State of the State Mid-Year 2024: ‘Freight recession’ continues for trucking industry

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The transportation sector and trucking in particular have been mired in an economic downturn for more than a year, and several stakeholders within the sector told Talk Business & Politics that there probably won’t be an uptick until the early part of 2025.

Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton said the trucking industry is suffering from a “freight recession” spurred by inflation, high interest rates and higher fuel prices.

“Economic conditions continue to languish in a lackluster stage. … There are mixed signals on an economic uptick. Even this week, new numbers were released showing a miniscule improvement over last month, but still underperforming from where we were a year ago, which wasn’t great then,” she said.

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: ‘Freight recession’ continues for trucking industry

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Medical providers pinched by disparity in costs, payments

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas health care providers are facing increasing costs without matching payment increases from government payers and insurance companies. It’s a major issue in a state that ranks near the bottom in maternal and infant mortality rankings.

Dr. Joe Thompson, president and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, a healthcare research and policy development organization, said the state is “still in a recovery mode from the acute effects of COVID.” Thompson was referring to inflationary pressures caused by the pandemic, when labor and supply costs increased dramatically. While hospitals are no longer relying on high-paid traveling nurses, the use of that resource during the pandemic has driven up labor costs for full-time staff.

At the same time, Medicaid, which serves primarily lower-income individuals, hasn’t increased payments, while Medicare, which serves older Arkansans, hasn’t increased them enough. Commercial insurance, the health care system’s other primary payer, is trying to limit reimbursement increases.

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Medical providers pinched by disparity in costs, payments

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Schools implementing LEARNS; funding formula change coming?

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

What’s the state of the state in education? Schools are implementing Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act. Legislators are performing the biennial adequacy study that will determine school funding amounts for the next two years. In next year’s legislative session, they could craft a new funding formula.

The sweeping 2023 LEARNS Act made major changes to the state’s education system but left many of the details to the rulemaking process. Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva estimated in an interview that “95%” of the rules are ready. Many had to be completed by July 1.

Among the most notable aspect of LEARNS was its creation of “educational freedom accounts.” Through these, 90% of the state per pupil foundation funding traditionally provided to schools instead goes to eligible families that can use them for qualifying expenses for nonpublic school alternatives. Roughly $7,000 per student will be provided to those families this upcoming second year of the program. Up to 3% of public school students can use them for private schools. Next year, there will be no percentage restrictions, and homeschooled students will be eligible.

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Schools implementing LEARNS; funding formula change coming?