Representative French Hill announces new Director of Military and Veterans Affairs in Little Rock

David Witte

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today announced that David Witte has joined his staff in Little Rock in the role of Director of Military and Veterans Affairs.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Concordia University, a Master of Divinity from Liberty University, and a Master of Arts in Public History from the University of Arkansas - Little Rock. He most recently worked as Deputy District Director for Military and Veterans Affairs in the office of Congressman Bruce Westerman. Prior to that, David was a District Representative in the office of former Second District Congressman Tim Griffin. David also serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Arkansas National Guard as a Domestic Operations Chaplain.

"David's years of experience and service to our country make him an outstanding addition to my team," said Rep. Hill. "I look forward to working with him to assist and improve the lives of the men and women who have selflessly served our country."

Boozman, Cramer Introduce Bill to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking

WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to introduce the Fair Access to Banking Act to protect access to financial services and ensure banks operate in a safe, sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and financial services decisions be based on impartial, risk-based analysis – not political or reputational favoritism.

“Financial services are vital to the success of all businesses and should be based on sound data and risk management –– not as a means to target certain industries or political issues,” said Boozman. I am proud to support legislation that curtails unfair efforts to block lawful businesses’ access to banking due to political beliefs or affiliations and instead restores reliance on proper analytical criteria. 

“When progressives failed at banning these entire industries, what they did instead is they turned to weaponizing banks as sort of a backdoor to carry out their activist goals,” said Cramer. “Financial institutions are backed by taxpayers, for crying out loud! They should be obligated to provide services in an unbiased, risk-based manner. The Fair Access to Banking Act ensures that banks provide fair access to services and enacts strict penalties for categorically discriminating against legal industries and individuals.”

Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. 

The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.

The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the National Mining Association.

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Click here for full text of the legislation.

Committee halts public comment, approves bill to require reports from Arkansas disability nonprofit

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Legislation to require a disability advocacy group to supply reports to the Legislature earned initial approval from Arkansas lawmakers Tuesday.

Separately, the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor also sent the governor’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act on to the full House for consideration.

Under Rep. Jack Ladyman’s House Bill 1382, Disability Rights Arkansas (DRA) would be mandated to provide reports to subcommittees of the Arkansas Legislative Council for review, even though the independent nonprofit doesn’t receive state funding.

Committee halts public comment, approves bill to require reports from Arkansas disability nonprofit

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro, presents a bill to the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor on Feb. 11, 2025. The bill would require Disability Rights Arkansas, a federally funded nonprofit, to provide reports to the Legislature.

Affirmative action ban gains final approval; water fluoridation bill rejected

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A controversial bill to ban all state-sponsored affirmative action programs gained final legislative approval on Wednesday.

Members of the state Senate passed Senate Bill 3 on a vote of 24 to 6 with no debate. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan. R-Jonesboro, prohibits any programs which discriminate or provide preferential treatment because of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

While no lawmakers spoke against it Wednesday, Senate Bill 3 has faced scrutiny over its potential to do away with several state-run programs, like the Arkansas Minority Health Commission and scholarships. Lawmakers in favor of the bill have said the programs will still exist, but will consider applicants based on merit rather than race, sex or other characteristics.

Affirmative action ban gains final approval; water fluoridation bill rejected

Petition measures, maternal health bills pass Senate; sports raffle act fails in committee

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Senate on Wednesday (Feb. 12) passed five measures to alter the petition signature gathering process, while also advancing the governor’s maternal health package. In the Arkansas House, members pushed forward a companion maternal health bill, but a key committee defeated a high-profile sports raffle bill.

Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, is the lead sponsor on SB 207, SB 208, SB 209, SB 210 and SB 211 – a package of bills that puts new stipulations on canvassers of citizen petitions. The bills require canvassers to disclose that petition fraud is a misdemeanor; require photo IDs before obtaining a petition signature; require a petition signer to read the ballot title in the presence of a canvasser; and sets conditions for the disqualification of signatures if laws are violated.

Hammer, who has announced he will seek the office of Secretary of State in 2026, told colleagues the canvassing bills aim to provide integrity and guardrails in the process of collecting signatures for ballot initiatives.

Petition measures, maternal health bills pass Senate; sports raffle act fails in committee

UAMS College of Public Health to Offer New Doctoral Program

Gunnar Boysen (left), Ph.D., associate professor in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Environmental Health Sciences, works with an intern on a water research project. Boysen will help conduct the department's new doctoral program.

By Kev' Moye

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health will offer an Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) doctoral program beginning in the fall 2025 semester. Students in the multidisciplinary program will learn how the environment impacts human health.
According to Gunnar Boysen, Ph.D., associate professor in the college’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, students will receive in-depth training in a spectrum of disciplines such as:
• Environmental Toxicology
•Environmental Origins of Cancer Exposure Science
•Exposure Assessment
•Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
•Public Health Microbiology
•Geographical Information Systems
•Biomarkers of Exposure
•Climate Change and Public Health

“Environmental Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary field that bridges studies of the environment with human health — specifically population health and behavior,” Boysen said.
The department conducted surveys among academic institutions, government agencies and public health industries, which confirmed the need for more environmental health specialists in Arkansas. Currently, no comparable doctoral program exists in the state, forcing employers to self-train or recruit out-of-state personnel for specialized positions.
Undergraduate and master’s level Environmental Health Science programs have seen a steady increase in enrollment in recent semesters. “Those developments demonstrate a demand for this doctoral program,” Boysen said.
UAMS College of Public Health to Offer New Doctoral Program
Page 2
The program will position students for a career in the environmental health sciences while also training them on how to conduct original research, analyze their findings and contribute to the advancing environmental health sciences knowledge.
“Our doctoral program will be targeted to the field of environmental health sciences’ needs, thereby complementing other Ph.D. program at UAMS and in the state,” Boysen said.
“The EHS program will give young Arkansans an additional educational opportunity in-state that can lead to a high paying job that itself will have a positive impact in the state for generations to come,” he added.
For more information about the program visit publichealth.uams.edu/academics/doctoral/phd-in-environmental-health-sciences/.

Lovebirds? The Great Backyard Bird Count begins Valentine’s Day

House finches are common sights in Arkansas during the Great Backyard Bird Count. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

LITTLE ROCK — Valentine’s day isn’t the only big event for birds-of-a-feather this year. The 28th edition of the annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up Feb. 14-17, and anyone who wants to join is welcome.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada to help scientists track changes in bird populations over time.

Male and female northern cardinals are easily spotted against the backdrop of winter. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. 

Roughly 300,000 people worldwide participate in the annual event. Their combined records reported 7,920 species during last year’s citizen science project. These records are extremely valuable to researchers, ornithologists and other conservationists who are keeping tabs on the world’s avian species.

The count takes place each February to get a snapshot of bird distribution just before spring migrations carry many species back to their nesting grounds. Combined with data from counts held at other times of the year, the data collected during the BBC delivers insight into how species are reacting to changes in climate and environments.

This pair of female American goldfinches is collecting seed from a homemade feeding platform. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

It only takes 15 minutes to participate, but you can choose to record bird sightings throughout the entire event if you choose. And because bird-watching can be done from practically anywhere, people from all skill levels and all walks of life can contribute to the valuable data being collected through the program.

“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great reason to get outdoors this weekend, and it’s a great way for people of all skill levels to get involved in conservation,” Kirsten Bartlow, Watchable Wildlife Program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said. “There are tons of resources online for people who may be new to identifying the many species that can be found in Arkansas. The Merlin app from Cornell is a great start, and you can even participate in the count through it. The AGFC has a portal to Arkansas eBird to give a more customized experience here in The Natural State.”

The tufted titmouse is an easily recognizable backyard bird that lives in Arkansas year-round. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

To learn more about how to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit birdcount.org.  For those Arkansans interested in taking their birding to the next level, visit www.agfc.com/wingsoverarkansas, a special bird-watching program established by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission that rewards participants with pins and recognition for recording bird species throughout The Natural State.

Weather Briefing for Arkansas from the National Weather Service

The heaviest rainfall is expected to occur across the southeast half of the state. Rainfall totals may lead to continued or new river flooding, along with flash flooding, especially across southeast Arkansas

• A final round of light freezing rain is possible this morning across portions of north-central to northwest Arkansas. Some locations have also seen a transition to snow/sleet.

• Locations that see sleet or snow could see impacts to roadways this morning, especially bridges/overpasses.

• This precipitation is expected to come to an end by early afternoon.

• Across the rest of the state, widespread rain is expected and could be heavy at times.

• There is a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms across the southern half of Arkansas on Saturday.

Extension expert offers spring pruning tips

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Timing is key when it comes to pruning flowering and fruiting plants. Randy Forst, extension educator for consumer horticulture for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said late February is an optimal time to prune plants that bloom in the summer.

PRUNING HELP — Pruning helps encourage new growth, and for many plants that bloom in the summer, late February is the optimal time to prune. Randy Forst, extension educator for consumer horticulture for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said using the correct — and sharp — pruning tool for the job is essential. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

“In general, plants that bloom in the spring should be pruned immediately following blooming, and plants that bloom in the summer should be pruned before growth begins in late February,” Forst said. “Pruning encourages new wood growth and more flower buds, and roses and cane-producing plants especially benefit from pruning.”

Some plants, including big leaf hydrangeas, oak leaf hydrangeas and gardenias don’t follow this rule.

“These plants all bloom in the summer, but they set their flower buds at the end of the summer into early fall,” Forst said. “If you prune them before growth begins, you will not have flowers this summer. The time to prune them is when the flowers begin to fade.”

Forst, who also coordinates the extension Master Gardener program, said gardeners should research specific information about the plant they want to prune, as some plants do not need pruning at all.

“Some of the most common mistakes people make is pruning too intensely, especially when it comes to crape myrtles,” Forst said. “Instead of dehorning — or entirely removing the top branches of a crape myrtle — gardeners should instead selectively remove branches so that the tree maintains its height.”

Forst said the following plants need to be pruned at the end of February and in early March:

• Ornamental grasses

• Roses

• Fruit trees

• Blueberries

• Blackberries, by removing old dead canes

• Buddleia, also known as butterfly bush

• Summer blooming spiraeas

In addition to timely pruning, Forst said pruning with the correct tool is important to a plant’s success.

“The size of material to be pruned reflects the best tool for the job,” he said. “Most of the time, it would be a bypass blade hand pruning shear. On larger branches, it might take lopping shears. On tree branches, it might require a bow saw. On any pruning device, it is very important that the blades are sharp, and you are getting a clean cut.”

Visit Arkansas Yard and Garden Pruning Resources, Spring Pruning Tips and Crape Myrtle Pruning for more information, or contact Randy Forst at rforst@uada.edu.

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

UAMS, AR Children’s brace for Trump administration cuts to medical research funding

KUAR | By Lara Farrar

From the Arkansas Times:

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s are preparing for the Trump administration’s cuts to the National Institutes of Health, a policy change that would upend grant-funded research at universities, medical schools and other scientific institutions in Arkansas and across the United States.

On Friday, the NIH announced that it would set a cap of 15% on payments for “indirect costs” related to research. Those costs include “general administration and general expenses such as the director’s office, accounting, personnel” and other expenditures. The change in indirect cost coverage applies to existing grants and for any new grants issued, NIH’s Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration said Friday.

On Saturday, UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson sent a memo to research faculty and staff, warning the NIH policy change “would have a significant effect on UAMS and other research institutions across our state and country.”

UAMS, AR Children’s brace for Trump administration cuts to medical research funding

UAMS

Arkansas House passes government funding, ballot initiative bills

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill to end a government shutdown in Jefferson County, and another to give the attorney general more power over the direct democracy process.

County employees have worked without pay since the start of the year as quorum court members have repeatedly been unable to pass a budget in a slate of meetings. Rep. Glenn Barnes, D-Pine Bluff, spoke in favor of legislation he co-sponsored to end the shutdown on the House Monday.

"We have some 300 people who have gone a month and almost two weeks without pay," he said. "They are now losing their insurance, many are struggling to paying water, light, gas, house notes and rent, and they're in dire need of some legislation to act quickly."

Arkansas House passes government funding, ballot initiative bills

Arkansas House

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill to end the Jefferson County government shutdown that's lasted since the beginning of the year.

Lyon College unveils vet school architecture

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Lyon College and the city of Cabot unveiled architectural renderings for the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine and Cabot Animal Support Services during an event Monday (Feb. 10) at the Cabot Justice Center.

The new campus will feature facilities designed to support veterinary education and community animal care services. Groundbreaking is set for later this spring, with the first class of students expected to begin in fall 2026, pending accreditation by the Council on Education (COE) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Lyon College hosted a consultative site visit from the COE in November 2023 and is awaiting the scheduling of a comprehensive review. The proposed program plans to admit 120 students annually.

Lyon College unveils vet school architecture

Boozman, Colleagues Push to Expand Access to Job Training Programs

Senators’ Bill Would Permit Pell Grants for Industry-Recognized Credentials or Certificates

WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to introduce the Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, bipartisan legislation to help more Americans get good-paying jobs by allowing students to use federal Pell Grants –– need-based education grants for lower-income individuals –– to pay for shorter-term job training programs for the first time.

Currently, Pell Grants can only be used at two- and four-year colleges and universities. By expanding Pell Grant eligibility, the JOBS Act would help close the skills gap by opening access to job training that students might otherwise be unable to afford but need for careers in high-demand fields.

“Increasing the supply of workers ready and able to fill in-demand jobs is exactly what our economy needs to thrive. As more students choose to pursue skills-based careers, we can ensure this pathway is open to everyone including those who need financial assistance to start that journey. I’m pleased to champion this bipartisan effort that can help more Americans receive job training,” Boozman said.

“No one should be priced out of an education—including a technical education—but I hear from many Virginians that access to high-quality job training programs that align with their goals is out of reach because of financial barriers,” said Kaine. “Simultaneously, I hear from employers throughout the Commonwealth about their struggles to fill skilled labor positions. With these Virginians in mind, I wrote the JOBS Act to help remedy these issues and provide more workers with the skills they need to get good-paying jobs and provide for their families. This bill is good for workers, good for employers, and good for our economy as a whole.”

“Job training programs are proven, successful tools that help people gain the skills they need to prepare for rewarding careers,” said Collins. “By helping students in Maine and across the country access this career pathway, this bipartisan legislation would assist young people with obtaining good-paying jobs and make it easier for businesses to find qualified workers.”

The JOBS Act would allow Pell Grants to be used for high-quality job training programs that are at least eight weeks in length and lead to industry-recognized credentials or certificates. Under current law, Pell Grants can only be applied toward programs that are over 600 clock hours or at least 15 weeks in length, rendering students in shorter-term, high-quality job training programs ineligible for crucial assistance.

Specifically, the JOBS Act would amend the Higher Education Act by:
• Expanding Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in rigorous and high-quality, short-term skills and job training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials and certificates and ultimately employment in high-wage, high-skill industry sectors or careers.
• Ensuring students who receive Pell Grants are earning high-quality postsecondary credentials by requiring that the credentials:
o Meet the standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), such as meaningful career counseling and aligning programs to in-demand career pathways or registered apprenticeship programs;
o Are recognized by employers, industry or sector partnerships;
o Align with the skill needs of industries in the state or local economy; and
o Are approved by the state workforce board in addition to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Defining eligible job training programs as those providing career and technical education instruction at an institution of higher education, such as a community or technical college that provides:
o At least 150 clock hours of instruction time over a period of at least eight weeks;
o Training that meets the needs of the local or regional workforce and industry partnerships;
o Streamlined ability to transfer credits so students can continue to pursue further education in their careers; and
o Licenses, certifications, or credentials that meet the hiring requirements of multiple employers in the field for which the job training is offered.
The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (D-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The JOBS Act is supported by Advance CTE, the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association for Career and Technical Education, the Association of Community College Trustees, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, Higher Learning Advocates, HP Inc., the Information Technology Industry Council, Jobs for the Future, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, NAF, the National Association of Workforce Boards, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, the National Skills Coalition, the Progressive Policy Institute and Rebuilding America’s Middle Class.

Click here to view text of the bill.

State of the State 2025: Leaders highlight ways to meet growing energy needs

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

The energy sector has welcomed the emergence of the lithium industry in Arkansas while it grapples with rising electricity demand and declining generation as coal-fired plants are retired. Leaders look to a mix of solutions to meet demand, avoid an “energy crisis” and “restore American energy dominance.”

Lauren Waldrip, executive director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA), highlighted one of the state’s most notable developments over the past year: the expansion of the lithium industry in southwest Arkansas.

“That is a new component of our membership,” Waldrip said. “We are seeing participation from folks like Exxon, Standard Lithium, as well as community and municipality organizations from that side of the state.”

State of the State 2025: Leaders highlight ways to meet growing energy needs

Learning in the Wild: 4-H members gain hands-on experience with Arkansas waterfowl

By Traci Rushing
U of A System Division of Agriculture – UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources

AUGUSTA, Ark. — Learning is better in the wild, and for Arkansas 4-H members the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge provided the perfect outdoor classroom.

Under the guidance of the state’s leading waterfowl and extension experts, participants in the Wonders of Waterfowl workshop engaged in an immersive learning experience focused on the ecology and management of Arkansas’ diverse duck populations.

Youth at the Wonder of Wildfowl event launch banded ducks back into the wild. (UA-Monticello image)

A favorite among the attendees was wading through a moist-soil unit to collect and examine aquatic invertebrates – a key food source for waterfowl.

With the help of University of Arkansas at Monticello waterfowl students and professors, participants analyzed their findings under microscopes, gaining firsthand insight into waterfowl feeding habits.

Other workshop highlights included discussions led by UAM waterfowl graduate students that covered waterfowl identification, habitat characteristics, and migratory hazards and patterns. These stops served as a perfect opportunity for Lily Barber, Grant County 4-H member, who attended because she wanted to learn how to identify waterfowl. At the close of the event, Barber shared her excitement in learning how to identify common ducks in Arkansas by their wings.

“We learned about ducks, what they eat, what their wing spans looks like and all the different types of ducks,” said Jayden Rushing, Calhoun County 4-H member.

Immersed in Research

As part of the Mississippi Flyway, Arkansas is a vital wintering ground for waterfowl, making it a hotspot for waterfowl research. Among the leading studies is the satellite tracking research led by Douglas Osborne, PhD, a renowned waterfowl professor and researcher at UAM.  Participants had the unique opportunity to learn about the banding and tracking practices used by the lab’s researchers and view live tracking data from ducks fitted with transmitter technology.

Drew County 4-H member, Jack Wagner, was amazed to learn the impressive distances and speeds at which ducks travel during their migration to Arkansas. In the workshop, he learned ducks can reach flight speeds of more than 80 mph and sometimes cover more than 1,700 miles during their migrations.

The event concluded with researchers from the Osborne Lab and personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gathering ducks that had been trapped on the Cache River. They then demonstrated to youth how to tell the birds’ ages and band the birds. Participants were then each able to hold a duck and release it back on the refuge.

A Lasting Impact

The Wonders of Waterfowl program was started three years ago by Tiffany Osborne, UAM wildlife instructor, wildlife extension specialist for University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and workshop coordinator. Throughout the event, Osborne shared her passion for nature and extensive knowledge with the 4-H members.

“I started this program to connect youth across the state with nature and to teach them to respect the land,” said Tiffany Osborne. “It’s important that we create opportunities for the next generation to carry on the work of conservation.”

Through workshops like this, Arkansas 4-H continues to foster environmental education and stewardship, ensuring young people develop a deeper appreciation for wildlife, conservation, and agriculture practices. For more information on joining 4-H or upcoming events, contact your county’s Cooperative Extension Service Office.  

Chicken ‘woody breast’ detection improved with advanced machine learning model

By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It’s called “woody breast” and for consumers it can mean a chewier chicken sandwich, but for the industry it can mean up to $200 million annual yield loss.

IMPROVED METHOD — Chaitanya Pallerla, a food science graduate student, has worked to improve the accuracy of detecting the "woody breast" defect on chicken by developing a new machine learning model and hyperspectral imaging. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

Work done by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is not only making woody breast easier to detect in chicken meat but is accurate up to 95 percent of the time.

The development could help improve quality assurance and customer confidence in one of the state’s most economically important agricultural products. What allows researchers to see inside the meat is a combination of a hyperspectral camera, which examines the meat through various energy wavelengths, and machine learning to interpret what the camera sees.

“We’ve been able to improve accuracy of detection of woody breast by utilizing machine learning to analyze complex data from images with a hyperspectral camera,” said Dongyi Wang, an assistant professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“The next step will be trying to integrate the system online and make this beneficial for stakeholders,” Wang said, noting this specific application of image analysis had not been done before.

Loss in premium meat

“Woody breast” meat is harder and chewier than normal chicken breast, but it is still safe to eat, according to Casey Owens, professor of poultry processing and products for the experiment station and a co-author of the study. When detected by processers, either by humans or computer-assisted imaging technology, she said the meat is diverted from whole-breast packaging for further processing into products including chicken nuggets and patties.

The loss in premium as a whole-muscle product accounts for yield loss as high as $200 million in Arkansas and over $1 billion in direct and indirect costs annually across the United States poultry industry, Owens added. Up to 20 percent of chicken breast meat can have the defect, which is more common in larger birds of 8 to 9 pounds versus 6- to 7-pound birds.

Hyperspectral imaging

Hyperspectral imaging is a rapid, non-invasive way to capture detailed data about objects and their composition. This data can be used to classify food products according to food quality, consumer preferences and other product requirements.

But hyperspectral images come with tons of data. That’s where machine learning comes in.

Chaitanya Pallerla, a food science graduate student who has been working on the project for the past two years with Wang as his adviser, said the new machine learning model is called NAS-WD. When correlated with known data about the “woodiness” of chicken breasts, the model allows for deeper and wider analysis of hyperspectral images to identify the defect.

“In hyperspectral imaging, there are common machine learning models being used, but we were able to develop a new model that could be well-suited for correlating more than two variables,” Pallerla said. “We kind of took two different models, made a few changes, and put them together to detect patterns better and correlate the hyperspectral data with hardness of the chicken meat.”

The results of their research were published in the journal Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture under the title “Neural network architecture search enabled wide-deep learning (NAS-WD) for spatially heterogenous property awared chicken woody breast classification and hardness regression.”

The results showed that NAS-WD can classify three woody breast defect levels with an overall accuracy of 95 percent, outperforming the traditional models like the Support Vector Machine and Multi-Layer Perception, which offered 80 percent and about 73 percent accuracy, respectively.

HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING — Dongyi Wang is an assistant professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department. (U of A System Division of Agriculture)

Wang said the study offers an example of how to use new algorithms to mine data and dig into key information. The form of hyperspectral imaging used in the research is called “push broom,” which takes an image of several objects once every 40 seconds, compared to a more common industry method of a “snapshot,” which takes an image of individual objects as fast as every 30 milliseconds. The “snapshots” have a lower resolution than the “push broom” method, but software upgrades may one day provide higher resolution for “snapshot” images, Pallerla said.

Wang said his team is working on deploying this technology in the real-time system.

The study was supported in part by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, project award nos. 2023-70442-39232 and 2024-67022-42882, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

Lawmakers advance school phone ban, reject gun safety bill

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Arkansas lawmakers are nearing final approval of an effort to ban cell phone use in all public schools in the state.

Members of the House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 142, also called the “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act,” in a meeting Thursday. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, said schools which piloted the program have reported positive results.

“Attendance records are improving, disciplinary issues are going down, drug-related offenses are going down, bullying cases are going down, student engagement is going up,” Dees said.

Lawmakers advance school phone ban, reject gun safety bill

Affirmative action ban passes Arkansas House

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

A bill to ban state-run affirmative action programs has advanced through another legislative hurdle. Senate Bill 3 received approval from the House Thursday with a vote of 64-27.

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville. It now returns to the Senate to approve an amendment before heading to the governor’s desk.

Bentley discussed a brief history of affirmative action as she presented the bill on the House floor. She referenced a 1965 executive order from then-President Lyndon B. Johnson which required the government to expand hiring practices and prevent discrimination in government jobs.

Affirmative action ban passes Arkansas House

Bass Pro Shops to build an ‘Outpost’ store in Fort Smith

Bass Pro Shops is bringing its Outpost retail store to Fort Smith, the Springfield, Mo.-based company announced Monday (Feb. 10). The store will be located off Rogers Avenue and along Interstate 540 where the former Best Buy building is located.

The 70,000-square-foot Fort Smith store will be the third Bass Pro Shops store in Arkansas and is set to open in early 2026. The other two stores are in Rogers and Little Rock.

The company said it will employ more than 100 at the store. The company did not disclose the planned investment in the store or average employee wages.

Bass Pro Shops to build an ‘Outpost’ store in Fort Smith

State Representative DeAnn Vaught weekly update

As the Arkansas House of Representatives enters the 5th week of the 2025 Regular Session, several key pieces of legislation have moved forward, addressing issues ranging from food freedom to healthcare access and election policy. 

One measure that received House approval, HB1149, ensures that counties and municipalities cannot impose regulations on vegetable gardens located on residential properties. This bill upholds the right of homeowners to cultivate their own produce without restrictions. Similarly, the House passed HB1048, which expands opportunities for small farmers by allowing the sale of unpasteurized milk at farmers' markets or through direct delivery from the farm where it is produced. 

Healthcare policy also saw legislative action this week. HB1181 allows certified nurse midwives to admit and discharge patients from licensed hospitals if granted privileges, improving maternal healthcare access. Additionally, HB1309 clarifies cost-sharing requirements for breast cancer examinations. 

The House also passed HB1221 this week, which limits the validity of ballot initiative titles and petition signatures to the election cycle in which they are approved and collected. 

In addition, the House also passed SB3, a bill that seeks to eliminate affirmative action programs in state government. The proposed legislation states that the state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in matters related to state employment, public education, or state procurement. 

The House also took up legislation impacting seasonal commerce, approving HB1324 to adjust the permissible sales period for fireworks. This bill moves the start date for summer fireworks sales from June 20 to June 13 while keeping the existing winter sales period unchanged. 

In the week ahead, the House expects to address cell phone restrictions in schools and free breakfast for students. You can watch all House committee meetings and House floor proceedings at arkansashouse.org.