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…
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Attorney General Rutledge and bipartisan coalition reach $438.5 million agreement with JUUL Labs
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…
Arkansas projected to add 124K jobs by 2030
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.…
Governor Asa Hutchinson and six others receive honors from Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives
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…
State to observe National Recovery Month in September
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…
Renewable energy coming to U of A campus
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…
AEDC releases 2022 Aerospace & Defense report
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…
Arkansas ranks as fifth most dangerous state for drivers
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…
Governor Hutchinson addresses efforts to reduce Violent Crime and Crawford Co. Incident
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…
Arkansas House of Representatives weekly column for 8-19-22
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…
USDA: Drought drops U.S. cotton harvest to be lowest level since the 19th century
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…
End of summer State Police patrols aimed at impaired drivers
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…
Arkansas House of Representatives weekly column
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…
Sustained financial pressure on hospitals could threaten access to care for Arkansans
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…
Man wanted for murder in Phillips County surrenders to the Warren PD
According to KARK 4 News, Helena-West Helena Police Department officers responded to a shooting Monday, August 8, 2022 at 1205 Highway 49. Upon arriving on the scene, Demarcius Foreman, 43, was found lying down and not responding. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Sherman LeFree Gill, 42, was identified as a person of interest.…
HHS Invests Nearly $60 Million to Strengthen Health Care Workforce and Improve Access to Care in Rural Communities
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced investments of nearly $60 million to grow the health workforce and increase access to quality health care in rural communities, including nearly $46 million in funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The Biden-Harris Administration is…
White Hall Career Fair happening August 23
School Safety Commission delivers report to Governor Hutchinson
The Governor is calling the General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session next week to address the use of surplus funds to provide tax relief and funding for school safety measures. The Arkansas School Safety Commission was reinstated in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Members of the original commission created in March 2018…
August is Catfish Month in Arkansas
The catfish industry is the largest component of aquaculture in the United States and a significant industry in Arkansas. In fact, Arkansas catfish farmers contributed $19.5 million to Arkansas’s agricultural economy in 2021. That’s up 17% from the previous year. The month of August has been proclaimed as Arkansas Catfish Month. This designation recognizes the impact…
Back to school sales tax holiday coming August 6
It is estimated that the average family will spend more than $600 per child on back-to-school shopping this year. This time of year can bring a financial burden to many families across Arkansas. That is why we want to remind you about the upcoming Arkansas Sales Tax holiday. This year, the event will begin at…
Attention Medicaid recipients
This week we want to remind Arkansans who receive Medicaid coverage to make sure their contact information is up to date. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government temporarily stopped some Medicaid requirements and conditions. This was done to help keep people with Medicaid from losing their health coverage during the pandemic. However, Arkansas will…