Arkansas
Arkansas leaders using summer break to make schools more safe
Governor Hutchinson has re-convened the Arkansas Faculty Security Fee in order that they’ll work to additional college security.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Within the wake of latest mass shootings, particularly at an elementary college in Uvalde, Texas — 1000’s of Individuals have requested their legislators to higher guarantee security within the classroom.
In response, Governor Hutchinson made the choice to re-convene the Arkansas Faculty Security Fee to attempt to provide you with these further suggestions to additional college security.
Dr. Cheryl Could is the chair for the committee, and she or he has requested members to “use this second to ensure each single youngster in Arkansas faculties and the employees are protected.”
The committee goals for a complete strategy to create safer education, to handle psychological well being, in addition to safety and communication plans, and to look over emergency drills.
When the group was first established again in 2018, they’d a couple of months to offer 30 security suggestions. However this time, with an even bigger sense of urgency because of the latest shootings, they’re going to solely have a couple of weeks.
“We will must roll up our sleeves, we have got a particularly tight timeline,” Dr. Could mentioned, “though now we have made progress, that there is much more that we will do.”
There are a few whole of 20 members that make up the college security fee.
These embody numerous bodily and psychological well being professionals, police, in addition to educators, and legislators. Amongst these legislative members is Legal professional Basic Leslie Rutledge
Vilonia Excessive Faculty Instructor John Allison can also be on the committee, and he mentioned, “It is vital for all components of the equation to be represented…and I hope that we will provide you with much more issues to make faculties safer now.”
Whereas gun reform is not the only real focus of this committee, members of ‘Mothers Demand Motion’ hope it is not one thing that is ignored.
“I simply hope that we do not get too far into too many weapons within the college and that sort of factor,” mentioned Karen Sullards, an Arkansas member of Mothers Demand Motion.
The committee has labored diligently, and proceed working laborious to have new suggestions earlier than courses begin. They take a second to keep in mind that they’ve determined to do that for all these in Arkansas faculties.
“We will do the whole lot that we presumably can,” Dr. Could mentioned.
The suggestions are as a consequence of Governor Hutchinson by August 1st. After they’re submitted, he’s then anticipated to handle them in a particular session later this summer season.
Arkansas
Arkansas basketball drops back out of AP Top 25
The Arkansas Razorbacks (11-3, 0-1 SEC) fell back out of the AP College Basketball Top 25 on Monday.
The drop out of the rankings comes after Arkansas split its games last week. The Hogs took a 92-62 win over Oakland to finish the non-conference slate, but were thrashed 76-52 on the road by No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday to open conference play.
The Razorbacks did, however, receive the second-most votes of unranked teams.
This week isn’t much easier for the Hogs, who will face two teams ranked in the Top 25, though the two games come at home. No. 23 Ole Miss comes to Fayetteville on Wednesday and the Hogs will face No. 8 Florida on Saturday.
All told, there are nine SEC teams in the AP Poll: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Auburn, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 8 Florida, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 23 Ole Miss.
According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Razorbacks rank 40th overall (12.5 BPI, 11th in SEC) with a 5.6 offensive and 7.0 defensive rating. Arkansas is projected to finish with an 18.8-12.2 (7.8-10.2 SEC) overall record and it has a 0.2% chance to win the SEC.
Despite the blowout loss on Saturday, Arkansas’ NET ranking actually improved one spot from last Monday. The Razorbacks sit at No. 40, up from No. 43 last week. The Hogs are 1-3 in Quad 1 games, 1-0 in Quad 2, 2-0 in Quad 3 and 7-0 in Quad 4.
Here is the full AP Top 25 from Monday:
Arkansas
3 area athletes, 1 coach selected for All-Arkansas Preps football team
Arkansas
Texarkana, Arkansas, Board of Directors to appoint assistant mayor, consider runway project | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A long-serving city leader will be installed as assistant mayor Monday at the Board of Directors’ first regular meeting of 2025.
Ward 2 Director Laney Harris will take the oath of office in line with a 2023 ordinance that lays out the order directors are appointed to the one-year term of assistant mayor.
The rotation, which began in 2023, is Ward 1, Ward 6, Ward 2, Ward 4, Ward 5 and Ward 3.
Ward 6 Director Jeff Hart, who did not seek reelection in November, was the assistant mayor in 2024.
Harris represented Ward 2 for two terms until 2005 and has been re-elected every four years since 2008.
In other business, the board will consider a resolution authorizing Airport Executive Director Paul Mehrlich to enter a contract with McClelland Engineering for a runway strengthening project at Texarkana Regional Airport. The project is for the 6,602-foot asphalt runway designated as 4-22.
McClelland has given a cost of $502,203.20 for engineering and design. The state of Arkansas will cover $451,982.88 of the fee, with the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, absorbing $22,503.73. The city of Texarkana, Texas, will be left with the remaining $27,716.59.
The two Texarkanas jointly own the airport.
The Arkansas side’s share of the expense was part of its budget for fiscal year 2024, according to meeting documents.
In August 2024, the Arkansas Legislative Council approved $16.7 million for upgrades at the nearly 100-year-old airfield.
“The infrastructure improvements will include the expansion of the runway and taxiways that will enable the airport to take on cargo and maintenance repair overhaul work. The improvements will also equip the airport to support larger aircraft, including the Boeing 777,” according to a news release.
The Board of Directors meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 216 Walnut St.
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