Arkansas GDP up 2.5% in the first quarter, personal income up 6.1%

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

Arkansas’ real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 2.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, above the national rate of 1.4%, and ranking 11th in the nation. The state’s personal income rose 6.1%, below 7% nationwide, and ranking 38th among all states.

Real GDP increased in 39 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of 2024, with the percent change ranging from 5% at an annual rate in Idaho to a 4.2% decline in South Dakota, according to a Friday (June 28) report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Personal income, in current dollars, increased in all 50 states, with the percent change ranging from 9.5% in South Carolina to 0.6% in North Dakota.

Arkansas GDP up 2.5% in the first quarter, personal income up 6.1%

U.S. Congressman Steve Womack statement on House passage of Homeland Security, Defense, State and Foreign Operations FY25 Appropriations Bills

Washington, DC—June 28, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY25 Homeland Security, Defense, and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bills with his strong support:

Congressman Womack said, “Promoting America’s safety and security is at the heart of each of the Appropriations bills House Republicans passed this week. We advanced investments to secure the border, deter our adversaries, and support our men and women in uniform. The defense priorities within Arkansas’ Third are also taken care of, including additional funding for the Foreign Military Sales mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base and vital defense research conducted in Arkansas. However, our work is far from complete. We must continue down the aggressive path Chairman Cole has set for Republicans to have strong negotiating power and fulfill our duty of responsibly funding the government.”

Bill breakdowns:

The Homeland Security Appropriations bill secures our southern border by providing robust funding for border patrol agents and technology, counters China, bolsters national security, and rejects the Biden Administration’s attempts to further its reckless agenda to encourage more illegal immigration. A summary of the bill can be found here.

The Defense Appropriations bill funds a 4.5% pay raise for our troops, as well as an additional 15% pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers, ensures the delivery of combat-ready forces to deter war and ensure national security, and eliminates funding for President Biden’s social agenda. A summary of the bill can be found here.

The State and Foreign Operations bill prioritizes resources to support our allies and counter our adversaries, prohibits funding for organizations that do not support U.S. interests—including the International Criminal Court, United Nations Relief Works Agency, and World Health Organization—and promotes American values by increasing funding for religious freedom programs abroad and implementing the expanded Mexico City Policy on all health funds in the bill. A summary of the bill can be found here.

The House has now passed 4 of the 12 FY25 Appropriations bills, with passage of the FY25 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on June 5, 2024.

UAMS Nuclear Pharmacy Program Has Strong National Presence

By Benjamin Waldrum

One of the nation’s leading pharmacy schools, the UAMS College of Pharmacy excels in an area few others do: nuclear pharmacy. UAMS is one of only a handful of nuclear pharmacy programs in the United States that offers the full 200-hour Authorized Nuclear Pharmacy Certificate Program in this specialized field.

Radioactive materials are used in imaging and treatment for thousands of patients across the world, and nuclear pharmacists undergo rigorous training to ensure proper handling of these materials so that radioactive drug products and dosages are prepared correctly and safely. Since radioactive isotopes can have a short half-life, (that is, the amount of time that there is a sufficient amount of the radioactive drug needed for imaging or therapy) nuclear pharmacists are regularly on-call day or night to prepare dosages when they are needed.

The ANP certificate that the College of Pharmacy offers is necessary to become a nuclear pharmacist. This designation is recognized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its Agreement States, which are specially granted authority to license and inspect byproduct, source or special nuclear materials. This certificate is combined with 500 hours of hands-on training in a nuclear pharmacy with radioactive materials to learn proper safety and handling.

UAMS Nuclear Pharmacy Program Has Strong National Presence

Fatima Al-Doori, Pharm.D. (center, next to white coat) with the nuclear pharmacy team from an internship she served as a College of Pharmacy student. For a small but growing field, networking is crucial. Image by Fatima Al-Doori

Congressman Bruce Westerman WRDA priorities advance to House floor

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a markup to advance the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024.

Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement: 

“The 2024 Water Resources Development Act is bipartisan, comprehensive policy compiled of locally driven initiatives to address the unique water infrastructure needs of communities nationwide. I was proud to secure key maintenance and development provisions to strengthen our supply chain, increase emergency readiness, and support outdoor water recreation in Arkansas. I commend Chairmen Graves and Rouzer and Ranking Members Larsen and Napolitano for their collaborative approach to this year’s WRDA, and I look forward to advancing this critical bill through the House Floor.”

BACKGROUND:

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 is biennial, bipartisan legislation that supports the viability, effectiveness, and conservation of waterways for commercial and recreational use.

Westerman secured the following policy priorities in the 2024 WRDA:

• Phase in a new retention structure at outdoor recreation sites managed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to ensure fees remain at local sites rather than held up by federal bureaucratic red tape.

• Encourage restored access to recreational access at Lake Dardanelle for snag fishing.

• Guarantee Arkansas has dredge access when needed most by ensuring the Dredge McFarland and its subsequent replacement stay in “ready reserve” status to assist in emergency events.

• Extend the Independent External Peer Review Program to continue improving the quality and efficiency of project planning at the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Click here for a summary of the bill.
Click here for the full bill text.

Representative French Hill fights to secure our border and defend our nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released the following statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security, State and Foreign Operations, and Defense Appropriations bills:

“Border security is not a partisan issue – it is a national security issue. As the crisis at our southwest border rages on, we are witnessing the highest level of illegal migrants to ever enter our nation – including individuals on the terror watchlist who are bringing drugs, crime, and economic instability across the country. This poses a national security threat that must be addressed, just like we also must handle the growing threat of our foreign adversaries like China, Russia, and North Korea.

“I was proud to support the FY25 Homeland Security, State and Foreign Operations, and Defense Appropriations bills which provide commonsense funding to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents, multiple initiatives to combat the flow of fentanyl, support our allies abroad as they defend their freedom, and provide necessary salary increases for our brave service members who sacrifice everything to defend our nation. These bills follow the spending caps and cuts agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act negotiated in 2023. I will continue to fight in Congress to safeguard Arkansan and American values and protect the security of our great nation.”

Further Background:

H.R. 8752 - Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations Act: This bill provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security to invest in methods of securing our border, defending our country, and putting an end to the flow of illegal migrants.

H.R. 8771 - Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act: This bill provides funding to the State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to protect our national security, safeguard our economic interests, support our allies and partners, and promote democracy and freedom abroad.

H.R. 8774 - Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act: This bill provides funding to the Department of Defense to modernize our defensive capabilities, protect our national security, and invest in new ways to counter China and other threats. This bill also increases the pay for all service members by 4.5% and increases the pay for all junior service members by 15%. 

Judge blocks part of SAVE loan forgiveness plans after Arkansas sues

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A judge has blocked part of a Biden era policy to forgive student loans.

The multi-state lawsuit was brought on by seven states including Arkansas, represented by Attorney General Tim Griffin. The suit was against President Joe Biden, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and the Department of Education.

The Savings on Valuable Education or “SAVE” plan changes the income threshold for paying back student loans. The plan also forgives loan borrowers after 120 payments if their balances are below $12,000. U.S. District Judge John Ross blocked that part of the law relating to loan forgiveness. It was set to take effect on July 1, and would have amounted to billions in loan forgiveness.

Judge blocks part of SAVE loan forgiveness plans after Arkansas sues

Susan Haejin Lee/NPR

Billions in student debt will not be forgiven after a judge blocked parts of the SAVE plan from going into effect.

Cherokee Nation awarded Pope County casino license

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Arkansas Racing Commission has unanimously approved a license to build a casino in Pope County.

The Cherokee Nation Entertainment made a presentation to the commission at a meeting on Thursday, following years of legal disputes over the casino license and an ongoing ballot initiative to possibly prevent the casino from being built.

A spokesman for the Cherokee Nation Entertainment told the commission that they are in the planning phase, but could build the whole facility in 18 months. The state-of-the-art casino will be owned by Cherokee Nation, and go by the name Legends Casino.

Cherokee Nation awarded Pope County casino license

Legends Resort & Casino

A rendering of the casino planned for construction in Pope County.

Cotton Demands Action from DOJ and White House on Synagogue Attack by Pro-Hamas Mob

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling for the administration to respond to the attack on the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles on June 23. The assault on the Los Angeles Jewish community by pro-Hamas radicals included blocking the entrance to the synagogue, assaulting Jewish people, and calling for an “intifada revolution.”

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

“This vicious attack comes after months of antisemitic violence on college campuses, and just weeks after Hamas supporters vandalized national monuments outside of the White House. The Biden administration’s inaction against these mobs, like its inaction against Democratic street militias harassing Supreme Court justices outside their homes in 2022, has emboldened these extremists to escalate their attacks.”

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

June 25, 2024 

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

The Honorable Merrick Garland
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear President Biden and Attorney General Garland,

I write urging immediate action against a pro-Hamas mob’s recent assault on a Jewish community.

On June 23, pro-Hamas radicals assembled outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. The mob blocked the synagogue’s entrance while they called for genocide. The mob attacked Jews with bear spray, beat a man until his face and shirt were covered in blood, and chanted “intifada revolution.”

Although these antisemitic rioters advertised their plans in advance and synagogue members pled for police protection, city officials allowed the mob to grow out of control. According to some reports, elected officials even told the Los Angeles Police Department to stand down initially, with police sent to intervene only after violence broke out.

This vicious attack comes after months of antisemitic violence on college campuses, and just weeks after Hamas supporters vandalized national monuments outside of the White House. The Biden administration’s inaction against these mobs, like its inaction against Democratic street militias harassing Supreme Court justices outside their homes in 2022, has emboldened these extremists to escalate their attacks.

The Department of Justice and federal law enforcement should take immediate action to protect the Jewish community and prosecute these mobs. I call for the administration to conduct a manhunt for every one of these antisemitic, pro-terrorist rioters with the same vigor it used to prosecute non-violent Trump supporters who were at the Capitol on January 6. Failure to act would only further expose this administration’s pro-Hamas bias. In addition, please provide the following information by July 1, 2024:

1. Did city or state officials notify the DOJ regarding the planned pro-Hamas protest? Was federal law enforcement requested to protect the Jewish community?

2. Have you referred this case to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice?

3. Is the DOJ investigating whether outside groups are funding and organizing these violent outbursts? Provide a list of all outside groups that are linked to funding or organizing pro-Hamas or anti-Israel protests.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

____________________

Tom Cotton
United States Senator

June 28, 2024

Cotton Applauds SCOTUS Decision Ruling Biden DOJ Overstepped in Charging January 6 Defendants

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court decided to limit obstruction charges against January 6 defendants. Senator Cotton led 22 of his congressional colleagues in filing an amicus brief opposing the Department of Justice’s overreach:

“Today’s decision is a victory against the Biden Administration’s abuse of power. The Department of Justice stretched a law in a way more befitting a banana republic than America. This Administration tolerates violent crime and an open border, but they manipulated a statute to imprison grandmas anywhere near the Capitol on January 6. I was proud to lead the amicus brief and commend the Court for its decision.”

McCullough earns 2024 Bonnie Teater Community Development Lifetime Achievement Award

HOUSTON — The Southern Rural Development Center has bestowed its 2024 Bonnie Teater Community Development Lifetime Achievement Award on Arkansas’ Stacey McCullough.

McCullough is assistant vice president-extension and head of the community, professional and economic development section of the Cooperative Extension Service. The extension service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The Southern Rural Development Center has honored Stacey McCullough as the 2024 recipient of the Bonnie Teater Community Development Lifetime Achievement Award. McCullough currently serves as an assistant vice president for community, professional and economic development at University of Arkansas System-Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service and the drector of the Public Policy Center at UADA. She has over 20 years of experience working with community and economic development at the local, regional, institutional, and national levels. (Image courtesy Southern Rural Development Center)

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award. I can’t imagine a more fulfilling career than working alongside people and communities to achieve their goals and dreams,” McCullough said. “The relationships with my colleagues from the Southern Rural Development Center and across the Cooperative Extension System have allowed me to grow and contribute to society in so many ways.”

The award, named for a retired member of the Southern Rural Development Center staff, recognizes superior lifetime work by an individual who has made an important contribution to extension community development. It was presented at the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals conference, held June 17-20 in Houston.

“Stacey exhibits all the characteristics that this award was designed to recognize,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System and head of its Division of Agriculture. “Her portfolio, including scholarship and community impact, demonstrates that she is highly deserving of this distinguished recognition.”

Fields noted, in particular, McCullough’s leadership.

“Whether working on projects, serving on committees, or spearheading the development of new programs and opportunities for communities, Stacey leads by example,” Fields said “She always puts her team first, stands beside her team, and encourages them to work hard. Her servant leadership inspires others to achieve greatness while making a lasting impact that matters.”

McCullough was nominated by Hunter Goodman, assistant professor-community, workforce, and economic development, for the extension service.

“Dr. McCullough embodies the land-grant mission to higher education and the unique calling of extension to impact the lives of people and communities through research and best practices along with community voice,” Goodman wrote in his nomination. Since 2005, McCullough has been a program associate, instructor, assistant professor, director, interim associate department head, and currently assistant vice-president.

McCullough earned a doctorate in public policy from the University of Arkansas in 2012. She has served as extension’s director of community, professional and economic development since May 2020 and was named assistant vice president in 2022.

“This is well-earned recognition for Dr. McCullough,” said John Anderson, head of the Cooperative Extension Service. “She has a long-standing reputation for quality, impactful work and for leadership among her peers in the field of community economic development. And she built that reputation while serving the needs of stakeholders right here in Arkansas. 

“We are grateful to Dr. McCullough for her work on behalf of our organization and our state, and we are thrilled to see her contributions recognized by her peers with this prestigious honor,” he said.

In addition to her service, McCullough has helped develop numerous initiatives that focus on economic development, ballot issue education, and racial understanding. She has also served in active roles within several regional and national leadership organizations such as the Joint Council of Extension Professionals, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, and the Southern Region Program Leaders’ Network. McCullough’s experience has benefited the state of Arkansas with more than $3.5 million in grants.

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. 

Severe Weather Briefing from the National Weather Service

• A cold front will push through Arkansas beginning on Wednesday morning along the Arkansas/Missouri border in the north and traverse the state moving southward during the day. Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely to be present along this cold front as it moves across the state from north to south.

• Re-development or rejuvenation of thunderstorm activity will be possible as the cold front moves across central and into southern Arkansas into the early afternoon hours on Wednesday.

• Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary concerns. The tornado threat is very low, but a brief tornado cannot be ruled out.

Arkansas Attorney General sues Temu, pharmacy benefit managers

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced two new lawsuits Monday and Tuesday. One suit targets two pharmacy benefit managers, companies he says financially profited from the opioid crisis. The other was against the online retail site Temu for allegedly using malware on customers.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Pharmacy benefit managers work as the middle men between pharmacists and health insurance companies. They negotiate for rebates with pharmaceutical companies.

Arkansas' suit is specifically against the companies Optum and Express Scripts. Both rake in billions of dollars each year in profit. Griffin says both groups profited from the opioid crisis “pill by pill and dollar by dollar.”

Arkansas Attorney General sues Temu, pharmacy benefit managers

Food program won’t benefit eligible Arkansas children until midsummer

From the Arkansas Advocate:

By July 10, most children in Arkansas will be well into their second month of summer break with five weeks of sunny, schoolless days under their belts, but some children will have spent those weeks without a reliable source of food.

Arkansas has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the nation and is one of only a few southern states that opted into a new summer food aid program, but the state Department of Human Services won’t get cards to participants until the second week of July.

Three dozen states are participating in a new federal food assistance program called the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer, or Summer EBT. The program is modeled off a similar service implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food program won’t benefit eligible Arkansas children until midsummer

Fred Miller/UA System Division Of Agriculture

Ashley Appel stocks the Appel Farms Store with fresh produce from the farm she operates with her husband, Travis, near Elm Springs.

District farm families of the year announced

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The 77th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its eight district farm families, representing the wide variety of Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry.

Judges will visit farms to determine the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who will be announced Dec. 13.

The Farm Family of the Year program annually begins with the selection of top farm families in each county and culminates in December with the selection of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who then represents Arkansas at the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition. Arkansas has had three Southeast Farmer of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey (Clark County), 2008; Wildy Family Farms (Mississippi County), 2016; and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership (Craighead County), 2023.

This year’s finalists include:

District farm families of the year announced

Arkansas Master Gardeners of the Year announced at 2024 state conference

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The Arkansas Master Gardeners — a group of volunteers committed to beautifying communities throughout the state — celebrated achievements and recognized award winners at its state conference.  

GATHERING OF GARDENERS — Arkansas Master Gardeners from around the state gathered to celebrate their achievements and recognize awardees at the Arkansas Master Gardener Conference, held in Hot Springs May 30-June 1. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The conference, held in Hot Springs May 30-June 1, included education sessions, local garden tours, a garden market, speakers and more.

"We are proud of all of our award recipients and their accomplishments this year," said Randy Forst, extension consumer horticulture educator and Master Gardener coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. "Arkansas Master Gardeners truly make a difference in their communities, and it's important for us to recognize their hard work and the impacts they've made all over the state."

The awards were divided by club size, with smaller clubs having 50 or fewer members and larger clubs having 51 or more.

2024 Master Gardener Award Winners

• Rookie of the Year (50- members): Sally Sullivan Cooke, Mississippi County

• Rookie of the Year (51+ members): Diann Arington, Garland County

• Mimi Cox Mentors of the Year (50- members): Anita Williams, Lonoke County

• Mimi Cox Mentors of the Year (51+ members): Patsy Louk, Washington County

• Agent of the Year (50- members): Darrin Henderson, Madison County

• Agent of the Year (51+ members): Sherri Sanders, White County

• Agent of the Year (51+ members): Timothy Wallace, Jefferson County

• Individual Friend of the Year (50- members): Mark Tenison, Prairie County

• Individual Friend of the Year (51+ members): Mike Carter, Pulaski County

• Individual Friend of the Year (51+ members): Gilbert Alvis, Washington County

• Business Friend of the Year (50- members): Terri Taylor, owner of the Cozy Nook Studio & Gallery in Lonoke County

• Business Friend of the Year (51+ members): Larry and David Freyaldenhoven, owners of Freyaldenhoven Greenhouse in Faulkner County

• Newsletter of the Year (50- members): “Growing in Madison County,” Madison County

• Newsletter of the Year (51+ members): “Garden Thyme,” Washington County

• Excellence in Education (50- members): Manila Elementary School Garden, Mississippi County

• Excellence in Education (51+ members): Detention Center Learning Greenhouse, Garland County

• Project of the Year (50- members): Plant Sales Events, Madison County

• Project of the Year (50+ members): Pioneer Village, White County

2024 Janet B. Carson Scholarship Awards: $2,000 each

The annual scholarships are named in honor of Carson, author and retired extension horticulture specialist. They are awarded to students who plan to attend a college or university in Arkansas and study plant-science related field.

• Arkansas County: Carter Hearn, plant and soil science major at Arkansas State University

• Saline County: Ian Price, agriculture, plant science major at Arkansas State University – Beebe

• Pope County: Taryn McGee, agriculture, business horticulture major at Arkansas Tech University

• Greene County: Shaylee Smith, plant and soil science major at Arkansas State University

Master Gardeners of the Year

Angela Ryland from Lonoke County was named Master Gardener of the Year for small programs, and Don Casteel from Benton County was named Master Gardener of the Year for large programs.

Ryland first became a Master Gardener in St. Francis County in 2006, where she was active for seven years. She moved to a community without a Master Gardener program, then joined the Lonoke County program in 2021. In 2023, Ryland completed more than 600 project hours and 95 educational hours, totaling more than $21,000 in volunteer service.

An active leader in her program, Ryland stepped up when her county’s Master Gardener president, vice president, secretary, Facebook page co-editor, and newsletter editor all resigned within two weeks of each other. She currently serves as vice president, project chair for the Lonoke County Extension Office and project chair for the City of Cabot welcome signs, along with several other positions.

“Angela maintains gardens where three to five students join her for planting and harvesting,” Ryland’s nominators wrote. “One of the student’s mothers says her son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and this garden work is therapy for him. Parents are grateful that Angela gives of her time to educate the youth and parents on gardening.”

Ryland works as principal broker for her private real estate firm.

Casteel, Master Gardener of the Year for large programs, joined the Benton County Master Gardeners in 2019. Soon after, he enrolled in the University of Arkansas and earned a master’s of science in agriculture and extension education, graduating in 2021.

In 2023, Casteel completed more than 700 combined volunteer and education hours. Casteel’s nominators describe him as both a team player and a leader who looks for opportunities to step up.

“When the state cancelled the spring training class in 2023 after it had been advertised for several months, Don didn’t want to disappoint the people who had already applied,” Casteel’s nominators wrote. “He spent hundreds of hours setting up a 40-hour class in Benton County that met all state requirements.  Not only did he field inquiries from candidates who wanted to take the class, he found and scheduled instructors, gathered materials, coordinated classroom space, invited hospitality to feed the trainees and even taught a few classes himself.”

As a result of that spring training and Casteel’s continued recruitment efforts, the Benton County Master Gardeners had a record-breaking year, with 66 new members joining in 2023.

Friend to Master Gardeners, friend to University of Arkansas System

One Master Gardener received special recognition from Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System. Mike Carter, superintendent of the Pulaski County Cammack Fruit Demonstration Garden, is one of two winners of the 2023 Individual Friend of the Year award for large programs.

Cammack Garden is situated on 40 acres on the grounds of Bobbitt’s private residential home.

“The Master Gardeners have always been extremely kind to share their skills and talents with us at the UA System Cammack Campus, and we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship over the years that I’m grateful to be a part of,” said Bobbitt, who lives on the property with his wife, Susan. “Mike Carter faces a daunting task in managing the Cammack Campus due to its size and the diversity of foliage on the campus. With the help of the Master Gardeners and his positive, hard-working and kind demeanor, he consistently gets the job done. We’re lucky to have Mike and our relationship with the Master Gardeners, and we’re proud that the friendship is being recognized.”

The garden, first developed in 1998, includes fruit varieties developed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It is maintained by 16 Pulaski County Master Gardeners who meet twice monthly under Carter’s leadership.

“Mike has been a huge supporter of the garden project for 23 years and has demonstrated his vision of the property for educational and cultural purposes,” Carter’s nominators wrote. “He has been a total contributor to the Cammack Project and the surrounding neighborhood, where visitors are always welcomed during the business hours of the administration.”

Carter holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Harding University and is an Arkansas Certified Nurseryman.

To learn more about the Arkansas Master Gardener program, visit uaex.uada.edu/Master-Gardeners, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

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. 

Gov. Sanders touts tax cuts, budget tightening and support for Trump

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders said she remains focused on reducing the state income tax to zero, despite some who have expressed concerns about fully eliminating the tax that could lead to a reduction in state services.

In a wide-ranging interview on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics and Capitol View, Sanders also said she planned to remain governor of Arkansas if Donald Trump reclaims the presidency this election cycle.

The interview was taped on Thursday (June 20) and aired statewide on Sunday (June 23).

Gov. Sanders touts tax cuts, budget tightening and support for Trump

Tech startup program, ARise, kicks off

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

Arkansas’ tech entrepreneurs have a new tool to use. ARise – Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs – was launched Thursday (June 20). It’s an iteration of the Arkansas Statewide Technology Commercialization program formerly known as Innovate Arkansas.

ARise, funded by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and led by Startup Junkie, aims to propel tech and tech-enabled companies in Arkansas.

“Growing technology companies is critical for Arkansas’ long-term economic success. The ARise program is a key element of our strategy for providing support and resources for tech ventures as they scale up in the Natural State,“ said Clint O’Neal, executive director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Tech startup program, ARise, kicks off

National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for the four-state region

Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette- Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-Union-DeSoto-Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches- Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-McCurtain-Red River-Bowie-Franklin- Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison- Cherokee-Rusk-Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- Sabine-

156 PM CDT Mon Jun 24 2024

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 109.

* WHERE...Portions of south-central and southwest Arkansas, north-central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments to reduce risk during outdoor work. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Walmart is testing a new system to better manage fruit supply

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

Walmart is partnering with Israel-based Agristask, a crop supply chain company, to test the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in sourcing fresh fruit such as blackberries and cherries.

Agritask’s remote sensing and data analytics tools can help sourcing managers at Walmart make better decisions on seasonal fruit crop yields. Walmart said the Insights will include immediate alerts on emerging or forming risks and their potential impact on target crops, real-time assessment of timing, delays, or advances in expected harvest, and updated indications on meeting yield targets throughout the growing season.

“Dealing with challenges in purchasing and planning accuracy in agriculture due to data discrepancies and environmental uncertainties can be tough,” said Kyle Carlyle, vice president of sourcing innovation and surety of supply at Walmart. “Agritask’s technology has the potential to fill vital information gaps that sourcing managers often face when predicting yield.”

Walmart is testing a new system to better manage fruit supply

Desire to get rid of stuff pushed doctor to launch ShopXchange

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

When Dr. Wanda Vaughn told her family of the brilliant idea she had for creating a safe way for people to get rid of unwanted items in their home while earning passive income, they told her to put her money where mouth is.

She did.

ShopXchange, an app that allows people to easily buy or sell items in the Fort Smith metro without meeting with a stranger, was created by Vaughn

It took almost two years for the app to be developed, but in the three months since it went live, there are hundreds of items listed on the site and transactions happening in the Fort Smith area.

Desire to get rid of stuff pushed doctor to launch ShopXchange

Arkansas Supreme Court reinstates gender-neutral ID ban

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Monday released a formal order in an ongoing legal battle over gender-neutral IDs.

For the past 14 years, Arkansans were allowed to put an “X” on their driver's license for their gender. This came after years of only allowing “M'' or “F.” License holders were also allowed to change their names.

In March, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration got legislative approval to ban the practice. This was an emergency rule change that can only be used in cases of “imminent peril.”

Arkansas Supreme Court reinstates gender-neutral ID ban

The Arkansas Supreme Court has reversed a lower court ruling which blocked the state's ban on gender-neutral IDs.