KUAR

Northwest Arkansas Continues To Drive COVID-19 Case Growth As Hospitalizations Rise

By Daniel Breen • 18 hours ago

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43:04

Hear KUAR's live broadcast of Monday's COVID-19 press briefing.

Over 650 Arkansans have tested positive for the coronavirus since last Friday as the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 rises to 121.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday the state saw 190 new coronavirus cases since Sunday, bringing the total to 7,443. No new deaths from COVID-19 were reported with the state’s death toll remaining at 133.

Little Rock Imposes Curfew Over Protests; Arkansas National Guard Assists Police

By Michael Hibblen • 18 hours ago

Police in full riot gear at the Arkansas State Capitol on Saturday night use a chemical agent to force protesters to disperse. A similar scene took place again on Sunday night. — KATV-Channel 7

After two nights of raucous demonstrations at the Arkansas State Capitol, a curfew is being put into effect beginning Monday night in Little Rock. National Guard troops are also on standby to assist law enforcement in potentially violent situations as demonstrations are held against police brutality. There are concerns that some protesters are from outside the area and working to provoke violence.

Arkansas Farmers Markets Adjust Safety, Selling Practices Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

By Sarah Kellogg • 18 hours ago

Little Rock Farmers Market — littlerock.com

Despite new regulations and restrictions due to COVID-19, some farmers markets are still opening up for the season, though many are making adjustments.

According to information from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 69% of the state’s farmers markets plan to open or already are open for the season. That number is based on a survey of the state’s farmers market operators.

The survey also concluded 56% of market operators surveyed said they plan on limiting the number of customers allowed, while 33% plan to have fewer vendors.

Protest In Little Rock Turns Confrontational With I-630 Shut Down, Property Damage

By Roby Brock / Talk Business & Politics • May 31, 2020

Demonstrators block traffic on Interstate 630 Saturday evening near the Arkansas State Capitol to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. — Arkansas Department of Transportation

A day of peaceful protests in Little Rock grew more intense and eventually turned to violence on Saturday. The scene played out in more than two dozen cities across the nation as people gathered to protest the May 25th death of George Floyd in Minnesota and the larger issue of police brutality.

Floyd, who was black, was choked to death on camera by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes.

Arkansas Reaches New Peak Of COVID-19 Hospitalizations

By Daniel Breen • May 29, 2020

Arkansas has seen a second day of over 200 new coronavirus cases as COVID-19 hospitalizations surpass the state’s previous peak in April.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Friday that 239 people tested positive for the virus, bringing the state’s total caseload to 6,777. The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized rose to 113, while seven more Arkansans died from the disease for a total of 132.

Some Questions Still Unanswered For Editor Who Broke Story On Arkansas' PUA Website Vulnerability

By Sarah Kellogg • May 29, 2020

While the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services’ website where residents can apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, is up and running, investigations are still ongoing over a past vulnerability in the site that left the financial data of thousands of Arkansans unprotected in mid-May.

KUAR spoke with Lindsey Millar, editor of the Arkansas Times about breaking the story of the flaw in the website and what followed. Below is the transcript of the edited interview that aired on KUAR.

Arkansas Latino Population Continues To Experience Increase In COVID-19 Cases

By Sarah Kellogg • May 28, 2020

The upward trend of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas’s Latino population continues as more than 40% of the state’s daily increase in new cases came from the state’s Latino communities.

Arkansas saw a rise of 261 new cases Thursday bringing the state’s total number of coronavirus cases to 6,538, according to the state Department of Health. Of those new cases, 110 were in Arkansas’s most northwest counties, with Benton County reporting 85 new positive test results and Washington County reporting 25.

Coronavirus Cases Rising In Northwest Arkansas As Hospitalizations Near Second Peak

By Daniel Breen • May 27, 2020

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52:08

Hear KUAR's live broadcast of Wednesday's COVID-19 press briefing.

Arkansas is nearing a second peak of the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients as 120 people have died from the disease.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday the state saw 97 new coronavirus cases, bringing the state’s total to 6,277. There was one additional death.

Arkansas Redistricting Effort Can Collect Signers By Mail, But Not Electronically

By Steve Brawner / Talk Business & Politics • May 27, 2020

A judge has ruled that a group seeking to create a voter-approved commission to redraw Arkansas’ legislative and congressional lines after each census doesn’t have to collect signatures in person but also can’t use electronic signatures and must abide by the state’s July 3 deadline.

U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III issued a preliminary injunction May 25 barring the enforcement of a state law requiring signatures to be witnessed in person and also said canvassers don’t have to sign an affidavit with a notary present.

Arkansas COVID-19 Hospitalizations Near All-Time High As Cases Grow In Hispanic Community

By Daniel Breen • May 26, 2020

Coronavirus cases are on the rise among members of Arkansas’s Hispanic population as the state appears to be on track to reach a second peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday the state saw an additional 151 coronavirus cases, bringing the state’s total to 6,180. Two more Arkansans died from COVID-19 bringing the state’s death toll to 119.