Sarah Kellogg

Despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas, long stretches of wet weather are proving to be more of an issue for farmers, but the virus is having an impact.

Jarrod Hardke, rice extension agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says typically, this would be the beginning of the planting season for rice. However, the excess rain has complicated things.

"The overabundance of rainfall throughout the winter and early spring has the majority of our ground still unprepared for planting at this point," Hardke said.

While the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to grow across the country and across Arkansas, seasonal illness with similar symptoms are also circulating in the state. Seasonal allergies, the flu and other illnesses that share symptoms with COVID-19 are causing some to believe they could have the coronavirus.

Dr. Robert Hopkins is the chief of the division of general internal medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He says the presence of the coronavirus has resulted in more people calling and visiting UAMS over health concerns.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson says three more people in Arkansas are presumed to have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of presumptive cases in the state to nine.

In a news conference at the Arkansas Department of Health Friday, Hutchinson said one case indicates the first instance of community spread of the virus in the state, in Little Rock.

Arkansans chose Joe Biden and President Donald Trump on Tuesday as their nominees for the presidential election in November.

However, Gov. Asa Hutchinson believes the race that will be most studied in Arkansas is Barbara Womack Webb’s victory over Judge Morgan "Chip" Welch for an Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice position. 

Speaking Wednesday during a meeting of the Political Animals Club, Hutchinson said her victory will cause future judicial candidates to rethink their strategies during elections.

Arkansans joined voters in 13 other states and one territory on Super Tuesday to pick, among other races, the Democratic nominee for president. In Pulaski County, voters are also choosing an Arkansas Supreme Court Justice, a statewide race, as well as certain circuit court judgeship positions and others. 

Outside of Little Rock’s Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, supporters of at least nine different candidates lined up and waved signs to ongoing cars and to voters entering the building to vote.

Monday marked Pulaski County’s final day of early voting before Super Tuesday. According to the Pulaski County Election Commission’s website, over 23,800 people cast their ballots early.  Terri Hollingsworth, the Circuit and County Clerk of Pulaski County, says the numbers are a little lower than in previous primary years.  

“It’s just slightly lower than the last few…in 2016 and 2018, but we still want people to urge their family and friends to get out and vote. It’s just such an important part of being a citizen in this state, the city and in this country,” Hollingsworth said.

A new app from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs allows veterans to access information on healthcare news, VA health care locations and other functions.

Chris Durney is the public affairs officer for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. He says veterans who are traveling could use the MyVA Info app to find assistance in an unfamiliar place.

A partnership between the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Heifer International aims to develop resources and knowledge on urban farming and apply it to UA Little Rock’s Campus Garden.

The collaboration, announced Wednesday at UA Little Rock, will provide students and faculty the opportunity to work with Heifer International though field days, workshops and will also be able to share equipment and work with personnel to further improve the garden.

The year is off to a good start for the Little Rock Port Authority, boasting strong numbers for January 2020. According to a news release, the port’s docks saw a total of 41 barges, which on average equaled to more than a barge each day. Bryan Day is the executive director of the Port of Little Rock. He says the numbers reflect a strong start to the year and should be a foundation for months to come.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock debuted a new lab on Thursday focused on Building Information Management. The BIM lab will be used by students studying construction management and engineering.

Dr. Lawrence Whitman is the dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. He says the technology helps students better visualize the projects they are designing or working on.

A new pilot program from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service is seeking the input and information from employees in certain sectors.

Create Bridges is a project studying rural economic development, in particular the retail, tourism, accommodations and entertainment industry.

Arkansans visiting the Clinton Presidential Center on Monday will have the opportunity to register to vote, thanks to a partnership with the Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk. According to a news release, volunteers will help Arkansas residents complete their registration and check registration status.

Terri Hollingsworth is the Pulaski County Circuit and County clerk. She says the county selected this day because the Clinton Center offers free admission on President’s Day and tends to get a lot of visitors.

Farmers in the Jefferson County area had the opportunity to hear advice and predictions on the 2020 planting season during a crop production meeting held by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Beginning in early January, the Division of Agriculture has held production meetings at its county extensions across the state. This particular meeting, held Wednesday in Pine Bluff is the 16th so far, with twelve more to go this February. It focused on corn, soybeans and rice as well as presentations on weeds and insects. 

Arkansas’s economy continues to improve according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Finance and Administration.

According to the most recent revenue report, released Tuesday, the state has a net available revenue of $594.6 million. That’s a 7.3% increase compared to this time last year and .2% above forecast.

A campaign led by leaders in politics, faith and medicine in the state urges people not to sign two petitions currently circulating in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana. Members of the “Just Don’t Sign” campaign held a press conference at the state Capitol Thursday.

Republican Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, urged supporters gathered at the State Capitol not to sign either of the two petitions currently circulating to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. Sen. Bledsoe said legalizing the drug’s recreational use would have adverse effects on the state.

Starting in the next school year, first-year students attending Little Rock’s Hall High School can choose from three coursework tracks focusing on science, technology and the arts.

Officials with the state Department of Education and the Little Rock School District on Tuesday announced plans for re-designating Hall as a magnet school focusing on STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

LRSD Superintendent Michael Poore told the audience that students from all attendance zones are welcome to apply for the 2020- 2021 school year.

The latest Beige Book report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis indicates a slightly improved economy for the region since the previous report, with some sectors remaining largely unchanged.

Charles Gascon is a regional economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He says since the national economy is growing at a fairly steady pace, those numbers in turn influence regional and state economies. That includes Arkansas.

Arkansas revenue continued to show a surplus in December, as the state’s net revenue totaled $547.6 million, which is $6 million more than the same time last year.

According to the revenue report released Friday by the state Department of Finance and Administration, that number is also 1% above forecast.

Dr. Michael Pakko, the state economic forecaster at the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, says the continued rising numbers this fiscal year are the signs of a strong state economy. 

A multimillion dollar grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will enable the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and its partnering universities to conduct research on water efficiency in the poultry industry as well as other topics.

In the final month of 2019, central Arkansas is already developing plans for an upcoming 2020 task, the U.S. Census. According Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, preparation for the census under the supervision of Communications Director Cozetta Jones began around four or five months ago.

Little Rock City Directors will vote Tuesday on a resolution that would return curbside glass recycling to the city’s residents.

According to the resolution, an estimated 59,000 households within the city will pay a rate of $3.39 a month for curbside glass recycling pickup. That’s in addition to the rate residents pay for other recycling services through Waste Management. 

While Black Friday draws in shoppers as early as Thursday night, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce hopes shoppers save some of their dollars for some local businesses later in the weekend.

Small Business Saturday, happening this weekend, began in 2010. According to Brandon Campbell, director of small business and inclusion for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the chamber aims to promote local shopping throughout the Little Rock area in order to support local business owners.