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LeAnn Rimes, ZZ Top to perform at East Arkansas Community College
FORREST CITY, Ark. (KAIT) – East Arkansas Community College’s 2024-25 Performance Season will begin with a September concert by LeAnn Rimes and end with ZZ Top taking the stage next April.
The Forrest City college released this year’s schedule, which includes:
- LeAnn Rimes on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m.
- The Isaacs on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
- Lonestar on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
- Kool & The Gang on Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m.
- ZZ Top on Saturday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m.
The concerts will be held in the EACC Fine Arts Center.
Season ticket packages go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26.
Single tickets to the events generally go on sale six weeks before the event. Individual tickets to the season’s opening performance of LeAnn Rimes will go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.
For more information, visit EACC.edu.
Razorback assistant Ryan Crouser wins third consecutive gold medal in shot put
Arkansas Razorback volunteer assistant track and field coach Ryan Crouser made history in Paris Saturday, becoming the first shot putter to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals after completing a throw of 22.9 meters using a novel throwing technique he conceived while training in The Natural State.
Crouser, 31, was uncertain if he would be able to compete for this third gold after dealing with a nagging elbow injury and torn pectoral muscle leading up the Paris Games.
Crouser’s USA teammate Joe Kovacs won the silver for the third consecutive Olympics, meaning he and Crouser stood at the Olympic podiums together in Rio, Tokyo and now Paris. Rajindra Campbell of Jamaica won bronze.
Crouser, a native of Oregon, now holds the world record and the Olympic record. After securing the three-peat on Saturday he achieved shot put G.O.A.T. status according to The Athletic.
Here’s the Crouser headline of the weekend from the LA Times:
“How a ‘light bulb moment’ in an Arkansas barn made Ryan Crouser a shot put juggernaut.”
The “light bulb moment” came about during a nighttime training session in December 2022 when the 6-foot-7 Crouser adopted a new technique now known as the “Crouser Slide.” Rather than the more typical shot put starting stance at the back of the 7-foot circle, he begins at the right side, creating room to his left for a quick “slide step,” which increases the speed and power of his wind up.
He used the method to break his own world record in May 2023, throwing the 16-pound ball 23.56 meters at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles.
Crouser joined the Razorbacks as a volunteer assistant for the men’s track and field program in 2020. He lives in Farmington (Washington County).
Track and field runs in his family. His father, Mitch Crouser, was an alternate on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, throwing discus. His uncle Dean Crouser was a three-time NCAA champion at Oregon University, winning shot put and discus in 1982. His uncle Brian Crouser was a two-time NCAA javelin champion and a two-time Olympian.
According to the Paris Olympics website, Crouser fuels his workouts by eating up to 5,500 calories a day.
Darius Acuff Jr. commits to Arkansas
John Calipari and Arkansas basketball gained their first commitment from the 2025 recruiting class when Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 1 point guard and No. 4 overall prospect in the cycle, officially committed to the Razorbacks on Friday. He chose Arkansas over Kansas and Michigan during a special ceremony in Highland Hills, MI, which was streamed on the 247Sports YouTube channel.
247Sports has Acuff rated as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 point guard and No. 4 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. He’s also a composite five-star and holds a 0.9967 rating in the industry-generated Composite Rankings. He’s the third-highest rated Arkansas commitment in the modern recruiting rankings era, just behind Nick Smith Jr. (2022) and Al Jefferson (2004).
The 6-3, 180-pound, Detroit native product has long been pursued by Calipari, and he was the first 2025 prospect to take an official visit to Fayetteville back in May. Back on June 28, he cut his list of potential schools down to a final four, which consisted of the Razorbacks, Kansas, Michigan and UConn. Prior to Friday’s decision, Acuff ended up eliminating the back-to-back national champions from contention.
Arkansas teachers feel financial burden of back-to-school season, regardless of raises
In addition to parent-purchased materials, educators prioritize products that create welcoming environments and boost learning interests
As Arkansas educators prepare their classrooms for students’ return this month, many will spend hundreds of dollars on materials that supplement supplies parents purchase for their children.
The Arkansas LEARNS Act, a major education overhaul championed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, raised the base pay for teachers to $50,000. But teachers say the pay increase isn’t enough when they still use personal funds for classroom expenses throughout the year.
Leron McAdoo typically spends at least $300 of his own money each year on “utilitarian” supplies for his classroom, such as educational and motivational posters, electrical cords and tape to display student work. He doesn’t expect this year to be any different, especially as he works to stock a new classroom.
McAdoo, who has 32 years of experience as an educator, is taking on a new role this school year as an interventionist teacher at Little Rock School District’s new Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy.
McAdoo said there is also a “hidden cost of teaching,” which can include buying students clothes or food if they need it.
“Actually reaching children is the fact that you have to be human and recognize and have empathy for the situations that the children find themselves in,” McAdoo said. “Are you going to let a child starve?”
The raises from the LEARNS Act aren’t enough when the money is going back to the classroom and not the teacher’s pocket, McAdoo said.
“Teachers are not making a lot of money in the first place,” he said. “So, any extra burden on them to add supplies — you wouldn’t ask that of a firefighter, you wouldn’t ask that of an attorney, you wouldn’t ask that of any other profession. …But teachers are sort of expected by society to fill these gaps with their resources.”
Arkansas’ top military officer chosen to lead U.S. Army National Guard
The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved Arkansas’ top military officer as the next director of the Army National Guard, following a nomination from President Joe Biden last month.
Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, secretary of the Arkansas Department of the Military and adjutant general of the state’s National Guard, will be the first Arkansas national guardsman to assume the federal role, according to a press release from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“Without question, I am a product of the incredible example of past Arkansas leaders as well as the formative experiences that were provided to me by the Arkansas National Guard,” Stubbs said in a statement. “I will take every Arkansas Guardsman with me into this next assignment and will work hard every day to make them and my state proud.”
The Army National Guard serves both communities and the country in cases of domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions, counterdrug efforts and more, according to its website. As opposed to active duty military positions, serving in the Guard is primarily a part-time role that allows flexibility for career and educational opportunities.
In Arkansas, the state National Guard has in recent years been deployed to provide potable water in communities with outages and aid in clean-up efforts after severe weather. Sanders has also occasionally deployed members of the state National Guard to the country’s southern border, where they assisted Texas authorities in curbing illegal immigration.
Stubbs, whose official start in his new role has not yet been announced, is expected to be promoted to lieutenant general and oversee all programs and policies that affect the Army National Guard for the next four years.
For nearly the last 30 years, Stubbs has donned the uniform of an Arkansas National Guardsman. In January 2023, Sanders appointed him to serve in the state’s top military position.
“On good days and tough ones, I knew I could count on Major General Stubbs to lead Arkansas’ National Guard,” Sanders said in a press release.
She offered Stubbs her congratulations and said, “our nation is better off because of his promotion and leadership.”
Alexa Henning, Sanders’ spokesperson, did not reply to questions about plans to appoint someone in Stubbs’ absence by the time of publication.
Stubbs will replace Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, who has led the Army National Guard for the last four years and is expected to retire Aug. 5.
More than thirty people arrested after police operation in Crittenden County
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — After an hours-long operation by Arkansas State Police, agents with the 2nd District Drug Task Force, West Memphis Police Department, and the Marion Police Department to target criminal activity in Crittenden County, police were able to make more than thirty arrests and seize several firearms.
On July 27, several agencies conducted an 11-hour-long operation where agents made about 637 officer/violator contacts which resulted in 37 arrests being made. Six felony warrants were served, 13 people were cited for DWIs, and 26 speeding tickets were issued.
Arkansas State Police seized seven firearms including a fully automatic blackout AR rifle, and two other weapons that were reported as stolen.
Agents also seized several illegal drugs including methamphetamine and marijuana.
Arkansas teen with Down syndrome to be in Times Square event
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK/KAIT) – One teenager with Down syndrome from North Little Rock plans to inspire others with his upcoming Times Square appearance.
According to our content partner KARK, 19-year-old Caleb Smith will appear in New York City’s Times Square video appearance for the National Down Syndrome Society, representing Arkansas.
Ashley Murry, Caleb’s mother, submitted a photo to the organization, capturing individuals’ strength, beauty, and unique qualities with Down syndrome.
To hear more information on this story, visit KARK’s website.
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Arkansas baseball’s Hagen Smith wins National Pitcher of the Year Award
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith was named the 2024 National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation on Wednesday.
Smith was selected over fellow finalists Chase Burns of Wake Forest, Ryan Johnson of Dallas Baptist, Trey Yesavage of East Carolina and Jamie Arnold of Florida State.
He is the second Arkansas player to win the award since its inception in 2009, joining Kevin Kopps (2021). He is the fifth SEC pitcher to earn the honor.
Smith struck out 161 batters in 84 innings, a program record for a single season and second only to Burns (191) for the highest total in the country this season. He ranks fourth nationally in ERA (2.04), seventh in WHIP (0.89) and first in strikeouts per 9 innings (17.25).
He led college baseball with a 1.48 ERA entering the postseason before a six-run fifth inning during the Razorbacks’ 7-6 loss to Kansas State in his final collegiate start.
Smith was previously named SEC pitcher of the year and was a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is given to the best player in college baseball and was awarded to Georgia’s Charlie Condon last week. Smith and Condon join Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana as finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, the winner of which will be announced Saturday.
2023: Paul Skenes, LSU
2022: Cooper Hjerpe, Oregon State
2021: Kevin Kopps, Arkansas
2019: Ethan Small, Mississippi State
2018: Luke Heimlich, Oregon State,
2017: Steven Gingery, Texas Tech
2016: Eric Lauer, Kent State
2015: Carson Fulmer, Vanderbilt
2013: Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma
2012: Mark Appel, Stanford
2011: Trevor Bauer, UCLA
2019: Alex Wimmers, Ohio State
2009: Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State
Arkansas awarded $60 million in America Rescue Plan funding for water infrastructure projects
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A pandemic-prompted federal program is providing $60 million for water infrastructure in Arkansas.
Officials said the money is for America Rescue Plan-listed projects approved by the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission. The funding breaks down to $55 million for water, wastewater and infrastructure projects and $5 million for Arkansas Rural Water Association projects.
Representatives said projects authorized to receive funding have been listed on the American Rescue Plan since December 2022. Projects must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday that the Arkansas Legislative Council approved the expenditure.
The funding comes on the heels of Sanders’ May order for a statewide water analysis plan. Governor’s office officials said the Sanders administration has invested over $2.5 billion in water projects in all 75 Arkansas counties.
The American Rescue Plan of 2021 was approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. The act allocated billions of dollars for economic stimulation to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the income needed to ‘live comfortably’ in Arkansas, report says
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas is among the top 10 states where it’s least expensive for a single adult to “live comfortably,” according to a recent report from SmartAsset.
The report used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to gather the basic cost of living for an individual with no children and for two working adults with two children.
Arkansas had the second-lowest income needed to “live comfortably” for a single working adult.
The top 10 were:
- West Virginia
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- North Dakota
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- South Dakota
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Iowa
SmartAsset defined “comfortable” as the annual income required to cover a 50/30/20 budget rule, which recommends spending approximately 50% of your income on basic needs like food and housing, 30% on wants, and putting away the remainder toward savings or paying off debt.
Here are the numbers SmartAsset released for Arkansas:
- Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.20
- Salary needed for a single working adult: $79,456
- Rank of income needed for a family: 49 (out of 50)
- Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $180,794
Arkansas was the fourth-lowest among incomes for two working adults raising two children needed to “live comfortably”.
The salary needed for a single working adult in Arkansas was $666 more than West Virginia, according to the report.
On the other side of the rankings, Massachusetts was the most expensive for a single adult to “live comfortably,” with a needed salary of $116,022.
For the full report, visit SmartAsset’s website.
Around 3,000 Arkansas teachers to receive bonuses through LEARNS program
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Education Secretary Jacob Oliva announced on Tuesday afternoon that about 3,000 teachers in Arkansas will now be the recipients of the Merit Teacher Incentive Program.
The program was launched in May when Governor Sanders signed the LEARNS Act into law, and it will award selected educators with bonuses that range from $1,500 up to $10,000. Those bonuses will be made available for distribution by the end of June.
Teachers who earn these bonuses have showcased outstanding growth in student performance and have served as mentors to aspiring teachers who have participated in yearlong residencies. Some have also taught in a subject, designation, or geographical area that has experienced a critical teacher shortage.
“Great education starts with great teachers. That’s why one of my first acts as governor was to raise teacher pay across the board and reward our best educators,” said Governor Sanders. “This year’s merit bonuses will incentivize teachers to continue tackling our state’s toughest assignments and help every Arkansas student thrive.”
Secretary Oliva explained that teachers in the classroom are the ones who have the biggest impact on student learning.
“The best educators deserve recognition for their excellence, and we are proud to recognize these educators for demonstrating a commitment to learning and ensuring their students succeed in the future,” he added.
For more information on the school districts where teachers received merit pay bonuses, please click here.
Wynne native Camille Cathey crowned Miss Arkansas 2024
Last night, Miss White River Camille Cathey was crowned as Miss Arkansas 2024.
Cathey is a 22-year old from Wynne, and recently graduated from the University of Alabama. She is now studying hard as a first-year law student at the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Last night marked the 86th edition of the Miss Arkansas Beauty Pageant. The pageant unfolded before a sold-out crowd in Little Rock’s Robinson Center.
Cathey will now move on to represent Arkansas at the Miss America competition, which features competitors from across the country.
In the build-up to the competition, Cathey will make appearances across the Natural State to promote her personal platform “Proudly Volunteer” and the American Heart Association.
Crittenden County Farmers Market was a huge success! Next market is back July 13th!
Farmers, Gardeners, Food Trucks and local artisans! Call Morgan to reserve your spot!
Hino to close Arkansas parts production plant by the end of 2027.
The Neal Williams Family has been selected as the Crittenden County Farm Family of the Year!
Arkansas DHS plans to end Medicaid managed care dental insurance program
The Arkansas Department of Human Services announced Monday that it will end its Medicaid managed care dental insurance program and move its recipients to a fee-for-service program.
DHS informed the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of this plan on Friday, according to a news release from the agency.
The fee-for-service program is expected to begin Nov. 1.
Under the managed care program, DHS has been paying a monthly amount per Medicaid beneficiary to Delta Dental of Arkansas and Managed Care of North America (MCNA). Under the fee-for-service coverage, the agency will pay dental care providers directly for Medicaid services.
This change “makes better sense for Arkansas patients, dentists, and taxpayers,” DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam said in the news release.
“After careful consideration of dental service utilization, the total program expenditures, and the work underway to ensure a holistic, efficient, and sustainable Medicaid delivery system for all Arkansans, DHS has determined that fee-for-service for Medicaid dental services is both the best and most cost-effective option at this time,” Putnam said.
The managed care dental program began Jan 1, 2018, and serves 572,047 Arkansans. Eligible beneficiaries will maintain their eligibility upon the transition to fee-for-service Medicaid, the news release states.
DHS serves close to 900,000 Arkansans with a variety of Medicaid programs, including ARHOME, the state’s version of Medicaid expansion. Advocates for Medicaid recipients have said that coverage is not broad enough and that DHS takes too long to process applications for benefits and respond to people’s questions and concerns.
In 2018, DHS implemented a work requirement that cut 18,000 people from Medicaid coverage but was struck down by a federal judge in 2019.
Putnam and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced last year that they would seek a federal waiver to require ARHOME recipients to work. Able-bodied adults who do not meet the work requirement would receive fee-for-service Medicaid coverage instead of a qualified health plan, which meets the federal Affordable Care Act requirement for “minimum essential coverage” and follows federal limits on deductibles, copayments and out-of-pocket maximum amounts.
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have not yet acted on that request.
Pope County Quorum Court rejects Gulfside Casino resolution
The Pope County Quorum Court Thursday night rejected a resolution supporting Gulfside Casino Partnership’s proposal to construct a casino near Russellville.
The quorum court’s 7-5 decision is the latest action in half a decade of efforts to award the state’s fourth and final casino license since Arkansas voters approved gaming operations in 2018.
The courts have voided two previous versions of licenses issued to Gulfside Casino Partnership and Cherokee Nation Businesses/Legends Resort & Casino. The Arkansas Racing Commission last month opened a new 30-day application period, marking its third attempt in five years to issue the Pope County permit.
The application requires a $250,000 application fee as well as a letter of support from the county judge or a resolution from the quorum court.
Although he’s opposed to a casino, Justice Lane Scott presented the resolution Gulfside needed to complete its application at Thursday’s meeting because he said the group is the best option.
Scott said Gulfside proposed the best economic development agreement and has a written agreement to honor voters’ decision on a ballot initiative that could repeal the Pope County casino license.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment officials on Thursday night said that while they aren’t funding an opposition group, they are part of a ballot question committee that’s working to educate voters about the implications of the proposed ballot measure.
Scott said his desire “for good honest government as well as seeking the economic and social well-being of the county” drove his desire to bring forth the resolution.
“If given the license, [Gulfside] will not begin construction before our initiative goes on the ballot,” Scott said. “Furthermore, if the initiative passes and a casino is removed from Pope County, they will honor the will of the voters.
“CNE has made no such commitments, and their actions have been the opposite of being a good community partner. In summary, Gulfside would run a casino, but CNE would run the county.”
According to a Cherokee Nation Entertainment spokesperson, Pope County Judge Ben Cross has authored several letters of support for CNE since 2019. The latest letter, dated May 15, 2024, was included with CNE’s application, which was submitted to the Arkansas Racing Commission Wednesday. CNE also received a resolution of support from the quorum court in December.
The deadline for submitting applications is June 11. Per new rules drafted by the racing commission and approved by lawmakers in April, commissioners will meet June 12 to formally close the application period, at which point the evaluation process can begin.
The commission is required to issue the license within 30 days of the close of the application period, so the process will move quickly, Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin said. As of Thursday afternoon, the Cherokee Nation Entertainment application is the only submission that’s been received, Hardin said.
Background
In 2018, voters approved Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution, which permitted four casinos to operate in the state. The first two were written into the amendment: the existing racetracks in West Memphis (Southland) and Hot Springs (Oaklawn).
The third license was issued quickly and without controversy in Jefferson County due to local support for the Quapaw Nation, which opened Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff.
The Pope County license has been unique with local efforts opposing the casino and multiple casino operators interested in the license. Local Voters in Charge, a ballot question committee that formed in January, is pursuing a ballot initiative to repeal authorization for a casino and casino gaming in Pope County, and to require a local option vote for any future potential casino locations.
Attorney General Tim Griffin in March amended and approved the group’s proposed popular name and ballot title, clearing the way for supporters to begin collecting signatures. They have until July 5 to collect 90,704 signatures from registered voters to qualify for a statewide vote on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
The Pope County casino also has its supporters, including a new ballot question committee called Investing in Arkansas. According to paperwork filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission in May, the group “will advocate for the protection of Arkansas Amendment 100” and promote continued investments and economic development benefits provided because of the amendment.
CNE Proposal
Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s proposed 50,000-square-foot casino would include 1,200 slot machines; a 200-room hotel with a resort pool and spa; a multipurpose space to accommodate meetings, concerts and special events; an outdoor music venue; water park; and an RV and dog park.
Legends Resort & Casino would be constructed on land located northeast of Russellville. CNE estimated the $300-million-investment will have a $5 billion economic impact on Arkansas during the first decade, creating thousands of jobs and bringing “significant tax benefit to the state,” according to a press release.
Once the license is awarded, CNE President Mark Fulton said he expects the 18-month construction process will begin after 60 to 90 days of permitting and pre-construction work.
“CNE is committed and eager to fulfill its obligations under the $38.8 million economic development agreement executed with Pope County,” Fulton said in a statement. “Since opening an office in Russellville nearly five years ago, the team has listened to the community, invested hours of volunteerism, and partnered with organizations to make an impact on the lives of Arkansans.”
A CNE spokesperson said the $38.8 million economic development agreement that’s already been executed between CNE and Pope County will be distributed upon issuance of the casino license. The agreement also calls for an annual $2.1 million contribution to a charitable foundation and the Russellville Economic Development Alliance.
Gulfside Proposal
Gulfside Casino Partnership’s River Valley Casino Resort would include 70,000 square feet of gaming space, 1,500 slot machines, a 300-room hotel, a convention center and meeting spaces, a resort pool and spa and an outdoor amphitheater.
The $405-million-investment would create nearly 1,700 new jobs and a $60.5 million annual payroll and generate an estimated $29.5 million in tax revenues, according to a press release.
The proposal includes a pledged $65-million upfront payment to the county and local communities to drive additional economic development. Gulfside would also invest nearly $40 million directly into Pope County as part of the agreement, plus $2 million annually for economic development, according to the release.
“Gulfside Casino Partnership is more than just a tourist destination or local employer; it is an economic driver and philanthropic partner committed to the prosperity and vitality of our Pope County communities,” Gulfside counsel Casey Castleberry said in a statement. “As part of our commitment to the region, we are exploring an option to purchase nearly 20 acres from the City of Russellville that had previously been acquired for a convention center.”
Contingent upon the city agreeing to a land option to purchase nearly 20 lakefront acres for no more than $5 million, Gulfside would pay $10 million to the city of Russellville. The total investment would help the city move forward with its long-planned convention center, the release states.
Activists ask again for reinstatement of Arkansas Medicaid benefits lost in 2023 ‘unwinding’
Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money
With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelor’s degrees in three years.
The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 for a bachelor’s degree, and wouldn’t require summer classes or studying over breaks. In some cases, the degrees would be designed to fit industry needs.
Indiana recently enacted legislation calling for all state universities there to offer by next year at least one bachelor’s degree program that could be completed in three years, and to look into whether more could be implemented. The Utah System of Higher Education has tasked state universities with developing three-year programs under a new Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, which would still need approval by accreditation boards.
More than a dozen public and private universities are participating in a pilot collaboration called the College-in-3 Exchange, to begin considering how they could offer three-year programs. The public universities include the College of New Jersey, Portland State University, Southern Utah University, the Universities of Minnesota at Rochester and at Morris, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Utah Tech University.
Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow.
– Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education
Read full article here: https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/05/31/universities-try-3-year-degrees-to-save-students-time-money/
Crittenden County Cares
City of West Memphis and surrounding communities of Crittenden County, Arkansas mark your calendars for Crittenden County Cares 2024 Community Initiative! Areas of focus are health & wellness, early education, workforce & career opportunities, and small business resources! SAVE THE DATE and watch for event notices as we work to empower communities by making available resources and opportunities for a better way of life! If you know, live, have ties, friends, or family in Crittenden County, or even just shop at Walgreens, Walmart or visit Southland Casino Hotel please share! AUGUST 10, 2024 9A-1P
For women facing addiction, there’s a New Hope
Click pictures to enlarge and read full article by The Evening Times. Visit New Hope’s website here: http://Newhoperefuge.org
Arkansas to Participate in Summer Food Program for Kids
Beginning this year, Arkansas will participate in a new program to help address food insecurity experienced in the summer months by many students and their families, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Tuesday, Jan. 2.
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, or “Summer EBT,” will provide grocery-buying benefits to families with school-aged children who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program. Summer EBT is part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) broader summer nutrition program efforts, which also include to-go or delivered meals in rural communities and group meal sites for kids.
Through Summer EBT, families will receive approximately $40 per month per eligible child in grocery benefits. Children who are directly certified for free school meals through programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or Medicaid or who have applied for and were deemed eligible for free or reduced-price lunches will qualify for Summer EBT.
Summer EBT cards are fully funded by the federal government, although costs to administer the program are split between the state and the federal government. States were required to notify the USDA of their intention to implement the Summer EBT program in 2024 by Jan. 1.
Nearly 315,000 children in Arkansas may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits in 2024, according to estimates by the Food Research Action Center. The map below shows percentages of children deemed eligible for free or reduced-price lunches by school district in the 2022-23 school year. As the map demonstrates, district-wide eligibility ranges widely — from 21% to 98%.
The Summer EBT program was informed by previous demonstration waivers for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program and the Pandemic EBT program established during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The USDA cites the success of these programs in reducing child hunger and improving diet quality as the basis for Summer EBT.
Long-term implementation of COVID-era innovations and flexibilities was a recommendation cited in the Arkansas Governor’s Food Desert Working Group report. ACHI was a participant in the working group and helped to inform the recommendations cited in the report. ACHI has also developed an explainer on food deserts — areas where people have few to no convenient options for obtaining affordable and healthy foods — which are a contributor to food insecurity.
Food insecurity — defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food — is a major issue in Arkansas. Nearly 17% of Arkansas households were food-insecure between 2020-2022, the highest among all states and the District of Columbia. Nationally, approximately 11% of households were food-insecure during the same timeframe.
23 people arrested during two-day operation by state police in Crittenden County
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. – In just over a day, 23 people were arrested in Crittenden County, according to Arkansas State Police (ASP).
ASP said state police worked with the West Memphis Police Department, Marion Police Department and Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office in a 33-hour saturation of Crittenden County that started on Thursday, May 9. During that time, 372 citations were issued, and 23 people were arrested on charges including possession of guns, drugs, DWI and fleeing, according to state police.
Eleven guns were seized, two stolen vehicles were recovered and “a variety” of illegal drugs were confiscated, including Fentanyl, prescription drugs, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, ASP said.
Civic Arkansas Listening Sessions Begin May 9
The Institute has begun scheduling local listening sessions as part of the next phase of Civic Arkansas. We are excited to move into this phase of our work, seeking to learn directly from Arkansans. We will start with listening sessions in May at the following locations:
- Van Buren County: May 9 from 6-7:30 p.m.
- Van Buren Courthouse Annex at 1414 Hwy 65 S, Suite 131 in Clinton, AR
- Crittenden County: May 21 from 6-7:30 p.m.
- Eugene Woods Civic Center at 212 W Polk Avenue in West Memphis, AR
- Clark County: May 28 from 5:30-7 p.m.
- Henderson State University’s Garrison Grand Ballroom at 1100 Henderson St. in Arkadelphia, AR
- Faulkner County: May 30 from 5:30-7 p.m.
- Faulkner County Library at 1900 Tyler St. in Conway, AR
If you would like an invitation to one or any of these listening sessions, please fill out the brief form below.
The goal of each session is to engage as many people as possible from as many backgrounds as possible (e.g., social, economic, racial, and political). Each 90-minute listening session will be hosted by a local community partner and facilitated by Institute staff. We hope to hear about the magnificent work happening in towns, cities, and counties to improve the lives of Arkansans and build social connectedness. We hope to learn about barriers keeping individuals from volunteering, organizing neighborhood or community events, meeting city officials, participating in local government, and registering and exercising the right to vote.
Shana Chaplin, Chief Program Officer
“Local people solve local problems best. That belief drives us to listen and learn in order to then facilitate civil dialogue within communities and organizations as we seek solutions. The Arkansas Civic Health Index Report highlights our state’s strengths in collective impact, owing to the ‘small-townness’ of Arkansas. Only by continuing to engage each other in conversation and learning from one another can we maintain that path.”
What is Civic Arkansas?
Civic Arkansas is our latest initiative to amplify civic engagement across our beloved state. The insights from the Arkansas Civic Health Index Report drive the creation of this program. Until now, no published report has described the conditions of civic and political engagement in Arkansas. Following the report’s advice, we want to encourage civil conversations about important topics, and we have the perfect process to do so — the Rockefeller Ethic. We invite you to join us in making Arkansas a state known for its robust civic engagement.
Arkansas Supreme Court reverses West Memphis Three ruling, allows for DNA testing
The Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday to reverse a circuit court’s ruling could lead to additional DNA testing in the 31-year-old West Memphis Three murder case.
Damien Echols’ appeal to the state’s high court stems from his pursuit of exoneration. When three eight-year old boys were killed in 1993 in West Memphis, Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, all teens at the time, were convicted of their murders.
Echols was sentenced to death, but DNA testing later established that neither Echols, Baldwin nor Misskelley was the source of any of the biological material tested.
All three men were released from prison in 2011 after entering Alford pleas, receiving a time-served sentence plus 10 years’ suspended sentences. Echols has continued to maintain his innocence and sought exoneration.
In January 2022, Echols filed a petition to conduct additional DNA testing under Act 1780 of 2001, which permits those convicted of a crime to access new testing developed through technological advances to demonstrate their innocence.
The Crittenden County Circuit Court in June 2022 denied Echols’ petition, saying it could not grant habeas corpus relief because he was not in custody at the time of his petition. Habeas corpus requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or court.
Echols appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court, arguing that the plain language of the law provides that a person convicted of a crime may make a motion for additional testing.
Writing for the majority, Associate Justice Karen Baker agreed, saying that “it is clear that ‘any person…who has alleged actual innocence of the offense or offenses for which the person was convicted’ is entitled to petition for a writ of habeas corpus.”
“Therefore, we conclude that the circuit court misinterpreted the plain language of Act 1780 and, as a result, clearly erred when it dismissed Echols’s Act 1780 petition on the grounds that he was not in State custody at the time it was filed,” Baker wrote. “Accordingly, we reverse and remand.”
Special Justice Mary Carole Young joined the majority opinion, while Chief Justice Dan Kemp and Associate Justice Cody Hiland did not participate.
Associate Justices Shawn Womack and Barbara Webb, and Special Justice Marcia Hearnsberger dissented.
In her dissenting opinion, Webb said “the majority’s decision obliterates any sense of finality in our criminal justice system” because their interpretation of Act 1780 means anyone convicted of crime, regardless of whether they’re in state custody, could “seek DNA or other scientific testing even if it would not prove their innocence.”
Webb argued Echols was not entitled to habeas relief because he’s not in state custody and DNA testing would not prove his innocence because his first conviction didn’t rely on DNA evidence. Webb wrote that the jury was presented with evidence that Echols knew facts that weren’t public knowledge and multiple witnesses testified that Echols confessed to the murders.
“In reaching its decision, the majority ignores common sense and basic legal principles to embark on a fruitless endeavor to exonerate a depraved murderer,” Webb said. “Their decision only serves to reopen old wounds for the victims’ families and the West Memphis community.”
Additionally, Webb argued, Echols is not entitled to habeas relief because “his guilty plea constituted his trial, and his conviction is not subject to collateral attack.”
Regarding the 2011 Alford plea, Baker noted in the majority opinion that “unlike a traditional guilty plea, an admission of guilt is not inherent in an Alford plea.”
“As such, we disagree with the State that Echols’s Alford plea precluded him from later challenging his conviction on the grounds of actual innocence pursuant to Act 1780,” she wrote.
Echols said in a social media post Thursday that he hopes the court’s decision will help the case come to a resolution.
“Hopefully this will allow us to solve this case once and for all,” he said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported us for the past 31 years. I’ll keep you posted as things move forward.”
AMERICAN PICKERS to Film in Arkansas
The American Pickers are excited to return to Arkansas! They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit
television series throughout your area in June 2024.
AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History
Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques.
They are always excited to find historically significant or rare items, in addition to unforgettable Characters and
their collections.
As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics.
Along the way, they want to meet characters with amazing stories and fun items. They hope to give historically
significant objects a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. The Pickers
have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen
before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.
The American Pickers TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or
someone you know has a unique item, story to tell, and is ready to sell…we would love to hear from you! Please
note, the Pickers DO NOT pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums, or anything open to the
public.
If interested, please send us your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with
photos to:
americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184
facebook: @GotAPick
Ribbon cutting held for Arkansas’ newest solar energy center
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (WMC) – Community members and elected officials gathered in West Memphis, Arkansas, on Thursday to celebrate the commissioning of the state’s newest solar energy center.
According to city officials and the project developer, the Big Cypress Solar Energy Center will deliver 20 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to West Memphis Utility customers with the capacity to generate up to 180 megawatts of solar power.
“West Memphis Utilities is building a better Arkansas with innovative ways to give our customers reliable, affordable and sustainable power,” said West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon. “Energy generated at Big Cypress Solar Energy Center is a perfect example. It adds to our portfolio of energy technologies, while ensuring we get the most value from our clean energy investments.”
The facility began commercial operation in January 2024. 300 jobs were created during its construction.
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources built, owns, and operates the facility. The company is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and a world leader in battery energy storage.
NextEra Energy Resources is also developing the West Memphis Solar project.
“We are proud to work with the City of West Memphis to bring cost-effective, solar energy to its customers,” said Chelsea Howard, vice president of origination at NextEra Energy Resources. “This solar energy center will generate clean energy and at the same time provide significant tax revenue to Arkansas for years to come.”
The solar center is expected to add $7.9 million in tax revenue for Crittenden County over the next 35 years.