KUAR

Over 400 In Arkansas Hospitalized With COVID-19; Testing Turnaround Lags

By Daniel Breen • 18 hours ago

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43:07

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

The daily increase in new coronavirus cases in Arkansas has had its third-highest spike since the pandemic began as more than 400 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized with the disease.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced 751 Arkansans tested positive for the coronavirus Friday for a total of 26,803, while the state’s COVID-19 death toll rose by four to 313. The number of Arkansans hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by 8 to 402, with 84 patients on a ventilator.

Federal Executions Set To Resume After 17 Years With 3 Deaths Scheduled Soon

By Carrie Johnson • Jul 10, 2020

Capital punishment is on the decline in the United States, with only 13 new death sentences and seven executions so far this year.

But the U.S. Justice Department is moving in the other direction. Authorities are preparing the death chamber in Terre Haute, Ind., for the first federal executions in 17 years, starting Monday.

Death row inmates, their spiritual advisers and even one set of victims' relatives are moving to the courts to try to stop or delay the process. They're using a novel argument: the coronavirus pandemic.

UA Chancellor Steinmetz Discusses Timeline For Decisions About Football Games

By Talk Business & Politics Staff • Jul 10, 2020

University of Arkansas Chancellor Joe Steinmetz — Talk Business & Politics

Will there be college football this fall?

It’s a question fans are asking and decision-makers are discussing at several levels daily throughout the country.

Some smaller dominoes are already falling. The Ivy League, Bloomberg reported, canceled sports competition for the upcoming semester because of health and safety concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first NCAA Division I conference in the U.S. to scrap football.

School Start Date Delayed As Arkansas COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Surge

By Daniel Breen • Jul 9, 2020

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48:30

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

The date for K-12 students to return to school in Arkansas has been pushed back as the state sees its second-highest daily increase in new coronavirus cases.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday an increase of 806 new cases brought the state’s total to 26,052, while four new COVID-19 deaths brought the death toll to 309. Arkansas had its highest-ever increase in people hospitalized with the disease, rising by 36 for a total of 394.

Second-Largest Daily Uptick In Arkansas COVID-19 Cases As Total Surpasses 25,000

By Daniel Breen • Jul 8, 2020

Arkansas has seen its second-largest spike in new coronavirus cases following two days of decreasing numbers of people testing positive.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday 734 people in the state had tested positive, bringing the total to 25,246. Four more Arkansans died from the disease, bringing the death toll to 305.

Speaking in the governor’s daily briefing on the pandemic, Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith said new case growth in Arkansas is being driven by spread among the general public.

Amazon Says New Little Rock Fulfillment Center Will Employ 1,000

By Roby Brock / Talk Business & Politics • Jul 7, 2020

Amazon announced Tuesday plans to open its first fulfillment center at the Port of Little Rock. The new fulfillment center, which is anticipated to launch in 2021, will create over 1,000 new full-time jobs.

The 825,000 square-foot distribution facility will be located on 80 acres at the port and will benefit from yesterday’s announcement of upgrades to road infrastructure.

Over 300 Arkansas COVID-19 Deaths As State Sees Record Uptick In Hospitalizations

By Daniel Breen • Jul 7, 2020

Despite seeing two days in a row of declining daily increases in new coronavirus cases, Arkansas has seen its largest single-day increase in people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday an additional 32 Arkansans had been hospitalized, while 259 people testing positive for the coronavirus brought the state’s total to 24,512. The number of Arkansans hospitalized rose to 369, while the state’s COVID-19 death toll increased by nine to 301.

Increase In Traffic Fatalities Expected To Accompany Rise In Arkansas Speed Limits

By Phoebe Sanders • Jul 7, 2020

Rural stretches of interstates in Arkansas will eventually see speed limits increase from 70 to 75 miles-per-hour. — Arkansas Business

The speed limits on Arkansas highways and interstates will soon be increasing, but there are concerns it will lead to more accident fatalities, as has happened in other states.

Supporters Of Arkansas Casino Amendment Proposal Submit 97,000 Signatures

By Steve Brawner / Talk Business & Politics • Jul 7, 2020

Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment expanding casino gaming submitted 97,000 signatures to the Arkansas secretary of state’s office Monday, the deadline to qualify for the November 2020 ballot.

The group was required to collect 89,151 verified signatures of registered voters. By crossing that threshold, the effort will qualify for a 30-day cure period giving it time to collect additional signatures if needed. The secretary of state will validate that the signatures come from eligible registered voters.

Arkansas COVID-19 Infections Surpass 24,000 As Deaths Near 300

By Daniel Breen • Jul 6, 2020

Over 1,500 people in Arkansas have tested positive for the coronavirus since Friday as the state’s death toll from COVID-19 nears 300.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday that Arkansas saw 439 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 24,253, while five more deaths from COVID-19 brought the state’s death toll to 292.

In his daily briefing, Hutchinson said the state has entered the first of two contracts to increase the number of people working to track the spread of the coronavirus.