Little Rock hosts PGA Champions Tour

KUAR | By Brock Sheets

The Simmons Bank Championship, the second of three Charles Schwab Cup tournaments, concluded last month and crowned a winner in Little Rock. The tournament had several legends from the Professional Golfers Association in attendance. There were 54 golfers in total competing, including World of Golf Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Padraig “Paddy” Harrington.

Their long drives, straight chips, and calculated putts reflected their dedication to the game. Tracy West, Pro Links Sports’ executive vice president of PGA Tour tournaments, spoke on the impact of these golfing pros at a press conference last September.

“The beautiful thing about the PGA Champions Tour is these guys have made their mark. They’re legends of the game,” she said. “When you literally go, and see them drive off the first tee, and see what they can do, it’s gonna thrill you, excite you, and make you feel incredibly inadequate in your golf game all at the same time.”

Little Rock hosts PGA Champions Tour

'Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience' arrives in Little Rock

KUAR | By Nathan Treece

Even if you have studied the life and work of a particular artist in-depth, there is something to be said for getting a new perspective on even the most well-known works of art.

You could say the artist Vincent van Gogh has become somewhat of a rockstar of the art world. Iterations of the impressionist's works can be found in museums, on mouse pads, and everywhere in between. The man himself has become the poster child for the troubled genius archetype.

The legend of van Gogh has even been adapted into a full-length movie animated entirely using stills painted in his signature style.

'Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience' arrives in Little Rock

Will Newton/2024 Will Newton

Two visitors enjoy the Van Gogh Immersive Experience at its soft opening in Little Rock.

Attorney General Griffin names Arkansas chef to compete in 20th Annual Great American Seafood Cook-off

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing that he has nominated Executive Chef Payne Harding, owner of Cache restaurant in Little Rock, to represent Arkansas in the 20th Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off on August 3, 2024, in New Orleans:

“Arkansas, with its abundance of quality ingredients and unique culinary traditions, has produced some of the best chefs around. I look forward to Chef Harding continuing the tradition of Arkansas chefs participating in this competition, which is hosted by my good friend Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser.

“Chef Harding’s attention to detail—both in the running of Cache and his use of ingredients—has made his restaurant a ‘go-to’ place in Little Rock. I fully expect him to apply that same level of skill in this competition and help highlight the culinary excellence that Arkansas has to offer the nation.”

Harding opened Cache in 2014. He is a 2009 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and a 2012 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He was also named a Certified Executive Chef by the American Culinary Federation in 2019.

Steven Baker named executive director of Clinton National Airport

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

The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission appointed Steven C. Baker as the new executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT), effective Aug. 6.

The airport commission unanimously approved Baker’s hiring last month, and his contract has been finalized with an annual base salary of $275,000 plus benefits, according to a press release shared Friday (July 12).

Baker succeeds Bryan Malinowski, who was killed by federal ATF agents in a home raid on March 19 in Little Rock.

Steven Baker named executive director of Clinton National Airport

Airport director dies following shootout with ATF agents

Clinton National Airport

Bryan Malinowski

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of Little Rock's Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, died from injuries sustained during a shootout with federal agents earlier in the week. He was 53 years old.

Malinowski was reportedly shot in the head following a shootout with agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives early Tuesday. He allegedly opened fire on agents attempting to serve a search warrant at his home in west Little Rock, injuring one agent.

Malinowski worked for the airport since 2008, serving as its executive director since 2019. The airport's deputy executive director, Tom Clarke, was named acting executive director earlier in the week.

Airport director dies following shootout with ATF agents

Cat show returns to Little Rock this weekend

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Cat lovers from across the country are descending on Little Rock this weekend. The Cat Fanciers’ Association Gulf Shore Regional Cat Show is set for Saturday and Sunday at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds.

Show manager Kate Sain says visitors can expect a much larger show this year.

“Last year, we had a one-day cat show. This one is two days. We almost filled with cat entries; a maximum capacity show is 225 cats, and we got 211 entries which is huge,” she said.

Sain says more than 15 vendors will also be on-site, as well as a pop-up veterinary clinic. She says the show is especially important for participants, since it’s near the end of the annual cat show season which ends in April.

Cat show returns to Little Rock this weekend

Gov. Sanders promises upgrades to deaf, blind school campuses

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Students with the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired will get new facilities. Gov. Sarah Sanders, Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva and other officials announced Wednesday (Feb. 14) that final plans are being formulated to reconfigure a shared campus for the schools located in Little Rock’s Stift Station neighborhood.

A timeline for the construction was not released, but Sanders said she hopes work begins “quickly.” A cost for the project, which will include the construction of new primary learning facilities for both schools with some shared common use buildings, was not released, but Sanders noted that $30 million for this project was set aside by the legislature in 2021.

The facilities are outdated and the infrastructure for the schools is in disrepair. Oliva said they have been working for about a year to formulate a plan. State officials promised many years ago to take care of blind and deaf students in the state and those efforts have fallen short, Sanders added.

Gov. Sanders promises upgrades to deaf, blind school campuses

Parnell Hall, Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Aerospace Alliance, 189th Wing collaborating to recruit skilled personnel

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Mark Bremer’s path to becoming vice president of industrial programs for Dassault Falcon Jet started 38 years ago at the Little Rock Air Force Base. On Feb. 2, he was back hoping to find skilled employees among Air Guard and Air Force personnel.

Bremer was at the Air Force base for the Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance Industry Day. Twenty Alliance companies set up booths in a hangar next to a C-130 troop transport as guests of the Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing.

The companies and the wing both had the same goals: connecting and recruiting.

Members of the wing’s full-time and part-time personnel visited the booths. Members of the Arkansas Army National Guard and full-time Air Force personnel also were scheduled to visit it.

Aerospace Alliance, 189th Wing collaborating to recruit skilled personnel

Officials stand in front of a Dassault Falcon 8x Jet.

Winter Weather Advisory with freezing rain expected from the NWS

Arctic air remains entrenched across Arkansas, but will start to exit to the east later tonight and Monday. Clouds and moisture will continue to increase tonight with rain developing. The precipitation will be in the form of freezing rain through Monday morning before temperatures warm and it transitions over to just regular rain.

Before this change occurs, a quarter of an inch of ice or more could fall over parts of western and  northern Arkansas where ice storm warnings are in effect. Outside of the warning area, winter weather advisories are in effect for some ice accumulation.

Additional rounds of rain are expected through the week with several inches of rain possible, especially over the south and southeast.

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
227 PM CST Sun Jan 21 2024

ARZ050-051-059>061-OKZ077-221100-
/O.CON.KSHV.WW.Y.0002.240122T0400Z-240122T1500Z/
Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-McCurtain-
Including the cities of De Queen, Nashville, Mineral Springs,
Dierks, Ashdown, Hope, Prescott, Idabel, and Broken Bow
227 PM CST Sun Jan 21 2024

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS
EVENING TO 9 AM CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations of around
  one tenth of an inch, except isolated higher amounts between a
  tenth to a quarter of an inch in the higher elevations of
  Northern McCurtain, Northern Sevier, and Northern Howard
  Counties.

* WHERE...Portions of southwest Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma.

* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible, especially
  on bridges and overpasses. The hazardous conditions could
  impact the overnight and morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Prepare for possible
power outages.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Arctic Air blasts Arkansas this weekend; freezing rain and heavy rainfall early next week

From the National Weather Service in Little Rock

Arctic air is arriving from the Plains Friday morning. A gusty northwest wind will produce wind chill index values from zero to ten below zero in the northern two to three rows of counties in Arkansas. 

Below to much below normal temperatures will continue through the weekend. Saturday will be the coldest day, with lows in the single digits and teens and highs in the 20s and 30s. Minimum wind chill indices will be in the single digits above and below zero Friday night into Saturday morning. 

Late Sunday night and Monday, Arctic air will begin exiting to the east. Clouds and moisture will increase, with rain developing. Precipitation will likely start off as freezing rain, with the potential for at least a tenth of an inch of ice in northern/western sections of the state. 

Rain will continue through at least Thursday. The forecast calls for one to more than three inches of rain across the region, with the heaviest amounts over the southern counties.

Another arctic air blast coming our way; Winter Weather Briefing from the NWS

Pockets of very light freezing rain are expected in portions of central and eastern Arkansas this morning. A light glaze of ice is possible in places. Amounts will be on the order of a trace to a few hundredths of an inch.  A Winter Weather Advisory has been posted. 

Another round of Arctic air will arrive Thursday night/Friday, and will stay with us through the weekend. The magnitude of this surge of cold air will not rival what we have experienced lately, but temperatures will be well below normal. Saturday will be the coldest day with temperatures starting to recover Sunday. 

As Arctic air exits to the east early next week, moisture will increase across the Plains. Rain will likely develop across the region on Monday, and may begin as a period of freezing rain in the morning. At this time, it appears some icing is possible, especially in western sections of the state.

Winter Weather Briefing and road conditions for Arkansas from the National Weather Service and IDriveArkansas

• Snow has let up over most of the northern half of Arkansas. Another round of snow and sleet is expected to develop across the southern half of the state, with additional accumulations of 0.5” to 1” possible through this afternoon.

• Travel impacts (including hazardous road conditions and reduced visibilities) will be possible where snowfall or sleet occurs, including major throughways, bridges/overpasses, and rural roads.

• Bitterly cold temperatures, much below climatological averages, are expected to continue through at least Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Temperatures have fallen to single digits to below-zero in portions of northern Arkansas, and daily high temperatures will likely not rise above freezing again until Wednesday afternoon (at the earliest) for most areas of the state.

• Morning minimum wind chill values will remain below zero degrees over a large portion of Arkansas, and persist at hazardous levels through at least Wednesday morning due to abundant Arctic air and breezy conditions.

• A brief reprieve from below-normal temperatures will resume on Wednesday and Thursday, and another shot of Arctic air is forecast to move into the region by late this week, bringing more belownormal temps through this coming weekend.

Winter storm moving into Arkansas this weekend

The National Weather Service in Little Rock advises:

• As colder air moves in this morning, rain will continue transitioning to light snow across west/northwest Arkansas, with less than an inch of accumulation at most locations.

• Beginning mid-morning, sustained wind speeds between 25 and 30 mph will be common across the state, with gusts over 45 mph.

• Precipitation will exit the state by Friday evening, with winds settling down by late Friday night.

• By late Saturday, Arctic air will begin to surge into the region from the northwest. This will result in below to much below average temperatures through early next week. Once cold air is in place, it appears that wintry precipitation will become more likely Sunday night into Monday. There is potential for warning criteria snow (several inches or more). Stay tuned for specifics.

National Weather Service - Little Rock Briefing

We are now looking ahead and focusing on two potentially impactful weather systems. The first is expected this Thursday and Friday (Jan 11-12). The second is expected early next week (Jan 14-15).  

The Thursday/Friday system will bring 1.5-2" of rain, chances for isolated storms, snow across western and northern portions of the state, and potential for wind gusts 40-45+ mph.  

Arctic air will slip into southern portions of the U.S. this weekend into early next week, bringing well below-average temperatures to Arkansas. Warning criteria snow amounts appear possible for Sunday and Monday. 

4 US solar manufacturers join American Made initiative

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Little Rock-based solar power developer Scenic Hill Solar announced Thursday (Dec. 14) that four U.S-based solar equipment manufacturers have joined an initiative to encourage the manufacturing of American-made array components.

The American Made, Arkansas Built initiative now includes Array Technologies, Shoals Technologies Group, OMCO Solar and APA Solar Racking. In 2022, Scenic Hill Solar launched the initiative with First Solar, Yaskawa Solectria Solar, Nextracker, Zekelman Industries and KORE Power Inc.

“With our nine premier partners in the American Made, Arkansas Built Initiative, we are pushing for a restoration of American leadership in renewable energy,” said Bill Halter, CEO of Scenic Hill Solar. “The solar industry began in the United States, but then manufacturing shifted overseas. Our partnership with these leading American companies will help bring the industry back home to America by focusing on innovation and collaboration among the premier American manufacturers of solar equipment and batteries.

4 US solar manufacturers join American Made initiative

Severe storms are possible for the upcoming weekend according to the National Weather Service

• A strong cold front will surge through Arkansas from the Plains on Saturday. The front will trigger showers and thunderstorms.

• There is a risk of severe thunderstorms on Saturday as the front plows into an unseasonably mild (springlike) and unstable environment across the state. Data currently indicates all modes of severe weather (including tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail) will be possible.

• Cooler and more seasonal air will follow the front Saturday night and Sunday. Residual moisture may yield a few snowflakes in the Ozark Mountains before precipitation ends Sunday afternoon.

The Great 100 Nurses Celebration of Arkansas 2023 held in Little Rock

The Great 100 Nurses Foundation honored 100 Great Nurses for their contributions and commitment to Nursing in Arkansas on Monday, October 2, 2023, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock, AR. The Keynote Speaker was Jasmine Bhatti, RN, MSN, Founder and CEO of NaviNurses, Homecare reimagined.

Sonia Bunyard, MSN, RN, AMB-BC (2023) of UAMS-Southwest in Texarkana, was congratulated by former honoree Tammaria Murray, MSN, RN, AMB-BC (2012) of UAMS-Pine Bluff. Both were Arkansas honorees of The Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas.

Congratulations to all 2023 Arkansas Honorees:

James Abshure, RN

Rachel Allison, RN

Sharon Aureli, RN

Tracy Bailey, RN

Stephanie Benning, RN

Ashley Benton, RN

Kellie Bishop, RN

Michelle Boone, RN

Jessica Branham, RN

Kristie Brockette, RN

Ella Buchanan, RN

Sonia Bunyard, RN

Saprina Butler, RN

Kim Cannon, RN

Yvette Coleman, RN

Collin Condit, RN

Tammy Corley, RN

Victoria Cothren, RN

Julie Davio, RN

Jama Davis, RN

Bonnie Dawson, RN

Catherine C. Dunlap, RN

Jillian Edwards, RN

Shelley Elton, RN

Je’Nine Evans, RN

Rachel Floyd, RN

Tammy Gaines, RN

Laura Gill, RN

Iris Golden Griffith, RN

Michelle Gonzalez, RN

Stacy Gordon, RN

Luke Gower, RN

Ebonye Green, RN

Amy Grimes, RN

Kasey Grimmett, RN

Alison Harrell, RN

Kimberly Havard, RN

Heidi Hendrix, RN

Jameka Jackson, RN

Christine Jeffrey, RN

Morgan Johnson, RN

Raeshauna Johnson, RN

Conley Jones, RN

Jamie Jones, RN

Julie Jones, RN

Shirley Jones, RN

John Kearney, III, RN

Micah Kelly, RN

Kristen Kemp, RN

Shana Kersey, RN
Shana Kersey, RN

Glenda Lancaster, RN

Wanda Lusk, RN

Ann Marie Mahan, RN

Ma'Ressa Masters-Hancock, RN

Kleta (Danielle) McKissen, RN

Kara McShane, RN

Joshua Meeler, RN

Kristin Miller, RN

Marisa Molinaro, RN

Ashley Murdock, RN

Dustin Murphy, RN

Doug Neal Reeves, RN

Angela Noblitt, RN

Jaeda Oliver, RN

Megan Owen, RN

Ronald Payne, RN

Crystal Pearson, RN

Tammy Penka, RN

Stacy Pettus, RN

Bonnie Phillips, RN

Kristin Phillips, RN

Julia Ponder, RN

Fermin Renteria, RN

Rae Rhodes, RN

Lindsey Richardson, RN

Jyrissa Robinson, RN

Rhonda Roetzel, RN

Sarah Rogers, RN

Carol Ruscin, RN

Kimberly Sanders, RN

Cheryl Scott, RN

Jennifer Shuler, RN

Jeremy Smith, RN

Michael Smith, RN

Shannon Smith, RN

Tiffany Spivey, RN

Shiquita Stewart, RN

Denita Stroud, RN

Norman Swope, RN

Jennifer Thompson, RN

Wiltrud Tollefson, RN

Lisa Wallace, RN

Brent Wear, RN

Rebecca Webb, RN

Angela Weems, RN

Anna Elisabeth Williams, RN

Vallon Williams, RN

Chengjie Zhao, RN

Eryn Zimmerebner, RN

Hillary Clinton visits Little Rock, speaks on decline of civic engagement

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Former Secretary of State and Arkansas First Lady Hillary Clinton visited Little Rock on Friday, where she shared her ideas on a perceived decline in democracy and civic engagement. Clinton was part of a panel discussion hosted by the Clinton Foundation at the Robinson Center in downtown Little Rock.

Clinton said one of the main issues facing democracy is an increase in polarization. She said the lack of social groups and gatherings is a contributing factor.

“We were big joiners in the United States. In the informal basis of backyard barbecue with your neighborhood, or on a formal basis if you joined the Kiwanis, the Rotary Club or Girl Scouts or whatever else you join,” she said. “All of a sudden that was diminishing, and polarization and divisiveness was increasing.”

Hillary Clinton visits Little Rock, speaks on decline of civic engagement (ualrpublicradio.org)

Ronak Patel/Little Rock Public Radio

Robert Putman (left), author of "Bowling Alone," former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Rebecca Davis, filmmaker of "Join or Die," speak in an event at Little Rock's Robinson Center on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative, CALS Present ‘Vaccine Update for Older Adults’ on Oct. 17

By News Staff

Sept. 26, 2023 | LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) and the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) are collaborating to present a program “Vaccine Update for Older Adults” on Oct. 17, at Noon. The guest speaker will be Jennifer Dillaha, M.D., director and state health officer of the Arkansas Department of Health.

The program will be held in person at Dee Brown Library, at 6325 Baseline Road in Little Rock. A remote attendance option will be available via Zoom; visit agec.uams.edu/community-events for that link.

The program is organized and supported by AGEC at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Central Arkansas Library System. AGEC and CALS use these education sessions to provide social support, activities and conversation for older adults.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/09/26/uams-arkansas-geriatric-education-collaborative-cals-present-vaccine-update-for-older-adults-on-oct-17/

Join the UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative and Central Arkansas Library System at “Vaccine Update for Older Adults” on Oct. 17.

Proclamation for The 75th Anniversary Year of War Memorial Stadium

WHEREAS:  2023 commemorates the 75th anniversary of War Memorial Stadium, dedicated in 1948 as a tribute to Arkansans who had given their lives in the service of their country during the two world wars;
 
WHEREAS:  Over time, War Memorial Stadium has evolved into an active tribute to all Arkansans who have served and paid the ultimate price for their country;
 
WHEREAS:  In 1947, the state legislature passed Act 249 to purchase $500,000 in stadium commission bonds to help finance the construction of the stadium;
 
WHEREAS:  On September 18, 1948, Medal of Honor recipient and former Razorback, Maurice “Footsie” Britt dedicated the stadium in “the memory of her native sons and daughters who have given so much that we might have our freedom”;
 
WHEREAS:  Over the years, military personnel have been honored at War Memorial Stadium through programs, tributes, and monuments;
 
WHEREAS:  The first event at the stadium in 1948 was a University of Arkansas football game, and the venue has since hosted more than 200 Razorback football games with 152 victories;
 
WHEREAS:  War Memorial Stadium opened with an original seating capacity of 31,000. The stadium’s seating capacity increased to accommodate 53,727 in 1967 and again in 2010 to 54,120;
 
WHEREAS:  War Memorial Stadium has hosted President Harry S. Truman, comedian Bob Hope, and the Reverend Billy Graham;
 
WHEREAS:  War Memorial Stadium has welcomed world-renowned musical artists such as Elton John, Billy Joel, the Eagles, the Rolling Stones, George Strait, N’Sync, and Guns ‘n Roses, drawing tens of thousands of fans for each show;
 
WHEREAS:  War Memorial Stadium was listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places in 1998;
 
WHEREAS:  In celebration of the stadium’s 60th anniversary and as part of its rededication, the Sturgis Veterans Plaza opened in 2008 on the stadium’s northwest side as a place of remembrance and reflection. The plaza includes a 25-foot “Stars and Stripes” sculpture designed by Kathleen Caricof;
 
WHEREAS:  In addition to the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Hendrix College have hosted sporting events at War Memorial Stadium;
 
WHEREAS:  The Little Rock Rangers soccer team, a member of the National Premier Soccer League, calls War Memorial Stadium its home;
 
WHEREAS:  War Memorial Stadium serves as host to the prestigious NJCAA Football Championships; and
 
WHEREAS:  War Memorial Stadium has played a significant role in the culture of the Natural State as a symbol of the collective pride of Arkansans in their war veterans, as well as collective pride in the State of Arkansas, and the Razorbacks, as its playing field in central Arkansas.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim 2023 as:
 

“THE 75th ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM”

 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 25th day of August, in the year of our Lord 2023.