Boozman, McConnell, colleagues push back on EPA’s regulatory overkill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in introducing legislation to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing a new rule tightening fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards, which would further halt the growth of America’s manufacturing industry. Boozman, McConnell and 44 other Senate Republicans have filed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to prevent the EPA from implementing this new mandate. 

The Biden administration’s EPA is tightening PM2.5 emissions for the first time in a decade, despite its own data reporting that concentrations have fallen by over 40 percent since 2000. Additionally, the vast majority of PM2.5 emissions come from sources like wildfires and dust from agriculture and roads that are not easily contained and – in some cases – impossible to control.

“Under this administration, the EPA has yet to find a burdensome regulation it didn’t embrace. Crippling the economy in countless rural communities despite evidence that current standards are delivering on cleaner air is absurd, will cost Americans’ jobs and drive up costs. I’m proud to join Leader McConnell and our colleagues to prevent this regulatory overkill from taking effect,” Boozman said.

“The Biden administration rolled out yet another job-killing mandate that would impose more unilateral economic pain at home. This one goes well beyond the regulatory standards of most European allies, let alone our top strategic competitor, China. The EPA’s new standard is so strict that upon its effect, 30 percent of U.S. counties, including many in my home state of Kentucky, would immediately find themselves out of compliance, grounding manufacturing growth to a halt. In order to keep up with President Biden’s new mandate, American manufacturers would be forced to import raw materials, like concrete and steel, for virtually any construction project. The kind of projects that grow our economy and supply good-paying jobs,” said McConnell.

Wildfires, road dust and other hard to control non-point sources now make up 84 percent of particulate matter, leaving states few options when trying to comply with EPA’s needlessly stringent new standards. Nearly 20 percent of counties in the U.S. could fail to meet the standard, resulting in permitting gridlock that threatens new infrastructure projects, expanded manufacturing and the economic growth that creates well-paying jobs. On top of that, counties with particulate matter levels just below the standards would also face restrictions on development. That’s why the U.S. Chamber supports Leader McConnell’s Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval,” said Chad Whiteman, Vice President of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Boozman, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and other senators wrote EPA Administrator Michael Regan to urge the agency to rescind the proposed rule last September.

A CRA resolution is a tool used by Congress to eliminate onerous regulations imposed by the executive branch through an expedited procedure for consideration in the Senate. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special privileges that bypass normal Senate rules and allow for a vote on the Senate floor. When a CRA resolution is approved by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress and signed by the president—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

Joining Boozman and McConnell on the CRA resolution are Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tedd Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Todd Young (R-IN).

Click here for text of the CRA resolution.

Fayetteville man, 3 others sentenced in $18M fraud scheme

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

John Nock, a Fayetteville businessman who once owned the former Cosmopolitan Hotel in downtown Fayetteville, was one of four men sentenced last week in Fayetteville for participating in an eight-year investment fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded over a dozen victims around the world out of more than $18 million.

According to a press release Monday (March 18) from the Department of Justice, Nock, 55, was sentenced on March 14 to 20 years and 10 months in prison; Brian Brittsan, 67, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced on March 14 to 10 years in jail; Kevin Griffith, 68, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced on March 15 to 12 years and six months in prison; and Alexander Ituma, 57, of Lehi, Utah, was sentenced on March 15 to eight years and four months in jail.

Between 2013 and 2021, Nock, Brittsan, Griffith and Ituma colluded in an investment fraud operation under The Brittingham Group, an Arkansas-based company. The scheme falsely claimed access to exclusive investment opportunities, including deals involving the monetization of foreign bank guarantees.

Fayetteville man, 3 others sentenced in $18M fraud scheme

College of Pharmacy Pinning Ceremony Recognizes Third-Year Students

Members of the College of Pharmacy Class of 2025 posed for a group photo in Little Rock following this year's ceremony. A total of 87 students were recognized in Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas. Image by Evan Lewis

By Benjamin Waldrum

The UAMS College of Pharmacy recognized third-year students with commemorative pins at a joint ceremony held March 8, marking the transition to patient care for their final school year.

Third-year pharmacy student Nicholas Hollowell (right) receives his pin from Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D.Evan Lewis

Ceremonies were held on the UAMS Little Rock campus and UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, recognizing a total of 87 students from the College of Pharmacy Class of 2025. The annual tradition marks the end of in-class instruction for pharmacy students.

Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D., welcomed the students and faculty present, as well as a packed house of friends and family members. Addressing the class, she told them to be “practice-ready.”

College of Pharmacy Pinning Ceremony Recognizes Third-Year Students

Steel Horse Rally adds antique motorcycle show, partners with U.S. Marshals Museum

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

The Steel Horse Rally is partnering with the U.S. Marshals Museum to add a new event to Fort Smith’s annual motorcycle event – the Bikes and Badges antique motorcycle show.

Now in its ninth year, the Steel Horse Rally is slated for May 3-4 in downtown Fort Smith. Bikes and Badges antique motorcycle show will make its debut from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4 at the U.S. Marshals Museum, 789 Riverfront Drive. The new event is sponsored by Fort Smith Harley-Davidson, said Steel Horse Rally president and founder Dennis Snow.

That sponsorship means visitors can get into the Marshals Museum free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4, Snow said.

Steel Horse Rally adds antique motorcycle show, partners with U.S. Marshals Museum

A long-term strategy for avoiding muddy pastures

By the U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The past winter in Arkansas has been cold and wet, with cycles of freezing and thawing that have often resulted in muddy pastures and access roads for many producers. This can put a strain on both livestock and equipment.

MUDDY DAYS AHEAD — Proper pasture management can help reduce the worst of muddy days in Arkansas. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Despite the near-perennial nature of this recurring situation, once spring has sprung, it’s often all but forgotten until the next hard winter comes around.

Dirk Philipp, associate professor of forage agronomy for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said there are several things, however, that livestock producers can do to alleviate this situation over the long term.

“Soil types and textures are diverse, and many farms feature multiple soil series, each with its own hydrology,” Philipp said. “Learning about these features and finding information is important to water resource management.”

A good start, Philipp said, is the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Web Soil Survey, which provides information on soil hydrology and the original native vegetation that covered the area. The NRCS data can be used to establish forages in the long-term that can cope with various conditions, be they wetter or drier.

“Eastern gamagrass and switchgrass work well for wetter areas and along creek beds,” Philipp said. “These can be extended at the desired widths and grazed, hayed, or both. Tall fescue can be used in somewhat wetter conditions as well, and orchardgrass in shaded environments.”

Philipp said that along former and existing creek beds, trees can be reestablished, but should be spaced to allow enough light for forages to grow underneath.

The other obvious key to taming a muddy pasture is good grazing management. Given the high rain intensity frequently seen in Arkansas, as well as the prevailing soil types in the region, mud cannot entirely be avoided.

“But there are a few management principles that help keep pastures healthy,” Philipp said.

If needed, assign a pasture for hay feeding during winter. The area should be large enough to move feeders around and place bales strategically to avoid excessive trampling.

“The sacrifice pasture should have good drainage, be on higher ground and placed strategically so that if runoff occurs, you can capture the nutrients in another pasture,” Phillipp said. “Your prime perennial cool season and warm season forages should not be stocked for long periods during winter, unless you plan to graze off senesced material.”

Moist soil compacts rapidly, Philipp said, with long-term implications for weed control as many undesired species are able to out-compete forages on disturbed ground. Incorporating good grazing management with the appropriate grazing methods, such as rotational stocking, creep grazing and strip grazing, will help producers avoid the downsides of overstocking.

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.

Kapil Yadav, M.D., Joins UAMS to Lead Nuclear Cardiology and Vascular Medicine Program

By Linda Satter

Kapil Yadav, M.D.

LITTLE ROCK — Kapil Yadav, M.D., an established interventional cardiologist in central Arkansas, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to lead its Nuclear Cardiology and Vascular Medicine Program.

An associate professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, Yadav will treat patients at the UAMS Neighborhood Clinic in Maumelle and at the Outpatient Center on the UAMS campus.

“I am delighted that Dr. Kapil Yadav has chosen to move his practice to UAMS,” said Paul Mounsey, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. “A prominent local cardiologist with wide clinical interests, Dr. Yadav will strengthen both our noninvasive cardiology services, particularly nuclear cardiology, and our interventional cardiology group.”

Kapil Yadav, M.D., Joins UAMS to Lead Nuclear Cardiology and Vascular Medicine Program

Arkansas education co-ops concerned about effect of reduced funding

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

The Sanders administration’s proposal to reduce funding for Arkansas’ 15 education service cooperatives has co-op directors concerned about the impact on students, especially those in smaller school districts.

Fourteen cooperatives would receive $4.3 million less in state funds next fiscal year under the Department of Education’s 2025 budget proposal, according to estimates provided to the Advocate by co-op directors.

The Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative did not return requests for comment, and ADE did not provide a funding total.

Arkansas education co-ops concerned about effect of reduced funding

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva discusses draft rules with state board of education members during a work session in Little Rock on March 6, 2024.

UAMS to Host Health Care Technology, Data Science Summer Camp for 10th Graders in Northwest Arkansas

By David Wise

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is hosting a two-week summer day camp for rising 10th grade students in Northwest Arkansas who are interested in learning about STEM and data science as it relates to the health care field.

The Arkansas Technology and Data Science in Health & Medicine (AR Tech DaSH) camp will be held June 3-14 on the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville. Spots are limited to 25 students, and the deadline to register is April 12. Registration is available online at https://medicine.uams.edu/neurobiology/outreach/ar-tech-dash/.

The free, 10-day summer camp incorporates imaging technologies and a data science curriculum focused on health and medicine. Students who complete the AR Tech DaSH camp will be designated as STEM Ambassadors and will be expected to participate in limited community outreach activities during off-school hours during the next academic year. Program staff will also provide a short series of college preparation sessions for the STEM Ambassadors.

UAMS to Host Health Care Technology, Data Science Summer Camp for 10th Graders in Northwest Arkansas

Arkansas State Broadband Office starting months-long mapping challenge

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

The Arkansas State Broadband Office will launch its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) mapping challenge process on Wednesday, March 20.

The months-long process will enable stakeholders in Arkansas to challenge the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map and the levels of internet service reported at homes and businesses throughout the state. Stakeholders will be able to challenge data provided by the map but must submit evidence of the inaccuracies.

Eligible challengers in this process include units of local government, nonprofit organizations, and internet service providers, under federal BEAD program regulations.

Arkansas State Broadband Office starting months-long mapping challenge

What’s next in a post-dicamba world? NALC’s 11th Annual Mid-South to address the issue

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — What’s next for users and makers of crop protection products in a post-dicamba, pro-Endangered Species Act environment? That’s among the questions to be answered at the 11th Annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference on June 6-7, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The National Agricultural Law Center's 11th Annual Mid-South Conference will feature a session on crop protection products, presented by EPA's Rod Snyder and NALC's Brigit Rollins. (Image courtesy Rod Snyder)

Rod Snyder, senior advisor for agriculture to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator, and Brigit Rollins, staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, will be addressing the issue as co-presenters for “Tomorrow’s Harvest:  An Overview of the Regulatory and Litigation Landscape for Crop Protection Products.”

Rollins said recent litigation has spurred significant changes in pesticide regulation, including vacating the registration for widely used herbicides and shifts in EPA enforcement philosophy.

“Over the last few years, we've seen dicamba become unavailable for use more than once as the direct result of lawsuits and subsequent court decisions,” she said. “Going forward, we're expecting to see additional restrictions on pesticide use as EPA works to come into better compliance with the Endangered Species Act.”

One outcome of the EPA’s shift toward a closer alignment with ESA will likely mean increased use restrictions for applicators.

“With changes to pesticide labels coming in rapidly, and sometimes unexpectedly for producers, staying informed is critical,” Rollins said.

About the Mid-South

The 2024 Mid-South conference will be held at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The annual “Beer & BBQ” networking dinner will be held on the evening June 6 at The Rendezvous ahead of the main conference program on June 7.

“The Mid-South is an important event for the NALC and our stakeholders,” Harrison Pittman, director of the NALC, said. “The Mid-South region of the country is uniquely impacted by numerous agricultural issues, both long-standing and emerging. Our goal with the Mid-South is always to bring top-notch presenter talent and information, and we are again accomplishing that in our 11th year.”

The Mid-South also features an “Early Bird” online program on Tuesday, May 14. Rollins is presenting at the “Early Bird” as well, providing an ag and food law update alongside NALC Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Rumley. Their “Early Bird” session will cover topics like Prop 12, waters of the U.S. and the Farm Bill. Conference attendees who register for the Mid-South by Monday, May 13 can view the online “Early Bird.”

Full session titles and speakers for the main conference program include:

• Estate Planning & The Farm: Top Tips and Practice Pointers — Connie Haden, Founder & Partner at The Law Firm of Haden & Colbert

• Fourth Amendment and Agriculture: Warrantless Access to Ag & Private Rural Lands — Robert Frommer, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice and Joshua Windham, Attorney and Elfie Gallun Fellow in Freedom and the Constitution, Institute for Justice

• Tomorrow’s Harvest:  An Overview of the Regulatory and Litigation Landscape for Crop Protection Products — Rod Snyder, senior adviser for agriculture to the EPA Administrator and Brigit Rollins, staff attorney, National Agricultural Law Center

• USDA National Appeals Division 101: What You and Your Farm Client Need to Know — Danielle Lake, deputy regional director, USDA National Appeals Division

• Artificial Intelligence in Law Practice: Navigating the Ethical Landscape — Ellen Murphy, professor of practice, Wake Forest University School of Law

• 2024 and Beyond: Ag Tax Update and the Corporate Transparency Act — Kristine Tidgren, director, Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation, Dolezal Adjunct Associate Professor, Agricultural Education, Iowa State University

Continuing education available

The Mid-South will be submitted for CLE accreditation in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Approval for CE will also be sought from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

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

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture.

Clinton Presidential Center presents conversation with Hillary Clinton, first female Archivist of the United States

KUAR | By Seth Hooker

On Thursday, March 14, the Clinton Presidential Center presented a conversation between Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States and Former Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Shogan leads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) which preserves some of the nation’s most historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The talk was held in honor of Women’s History Month.

Clinton began by acknowledging Shogan as the first woman to serve as Archivist of the United States. When asked why she thought it was important for women to be in the rooms where big decisions happen, Shogan said the key reason was “agenda setting.”

Clinton Presidential Center presents conversation with Hillary Clinton, first female Archivist of the United States

Clinton Center/YouTube

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks with Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan in an event hosted by the Clinton Presidential Center on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Boozman, Cotton, Hyde-Smith Hail Victory for U.S. Catfish Producers as Commerce Dept. Reverses Decision Favoring Imports from Vietnam

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in claiming victory for U.S. farm-raised catfish producers and processors following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s announcement reversing a preliminary decision that would have greatly reduced anti-dumping duties on imported catfish from companies controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The Commerce Department backpedaled after Boozman, Cotton, Hyde-Smith and their colleagues as well as stakeholders raised concerns that the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry would be devastated if it didn’t reverse the preliminary decision pertaining to the administrative review of the anti-dumping duty order on U.S imports of Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 

“Catfish producers in Arkansas and their neighbors are committed to providing the fresh, nutritious and quality supply that ends up on tables around our country, but their ability to continue doing so would have been devastated if this decision had been finalized. They deserve a level playing field, and I’m pleased we have helped keep them from being undercut by an inferior and heavily subsidized product,” Boozman, who serves as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said. 

“This reversal is a welcome decision, and I’m proud to have worked with Senator Hyde-Smith, Senator Boozman, and our Republican colleagues to protect Arkansas’s catfish farmers and consumers across the country,” Cotton said. 

“The Commerce Department actually heeded our warnings and the rescission of this review is a clear victory for the U.S. catfish industry, which is so important to Mississippi and other rural states. It’s also a victory for American consumers, who will not be put at risk from tainted imported catfish,” Hyde-Smith said. 

A Federal Register notice published on Thursday indicated the Biden administration is abandoning its preliminary decision, which would have reduced the non-market economy anti-dumping duty from $2.39/kg to $0.14/kg for all producers controlled by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 

In January, Boozman, Cotton and Hyde-Smith led a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that requested her agency abandon plans to significantly reduce the duties on Vietnamese catfish imports, arguing it would also set a precedent for the approximately 250 non-market economy proceedings involving communist governments. The letter was also signed by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Katie Britt (R-AL).

Arkansas ranks as the third-largest catfish-producing state. Boozman and Cotton have championed the industry’s interests on multiple occasions, including previously leading a bicameral coalition that secured approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $42 million of catfish products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs, including charitable institutions.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week, the Arkansas Legislative Council and the council subcommittees convened at the Capitol.

The council approved the permanent payment rules for Educational Freedom Accounts. Educational Freedom Accounts may be used by eligible families to cover private school tuition, fees, uniforms, and some other required expenses. First-time kindergarteners, students enrolled in “D” or “F” rated schools, students with a disability, current or former foster care students, students experiencing homelessness, or students whose parents are active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement or first responders will be eligible to use the accounts in the 2024-2025 school year. All public school students will be eligible in the 2025-2026 school year.

The council also approved an emergency rule from the Department of Finance and Administration that requires Arkansans to list their gender on their driver’s license.  The rule states the gender must match what is listed on the person’s birth certificate, passport, or identification document from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The ALC Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee continued its study on possession and open-carry laws concerning firearms this week. The subcommittee will begin hearing recommendations regarding these laws at its next meeting on Monday, March 25. The meetings are open to the public. You can find the agenda and a link to sign up to comment atwww.arkleg.state.ar.us.

The latest revenue report presented to the council shows gross general revenues have decreased by $113 million or 2% below what was collected last year. Meanwhile, unemployment in the state remains steady at 3.7% in Arkansas for the third consecutive month.

As a reminder, the legislature will convene for a Fiscal Session on April 10. We will continue to update you on the latest developments from the Capitol.

Arkansas lawmakers ban gender-neutral ID’s

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A policy ending gender-neutral driver's licenses and state IDs in Arkansas has officially gone into effect. The Arkansas Legislative Council on Friday voted to approve the rule change put forward by the state Department of Finance and Administration.

Driver's licenses and state IDs list a person's sex. Previously, Arkansans could put an “X” in this section instead of a “M” or “F” as in male or female. The policy stops the gender-neutral option, which only 516 Arkansans have opted for. It also bars people from changing the “M” or “F” without documentation, something allowed for the past 14 years.

The approval was made along with a package of other rule changes approved by the committee. Democratic lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to remove the policy change from the package of rules they were to vote on.

Arkansas lawmakers ban gender-neutral ID’s

Chris Hickey/Little Rock Public Radio

The policy change doing away with gender-neutral driver's licenses and IDs went into effect after the Arkansas Legislative Council adjourned Friday.

Speaker Recommends Prunes for Good Bone Health During National Nutrition Month

By Ben Boulden

March 15, 2024 | Long recommended as an aid to digestion, prunes are a good source of different nutrients important for maintaining bone density in postmenopausal women and perhaps contributing to good bone health in all adults, according to Shirin Hooshmand, Ph.D., RD.

Hooshmand is a professor of nutrition at San Diego State University in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Services. Her primary research interests include investigating nutritional factors that impact the aging process and developing interventions to improve physiological changes associated with aging.

 The presentation was part of the UAMS Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Seminar series, which presents the seminars online each month. Hooshmand was invited to speak for this month’s seminar, and March is National Nutrition Month.

Speaker Recommends Prunes for Good Bone Health During National Nutrition Month

Shirin Hooshmand, Ph.D., R.D.

Supporters of education amendment say signature gathering strong, cost estimates forthcoming

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

For AR Kids, a ballot question committee supporting changes to Arkansas education policy, says their kick-off for signature gathering is off to a great start.

Appearing on this week’s Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics TV program, leaders of the group said they are confident they will meet the threshold of more than 90,000 signatures to get the “Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024” on the November ballot.

“We had our kickoff last week at the [state] Capitol and even though it’s early on – it’s only been two weeks – we are blaring. I mean, it is crazy how many signatures we have,” said April Reisma, President of the Arkansas Education Association and Vice-president of the For AR Kids coalition.

Supporters of education amendment say signature gathering strong, cost estimates forthcoming

Animal science recognizes alum; team supporters

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —  Three individuals and one family are being honored by the animal science department at the University of Arkansas for their support of department efforts or achievements as alumni.

Tom Edrington, Jim Turner and Don Hubbell, former director of the Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville, are each being honored as Graduates of Distinction.

HONOREES — Tom Edrington, Don Hubbell and Jim Turner are being honored as Graduates of Distinction by the animal science department.

The Walker Family of Prairie Grove is also being recognized as a Friend of Animal Science for its support of the ranch horse and livestock judging teams.

“Looking at their careers and their industry involvement, we believe Tom, Don and Jim really represent the highest qualities we want to see in graduates from the animal science program,” said Mike Looper head of the animal science department for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “It’s an honor to recognize them as our Graduates of Distinction.

“The Walkers have been an incredible example and inspiration for their dedication and support of our competitive teams, which do so much to teach our students much-needed skills,” Looper said.

This year’s class will be honored April 25 during the department’s annual awards and scholarship banquet. The honorees receive a crystal award and their images and biographies will be included on a plaque that hangs in the department.  

Don Hubbell

Hubbell received his bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of Arkansas. He accepted a position and worked as a research assistant with Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville. From September 1982 to May of 2004. Hubbell held various positions at the station, managing the research for the dairy, stocker and beef cow units. Hubbell was named resident director in charge of the station in May 2004, a position he held before retiring in 2022.

Hubbell worked on many forage, health and nutrition projects with beef and dairy cattle, collaborating with principal investigators in both Bumpers College and the Division of Agriculture. Hubbell collaborated with many principal investigators, or PIs, - faculty, extension and industry, in and out of state. His name appears on more than 100 refereed articles, abstracts and publications as principal investigator or co-PI. Hubbell was a member of the Research Center Administrator’s Society for 17 years, serving as Awards Committee chairman for 10 years. He was appointed to the National Cattleman’s Beef Promotion Board in 2023, serves on the Executive Board for Arkansas Cattleman’s Association and as an ex-officio member of the Arkansas Beef Council.

Tom Edrington

Edrington earned a master of science in animal science from the University of Arkansas under Jack Perkins. He is currently in his seventh year with Diamond V, where he serves as director of beef research and tech services. Before his time at Diamond V, Tom spent 16 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. There, he developed an internationally recognized research program in pre-harvest food safety research, focused on but not limited to, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in beef and dairy cattle. 

Edrington’s research has been funded through numerous grants and has more than 50 senior-authored and 100 junior-authored publications in refereed journals. He received his bachelor of science in animal science and Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition and toxicology from New Mexico State University.

Jim Turner

Turner earned his Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition in 2003 from the University of Arkansas after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University. In 2004 he became an extension livestock specialist for North Carolina State University.  During his time at NCSU, Turner oversaw the State Beef Quality Assurance program which has had an impact on him throughout his career, striving to improve beef sustainability. In August of 2011 he began his career at Hubbard Feeds as a beef nutritionist serving the eastern United States. In January 2016 Turner accepted a position as technical service manager with Chr. Hansen, a Danish bioscience company where he worked extensively with research, product development and conveying the use of probiotics throughout the cattle feeding industry. Turner was instrumental in the launch of new products targeted at the non-fed cattle market. In January 2021 he began as director of SulutionsN working with a full portfolio of nutraceuticals. 

He is responsible for the research, development, and sales management of SulutionsN. Throughout his career, Turner has delivered numerous presentations at producer and professional meetings. 

The Walker Family

Members of the Walker family are strong advocates of agriculture and construction. In 1974, Larry and Be-Ann started Walker Masonry and Sons, Inc. and grew the company into a thriving commercial masonry business. Larry and Be-Ann started Willow Springs Ranch in 1980, where they began with dairy and beef cattle as well. In 1985 they changed to beef cattle exclusively. Now, Larry and Be-Ann continue their beef cattle operation and have included quarter horses into their operation. Larry and Be-Ann are proud supporters of the University of Arkansas Ranch Horse Team.

The Walker Family has been recognized as Friend of the Department for Ranch Horse and Livestock Judging teams. (Image courtesy the Walker Family).

Larry and B-Ann’s son Eric and his wife Linsay, now own and operate Walker Masonry and Sons, as well as the Willow Springs Cattle Company and The Grand at Willow Springs. Eric and Linsay continually support the livestock judging team and work with the University on their non-profit organization, the Arkansas Youth Expo. Eric’s passion for education and agriculture have only grown since his service as the Arkansas FFA state president in 1992-93.

Eric and Linsay’s three children are eager to follow in their parents and grandparents’ footsteps of construction and agriculture and continue the legacy of the Walker family. Mason owns Supreme Show Goats and works for Walker Masonry. Whitney and her husband Kamden own Urban Livestock, their sheep operation, and Whitney works for The Grand at Willow Springs and helps organize the Arkansas Youth Expo. Catelyn is heavily involved in the reining cow horse industry.

Mention of product or company names does not imply endorsement by 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.

Arkansas congressional delegation approve of bill that would force sale of Tik Tok

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Last week, the Arkansas congressional delegation voted in support of a bill that passed the House that would force Tik Tok, a Chinese company, to sell to an American company, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

In a press release, U.S Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, said he voted for the bill because of concerns he has related to how the data collected from the app is being handled.

“There is no separation between national security and the state when it comes to the CCP. TikTok is using CCP dominated technology that is being leveraged to gather massive amounts of data on American citizens, posing a major national security risk. We must protect Americans from the growing threat of the CCP by requiring the sale of TikTok to an American company. Whether TikTok remains on the phones of Americans or not is now up to TikTok’s owner, Chinese headquartered ByteDance,” Hill said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would protect central Arkansans and Americans from national security risks posed by applications owned by our foreign adversaries. 

“This is not about targeting TikTok – my vote today was about protecting central Arkansans and Americans from surveillance and manipulation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There is no separation between national security and the state when it comes to the CCP. TikTok is using CCP dominated technology that is being leveraged to gather massive amounts of data on American citizens, posing a major national security risk. We must protect Americans from the growing threat of the CCP by requiring the sale of TikTok to an American company. Whether TikTok remains on the phones of Americans or not is now up to TikTok’s owner, Chinese headquartered ByteDance.” 

Further Background:

 H.R. 7521 - Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act: This bill prohibits applications controlled by foreign adversaries of the United States from being distributed, maintained or updated by online app stores and allows the President to require divestment of an application’s foreign adversary-controlled company ownership or face prohibition on app stores and access to web hosting services in the United States. 

For more details on this bill, please visit HERE.

Arkansas officials provide update on safety precautions that will be taken during the solar eclipse

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Next month, Arkansas is expected to receive 300,000 to 1 million visitors in the state. The first weekend of April will be when the state will be under a solar eclipse, which is expected to bring tourists to the state.

In an interview with Arkansas PBS, Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said ARDOT is preparing for the increased traffic that will result from the eclipse.

“We’ll have supplies for everybody that might end up in some kind of a traffic delay situation, like gasoline, water, food and medical supplies,” she said. “We have these all terrain small vehicles that we can get in and we use these during winter weather and other times, when the traffic is in a delay situation.”

Arkansas officials provide update on safety precautions that will be taken during the solar eclipse

A-State’s Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing receives $10 million

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

A $10 million Congressional appropriation, led by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., will advance plans for the Arkansas State University Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing to support the largest steel producing region in the country.

A-State will use the funding to invest in high-tech equipment for a multi-million dollar facility that will advance the rapidly growing steel industry in the Arkansas Delta and throughout Northeast Arkansas. The region is the nation’s leader in steel production, with more than 20 steel-related companies employing some 3,600 workers and another $3 billion in facilities under construction creating another 900 jobs.

The university anticipates close partnerships with steel manufacturers for research, process improvements, testing of advanced materials and steel manufacturing while training a growing, professional workforce for the industry and region.

A-State’s Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing receives $10 million