With more than $680,000 in grant funding available this year for Arkansas schools and the launch of a volunteer program to help students complete new graduation requirements, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has brightened its spotlight on conservation education.

Both efforts help to build long-term support for conservation, which is one of the parameters the commission uses to measure its success, spokesperson Randy Zellers said.

“Right now there are boys and girls who want to know more about the outdoors, but their schools may not have the resources available to truly devote toward anything outside of core curriculum,” Zellers said. “These grants and volunteer opportunities give them the means to expand their educational offerings and capture the interest of some of those students.”

The $682,472 in available funding comes from boating and wildlife fines collected in fiscal year 2024 and any unspent money from schools in previous years. The funds stay within the county where the fines were collected and the amounts vary.

The variance tends to correlate to the public recreation opportunities offered in each county, Zellers said.

Arkansas County, which includes Stuttgart, a renowned duck hunting destination, accrued the most fines at $36,170, according to the Game and Fish Commission. The next highest amount, $26,563, was collected in White County where bass, crappie, bream and catfish are popular catches in Bald Knob Lake.

“However, increased opportunity doesn’t always lead to an increase in wildlife violations or fine money collected,” Zellers said. “One egregious incident with a poacher being caught with multiple violations at once may result in thousands of dollars in fines on its own.” 

In the coming weeks, applications for grants will be available through the Rural Service Division, which is part of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development. Grants can be used to fund programs such as Youth Shooting Sports and Archery in the Schools. 

The money can also be spent on projects like butterfly habitats and field trips to nature centers, hatcheries or wildlife management areas.

“The experience may vary from student to student, but teamwork, leadership and long-term commitment are all traits developed through conservation education opportunities,” Zellers said.

Approximately $537,000 was awarded to schools last year. Approved items included bee houses and hummingbird feeders for a pollinator garden at Dewitt Elementary school, construction materials for an outdoor classroom at a Bradley County school and animal skins, track and skull replicas in Franklin County.

Current applications are open through Oct. 3.

Volunteer program

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission also recently announced a new volunteer program aimed at helping high schools students complete 75 hours of community service hours, which is now a graduation requirement under the LEARNS Act.

Along with many other changes the sweeping education law brought upon Arkansas schools last year, the LEARNS Act implemented a community service requirement for all students, unless they secure a waiver. Reasons for obtaining a waiver could include major illness, homelessness or if the student is a primary contributor to their household income.

Rules governing Arkansas community service graduation requirement approved for public comment

In March, Arkansas Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Stacy Smith said the new graduation requirement would help students build pride in and connection to their communities.

Each district is allowed to define what community service can include, though the policy must be posted to the district website, require an adult to sign off on the student’s community service hours and include preparation, action and reflection components required for a student to receive credit.

The Arkansas Game and Fish program opens the door to students who are “interested in giving back to conservation as well as their community,” according to a press release. School district officials will need to submit a request to register for opportunities before students can participate.

“We’re trying to offer a variety of experiences so students can find something they can enjoy doing and feel like they contributed once the work is done,” said Leah Hughes, the commission’s volunteer program coordinator. “Having worked at many of our events myself, I can tell you that it can be so fun and fulfilling that you might have a hard time stopping at those minimum hours required.”

Volunteer opportunities will give students a peek into the everyday tasks of those who work for the commission with activities such as trail cleanups, fishing derbies and archery tournaments.

“Conservation education is paramount to the [commission’s] mission of conserving and enhancing wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support,” Zellers said. “It’s not just about hunting and fishing, but about all aspects of conservation, responsible water usage, understanding our role in the world around us and how what we do affects everything downstream from us.”

A legislative subcommittee on Thursday approved an emergency rule to comply with a new federal law that extends certain public assistance program benefits to migrants from the Marshall Islands.

Arkansas is home to the largest Marshallese community in the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. 

The emergency rule the Department of Human Services presented to the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Executive Subcommittee Thursday afternoon updates eligibility provisions contained in the DHS Division of County Operations (DCO) rules to comply with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. 

The Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 9, contains changes to the renegotiated Compacts of Free Association (COFA), which extend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) eligibility to citizens from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. 

Immigrants in Arkansas struggle to achieve better life they came to the U.S. to find

COFA allows the United States to operate military bases in these Pacific Island nations in exchange for guarantees and economic assistance. Migrants from these Freely Associated States can live and work in the U.S. as lawful non-immigrants. 

According to documents submitted to the committee, an emergency rule is required because the Pacific Islander community has the highest poverty rate in Arkansas and “there exists imminent peril to the public health, safety and welfare of the state.”

More than 32% of the state’s Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population live below the poverty rate, according to American Community Survey census data.  

“We’ve just now received the guidance from [USDA Food and Nutrition Service] and we have been asked repeatedly by some of the Marshallese for the need of this, so we bring it to you as an emergency rule to have it implemented,” said Janet Mann, DHS deputy secretary for programs and the state Medicaid director.

With no discussion from members, the committee quickly approved the rule, which co-chair Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, said would become effective upon adjournment of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s meeting Friday. 

A permanent rule will be promulgated to be effective by Dec. 1, according to documents submitted by DHS.

A report released last year by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese recommended granting Marshallese migrants SNAP eligibility through legislation like the Compact Impact Fairness Act to address the community’s struggles with food insecurity. 

Co-sponsored by Arkansas U.S. Rep. Steve Womack and Sen. John Boozman, the Compact Impact Fairness Act proposed allowing COFA migrants to qualify for most safety net programs, including SNAP. Language from that bill was incorporated into the amended compact with the Marshall Islands, which was agreed to last October. 

Compensation for past nuclear weapons testing by the U.S. was a sticking point in COFA negotiations and it delayed the renewal process. From 1946 to 1958, the U.S. conducted 67 nuclear weapons tests on and near the Marshall Islands, including the largest bomb ever detonated by the United States.

The original compact with the Republic of the Marshall Islands became effective in 1986, with economic assistance beginning in 1987. The RMI signed agreements in 2003 to renew compact assistance, and Congress passed legislation amending the compacts and extending economic assistance for 20 years.

But Marshallese migrants lost access to programs like Medicaid and SNAP two decades ago when their unique immigration status was not accounted for in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, a 1996 welfare reform law. Congress restored Medicaid access in 2020, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 amended the 1996 law to restore SNAP access this year.

Under the updated compact, COFA citizens are not subject to a waiting period and are immediately eligible for benefits as long as they meet all other SNAP requirements, according to guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in July. 

COFA citizens who applied on or after March 9, 2024, and were denied SNAP benefits prior to the USDA issuing guidance may reapply or request a fair hearing within 90 days of the denial date. If an official determines the household was eligible for SNAP at the time of application, the state agency should issue retroactive benefits from the date of application, according to the guidance.

The USDA also encouraged state agencies to track COFA citizens who have been denied SNAP benefits since March and encourage them to reapply or request a fair hearing.  

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The second the story came across last week, there was a feeling of pity for whomever would be lining up against Landon Jackson in the Arkansas Razorbacks’ final scrimmage.

ESPN had released its list of college football’s Top 100 players, and, while it was a sign of respect Jackson was on it, he was listed as the 10th best defensive end in the country and only No. 6 in the SEC. Making the list might have been enough for some players, but Jackson didn’t forego leaving for the NFL last season for someone to think he’s barely in the top half of the conference at his position. 

Sure enough, when Arkansas coach Sam Pittman strolled to the podium feeling a bit down about a camp closing scrimmage heavy on disappointment, including problems with penalties and eight interceptions, the one name he listed immediately as a high point was Jackson.

“Landon Jackson was a beast out there today,” Pittman said after his hulking defensive end logged three sacks. “He really played well.”

There’s a chip on Jackson’s shoulder that indicates he still has a lot he wants to prove and lists like what ESPN put out not only bode well for the Hogs as far as keeping him hungry and motivated, it confirms that chip is warranted. The “rat poison” in this case, as Nick Saban used to so famously refer to on a near weekly basis, is what came out Wednesday morning.

While ESPN’s staff barely thinks of Jackson as a Top 10 defensive end, a story predicting who will be picked in the first round of the NFL draft next spring has Jackson going No. 30 to Detroit as the sixth edge rusher taken off the board.

“Jackson has serious length and is an efficient mover for a 6-foot-7, 282-pound player,” his evaluation reads. “He uses his first-step quickness effectively and impacts the running game with how much ground he covers. Jackson really filled out his frame since his college career began, but he must continue to do so.”

That’s solid praise and the glory of being considered a first round pick can be intoxicating. Pittman has to hope the threat of falling out of the first round and the allure that hard work and strong performances can mean a significant jump in both prestige and money will drive Jackson to keep the fire burning all season no matter what’s going on around him.

If he can move up three spots in the edge rusher pecking order, theoretically surpassing Florida State’s Patrick Payton, Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau, he will find himself somewhere around pick No. 17 to the Chicago Bears. 

Detroit won’t be the worst landing spot for Jackson if he fails to move up. Dan Campbell is the perfect fit for Jackson as a head coach and the Lions have proven to be an organization that appreciates Razorbacks who have his demeanor, not to mention getting to play indoors for at least half the season.

However, the increased paycheck, respect and extended leash to develop that comes with being the No. 17 pick as opposed to late first, early second round means a lot to players’ personal financial futures and overall careers. It’s best that Pittman keep Jackson frothing over the negative side of these lists.

A motivated Jackson can be a terrifying prospect for other teams. If he comes out and destroys Ollie Gordon and Alan Bowman in Stillwater in Week 2 then look out.

Pittman will know that beast he was referring to has found his fire. If that’s the case, it’s going to be a long year for opposing offenses on that end of their line, which means the odds of the Hogs having a rebound season will have gone way up. 

HOGS FEED:

• Nation’s college basketball coaches acknowledge Arkansas’ NIL superiority

• Hogs’ OC not hiding lofty goals for Arkansas football

• Calipari continues hunting down elite Top 100 talent for 2025 class

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