This week, officials from the Arkansas Center for School Safety (ACSS) provided members of the House and Senate Education Committees with an update on school safety measures taken in recent years. In 2018, the Governor created the Safe Schools Commission to assess the state of school security in Arkansas. That commission gave the General Assembly…
It is a matter of God’s ownership. I with because it demonstrates my belief that God is the owner of all things and all that I have comes from Him. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the gold and the silver all belong to Him (Psalm 50:10; Haggai 2:8) It is a matter…
Since 2010, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has helped raise more than $1.1 billion to fund more than 675,000 scholarships for students attending 51 Arkansas colleges and universities. This week we want to remind you about the fast approaching deadline to apply for the next round of scholarships. July 1 is the deadline to apply for…
Several million members of the church are to be recalled because they are not performing properly. Symptoms include frequent missing, lack of power and poor adaptation to rough roads. Regular maintenance should have prevented most difficulties. Sadly, many only come in for maintenance when a major breakdown has occurred and, therefore, it is difficult for…
Arkansas is home to so many families of brave men and women who deserve our recognition this Memorial Day. More than 2,183 Arkansans lost their lives fighting in World War 1. During World War II, an estimated 194,645 Arkansans served the nation in the various branches of the U.S. armed forces, and more than 3,500 were…
After the Israelites were deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the Assyrians relocated captives from other countries to the land of Israel. Their descendants became the Samaritans. These people worshipped many gods and eventually attempted to include God among those they worshipped. The Israelites despised the Samaritans. The shortest route from Jerusalem to Galilee…
The House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee met jointly with the Senate Children and Youth Committee this week to hear from groups actively working to combat human trafficking. The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) testified that there were 13 arrests for human trafficking charges in Arkansas in 2021. In 2022, there…
In 2021 there were more than four hundred thousand children in the United States foster care. Many of those kids were unable to return to their families and were waiting to be adopted. These children spend about three years in foster care before they become eligible for adoption, but they can wait up to ten…
From patrolling morning rush hour to responding to a domestic call late at night, we ask a great deal from our men and women in law enforcement. We cannot thank them enough for their selfless service. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring May 15-May 21 as National Police Week. Sunday, May 15 is designated as…
Can you remember when Coke was 5 cents? Hershey bar was 5 cents. A cup of coffee was 5 ents. A first class stamp was 3 cents. A gallon of gas was 29 cents. A new Chevy was $1,200. A teacher earned $2,640 a year. The most basic computer cost $5,000,000. We have come from…
All children deserve to grow up in a loving and stable home. Unfortunately, many children in Arkansas are lacking that stability. Currently, there are more than 4,600 children in foster care in Arkansas. There are fewer than 1,700 foster families statewide. May is National Foster Care Month. Children in foster care do better in homes…
I quote my mother often. She influenced my life in so many ways. A one of a kind lady. One of the many things she tried so hard to teach me, I can almost hear her saying it, “put God first in your life and everything else will work out.” She was teaching me God’s…
Teachers are the heart of our educational system. They inspire hope and instill a life-long love of learning. The week of May 2 is National Teacher Appreciation Week. It’s a perfect time to show our appreciation to the 41,000 teachers in our state who lend their passion and skills to educate our students. The commitment…
The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is a time to raise awareness and inspire collective action so that every child can lead their best life. In the 2021 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed Act 920 which created the Blue Ribbon Task Force to End Child Abuse. Child Abuse Hotline…
An important deadline is approaching if you plan on voting in the May 24 Preferential Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election. If you have not already registered to vote, you have until April 25 to file your voter registration application with your county clerk. If you submit your application close to an election registration deadline,…
LITTLE ROCK – On Monday of this week, the House and Senate Judiciary Committees met jointly with the Charitable, Penal, and Correctional Institutions subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council. Members reviewed reports from the Department of Corrections concerning the current prison population and recidivism rates. Currently, the recidivism rate for the entire department is 46.1%.…
LITTLE ROCK – Whether it was due to a job loss, reduction in income or increased costs in healthcare, many homeowners fell behind in mortgage payments and utilities during the pandemic. If you or someone you know is behind on payments, we want to direct your attention to a resource that could help. Recently, the…
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas is a better place today than yesterday because of our teachers.We cannot thank them enough for their work and the difference they make in our children’s lives. If you’ve ever thought about making a difference in the classroom, now is the perfect time to act.The Arkansas Department of Education and Forward…
LITTLE ROCK – From one-time bonuses to increased funding for safety equipment, the 93rd General Assembly made support for law enforcement a top priority in this fiscal session. Act 224 provides a one-time stipend of $5,000 to full-time certified city and county law enforcement officers as well as probation and parole officers.It also provides for…
LITTLE ROCK – The Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) is typically one of the last items passed every session. It categorizes and prioritizes state spending. Members are now reviewing the proposed Revenue Stabilization amendment schedule reflecting the allocation of general revenue funds for Fiscal Year 2023. The proposed amendment outlines $6.02 billion in spending. That is less…
Little Rock – The House will begin the 3rd week of the 2022 Fiscal Session on Monday. The second week was an abbreviated one due to the federal holiday and winter weather across the state. In addition to several appropriation bills, the House also passed the following pieces of legislation this week: SB87-This bill establishes…
