Cotton, colleagues to DOJ and FTC: Systemic, weaponized leaks violate ethics rules

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today led four of his colleagues in a letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and Federal Trade Commissioner Inspector General Andrew Katsaros, demanding an investigation into systemic media leaks. These leaks, all to the same media outlet, resulted in negative headlines about the Biden-Harris administration’s antitrust targets and potentially violated ethics rules.

Co-signers to the letter included Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska). 

In part, the senators wrote:

“These leaks result in negative headlines about the administration’s targets while the targeted companies have no way to respond, as they haven’t yet seen the potential lawsuits. Both DOJ and FTC have ethics rules that prohibit leaking civil cases before the cases are filed.”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

October 24, 2024

The Honorable Michael Horowitz 
United States Department of Justice
Office of the Inspector General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

Mr. Andrew Katsaros Inspector General
Federal Trade Commission 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

Dear Inspectors General Horowitz and Katsaros,

We write asking you to investigate whether the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have violated their own ethics rules by systematically leaking potential antitrust cases to a specific media outlet.

Since 2023, Bloomberg News has broken the news in at least twelve instances that DOJ or FTC was “preparing” or “poised” to take legal action before a lawsuit was filed. Indeed, the same journalist reported on eleven of these cases. This pattern strongly suggests that certain officials at DOJ and FTC are intentionally publicizing legal action days or weeks before filing. 

These leaks result in negative headlines about the administration’s targets while the targeted companies have no way to respond, as they haven’t yet seen the potential lawsuits. Both DOJ and FTC have ethics rules that prohibit leaking civil cases before the cases are filed.[*]

Bloomberg News reporting DOJ and FTC antitrust actions before the filing of a lawsuit

1. January 23, 2023: DOJ Poised to Sue Google Over Digital Ad Market Dominance

2. February 23, 2023: DOJ Preps Antitrust Suit to Block Adobe’s $20 Billion Figma Deal

3. May 15, 2023: Amgen’s $28 Billion Horizon Deal Faces Unexpected FTC Hurdle

4. June 29, 2023: Lina Khan Is Coming for Amazon, Armed With an FTC Antitrust Suit

5. October 16, 2023: Real Estate Brokers Pocketing Up to 6% in Fees Draw Antitrust Scrutiny

6. February 20, 2024: FTC, States to Sue Over Kroger-Albertsons Deal Next Week

7. March 20, 2024: Justice Department to Sue Apple for Antitrust Violations

8. April 10, 2024: Nippon Steel Bid to Buy US Steel Gets Extended Antitrust Review

9. April 17, 2024: Tapestry’s $8.5 Billion Capri Deal Faces Planned FTC Lawsuit

10. May 22, 2024: US Justice Department to Seek Breakup of Live Nation-Ticketmaster

11. July 10, 2024: FTC Preparing Suit Against Drug Middlemen Over Insulin Rebates

12. September 23, 2024: Visa Faces Justice Department Antitrust Case on Debit Cards

These leaks aren’t just unethical, but they harm these companies’ employees, shareholders, and others. If the companies have engaged in wrongdoing, by all means the government should try them in a court of law. But the Biden-Harris administration shouldn’t try them in the liberal media. These leaks appear to be simply one more instance of this administration weaponizing the administrative state against politically disfavored opponents and critics, much like DOJ investigating parents at school-board meetings or the FTC targeting Elon Musk and Twitter for insufficient censorship of conservatives.

We urge you to investigate promptly these systematic, unethical, and potentially illegal leaks.

Sincerely,                           

Land-grant faculty, staff earn honors at annual Ag Awards

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Outstanding land-grant faculty and staff were honored Friday during the annual Agriculture Awards, held at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.

AG AWARDS — Amanda McWhirt, associate professor and extension specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture,  spoke on behalf of the Expanding the Fresh-Market Blackberry Industry Team, which won the John W. White Outstanding Team Award. (U of A System Division of Ag photo.)

The event recognizes the achievements of those from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, representing the extension, research and teaching missions of the nation’s land-grant system in Arkansas.

“These awards do more than recognize the excellence in our ranks. Since our winners are nominated by their colleagues, these awards are an acknowledgement of the esteem in which their peers hold them,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System. “Nothing could be more gratifying for our professionals and our organization.” 

The following were honored with John W. White Awards, which commemorate the first head of the Division of Agriculture.

• John W. White Outstanding Research Award – Kristen Gibson, professor of food safety and microbiology, who joined the Division of Agriculture in 2010 as a postdoctoral research associate in the Center for Food Safety.

• John W. White Outstanding Teaching Award – Nathan Kemper, an associate professor of community and rural economic development and the director of undergraduate and online programs in the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness.

• John W. White Outstanding Extension State Faculty Award – Laura Hendrix, professor, department of family and consumer sciences.

• John W. White Outstanding County Extension Educator Award – Brad McGinley, Grant County extension staff chair.

• John W. White Outstanding Team Award – Expanding the Fresh-Market Blackberry Industry Team: Aaron Cato, extension specialist-horticulture integrated pest management; Amanda McWhirt, extension specialist-horticulture crops, Jackie Lee, director of the Fruit Research Station, and Margaret Worthington, fruit breeder, all of the department of horticulture; and Renee Threlfall, associate professor, department of food science.

The following were honored with Outstanding Support Personnel Awards.

Program Area Awards

• Daniel McCarty – Rice breeding program associate based at the Rice Research and Extension Center.

• Julian Abram – Program technician in the biological and agricultural engineering department.

 Support Function Awards

• Dwain Ober – Farm foreman, Fruit Research Station.

• Karen DiCicco – Assistant director of information technology, Cooperative Extension Service.

Support Staff Awards 

• Genean Butler – Associate for administration for agriculture and natural resources.

• Tonya Foster – Administrative manager for the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness

EXTENSION — John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service and senior associate vice president-extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, speaks at the 2024 Agriculture Awards. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

John Anderson, head of the Cooperative Extension Service, said that “our Agriculture Awards give us an annual reminder of the exceptional work being done in the Division of Agriculture and in Bumpers College across all or our land-grant mission areas. 

“This year’s awardees are all highly deserving of recognition for the quality and the impact of their work. Our Extension winners – both individually and in their contribution to interdisciplinary teams – have clearly earned the respect of their colleagues,” he said. “Their work in linking the UA System directly to our stakeholders with practical, relevant, and impactful programming deserves to be recognized and celebrated. These awards give us an opportunity to do just that.”

“The faculty and staff we recognize this year are a testament to the level of achievement we aim for as an institution. They reflect our values and our mission to innovate and improve people’s lives,” said Jean-François Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. “I am grateful for how these awardees set the standard for excellence with their impactful work.”

The following were honored with Bumpers College Awards:

• Outstanding Honors Thesis Mentor Award – Gisela Erf, an immunologist and holder of the Tyson Endowed Professorship in Avian Immunology in the department of poultry science and with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science.

• Alumni Society Outstanding Advising – Stephanie Hubert, a senior instructor of apparel merchandising and product development in Bumpers College’s School of Human Environmental Sciences.

• Jack G. Justus Teaching – Christopher Estepp, associate professor in the department of agricultural education, communications and technology.

• Dean’s Award of Excellence for Professional Staff – Kristin Seals, associate director of facilities and special events with the Bumpers College dean’s office.

• Spitze Land Grant University Faculty Award for Excellence – Walter Bottje, professor in the department of poultry science.

BUMPERS COLLEGE — Jeff Edwards, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, speaks at the 2024 Agriculture Awards. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

Jeff Edwards, dean of Bumpers College, offered his “congratulations to everyone who is receiving an award. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge members of the college faculty and staff who are being honored.

“We have the best faculty and staff on campus and these awards are a small way of recognizing all that they do,” Edwards said. “Their dedication to serving students, and others, stands out and I’m proud to have them representing Bumpers College as recipients of their respective awards.”

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. 

Grapes, blackberries, poultry immune system enhancement methods among patents recognized at annual Ag Awards

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — New fruit varieties and a means to enhance poultry immune systems developed by University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture scientists were among 10 patents recognized Friday during the annual Agriculture Awards.

PATENTS — Jason Norsworthy, Distinguished Professor and Elms Farming Chair of Weed Science in the crop, soil and environmental sciences department, center, accepts a patent award from Parker Cole, left, associate director of technology commercialization, and Jean-François Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and senior associate vice president for agriculture-research for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

All of the patents arose from discoveries made by scientists within the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension Service and some with the help of graduate students within the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

“I’m always excited about what our innovative researchers are doing,” said Lisa Childs, assistant vice president for technology commercialization for the Division of Agriculture. She is also a patent attorney.

“Once again this year, we have patents that reflect some of the broad range of commercially interesting research in the division,” she said. “We’ve had patents issue from horticulture, the rice research and extension center, entomology and plant pathology, poultry science, and crop soil and environmental science, and they all have in common the desire to make our world a better place to live in.”

Recognized this year were:

• Burkholderia Cenocepacia and Pseudomonas Fluorescens Compositions and Methods of Using the Same: Alejandro Rojas – department of entomology and plant pathology; and Ruben Morawicki – department of food science

• Table Grape Named A-1400 ‘Southern Sensation’: John Clark – department of horticulture

• Herbicide-Resistant Grain Sorghum: Jason Norsworthy and Muthukumar Bagavathiannan – department of crop, soil, and environmental sciences

• Robust Water Trading and Irrigation Performance Meter Measurement System: Christopher Henry – Rice Research and Extension Center

• Pseudomonas Protegens and Products Thereof to Control Bacterial Panicle Blight of Rice: Alejandro Rojas – department of entomology and plant pathology

• Blackberry Plant Named ‘APF-404T’: John Clark – department of horticulture

• Blackberry Plant Named APF-409T: John Clark – department of horticulture

• Table Grape Named ‘Compassion’: John Clark – department of horticulture

• Novel Mucosal Adjuvants and Delivery Systems: Amanda Wolfenden-Bray, Billy Hargis, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Marion Morgan, Neil Pumford, and Srichaitanya Shivaramaiah – department of poultry science

• Compositions and Methods of Enhancing Immune Responses to Eimeria or Limiting Eimeria: Billy Hargis, Lisa Bielke, Olivia Faulkner, and Srichaitanya Shivaramaiah – department of poultry science

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. 

Tips for safe trick-or-treating and candy consumption this Halloween

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — To ensure all children enjoy spooky fun this Halloween, it’s important for parents to establish safe trick-or-treating plans and include children with food allergies in the holiday’s festivities.

SAFE, SPOOKY FUN —  Parents should plan safe trick-or-treating routes for their children and inspect all candy for anything unwrapped, spoiled or suspicious. For children with food allergies, include them in Halloween festivities by making the holiday about more than just candy. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

Quad Whitson, extension culinary nutrition program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it’s critical for parents to always accompany young children during trick-or-treating.

“If trick-or-treating at night, stay close and always keep a watchful eye on them,” Whitson said. “Some Halloween activities are offered earlier throughout the day at churches, local businesses, community centers, schools or “trunk-or-treat” events in parking lots. Attending these types of events can be safer, and this also allows your child to stick to their regular bedtime.”

For older children who have been given permission to trick-or-treat with their friends, Whitson said parents should establish and review an acceptable and safe route for them to follow.

“Emphasize staying together as a group and help brainstorm ideas to ensure everyone makes it home safely by a predetermined time,” he said.

Parents should also discuss the importance of minimizing distractions while walking, especially for children with access to electronic devices.

“Staying on well-lit streets and utilizing sidewalks and established crosswalks can reduce the risk of unfortunate vehicular accidents,” Whitson said. “Motorists often have trouble seeing children, especially if their costume colors don’t stand out and blend in with the surrounding environment. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes for better visibility.”

Whitson said parents should also keep the following practices in mind:

• Remind children never to enter a stranger’s house or receive a ride home from a person or people they do not know.

• Before letting children eat any candy, sort and check them to ensure they have not been tampered with. Closely examine all treats and throw away anything unwrapped, spoiled or suspicious. If in doubt, throw it out!

• Depending on a child’s age, some treats can be a choking hazard. Babies and toddlers should not have any hard candy, popcorn, gum, small candy, or anything with nuts or seeds.

Establishing healthy relationships with sweets

Whitson said that though parents may be tempted to enforce strict, rigid rules around candy consumption for their children, this can be an opportunity for children to “learn mindfulness and stay calm around sweet treats.”

“As parents, you have the best interest in mind for your child, which may result in concerns that your child may ‘eat too much candy’ or become ‘addicted’ to sugar on this holiday when sweets are so abundant,” Whitson said. “These fears that parents have for their children can usually be attributed to their own experiences as kids. Maybe you were told that if you eat too much ‘junk food’ or candy, you’d ‘ruin your teeth’ or perhaps even ‘gain weight.’

“It’s integral that positive relationships are created around all food, including sweets,” Whitson said. “The best way to do this is to not micromanage your child during this joyous time, and instead allow them to learn from their experiences — most kids learn that having way too much candy is not necessarily a good thing and will learn to regulate their intake of treats down the road.”

Whitson suggested that instead of getting angry and punishing children for overeating candy, approach the situation with kindness and care, and discuss the problem together.

“Ask why they think they feel sick, what they could do next time to avoid the same feeling, and ultimately explain that overeating candy takes the fun out of Halloween.”

In the first two years of life, children do not need candy and other treats high in sugar, such as soda and sports drinks. For children aged two to four who have not had much opportunity to develop self-regulation skills, they will need help managing their candy stash.

“Try helping them out by giving them a daily amount of candy spread throughout the day that seems fair — maybe two or three pieces — and allowing them to decide when they will have it, such as one with their snack, lunch and dinner,” Whitson said. “Children older than four years old are likely ready to begin managing their candy stash with boundaries, such as when and where parents designate eating to occur.”

Whitson said taking this approach can help deal with some of the adverse effects of high sugar consumption, such as cavities and digestive issues.

Even with food allergies, make time for fun

Whitson said it is essential that children with food allergies are not left out during Halloween fun with friends and family.

“Accommodate your child,” Whitson said. “Halloween can be scary for parents of children with food allergies but allowing them to participate in events such as trick-or-treating with their friends can still happen.

“To better accommodate them, establish ‘safe homes’ on your predetermined route by talking to friends or neighbors to see if they could have allergy-friendly or non-food treats available for your child when they come by, so they can still participate and get that classic Halloween experience,” Whitson said.

Parents could also try the following ideas:

• Consider a “trading system” with your child. This system consists of your child trading out a candy or treat they receive for safe candy or snacks, or perhaps toys, that they would typically enjoy.

• Make Halloween about more than just candy. Brainstorm with your child about other aspects of the holiday, such as creating their costume, carving pumpkins, or planning a Halloween party with games and carefully chosen food items.

Parents should always carry epinephrine and other life-saving medications. Be sure to always have a child’s epinephrine device on hand in case of an emergency.

“Accidents happen sometimes, but being prepared can help ease tension surrounding this time, making the experience more enjoyable for everyone,” Whitson said.

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 Attorney General Griffin announces Medicaid fraud arrest

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the arrest of Victoria Smith-Williams, 36, of Conway on one count of Medicaid fraud, a Class B Felony:

“Working as a dental assistant while concurrently billing the state Medicaid program for the same hours worked is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers of our state. I will continue fighting against this type of fraud and holding people accountable for trying to take advantage of the state.

“I thank Chief Investigator Gregory McKay in my office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for his diligence in securing this arrest. I am also grateful to the Arkansas State Police for its assistance along with Sixth Judicial Prosecutor Will Jones, who has appointed Senior Assistant Attorney General Leigh Patterson to be the special deputy prosecutor in this case.”

Smith-Williams was arrested on October 17. While employed as a dental assistant, Smith-Williams submitted timesheets for Medicaid services purportedly rendered at the same time. She billed the state $18,000 for comprehensive community support services that were never rendered to Medicaid recipients. She was booked at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility and is currently free on $10,000 bond.

Freight recession likely to continue into early 2025

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

The less-than-truckload (LTL) market is faring better but still has freight volumes below pre-pandemic levels, according to Jason Miller, logistics professor at Michigan State University, who took part in a Journal of Commerce webcast on Oct. 24.

He also said the over-the-road full-truckload market is soft at best with October spot rates down a bit from a year ago.

Miller said the earliest he sees a recovery taking shape is last in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2025. He said a weaker global economy does not bode well for exports and despite the higher container volume coming into the U.S. this year, there has not been an uptick in freight demand large enough to move the needle.

Freight recession likely to continue into early 2025

Just in Time: Genoa Mom Grateful for Lifesaving Visit from UAMS MammoVan

By Marty Trieschmann

A 45-foot van in the parking lot of your child’s elementary school might seem an unlikely location for one of the most important medical exams of your life. It was ideal for Lyndee Braley.

The busy mother of three from tiny Genoa, Arkansas, population 972, had just turned 40 when she saw a notice on the school district’s message board that the UAMS MammoVan was coming to town.

“Genoa is so small. I was so surprised they came here,” said Braley. But Genoa and rural communities like it are exactly where the MammoVan wants to be.

Located in Miller County, Genoa sits in one of 28 Arkansas counties that lack an FDA-approved mammography facility. To fill the gap, the UAMS MammoVan travels the state — more than 300,000 miles so far — to small, rural areas to provide screening mammograms for breast cancer.

Just in Time: Genoa Mom Grateful for Lifesaving Visit from UAMS MammoVan

UAMS Chancellor’s Circle Awards Grants to 17 Programs

Image by Evan Lewis

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) awarded 17 grants totaling $350,000 at the annual Chancellor’s Circle Grant Awards ceremony held Oct. 23 at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum.

The Chancellor’s Circle is UAMS’ premier annual giving society, which marks its 40th anniversary in 2024. Through its unrestricted annual giving, this group of dedicated members donates more than $200,000 a year that funds grants to address the institution’s highest priorities. More than 250 household and corporate members make up the Chancellor’s Circle.

“I want to thank all the donors who support the Chancellor’s Circle, the funds of which will continue to have an impact on the lives of the people of our state,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Your partnership with us as members of the Chancellor’s Circle makes a critical difference in our ability to advance and grow the mission of UAMS to improve the health of all Arkansans.”

UAMS Chancellor’s Circle Awards Grants to 17 Programs

Delta Regional Authority funds 4 projects in Arkansas

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

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) announced Monday (Oct. 28) an investment of more than $25 million toward 25 projects through its Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF).

These projects span seven states within DRA’s eight-service region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi. Funding for this program was made available, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden. None of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation voted in support of the infrastructure law.

In Arkansas, there are four projects that were funded bringing more than $5 million to the state.

Delta Regional Authority funds 4 projects in Arkansas

State park access reopens at Millwood as AGFC knocks back invasive plant

BOOM MAZE
A series of floating booms was placed around the Millwood Lake State Park boat access during a recent eradication effort to help prevent Cuban bulrush from spreading by wind and wave action. AGFC photo.

BY Jim Harris

HOPE — Boat traffic has resumed in areas of Millwood Lake that were affected by the discovery of Cuban bulrush, an aquatic invasive plant, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s southwest region fisheries office.

Dylan Hann, AGFC district fisheries supervisor in Perrytown, said a containment boom to restrict the movement of floating pieces of Cuban bulrush near the Millwood State Park access, were modified so boaters can drive through it and reach spots to fish. It’s like a floating oil containment boom used with spills, and this one has been shaped to let boaters navigate through it while preventing the plant from spreading outside of the cove. “It’s similar to the containment that we have at boat ramps on Lake Columbia to prevent another invasive floating plant, giant salvinia, from congregating at the boat ramp and spreading to new waters” he said.

A contractor has sprayed the areas with Cuban bulrush twice this month, Hann said. This has helped knock the plant back, Hann added.

The plant “does produce seeds, so it’s likely going to produce new plants from the seed bank next spring. We’re going to work closely with the Millwood Corps of Engineers staff to make sure we stay on top of it. If we can knock it back next year before it produces seeds, we can get ahead of it,” he said.

OVERHEAD SHOT OF BULRUSH
Bulrush found and removed in Millwood Lake had an opportunity to spread seeds before it was eradicated, so AGFC will work with the Army Corps of Engineers to watch for and spray any additional plants that sprout in the next year. AGFC photo.  

Cuban bulrush looks like other aquatic grasses and sedges for much of the year, then around July to August it produces very noticeable seed heads that make it stand out as something clearly different from other lake vegetation. Millwood Lake also has mats of alligatorweed that the AGFC is treating through contractor spraying, and Cuban bulrush has been found growing on top of the alligatorweed, Hann noted. Cuban bulrush is a floating plant and is commonly found growing on top of other floating or emergent aquatic vegetation.  It can quickly  choke out shallow areas, creating dense floating mats that can block boating and fishing access and displace native native plants that are beneficial to native fish and wildlife, he added.

Cuban bulrush was likely transported to Millwood Lake from another waterbody unknowingly, by plant fragments or seeds hitching a ride on boats or trailers, which is how most invasive aquatic plants are spread to new waters.

The boating and angling public can help with stopping the spread of this and other aquatic invasive species by practicing: “Clean, Drain and Dry.” The public is urged to clean their boat, trailer and equipment after each use, completely drain all water from the boat and all compartments, and dry thoroughly. Also, the public is urged to keep an eye out for any suspicious plants (native or not) and report them to your local fisheries biologists. Be sure to note the location of the sighting and take a photo that includes the roots, leaves and flowers.

If you suspect you’ve come across an invasive aquatic plant, please report it online at www.agfc.com/ans.  Reports are used to help AGFC rapidly respond to contain and eradicate, if possible, new invasive species introductions before they can spread and establish.

BULRUSH IN PADS
Cuban bulrush can grow on floating plants and develop mats too thick for fish to live if left to grow uncontrolled. AGFC photo. 

The discovery of Cuban bulrush in Millwood was made only when an AGFC biologist doing bass sampling recently noticed the unusual pods in the aquatic vegetation.

“There are areas of the lake in expansive backwater sloughs that have Cuban bulrush with no way to effectively contain them with containment booms,” Hann said. “One advantage we had with the state park is it’s an isolated place where there isn’t any Cuban bulrush immediately outside that boom along the dam or along the northwest bank leaving the state park, so we were just trying to keep that area contained,” Hann said. “The booms are there to help catch floating vegetation. We want it to be contained there and not drift to other parts in the lake. We put out 800 feet of containment boom at the state park.”

Drought Conditions range from D1 - D3 in Arkansas

Across the country, the worst drought conditions (at least D3) were in the Rockies, Plains, mid-South (including Arkansas), Ohio Valley, and the central Appalachians.

A moderate to extreme drought (D1 to D3) was ongoing in southern, central, and western Arkansas in mid-October. (NSW - Little Rock)

Here at home in October (through the 14th), other than a few sprinkles in places, it was bone dry across the region. Cold fronts were preceded by well above average temperatures, and passed through with nothing more than a wind shift (and maybe a few clouds) followed by very low afternoon humidity levels (less than 20 percent at times). By the 18th, burn bans were posted in 55 (of 75) counties, and many of these counties had a high wildfire danger (according to the Arkansas Forestry Division). Agricultural disasters were declared in Nevada, Perry, and Yell Counties.

This dry scenario was nothing new. From the beginning of September through the two weeks of October, three to more than six inch rainfall deficits were common in portions of southern, central, and western Arkansas.

In 2024 (through October 14th), wet to very wet conditions were found across the central and southern counties, and it was not-so-wet in the northwest. Precipitation was more than six inches above average at El Dorado (Union County) and Little Rock (Pulaski County), and over six inches subpar at Fayetteville (Washington County) and Harrison (Boone County).

Cotton to Biden: Continued support for the UNRWA funds terrorist sctivities and prolongs war

UNGM Image

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to impose terrorism sanctions on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The Biden-Harris administration’s support for the UNRWA threatens American national security and enables continued violence while American hostages remain in Gaza. 

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

“Congress blocked funding to UNRWA earlier this year because of its ties to Hamas. Yet your administration continues to ignore both legislative intent and plain common sense. Your administration’s inadequate oversight has almost certainly enabled U.S. funds to flow to UNRWA affiliates. You even lectured Israel about its proposal to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization. Your administration has become UNRWA’s most prominent apologist and best advocate. ”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

October 23, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500                               

I write to protest the Biden-Harris administration’s continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and to urge you to impose terrorism sanctions on the agency. Your advocacy for the Hamas-affiliated UNRWA as “indispensable” to humanitarian aid in Gaza undercuts America’s national-security interests by prolonging the Israel-Hamas war, enabling continued violence, and sustaining enemies actively holding American hostages in Gaza.

Congress blocked funding to UNRWA earlier this year because of its ties to Hamas. Yet your administration continues to ignore both legislative intent and plain common sense. Your administration’s inadequate oversight has almost certainly enabled U.S. funds to flow to UNRWA affiliates. You even lectured Israel about its proposal to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization. Your administration has become UNRWA’s most prominent apologist and best advocate. 

The evidence for UNRWA’s complicity in Hamas’s terrorist activity is overwhelming. UNRWA itself admitted that many of its members participated in the October 7 attacks. Hamas terrorists have fired against Israel from UNRWA clinics. Israel has found weapons stashes in UNRWA facilities as well as tunnel shafts around and under those facilities. An Israeli hostage revealed he had been held in a UNRWA employee’s house. And Israel reportedly found a passport belonging to a UNRWA teacher on Yahya Sinwar’s body this week as well as UNRWA food bags in his bunker.

You must end your support for those who abet terrorism. I call on you to use your authority under Executive Order 13224 to designate UNRWA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, allowing the U.S. to impose sanctions and block UNRWA assets.

Sincerely,                           

Tom Cotton
United States Senator                     

Deadline approaches for business owners to comply with Corporate Transparency Act

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The deadline is fast approaching for many businesses across the country to file with the federal government.

Elizabeth Rumley, senior staff attorney at the National Ag Law Center, says the default assumption of small business owners should be to file under the Corporate Transparency Act, or confirm they are exempted, by Dec. 31. (Division of Agriculture photo)

The Corporate Transparency Act, or CTA, requires millions of small business entities to disclose details of their beneficial owners through a Beneficial Ownership Information, or BOI, report. The report is filed through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN.

The purpose of the CTA is to reduce financial crimes, such as money laundering, by taking stock of ownership information of businesses that operate within or have access to the U.S. market. The CTA is not new, having been enacted in 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Its reporting requirements went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Reporting companies must include information identifying “beneficial owners” of the business, including name, date of birth, address, and a copy of some specific forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport. 

In addition, companies created or registered after Jan. 1, 2024, must also include personal identifying information about the individuals responsible for the filing. Reporting is done entirely online.

Elizabeth Rumley, senior staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, said the CTA is a significant topic not just for those in agriculture, but also for all business owners.

“The CTA is an attempt at cataloguing a national corporate database that tracks U.S. business ownership,” Rumley said. “It’s one of the biggest topics that we have discussed with stakeholders this year, and its reach goes far beyond agriculture. The CTA impacts millions of the nation’s small business entities, and there are just over two months left to report.”

Rumley noted that there are potential significant consequences for failing to comply, including fines or imprisonment.

“There are certain entities that are exempt from filing, but the default assumption of small business owners should be to file, or confirm that they are exempted, by Dec. 31,” she said.

Getting the word out

As the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, the NALC has made it a key part of its mission in 2024 to spread word of the CTA ahead of the December filing deadline. Part of that approach has been the creation of a CTA factsheet, which is available online on the NALC website. The factsheet was authored by former NALC Research Fellow Caitlin Robb and Rumley.

“Our goal with the factsheet was to condense everything that is known about the CTA — including its history, what it does, who it impacts, how to file, situation examples, and more — into a resource to refer to,” Rumley said. “Through our speaking events and engagements with stakeholders in 2024, we have realized that many have limited knowledge of the CTA or are unaware of it entirely.”

Earlier this year, the NALC also hosted a webinar covering details of the CTA. Kristine Tidgren, director of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University, or CALT, presented the webinar, which is available to view online. Additionally, CALT has a webpage dedicated to information on the CTA.

“We understand there are many questions when it comes to the CTA,” Rumley said. “These resources should answer a lot of questions and point people in the right direction.”

Legal challenges

Numerous legal challenges regarding the CTA are pending. Recently, an Oregon federal court declined to issue a preliminary injunction in a case where the plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the CTA.

In March, a federal district court in Alabama ruled that the CTA is unconstitutional, granting plaintiffs in the case summary judgement as a matter of law. The ruling suspended enforcement of the CTA in regard to some specific parties.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in an appeal of that decision on Sept. 27. That process will likely not alter the deadline for businesses to file.

With the deadline to file just around the corner, those who still need to file should plan accordingly, Rumley said.

“The end of the year is approaching fast,” Rumley said. “It’s important to learn more about whether the filing requirements apply to your business, and then make a plan for meeting those obligations to avoid potential consequences.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.

UA launches National Office of Advancement

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

The University of Arkansas Division of University Advancement has established a National Office of Advancement to enhance the university’s engagement and broaden its impact across the United States, the university announced Wednesday (Oct. 23).

The UA has appointed four national directors of philanthropy to the new office. According to the release, the directors will leverage the UA’s alumni network to promote the university’s fundraising priorities. The directors will also work with alumni groups, including the Arkansas Alumni Association National Board of Directors and Arkansas Alumni Chapters throughout the United States.

The directors’ mission includes “fostering a spirit of fellowship among alumni, providing continuous updates on the university’s progress and needs beyond the Fayetteville campus, and encouraging unified support among alumni and stakeholders for key initiatives.”

UA launches National Office of Advancement

Arkansas Attorney General Griffin co-leads 25-state coalition in letter expressing concern over antisemitism at Columbia University amid calls for divestment from Israel

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement that he and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson have sent a letter on behalf of 23 other state attorneys general to Columbia University about the rise of antisemitism on its campus from groups promoting boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel:

“Since the Hamas attack on Israel last October, antisemitism has grown on university campuses, including Columbia University. Earlier this month, one Columbia anti-Israel student group advocating divestment rescinded its apology of a member’s remark about killing Zionists.

“In spite of antisemitic protests on its campus, Columbia has held the line against the BDS movement and should be commended for it. Our coalition urges Columbia to continue this position in the face of antisemitism from pro-Palestinian student groups while balancing student speech rights.”

In August, Griffin led a coalition of 24 state attorneys general in a letter urging Brown University to reject a proposal that the university divest from certain companies because they do business with Israel, thus triggering anti-BDS laws in several states. On October 9, the Brown Corporation announced that it rejected the proposal backed by student protestors who demanded the vote as a condition to disperse.

To read the letter, click here.

Columbia University - Wikimedia Commons Image

Womack hosts NIH Director Bertagnolli in Arkansas’ Third District

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., Flickr Image

Rogers, AR—October 23, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) hosted National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., in the River Valley on Monday and in Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday. Congressman Womack, Director Bertagnolli, and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) visited medical organizations, gained a comprehensive understanding of the region’s medical needs, and saw the partnership between the NIH and local healthcare in action.

Congressman Womack said, “It’s important to bring Washington to Arkansas to ensure Third District Arkansans' needs are met and their voices are heard. I want leaders in our nation, such as Director Bertagnolli, to see the exciting medical research and advancements happening in the Third District while fully understanding the area’s healthcare needs. I’m grateful Director Bertagnolli took the opportunity to see firsthand the remarkable work of our local health providers, researchers, and partners. Senator Boozman and I look forward to a continued partnership with Director Bertagnolli to improve health outcomes for Arkansans.”

Director Bertagnolli said, “The entire community – academic institutions, public health departments, health care providers, businesses, and state and federal government – all play a critical role in making health better for everyone. It is so inspiring to see how Arkansas is working to address the needs of their communities on all fronts, and partnering to eliminate the extra health challenges this region is experiencing. I am so grateful to Congressman Womack and Senator Boozman for hosting me. I have learned so much and am eager to bring more health research to Arkansas. The talent and dedication I have witnessed here makes me sure that we will make tremendous progress.”

Senator Boozman said, “The collaboration in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley as growing hubs for local and regional medical care as well as nationally recognized innovative research is a tremendous asset. NIH plays a critical role in funding this vital work through the grants and partnerships it supports that generate advanced treatments, cures and overall better outcomes in our communities. Congressman Womack and I were pleased to show Director Bertagnolli the impact of these investments and provide our medical professionals an opportunity to share their feedback directly with the leader of America’s premier health research organization.”

Cotton to Biden: Brief Congress on Leak Investigation

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote a letter to President Biden asking for consistent updates on the investigation into the reported leak of top-secret documents. Senator Cotton noted that the repeated leaks from the Biden-Harris administration raise questions about whether the administration will adequately address this security breach.

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris - Wikimedia Commons Image

“Officials in your administration have repeatedly leaked information clearly designed to pressure Israel to curb its righteous campaign against Iran and its terrorist proxies over the last year. These leaks have ranged from reports of personal conversations between American and Israeli officials to assessments of Iranian intent and are clearly designed to handcuff Israel.”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

October 22, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500       

I write to express my deep alarm about the reported leak of top-secret American documents regarding Israel’s planned military response against Iran. This leak is an outrageous betrayal of an ally and a breach of trust that will undermine our relationship with partners for years to come.

Officials in your administration have repeatedly leaked information clearly designed to pressure Israel to curb its righteous campaign against Iran and its terrorist proxies over the last year. These leaks have ranged from reports of personal conversations between American and Israeli officials to assessments of Iranian intent and are clearly designed to handcuff Israel.

To cite a few examples:

• CNN recently cited unnamed U.S. officials claiming Israel’s has finalized a counterstrike plan to hit Iran before the U.S. election and provided details about that plan.

• You publicly discussed the timing of Israel’s retaliation again Iran for their latest attack saying on October 3 that it would not “happen today.”

• The Washington Post quoted an unnamed U.S. official about Israel’s plans for the ground invasion of Lebanon before the IDF launched the operation.

In each instance, these leaks are providing aid to Israel’s—and America’s— enemy about likely Israeli attack plans and limiting Israeli freedom of action.

Given this track record I am deeply concerned as to whether your administration will adequately address this serious security breach. Therefore, I request that you provide regular biweekly updates about the investigation to the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.  

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton
United States Senator                     

Crawford County seeks more time to negotiate judgment amount in library lawsuit

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Lawyers for Crawford County on Wednesday (Oct. 23) sought an extension to respond to the settlement of a financial award in a lawsuit related to the removal and relocation of books in the county’s library system.

U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III ruled Sept. 30 against Crawford County in a First Amendment lawsuit regarding the removal and relocation of books largely because of objections from citizens to LGBTQ content.

In his decision, Holmes states that the “Court finds that even when the evidentiary record is construed in the light most favorable to the Defendants, it is indisputable that the creation and maintenance of the social section was motivated in substantial part by a desire to impede users’ access to books containing viewpoints that are unpopular or controversial in Crawford County.”

Crawford County seeks more time to negotiate judgment amount in library lawsuit

UA announces Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2025

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

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has selected four business leaders for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2025.

Inductees are:
• Sam Alley, chairman of VCC.
• John W. Allison, chairman and CEO of Home BancShares.
• The late Jerry Brewer, chairman and co-founder of Staffmark.
ª John N. Roberts III, executive chairman of J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.

“The 2025 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class represents a remarkable addition to an institution that honors our state’s legacy of business excellence,” said Brent Williams, dean of Walton College. “These four distinguished individuals have profoundly impacted their respective industries, the economy of Arkansas and beyond. Their exceptional careers and dedication to their communities will inspire our students and future business leaders for years to come.”

Alley, Allison, Brewer and Roberts will be recognized for their contributions to the construction, banking, staffing, and transportation industries in Arkansas and the region in a ceremony at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Feb. 14, 2025.

UA announces Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2025

2025 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame inductees (from top left), Sam Alley, John Allison, John Roberts III, and Jerry Brewer

Ag-Tech Career Exploration application deadline Nov. 1

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — In a field that’s increasingly data- and tech-dependent, there’s a new program that encourages youths to embrace the science and technology needed to grow food for a growing global population.

ACE, or Ag-Tech Career Exploration, is an intensive yearlong program that combines STEM skills as well as professional and leadership development for youth ages 16-19. The inaugural program will run from January to July 2025.

Nov. 1 is the application deadline for this U.S. Department of Agriculture-supported program.

Ag-Tech Career Exploration graphic. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image by Chris Meux)

“Agriculture is increasingly technology heavy,” said Jason Davis, extension application technologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We are soon to see more automated data collection, decision making and action taking systems in our production fields. It is important that Arkansas's next generation workforce understand these technologies and make early connections to the industry leaders that will bring these changes to fruition.”

Davis is among the researchers who will be working with youths in the program designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing careers utilizing agricultural technology such as drones, sensors, food genetics and robotics.

Julie Robinson, professor of community, professional and economic development for the Cooperative Extension Service, created ACE as part of her work in community leadership development.  

“The goal is to engage students and pique their interest in careers in agriculture before they reach college,” she said. “Students will be able to work with professionals and be exposed to avenues of science they might not have been aware of, or never considered because it was in agriculture.

“The most exciting component of this program is our international trip,” Robinson said. “There are plenty of studies showing the benefits of international study for youths, and we want to help young Arkansans have that opportunity to travel internationally.” 

There is no cost to participate in the program. Robinson said some financial assistance is available for students to obtain passports for travel aboard.

“I think Arkansas is a perfect place to be a hub for ag technology,” Robinson said. “We have so many incredibly smart people that we work with, not only here in the Division of Agriculture but also our industry and institute of higher education partners.

“Producing future experts will benefit Arkansas farmers and consumers,” she said.

Find additional information online, including an application link.

The program has been funded for three years by grant No. 2024-67038-42795 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the USDA. The nearly $750,000 grant was part of NIFA’s $6.7 million investment in education and workforce development.

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.