LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission has named Jennifer Emerson as the agency’s Deputy Director and Executive Vice President (EVP) of Operations. Jim Hudson previously held the deputy director and EVP position but vacated the role upon being named Chief of Staff for the Arkansas Department of Commerce. Emerson has served in AEDC’s…
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Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 3-4-22
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…
Governor Hutchinson condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine; calls for three days of prayer, review of Arkansas business ties
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson declared his unambiguous condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine today with a directive to determine whether Arkansas has business contracts with Russia and a call for “Special Days of Prayer for Ukraine.” In a letter to his 15 cabinet secretaries, Governor Hutchinson called for a review of all of…
Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 2-25-22
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…
Boozman celebrates National FFA Week
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) applauded the positive impact of FFA on future agricultural leaders in commemoration of National FFA Week. “FFA is sparking an interest in the field of agriculture. This is a program that provides students with the tools and knowledge to grow into the next generation of agriculture leaders. I…
Demetria L. Edwards, native of Lake Village, announces candidacy for Circuit Judge
Attorney Demetria L. Edwards is pleased to formally announce that she is running for Circuit Judge in Division Four of Arkansas’ 10th Judicial District. This Judicial District includes Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, and Drew counties. This election will be held on May 24, 2022. Demetria is a native daughter of Southeast Arkansas and a five-generation…
Desha County shooting leaves one dead, State Police CID asked to investigate
DUMAS, Ark. – A shooting incident northeast of Dumas early Saturday afternoon, February 19, 2022, claimed the life of Travis Edward Ward, 40, of 650 Oakwood Bayou Road. A suspect in the shooting has been questioned by Arkansas State Police Special Agents and released at the direction of the county prosecuting attorney while the investigation…
Primary filing period begins Tuesday
WARREN, Ark. – It is time for candidates seeking office in party primaries to begin filing. The filing period in Arkansas begins noon February 22 and ends at noon March 1, 2022. This includes candidates running for county and state offices, as well as municipal governments that choose to allow candidates to run in party…
Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 2-18-22
The 93rd General Assembly is now entering the second week of the 2022 Fiscal Session. The session began with an address by Governor Asa Hutchinson in which he outlined his budget priorities for the next fiscal year. In addition to increases in funding for education and healthcare, the Governor is requesting funding for the Crime…
Hogue named state consultant to Arkansas Nursing Students’ Association
MONTICELLO, Ark.— Heidi Hogue, associate professor of nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), has been selected to serve a two-year term as a state consultant on the board of directors of the Arkansas Nursing Students’ Association (ANSA). Hogue joined the UAM nursing faculty in 2013. She earned a Bachelor of Science in…
AEDC awards $502,838.41 to support wildlife education, improve school conservation programs
LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission Division of Rural Services has awarded grants totaling $502,838.41 to promote wildlife education and improve school conservation programs to 183 schools, school districts, and conservation districts in 65 Arkansas counties. These grants are funded by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission through fines collected from hunting and…
Two vehicle accident in Bearden claims the life of one
BEARDEN, Ark. – A 67-year old woman was killed in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 79 and Ouachita 203 in Bearden Thursday morning, February 10, 2022. According to the Arkansas State Police, 67-year old Sharon Garlington of Bearden, was driving a 2019 Nissan east on Ouachita 203 when she entered U.S.…
Weekly Column from the Arkansas House of Representatives 2-11-22
On Monday, the 93rd General Assembly will convene at the State Capitol to address the budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Fiscal Sessions began after Arkansas voters approved what would become Amendment 86 in 2008. This will be the 7th Fiscal Session held in state history. Governor Asa Hutchinson is expected to address the General Assembly shortly after we…
Gibson to Chair UA Board; Other Officers and Committees Set for Coming Year
LITTLE ROCK – The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas elected new officers at its Jan. 26-27 regularly scheduled meeting, and C.C. “Cliff” Gibson III, of Monticello, will serve as chairman of the 10-member board for the upcoming year. Gibson, other officers and members of a new slate of Board committees appointed by…
Four South Arkansas drivers license testing sites closed February 14-18
According to Troop F of the Arkansas State Police, testing sites in Fordyce, Rison, Warren, and Camden will be closed Monday, February 14 to Friday, February 18, 2022. For more information, contact Troop F of the Arkansas State Police at 870-226-3715.
One person killed in Calhoun County vehicle accident Tuesday morning
HAMPTON, Ark. – A minor was killed and another person injured in a one-vehicle accident Tuesday morning, February 8, 2022 near 2055 US Highway 278 West in rural Calhoun County. According to the Arkansas State Police, eighteen year-old Mi’Corrie Lindsey was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer east on US Highway 278 at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday…
Entergy Arkansas prepping for Winter Storm Landon; outages likely
Little Rock, Arkansas – As Winter Storm Landon rapidly closes in on the state, Entergy Arkansas encourages customers to prepare for outages due to freezing rain and ice accumulation likely to affect the service area. Roughly 3,000 personnel – including transmission and distribution line workers, drone and helicopter operators and scouts, vegetation crews, emergency operations,…
Solar panel parts maker bringing 80 new jobs to Crossett
According to Monticello Live, 80 new jobs are coming to Crossett, as earlier this week Primoris Renewable Energy, a solar panel parts manufacturer, announced they will be opening a new facility in the former DamFab building. Primoris Renewable Energy’s website, says they are “focused on providing full EPC services to the energy sector with a…
VIDEO: SRC asks ADH Epidemiologist Dr. Mike Cima for clarity on how COVID cases are reported
Saline River Chronicle talked Wednesday, January 26, 2022 with the Arkansas Department of Health’s Dr. Mike Cima, State Epidemiologist, about how COVID-19 active case numbers are both discovered and reported. During the interview we discussed how active cases of COVID-19 are both found and recorded for public information, what number of new cases are the…
Dr. Brandy Haley named the UAM Representative to the South Arkansas Nursing Task Force
Monticello, Arkansas – Dr. Brandy Haley, dean and associate professor of nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has been selected to serve as the university’s representative on the South Arkansas Nursing Task Force, which is part of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP). Dr. Haley joined the UAM faculty in 2012 and was…
Former Warren Fire Chief and court reporter pleads guilty to class D felony theft of property
Warren, Arkansas – Former Warren part-time Fire Chief and former treasurer of the Arkansas Court Reporters Association Michael Ashcraft pled guilty Friday, January 21, 2022 to theft of property, a Class D felony offense, stemming from charges filed by the Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, which accused Ashcraft of manipulating, misappropriating, and misusing membership funds…