Arkansas
Former AGFC director dies
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT/Edited News Release) – Loren Hitchcock, who was Arkansas Game and Fish Commission director for almost two years during 2011-12, died May 28 at his home in Higden. He was 70.
Hitchcock started his career with the AGFC as a game warden in 1985. He became chief of the Enforcement Division in 1989 and was named deputy director in 2001 (he held both titles until he became a deputy director exclusively in 2003).
When AGFC Director Scott Henderson announced he was resigning his position Sept. 1, 2010, Hitchcock was tapped as interim director. He was promoted to director Jan. 20, 2011, and retired from the agency Oct. 27, 2012.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be asked to lead the dedicated, professional staff at our agency,” Hitchcock said when he became director. “It is with these wonderful people that we can build a new era of efficiency and professionalism at Game and Fish. We’ll work together as a team to take advantage of the opportunities we have ahead of us to tell Arkansans about the wonderful opportunities that exist in Arkansas’s incredible outdoors, and the role this Commission plays in managing those resources.”
Hitchcock led the Enforcement Division’s role in the passage of the Amendment 75 Conservation Sales Fund in 1996. He was lead administrator in the agency’s acquisition of a large conservation easement – 16,000-acre Moro Big Pine Natural Area Wildlife Management Area in Calhoun County – plus 4,000 acres in fee title property in Searcy County for elk restoration.
He also negotiated with Chesapeake Energy in its acquisition of mineral rights and natural gas exploration on WMAs in the Fayetteville Shale play. The deal brought $32 million in mineral lease bonuses, plus gas royalty payments, to the AGFC.
Loren “Gib” Hitchcock was born to Margaret and Gilbert Hitchcock Oct. 9, 1953, in Batesville, where he was raised. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He’s survived by his partner, Shawna, as well as two sons, two stepdaughters and eight grandchildren.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2024 KAIT. All rights reserved.
Arkansas
How to buy Arkansas football tickets? See prices for game vs UAPB
WATCH: Highlights from Arkansas football’s first practice of fall camp
Arkansas football opened fall practice Wednesday afternoon. Here are highlights from the action, including a nice one-handed grab by Tyrone Broden.
Arkansas football opens the 2024 season Thursday with an in-state matchup against Arkansas Pine-Bluff (UAPB) at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock (6:30 p.m., ESPNU). This will be the second time the Razorbacks and Golden Lions have squared off on the gridiron.
The Hogs enter the campaign with a head coach on the hot seat.
Sam Pittman, coming off a 4-8 record in 2023, revamped the roster and the offensive coaching staff in the offseason. He brought in Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, and there’s a new commander under center in Boise State transfer Taylen Green.
More: Arkansas football’s 5 most important players in 2024 season
More: Arkansas football: Game-by-game predictions for 2024 college football season
Thursday will present the first opportunity for Arkansas fans to see the Green and Petrino combination in action. After UAPB, Arkansas embarks on a grueling stretch with three difficult opponents away from home, starting with a week two showdown against No. 19 Oklahoma State.
Tickets are available for Arkansas home games, including a terrific SEC slate against Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas. Here’s a look at Arkansas football ticket prices for every game this season.
Arkansas Football 2024 Tickets
Arkansas football tickets, best prices
Ticket prices for UAPB vs Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium start at $24 on StubHub and $26 on VividSeats. Prices near the 50-yard line and close to the field range from $75 to $200 on both sites.
To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub and Vivid Seats.
Arkansas football 2024 schedule
Aug. 29: vs. UAPB (War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock), 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sept. 7: at Oklahoma State, 11 a.m. (ABC)
Sept. 14: vs. UAB, 3:15 p.m. (SEC Network)
Sept. 21: at Auburn
Sept. 28: vs. Texas A&M (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)
Oct. 5: vs. Tennessee
Oct. 12: BYE
Oct. 19: vs. LSU
Oct. 26: at Mississippi State
Nov. 2: vs. Ole Miss
Nov. 9: Idle
Nov. 16: vs. Texas
Nov. 23: vs. Louisiana Tech
Nov. 30: at Missouri
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Arkansas
Money spent on medical marijuana in Arkansas down in 2024
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) – Money spent on medical marijuana in Arkansas has seen a slight dip so far in 2024.
According to data released by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration on Friday, Aug. 23, a total of $22.9 million was spent at the state’s 37 dispensaries in July to buy 6,467 pounds of product.
This would bring the total for 2024 to $158.5 million and 42,602 pounds. Sales for the same period in 2023 (Jan. to July) were $164.6 million.
“Since the first dispensary opened in 2019, Arkansans have spent approximately $1.2 billion on medical marijuana purchases,” DFA Spokesperson Scott Hardin said. “Although the overall spend has decreased since last year, we continue to see pounds sold increase, indicating lower prices.”
Below are the medical marijuana sales in July 2024 for Northeast Arkansas dispensaries:
- NEA Full Spectrum (Brookland, opened Dec. 9, 2019) – 184.85 pounds
- Spring River Dispensary (Hardy, opened Jan. 7, 2021) -112.74 pounds
- CROP (Jonesboro, opened Sept. 21, 2021) – 366.70 pounds
- Plant Family Therapeutics (Mountain Home, opened Feb. 3, 2020) -193.33 pounds
- Comprehensive Care Group (West Memphis, opened April 27, 2020) – 70.01 pounds
- Delta Cannabis (West Memphis, opened July 1, 2020) – 193.70 pounds
- Greenlight West Memphis (West Memphis, opened Aug. 26, 2020) – 125.28 pounds
The Arkansas Department of Health reports as of Aug. 23, there are 105,544 active patient cards.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2024 KAIT. All rights reserved.
Arkansas
New Study Sheds Light on Education Trends Among Gen Zers in Arkansas
Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation released results Thursday from a new survey showing Generation Z students in Arkansas are more likely than the national average to engage in several key areas of their education. The Voices of Gen Z Arkansas Youth study found they are also more likely to say they know their core values.
A follow-up to Gallup’s annual national survey, the study is designed to better understand this generation’s unique outlook, ambitions and challenges. Part of a national initiative, Gallup and the foundation also surveyed more than 500 Arkansans between the ages of 12 to 27.
“These findings reveal that Arkansas students are having positive classroom experiences. They are motivated by great educators and are exploring career paths instead of just pursuing a bachelor’s degree,” said Robert Burns, director of the Walton Family Foundation Home Region Program. “To keep opportunities strong for Gen Z in Arkansas, we need to focus on retaining quality teachers, improving regional affordability, expanding career options and making sure everyone has a say in future solutions.”
Highlights of the 2024 Voices of Gen Z Arkansas Youth study include:
While Arkansas respondents were mostly in line with national averages, there was some data that stood out.
- Arkansas Gen Z respondents identified these three factors as being very important:
- Building a life that makes you happy (83%)
- Making enough money to live comfortably (78%)
- Having close relationships with friends and family (74%)
- Young Arkansans know their core values better than young people nationally. In 2024, 50% of Gen Zers in Arkansas strongly agree they know what their core values are, compared with 38% nationally.
- Arkansas Gen Zers are more likely to say that having a good spiritual or religious life (48% compared to 35%) and having children (38% compared to 29%) is very important to have a great life compared with their national Gen Z peers.
- Less than half of Arkansas Gen Zers are thriving, falling below the national average (45% compared to 51%). Gallup considers people to be thriving if they give high ratings to their current life and their future expected life.
Secondary Education:
- Arkansan Gen Zers are more likely than the national average to be engaged by their teachers and schoolwork. Eighty-two percent of Arkansan Gen Zers agree or strongly agree they have at least one teacher who makes them excited about their future. This aspect of school is the most highly rated by young Arkansans.
- Arkansas Gen Zers (82%) are more likely to agree they have an inspiring teacher than their national peers (75%).
- Compared with national findings, Arkansans say their teachers make them feel their schoolwork is important (69% compared to 60%).
Postsecondary Paths
- While Arkansas Gen Zers are less likely than those nationally to enroll in postsecondary education right after high school, their desire for postsecondary education remains.
- In Arkansas, 74% of Gen Zers aged 12 to 18 want to pursue college after high school.
- Sixty-four percent of respondents aged 19 to 27 report enrolling in college in their first year after high school. This differs from their national peers, who are less likely to say they want to pursue college (68% among those aged 12 to 18) but are more likely to say they enrolled (80% among those aged 19 to 27).
- Among Gen Zers of all ages (12 to 27), Arkansans are less likely than the national average to say that a bachelor’s degree is very or somewhat important to achieving their goals for the future (73% vs. 77%).
- Like their national peers, Arkansas Gen Zers are most likely to identify the cost of living (60%) and the cost of education (46%) as challenges to achieving their goals.
“Learning from the experiences of younger generations is vital for anyone invested in the future of our state and country,” said Burns. “We aim to create the best experiences for all generations and hope this Gen Z study gives us, policymakers and researchers the insights needed to make informed decisions.”
The findings represent the second installment of a multiyear study to better understand Gen Z students in Arkansas and nationwide.
READ ALSO: Tate to Build Facility in Pocahontas, Create 148 Jobs
-
Ohio1 week ago
Ohio taxpayers sent families $966 million for private school tuition: Capitol Letter
-
Minnesota6 days ago
Readers and writers: Plenty of thrills and danger in these Minnesota author’s mysteries
-
Politics1 week ago
Harris dodging flip-flop attacks as faceless surrogates flip on key positions: 'Playing politics'
-
News1 week ago
Tracking the Swing States for Harris and Trump
-
News1 week ago
Video: Biden and Harris Announce Deal to Lower Drug Prices
-
Politics1 week ago
Biden jokes about impending exit from the White House: 'Looking for a job'
-
News1 week ago
Half Their Land Burned in a Decade: The California Counties Constantly on Fire
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump assassination attempt: Secret Service makes big change to former president's outdoor rally security