Westerman unveils landmark wildlife habitat legislation

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) unveiled the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (AWHCA).

“The America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act will empower states and local communities to use proven practices to restore and maintain habitat, which will benefit species in their state’s wildlife action plans. Good habitat management is integral to wildlife management and without it, species have little chance of maintaining sustainable populations and surviving. By strengthening relationships between states, tribes, private landowners and the federal government, we can empower them to implement proactive habitat conservation that will make a difference where it counts: on the ground across our abundant outdoors," said Chairman Westerman. "I’d like to thank my colleagues who have supported this logical and forward-thinking legislation, and I look forward to working with them and members across the aisle to move this commonsense, financially responsible bill through the legislative process and ultimately into law."

Chairman Westerman hosted a press conference to unveil the legislation:

BACKGROUND:

• Congressman Westerman's leadership on this legislation was inspired, in part, by much of the conservation work that takes place in Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District.

• The House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on the bill next week. Click here for more information.

• The goal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has always been to recover listed species to the point they no longer need protection. This legislation proposes a series of policy reforms that are laser-focused on recovery. These include requiring the federal government to establish objective, incremental recovery goals for listed species. Once those goals are established, the legislation builds incentives by providing incremental relief from ESA regulations as recovery goals are met. Over time, this creates an off-ramp toward state management of at-risk and listed species after recovery goals are met and in preparation for the delisting of the species. 

• The AWHCA will invest $320 million annually in grant funding to states for wildlife habitat conservation, providing additional resources for state governments to enact their congressionally mandated state wildlife action plans. Specifically, the bill would fund habitat restoration and forest management projects, and promote collaboration with private partners to conserve habitat for at-risk and listed species. The AWHCA will also provide $20 million to fund habitat restoration projects and forest management on tribal lands. All spending in the bill is offset and will sunset after five fiscal years.

• The AWHCA would also empower states by giving them the opportunity to develop recovery strategies for species that are listed as threatened or are candidates to be listed. These recovery strategies give states an active role in developing regulations for threatened and candidate species and could become the regulation that governs the management of these species. 

• Other provisions will give congressional backing to private, voluntary conservation efforts and provide a solution to the detrimental Cottonwood vs. U.S. Forest Service 9th Circuit Court decision. The bill authorizes Good Neighbor Authority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, allowing the agency to partner with states, tribes and counties to better manage their lands, placing it on par with other federal land management agencies.

Congressman Westerman published this op-ed highlighting his vision for the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act.

Issues:Natural Resources

Arkansas food safety expert tackles produce packing with new grant

By Nick Kordsmeier
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Federal regulations say growers and packers must keep their produce packing areas clean and sanitary but don’t offer specific guidelines on how to do it. That’s where Arkansas food science professor Kristen Gibson comes in.

FOOD SAFETY — Kristen Gibson, associate professor of food safety and microbiology, is working on a new project to improve sanitation in produce packinghouses. (U of A System Division of Agriculture)

The Center for Produce Safety has awarded Gibson a $206,108 grant to develop new food safety guidance for producer growers.

The industry-supported nonprofit selected Gibson, director of the Arkansas Center for Food Safety and researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, to identify and address potential gaps in sanitation protocols within produce packinghouses, where recently harvested fruits and vegetables are handled and packed for distribution. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Gibson said the research seeks to provide produce growers with best practices for cleaning and sanitizing surfaces in packinghouses.

“A lot of times, we assume that things are safe to eat,” Gibson said. “For consumers, you want to be sure that your growers are using the best practices available based on science.”

The three-year grant will focus on porous food-contact surfaces typical of produce packinghouses, like unfinished wood and vinyl fabric.

“In the produce industry, people are very innovative, and they like to use different surfaces to protect the quality of their produce,” Gibson said.

Recognizing that produce growers use a wide variety of surfaces throughout the process of packing produce, Gibson said the research will validate cleaning and sanitation processes for common, hard-to-clean, porous food-contact surfaces and develop best practices.

A new era for produce food safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Produce Safety Rule became effective in 2016, establishing “for the first time, regulatory requirements for on-farm growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce.”

Gibson said that cleaning and sanitizing are major components of the rule, with specific recordkeeping requirements. However, the rule lacks specific protocols that growers must follow.

“There’s not a ton of guidance on cleaning and sanitizing,” she said. “It tells you the steps: you have to clean to get the dirt off the surface, and then you have to rinse, and then you have to sanitize. But it doesn’t tell you how exactly to do that. As a grower, you have to develop your own sanitation protocols, and this can be really hard for some growers.”

This is particularly true for produce packinghouses, where there is a need for more guidance on cleaning and sanitizing porous food-contact surfaces, she added.

“Produce packinghouses can be lots of different things,” Gibson said. “It can be a totally enclosed structure with brick and mortar and very environmentally controlled. And it can be a shed where you have an awning and some tables outside.”

Gibson said the potential food safety risk of porous surfaces in these facilities stems from the difficulty of drying them.

“Most microorganisms thrive in higher moisture environments compared to low moisture environments,” Gibson said. “In addition, these surfaces can be difficult to adequately clean and sanitize due to both the porous nature and the potential adverse effects some sanitizers may have on the materials.

“With all of that said, the actual risk associated with porous surfaces is unknown. For example, although microorganisms may thrive on these surfaces, they may also become trapped and thus not able to transfer to the produce via cross-contamination,” she said.

Finding answers

Gibson’s research team will conduct two phases of research to address these questions. First, they will interview small to medium-sized growers from around the country to understand how different surfaces are used in the industry.

“Using this approach enables us to have more in-depth discussions with those industry members we are trying to serve,” Gibson said. “We let the overall results of these interviews drive the direction of the research.”

Next, using information gathered during the first phase, the team will evaluate the ability of microorganisms to survive and grow on the most common porous food-contact surfaces subjected to different conditions relevant to produce packinghouses. The goal, Gibson said, is to provide data-backed information to produce growers to help them validate their food safety practices.

“This work will correct deficiencies and improve the performance of cleaning and sanitation practices which will be broadly adaptable,” she said. “This work will build a foundation for further exploration of microbial risks associated with specific packing practices.”

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.

Republicans jockeying for leadership positions in Arkansas House

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, became the third candidate to declare for House Majority Leader in the next Arkansas General Assembly. There are also three candidates seeking the Speaker of the House post.

Brooks joins Rep. Howard Beaty, R-Crossett, and Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, in asking colleagues to vote them as the next House Majority Leader, a position held by Rep. Marcus Richmond, R-Harvey.

Beaty and Pilkington joined the race earlier this month.

“I intend to help the caucus speak boldly on the values we hold dear and have a caucus where every member feels heard, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique insights. The next session is going to be one full of change. I want us to embrace this change and lean in, our collective efforts will make our caucus more successful,” Beaty said.

Republicans jockeying for leadership positions in Arkansas House

Wayne Sanderson Farms to invest $43 million in new Danville feed mill

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

Oakwood, Ga.-based Wayne Sanderson Farms announced Tuesday (Feb. 27) it is building a $43 million feed mill at the company’s processing plant in Danville, Ark., with completion expected in April 2025. The new operation is estimated to add 15 jobs.

The mill, to be built on 21 acres next to the processing plant, will support 125 poultry farms in the region, according to the company. The mill is estimated to produce 8,500 tons of feed a week, with some of the raw materials purchased from local row crop farmers.

“Farming and poultry are the economic drivers here,” Toby Tapp, Danville complex manager, said in a statement. “Poultry is big business in Yell County and across the region. We just took the mayor, city administrator, county judge and other officials on a tour of the construction site and we’re getting lots of support – the entire community is excited to see construction begin.”

Wayne Sanderson Farms to invest $43 million in new Danville feed mill

Computer rendering of the planned new feed mill in Danville, Ark.

Walton family sells $1.5 billion of stock in recent transaction

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

The Walton family continues to sell Walmart stock to keep its holding below 50% of the total stock. Last week ahead of the 3:1 stock split, Walton Family Holdings Trust sold roughly 8.82 million shares.

Transaction information was from filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of Rob, Alice and Jim Walton. The transactions were valued at $1.5 billion and represent a fraction of the Trust’s share value in excess of $177.588 billion following the recent activity. In the past three months, the Walton Family Trust has sold nearly $2.3 billion of its stock holdings as Walmart’s share price rose more than 12% this year.

The sale transactions are in line with the Walton family’s 2016 pledge to keep its holdings slightly below 50% of the company’s outstanding shares. The family’s holdings are roughly 45% of the total company shares.

Walton family sells $1.5 billion of stock in recent transaction

Attorney General Tim Griffin rejects tobacco tax initiative on first try

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A ballot initiative to remove the “additional excise taxes” on tobacco products has failed on its first try. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin felt the simple ballot initiative was too vague and lacked language clarifying what it would mean. The initiative was put forward by Libertarian activist David E. Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff.

The initiative appears to only remove taxes that the legislature has tacked on since the Tobacco Products Act of 1977, although Griffin said its wording on this could be misinterpreted.

The Tobacco Products Act of 1977 put a $10.50 tax on every 1,000 cigarettes sold. It also put a tax on cigars that was “not to exceed” 50 cents. Since then, the legislature has added more tobacco taxes. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says the rate on tobacco products now is: “$57.50 per 1000 cigarettes or $11.50 per carton or $1.15 per pack.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin rejects tobacco tax initiative on first try

UAMS Establishes Institute for Community Health Innovation

By David Wise

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

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

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

UAMS Establishes Institute for Community Health Innovation

Boozman preserves memories of Jonesboro veteran

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) recognized the service of Ed Watson in ‘Salute to Veterans,’ a series highlighting the military service of Arkansans.

Veteran Ed Watson

Watson was born at his family’s home in Craighead County in 1946. He still calls the area home.

He attended Arkansas State University and spent many hours in the radio and TV department on a work scholarship. He recalled how his limited knowledge of classical musicians led him to mispronounce the names of well-known composers.

“I may as well laugh about it now because it was really funny, but I had a very supportive group of people here,” he said.

Watson also participated in ROTC while at Arkansas State. However, his grades weren’t good enough to get a deferment so, after more than two years of college, he was drafted.

The news was hard on his family. Watson said his dad was a supporter of the military, but he paid attention to the news and knew the dangers ahead for his son.

“He was pretty much up to date on what was going on in Vietnam and he was scared to death for me.”

Watson went to Fort Polk, Louisiana for basic training and said his ROTC experience made him better prepared than most other draftees. He was recognized as the best trainee of the cycle in his unit.

Following basic training, he went to Fort Ord, California for one week then to combat engineering training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Watson was able to return home and earn some money at a local job before resuming duty at Fort Lewis, Washington where he shipped out to Vietnam.

While deployed, he served as a combat demolitionist.

“There were nights on end that we had mortar attacks. In fact, I have a flag that has holes in it, that I had put up on a bamboo pole on top of my bunker. We were sleeping in trenches on the ground with steel matting over the top of that and sandbags on top of that. And I had stuck this flag up and a mortar hit our hole, it didn’t hit any of us, it dispersed,” he said.  

Watson spent 50 weeks in Vietnam. He rotated out two weeks early because he was saving money to be married and had unused vacation days. However, the time overseas took a toll.

“Those around me know I came back a different person,” he said “I was somewhat different. I will say a little harder, harsher,” he said.

Once back in the U.S., he still had time remaining on his two-year commitment so he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas in an armored unit.

Watson said part of his commitment included serving in the reserves once he left active duty. He remembered a conversation with an officer who served in Vietnam during the same time he was there about re-enlisting. He learned even the officer had no interest in continuing his military service.

With encouragement from Army officials, Watson decided to apply for an early separation so he could return to school in Arkansas. 

He acknowledged the support of Arkansas State Professor Charles Rasberry, a Navy veteran, for helping him finish his degree.

“He made sure I took classes that were in my chosen field and helped me out a lot.”

Watson said military service changed his attitude, but he would do it again.

“If you see a veteran, thank them for their service,” he said.

Reflecting on his time in the service, he recalled a conversation he overheard with a veteran who was being thanked “His response was ‘Thank you, you’re worth it.’ And I’ve adopted that. That’s how I respond.”

The one thing he wishes could be different is how civilians view the men and women who wore our nation’s uniform.

“If they knew what a veteran goes through, if they knew what a veteran lives with, I think they’d view us differently.”

“Ed Watson honorably served our country. Like many others of his generation, his military service shaped his life and appreciation for the unique experiences of those who spend time in our military. His story is an important piece of a larger narrative that helps us understand our own history. I’m pleased to recognize his selfless sacrifice and preserve his memories,” Boozman said.

Boozman submitted Watson’s entire interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.

Libertarians nominate slate of candidates for legislative seats, Congress

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

The Libertarian Party of Arkansas nominated a slate of candidates at its annual convention this weekend for the 2024 election cycle.

The list of nominated candidates includes:
Steve Parsons, U.S. House District 1
Bobby Wilson, U.S. House District 3
Michael Pakko, Treasurer of State
R. “Asher” Williams, State Senate District 1
David Lutmer, State Senate District 3
Lonny Goodwin, State Senate District 4
Dakota Logan, State House District 06
Michael Kalagias, State House District 8
Eric I. McGee, State House District 32
Garrett Sheeks, State House District 61
Michael White, State House District 75
Mark Rossen, State House District 87
Tammy Goodwin, State House District 88

Libertarians nominate slate of candidates for legislative seats, Congress

U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation welcomes 3 new board members ahead of March meeting

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

The U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Fort Smith museum, will hold its next scheduled meeting on March 7. It will be the first meeting for three new board members — Neff Basore of Bella Vista, Ryan Gehrig of Fort Smith and David Harlow of Loda, Ill.

Basore is senior vice president of residential developer Cooper Communities Inc. in Rogers. He is also a captain in the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, where he commands the Reserve Division and a member of the Arkansas State Police Commission.

Gehrig is president of Mercy Arkansas Communities, leading all Mercy hospitals across the state. That includes its two largest hospitals in Fort Smith and Rogers. Gehrig first came to Mercy as the president of the Fort Smith hospital in April 2012.

U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation welcomes 3 new board members ahead of March meeting

LEARNS, taxes, transparency split GOP candidates in some Arkansas legislative primaries

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Tax cuts, school vouchers and the state Freedom of Information Act are all hot-button issues for several Arkansas Republicans vying for seats in the state Legislature, including several incumbents who are fighting to appear on the November ballot.

A few of the challengers in the upcoming primary have run for legislative offices before, have already served in the Legislature or have family ties to former lawmakers.

“This is the people’s job,” said Timmy Reid, a cattle farmer and contractor from Marshall who is running for the House for the fourth time since 2018. “…It doesn’t matter what I want — if the people of my district decide they don’t want [something], I’m not voting for it or supporting it.”

LEARNS, taxes, transparency split GOP candidates in some Arkansas legislative primaries

Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas State Capitol.

Soybean yield contest winners announced

The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the Arkansas Soybean Association has announced the winners of the 2023 Grow for the Green Soybean Yield Contest. The contest divides state soybean producers into nine groups, seven geographic regions, one all-state conventional (non-GMO) category and a Champions Category consisting of all previous 100-bushel winners. Cash prizes were awarded to the top 3 in each division achieving a minimum of 60 Bu/A with the exception of the Champions.

The Race for 100 Yield Contest began in 2007, and in 2013, the first three producers reached the goal. The newest members of the 100-bushel club are Jeff Wells and Mark Williams. Over the years the average yield of those who enter the contest has increased. In 2023, almost half of those reporting harvest yields were over 90 bushels per acre.

Divison winners:

Northeast Delta – Casey Hook and Roger Reddick
Northeast – Mark Williams, Adam Fisher and Nick Ragsdell
White River Basin – Richard Walker, Isaac Davis, and Terry Fuller
Central/Grand Prairie – David Strohl and Taylor Burdett
East Central Delta – Allen Culp, Blake Culp and Parker Rohrscheib
Southeast Delta- John Allen McGraw
Western – Blake Mans, Ronnie Cross and Justin Crow
Conventional – Dennis Stephens
Champions Group – Tim Fisher

Soybean yield contest winners announced

UAMS Again Designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center

By Linda Satter

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) was again designated by the American College of Surgeons as the state’s only adult Level 1 Trauma Center — a distinction UAMS has held for seven years.

“This means that UAMS has a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals committed and always prepared to treat the most complex trauma patients,” said Kyle J. Kalkwarf, M.D., trauma medical director for UAMS. “We want to care for Arkansas’ most seriously injured trauma patients because we know it will give them the best chance for a good outcome.”

UAMS first achieved Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons in 2017 and has retained the designation after every three-year reassessment. The most recent designation lasts through Jan. 10, 2027.

UAMS Again Designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center

UAMS has a comprehensive Emergency Department prepared to treat a wide variety of medical needs with immediate, around-the-clock access to orthopaedic and trauma surgeons, neurologists, cardiologists and other specialists.

Officials reflect on first 'milk bank' in Arkansas

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Last year, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences opened the state’s first milk bank, which provides breast milk for mothers of newborns.

During the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers passed Act 225 to create the milk bank. In an interview with Arkansas PBS, Rep. Aaron Pilkington, Republican of Knoxville, and a sponsor of the bill, said the bill was needed because Arkansas was having to buy milk from other states.

“We had to go to either Texas or Michigan. What’s even crazier is we had mothers who wanted to donate their milk and we’re sending it to other states,” he said.

Misty L. Virmani, M.D., executive medical director of the UAMS Milk Bank, said it is important that the state has a milk bank.

Officials reflect on first 'milk bank' in Arkansas

UAMS.Edu/UAMS

Maternal health roundtable with state leaders held at UAMS

KUAR | By Nathan Treece

State leaders met with medical experts for a roundtable discussion on maternal health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Wednesday morning. Arkansas has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the nation.

Panelists spoke on many specific issues, but said the biggest barriers to maternal health are awareness, education, and access. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders says many risk factors go unnoticed because women do not meet with providers early on.

"We have a vast number of women who are not seeing a doctor," said Sanders. "In fact, one in five women in the state of Arkansas are not seeing a doctor until they are actually in labor.”

Maternal health roundtable with state leaders held at UAMS

Nathan Treece/Little Rock Public Radio

State officials, including Gov. Sarah Sanders, meet as part of a maternal health roundtable discussion at UAMS on Wednesday.

Free soybean seeds available to school, community gardens to grow-your-own protein

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — When you’re planning your community garden this year, save space for some soybeans. They’re good for your health and your wallet.

Grow-Your-Own — Schools and community gardens can get free soybean seeds through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service’s Grow Your Own Protein program as long as they donate their produce to food-insecure populations. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Through May 25, school and community gardeners can get free soybean seeds through the Cooperative Extension Service’s Grow Your Own Protein program as long as they donate their produce to schools, churches, food pantries, or other nonprofits serving food-insecure populations.

Request forms are available online at https://uaex.uada.edu/seed-request. Requests should be completed and emailed to dyoung@uada.edu. Seeds will be mailed to recipients.

The seed giveaway has been part of the Soybean Science Challenge program for eight years. It started in 2016 with 12 gardens in Arkansas. While Arkansas has been the main outreach for community gardens, the Soybean Science Challenge has expanded to include educational and community gardens across the country. Last year, more than 150 gardens participated nationwide.

Many teachers use the seeds in their school teaching gardens, and several Arkansas Master Gardener clubs grow soybeans to donate to food banks, said Deidre Young, Soybean Science Challenge coordinator.

“I have noticed that teachers and community leaders are starting to focus more on natural whole foods for students and citizens, and as such our garden numbers have increased accordingly,” Young said. “Schools are using the soybeans they grow in their cafeteria food, adding soybeans to soups, casseroles, and salad bars. Communities are using soybeans for similar meals plus there have been several inquiries into dehydrating and roasting the beans.”

Why soybeans?

Part of the goal of the Grow You Own Protein seed giveaway and the Soybean Science Challenge is educating people about the value of Arkansas soybeans to the Arkansas economy, to the labor force, and ultimately to feed and fuel the world.

Complete proteins come from animal-based products, soy and quinoa. Soy contains all nine essential amino acids, meaning it has as much protein as animal products such as eggs, meats, poultry and seafood, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It’s also inexpensive, versatile, and easy to grow. Seeds should be planted between late April and early May and will be ready to harvest in 80-85 days.

Commercially, soybeans are grown in 41 of the state’s 75 counties and rank as one of the top three crop commodities in cash receipts for Arkansas farmers, generating about $1.7 billion.

New Leadership

Young has worked with the Soybean Science Challenge program since it began and will retire this year. Keith Harris has been hired to coordinate the Soybean Science Challenge, which includes the school and community garden seed giveaway.

"I am excited to continue to educate students, teachers, and the public about the benefits of soybeans through the Soybean Science Challenge," Harris said. “Soybeans are one of the most versatile row crops and are used in a variety of products, from cleaning supplies to candles and biofuels to food for farm animals, pets, and people. The planting of soybeans in home and community gardens has grown tremendously in recent years, providing a low-cost, protein-rich, plant-based food to local growers and consumers.”

The Soybean Science Challenge is sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the Cooperative Extension Service. The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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.

State board approves waivers for Arkansas school districts moving to alternate calendars

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas education officials on Wednesday voted to allow half the state’s public school districts to add time to each school day for the rest of the year to make up for January’s snow days.

The shift from a traditional days-based calendar to an alternate hourly calendar comes as January’s severe winter weather highlighted the LEARNS Act’s practical elimination of alternative methods of instruction (AMI) days, which districts used in recent years to offer virtual instruction when schools were closed for weather, disease outbreaks or utility outages.

While the LEARNS Act did not repeal the law that created AMI days, it does require at least 178 days or 1,078 hours of “on-site, in-person instruction” to receive state funding that supports increasing the state’s minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000.

State board approves waivers for Arkansas school districts moving to alternate calendars

Governor Sanders Joins R2S, State Leaders to Break Ground on Manufacturing Facility in East Camden

EAST CAMDEN, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined R2S and state and local leaders to break ground on R2S’s new manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas. The facility will produce the Tamir missile for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its variant, the SkyHunter® missile to be used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. allies.

R2S is a joint venture between Rafael Advanced Defense System and Raytheon, an RTX business. This facility represents an investment of approximately $63 million for R2S and will create up to 60 new jobs in the region, roughly double the companies’ previous commitment. The R2S facility will build on RTX’s existing production capacity at the Highland Industrial Park.

Company representatives joined Governor Sanders and state officials to announce the project in October 2023. The Governor also met with company representatives at the Paris Air Show last summer to discuss the company’s investments in Arkansas.

“It’s an honor to join R2S for today’s groundbreaking, just as it was an honor to announce this project in October and meet with company representatives last summer at the Paris Air Show,” said Governor Sanders. “This investment will be a boon for the local economy: $63 million and 60 new jobs. More than that, our world is a whole lot less secure than it used to be, and this facility makes our country safer. Thank you to all who made this announcement possible, and thank you to the team in Camden for helping our state stand out.”

“R2S is pleased to announce today that it’s almost doubling the capital investment for the project here in Camden, Arkansas from $33 million to $63 million, and it may create up to 60 new jobs. This increase represents the commitment by both partners to support this critical project for the USMC and to our allies around the world that depend on a reliable air defense system,” said Annabel Flores, deputy president of Land & Air Defense Systems, Raytheon.“ None of this could have happened without committed partners in RTX, Rafael, the United States Marine Corp, the Arkansas congressional delegation, Governor Sanders and her economic development team and the Camden community.”

“Today, we mark a significant milestone in the Iron Dome program – one of the most important and advanced air defense systems in the world. The establishment of the new facility is the result of strong cooperation between Rafael and Raytheon, who joined forces about 18 years ago,” said Pini Yungman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Air & Missile Defense Division, Rafael. “We have built and maintained fruitful collaboration based on the shared vision of both companies, committed to the highest level of technological innovation. The United States is a true partner; and local production, which we have aspired to for many years, will strengthen the partnership while safeguarding the interests of all sides. I am confident that we are ready for further cooperation in the future aimed at ensuring the security of the citizens of Israel and America.”

“Securing East Camden’s position as the arsenal of democracy has always been our vision,” said Senator John Boozman. “After years of hard work, I’m proud to celebrate this groundbreaking and advance the vital role the community will play in our national security and supporting our allies well into the future. I will continue advocating for funding to encourage more defense industry investment in our state, help the region grow and provide well-paying jobs for Arkansans.”

“This new facility will usher in high quality jobs for Arkansans and will be instrumental in ensuring the Natural State remains a global leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing. Investments such as this are critical in bolstering our national defense capabilities. Congratulations to R2S, Raytheon, and Rafael on this groundbreaking,” said Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04).

“Arkansas is a major center for aerospace and defense manufacturing, with an experienced workforce and favorable business environment that helps companies succeed,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “Congratulations to R2S, Raytheon and Rafael on their groundbreaking in East Camden and to the local leaders for creating the conditions that give companies the confidence to grow in their community.”

“This groundbreaking ceremony represents the culmination of many months of effort by our partners to make this project a reality for our state and community,” said James Lee Silliman, executive director of the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development. “Our team partners are to be commended for their support on the project. Many thanks are owed to those partners beginning with R2S-RTX/Rafael partnership, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, AEDC, Highland Industrial Park management, Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt and my Team Camden members.”

“We are proud that Calhoun County will be the home of the R2S manufacturing facility,” said Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt. “South Arkansas has a long history in aerospace and defense manufacturing, and this project will build on that history. Calhoun County provides a strong workforce and great business environment for R2S’s, RTX’s, and Rafael’s continued growth.”

Arkansas attorney general rejects first draft of direct democracy initiative

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas’ attorney general has rejected the first version of a proposed constitutional amendment intended to improve the state’s ballot initiative process, but sponsors plan to resubmit.

The text of the measure — which would change parts of the initiative process that have frustrated ballot groups, including ballot title review and signature verification, as well as bar the state Legislature from making changes to initiated amendments or ballot initiative requirements — has a “key ambiguity,” according to Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Griffin in a letter dated Feb. 20 declined to certify the measure’s ballot language, saying the proposed amendment was unclear about how and if future initiatives could be challenged at the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Arkansas attorney general rejects first draft of direct democracy initiative

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$50M funding boost will help NY retail tech firm expand Northwest Arkansas operations

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Crisp, a New York-based retail technology company, announced a $50 million funding round Thursday (Feb. 22) that will have ripple effects in Northwest Arkansas.

The new funding will support the company’s aggressive growth efforts — building on its recent acquisition of Atlas Technology Group in Rogers — product development, expansion into new markets and additional acquisitions.

“Our strong growth is a testament to the measurable and significant value Crisp provides. We solve real problems and help CPG brands strengthen sales, marketing and their relationships with retailers,” founder and CEO Are Traasdahl said. “Accessing all data within a single platform is empowering brands to implement a collaborative commerce approach, where advanced analysis is improving forecasting, pricing strategies, inventory management, and expansion plans.”
$50M funding boost will help NY retail tech firm expand Northwest Arkansas operations

Are Traasdahl, founder and CEO of Crisp