Arkansas will spend $10 million in federal aid to purchase Wi-Fi-access devices for families with school-age children, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday as the state’s total number of active covid-19 cases grew slightly, about a month before the start of school. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Misquoted on slavery, Cotton says after furor
WASHINGTON — A day after the publication of his comments on slavery sparked a firestorm of criticism, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas denied Monday he was insensitive, saying he had been recounting the views of the Founding Fathers — not his own — that slavery was a “necessary evil” toward creating the Union. Top…
State’s covid-19 deaths surpass 400
Covid-19 cases in Arkansas increased by 642 on Sunday, according to the state Department of Health, a decline from the approximately 1,000 new cases the state saw on two consecutive days late last week. But Arkansas surpassed another grim milestone after two additional deaths related to covid-19 pushed the total number of reported victims to…
Transstate highway’s cost put at $2.3 billion; road called key for Arkansas’ north
The estimated price tag to complete a four-lane build-out of U.S. 412 from Oklahoma to the Missouri Bootheel, “which is seen as a critical path toward economic prosperity for north Arkansas,” is $2.3 billion. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Confederate section of Little Rock cemetery damaged
Oakland Cemetery management is stepping up security after grave desecration in the Confederate section of the cemetery earlier this month, according to Sexton John Rains. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
For Arkansas, virus tests still posing challenge
Since Arkansas’ first case of covid-19 was detected March 11 in Pine Bluff, the state has conducted more than 470,000 tests — about 15% of its population — with nearly 38,000 people found positive for the virus as of Saturday. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Bill by Sen. Tom Cotton targets curriculum on slavery
WASHINGTON — A New York Times-based school curriculum emphasizing American slavery instead of American independence has been targeted by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Daily Arkansas case count declines to 732
The Arkansas Department of Health reported 732 new covid-19 cases Saturday, down from the previous two days but still far above the average number before Memorial Day. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Request gets OK for Arkansas disability posts
The Legislative Council on Friday approved Arkansas Disability Determination for Social Security Administration’s request to create 92 new positions. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Northwest Arkansas virus expenditure sidelined
Lawmakers on Friday balked at considering the state Department of Health’s request to clear the way for the Northwest Arkansas Council to use $7 million in federal funds for covid-19 contact tracing, testing and case coordination for the region’s Hispanic and Marshallese populations. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Arkansas signs deal for purchasing system
Arkansas has entered into a five-year agreement with Austin, Texas-based Periscope Holdings for an electronic procurement system, called ARBuy, at no cost to the state, state and Periscope officials told lawmakers this week. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
1,013 is state’s 2nd-largest case jump
Arkansas’ count of coronavirus cases rose Thursday by 1,013 — the state’s second-largest one-day increase, one that included the biggest jump so far in cases among people not incarcerated. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Board presses LRSD staffers for fall details
The Community Advisory Board of the Little Rock School District on Thursday questioned district officials in detail on topics like on-campus instruction, online learning and disinfection as officials walked them through the district’s tentative plan to reopen to students next month amid the covid-19 outbreak. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
U.S. judge hears of differences in 2 schools’ building conditions
Some of the construction materials used for the new Mills High School in the Pulaski County Special School District are not as durable as those used at the district’s new Robinson Middle School, a district administrator testified Thursday in federal court. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Benefits of school openings re-stressed
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday that he’s reviewing recommendations from a group representing hundreds of pediatricians in the state, but he didn’t give any indication that he will back down from urging schools statewide to open in-classroom instruction next month. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Consultant picks Cherokees’ casino bid as best for Pope County site
An Arizona gambling consultant issued a report this week naming a Cherokee Nation proposal for a casino in Pope County as the best pick for the state’s last remaining casino license, upending a process in which the Arkansas Racing Commission initially signaled its preference for a Mississippi casino operator. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News…
State highway agency recoups all but $316,000 in $2.4M fraud case
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has recovered all but $316,000 in a fraud that almost cost the agency $2.4 million, a top department official said Wednesday. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Vote advances proposal on redistricting
The state Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday approved the ballot title and popular name for a proposed constitutional amendment that would change who redraws the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Inquiry urged on vote cast illegally
Pulaski County’s election commission has asked the prosecuting attorney to investigate an incident in which a Little Rock man who wasn’t registered to vote inserted his provisional ballot into a voting machine, causing it to be counted. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Desegregation-case judge asks for disciplinary data
The federal judge presiding in a hearing this month to determine whether the Pulaski County Special District can be declared unitary and released from a 37-year-old school desegregation lawsuit took steps Wednesday to get clarity on whether the district has narrowed over time the racial disparities in student discipline. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News…
Governor insists school is a go
Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday stood by his plan to have schools reopen to in-person instruction next month even as a state group representing pediatricians advised against doing that in many of the state’s counties. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
Governor insists school is a go; pediatrician group objects, cites high risk in some spots
Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday stood by his plan to have schools reopen to in-person instruction next month even as a state group representing pediatricians advised against doing that in many of the state’s counties. Top Featured Tags: – Arkansas News Press Release Distribution Service
