Michael Hibblen

Sculptors creating statues of Arkansas civil rights pioneer Daisy Bates and legendary singer Johnny Cash, which will represent the state in the U.S. Capitol, are working to finalize their designs so they can be submitted to federal officials for approval.

The Arkansas Capitol Arts & Grounds Commission met via Zoom Thursday with the artists selected to make the statues, discussing subtle changes that have been made or are being proposed to make them more accurate. Those involved have been studying old photos and films to consider any final modifications.

Erma Hendrix, a member of the Little Rock Board of Directors, died peacefully at her home on Wednesday, the city announced Thursday. She was 91.

Hendrix, who represented Ward 1, was first elected to the board in 1993 where she served one term. More than a decade later, Hendrix ran again, winning the election. She would then be reelected three times, serving from 2006 until her death.

Nine months after announcing her candidacy for Arkansas governor through a produced video, Sarah Huckabee Sanders is now taking her campaign to the people. This Labor Day weekend she began a series of 15 appearances around the state.

On Monday evening, the former White House press secretary spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at a rally in Benton. Sanders was introduced by her father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The COVID-19 pandemic is being blamed for many people putting off routine medical procedures and screenings. One key concern for health officials is a rise in the number of men not being diagnosed with prostate cancer until they are already in the late stages of the disease.

Arkansas has again set a new record for COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation. While hospitalizations declined by 45 on Tuesday, the number on ventilators rose by 27 compared to the previous day, bringing the total to 388 people. It’s the second day in a row Arkansas has reached a new high.

The state Department of Health also reported 22 additional deaths, along with 2,626 new cases of people testing positive for the virus. Hospitalizations dropped to 1,212.

Plans are being unveiled for this year’s Johnny Cash Heritage Festival, which raises money for the music icon’s boyhood home in east Arkansas. The annual event had to be cancelled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid a resurgence of cases in recent months, the decision was made to hold this year’s festival online.

A newly-published study by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences looks at the hesitation some people in Arkansas have about getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Researchers found 21% of those surveyed had some degree of vaccine hesitancy.

The Arkansas Department of Health has reported steadily increasing numbers of people who have been fully vaccinated, and last Wednesday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson touted on Twitter that the state had surpassed 1.1 million vaccinations. But there are still many who are reluctant to get a shot.

UPDATE: The jury completed its first full day of deliberations Monday without reaching a verdict. Deliberations will resume Tuesday morning.

Jurors in the bribery trial of former lobbyist Gilbert Baker went home for the weekend after hearing closing arguments and deliberating less than two hours Friday afternoon.

On the day before the Arkansas General Assembly begins a special session to consider modifying a state law prohibiting mask mandates, Gov. Asa Hutchinson acknowledged there might not be legislative support for the change.

As Arkansas is experiencing a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, with more than 2,800 new cases reported Thursday, kids are being impacted like never before in the pandemic. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he was especially concerned about the increase in pediatric cases while announcing he was reinstating a public health emergency for the state.

Arkansas reported 2,552 new cases of the coronavirus between Saturday and Monday, with the state continuing to lead the nation per capita.

The Department of Health says there were 15 additional deaths in that time, with the total since the pandemic began now at 6,007. Hospitalizations grew by 106 to of 787.

Artist Kevin Kresse, who was selected by the state earlier this month to create a statue of Johnny Cash, which will be one of two representing Arkansas in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol, spoke with KUAR about his appreciation of Cash and what inspired him in this project.

A statue of civil rights leader Daisy Bates, best known for her work with the Little Rock Nine desegregating Central High School, will also eventually be on display. That one is being created by Benjamin Victor of Boise, Idaho.

A four-year study by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will look at the climate and culture inside state prisons.

A $453,000 contract has been awarded to the school by the Department of Corrections to conduct the study, which will include visiting each prison in the state to talk with inmates, staff and visitors. Corrections Secretary Solomon Graves said it will be a first-of-its-kind study for the state.

University of Arkansas Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz resigned Friday, about 24 hours after announcing in an email to faculty, students and staff that he would take the abrupt action.

Steinmetz did not elaborate Friday in the hours before leaving office. UA System President Donald Bobbitt has not announced an interim chancellor or what would happen next.

A new 10-mile trail system for cycling, running and hiking is now open in Little Rock, further enhancing a network of trails that local leaders say has helped provide a high quality of life for residents and made the city a destination for cyclists.

A dedication ceremony was held Thursday at River Mountain Park, which is along the Arkansas and Little Maumelle rivers. The new trail system is the first to be professionally built in the city and features trails with varying degrees of difficulty for beginners and seasoned cyclists.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are starting a one-year project to look at disparities between minority communities and the state’s general population when it comes to COVID-19.

The project is being funded by a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, with UAMS being one of 11 teams selected nationwide. Researchers hope their efforts will increase vaccination rates among minorities.

A recently-released book explores the history of efforts to control major rivers in the U.S. and the impact those waterways have on the lives and livelihoods of many people. But aging infrastructure and a lack of funding is posing major problems, as author Tyler J. Kelley points out in "Holding Back the River: The Struggle Against Nature on America’s Waterways."

Arkansas PBS is now broadcasting on an additional signal near Russellville. It’s the first of five new transmitters being added this year to provide broadcast coverage to nearly the entire state.

The public television network said Thursday the new transmitter at Lee Mountain is operating at full power, with the signal capable of being picked up in Pope, Johnson, Logan and Yell counties.

An Arkansas man, facing federal charges for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, is raising money for his legal defense.

Richard Barnett, also known as “Bigo,” became one of the most public faces of the breach at the Capitol when he was photographed in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with his feet propped up on a desk. Now for a donation of $100 or more, people can receive a signed copy of that photo.

A bill in Congress which would create an independent commission to investigate the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January is now in the hands of the Senate. A week ago, the House passed the bill with 35 Republicans joining Democrats to support the proposal.

But the future of the bill is unclear with Democrats needing the support of 10 Republicans to avoid a possible filibuster. GOP leadership is opposing an investigation.

The National Science Foundation is funding a three-year program to study hate crimes committed against Muslims in Arkansas. Two criminal justice professors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock have been awarded a $324,987 grant, which will enable an assessment of anti-Muslim sentiments.

Arkansas health officials and pharmacies continue working to try and make it as easy as possible for people in the state to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

At Tuesday night’s season opener for the Arkansas Travelers, the first of at least four vaccination clinics was held at Dickey Stephens Park in North Little Rock. But while there were lines of people waiting a half-hour or more for beer, there was no wait to get a shot, with the doctors and nurses mostly hanging out, eagerly engaging anyone who approached.