Arkansas News & Current Events | Public News Service

In Arkansas, early voting starts Feb. 19 for the March 5 primary election. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Arkansans Reminded to Register on National Voter Registration Day

It is National Voter Registration Day. Ahead of the municipal election on November 14th, there is an urgent push for voter registration in the …

In the Natural State, 33% of children from birth to age 6 are eligible for a Child Care & Development Block Grant subsidy under federal rules, on average, each month. (Bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)<br />

AR Adds 260 Child Care Providers, But Funding Crisis Looms

Across the country and in Arkansas, some day care providers face the threat of closure when federal government aid initiated during the pandemic …

One of every five households in Arkansas is considered food insecure, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Nutrition Program Would Expand Access to Healthy Foods in Rural Arkansas

September is Hunger Action Month, and an advocacy group is working to get legislation expanded to provide more healthy foods to people in rural …

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 the 32nd largest school system in the U.S., serving more than a half million students between public and private schools. (Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Navigating Back-to-School Challenges in Rural Arkansas

More than a half million Arkansas kids are back at school for the fall, and districts across the state face different challenges. For some in rural …

In Arkansas, sale and distribution of vapor products, e-liquids or any component thereof are prohibited to be sold to persons younger than age 21, unless the person is an active-duty member of the military. (And.one/AdobeStock)

Report Calls for Ending Disposable Vape Sales in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, disposable vapes are posing a growing environmental threat, according to a recent report. The U.S. Public …

In an average year, 549 people die by guns in Arkansas. With a rate of 18.1 deaths per 100,000 people. (AndriiKoval/AdobeStock)

Survey: Young Arkansans Want Stricter Gun Laws

In Arkansas and across the country, 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and 60% want to see stricter gun laws…

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…

Only about 20% of the water a person needs to survive comes from the foods they eat; they get the rest from the fluids they drink. (Goodluz/Adobe Stock)

Prioritizing Mental, Physical Health in AR Summer Heat

It seems the summer heat wave has made news headlines for weeks, and Arkansas is no exception. When temperatures soar, the heat can affect not only …

In Arkansas, a family of four can expect to spend an average of $8,838 per year on groceries, the fifth-lowest amount among states, according to the Economic Policy Institute's Family Budget Calculator. (Prostock-studio/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Joins USDA to Probe Grocery Price Gouging

Attorneys general from more than 30 states including Arkansas recently announced a bipartisan effort to bring down costs and create more choices at th…

A person who is blind or has a qualifying disability who applies for SSI may get special services to help them work. These services may include counseling, job training, and help in finding work.<br />(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

SSA Expands Outreach for SSI Benefits to Rural Communities

The Social Security Administration has taken a proactive step to bridge the gap between critical financial assistance and the people who may be eligib…

The SAVE plan would forgive loan balances after 10 years of payments, instead of 20 years, for borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

SAVE Plan Could Mean Lower Payments for Student Borrowers

A new student-loan forgiveness plan could lower monthly bills and reduce the amount these borrowers have to pay back over the lifetime of their loans…

According to Bankrate, the current mortgage interest rate in Arkansas is 7.22% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.51% for a 15-year fixed mortgage. (seanlockephotography/Adobe Stock)

Bridging the Gaps in Homebuyer Education in Arkansas

Despite the roller coaster housing market over the past few years, a recent Gallup Poll reported nearly 28 million Americans, including people in …

In March of this year, Arkansas had enrolled 1,047,062 individuals in Medicaid and CHIP. That was a net increase of 88.03% since the start of the Marketplace and related Medicaid program changes in October 2013. (Momius/Adobe Stock)

AR Sees Medicaid Coverage Loss in Redetermination Process

In Arkansas, thousands of people have lost Medicaid coverage since April, as states recheck everyone's eligibility, a process known as "unwinding." …

In 2024, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will launch the first-ever U.S.-based Holocaust education research center. (AndriiKoval/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Gets Serious About Fighting Antisemitism

Arkansas, like many other states, has not been immune to the recent wave of antisemitic acts and rhetoric, and the state is fighting back through …

Researchers from the Equal Justice Initiative have documented 4,075 racial terror lynchings of African Americans in 12 states, including Arkansas, between 1877 and 1950. (Neirfy/Adobe Stock)

AR Racial Justice Essay Contest Open for Pulaski County Students

Summer learning is underway in Arkansas, and there's a unique opportunity for a history lesson open to high schoolers in Pulaski County. The …

A College Futures Foundation report found in higher education, Black, Latino and Asian American college students consistently experience racial microaggressions when their academic abilities are questioned or their presence is ignored. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

AR Addresses Rising Demand for College Mental Health Services

In Arkansas and across the country, student mental health has been the focus of increased attention on campuses. A recent report from the College …

The Kids Count Data Book reports in 2020-21, 15% of children from birth to age 5 in Arkansas lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job because of problems finding or affording child care. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Ranks 43rd in Child Well-Being

A new report found Arkansas consistently ranks toward the lowest 10 states for child well-being. The annual Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Arkansas recently passed legislation to establish June 12 annually as Woman Veterans Recognition Day, based on the 75th Anniversary of the June 12, 1948, proclamation to allow women to serve in the armed forces. (Drazen/AdobeStock)

AARP Offers Support to Arkansas Veterans, Military Families

In Arkansas, an advocacy group focusing on the 50-plus population is helping meet the needs of Natural State veterans by providing free resources…

An American Hospital Association report revealed net losses in 2022 for some of the nation's largest nonprofit health systems were well above $1 billion, and in some cases, approached $2 billion. (AntonioDiaz/Adobe Stock)

Report: Hospitals Face Mounting Financial Pressures

The mounting financial pressures hospitals in Arkansas are facing are part of a national trend affecting people's access to care, according to a …

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 …

At the end of 2022, there were 4,524 Arkansas children in foster care, a decrease of 7% from the previous year, according to the State of Arkansas House of Representatives.<br />(Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

Helping Arkansas Foster Youth Succeed as Adults

May is National Foster Care Month and in Arkansas, the number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly, according to a new report…

One in five people reported losing money to fraud through imposter scams in 2022, and the top fraud category last year reported to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission was identity theft. (Toa555/Adobe Stock)

AARP Warns Arkansas Seniors of Spike In Fraud, Scams

Consumer scams are on the rise, especially online, and AARP Arkansas is warning residents with tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or …

More than 470,000 students are enrolled in K-12 schools in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Education Data Center. (Kawee/AdobeStock)

Group Urges Arkansas Schools Districts To Focus On Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a national education advocacy group wants school districts in Arkansas to continue focusing on and investing …

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 …

People with ADHD have characteristic behaviors which are frequent and severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living such as school, work and relationships with others. (ALEX/Adobe Stock)

With ADHD Medicine Shortage, People Seek Other Treatment Options

In Arkansas and across the country there is a shortage of medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which affects more than 1…

Arkansas is one of nine states with levels of food insecurity above the national average from 2019-2021, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service. (disha1980/Adobe Stock)

AR Changes SNAP Requirements to Ease Hunger, Temporarily

People may still be able to qualify for SNAP food benefits if they have up to $5,500 in assets, under a bill passed by the Arkansas Legislature…

A new report revealed a steady decline of enrollment and completion among Black learners across all sectors of higher education since 2011, threatening decades of economic gains and the vitality of Black families. (Daniel Ernst/AdobeStock)

Arkansas College Works to Retain Black Students In Higher Ed

A new report from the Lumina Foundation called "Level Up" report showed a steady decrease in enrollment and completion rates among Black students nati…

Of Arkansas' 1.79 million registered voters, more than 900,000 cast ballots in the November 2022 election, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State. (Vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas 'Election Integrity Unit' Bill Awaits Gov's Signature

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to sign a bill to create an Election Integrity Unit in the state Attorney General's office. Its goal will be …

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 …

According to Feeding America, one in seven people in Arkansas faces hunger. Local food banks are always in need of volunteers to help. (Adobe Stock)

Arkansans Encouraged to Roll Up Their Sleeves and Volunteer

National Volunteer Month, and AARP Arkansas is encouraging people to dedicate a little more time and energy to the communities and causes important …

Males and overweight people are more likely to have snoring problems, which usually worsen with age, according to the Central Arkansas ENT Clinic. (Baranq/AdobeStock)

Experts Call a Good Night's Sleep Essential to Your Health

Sleep is essential to maintaining good health, but experts say Americans are not getting enough of it. In Arkansas, more than 35% of adults report on …

Arkansas would expect to receive $246 million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state. (SeanPavonePhoto/AdobeStock)

AR Mayor Focuses on Infrastructure and Revitalization Projects

An Arkansas mayor joined city leaders from across the country for the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in the nation's capital …

In Arkansas, more than 400,000 people face hunger, and 138,410 are children, according to Feeding America. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

March is 'School Breakfast Month' in Arkansas

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as Arkansans recognize March as School Breakfast Month. Research has proven providing …

Community Health Centers would need additional funding in order to extend their network of providers and provide care to more patients, according to a new report by the National Association of Community Health Centers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Closing the Primary-Care Gap for Arkansans

A new report found more than three million Arkansans are among 100 million Americans facing barriers to accessing primary medical care. The National …

In recognition of Women's History Month, AARP celebrates Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. Her passion for working with retirees grew into her becoming the founder of AARP in 1958. (Robert Kneschke/AdobeStock)

AARP Provides Resources for Caregivers During Women's History Month

In celebration of Women's History Month, AARP Arkansas is sharing resources and information affecting women ages 50 and up, specifically women who …

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 …

The District of Columbia and 35 states have enacted

Telehealth Benefits Rural Arkansans with Internet Service

Telehealth services have increased access to health care for many people living in rural Arkansas, but it requires a good internet connection…

A new study from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families notes continuous coverage protection nearly eliminated churn, protecting children from gaps in health coverage. <br />(Robert Kneschke/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Children's Uninsured Rate Could Rise if Health Emergency Ends

A pandemic-era law to help keep children and families continuously covered is set to expire this spring, and advocates are worried the state's …

The U. S. Census Bureau estimated in 2016 the total population in Arkansas was more than 2.9 million people and more than 21.6% of the residents are seniors aged 60 or older. (Chris Ryan/KOTO/AdobeStock)

AARP Priority: Connecting More Arkansans to High-Speed Internet

Broadband internet is increasingly seen as a necessity, but many rural Arkansas communities still lack high-speed broadband service. Arkansas ranks 4…

In 2021, Arkansas had about 27,900 people working as registered nurses, which is about 76% of the number required (36,900) to provide the national average level of care. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Needs More Healthcare Workers

A new report reveals hospitals in Arkansas are having critical staffing challenges for some occupations. The problem is not new, and it is getting …

The most recent Arkansas Food Desert Working Group report found the state has

Grocery Chain Mega-Merger Could Affect Rural Arkansas

The proposed merger between the grocery chains Albertsons and Kroger has antitrust laws in the spotlight, as the supermarket companies are already …

In 2020, 83% of Arkansans reported being registered to vote. That's lower than the national average of just over 87%, according to the MIT Elections Performance Index. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Ban Circulating Petitions at AR Polling Places

A Republican-sponsored bill in the Arkansas Legislature would make it illegal to circulate petitions at or near polling places during elections…

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched the

National Day of Racial Healing Means Weeklong Events for AR

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s holiday, and tomorrow is the seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing. It's a call to action for racial …

The Sales and Use tax in the Natural State has stayed the same, at 6.5%, since 2013, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. (Zimmytws/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Analysis: The Longer-Term Effects of AR's Lower Tax Rates

Arkansans will owe the state fewer tax dollars this year, due to tax cuts that have just gone into effect. The General Assembly met for some special …

More than 444,000 Arkansans are not always sure where their next meal is coming from, according to Feeding America, and more than 138,000 of them are children. (Monkey Business/AdobeStock)">

Report: Group Works to Alleviate Arkansas Food Deserts

A recent report shows Arkansas has a "food desert" issue in urban and rural communities. Gov. Asa Hutchinson formed the Arkansas Gov.'s Food Desert …

Two-thirds of people surveyed by the AARP Fraud Watch Network said they shopped online last year, and 21% said they planned to shop online again this holiday season. (Shintartanya/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

AARP Has Tips to Avoid Latest Holiday Scams, Fraud

The holiday shopping season is already in full swing, and AARP Arkansas has some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft…

According to the Georgetown University report, children in low-wage working families with annual incomes between $30,305 and $54,900 (for a family of three) saw the biggest reductions in their uninsured rates during the pandemic. (NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR Rate of Uninsured Kids Held Steady in Pandemic

A new report finds during the pandemic, the number of children without health insurance in Arkansas stayed about the same. The report, by the …

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