Daniel Breen

Just south of Little Rock, a whole new world of arts, culture and heritage awaits. 

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, located in downtown Pine Bluff, has been a cornerstone of the arts in the city for years. 

Now, like all museums and performance spaces, they've had to adjust their strategy to reach their audience safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The center's executive director, Dr. Rachel Miller, joins the Arts Scene this week to talk about the current exhibitions on display at the center. 

On this week's Arts Scene, we take time to pay homage to our program's founder. Ann Nicholson, who hosted the show for nearly 30 years, died this past week at age 88. 

Ann was a true renaissance woman, one whose knowledge and curiosity seemed boundless. Her interviews, and interview subjects, ran the gamut; from South African drama with James Earl Jones, to nuclear nonproliferation with Admiral Stansfield Turner, Ann's skill as a host and interviewer was always on full display. 

Arts organizations and audiences have been deprived of a performance experience during the pandemic. But, in the words of the immortal Freddie Mercury, the show must go on. 

Ballet Arkansas and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra have heeded the call, and are presenting a collaborative performance adapted to the new normal in which we all live. 

Voters in North Little Rock will have four candidates to choose from to serve as their next mayor. Incumbent Joe Smith said last year he would not seek a third term in office.

KUAR spoke with each of the four people running in the nonpartisan race. The final candidate in the series is former North Little Rock City Council member Debi Ross.

Voters in North Little Rock will have four candidates to choose from to serve as their next mayor. Incumbent Joe Smith said last year he would not seek a third term in office.

KUAR spoke with each of the four people running in the nonpartisan race. The second candidate in the series is former state lawmaker Tracy Steele.

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I have a 10-year-old daughter in the Little Rock School District. I come from a family of educators… once you get to a certain age or a certain point of your own career, it's time to reach back and help others just to make sure that the overall goal is to help the children succeed. Anything other than that, you really don't need to be looking to run for public office.”

What experience do you have working in public education?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I want to see us continue the work that we're doing to bring every student up to reading on grade level. I think that's probably the most important work that's going on in the school district right now. We started about a year-and-a-half ago with some real concentrated efforts to change the reading curriculum and I want to continue being a voice that puts a spotlight on that issue in our district as we transition into local control.”

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“The school board is a really important position… we are supposed to be an external factor to make sure that our school district is operating the way that it should be, and that needs are being met.”

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I’m a retired educator, I retired June 2020. I would like to continue my work in education, and I do believe that the position that I'm seeking will be a catalyst to help make a change for teaching and learning.”

What experience do you have working in public education?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I feel like there have been a lot of voices that have been recognized from parents, teachers, but the one voice I believe is being left out is our students… so what I am trying to accomplish is making sure that we have someone on the school board who ‘student-focused’ isn't just a slogan for them. But rather someone who is… a recent graduate of the Little Rock School District and has been the child that No Child Left Behind actually left behind.”

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I have a wealth of experience, abilities and skills and resources that I strongly believe can help the Little Rock School District, and that includes every student, nobody excluded… teachers, staff, cafeteria workers, custodians, everybody. So I feel like I can really make a big difference.”

What experience do you have working in public education?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I don't know a better investment that I can make in my own community than supporting education of students here in Little Rock. Public service has been part of my family's life and I feel it’s the biggest impact I can make, working in public service at a local level… my dad did it, my grandfather did it, I've been involved with the schools for a long time through my kids, and I figure this is a good place to step in and help out.”

What experience do you have working in public education?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“This is a turning point for our school district and for our city, and it is time to rebuild public trust and public pride in our schools. I am a parent in this district, and as an attorney with a background in education law I think I have a lot to offer to be able to help our schools succeed and thrive across the city.”

What experience do you have working in public education?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I'm running to help better the City of Little Rock through education, and giving our kids a better… providing them with a better educational system. I have a daughter, so I want to make sure she has a great opportunity to be successful.”

What experience do you have working in public education?

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I'm from southwest Little Rock and often times people from my area, they get counted our or overlooked. So I felt like it was so important for me to run, not only because I'm young and I'm familiar with what's going on, but it was just important to me to be able to be a representation with my whole existence to empower students who do see me.”

“I want to be a part of change, I want to be part of the solution, and I don't just want to talk about it, I want to be about it. So I'm excited.”

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“I’ve always been concerned about the district and an active participant volunteering, but now I'm at a point where I'm concerned to the point of action… I think now it’s the right time, the right mix for me to share my expertise, my knowledge, my connections, my work experience, life experiences to help bring the Little Rock School District back to the top of the state.”

Why are you running for Little Rock School Board?

“My mother was a teacher, my sister was a teacher and several of my cousins were teachers, so education is important to me. I retired from the Little Rock School District in 2014, and I really wanted to start doing something within the teaching spectrum again.”

“The reason why I am running is because I care about children, and with the grades and the reading scores that we’ve had have been really distressing. And so I decided that I wanted to run to be a part of the solution.”