Sarah Kellogg

The recently-transformed Arkansas cabinet welcomed a new member, discussed ground rules and talked finances during the beginning of its first cabinet meeting on Monday.

A Pulaski County circuit judge has petitioned the Arkansas Supreme Court to restore his power to hear and decide civil and criminal cases concerning the death penalty, capital punishment and the method of execution.

Arkansans working on all kinds of household projects have the opportunity to use tools they may need for no cost. The Central Arkansas Library System’s tool library at the Dee Brown Library offers equipment ranging from lawn care to power tools and car repair. Joe Hudak with the Central Arkansas Library System, says some of the equipment is not what you would find in a toolbox.

While the Arkansas River has crested and continues to fall, steady barge traffic along the river will not be observed for at least six more weeks. Bryan Day executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority said the stopping of barges was due to river speed more than height.

“How fast, what the volume is…will impact the ability to safely move commodities up and down the Arkansas River,” Day said. The increase in rain and eventual flooding impacted transportation in other areas besides Arkansas.

A news conference and memorial honoring former Arkansas state senator Linda Collins offered no new details on the case and asked those with any relevant information to contact authorities.

Collins formerly served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate, before losing re-election in 2018 to a GOP primary challenger. She was found dead in her home last week. The investigation is still underway. 

Film fans in Little Rock will have the opportunity to watch some movies from the Czech Republic this weekend as a part of the Czech That Film festival. The event, hosted by the Czech Honorary Consulate in Little Rock, includes partners like the Arkansas Cinema Society and the Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater.

While a rainy spring and summer as well as flooding along the Arkansas River has impacted farmers, it has also affected agricultural research in the state. The Agricultural Experiment Station, a part of the The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, has several research stations located across the state. 

About 40 segments of highways in the state have been shut down as a result of flooding along the Arkansas River. As the river crest in areas of central Arkansas, that number is expected to rise. Danny Straessle, a spokesman with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, says the areas being flooded are not the “usual suspects” the department prepares for during a flash flood. 

The Arkansas River is expected to crest higher and later than initially expected in the Little Rock area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forecasts the river will likely crest at 29 feet next Thursday. That’s one foot more than the 28 feet the river was expected to reach on Monday. Speaking during a news conference on Thursday, Jon Honeywell, director of Public Works for Little Rock said the city will reach lower levels of water compared to other areas of the state.

Arkansas is receiving an additional $250,000 in emergency funding for flood relief in the state. Gov. Asa Hutchinson made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) at Camp Robinson. This funding comes after Hutchinson announced $100,000 in funding earlier in the week. Hutchinson said this increase came at the request of ADEM. During the conference, Hutchinson spoke on an earlier conversation with President Donald Trump about the flooding. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary praised Arkansas for its commitment to its veterans while choosing not to speak as much to non-VA matters, such as proposed federal cuts to non-VA programs and comments from a Republican U.S senator from Arkansas concerning service members.

During a visit to the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Little Rock Tuesday, Secretary Robert Wilkie discussed reorganization efforts within the VA. This includes the Mission Act, which changes how veterans can receive healthcare.

Arkansas’s governor has unveiled the 15 people slated to head the state’s reformed cabinet. Gov. Asa Hutchinson released the names Wednesday during a news conference. The newly announced secretaries will have until July 1 to prepare for their new roles. They are:

Wes Ward -  Department of Agriculture

Michael Preston -  Department of Commerce

Wendy Kelley - Department of Corrections

Johnny Key  - Department of Education

Becky Keogh - Department of Energy and Environment