Extension staff recognized for community, economic development achievements

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals has recognized University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture extension program associates for achievements in community and economic development.

TEAMWORK — Brandon L. Mathews, extension program associate for economic development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, received the 2024 Southern Regional Winner team award for Education Materials from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals. Left to right: Hunter Goodman, extension assistant professor for Community, Professional and Economic Development, Brandon L. Mathews, extension program associate for economic development for the Division of Agriculture, and Michelle Eley, NACDEP board president. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

The association awarded members of the division’s Community, Professional and Economic Development department with the 2024 Southern Regional Winner team award for Education Materials.

The department is part of the Cooperative Extension Service. Brandon L. Mathews, extension program associate for economic development for the Division of Agriculture, and former program associate Kamelle Gomez received the award.

The award recognized Mathews and Gomez’s collaboration on the Arkansas Business Navigator Project and its accompanying podcast. The project, which is an initiative of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, seeks to help small business owners and entrepreneurs access capital and other financial resources.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be recognized for the work we accomplished through the Arkansas Business Navigator Project and podcast,” Mathews said. “Being able to use my passion for storytelling in ways that support entrepreneurs and small business owners is something special.”

The National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals also recognized the Division of Agriculture for its Extension Health Ambassadors program, which is a partnership between CPED and the extension Family and Consumer Sciences unit. The Extension Health Ambassadors team was the runner-up for the association’s Cross-Team Award, which identifies “excellence in extension work that combines or integrates community resources and economic development activities with work in other program areas.”

The Extension Health Ambassadors program is funded by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Rural Health and Safety Education grant. The program uses an asset-based community development model, an approach that focuses on utilizing a community’s existing strengths to meet their own needs. Extension team members recruit volunteers in Mississippi, Phillips, Pope, Clark, Hempstead and Hot Spring counties and train them in the fundamentals of public health promotion and education. These volunteers then lead community health programming in their own counties, helping to extend the impact of extension health programming in rural communities.

“This strong collaborative partnership between Family and Consumer Sciences and Community, Professional and Economic Development staff demonstrates Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s commitment to community engagement at the local level,” said Bryan Mader, extension assistant professor of health and co-project director for the Extension Health Ambassadors program. “This ground-up approach works to assist communities in identifying and prioritizing needs using assets and resources available within and among the community and its residents.

“These approaches bridge the gap between diverse populations and improved health, and they also build capacity and human capital toward health promotion and the identification of strategies for reducing chronic disease,” Mader said.

For more information about the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit, visit their Arkansas Business and Communities webpage. To learn more about the Family and Consumer Sciences unit, visit the extension Life Skills and Wellness Resources webpage.

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 officer fired after being caught on video beating inmate in back of patrol car

KUAR | By Andrew DeMillo / The Associated Press

From the Associated Press:

An Arkansas police officer has been fired after he was caught on video beating a handcuffed inmate in the back of his patrol car, and the police chief says he will refer the case to prosecutors.

Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott fired Officer Joseph Harris on Friday, the day after Harris was caught on his patrol car video punching, elbowing and slamming the car door on an inmate being transferred from a local hospital back to the county jail.

Elliott reviewed the video after receiving a complaint from the county sheriff’s office about the incident. The department also posted the video on its YouTube page and announced the officer’s firing.

Arkansas officer fired after being caught on video beating inmate in back of patrol car

Kincaid named UA Honors College director of development

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

Missy Darwin Kincaid has been named director of development at the University of Arkansas’ Honors College, the university announced Monday (Aug. 12). The university alumna and Little Rock native began the job July 15.

According to the university, Kincaid has 23 years of fundraising and leadership experience and will lead fundraising work with the Honors College

“Missy Kincaid brings to the Honors College a wealth of experience in philanthropy, community engagement and advocacy,” Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College, said in the statement. “Her energy coupled with her love for the University of Arkansas are electrifying—the effects are already palpable in our wing of Gearhart Hall.”

Kincaid named UA Honors College director of development

Missy Darwin Kincaid, director of development at the University of Arkansas’ Honors College

National Weather Service says heat advisories and excessive heat warnings likely issued this week

Rawpixel Image

Ridging is expected to continue to shift eastward and have more of a grip on our region by Tuesday night and really continue well into next weekend. In response to this, afternoon temperatures from Wednesday through Saturday will range from the upper 90s to lower 100s each day across the region, possibly getting slightly warmer each day into the weekend. Sounds amazing right? In addition to that, heat index values will be at or well above the Heat Advisory criteria of 105 degrees each day. The only real concern for each day of the week will be where we place the Heat Advisory versus the Excessive Heat Warning each day as the location of the hottest heat indices could vary at times. Not much rain to speak of for the long-term portion of the forecast period unfortunately aside from any diurnal convection during the afternoon hours. Long range models do show a potential for some rainfall Sunday into Monday as the ridge looks to retrograde to the west slightly and our area returns to northwest flow aloft.

Arkansas Medical Board revokes license of Little Rock gastroenterologist

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

After approximately 20 hours of testimony during atwo-day hearing, the Arkansas State Medical Board voted to revoke the license of Dr. Alonzo Williams, a Little Rock gastroenterologist accused of sexual abuse and improper prescription practices.

The medical board, led by Dr. Ward Gardner, approved 16 of the 17 charges against Williams, many of which were related to gross negligence or “ignorant malpractice” for the over-utilization of medical procedures such as biopsies, colonoscopies and a specific esophagus examination called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or EGD.

The hearing centered around an investigation of six of Williams’ patients, whom he and his attorney Kevin O’Dwyer described as “extreme outliers.”

Arkansas Medical Board revokes license of Little Rock gastroenterologist

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Dr. Alonzo Williams, a gastroenterologist and medical director of the Arkansas Diagnostic Center, testifies at an Arkansas State Medical Board hearing into his practice in Little Rock on Aug. 9, 2024.

Registration for fall’s Walk Across Arkansas to open Aug. 26

LITTLE ROCK — The registration date for the Cooperative Extension Service’s biannual health initiative, Walk Across Arkansas, is fast approaching. Individual Arkansans are encouraged to form teams in their respective workplaces, neighborhoods or other communities and join the effort on Aug. 26.

START YOUR ENGINES — Registration for the fall iteration of Walk Across Arkansas will soon be open. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

Heather Wingo, family and consumer sciences program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the Cooperative Extension Service has been using Walk Across Arkansas to promote health and active lifestyle changes in the state for about 20 years.

“The program’s main goal is to increase physical activity,” Wingo said. “We’re working to help Arkansans overcome the state’s high obesity rates and combat chronic disease throughout individuals’ lifespans.”

During the eight-week session, individuals will log their daily total number of minutes of physical activity — which isn’t limited to walking. Running, gardening, playing or coaching a team sport — it all counts.

“A lot of Arkansans live close to parks or trails,” Wingo said. “It’s great when we see those being put to good use.”

During the spring 2024 Walk Across Arkansas, 65 teams — 346 participants — logged more than 986,000 minutes of activity over eight weeks.

The registration window for the fall session is Aug. 26 – Sept. 8. The eight-week session begins Sept. 9 and will conclude Nov. 3. To register, visit https://walk.uada.edu/walk/.

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.

WTAS: Support Builds for Boozman-Welch Legislation to Protect Seniors’ Access to Healthcare

U.S. Senator John Boozman, AR

WASHINGTON –– U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Peter Welch (D-VT) announced support from national health organizations for the Physician Fee Stabilization Act, legislation that ensures greater flexibility in determining pricing adjustments for medical services without triggering harmful annual payment cuts to Medicare-serving physicians.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). 

What They Are Saying

“Physicians cannot continue to be faced with large reductions in Medicare payment at the beginning of each year, threatening our practice operations and access to care for our nation’s seniors. The American College of Physicians supports the Physician Fee Stabilization Act that would help to ensure this doesn’t continue to happen by raising the threshold for the implementation of budget neutral payment cuts,” said Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PHD, MACP, President, American College of Physicians.

“The Physician Fee Stabilization Act would provide a much-needed increase to the budget neutrality threshold, raising the trigger amount from $20 million, where it has been since 1992, to $53 million. It would then provide for inflationary increases every five years based on the Medicare Economic Index. As proposed, the $33 million increase is proportional to the growth of Part B spending since the implementation of the PFS,” said American College of Surgeons Executive Director and CEO Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS. “This would be an important step forward to ensure greater flexibility in determining pricing adjustments for services without triggering re-occurring across-the-board cuts at the end of every year.”

“The Physician Fee Stabilization Act is a vital step toward ensuring stability and fairness in physician payment reform, especially for cardiologists who provide life-saving care. By raising the budget neutrality threshold, this legislation will help prevent annual cuts that threaten patients’ access to cardiovascular care. The American College of Cardiology commends Senators Boozman, Welch, Tillis, King, Marshall and Shaheen for their leadership and commitment to supporting our nation's cardiologists and their patients,” said American College of Cardiology President Cathleen Biga, MSN, FACC. 

“The Physician Fee Stabilization Act marks the Senate's first legislative solution this year to help ensure fair and consistent Medicare payments for physician services, and Congress should pass this bill to help ensure our nation’s seniors continue to have timely access to the physician of their choice. We applaud the bipartisan group of Senators leading this initiative and look forward to working with policymakers to advance additional long-lasting Medicare policy solutions,” said Russell R. Lonser, MD, FAANS, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

“The American Academy of Dermatology Association sincerely thanks Senators Boozman and Welch for introducing the Physician Fee Stabilization Act, which would update the budget neutrality thresholds in the Medicare physician fee schedule,” said American Academy of Dermatology Association President Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD. “This bill is a crucial step in the fight to reform Medicare physician payment as it would revise budget neutrality policies that contribute to eroding reimbursement, which is not only a critical top priority for dermatologists, but for all physicians and most importantly the patients we serve.”

“The AAMC applauds Sens. Boozman and Welch for introducing the Physician Fee Stabilization Act. Physicians employed by teaching health systems and hospitals across the country are dedicated to both providing care to the most complex and vulnerable patients and training the next generation of physicians. These large, multispecialty practices are vital resources to their local communities, providing significant primary care and other critical services, including a large percentage of tertiary, quaternary, and specialty referral care in the community. However, their ability to continue to provide care in their communities is in jeopardy due to the threat of yearly cuts to their patient care payments,” said Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, Chief Public Policy Officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. “The Physician Fee Stabilization Act would update the current budget neutrality threshold in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and continue to update it every five years. While more is needed to ensure the stability and longevity of the PFS, this is a critical step, and we appreciate the bipartisan commitment of Sens. Boozman and Welch to addressing issues with the PFS and look forward to working to get this legislation passed.”

“The American Urological Association (AUA) applauds Senators John Boozman and Peter Welch, along with Senators Thom Tillis, Angus King, Roger Marshall, MD and Jeanne Shaheen, for their leadership in introducing S. 4935, the Physician Fee Stabilization Act,” said AUA Public Policy Council Chair Mark Edney, MD, MBA. “This bipartisan legislation takes the critical step of increasing the budget neutrality threshold from $20 to $53 million with adjustments every five years to keep pace with the MEI. The budget neutrality threshold has not been updated in more than 30 years and physicians are the only Medicare provider without inflationary payment updates. S. 4935 would fix this and bring much-needed stability to physician payment year after year, helping to ease the provision of urological care and countless other services to millions of Americans under Medicare.”

“The American Optometric Association (AOA) applauds Sens. Boozman and Welch, for the visionary direction S. 4935 sets for future growth of health care access,” said Steven Reed, O.D., AOA president. “For so many years, physicians of all types, including doctors of optometry, have long been impacted by stagnant Medicare reimbursement. The costs to deliver care continue to increase especially in regard to staffing and overhead costs, yet Medicare reimbursement has remained and proposed cuts only threaten to hamper physicians’ ability to provide valued care. S. 4935 takes a long-term forward-looking approach to a real solution – not a patch – to address this problem.”

Attorney General Griffin applauds success in suit he co-led after court blocks unlawful student loan forgiveness program

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Biden-Harris administration’s unlawful student loan forgiveness program:

“The Eighth Circuit has once again blocked the Biden-Harris administration from implementing a blatantly illegal program that sought to erase student loans with no regard for the cost to taxpayers. The Biden-Harris administration is now 0-3 in its attempts to bypass Congress’s authority and unlawfully forgive student debt to score political points with the electorate.

“If the Biden-Harris administration continues to thwart the Constitution, I will continue to sue them and ensure that hardworking Americans aren’t stuck with the bill for loans that aren’t theirs.”

Griffin co-led the lawsuit challenging the unlawful program with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. They were joined in the suit by the attorneys general of Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma. The per curiam order applies nationwide.

To read a copy of the court’s ruling, click here.

To download a PDF copy of this release, click here.

Governor Sanders Joins AEDC’s Rural Services Division to Award $334K to 33 Arkansas Communities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.– Governor Sanders, along with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services, awarded $344,728.69 in grants to 33 Arkansas cities and counties. 

Albert Stoynov Image

“These grants go a long way toward making sure that every corner of Arkansas – not just a few big cities – is taken care of,” said Governor Sanders.“These 33 recipients come from across our state, from Yellville to Mulberry. Each one of these grants provides their communities with the tools they need to make Arkansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“Rural communities play a major role in the economic success of our state,” said Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Clint O’Neal.“The grants awarded by AEDC’s Division of Rural Services will help rural communities throughout the state improve their infrastructure and quality of life amenities to benefit Arkansans.”

“We are committed to working with and supporting rural communities in Arkansas to help them succeed,” said Director of the Division of Rural Services Becca Caldwell. “With the latest Rural Community Grant Program awards, thirty-three Arkansas cities and counties have additional resources and funding for important projects that will increase quality of life in their communities.”

The Rural Community Grant Program is one of the Division of Rural Services’ programs, which is used to fund projects such as fire trucks, fire protection equipment, community centers, storm sirens, community parks, walking trails, and baseball fields. Applicants from incorporated towns of less than 3,000 in population and unincorporated rural areas are eligible for up to $15,000 in matching funds under the program.

The grants are part of the Division of Rural Services’ second cycle of Fiscal Year 2024 grants. AEDC previously awarded $806,125 in grants to 29 Arkansas cities and counties during the 2024 Rural Development Conference in May. 

These are the Arkansas communities receiving grants:

• Center Hill Fire Department, $15,000

• City of Foreman, $15,000

• City of Lakeview, $1,946.78

• City of McNeil, $6,160.36

• City of Mulberry, $3,847.84

• City of Strong, $15,000

• City of Sulphur Springs, $8,588.60

• City of Winthrop, $15,000

• City of Yellville, $6,098.75

• Cord Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000

• Cotter-Gassville Rural Fire Protection District, $14,433.08

• Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, $14,801.93

• Etowah Volunteer Fire Department, $3,002

• Grayson Fire Department, $15,000

• Highfill Volunteer Fire Department, $14,915.92

• Highway 250 Volunteer Fire Department, $5,718.31

• Huntsville Fire Department, $6,562.50

• Keo Fire Department, $13,244

• Lake City Fire Department, $7,169.97

• Leslie Volunteer Fire Department, $13,724.85

• Lincoln Fire Department, $15,000

• Lutherville-Holman Community, $11,162

• Luton-Pelsor Volunteer Fire Department, $9,750

• Norfork Fire Department, $14,406.04

• Oakland Promise Land Fire Protection District, $15,000

• Pangburn Volunteer Fire Department, $7,124.25

• Pike County, $4,041.52

• Prim Fire Department, $14,630

• Stone County, $15,000

• Town of Franklin, $8,347.80

• Tyronza Volunteer Fire Department, $3,832.20

• Waldron Rural Fire Protection District, $1,250

• Washington Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000

Arkansas Attorney General Griffin celebrates appeals court decision in lawsuit over Biden-Harris pistol brace rule

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement regarding the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to reverse a lower court ruling denying a preliminary injunction in Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Inc. v. Garland:

“This is a victory for the rights of Americans and the rule of law as the Eighth Circuit concluded that our lawsuit is likely to succeed. This ruling brings us one step closer to stopping this unconstitutional rule.

“This is yet another attempt to rewrite the laws Congress has passed. The new rule defines a pistol with a stabilizing brace as a short-barreled rifle, thus increasing federal regulation and putting Americans at risk of fines, forfeiture, and felony conviction. I will continue to fight for the 2nd Amendment rights of Arkansans and against the arbitrary-and-capricious rules of the Biden-Harris administration.”

Arkansas is a member of a coalition of private entities and state attorneys general in the lawsuit. States include West Virginia, North Dakota, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

To read the order, click here.

For a printer-friendly version of this release, click here.

Pistol Brace - Indiana Responsible Gun Owners

Rapert continues failed attempts to withhold funds from some libraries

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Former Republican state Sen. Jason Rapert continued his efforts to withhold funds from libraries at a meeting of the Arkansas State Library Board Friday.

Rapert began his tenure on the board this year. At every meeting since then, Rapert has unsuccessfully tried to remove funding from Arkansas libraries over specific books in their collections. None of his motions at Friday's meeting received a second, meaning the group was not able to vote on them.

Rapert was especially upset about two memoirs with LGBTQ+ themes found in some Arkansas libraries: "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson and "Genderqueer" by Maia Kobabe. He said he had learned about the books on a website called Take Back the Classroom. The organization is funded by the conservative Capitol Resource Institute, a group working to end sex education in schools.

Rapert continues failed attempts to withhold funds from some libraries

White County 4-H team wins Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Aug. 2, 124 participants from 36 teams put their food and nutrition knowledge — and cooking skills — to the test at the Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge.

The competition, part of Arkansas 4-H’s Healthy Living Project, was held at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute at UA Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Each team had 40 minutes to prep and cook their dish, with the choice to compete in fruits and vegetables, dairy, protein or grains. Teams had to use ingredients available at dollar stores, including frozen peas and canned tomatoes, as well as rice and smoked sausage. Each team also had to incorporate a mystery ingredient.

Teams then had five minutes to present their dish to judges and explain the nutritional value, total cost of the ingredients and the food safety measures taken in preparing it. The judging panel included Cooperative Extension Service family and consumer science agents and specialists.

JeAlberne Smith, extension 4-H program technician for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and coordinator of the 4-H Food Challenge, said the competition is an important opportunity for youth to practice their cooking skills and work together as a team.

“The Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge gives our members a chance to apply their food and nutrition knowledge in a fun, exciting contest that also teaches them to think quickly on their feet,” Smith said. “I’m proud of this year’s teams for getting creative with their dishes, and I’m also grateful to all the 4-H agents and parent leaders for their hard-working helping these teams get ready for the competition.”  

Smith said that all food not used during the competition was donated to The Shack, a non-profit ministry in Little Rock that provides free meals, hygiene facilities and laundry services for people in need.

BOUND FOR NATIONALS — The Cooking Herd from White County won First Place Overall in the Senior Division in their first year competing at the Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge, held Aug. 2 at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute at UA Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

The winners were:

Senior Division

• First place: The Cooking Herd from White County — Caitlin Cooper, Jack Pruitt, Lynnlee Morrison, Madison White

• Second place: The Rolling Scones from Grant County — Lauren Fleming, Kortni Nelson, Aubrey Ottens

• Third place: Hillbilly Cooks from Faulkner County — Morgan Caro, Kacie Clark, Chloe Parish, Leah Smith

Junior Division

• First place: The Saucy Bosses from Union County — Makena Saffold, Sadie Saffold, Sophie Wheeler

• Second place: Spicy Slicers from Drew County — Audrey Clayton, Alvia Daniels, Jesika Henson, DJ Hewing

• Third place: The Cooking Clovers from Yell County — Kaitlyn Munroe, Kourtney Munroe, Skylen Reddin, Colt Stokes

First-time competitors, first-time winners

Nancy Evans, White County extension 4-H program assistant, said The Cooking Herd team had looked forward to competing in the 4-H Food Challenge for the first time.

“We prepared with practices once a week, and they also got together and practiced at home,” Evans said. “They were so excited, and I was so excited for them to go and compete. I was impressed with all the knowledge they developed for this contest.”

Evans said that through studying the USDA MyPlate nutrition lessons and trying their hand at preparing recipes, all the White County teams gained skills they can use for the rest of their lives — a core value of the 4-H program.

“These are important skills for them to know,” Evans said. “They can use these in their personal lives and with their families in the future. That’s why 4-H is so good for them — so they can go and share their skills, and help other people learn to prepare healthy meals.”

The Cooking Herd team will next head to the National 4-H Food Challenge held at the Texas State Fair in October. Evans said the team’s performance at the state contest is already a big win for the county.

“Before we left for the competition, they were ready,” Evans said. “When they came out from the judging portion, they were so confident that they did well. It was unbelievable to get this trophy because before we started preparing for the competition, I mentioned to them that I wanted to take this trophy home. And they said, ‘We can do it!’”

4-H is a youth development program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The program teaches participants life skills through the “learn by doing” model. Program participants gain knowledge through non-formal, science-based, experiential education activities.

To learn more about Arkansas 4-H and its programs, visit the Arkansas 4-H website.

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. 

Economic impact of Arkansas timber damage from May tornadoes estimated at $89 million

By Traci Rushing
Arkansas Center for Forest Business
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

MONTICELLO, Ark. — In May Arkansas saw a record number of tornadoes touch down in our state causing an estimated $89 million in total economic impacts and potential environmental risk associated with the forest damage experienced in five northern counties.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS — In May Arkansas saw a record number of tornadoes touch down in our state causing an estimated $89 million in total economic impacts and potential environmental risk associated with the forest damage experienced in five northern counties. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported a record number of 17 tornadoes recorded across Arkansas on May 26 with one tornado having a path width of nearly 2 miles in Benton County. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry estimated the tornadoes destroyed $18.4 million worth of timber over 12,400 acres in Benton, Madison, Marion, Baxter and Fulton counties. Given these numbers, the Arkansas Center for Forest Business conducted an analysis of the full economic impact of this timber loss, which totaled $89 million. This estimate includes the cost of hazard reduction, loss in labor due to timber not being harvested, carbon storage loss, and losses of both local and state tax revenues.

To support landowners in this area, the Arkansas Center for Forest Business prepared and reported the economic losses experienced in the five northern counties. Data was shared with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry which led to the Division requesting financial support from Farm Service Agencies to assist landowners in the area.

“The Arkansas Center for Forest Business assists landowners with strategic planning and provides economic values to the Arkansas Agricultural Department Forestry Division and the Arkansas Forestry Association as needed to support in policymakers’ decision-making to coordinate disaster funding,” said Dr. Shaun Tanger, Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Trade at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.

While the economic impact on the surrounding communities is devastating, the environmental impact of not properly caring for the fallen timber could be detrimental to the ecosystem. According to Dr. Matthew Pelkki, Director of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business and Professor at the UAM CFANR, these lands are very susceptible to seeing an infestation of negative pests and fire hazards.

“The potential is that the chemicals released from a dead or recently killed tree are going to attract insects, which in a natural scenario is not necessarily a bad thing. However, in this scenario, there is a potential to draw in populations of insects that are detrimental to our forest,” said Pelkki. “Insects such as bark beetles and red oak borers could thrive in the fallen timber and then start affecting living trees around the area. Then, there is also a fire hazard. We have a lot of dead, down material that will dry out and create a fire hazard.”

The Arkansas Center for Forest Business encourages landowners to be proactive with land management efforts.

“It is important that Arkansas’ forest landowners work with foresters to manage their forests for greater resiliency to insects, diseases, and climate events and one of the tools for that is timber harvesting,” added Pelkki.

Inquiries about financial assistance from Farm Service Agencies for landowners from the affected region can be directed to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry. The Arkansas Center for Forest Business is also available to provide landowners with valuable information and connections to assist with land management. More information about the Arkansas Center for Forest Business can be found on their website.

20 Arkansas airports to receive $14 million in federal grants

Arkansas airports were awarded $14.83 million in federal grant money on Friday (Aug. 9), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill will receive $3.88 million to support a project to build a new control tower.

The money comes from the newest round of 2024 Airport Improvement Program grants awarded by the agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grants pay for various projects to improve runways, airfields and airport facilities. On Friday, the FAA awarded $636.05 million to airports in 46 states and the American Samoa.

Following are the 19 other airports to receive the money.
• Carroll County in Berryville: $418,435 to expand apron.
• Z M Jack Stell Field in Crossett: $1.05 million to construct taxiway.
• J Lynn Helms Sevier County in De Queen: $388,656 to construct a taxi lane.
• Billy Free Municipal in Dumas: $155,655 to reseal apron and taxiway pavement.
• Drake Field in Fayetteville: $240,210 to extend and expand taxiway.
• Memorial Field in Hot Springs: $558,485 to rehabilitate runway and its lighting and markings.
• Jonesboro Municipal in Jonesboro: $141,300 to extend and expand runway.
• Ralph C Weiser Field in Magnolia: $218,044 to reconstruct taxiway lighting.
• Manila Municipal in Manila: $299,444 to reconstruct taxiway lighting and rehabilitate runway lighting.
• Monticello Municipal/Ellis Field in Monticello: $316,566 to reseal apron and taxiway pavement
• Morrilton Municipal in Morrilton: $318,277 to construct an airport lighting vault, install taxiway lighting, and reconstruct runway and taxiway lighting.
• Bearce in Mount Ida: $924,474 to rehabilitate runway and reseal taxiway pavement.
• Baxter County in Mountain Home: $100,043 to reconstruct runway visual guidance system.
• Osceola Municipal in Osceola: $525,079 to construct terminal access road.
• Pine Bluff Regional/Grider Field in Pine Bluff: $2.08 million to rehabilitate runway.
• Russellville Regional in Russellville: $165,007 to reconstruct apron.
• Sheridan-Grant County Regional in Sheridan: $246,082 to reseal and resurface runway pavement.
• Springdale Municipal in Springdale: $606,559 to reseal and resurface runway pavement.
• Texarkana Regional-Webb Field in Texarkana: $2.18 million to construct apron.

20 Arkansas airports to receive $14 million in federal grants

Undergraduates Show Off Research Skills at UAMS’ Summer Symposium

Alyssa Nolan of the University of Central Arkansas and the INBRE program explains her poster. Image by Nathan Tidwell

By Nathan Tidwell

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) hosted students from 39 colleges and universities across the nation at the 11th Annual Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium.

The symposium was an opportunity for undergraduate students to present research on a wide range of topics including biomedical sciences, plant science. informatics and modeling. The UAMS College of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology organized and sponsored the event with support from the UAMS Graduate School and the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program.

“This symposium stands as a testament to the curiosity, dedication and ingenuity of students, who have embarked on journeys of exploration within their respective fields. Undergraduate research is not merely a supplement to coursework; it is a transformative experience that nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of academic disciplines.”

Undergraduates Show Off Research Skills at UAMS’ Summer Symposium

The winners of the poster competition were selected from 122 submissions. Image by Nathan Tidwell

Arkansas school districts on board with ‘phone-free’ pilot program

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

About 180 of Arkansas’ 237 public school districts will limit students’ phone usage in the upcoming school year as part of a pilot program championed by Gov. Sarah Sanders and state education officials.

The program, announced last month, provides students with pouches to store, but not access, their phones during the school day. Grants for telehealth services to address students’ mental health will also be available to participating school districts.

Speaking at Ardis Ann Middle School in Bentonville Thursday, Sanders said the program’s goal is to address what she says is a link between unrestricted smartphone usage and worse mental health outcomes among students.

Arkansas school districts on board with ‘phone-free’ pilot program

Bipartisan legislation introduced to study impact of cell phones in schools

WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Bruce Westerman (AR-04), David Trone (MD-06), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), and Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced the Focus on Learning Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to complete a study on the effects of cell phone use in K-12 classrooms and its impact on students’ mental health and academic performance.

“Any parent, teacher, or administrator can tell you that cell phones are the leading distraction and source of anxiety for students in school. Our Focus on Learning Act is a bipartisan solution to bridge the gap in data of the real-time effects of cell phone usage in schools so we can support local communities in alleviating those distractions and cultivating the best possible learning environment for our students,” said Congressman Westerman. “I’m proud to lead this bicameral effort with my friend and fellow Arkansan, Senator Cotton, and I look forward to continued collaboration on this important issue.” 

“Prioritizing student mental health is how we ensure young folks receive the best education possible. The Focus on Learning Act aims to do just that by conducting a study on cell phone use in schools,” said Congressman Trone. “By limiting cell phones in schools, we could also limit one of the main causes of stress and anxiety for students. In Congress, I’ll always work to ensure young people are set up for success.”

“It is critical to the development of our children that we understand the impact that cellphones have on their mental health and academic performance,” said Congressman LaTurner. “The Focus on Learning Act will help ensure that schools are free of distractions that may hinder a student’s education.”

"As a Dad, I’m concerned about the impact of cell phone use on our kids' mental health and academic success," said Congressman Crow. "Proud to lead the Focus on Learning Act with Rep. Westerman to research the effects of increased phone use and give our kids the best opportunity to succeed.”

BACKGROUND:

• Since 2012, test scores have steeply declined nationwide, presumably correlated with the increased presence of cell phones in schools.

• Recent studies show that three-quarters of U.S. teens feel more happy/peaceful when they are away from their phones.

• As research is being conducted in scholarly settings, there’s a gap in data on the real-time effects of cell phone usage in classrooms and its impact on the learning and mental health of students.

FOCUS ON LEARNING SUMMARY:

• Requires the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to complete a study on the effects of cell phone use in K-12 classrooms on students’ mental health and academic performance.

• Authorizes $5 million annually for the next five years for a pilot program that provides students with secure containers to store cell phones during school hours.

• The pilot program will allow exceptions for students with health conditions, disabilities, and non-English speakers.

• Participating schools will have a communication system in place to allow teachers, students, and administrators to communicate with local emergency responders in case of an emergency.

• U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) are cosponsors of the Senate companion Focus on Learning Act.

Click here for the full bill text.

Representatives Hill, Turner, Green press for answers on terror watchlist individuals crossing our southern border

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (R-AR), House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) released the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee released a report that showed nearly 100 individuals on the terror watchlist were released into the United States after crossing our southern border.

“It’s unacceptable that the Biden-Harris Administration has left our southern border open and that they don’t know who is coming into our country or where they are once here – including potential terrorists.

“We recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to look into the process of identifying which terrorist watchlist individuals are trying to come into our country and where they are once released. The FBI and DHS have yet to answer these most basic questions.

“Since the Biden-Harris Administration’s failed open border policies have welcomed potential terrorists into our nation, we’re working to combat these threats and safeguard Americans in their own backyards. The FBI and DHS must answer our requests.”

U.S. Congressman French Hill

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH)

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN)

Further Background:

Rep. Hill, Chairman Turner, and Chairman Green sent the following letter to the GAO on April 30, 2024, to investigate the process of finding terror watchlist individuals entering the United States and identify where they are after they are released into our country. This letter was sent as a next step following the lawmakers’ prior efforts in pressing for answers because of the lack of responsiveness from FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas. 

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Recently, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) issued a reminder for parents to remain vigilant in recognizing and preventing online predators from targeting children. This summer alone, ASP has issued several Missing/Endangered Advisories for missing children and teens, including five Amber Alerts since May. Disturbingly, multiple Arkansas teens have been lured away by predators they encountered through online messaging apps.

In our increasingly digital world, it's more important than ever for parents to monitor their children's online activity and educate them on the dangers of the internet. Major Stacie Rhoads, Commander of the ASP Criminal Investigation Division, warns that online predators often attempt to engage children and teens in inappropriate sexual conversations, arrange in-person meetings, or even send explicit materials while requesting images in return.

During the 2023 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed Act 689, which prohibits social media companies from allowing minors in Arkansas to create new accounts without the explicit consent of a parent or legal guardian. The act requires age verification through a third-party vendor, establishes liability for failing to perform this verification, and outlines penalties for violations. However, enforcement of the act has been delayed due to a legal challenge, which is still pending in the judicial system.

Recently, the governor sent a letter to Arkansas legislators, urging us to continue our efforts to implement meaningful restrictions on children’s use of social media platforms.

For resources to help parents protect their children from online predators and technology-facilitated exploitation, visit aricac.org. Schools, civic groups, and other organizations can also request online safety presentations through this site. To report suspicious online activity, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST(1-800-843-5678).

UA Cossatot Collegiate & Alumni FFA Attends Conference in Alaska

Students in the UA Cossatot agriculture program attended an FFA Alumni & Supporters Development conference in Alaska over the summer. Agriculture instructor and FFA Advisor, Kelli Harris, along with program assistant, Hadley Philamlee, traveled to Palmer, Alaska from June 20 - 24 with three students: April Klitz, Gynder Benson, and Hannah Jackson.

The conference provided information on topics such as agriculture program development, student retention, and offered an opportunity to network with other FFA alumni members from around the country. The group learned about production agriculture in Alaska, which is widely known for gigantic cabbages that can easily grow up to 50 pounds during the long daylight hours of the Alaskan growing season. They also toured a musk ox farm where they were able to see how these animals are managed for their hair, which is called qiviut, and how the fibers are used in textile production.

"This was an amazing experience for our students at UA Cossatot and we were all excited to learn more about agriculture beyond our region of the United States. Attending these conferences helps us expand our knowledge about agriculture and bring new ideas back to our college," says Kelli Harris.

The agriculture program is looking forward to planning more educational travel experiences for students this fall.

Pictured L to R: Hannah Jackson, Hadley Philamlee, April Klitz, Kelli Harris, Gynder Benson

The University of Arkansas Cossatot is a community college in Southwest Arkansas accredited by the