Arkansas
Governor wants Arkansas’ next legislative session to focus on higher ed, she says | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
ROGERS — Gov. Sarah Sanders wants to focus on higher education in the next legislative session, she said at a public appearance in Rogers on Tuesday.
Improvements in higher education are needed to provide the skilled workforce vital to business expansion and the state’s economic growth, Sanders said at a luncheon hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. About 500 people attended. The Legislature convenes in January.
Public education received the highest priority in the 2023 legislative session, the first of the Sanders administration. The governor proposed a public education overhaul with the LEARNS act, which passed. Now she wants to turn to higher education, she said.
“I hope that our focus shifts to that,” she said.
The governor gave no specifics of the changes in higher education she would like to see, or what else might be a priority for her administration in the next session. State budgets for higher education stayed flat in recent years with a slight decrease in the state’s budget for the fiscal year that started July 1.
“Higher education should be a priority,” said Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville. Leding is a member of the Senate Education Committee and the Higher Education Task Force of the National Conference of State Legislators. His district includes the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus.
“With the university in my district, I tend to think of 18-year-olds coming out of high school and going to college, but it’s not like that anymore,” Leding said.
The portion of adults returning to school to improve their skills is a growing segment of students; changes to higher education should reflect that, he said.
Leding is glad to hear of the governor’s comments, he said, but bringing higher education to the front of legislative priorities has dangers. Higher education is the favorite target of some lawmakers who believe colleges and universities are not socially conservative enough, he said.
Joe Spivey of Rogers, a member of the Board of Trustees at Northwest Arkansas Community College, said he hopes the state’s two-year colleges and technical schools benefit from the governor’s efforts. High-tech industry needs the engineers and others educated in four-year universities, but need workers from two-year schools as well, he said.
“We have to be aware that what will attract industry are two-year colleges and the tech programs in them,” Spivey said.
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — A bee swarm attack in Texas sent three people, including a firefighter, to the hospital this week, while Arkansas medical experts said most bee stings are not dangerous but can become life-threatening in certain cases.
Authorities in San Antonio said the three victims were hospitalized after being swarmed and stung by aggressive bees. Officials have not released details on what triggered the attack or the species involved.
Doctors in Arkansas said the biggest risk from a bee sting is not the sting itself, but a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
“The concern when you have a bee sting is if you develop a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis,” said Dr. Garrett Lewis, chief medical officer at St. Vincent Infirmary.
Lewis said warning signs include throat swelling, difficulty breathing and feeling faint, which require immediate medical attention.
“If you’re experiencing any throat swelling or severe shortness of breath, you need to seek medical care immediately,” Lewis said.
He added that people who are stung multiple times may also be at risk even without a known allergy, because each sting introduces additional venom into the body.
In the event of a swarm, Lewis said the priority should be escaping the area as quickly as possible and removing any stingers once safe.
“Seek water, seek indoor,” Lewis said. “Once you’re away from the swarm, you want to make sure that you are removing any stingers that might still be in your skin.”
Lewis also said symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and widespread hives can indicate a serious reaction.
While the Texas incident resulted in hospitalizations, a recent swarm outside a Little Rock business ended without injuries after bees briefly gathered on a tree limb before being safely removed by a beekeeper.
Lewis said the best prevention is awareness of surroundings and understanding when medical care is needed after a sting.
CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.
According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.
DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.
Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:
- Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
- Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
- Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
- Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)
Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.
“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”
Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security
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