Gov. Sanders sued by blogger Matt Campbell over FOIA denial

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Blue Hog Report blogger and attorney Matt Campbell said he filed a lawsuit in Pulaski County Court late Tuesday (Oct. 24) against Gov. Sarah Sanders for her office’s denial of a request for documents under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

The lawsuit, which Campbell said was filed late Tuesday afternoon but has not been processed by the court, claims the governor is in violation of the FOIA for not providing information requested. Sanders’ legal counsel, Cortney Kennedy, told Campbell the documents he was seeking are covered under the governor’s working papers exemption.

On Monday, Oct. 23, Campbell requested electronic copies by email of emails to or from First Gentleman Bryan Sanders, a copy of his Outlook calendar, and “bills of lading and other documents” that show the shipping or delivery of a $19,000 lectern ordered from Beckett Events.

Gov. Sanders sued by blogger Matt Campbell over FOIA denial

Dalaney Thomas named tourism director; tourism in state a $9.2 billion industry in 2022

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Delaney Thomas, New Director of Tourism for Arkansas Parks & Tourism

Gov. Sarah Sanders has appointed Dalaney Thomas to be the director of tourism at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Thomas previously worked at Arkansas-based ad agency CJRW where she was account manager for Arkansas Tourism and Oaklawn for almost nine years.

“I’m proud to announce that Dalaney Thomas will serve as Arkansas’ newest Director of Tourism. Dalaney has spent nearly a decade working with Arkansas Tourism from the outside, brainstorming new ideas to get the word out about our state. She’s spearheaded nationwide marketing campaigns and has the creative chops we’ll need to compete with other states,” Sanders said in a Monday (Oct. 23) announcement. “Dalaney joins an incredible team that is going to help us take our state to the next level. This administration is making sweeping reforms to make our outdoor spaces even better.”

In her role at CJRW, Thomas managed the creation and implementation of campaigns, paid media strategies, nationwide public relations endeavors, social media content strategies, partnerships, and cooperative initiatives.

Dalaney Thomas named tourism director; tourism in state a $9.2 billion industry in 2022

UAMS Awarded $3.25 Million Federal Grant for Creation of Health Career Program in Delta, South Arkansas

By Chris Carmody

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) received a five-year, $3.25 million federal grant to support the creation of a program that will help students from 20 underserved counties in the Arkansas Delta and southern part of the state pursue careers in health care.

The Arkansas Delta Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Academy will recruit and assist students from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds as they enter the educational pipeline, complete health professions programs and enter the health career workforce in their communities. Academy programs will serve high school juniors and seniors, undergraduate students, and adult and nontraditional learners.

The federal grant was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

UAMS Awarded $3.25 Million Federal Grant for Creation of Health Career Program in Delta, South Arkansas

Pine Bluff-area high school students learn about intubation techniques during an event for the Pathways Academy community engagement program. The Arkansas Delta Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Academy will serve high school juniors and seniors, undergraduate students and adult and nontraditional learners in the Arkansas Delta and the southern part of the state.

Incoming cold front may raise the risk of wildfowl-borne avian influenza for backyard Arkansas poultry flocks

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A change in the weather may intensify the fall migration of wildfowl and poultry flock owners will need to redouble their biosecurity efforts to stave off potential infections of a deadly type of bird flu, said Dustan Clark, extension poultry veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Flock of backyard chickens getting an early start on a farm in western Arkansas. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image by John Lovett)

“Geese, ducks and other wildfowl are already making their way south along the Mississippi Flyway,” Clark said on Tuesday. “And we know that wildfowl play a role in moving avian influenza around the Western Hemisphere.”

At issue is highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1, which has beleaguered poultry owners since 2021, affecting millions of birds on five continents and last year, helped drive up egg prices. This fall, 10 states have had confirmed infections, with Oregon being the most recent, Clark said.

“We have a cold front coming in a few days and that will push migrating birds south,” he said. “We need to be prepared.”

Arkansas is located squarely in the Mississippi Flyway and the lakes and agricultural fields of the Delta a stopping point for millions of ducks, geese and other birds.

“Three of the states, Minnesota, South Dakota and Utah, have confirmed cases in turkey flocks,” Clark said. “The remaining seven states reported the highly pathogenic avian influenza infections only in backyard, hobby and small flocks.

“Because small flocks tend to be outdoors, there’s a higher risk of exposure to infected wild birds,” he said. “It’s important that our small flock, backyard flock and hobby flock owners be informed about disease recognition and prevention.”

Webinars for poultry owners

The Cooperative Extension Service is holding four webinars to help owners of backyard, hobby or small flocks to protect their poultry from avian influenza. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image)

Clark is offering four biosecurity webinars for small flock owners at 6 p.m. each evening of Nov. 2, 7, 9 and 16. There is no charge to attend. Registration is available online.

“While biosecurity may sound complex, there are some simple, inexpensive ways for small flock owners to protect their birds,” he said.

1. Keep birds in pens covered with roofs or tarps to prevent exposure to wild bird feces and to keep poultry away from any pond or other water source that wild waterfowl may visit.

2. Keep facilities and equipment clean and in good repair. Change feed and water frequently.

3. Quarantine and isolate any new or sick birds from your other poultry for a minimum of three weeks.

4. Keep unnecessary visitors away and keep a record of all necessary visitors. Do not let them come in contact with your flock. If you visit an area where there are waterfowl or poultry Do Not Visit your poultry until you change clothes/ shoes and wash your hands.

5. Recognize signs of illness in poultry and report unusual signs to your local veterinarian, local county extension agent, extension poultry veterinarian, state veterinarian, USDA hotline at 1-866-536-7593, or Arkansas avian influenza hotline, 501-823-1746.

Find other information about biosecurity on the extension service 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.

HALLOWEEN: Keep your jack-o’-lantern looking young through Halloween

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HARRISBURG, Ark. — A little bit of olive oil can help your jack-o’-lantern keep its youthful countenance through Halloween, says Craig Allen, Poinsett County extension staff chair.

Allen says keeping a Halloween pumpkin looking its best begins with the selection.

Five artfully carved pumpkins adorn the front steps. Getting the longest life out of your jack-o'-lantern begins with selection. (Image by Julie Thompson, credit mandatory)

“Make sure the pumpkin is free from soft spots, cuts, bruises or punctures and that the flesh is hard,” he said. “Make sure that about 3 inches of stem is still attached.”

The hard flesh of a dry pumpkin makes it less likely to rot. Carving will open the way to collapse and decomposition. 

“Depending on the weather conditions, your jack-o’-lantern may last from a day to a week,” he said. “You can slow the dehydration process by coating all the cut parts with olive or other vegetable oil — including the inside.

“This acts as a barrier to dehydration, which causes the pumpkin to collapse,” Allen said. “Storing the jack-o’-lantern in the shade can help slow decomposition.”

Once the jack-o’-lantern has served its purpose, it can go into the compost pile.

Cooking pumpkins

Pumpkins are also good eats; however, “it is not recommended that you eat the jack-o’-lantern style pumpkins,” said Baxter County Extension Agent LeeAnn Blevins.

“You can roast the seeds, but once you’ve cut a face on the pumpkin and allowed them to sit outside, they are no longer ready to eat,” she said.

Pumpkins pack a good nutrition punch too. One-half cup of canned pumpkin provides 4 grams of fiber, no fat or cholesterol and has only 50 calories, Blevins said.

If you want to work with a fresh pumpkin, she said, there are a couple of ways to make the flesh usable. The first is peeling the pumpkin, cutting the flesh into chunks and steaming them. Once steamed, the chunks can be pureed and used in a variety of recipes.

“An alternative is to bake the unpeeled, seeded pumpkin halves in a 325-degree oven for about one hour or until tender,” she said. “Scoop out the flesh and then puree. Use the pumpkin puree for your favorite recipes immediately, or you may freeze it for up to one year in a freezer-safe container.”

Contact your county extension office for more information.

Learn more about pumpkins.

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.

Faulkner County 4-H member wins Grand Champion Market Steer at Arkansas State Fair

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Among the busy stalls in the cattle barns at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, two colorful banners hang above one steer with a particularly shiny, fluffy black coat. Jack, a 1,300-pound Simmental steer, was recently crowned Grand Champion Market Steer, the first Arkansas State Fair win for Faulkner County 4-H member Kylie Jo Lasley.

CHAMPION STEER — Kylie Jo Lasley, 14, began raising her Simmental steer, Jack, in October of 2022. The steer now weighs 1,300 pounds and recently earned Lasley her first wins at both the Arkansas Youth Expo and the Arkansas State Fair. (Division of Agriculture photo.)  

Lasley, 14, has been raising cattle since age 6, when she first joined the Mount Vernon-Enola 4-H Club in Faulkner County. In September, Lasley won Grand Champion Market Steer at the Faulkner County Fair. Earlier in October, Lasley won Champion Simmental Steer, which was then chosen as the Grand Champion at the Arkansas Youth Expo. On Oct. 14, Lasley earned Grand Champion Market Steer at the Arkansas State Fair.

“It feels crazy to win both the expo and the state fair,” Lasley said. “This is my first time winning either.”

Lasley’s father Kyle Lasley said it has been a special experience to watch his daughter’s hard work with Jack.

“It’s fun and very rewarding to see her work ethic and how she takes care of him,” he said. “She really wants to get out there and work, and make sure she does a good job.”

Kami Green, extension 4-H agent in Faulkner County, said Lasley is an exemplary 4-H member.

“Kylie Jo is hardworking, and I have seen her grow, especially while working with her in livestock judging contests,” Green said. “I believe that Kylie Jo can do anything she puts her mind to. Raising any animal is hard work, but a steer is a whole new level of commitment. She and her family are a terrific example of how hard work and dedication lead to success.”

Raising a prize-winning steer

Lasley began raising Jack in October of 2022. Lasley said her daily duties with the steer start with feeding him before she goes to school. In the afternoon, she takes him outside, rinses and brushes him, then goes through the laborious process of blow drying his coat.

“I’ve learned that the more work you put into it, the better they look,” Lasley said. “My favorite part of this is getting to see them grow and develop into what they can be.”

Kyle Lasley said participating in 4-H has helped his daughter gain confidence and learn new skills.

“She was pretty shy starting out, and this has really made her come out of her shell,” he said. “It’s especially developed her work ethic, and she takes on a lot more responsibility. It’s been awesome.”

He also said Lasley has been able to meet other youth and families in the livestock judging community, which will benefit her for years to come.

“She started doing livestock judging when she was 8 or 9 years old, and that’s really helped a lot, just to be able to get out there and talk to people,” he said. “We’ve sent her to a livestock camp in Oklahoma the past few summers, and she’s made contacts, connections and new friends from all across the country.

“I told her, ‘You never know, you may make a connection with somebody and then later on in life, that connection helps you out,’” he said.

Lasley said she plans to compete again next year, and her goal is to travel to an out-of-state show. For other 4-H’ers considering raising and showing cattle, Lasley said it’s all about consistent effort.

“The harder you work, the more it pays off,” she said.

Finding inspiration

Green said 4-H offers a chance for every child to find a project that inspires them.

“4-H is a great program that offers a wide range of projects so that every kid finds their passion, which we can tap into and help them excel at,” she said. “Faulkner County 4-H is heavily dominated by the livestock project, and like any other focus, it teaches life skills that prepare these youth for their future, including responsibility, hard work, dedication and organization.”

4-H is a youth development program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the 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 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.

Stone County native Anderson to take Cooperative Extension Service reins in 2024

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — An agricultural economist raised in the tiny Stone County community of Timbo is set to become the next director of the Cooperative Extension Service.

John Anderson will assume his new role as senior associate vice president-extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture on Jan. 2, said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System.

John Anderson will take the reins of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in January 2024. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

As director, Anderson will oversee the extension service land-grant outreach mission across all 75 counties.

“With his broad experience, outstanding record of innovation and achievements and just plain enthusiasm for the outreach mission, John is set to strengthen the work the Cooperative Extension Service is doing to improve lives in Arkansas,” said Fields. “John’s background in agriculture, economics and policy will be of great use as leader of the extension service.”

Anderson has been head of the agricultural economics and agribusiness department since January 2020, with appointments in both the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the Division of Agriculture. He is also head of the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence. Before that, he worked for the American Farm Bureau in Washington and is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve.

For more than 20 years, Anderson has worked as an agricultural economist in both academic and industry positions. His work has involved describing and assessing the farm- and agricultural sector-level impacts of policy, regulatory and market developments across a wide variety of agricultural commodities and markets. Anderson has served as a faculty member, with primary appointments in extension, at the University of Kentucky and Mississippi State University.

Anderson has a B.S. in agribusiness from College of the Ozarks, a Master of Science in agriculture degree from Arkansas State University and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. He also went back to school to earn a master’s in Christian leadership from the Dallas Theological Seminary in 2020.

Earlier this year, Anderson was elected to become the next president of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, a role in which he will continue.

Introduction to extension
Raised on a family farm with beef cattle, broilers and a custom hay harvest operation, Anderson grew up with extension.

“I remember being a little kid and us having a field day on our farm with extension,” he said. “We were early adopters of bermudagrass varieties, and we had some variety trials that the county agent ran on our farm.”

His family “had a fertilizer business and we were constantly running soil tests to the county office,” Anderson said. “My first exposure to extension was on the agriculture side.”

Far from being outdated, “extension as important as it's ever been,” he said. “If you look at what's going on in our rural communities right now, if you look at what's going on in the world, there’s a desperate need for unbiased, reliable information to help people make decisions across all aspects of their lives. That’s what extension does.”

Scott’s legacy
“I want to thank Bob Scott for his years of service as director of the Cooperative Extension Service,” Fields said. “Our outreach efforts are better for the work he’s done, and I know his accomplishments will have a lasting effect in the state of Arkansas.”

Scott became extension director in July 2020 and is returning to his faculty role. He has been with the Division of Agriculture since 2002.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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

Fired central Arkansas library director reflects on her termination

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

People across Saline County have spent almost five months trying to fire their library director. Last week, they finally succeeded.

Her name is Patty Hector. She came under fire after refusing point-blank to remove books from the library containing sex-ed and LGBTQ characters.

“This is where I draw the line,” she said. “You don't get to use your religion to deny rights to people.”

Fired central Arkansas library director reflects on her termination

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Patty Hector (right), director of the Saline County Library, listens during public comment on a resolution that would restrict children's access to books that contain "sexual content or imagery" at an April 17, 2023, meeting of the county quorum court. The court adopted the resolution and later approved an ordinance in August that led to Hector's firing in October. Leigh Espey (left) became interim library director.

University of Arkansas establishes new position to serve Indigenous students

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) on Wednesday announced the creation of a new grant-funded position focused on supporting Native American students.

Funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Tribal New Beginnings Grant, the Native American Student Services director “will play a central role in enhancing the overall college experience for U of A Native American students,” according to a press release.

“Investing in the next generation of Native American food and agriculture leaders is an integral part of the broader mission of IFAI, which exists to address the unique needs and challenges of Native American communities through research and educational support,” said Erin Parker, executive director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative.

University of Arkansas establishes new position to serve Indigenous students

University Of Arkansas/Courtesy Photo

The University of Arkansas' flagship campus in Fayetteville is seen in this file photo.

Katie Beck, CEO of AHA, provides update on the tourism industry

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

In an interview with Talk Business & Politics, Katie Beck, CEO of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, provided an update on the state’s hospitality industry.

According to the Arkansas Tourism Ticker, collections of Arkansas’ 2% statewide tourism tax in January-June 2023 saw a nearly 9% increase compared with the same period in 2022. Beck said part of the reason for the increase is travel is rebounding.

“During the pandemic, it was one of the hardest hit. It went from 2019 record jobs numbers to 2020 an industry that was decimated. Coming back and surpassing those pre-pandemic jobs levels, it is huge for the industry,” she said.

Katie Beck, CEO of AHA, provides update on the tourism industry

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

The Buffalo National River is one of the main attractions for tourist to Arkansas. The state has seen an increase in tourism in the past year.

Arkansas panel will review gun laws with an eye to simplification

KUAR | By Sonny Albarado / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas lawmakers will spend the next year holding hearings on the state’s firearms laws with the goal of recommending legislation to align statutes with the Legislature’s strong gun-rights stance.

On Thursday, members of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Game & Fish/State Policesubcommittee heard a rundown of a planned series of twice-monthly meetings that will review current laws, hear from the public and provide opportunities for making recommendations.

Panel co-chair Rep. Josh Miller, R-Heber Springs, said the subcommittee will “study what we’ve got and see where we need to make adjustments.”

Arkansas panel will review gun laws with an eye to simplification

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and ALC subcommittees convened this week. In these meetings, members received an update regarding the implementation of LEARNS, an update regarding a study of our state’s firearms laws, and approved funding to expand nurse training programs in the state.

Education Secretary Jacob Oliva updated the council on the use of Education Freedom Accounts. Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) is a school choice initiative that provides funding for eligible students to attend participating private schools. Secretary Oliva told the council that 4,795 students and 94 schools are currently participating. 

For this school year, EFA’s are limited to first-time kindergartners, students coming from “F” rated schools, students with a disability, foster care children, or children of active-duty military. 

Students with a disability identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act represent the largest share of participating students, amounting to 44% of total participants. First-time kindergarteners likewise represent a sizable share of the total participants, making up 31% of the participants’ population. 

Upon request, the council approved the disbursement of federal American Rescue Plan funds including a request from the Department of Commerce for $25 million to educate more nurses in Arkansas. The department says the funding will be used for a grant program to expand nursing apprenticeships, increase nursing program capacity, and tuition reimbursement. A portion of the funds will also be used for career center licensed practical nurse pathway development. These centers provide high school seniors and juniors college credit while in school.  

The Council was also informed that the Game and Fish and State Police Subcommittee will meet on Monday, November 13 at 1 pm in the MAC building behind the Capitol to begin hearing information presentations regarding federal laws related to firearms. 

This is the beginning of the Arkansas Firearms and Concealed Carry Laws Study. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments at the meeting. There will be a link on the General Assembly website for public comment, and there will be a signup sheet at the committee meeting. Only those members of the public who have signed up in one of those two ways will be allowed to come forward and present their comments to the Subcommittee. 

You can watch all ALC meetings and subcommittee meetings at www.arkansashouse.org.

Saturday's Eclipse View from Texarkana, Arkansas

The photo of Saturday’s solar eclipse was taken by Jessica Roldan of Texarkana through eclipse glasses on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 11:52:00 AM CDT.

Gains in iron, building material shipments push Arkansas River tonnage up 12%

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Even with an 8.4% decline and 12.2% decline in August and September, respectively, tonnage on the Arkansas River totaled 9.282 million tons through September, up 12%, according to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Inbound shipments – those coming from off the river system – totaled 3.463 million tons during the first nine months of 2023, up 31% compared with the same period in 2022. Outbound shipments in the first nine months totaled 3.111 million tons, up 6% compared with the same period in 2022. Internal shipments – those sent between port operations on the river – totaled 2.707 million tons in the first nine months, down 1% compared with the 2022 period.

September tonnage of 858,756 tons was down 12.2% compared with September 2022. August tonnage was 974,263 tons, down 8.4% compared with August 2022.

Gains in iron, building material shipments push Arkansas River tonnage up 12%

Retired Army Col. Marcus Jones to challenge U.S. Rep. French Hill

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Marcus Jones, a retired Army Colonel, said Tuesday (Oct. 17) he will run as a Democrat to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock.

“French Hill isn’t a bad guy, he’s just the wrong guy,” Jones said. “Arkansas is the best state in the country. We shouldn’t be stagnating. My years of service protecting our nation compel me to run for this position, because we can do better.

“As our congressman, I will fight to ensure every hard-working Arkansan can achieve their God-given potential. Together, we will build a fair system that doesn’t knock you down every time you get a little bit ahead. We will win this race by ignoring the chaos in Washington and focusing on the issues that matter most to our families here in Central Arkansas.”

Retired Army Col. Marcus Jones to challenge U.S. Rep. French Hill

Cooperative Extension Service to offer Experiential Scholars Program internship in Summer 2024

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For college students, internships provide important hands-on training in their field of study. In 2024, students at Arkansas colleges and universities will have the opportunity to dive deep into three focus areas and work with mentors as part of the Cooperative Extension Service’s new Experiential Scholars Program.

SEEKING SCHOLARS — The Cooperative Extension Service will offer a new internship opportunity in Summer 2024 for college students looking for hands-on training in water/soil conservation, food safety/nutrition and health and community and economic development. (Division of Agriculture flyer.) 

“Internships have been shown over and over again to provide many different benefits for participants and organizations,” said Julie Robinson, extension associate professor of leadership for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “It helps participants gain real-life work experiences, it helps them decide if they want to work for the organization, and it helps organizations provide those experiences and hopefully onboard some potential future employees.”

Robinson said the program is funded through a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Experiential Scholars Program interns will focus on one of three areas: water/soil conservation, food safety/nutrition and health, or community and economic development. The inaugural program will begin May 20, 2024, and end July 19, 2024. Students can apply at bit.ly/ces-esp-app.

During the nine-week paid summer internship, participants will work with extension mentors. Robinson said faculty in family and consumer sciences, crop, soil and environmental science and community, professional and economic development will serve as the primary mentors for the program, though others may be included in the future.

“Students will work alongside subject matter faculty members and specialists,” Robinson said. “They’ll get to travel around the state, deliver educational programming, plan research and demonstrations, and really shadow and learn from their mentors. They’ll learn more about that specific area of research and focus.”

Recruiting from 1890 institutions

The $750,000 in funding for the program, which covers a five-year grant cycle, will include the cost of interns’ salaries, travel and lodging. Robinson said the goal is to recruit seven students for each year of the grant cycle. Students will be based in or near central Arkansas because they will be traveling often with their extension mentors, whose offices are housed at the extension Little Rock State Office.

The program will recruit applicants from Arkansas colleges and universities and those from surrounding areas, with an emphasis on historically black institutions included in the 1890 land-grant system, which were established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

“We will definitely be trying to heavily recruit from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, potentially even in other states with 1890 institutions,” Robinson said.

Robinson said that in addition to providing scholars with career readiness and leadership skills, the Experiential Scholars Program will also help raise awareness of extension’s mission in the state and develop the next generation of future employees or volunteers.

“Even if the interns who come into this program decide that extension or the Division of Agriculture is not for them, we’ve at least trained people who will understand the programming that we offer,” Robinson said. “They may be future volunteers through Master Gardeners, 4-H, or our Extension Homemakers program, or they may participate in the LeadAR program in the future.

“I love the idea that we will have advocates for the division who understand what we do and can share with those in their community about what a great resource extension is,” she said.

Applications for the program are open, and students can apply at bit.ly/ces-esp-app. For more information about the Experiential Scholars Program, visit the program’s page on the Cooperative Extension Service website or contact Robinson at jrobinson@uada.edu.

The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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

Panel OKs audit of Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase, some FOIA-exempt records

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas lawmakers approved a request Thursday and Friday for a nonpartisan investigation into Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern, as well as expenditures by the governor’s office that were recently made private by a new law.

State Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, asked the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee last month to authorize a probe of the lectern purchase by the Arkansas Legislative Audit, an independent body with the authority to investigate spending by any state or local government entity.

Hickey narrowed his second request after members of the Joint Auditing Executive Committee said Thursday that it was too broad. He’d initially asked the Auditing Committee to look into “all matters… made confidential” by Act 7 of 2023, which shields from the public all records and communications concerning the planning or provision of security services to the governor and other state elected officials, as far back as June 1, 2022.

Panel OKs audit of Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase, some FOIA-exempt records

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, asks the Legislative Joint Auditing Executive Committee on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 to approve his request for an audit into Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern and the retroactive shielding of certain government expenses from public access. The committee approved both requests.

Baptist Health Opens UAMS Milk Bank Depots in Conway and Stuttgart

LITTLE ROCK — Baptist Health, in support of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Milk Bank, has opened milk depots at two of its medical centers in Conway and Stuttgart.

The Conway Baptist Health Milk Depot and the Stuttgart Baptist Health Milk Depot are designated spaces for women to donate milk, which will be sent to the UAMS Milk Bank for screening, pasteurization and nutritional analysis. After processing, milk will be sent, according to need, to hospitals throughout Arkansas.

Located in the Monroe Building just off UAMS’ main campus in Little Rock, the UAMS Milk Bank, the first facility of its kind in Arkansas, focuses on the health of mothers and newborns in Arkansas through encouragement and support of breastfeeding. The new milk bank helps ensure a ready supply of donor milk for sick and vulnerable infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) around the state, shortening the time it takes for regional hospitals to receive critical milk supplies and improving outcomes for babies.

Baptist Health Opens UAMS Milk Bank Depots in Conway and Stuttgart

The Conway Baptist Health Milk Depot and the Stuttgart Baptist Health Milk Depot will support the UAMS Milk Bank. Image by Andrew Vogler

Walker Foundation Pledges $1 Million to UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute — Funds Will Support New Radiation Oncology Center

By Andrew Vogler

LITTLE ROCK — The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation pledged $1 Million to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

“We are humbled by the decades-long support of the Walker Foundation — a relationship that has helped elevate UAMS in becoming a first-class provider of care in our region,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Willard and Pat Walker’s generosity was inspiring, and, as seen with the Radiation Oncology Center, their legacy of philanthropy continues to benefit many Arkansans.”

The UAMS Radiation Oncology Center, a $65 million, 58,000-square-foot structure at 3900 W. Capitol Ave. in Little Rock, was built to accommodate three new linear accelerators that customize radiation delivery based on the type and stage of a patient’s cancer. It is the only cancer center in Arkansas to offer Ethos Adaptive Therapy, a unique form of X-ray radiation that adapts to daily changes in a tumor’s shape and position over the course of treatment.

Walker Foundation Pledges $1 Million to UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute — Funds Will Support New Radiation Oncology Center

Application window open for summer 2024 County Extension Agent Internship program

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — In today’s job market, it’s important for college students to get hands-on training in their field before graduating. For students pursuing degrees in agriculture or family and consumer sciences, the County Extension Agent Internship program offers the chance to explore a career as an extension agent and network with peers and professionals.

APPLICATIONS OPEN — Incoming college juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to experience the daily duties of county extension agents through the County Agent Internship Program, part of the Cooperative Extension Service. (Division of Agriculture flyer.) 

The 10-week paid internship is a program of the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Incoming college juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in agriculture, horticulture or family and consumer sciences are encouraged to apply. Applications close Jan. 5, 2024. Students can apply at bit.ly/ces-agent-internship-app.

Carla Due, extension Ouachita district director for the Division of Agriculture, said students selected for the internship program will experience the day-to-day duties of county extension agents.

“Where the county agent goes, so does the intern. They will experience fielding consumer questions, attending in-service trainings, assisting with educational programs and helping carry out 4-H youth events,” Due said. “Through these experiences, we hope that the students will have a greater understanding of what our county extension agents do and how they serve their communities.”

Interns will work with county agents in the areas of 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, agriculture and natural resources and community and economic development. When applying, students will list their top three county preferences, so they can work close to where they live. Housing is not provided by extension, but county faculty may be able to help interns find an affordable place to live.

The Cooperative Extension Service announced the return of an internship program in late 2021. In the summer of 2022, a group of 11 students were selected for the program. In the summer of 2023, extension’s three district directors — Due, Jerry Clemons and Kevin Lawson — selected 15 students from universities in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. Due said that from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts, extension has hired three interns for full time positions.

“It is our hope that these interns will return to us as county extension agents or be an advocate for extension when they graduate,” Due said. “The networking these interns will get during this 10-week period will be very important as they embark upon their professional careers.”

Natasha Hightower, who interned in Washington County in the summer of 2023 and focused on 4-H programming, said she received many benefits from the experience.

“This is an amazing way to learn about the Cooperative Extension service outside of your home county and the resources available through extension statewide,” Hightower said. “You get to network with industry professionals and make friends that last past your college career.”

College students interested in applying to the internship program should contact the Division of Agriculture Human Resources Department at 501-671-2219 or 479-502-9820 or visit bit.ly/ces-agent-internship-app.

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