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                     

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

UAMS and UA Distribute Electric Ride-On Cars to GoBabyGo Families in Northwest Arkansas

By David Wise

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the University of Arkansas (UA) today distributed electric ride-on cars to families participating in GoBabyGo, a national program that promotes the use of modified electric ride-on cars as a solution for independent mobility during early childhood.

The event is part of the capstone project of Brenna Ramirez, a UAMS/UA occupational therapy doctoral student whose goal was to make Northwest Arkansas a GoBabyGo branch. UA faculty member Amanda Troillett, OTD, is overseeing the project.

GoBabyGo has formally recognized 25 branches in the United States, with the closest branches to Northwest Arkansas being in Lincoln, Nebraska, and St. Louis. This means that local families seeking GoBabyGo aid were being referred to branches over 300 miles away.

UAMS and UA Distribute Electric Ride-On Cars to GoBabyGo Families in Northwest Arkansas

UA professor to study bias with $3.4 million federal grant

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

Anastasia Makhanova, a psychology professor at the University of Arkansas, has been awarded a $3.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. She will use the money to lead a five-year study on how stress and illness may cause bias in healthcare workers.

“Most people tend to focus on individual differences when it comes to looking at bias,” Makhanova said. “There’s been a lot less attention to the fact that the same people can make more biased decisions in particular situations.”

Research shows that, on average, patients from racial and ethnic minority groups receive worse care than white patients. By identifying situations that could cause a medical provider to act with increased bias, Makhanova’s research can show health care workers the more effective times to use existing anti-bias strategies. The results could also lead to systematic changes that reduce burnout and encourage health care providers to not work when they are sick.

UA professor to study bias with $3.4 million federal grant

National Weather Service in Little Rock Drought Conditions and Rainfall Outlook, Wildfire Danger, and Burn Bans

Still not looking for any appreciable rainfall across much of Arkansas the next 7 days. This will continue to affect drought and fire weather concerns. However, the latest 8 to 14 day outlook shows promising signs for decent rain chances heading into early November.

The lack of rainfall continues to result in very dry conditions and a heightened risk of wildfires across Arkansas. Also, a number of counties remain under burn bans.

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.

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.

NIH awards Arkansas Children’s Research Institute $2.9 million for cystic fibrosis

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

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $2.9 million to Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) to examine how a critical therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) might become even more effective at treating the genetic respiratory illness.

The five-year study will be led by Dr. Jennifer S. Guimbellot, chief of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she also serves as an associate professor of Pediatrics.

CF is a progressive disorder that severely damages the lungs, digestive system and other organs by affecting cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices. For decades, CF therapies focused on reducing the problems the condition caused and made it easier to live with the symptoms. Improvements in screening and treatments helped people with CF live into their 40s and 50s.

NIH awards Arkansas Children’s Research Institute $2.9 million for cystic fibrosis

Arkansas net farm income projected to decrease for second straight year

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ net farm income is projected to decline for the second straight year, a fall cushioned slightly by lower input costs, the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center said in its latest report.   

The center, working with agricultural economists from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said in its “Fall 2024 Arkansas Farm Income Outlook” that Arkansas’ 2024 net farm income is expected to drop by 10 percent from 2023 levels and reach $2.96 billion.   

Net farm income report for Arkansas, October 2024. (Image by RAFF)

 Arkansas' net farm income is expected to see a $1.06 billion drop from its 2022 record-high levels. The report also compares the projected 10 percent reduction in state net farm income to the projected 6.2 percent decline in the U.S. net farm income projected by Mizzou’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. 

“Fertilizer and pesticides and fuel oils are going to decline by 9 percent year over year,” said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture. “These markets are finally stabilizing. They're coming off these market shocks from COVID, the supply chain issues, the trucker strikes in Canada, and the Ukraine war is kind of baked into the market now.”  

The report said total production expenses are estimated to decline 5 percent in 2024, as fertilizer, feed and fuel expenses retreat. An additional 5 percent decrease in production expenses is forecasted for 2025. 

Unfortunately, “the decrease in fertilizer, pesticides, fuel oils, and feed expenses are offset by the increase in purchased livestock expenses, which amount to a rise of $1.34 billion in 2025,” Loy said.

Cash receipts 

Farm cash receipts represent the total revenue a farm receives from the sale of its agricultural products, government program payments, and private insurance payments.  

The report said that in 2024, total cash receipts for Arkansas would decline by 2 percent or $317 million. Livestock receipts increased 5 percent, or $361 million, while crop receipts tumbled 10 percent, or $580 million. 

Ironically, 2024’s near-record yields are contributing to lower commodity prices. 

Hunter Biram, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture, said that Arkansas had  

Nearly a million and a half acres of rice which is the highest since 2020. Yield is near the record set in 2021 at 7,600 pounds per acre.  

“The price is the lowest that we've seen since 2021 when it came in right under $14 a hundredweight,” he said. 

Corn, which has had the fewest number of Arkansas acres since 2015, is forecast to have a near-record high yield. However, “the price for corn is the lowest that we’ve seen in five years.” 

Cotton was in the same boat.  

“The acreage is the highest that we've had since 2011,” Biram said. “We've got a lot of cotton acres out there, despite having the lowest price since 2020 and it’s at a near-record yield.” 

Arkansas’s 3 million acres of soybeans are projected to have a record yield of 55 bushels an acre, Biram said. “The price for soybeans is the lowest that we've seen since 2019, which is similar to corn.” 

Livestock and poultry 

However, the low prices that bedevil row crop growers is helping the cattle and poultry industry, which relies on crushed soybean and corn for feed.  

Higher egg, broiler, and cattle prices support 5 percent higher total livestock receipts in 2024, the report said, adding that poultry receipts are projected to increase by $287 million, while cattle and hog receipts are also projected higher, by $97 million.   

Loy noted that “feed prices declining this year pretty significantly – 18 percent. 

“Cattle prices are up 6 percent year over year. Most of the uptick over the last few years is due to the severe drought in the western U.S., which led ranchers to reduce herds,” he said. However, with cheaper feed, cattle prices are “expected to decline again in 2025.” 

Government assistance

The report also shows the proportion of government assistance has shifted from primarily market-based programs such as Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage — known as ARC and PLC, to supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance across this same period.

The Fall 2024 Farm Income Outlook is co-published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and RaFF at the University of Missouri, which provides objective policy analysis and informs decision makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center collaborates with a number of states to develop farm income projections with local expertise.  

“RaFF’s Farm Income Outlook for calendar years 2024 and 2025 is intended to inform policymakers, industry analysts, and agricultural practitioners about the expected profitability of the local agricultural sector and its main drivers. RaFF’s state-level projections complement and add granularity to national projections by the USDA and FAPRI-MU, providing valuable insights on local agricultural trends,” said RaFF Director Alejandro Plastina.   

The full report and data tables are online.  

 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.  

UAMS Researchers Find Ground Beef Packs Bigger Muscle-Building Punch than Soy-Based Alternative

By News Staff

LITTLE ROCK — When it comes to building muscle, not all proteins are created equal.

New research from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) reveals that 100% ground beef packs a bigger punch for muscle protein synthesis than a soy-based counterpart. In fact, the study suggests that a person would need double the amount of soy-based protein to achieve the same results.

Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study examined the anabolic response — how the body builds muscle — after consuming a 4-ounce beef patty versus one or two 4-ounce patties of a soy-based product. The results? Just one serving of beef did the job, while two servings of the soy-based alternative were necessary to see the same muscle-building benefits.

For those counting calories, the difference is striking: Beef delivered these results with fewer calories — 279 compared to 462.

UAMS Researchers Find Ground Beef Packs Bigger Muscle-Building Punch than Soy-Based Alternative

New research from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) reveals that 100% ground beef packs a bigger punch for muscle protein synthesis than a soy-based counterpart.

Attorney General Tim Griffin joins FCC and National Coalition warning suspected Florida-based robocall operation

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, of which Griffin is a member, issued a warning letter to Florida-based gateway voice service provider iDentidad Advertising Development:

“This company routed dozens of illegal robocalls earlier this year, most of which originated outside the United States. Many of the calls impersonated government entities or were utility or financial scams. The letter our task force sent today sends a clear message to iDentidad: stop this illegal activity now or face legal action.

“I am committed to protecting Arkansans from illegal robocalls.”

The task force noted that iDentidad received nearly 200 traceback notices for calls the company routed to the U.S. telephone network that mostly came from outside the country. Most of these calls were illegal or part of suspicious robocall campaigns. The Federal Communications Commission also demanded that iDentitad cease and desist its activities involving illegal robocall campaigns.

To read a copy of the warning letter, click here.

Federal Trade Commission - How to Avoid Phone Scams

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Named Center of Excellence by MDS Foundation

By Marty Trieschmann

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the MDS Foundation, making it the only center in Arkansas to become part of the foundation’s referral network of the top bone marrow disorder treatment centers in the world.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of diverse bone marrow disorders that can progress to acute myeloid leukemia and primarily affect the elderly. In the United States, 20,000 new cases are reported every year, making MDS one of the most common blood cancers. A stem cell transplant is the only curative treatment option for certain types of high risk MDS.

A pioneer in the treatment of blood disorders and cancers, UAMS has been home to Arkansas’ only adult bone marrow transplant center since 1994, performing 12,731 transplants for conditions including lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma.

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Named Center of Excellence by MDS Foundation

Cotton to Mayorkas: Granting TPS to Lebanese nationals endangers Americans

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas - Flickr Image

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging him to rescind his decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Lebanese nationals currently in the United States. Senator Cotton warns Mayorkas that these unvetted Lebanese nationals pose a grave risk to our national security and to the safety of our citizens. 

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

“We have seen a dramatic increase in unvetted illegal immigrants as a result of your open-border policies. Under the Biden-Harris administration, Border Patrol has encountered thousands of illegal immigrants from countries with deep ties to terrorism, including Lebanon. In fact, Border Patrol agents apprehended a Lebanese man at the southern border earlier this year who said he belonged to Hezbollah and came to America to build a bomb.”

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

October 18, 2024

The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas 
Secretary
Department of Homeland Security 
Washington, D.C. 20528 

Dear Secretary Mayorkas: 

I write regarding your dangerous decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Lebanese nationals currently in the United States. The presence of these Lebanese nationals in the United States regardless of whether they lawfully entered poses a grave risk to our national security. 

We have seen a dramatic increase in unvetted illegal immigrants as a result of your open-border policies. Under the Biden-Harris administration, Border Patrol has encountered thousands of illegal immigrants from countries with deep ties to terrorism, including Lebanon. In fact, Border Patrol agents apprehended a Lebonese man at the southern border earlier this year who said he belonged to Hezbollah and came to America to build a bomb. 

Your department estimates that granting TPS status will protect 11,000 Lebanese nationals from deportation, which undoubtedly includes many Hezbollah terrorists. This reckless policy endangers the safety of our citizens. 

I urge you to rescind this decision before it goes into effect. For Lebanese nationals who have a legal basis to be present in the United States and who can credibly claim a risk to their lives if they return to Lebanon, your department could evaluate asylum requests on a case-by-case basis. This policy would be a far more sensible and safer course of action than a blanket TPS grant to all Lebanese nationals. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. 

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton

United States Senator                  

Representative Hill introduces legislation to address America's housing crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. French Hill (R-AR) today introduced the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act, which is designed to reverse decades of ineffective housing policies and implement targeted reforms to improve access to affordable, quality housing for all Americans. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) recently introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Wikimedia Image

Rep. Hill said, “Americans are struggling to find affordable housing to live in. For years, federal housing policy under the Biden-Harris Administration has been burdened by ineffective solutions and excessive bureaucracy. With the ROAD to Housing Act, we are taking real steps toward creating a housing market that benefits everyone—renters, homeowners, and families striving for stability. I thank my friend Senator Tim Scott for spearheading this legislation in the Senate and my colleagues Rep. John Rose, Rep. Dan Meuser, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, Rep. Mike Lawler, and Rep. Zach Nunn for leading this legislation with me in the House.”

Sen. Scott said, “I’m the son of a single mother – growing up, we lived with family until we were able to rent a small place of our own. I know firsthand the importance of access to quality, affordable housing. Unfortunately, Democrats’ solution for years has been to spend trillions on programs that have yielded little results, especially for minorities as homeownership rates for African Americans have barely changed in over 50 years. Costs to buy a home and to rent continue to increase, and homelessness is at record levels. It’s past time for Congress to take serious action to reverse decades of failed housing policies and put all Americans on the road to housing.” 

Further Background:

ROAD To Housing Act: This legislation offers a wide-ranging approach to reforming federal housing policy. The key pillars of this bill are to increase access to affordable housing, promote opportunity, incentivize local solutions, and ensure proper oversight and accountability over federal housing programs. Rep. John Rose (R-TN), Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) are original co-sponsors of this legislation. 

Delta Regional Authority distributes $3.75 million toward eight projects in Arkansas

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

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA), in collaboration with the state of Arkansas, recently invested $3.75 million toward eight projects in Arkansas through its States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP).

Eight Arkansas projects were selected for SEDAP funding at an investment upwards of $3.75 million. Funding for this program is made available, in part, by the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden. None of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation supported the infrastructure bill.

“The States’ Economic Development Assistance Program is one of DRA’s most diverse tools that allow us to expand and invest in the resiliency of the region’s public infrastructure and workforce,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chairman. “As a result of this investment, over 830 jobs will be created or retained, over 200 people trained, and over 740 families impacted across eight communities, improving residents’ quality of life and increasing economic prosperity in their communities.”

Delta Regional Authority distributes $3.75 million toward eight projects in Arkansas

Plant-based protein extraction study to look at ultrasound, fermentation methods

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Food science researchers with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station are tapping into the power of soundwaves and fermentation to improve the quality of plant-based proteins.

FOOD SCIENCE — Mahfuzur Rahman is a food scientist and grain processing engineer who conducts research through the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. (U of A System photo)

Ultrasound, the same soundwave technology that creates images of babies in the womb, and microbes that break starches down into sugar are behind a new protein extraction method being investigated with the support of a nearly $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Propelling the study is an increased demand in the plant-based dairy and alternative meat markets. Mahfuzur Rahman, an assistant professor in the food science department, said the market was estimated to be worth $29 billion in 2023 and growing by about 8 percent annually. Health and environmental concerns are behind the increase in demand, he noted.

Rahman is the lead research on the two-year study that began in August to develop an eco-friendly method of plant-protein extraction to enhance consumer acceptance by improving product development performance, taste and nutritional value. Plant-based proteins are used to make alternatives to animal proteins found in meats and dairy.

“Traditional protein extraction methods require chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and often result in lower yields and reduced protein quality,” Rahman said. “The traditional method affects the functionality, taste and nutrition of the extracted proteins.”

Rahman is a food scientist and grain processing engineer who conducts research through the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. He teaches courses through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. He received a Tanner Award for Comprehensive Reviews this year for being one of the most cited authors for scientific papers published by the Institute of Food Technologists.

LAB TEAM —Nazrul Islam, left, Ruslan Galib, Sukanya Poddar, Nikitha Modupalli, Mahfuzur Rahman, Kavith Lakshmipathy and Saydul Safwa are the Novel Ingredient Processing and Utilization Laboratory team in the food science department for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. (U of A System photo)

Rahman said this research will focus on optimizing ultrasound-assisted extraction to release proteins from flour efficiently, followed by adjusting fermentation-assisted removal of off-flavors and anti-nutritional factors.

“The effectiveness of the new method will be compared with traditional extraction methods in terms of protein yield, removal of off-notes, and reduction of anti-nutritional compounds,” Rahman explained.

Collaborators on the study include Scott Lafontaine, assistant professor of flavor chemistry for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and Girish Ganjyal, professor and extension food processing specialist at Washington State University’s School of Food Science. The grant is part of the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative from USDA-NIFA. The project award number is 2024-67018-42814.

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

Symposium Showcases Promising Research Aimed at Reducing Cancer Therapy Side Effects

By Marty Trieschmann

Ask any patient treated with chemotherapy, and the answer may be the treatment. Common side effects of chemotherapy include pain, fatigue, hair loss, mouth sores, bowel issues as well as nerve, muscle, cell and organ damage.

And that’s just chemotherapy. Conventional X-ray radiation, a treatment needed by half of all cancer patients, can cause scarring of the lungs and other injuries to any organ in the radiation field.

“Cancer treatments are much better than they used to be, and patients are living longer,” said Marjan Boerma, Ph.D., director of the Center for Studies of Host Response to Cancer Therapy at UAMS. “But patients and survivors can still experience physical suffering, both during and sometimes years after treatment.”

Symposium Showcases Promising Research Aimed at Reducing Cancer Therapy Side Effects

UAMS cancer researcher, Amanda Stolarz, Ph.D., discusses her lymphedema study with colleagues at the UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries