction– including concrete finishings, guard rails and overhead signage.

“The project has improved, not only the pavement, but the traffic flow all the way to Highway 70,” Vines said. “It’s great to see traffic flowing and reduced congestion.”

Saline County I-30 construction set for completion despite delays

Daniel Breen/Little Rock Public Radio

Vehicles navigate the interchange between Interstate 30 and Arkansas Highway 229 in Benton on Dec. 9, 2024.

Arkansas 4-H state barbecue winners take third, fifth place at National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After winning top marks in the state 4-H barbecue contest in June, two Arkansas 4-H members have brought home third and fifth place awards in the chicken and turkey barbecue competitions at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, held Nov. 19-22.

The conference was held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. Arkansas 4-H members from Columbia, Conway, Howard, Pope and Sebastian counties competed in the barbecue contest, the Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging.

ALL ABOUT POULTRY — Arkansas 4-H members, 4-H agents and extension staff traveled to the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, where the members competed in chicken and turkey barbecue contests, Poultry Judging and the Avian Bowl. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Andrew Bolton, extension poultry science instructor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the experience of competing at the national level has a significant impact on participants.

“It is a great honor for these youth,” Bolton said. “Competing at this level is a step up in competition, as they’re up against the best of the best from each state, and that is exciting. I think our youth thrive on competition and the drive to say they went up against the best in the nation.”

Sarah Lamb, 18, won third place in the chicken barbecue competition with her dish of four chicken thighs coated in the “Redneck Lipstick” seasoning blend, which includes paprika, light brown sugar and onion and garlic powder. Laney Slate, 18, took home fifth place in the turkey barbecue competition, where she prepared her ground turkey patties with Blues Hog Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce and a Morton Salt Nature’s Seasons blend.   

Barbecue competitors had two hours to prepare and cook their dishes, starting the moment they lit the grill. In addition to their dishes, Lamb and Slate were also scored on their presentations about chicken and turkey production in the United States, the birds’ nutritional value, safe food handling and grilling procedures.

Slate, a member of the Dayton 4-H Club in Sebastian County, first competed at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference in 2021, where she took home fourth place in chicken barbecue. Slate then switched to turkey barbecue for the 2024 competition, and she said she is proud to close out her Arkansas 4-H career with this fifth-place win.

“I feel extremely blessed, and I’m very grateful to have gone to both competitions,” Slate said. “When I went back in 2021, I thought there was no way it would happen again, so it was nice to finish out my 4-H career on a high note.”

Slate is a freshman at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, where she is studying elementary education and plans to pursue a career as a special education teacher. Though the barbecue competition will likely be her last 4-H event — members can compete until age 19 — she said she is already helping younger 4-H members pursue their grilling passions.

“Another girl from Arkansas 4-H reached out to me at the national competition and said, ‘Hey, do you have any pointers?’” Slate said. “So, we’ve been emailing back and forth, and I’ve sent her a step-by-step list of the process, from setting up the grill to turning in the product. She thinks she’s going to start competing in the next 4-H year.”

Lamb, a member of the Howard County 4-H Club, said she was surprised by her third-place win.

“It was kind of shocking because I thought I wouldn’t get that far,” she said. “But it was pretty cool to learn that I had won.”

Lamb has been a 4-H member since she was five years old, and her 4-H record book — where 4-H members log all projects, contests, activities, events and skill development — has focused on food and nutrition. In the summer of 2025, Lamb will begin her coursework at Brightwater: A Century for the Study of Food, part of Northwest Arkansas Community College. She hopes to open her own bakery eventually.

“4-H has impacted me in a huge way, because I’ve been in so many Food Challenges and food competitions and it made me realize that cooking was more than just my fun hobby,” Lamb said.

Bolton said the Arkansas 4-H barbecue contests, Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging competitions “help build out our youth.”

“They are learning about the poultry industry, which is a major sector of business in our state,” Bolton said. “They are also learning public speaking skills because every contest has some type of speaking component. Also, through this conference, our youth are getting to meet their peers from around the nation and foster those relationships.”

The Arkansas 4-H youth development program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the Division of Agriculture. For more information about Arkansas 4-H, visit 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 X 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 X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

Attorney General Griffin Honors Arkansas’s Top Law Enforcement Officers of 2024

Griffin: ‘The men and women we’ve recognized today have shown outstanding courage and commitment to their communities in the past year’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today honored law enforcement officers from across Arkansas at the 2024 Officer of the Year Awards luncheon. At the conclusion of the event, Griffin issued the following statement:

“Each year we honor the service, sacrifice, and dedication of Arkansas’s law enforcement with the Officer of the Year Awards. The men and women we’ve recognized today have shown outstanding courage and commitment to their communities in the past year. As we celebrate the ways they have gone above and beyond to keep Arkansans safe, we honor not just these few, but all law enforcement officers.

“This year’s state Officer of the Year is Chief Deputy John Cutrell of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. During the mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce on June 21, 2024, Chief Deputy Cutrell was near the scene when calls began to come in. Chief Deputy Cutrell immediately jumped into action to assist law enforcement, paramedics, and victims. While on scene, he aided a paramedic by driving the ambulance to the hospital while the paramedic was treating a severely injured victim. Chief Deputy Cutrell then helped the paramedic transport the victim to their room so the medical staff could provide further medical treatment. Afterward, Chief Deputy Cutrell immediately returned to the Mad Butcher grocery store and began preserving the crime scene.

“The victim Chief Deputy Cutrell assisted that day is alive because of the chief deputy’s actions. In a situation of chaos and violence, Chief Deputy Cutrell demonstrated strength, compassion, and courage. He was among many heroes in Fordyce that day, and his actions are representative of the best of law enforcement in our state.

“As the top law enforcement officer in the state, I am committed to supporting and working with Arkansas’s law enforcement community to ensure they can continue to protect and serve our citizens at the highest levels of excellence and professionalism.”

Honorees are officers from each of the state’s counties, five regional winners, two recipients of the Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Award, four valor tributes (officers who died in the line of duty) and one statewide Officer of the Year. This year’s honorees are:

Statewide Officer of the Year: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Northeast Region: Corporal Marcus Simpson, Arkansas State Police

Southeast Region: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Southwest Region: Deputy Joshua Butterworth, Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Central Region: Trooper Austin Duncan, Arkansas State Police

Northwest Region: Deputy Tyler Himes, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office

Valor Tributes:
Officer Michael “Cain” Maxheimer, Shannon Hills Police Department
Deputy Justin Smith, Stone County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Tommy Foster, Jr., Conway County Detention Center
Corporal Raymond Kuuchi, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services

Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Awards:
Corporal Lonnie Stone, Flippin Police Department
Sergeant Justin Wagner, Polk County Sheriff’s Office

County Officers of the Year:
Arkansas County: Deputy Patrick Johnson, Arkansas County Sheriff’s Office

Ashley County: School Resource Officer Robert Black, Crossett Police Department

Baxter County: Agent Bobby Hicks, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction

Benton County: Corporal Joshua Fritz, Siloam Springs Police Department

Boone County: Deputy Tyler Nichols, Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Bradley County: Trooper First Class TreVaughn Moore, Arkansas State Police

Calhoun County: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Carroll County: Officer Zachary Gray, Berryville Police Department

Chicot County: Trooper David Menotti, Jr., Arkansas State Police

Clark County: Lieutenant Dean Palmer, Arkansas Police Department

Clay County: Trooper Christian Underwood, Arkansas State Police

Cleburne County: Assistant Area Manager SRT Marcus “Levi” Lovin, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction

Cleveland County: K-9 Officer Austin Powell and K-9 Annie, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Columbia County: Trooper Justin Cherry, Arkansas State Police

Conway County: Assistant Chief Trent Anderson, Morrilton Police Department

Craighead County: Special Agent Heath Gurley, Arkansas State Police

Crawford County: Deputy Tyler Himes, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office

Crittenden County: Trooper Dairren Evans, Trooper Dylan Evans, Corporal Billy Martin, Arkansas State Police

Cross County: Trooper First Class Kristopher McCrea, Arkansas State Police

Dallas County: Trooper First Class Jimmy Plyler, Jr., Arkansas State Police

Desha County: Deputy Alan Hernandez, Desha County Sheriff’s Office

Drew County: Sergeant Chris Austin and K-9 Aiko, Drew County Sheriff’s Office

Faulkner County: Officer Darnell Flowers, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction

Franklin County: Trooper Dalton Lewis, Arkansas State Police

Fulton County: Sergeant Justin Nowlin, Arkansas State Police

Garland County: Trooper Justin Parker, Arkansas State Police

Grant County: School Resource Officer Saundra McCool, Sheridan Police Department

Greene County: Corporal Stephen Pace, Paragould Police Department

Hempstead County: Trooper First Class Trevor Dew, Arkansas State Police

Hot Spring County: Corporal Anna Eubanks, Malvern Police Department

Howard County: Investigator Tim Bowlin, Dierks Police Department

Independence County: Deputy Sherman Rucker, Sergeant Zachary Spohr, Independence County Sheriff’s Office

Izard County: Lieutenant Robert Cross, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Correction

Jackson County: Corporal Marcus Simpson, Arkansas State Police

Jefferson County: Trooper James Harrell, Arkansas State Police

Johnson County: Corporal James Harmon, Lamar Police Department

Lafayette County: Assistant Chief Daniel Simmons, Lewisville Police Department

Lawrence County: Deputy Jason Fraser, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office

Lee County: Special Agent James Collins, Arkansas State Police

Lincoln County: Investigator Larry Gailey, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

Little River County: Trooper First Class Ian Nelson, Arkansas State Police

Logan County: Corporal Jed Bolyard, Arkansas State Police

Lonoke County: Trooper Ana Escamilla, Arkansas State Police

Madison County: Game Warden Caleb McClanahan, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Marion County: Deputy Brett Castle, Lieutenant Silas Gibson, Sergeant Mark Lee, Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Miller County: Sergeant Kyle Caudle, Sergeant Matt Warner, Texarkana Police Department

Mississippi County: Sergeant Jared Camp, Manila Police Department

Monroe County: Trooper Gavin Taylor, Arkansas State Police

Montgomery County: Sergeant Emily McCaghren, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Nevada County: Sergeant Jeremy Hendrix, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office

Newton County: Chief Deputy Mike Blocker, Newton County Sheriff’s Office

Ouachita County: Chief Nathan Greeley, Bearden Police Department

Perry County: Investigator Todd Bonds, Perryville Police Department

Phillips County: Trooper Dairren Evans, Arkansas State Police

Pike County: Sergeant Shaun Furr, Pike County Sheriff’s Office

Poinsett County: Lieutenant Jay-Ryan Woods, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office

Polk County: Deputy Josh Butterworth, Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Pope County: Corporal Kevin Hobby, Russellville Police Department

Prairie County: Trooper Rand Lace, Arkansas State Police

Pulaski County: Special Agent Travis May, Arkansas State Police

Randolph County: School Resource Officer Felipe Baiza, Maynard School District

St. Francis County: Trooper Blake Irvin, Arkansas State Police

Saline County: Trooper First Class Austin Duncan, Arkansas State Police

Scott County: Trooper Justin Shackleford, Arkansas State Police

Sebastian County: Trooper Tucker Phelps, Arkansas State Police

Sevier County: Patrolman Rene Ramirez, De Queen Police Department

Sharp County: Senior Corporal Roger Tate, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Stone County: Special Agent Drew Widner, Arkansas State Police

Van Buren County: Special Agent Kevin Brown, Arkansas State Police

Washington County: Special Agent Heath Gurley, Arkansas State Police

White County: Corporal John Long, White County Sheriff’s Office

Woodruff County: Constable Johnnie J. Hodge, McCrory Township

Yell County: Officer Jesse Keeling, Officer Anthony Ochoa, Danville Police Department

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About Attorney General Tim Griffin

Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, having previously served as the state’s 20th Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District, where he served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Ethics and House Committee on the Judiciary while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.

Griffin has served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years and currently holds the rank of colonel. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.

He is currently serving as the Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana. His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Liberty (née Bragg), North Carolina, and as a Senior Legislative Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Griffin earned a master’s degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Griffin also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush; Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas; Senior Investigative Counsel, Government Reform and Oversight Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett, In re: HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He attended graduate school at Oxford University. He is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.

2023 consumer expenditures outpace income growth in Arkansas

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

Arkansas’ real personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose 5.3% in 2023, outpacing real personal income growth of 1.5% in 2023, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Arkansas’ real personal income was $169.738 billion in 2023, up 1.5% compared with 2023, and below the U.S. growth of 2.1%. Following are 2023 real personal income figures and percent changes among Arkansas’ metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas: $48.089 billion, up 2.9%
• Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway: $42.409 billion, up 2.7%
• Fort Smith: $11.48 billion, up 0.9%
• Texarkana: $6.811 billion, up 1%
• Jonesboro: $6.507 billion, up 2%
• Hot Springs: $5.078 billion, up 2.2%
• Pine Bluff: $3.662 billion, down 2.4%

2023 consumer expenditures outpace income growth in Arkansas

2023 GDP in Arkansas’ 10 largest counties was almost 67% of state total

Of the top 10 largest Arkansas counties by GDP, only Washington County posted a GDP (gross domestic product) decline – down 0.6% – between 2022 and 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

The BEA county and metro area GDP numbers were posted Wednesday (Dec. 4), and are the most recent metro and county GDP numbers available.

Arkansas’ GDP ended 2023 at $142.86 billion, up 2.4% compared with $139.56 billion in 2022. Of Arkansas’s top 10 counties by GDP, only Craighead and Washington counties had percentage changes below that of the state. Following are the top 10 counties by GDP, with percentage increase from 2022.
• Pulaski: $31.61 billion, up 3.2%
• Benton: $19.712 billion, up 3.1%
• Washington: $13.24 billion, down 0.6%
• Sebastian: $7.271 billion, up 3%
• Craighead: $5.482 billion, up 1.1%
• Faulkner: $4.414 billion, up 4.4%
• Mississippi: $3.823 billion, up 8.6%
• Garland: $3.654 billion, up 2.7%
• Pope: $3.165 billion, up 7.6%
• Saline: $3.072 billion, up 5.3%

2023 GDP in Arkansas’ 10 largest counties was almost 67% of state total

Attorney General Griffin announces arrest of North Little Rock man on child pornography charges

Griffin: ‘Fighting the exploitation of our most vulnerable remains a priority for my office and requires a team effort to bring these perpetrators to justice’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after agents in his Special Investigations Division arrested Richard Keith Dewberry, 68, of North Little Rock on 13 felony counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a minor:

“This morning, special agents from my office arrested Dewberry following an investigation thanks to a cybertip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). I am thankful for the tip to NCMEC that led to this arrest and for the valuable assistance of the North Little Rock Police Department in this case. Fighting the exploitation of our most vulnerable remains a priority for my office and requires a team effort to bring these perpetrators to justice.”

In October, special agents from the Attorney General’s Special Investigations Division served a search warrant on Dewberry’s residence in North Little Rock, where they seized a laptop for forensic examination. During the examination, numerous images of child sexual abuse material were discovered on the laptop’s hard drive.

Dewberry was arrested on December 3. He was booked into the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility and is being held without bond.

If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of exploitation, call the NCMEC CyberTipline at (800) 422-4453 or visit https://report.cybertip.org.

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Extension’s Rowbotham humbled to be named to state influential list

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Each day, Jeanie Rowbotham puts her heart into Arkansas agriculture, as a farmer and as an agent for the Cooperative Extension Service, working with its 4-H youth development program.

She and her husband, Theron, own and operate Infinity Ranch in rural Johnson County. They have two children, Mae and Tate, and the family manages four commercial turkey houses contracted to Butterball as well as a commercial cow and calf operation.

Johnson County Extension Agent Jeanie Rowbotham has been named one of Arkansas' 250 most influential. (U of a System Division of Agriculture photo)

This month, Arkansas Business named Rowbotham among the 250 most influential people in the state.

“From the state’s top CEOs to the rising stars and the behind-the-scenes businesspeople, these selections are made by our editors and publishers based on the merit of being an influencer in business and community around the state of Arkansas,” Publisher Eric Olson said.

“It is an honor to be named one of the 250 most influential people in Arkansas!” Rowbotham said. “I can honestly say I am a little shocked and very humbled to be mentioned in this group among some truly inspirational leaders in our state.  

“It’s a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together,” she said. “I feel very blessed to be in the Arkansas Agricultural Industry in my personal and professional life.”

John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, said “We are really proud of Jeanie and what she has accomplished in her career with extension. As a county agent, Jeanie works hard for the people of Johnson County, but she is clearly having a great impact far beyond the county’s borders.”

Sherry Beaty-Sullivan, extension’s Ozark District director who oversees 25 counties, including Rowbotham’s, said "It is no surprise that Jeanie is a top influencer. Look at the countless young people she has been able to influence over the years in the Johnson County 4-H program.”

“I am proud that others recognize her influence not only with young people but the entire agriculture community. We are very proud to have her as part of our team,” she said.

“It’s gratifying to see Jeanie Rowbotham counted among the state’s most influential people,” said Deacue Fields, head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “It speaks to her dedication to agriculture and the big positive difference one person can make in her community. Congratulations to Jeanie on a well-deserved honor.”

Back in May, Rowbotham was named 2024 Arkansas Ag Woman of the Year by Arkansas Women in Agriculture, an organization dedicated to educating and supporting women in the field.

She has been an extension agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture since 2007. She came to the extension service with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business and management from Arkansas Tech University, and a Master of Science in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X 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 X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week, members elected to serve in the 95th General Assembly gathered in the House Chamber for an Organizational Meeting. Members chose their seats and committees, and incoming freshmen drew numbers for seniority. You can find the seniority list and lists of committee memberships at arkansashouse.org.

As we move forward, members have begun filing bills that will be considered during the upcoming 2025 Regular Session. More than 50 bills have been filed so far in the House. The proposed legislation addresses topics from maternal health coverage to voter registration. Our website also includes a link to the recently filed legislation.

There was another big development this week at the Capitol as Governor Sanders presented her balanced budget proposal to members. The governor’s proposal calls for a 2.89% increase in spending. The governor says her proposal prioritizes education, maternal health, public safety, and government efficiency.

As Education Freedom Accounts will be available to any student in the state next year, the governor said she is proposing $90 million in additional funding, plus an additional $90 million in set aside funding to create a reserve for the program.

The proposed budget also includes $13 million in new Medicaid funding for proposals created by the Strategic Committee on Maternal Health. The proposal includes $100 million for Medicaid sustainability.

The proposal includes $3.15 million in new funding for the proposed state employee pay plan and nearly $50 million for the Department of Corrections.

This proposal will be considered by the 95th General Assembly during the 2025 Regular Session. The session begins on January 13, 2025.

Attorney General Griffin announces plan to honor Arkansas D-Day "Band of Brothers" hero SSG Denver "Bull" Randleman with statue in Downtown Little Rock using private funds

Griffin: ‘I can think of no better person to sculpt and honor Denver Randleman than Kevin Kresse’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing plans to erect a statue in downtown Little Rock honoring Arkansas native Staff Sergeant Denver “Bull” Randleman, who participated in the D-Day invasion as a member of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division that was portrayed in the book-turned-miniseries “Band of Brothers:”

Denver “Bull” Randleman - Facebook Image

“It is past time that we honor the selfless service of Staff Sergeant Denver Randleman, and today I am announcing that acclaimed sculptor Kevin Kresse has agreed to sculpt a statue that will honor Staff Sergeant Randleman and be placed in downtown Little Rock near the new home of the Office of the Attorney General. Kevin’s talent for capturing the spirit of his subjects through posture, expression, and countless other details is extraordinary, and his work was recently heralded for his statue of Johnny Cash, which now sits in the United States Capitol. I can think of no better person to sculpt and honor Denver Randleman than Kevin Kresse.

“Preserving Staff Sergeant Randleman’s legacy through this statue will add to the quality of downtown Little Rock, and it will call attention not just to this single man but to all of Arkansas’s military heroes, particularly those who served in World War II.”

Randleman was born in Rector and died in 2003 in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he is buried.

Staff Sergeant Randleman’s service in Europe after the D-Day invasion was immortalized in Stephen Ambrose’s book “Band of Brothers,” which later was developed into an award-winning miniseries by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, in which Randleman was portrayed by actor Michael Cudlitz.

The statue is being funded completely with private funds.

Board of Corrections votes to accept land for planned prison

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Board of Corrections (BOC) on Friday (Nov. 8) voted to accept the land for a planned 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County. The move comes after considerable protest from county residents and Arkansas legislators who represent the area.

Six of the seven-member BOC voted to accept the land, with one member abstaining.

Gov. Sarah Sanders, Arkansas Department of Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace, Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness, and other state and local officials announced Oct. 31 that the state has purchased land north of Charleston in Franklin County to build the prison. The cost for the 815 acres was $2.9 million.

More than 1,800 area residents attended a town hall Thursday to ask questions about the prison and push back against it being built in Franklin County.

Board of Corrections votes to accept land for planned prison