The CALL in Howard County Invites Local Churches to Participate in Soup Fundraiser

The CALL in Howard County will host a soup fundraiser on November 12 in conjunction with Stand Sunday.  Stand Sunday is a day set aside for churches across the United States to take a ‘stand’ for children and families impacted by foster care. The soup fundraiser gives local church congregations an opportunity to be ‘soup’er heros by making and selling soups to support the day-to-day ministry of training, equipping and supporting local foster and adoptive families. 

“Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something to support local kids and families impacted by foster care,” local CALL Coordinator Holli Boyett said. “This soup fundraiser is as much about awareness as it is financial support. We ask churches to be ‘soup’er heros to make and sell their favorite soups for $8 per quart after morning service on Sunday, November 12. We provide churches with soup containers and labels.” 

Churches wishing to participate may contact Boyett to sign up. She can be reached 501-607-8035 or howardcounty@thecallinarkansas.org 

The CALL is an Arkansas based non-profit ministry whose mission is to educate, equip and encourage the Christian community to provide a future and a hope for children in foster care in Arkansas.

UA Little Rock part of $2.2 million grant for AI-driven cybersecurity project

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

A UA Little Rock professor and students are part of a university startup that has received a $2.2 million grant to develop an advanced artificial-intelligence automation and rapid-recovery hardware to protect industrial control systems from cybersecurity attacks.

Backed by the BIRD Foundation, Bastazo, a startup with strong ties to UA Little Rock and the University of Arkansas, will partner with Israeli-based Salvador Technologies on the project, which is known as Extracted Configuration Security (XCS). The initiative will address escalating concerns posed by sophisticated external threats, including ransomware.

“Our collaboration with Salvador Technologies represents a union of revolutionary cybersecurity concepts,” said Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at UA Little Rock and co-founder of Bastazo. “Leveraging large language models to automate decisions in cybersecurity operations is not just a leap for us, but a giant step for the entire Operational Technology (OT) security sector.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/09/ua-little-rock-part-of-2-2-million-grant-for-ai-driven-cybersecurity-project/

Burn Ban for some counties in Arkansas

https://www.arkfireinfo.org/

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

As we navigate busy streets in our communities, rushing to work or running errands, it’s easy to get caught up in the fast pace of modern life. However, one thing demands our utmost attention on Arkansas roadways- a stopped school bus with its flashing lights and extended stop arm.

Every day during the school year, more than 350,000 Arkansas children are depending on school buses to transport them safely to and from school. These buses make multiple stops in every community.

As the 2023-2024 school year is about to begin, we want to remind Arkansans that it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus. The fines, penalties, and punishment for anyone found guilty of illegally passing a stopped school bus were increased dramatically by Act 2128 of 2005, also known as Isaac’s Law. The legislation was named in honor of Isaac Brian, an elementary school student in the Bryant School District who was struck and killed when a driver illegally passed his school bus while students were exiting the vehicle.

The law requires drivers to stop on 2-lane and 4-lane highways in both directions, even those with a middle lane. Drivers cannot attempt to pass in any direction until the school bus vehicle has finished receiving or discharging its passengers and is in motion again.

In the 2021 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed Act 264 to clarify the distance and areas where drivers must stop. It states drivers must come to a complete stop no less than 30 feet from the bus when it stops to load or unload passengers. This 30 feet perimeter would apply to public roads, private or public property open to the general public, and any driveway or parking lot belonging to a public school.

Arkansans should also remember that the use of handheld wireless phones is prohibited in a school zone. In 2019, the General Assembly passed legislation making the use of a handheld phone in school zones a primary offense.

When a school bus comes to a halt and activates its flashing lights and stop arm, it's an indication that children are entering or exiting the bus. This vulnerable moment requires our undivided attention and a momentary pause in our busy lives. Remember: Flashing Red means Kids Ahead.

Severe Weather Briefing for Wednesday evening from the National Weather Service in Little Rock, AR

Toward evening, a strong storm system and associated cold front will approach from the Plains. A new round of strong to severe thunderstorms will likely develop in southern Missouri and sweep into northern Arkansas.

This could be a significant severe weather event, and somewhat unusual for August. This kind of event is more reminiscent of spring. Destructive winds and large hail are the main concerns, and an isolated tornado or two are possible. 

Torrential downpours are expected in places. The forecast calls for two to three inches of rain in parts of the north, and this may result in localized flash flooding. 

National Weather Service
Little Rock, Arkansas

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

From 2012 to 2021, speeding-related fatalities increased by 19% nationwide. Speeding fatalities have continued to increase over the past few years. From 2020-2021 alone, law-enforcement agencies documented an 8% increase in speeding-related fatalities.

In 2021, speeding killed more than 12,000 people nationwide, accounting for more than one-quarter of all traffic fatalities.

That is why throughout July, Arkansas State Police will be on higher alert for speeding vehicles while participating in the Speeding Slows You Down campaign. This summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with Arkansas law enforcement to keep drivers and passengers safe by raising awareness about the dangers of speeding and urging drivers to obey speed limits. If you’re pulled over for speeding, you can expect to be issued a ticket for breaking the law.

For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration reports that 35% of male drivers and 21% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2021 were speeding, the highest among the age groups.

Last year, 648 crash deaths occurred on Arkansas roads. The goal for every individual, every family, and every community should be zero deaths on Arkansas roads.

Obeying the speed limit and paying attention are just two things we can all do to prevent future accidents.

In the most recent legislative session, the Arkansas General Assembly strengthened our distracted driving laws by passing Act 445.

It states if a distracted driver causes an accident that results in serious physical injury or death of another person, the driver upon conviction is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The act also requires law enforcement officers to indicate on the written accident form if the driver was using a wireless telecommunications device at the time of the accident.

Every time we get behind the wheel, we become responsible for not only our own lives but also the lives of others on the road. For more on Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.TZDArkansas.org.

Sales Tax Holiday 2023 Saturday, August 5, in Arkansas

As summer winds down and the excitement of a new school year builds, families across the state are planning for the added expense of back-to-school shopping.

This year, consumers are expected to spend close to $600 per child on clothes, shoes, and school supplies. That is why we want to take this time to remind you about the upcoming Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday.

This year, the sales tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 6.

Act 757 of 2011 provides for a sales tax holiday in Arkansas during the first weekend of August each year. A sales tax holiday is a temporary period when state and local sales taxes are not collected or paid on the purchase of certain products.

Arkansas is one of 17 states that provides a sales tax holiday before the beginning of the school year.

Clothing less than $100 per item is exempt during the weekend, as well as clothing accessories less than $50 per item. Clothing accessories include handbags, cosmetics, jewelry, umbrellas, and more. Most school supplies, including book bags, binders, paper, crayons, pencils, and rulers, are also exempt.

In 2021, the General Assembly passed Act 944. The act expanded the sales tax holiday to include electronics. Examples include a calculator, desktop computer, cell phone, e-reader, computer mouse, laptop, monitor, printer, keyboard, and tablets. It does not include video game systems or televisions.

The sales tax holiday does include purchases made online.

The Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday benefits families, students, and local businesses. Providing financial relief to parents, the holiday is helping to ensure children have the necessary tools for learning.

We have posted a comprehensive list of eligible items and answers to frequently asked questions on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

OER Digest lists UA Cossatot in Stories from the Field

UA Cossatot made the OER Digest again! The OER Digest is a monthly newsletter for open education created in 2015 by Creative Commons USA, SPARC, and the Student PIRGs. While the primary audience is the OER community in the U.S. and Canada, subscribers come from around the globe.

UA Cossatot is listed in “Stories from the Field” right along with Michigan and Ireland.

STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Quick snapshots of those making change on the ground level, and those impacted

FROM MICHIGAN: Northern Michigan University has established an Open Educational Resource (OER) Faculty Learning Community. This pioneering initiative is part of a two-year pilot program aimed at promoting widespread OER adoption across campus and facilitating professional development opportunities. Reflecting the university's commitment to accessibility, this community of faculty members is working to revolutionize higher education. Leslie Warren, interim associate provost and dean of Library and Instructional Support, remarked, "The open education resource movement is another way that faculty can remove barriers and support students." With Olson Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning leading the charge, Northern Michigan University takes pride in laying the groundwork for OER, striving to reduce textbook costs, enhance affordability, bridge equity gaps, and empower more students to successfully complete their degrees.

FROM IRELAND: Dundalk Institute of Technology’s National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education recently received an esteemed UNESCO Prize. Their work developing the National Resource Hub and Open Courses was recognized and applauded. One of the members of the team, Dr. Ronan Bree played an instrumental role in the development of the National Resource Hub, a user-friendly platform facilitating engagement with open educational resources across the sector. He shared how “The National Resource Hub…offers opportunities for anyone to submit and access open educational resources… in any form, and in any media format.” This hub makes accessing and sharing OER easier than ever. The goal of this project is to support Irish Higher Education and contribute to transformative education.

FROM ARKANSAS: Since launching its Open Educational Resource program in 2015, the University of Arkansas Cossatot has made strides in saving students textbook costs. The college has successfully saved students a total of $3,197,081.25 to date, with each academic year showing notable savings. Educational Resources Director and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth, who chairs the Arkansas OER Taskforce, stated “Saving our students nearly 3.2 million in textbook expenses is one way UA Cossatot shows its commitment to student success… we’re excited to look at more open educational practices like open pedagogies, scholarship, and educational technologies that will continue to make higher education more accessible to students.” As UA Cossatot prepares to begin the fall 2023 semester, an impressive 71% of courses will offer OER options, ensuring continued benefits for students.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week we received the Fiscal Year 2023 Revenue Summary. It shows we ended the fiscal year with the second-largest surplus in state history.

Results from collections and distributions for FY 2023 reached $7.185 billion. That is $1.161 billion in excess of the full funding level for the Revenue Stabilization Act representing a surplus.

The 2023 fiscal year ended above forecast in all major categories of collections and above year-ago levels in sales tax collections. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says this broad-based gain resulted from another year of high growth in sales tax collections and less decline in income tax categories than expected from tax rate reductions.

The 94th General Assembly passed Act 532 which reduced the state’s top income tax rate from 4.9% to 4.7%. As a result, individual income tax collection was less than the previous year but still $42.4 million above what economic forecasters predicted.

Sales and Use tax collections for FY 2023 were $263.6 million or 8.4% over FY 2022. Corporate income taxes saw an increase of $5.3 million or .6% above FY 2022.

In the 2023 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed Act 561 which authorized the transfer from the previous year’s unobligated surplus funds and up to $380.6 million in projected surplus funds from this year to the restricted reserve fund. Act 561 prioritizes spending of the restricted reserve fund on projects such as educational facilities, correctional facilities, the state crime lab, teacher academy scholarships, and the UAMS National Cancer Institute Designation Trust Fund.

Revenue reports help guide our decision-making when it comes to state spending and tax reduction.

The FY 2023 Revenue Report shows us that our state’s economy is growing and outperforming expectations. In fact, for the month of June alone revenues were above forecast and year-ago levels in all major categories.

We’ve posted the revenue summary at arkansashouse.org.

The CALL announces new Coordinator for Howard, Hempstead and Nevada Counties

Holli Boyett has been named as the new Coordinator for The CALL in Howard, Hempstead, and Nevada Counties.

Boyett is a 2006 graduate of Nashville High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Arkansas Tech University in 2009, a Master of Arts in Education in 2012 and Master of Science in Education in 2017.

Boyett brings nearly a decade of program coordination experience having managed various state and federal education programs at DeQueen Mena and Southwest Arkansas education cooperatives. She attends Unity Baptist Church in Hope along with husband Scott and daughter, Julianne. At Unity, Boyett serves in the Rev It UP and Greeter ministries. Boyett is an Ambassador for the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce and has previously been active with United Way and Junior Auxiliary of Hope.

“I am excited to bring my program coordination experience to The CALL and continue the good work that has been done southwest Arkansas,” Boyett said. “I am most excited about relationship building to meet the foster care needs in our part of the state. I look forward to partnering with churches and community organizations to recruit, encourage and equip foster families."

The CALL will host a Community Coffee at the Hope Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, August 23. The public is invited to attend. Community Coffee events in Prescott and Nashville are pending as well. The organization will also host their annual Souper Sunday fundraiser the first Sunday in October. Those wishing to get involved with The CALL can contact Boyett by email at hboyett@thecallinarkansas.org.

Four finalists await judges’ decision as Arkansas 4-H Governor’s Award marks 40 years

The four 2023 finalists for the Governor’s Award stand with U of Arkansas System President Donald R. Bobbitt and his wife Susan on the stairs of their home. From left, Lani McClure of Pope County; Laven Franklin of Madison County; Jack Berryhill of Hot Spring County, and Ethan Wolcott of Sevier County. The Bobbitts hosted the finalists for lunch. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The Governor’s Award, the highest honor offered by the Arkansas 4-H program, is marking its 40th year as four finalists eagerly await the judges’ decision on who will be named the 2023 winner.

“The award was instituted in 1983 as a way to recognize one outstanding 4-H member each year,” said Shannon Caldwell, director of programs for the Arkansas 4-H Center.

Applicants must be former state record book winners and submit a current record book along with two letters of recommendation. Finalists are selected during record book judging and are interviewed, with the winner being determined at a separate judging event. A record book is a log that describes the work a member has done on a project and is an important part of 4-H.

The winner is announced at the annual State 4-H O-Rama, which starts July 25 this year and is held on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

“Each finalist exhibits an impressive scope of ‘making the best better’ through their 4-H work,” Caldwell said. “To quote one of the judges, ‘selecting one winner is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I’ve made policies’.”

The finalists were recognized at a luncheon hosted by Donald R. Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System, and his wife, Susan, following rounds of interviews with judges.

This year’s finalists are Jack Berryhill of Hot Spring County; Laven Franklin of Madison County; Lani McClure of Pope County and Ethan Wolcott of Sevier County.

Berryhill, 18, is the 2022-23 Arkansas 4-H state president and has represented Arkansas 4-H at the state Farm Bureau Convention and the American Farm Bureau Convention in Puerto Rico. He also facilitated a roundtable at the Southern Regional Teen Leader Conference in Tennessee. Berryhill has held many leadership positions in 4-H, been a Teen Star and state 4-H Ambassador. He was selected for the 4-H National Congress Youth Leadership team, which is responsible for leading all assemblies at the national congress. Berryhill is also a member of the Tech Changemaker program and is frequently seen at 4-H events working as part of the 4-H Video Crew. Berryhill also has an extensive record of community service.

Franklin, 17, has been part of the Arkansas 4-H program for 11 years. He enjoys music theory, plays the piano and guitar and also likes gardening. He has also started a robotics club and soon those simple club STEM projects turned into him fielding a remote-controlled submersible team for the SeaPerch competition. He teaches piano and leads his homeschool robotics club. Among his achievements were being the state 4-H robotics record book winner and his team placed second in the state SeaPerch competition. He spent 2022 learning JavaScript and C++ coding and was taking college trigonometry.

McClure, 18, has been a 4-H member since elementary school. She has served as state Ambassador, National 4-H Congress delegate and said she is ready and willing to encourage and advocate for Arkansas 4-H families. She is always looking for an opportunity to share her 4-H experience and encourage non-4-Hers to get involved. During her time as a national delegate, she spoke to more than 300 schoolchildren in Atlanta about 4-H.

She has used her skills in her main project areas from encouraging individual development in the fine arts, to leading painting workshops and digital art classes. She also organized and led sections of the Pope County 4-H Achievement Banquet in 2022.

Wolcott, 19, started in 4-H when he was 8. Since then, he’s been a Teen Star, 4-H Ambassador and won the Advanced Record Book competition in 2021. Wolcott has championed community service, especially to other youth and families. In 2022, he lent his energies to three new organizations that help families and youth: 100 Families, Breaking the Ties that Bind and You Matter. Over the last two years, Wolcott helped raise more than $72,200 for his community, just in Christmas projects alone. Wolcott was a finalist for the 2022 Governor’s Award and was inducted into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame this year.

Judges for the 2023 Governor’s Award are Christina Breckenridge, Ed.D., chief of staff for the UA System vice president for agriculture; J. J. Pitman, C. A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center director and Desarae Nelson, Ed.D. TRIO Student Support Services director at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.du/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Severe thunderstorms possible Wednesday and Thursday in Arkansas

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop today out ahead of a cold front, with additional development possible overnight Wednesday right along the cold front.

• Thunderstorms that become severe will be capable of producing damaging winds (up to 60 mph) and marginally severe hail (equal to or greater than 1 inch).

• The best chances for seeing severe thunderstorms will be this afternoon and early evening

Dangerous heat for Arkansas this week

We are expecting dangerous heat to build throughout the duration of the week. It will be imperative, especially as we near the middle of the week, that any location lacking electricity and/or access to air conditioning will be at a greater risk for heat-related illnesses.

High Temperatures and dangerous heat index values will increase for the duration of the week across Arkansas.

• The most concerning days for heat-related illnesses will be on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday where both the air temperature and dewpoint temperature will increase.

• The reason will be a warm front lifting through the state on Wednesday leaving a more moist airmass across the state in its wake.

An excessive heat warning and the possibility for severe weather in Arkansas on Sunday

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK - Attached is an update to the briefing that was issued. The severe weather outlook area has been greatly expanded with more of the state now in the slight risk area. The other noteworthy change is that heat advisories have been issued for Sunday.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

In Arkansas, an estimated 58,000 Arkansans aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s in 2020. This number is expected to climb to 67,000 by 2025.

Nationwide, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia and that number is expected to grow to as many as 14 million by the year 2050.

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to hold a conversation about the brain and share the fact that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are major public health issues.

In 2021, the Arkansas General Assembly passed legislation creating the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Advisory Council. The council examines the needs of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, services available in the state for patients and their family caregivers, and the ability of healthcare providers and facilities to meet current and future needs.

Last year the council issued an update to the Alzheimer’s State Plan and made several recommendations to the General Assembly. The 94th General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation as a result of those recommendations.

Act 202 requires the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training to train new officers on the topic of interacting with persons who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The General Assembly also passed Act 335 which sets minimum dementia training requirements for staff members who are employed by an assisted living facility and requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules regarding the training requirements.

In addition, the legislature passed ACT 682 and Act 70. Act 682 creates the full-time position of Dementia Services Coordinator within the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Services of the Department of Human Services. ACT 70 requires at least four hours of dementia training for home caregivers.

Act 102 adds additional members from the assisted living and home-based care industry to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Advisory Council. The council will continue researching ways to improve care in Arkansas and make future recommendations.

Dr. Randy Walker Clinic to Sponsor Clinical Medical Assistant Students

June 12, 2023

The Dr. Randy Walker Family Practice and Allergy Clinic has partnered with UA Cossatot to offer full sponsorships for the college’s Clinical Medical Assistant Program. Walker will award over $25,000 in sponsorships for the 160-hour workforce development program designed to prepare students to function as professionals in multiple healthcare settings.

Angie Walker, with Dr. Randy Walker Family Practice and Allergy Clinic, said, “Our goal is to expand access to training and grow the workforce for healthcare employers in the region.”

The program will prepare learners to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. Instruction includes preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine laboratory procedures, pharmacology, taking and documenting vital signs, technical aspects of phlebotomy, the 12-lead EKG and the cardiac life cycle. The purpose of the Clinical Medical Assisting program is to prepare learners to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office.

Training is open to candidates with a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) Certification and will be delivered in a hybrid format consisting of a combination of instructor-led online sessions and hands-on lab sessions August 14 – December 7, 2023. Classes will meet Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 – 9:00 PM.

Graduates will be awarded a Career Training Certificate and 16 Continuing Education Units. Successful completers will also be eligible to take the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Clinical Medical Assistant (CMAC) and National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exams.

UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “Partnerships between higher-education institutions and employers, like Dr. Walker, improve the prosperity of individuals, businesses, and communities. UA Cossatot will continue to look for and offer short-term certificate training that will lead to jobs, good jobs in our region that students can train for in a very short time.”

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or enroll, contact Continuing Education at 870-584-1178 or ContinuingEducation@cccua.edu. Employers interested in sponsoring additional students may contact Workforce Development at 870-584-1136 or Workforce@cccua.edu

The latest weather briefing for Arkansas from the National Weather Service in Little Rock

An active pattern will remain in place into the weekend, with chances for thunderstorms expected nearly every day through Sunday. Some of these storms could become strong to severe. Expect damaging winds and large hail with the strongest storms, with locally heavy rainfall also possible. The best chances for seeing any strong to severe thunderstorms will be late tonight into Friday morning, and again Saturday night through Sunday. However, there will still be some potential outside of these times.

For the latest forecast information and updates, please visit:

www.weather.gov/lzk

www.facebook.com/NWSLittleRock

www.twitter.com/NWSLittleRock

Your NWS Little Rock Forecast Team

More rounds of showers and thunderstorms for Arkansas into Friday; weather briefing from the National Weather Service in Little Rock

A front will be nearly stationary across southern Arkansas through at least Friday. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will surround the front Wednesday and again Friday.

Storms that become severe will be capable of producing very large hail and damaging wind.

A new cold front will arrive from the Plains late Saturday into Sunday. Another round of strong to severe thunderstorms will likely accompany the front.

Late in the weekend and early next week, precipitation will become more spotty and it will heat up. Heat index values will likely exceed 100 degrees, mainly from Little Rock southward.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

One of the pieces of legislation signed into law this year creates Women Veterans Day as a state memorial day to be celebrated on June 12 each year.

Act 115 states Women Veterans Day is acknowledged as an effort to honor the work of women in the United States Armed Forces and recognizes the unique challenges women have faced.

It was on June 12, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. This act allowed women the right to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. Prior to then, only women nurses could serve in the regular and reserve forces during peacetime.

Though not officially recognized for many years, women have served in America’s wars throughout our history, demonstrating their unwavering commitment, resilience, and courage in defending our nation.

Today, there are almost two million women Veterans in the United States. More than 19,000 women Veterans call Arkansas home. Women make up 8.6% of our Veteran population.

Women are contributing their skills and expertise across all branches of service. They serve as pilots, engineers, doctors, intelligence analysts, and much more.

As we commemorate this day, it is important to not only recognize their contributions but to continue to support and empower them in their transition from military to civilian life. From eliminating taxes on retirement income to cutting red tape for those entering the civilian workforce, the Arkansas General Assembly is continually working on ways to improve the lives of veterans in our state. We’ve posted links to resources available to our veterans at arkansashouse.org.

This June 12, join us in honoring the brave and resilient women who have served our country. Their sacrifices have shaped our history and inspired future generations. Happy Women Veterans Day!

Severe weather and heavy rainfall possibilities for the southern half of Arkansas through Wednesday

A front will be nearly stationary across southern Arkansas through Wednesday. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop near the front, with precipitation concentrated over the southern half of the state.

Storms that become severe will be capable of producing damaging wind and large hail in places.

Areas of heavy rain are expected, with two to more than three inch amounts across the southern counties. Given this much rain, there is a possibility of flash flooding.