News

October is breast cancer awareness month. This is an opportunity to remind Arkansans of the importance of mammograms for early detection and lifestyle changes that could help prevent cancer. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat, and before it is big enough to feel or cause […]

Decisions regarding our state budget show the priorities we make as a state. The budget making process has a direct impact on everything from classrooms to health care. Budget hearings will begin Tuesday, October 13, 2020, and are scheduled to conclude November 12, 2020. The Joint Budget Committee sits with the Arkansas Legislative Committee as […]

For every tax dollar coming into the state, 41% is spent on K-12 public schools. Approximately, half of all school district revenues come from the state. Our current process of determining the amount of state funding for our schools goes back to 2003. The Public School Funding Act of 2003 develops per-pupil funding amounts by […]

Unfortunately, each Election Day, many would-be first-time voters in Arkansas do not have their votes counted because they are not actually registered to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the November election is October 5. The postmark on a mail-in application will be considered the submission date.Many believed they had registered months before, […]

The Arkansas Department of Health reported 486 new confirmed cases and 131 new probable cases on Tuesday.The agency also reported 12 additional deaths and an increase of 12 hospitalizations.The Governor outlined COVID-19 winter strategies which include increasing flu shot participation and performing 1 million COVID-19 tests by October 20. More than 830,000 tests have been […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered online activity in our state.  More Arkansans are working remotely, learning through distance education, using telehealth, and attending online church services. It remains to be seen to what extent some of the changes in habit will continue after the health crisis ends. That is why 2020 is a critical […]

There were 606 positive PCR tests and 95 positive antigen tests reported on Wednesday.The counties with the highest number of new cases are as follows: Washington-65Pulaski-58Benton-37Faulkner-31Jefferson-29 The Arkansas Department of Health reported 7 additional deaths.Hospitalizations have decreased by two. 2020 Covid-19_infographic_2020-09-16.pdf

The Governor will now be holding weekly COVID-19 updates. Today he announced 676 new positive cases from PCR tests. There are also 188 positive antigen tests. The Governor also announced that the state will now be reporting confirmed deaths and probable deaths. Probable deaths include those who had a positive antigen test or those with […]

Positive tests reported on Friday include 1,107 PCR and 78 antigen tests.  ADH reports 13 additional deaths. Hospitalizations have remained flat with no new hospitalizations. 2020 Covid-19_infographic_2020-09-11.pdf

Every year thousands of Americans die by suicide, leaving behind friends and family to navigate the tragedy of loss. In 2019, more than 500 Arkansans died by suicide. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this stigmatized topic. In […]

The Department of Health reported 385 positive PCR tests and 114 positive antigen tests on Wednesday. There have been 11 deaths in the last 24 hours. Hospitalizations have increased by 2.The Governor announced a new partnership with the Department of Health (ADH) and Baptist Health to increase testing. A new machine purchased as a result […]

Positive tests reported on Thursday include 398 PCR and 70 antigen tests. ADH reports 12 additional deaths. Hospitalizations have decreased by 19. Tomorrow will be the last daily COVID-19 update. After tomorrow, the Governor will give updates weekly or as necessary. But as the Governor reminded everyone, this doesn’t mean we are not still in […]