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Fair ~ High: 88°F ~ Low: 65°F Wednesday, June 19, 2013 |
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More summer food for Arkansas children
Posted Friday, June 14, at 4:16 PM Summer has arrived, and this season will help determine the outcome of Arkansas's fight against childhood hunger. Without the meals that had been available to them at school, students must rely on an entirely different system to access adequate and nutritious food. Arkansas, like many other states, is still building a feeding system to address these needs. And while we have made notable progress nationally, we are still not where we want to be...
Virtual technology with real potential Arkansas has an impressive new tool to use in our quest to improve education and boost economic development. This week, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock unveiled a new data-imaging system that is the first of its kind in the world. The state-of-the-art George W. Donaghey Emerging Analytics Center now has a wide range of applications and capabilities, including 3-D visualization. With a flood of new data being generated every second, the EAC has data-based solutions for every endeavor...
Preserving our safety net May 31, 2013 Arkansas's Unemployment Insurance program is an important safety net for working Arkansans who find themselves facing tough times. Our workers saw those tough times hit especially hard at the onset of the Great Recession beginning in 2008. ...
Remembering those gone and caring for those here May 24, 2013 While Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who have died in service to our country, it naturally also brings to mind our living veterans and our men and women who continue to serve. As troops continue to return home from overseas military operations, the benefits and care they receive back home is garnering increased attention. ...
Broadband health care May 17, 2013 Arkansas's innovative approach to implementing health-care reforms has garnered national attention. Instead of increasing the number of people receiving traditional Medicaid services, we've developed a plan to expand health-care coverage using federal dollars to purchase private insurance policies. Now other states are looking to our plan as a possible model for their own citizens...
Building a history of better care May 10, 2013 Our State recently gained national attention for the bipartisan crafting of the Arkansas Private Option. This series of health-care bills will bring health insurance to 250,000 working Arkansans while reforming our current Medicaid system. While this legislative effort was historic, it was not unprecedented...
Supporting Arkansas scholars May 3, 2013 As excitement builds toward graduation ceremonies this spring, it's a good time to look at Arkansas's progress in our efforts to improve higher education. With all the advances we've made in K-12 education, we're still situated toward the bottom of national rankings when it comes to obtaining bachelor's degrees. ...
State legislators end session with balanced budget After 100 days in session, we have reached the end of regular business for the 89th General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature. We have a balanced budget in place for the next fiscal year, which begins this July. There were many contentious issues this session, but the most heavily debated issue resulted in a bipartisan solution that has the rest of America watching Arkansas...
Artistic tourism April 19, 2013 Spring marks the start of a new tourism season for many travelers who come to Arkansas for our great outdoors. But recently, more and more visitors are drawn indoors to our state's arts venues, as well. Arkansas's cultural scene is also in its spring season, attracting people from across town and across the country...
Keeping children and families together April 12, 2013 Child-welfare programs in Arkansas are becoming more effective and efficient, thanks to a recent shift toward a family-centered approach. Traditionally, it has been thought that removing children from certain situations and placing them in safe homes was always the best policy for the safety of the child. ...
Arkansas' option for health care April 5, 2013 This past week, we've seen even greater momentum for the Arkansas private-option plan that would provide health insurance to an additional 250,000 Arkansans. Using federal funds made available through Medicaid, Arkansas can help working families obtain better health-care access through the new insurance exchange. When that exchange comes online next year, access to care would come from private insurance policies issued by companies competing to provide them...
Stopping sexual violence March 29, 2013 While we set high goals for Arkansas, we also recognize that the achievement of these goals depends on the well-being of each of our citizens. Our nation's health-care system has been in the spotlight for the past few years. We are taking historic steps in Arkansas to improve the health care of all of our people, but there are certain obstacles that go beyond the treatments that can be provided at a doctor's office or hospital. ...
Arkansas Dept. of Health celebrates 100 years March 22, 2013 This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Arkansas Department of Health. A century ago, awareness of disease control was reaching a new apex, both nationally and locally. With scientific advancements providing new information about diseases, our new department and others across the country began working to control sources of disease transmission. ...
Replanting Arkansas trees March 15, 2013 Trees are one of Arkansas's most valuable, and visible, resources. Arkansas wouldn't be the Natural State without the vibrant hardwoods of the Boston Mountains, our magnificent pines and dogwoods, and our beautiful flowering magnolias. ...
Helping to feed more children March 8, 2013 For the past three years, fewer children in Arkansas have gone without food, thanks to the state's collaboration with national, state and local hunger organizations. Much of this success has come through programs based in our schools. In one such program, children take backpacks full of food home with them over the weekends. Making sure our children have proper nutrition has far-reaching implications for our education system and for Arkansas's future...
Finding answers in Washington March 1, 2013 This past week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., for the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association. As governors gather from across the country, we always find that we share many of the same concerns. Currently, we share frustration over the manufactured budget crises in Congress. ...
National support for Arkansas innovation Arkansas received great news this week regarding our state's groundbreaking initiative to improve the quality of health care while reducing its costs. After two years of discussions with federal officials about our innovative ideas to revamp health care, Arkansas will receive a $42 million State Innovation Model grant from the U.S. ...
Honoring family farmers Feb. 15, 2013 Even with today's sophisticated equipment, the life of a farmer is never easy. Despite technological advances, Arkansas's farm families must still contend with the unpredictable variables of weather, pests, crop yield and commodity prices. Many of those variables were adversely affected by last season's months of extreme drought. We saw that the inherent risks associated with farming require determination, perseverance and a wide range of skills...
Black History Month Feb. 8, 2013 This February, the nation once again observes Black History Month. It is a time to honor and explore the culture and history of Black Americans and to recognize that our diversity is one of our great strengths. It is also an opportunity to remember that we must all work together in making sure that our laws, actions and words honor the rights of every human being...
Steel plant brings 525 new jobs Feb. 1, 2013 This week, Arkansas landed the largest economic-development project in its history. Big River Steel plans to build a $1.1 billion steel mill near Osceola that will employ 525 people. The plant will make steel for auto-, oil-and-gas and electrical-energy industries. ...
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Hot topics More summer food for Arkansas children(0 ~ 4:16 PM, Jun 14)
Virtual technology with real potential
Preserving our safety net
Remembering those gone and caring for those here
Broadband health care
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