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Researcher Michael Zeiler with GreatAmericanEclipse.com estimated between 84,000 and 337,000 people will visit the Natural State to view the solar eclipse. (Adil/AdobesStock)

Arkansans encouraged to observe birds, wildlife behavior during solar eclipse

On Monday, Arkansans will have the opportunity to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event, a total solar eclipse. It will be visible along a narrow track …

Native plantings and green spaces in urban and suburban areas promote bird diversity, abundance, breeding success and survivorship. (Samuel/AdobeStock)

Migratory bird species will soon flock to the Natural State

Spring marks the season for annual migrations for numerous bird species, with Arkansas hosting a total of 428 avian varieties. Experts said …

Last month, the U.S. Economic Development Administration committed a $1.2 million grant, matched by $1 million from Arkansas, to expand the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program across four Opportunity Zones. (Nicholas & Geraldine/Adobe Stock)<br />

Arkansas Initiative aims to expand outdoor recreation, boost economy

The Natural State Initiative latest report recommends increasing access to outdoor recreation, which will help grow the state's economy. The …

The last United States Christmas Bird Counts reported 671 species, 70 infraspecific forms and 35 exotic species. (Bonniemarie/Adobe Stock)

’Tis the season for Christmas bird count in Arkansas

If you want to contribute to more than a century of science about the feathered friends in your community, the National Audubon Society's 124th …

Duck hunting season is already underway in Arkansas and the Natural State is home to five major classes of wetlands based on water source, geology and landscape position. (Ajamils/AdobeStock)

Duck hunting faces environmental crossroads after spring SCOTUS ruling

Arkansas and other states are dealing with the fallout from a Supreme Court decision in May, which effectively removed federal protections for more …

The National Audubon Society report states that if meaningful action is taken now to stabilize the <br />climate, 76% of climate-vulnerable bird species will experience less range loss. (Kevin/AdobeStock)

Report: Audubon Call to Action for Renewable Energy, Bird Protection

A new report highlights the need for more electric transmission, while showing how it can be implemented without hurting our feathered friends…

Arkansas is a major exporter of rice, soybeans, cotton, poultry and feed grains. Of the 49,346 farms statewide, 97% are family-owned. (Branex/AdobeStock)

Bill Aims to Foster Farmer-led Education Networks in Arkansas

New federal legislation aims to help farmers in Arkansas and elsewhere share their knowledge of conservation practices as they face an increasing numb…

Arkansas is slated to receive $54.1 million in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program funding over five years, beginning with an initial allocation of $19.5 million for 2022-2023. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

Two-Thirds of New US Cars Could be EVs by 2032

The EPA is accepting written comments on its latest vehicle emission standards until July 5th. Backers of the more stringent rules say they will help …

The EPA said the spread of Lyme disease, carried by black-legged ticks, is influenced by changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/AdobeStock).

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

More than 1,600 U.S. species are already listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, including 37 species in Arkansas. (David McGowen/AdobeStock)

Bipartisan Bill Could Save 377 Species of Wildlife in Arkansas

Bipartisan wildlife legislation that was recently reintroduced would provide unprecedented conservation funding to states across the U.S. The …

In 2021, coal reclaimed the top spot as the leading fuel used to generate electricity in Arkansas, surpassing natural gas, and accounted for 35% of the state's total net generation.(Danicek/Adobe Stock)

Clean-Air Advocates Urge EPA to Set Stronger Rules for Soot Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher air-quality standards for soot pollution, and an Arkansas clean-air advocacy group says it's …

In Arkansas, the utility Entergy Arkansas, Inc. provides electricity to about 728,000 customers in 63 counties. (Oleksii/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Utility Delivering On Its Climate Promises

A report by the Sierra Club rates utility companies for what they say they're doing to transition to cleaner energy sources - versus what they're actu…

Heat waves are the deadliest type of severe weather events in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Soaring Temperatures in AR Pose Potential for Heat-Related Illnesses

Temperatures across Arkansas this weekend will continue to be in the high 90s, as a heat wave hangs on in the region, and health officials are …

The report notes that the average green-jobs salary in Arkansas is more than $61,466. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Farms Have Opportunity to Grow in Green Economy

By Laura Aka Broadcast version by Emily Scott Reporting for the WorkingNation- Arkansas News Service Collaboration Chris Isbell of Isbell Farms is a…

Chronic wasting disease has been found in deer, elk and moose in at least 26 states. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Could Provide Funds to Manage CWD in Arkansas Deer Herds

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk is a growing problem in Arkansas, and conservation groups hope bills making their way through Congress …

Conservationists say the Recovering America's Wildlife Act could support improvements to water quality in the Ozarks, including the Buffalo National River. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Act Could Boost AR Conservation, Advocates Say

ST. JOE, Ark. -- More than a decade of restoration efforts in a section of Northern Arkansas' Ozark National Forest have led to 40 new species of …

In the next few decades, hotter summers are likely to reduce corn and rice yields in Arkansas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Solutions for Climate Change in Arkansas? Join the Discussion

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas is seeing the effects of climate change, from extreme weather events to less water in aquifers used by farms due to …

Arkansas farmers produce more than 9 billion pounds of rice each year. (Adobe Stock)

UArk Studies Profit Potential of Farming Organic Rice

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas produces more rice than any other state, and a new grant will help farmers explore ways to transition the industry to …

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act proposes allocating nearly $1.4 billion across all 50 states, and another 97 million a year for tribal nations.(Adobe Stock)

As More Venture Out in AR, Groups Work to Protect Habitat, Wildlife

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansans are turning to nature in record numbers during the pandemic, and supporters of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act (…

There are more than 5,000 types of PFAS chemicals, a portion of which are found in fast-food packaging. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Food Industry to Follow McDonald’s on PFAS Packaging

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- After McDonald's recent announcement it will stop using toxic chemicals called PFAS in its food packaging, health advocates are …

In just four years of use, dicamba has damaged at least five million acres of soybeans, decimated fruit orchards and vegetable farms, and damaged trees, backyard gardens and natural areas throughout much of rural America. (Adobe Stock)

Public Interest Groups Sue EPA for Reapproving Controversial Herbicide

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Public-interest groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the agency's re-approval of products containing …

Methane is one of several gases that escape during oil and gas drilling. (Adobe stock)<br />

Critics Call Out EPA's Inaction on Fracking-Induced Methane Leaks

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Environmental groups, along with attorneys general of several states, have filed a motion in federal court to force the …

According to 2018 data from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 26% of Arkansas children live in households with a high housing cost burden. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Even Before Pandemic, AR Child Poverty On the Rise

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Childhood poverty in Arkansas is on the rise, according to data recently released by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Rich …

Supreme Court, court of appeals and district court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Adobe Stock)

Trump Administration Fast-Tracking Judge Confirmations

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Over the past few years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed 185 of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, the majority of whom …

Some Arkansas farmers say they have seen damage to their crops despite being outside the one-mile exclusion zone for the herbicide Dicamba.(bugarskipavle3/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Farmers, Environmentalists Fight State Over Dicamba Regs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Farming and conservation groups remain deeply concerned over the Arkansas Plant Board's 2018 decision to relax regulations …

The Ouachita National Forest, which covers about 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas, is one of two national forests in the state. (U.S. Forest Service)

Advocates Challenge Proposed Forest Service Rule Changes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Conservation groups are challenging the Trump administration over proposed changes to U.S. Forest Service rules to allow …

A new bill aimed at expanding access to solar energy in Arkansas is expected to create hundreds of new jobs in the solar power industry. (WikimediaCommons)

New Measure Aims to Expand Solar Energy in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - As a rule, business interests and environmental advocates rarely agree, but a new solar-power access plan in Arkansas may be the …

An Arkansas couple casts flies in search of rainbow and brown trout in the clear waters of the Buffalo National River. (Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism)

Congress Poised to Renew Land and Water Conservation Fund

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The U.S. House could vote next week on a package of public lands bills that would permanently reauthorize the Land and …

Scientists say the herbicide dicamba often drifts from the fields where it is applied, and ends up killing native plants and birds in nearby areas. (Pholiprids/WikimediaCommons)

Groups Object to Arkansas Panel's Approval of Herbicide Dicamba

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A coalition of sustainable-farming and conservation groups is protesting a move by Arkansas officials to roll back restrictions …

A new report finds that young parents of color face additional challenges as they work to raise their children and stay ahead financially. (Twenty20)

Report: Young Parents in Arkansas Face Uphill Battle

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The sleepless nights and increased costs that come with parenthood can be a rude awakening for anyone, but the challenge is …

The Clean Power Plan is currently on hold after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and the Trump administration is proposing a rule that would place control in the hands of states, which critics say would make for inconsistent air quality control. (Twenty20)

Critics Say Arkansas Has Much to Lose if Clean Power Plan is Replaced

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – There are five coal-fired power plants in Arkansas and the carbon emissions released from them could increase if a proposal …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

$Pipes like this protrude from the ground where fracking occurs. (Mark Dixon/flickr)$

Arkansas and U.S. Fracking History a Cautionary Tale, U.N. Report Says

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fracking already is making its mark on Arkansas, with the majority of drilling occurring in the Fayetteville area…

The average worker bee produces only about one-twelfth teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/Flickr)

Arkansas Bees Feel the Sting of Parasites, Pesticides

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas beekeepers may be hearing less buzz from their hives this spring. A new survey by the Bee Informed Partnership …

Dozens of migratory waterfowl and other species, many of them endangered, can be found at the Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge in Central Arkansas. (USFWS)

Report: Toxic Pesticides Used on Leases in Fragile Wildlife Refuges

CLARKEDALE, Ark. – Commercial farms leased in many national wildlife refuges, including several in Arkansas, have been sprayed with nearly a …

Forked Mountain is a prominent feature of the Flatside Wilderness area in central Arkansas. (Wikimedia Commons)<br /><br />

Bill Proposes Expansion of Arkansas Flatside Wilderness Area

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Conservationists are praising a measure designed to expand the Flatside Wilderness area of the Ouachita National Forest in …

The Bobwhite Quail is one of 377 species in Arkansas which, due to habitat loss, are at risk of becoming extinct. (USFWS)

Study Finds One in Three U.S. Species at Risk of Extinction

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new report warns that as many as one-third of wildlife species in America are in crisis but with funding, their recovery …

Changes to the EPA's Clear Air Plan would allow major polluters, such as coal-fired power plants, to increase their emissions over time. (benedek/GettyImages)

Environmental Groups Take EPA to Court Over Clean Air Act

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Clean-air advocates want the federal courts to stop a new rule that would allow major polluters to turn their pollution …

A new report shows tap water in many communities in Arkansas and across the country contains potentially dangerous contaminants. (Pixabay)

Report Lists AR Water Quality Issues by System

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new guide compiles test results from public water systems in all 50 states so people can double check their local water …

Congress is considering a bill that would weaken regulations about the quality of water, food, medicine and the environment. (Sullivan/GettyImages)

Consumer Advocates: Proposal Could Scuttle Health, Safety Protections

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - It's called the Regulatory Accountability Act, and while that sounds innocuous enough, consumer and public-health advocates say …

Poultry processing is a $4 billion a year industry in Arkansas, employing more than 40,000 people. (nd3000/iStockphoto)

Groups Seek Moratorium on N.E. Arkansas Chicken Farms

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A coalition of environmental and animal rights groups is asking for a moratorium on constructing new chicken processing farms in …

Participants at the first Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit will discuss managing and preserving the state�s natural resources, such as Hot Springs National Park. (zrfphoto/iStockphoto)

Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit Set Today

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Environmental advocates and public officials are meeting today at the first Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit, to …

The Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area is among the public lands to be protected from air pollution by the EPA�s Arkansas Regional Haze Plan. (National Park Service)

EPA Completes Regional Haze Plan for Arkansas Parks

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It took a lawsuit by an environmental group to get it done, but the Environmental Protection Agency has finally released …

A new report says more retailers are selling bee-friendly plants, raised without using insecticides. (Bee Aware)

More Retailers Backing Sales of "Bee-Friendly" Plants

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — New tests found significant decreases in the use of bee-killing pesticides on "bee-friendly" plants. That’s good news …

A couple of groups have come forward in opposition to six large broiler chicken houses proposed for the Strawberry River Watershed. (univar.edu)

Groups Threaten Suit to Stop Arkansas Factory Chicken Farm

EVENING SHADE, Ark. – A lawsuit could be filed before summer wraps up over plans to build a new poultry plant in Northeast Arkansas. The …

Harmful blue-green algae is increasing in bodies of water across the country because of climate change, farming practices and storm and wastewater runoff. (USGS)

Harmful Algae on the Rise in U.S.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Algal blooms in bodies of water across the nation are increasing as a result of climate change, farming practices, storm …

Washing your vehicle at home uses more than 100 gallons of water on average. (Virginia Carter)

Clean Car, Clean Conscience

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - How many times have you driven through your neighborhood and noticed people out washing their cars in the driveway? The …

Arkansas' skin cancer rate is relatively high, but new research may mean better sunscreens are on the way. (Veronica Carter)

Better Sunscreens on the Way?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Warmer weather means more time in the sun for Arkansas residents, and new research underscores the importance of using sunscreen …

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AR: Environment