Little Rock, Ark. — Sept. 27, 2022 — The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas have dispatched 64 line workers and utility vehicles, along with construction and right-of-way equipment, to assist Peace River Electric Cooperative of Wauchula, Fla. with anticipated power outages from Hurricane Ian. The 64 professional line workers are with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI)…
As Arkansas students head back to school, we want to take this week to remind drivers to be mindful of student safety when approaching school buses. It is estimated that close to 350,000 students in our state ride a bus to school. Those buses make stops in every community. It is illegal to pass a…
WASHINGTON––U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced Gerald’s Law Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial benefits eligibility to terminally ill veterans who pass away at a non-VA facility while receiving hospice care. Under current law, the VA will cover nearly…
Every community feels the impact when adults lack a high school diploma or the skills to compete in the 21st century workforce. Not only is it devastating for the adults who may dream of a better life for their families, but it may impact education for future generations. Studies show that children of adults with low…
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Arkansans at risk of losing their water and wastewater service may now get some bill-payment assistance through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). LIHWAP can help with past-due bills, threats to disconnect water or wastewater, and disconnection or reconnection fees. The maximum benefit amount available to each eligible household is…
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Air Force Caucus Co-chairs Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Air Force as an independent military branch. “As an air, space and cyberspace leader, the Air Force continues to innovate, accelerate and thrive in order to meet the…
MONTICELLO, Ark. (September 13, 2022) – Mainline Health Systems recently received several awards from the Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for being a health center quality leader and for advancing health information technology (HIT). Mainline received the silver Health Center Quality Leader award from HRSA, reflecting the organization’s rise to the top 11-20% of…
Data released today by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism indicates that Arkansas’s tourism industry experienced record-breaking visitation in 2021 and has recovered after the significant decline in 2020 due to the global pandemic. Arkansas welcomed just over 41 million visitors in 2021 compared to 29.2 million in 2020 and 36.3 million in…
LITTLE ROCK—Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced today a $438.5 million agreement in principle between JUUL Labs and 34 states and territories resolving a two-year bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s marketing and sales practices. In addition to the financial terms, the settlement would force JUUL to comply with a series of strict injunctive terms…
Labor Day is a time to reflect on the social and economic achievements of American workers. The labor force in Arkansas and its forecasted potential is worth celebrating. The most recent report from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) shows unemployment in our state at 3.2 percent. The jobless rate nationwide stands at 3.5 percent.…
LITTLE ROCK – During the awards luncheon at their 2022 Annual Conference in Little Rock, the Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives (AEDCE) on Monday, August 29, honored four individuals with the Maria Haley Lifetime Leadership for Economic Development award. Those recognized include Governor Asa Hutchinson, Clifton M. Chitwood, Kirkley Thomas, and Bryan Scoggins. Also receiving…
September is National Recovery Month. It is a national observance held every to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices. In 2021, more than 200 Arkansans died from opioid-related causes. And 37% of inmates admitted to the Division of Correction had a drug offense. Medical researchers now consider dependence on alcohol or drugs…
A 25-acre solar farm developed for the Fayetteville campus will save money, reduce air emissions, and hedge against rising utility rates. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Over the next 25 years, the University of Arkansas is expected to save millions of dollars in electricity costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8.8% due to a new solar…
Little Rock, Ark. (August 25, 2022) – The aerospace and defense industry in Arkansas is flying high, and it continues to grow as more companies discover the benefits of doing business in The Natural State. Aerospace and defense is a significant part of the Arkansas economy – the state’s top export is civilian aircraft and aircraft parts. Aerospace…
According to research by the Agruss Law Firm, who recently studied over a decade of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Arkansas ranks as the fifth most dangerous state in the US for drivers. The study showed that between 2010 and 2019 there were 103.89 deaths per 100,000 people on Arkansas roads. The…
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson held a news conference Monday afternoon to provide an update on the expansion of the Intensive Supervision Program (ISP) in Central Arkansas and also discussed the recent incident regarding three Crawford County deputies. Crawford County Incident: In regard to the video showing three officers making an arrest in Crawford County, the…
As Arkansas students head back to school, we want to take this week to remind drivers to be mindful of student safety when approaching school buses. It is estimated that close to 350,000 students in our state ride a bus to school. Those buses make stops in every community. It is illegal to pass a…
JONESBORO, Ark. — The United States is expected to harvest its lowest number of cotton acres since the 19th century, according to an estimate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “USDA projected this year’s harvested acres at 7.13 million,” said Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “That would…
Arkansas motorists will begin to see more Arkansas State Troopers, sheriff’s deputies and local police on patrol later this week. The increased presence of law enforcement officers on state highways and local roads is part of a joint mission with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) to stop impaired driving. Beginning…
After passing legislation to accelerate tax cuts and provide funding for school safety, the 93rd General Assembly adjourned from a special session on Thursday. In December of 2021, the General Assembly passed legislation outlining the largest tax cut in state history. That legislation lowered the state income tax from what was then 5.9% to 4.9% incrementally…
LITTLE ROCK, AR (August 9, 2022) – A recent financial survey conducted by the Arkansas Hospital Association shows that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create profound financial volatility for the state’s hospitals. On average, hospitals responding to the survey saw a total margin decrease of 3.5 percentage points between the first quarter of 2019, prior…
