National News

Sunday's COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,153
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 1,100
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,500

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 421
  Active Positive: 37
  Recovered: 379
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,123

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 276
  Active Positive: 15
  Recovered: 247
  Deaths: 14
  Negatives: 1,429

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 223
  Active Positive: 30
  Recovered: 190
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 3,041

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 172
  Active Positive: 14
  Recovered: 157
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,703

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Friday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,146
  Active Positive: 46
  Recovered: 1,088
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,466

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 407
  Active Positive: 33
  Recovered: 369
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,054

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 274
  Active Positive: 29
  Recovered: 231
  Deaths: 14
  Negatives: 1,414

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 218
  Active Positive: 32
  Recovered: 182
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 2,990

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 167
  Active Positive: 17
  Recovered: 149
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,685

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Thursday COVID-19 Numbers from the Arkansas Department of Health

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,142
  Active Positive: 49
  Recovered: 1,081
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,437

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 398
  Active Positive: 26
  Recovered: 367
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,039

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 271
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 222
  Deaths: 14
  Negatives: 1,409

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 212
  Active Positive: 31
  Recovered: 178
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 2,968

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 163
  Active Positive: 17
  Recovered: 145
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,676

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ArcBest Leads State-based Firms on Forbes Employers’ List

Fort Smith-based supply chain logistics firm ArcBest has been recognized as one of Forbes’ best employers on its annual list of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2020.

The award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. ArcBest ranked No. 2 in the state of Arkansas, the highest state-based group among the 30 on the list. Louisiana-based Entergy is ranked No. 1. FedEx, Springdale Public Schools and the U.S. Department of the Interior round out the top five.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/arcbest-leads-state-based-firms-on-forbes-employers-list/

ArcBest leads state-based firms on Forbes employers' list - Talk Business & Politics

Fort Smith-based supply chain logistics firm ArcBest has been recognized as one of Forbes' best employers on its annual list of America's Best-In-State Employers for 2020. The award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. ArcBest ranked No.


UAMS Receives $10.6 million Grant for Proteomics Research

The National Institutes of Health awarded the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences a $10.6 million grant for biomedical research, the school announced Wednesday (Aug. 26).

UAMS said the money will “greatly expand” proteomics resources and will establish the IDeA National Resource for Quantitative Proteomics as the first NIH National Resource in Arkansas. It will also advance UAMS’s effort to receive a National Cancer Institute designation.

Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins that can lead to the development of new therapies and screening approaches for many diseases, including cancer.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/uams-receives-10-6-million-grant-for-proteomics-research/

UAMS receives $10.6 million grant for proteomics research - Talk Business & Politics

The National Institutes of Health awarded the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences a $10.6 million grant for biomedical research, the school announced Wednesday (Aug. 26). UAMS said the money will "greatly expand" proteomics resources and will establish the IDeA National Resource for Quantitative Proteomics as the first NIH National Resource in Arkansas.

Tyson Foods the Largest U.S. Chicken Processor in 2019; Pilgrim's 2nd

Springdale-based Tyson Foods was in 2019 king of the nation’s broiler production with 200.47 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken produced each week. Tyson Foods slaughtered 38.3 million chicken a week at an average weight of 6 pounds, according to WattAgNet’s annual survey.

The closest to Tyson Foods by weekly production is Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., based in Greely, Colo., and a subsidiary of JBS. Pilgrim’s reports 160.04 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken going to market each week. Pilgrim’s slaughters an average of 30.3 million chickens each week at an average bird weight of 5.78 pounds.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/tyson-foods-the-largest-u-s-chicken-processor-in-2019-georges-ranked-9th/

Tyson Foods the largest U.S. chicken processor in 2019; George's ranked 9th - Talk Business & Politics

Springdale-based Tyson Foods was in 2019 king of the nation's broiler production with 200.47 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken produced each week. Tyson Foods slaughtered 38.3 million chicken a week at an average weight of 6 pounds, according to WattAgNet's annual survey.

Wood product maker to invest $23 million, add jobs at North Little Rock plant

Koppers, a global provider of treated wood products, announced Tuesday (Aug. 25) that it plans to invest a minimum of $23 million and increase the number of workers at its North Little Rock facility over the next two years.

The investment will be used for new construction and to purchase equipment that will allow Koppers to upgrade and modernize the company’s processes and further improve its environmental footprint.

Koppers employs 80 in North Little Rock. It did not disclose the amount of new jobs it would add.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/wood-product-maker-to-invest-23-million-add-jobs-at-north-little-rock-plant/

Wood product maker to invest $23 million, add jobs at North Little Rock plant - Talk Business & Politics

Koppers, a global provider of treated wood products, announced Tuesday (Aug. 25) that it plans to invest a minimum of $23 million and increase the number of workers at its North Little Rock facility over the next two years.

Wednesday COVID-19 Update from the AR Department of Health

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,134
  Active Positive: 50
  Recovered: 1,072
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,416

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 398
  Active Positive: 28
  Recovered: 365
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,036

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 265
  Active Positive: 37
  Recovered: 215
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,404

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 208
  Active Positive: 32
  Recovered: 174
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,954

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 161
  Active Positive: 23
  Recovered: 137
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,670

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Governor Asa Hutchinson on NPR about the Republican National Convention

Monday marks the beginning of the 2020 Republican National Convention, with the first night’s agenda including the state roll call to nominate President Donald Trump for re-election. 

This year’s convention, similar to the Democratic National Convention, will be mostly digital due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who spoke during the 2016 RNC, said Monday on NPR’s Morning Edition that his statements about then-candidate Trump being "transparent and straight-talking" remain true.  

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/gov-asa-hutchinson-rnc-convention-trump-needs-articulate-vision-second-term

Gov. Asa Hutchinson On RNC Convention: Trump Needs To Articulate Vision Of A Second Term

Monday marks the beginning of the 2020 Republican National Convention, with the first night's agenda including the state roll call to nominate President Donald Trump for re-election. This year's convention, similar to the Democratic National Convention, will be mostly digital due to the coronavirus pandemic. Arkansas Gov.


Springdale-Based Biotech Firm Develops Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

Springdale-based medical diagnostic biotechnology firm, NOWDiagnostics, has developed a rapid COVID-19 antibody test. The test, which is pending approval for emergency use by the FDA, will be made available to clinics, labs and for at-home use. It requires a drop of blood and provides results within 15 minutes.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/springdale-based-biotech-firm-develops-rapid-covid-19-antibody-test

Springdale-Based Biotech Firm Develops Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Test

Springdale-based medical diagnostic biotechnology firm, NOWDiagnostics, has developed a rapid COVID-19 antibody test. The test, which is pending approval for emergency use by the FDA, will be made available to clinics, labs and for at-home use. It requires a drop of blood and provides results within 15 minutes.

Tuesday's COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,121
  Active Positive: 53
  Recovered: 1,056
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,392

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 393
  Active Positive: 33
  Recovered: 355
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,033

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 258
  Active Positive: 39
  Recovered: 206
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,395

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 207
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 170
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,917

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 157
  Active Positive: 29
  Recovered: 127
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,665

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Tropical Storm Laura to Affect This Week's Weather

The National Weather Service predicts our area will be impacted by Laura this week.

We wanted to send everyone a quick "heads-up" email about the upcoming potential for impacts from Tropical Storm Laura. At this time, we don't anticipate much in the way of impacts from Hurricane Marco, which is expected to come ashore across southeast Louisiana Monday. However. some uncertainty does remain with the eventual impacts of Marco.

Probably the most important piece of information and why we haven't sent any emails previously is that forecast information has remained inconsistent in terms of where we believe each of the storms will make landfall. From there, the northward path inland of the storms continues to vary as well.

Now, regarding the second storm, Laura. According to the National Hurricane Center and other forecast information, the latest data leads us to believe Laura will make landfall along the upper Texas/Louisiana coast area as a category 2 hurricane Wednesday into Wednesday night. It will then track along the TX/LA border Thursday, making its way into north-central Arkansas Friday morning.

With this track being utilized, the heaviest rainfall amounts will occur across southwest into central portions of the state. Sustained winds across much of southern into central Arkansas could be in the 25-35 mph range with higher gusts. Lastly, with the storm tracking north from southwest to north central Arkansas, all but far western Arkansas could potentially see a threat for isolated tornadoes.

With all this being said, significant changes to impacts may still occur depending on the path it takes. The potential for the path of this storm ranges anywhere from eastern Oklahoma to western Mississippi, with Arkansas in the middle. Due to this uncertainty, please monitor the latest forecast information and we will keep everyone updated in the coming days as often as we can.

(See the attached images for the latest information about the potential track, rainfall and potential for strong winds.)

-NWS Little Rock

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Monday's Updated COVID-19 Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,120
  Active Positive: 61
  Recovered: 1,047
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,366

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 391
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 345
  Deaths: 5
  Negatives: 3,024

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 256
  Active Positive: 39
  Recovered: 204
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,389

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 204
  Active Positive: 36
  Recovered: 166
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,890

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 156
  Active Positive: 33
  Recovered: 122
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,658

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Sunday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,114
  Active Positive: 63
  Recovered: 1,039
  Deaths: 12
  Negatives: 5,341

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 389
  Active Positive: 40
  Recovered: 345
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 3,012

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 254
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 200
  Deaths: 13
  Negatives: 1,386

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 200
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 163
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,882

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 154
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 118
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,652

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Friday's Arkansas COVID-19 Update from the AR Department of Health

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,086
  Active Positive: 60
  Recovered: 1,015
  Deaths: 11
  Negatives: 5,293

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 383
  Active Positive: 43
  Recovered: 337
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 2,988

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 248
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 201
  Deaths: 6
  Negatives: 1,369

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 191
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 154
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 2,829

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 151
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 109
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,628

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Tuesday's COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,067
  Active Positive: 70
  Recovered: 986
  Deaths: 11
  Negatives: 5,206

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 376
  Active Positive: 55
  Recovered: 317
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 2,938

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 219
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 181
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 1,354

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 171
  Active Positive: 35
  Recovered: 135
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 2,767

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 144
  Active Positive: 45
  Recovered: 98
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,595

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COVID-19 Maps and Numbers for Monday

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,058
  Active Positive: 69
  Recovered: 978
  Deaths: 11
  Negatives: 5,110

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 374
  Active Positive: 55
  Recovered: 315
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 2,701

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 218
  Active Positive: 37
  Recovered: 178
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 1,330

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 161
  Active Positive: 26
  Recovered: 134
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 2,715

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 140
  Active Positive: 48
  Recovered: 91
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,517

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Sunday's COVID-19 Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,053
  Active Positive: 68
  Recovered: 974
  Deaths: 11
  Negatives: 5,096

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 367
  Active Positive: 54
  Recovered: 309
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 2,691

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 215
  Active Positive: 40
  Recovered: 172
  Deaths: 3
  Negatives: 1,323

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 159
  Active Positive: 25
  Recovered: 133
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 2,681

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 138
  Active Positive: 48
  Recovered: 89
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 1,508

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Friday's COVID-19 Updated Numbers and Maps

COVID-19 Metrics for Sevier County
Cases
  Total Positive: 1,017
  Active Positive: 48
  Recovered: 958
  Deaths: 11
  Negatives: 4,588

COVID-19 Metrics for Howard County
Cases
  Total Positive: 362
  Active Positive: 55
  Recovered: 303
  Deaths: 4
  Negatives: 2,593

COVID-19 Metrics for Little River County
Cases
  Total Positive: 193
  Active Positive: 27
  Recovered: 164
  Deaths: 2
  Negatives: 1,244

COVID-19 Metrics for Polk County
Cases
  Total Positive: 157
  Active Positive: 22
  Recovered: 134
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 2,366

COVID-19 Metrics for Pike County
Cases
  Total Positive: 126
  Active Positive: 41
  Recovered: 84
  Deaths: 1
  Negatives: 2,953

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Healthy School Guide Published for Opening Schools

State officials have published a 20-page “Healthy School Guide” they say will help return hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff to more than 1,000 school facilities on Aug. 24 “in the healthiest way possible.”

The new guide includes the latest information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Arkansas Department of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was produced in a collaborative effort between the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). (Link here for a PDF of the document.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/healthy-guide-published-for-opening-schools-covid-19-active-cases-decline-deaths-rise

'Healthy' guide published for opening schools; COVID-19 active cases decline, deaths rise - Talk Business & Politics

State officials have published a 20-page "Healthy School Guide" they say will help return hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff to more than 1,000 school facilities on Aug. 24 "in the healthiest way possible." The new guide includes the latest information from the U.S.