by - April 12, 2020 9:56 am
Telehealth, telemedicine here to stay, says expert
One of the obvious outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic is that telemedicine and telehealth will no longer be a wave of the future. They’re here and here to stay. Gov….
Talk Politics
by - April 11, 2020 10:51 am
Supporting small business during the COVID-19 crisis
Social distancing may be necessary right now, but it’s taking a toll on small businesses. State-specific numbers aren’t available, but I am the Arkansas director of the National Federation of…
by - April 9, 2020 4:25 pm
Federal and state agencies scramble to find enough workers in the ag sector
Farmers face a myriad of challenges as the spring planting season unfolds, not the least of which is finding enough workers. COVID-19 will likely impact those workers on farms, and…
by - April 9, 2020 3:41 pm
Blue & You Foundation opens $1.7 million COVID-19 relief fund, donating $500,000 for food insecurity
The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is donating $500,000 to stem food insecurity in the state and opening the “Rapid-Response COVID Relief” grant process to award up…
by - April 9, 2020 2:59 pm
Proposal to restrict AEDC efforts in China fails at budget hearing
A proposal to curtail Arkansas’ activity in recruiting business into and out of China did not find support from lawmakers at Thursday’s (April 9) Joint Budget Committee hearing. Sen. Trent…
by - April 9, 2020 11:37 am
First proposal to allow ‘no excuse’ absentee voting in November fails
There were two competing measures to allow Arkansas citizens to vote by absentee ballot in the general election should the COVID-19 pandemic still make it dangerous for voters to come…
by - April 9, 2020 9:49 am
Arkansas foster numbers rise as pandemic closes court hearings
Arkansas has seen an uptick in its foster care caseload during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic as fewer children’s cases work their way through the court system. Division of Children and…
by - April 8, 2020 5:12 pm
Southern Bancorp CEO joins Presidential roundtable on small business emergency loans
Southern Bancorp CEO Darrin Williams joined President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, and Small Business Administration…
by - April 8, 2020 2:38 pm
Extra pay for Arkansas healthcare workers not yet approved; COVID-19 cases rise above 1,000
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday (April 8) a plan to provide extra pay of up to $2,000 a month to healthcare workers on the front line of the COVID-19 response…
by - April 8, 2020 1:18 pm
Gov. Hutchinson opens fiscal session: ‘We know how to survive’
Amidst a sea of masked legislators, Gov. Asa Hutchinson addressed the 92nd General Assembly, which opened its biennial fiscal session on Wednesday (April 8) in Little Rock. It was quite…
by - April 8, 2020 11:48 am
Fort Smith administrator estimates a 22% hit to sales tax from COVID-19 disruption
Sales tax revenues for the city of Fort Smith are expected to drop significantly over the next few months, but City Administrator Carl Geffken said the city is prepared thanks…
by - April 8, 2020 8:57 am
Amazon acquires land for distribution center at LR Port, more possible
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announced on Tuesday (April 7) that retail giant Amazon has bought an 80-acre site at the Port of Little Rock for $3.2 million. “We…
by - April 7, 2020 5:24 pm
West Memphis issues safer at home decree; Jackson County last in NEA with no confirmed cases
COVID-19 has reached virtually every county in Northeast Arkansas and the mayor of one city in the region is asking as many people as possible to shelter in place. Clay…
by - April 7, 2020 3:17 pm
Gov. Hutchinson says ‘targeted approach’ is working in Arkansas; COVID-19 cases up 8.1%
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has received some criticism for not issuing a stay-at-home order and for the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity, rolled out a set of numbers during Tuesday’s (April…
by - April 6, 2020 6:48 pm
Nearly every county in NEA impacted by COVID-19; Jonesboro mayor calls for masks in public
There are only two counties in Northeast Arkansas that don’t have a reported confirmed case of COVID-19, but it’s likely the disease is now in every county in the region….
by - April 6, 2020 4:07 pm
Task force making progress with data-driven decision making initiative
In June 2019, a legislative task force committee began asking the question: Is state government most effectively utilizing its data to ensure cross-agency collaboration? The conclusion, acknowledged at its first…
by - April 6, 2020 1:41 pm
Arkansas schools to remain closed for rest of school year; another legislator positive for COVID-19 (UPDATE)
With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year in Arkansas, with alternative methods of instruction (AMI) continuing, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said…
by - April 6, 2020 9:04 am
Domtar to temporarily idle Ashdown business line
Domtar Corp. said it will idle workers in two plants, including one in Ashdown, Arkansas, for three months as business conditions have worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company…
by - April 5, 2020 2:15 pm
Arkansas COVID-19 cases see largest one-day increase
COVID-19 cases in Arkansas jumped to 830 on Sunday, up 96 cases from the 734 on Saturday. It is the largest one-day increase since the pandemic arrived in the state….
by - April 5, 2020 9:59 am
Governor defends data assumptions, examines policy agenda, and reflects on a post COVID-19 Arkansas
On Jan. 19, 2020, Gov. Asa Hutchinson began to assume the worst. That was the day a 35-year old Washington state resident was identified as having COVID-19 – the first…