Congressional Hostage Task Force Co-chairs Hill and Stevens lead letter to State Department to disincentivize hostage taking

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Co-Chairs of the Hostage Task Force in the House, led a letter together to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to develop additional tools to disincentivize wrongful detention, hostage taking, and discourage Americans from traveling to hostile nations.

In their letter, Rep. Hill and Rep. Stevens summarize four policy suggestions, which include forming joint penalties with allies against states that take hostages, developing a formal determination and designation of hostage-taking nations, using existing authority to restrict travel by U.S. citizens to nations that routinely take Americans, and strongly encouraging travelers to countries with a Level 4 Travel Warning to register with their local embassy and work with TSA to develop informational materials at airports.

To read the lawmakers’ full letter, please visit HERE:

Dear Secretary Blinken, We write to commend your work in helping to accomplish the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since the Cold War and bringing home Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and fourteen other Americans, Russians and Europeans imprisoned in Russia to their families. This deal underscores that too many of our fellow Americans are increasingly being wrongfully detained and held hostage by hostile governments and terror groups which treat our citizens as disposable geopolitical bargaining chips.

We recognize and applaud the important and difficult advances made across the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations through the issuance of PPD-30 in 2015 and the passage of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recover and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act in 2020. The success of a multinational approach with Russia in this particular instance should be formalized more broadly to disincentivize wrongful detention and hostage taking. We were pleased to see the initial progress made with the signing of the 2021 Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-toState Relations to disincentivize wrongful detention and hostage taking. Sharing of data and best practices amongst like-minded nations is an important first step.

Even so, the United States Government must do more. The taking of Americans as hostages continues despite significant action taken by the last three administrations to prevent this. In addition, we fear an increasing number of Americans will be taken abroad in future years unless the State Department develops additional tools to disincentivize these practices and more effectively discourages Americans from placing themselves in harms way in the first place.

We must build on our progress to disincentivize wrongful detention and hostage taking. As such, we urge you to:

1. Promote and coordinate ways to impose joint penalties with our allies and partners against states and individuals involved in hostage taking and wrongful detention, with the goal of concluding a declaration to urge multilateral sanctions against those credibly shown to have wrongfully detained a person.

2. Develop a formal rubric to determine and designate states as Hostage-Taking Nations. The United States should impose countermeasures against those states’ officials and diplomats (and their immediate family members), including restricting the travel radius for any officials visiting the United States on diplomatic visas. These restrictions could be tightened or loosened as Americans are either wrongfully detained or released from the custody of such nations, creating a carrot along with a stick.

3. Utilize the Secretary of State’s existing authority to restrict travel of U.S. citizens in the event of severe risks to their health and safety, recognizing that the existing waiver process provides for flexibility in this process. We are concerned by the growing number of Americans who require the assistance of the U.S. government to be evacuated or released from detention in countries already on the State Department’s Level 4 Travel Warning list. Unfortunately, many U.S. travelers either ignore these warnings or perhaps do not see them in the first place. We applaud the Department’s continued use of this authority since 2018 to restrict U.S. travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea after the horrific detention and abuse of Otto Warmbier which resulted in his death. Such an added burden to travel would help discourage our citizens from taking unnecessary risks traveling to other known dangerous countries.

4. Strongly discourage American travelers whose final destination is a country with a Level 4 Travel Warning from traveling during their flight booking process and strongly encourage such travelers to register with the local embassy. Specifically, the State Department should consider partnering with the Transportation Security Administration to develop a system that could include elements such as posters in airports or informational briefings and acknowledgements of risks. The Department should also collect, analyze, and learn from U.S. visa data to better develop strategies to discourage Americans from traveling to the countries we warn them against visiting. This data should inform us whether our efforts to prevent such travel are succeeding or failing.

We cannot only be reactive to the growing plight of Americans taken abroad - the United States must take strong and decisive action now to prevent this stream of wrongful detentions and hostage-takings from turning into a flood. We stand ready to work with you to implement any of these initiatives.

We request a briefing on the Department’s plans to address these recommendations by 45 days from October 2, 2024.

Schizophrenia Conference Offers Education, Optimism

By Tim Taylor

Oct. 3, 2024 | The more than 250 people who attended the Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference, hosted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Psychiatric Research Institute, left the Sept. 27 event with information about the latest treatment approaches and promising findings.

With an audience of clinicians, therapists and support staff as well as law enforcement officials and family members of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, the event, held at the City Center in Little Rock, offered insight into a mental disorder that’s often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, welcomed attendees to the conference, while Laura Dunn, M.D., director of the Psychiatric Research Institute and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, recognized the conference participants and organizers.

Schizophrenia Conference Offers Education, Optimism

Brian Kirkpatrick, M.D., discusses some of the misconceptions about schizophrenia at the Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference. Image by Tim Taylor

Extension offers 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is now available. It offers non-biased, research-based information about three proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in the state’s upcoming general election.

HELP FOR  VOTERS — Arkansans can access a non-biased, research-based guide about three proposed constitutional amendments on the upcoming general election ballot with the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide. The guide is published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

The guide is published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center, part of the Cooperative Extension Service.

The Voter Guide was released Sept. 27 and is available at uaex.uada.edu/ballot. Printed copies will be available in county extension offices statewide by the start of early voting, which begins Oct. 21.

The Public Policy Center has provided a voter guide on all statewide ballot issues since 2004. Kristin Higgins, extension program associate for the Public Policy Center, said it’s critical for Arkansans to access non-biased information about the issues that impact them.

“People need information to make a decision, and it can be difficult to find neutral sources of information about statewide ballot issues,” Higgins said. “You’re being asked as a voter to create or change state policy for years to come. The Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is that source of neutral information, and it also gives people the ability to read the ballot titles when they’re not under a time crunch to make a decision.”

The information contained in the guide goes through a thorough vetting process to ensure its accuracy and neutrality, which includes reviews by legal and subject matter experts, as well as both supporters and opponents of each issue. The guide breaks down what a “for” or “against” vote means for each of the three issues. It also spells out what each issue proposes, helping to parse the language of the ballot titles.

The guide includes reasons why people may support or oppose each of the proposals, and it provides a helpful worksheet for people to record their voting plans and bring with them to the polls.

Higgins said it’s important for Arkansans to use their voting privileges in the statewide election, especially as one of 15 states where citizens can put a constitutional amendment, state law or veto referendum on the statewide ballot for voters to decide.

“Voters have a direct involvement in deciding whether to change state law,” Higgins said. “These state laws affect all Arkansans, so voting in these elections shapes your state and your experiences for decades into the future.”

Organizations can request ballot issue education presentations from extension agents. The Public Policy Center also offers year-round ballot issue education, including a monthly newsletter with updates on upcoming issues.

Oct. 7 is the last day for Arkansans to register to vote ahead of the General Election. Early voting begins Oct. 21.

What’s on the ballot?

Issue 1: A constitutional amendment to provide that lottery proceeds may be used to fund or provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes.

Issue 2: An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing authority to issue a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas.

Issue 3: The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024.

As of this publishing, the lawsuit regarding Issue 2 continues before the Arkansas Supreme Court. Justices also have a lawsuit about Issue 3 to review.

On Sept. 30, Secretary of State John Thurston notified the sponsor of Issue 3, Arkansans for Patient Access, or APA, that their proposed constitutional amendment to expand the state’s medical marijuana program did not have enough valid voter signatures to qualify for a spot on the ballot. State officials contend that signatures should be invalidated because a canvassing company acting on behalf of the sponsor handled campaign paperwork instead of the sponsors themselves.

APA filed a lawsuit Oct. 1 asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to ensure Issue 3 will be on the General Election ballot. Justices told Thurston to count the signatures. On Oct. 4, the Secretary of State's Office reported that enough voter signatures had been counted to qualify the measure for the ballot, but state officials still contend that the proposal shouldn't be on the ballot.

For more information about the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide, visit uaex.uada.edu/ballot. Contact your local extension agent or the Public Policy Center for more information or to schedule a presentation on the ballot issues.

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 election board to sanction county officials over issues with hand-counted ballots

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The State Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday voted to sanction election officials in one Arkansas county where several hand-counted ballot mistakes occurred during the primary election.

Commissioners did not explicitly state which county’s board of election commissioners would receive the sanctions; however, only officials in Searcy County hand-counted ballots in March.

The investigation into the county that hand-counted ballots was among six that the SBEC considered at its meeting, all of which were discussed with some confidentiality. Reports remain private until 30 days after county officials accept the sanction, or deny it and prompt a public hearing.

Arkansas election board to sanction county officials over issues with hand-counted ballots

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Chris Madison, director of the State Board of Election Commissioners, leads a meeting in Little Rock on July 15, 2024.

I-49, infrastructure funding focus of Arkansas legislative committee meeting

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Bipartisan work in the U.S. Congress above divisive politics and a broader appreciation for the national importance of Interstate 49 through western Arkansas are needed to deliver more funding for I-49 and other infrastructure projects in the state.

Such was part of the message from U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, and Arkansas Highway Commissioner Keith Gibson. The two were in Fort Smith Thursday (Oct. 3) for a meeting of transportation committees of the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate. The committees met jointly at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Research Institute.

During a morning meeting, the legislators heard from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) about ongoing efforts to build I-49 in the Fort Smith metro and other parts of western Arkansas.

I-49, infrastructure funding focus of Arkansas legislative committee meeting

20-year-old accident still spreading safety message

BY Randy Zellers

LITTLE ROCK — Jacob Cain was 10 years old when he went on an impromptu squirrel hunt near Arkadelphia in November of 2004. His father, Larry Cain, was nearby clearing shooting lanes for deer season. After an hour or so on a tractor, Larry decided to check on the boy.

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Jacob Cain, once a hunting incident victim, now shares his story, which was featured 20 years ago in Arkansas Wildlife magazine as a Hunter Education instructor. Photo courtesy Jacob Cain.

He shouted his son’s name a time or two but heard no response. Larry became concerned and went to deer camp, grabbed a few friends and began to seriously search with four-wheelers. It wasn’t long before he heard a weak answer.

Jacob was found with a .22 wound through his foot, although all was well after a trip to the hospital. Larry, a Hunter Education instructor, used the accident as a teaching moment and sent the AGFC an article he wrote about it, which appeared in the November/December 2006 issue of Arkansas Wildlife. He ended the article with these words: “At first I was very reluctant to write this story. As a hunter education instructor, I felt that maybe I had failed and was embarrassed. However, the more I thought about it, maybe another instructor or father can prevent an accident like this from happening. I am certain that Jacob has learned a very bittersweet lesson in gun safety.”

We recently got a call from Jacob, now 30 or so. He also became a Hunter Education instructor and plans to use the accident – and his dad’s article – to teach others.

Jacob, like many other dedicated volunteers, provides a valuable service to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as well as the general hunting public. Thousands of new hunters each year graduate from Hunter Education before taking to the field. The course is required for anyone 16 or older who was born after 1968 to hunt on their own. Hunters under 16 may hunt with a licensed mentor who is at least 21 if they have not taken the course, and hunters 16 and older may do likewise after acquiring a Deferred Hunter Education (DHE) code through the AGFC’s licensing system (www.agfc.com/license).

“About  50 percent of our Hunter Education graduates still attend the free in-person classes,” Joe Huggins, Hunter Education Program Coordinator for the AGFC, said. “The rest opt for the online course. If you are 10 years or older, you can take the complete course online, including the final examination.”

HUNTER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR
The AGFC has a devoted group of volunteers who teach Hunter Education throughout Arkansas. Photo by Mike Wintroath/AGFC.

Hunter Education teaches much more than firearms safety – it also covers all sorts of topics like basic woodsmanship, treestand safety, in-the-field first aid and even hunting ethics.

“Hunters are our best conservationists, and Hunter Education courses help them understand where they fit into the bigger picture of conservation,” Huggins said. “But the most important aspect will always be preparing them for a safe experience they can tell friends and family about for years to come.”

Visit https://www.agfc.com/education/hunter-education to find out more about Hunter Education in Arkansas and how to sign up for a class near you.

By the way, a week after he was injured, Jacob went deer hunting with his dad and bagged an 8-point buck.

Hunters haul 181 alligators in 18th annual hunting season

BY Randy Zellers

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas hunters managed the second-highest harvest of alligators on record during the last two weekends in the sloughs and swamps of The Natural State. The 181-alligator harvest falls short of last year’s record effort of 202 alligators checked, but maintains the overall upward trend in what is still a relatively new opportunity for hunters.

Amanda Bryant, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Herpetologist, said she was pleased with the healthy harvest, particularly the hunt’s higher-than-normal success rate.

“Typically we see about one-third of public land tags filled, but this year we had 54 percent success rate on public land,” Bryant said. “And 96 percent of the private land quota was filled.”

GATOR ON TRAILER
Cody Gourley and his uncle, Jason Mitchell, took the largest alligator of the 2024 hunting season, this 12-foot, 6-inch Millwood Lake monster. Photo courtesy Cody Gourley.

This year’s weather may have increased the harvest, as Hurricane Helene may have caused a few hunters to check an alligator during the first weekend who normally would have held out for a larger one.

“Most unfilled alligator tags are because people hold out for a larger alligator than what they’re seeing, but maybe some of the forecasted rain had people more willing to take a little smaller alligator,” Bryant said. “Then the last weekend turned out pretty nice after all, and we continued to see decent numbers taken throughout the end of the season.”

Cody Gourley of Amity was one of those hunters whose patience paid off when he wrestled a 12-foot, 6-inch beast to the side of his boat on Millwood Lake during the second weekend of the hunt.

“We went out the first weekend and saw 70 to 75 gators per night, but we just couldn’t get close enough to a big one to make it happen,” Gourley said. “I tried to use a harpoon on one or two, but I couldn’t get it to stick. The second weekend, I was getting to the point that any alligator would have been good for me. My uncle said we should hold out until midnight that Saturday night before we looked for a smaller gator. At about 9:30, we saw this one and knew it was in that larger category.”

Gourley says he rigged up a snare for his second weekend, using instructions from the AGFC’s website.

FORKLIFT GATOR
Temeren Pfaffenberg checked this 12-foot, 1-inch alligator from private land in Alligator Management Zone 2, the largest from that zone during this year’s hunt. 

“The snare was a much more intimate experience,” Gourley said. “We had to be right there within 8 feet of that gator before I could loop on the first snare. Then once we snared it, it was a fight.”

Gourley said he was in a 14-foot boat to be able to reach backwaters other hunters couldn’t.

“When the gator came up and I saw just how big it was, I was shocked,” Gourley said. “We couldn’t even get it in the boat, so we had to float it beside us as we made our way back to the ramp. It was unlike any hunt I’ve ever been on.”

Biologists have received a few calls from local anglers who were concerned about the alligator population in Millwood becoming too large, and Bryant says the harvest on the lake was encouraging.

“We had eight public tags for Millwood this year, and six of those were filled.” Bryant said. “It’s great to see so many of the tags being filled here, and hopefully it’s a step toward reducing the perception of human-wildlife conflict in this area.”

Bryant says increased harvest, especially on private land, has contributed to fewer nuisance calls in south Arkansas in the last few years.

“We see a strong relationship between the added harvest opportunity and lower nuisance calls,” Bryant said. “Some of it may be because people are more accustomed to seeing alligators now than they did 20 to 30 years ago, but a lot has to do with the private land hunt enabling landowners to handle the nuisance alligator on their own during the hunt.”

TAILGATOR
Chris Ryall shared this image of his 10-foot, 9-inch alligator taken in Alligator Management Zone 3. Photo courtesy Chris Ryall. 

This year, Alligator Management Zone 1 (southwest Arkansas) and AMZ 3 (southeast Arkansas) tied for the most alligators harvested.

“Usually Zone 3 has the most harvest, but this year was evenly split at 87 alligators each,” Bryant said. “Alligator Management Zone 2 [south-central Arkansas] had seven alligators checked.”

Alligator hunting is by permit only in Arkansas. The AGFC issued 50 public hunting permits through a public draw system, with hunting allowed only on designated areas of certain WMAs, lakes and rivers in south Arkansas.

Alligator hunting on private property is managed through a quota system. Anyone may purchase a private land alligator hunting permit, but hunting season ends early if the quota for the alligator zone is met. This year, all zones remained open during the entire hunting season.

Alligator hunting in Arkansas is open from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise during the last two weekends each September. All alligators must be snared or harpooned by hand and subdued before being dispatched. Visit www.agfc.com/alligator for more information.

Arkansas tax revenue in first fiscal quarter down 2.6%

KUAR | By Talk Business & Politics Staff

Arkansas’ fiscal year-to-date (July 2024-September 2024) tax revenue is down 2.6% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year. September collections were down 2.3% with the decline primarily from lower sales and use and corporate tax receipts.

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Total revenue in the fiscal quarter was $2.003 billion, down 2.6% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year, but 1% above the budget forecast, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) reported Wednesday (Oct. 2).

Income tax revenue in the first fiscal quarter was $851.4 million, down 3.5% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year and 3.9% above the forecast. Sales tax revenue in the quarter was $876.4 million, up 0.6% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year and 0.6% below the forecast. Corporate income tax collections totaled $129.3 million, $31.3 million below the same period in the previous fiscal year and 6% below the forecast.

Arkansas tax revenue in first fiscal quarter down 2.6%

Former El Dorado mayor arrested on theft charge

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after special agents in his Public Integrity Unit arrested former El Dorado Mayor Veronica Creer on one count of theft of property, a C Felony:

“In October 2023, Veronica Creer closed out the bank account of El Dorado Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit organization for which she had previously been a board member. She withdrew all $23,544 in the account in the form of a cashier’s check, and a few months later she had the check redirected to another nonprofit, Parents United Against Youth Violence. Ms. Creer had not been active as a member of El Dorado Crime Stoppers’ board since 2016, though she was still listed as a signatory on the organization’s bank account. Her decision to withdraw the money and direct it to a different organization was not approved by anyone but her.

“Upon learning of Ms. Creer’s actions, the El Dorado Police Department notified Jeff Rogers, Prosecuting Attorney for the 13th Judicial District, who subsequently asked my office’s Public Integrity Unit to investigate. Special agents in my office arrested Ms. Creer this afternoon, and she was processed in Union County, where she will stand trial. The Special Prosecutions Division of my office will handle the case.

“I appreciate the work done on this case by my office and the El Dorado Police Department, and the cooperation of Prosecuting Attorney Rogers. We are all equal under the law, and I will continue to enforce the law.”

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin co-leads challenge to federal rule that would reduce monitoring of prisoners' calls

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after he and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a lawsuit on behalf of Arkansas, Indiana, and 12 other state attorneys general challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new rule that regulates phone service providers in prisons:

“The FCC can’t dictate to Arkansas prisons how they negotiate cost-sharing agreements with service providers, and it can’t arbitrarily and capriciously pre-empt state laws regulating prison operations. Funds derived from inmate phone use go toward covering needed security measures. Without proper security measures, what would stop inmates from conducting criminal operations over the phone? The FCC’s regulations are disconnected from the economic and practical reality of providing communication services to inmates, and they exceed the FCC’s statutory authority.

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“If these regulations go into effect, no one will benefit because prisons won’t be able to provide adequate security for phone calls prisoners make, and prisons may simply discontinue existing communication services, which means inmates won’t be able to make calls at all.”

Prisons negotiate contracts with communications service providers based on rate caps set by the FCC and use their portion of the revenue from these contracts to fund security measures and services that benefit inmates, including access to online legal libraries and remote religious services. The FCC’s new rule drastically reduces the rate caps, thereby making it nearly impossible for prisons to continue to invest in security measures to monitor calls.

Joining Griffin and Rokita on the lawsuit were the attorneys general of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.

To read a copy of the complaint, click here.

Fort Smith officials push back against ‘misinformation’ with immigration rumors

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

The City of Fort Smith released a statement Monday (Sept. 30) to refute numerous unfounded social media reports suggesting the city is bringing illegal immigrants into the area. The statement also said the city is not incentivizing illegal immigrants to move into the city.

Over the weekend, a Facebook post from a Fort Smith Realtor that Talk Business & Politics has decided to not identify stated that her flight from Dallas to Fort Smith was filled with “a group of adult men all migrxxts.” She stated on the post that was shared more than 300 times that none of the men spoke English and that many were wearing new clothes with tags on them. She did not state how she knew the men were migrants.

“They all got off the plane and stood out in the front of the airport waiting to be picked up in Fort Smith. If anybody in our community thinks that this will not reach us in our area, think again. This group was intentionally flown here, and I’m assuming provided airfare to get here in this group,” the post states.

Fort Smith officials push back against ‘misinformation’ with immigration rumors

Judge rules against Crawford County Library’s ‘social section’ censorship

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III ruled against Crawford County in a First Amendment lawsuit regarding the removal and relocation of books largely because of objections from citizens to LGBTQ content.

In his ruling, issued Monday (Sept. 30), Holmes said the books in question are to be returned to their original locations in the county’s libraries. (Link here for the ruling.)

Attorney Brian Meadors filed a federal complaint May 30, 2023, against book censorship actions by the Crawford County Public Library System. The Crawford County Library earlier in 2023 approved the relocation of books largely with LGBTQ content. Attorneys representing the Crawford County Library System argued that the relocation of LGBTQ books was not a First Amendment violation and instead “strikes a balance” that is “constitutionally compliant” and meets the standards of the community.

Judge rules against Crawford County Library’s ‘social section’ censorship

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Supreme Court orders signature count on medical marijuana measure

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The day after an advocacy group filed a lawsuit over the rejection of its signatures, the Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday (Oct. 2) ordered the disputed signatures of a proposed medical marijuana amendment, Issue 3, to be counted and it approved an expedited hearing to decide if the measure would be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

On Monday (Sept. 30), Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston said Arkansans for Patient Access (APA), the ballot question committee seeking approval of Issue 3, did not meet the signature threshold of 90,704. Thurston cited incorrect filings of signatures as his reason for the rejection.

The state’s high court ordered the following actions take place in response to the filing by Arkansans for Patient Access:

• A preliminary injunction is granted;

• Secretary of State John Thurston must verify the disputed signatures;

• The group’s requested hearing on Thurston’s decision will be expedited; and

• A special master will not be appointed to the case, in opposition to APA’s request.

Supreme Court orders signature count on medical marijuana measure

Port strike would have impact on U.S. cotton, meat, poultry exports

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

JONESBORO, Ark. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that consumers shouldn’t expect food shortages in the near term because of the port strike; however, economists say a long strike could prompt changes on grocery shelves and at the checkout.

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike Tuesday after it and the United States Maritime Alliance failed to reach a settlement by the  Sept. 30 deadline.

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association have walked off the job, halting port operations on the East and Gulf Coasts. The strike may have impacts on cotton, meat and poultry exports. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image by Scott Stiles.).

The strike has shut down ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, key to the movement of U.S. cotton, meat and poultry exports. These commodities are important for Arkansas, which is No. 3 in the U.S. for broilers and cotton, No. 24 in cattle and calves, according to the 2024 Arkansas Agriculture Profile.

USDA said that “our analysis shows we should not expect significant changes to food prices or availability ... we do not expect shortages anytime in the near future for most items.”

USDA also said that bulk shipping of products such as grains would be unaffected by this strike. Bulk grain loading facilities typically operate with their own employees or with different labor unions.  

Cotton and shipping

“Cotton is entirely dependent on containerized shipment,” said Scott Stiles, an extension economics program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 20 percent of the U.S. cotton crop has been harvested. 

“Eleven-point-eight million bales of the 2024 crop are projected to be exported,” Stiles said. “I would conservatively estimate that 55 percent of the 11.8 million bales would be shipped out of ports affected by this strike.”

Stiles said that some shipments bound for Asia can be diverted to the West Coast. 

“The East Coast has largely handled cotton shipments to markets such as Turkey,” he said. “If the strike is prolonged like the last one in 1977 that lasted six weeks, will Turkey switch its cotton purchases to Brazil or West Africa?”  

U.S. export sales of cotton are already off to the slowest start since 2015, Stiles said, and any “interruption in the U.S. ability to export only makes this situation worse." 

Eight-six percent of U.S. cotton demand is attributed to exports. 

“Producers have watched market prices slide from 85 cents in February to 66 cents in August,” Stiles said. “Prices have recovered recently to the 73- to 74-cent area but have stalled as it became apparent that the port labor dispute would not be resolved by the Sept. 30 deadline."

December cotton futures closed 52 points lower today to settle at 73.09 cents per pound.

Meat and poultry

Should the strike be prolonged, consumers could be seeing changes.

“Approximately 20 percent of broilers are destined for export markets,” said Jada Thompson, poultry economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. With the volume of ocean-bound freight that runs through East Coast ports, the strike “could have very real consequences either in spoiled products, lost revenues, or additional, unexpected storage costs.”

James Mitchell, a livestock economist with the Division of Agriculture, said, “this could have a significant impact on beef and pork trade flows. Beef trade to Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras, for example, is affected, accounting for approximately 12 percent of beef exports through July 2024. The Caribbean makes up 4 percent of pork exports through July 2024.”

The strike "doesn’t impact all beef and pork exports uniformly.  We export a wide variety of products to many different places. And those products are all valued differently," he said. "The dollar impact will depend on which types of products are affected, the quantities, and the value of those specific export products.”

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. 

UAMS College of Pharmacy Awards Scholarships to Record 181 Students

By Benjamin Waldrum

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) College of Pharmacy awarded nearly 200 scholarships to a school-record 181 students at a Sept. 20 ceremony. The college also announced the creation of three new scholarships.

“This year is especially significant, as we celebrate recognizing over 180 students, which is a record for the College of Pharmacy,” said Brendan Frett, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the College of Pharmacy Awards Committee. “This remarkable milestone is a testament to the dedication of our students, the generosity of our donors, and our ever-growing impact within the pharmacy community.”

The annual ceremony, held at the UAMS Little Rock campus, recognizes pharmacy students for their hard work and allows some the chance to meet the donors supporting their education. Donor contributions through scholarships and awards help pharmacy students continue their education and provide financial assistance during their time in school. Students fulfill various criteria to be considered for scholarships, including submitting applications and letters of recommendation, writing essays and meeting in-person with the awards committee.

UAMS College of Pharmacy Awards Scholarships to Record 181 Students

Jon Wolfe (far left) and Donna Wolfe (far right) flank students (from left) Ciarra Helms, Tykiya Rankin, Marissa Bones, Ma'Kyah Goodlow and Addyson Schwartz, who were awarded this year's Robert N. and Robert H. Manley Endowed Scholarship. The College of Pharmacy awarded scholarships to 181 students this year. Image by Evan Lewis

NIH Awards UAMS $3.7 Million in Quest for More Effective Tuberculosis Vaccine

By David Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — UAMS researcher Lu Huang, Ph.D., has received a $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his pursuit of a more effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, a feat that has eluded scientists for more than 100 years.

The five-year grant from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will allow Huang to explore new ways to help the body fight TB based on his recent findings.

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only approved vaccine available today and has been used since 1921. Although protective for children, its effectiveness when given to adults remains uncertain, and it is not commonly used in the United States.

NIH Awards UAMS $3.7 Million in Quest for More Effective Tuberculosis Vaccine

Lu Huang, Ph.D., center, with his lab team at UAMS (front, l-r): J. Tucker Andrews and Ananya Ranaraja; and (back): Grant Dawson and Jilliyn Jeu.

Arkansas ‘Internet for All’ plan approved by feds

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

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved the second volume of Arkansas’ initial proposal for the BEAD [Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment] program, according to a release from the Biden Administration and Gov. Sarah Sanders.

The approval enables Arkansas to request more than $1 billion in funding and begin implementation of the state’s BEAD proposal. Volume 2 of the BEAD initial proposal details the state of Arkansas’ plans for operating its broadband infrastructure grant program, requirements for potential applicants, and nondeployment priorities. The Volume 2 document addresses 16 requirements related to the BEAD program, including program objectives, planning processes, local coordination, and workforce readiness.

“Reliable internet coverage is becoming a necessity for Arkansans’ jobs, schools, and businesses and closing the internet service gap is a major priority for my administration, and today’s announcement is a big step forward in our plans to address the issue,” said Gov. Sanders.

Arkansas ‘Internet for All’ plan approved by feds

Morgan Nick DNA found in truck driven by suspect Billy Jack Lincks (Updated)

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

Almost 30 years after the abduction of Morgan Nick in Alma, a suspect has been named. Alma Police Chief Jeff Pointer said Tuesday (Oct. 1) that DNA testing shows Nick was in a truck once owned by Billy Jack Lincks of Van Buren and he is now an official suspect in the kidnapping.

Lincks died in prison in 2000 at the age of 72. Lincks, who was arrested in 1995 for solicitation of a minor for sex, was questioned in 1995 about Nick. He denied any knowledge of the abduction.

“The most important thing here is Morgan is still missing, but we have reached a point where we can concentrate on one suspect to determine the circumstances surrounding Morgan’s abduction,” Pointer said.

Morgan Nick DNA found in truck driven by suspect Billy Jack Lincks (Updated)

Scenic Hill taps $31.8 million in financing for UA System solar project

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

Little Rock-based Scenic Hill Solar has secured $31.8 million in financing from Climate United to support a more than $100 million solar power project for the University of Arkansas System. The project was first announced in May 2023.

Following are estimated benefits of the project, according to Climate United.
• The UA System is expected to save over $120 million in energy costs over the next 25 years, directly benefiting over 70,000 students and 17,000 employees across multiple campuses.

• The construction of 18 solar power plants will provide over $120 million of direct economic
development in every region of Arkansas and employ hundreds of electricians, civil contractors, and construction workers.

• In tandem, the UA System has launched educational and workforce development initiatives in renewable energy construction and electric vehicle (EV) repair to expose students to these growing sectors.

• The project will generate more than 4 billion kWh of clean electricity during the 40-year life of the solar power plants. The environmental benefits of this solar electricity generation will be the equivalent of over 7 billion fewer passenger car miles or the planting of 46 million trees

Scenic Hill taps $31.8 million in financing for UA System solar project

New department head Nalley puts land-grant mission integration high on priority list

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  — Lanier Nalley, the new head of the agricultural economics and agribusiness department, plans to continue to build on his predecessor’s foundation and work toward a fuller integration of land-grant research, extension and teaching. 

FULL APPOINTMENT — Lanier Nalley will take the reins of the Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Department in October 2024. He had been serving as interim. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Nalley has served as interim department head since the beginning of 2024 and will begin his new position — without the interim title — on Oct. 7. Nalley succeeds John Anderson, the previous department head, who went on to become director of the Cooperative Extension Service in January.

“We saw him grow and develop as a leader. One of the things we noticed during his time as interim is how good of an advocate Lanier was for his faculty, even making significant personal sacrifices to benefit the whole unit,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System and head of the Division of Agriculture. “He will be missed in the role he’s played. He’s a top researcher and educator and has extension experience. He really gets all three land-grant functions.”

No longer a stepping stone

“When I first came here, Arkansas seemed to be a place where professors came and then went to quote-unquote better schools,” Nalley said. “It’s been so nice to see a transformation where this is now a destination, not a stepping stone for academics. John Anderson really laid that foundation. I hope to carry that on.”

Nalley also said he was keen to continue serving stakeholders in all three of the land-grant missions: research, extension and teaching.

When he started with the Division of Agriculture as an assistant professor in 2008, Nalley had an extension appointment.

“I have a deep passion for extension,” he said. “I’m really excited not only to strengthen our outreach programs, but also to promote the extension work we do in our department.”

Nalley highlighted a desire to strengthen the links between research and extension work in the department.

“I want faculty to be thinking that regardless of what your research is, it can be extended in some facet, to a stakeholder in Arkansas.”

Another goal of Nalley’s is to further promote the work being done by the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence, of which Andrew McKenzie is associate director, Fryar Endowed Professor in Risk Management.

“McKenzie is phenomenal,” he said. “The work he does is not just regionally great, it’s nationally and internationally great.

“It will be high on my list of priorities to highlight his work and the work of the Fryar Center to make it more visible, not just to the stakeholders of Arkansas, but nationally,” Nalley said.

Nalley has earned a litany of honors for his work, including three John W. White Awards — a 2013 team award; 2021 Outstanding Teaching Award, 2023 Research Award plus earning the Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017. 

International reputation

“Lanier Nalley has built an international reputation as a production economist,” Anderson said.

“One of the most impressive things about Dr. Nalley’s research program is that he really demonstrates how a faculty member can have global impact while working on problems that are relevant to stakeholders in Arkansas,” Anderson said. “He has made tremendous contributions to the Arkansas rice industry, particularly on global rice demand issues and on the economic impacts of new technologies. Dr. Nalley has amply demonstrated that he understands and values the university’s land-grant mission, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the department to new heights.”

Jean-François Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, said that “Lanier has a proven track record of producing high quality research and supporting student success. He has done an admirable job as interim department head, and I am excited to continue working with him to advance our research mission and support our stakeholders.”

Jeff Edwards, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, said “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Lanier as an interim over the past year. He brings an even-keeled approach to leadership and is a strong advocate for the students, faculty, and staff in the department. Lanier has been a valuable member of our Bumpers College team for a while, and it is exciting to see him transition to this new role full time.”

Edwards said that from an undergraduate enrollment perspective, agricultural economics is one of the largest academic departments in Bumpers College.

“I am pleased that we have someone with Dr. Nalley’s experience and student-focused perspective to lead the department. It is a big job and I am confident that Lanier is up to the task,” Edwards said.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.