News

The number of Arkansas children in foster care has fallen by more than 700 since reaching an all-time high in 2016.  That information was part of an annual report presented a legislative committee this week. On Tuesday, the Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) presented its annual Family Preservation Report […]

Arkansas had one of the most productive, if not most productive, legislative sessions in the country with regard to addressing occupational regulations. Occupational regulations are licensures, certifications, or registrations required for workers in certain occupations. A few examples of licensed occupations include real estate agents, cosmetologists, and veterinarians.The success during the legislative session is partly […]

The State Capitol Offices and all State Buildings will be Closed on Thursday, July 4, 2019 to observe: Independence DayA legal holiday by authority of Act 304 of 2001 and amended by Act 561 of 2017.

Doctors at Arkansas Children’s Hospital see the most burn cases every year between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  And nationwide, more than 10,000 people are burned every year by fireworks. Over the years, the legislature has passed several laws regarding the use and sale of fireworks. For as long as Americans can remember, we have […]

Arkansas is home to more than 600,000 acres of lakes and more than 90,000 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks. As this is a popular time of the year for Arkansans to enjoy the waterways, we wanted to highlight boating safety in the state. Last year, Arkansas saw a 9% decrease in boating accidents and […]

From guided hikes to kayak outings, there are over 50,000 family-friendly programs available at our Arkansas State Parks.  If you are still looking for a summer getaway, consider the options in our own backyard.In 1996, Arkansas voters pass a constitutionally dedicated conservation sales tax benefitting Arkansas State Parks and three sister conservation agencies.  We now […]

There are now more than 460,000 students enrolled in Arkansas public schools. And an additional 18,000 attend an open-enrollment charter school. School districts range in size from less than 300 students to nearly 22,000 students. The median size is about 900 students. Charter schools range from about 60 students to more than 3,000. How we […]

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1 in 4 of adults in the United States have some type of disability. In Arkansas, that number climbs to 1 in 3.In the most recent legislative session, there were a number of acts passed to help better ensure that everybody has the same opportunities to participate […]

Whether it is rebuilding a family home or planning for a loss of crops, our state will be recovering from these historic floods for months to come. FEMA just recently announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to Arkansas to supplement state and local response efforts. While our emergency management teams across the […]

It is estimated that less than 15 percent of children who qualify for free or reduced-priced school lunches in Arkansas are getting the same high-quality meals in the summer. Children shouldn’t go hungry just because school is out. That is why the Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance partner with schools, […]