Arkansas House Delegation to McDonough: The politicization of the VA is inappropriate

Washington, D.C. — Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01), French Hill (AR-02), Steve Womack (AR-03), and Bruce Westerman (AR-04) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough voicing concern for the encouragement of VA facilities to display Pride flags at the taxpayers’ expense. The letter calls on McDonough to immediately remove any flag other than the American flag, flag of the VA, state flags, and the POW-MIA recognition flag from VA facilities.

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In part, the lawmakers wrote:

“The Pride flag is once again flying over the VA facility in Little Rock, and our constituents and veterans across Arkansas have called on us to inquire about why the VA is expressing a clear political leaning. Your continuation of this policy demonstrates the continued disregard for the opinions of veterans you showed last year. The men and women who have served our country deserve to enter a facility that is free from discrimination and political posturing, and we should strive to provide them with an apolitical VA when they seek the care, benefits, and services they have earned.”

Click here for the full letter.

State Board of Education approves new accountability system, guidelines

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Arkansas State Board of Education approved new accountability guidelines for private schools getting tax money on Thursday.

The 2023 LEARNS Act signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders allowed public money to be used for private schools. The money comes from a pool of funds called the “education freedom account.”

Sanders and Education Secretary Jacob Oliva have promised accountability measures for these schools since the law was passed. Stacy Smith, Deputy Commissioner of the Education Department's Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, presented the new rules at a meeting on Thursday. Students at private schools getting tax dollars will be required to take standardized testing and meet accreditation standards, but there will be a lot of flexibility for them in both categories.

State Board of Education approves new accountability system, guidelines

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Stacy Smith (right) at a previous meeting of the board. On Thursday she presented testing and accreditation rules for private schools receiving public money.

Cotton: Protestors who deface statues must face mandatory minimums

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Saving Treasured Artifacts Through Uniform Enforcement (STATUE) Act, legislation that would impose mandatory minimum prison sentences for defacing statues on federal land. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) is co-sponsoring the legislation.

Senator Cotton introduced the legislation after protestors damaged the area surrounding the White House, including painting pro-Hamas and antisemitic slogans on statues in Lafayette Square Park.

“Any protestor who defaces statues of America’s heroes must face the full extent of the law. As Joe Biden seeks to appease the pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party, it’s clear his administration won’t do anything to punish the protestors who defaced the area around the White House recently. The Senate should take up my legislation to punish these pro-Hamas lunatics,” said Senator Cotton.

Text of the legislation may be found here.

The STATUE Act would:

• Impose a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $1,000 fine or a fine equal to the amount of damage to the property, whichever is greater.

• Amend the Veterans’ Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act so that it applies to all monuments or property under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

Boozman awarded for hunger action and modernizing summer meals program

WASHINGTON – The Congressional Hunger Center honored U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) for leading passage of legislation to ensure kids have access to healthy, nutritious meals during the summer with the organization’s prestigious Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award. 

As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Boozman worked with Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to modernize U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) summer meal programs and permanently allow states flexibilities to reach more food-insecure children in need in addition to authorizing a national summer electronic benefit (EBT) program to eligible families. The pair’s measure was included in a funding package signed into law in December 2022.

“The struggle many families have putting food on the table continues beyond the school year. Senator Stabenow and I recognized USDA’s summer meal program was in desperate need of modernization and worked together to make meaningful updates so children have more opportunities to access healthy food during the summer,” Boozman said. “I’m pleased to accept this award and am committed to ensuring that our nutrition programs remain strong and accessible to Americans in their time of need.”

As a member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Boozman is working to combat the global food security crisis. The senator is championing bipartisan legislation that creates an innovative approach to tackle the growing international challenge by leveraging private sector dollars to improve food systems.

The Congressional Hunger Center is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that works to make domestic and international hunger issues a priority to government officials and educates future leaders on ways to fight against hunger.

The Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award is named after Congressional leaders who spent their careers fighting hunger and poverty. Honorees are chosen for their significant contributions to combating hunger in the United States and overseas. They exemplify the determination necessary to make hunger and poverty a focal point in the United States and within Congress.

Congressional Hunger Center Executive Director Shannon Maynard and Bryan Dierlam of Archer Daniels Midland Company present Senator Boozman with the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award.

Gov. Sanders authorizes three percent pay increases for state employees

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

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Friday (June 14) authorized a three percent adjustment for pay increases for state employees, effective June 23, 2024. In a letter to state workers, Sanders also outlined a one percent base salary merit raise for executive branch employees and a three percent base salary merit raise for state workers who have exceeded performance evaluations.

“Arkansas’ state government runs on you, our state employees. As my administration works to provide exceptional services to the people of Arkansas at a lower cost, we are relying on you to deliver. In the past 18 months, you have facilitated bold changes to state government, and I am incredibly appreciative of your work,” Gov. Sanders said. “As recognition for your accomplishments – and as an acknowledgment of our need to recruit and retain talented public servants – I worked with the legislature to make a one-time, 3% increase to all Arkansas executive branch state employee’s pay. I am authorizing that adjustment to go into effect on June 23.”

In noting the merit pay raises, Sanders said they would apply to state workers who have worked in the executive branch for at least a year, and who have worked at their current executive department since January 2, 2024.

Gov. Sanders authorizes three percent pay increases for state employees

Fourth district students appointed to U.S. service academies

HOT SPRINGS – Three students from Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District have accepted U.S. Service Academy appointments. Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) hosted a send-off for the students and their families at his Hot Springs office. Westerman released the following statement:

“One of the greatest parts of my job is meeting and nominating bright young Arkansans who want to serve our country. It’s an honor to play a role in this process, and I look forward to seeing how they excel in their respective careers. I am confident these young men and women will represent Arkansas well.”

Darian Presley from Lake Hamilton High School will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Ajaiah Harris from White Hall High School will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School.

Rhett Fultz from Clarksville High School will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy

Click here to learn more about the U.S. Service Academy nomination process.

UAMS, ACH Pediatric Mental Health Program Presents School-Based Mental Health Symposium on July 31

By Yavonda Chase

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Mental Health Access for Pediatric Primary Care (ARMAPP) program is presenting the 2024 School-Based Mental Health Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 31 at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Children’s Hospital are partnering to improve access to mental health education and resources in pediatric primary care settings and schools.

The symposium is offered free of charge and is geared for such school personnel as administrators, education paraprofessionals, teachers, counselors, principals, school nurses, special education teachers and intervention specialists.

To register, visit https://redcap.link/ARMAPP24.

UAMS, ACH Pediatric Mental Health Program Presents School-Based Mental Health Symposium on July 31

The Arkansas Mental Health Access for Pediatric Primary Care (ARMAPP) program is presenting the 2024 School-Based Mental Health Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 31 at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Walmart boss says company ‘can’t get comfortable’ with recent success

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon speaks to the media Friday (June 7) following the shareholders meeting in Fayetteville.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon challenged the 2.2 million employees around the world to go for the gold like Simone Biles, win championships like NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, or NBA star Michael Jordan. He said focusing on past success is not a ticket to future prosperity.

McMillon made the challenge at the company’s 54th annual shareholders meeting held at the University of Arkansas’ Bud Walton Arena on Friday (June 7). Around 14,000 Walmart employees, shareholders and others attended the event and millions streamed online.

Dylan Beard of North Carolina is a Walmart employee, a recent college graduate, and an Olympic qualifier. Beard joined McMillon on stage. McMillon said Beard’s personal best run in the trials is a great example of reaching full potential.

Walmart boss says company ‘can’t get comfortable’ with recent success

Graveler more of ‘an experience,’ could be big for tourism

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas has 69,000 miles of unpaved roads, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture, and there are also many more miles of unpaved roads that crisscross national forest lands. They may soon turn into an economic engine fueled by bicycle tourism.

Organizers with the Ozark Foundation hope the Arkansas Graveler will become an annual event. The six-day ride stretches 340 miles from the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville to the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro.

Scotti Moody, Graveler event director and UCI pro cyclist, recently told Talk Business & Politics that the goal is for about 400 cyclists to participate in the 2024 event set for June 23-28. The route will go through Ozark, Jasper, Marshall, Mountain View and Cave City. It should be a tourism boon to the rural businesses the cyclist will utilize on the ride. Hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses will be exposed to many customers that have likely never visited rural Arkansas, she said.

Graveler more of ‘an experience,’ could be big for tourism

Arkansas Water Resources Center broadens focus of annual conference

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Water Resources Center will co-host its annual conference July 16-18 to address a broad spectrum of water issues including stormwater, source water protection, groundwater, and stakeholder perceptions and education.

WATER QUALITY — Jacob Major takes stream soil samples in a Beaver Lake watershed tributary. Work such as his will be a part of the next Arkansas Water Resources Center's annual conference. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

The conference will be July 16-18 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1371 W. Altheimer Drive in Fayetteville.

“The conference has expanded in recent years beyond its traditional research focus and our organizing committee has grown, too,” said Brian Haggard, director of the Arkansas Water Resources Center. “This year, our conference has a new name — the Arkansas Agriculture, Forests, and Water Conference.”

The event was previously called the Arkansas Water Resources Conference. Haggard is also a professor of biological and agricultural engineering with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The Arkansas Water Resources Center collects, analyzes, and provides water quality data to support municipalities, state agencies and watershed groups as they develop and implement management plans and practices. Located in Fayetteville, the center is part of a national network of water research centers investigating irrigation, wastewater disposal, groundwater, erosion, pollution and ecosystem problems.

The conference organizing committee includes representatives from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Divisions; the Arkansas Drinking Water and Forests Collaborative; the Beaver Watershed Alliance; the Illinois River Watershed Partnership; and the Arkansas Water Resources Center.

Over the course of two and a half days, the 2024 conference will cover relevant topics for stakeholders statewide, and highlights presentations covering northwest and central Arkansas, as well as the east Arkansas Delta.

Conference session themes include:

• Water myths and disinformation

• Science behind the water stories

• State, program, and watershed updates

• Source water protection

• “Know the Flow” and educational/outreach opportunities

• Conservation efforts, floodplains and forests

• Groundwater, a USGS special session

• Stakeholder perceptions of groundwater risks and their value

A detailed agenda will be released prior to the conference at the Arkansas Water Resources Center website.

The early registration price of $100 includes the popular conference T-shirt. The registration price goes up to $200 after July 1, and conference T-shirts will have to be purchased separately if supplies are available.

Discounted registration of $50 is available to students and county extension agents through the support of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and to landowners through support from the Arkansas Farm Bureau and Arkansas Discovery Farms.

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.

Prosecutor: ‘insufficient proof of criminal conduct’ in governor’s lectern controversy

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Pulaski County Prosecutor Will Jones declared Friday (June 7) that he would not prosecute any charges related to a legislative audit of Gov. Sarah Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern and carry case.

Citing “insufficient proof of criminal conduct,” Jones said his review of the referral from the Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA) released in April showed no proof of criminal violations of Arkansas law.

“[W]e find that there is insufficient proof of criminal conduct contained in ALA Report SP050123, A Special Report-Arkansas Governor’s Office- Review of Selected Transactions and Procurements or any of the supporting documents. Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct state that a prosecutor in a criminal case shall ‘refrain from prosecuting a charge that the prosecutor knows is not supported by probable cause.’ Therefore, no further action will be taken,” Jones said in a letter released to the media.

Prosecutor: ‘insufficient proof of criminal conduct’ in governor’s lectern controversy

UAMS Implements Statewide Initiative to Prevent Unintended Pregnancies

By Linda Satter

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is implementing a statewide initiative to help decrease unintended or closely spaced pregnancies.

The Arkansas Immediate Postpartum Long-acting Reversible Contraceptive (LRAC) Initiative is a UAMS-led effort to provide training and support for administrators, clinical providers and billing personnel at delivering hospitals across Arkansas so they can begin offering long-acting reversible contraceptives in the immediate postpartum period and obtain reimbursement.

Intrauterine devices and birth-control implants are highly effective in preventing pregnancy, without element of user error and last for three to eight years depending on device. They can also easily be removed at any time if a woman wants to become pregnant.

UAMS Implements Statewide Initiative to Prevent Unintended Pregnancies

Publication of abortion amendment canvasser list is intimidation, ballot question committee says

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Supporters of a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment that would allow a limited right to abortion denounced a conservative advocacy group’s publication of a list of paid canvassers, calling the move an intimidation tactic.

The right-wing Family Council posted Thursday on its website a list of 79 people that the Arkansans for Limited Government ballot question committee is paying to collect signatures from across the state. The committee needs 90,704 signatures from registered voters by July 5 for the proposed amendment to appear on the November ballot.

The Family Council obtained the list of paid canvassers and their home cities via an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request, according to the post. Ballot question committees do not have to submit lists of unpaid or volunteer canvassers to the state.

Publication of abortion amendment canvasser list is intimidation, ballot question committee says

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Supporters of a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment that would create a limited right to abortion seek signatures at the intersection of 9th and State streets in Little Rock on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Little Rock police arrived during the collection efforts and parked outside the event venue The Hall.

Lawsuit challenges Arkansas voter registration rules

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A local group is suing over a rule regarding how voter registrations are done in the state.

Get Loud Arkansas created a website allowing people to register to vote online. In April, an Arkansas legislative committee moved to prevent this process from being used, saying applications now need to have a “wet signature.” This means voter applications must be filled out in person and only at certain state agencies. The rule change was approved by the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners a week later.

GLA is suing along with plaintiffs Nickki Pastor and Trinity “Blake” Loper, both 18-year-olds whose voter registrations were rejected since they filled out their paperwork online. The suit is against the commissioner of the State Board of Elections, Secretary of State John Thurston and several county clerks. Get Loud Arkansas says the rule violates the rights of minority voters in a state with consistently low voter turnout.

Lawsuit challenges Arkansas voter registration rules

Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate

Get Loud Arkansas hosted a rally outside the state Capitol on April 23, 2024 following the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners’ decision to limit the use of electronic signatures on voter registration applications.

Grants Illustrate Impact of UAMS Research Center at UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries

By David Robinson

The recent UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries featuring the UAMS Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses was a bad news/great news event for Mark Smeltzer, Ph.D., who leads the center.

Smeltzer’s Showcase poster, an overview of the center’s achievements since its 2012 inception, included an impressive list of grant awards by 20 individual researchers that totaled more than $84 million. The bad news was that the numbers were outdated by the day of the event.

The great news was that the numbers were outdated because three new grant notices arrived for center-supported researchers after the poster went to the printer two days before the May 22 showcase.

Grants Illustrate Impact of UAMS Research Center at UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries

Mark Smeltzer, Ph.D., welcomes attendees to the UAMS Showcase of Medical Discoveries.

Arkansas 4-H honors Hall of Fame inductee, teen leaders

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas 4-H recognized a new crop of young leaders, naming 50 new Teen Stars and inducting one into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame.

WINNER —Zach Gardner of Fayetteville is the 2024 Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame inductee. (Division of Agriculture photo)

The honors were bestowed June 5 during the Arkansas 4-H Teen Leader Conference that brought 143 teenagers from across the state to the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center for leadership development this week.

The three-day conference is open to 4-H members ages 14-19 and prepares teens for leadership and service responsibilities in their local clubs and counties.

Hall of Fame

Zach Gardner, 18, of Fayetteville, was inducted into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame, an award given to one 4-H member each year who demonstrates high achievement, commitment and service. 

“Zach represents the highest level of achievement in Arkansas 4-H,” said Debbie Nistler, assistant vice president for 4-H & Youth Development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “He has developed life skills that will continue to serve him well as an engaged member of his community. We are so excited to see him succeed in his next adventure."

Gardner has been a member of Washington County 4-H member for 13 years, and leadership is one of his project areas. He served as an Arkansas 4-H state officer from 2022-2023 and has represented Arkansas 4-H at National 4-H Congress in Atlanta and at Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington, D.C.

More than 1,000 hours of his community service has involved veterans. He volunteers at Fayetteville National Cemetery where he serves on the advisory board and has participated in the National Wreaths Across America project. He is a VA Hospital teen volunteer and has helped with the National Salute to Veterans on Valentine’s Day for eight years. During the pandemic, when visitors were not allowed inside the hospital, Gardner organized car parades through the hospital parking lots.

Gardner has been a leader not just in 4-H but also in scouting, sports and his community.

He attained his Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts and served two years as captain of his high school’s lacrosse team. He served on U.S. Senator John Boozman’s Congressional Youth Leadership Cabinet, attended Boys State, and served on the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Teen Leadership Council.

Gardner credits his mom, Jana, with getting him involved with 4-H at age 5.

“I’ve been in 4-H forever and have had many leaders who I’ve looked up to,” Gardner said, after receiving his award. “To be recognized as one feels like a full-circle moment.”

Gardner recently graduated from Fayetteville High School in the top 1 percent of his class. He will attend the University of Arkansas this fall to pursue a degree in finance and later plans to go to law school.

“4-H has shown me success is not based on winning elections, competitions or awards, but instead results from the process and steps along the way that help me understand who I am, what I believe, and what I am capable of,” he said. “4-H has motivated me to serve others, live my life with purpose, and use my time, talents and abilities to make a difference.”

Jack Berryhill of Hot Spring County was also recognized as a Hall of Fame finalist. Berryhill served as the Arkansas 4-H state president from 2022-2023 and has held numerous leadership roles as a Teen Star and 4-H Ambassador. His project areas include foods and nutrition, animal science and leadership, which he is most passionate about.

“It’s about understanding others, what they’re working toward, and then how to work together to achieve a common goal,” he said.

Teen Stars

Arkansas 4-H recognizes members for outstanding achievement in their projects and activities, leadership and community service with the Teen Star recognition.

To be a Teen Star, 4-H members must be at least 14 years old and have proven success in their project work.

"Our Teen Stars have worked very hard to earn this award,” Nistler said. “They are a wonderful reflection of the years of service, record books and project experiences. I am so excited to see them grow even more in our program."

This year’s 50 Teen Stars were selected from hundreds of applicants and represent 20 counties. The recognition paves the way for them to move into higher positions of leadership as 4-H Ambassadors, who can then run for state officer positions.

The 2024 Teen Stars include:

Benton County — Kayley Ashlee, Noah Darnell, Garrett Haley, Lilyan Lubbess, Bailey Malone, Emma Millsap, Graceyn More, Belvia Powers, Lucas Rea and Lillian Swarengin

Carroll County — Kaitlyn Armer, Katelyn Rexwinkle and Dalton Warner

Clark County — Daniel Jackson, Emilie Taylor and Blakely Thompson

Craighead County — Justin Morris

Faulkner County — Chloe Parish

Grant County —Miley McGinley and Aubrey Ottens

Greene County — Joseph Haywood and Leona Hickman

Hot Spring County — Amanda Berryhill

Independence County — Logan Wiltrout

Logan County — Alyssa Mills and Emily Reddy

Madison County — Jade Emitt

Miller County — Carlie Keahey

Monroe County — Gracie Delk

Pope County — Aaron Nuckols

Pulaski County — Lillian Reynolds and Trusten Reynolds

Saline County — Lily Brosi

Sevier County — Charlie Collins, Nick Diaz, Raegan Frachiseur, John Moe, Monica Rivas, Chip Stamps, Katie Williamson and Evan Wolcott

Stone County — Addison Kennon

Washington County — Joshua Bailey, Makyla Cox, Catelyn Stearman and Yahya Sridjajamerta

White County — Hannah Gaskin, Lynnlee Morrison, DeLylia Sanderlin and James Shourd

Arkansas 4-H is the youth development program conducted by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It offers programs for youth ages 5-19 in every county in Arkansas.

To learn about Arkansas 4-H, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit Arkansas 4-H online at http://uaex.uada.edu/4h-youth/. 

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.

Grant County 4-H SeaPerch team among world’s top scorers at 2024 International SeaPerch Challenge

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — For a group of Arkansas 4-H members, months of hard work fine-tuning their underwater robots and their teamwork have paid off at the 2024 International SeaPerch Challenge.

INTERNATIONAL WINNERS — Deep Water Vanguard, a Grant County 4-H team, took second place overall in the high school stock class at the International SeaPerch Challenge May 31-June 1. Left to right: Coach Serena McGinley, Gavin McGinley, Callen Shaw, Gracie McGinley and Coach Brad McGinley. (Grant County 4-H photo.) 

After taking top honors at the Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge in March, four Arkansas 4-H teams advanced to the international competition held May 31-June 1 at the University of Maryland. Three Grant County teams and one Madison County team competed against 174 teams from 23 states, six countries and four continents.

The annual competition requires teams to assemble a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, and maneuver it through underwater challenge courses. Teams are also judged on their technical design reports, which document the engineering and development process.

2024 International SeaPerch Challenge results:

• Deep Water Vanguard from Grant County: Members Gavin McGinley, Gracie McGinley and Callen Shaw placed second overall in the high school stock class. Coaches are Brad and Serena McGinley.

• Aquanauts from Grant County: Members Garrett Key, Priyam Laxmi and Eli Watson placed sixth overall in the open stock class. Coaches are Brad and Serena McGinley.

• Submarine Crew from Madison County: Members Emma Griffin and Jayden Griffin placed 14th overall in the middle school stock class, seventh place in mission course and technical design report. Coaches are Whitney Griffin and Stephanie Franklin.

• Wet Willies from Grant County: Members Jaxson Andrews, Luke Douthit, Ryleigh Kimbrell and Miley McGinley placed 25th overall in the middle school stock class. Coaches are Brad McGinley and Tina Melton.

Putting in the work

Brad McGinley, Grant County extension agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and SeaPerch coach, said more than 3,000 teams competed in local SeaPerch Challenges worldwide this season, and the top 5 percent of those teams advanced to the international competition.

“To be among the top teams in the world is an amazing accomplishment,” McGinley said. “We are so proud of these teams. Last year, our high school stock team placed third, and this year, they moved up to second.”

McGinley said the Grant County 4-H SeaPerch teams have been preparing for both the state and international competition for months.

“We’ve been living and breathing SeaPerch since the state competition in March,” he said. “We’ve been working hard to perfect it. We’ve practiced one to two times a week since October. And since the state competition, we’ve had much to overcome. We had issues with the motor system going down, and we had to change it three times in the two weeks leading up to the competition.”

Callen Shaw, a member of the Grant County 4-H team Deep Water Vanguard, said the international competition was a “truly unique and unforgettable experience.”

“Placing in the top ten for all three events and second overall is an accomplishment I am proud of,” Shaw said. “However, the highlight for me was the opportunity to meet and collaborate with students from across the country and the world. Moments like these reinforce how unified we can be when we pursue knowledge and take on challenges collectively as a global community.”

During their trip, Grant County 4-H team members visited the National 4-H Council, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, toured the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and visited monuments and memorials on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

McGinley said a highlight of the trip included his students communicating with another team through a language barrier.  

“One of my favorite moments was one of our teams interacting with a team from China,” he said. “They had to use Google Translate to communicate, but they were able to connect. It was a great experience for them.”

Caramie Edwards, Madison County extension agent, said her 4-H members Elijah Franklin, Emma Griffin and Jayden Griffin worked hard to achieve their progress.

“This team, along with Elijah who couldn’t make the trip, have worked together for the past four years,” Edwards said. “They have practiced discipline and patience to be able to compete on this level. Each year, they took what they learned and added to their bank of knowledge and skills. Being patient has really paid off for them, and we are extremely proud of how far they have come.”

To view the full list of International SeaPerch results, visit bit.ly/SeaPerch-International-2024-results. For more information about the Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge, visit 4h.uada.edu. To learn more about the SeaPerch program, visit seaperch.org/about.

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. 

House Passes First FY25 Bill, Robustly Funding Veterans’ Care and Military Construction

Washington, DC—June 5, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. This bill exceeds the Department of Defense’s military construction budget request, fully funds veterans’ care, and secures key defense priorities, including additional funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base projects and robust investments in the Pacific region.

Image by Manny Becerra

Congressman Womack said, “This bill enhances our defense capabilities nationwide and in Fort Smith by securing $70 million for Ebbing Air National Guard Base Academic Training Center construction. Importantly, it displays our commitment to those who’ve dutifully served our country by investing in the quality of life for our military families and fully funding veterans’ care. I’m pleased it received the stamp of approval from the House. I look forward to working with our Senate counterparts to advance this legislation on the path to becoming law.”

Bill breakdown:

• Supports veterans by:

• Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.

• Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs.

• Bolsters national security by:

• Providing robust funding for the Indo-Pacific region, fully funding projects in Guam, and increasing resources for INDOPACOM to improve the Department of Defense posture in the region.

• Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.

• Focuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities by:

• Reaffirming the political limits outlined in the Hatch Act, particularly those of lobbying Congress and using official resources for political purposes.

• Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory.

• Prohibiting the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Supports American values and principles by:

• Prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion, using Hyde Amendment language which includes exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.

• Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans by preventing VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.

• Prohibiting VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.

DFA hears public comment on gender-neutral ID rule

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

On Friday, officials with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration heard public comment on a rule change regarding driver's licenses and state IDs.

Under the gender section on their license or state ID, Arkansans were previously able to put an “X” instead of “M” or “F.” Arkansans could also change their gender marker on their license or state ID to reflect the gender with which they identify. DFA says the option was only used in about 500 cases.

In March, the department got legislative approval to stop the practice. DFA Secretary Jim Hudson told lawmakers he did not know of anyone who had been harmed by the policy. But, he said the rule change was necessary to prevent “potential harm.”

DFA hears public comment on gender-neutral ID rule

David Monteith/Little Rock Public Radio

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration held public comment on licenses and state IDs.

Jacob Seymour running for 4-H State Office

Submitted by: Kim Frachiseur, CEA-4-H

The Sevier County Extension Office would like to announce that Jacob Seymour of De Queen is running for an Arkansas 4-H State Officer position.

Jacob Seymour

Each year, Arkansas 4-H Youth vote in seven of their peers each summer to represent Arkansas 4-H for the year. The officers are inducted each year at the annual Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama activities. The seven positions include President, First Vice-President, Delta District Vice-President, Ouachita District Vice-President, Ozark District Vice-President, Secretary, and Reporter.

Seymour will be running for the Ouachita District Vice-President position. Jake is the son of Debbie and Justin Seymour. He was named 2022 Arkansas Teen Star and is currently an Arkansas State Ambassador. When asked what inspired him to run, Seymour stated, “I would love to raise more awareness in my district and also the state level about 4-H. I meet a lot of people that think 4-H is just cows and chickens. I would like to teach them there is so much more to 4-H.”

District Vice-Presidents are elected during each corresponding 4-H District O-Ramas and the remaining positions are elected during Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama. Candidates campaign throughout the summer at events such as O-Rama and Teen Leader Conference.

4-H state officers also get the chance to travel the state while working on events and their skills.

“They will be representing Arkansas 4-H throughout the state,” Rex Herring said. “Some specific skills that the officers will grow in will be public speaking, interacting with sponsors and administrators of various organizations. If elected, Jake will do a great job.”