UAMS Establishes Institute for Community Health Innovation

By David Wise

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced today the establishment of its eighth institute, the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation, effective March 1.

The institute will work with communities across Arkansas to conduct community-based research and deploy community-driven programs to improve health outcomes in rural and medically underserved regions of the state.

The institute, which will be based in Northwest Arkansas, will have staff and offices across the state, including in Batesville, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Jonesboro, Lake Village, Little Rock, Magnolia, Pine Bluff and Texarkana.

UAMS Establishes Institute for Community Health Innovation

Gov. Sanders appoints David Haak to Arkansas Highway Commission

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

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Thursday (Jan. 26) that she will appoint David Haak to serve as a member of the Arkansas Highway Commission. His term will expire on January 14, 2033.

Haak, a former GOP State Representative from Texarkana, will replace Robert Moore, former Democratic Speaker of the House from Arkansas City.

“Today, I will be appointing David Haak to serve on the Arkansas Highway Commission – someone who will play a critical role in bringing new, high paying jobs to the state while improving the quality of life for all Arkansans,” Sanders said. “David’s lifetime of public service, community involvement, and strong leadership will make him an asset to the commission – and I am confident that together we will ensure that U.S. Highway 82 finally becomes a four-lane interstate, unleashing south Arkansas’ full economic potential.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/gov-sanders-appoints-david-haak-to-arkansas-highway-commission/

Arkansas Senate approves process for ethics violation hearings

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Arkansas lawmakers set the framework Monday for hearings that will take place this week concerning ethics violations by Republican senators Alan Clark of Lonsdale and Mark Johnson of Ferndale.

Last month, the Senate Ethics Committee found Clark had asked Johnson to place his name on a sign-in sheet for a Boys State meeting he did not attend to receive reimbursement. The full Senate will vote whether to penalize the two.

According to a document provided by the committee, the penalties recommended for Clark and Johnson include:

• A letter of reprimand

• Removal as committee chair or co-chair for the remainder of the rest of the 93rd General Assembly

• Losing eligibility for per diem and mileage for the remainder of the 93rd General Assembly

• Losing future considering to serve on the Boys State, Girls State and Senate Ethics Committee

  https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-07-18/arkansas-senate-approves-process-for-ethics-violation-hearings

Ronak Patel/KUAR News

Senate President Pro Tem Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, on Monday said he will relinquish his duties of presiding over the chamber during an ethics violation hearing later this week.

VIDEO: Mural Girl - Darlene Taylor in SW Arkansas

Arkansas PBS Adds First Of Five New Signals To Expand Coverage

By MICHAEL HIBBLEN

Arkansas PBS is now broadcasting on an additional signal near Russellville. It’s the first of five new transmitters being added this year to provide broadcast coverage to nearly the entire state.

$6.4 million from federal CARES Act funding awarded to the state and allocated by a state steering committee made the expansion possible. Courtney Pledger, executive director and CEO of Arkansas PBS, said in a press release that the funding "enables us to be a truly statewide network and better serve the many Arkansans who live in areas without broadband coverage, or who cannot afford cable, satellite or broadband – those most in need of our education programming and services."

The broadcaster, which is part of the state government, says the project will increase coverage from 76% of Arkansas to 99.5%. Additional signals are expected to be on the air by the end of the year near Mena, Harrison, Texarkana and in Forrest City.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-pbs-adds-first-five-new-signals-expand-coverage

The tower on Lee Mountain near Russellville which is the first of five new signals that Arkansas PBS says will go on the air this year to provide coverage to nearly the entire state.

CREDIT ARKANSAS PBS

DEA Raided Several Area Landsdell Family Clinics on Tuesday

Several locations of Landsdell Family Clinics in southwest Arkansas were raided Tuesday morning by DEA agents and local authorities. The known locations of the raids included: Lockesburg, Dierks, Texarkana, and 2 locations in De Queen, AR. The investigation is underway and in the early phase of collecting information. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office out of the Western District of Arkansas.

Texarkana Airport Receives $4.9 Million in Federal Funds

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.96 million in federal funds to Texarkana Regional Airport-Webb Field.

The money will be used to reconstruct the airport’s terminal building. This funding is awarded through the FAA’s second round of FY21 Airport Improvement Program grants.

The purpose of the Airport Improvement Program is for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/texarkana-airport-receives-4-9-million-in-federal-funds/

Texarkana Arkansas Restaurant Refuses To Follow Directive For Employees To Wear Masks

By MICHAEL HIBBLEN

Despite a clear directive from Gov. Asa Hutchinson that Arkansas restaurant employees who come in contact with customers must wear face masks, some restaurants are still not taking the safety precaution to try and limit the spread of the coronavirus. But Hutchinson said Tuesday he believes most restaurants are following his guidance.

One restaurant that has not required any employees to wear masks, according to an employee who spoke with a KUAR reporter Saturday, is a Chicken Express franchise in Texarkana, Ark. It also appeared that there was no effort by employees to maintain social distancing.

“We’re not required to wear masks,” said the employee who didn’t give her name.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-restaurant-refuses-follow-directive-employees-wear-masks

An employee at a Chicken Express restaurant in Texarkana, Ark. telling a reporter Saturday that employees are not required to wear masks. That assertion was contradicted by the state Department of Health and Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

SW Arkansas/Texarkana Area New Arkansas Hot Spot for COVID-19

While Northeast Arkansas has been hit hard in recent weeks with a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Texarkana area in the southwest corner of the state has some of the highest 14-day moving average positivity rates.

Miller County, the home of Texarkana, has the highest 14-day moving average rate of 23.3%, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Rounding out the top five are Sevier County, just north of Miller, at 19.6%; Mississippi County at 19.5%; Lafayette County, just east of Miller County, at 17.2%; and Jackson County at 16.3%.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/10/covid-19-positivity-rates-highest-in-southwest-and-northeast-corners-of-arkansas/

COVID-19 positivity rates highest in southwest and northeast corners of Arkansas - Talk Business & Politics

While Northeast Arkansas has been hit hard in recent weeks with a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Texarkana area in the southwest corner of the state has some of the highest 14-day moving average positivity rates. Miller County, the home of Texarkana, has the highest 14-day moving average rate of 23.3%, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).