by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

The energy sector has welcomed the emergence of the lithium industry in Arkansas while it grapples with rising electricity demand and declining generation as coal-fired plants are retired. Leaders look to a mix of solutions to meet demand, avoid an “energy crisis” and “restore American energy dominance.”

Lauren Waldrip, executive director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA), highlighted one of the state’s most notable developments over the past year: the expansion of the lithium industry in southwest Arkansas.

“That is a new component of our membership,” Waldrip said. “We are seeing participation from folks like Exxon, Standard Lithium, as well as community and municipality organizations from that side of the state.”

State of the State 2025: Leaders highlight ways to meet growing energy needs

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Gov. Sarah Sanders’ 2023 LEARNS Act changed K-12 education. Her focus now is on changing higher education. In her Jan. 14 State of the State address, Sanders introduced the Arkansas ACCESS plan to make higher education more workforce centered.

While she didn’t provide details, she would change the funding formula to emphasize non-degree credentials along with bachelor’s and associate’s degrees. ACCESS also would expand scholarships for those certificate pathways.

Sanders also would create a single application with one fee for prospective students to apply to any state-supported college or university. She would fund college credits while students are still in high school. Meanwhile, she called for terminating professors who she said waste time indoctrinating students.

State of the State 2025: Two years after LEARNS, focus is on higher ed