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09/16/2021

Covid-19 Update
There are fewer COVID-19 patients is Arkansas hospital beds as the number of hospitalizations from the virus in the state dropped Wednesday for the eighth consecutive day. Data released from the Arkansas Department of Health shows that hospitalizations are down by seven, bringing the total to 1,090. The number of active cases has also fell for the fourth day in a row, decreasing by 389 to 16,695. The ADH reports that ICU cases have increased by 18 within the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 450. According to the ADH data, this is the first time ICU cases have increased in five days. For the first time in four days, ventilators have increased, going up by eight and putting the current total at 289. The data shows there have been 1,919 new cases of COVID-19 reported within the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases within the state to 479,110. The number of deaths reported Wednesday was 28, pushing the total to 7,362. It was one year ago that Arkansas passed 1,000 deaths in the pandemic. Arkansas is continuing to fight the virus by administering an additional 7,557 COVID-19 vaccines since Tuesday. The number of Arkansans fully vaccinated increased by 4,435 to 1,289,806, while the number of residents partially immunized residents slid down to 310,451. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looking at more than half a million people has come to the conclusion that vaccines remain very effective in the fight against COVID-19. The CDC says this new study spans more than 600,000 people from over 13 jurisdictions. Of the major conclusions, the CDC found: Those unvaccinated were 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people Unvaccinated populations were over 10 times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated The study also showed that unvaccinated people were four and a half times more likely to contract COVID-19 than the fully vaccinated. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky had this to say: “The bottom line is this, we have the scientific tools we need to turn the corner on this pandemic, vaccination works and will protect us from the severe complications of COVID-19.”
Neighbor Saves Woman From Burning House
An off-duty firefighter rescued a woman from a house fire in Shell Knob investigators believe was intentionally set. Firefighters with the Central Crossing Fire Department and Barry County deputies responded to the disturbance, then house fire in the Stallion Bluff area around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Investigators say a man intentionally set the house on fire during a domestic disturbance. The fire trapped a woman in an upstairs bedroom. A neighbor, also a Central Crossing firefighter, rescued the woman from the house using his ladder. A sheriff’s deputy responding to the disturbance found the man inside the home. The man suffered serious burns. Emergency crews transported him to a Springfield hospital. The fire extensively damaged the home.
Carroll Electric Coop Crews Headed Back to Louisiana
Hours after Hurricane Ida swept across Louisiana, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas dispatched more than 200 line crews to the battered Pelican State. Two weeks later, 181 more line workers and utility vehicles are headed to Houma to assist the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association restore power. The second phase includes workers from the following cooperatives: Carroll Electric Cooperative of Berryville Ozarks Electric Cooperative of Fayetteville In addition to workers and equipment, more than 7,000 transformers and truckloads of power line infrastructure materials have been shipped to Louisiana cooperatives and municipal electric systems.
Woman Who Killed Pea Ridge Police Officer Pleads Guilty
The driver accused of hitting Pea Ridge Officer Kevin Apple with a vehicle in July has pleaded not guilty to capital murder. Death penalty considered for woman accused of killing Pea Ridge police officer Shawna Cash, 22, entered a not guilty plea to all charges on September 15. Her next court appearance will be in December. Cash is charged with capital murder, escape, fleeing, two counts of aggravated assault, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, criminal mischief, obstructing governmental operations and reckless driving. The passenger in the vehicle, Elijah Andazola, also entered a not guilty plea. His next court appearance will be on October 4. Apple, a 23-year veteran of law enforcement who served with the Pea Ridge Police Department for three years, was killed at a local gas station after attempting to stop a car that was being pursued by the Rogers Police Department.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Hiring Thousands Full Time and Part Time Outfitters
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s is looking to hire thousands of full-time and part-time Outfitters as outdoor recreation remains an extremely popular activity for millions of Americans. During a National Hiring Event on Wednesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 23, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s retail locations across the U.S. will conduct on-site interviews for local retail, distribution and contact center positions from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Full-time and part-time positions are available in all of the company’s locations. You can apply at basspro.com/careers. Walk-ins are also welcome. All applicants must be at least 18-years-old. Team benefits for Outfitters include: Merchandise discounts up to 45 percent off Competitive wages, holiday and vacation pay Health, dental and life insurance programs for eligible team members Earlier this year, Forbes ranked Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s in the top 10 among “America’s Best Employers” as part of a nationwide survey of 500 large firms. Bass Pro Shops is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.
Hispanic Heritage Month Being Observed
As Hispanic Heritage month kicks off across the country, many locals are celebrating the rich Hispanic culture and growth of the community in Northwest Arkansas. Hispanic Heritage Month, began Sept.15 and ends Oct. 15, celebrations and events will highlight the struggles and triumphs of the past and present. Despite the many cultural achievements, some say there is still more that needs to be done for the Hispanic community. Data from the 2020 Census shows the Arkansas Hispanic community grew by 8.5% in the last 10 years and that in Northwest Arkansas the community saw significant growth as well. In Washington and Benton Counties, the Hispanic population grew by 90% combined. At Green Forest Saturday is an International Festival to be held at the Green Forest Soccer Fields starting at 3pm. Free soccer, free food from around the world and free Bounce House.
Brown Headed Nuthatches - Once Extinct - Return to Mark Twain National Forest
An ambitious, decades-long plan has come to fruition, as Missouri naturalists may have restored a locally extinct bird species to Mark Twain National Forest. In the last two years, 102 brown-headed nuthatches have been returned to the forest, and it appears they have a good chance to re-establish a population. For Cody Norris of the U.S. Forest Service, it’s a dream fulfilled. “Saying the birds have risen from the ashes like a phoenix would not be far from the truth,” he said. According to Norris, the Forest Service and other agencies needed to implement several controlled burns over many years to clear space for trees that would be more hospitable for the nuthatches. In the 1800s and early 1900s, Missouri settlers cleared so much land that brown-headed nuthatches were eradicated from the region due to habitat loss. When the U.S. Forest Service was founded in 1939, one of its primary directives was wildfire suppression. This led to the recovery of forests around the country by the 1970s, but the trees had changed from the open-pine woodlands (pre-settlement times) to densely packed hardwoods. In the 1980s, rangers at Mark Twain and other employees in the Forest Service wanted to restore native animal species, but the landscape had changed so much that it was less welcoming. It took many years, but after the success of a small-scale experiment of prescribed burns and mechanical thinning, the Forest Service began implementing the strategy on a wider scale. By 2012, Mark Twain National Forest was granted a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) project, which continues to this day. Since then, more than 140,000 acres of the forest have received mechanical thinning and prescribed fire treatments, which paved the way for the growth of open-pine woodlands and the return of the nuthatches.
Reba McEntire Evacuated from Historic Building After Stairs Collapse
Country superstar Reba McEntire had to be evacuated on a fire ladder from a second-story window Tuesday afternoon in Atoka, Oklahoma. According to KXII, Coby Scherrill and McEntire were touring a historic building for a future project when the stairwell from the second to the third story collapsed. “Oh, it was pretty scary,” Scherrill recalled. “I was worried about who was downstairs and how bad it was.” People inside the building were trapped on whatever floor they were on at the time of the stairwell collapse. The fire department had to help people out the second-story window and down the ladder. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but the emergency management director said everyone else is OK, including McEntire. Scherrill told KXII the building had been there for over 100 years. “It seemed weak, but we did not realize how weak it was until several people had gone down it and then we heard the crash and saw the stairs fall,” Scherrill said. Details about the project McEntire was reportedly looking to use the building for are unclear.

09/15/2021

Gov. Hutchinson Press Conference
Gov. Hutchinson held a Tuesday Press Conference and commented on President Biden's request for mandatory vaccines...
Shakin' in the Shell Fest
This Friday and Saturday in Shell Knob is the Shakin' in the Shell Fest at Shell Knob, Missouri. Here's details from Twila Harrison...
Murder Charges Filed for Death of Two Year Old Child
Rogers police have made an arrest in a capital murder case of a two-year-old child. According to a news release from the Rogers Police Department, Gustavo Enrique Peraza, 29, was arrested on a warrant for capital murder and first degree battery. On Tuesday, August 24, Rogers police were notified by Mercy Hospital in regards to the death of the child. Detectives responded and initiated an investigation into the death and the child’s body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for an autopsy. The release says the result of the autopsy showed the child’s death was caused by a blunt force traumatic injury to the child’s abdomen. After an investigation, Rogers police arrested Peraza. Peraza was booked in the Benton County Jail and is being held for a bond hearing.
Advance Child Tax Credit Payment Hitting Banks Today
The September installment of the advance child tax credit payment is set to start hitting bank accounts via direct deposit and through the mail. The credit is $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. Eligible families who did not opt-out will receive $300 monthly for each child under 6 and $250 per older child. The benefits begin to phase out at incomes of $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for married couples. Families with incomes up to $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for married couples can still receive the previous $2,000 credit. The payments are scheduled to arrive on the 15th of each month except on weekends, so the September payment is set to arrive Wednesday. The payments are going out to tens of millions of Americans, so don't be surprised if it takes a day or two to show up. In the past, eligible families got a credit after filing their taxes — either as a lump-sum payment or a credit against taxes owed. But now six months of payments are being advanced monthly through the end of the year. A recipient receives the second half when they file their taxes. The expanded child tax credit, which was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan COVID relief bill in March, is set to lapse after a year, though President Joe Biden has proposed extending it through 2025 and would like it to be made permanent. If all the money goes out, the expectation is that could significantly reduce poverty — with one study estimating it could cut child poverty by 45%. The IRS this month introduced a new internet site to help more Americans apply for and receive the expanded child tax credit.
Former Orthodontist Pleads Guilty to Bribing A Former State Senator
Benjamin Burris, an orthodontist who operated clinics across Arkansas, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday morning to one count of bribing former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson to pass laws to benefit Burris' businesses. Burris paid Hutchinson $157,500 between February 2014 and November 2016 with checks of $20,000, $5,000 and $2,500, according to a 20-page, 15 count federal indictment. Hutchinson, then a practicing lawyer, was paid monthly retainers that nominally were for legal services. But he was also expected to introduce and lobby for laws or regulatory changes that Burris wanted, the indictment said. Hutchinson pleaded guilty June 25, 2019, to one count of conspiring between 2014 and 2017 to commit federal program bribery in connection with Burris' orthodontist clinics. Burris pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Burris will be sentenced in about four months. Burris entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, which includes a speculative sentence of a year and a day in federal prison and a fine to be determined by U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks. The proposed sentence is not binding on the court. Burris faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on the conspiracy to defraud charge. Formerly of Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Burris now resides in Windermere, Fla.
New Proposed IRS Data Collection Proposal Causes Concern
Some concerns are being raised about a new proposed IRS data collection proposal that’s part of the American Families Plan. It’s something you may have seen on social media and wondered if it is real. Under this proposed plan financial institutions will have to report deposits and withdrawals of $600 or more every year. Right now, only transactions of $10,000 or more have to be reported to the IRS. The U.S. Treasury Department says the reason they want this change to be made is to cut down on tax evasion and the department says they estimate this will generate $460 billion. For the consumer, this brings concerns of data privacy because the IRS typically has more than a billion cyber-attacks a year. President and CEO of the Arkansas Bankers Association, Lorrie Trogden says adding new data only compounds the risk of fraud by exposing more customer data. If this change were to actually happen, then banks would be forced to build a new system to report this data. “Which will come at significant expense, time, resources and will really hit our Arkansas community banks the hardest. They often depend on third-party vendors to update their systems, so they would be a little bit at the mercy of those third-party vendors to get those updates done,” said Trogden. Trogden says the Biden administration has said one of their top priorities is getting more people to use banks, but this proposal contradicts the top reason cited for why people don’t open bank accounts. “The reason people don’t open bank accounts is because they are very concerned about privacy and this really only compounds that fear and undermines the efforts our Arkansas banks have already made to reach this population, so we think it could have that unintended consequence,” said Trogden. Three of our congressmen, Steve Womack, French Hill, Bruce Westerman along with other members of Congress sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the IRS and the department of treasury expressing their concern with this proposal.
Fall Dove Hunting Season Underway
Fall hunting seasons open at the break of dawn the first part of September with hunters taking a crack at fast-flying doves. The 2021 dove hunting season opened Sept. 4 across Arkansas, riding in on a warm and breezy overcast morning. First light saw about 40 dove hunters fanned out across 57 acres near Prairie Grove on land leased by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for dove hunting. It's one of five fields across the state Game and Fish has available for permit-only dove hunting. Several other nonpermit public dove fields are open to everyone on wildlife management areas statewide, including the Wedington Wildlife Management Area west of Fayetteville. Game and Fish staff grooms these fields before opening day to attract doves by planting crops such as sunflowers and winter wheat for doves to eat. At the permit field near Prairie Grove, several rows of corn were harvested and winter wheat was planted by scattering it on the ground. Top sowing, it's called. Hunting at this field was allowed the first two weekends of dove season, Sept. 4-5 and Sept. 11-12 this year. Other permit fields around the state are hunted the first three weekends. Some 1,200 dove hunters apply for permits in early August, said Keith Stephens with the Game and Fish communications staff. They indicate which field they're applying for and which weekend, then pay a nonrefundable $5 application fee. The number of permits awarded varies by field, as few as 16 per weekend up to as many as 45 per weekend. Lucky hunters are selected by random computer drawing.

09/14/2021

Covid-19 Update
Active cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas dropped significantly in new data released Monday while deaths attributed to the virus continued to increase. The Arkansas Department of Health reported that the active case count decreased by 1,767 to 17,821. In total, the state saw 646 new cases of the virus Monday, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 475,647. The ADH data also showed 31 more deaths among patients with COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the total for the state to 7,298. Over the last week, the state has averaged 32.5 new deaths each day from the virus. Health officials reported that hospitalizations from the virus decreased by five to 1,113 in the last 24 hours. There were 443 patients requiring ICU treatment, a 24-hour decrease of 17. The ADH figures also showed there is one less patient on ventilators in the last day, putting the current total at 286. Adults 35-44 were the group with the newest cases in the last 24 hours with 111. They are followed closely behind by patients aged 25-34 with 106 new cases. More than 2,652 new COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in Arkansas in the last 24 hours, and the number of Arkansans fully immunized increased by 1,729 to 1,281,255, The number of residents partially immunized continued its fall and now sits at 313,815.
U.S. Army Medical Personnel Arrive at UAMS
UAMS in Little Rock welcomed in a team of 20 medical personnel from the U.S. Army Monday to help with ongoing COVID care efforts. The team is made up of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists who will work to care for COVID-19 patients in the hospital and ICU. “Everybody was so excited,” Clinical Services Manager in the COVID ICU Elizabeth Sullivan said. For the past year and a half Sullivan says she has watched her staff work overtime to try and care for an increasing number of COVID-19 patients. She says work has picked up in the last few months due to staffing shortages. “The emotional toll and just the physical deterioration has been pretty crazy,” Sullivan said. “As a nurse it really makes you worry because it makes you feel like you’re not doing everything you can that you need to for your patient.” Sgt. Brandon Stronko arrived with the team just a few days ago. He will be working as a respiratory therapist for the next month at UAMS. Stronko is stationed in Georgia. There he says he takes care of about five patients on ventilators a day. At UAMS for one therapist, he says that number is closer to nine or 10. “The main problem is from fatigue from multiple days worked in a week,” Sgt. Stronko said. “You know five shifts in a week can be a lot and it does wear on your morale.” Staffing shortages have been an issue across the nation for the last couple of months. Sgt. Stronko says it’s less of a workload problem and more about the emotional stress these doctors and nurses are put under. He’s hoping he and the rest of the team can take off some of the weight felt by staff at UAMS. “We’re all struggling and were all trying to look out for each other,” Sgt. Stronko said. The team will be at UAMS for about 30 days. The program they are a part of is at the request of FEMA.
1st Annual Eureka Springs Jeep Jam
The 1st Annual Eureka Springs Jeep Jam is coming up this weekend. Volunteer Fiona Richards tells Carroll County Broadcasting Jeeps from several states will be participating in the fun... More information is available at eurekaspringsjeepjam.com
Berryville Accident Reports
Berryville Police worked several accidents this past week. On September 4th, at 11:50am, one vehicle backed into another on Carl Street. Ricardo Fernandez of Eureka Springs, driving a 2004 Honda, was backing out of Rancho Latino and backed into Martin Rangel, driving a 2002 Honda. No injuries or citations were issued. On September 8th, at 11:30am, a vehicle changing lanes struck another vehicle on West Trimble. The accident involved a 2019 Subaru driven by Judy Montgomery of Eureka Springs and Curtis Backs of Berryville, driving a 2021 Chevy pickup. The police report showed the Chevy pickup was eastbound on W. Trimble in the left lane and the Subaru was in the right lane. The Subaru signaled to merge into the left lane, striking the Chevy pickup. No injuries or citations were issued. On September 9th, a two vehicle accident occurred at Academy and Eureka Avenue involving a 2008 Jeep, driven by Patricia Hughes of Green Forest, and Steven Sivi of Berryville, driving a 2019 Nissan. The accident report indicated the Jeep was stopped at the stop sign facing north at the intersection of Academy and Eureka Avenue. The Nissan was stopped behind the Jeep on Academy. The Jeep backed up and struck the Nissan. No injuries or citations were issued.
Avoca Man Killed in Western Carroll County
An Avoca man was killed in a motorcycle crash in rural Carroll County on Sunday, troopers said. Wesley L. Matthews, 51, was driving a 2005 Victory Vegas east on U.S. 62 around 3:37 a.m. at the time of the incident, according to a preliminary crash report from state police. The vehicle lost control and left the road on the south side, troopers said. Matthews was separated from the bike, into a ravine, killing him as a result, according to the report. Troopers describe the conditions at the time of the crash as clear and dry. At least 435 people were killed as a result of crashes on Arkansas roads so far this year, according to preliminary figures.
Amazon Employees Offered Full Cost of College Tuition
Front-line Amazon employees can get the full cost of their college tuition covered as soon as 90 days from their start date. Amazon said over 750,000 employees are eligible for the funding, which includes the cost of books and fees in addition to classes. The Career Choice program extends to high school diplomas, GEDs, and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency certifications as well. This funding equates to an investment of $1.2 billion by 2025, Amazon said Thursday. The company said it is also now pre-paying the costs, rather than using its previous method of reimbursing employees after they paid for their tuition and fees themselves. The employees can get funding for as long as they remain Amazon workers. The announcement follows similar pledges by Amazon competitors Walmart and Target. Walmart said earlier this year that it will pay 100% of college tuition for employees. Target this year also started a “debt-free education assistance benefit” to pay for undergraduate and associate degrees, certificates and other education costs for full-time and part-time employees.
U of A Drops in National Universities Ranking
The University of Arkansas has dropped a spot in the U.S. News and World list of best colleges. The university landed at number 162 in the national universities ranking. In the category for southern regional universities, John Brown University snagged the No.10 spot. U.S. News and World creates this list based on graduation and student retention rates, class size, and student-to-faculty ratio. The list can be found on their website.
Gas Prices Drop Slightly
Gas prices trickled down in the last week as fewer people hit the roads. According to GasBuddy.com’s survey of 1,826 stations in Arkansas, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fell 0.9 cents in the last week to $2.83. Prices in the Natural State are 4.3 cents a gallon less than a month ago, but 94.1 cents higher than last year. The national average saw an even greater drop in the last week, down 1.9 cents to $3.15/gallon. “Sagging U.S. gasoline demand, along with continued recovery after Hurricane Ida, have helped gas prices edge slight lower in most states,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. However, he cautions Tropical Storm Nicholas, which was expected to pass near the south Texas coast later Monday, could threaten refineries in Houston and lead to a pause in price declines. “While Nicholas would appear to be a minor storm, we could see a deluge of water,” De Haan noted in Monday’s news release. “Combined with the earlier storm, Nicholas could make things more challenging.”
U of A Fined by SEC for Storming on Field After Victory over Texas University
Arkansas fans storming onto Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium following Saturday's victory over Texas University will cost the Razorbacks $100,000. According to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the University of Arkansas will be fined for a violation of the league's access to competition area policy, due to fans entering the field following its football game against the University of Texas on September 11. Arkansas will incur a fine of $100,000 for a second offense under the league's access to competition area policy. Arkansas was last fined for a violation following its football game against LSU in 2014

09/13/2021

Covid-19 Update
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced 1,116 new COVID-19 cases and 35 additional deaths due to the virus in Arkansas on Sunday, September 12. There are 19,588 cases statewide considered active by the Arkansas Department of Health. A total of 1,118 people are hospitalized and 287 are on ventilators. The statewide death toll due to COVID-19 increased to 7,267. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says federal vaccination mandates announced by President Joe Biden hurt efforts to overcome the public’s resistance to taking the COVID-19 vaccine. The Republican governor has been notable in working to persuade reluctant Arkansas residents to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. But in a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Hutchinson said that a comprehensive federal vaccination mandate “hardens the resistance.” He noted longtime public school vaccination requirements are state requirements.
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Huntsville School District
A federal lawsuit was filed Friday against Huntsville School District on behalf of the parent of a minor who said they were sexually assaulted at the middle school. According to court documents, the minor said they were sexually assaulted in the locker room by other students between November 2020 and February 2021. The lawsuit also alleges that the coach of the middle school basketball team was contacted by a parent telling him of "improper sexual activities" in late October 2020. The lawsuit says the coach, who later resigned in 2021, did not tell the middle school principal or superintendent, nor did he report the claim to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline. According to the lawsuit, the minor said there were at least 17 students who were victimized by this sexual harassment. There was a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed against Huntsville School District, School Board. The lawsuit asks for a trial by jury. Huntsville School District Attorney Charles Harwell says the district will make a comment in federal court on the lawsuit when they feel it’s appropriate to do so.
Carroll County Road Department Working on County Road 608
Starting today, September 13th, County Road 608 off of Hwy. 21, will be limited to local traffic ONLY for 2-3 days as it gets worked on. It will start at the Hwy. 21 end and will lead up to County Road 656. They apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.
Beaver Bridge Closing for Repair
One of Northwest Arkansas’ most historic bridges is closing today for some much needed work. AR-DOT will close the Beaver Bridge, which carries Highway 187 over the White River in Carrol County, Monday morning at 8:30am through Thursday evening. The closure is needed because crews need to continue replacing the aging wooden deck on the bridge. Work so far has included upgrades to the approaches on each end of the bridge as well as a fresh coat of paint. AR-DOT says when emergency water releases are needed from nearby Table Rock Lake, it can put the bridge underwater, which is terrible for the wooden deck. “Going under the water like that, that’s hard on that structure, so, every 10-15 years, we need to go in and replace that wood decking,” said AR-DOT District 9 Engineer Steve Lawrence. The work is expected to take the next three weeks. Crews will re-open the bridge each Friday through Sunday for weekend travelers.
Some Cities and Urban Counties Raise Concerns Regarding High Speed Internet
Cities and urban counties across the U.S. are raising concerns that a recent rule from President Joe Biden's administration could preclude them from tapping into $350 billion of coronavirus relief aid to expand high-speed internet connections. Biden has set a goal of delivering fast, affordable internet to every American household. The massive American Rescue Plan took a step toward that by including broadband infrastructure among the primary uses for pandemic aid flowing to each city, county and state. But an interim rule published by the U.S. Treasury Department has narrowed the broadband eligibility. It focuses on areas that lack reliable broadband, which connects devices to the internet through a cable or data line, at download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps. That threshold ensures funding for remote, rural areas that have slow or no internet service, and it matches the definition of broadband set by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015. But cities contend the eligibility mark overlooks the realities of today's internet needs. Though most cities already have broadband available, the speed still might not be fast enough to handle multiple people in a home trying to work, study and stream entertainment simultaneously — a common scenario during the coronavirus pandemic. The price also can be more than lower-income residents can afford.
A.G. Rutledge Joins 20 Other A.G.'s Over Bump Stock Possession
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is joining 20 other state attorney generals in making a push for the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that permits federal regulators to outlaw bump stocks. The attorneys general are arguing that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives did not have regulatory authority to criminalize the possession of bump stocks, which Rutledge described as “a longtime legal accessory for semiautomatic rifles designed for those with limited hand mobility.” That ruling would require owners to surrender or destroy the devices or face possible fines or jail time. In a release announcing her decision to join the brief, Rutledge said she believe the bureau is going past their authority. The ATF claims that bump stocks fall under their “machine gun” definitions since the device allows semi-automatic firearms to shoot more than one shot with a single trigger pull “by harnessing the recoil energy of the semiautomatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter.” Currently, the ATF directs anyone with a bump stock to destroy the device or turn them over to a local ATF office.
Recall of Teak Shower Benches
A teak shower bench sold exclusively through Costco is being recalled following multiple reports of injuries, including one report of a fractured tailbone. The benches, produced by Ivena International, “may break unexpectedly when in use[,] posing a fall hazard to the user,” according to an Ivena International recall notice shared on Costco’s website. The recalled items featured exterior packaging printed with item number 1049998 and Universal Product Code (UPC) 8886474018015. The recalled products, advertised as being constructed from “100% wood,” are made from teak and feature wood paneling on the seat and lower shelf. But consumers have so far reported 81 incidents of the benches “collapsing, breaking during use, or falling apart,” per a recall notice posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday. Four of those incidents resulted in injuries, including a fractured tailbone, bruising, or “persistent head and body aches.” The recall affects approximately 70,000 shower benches, according to the CPSC. The items were sold between October 2018 through June 2021, for around $80 in-store and $90 online. Consumers who purchased the benches should stop using the product “immediately,” according to both the CPSC and Ivena International. The notices also encourage customers to return the item to Costco for a full refund. More information, as well as consumer contact information for Ivena International, can be found in the CPSC’s recall notice.
State Capitol Week in Review
From Senator Bob Ballinger
September 10, 2021 - LITTLE ROCK
The legislature is preparing to convene again on September 29, to redraw boundaries of the four Congressional districts in Arkansas. In late August the legislature received official data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Using the most recent population figures, legislators will map out four new districts of equal population. The President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House sent a schedule to all legislators. The Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs will review redistricting bills before the Senate and House vote on them. The Senate President and the House Speaker cautioned legislators that the September 29 starting date may change. Redistricting occurs every ten years, after the Census Bureau releases new population data. Normally, the legislature completes the task during the regular session that begins in January and ends in April, but this year census data was late. The delay affected all 50 states. There are 435 members of the United States Congress. Arkansas has only four seats in Congress, because of our relatively small size. Tennessee has nine Congressional districts and Texas has 36. Due to its population growth, Texas will gain two more Congressional seats. After the legislature has finished redistricting, it will officially adjourn the 2021 regular session. We went into extended recess in late April. The governor has announced that after the work of redistricting is complete and the regular session is officially over, he would call a special session to consider tax cuts. Legislators have been working on measures to lower income taxes. A separate process of redistricting is taking place. The boundaries of the 135 districts in the state legislature will also be redrawn, by the three-member state Board of Apportionment. They are the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state. Their staff will do much of the heavy lifting. There are 35 state Senate districts and 100 state House districts. Rental Assistance Arkansas got $173 million in federal relief funding for rental assistance, to help people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and are at risk of eviction. It also helps people whose medical bills put them at risk of losing their homes. So far, $10 million has been awarded, benefiting 3,200 households. There is an income threshold because the program is meant to help low-income and middle-income taxpayers. The threshold can vary from county to county, depending on the average rent. The governor announced a change in the application process, in order to ease the awarding of funds. Previously, the landlord had to sign off on the application, but under the new rules if the landlord doesn’t respond in 10 days the assistance goes directly to the tenant. The money can also be used to pay utility bills. The state Human Services Department is handling the grants. Search on the Internet for Arkansas rental assistance, and the first link that pops up will be for the DHS page that explains the process. Applicants will need to show proof of income.

09/10/2021

Identity Released of Man Found in Burned Out Home
Police in Berryville have identified Kevin Wolfinbarger as the man who was involved in a standoff with officers Monday that ended in a deadly house fire. Officers responded to the home in the 1100 block of North Springfield Street, Monday around 3:45 p.m. Investigators say a woman inside her bathroom called 911 after her ex-husband broke into her home. She escaped after he broke down the door of the bathroom. What was initially a break-in turned into an armed standoff. Officers attempted to speak with Wolfinbarger, who was armed at the time. A one point, Wolfinbarger came outside and lit a cigarette, but never acknowledged police. Wolfinbarger then went back inside and smoke soon started coming from the house. First responders worked to fight the flames, while trying to get Wolfinbarger to come out. Police say Wolfinbarger was oblivious to police activity and never would communicate with them. After the flames were contained, Wolfinbarger’s body was removed from the house.
Eureka Green's Lawsuit to Continue Over Dispensary Denial
A lawsuit accusing state regulators of improperly denying a Carroll County medical-marijuana dispensary applicant the opportunity to compete for a license will continue in Pulaski County, a circuit judge ruled Tuesday. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox denied the state's motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought on behalf of Eureka Green. The business sued the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission and the state Department of Finance and Administration's Alcoholic Beverage Control Division in July 2020, claiming that it was illegally forced out of licensing competition for a dispensary in the Zone 1 region, despite having a top-scoring dispensary application, because the commission failed to follow its own rules by treating some companies differently than others. The original judge, Mackie Pierce, recused, and Fox sent the case to Carroll County a week after it was filed. Carroll County Circuit Judge Scott Jackson ordered that the case be transferred back to Pulaski County in July 2021, following an April transfer request from the state attorneys that the court initially denied. At Tuesday's hearing, state attorney Maryna Jackson said it is the position of the attorney general's office that the case should be heard in Pulaski County because it involves statutory interpretation. Fox said judges in Carroll County have the same authority as judges in Pulaski County to interpret state law but said the case will continue in Pulaski County. A trial will take place at a later date. Eureka Green, also known as Carroll County Holdings Inc., is asking that the court order the state to grant the business a dispensary license at its next opportunity and repair its licensing procedures so that they conform to state law.
Covid-19 Update
The numbers of covid-19 patients in Arkansas hospitals and on ventilators fell Thursday for the second consecutive day, with hospitalizations dropping below 1,200 for the first time since Aug. 1. However, the number of covid-19 patients who were in intensive care rose Thursday by 11, to 508, after falling on Wednesday. The state's count of coronavirus cases rose by 2,481, an increase that was larger by 28 than the one a week earlier. Arkansas' death toll from the virus since March 2020, as tracked by the Arkansas Department of Health, rose by 27, to 7,169. The number of covid-19 patients hospitalized in Arkansas fell by 15, to 1,194. The number on Thursday was lower by 265 than its all-time high from last month, and lower by 177 than its peak in January during the state's winter surge. The number of Arkansas patients who were on ventilators, which reached a record high of 388 last week, fell by five, to 315, which was still higher by 47 than its January peak. The number of covid-19 patients who were in intensive care as of Thursday was midway between its all-time high last month of 558 and its January peak of 458. The number of intensive-care unit beds that were unoccupied statewide rose by three, to 26, as a result of a reduction in non-covid-19 patients who were in intensive care. People with covid-19 made up 45% of Arkansas' ICU patients on Thursday, up from 44% a day earlier. After falling the previous two days, the average daily increase in the state's case count over a rolling seven-day period rose by four, to 1,678. The average remained well below last month's high of 2,351 for the week ending Aug. 7. With new cases outpacing recoveries, the number of cases that were considered active rose by 214, to 19,714, which was still down from a recent high of 25,735 the week ending Aug. 15. Meanwhile, reported vaccinations rebounded after slowing over the holiday weekend. The increase in doses that providers reported having administered, including second and third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, was 13,278, larger by 1,555 than the one the previous Thursday The average number of doses administered each day over a rolling seven-day period rose to 7,802. That remained down from a recent high of 13,361 a day the week ending Aug. 27, however.
ACHI Showing 60 Arkansas School Districts in "Purple Zone"
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement map shows that nearly 60 Arkansas public school districts are in high-infection-rate “purple zones” across the state. According to data from the ACHI gathered over a 14-day period, 59 Arkansas public school districts have COVID-19 infection rates of 100 or more new known infections per 10,000 district residents, or at least 1% of residents. That figure is up from 41 districts last week and is now an all-time high, surpassing the previous high of 54 from the week of Jan. 11. The ACHI also reported that they obtained data from the Arkansas Department of Health on Monday showing 189 school districts have COVID-19 infection rates of 50 or more new known infections per 10,000 district residents over a 14-day period, up from 188 last week. In a release, ACHI president and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson encourages those Arkansans who are unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect children who are unable to receive it. “We must do more to protect our children from the delta variant,” Thompson said. “Everyone who is still unprotected should get vaccinated as soon as possible, bearing in mind that people who are too young for vaccines are relying on the rest of us to keep them safe.” To see the known infection rate within the districts around the state, visit the ACHI website at ACHI.net.
State Has Used Less Than 10% of Rental Relief Money
After Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced that the state has used less than 10% of the money it has for rental assistance, a group in Washington County is calling on the state to release more rental relief money for Arkansans. September Plattsmier lives in Fayetteville and said she was evicted from her home and needs rental assistance now. Plattsmier said she has been struggling with rental assistance since December of 2020 and she's now staying with a friend. "If it wasn't for the grace and mercy and generosity of other people letting me use a little bit of their space, I would be one step away from the streets," she said. Washington County Justice of the Peace, Evelyn Rios Stafford, said she wants the quorum court to distribute some of the American Rescue Plan funds it has been sitting on to help renters in the county. "The county really needs to work on speeding up the process to get this rent release money to the people who need it. To me, it’s not going out fast enough, and people are hurting," Rios Stafford said. Stafford said sending the money out will help stimulate the economy since landlords and property owners will help cycle the money back into the community. "Thousands of people in our county are potentially at risk of losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic, and we can’t let that happen. We need to get these millions of dollars out to these people as fast as we possibly can," she said. Plattsmier said she tried to appeal her eviction notice and was denied by a judge. She said she wants to bring awareness to the housing crisis in Northwest Arkansas. "I’m asking you to take a long hard look at me and see me. I am your neighbor. I am your friend, your mother, sister, daughter. I am your church member, and I am here as a community member to bring your awareness to a crisis we have. We do not want homelessness," Plattsmier said. Gov. Hutchinson said Wednesday that the state of Arkansas has $173 million for rent relief, but said he does not think the state will spend all of that money and the state has only spent $10 million so far.
Farmers Concerned Over Drought Monitor
While you may be enjoying the dry and sunny weather, farmers who depend on the rain are starting to sweat. It has been dry, in fact, measurable rainfall has only been recorded at XNA on seven of the last 52 days, and the lack of rainfall is starting to become concerning to farmers, you’ll find yellow or brown patches all across Northwest Arkansas and the river valley. A look at the latest drought monitor shows large portions of Benton, Washington and Carroll counties dealing with abnormally dry conditions. In the river valley, most of Sebastian and Scott counties are now abnormally dry. And for farmers like Bob Shofner, they were hoping for some rain from hurricane Ida, but it never came and things are getting worse. “I have one farm that’s doing pretty good, this farm here is doing well, but I have another farm in Kingston that’s nearly completely burned up, we’re dry and already having to start feeding a little hay, so it’s a little bit spotty in the area, but we are doing a little bit better than most, but at the same time we don’t need extremes,” said Benton County farmer Bob Shofner. The dry weather can create numerous impacts. One of them being the nutrient value in the hay can be low without enough water, and that’s bad for cattle, which can technically starve to death if the hay they eat is too low in nutrients. Shofner said the early season rains produced one to two good rounds of hay, but now, he’s not ready to push the panic button, but he’s in the same room as it. “This time last year I was standing on the panic button because we were in a lot worse shape than this year so, we’re getting close, it’s not quite here in this farm, but I’ve got a couple other farms where I’m thinking, OK, I’m going to start leaning on the panic button pretty quick,” Shofner said. He adds the recent spotty showers don’t really help. A slow, day-long, area-wide rainfall would be perfect and ease their harvest fears heading into fall.
Group Calls for 4th Stimulus Check for Older Americans
As officials work to project the long term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, one group is calling on Congress to issue a fourth round of stimulus checks, just for older Americans. Nonpartisan advocacy group The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is warning that the cost of goods and services is rising for people with fixed incomes, months before next year’s federal cost-of-living bump. Government economic experts estimated recent increases in inflation mean the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022 will approach 6%, a whopping jump from the 1.3% COLA awarded for this year.Some of that may go for higher Medicare costs, however. The Medicare “Part B” premium for outpatient coverage was projected to rise by $10 a month in 2022, to $158.50 under the report’s intermediate assumptions. The official number won’t be released until later this year. According to The Senior Citizens League, older Americans are already under pressure from other rising, unavoidable costs such as food, housing and transportation. Now, The Senior Citizens League is mounting a campaign to urge Congress to pass a fourth round of stimulus checks that would send $1,400 payments to Social Security recipients only. Survey findings released by the TSCL in August showed that 44% of older households identified food as the fastest growing cost in 2021, followed by housing (24%) and medical (19%). New projections also paint a grim picture for the solvency Social Security and Medicare. The annual trustees report found that Social Security’s massive trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits in 2034 instead of last year’s estimated exhaustion date of 2035. The depletion date for Medicare’s trust fund for inpatient care remained unchanged from last year, estimated in 2026. The full impact from the coronavirus pandemic will take several more years to play out
George Strait Coming to Little Rock in 2022
George Strait might be in “Amarillo by Morning,” but he will definitely be in Arkansas next March. Simmons Bank Arena announced Thursday the Texas troubadour will perform Friday, March 18, at 8 p.m. in North Little Rock. Presented by Bad Boy Mowers, tickets to “Strait to the Natural State” go on sale Friday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. Prices range from $79 to $229, with applicable service charges. There is an 8-ticket limit. Tickets can be purchased at the arena box office or TicketMaster.com. In his 30-plus year career, Strait has produced 60 chart-topping hits and collected 33 platinum and multi-platinum albums. He has sold nearly 70 million albums and won more than 60 awards, including induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.