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06/05/2023

Weekend Arrest Reports:
6-05-23Stanley Extein - Erie, PA - 64 - poss. meth, cocaine/with purpose to deliverCory D. Kohler - Hot Springs - 34 - failure to comply with registration and reporting, hold for other agencyRoss W. Porter - BV - 41 - theft of property, driving on suspended/revoked DL, no proof of liability insurance, no seat beltJoe A. Serna - BV - 38 - public intoxBrian K. Snow - GF - 34 - obstructing Gov operations, public intoxKendall E. Willis - Huntsville - 42 - hold for other agency
6-04-23Edgar A. Edwards - St. Joe - 62 - FTA, bond surrenderJose A. Gonzalez - GF - 29 - court commitmentJacob T. C. Patrick - Harrison - 24 - FTAStuart M. Stroud - BV - 56 - DWI, no proof of insurance
6-03-23Lawrence J. Humphrey - Omaha - 36 - FTASteven P. King - Alpena - 38 - FTA, contempt of court, revocationRonnie G. Long - Huntsville - 47 - court commit x 2Alex D. McAlister - Exeter, Mo - 30 - court commit x 2Trenton W. Pardue - Lampe, Mo - 25 - FTA x 2Shawn M. Partee - Norfork - 44 - failure to register as sex offenderJunior Perez - GF - 33 - distributing/poss. view/ atter sex exp. cond., sexual assaultJohnny Roman - ES - 28 - court commitJames E/ Surett - Harrison - 58 - court commit
Special Drop Off Program for Parents Pursuing their Own Studies
Are you a parent or guardian pursuing your own studies? ExperiMentals Mondays at the Berryville Library can help! Beginning June 5, parents needing a little time to pursue their own studies or attend evening classes are welcome to drop their school-aged children off at the library on Monday evenings this summer. From 4 PM to 8 PM, library staff will provide supervision and lead fun activities to keep your child entertained and learning new things while you study. Parents will need to come into the library to sign their child in and out each Monday evening and provide contact information. “We are pleased to support parents pursuing additional education. The benefit of lifelong learning is well documented and researched and not only is it good for brain and mental health, but continuing education could also lead to beneficial career advancements while helping develop practical skills” stated Berryville Library Director Julie Hall. “This four-hour window each week provides parents needed time to focus on their studies and know their children are being well taken care of in an environment of learning.” Hall added. For more information on this program, contact the Berryville Public Library at 104 Spring St. in Berryville or call (870) 423-2323.
Summer Showcase Series at the Berryville PAC June 5, 2023
It’s a summer of peace, love, & shows at the Berryville High School Performing Arts Center! As part of the Berryville Library Summer Reading Program, offered free to all ages, special performers will be up on stage each Monday to entertain, educate, and inspire. All shows begin promptly at 1 pm and last about an hour. The shows are especially fun for families with kids ages 6 to 12. The shows are in addition to the many activities being offered throughout the summer at the Berryville Library. To view all the activities being offered through the Summer Reading Program, visit the website at berryvillelibrary.org. Here is the full summer lineup with all shows beginning promptly at 1:00 pm at BHS PAC: June 5: Ozark instruments and original songs bring the sounds of the Ozarks alive. Come listen to Still on the Hill perform voices in nature and see how we are all connected. June 12: Lions, tigers, and bears . . . probably not! But you will get to meet some very interesting animals up close and in person at this fun show by Animology! June 19: Watch a fun dance and learn a little about Mexican culture and history as the Ballet Folklorico Herencia de Mexico come to Berryville to perform and answer your questions! June 26: Science is Astounding! Join the Mad Science Lab to explore all sorts of chemical reactions and what happens when things all work together! July 10: Find your creative voice and draw some great pictures of your own with Rich Davis! Paper and pencils will be provided! July 17: Experience musical theater at its best with Carroll County’s own world-class Opera in the Ozarks’ special family performance of Cinderella! July 24: The Reading Magician will be here to end our summer with a special Fantastic Friends Magic Show. Come on out to laugh and be amazed one last time this summer! For more information on the Berryville Summer Reading Program or any additional information on the Summer Showcase Series at the BHS Performing Arts Center, contact the Berryville Library at (870) 423- 2323.
Elderly Cassville Man Struck by UTV
An 80-year-old man is in the hospital in serious condition after being hit by a UTV near Cassville Sunday night. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, it happened on Farm Road 1085 a little before 7:00 p.m. Troopers say the UTV was backing up, then lost control. It hit Cassville resident Walter Hasler, then hit a retaining wall. Hasler was flown to a Springfield hospital in serious condition. The driver of the UTV was not hurt.
Several State Libraries Join ACLU in Lawsuit
Several Arkansas libraries have joined with organizations including the ACLU to file a lawsuit against the state over a newly passed obscenity law they claim is a form of censorship that endangers librarians. The stated intent of Act 372 was to amend the law about obscene library materials to prevent distribution to minors. The lawsuit filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas challenges sections 1 and 5 of the act, arguing they violate the First and 14th constitutional Amendments regarding freedom of speech and equal protection. In a release announcing the lawsuit, the ACLU of Arkansas claimed one of the issues that need to be addressed is how the act would criminalize librarians providing what is considered material “harmful to minors” with up to a year in jail. The lawsuit argues that “inappropriate” is undefined and librarians could be penalized if a minor accidentally enters an adult section of the library. A 17-year-old high school student plaintiff in the case also states Act 372 limits her access to information. “To restrict the spaces I’ve accessed freely throughout my life is outrageous to me. I want to fight for our rights to intellectual freedom and ensure that libraries remain spaces where young Arkansans can explore diverse perspectives,” the student, Hayden Kirby, said. “By joining this lawsuit, I hope to make a difference in preserving the rights of youth like me across the state.” According to the ACLU, the group challenging the law includes Fayetteville Public Library, Eureka Springs Carnegie Library, Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), various individual librarians and readers, Arkansas Library Association (ArLA), Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries (AAAL), Freedom to Read Foundation, Inc. (FTRF), several bookstores and publishing associations, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 31 and is due to go into effect on August 1, notwithstanding any judicial delay.
ACH To Receive $5.9M
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is getting more than $5.9 million from the recent Miracle Day where more than 40 Children’s Miracle Network hospital partners across the region came together to raise the money. “We are grateful to each of our Children’s Miracle Network Hospital partners for their dedication in helping transform health care for the children of Arkansas and beyond,” said Taylor Speegle, executive director of philanthropy for Arkansas Children’s Foundation. “Thanks to the hard work of hundreds of volunteers across the region, the funds raised will stay local and help make children better today and healthier tomorrow.”
Shortage of Essential Drugs for Cancer Treatment
Across the country, the shortage of essential drugs used for cancer treatment is being felt by many but in Arkansas, officials with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said it’s doing everything it can to stay on top of it. UAMS officials said they have around 900 cancer patients. Assistant Director of Pharmacy Business Operations for UAMS, Chris Hutts said last December they got wind that a shortage would come, so they started to prepare for it right away. He says as of right now they have not run out of any cancer drug, but several drugs used for chemotherapy have been harder to get than most. Hutts said several things could be to blame. “A lot of it is probably the fallout from covid and disruptions of the supply chain and workforces, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and the factories that make them. A lot of the ingredients come from overseas, and we are just at a delay getting those,” Hutts said. He says he is working with clinicians to prioritize drugs for the patients most in need. “We do some dose rounding, making sure we don’t have any waste or any vials,” Hutts said. Hutts goes on to say they’re also making sure they have alternative plans for therapy options for patients just in case because the dangers of them not having any drugs for their treatment is risky. “Their therapy will be delayed, and it could have patient outcomes that are not favorable and so we do the best we can to find an alternative therapy,” Hutts said. He also says he is not sure how long the shortage will last which is why they are being very strategic to make sure they continue to provide cancer patients with the necessary treatment. A new study by Forbes found Arkansas is the second most financially disciplined state in the country. Forbes surveyed about 5,000 people nationwide on their personal financial situations. It found Arkansans and Coloradans are more likely to pay off their credit cards each month. The study found that: 80% of residents say they have a budget that directs all of their spending 41% always save a portion of their monthly income 82% report paying their credit card balance in full each month 55% say they regularly contribute money in a retirement account 67% report usually achieving financial goals (i.e. paying off student loan debt)
Lottery Scholarship Deadline set for July 1
July 1 is the deadline for students to apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship enrolling in a two- or four-year college or university in the fall. The Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship is available to traditional and non-traditional students regardless of their academic status, whether just graduating from high school, currently enrolled in college, enrolling in college for the first time, or re-enrolling after a period out of college. Since 2009, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) has helped raise more than $1.2 billion to fund more than 720,000 scholarships for students attending 52 Arkansas colleges and universities – both public and private. “The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery was started with the mission of helping Arkansas students pursue a higher education,” said Eric Hagler, ASL executive director. “We have never deviated from that objective and are proud that more than 92 cents of every dollar raised through the sale of lottery tickets goes to scholarships as well as prizes, retailer commissions and other expenses within our state.” To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be an Arkansas resident for at least 12 months before enrollment and receive at least a 19 on the ACT. To maintain scholarship eligibility, students must keep at least a 2.5 GPA Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship award amounts are as follows: Four-year college: Year 1 - $1,000; Year 2 - $4,000; Year 3 - $4,000; Year 4 - $5,000. Two-year college: Year 1 - $1,000; Year 2 - $3,000. The lottery also helps fund several other scholarships. To learn more about these scholarships, contact the Arkansas Department of Higher Education at 501- 371-2000 or apply at sams.adhe.edu.
Farmland Disappearing by the Millions of Acres
Farmland across the U.S. is disappearing by the millions of acres each decade by some estimates as sprawling urban development driven by rising housing costs pushes further into rural pastures. The farmland that still exists in the U.S. is heavily dedicated to growing plants that Americans can't consume—grass. That grass, accounting for more than 300 million acres now, feeds our livestock, provides sod for new development, and serves as a cover crop to protect soil health between harvests. Demand for major crops like corn and soybeans to feed Americans is only forecast by the USDA to grow in the coming decade, and demand for U.S. agricultural exports is expected to grow similarly. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the way people purchased and consumed food, placing renewed attention on an increasingly consolidated agricultural industry where family farms have been swallowed up by large food corporations. And after shifting behaviors caused massive economic swings in the U.S. and elsewhere, the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced food producers to once again account for yet another shock with so much of the world's grain capital taken offline by warfare. War and corporate interests aside, farms have also had to reckon with a changing climate. Wheat fields were once commonplace across the country, but drought conditions of late have caused farmers to give up growing the crop entirely. Agitated by climate change, the shortage of water in parts of the country coupled with higher interest rates and the ongoing war in Ukraine are making agricultural businesses harder to run profitably. To illustrate where American farms still persevere, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most farmland in Arkansas using data from the Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency. Farmers reported the data as mandated by participation in USDA income support programs, including Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage as well as loan assistance. Counties are ranked by total acres of farmland. In Arkansas, there are 8,549,170 acres of farmland, with common soybeans being the most common crop.
Hammerhead Worms Invading Arkansas
Hammerhead worms have invaded Arkansas and they're not friendly— experts have explained that the worms are actually toxic. While hammerhead worms aren't new to the state, this is the time of year when you might find them. An agriculture expert with the University of Arkansas said their broad head sets them apart, and added that they aren't your ordinary earthworms. "They have a toxin very similar to the puffer fish toxin," Dr. Vic Ford with the U of A Division of Agriculture said. Ford said the hammerhead worms can be dangerous to humans, pets, and especially to earthworms. "A lot of times they'll have stripes. But the head is the big thing. It's got like I call it a semicircle looks like something from a science fiction movie," Ford explained. Even touching one without gloves comes with risks. "If you handle one you can get the toxin absorbed through your skin. So that's a big negative," he added. If you accidentally touch a hammerhead worm, symptoms typically include mild skin irritation. Experts advise that you wash your hands or use a disinfectant immediately after touching one. If ingested by either pets or people, the worms can be poisonous, at which point you should seek immediate medical attention. The worms are reported to be in at least 10 counties in Arkansas, but Ford said there could be more statewide. "It can be found all the way from the north to the south, you know, from Missouri to Louisiana," he said. Ford said they prefer the warmth, but usually, you won't find them in direct sunlight. "They still need a lot of moisture. So they're under rocks or under flower pots or in other things where it's moist," he described. If you end up finding one, he said don't cut it up. "It's going to make a gazillion other worms. So that's not what you want to do," he explained. Instead, he recommended that people use salt or vinegar to get rid of them. "I'm sure as people start watering their flowerpots and moisture accumulates under mulch and stuff, I think people will start seeing him again," he said.
State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Bryan King June 2, 2023
The state Division of Workforce Services will close nine offices around the state. The closings are part of an overall restructuring of state offices that used to administer welfare programs known as Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA). Under Act 832 of 2023, approved by the legislature earlier this year, people who need TEA will apply at local offices of the Department of Human Services. The legislature transferred the TEA offices to streamline the process of determining whether applicants are eligible for assistance. The Department of Human Services administers several other programs to benefit low-income families, such as Medicaid and food stamps. Workforce Services is the state’s main employment agency, helping people find jobs and file for unemployment insurance. The Division hosts job fairs and operates adult education to teach skills. The transfer of TEA from Workforce Services to DHS will take effect July 1, which is the beginning of the new fiscal year. It will require the transfer of 164 employees from Workforce Services to DHS. Those employees will keep their current salaries. A spokesman for Workforce Services said that the nine offices being closed are “underutilized.” The offices are in Arkadelphia, Batesville, Benton, Blytheville, Camden, Helena, Magnolia, Mountain Home and Rogers. Workforce Services will continue to help people in those cities with eight mobile centers and by using more thorough and efficient technology. The Workforce Services Division has created a job seeker data base, which allows Division staff to contact people directly. It is part of a national trend to maintain fewer “bricks and mortar” buildings and instead rely on technology, the Division’s director said. The legislature enacted another new law that will affect people who apply for public assistance. It is Act 266, which reduces the lifetime limit for cash benefits from two years to one year, for households with adults who are able to work. It takes effect on August 1. More than half of the people receiving cash benefits from the state have been doing so for more than 18 months. The act will not affect children who live in a household in which no adult is able to work. Act 675 of 2023 will affect people who qualify for food stamps, which is known as SNAP. That stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The act raises the threshold for eligibility known as the asset limit, which could be in the form of a savings account, a motor vehicle or other type of property. The asset limit had been $2,250 for most families, and $3,500 for families with someone older than 60 years or a family member with a disability. Act 675 allows the asset limit to go up to $5,500. The act was approved with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Legislative supporters of Act 675 say that it recognizes the impact of inflation on low-income families. For example, they can now save up for a car valued at $5,500 and still remain eligible for food stamps. In most parts of Arkansas, access to a decent car is a necessity for getting to and from work.

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06/02/2023

Arrest Reports 06/02:
Elijah E. Garcia Hernandez - BV - 21 - driving on suspended or revoked DL, tampering with interlock device, DWI, no proof of liability insurance, careless/prohibited driving, minor in possession, FTA x 2, no driver's licenseEdward G. Hoepfner - Springdale - 42 - driving on suspended DL, no insurance, mirror required, improper display of tags, hold for other agencyJason J. Koeffler - ES - 47 - simultaneous possession of drug and firearm, poss. of firearm by certain person, poss. of controlled substance, poss. drug paraphernaliaTyler K. Schanke - GF - 27 - poss. of controlled substance, drug paraphernaliaDavid J. Storman - GF - 40 - FTA x 2Jamie L. Wheeler - BV - 30 - court appearance
Berryville and Green Forest Students Earn Academic Honors at NAC
Students recently named to the Dean's List for full-time and part-time students for the spring 2023 semester at North Arkansas College in Harrison, include: Berryville - Garrett Bryant 4.0, Sarah Callas, Jason Garcia 4.0, Mariana Hernandez Trujillo, Brayden Hill 4.0, Alyssa Lee 4.0, Malia McEnaney, Jamie Nunez 4.0, Angelica Olaer and Lucia Reyes. Green Forest - Kyla Clark, Collin Delavin, Kimberly Martin 4.0, Cameron Naas, Margret Thibodeaux 4.0, Madelon Youngblood and Myndy Zamora.
Two Cassville Teens Killed in Motorcycle Crash
Two Cassville teens died Wednesday night in a motorcycle wreck at 8:31 p.m. on Highway 248, one mile east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Rylan Wilson, 19, of Cassville, was driving a 2017 Harley Davidson Breakout motorcycle eastbound when the vehicle lost control, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck an embankment, ejecting both occupants. The passenger on the motorcycle, a 14-year-old juvenile, of Cassville was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:40 p.m. by Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen. Wilson was transported to Mercy Hospital in Springfield and was pronounced dead by Dr. Robert Johnson at 10:09 p.m. It is unknown if either were wearing safety devices, and the motorcycle was totaled. These are the 42nd and 43rd fatalities of the year for Troop D of the Patrol, which covers 18 counties in southwest Missouri, including Barry.
Cassville Doctor's Death Being Investigated as Homicide
The Forsyth family is thanking the community for support as they wait to hear more from investigators about what happened to Dr. John Forsyth. Law enforcement in Arkansas are investigating John’s death as a homicide and said the body was found with a gunshot wound in Beaver Lake. “He had no guns,” Richard Forsyth said. “I talked to him about that. He didn’t want to have a gun.” But closure, Richard said, can’t happen until the family has more answers about what happened to their loved one. “We need to get to the bottom of this,” Richard said. “We need to find out what happened. We’re not satisfied with just that he was found. This kind of barbaric behavior has to be uncovered. We, this has to be dealt with.” John’s employer, Mercy Hospitals, issued a statement, saying in part: “We invite everyone to join us in praying for Dr. Forsyth’s family, our co-workers and the entire community impacted by this tragedy. We are providing emotional and spiritual support to our co-workersthrough our employee assistance program, pastoral care team and other resources.” Richard said the family is appreciative of the support from the community, too. “The community support has been overwhelming. And we are so grateful for everyone who has supported us,” Richard said. “The, the outpouring of love, the messages of love and affection and concern and devastation are very reflective of the kind of person he was.”Richard also spoke with authorities in Arkansas today, and he said they told him they are investigating the death of John Forsyth as a homicide. “At this point, it looks like he was abducted and killed and thrown into a lake,” Richard said. “Just looking at it from my point of view, that’s what it seems like.” Meanwhile, Missouri law enforcement are still investigating the missing person’s case to try to figure out how he went missing in the first place, according to Richard Forsyth. According to the release, Dr. Forsyth was found in the water near the Lost Bridge South area with a gunshot wound.
Tyson Donating Food to A Veteran Resource Group
Tyson Foods is set to donate 40,000 pounds of food to a veteran resource group in celebration of Memorial Day. The company will be donating the food, consisting of chicken wings and chicken breasts, at a community event at Charlie and Willie George Park in Springdale on June 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. “Tyson Foods has several business resource groups supporting team members. The Veterans Business Resource Group (VBRG) is comprised of veterans or people who care about veterans and are committed to enhancing Tyson Foods and our community by supporting veterans and their families. The group is partnering with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to distribute protein to citizens,” a release from Tyson said. Tyson says that attendees are not required to be veterans in order to receive donations. “Donations will be distributed in a drive-thru line in the parking lot adjacent to the tennis court near E. Don Tyson Parkway. Drivers are asked to make space in their trunk, back seat or truck bed for the donation to be placed,” the release said. Any food not donated by the end of the event will go to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.
Crawford County Women File Library Censorship Lawsuit In Western District of Arkansas
Some Crawford County residents have filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit in response to what the lawsuit describes as unlawful censorship of material in county libraries. Rebecka Virden, Nina Prater and Samantha Rowlett filed the suit Friday in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Arkansas and followed up with an amended complaint Tuesday. The suit, filed on behalf of Virden, Prater, Rowlett and their minor children, names Crawford County, County Judge Chris Keith, members of both the county Quorum Court and library board and Eva White, the county library system's interim director, as defendants in their official capacities. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of restricting the residents' right to receive certain information from the library in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and, by extension, federal law. The information consists of children's books with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning subject matter. The Quorum Court began a series of actions late last year and earlier this year that led to the stigmatization of the books, according to the lawsuit. The books had a prominent color label placed on them and were moved out of the children's section of their respective libraries to a separate "social section" containing books for all ages.
DFA Puts Halt On Certain Custom Tags
Personalized license plates can add a unique custom touch for many drivers, but state officials have had to put the brakes on some custom tags sought by Arkansas drivers. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration issues about 50,000 personalized plates yearly for some of its 2.7 million registered vehicles. DFA spokesperson Scott Hardin said roughly 4,000 to 5,000 new personalized plate applications are made to the agency annually. Not every application for a personalized plate is approved. Personalized plate applications run through a multi-step process and some requests are denied. The first step is an automated application review. The automated review will reject plates that appear on a list of letter and number combinations the DFA maintains. Details on those automated rejections are not tracked, Hardin said. “The majority of our denials are automatic,” he said.Hardin explained that of the new personalized plate applications, another 600 or so are rejected each year in the second step of the review process. Here, each application is reviewed by the DFA vehicle team to catch any attempts to skirt restrictions by creatively using letters and numbers in what he called “an inappropriate combination.” Hardin stressed that no one individual determines if a plate is acceptable. Instead, DFA has multiple employees review applications, and reviewers are expected to remain aware of new words and phrases. Hardin said that if a plate does slip by the review process, it can be recalled. A personalized plate may have up to seven characters, either letters or numbers. The application has a $25 fee and an additional $25 for the yearly renewal of a personalized plate. A personalized license plate application may be made online at the DFA website.
Fewer Lifeguards on Duty for the Summer
Following the Memorial Day holiday, more Americans will soon be confronting a years-long summertime problem: fewer lifeguards on duty, particularly raising significant safety issues. A shortage in lifeguards has been ongoing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with a third of the more than 300,000 public U.S. pools being affected, according to the American Lifeguard Association. Bernard Fisher, the director of health and safety for the group, told Axios that the pandemic “wiped the slate of certified lifeguards completely clean.” Lifeguards need to be recertified every two years, which also could be contributing to the shortage. The shortages might cause thousands of pools to be closed or operate on reduced hours throughout the summer. Adam Katchmarchi, the executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, said that drownings had been dropping since 2020, but they started to increase again with the onset of the pandemic. He said he is worried that some facilities will decide to remain open even if they do not have enough lifeguards to ensure safety. “Unfortunately, we can’t say until we get probably five to six years’ worth of data that a new trend has been established, but all signs point that our drowning numbers are remaining steady post-COVID at this higher rate,” he told Axios. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 4,000 unintentional drownings happen in the United States every year, roughly 11 a day. The average age-adjusted drowning death rate from 2016 to 2020 was 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people. Children aged 4 and under have the highest drowning rates, the CDC says, and most of those deaths occur in swimming pools. Some states had as many as three or four deaths per 100,000, while others had less than one.
CDC Looks at Rates of Unhealthy Habits
Whether it’s which state has the worst crime rate or the best housing market, the outcome is open to interpretation depending on the data chosen and how it’s used in the process. But using information available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the company MedicalAid.com looked at the rates of unhealthy habits using alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, obesity levels, and STD rates to come up with a list of the most unhealthy states in the U.S. with Missouri coming in 3rd and Arkansas 5th. Louisiana was the most unhealthy state, followed by South Dakota, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio, Alabama, Indiana, and South Carolina. “While Missouri didn’t have the highest score in any one factor, all of the bad habits we looked at were more common here than in the majority of other states. Missouri had the 10th highest rates of cigarette smoking and obesity, while also having the 11th highest rate of physical inactivity.” According to the CDC, the study explained that if your body mass index (BMI) is 30.0 or higher, you classify as clinically obese. Being obese puts you at a heightened risk of various conditions and ailments, such as heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, while also being shown to negativelyimpact mental health. Smoking contributes to 480,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. Tobacco-related diseases cost more than $300 million annually in medical care and lost productivity nationwide, and in the Springfield area, it costs employers more than $222,000 annually. The CDC defines binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks on one occasion for men and four or more for women. The CDC states that excessive binge drinking is one example of an increased risk of injuries, chronic diseases such as liver disease and heart disease, several cancers, and poor pregnancy outcomes. The obesity problem is certainly not unique to Missouri and Arkansas. The MedicalAid.com study also put together world rankings, and the U.S. had the highest rate of obesity (36.2 percent) of any country. The U.S. ranked fourth in overall unhealthy habits behind Bulgaria, Latvia, and Argentina. You can look at the full study of the U.S. and world results at medicalaid.com/unhealthy-habits.

06/01/2023

Arrest Reports 06/01:
Keith E. Dobbs - BV - 34 - FTAManty Esli - Huntsville - 49 - FTAJohn F. Greenwell - BV - 32 - FTADarlene M. Haup - Golden, Mo - 35 - FTA x 2Justin R. McCalister - ES - 44 - public intox, disorderly conductTyler K. Schanke - GF - 27 - no charge listedTrevor A. Studyvin - Alpena - 35 - FTA
Body of Missing Cassville ER Doctor Found in NWA
The body of a Missouri emergency room doctor who has been missing for more than a week has been found in northwest Arkansas, his brother told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Dr. John Forsyth was last heard from in text messages around 7 a.m. May 21. His brother, Richard Forsyth said authorities called the family Tuesday night to say his brother was found deceased. He provided no other details. John Forsyth, 49, was last heard from in text messages around 7 a.m. May 21. Police said he was reported missing when he failed to show up for work later that day at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, a town of 3,100 residents deep in the Missouri Ozarks. His black Infiniti was found parked in a remote area near an aquatic park in Cassville. The car was unlocked with his wallet, two phones and a laptop inside. Several law enforcement agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, searched about a 9-mileradius around the park using people, dogs and drones. Forsyth’s family set up a Facebook page seeking information. Richard Forsyth said the last person his brother texted with was a woman to whom his brother had recently gotten engaged. The last time Richard saw him was a few days before he went missing. “We had dinner Wednesday before he disappeared, and we sat and talked for three hours,” Richard Forsyth said. “I told him this is the happiest I’d seen him in a long time. His divorce was final May 11, and I think that gave him energy for future.” Police have said there were no signs of foul play. Richard Forsyth said his brother had been at the Cassville hospital for about 15 years. He described John Forsyth as a doting father, family physician and part-time math nerd.
Teen Dies in Fall at Petit Jean State Park
A teen died after a fall at Petit Jean State Park over the weekend, state officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon. A release from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism stated the 17-year-old died from injuries sustained after falling from a large rock near the Bear Cave Trail. Around 4 p.m. on Saturday, park authorities said they were alerted that a child had fallen in the park and was struggling to breathe. When park rangers arrived, they said they found the teen in a tight crevice between two cliffs off the trail. Rangers worked to stabilize the teen and free them from the crevice. The teen was then taken to a local airport to be flown to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock but later died due to injuries from the fall. Park rangers later returned to the trail to rescue the teen’s uninjured friends who were stranded on the rock. Around 8 p.m., both of the uninjured miners were rescued and reunited with their families. There has been no official release of the victim’s identity at this time.
Arkansas Medical Marijuana Sales Surpass $100M
Arkansas has now surpassed $100 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana. Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration spokesperson Scott Hardin said patients spent $23.9 million on medical marijuana in April, purchasing 5,043 pounds. Those sales produced $2.85 million in tax revenue, enough to put the state over the $100 million total tax revenue figure. The latest figures show an increase in medical marijuana sales in the Natural State. In the first four months of 2023, $94.4 million was spent on 18,847 pounds of medical marijuana by patients, Hardin said. For the same period in 2022, $89.8 million was spent. DFA records show patients spent an average of $787,000 daily at the state’s 38 dispensaries. Arkansas currently has 94,282 active patient cards, according to the state’s Department of Health. For April, Suite 443 dispensary in Hot Springs sold the largest amount of marijuana at 537 pounds. Natural Relief Dispensary in Sherwood was just behind this figure at 477 pounds for the month.
AG Griffin Files Emergency Motion for Stay and Expedited Consideration of LEARNS Act
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has filed an Emergency Motion for Stay and Expedited Consideration in the latest legal challenge against the new sweeping education law in the state. On Friday, Pulaski County Judge Herbert Wright granted a temporary restraining order until June 20. The decision came as a result of a lawsuit filed by attorney Ali Noland several weeks ago, based on the emergency clauses passed with the law. At the time of filing the suit, Noland said the goal was to pump the brakes on the law being applied too soon. She said she represents a group of citizens wanting enough time to potentially repeal the law, and a group from the Marvell Elaine School District who want to prevent LEARNS from prematurely allowing the district to be taken over by a charter school. “Both of those groups are suing to stop the Department of Education, the Secretary of Education, the State Board of Education and the state of Arkansas from applying the LEARNS Act before the date that it should go into effect,” Noland said. Griffin, however, said freezing the law means putting parts of it that benefit Arkansans right away on hold as well. He said this keeps schools from being able to prepare for the upcoming school year and changes that will be made under LEARNS, and it could potentially result in schools having to start late. “The judge’s order last week freezes the educational system that needs to prepare for the fall and has the consequence of denying pay raises, denying maternity leave for teachers...” Griffin said. Noland said the emergency clauses in the law were passed unconstitutionally, though Griffin said there is no aspect whatsoever of the law that he cannot defend. “We are vigorously defending it,” Griffin said. “It is constitutional- what was passed... consistent with the practices of the House and Senate for decades.” Griffin also said that while he has been a supporter of LEARNS as a voter, he is focusing on his legal role in this case. When it comes to that legal role, Griffin said he believes the Arkansas Supreme Court will rule in his favor and appeal the temporary restraining order that has been signed off on by that judge.
Dept. of Energy Cyber Security Invests in UA Little Rock Research
A $1 million federal investment in UA Little Rock will allow students to broaden their research into cyberattacks against energy systems. The university announced Tuesday that it had received the award from the Department of Energy’s Office of Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. The funding will be used to expand the Little Rock-based Forge Institute’s Emerging Threat Information Sharing and Analysis Center to fight cyberattacks in the energy sector, such as electric utilities. The Forge Institute is a nonprofit cybersecurity organization working through public-private partnerships. A university representative said 10 students from UA Little Rock and the University of Arkansas would work with center members to conduct threat analysis. Representatives said Forge Institute analysis center members would develop and deploy simulations to train and test defensive measures to enhance protection against cyberattacks. UA Little Rock will expand the UA Little Rock Cyber Arena, a cloud-based cybersecurity education and training platform, to provide an online learning environment where community members can access these simulations on demand. The energy sector is an especially attractive target for cyber attacks, UA Little Rock assistant professor of cybersecurity Philip Huff said. “The energy sector, and electric utilities, in particular, are on the front lines when it comes to nation-state cybersecurity attacks,” Huff said. “They are often among the first targeted because they provide criticalservices to society and are relied on by all other critical infrastructure sectors. It is especially important that we have cybersecurity protections for these services in place.” The cybersecurity project was endorsed by Arkansas Sen. John Boozman.
Missouri Highway Patrol Reports 10 People Died in Traffic Crashes Over Memorial Day
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 10 people died in traffic crashes over the Memorial Day weekend. The weekend counting period is 6 p.m. Friday, May 26 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 29. According to the highway patrol, troopers investigated the following over the holiday weekend:Traffic statisticsCrashes - 314Injuries - 102Fatalities - 10DWI - 130Drug arrests - 14Boating statisticsCrashes - 6Injuries - 3Fatalities - 0Drowning - 0BWI - 7Drug arrests - 0Troopers investigated all of the deadly crashes. Two of the deaths happened in both the Troop B and Troop I area. One death happened in each of the following areas: Troop A, Troop C, Troop D, Troop E, Troop G and Troop H.
Problems Reported by Government of Freightliner Semi's
The U.S. government’s highway safety agency is investigating complaints that the automatic emergency braking on big Freightliner semis can stop the trucks unexpectedly for no apparent reason. It’s at least the third recent investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into glitches with the technology, which has the potential to save lives because it can make vehicles stop or slow down for stopped or slowed traffic. The probe covers about a quarter-million trucks made by Daimler from the 2017 through 2022 model Years. The agency says in documents posted on its website Tuesday that it has 18 complaints from owners alleging that brakes on Freightliner Cascadia trucks can come on without an obstacle in the road. The reports say the trucks can brake without warning or any input from the driver. The braking ranges from partial application with little loss of speed to full application, bringing the trucks to a complete stop on the road. The agency says it tested one of the trucks and it stopped for a steel trench plate on the road. Daimler Trucks said the trench plate does not represent real-world driving. NHTSA says it will determine whether the braking problem is an unreasonable risk to safety. The complaints don’t cite any crashes or injuries due to the problem.
Scientists/Tech Industry Leaders Warn of Perils of Artificial Intelligence to Humankind
Scientists and tech industry leaders, including high-level executives at Microsoft and Google, issued a new warning Tuesday about the perils that artificial intelligence poses to humankind. “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war,” the statement said. Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist known as the godfather of artificial intelligence, were among the hundreds of leading figures who signed the statement, which was posted on the Center for AI Safety’s website. Worries about artificial intelligence systems outsmarting humans and running wild have intensified with the rise of a new generation of highly capable AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. It has sent countries around the world scrambling to come up with regulations for the developing technology, with the European Union blazing the trail with its AI Act expected to be approved later this year. The latest warning was intentionally succinct — just a single sentence — to encompass a broad coalition of scientists who might not agree on the most likely risks or the best solutions to prevent them, said Dan Hendrycks, executive director of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Center for AI Safety, which organized the move. “There’s a variety of people from all top universities in various different fields who are concerned by this and think that this is a global priority,” Hendrycks said. “So we had to get people to sort of come out of the closet, so to speak, on this issue because many were sort of silently speaking among each other.” More than 1,000 researchers and technologists, including Elon Musk, had signed a much longer letter earlier this year calling for a six-month pause on AI development, saying it poses “profound risks to society and humanity.” By contrast, the latest statement was endorsed by Microsoft’s chief technology and science officers, as well as Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google’s AI research lab DeepMind, and two Google executives who lead its AI policy efforts. The statement doesn’t propose specific remedies but some, including Altman, have proposed an international regulator along the lines of the U.N. nuclear agency. Some critics have complained that dire warnings about existential risks voiced by makers of AI have contributed to hyping up the capabilities of their products and distracting from calls for more immediate regulations to rein in their real-world problems.

05/31/2023

Arrest Reports 05/31:
Jimmy D. Guess - BV - 55 - revocation, FTA x 3Jason M. Kurczek - BV - 42 - Act 570Cody L. Martin - ES - 35 - forgery compounding fleeing, reckless drivingIsaias Martinez-Ordonez - GF - 36 - no charge listedMelissa L. Murray - Moutnain Home - 31 - FTA x 2Brian O. Treat - Springdale - 22 - FTAJonathan Wynn - BV - 30 - Act 570
Smith Family Funeral Home Debuts Veterans Wall
Photo: L to R Rick Smith, Steve Smith, Sheila Smith, Kathy Smith and Jim Smith. A very special ceremony took place last Friday at Smith Family Funeral Home in Green Forest. Present for the ceremony were numerous veterans, elected officials, interested citizens, members of the Smith Family and those who had a hand in constructing the Wall of Remembrance. The Smith Family debuted the Veterans Wall of Remembrance, named after Jim Smith, co- owner and founder of the funeral home. Jim Smith's son, Rick Smith, led the ceremony and here's excerpts from that ceremony.
ATV Crash in Madison County Kills a Woman
A Siloam Springs woman is dead after an ATV crash in Madison County, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety reports. The crash took place on Friday, May 26 at around 7:15 p.m. according to the report. Officials that 21-year-old Destiny Smith was driving a 2019 Polaris Rzr ATV southbound on Madison 7855 County Road when she lost control. This caused the ATV to overturn and roll "several times" before ending up in a ditch.
Hot Springs Teens Arrested for Kidnapping
Three people suspected of allegedly kidnapping a Hot Springs man were arrested Saturday. Hot Springs Police Department officials said 18-year-olds Nathaniel Speed, Alexia Chambers and a third juvenile suspect were arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of 20-year-old Amir Ellis. Authorities said Ellis was reported missing to the HSPD on Wednesday, May 17. Investigators assumed the case and began interviewing friends and family. Through the course of the investigation, investigators said they identified Speed, Chambers and the juvenile as suspects and developed a probable location for them in Fort Smith. With the help of the Fort Smith Police Department, police arrested the three. Investigators said Ellis has still not been found and the case remains under investigation. All three suspects are facing charges of kidnapping and are being held on a $1 million bond.
Walmart Kicks off Associate and Shareholders Week
Walmart Inc.’s annual Associate and Shareholders Week kicks off this week! Northwest Arkansas will welcome thousands of Walmart employees from across the world. This year the shareholders’ meeting will be virtual at 10:30 a.m. CDT on May 31. The company will welcome shareholders on June 1, with store tours and a dinner reception in Northwest Arkansas, according to a news release. Throughout the week, Walmart members will visit and enjoy areas such as Bud Walton Arena, the Walmart AMP, and other areas that were built and founded by the Walton family. To celebrate Walmart associates, a free concert for associates will feature Salt-N-Peppa and Billy Idol. Along with celebrities that will show up at the Friday Associate Celebration.
Credit Card Debt Passes $1Trillion
America’s credit card balance has passed $1 trillion, or it’s about to, depending on whom you ask. The average interest rate on a new card is 24 percent, the highest figure since the Reaganomics era. A typical American household now carries $10,000 in credit card debt, by one estimate, another record. If that doesn’t sound like a lot of debt, try paying it off. At $250 per month, with 24 percent interest, you’ll be making payments until 2030, and you’ll spend a total of $20,318, twice what you owed. And that assumes you never use the card again. “It’s hard to build wealth when you’re paying 20 percent interest every month,” said Ted Rossman, asenior industry analyst at Bankrate.com. The nation’s credit card debt stands at $986 billion, according to the Federal Reserve. The figure has climbed by $250 billion in two years. Some other estimates range higher. A WalletHub report put total card debt at $1.2 trillion at the end of 2022. Just two years ago, the national credit card narrative seemed headed in the opposite direction. Card balances declined from about $850 billion at the start of 2020 to less than $750 billion in the spring of 2021, a time of pandemic penny-pinching and federal stimulus-payment largesse. And then, everything changed. Spending picked up. Saving slowed down. The Federal Reserve commenced an unprecedented campaign of interest rate hikes. Credit card debt rose by $86 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, the largest increase on record. The average credit card interest rate stands at 20.92 percent. Just last spring, the average card rate was 16.65 percent. Credit card customers fall into two distinct camps: those who pay off their balance every month, and those who do not. For consumers who never carry a balance, the interest rate doesn’t really matter, because they aren’t paying it. But that group is shrinking. Forty-six percent of cardholders carry debt from month to month, up from 39 percent a year ago, Bankrate reports. Credit card balances typically recede in the first months of the year, as consumers leverage holiday guilt, year-end bonus funds and early tax refunds to pay down their cards. This year, that didn’t happen: The national credit card debt remained essentially flat.
Kudzu is Major Pest Throughout Midwest
One of the country’s most notorious invasive plants is expected to become a major pest throughout the Midwest. A study published earlier this year by researchers at Purdue University-Fort Wayne identified the Great Lakes as the next frontier for kudzu. Kudzu is a hearty vine that was first brought to the United States from Asia as an ornamental plant and was eventually used for erosion control. In addition to its meaty vines, kudzu produces large, fragrant purple flowers and brown, hairy seed pods. It quickly grew out of control and was removed from the list of acceptable species in the Agricultural Conservation Program. By 1998, Congress listed it as a “noxious weed” and it is now commonly known as “the vine that ate the South.” The Nature Conservancy said kudzu vines can grow up to a foot per day and mature vines can reach upwards of 100 feet. Kudzu also spreads quickly because of the unique way it develops root systems. Unlike other plants that rely on wind or animals to spread seeds, kudzu grows on its own. Kudzu growth drowns out other plant life, creating a cascading impact across the ecosystem. Since first being introduced more than a century ago, kudzu is now commonly found all across the southern U.S. and most of the eastern seaboard. According to a report from the Great Lakes Echo, there are confirmed infestations in northern Ohio and northern Indiana, and in five Michigan counties. Because of the large gaps in the established infestations, Marshall believes that kudzu was brought to Michigan communities unintentionally by humans, not through natural expansion. Kudzu grows long, fragrant purple flowers. (Courtesy University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health) The fight against kudzu will only get harder as the climate around the Great Lakes continues to warm. The plant thrives in areas with hot summers and mild winters. Kudzu seeds can survive for several years in the ground, so depending on the size of the infestation, it could take several years of pulling and monitoring to truly kill it off.

05/30/2023

Weekend Arrest Reports:
5-30-23Stacy M. Clark - Oak Grove - 46 - FTA x 3Deanna Cleland - BV - 22 - domestic batteryJesse G. Coger - Huntsville - 22 - obstructing Gov ops - FTA x 2Joshua Farrell - BV - 34 - no charge listedBryan J. Moss - BV - 45 - no proof of insurance, hold for other agencyClayton M. Shinn - Huntsville - 26 - driving on suspended DL, no proof of liability insuranceBrian L. Williams - Huntsville - 42 - FTA x 3, hold for Boone County
5-29-23Austin Chunn - Fayetteville - 33 - FTAJoshua W. Fritz - GF - 37 - revocation, FTA contemptDouglas L. Gage - GF - 30 - FTAGary D. Grose - BV - 40 - violation of protection orderTerry D. Townland - Oak Grove - 39 - batteryBrandon E. Young - Omaha - 30 - public intox
5-28-23Crystal H. Anderson - GF - 23 - endangering welfareof minor, no driver's licenseAdela M. Avila - GF - 22 - DWI, contributing to delinquency of minor, speeding, violation of interlock deviceAldair F. Bolanos - Dqardanelle - 29 - public intoxMichelle L. Carrico - BV - 40 - criminal mischief, public intoxChristopher J. Conner - GF - 40 - FTA, contempt of courtCharles W. Donaldson - GF - 43 - FTA x 2, contempt of courtAntonio M. French - BV - 39 - residential burglary, domesti batteryJeffery D. Generaux - BV - 41 - obstructing Gov operations, resisting arrestJose A. Gonzalez - GF - 29 - court commit, hold for Boone Co.Gary D. Grose - BV - 40 - violationof protection orderPatricia L. Hughes - GF - 33 - battery, bond surrender x 2Scott G. Logan - GF - 39 - FTABrandon E. Young - Omaha - 30 - public intox
5-27-23Cameron Carpenter - Ava. Mo - 47 - FTAJose L. Chicas-Alonzo - BV - 30 - domestic battery, endangering welfareof minorHarley K. Fields - BV - 28 - FTADillon R. Jackson - ES - 26 - FTA x 2Jason M. Kurczek - BV - 42 - DWI, driving on suspended DL, poss. of open containerRonnie G. Long - Huntsville - 47 - court commit x 2Alex D. Mcalister - Exeter, Mo - 30 - court commit, hold for other agencyJolean M. McLean - GF - 37 - FTa, drivingon suspended DLJohnny Roman - ES - 28 - court commit x 2Robin Shewmaker - ES - 59 - hold for other agencyJames E. Surrett - Harrison - 58 - c9urt commitmentchristopher S. Wheeler - N. Little Rock - 30 - FTA
Summer Reading Program Sign-Ups Begin
It’s time for a summer of peace, love, and reading at the Berryville Library! Prepare for fun games and groovy times all summer long. Sign-ups begin May 30 at the library located at 104 Spring Street in Berryville. Reading is important no matter what your age. This year the library presents reading challenges for all ages based on games we all love. For the young ones, it will be a game of chase. For the kids, it will be a race to see who can get the most Bingos. And for those a bit older, it will be a battle of the books. For all, there will be plenty of choices and plenty of chances to spread some peace, love, and good vibes. There is no fee to participate, and the library encourages readers and listeners of all ages to sign up to help us nurture a culture of reading for all in our community. It will also be a summer of peace, love, and shows at the Berryville Library with special programming in June and July. Every Monday at 1 PM the Berryville Library will present a special stage show at the Berryville High School Performing Arts Center. Artists and performers from near and far will be up on stage to entertain, educate, and inspire. The shows are free and will last about an hour. It will be fun for all ages, but especially for families with kids ages 6 to 12. This summer showcase series kicks off with a special family-friendly concert by folk duo Still on the Hill. Wednesdays at 1 PM, if you are 6 or older, you won’t want to miss Camp Create at the library. This special two-hour program will be all about making and creating. There will be a different focus each week, giving participants a chance to explore their talents in graphic design, toy making, pillow sewing, filmmaking, and more! All supplies are provided, and there is no cost to participate. And, as a special bonus, area businesses have donated food coupons and the Friends of the Berryville Library have provided financial support to make sure that there will be plenty of prizes and some fun surprises to be given out all summer long!Registration starts May 30. Children who sign up and complete one level of reading by June 10 will earn a free armband at this year’s Ice Cream Social, good for entrance to the Kiddie Corral and one scoop of ice cream. For more information visit www.berryvillelibrary.org/Summer or visit the Berryville Public Library. The library is open seven days a week and has active Facebook and Instagram pages.
Two Juveniles Identified for Boone County Fire
Boone County authorities have identified two juveniles as suspects involved in a fire at the Sugarloaf Wastewater Treatment facility. According to Boone County Sheriff Roy Martin, criminal charges against the alleged juveniles are being reviewed, along with continuing follow-up efforts. Sheriff Martin says there is evidence that led authorities to believe the fire was intentionally set. Authorities say the juveniles are believed to be responsible for other crimes in that area. In late April, a fire broke out at the plant, damaging it and leading to partially treated wastewater leaking into the East Sugarloaf Creek area of Bull Shoals Lake. Repair work on the wastewater treatment plant is in progress. The Arkansas Department of Health recommends avoiding primary body contact with the water in the area of Lake Bull Shoals, beginning at Nelson Cove on the East Sugarloaf Creek arm of the Lake and continuing downstream along East Sugarloaf Creek to the main channel of Bull Shoals Lake. This issue does not affect a drinking water source. The Sugarloaf Water Board referred us to its attorney. He said he couldn’t comment on when plant repairs would be done or if future contamination will be a problem.
MHP Sees 30% Increase of Motorcycle Crashes
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, but it’s also when law enforcement starts to see an increase in motorcycle crashes. The Missouri Highway Patrol has already seen a 30% increase in motorcycle crashes this year compared to last year. As the weather warms up, more motorcycles are hitting the road, and troopers fear they will see even more deaths. Last year Missouri Highway Patrol reported 28 motorcycle deaths. This year there have already been 36 cyclists killed in a crash. Half of those riders were not wearing a helmet when the crash occurred. Troopers are encouraging drivers to stay focused when driving and to share the road with motorcyclists to keep everyone safe. “Before we pull out of a driveway or across the street, take an extra focused look,” said Sgt. Michael McClure with the Missouri Highway Patrol. “Both sides that are that are adjacent to you and check for motorcycles.” Troopers are also encouraging motorcyclists to practice safe driving. One of their tips is for cyclists to ride in large groups, making it easier for drivers to see them. Of the 36 crashes that have happened this year, half of those riders were not wearing a helmet. One of the issues law enforcement is facing is cyclists speeding and riding between lanes. “So avoid doing that that can create some panic with other drivers that it can they can see you in their side view mirror at a point in time where they panic and may shift over and and and cause you to lose control or actually hit us,” said McClure. According to the Highway Patrol, in 2021, there were 30 motorcycle fatalities. In 2022, there were 28.
Richard Barnett Asks for Three Months to Prepare for Prison
Northwest Arkansas man Richard “BigO” Barnett is requesting three months to prepare for prison after he was sentenced to four and a half years for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Barnett, 63, of Gravette, was sentenced earlier this month for his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He says that he will be appealing the decision. Additionally, Barnett was sentenced to three years of supervised release after he gets out of prison. “Now that Mr. Barnett knows the extent of time of this sentence, he respectfully requests that this Court recommend to the Board of Prisons that Mr. Barnett’s date of surrender be not sooner than August 22, 2023,” the request said. Barnett gained notoriety from the insurrection after he was photographed putting his feet up on a desk in former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office suite. “Mr. Barnett needs this time to arrange for his affairs before he goes to prison. Specifically, Mr. Barnett’s significant other is disabled and he will need to liquidate personal property and try to earn some extra income to help her before he leaves,” the request said. Barnett’s legal team called the suggestion a “life sentence,” and countered that because he wasn’t violent during his time in the capitol, he should get little to no prison time.
DEA Executes Search Warrant Against Former Chairman of State Medical Board
Federal officials have confirmed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has executed a search warrant against Dr. Brian Hyatt, former chairman for the Arkansas State Medical Board, amid several civil lawsuits and a large-scale Medicaid fraud investigation. Most of the allegations cover Dr. Hyatt's tenure as the head of the Northwest Medical behavioral unit in Springdale from January 2018 to May 2022. In February, Dr. Hyatt's Medicaid services were suspended when the fraud allegations against him and his practice at the behavioral unit were deemed credible, according to the Office of Medicaid Inspector General. The investigation uncovered that Hyatt had billed more Medicaid recipients using the highest code than any other doctor had billed for all of their patients in the state. Officials noted that between Jan. 1, 2019, and May 2022, 99.95% of Dr. Hyatt's claims for Medicaid werebilled under the highest code. Nationally, only about 21% of doctors' Medicaid billing was for the highest code. In the federal investigation, there was evidence of Hyatt not even entering patients' rooms despite in-depth reports on their health to justify the Medicaid payments. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas confirmed the search warrant for Dr. Hyatt's psychiatry office in Rogers on Tuesday, May 23. Dr. Hyatt also is facing nearly a dozen lawsuits in civil court claiming false imprisonment and other accusations relating to allegedly keeping them in the behavior unit as long as possible in order to obtain more Medicaid funding.
FDA Advises "Poppers" Could Be Something Else
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning Americans to make sure the tiny bottles they’re drinking aren’t accidentally something else — poppers, in particular. But you may be wondering just what that means. “Poppers” is a term used to refer to a variety of liquid chemicals, typically amyl nitrate, which are sometimes inhaled by people recreationally for enhanced sexual arousal and temporary relaxation. While these items can be sold (and are widely available in places like adult novelty stores), their use is not approved in any way by the FDA and using them as a drug is illegal. While poppers can’t legally be sold under the name “poppers,” the small bottles can be sold for other uses, like cleaners, nail polish removers or air fresheners. Some popular brands include Rush, Super Rush and Sub-Zero — many such brands come in bottles similar in size to those of energy drinks like 5-Hour Energy. And the FDA says it’s still seeing deaths and hospitalizations after people accidentally ingestedpoppers instead of energy drinks, despite a warning it published in 2021. “A single mistake can prove fatal,” the FDA wrote on its social media channels on Wednesday. “Drinking or inhaling poppers seriously jeopardizes your health. What do poppers do? Though they are not approved for usage, poppers remain popular in some communities, including LGBTQ and party spaces. As Cleveland Clinic explains, poppers belong to a series of chemicals known as vasodilators. Hazards of popper use include irregular heartbeats and conditions, dangerously low blood pressure, medication interactions, and loss of vision.
Washington and Benton Counties Some of the Wealthiest in State
A new study from SmartAsset shows that Washington and Benton counties are some of the wealthiest in the state. SmartAsset, a financial advice site, analyzed data from the IRS, Zillow and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, comparing all U.S. counties across three metrics including investment income, property value, and per capita income. The study measured the amount of investment income being generated in each county, in addition to the per capita income and median home value to find the wealthiest places. Benton County was the wealthiest in the state, with a median income of $76,887, a median investment income of $310,415 and a median home value of $329,182. Washington County was the second wealthiest with a median income of $56,610, a median investment income of $36,209 and a median home value of $300,532. Median income for the state of Arkansas is $52,123.
Long Covid Affects Around 10% of Population
About 10% of people appear to suffer long COVID after an omicron infection, a lower estimate than earlier in the pandemic, according to a study of nearly 10,000 Americans that aims to help unravel the mysterious condition. Early findings from the National Institutes of Health’s study highlight a dozen symptoms that most distinguish long COVID, the catchall term for the sometimes debilitating health problems that can last for months or years after even a mild case of COVID-19. Millions worldwide have had long COVID, with dozens of widely varying symptoms including fatigue and brain fog. Scientists still don’t know what causes it, why it only strikes some people, how to treat it -– or even how to best diagnose it. Better defining the condition is key for research to get those answers. “Sometimes I hear people say, ’Oh, everybody’s a little tired,'” said Dr. Leora Horwitz of NYU Langone Health, one of the study authors. “No, there’s something different about people who have long COVID and that’s important to know.” The new research, published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, includes more than 8,600 adults who had COVID-19 at different points in the pandemic, comparing them to another 1,100 who hadn’t been infected. By some estimates, roughly 1 in 3 of COVID-19 patients have experienced long COVID. That’s similar to NIH study participants who reported getting sick before the omicron variant began spreading in the U.S. in December 2021. That’s also when the study opened, and researchers noted that people who already had long COVID symptoms might have been more likely to enroll.\ The new study zeroed in on a dozen symptoms that may help define long COVID: fatigue; brain fog; dizziness; gastrointestinal symptoms; heart palpitations; sexual problems; loss of smell or taste; thirst; chronic cough; chest pain; worsening symptoms after activity and abnormal movements.
Entergy Launches Recycling Program
Entergy Arkansas has launched a new recycling program for residential customers to make replacing their outdated refrigerator or freezer easier. The Entergy Solutions’ Point of Purchase Solutions (POPS) Program allows customers to schedule a free pick-up of a working refrigerator or freezer and receive a $25 incentive check for recycling their old appliance. Entergy Arkansas is pleased to offer this convenient way to remove and recycle old, energy-inefficient refrigerators and freezers and thereby reduce your energy costs. According to ENERGY STAR®, residents can save up to $260 per year on their energy bill by running more efficient ENERGY STAR- certified appliances- not only will the collected appliances not end up in a landfill, but after they are dismantled by recycling technicians, 95% of the materials – including plastic, metals, and glass – will be recycled. “Our Entergy Solutions programs play an integral role in helping us offer Arkansans safe and reliable energy,” said Energy Efficiency Manager Denice Jeter, “Our appliance recycling initiative is a great resource to help customers manage their energy usage efficiently by providing a convenient way to recycle old refrigerators and freezers. Additionally, the POPS program offers Entergy Arkansas residential customers a $50 rebate when they purchase an ENERGY STAR certified compact, chest or upright freezer.” Signs that it is time to retire and recycle your old refrigerator or freezer include the accumulation of excess ice, signs of moisture, a broken seal, the appliance generating heat, or a constantly running motor. Since refrigerators are always running, their energy costs can really add up. Fortunately, refrigerators have become more efficient, with newer models costing less to operate and using less energy than older models. To be eligible for this initiative, the resident must be an Entergy Arkansas residential customer with a working-condition refrigerator or freezer that is between 10 and 32 cubic feet in size. The appliance must be empty, clean, and plugged in at the time of pickup, with the water line disconnected. Scheduling a pick-up is easy – customers can email EntergyARrecycling@clearesult.com or call 833-748- 7329 to schedule. Customers should have the following information ready in order to schedule:*Entergy Arkansas residential account number*Name on account and physical address*Appliance information (appliance type, brand, and model, cubic feet, estimate age/year)*Email address and phone number The $25 rebate will be mailed within six weeks of appliance pickup. There is a limit of one refrigerator and one freezer per household per seven-year period.
State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Bryan King May 25, 2023 - LITTLE ROCK
As soon as the 2023 legislative session adjourned, the Senate and House Committees on Education began work on school funding in preparation for the 2025 session. Every two years the committees issue an adequacy report that sets a level of state funding of public schools that will comply with the state Constitution and state Supreme Court orders in school funding cases. The adequacy report issued by the Education Committees are the starting point for the entire legislature’s financial decisions on school funding. The committees determine funding levels for numerous categories of education expenditures, such as teacher and principal salaries, ratios of teachers to students, health insurance and other benefits, transportation and instructional materials. Those categories are set out in a matrix. The bottom line of the matrix is the total foundation funding per student. This year it is $7,413 per student. In addition to foundation funding there are a few categories of extra funding, also calculated on a per student basis. For example, school districts receive an additional $366 for each student who does not speak English as their native language. Districts get bonus funding if they have high percentages of students from low-income families. There is a category in the funding matrix for special education teachers. There is another funding category for schools that have an above-average number of special education students. The Senate and House Education Committees will begin in earnest preparing an adequacy report in January of 2024. It will take much of 2024 to finalize, and will be the basis for the funding matrix approved by legislators during the 2025 regular session. In October the committees will examine different funding models, such as the one used in Tennessee and models developed by the Education Commission of the States. The chair of the Senate Education Committee said that she expected no big decisions to be made, but i would be helpful for Arkansas legislators to know about the funding models in other states. During the 2023 session, the House of Representatives passed HB 1689 to change the school funding act. However, it failed in the Senate by a vote of 12-to-14. Supporters of the bill said that the current funding model may be outdated, and that small schools are not receiving enough state aid. The major elements of the current model are about 20 years old and were approved by the legislature in response to state Supreme Court rulings in the Lake View school funding case. Lake View was a small, rural district in eastern Arkansas that sued the state over school funding. It went through the courts for ten years, and Lake View won. It was a landmark case that made clear it is a constitutional mandate for the state to provide an adequate and equitable education for every child in Arkansas. The legislature has the constitutional duty to appropriate state funds, so ultimately it is the duty of legislators to ensure that the state complies with the Constitution and with state Supreme Court orders in the Lake View case.
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